If nothing else, at least they've learned to pray

This picture was taken by a teacher at my school who was clearing out the memory of the calculators the students used yesterday for the Math section of the TAKS test.  For those of you not from texas, TAKS is our version of the high stakes testing that has completely taken over our nation.  There is much I could say on this subject, but really, I think this picture says it all.

It's a...

peanut!  Or at least that is what it kind of looks like right now.  We got to see and hear the heartbeat.  It was nice and strong.  I think it has finally hit me that I really am pregnant!  The due date is Dcc 5th.  A few things did come back from my bloodwork that will make this a high risk pregnancy, so my OB has referred me to a specialist who will see me for the rest of my pregnancy It is nothing too worrying, but I am glad they are on top of things and will be prepared for any future problems.   I'll deliver at Baylor Dallas, which is a great hospital.

Reason 132 Why Homeschooling isn't Such a Bad Idea

Yesterday I got into a debate with several of my students who were insisting that 9-11 was a government plot, Alkieda doesn't exist, and other such nonsense.  When I asked them how they could possibly believe this, they said "Oh, Coach Williams taught us all about this in our National Security class."  They then proceeded to let me know that the moon landing was faked as well, as per Coach Williams.

Yep, this is what your tax dollars pay for.

This is your brain on sugar

So, read this story.  Aren't you glad that such a hardened criminal is being properly dealt with?  All I have to say is that I totally saw it coming.  I wrote this short story about four years ago at the Clarion writing workshop in Michigan.  It's called Sweet Stuff.  Just to warn you, my fellow workshop participants saw it as a disguised argument for the legalization of drugs.  I say it is just about candy (sorry about the formatting issues, it's a google docs thing).

I'm not dead, but the rabbit is!

So, what could have possibly happened when I was miserable with the flu, throwing up, feeling achy all over, basically dying, that could be classified as amazing?

Well, my friends, sit back and let me tell you a story.  On Sunday, I was feeling so poorly and couldn't stop vomiting and so I decided to go to the Urgent Care center to see if they could give me anything that would knock me out, put me out of my misery, etc. I also wanted to make sure that this was indeed the flu and not a precursor to my many intestinal issues.   The doctor was pretty sure that, yes, it was the flu, but perhaps they should do an x-ray just to make sure it wasn't anything worse.  I tell her that I think it is a great idea, but they better give me a pregnancy test first, since my husband and I have been trying to get preggo.  "I'm most likely not," I said, but we better be on the safe side.  So I do the peeing thing and wait in my room to be taken to get x-rayed.  

In walks the Doctor, who says "We won't be doing an x-ray after all, because the pregnancy test just came back positive."

I was in shock, trying to remember if positive meant I was positively pregnant, or maybe just that I was positively not pregnant.  But, within a moment, it all caught up to me and I started to cry (just a little).   I asked for Spencer to be brought in the room-- he was getting checked out too-- and said "guess what honey, we're pregnant!"

"How did that happen?"  was his reply.

It's still early, and a wiser more experienced Mom would wait to tell everyone, but I'm just too excited.  I went to my to my Obgyn oday and she confirmed that I am definitely pregnant.  She took a bunch of blood (15 tubes!), to do a few tests since I have had a blood clot in the past, and I am missing a bunch of my colon, but other than that, everything looks great.  I'll have my first official visit in two weeks, and I'll get my real due date then, but it will probably be at the beginning of Dec.

PS- it really was the flu, my morning sickness hasn't started yet.  

Back from the dead

I guess it is appropriate to the season that yesterday I was dying and today I feel like I'm back from the dead.  After feeling quite smug about the fact that I had missed the flu that hit just about everyone at school and in the ward, I got hit with a tsunami of a 24 hour flu that totally wiped me out.   I have not felt that miserable in a very long time.    However, despite my misery, it wasn't a completely horrid day, one pretty amazing thing did happen yesterday that I will share in a future post.  Stay tuned for more details.

Monday Musings

Sketch of The Laying on of Hands by Arnold Friberg depicting Moses bestowing his mantle and authority to Joshua.

Article of Faith #5

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

I had one of those moments yesterday.  The kind that are far too few and far apart lately.  I felt the Spirit bare witness to me in a very strong way.  After church yesterday, the Bishop had us all gather in the RS room so that everyone who had received a calling in the new ward could be set apart.  He began with the new Relief Society president.  When he set his hands upon her head and gave he the charge of watching over the ladies of the ward, I felt the spirit confirm that this calling was of God, and that she was not only the right person for the right job, but that she would have a great affect upon the women of Relief Society.  I could almost see the heaviness of the mantle that was being placed on her shoulders, but at the same time, I could feel Heavenly Father saying that he would send his spirt and other angels to help her bear the weight.

As I sat there, feeling the spirit so strongly, it eventually became my turn to be set apart.  As the first counselor spoke my name and of the responsibilities which the Lord was entrusting me, I felt the spirit once again speak to me, letting me know that I too was where I needed to be.  Regarding being set apart, Spencer W Kimball said "The setting apart may be taken literally; it is a setting apart from sin, apart from the carnal; apart from everything which is crude, low, vicious, cheap, or vulgar; set apart from the world to a higher plane of thought and activity."

How grateful I am for the restoration of the Priesthood power upon the earth.  While my calling may be considered frivolous by some, I know that I am needed here, and that if I can set myself apart from the world and listen to his will, I can make a difference in the Forney ward.