Wow...

Goodness, where has the time gone? I'm not even sure what I've been doing.

I'm collecting student comments. My class is super funny even if they don't realize it!

I'm trying to get back into a full-fledged workout schedule. I'm in a rut with my workouts and not sure where to go. The motivation of my pants becoming tight is what is driving me (as well as honoring my body) to get back into the workouts. Any suggestions?

I'm reading books. I have now finished two books for a book club that I'm in. Tomorrow night is our next discussion and I just started the third book.

I'm collecting clothes for Honduras. We have our packing meeting on Saturday. Excited to meet my other team members as well as pack up some boxes!

I'm participating in a Bible study by Beth Moore about the heart of David. We have four more weeks.

Not sure what else is going on, but know that I am here...and will post again soon.

I won!

I won!!!! For the slicing challenge, I won a stool painted by an amazing lady. I get to pick what book goes on it...Beware of the Frog!

So fun!!!

And what's even better is that out of all of the prizes, that's the one I really wanted!!!

Time to Come Clean...

You won't judge, right? And even if you do, I guess I should ask if I really care what others think about me.

On with the story.

Dating is something that I don't know much about. The choices of men to date in my area are slim to none. In fact, I know that it will be completely God if I ever get married. The men that I do know are either too young, too old, or married. The bottom line is...not for me.

I did what any technological savvy amazing woman would do...online dating. I tried my hand at it a couple of years ago and it went well. I learned a lot. He just wasn't ready for a dating relationship.

The site I use had a sale, so I am trying again. I recently had had some communication with a gentleman and we began to e-mail, text, and finally agreed to meet. Yes, I told people where I would be and chose a public place and made sure I wasn't followed afterwards.

I had been so nervous before meeting him that I couldn't eat. I had the pleasure of having butterflies again. My face lit up when I got a text. I felt special again. And now it's over. But don't get me wrong...I'm not that upset about it. Why you ask?

My friend suggested I give him another chance (I tend to be quite picky on the first date). When I explained how our "date" had gone, she was quick to understand why I was okay with no future get togethers.

1. I looked hot (we met at a Barnes). Had the jeans on, a rockin' shirt, a great necklace, and make-up to boot. He came in sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt.

2. I had wanted a place where we (I mean me) could get coffee. He didn't buy me one. He didn't even offer!

3. His profile said he was shy and reserved...um, NO! He talked and talked and talked. Yes, I am a talker, but I also know how to draw people into conversation and connect to what they are saying. I do try and get to know others around me. I try to listen well. He talked so much, I began to zone out at times. He hardly asked me any questions. Granted, we had talked quite a bit on the phone so we had had most of the first date questions already. And by talk, I mean text, Come on man...make a phone call every now and again.

4. He took the easy way out. Since we parted ways (with a side hug - who does that?), he has yet to call, text, or e-mail. Way to be a man!

As for the positives, I am proud of myself. I was myself. I looked hot! And felt hot! In fact, I think I got a warmer smile from a guy working there than my "date" gave me. I'm not down about not dating. I'm thankful that I have what I have. My life isn't all that bad. And while I am sitting home alone on a Friday night (by choice), I'm so glad to have a night to just chill.

Reverse Psychology

I have the pleasure of taking care of two kids that I dearly love over my spring break (just a few days). The boy is in second grade and the girl is sixteen months. Lunch for the boy is always the same. Either macaroni and cheese or a double-decker pb & j. And no one makes the pb & j like I do! However, I also know that he needs a well-balanced meal of good nutritional value.

We ventured out of the comfort zone today. I made multi-grain linguine and put a little bit of butter and parmesan cheese on his. Mushrooms and sauce on mine. He told me he didn't like butter. I fibbed and said that it had also been on his spaghetti at my mom's and he had like that. Lie 1 taken care of. Linguine eaten. He also had applesauce and all that was left was a vegetable. I grabbed the sugar snap peas out of the frig that I had brought over.

He promptly told me he didn't like peas.

I told him that the first word was sugar...they were sweet. I also explained that one of my students from school didn't like peas and he had liked them (true story).

He ended up eating the peas inside of the pods...and liked them.

The pods were left on the table uneaten. However, with a little bit of reverse psychology, he was able to try a new food and like it.

What I Learned

Slicing this month pushed me again to write. Through slicing, I entered a world that I know in the blogging world. People that I "know" and would be able to see their names and interact with them again. Friends that felt familiar. New names that I learned and yearned to read their entries each day.

Reading writing that sometimes left me feeling inadequate in my own writing. How do you writers put your words together so well? It's such a work in progress for me. I was told in college that I write the way I speak...which apparently to this professor was not great. I'm still nursing that old wound more than ten years later and trying to get beyond it.

I experimented with the magic of three and trying to use repeating beginnings in my writing. I looked for the unordinary. I noticed photos that would have made great slices and next year would like to document my slices even more by including pictures.

Slicing with my students allowed me to connect with other students and their writing over lunch. I am thinking of bringing in writing groups more often to talk with them. Or maybe book clubs over lunch. One of my students (he was three away from our lunch) even had a nightmare about slicing. :) That's how you know you got to them!

I commented more this year. And while I didn't always make my three quota, I did try! I tried to compliment their writing and be specific. I truly appreciated people who left their kind words on my blog.

I'm always so grateful for a challenge. Thank you for allowing me to share this journey with you all!