Goodbye 2014

This will be my last blog post of 2014.  I can't believe that it's already time to say goodbye to another year.  Time is definitely on the move!  It's been a year full of many life-changing and memorable events, both good and bad.  Here are some of the highlights of my year:

I completed 21 days of the Daniel Fast:  This was my first year to complete the entire 21 days without cheating.  I felt so accomplished because so much of my life centers around food and usually includes me making poor choices when it comes to food.  Fully participating in the fast taught me that I do have self-control and it caused me to try new, healthy food items that I've been able to incorporate into my daily life.  During this time, I also drank nothing but water, which is a HUGE deal for this self-professed water hater!



I turned 35:  This only seems like a big deal to me because I remember sitting with my friends in high school referring to our 30 something year old teachers as old!  Now, I'm that old teacher.  Only now, I don't think 30 something is old anymore.  Funny how time changes things, huh?
I got up enough courage to apply to graduate school:  Even though I am a three-time college graduate, I was very hesitant to apply to the educational leadership doctoral program at Samford University. Getting my master's and specialist's degrees were taxing and I just didn't think I had what it took to be accepted into a doctoral program.  Thanks to my supportive family and friends and my trust in the Almighty, I finally took the steps needed to apply to grad school and am now well on my way to becoming Dr. Fluker!



I completed my first 5K:  I'm not real proud of my time, but I am so proud of myself for completing the entire race.  This event was a fundraiser and I reluctantly participated simply to be supportive.  But, the feeling of accomplishment that I had once I completed the race is undeniable.  Hopefully, as I work to get back into shape, I won't be embarrassed to post my time for the next 5K that I run!

I could go on and on about all of the things that happened in my life this year.  Some things I want to erase from my memory forever, and some things I never want to forget.  I know for sure that everything that happened, whether good or bad, was purposely planned by the Master.

The ups and downs of life work together to craft me into the person that God wants me to be.  I am thankful for the year that I have had and look forward to what 2015 has in store for me and my family.

Happy New Year!

On Disappointment...again

I posted this a few weeks ago and felt compelled to post it again.  I don't think I was listening the first time, so here it goes again...

Here are my thoughts on disappointment:  It's inevitable.

No big secret, right?  As long as there are human relationships, there will be disappointments.  I've tried every way I know how to avoid disappointment, but it just keeps happening.  Disappointment stems from expectations.  The only way to limit your disappointments is to adjust your expectations. It would be wonderful if we lived in a perfect world.  But, we don't.   So...

Don't expect to win every game.

Don't expect the good guy to always come out on top.

Don't expect the most qualified applicant to get the job.

Don't expect people to keep the promises they make.

Don't expect every relationship to last forever.

Don't expect people to treat you the way that you treat them.

I could go on and on with this list, but I think you get my drift.

Disappointments are going to happen.  But, if you are properly prepared, you can deal with the disappointments much better.   I've learned that the trick is not trying to avoid disappointments (because you obviously can't), but rather learning how to recover from disappointments in a healthy way.  You can't control being disappointed, but you can control how you react to disappointment.  Work to develop a plan to help you bounce back from disappointment in a healthy way that will leave you feeling better and not bitter.  When I figure that plan out, I'll share the secret.

Random Ramblings

It's a little embarrassing to admit that it's been nearly three months since my last blog post.  But now, Fall is in the air and I hope to be able to fall back into a regular schedule that includes blogging.  I miss blogging.  It's kind of like therapy for me.  My blog is the place where I can unload all of the randomness that resides in my brain.  Here are my random ramblings for today:

There are only 10 Fridays until Christmas.  Not even sure why I know this because I don't ever shop early.  It seems like the earlier I shop, the more I buy!

It is almost time for the 2014-2015 State Junior Beta Club Conventions to begin!  I can't wait to see my son do his thing as one of the officers representing the state of Alabama. 

I love being a a student at Samford University!  The campus is gorgeous and I am blessed to be a part of an amazing cohort.  I have made relationships with fellow classmates chasing after the same dreams.  Loving this new journey!

I love football season, but I don't love how much I procrastinate on game days.  I've been glued to the television since about 2:30 this afternoon.  (It's now 8:45 and I'm still watching football.)

I could ramble on and on.  But, I have one more game to watch tonight.  Ole Miss vs. Texas A&M is playing as I type...

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  

Friday Five...Except It's Really Saturday!

It's Friday Saturday!  You know what that means?  I'm linking up with The Sowell Life to recap the highlights of my week!



