New Year's Eve

I love this day... A day to reflect on the past year and look towards a new one. I looked back at my post this time last year because I remembered posting some goals. I have looked back at them a few times during the year to see how I was doing, and I feel pretty good about how I did. My Geography teacher from high school used to say that writing your goals down would help you to achieve them better. Guess he was right... Go here and read the goals! Great, now for my goal analysis...

1.For the second half of the year, (Aug.-Dec.) I was a great blogger. I didn't miss a day. SO I consider that one a success.

2. Fail.... I did not write one card a month. I did write several cards throughout the year, but I was hoping to be intentional about it. Maybe 2011 will be better.

3. WOW!!!! I was so excited to see my progress on this one... I passed my goal weight and kept on going... I am still eating healthy, no fast food, red meat once a week (sometimes twice.), and even better than the Wii 3 times a week, I am running 45-50 miles a week while training for a marathon! SUCCESS!!!! In fact tomorrow, I am scheduled for my first 18 miler in my marathon training... Wish me luck!

4. I would love to skip this one and pretend I didn't even put it on here. I failed miserably. I only read 1 book this entire year. I am sure you want to know which one... It was called Plan B. It was a great read about to do when your Plan A doesn't work out and you have to trust God through his "plan B." GREAT READ. I have at least 3 on my night stand that I want to finish soon. I am a good starter, but never finish!

5. Success... For the first time in my life I have a savings and there is something in it!

I guess 3 out of 5 ain't to shabby. The teacher in my gives that a grade 60. Yes that would be an F on the infamous grading scale, but in life that is passing in my book! I hope you will take a minute to reflect on your year. Take a moment even now and make some goals for 2011. Tomorrow is a day for fresh beginning.

Happy New Year!

Reminiscing 2010

This was a great year. So much happened this year that I am ecstatic to think about. I thought I would share some of those things today as we approach the end of the year tomorrow night!

1. Change of Lifestyle- This time last year I was just stepping out on the weight loss journey. I honestly NEVER would have thought that I would have come so far with this one. On this day last year I was a good 200... I had lost about 25. Now... 150!

2. Running- With the healthy eating lifestyle came the fitness as well. Running was not even a thought in my head this time last year. Some time around March I started training for a little 5k at my church...Today, I am training for a full 26.2 marathon in March of 2011. Here is a list of races I have done this year.

1. AMRBC 5K-27:30
2. Jim Hauser Run For Hope- 21:48 (2nd in my age group)
3. Back to School 5k- 21:16 (1st in my age group)
4. Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon- 1hr. 30 minutes (32nd out of 4,000)
5. Turkey Day 10k- 30:55 (16th out of 450)

3. Drove across country for the second time in my life and this time was just as amazing!

4. Went to San Diego with my friend Teri from Utah and her family. First time I had seen her in 12 years. It was like I saw her last week!

5. iPhone 4 became a part of my life and and a permanent fixture to my body!!!!!

6. I had my first encounter with a cushion eating squirrel.

7. I finally cut down the rotted tree in my back yard.

8. Over 1600 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes collected at church. It was a new church record!!!

9. A WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Something I have hoped for my entire life, and it finally happened.

10. All of my family is healthy and safe!

Tell me some of the good things that happened to you this year!

More Snow Day Fun!

Here are some more pics and a video of the fun we had on our snow day. After I built the snowman in my yard, my sister needed my help to build one in her yard. We headed up there for snowman building, sledding, snow angels, snowball fights, and snow cream. It was a great day!

Snowman Kit

Back in 2002 my mom made me this snowman kit. She had this idea all on her own and then it seemed the next Christmas we saw them premade from China in every store we went in. I have seen them more and more since then. This one however is handmade, and very special to me. She painted the box and snowman, and nailed his hat on top.

Inside, she put a long piece of felt with frayed edges for the scarf. She got a foam carrot from Michael's and put a wooden dowel rod in it. She bought 3 large wooden circles, 2 med. and 5 small to make his eyes, nose, and buttons.

Believe it or not, I did not make a snowman with the kit until March of 2009. It snowed several times from 2002-2009, but I was either where I couldn't get the kit or the snow wasn't the right texture. You can't make a snowman with just any old snow. The first time I made the snowman with this kit, I decided to write the date and amount of snow on the back. I was so happy to add Dec. 25th-26th to the list. After I write the date, I print a picture of me and whoever helped build the snowman to keep inside the box.

I cannot even fathom what a treasure this will be to me one day. I already love this thing so much. I wonder how I will love it in about 30 more years?

Blizzard 2010

You thought we had some snow... Check out this time lapsed video from NJ...32 inches in 20 hours! Unreal!!!

December 2010 Blizzard Timelapse from Michael Black on Vimeo.

UNBELIEVABLE CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas Eve at Granny's!

All the cousins!

I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!!!! SNOW ON CHRISTMAS IN SOUTH CAROLINA!!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Christmas Night we all meet at my house for dinner and gifts! It was so much fun!!!

