Wednesday, May 28, 2008

7 Days Till Bulldozers Come



We are packing up the schoolhouse.





Next door a new schoolhouse is being built.





Lakeland has been around now for more than 40 years. It was the first elementary school built west of I-35; it's time for new walls and new desks.

I took this picture after school today as I was waiting for the light to change.



It is in fact a young mother pulling her two children in a shopping cart. She was sweating profusely but kept walking as she wiped the sweat from her brow.

I found out today, with 7 days of school remaining, that one of my students is on her 3rd stepmother.
She lost a baby brother this week. He died after only 2 weeks of life.
Her birth mom is in jail and she shares a 2 bedroom apartment with 11 other people, not all of whom she knows.

People have asked me how I can do this job.
How can I not?

Knowing that the need is there for these children, and that I can somehow fill that need, that's all that's required to get me to work.

I cry every year when I have to say goodbye to my students. I see them more than I see my family or my fiance...8 hours a day for 9 months is a long time. We've come a long way and I'm proud of them.



Allow me my remaining days of school sentimentalism.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Radiohead

Last weekend Chris and I went to the Radiohead concert in Dallas.

Chris thinks it was "quack-tastic".
It was his 3rd Radiohead concert, and the best concert he's seen in years.



I thought the show was fantastic, as was the people-watching.
I got to see my entire closet from 1987 parading around on 17 year-olds. Jellies and boys in skinny jeans...leggings and pink hair.
I'm sure all the kids were wondering why "grandma" was out so late on a school night.



Oh, and the music and lights were awesome.
I really had fun watching the guy 2 rows up stare in awe and wonderment at his water bottle...through 4 songs!
Recreational drugs mayhaps?



I'm glad I have Chris to get me out to these things.

He gets me to Midlake and Radiohead shows.

I get him to Northern Canada and Central Turkey.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Boxes of the Deep

It has gotten unbearably hot outside, but I don't care.

Everyday I get to come home to this:




And when it's really too hot, I do this:



Learn how to scuba dive.



Friday, May 23, 2008

Expensive Dress Pick-Up

Yesterday I picked up my gorgeous wedding gown from the bridal shop.
 
On the way home I was issued a speeding citation.
 
That's all.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Best Bridal Showers Ever

I apologize for the lag-time between posts;  I've been showering, and it's been great.  To  see all the photos go to my online web album.

I only had the patience to de-red eye half the pics, so I apologize in advance for the scary ones.

You can also view the question/answer game I was made to play at the family bridal shower. I was asked a question, then gave the answer I thought Chris would give, then I watched his answer. It was hysterical. Here's the link to that. When you get to the site look to the left and click on "Sarah's Shower Video".

Now I'm going to go enjoy a lazy Sunday.



Monday, May 5, 2008

Second Annual Malentine's Day

Anyone that knows Chris and I know that we don't celebrate that day heartfelt day in February. We take time together the first Sat. of every May. We like lower prices and less crowds and the security of knowing that our day is always on a Saturday.

Last Malentine's Day Chris engaged me in marriage.


This Malentine's Day, we engaged ourselves in two high school proms and a wedding reception.


Chris and I drove to Fort Worth Sat. morning and spent the whole afternoon playing at Mayfest. We were a little concerned when we saw all the people there with kids. Was this just for kids? Would adults have fun? Are we adults?


Turns out - it's not just for kids, and no, we're not fully adults.

Chris took his turn riding the mechanical bull and I took a ride down the giant inflatable slide. We saw some very interesting "art" for sale, and some talented musicians playing music.

After leaving Mayfest we checked into the Worthington Hotel.
The valet asked if we were there for the wedding or one of the proms. Chris and I both looked at each other and smiled that knowing smile.

Between the valet, the doorman and the front desk lady, Chris managed to find out the location and times of each of the aforementioned events.

We got dressed, went to dinner, then came back to the hotel ready to party.

Chris and I danced our first dance together at our junior prom, so it only seemed right we dance at another one. It's like coming full circle.

We went to the prom and told the chaperone's our high school love story. They thought it was sweet so they put on our song from 1997 and everyone applauded as we danced under the spotlight on the dance floor.

Then we went to the wedding reception and got to talk to the bride and groom. We told them we loved all their decor and that they had inspired us to include some of their ideas in our upcoming wedding.
The best man actually included us in his toast!
We danced to all the songs and had some cake and thanked the bride and groom for a great time.

Or so it would go in my screenplay.

In reality we went to the prom only to find NO ONE was dancing.

Too shy teenagers.

They were just gossiping in the bathroom and holding up the walls.

Not wanting to be the old people everyone pointed at, we went to prom #2. At prom #2 a full line of policemen blocked our entrance so we moved on to the wedding reception.

We signed the guest book and went inside only to find, everyone was dressed in jeans! It was obvious within seconds we did not belong.
Not only that...no one was dancing.
I made the executive decision to cross the dance floor and watch their wedding video. Maybe get some ideas.
Then a lady dressed in a red polka-dotted "dress" approached us.
"Who are you?"
Chris answered "Chris and Sarah."
"Um...how do you know the bride and groom?"
"Oh, we're friends of a friend of a friend."
"Oh, so you know Derek?"
"Yes. We just met a few weeks ago."
May day, May day.

I told Chris I was leaving, hoping he would follow my lead. I turned around to see him still talking to the polka-dot girl.
Not five seconds later I saw her making a gesture at him, and then at the door.

"What did she say?" I asked when he finally got outside.
"She asked me again how I knew the bride and groom."
"And what did you say?"
"I said 'Ohhhhh, the bride and groom?...no, I don't know them.' Then she told me it was a private party and to leave."

So we went back to the room and fell asleep watching Austin Powers and listening to the giggles of high schoolers running up and down the hallway.

So weird to think that one day one of them might be celebrating their own second annual Malentine's Day.

Especially weird since that would mean Malentine's Day had gone global.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Bath Time











Or shower time.

Either way you look at it, last weekend Chris and I had the best time at our first wedding shower.

Mom and Dad Mathis, Mom and Dad Wehkamp, Jenica and Matt, Julie and Sean, and all our wonderful friends, made us feel like the most special couple in all the world.

Both of us tried to put a witty twist on this event, but the truth is, we are just too overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude and friendship to try to force a funny angle on things.
Seriously.
We tried.

We had great food, great wine, great conversations with great people, great gifts, great chocolate fountain, great decor, great weather...we are truly blessed with the best family and friends.

Thanks for taking the time to celebrate the start of a rockin' marriage. You all play such important roles in our lives.