a quick post

It's been awhile since my last blog...so here is a list to catch you up to speed:

1. Darbie is almost 14 years old, birthday party this weekend!

2. I'm still teaching 4th grade.

3. Bennie still lives with us and purrs much of the day.

4. Darbie plays volleyball for her school team.

5. Darbie is in her school one act play!

6. I'm in an amazing Bible study with amazing women!

7. I got a new washing machine and dryer...it's the little things that make life great!

8. My cousin is getting married in a couple weeks and I am reading a beautiful poem...love is in the air!

9. My Texas Rangers lost too many games to make it to post season, however, they won more games this season than they lost and gave me and Darbie a wonderful season of great memories!

10. Small town football is even more fun than you think!

11. Darbie babysits if anyone needs a responsible and good sitter.

12. So You Think You Can Dance has a fall show this season, making Fall TV a favorite in our house!

13. For my friends who are having a hard time right now, you know who you are...I am so praying for you all!

14. We started going to a new church in town and LOVE it!

15. Found a new doctor that is amazing and reminds me of old school doctors...not that I have ever met an old school doctor...but think Gunsmoke and the character "Doc".

16. I'm going to start taking more photographs of nature as a hobby. It brings me joy and peace.

17. I want "Beatles Rock Band" for Christmas.

18. Darbie is going to start dancing again when volleyball is over.

19. My house is slowly but surely getting organized each day!

20. God is so good and never will leave us or abandon us! Isn't that a great feeling? Jesus promised he would never leave us...I feel secure in His love and pray Darbie does too!

Hope that catches you up to speed...hope to post some photos of nature soon!

Mr. Darcy!

Why is it, when you have had a busy week and you have done much to make the world a better place and you are so tired you have your jammies on at 8:30 and you are over 8 years old, you want to watch Mr. Darcy?

I can't wait to turn on my dvd, crawl up on my couch, put on my "snuggie" (pink of course) and watch the amazing Collin Firth play every girls dream, Mr. Darcy...but I so love the other Mr. Darcy too. That's why they both get a spot on my blog tonight!

ahhh, Mr. Darcy.........sigh!

Soaring Woman!

So I have a friend who is far too young to be battling breast cancer, but she is.

So I found an award I wanted to nominate her for...but the contest was over...

So I want to post my short essay on her in my corner of the world...

I love you, Karen!


Karen is a woman worthy of your consideration for the Women That Soar Award. Karen is an amazing soul, a devoted teacher, wonderful wife and loving mother. She has dedicated her life to making others around her soar, and now it is her turn. She always has a smile on her face and brings out the best in those around her. She continues to do this amazing feat even while in the midst of battling breast cancer. At her young age, she is attacking her cancer with the same passion she mothers her 3 year old daughter, loves her Police officer husband and reaches her at-risk elementary students with daily. When you say you are looking for someone who "has made significant impact on guiding and empowering our youth" you are describing my dear friend, the superb, Karen!

P.S.

I just thought of something else that happened since the last blog!

I TURNED 40 YEARS OLD!!!


Woo Hoo...

I'm back...

So it's been awhile since my last post. I swore I would not be that person who starts a blog and then only posts every couple months...be careful what you say.

So since my last post, school has begun.

I am still a 4th grade teacher. Darbs is still in middle school.

Our life consists of volleyball, watching "Monk" on T.V., Cheering on the amazing Texas Rangers, taking naps when I can and trying to inspire people.

God gives you a gift everyday...just look for it!

Let me know what yours was today...

Blessings!

Unplugged!!!

So when I asked Darbie to unplug from the techno world, I got some resistance.

Turn off your phone and step away from the computer so you can have some alone time...I promise you need it more than you know!

I rolled my eyes myself as these words came out of my mouth...It does sound so motherly, doesn't it? But it's true...sometimes our mothers do know what is best for us even when we don't---you see, when I walked back through the living room this is what I saw:



=)

Life is Fragile!

Handle with prayer!

Sleeping Is Hard To Do!

