February - Not an Ordinary Birthday!
My birthday was on 2/27 and it was a birthday I will never forget. A birthday that changed my life forever. Changed NISD forever. Changed me for the better. I hope changed NISD for the better. After much consideration - I decided to run for Navasota ISD School Board of Trustees in the May election! As anyone who knows me knows, I left NISD after 12 years of teaching. I wasn't alone - tons of teachers left the same year I did. I was tired of being negative and complaining. I was approached by some people to run (which I had mentioned here several years ago that it would possibly be in my future) and after speaking to my family, decided what the hell - Let's Do This! It was a decision I don't regret. Even with all of the work and phone calls, I have loved it so far and hope that I am making positive changes. I not only make decisions for students, but also teachers and taxpayers. I am learning a lot - but am super excited to be serving my time on the board and look forward to making our district the best it can be!
March - Family/Friend Vacay!
Kimberly and I have been on cruises before. But David said we couldn't go on another one until he and Lil' David went on one. So in March several families from town got together and went on a cruise for Spring Break! Kimberly and I shared a room and the boys had their own balcony room. We had a blast and have lots of great memories. I can't wait until our next one!
April - Full Blown Election Mode
At this point the election was in full gear and towards the end of April I was beginning to become exhausted. Mentally and physically. I said from the get go - I would be okay losing if I gave 100% and looked back in May and said I had given all I could. I would be content with losing as long as I tried all I could - and I did. My team and I worked our butts off! I had the most awesome team of supporters - who gave financially, gave of their time, gave of their abilities, opened their homes, gave me ideas, etc. WE KICKED BUTT! I couldn't have done it without them - and I wouldn't have. I am convinced that I would have had a hard time winning without all of their help.
May - Almost Time to Be Done with NISD - (As a Parent Anyway)
May 9th was Election Day and I was so glad to see its arrival! After several months of politics - forums, radio spots, phone calls, mail outs, newspaper ads, meet and greets, etc. - I WON!!!!!! I officially took office a week later and haven't looked back since. It is so nice to serve NISD in a different capacity than student, employee, or parent.
My sweet youngest child graduated NHS this month! I am so proud of him - he ended up #7 in his class without even trying. He rarely studied at all. He did his homework, but all of this came easy to him. Had he tried - I have no doubt he could have been #1. I LOVE HIM! Since I am on the board now, I got the privilege of being on the field with him and giving him his diploma. As I hugged him I said "I am proud of you little boy". In my eyes - he will forever be my baby boy.
I also got to shake hands of every graduate of NHS c/o 2015. I had taught a few of them. I know most of them. It was super cool to hug some. I know graduating is not an easy task for many. 13 plus years is a long time to be committed. I applaud each one and look forward to seeing what each does with their life.
June - Hola Summer!
Last summer I was pregnant and didn't do much but rest and take it easy. This summer was jam packed with school board trainings and meetings, special education trainings, cleaning my house, getting D ready for Texas A&M University. etc. June flew by!
Kimberly had a birthday this month! This awesome daughter of mine continues to amaze me. She is doing so well at her job - has so many regulars that come and see her. As a parent - there is no better feeling than having other people see how great your child is. I often hear how much people like her - what can I say - she's got my personality and good looks - LOL!!!!! Just kidding. She is a great person though. She loves meeting new people and is definitely a social butterfly. She is also one of the funnest and funniest people I know. I love being silly with her and I love that I can tell her anything and be brutally honest with her. She is definitely my soul sister - we have deep conversations about life and the crazy human beings that are in ours. I LOVE YOU CHELLE!
July - Oh Lawd, August is Almost Here!
