Trunk or Treat!

It's 11 O'clock on Halloween night....and I am at my house...in my bed....WOW...what a great feeling...It;s good to be home!!!

As if being here in my house was not good enough for the day...Tonight was Trunk or Treat at my church... Church members open up their car trunks and kids come and "trunk" or treat at each car... It is a great time..We had about 3,000 people come through tonight. Below you will see some pics of me and my 2 nieces.... but the best surprise of the night is the pic all the way at the bottom....


This bottom pic is a former student of mine from my very 1st year of teaching. His name is Jamie. He now goes to a different school in a different district. His Mama Barbara and Papa Wayne brought him out to the church tonight just with the chance that they might see me. Jamie didn't even want to go to all the cars and get candy...he just wanted to see me... I felt so honored that with all the hype of the candy and fun that he would want to come see me....Needless to say I gave him a Wal-mart bag full of candy.... I was so happy to see him...Its been a few years since I have seen him.....He has gotten so big....

I know his Mama Barbara reads my blog so I want to take a minute to tell her how thankful I am for them and how they just make me feel like part of their family. It was so good to see you guys tonight.... Let me know about that Karate!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

The Mini Ketchup Cook Book

Today at the trees one of my very best friends in the world, Pam Ray, came with a group of children from my old school. Pam was my ADEPT evaluator during my 2nd year, and now is just one of the best mentors and friends I could ever have.....

Being the good friend she is, she knows me very well. When she was in Pigeon Forge last week she saw this prize that she had to get me..... She got me the perfect book... Look at the pic below...

It's "The Mini Ketchup Cook Book" It is full of all the neat things you can cook and do with Ketchup, plus some really neat Ketchup facts...It even has a little quiz to see what you know about Ketchup.... I am sure I will be sharing some of them with you as I read through the book.

Did you know that ketchup is great to clean you copper pots and pans with... The book says it will leave them very shiny..... That made me think though....if its cleaning pots and pans, then what in the world is it doing to my stomach???? O well... Its too good!!!!

First Frost and This Weekend

Well....it's official....Fall is here...My car was frosted over for the first time this morning. I don't know why I like this time of year so much but I do. Something about the old things going away knowing that soon it will all be reborn with fresh colors and blossoms....It reminds me of all the junk and bad stuff in my life that goes away when I ask for forgiveness, and in the right season new fresh things come.... Ain't He just good to show us Himself in nature. Guess that's why we call Him God huh??

Speaking of the first frost....I was a great Boy Scout and was well prepared for the frost. I keep my ice scraper in the door of my car and I just scrapped away. Believe it or not I have had the same ice scraper for years. About 4 years ago I bought everyone in my family one for Christmas. I always get them a silly little dollar gift so we can all have the same thing. One year I got them socks, bedroom shoes, the ice scraper, those long candle lighters.... Any ideas for this year??? After all Christmas is only 56 days away, we better get busy!!!!

Below are some pics from this past weekend.... On Friday, it was a teacher workday and all of the district teachers of the year were recognized. My guest of honor was my mom. I was so proud to be home and have her go with me!!! Below that pic is a picture of Mandie's new house and the lovely kitchen and all the green paint Me, Matt, and Mandie painted all weekend...Her furniture arrives Wednesday and hopefully Matt and I will be back home soon!!! Enjoy the pics!

Christmas Music and Decorations

Yesterday morning I was listening to a local radio station. The topic of discussion was Christmas lights and music: when to put them and when to start listening to your favorite yuletide carols?

This seems to be a topic people love to start talking about this time of year because there is always someone who is the first to put Frosty and Baby Jesus on the lawn. There is always someone who puts the Mariah Carey Christmas CD before Halloween. ( that would be me ) There is also someone who is gonna leave Jingle Bells as their ring tone all year long...

My question is .....who cares if its early??... Every year this friend of mine starts whining and complaining about people celebrating too early...but I ask... Is it really bad that someone wants to celebrate the "most wonderful time of the year" a little bit longer??

If I want to celebrate why should I wait til December 1st, or til the day after Thanksgiving...that limits my time to be festive and really enjoy the season... No one fusses about those people who shop early, so all you who bash the early Christmas revelers take a chill and relax....its just music and lights...

Something I thought of that could explain early decorations... Maybe their loved is dying and isn't gonna be around at Christmas so they are celebrating early....Maybe their loved one is home from Iraq for 2 weeks and won't be home again for a year.... Wouldn't you want to decorate early? I say bring on the lights, the carols, the Santas, and all the Baby Jesus we can find. Just so you know.... Only 62 days to go..... So let me be the first to say....

Friends

Aren't you glad for good friends.... I am not talking about people who you just casually know, or occasionally talk to. I am talking about people who you can call in a moment's notice for help.... people who are there for you no matter what..... people who aren't related to you but seem like they should be.....people who know you and all your faults and still choose to love you and hang around..... Family members don't really have that choice, but friends do... They can come or go..But a good will stay no matter what.

God knew we would need these people... Sometimes we need families...and then sometimes friends just seem to be there in a whole different way. I am so glad He put some REALLY good friends in my life... I guess He knew I needed some "extra" help.

In the past month I have grown a tremendous amount, and I have learned to appreciate friendships in a whole new way... If you are my friend, consider this a public thank you for your love and support the over the past month... I could not have transitioned so easily without you!!!

Below are the names of a few I want to thank....
"Matt-Matt"
"IIIII Knnoow"
My Church Mama's ( you KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!!)
"Ponehead"
The Vintage 21 Message Receiver (This is you Sterling!!!)
"Moo-Moo"
"Ray"

and of course all of you faithful readers!!!

You guys are the best!!!!

Plum Tuckered Out

It's been 3 days since the start of the exhibit.... so far over 500 students and over 100 adults... I am WIPED out... and for some reason..unbeknownst to me...I decided to join Peak Fitness on Sunday... They had a deal going...$199 for a year, so I signed up.... Throw 2 days of work outs on top of all the "tree climbing" I have done, and you can just imagine my soreness. My title says it all... PLUM TUCKERED OUT!!! but all that said... "Ain't He Just Good!"

Exploring Trees

Many of you have been asking about my new job. Obviously from the lack of posting it has kept me very busy. Today I wanted to throw some pics out there and let you take a peek at the exhibit I get to manage through January!!! It's really cool!!!! Below is just a sample of all the cool learning stations that are part of the Exploring Trees Exhibit.

On a different note, I would love to know who is still reading. Drop me a comment or and email and let me know if you are out there. I understand if you left. The blog seems to have lost some steam as of late, but it is coming back soon, better than ever!!!!

Sitting on the Porch/ My New Job!

I don't know if you all remember back before the big flight across the pond about my blog entry from my mom's front porch.... I wrote about all the sounds I would miss... As I sit in the very chair where I wrote that first blog....all I can say is... It's good to be home!!!

Many of you have asked about my new job... It is quite an amazing and huge task I have before me.. I was asked by a local school district to be the project manager for a traveling educational exhibit that would be in our county from now til January. I am responsible for promoting the exhibit in all the schools, scheduling the exhibit, and managing the site each day.... If you are interested in knowing more about the exhibit email me at mrdearybury@hotmail.com

It really is an amazing opportunity... definitely one I would not have ever been given a chance to do as a classroom teacher. Funny how things just seem to work out "ain't it."

O well gotta run... Please don't give up on my blog.... I will have access to Internet at home soon enough., but for now the blogs will be a bit more sporadic than I like... I will write more soon!