Saran Wrap

Henley will be here any day now! I cannot wait to meet my beautiful niece and spoil her to death! I have been buying her things and already have a frame to put our first photo in. 

My brother is getting married in a month! This was taken at Ben and Emily's first wedding shower. 

Those three men in the picture have set the bar high for my future husband. 

We were hit by a sudden, massive hail storm. I was at school when we got the word that there was hail in Brandon. So we left quickly to get home. Not thinking that I live in Brandon, I drove straight into it. I had to pull off and sit on the side of the highway as I was beat by baseball sized hail. It was terrifying. 

My poor Jeep is totaled. I am really sad about that. I loved that Jeep. So many memories and so, so many miles! Now the hunt is on for my next ride. Suggestions?

There are pictures on Facebook, which I'm sure you've seen. The hail cracked my windshield up really bad, but thankfully, it didn't bust through on me. It also caused tons of dents and busted one of my headlights out, the covering and bulb!

This weekend was pretty busy!

First, I had to go by Enterprise because the tire of the rental car I was driving was continually going low. So they took the Ford Escape and gave me a Toyota Camry. Gave me a flashback to my first car, but I am beginning to get claustrophobic. 

After we got that situated, I went to Starkville. I stayed with Brittney and we had a good time talking and laughing. 

Saturday was the day of Mabry and Jon's shower I was throwing them in Starkville. I couldn't have asked for better weather. We had a great time with awesome people and tasty food!

Today, I was able to go to my church. I love how we have "assigned" seats. It makes me feel like home. I hope I'll be able to feel that way about a church down here soon. I went and saw Grandmother. She would've been so mad if she found out I was in town and didn't go see her! Haha! 

She will be 93 Wednesday!

After lunch, I traveled north to Pontotoc for a shower for Will and Ashley. They were definitely showered with lots of gifts! I was glad I was able to make it to a function for them. 

I think they move Jackson further each week I have to drive it. It seemed like it took me 8 hours to get home tonight!

This Wednesday I have my formal evaluation. I am very nervous and stressed, so please pray for me! Thank you in advance!

*Weird title of the blog, right? It's just something that annoys me: Saran Wrap. You can never tear it without it clinging to itself. And the ridges that are used to tear it are so stinkin' sharp! Watch your fingers!*

Obsessed

So, if you know me, you know I have an obsession with quite a few things. With the cooler weather, my most prominent obsession is scarves. 

Gift from Lacy when she went to Ireland.

Colorful and fuzzy

I made this one!

Simple, brown

Even with a t-shirt                      

Just a slight obsession, right?

I LOVE my scarves. Almost all of them have sort of story to go with them. 

You saw the first picture was a scarf that was from Ireland. I have one from London, Peru, and the Philippines. 

There are several that I have made or my wonderful Meme has made for me. She knows me well, all but one she has made are maroon and white! Hail State!

Like a true Southern girl, I have a monogrammed scarf. 

So many are gifts from loved ones. I love the ruffles, infinity scarf, the fringes, the colors, some even have some bounce to it! 

So, if you're ever in a bind as to what to get me....a scarf is the best bet! Haha!

What are YOU obsessed with?

Jammies!

In case you haven't heard, my class is the BOMB!

We won the attendance war for the month of January in the entire K-6 school!

BAM!

As a reward, we had pajama day! While I was not allowed to wear my pjs, I did wear my purple fuzzy slippers.

I think my favorite is Animal. 

It was a fun day, and I'm glad the kids enjoyed it. I try to take advantage of these little, cheap things I can do to reward them. 

Tomorrow I am going to an Apple Training at the County Office. Sadly, I'm the only one from my school that is going, but I'm pretty excited. I'm ready to learn how to really put to use my MacBook and iPads. Then I get to come back and show everyone else what all cool stuff I learned! :) 

Eye Opener

On Facebook/Twitter the other day, my status was simply one word: Defeated. 

I felt the very essence of the word in just about every area of my life.

It was like I was just learning how to keep my head above water and keep a smile on my face. Then the gate was raised and the waters came flooding in.

I could only come up with that one word. 

You've been there before, right? 

Yes, of course you have. At least, I hope so.

I received several texts that night and the following morning from concerned loved ones. I didn't reply. I had nothing to say. I mean, you can't type tears, can you?

This morning, I woke up. 

Period. 

I woke up. 

It hit me. God loves me enough to wake me up. 

He loves me enough to show me this sky.

He kept me safe while driving and taking this picture...

I was able to praise my God the entire 20 minute drive to school. When I got there, it's like my troubles were just staring me down. Ready to knock me down again.

Doesn't seem very inviting, does it?

Instead, when I got to my room, I decided it was time to be kind and loving. I may be in turmoil, but that doesn't mean I should take it out on my wonderful students. 