July scared me because that meant in a month David would leave me! He got a job this month at HEB and loves it! He enjoys the people he works with and of course loves the money he gets. This child of mine is so precious. He is his daddy's child made over. Their personalities are so much alike - rigid at times. But he can be so much fun and will do anything for people. I have been praying for his wife for years now. Bless her heart - she is going to have the craziest mother in law in me. Most people say you have to be nice to her because she has the ability to take your son and grandkids away. I say forget that! I'm running this show! He is my baby and I will do everything in my power to protect him. If she doesn't like it, she can and will hit the road! LOL. We shall see how well my plan works out! I hope it will be a llllloooonnnnngggggg time for that! He has been given strict directions to only date when he's a senior and the girl must also be a graduate - cause he is NOT going to support someone. It's a team effort!
July was filled with lots of relaxation and more meetings and trainings.
August - Mixed Emotions - My Life as I Know It is Non-Existent
We got to visit the beautiful baby I had last July - he is a year old already! He is gorgeous and the happiest baby I have ever seen. He and his parents are so happy and I am blessed to stay in touch with them.
David and I got together when Kimberly was 1. We have never been together without children. August 22 our baby moves out. We will be alone. Lord help us! David and I are two of the craziest people you will ever meet. Put us together and frankly - we are trouble! I have to be honest and admit I am scared to death to be without kids. We have no pets. I don't want any. I am excited that our kids are grown, but I am so sad we will be alone. Yes - they are 20 minutes away and we will see them often (God willing), but the fact is - our life as we know it will never be the same. That brings on so many emotions - excitement, nervousness, happiness, etc. We have both agreed to stay super busy with activities and adventures so that we don't get depressed. I can't wait to travel with my crazy husband. Look out world - we may be coming to a city near you! I laugh because I have a feeling we will live out the Mexican version of War of the Roses and become War of the Ramirez's! We shall see!
One thing I've learned over the years is to never predict the future. I never dreamed I would not be teaching fifth grade at Navasota Intermediate (which is non-existent now - weird!), that I would be teaching in Waller (still blows my mind), and that I would be on the school board (wow!), but God has a way of working things out and letting you know He is in charge. The older I get, the more I allow Him to drive. I used to fight him for the wheel, but I have now decided to be in the passenger seat. Fact is - He is way better at driving me than I will ever be. He knows exactly where to take me, how to get me there, and where we are going. I've come to learn that He is in control - and I love it that way!
I'll blog again soon to let you know how David and I are doing - hopefully you won't read about us in the news before that - LOL. Love y'all!
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Sunday, January 4, 2015
2015 - Out w/the Old, In w/the New
Happy New Year everyone!
2014 Highlights: We went on a beach vacation with family and friends; I gave birth to a beautiful boy and we recently visited his family and they are doing great; I got a new job; Lil' D got accepted to Texas and Baylor and got some good financial offers from them both, but has decided on A&M; Lil' D got a new car; Kimberly continues to work hard and make me proud - she is a great Mom to her dog Zoey; I finally got to see Oprah in person with Kimberly and my Shannon; we went on a Ski trip to New Mexico and drove straight in to spend NY Eve with our family and friends :).
2015 will be filled with many great and scary things: We will take a cruise with family and friends for Spring Break!!!!; David and I will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary (yay us); Lil' D will turn 18 (how the hell did that happen so fast?); Kimberly will turn 24 (geez she's getting old!); Lil' D will graduate from high school and begin college; we will begin a tailgate group and begin spending more time in College Station; I will begin my 14th year of teaching; David begins his 19th or 20th year at ETFN (I've lost count). We will not have any kids at home - which brings mixed emotions. I am so excited for my kids, but it means we are all getting older and the years have flown by, and my control over them is pretty much gone. All of that makes me sad and happy and anxious. David and I will struggle I'm sure - because this is the first time we have EVER been alone. We may even kill each other - time will tell! (I'll blog about my kids in the future). We plan on traveling more and doing fun things we never had time to do before! Pray for us! LOL. I hope that some great things happen with NISD. God knows our district needs some good changes and fast!
