school stuff

I have been very concerned lately, increasingly, about the boy's school.  It used to be reputedly the best public elementary school in Hawaii.  And this is evidenced by the prices of the houses in our neighborhood.  But it seems the school has gone way down hill - there has been a high teacher turnover and principal instability.  I have heard from five (5) different people about 5 different situations at the school where the current principal (who has been there for 3 years) was just, um, ineffective.  She essentially did nothing.  Either that or her best shot was to hand out g.e.'s (geographical exceptions).  What??????  Yep.  There is a situation in the 5th grade class where 3 boys are being disruptive and the teacher unable to handle it, so much so that PARENTS take turns coming into the classroom every day to keep an eye on things.  And the principal is proud of this solution!!  My next door neighbor has pulled her son out of school because his teacher won't challenge him.  The poor boy begged to be homeschooled after winter break.  The mom has tried to get him either moved to a different class or bumped up to the next grade and has talked extensively to the teacher (who you would think would love to have a child who is eager to learn).  Each time she talks to the principal she's like, "and who is this child?  and what is the problem?"  like she's never met them before!!  So now he's home and they are looking for solutions for next year.

Anyway, I didn't mean to fall into a gossip session.  I'm just more and more convinced that I need to get that mom's prayer group started.  I've been noodling this.  And all my noodling has brought me to the conclusion that I should have started with.  I need to pray about it.  I am sooooo willing and wanting for this to happen.  I'd even be willing to clean my house weekly and host it here!  But getting it started...  God's gonna have to bring us together.  I've been wanting this ever since I found out we were going to move.  Surely there are one or two more moms that feel the same.  Months ago I talked to the area MITI leader, but that's gone no where.  She has my name and number though, in case anyone contacts her.  I need to pray for boldness to probe the few Christian moms that I know.  I've joined the MITI group at our church, but theyare mostly homeschool moms, and I really don't like using up Sunday School time with a parachurch org.  (yeah, another beef I have)

Well, I just wanted to get that out.

no gray clouds

I just noticed that I have entered a whole lot, and what I have has been such downers.  Letting you know here that I don't have the thunderhead looming over me.  Just fluffy white clouds, mostly sunny.  LOL!  I've got a new scrapbook magazine in the mail (always makes me smile) and I'm on the 3rd book of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  Feeling good.

Sunday morning early early - went to the Sunrise service at Kailua Beach Park.  It was gorgeous!  It was a collaberation of 4 churches, so there were lots of people there, for 6am on a Sunday.  To me, the sight looked like how I imagine when Jesus taught crowds of people, all sprawled out on the grass. (but there was nowhere near 5000) And then when we were singing, because of the lighting of the time of day, I could see various people sillouetted and lifting their hands - makes me tear up now remembering it.  I can just imagine that's what it will be like in heaven - except we ALL will be lifting our hands because we won't be ashamed or embarrassed and we will FEEL it in our hearts!  Then after the short service, we walked out to the beach and watched the baptisms.  Wonderful!  And then, when all that was done, we drove to church and ate breakfast!  Yum!  And if you missed the early service, they had a 9:00 service.  :-)

Our church.  I still have conflicting feelings about it.  I'm such a Baptist at heart.  The church we go to has Baptist in the name, but it's not affiliated with any denomination.  They are even considering changing the name, which I think they should do.  I'm okay that they don't take up an offering (they have a box in the back where you can put it if you wish ) and they support their own missionaries (however, I still love the IMB) - but I do have reservations that there isn't an invitation at the end.   And I expressed my concern to the pastor.  They do mention that if you have prayer concerns, there are people who will pray with you - but I really want my kids to see people make that decision and come forward.  Who were these people that got baptized Sunday?  There is no announcement, no chance for us to go forward and shake their hands and rejoice with them.   They don't even list names in the bulletin or anything.  Also, this pastor touches on the need for Jesus, but rarely does he just lay it out.  I have to be honest and say I was disappointed that he did this yet again on Sunday - the perfect opportunity to speak to those who don't normally attend any church service.  This is totally the Baptist coming out in me.  He expects people to come from their own desire from within - which is good, but most people won't come if you don't ask them or suggest it!  They are just waiting!  I've seen it too much to think differently.

Anyway, I've said it before, it's a very hippy-dippy mentality.  Heaven forbid if we get a committee together.  :-)  I imagine lots of people go for this sort of thing.  I'm a very by-the-book, rules girl so it's not my nature.

But having said all that, I do think this is where we are meant to be - for the time being.  I am learning to loosen up.  I actually raise my hands up to waist height sometimes during songs!  If you knew me, you would know this is the equivalent of doing back flips down the aisle.  I am learning that it's okay to bodily express joy and gratitude - worship.  Tee-hee!  See, those hippies are good for something!

Well, it's almost 11 am and I haven't showered yet.  I'm still stinky from my walk, so I better get to it!  Have a great day.

appointment made

I only have like 5 minutes to make an entry, I don't know why I even feel compelled to make one.