So I wrote a "Happy Friday" Post-It to each child using their unofficial nicknames I've given them. I stuck them inside their desk so that it would be a surprise when they lifted them open. 

They were tickled to have a note! From their teacher! With their nicknames!

Undoubtedly, someone did something foolish to slowly start bringing me down off my high.

And Friday means test day, so as I was grading, that really brought me down. 

Teachers, you know what I mean.

As teachers do, we vent to each other. So I was in my cohort's room laughing...because at this point if you're not laughing, you're crying.

One of her kids starts saying something about someone coming in. I turn and see our custodian, Mrs. "ZZ". She walks in carrying......

And as women do, we want to know if it's from a "secret admirer". (Those were her words, not mine.)

I open the card and it says, "Find your bright spot. Love, Moma"

I almost started crying right then.

Do Momas know you the best or what? 

My small group has started a new study called "The Search For Significance" by Robert McGee. It talks about Satan's lies vs. God's Truths and how to apply it to your life. At one point, it talks about the "performance lie" and asks you to think about your parents and if they've ever set some standard for you by which you must meet to feel significant. 

I thought about that for a while. 

And I found my answer....want to hear it?

My parents have never set a standard for me to meet to earn their love. They simply love me. 

Point blank.

They do anything and everything in their power to help me succeed in life. 

I needed a job in high school. Daddy talked to someone to get me my first job.

I was swamped at school, so Moma makes all my spelling tests for me each week.

I wanted carpet squares for my kids to sit and read on. Daddy found carpet and got the boys to cut it up for me. 

I have moved at least 5 times so far. Moma and Daddy (plus the rest of my amazing family) have been there to help pack, ship, and unpack every time. 

Now, I could go on and on about how my parents have helped me in life. 

However, the biggest way that they have helped me, which I am just now realizing, is how to love. 

Unconditionally.

My parents and I have had our moments of anger, sadness, and hurt. But they have never, in 24 years, made me feel inferior, unwanted, or defeated. 

In other words, they've shown me how my Heavenly Father loves me. 

It's a hard concept to grasp, but I get it now.  

My parents have seen me at my worst, lowest, ugliest stages of life. And yet they look at me and see their baby girl. Loved. Cherished. Their's. 

Now, my parents, like any humans, are limited on love capacity. However, my God is not limited. So, to think of how much my parents love me and all the things they do/have done for me, I try to think of how much my God loves me. How much He is doing/has done for me. 

It blows my mind, brings tears to my eyes, and joy to my heart. 

Momma and Daddy, I don't tell you enough, but thank you for being my parents. 

I love you.

Love, Baby Claire

Engagements

The love bug has struck which only means one thing: engagements. Wedding season is quickly approaching and I have quite a few to attend this year. So, I decided to share them!

First up is my big brother, Ben, and his fiance, Emily. 

Ben and Emily met this summer through mutual friends. She is so sweet and of course, I'm slightly partial to my brother. It didn't take Emily long to get right in with the Mattox crew. Their wedding is set for May 11th in Aberdeen. I, along with my other sister, Sarah, will be bridesmaids. I may actually tear up at this ceremony. I mean, it's my big brother! So happy he's found someone to love and that loves him in return. 

Next is Nicholas Young and Hannah Harrell. 

These two cuties have known each other for a long time. They dated in high school, but eventually went their separate ways for college, did their own thing, but finally came back together again. It's crazy how things work like that, huh? 

I met Nicholas when he was a goofy, curly headed freshman at ICC in 2008. I would have never guessed that 5 years later, we would still be such close friends. We have been through so much together. He is truly one of my favorites. 

I met Hannah at MSU. She, along with some others, were my "Pontotoc Girls". Original, I know. She always has a smile on her face and willing to serve in any way possible. I am so excited to witness this marriage June 1st. 

Next up is Will Simmons and Ashley Farris. 

When you go to ICC, you meet people from all over...even people who don't attend your school! That's how it happened for these two. Ashley was at ICC and Will was at MSU. Mutual friends/twin sister mixed with large get togethers helped them meet. Of course, Ashley transferred to MSU later and the friendship kept growing. After a few years of friendship, and some time apart, they reunited at, go figure, a mutual friend's get together (or wedding, whatever you prefer! :)). The rest is history. 

Will and I met, gosh, in the sixth grade. We thought we were the coolest cats on the block! (Well, we really were.) We went through that awkward stage of having to call each other's houses and ask for each other to talk. You know, back in the day we never even thought about owning a cell phone. We stayed in touch for a while, but really got reconnected through Amy, the best. Will and I did MSU together, and many, many, many, many other things. Even though he's not into labels, he might just be my best guy friend. 