As we begin a new year, I thought I'd blog about something I've struggled with over the years - friendship!!! This blog will seem petty to some people, but I know folks who are going through rough friendships, so I figured I'd give my view on it. I said several weeks ago that this would be my next blog post - so here it goes. ****I began typing this and felt I gave too much power and time to useless losers who I once called best friend and best friend forever. Therefore, after watching some of Oprah's Super Soul Sundays, I am deleting most of what I had typed. I've rewritten this blog and made it more positive, more about what I've learned. In 2015 I vow to "Remove Toxic People from My Life"!!!
Childhood friendships - I feel it's great if you have friends you still keep in touch with from your childhood. I am still friends with some, many in a different way. Although our relationships have changed, I am the first person my friends call when they need someone to talk to about something serious.
Adult friendships - these are the trickiest and can be filled with lots of drama and can consume you. Be careful who you choose to be around. Many people are evil and will act like they are your friend, but when you need them - they won't be there. I know many people who change. Often times the things we had in common change. Our children change or the things we once had in common are no longer there. I see some friends who do and act differently than I choose to act. They are now friends with people they once hated. I can't be friends with fake people like that! And the great thing is that I don't have to :)
Spouse friendships - I don't think it's healthy to be best friends with your husband. Who are you going to talk to about him when you're mad? LOL I think people who say "I'm married to my best friend" are weirdos!!!! Just my p.o.v.!
To sum it up: I am so glad I've had the friends that I have had. They have all taught me who I want to be or who I don't! My latest friend that cut me off for an unknown reason taught me that she is an ugly, manipulative person and I am glad she is out of my life! I pray that she stops being so ugly! And I am so glad she won't be near me in 2015 - she is TOXIC! (which means I don't want her in my life)
Below are life lessons from Oprah's shows, but fit with friendships so well!
*know when it's time to move on (if someone is draining you - let them go. friendships should come easy, not be so much work)
*great things will happen when you have the courage to be yourself
*you learn a lot from success, but you learn more from failure (learn from those bad people)
*ask yourself "what is it that I'm here to learn" (life and people and struggles are about learning more about yourself - lessons to us; pay attention)
*every experience happens so we can learn about ourselves
*nothing that ever happens is wasted; unless you let it be (learn - learn - learn, and grow and don't make the same mistakes)
*surrendering is not giving up, it's letting go - (don't feel bad for getting rid of people; not every person is meant to be in our lives forever)
*those childhood things follow you in all of your relationships unless you are aware of it
2015 for me means making new friendships and keeping my true friends even closer. Life is too short to have those toxic people around. I am so grateful that I have the friends that I do. I remember what Maya Angelou said "when people show you who they are, believe them". I have seen people show me their best and their worst.
2014 showed me how ugly people can be and how fake they can be. I saw it with my friend and saw it with others as well. I have learned from them. My friend took a lot from me, but rarely gave anything back. As I look back, I see that it was a one-sided friendship. Seems like I was there anytime she needed me, but she was never there for me. NOT A TRUE FRIEND! I see that now.
For my friends who are struggling with toxic people - let them go! It may hurt at first, but in time you will come to realize you don't need them as much as you thought you did.
***Today Stuart Scott from ESPN passed away at the age of 49. He always said "do you". Make sure you do you!
Happy New Year everyone! I hope to blog again soon - this year will be a busy, fun one!
2014 Highlights: We went on a beach vacation with family and friends; I gave birth to a beautiful boy and we recently visited his family and they are doing great; I got a new job; Lil' D got accepted to Texas and Baylor and got some good financial offers from them both, but has decided on A&M; Lil' D got a new car; Kimberly continues to work hard and make me proud - she is a great Mom to her dog Zoey; I finally got to see Oprah in person with Kimberly and my Shannon; we went on a Ski trip to New Mexico and drove straight in to spend NY Eve with our family and friends :).