This late post is pretty indicative of how my week has been.  I feel like I've been one beat behind everyone else all week long.  The craziness of last week (school delays, canceled events, etc.) has caused me to be a bit off kilter, and unfortunately, I don't see an end in site.  At least not at the moment.  Next week, the students are off Monday (intended emphasis on students), so yet again, it won't be a normal week.  So, my Getting Back to Normal post from last week is pretty much null and void.  At least temporarily, anyway. 

I know it sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm really not.  Even amidst mayhem, it was still a great week.

1.  7th Grade Basketball Season Ended
This was my son's first year playing school basketball.  It has been quite an adventure.  He's been playing basketball since he was four.  I have loved watching him transition from baby boy to young man on the court.  I'm definitely his biggest fan!

2.  No Fast Food All Week
Anyone who knows me knows that this is a HUGE deal!  Our schedules are so busy that we turn to fast food for dinner at least 3 times a week.  Well, this week, I proudly profess that we have not donned the drive-thru window once this week!

3.  Getting in Bed by 10
I'm usually up until the wee hours of the night.  I'm always the last one to go to bed at night and the first one to rise in the mornings.  The tables have turned this week.  I'm pretty sure that I've been in bed, laptop closed and all, by 10:00 p.m. (give or take a few minutes) each night this week.


4.  End of My First Year as Cheer Coach at DJHS
Thursday night marked the end of my first year as DJHS Cheer Coach.  It's been an amazing year.  I've watched 16 girls become closer friends, more responsible young ladies, and overall better cheerleaders over the past 6 months. 

5.  Teaching Online Creative Writing Class
Teaching is what I was born to do.  I've accepted that.  I guess it's a good thing that I love doing it, huh?  Well, I found out last week that I'd be teaching an online Creative Writing class.  Of course, I'm very excited to be combining two of my loves:  teaching and technology!

My Top 10 Guilty Pleasures

 If Loving You is Wrong, I Don't Want to Be Right... (Good thing you can't hear me through the computer because I was using my loudest Luther Ingram voice!)  Do you remember that song?  Anyway, I can subtly hear it playing in the background when I think of my most favorite guilty pleasures.  Here is a list of things that make me super happy, even though I'm sometimes a bit embarrassed to admit it! (This list is in no particular order.  They all make me equally happy!)

1.  Cheesecake Factory Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake

 

2.  Cheesecake Factory Dutch Apple Caramel Streusel Cheesecake

 

3.  Mexican Food

 

4.  My laptop

photo taken from www.amazon.com

5.  My iPhone 5s



6.  My Clarisonic

photo taken from www.myimagejourney.com

7.  Anything Boyz II Men sang in the 90s



8.  Diet Coke

 


9.  Sour Patch Kids


10. Philosophy products
 

What are your guilty pleasures?

Don't Forget to Be Kind

These days, it seems that everyone is so concerned about themselves.  We have become such a self-absorbed people, focusing only on what we can personally benefit from.  The brotherly love and genuine concern for others that was so characteristic of people long ago seem almost extinct. 

As a teacher, I stand in the halls and watch students accidentally bump into each other and never stop to say, "excuse me", even if that bump results in one or both parties dropping their books or other belongings onto the floor.  Similarly, I watch people walk into buildings and fail to hold the door open for the person entering directly behind them.  What happened to good ole' kindess?  Is it gone?

Nope!  It's not.  Just today, I was dining with three of my teacher friends at a local restaurant. (Today was teacher inservice--one of the very few and highly coveted days for teachers to bust out from the school lunchroom and have "regular people" lunch.) As we were sitting there dining, a young couple entered with their infant baby and we all drooled over the beautiful baby.

The dad was extremely proud and kept engaging in conversation with us about his new bundle of joy.  Long story short, when we finished our lunch and went to pay for our meal, I noticed my colleague whispering to the cashier.  I finally figured out that she was paying for that family's meal.  When we got in the car, I asked and she confirmed that she indeed paid for their meal.  I'm embarrassed to admit that my initial response was, "why?"  Have I become one of the heartless people who inspired this blog post?

Anyway, this one tiny act of kindness inspired me to work harder to be kind to others.  I don't make New Year's Resolutions, but if I did, being kinder to others would definitely be on my list.