Ashley and I met through the infamous ICC BSU. I never would have thought that country girl from Mooreville would be so dear to my heart. She taught me how to really open up and talk. We have had girl talk like you wouldn't believe! We lived together and carried on the Apartment 12 name in Starkville. I am honored to be an honorary bridesmaid on this honorable day of June 8th. (See what I did there?)

 Then we have Jonathan Brodeur and Mabry Nelson.

Jon and Mabry have the classic love story....well, maybe not. They have the modern love story. Online. I am proud of them! I bet it took a lot of bravery to do that. Since meeting, they have been pretty much inseparable. It didn't take them long to realize that this was it. So that old saying of "When you know, you know" is true with them. Love can come at you anywhere. 

Now, Jon I don't know to well. Even though he's a Yankee, I guess he'll do. Tehehe. He makes my Mabry happy, so I like him. 

Mabry and I met in an education class at MSU. Some days we are so opposite I wonder how we can stand each other. She keeps me grounded. Reminds me to be joyful in everything. Gives me advice when I need, and sometimes when I don't want it. We have been through about everything you can go through with a friend. I could go on for a while about how great she is, but if you know her, you already know. I am tickled pink to be able to stand by Mabry's side as one of her bridesmaids on August 3rd. 

 Next will be Chris Hutchinson and Carlye Carpenter.

Chris and Carlye met at ICC. First, they only saw each other as friends. Both were doing their own thing in Fulton. As time went on, they started seeing each other in a new light. Low and behold if they didn't start dating at ICC and stay strong together ever since. 

I, of course, met these two at ICC as well. Carlye and I got close pretty quick. I'd come back to my dorm room and there she'd be sitting in my floor with books and papers strewn out everywhere. She liked to let herself in to study. I never minded. We really clicked at MSU. We lived together at Apartment 12 one year. When I think of our friendship one word comes to mind: crazy. Anytime we're together something crazy is about to be said or done. Mission trip to Chicago, sledding on a dumpster lid, dressing up as Bully, throwing the Koosh ball. 

Living with Carlye meant Chris was over quite a bit. He's a good one to have around. He's tall enough to change the light bulbs for us! Haha! We have an ongoing argument of how he thinks teaching is the easiest career. It always ends in laughter and, of course, me proving my point. :) So excited to see them finally tie the knot on August 23rd. 

 Finally, we have Zack Pugh and Joelle Forbes. 

So, I don't really know Zack and Joelle's story. Joelle and I served together in the Philippines. We are two totally different ladies. I didn't know if I'd ever hear her say more than 5 words that summer. Little did I know what God was up to. We were able to share our raw, uncut, uncensored testimonies with each other. We have SO much in common. She and I had overnight duty in the nursery at the orphanage. Let me tell you, there's no bonding like sleeping on a thin foam in a floor in a foreign country with cockroaches everywhere. When I fell that summer with my seizure, she was the one in there with me and immediately got me help. 

This couple is so precious and, my favorite part, are truly on fire for our God. I can't wait to see what He is going to do in and through them as a married couple. 

As you can tell, I am going to be pretty busy with weddings this spring/summer. Not to mention all the time I'll be spending with my niece Henley Claire Powell. I can't wait!

How?

How could he take the lives of those babies? How are the survivors going to be scared for life? How can so many families celebrate Christmas in just a few short days? 

I just can't stop crying. I looked at this last night before crying myself to sleep. In each of those sweet children, I saw the face, the personality of my precious 17 third graders. Yes, they can get on my very last nerves some day, but praise God I still have them all. I love them dearly and I have seen that even before the tragedy, that if anyone attempted to mess with one of mine, it's not good for them. 

It was so hard to come to school today. I wanted to just sit, talk, and love on my kids. I wanted to sing praises to my God that we are all still here. This truly shakes me to the core as a teacher. We hear of shootings a lot, but for it to be 6 and 7 year olds...I just can't get over it. 

Praying for the families in Sandy Hook. Praising God for the safety of the other children and adults. Praising God for all that I have to be thankful for.

It's a.....

Wednesday we had everyone over so that Sarah and Drew could reveal the gender of the baby. It was perfect timing with Thanksgiving and all. A lot of family were able to come that don't live around here. Moma and I spent the day decorating and cooking. We just couldn't wait!

I've already started her baby book!

When people came in, they wrote their name on either a pink carriage or a blue carriage to cast their vote. 

The table

IT'S A GIRL!!!

I am so ready to be an aunt!

This will be the first great-granddaughter for Grandmother.
She has 6 great-grandsons.

We were able to get a picture of the whole family at the party, too. It'll be our Christmas card! If you're going to do cards, too, you need to use Shutterfly. They have the cutest cards! (And great prices!)

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.