2015 will be filled with many great and scary things: We will take a cruise with family and friends for Spring Break!!!!; David and I will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary (yay us); Lil' D will turn 18 (how the hell did that happen so fast?); Kimberly will turn 24 (geez she's getting old!); Lil' D will graduate from high school and begin college; we will begin a tailgate group and begin spending more time in College Station; I will begin my 14th year of teaching; David begins his 19th or 20th year at ETFN (I've lost count). We will not have any kids at home - which brings mixed emotions. I am so excited for my kids, but it means we are all getting older and the years have flown by, and my control over them is pretty much gone. All of that makes me sad and happy and anxious. David and I will struggle I'm sure - because this is the first time we have EVER been alone. We may even kill each other - time will tell! (I'll blog about my kids in the future). We plan on traveling more and doing fun things we never had time to do before! Pray for us! LOL. I hope that some great things happen with NISD. God knows our district needs some good changes and fast!
As we begin a new year, I thought I'd blog about something I've struggled with over the years - friendship!!! This blog will seem petty to some people, but I know folks who are going through rough friendships, so I figured I'd give my view on it. I said several weeks ago that this would be my next blog post - so here it goes. ****I began typing this and felt I gave too much power and time to useless losers who I once called best friend and best friend forever. Therefore, after watching some of Oprah's Super Soul Sundays, I am deleting most of what I had typed. I've rewritten this blog and made it more positive, more about what I've learned. In 2015 I vow to "Remove Toxic People from My Life"!!!
Childhood friendships - I feel it's great if you have friends you still keep in touch with from your childhood. I am still friends with some, many in a different way. Although our relationships have changed, I am the first person my friends call when they need someone to talk to about something serious.
Adult friendships - these are the trickiest and can be filled with lots of drama and can consume you. Be careful who you choose to be around. Many people are evil and will act like they are your friend, but when you need them - they won't be there. I know many people who change. Often times the things we had in common change. Our children change or the things we once had in common are no longer there. I see some friends who do and act differently than I choose to act. They are now friends with people they once hated. I can't be friends with fake people like that! And the great thing is that I don't have to :)
Spouse friendships - I don't think it's healthy to be best friends with your husband. Who are you going to talk to about him when you're mad? LOL I think people who say "I'm married to my best friend" are weirdos!!!! Just my p.o.v.!
To sum it up: I am so glad I've had the friends that I have had. They have all taught me who I want to be or who I don't! My latest friend that cut me off for an unknown reason taught me that she is an ugly, manipulative person and I am glad she is out of my life! I pray that she stops being so ugly! And I am so glad she won't be near me in 2015 - she is TOXIC! (which means I don't want her in my life)
Below are life lessons from Oprah's shows, but fit with friendships so well!
*know when it's time to move on (if someone is draining you - let them go. friendships should come easy, not be so much work)
*great things will happen when you have the courage to be yourself
*you learn a lot from success, but you learn more from failure (learn from those bad people)
*ask yourself "what is it that I'm here to learn" (life and people and struggles are about learning more about yourself - lessons to us; pay attention)
*every experience happens so we can learn about ourselves
*nothing that ever happens is wasted; unless you let it be (learn - learn - learn, and grow and don't make the same mistakes)
*surrendering is not giving up, it's letting go - (don't feel bad for getting rid of people; not every person is meant to be in our lives forever)
*those childhood things follow you in all of your relationships unless you are aware of it
2015 for me means making new friendships and keeping my true friends even closer. Life is too short to have those toxic people around. I am so grateful that I have the friends that I do. I remember what Maya Angelou said "when people show you who they are, believe them". I have seen people show me their best and their worst.
2014 showed me how ugly people can be and how fake they can be. I saw it with my friend and saw it with others as well. I have learned from them. My friend took a lot from me, but rarely gave anything back. As I look back, I see that it was a one-sided friendship. Seems like I was there anytime she needed me, but she was never there for me. NOT A TRUE FRIEND! I see that now.
For my friends who are struggling with toxic people - let them go! It may hurt at first, but in time you will come to realize you don't need them as much as you thought you did.
***Today Stuart Scott from ESPN passed away at the age of 49. He always said "do you". Make sure you do you!
Happy New Year everyone! I hope to blog again soon - this year will be a busy, fun one!
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