Who would have believed all the snow, and it was still falling this morning!!!

Be on the look out for this pic in your mailbox this time next year.
I hope you had a very Merry WHITE Christmas!

25 Days of Christmas-25

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:11-12

"Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull...There they crucified him..."
John 19:17-18

Thanking Jesus today that He loved me enough to leave the riches of heaven to die for me.

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

25 Days of Christmas-24

These are my trees this year. They always seem to sparkle just right on Christmas Eve. I hope you and your family have a great day today and tomorrow!

Charlie Brown Tree

Bedroom Tree

This is the tree in the guestroom. I put all my sentimental ornaments on this one.

The Living Room Tree

Merry Christmas!!!

25 Days of Christmas-23

Merry Christmas!!!

25 Days of Christmas-22

Yesterday me, my mom, Matt, and my friends JoAnn, Pam, Emily, and Nicole went to Dollywood to celebrate Christmas. We had a blast!!! Here are some pics of the day!

Merry Christmas!!!

25 Days of Christmas-21

Hopefully you have seen this movie... If not, take a minute and watch some clips of ELF. It is my all time favorite Christmas movie. I have watched it about 10 times already this season.

Merry Christmas!!!

25 Days of Christmas-20

I am a HUGE TECHY! I love gadgets and gizmos, and pretty much anything from Apple. Check out what this church band did to lead worship this Christmas season with their iPads! AWESOME!

Merry Christmas!!!

25 Days of Christmas-19

Back before I was ever at my school, my coworker JoAnn started a reading club called Arthur's Reading Club in order to get kids to fall in love with reading. Arthur is a book character that has been around a while, and all the books are perfect for a 2nd grade reader.

The first year I started working with her I became an instant fan of the club. It gets the kids reading in an amazing way!!! Last week as I was looking for her a gift, I found this perfect ornament for her.


When I found it, I immediately wanted one for myself. It was perfect for a teacher tree!!! I had to put my own selfish feelings aside, and like any other good shopper I just looked to find another one. I looked all over that store. I moved every Christmas ornament in the place twice thinking that it would be hidden somewhere.

With no luck, I made up my mind that my friend JoAnn deserved this ornament. She started a fantastic club that is great for kids, and this Arthur ornament was a perfect reminder of her hard work. I gave it to her on Friday morning and she was ecstatic!!! She said she had always looked for an Arthur ornament but could never find one. I was so happy she liked it.

After I gave her the gift, I went down to my classroom and my kids were all begging me to open my gifts. This little kid handed me a gift bag and said, "I got you an ornament you are gonna love." I opened it up, and what in the world was it..... AN ARTHUR ORNAMENT JUST LIKE THE ONE I GAVE JOANN!!!! I could not believe it!!!

I was so excited to get that thing. I am sure the kids thought, "Wow, Mr. D sure does love Arthur!" I almost cried... Not because I got what I wanted, but because that is what Christmas is about... Putting others before yourself... Then just look what happened. It was AWESOME, and that ornament will always be a reminder to me, to put others first!

Merry Christmas!

25 Days of Christmas-18

This is a special Christmas edition of Silly Saturday. I hope you enjoy!!!

1. After making gingerbread houses a student said, "This room smells cookyish!

2. Right smack in the middle of a math test, this boy decides to bellow a hearty "Ho, Ho, Ho!"

3. I wore a Christmas tie one day this week and a student asked me, "Why do you look so lovely today Mr. Dearybury? Did your grandma die today?"

4. As you know I had the Elf on the Shelf visit me room this week. Everyday, about 5 times a day, someone shouted. "He blinked! He blinked!"

5. Yesterday when I was opening all the gifts my students brought me a student said, "I hope there is an ear wax scooper in there because I the mother load in my ear!!!"

Merry Christmas!

25 Days of Christmas-17

Ahhhhhhhhhh...... That is a collective ahhh rising up to the heavens from the mouths of every school employee of Spartanburg County... Can you hear it? It is officially Christmas break so let the relaxation begin.

Today was a half day at school filled with parties, sing-a-longs, and presents. Every year I love this day because the kids are just so excited that they can hardly stand it. Their parties and all the fun are a huge cause, but it seems every year my students are just as excited about the gifts they have for me. Here you see a pic of me and all my goodies from today.


My kids just gave me the best things today, but more than I love the gifts, I love their sweet heart that they give it with. They are so excited to give a gift. They do not care if it is a Kit-Kat or a 100 dollars, they are so excited to give it. I can only hope that my excitement to give this Christmas season will be just an ounce of my students.

Merry Christmas!

25 Days of Christmas-16

This week at school we have had this special visitor keeping an eye on us. If you don't know about this guy, then you definitely need to google, "Elf on A Shelf." He watches all the children and gives a report back to Santa about who has been naughty and nice. Every morning when we come in the room he had magically moved to a different place.

On Monday he sat on the big tree in my reading corner.

On Tuesday he sat in the top of our class Christmas tree.