10 More Things I know for Sure

A few months ago, I did a post entitled 10 Things I Know for Sure.  That list was compiled of things that I have learned merely through living this thing called life.  Well, as I continue to live, I continue to learn.  Here are 10 additional things I want to add to that list:

11.  Rarely do people remember when you do something good; but they NEVER forget when you do something bad.

12.  Family is not just limited to those in the blood line. 

13.  Misery really does love company.

14.  If you want something to be a secret, you can't tell anybody.

15.  No matter how hard you try, you will never make everyone happy.

16.   It really does not matter what other people think about you. 

17.  Never regret anything.  If something turns out badly, use it as a teaching experience. 

18.  Always listen to your elders.  They have been where you are trying to go.

19.  If you have to try hard to fit in, that might not be the place where you belong.

20.  What goes around, comes around. 

Life is the best teacher I have ever had.  I am so appreciative of the lessons that I have learned.

What's Your Motivation?

Motivation is a necessary ingredient in the recipe of success.  Without motivation, it would be difficult for one to achieve his goals.  What motivates one person may not necessarily motivate another.  That's what's so difficult about this concept. 

Take for instance my weight loss journey.  For the past few months, I've been unsuccessfully attempting to lose some weight and get in shape.  However, I've failed miserably because I haven't found the motivation that I need to help me stay the course.  Sure, I've lost a substantial amount of weight more times than Vanilla Ice has come out with new reality show, but it was because I was motivated to do so. 

Let's see.  The first time I lost a great deal of weight, my best friend was getting married and I was to be her matron of honor.  No way was I going to stand beside this drop-dead gorgeous bride looking like one of the cast members of The Nutty Professor II: Meet the Klumps.  It just wasn't happening.  So, I did what I needed to do to get the weight off.  I had motivation and in turn, I reached my goal.

Now, I've got to find motivation again.  I really need to lose some weight, for more reasons than one, but none of those reasons has served as the motivation that I need to get the ball rolling on this thinner, healthier me.  So, I'm turning to you guys to help me find my motivation.  What are some of the things that have helped to motivate you to do something that you really needed to do, even though you really didn't want to do it?

Currently

As a part of my #bloglikecrazy challenge, I have to let you, my wonderful readers, get to know me a little bit better by making a "currently" list.  This is a random listing of what I'm into at the moment.  So, here it goes. My first stab at a "Currently" list.

Watching:  I have a love/hate relationship with television.  I love watching t.v., I just hate some of the shows that are aired these days.  One that I'm really in love with right now is the Steve Harvey Show (the talk show).  I love it.  I record it daily.  He always makes me laugh.  I love laughing.  

Wearing:  It's chilly outside.  Finally!  I've pulled out the tall boots, sweater dresses, scarves, and tights!  I absolutely love this time of year.  Well, I don't really love cold weather, but I do love cold-weather clothes!

Eating:  I've developed this sweet tooth lately.  I was on a eat-healthy roll, but somehow, I've gotten off track.  Here lately, it's been all about cheesecake, doughnuts, and candy.  I've really got to do something about this.  Soon!

Wishing:  I have a three-day weekend coming up because of Veteran's Day.  While I'm excited about that, I'd really love a one-week break. 

Loving:  My husband and children.  I have a great little family.  I love them so much and am so thankful to God for blessing me with such amazing people in my lives.  Hence the item above.  I'd love an extra week to hang out with them without the interruptions of our busy, busy lives. Don't get me wrong, I love our life and all the activities that are in it.  I just love being with my family more! 

Thankful for:  My friend, Katie Frost, for inspiring me to blog.  I would not have done it without her encouragement and support.  I am slowly getting the hang of blogging and quickly falling in love with it. 

Sunday Ramblings...

1.  Tomorrow begins a new grading period at school.  That's one of the many reasons that I love teaching.  It's time for a fresh start.  I can't believe we've already finished nine weeks of school!  Time flies when you're having fun. 

2.  Football season ends this week for 7th and 8th grade.  The season went by incredibly fast.  I love football, but I love basketball even more.  I think it has a lot to do with the fact that basketball is indoors. 

3.  I'm already missing my daylight.  I thought it was close to bedtime because it was dark outside.  I looked at the clock and it was 5:55 p.m.  It's going to be a long winter. 

 

4.  I need to go shoe shopping. 


5.  I'm thankful that I was able to have a lazy weekend.  It was much needed. 

6.  Some of my friends are already posting about Christmas shopping.  That makes me feel like such a slacker.  On the other hand, I know myself very well.  If I start shopping now, I'll just continue shopping until Christmas, causing me to spend way too much money.  I better stay in my lane and continue my tradition of starting my Christmas shopping after Thanksgiving. 

7.  That lazy weekend that I mentioned in #5 made me realize that I'm in desperate need a of a vacation.

8.  Life is good.  Busy, but good.