I am up late, checking facebook, twitter, emails, blogs...ugh...

I started thinking...what am I doing?

If I just went to bed on time, I might feel up to meeting with real live people, face to face and in person.

Alas...I lay down and then watch TV...hmmmm.......more thoughts still to come.

Photo of Me and My Husband...(well sort of)

Hi there...

Remember my ealier post about Ron Clark and my new name Mrs. McClark?

Guess what? We found the picture of the day I met him in person...I had to share it with you! Enjoy!!! =)

FIRST OFFICIAL DAY OF SUMMER!

Yeah...today was my first official day of summer...so fun...

The Texas sun was burning bright, a mere 107 degrees...shew...so what's a girl to do?

Get my amazing daughter, a group of my closest friends and all their kiddos and go swimming, watch a movie and cook out. FABULOUS!!!



What a fun day, lazin' around the pool...laughing, talking, playing games, judging dives etc...A simply perfect celebration of one of the perks of teaching...

I can hear Danny and Sandy singing in the background right now...had me a blast...happened so fast...

I Couldn't Have Written It Better!

Can you believe what I overheard when I walked up behind a group of 4 fifth graders talking in between class during summer school? If I could have written a perfect scene, I couldn't have written it better!

Four 5th graders talking, Teacher (that's me) walks by with a listening ear, boys don't know teacher is listening behind them...and action: (click)

"I don't want summer school to be over!" boy one exclaims.

"Me either." cousin of boy one states.

"I would stay in here, even during recess if I could." boy three bodly says.

Boy four shakes his head up in down in agreement, without saying a word.

Teacher walks on speechless pretending she never heard the conversation but smiles from ear to ear when she gets to her desk.

WOW...are you kidding me? They don't want summer school to end? These are students who have not been successful at school, people, or they wouldn't be in SS in the first place.

To say the least and to borrow a line from Dr. Suess, my heart grew two sizes that day!

What a blessing! Do you remember my earlier post about looking for your present everyday? Found today's!!!!!

I <3 Ron

As many of you know, I want to marry Ron Clark.

He is amazing in every possible way.

The problem is, he doesn't know me...well, we met briefly and I told him "I hadn't ever heard of you until today and now...I love you!"

His response in his southern drawl?

"Well that was a quick love!"

I do love him...I love what he stands for and I love his passion.

If you don't know I love him already, now you have a good idea...

He was Disney's Teacher of the Year, and Oprah's first Man of the Year, or something like that...but he is a superstar in the world of education and well, I love him.

I am teaching summer school this year and I have thought about him many times over this short period. My kids need his wisdom and they need my love...and I am going to try to give them both.

I guess I was passionate enough about him over the course of these last few days because my students have now renamed me....

So, here I am...meet the real MRS. McCLARK (wink!)

Daily Gift

"Look for your present, God gives you one everyday!" says my mom...she lives it.

You can call her right now ask her what her gift was today and without missing a beat she will answer you...it might be the red bird in the bird bath just outside her window or a phone call from a friend right when she needed it or a swarm of butterflies migrating to the south right over her head...anyway she looks at it, God gives her a gift everyday. She looks for it and then tells Him thank you, every time.

I love that she raised me with this attitude. It makes me appreciate the little things and it pulls me up when I am bogged down with the minute details of life.

So I wanted to share with you just a few of my gifts this week:

This sunset greeted me as I walked out of the local grocery story one night last week. Feeling blah and doing the regular chores of the week I walked to my car, bags in hand. I saw this masterpiece. The picture doesn't do it justice, but it took my breath away:


Shopping with my daughter and her picking this poster out to hang on her wall. What she has learned at 13 years old...it amazes me...I was twice her age before I got how important this is:


Holding my friends new babies. I was able to visit two different friends this week. Each of them had new sons. One is 2 weeks old and one is 4 months. Oh the smell of newborns with lotion and powder and the sounds they make. The newborn grunt is so sweet and only lasts but a short time. It was music to my ears:

Like I said, these are just a few. Have fun looking for your present everyday...it will make you smile.