I made my mammogram appointment today - it's not until May 9 (my brother's birthday).  My surgery is May 15.  The earliest available was May 4.  I hope that's enough time... Yes, I keep thinking they are going to find something, want to biopsy, yadda, yadda.  Well, I guess I can still go through with the exchange and postpone the lift.  But I'm sure the wise thing would be to postpone it all until things are resolved. 

See???  I've already got the demise of my left boob all planned out! 

The little gray cloud that follows me around is usually tiny, about the size of a cotton puff.  But now that I have a mamm. scheduled and the almost-completion of my reconstruction  coming up, it's the size of a thunderhead.

Gotta go pick up my chilluns.  Pfffff, go away cloud.

 

Happy Easter Y'all!

HE IS RISEN!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Ahem, about the, ur ah, avacado seed...

Yes, I did plant one - thanks for remembering Trish - and they (the folks on some website) declared it one of the easiest things to sprout and grow.  (they probably said something like "even a toddler can do it"??) 

I thought I already reported on this, maybe I thought about it, but was in deep denial. 

It never sprouted roots. 

The only growth from that thing was mold. 

So I had to toss it.  *sigh*  I'll try again later when I'm over the trauma...

Rats.  I just made some guacamole yesterday!  The pit is still in the bowl in the fridge.  I wonder if I can still use it?

Spring in Hawaii

 Eureka!  Evidence that spring has sprung in Hawaii.  Somehow, the native plants have detected the subtle change in weather (I'm not sure what it is, but they must feel something) and have bloomed accordingly.  I have a new bird of paradise flower and the promise of more, and I have at least 10 lobster claws!  I also took a picture of the pineapples I have planted.  Not much change, but they are still hanging in there.   I took a picture of the WHOLE bird of paradise plant.  It's HUGE!  I whacked at that thing for at least a 1/2 hour cutting away dead stems.  I just can't get down into it - well, maybe can't isn't the right word.  I'm afraid of what's in that jungle of a plant.  I'm afraid, more specifically, of centipedes.  They bite!  And they're nasty.  I haven't seen any, but that doesn't mean they are lurking somewhere in the dark... 

Anywhoo, I had my little Japanese sythe (the Japanese have so many clever little things!,  I just love browsing through stores here) and was hacking away - ala Romancing the Stone - yet, apologizing to the plant every so often when I would accidentally cut into a healthy stem.  Is that weird?  Yeah, that's weird.

Two weeks ago I was uprooting a very healthy cluster of aloe vera plants.  I felt terrible about it, but we have at least 5 plantings of aloe, and they are all quite healthy.  Something had to go!  I plan on planting a nice large tropical plant - something indiginous - well, I don't think anything is officially indiginous to Hawaii, they use some sort of word that escapes me at the moment.  Anyway, I plan to plant something that will thrive here without me having to water it in excess.  You know - be enviromentally friendly.  Sure, the aloe thrived, but, frankly, it's ugly and doesn't scream tropical oasis.  I wonder why the people that planted them planted so many?  Did they have some sort of skin condition?  Too many sunburns?

gas prices on post: $2.82  yikes!  it's gone up a lot!

weather: hot, dry, no wind

The radiology department did not call this week, so first thing Monday I'm getting on the horn to schedule that mammogram.

 

have you been squished lately?

This is a friendly little reminder, in honor of Jland's very own Kim at I Shaved My Legs For This?,  who just received some very bad news.  Please go over and give her support if you haven't already - I have her link on the side. (I think the few who read this have already done so)  Please don't forget to make your appointment to get a mammogram this year, when you are due!  And please, please, please don't ignore any lumps.  As they say, the only good lump is one in a jar!

Kim, we love you and I'm praying that this is a wrong diagnosis, and if not that, they can knock this puppy down.  Keep it at bay, wimpering in the corner.  Bad dog!  I'm sorry, I don't deal well when things get serious. 

***************************************************************************

Personally, I'm waiting for them to call to make the appointment.  I've already called my PCM and she put in the request for my mammogram - if they don't call by the end of the week, then I'm calling them.  Gotta get it done before the surgery since the date is close to the one year mark.  Yes, time does fly.  My concerning mammogram was in June last year.  Oh, I haven't posted yet that my surgery date to get my implant and get this rock hard expander out of me is May 15.

I'm currently watching The Bachelor.  Can't resist.  He's in the military and stationed here at Hawaii, so there is a lot of local interest.  I even already have some insider gossip about him, which I won't share, since I don't gossip.  pfffft.  LOL!  But anyway, he seems too good to be true, doesn't he?  Good looking, doctor, officer, athlete, "heart of gold" volunteer - what's wrong?  Gary said he must be gay.  I wondered if it's because he's a closet jerk, but hearing his voice.... That may be it.  It kinda drones.  But really, we can look past the voice, can't we?  At least it's not attached to an annoying accent.  Hmmmm, he just mentioned that he liked kids and he used to teach sunday school.  Christians don't usually play out well on t.v.  If he's a strong (real) one, then I'm surprised they chose him.  Not enough sex and swearing, LOL!

Ugh, who picks these girls???  There's a handful I hope he doesn't give a rose to - and the show has only been ona half hour!!  LOL!