Spring is coming...

...found this sweet bloom amid the deadness of the yard today...a simple sign of life's cycle...hurry, spring!

From the mind of a child...

Today at lunch the students got fortune cookies.

One of my boys opened his and asked me to read it.

"An unexpected visitor will bring you abundant blessings."

And without a skipping a beat, sweet little "Catherine" said, "JESUS!"

Out of the mouth of babes...can you believe that's the first thing she thought of?

Have you thought about Him today?

Questions needing answers...

If you have any tips or ideas to these questions, please chime in!

1. I have trouble getting good light in my house at the times of the day that I need it. I get light coming in the back of the house in the morning, over the house at noon, and in the front of the house at day's end. Camera-crazies out there...any tips on the best ways to use natural light? Also, how to get those AWEsome catchlights, especially in a deep brown eyed child??

2. Speaking of cameras...I want a new one! I really think I want either a Canon or Nikon- it needs to have adjustable white balance and a high ISO, say 1600. And I really can't spend more than MAYbe $500? Golly, Larry would die if he heard that! I'm moving from the P&S mode to the manual- I need a camera with more than P&S capabilities, but NOT ready for complete manual! I actually like to shoot in aperture mode. Any thoughts?

3. I need new makeup! I think my skin is aging; it's always SO oily and I have large pores; I tend to have occasional breakouts (no more hormones controlling my system); and it looks so tired and BLAH by the day's end. I want a good cleanser and a good foundation/powder- I want a matte finish. What do you like and NOT like? I'm willing to pay IF it works!

All for now...

Wassup???...

Here's wassup in the Life of the Salleys...

* David's basketball season for 08 is officially over. His team lost in the second round of playoffs. I will really miss watching him play, he's a great point guard and ball handler. He does, however, make a nervous wreck out of me at games because I get so anxious for him! He was asked to play on a private team who needed a point guard, but money and time restraints kept us from saying yes. It looks like he'll be starting soccer now, because we all know he can't sit still for long...sports are in his blood.

* Jacob is going to be an football announcer in an upcoming play ON his birthday in March! They liked his voice- like father, like son???

* Mary Elizabeth has been selling Girl Scout Cookies like crazy AND wanting to start ballet again! Not sure about that right now, but maybe a summer camp. She also wants to cheer and go to the American Girl Doll store for her birthday. She's so girly-girl.

* Speaking of which, I just finished reading Dr. Leonard Sax's Why Gender Matters. If you are a parent or a teacher, you should read this book. It's VERY interesting. He's coming to speak at our school in April, so I had to check him out. He's got some good things to say about how boys and girls learn differently.

* Larry is in track season, which lasts until end April. That's his life right now.

* I hired a personal trainer at the gym. I need a change and hopefully the things I've learned so far will help. I've got three one-hour sessions. I'm trying to lower my BMI a bit and convert fat to muscle.

* We are in the planning stages of Palmetto Bible Camp. We're *hashing* out the theme, Pursue Discipleship. We love camp and can't WAIT for June! Please pray for it.

* Larry and I had a 24 hour rendevous a few weekends ago. We spent the day shopping, went to dinner at CA Dreaming with some of our bestest couple friends from church, and spent the night out. Relaxing and fun!

* We are thinking about going to Disney this summer with our extra tax refund we'll get in May. We're hoping to go with some friends of ours from school for about a week- they have a condo we can all stay in, so it would help the trip to be more relaxing because we wouldn't have to rush. We've only been to the Magic Kingdom one time with the kids for 2 days, in the fall of 2004.

More later!

Happy *Birth*day, Hope Ramirez!

"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High!" Psalm 9:1-2

Divinely Dressed...

Ok, I'll beat Courtney to the *punch* and post some photos for you...I hope you agree with me that these ladies are most CERTAINLY divinely dressed!

Some of my favorites...

Here's what I've been reading lately...


Olivia by Ian Falconer has to be my all-time favorite picture book. I love Olivia's spunk and determination. If you teach four year olds or parent one, you will appreciate this book.



I am currently reading Gossamer by Lois Lowry, a favorite author of mine. If you like books that are a wee bit mysterious and leave you thinking, then Lowry's are the best! Try The Giver by Lowry- "things that make you go hhhmmm..."



I discovered Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio at the school book fair this week. I had to have it and was blessed with my own personal copy, bought for me by one of my students! I love the illustrations, and NO, don't think the story is all about voting for Hillary. It's about voting for the best PERSON for the job. It also teaches about the electoral college, which, unfortunately, I still don't get.


Oh my, I can't say enough about this sweet book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (who also wrote Because of Winn-Dixie). One of my first graders told me about it this week- I checked it out and read it in about 30 minutes one night. Quick read. Very touching and thought-provoking. It's about a china rabbit doll who loves only himself and is set upon a journey to discover more...


Ok, I know they are all children's books...but what do you expect???

POTW...vertical/horizontal...take two...

Kinda of cheating...these were taken about this time last year...but still some of my favorites...

POTW...vertical/horizontal...

These were taken quickly this afternoon as the sun was going down...brown-eyes, esp. DARK brown eyes, are SO difficult to get catchlights in! At least I met the challenge for the week...