Sharing a Funny!

So working a long day of summer school and wanting to come home and "chill" I decided to do just that and read some of my favorite blogs. In doing so, I found the funniest video and laughed so hard I cried. I hope you enjoy it because I have to share. I just love the 80's!

Just One Day?

1. Today was day 2 of Summer School. I am teaching 5th grade reading and LOVE it...5th graders are way cool kids.

2. HUGE storm blew threw our town where literally the rain was a downpour and blowing sideways with lightning striking the ground all around us...but the storm lasted about 4 minutes.

3. Darbie almost has her back handspring and I got to see her practice tonight with her team...way cool, especially for someone like me who trips walking a straight line.

4. So You Think You Can Dance was overridden by the weather coverage...better watch out...The McCloud Girls would watch that show in the middle of the tornado if we had to...Guess I'll try to You Tube the first hour.

Addicted to Blogging! I mean writing...

So why didn't you all tell me I would love blogging? Is that word in the dictionary now?

I wish I was an author for a living. Well, I am a writing teacher, so I guess in a way I am an author for a living.

Just sitting behind this computer and writing brings joy. Maybe during this "semi mid-life crisis", I should take a writing class. Or I could just read a mentor text by Shannon Hale. She always inspires me. Read just a blog of hers and you want to be a better writer immediately, never mind her books.

I am taking a photography class as of tonight and I have homework, so when I have completed that homework I will post for you to see. I have more things I am planning on doing this summer such as taking an art class and a dance class. I won't master either one of these things but I have decided that becoming a master at crafts has kept me from pursuing them at all.

I saw a quote tonight at the store speaking of basketball that stated "You miss 100% of the baskets you don't shoot!" So, I may not have a high percentage of baskets while painting or dancing but at least I am going to shoot for fun this summer. I will keep you posted on the classes!

40 years old, here I come.....I won't go down without a fight!

Greater Love!

Just got back from Oklahoma City, OK to visit and hug my bother in law, Jerry, before he leaves for Iraq. Pride swells in my heart and a tear in my eye.

He is a Navy "SeaBee" (Construction Battalion) and has about 12 days left before he ships off and two months left in the states to train.

https://www.seabee.navy.mil/index.cfm/1499

I am so proud of him and his service to the best country, USA!

I am free because of Jerry and many like him. To be that unselfish and self sacrificing just amazes me. I am so thankful for those who can do this hard job.

Jesus said it best, as He always does when He said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Thank you, Jerry! And to those unsung heroes like my sister that stay brave and hold down the forts so that their husbands can go off to protect our country.

God bless you guys and God bless the USA!

Why Blog?

So I continued to ask myself this question, and then, on my first day of Summer Vaction, I asked "Why Not?"

It's my goal to make the posts short and sweet, but those who know me are already laughing out loud. I have never been able to tell a short story. But details make it fun and so you may get a few too many here in My Little Corner of the World.

My Corner is located in what I believe to be the BEST place in the world to live...TEXAS! I'm not biased, it's just true.
My corner is shared by my amazingly funny, always beautiful and sometimes sarcastic daughter, Darbie. For those analogy buffs, here goes:

Jodie is to Darbie; as Lorelai is to Rory.

We have super fun together and she is, I am sure, already teasing me for saying "Super Fun!"

Laughter is the main noise heard in our home along with TV, texting, music and worship. We love God. Jesus is our best friend and the Holy Spirit is welcome anytime.

It's not always perfect, but we smother ourselves with grace and move on.

Another population in our corner of the world are our 3 cats...Callie, Julia and Benny. Poor guy, he is the only male and I don't think he likes it. There are a few spiders that live outside on the porch and I can't talk myself into killing them, see they eat the other bugs and I like that!

I told you short and sweet was my goal but I will often times fall short of that...so we may try for long and loving.

I will keep you posted on the comings and goings and meanwhile...you have a wonderful day...or as someone I really respect use to say

"Make is a great day or not, the choice is yours!"