Been a long time

I just realized that I hadn't updated my blog since August! Things always get crazy for me as the school year gets underway. I tend to work a bit too much. I immerse myself in trying to be the very best at what I do. It's a good work ethic to have but it leaves me feeling exhausted - physically and especially mentally. I really need to work on focusing time for me to relax, have some fun, not worry about work, and reflect on the joys of life.
So....
I've decided to try something the month of December. I'm going to take a picture of a moment in my day, post it, and reflect on it in writing. My goal is to do this every day - even those days where I feel I'm super busy. I want to take time to think about things that I find important or interesting every day.

We'll see how this goes...December 1st is just 2 days away!

Ups and Downs

These last few weeks have been filled with ups and downs for me.

Up - finished my Master's degree program! Yippee! No more tasks to complete and my pay raise will be on my first paycheck in September.

Down - So darn tired lately, frustrated about not losing weight, and experiencing other symptoms. I make an appointment with the doctor who finds that I have heart murmur that was never heard before. Blood tests show vitamin D deficiency and possibly anemia. Have to have an Echo Cardiogram. Then when results come back from that - I'm told I need further - more invasive test done. So tomorrow morning I go in for a Transesophageal Echo Cardiogram. Which means a tube with a camera is inserted down my throat to get an ultrasound picture of the heart. I'm not looking forward to this at all. I hope it is over quickly.

Up - I entered my art room at Washington in a contest on facebook sponsored by Bounty paper towels. We are one of 11 finalist for a $25,000 art room make over! We have until this Friday to collect votes to win. Very exciting!

I'm hoping for more UPs and very few DOWNs.

What a transformation!

I'm relaxing this evening after a very hot day of working in my classroom at Washington. As I sit here on our new love seat, I look around this room and love it! Chuck has done such a wonderful job working on this room. What a transformation!


Before images




















After images

Found a Friend

This guy was hanging around us for a very long time. He flew from person to person landing for a bit on each one.

Enjoyed an evening with Davis family

Spent Saturday evening at a get together at Marilyn and John Davis's home. A Bix night tradition before Rich, Janie, and family head back home to Southern Illinois. Lots of their family and friends were there. It was nice to chat and relax outside.

Some participated in a whiffle ball game. I enjoyed watching the fun. By the time the game was called the ball was nearly crushed and a nice dent could be seen in the bat. Lots of power in those young men...of course they had to try to show each other up.

Summer is zooming by!

Wow...July is well underway. It always seems as though the summer flies by. I know - there is still lots of summer left...but it's going too fast. A lot has been going on here in the Gillespie house since returning from our wonderful vacation. Chuck began pretty much right away working on his phase 3 of our remodel - opening up the living and dining room to create one big comfy, usable space. He's been working very hard every day. Chris and Shawn have been a big help. They are growing up so fast (in about 3 weeks Shawn will be a Senior!).

I haven't been a big part of this remodel. Instead I've been trying to complete my Grad program so that I can graduate and get that Master's Degree! I'm very close. I have some work to do on the final chapter of the written capstone project and then when it has all passed the grading process I will have an oral capstone interview. I Just Want It Done!! I feel as if I'm wasting summer and not being much help with the remodel. This past week I developed a nasty cold that has slowed me down. And I don't like that!!
To top it off...I have 2 rooms to get ready for school before the 3rd week of August. Don't get me wrong, I'm very pleased to have a room upstairs out of the watery, moldy mess at my home school. But that means putting together the room from scratch. The room at the other building I teach at will require less work - since It has all the right furniture and things...but I need to make it my own (even though I will share it with another art teacher).

So many things to think about...but first - finish the Grad work! So back to the writing tonight and I will cheer on my guys as they work in the living room. Chuck textured the new drywall ceiling today and is planing on cleaning up the walls and then the painting begins!

Here are a few pictures of the progress since destruction day!


The old ceiling is replaced with a nice new drywall ceiling. That required a lot of teamwork. Great job guys!


New recessed lights were put into the ceiling which required moving the switch and some wiring around. Success with that part. Then Chuck spent many days on the taping, mudding, and sanding after patching holes from the wall taken down and a window that was taken out.


Today Chuck applied a texture to the ceiling. It looks great!

Patriotic Toes

I took a break from working on my capstone project this afternoon and decided it was time to repaint the toes. Since the 4th of July is in a couple days I thought I'd have a bit of fun and paint them red, white, and blue. One star would have to do - 50 would have been a bit more of a challenge than I wanted to undertake.

So my toes are now ready for the fireworks!