Top Ten Things I Am Thankful For!!!

In no particular order....

1. My Children
2. My Parents
3. My Friends (the best in the world)
4. My Job/My Class
5. Passing the GACE
6. God's Grace
7. God's Goodness
8. My Car
9. Being Adopted as a Child of God.
10. My Life!!!

April Rain
It is not raining rain for me,
It’s raining daffodils;
In every dimpled drop I see
Wild flowers on the hills.

The clouds of gray engulf the day
And overwhelm the town;
It is not raining rain to me,
It’s raining roses down.

It is not raining rain to me,
But fields of clover bloom,
Where any buccaneering bee
Can find a bed and room.

A health unto the happy,
A fig for him who frets!
It is not raining rain to me,
It’s raining violets.
by Robert Loveman

When all is said and done, "It's all good..."

Mag's First School Play

Maggie had her debut performance as an Indian woman in Hembree Spring Elementary School's Kindergarten Thanksgiving Play. She has come a long way, considering the fact that she used to cry just thinking about getting on a stage. She was front and center and didn't shed a tear. We are so proud of her. She never ceases to amaze us. After the play, we were able to attend a little feast in her classroom. I had the day off, so I was able to go. I was thankful for that. It is the small things in life that often count as the biggest blessings.

A Night at the Opera

Mag and her BFF, Mac Kenzie, were escorted to the Opera of Cinderella (sung in Italian) by Maggie's Dad, Mark Fogas. According to an anonymous tipster, Maggie could be seen smiling and laughing throughout the production. For her night on the town, Maggie wore a little denim number with blue leggings, a red shirt, and red Elefant patent leather shoes.

Rascal aka. Gaylor Dauhin Fogas

Meet Rascal, our new, non-biting dog. He is a sweetheart. He is in training to learn not to get on the furniture and to not get on our laps. He apparently has body dismorphic disorder and thinks that he is the size of a cat, which compels him to want to sit on our laps. We love him though!!!!!!!! Oh, an aside to his name....his name is Rascal, but Hayden and I named him Gaylord for 24 hours. The boys came unhinged and insisted that we call him Rascal. Hayden still calls him Gaylord, but the rest of us call him Rascal.

Mag is 6!!!!

Mag turned 6 on Nov. 4th. This year marks our fifth year home with her. These five years have been filled with uncountable blessings. Today, Nov. 9th, celebrates day that Mag entered our lives; today is Gotcha Day. It seems like she should still be the precious, fearful, crying, little baby who was placed in my arms. Today she is a smart, savvy, joy-filled, precocious little whip of a girl. She still is prone to what we refer to as "joy bursts," where the joy just builds up inside of her, and she has to find some outlet for it. Truly, she has a song in her heart and can often be heard making up little songs and singing them as she plays.....So as not to give the impression that she is perfect, I will add that she has a stubborn bone when it comes to clothes. Phew!!! She wears me out on that front. She only wants to wear jeans and t-shirts. End of story.....and she is picky about the kind of jeans and t-shirts. No more cute boutique clothes for Maggie, much to my disappointment.

Yesterday we celebrated Mag's bday at Young Chef's Academy. She and 13 of her closest friends from playgroup, soccer, and school had a tea party. It was a beautiful day.

Halloween 2008

Despite the fact that Miss Maggie has suddenly formed an opinion about EVERYTHING she wears, and despite the fact that up until yesterday, she has refused to wear her Halloween costume (though she picked it out), the lure of candy seemed to rule the day. She opted to dress up for Halloween and go trick or treating with Mark. We first went to our annual neighborhood Halloween party, and then she and Mark hit the road to trick or treat with some of our neighborhood friends.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

As assistant advisor to Heritage Preparatory's production of Alice In Wonderland, the production of the play became a family affair. Hayden was enlisted to paint the scenery. She did a magnificent job!!!! Hayden has a reputation at my school for being quite the artist as she draws all the illustrations that I use in class. All last week, I had countless students coming up to me to tell me how beautiful they thought the scenery was.