Let us pause for a moment of Erin...

I just finished reading a great book!  I say that it is a great book because of what this book stirred inside of me because I read it.  Now you might read this book and not really care for it much.  In fact some will say it's not their style, they didn't think it was anything special, and they would rather just go see the movie.  It doesn't matter.  To me, it was great.  I believe it is not the book itself that we rate, but what kind of emotional, mental, or even physical reaction we have to the book that we rate.  We aren't looking for how well they composed sentences, or manipulated the English language when we get down to telling our opinion about a book.  We critique how it made us feel.  I love when you read a book that makes you look at your own life in some manner.  I like them even more when they cause me to once again be thankful and recognize instances in my life that are truly worth noting.  When a book makes me want to w...

Another school year has ended.  This always is a bittersweet time of year for me.  Although I am starting my summer vacation - which is very exciting - I have to say goodbye to my family of first graders to do it.  I call them my family because for an entire year we spend every week day together.  We have to learn things about each other to not only make it through the year, but to have a great time together.  I love every one of my first graders, and think of them as "my kids".  I do special things for them throughout the year because they are so precious to me.  It is hard when the school year ends and I must say goodbye.  I will get a new group of kids in August, and we will again learn things about each other and start to have load of fun as well.  It's just hard at first letting them go to move on. Now I am in my first week of vacation.  Thursday was my first official full day off of work.  I am very lucky to say that my wond...

A year ago today was the very first time I went on a date with Dexter Parks. :) There are many things that I remember, thought, and knew on that first date. <3 What I remember from that very first date is, of course, I was nervous. I had been chatting online with this guy that I had only met in person, and talked briefly to in passing. I knew who he was for a very long time, but never really knew him. I remember that he was always very smart and smooth when it came to me. He had heard from friends of mine that I was not someone to be pushed or rushed into dating. I remember his patience as we chatting online and via texting for a while before I felt comfortable enough to go on a date with him. (I have never been the best at dating. I get nervous and uncomfortable around people I don't know well.) I remember being excited and going through most of my closet deciding what to wear. I remember that he brought me purple flowers, and opened all doors for me the entire nigh...

Lately Dexter and I have a new show obsession - Chopped. Thank you to Food Network for sponsoring an hour filled full of anticipation, tension, and lots of unique food combinations. We sit and watch and critique these professional chefs as though Food Network had contacted us and inquired our opinion. For 60 minutes we really feel like we know as much as Julia Child or Bobby Flay. It leaves us hungry for new ingredients and me a bit empowered in my own kitchen. I see these chefs romp about and toss this and that together and something almost always splendid is the result. I sit there and think, I'm going to try that - or something very similar. :) Tonight was one of those good cooking experience nights. I felt like one of those Chopped chefs. I was bouncing around the kitchen with such ease. I had at least four things going at once with just the right pace. I would add a dash of this spice, a little of this to make a type of sauce - and not to brag too much, but my stea...

As a sad sorrow hits my family, I once again turn to my blog as an outlet for my emotions. My Grandpa Kenny went to heaven this past Saturday. His funeral will be at the end of this week. I find writing to be the perfect way to express myself in moments like these. I wrote something special for my Grandma and Grandpa Williams when they too went to heaven. And now I pay respect and honor to my Grandpa Kenny with a blog in his memory. I also plan to read this at his funeral, as I did for my other grandparents. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16 This was the first bible verse I ever memorized as a child. Now that I am an adult I can see why this is the first verse we are taught. This verse gives comfort, strength, and understanding in so many instances of life. Today, it gives me comfort. For I know, as do any one who knew my Grandpa Kenny, he is in heaven today. One of the best m...

Life is short, and life is sweet. Words that were spoken at my great uncle's funeral today. So true, and not always recognized by many. My great uncle's death was an unexpected thing. Death is never an easy thing to deal with or understand. Even though it was over a year ago when my grandpa died, there are days when I still feel the loss. Today I not only felt the loss of my Uncle Fred, but of his brother, my grandpa. Fred, in so many ways, was so similar to my grandpa. He looked like grandpa, sounded like him, and also said the same kind of unique sayings. Fred had that soft-hearted way about him, like all the Williams men do- including my grandpa, dad, and brother. But one thing that set Fred apart from the other Williams men, was his way of holding a toothpick perfectly on the tip of his bottom lip. It was a skill that amazed me as a child. Fred, like my grandpa was a phone talker. I remember that my grandpa called the house every day. Fred called dad often to ...

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and I have been reading the posts people have been putting on facebook of what they are thankful for. What a wonderful thing to do, think of something you are thankful for each day. This is something that we should all do. I have been doing this each day. I haven't been posting them on facebook, but I still have been doing the practice. There seems to be a recurring theme of mine each day. I seem to be thankful for love in my life. Love is something that I have always known in my life. Growing up in the household that I did, love was never something that I questioned or thought I was lacking of. My parents showed me love from the first moment I remember to this very day. Their actions always said one thing to my brother and me - we love you! I'm so thankful that I grew up in a house that was full of hugs and I love you's! I watch movies and hear songs that people write where they go their entire lives without saying I love you to...