On Wednesday he sat right in the middle of one our floor lamps, after he turned them all on early that morning.

Today he sat on the shelf under the TV

I peeked in the window of the classroom tonight after the PTO meeting, and he was already in a new perch on the top of the Promethean Board projector.

I have never had this little visitor in room before this year, but I am so glad that Santa sent him. He has been so much fun, and kept all the little kiddies on their toes! I am already looking forward to him coming back next year!

Merry Christmas!!!

25 Days of Christmas-15

Every year for the past 13 or so I have played my trumpet in a Christmas musical. I love to play during this time of year because the music is always so much fun! This year's musical at church is titled, The First Noel. It is a great musical, but I must admit that parts of it are very challenging for me. Tonight at our dress rehearsal I totally bombed my big solo part at the beginning of the show. Big time bomb!!!!! It was right at the beginning of practice too so I couldn't pull the whole "my lips are tired" excuse.


My lips felt swollen from the very first note tonight. Maybe all my running in the cold this week had an effect on them. Thankfully Sunday is a rest day for me, so hopefully I will be ready by our performance that night.

If you want the details about show times, feel free to drop me a comment and a way to get back with you, and I will get you all the details. If you don't come to our church musical, find one somewhere near you and go. You won't regret it, and it will get you in the right frame of mind to celebrate the season.

Merry Christmas!

25 Days of Christmas-14

Yep... My family is a pack of idiots when it comes to Christmas. We will do what ever we need to in order to make some memories, and tonight we proved that. With a parade time temperature of 28, and and wind chill of 19, we bundled up like any decent Southerner, with our long johns, "toe"boggins, wooly hats, and extra thick socks from Carolina Cash, and headed out to the curb with our pop up camping chair to get the best spot for the annual Spartanburg Christmas Parade.

We got there a bit early because we wanted a good spot. No fear of a big crowd though..they were the smart ones...parked along the streets in their warm cars until the parade got a bit closer. O not us though, we are troopers... real die hard, go getters, when it comes to Christmas time fun!

My nieces really got us in the spirit quickly as they screamed "Happy Merry Christmas" to EVERY person who walked by. It was so funny because there was hardly anybody down there and there little tiny voices seemed to echo down the empty streets of downtown.

Those poor guys selling the Christmas junk out of their buggies were overwhelmed with all the yuletide greetings being screamed at them. A few of them did not even know how to respond to such Southern kindness. One of them did give the girls a free bag of cotton candy just for being so sweet.

After arriving around 6, the parade finally made its way down to where we were sitting around 7. Boy were we glad to see it coming. We shouted and hooted and hollered at every float, band, and hillbilly car that went by. We even yelled at the local TV celebrities that came by. We had a BLAST!

Yes, it was bitterly cold!!! My toes are all swaddled up in a heating pad as I type, in a way that would make any baby in a manger jealous. But man, was it worth it!! We laughed so hard and just spent some good quality time together sitting on the side of the street watching Christmas go by!

Below are a few pics I snapped with my phone. There are not too many because my phone is a touch screen and I couldn't bear to take my gloves off for more than a second or two.

Of course, this was the girls favorite part!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

25 Days of Christmas-13

If you have never been in an elementary school around this time of year, I encourage you to find one and do some volunteering. Nothing will get you in the spirit of the season faster than being around all those kids so close to Christmas. Granted, nothing will make you want to pull your out faster either!!!

One of the things I love most about being at school this time of year is all the fun things we make and do as part of our curriculum. In my room the magical "Elf on the Shelf" appeared on Monday. As a result of his visit, we decided to make a paper version of an elf and write stories about our own "pretend" elves that live with us. Below you see a sample of one. Notice the whole bunch of them dangling in the background.




The elves coupled with the chipmunks singing in the background all day got me on the most festive mood. If you ate feeling kind of bah "humbuggy" stop by, and we will sing the hula hoop song for you and get you on the path to a very merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!

Posted from BB's iPhone!

25 Days of Christmas-12

One of my favorite things to do around this time of year is Secret Santa. At the school where I used to work we played every year. At the beginning of the last week before Christmas break we would draw a name of a faculty member then secretly give them little gifts all week long. At the end of the week we would give a bit larger gift and reveal who was each person's secret Santa.

The best week I ever had with this game was my very first year teaching. All week long I got gifts, and it was fun, but nothing prepared me for the most thoughtful gift I would get at the end of the week. It was this tree here... It was decorated with apple ornaments that had each of my students' names written on them. I was so surprised to get such a thoughtful gift during what was just a little Christmas game.



This tree is something that I cannot wait to set out every year. I think about everyone of those little kids as I hang the ornaments on the tree. There were so many memories I made with that bunch of kids that year. This year they are all in 8th grade. Recently I talked with one of them, Jamie, and I ask him what he remembered about 1st grade. He said, I remembered you loved us very much, and we made a lot of bag puppets." I cannot believe how time has flown by!

Merry Christmas!