Jury Duty (Privilege, responsibility, free country...)

Yesterday (that would be last Friday, now!) I had Jury Duty - since it was State high-stakes testing week, I couldn't do any of the testing with students I needed to as they were doing state tests, so I didn't change it (here we can reschedule up to 6 months in the future). So, I went, and had a really hard time understanding what the gal doing the indoctrination speech was telling us, because she spoke so fast and kept moving in such a way that I couldn't read her lips, so I went up to her when she gave us a short break and asked her a few questions, which she answered, and then she sent me to talk to the people in the lobby about my hearing, and they gave me an exemption since they couldn't guarantee that I'd be able to hear a case adequately, and told me that if I get summoned again, to write "Hearing Impaired" on it and mail it back.

I really have mixed emotions about that. I have never been big on "getting out" of Jury Duty... I've done my stints in traffic court when called, and gone to JD several times and gotten booted because I was a teacher, or because I was a pastor's wife... I even sat on a murder trial one time - for three days.

I won't miss the drive into downtown (always a trip, and I am not talking mileage here)... I won't miss the masses of bodies crammed into one room, or the hike to the courthouse annexes throughout the downtown area, following our Court Officer like children on a school field trip.

But... I WILL miss being part of the process... of going in there and doing my part - because without the people like me who do so.

People sometimes wonder what is wrong with our country... in my opinion - a BIG part of what is wrong (other than the lack of Godliness - but that's for another post another day, and really they ARE tied inextricably together because we are charged to be good citizens...) - anyway, a big part of what is wrong, is the unwillingness of people to do what's right in civic matters: voting, jury duty, helping one another, being kind, good, generous and exercising self-control...

just some rambling thoughts on a very rainy Monday....

have a great week!

The 'bots

I tried posting the other day - but was unable to as the blogger bots in their infinite 'wisdom' had decided I was a sp*m blog. UGH! As much as sp*m ticks me off, being called sp*m ticks me off even more! So - if you get autonotices that I have updated my blog and want to be removed... there should be a link in there to remove yourself from being notified - please don't send me to the "dark side" of email and report this as... well... YOU know what...

now... I'll have to post my other thoughts in a separate post, lol!

Link to sale list added (and now removed)

I just added a link to my list of retired SU stuff for sale. It is a Microsoft Word doc that I placed on 4shared. It is checked for viruses by 4shared :)

When you click on the link (to the right near the top of the list), it takes you to 4shared, where there is a short wait, then an option to download the file.

Please be patient - it takes a few seconds to do... then, peruse the list and email me at nancykayk@aol.com if you 'need' any of it...

reasonable counteroffers will be considered :)

***I removed the link because some of those people I know who are 'in the know' thought that might be part of the 'bot problem... we'll see - I know that at least one person was quite vocally upset with the difficulty s/he had in downloading the file. I had it tested by my home team here and they had no problems with it...just took patience to wait for the actual download link to appear.

Sketch update for Dana

OK - So Dana laid down a challenge to me to create her a sketch to go with two pics


and the poem from "Daddy's Girl" below.

DanaLea - you better share that layout when done... and the clock is ticking, girl :)

(tick tock tick tock...)

Done yet?

If you do a layout with my sketch, please share it with us!

Have a great Thursday tomorrow!!!!!

RETIRED SU SETS FOR SALE

I have a huge list of SU retired sets for sale...

please email me for the list if interested.

Great new Bible study blog

I 'accidentally'* ran across this blog the other day... just in time for a new Bible study she was starting. Double-dog-dare ya to check out:
http://rachelolsen.blogspot.com/

Her style is low-key and laid back...and her insights are really, well, insightful!

As for the rest of my world at the moment... I have been struggling some at work. Some choices others have made has created some 'fires' for me to put out...(like I don't have enough to do already?) - and since what I do affects the lives of children (not to be dramatic, but it does - I can't afford to goof up some kiddo's placement as it does have permanent consequences), these things are important and must be handled. However, God is gracious and is in control... I was able to complete all the evaluations I had to before Spring Break, and will be able to have those reports written on time and reviewed so good decisions may be made.

Changing the subject slightly - those of you who are my sisters in Christ - please pray for C. - cannot share name of course but God knows who she is - this gal has been battling cancer for years and her child is having some serious issues right now - they are having a really tough time... Please pray that God would bless her in a seriously wonderful way today!

And may God bless you particularly today and this weekend. I know that everyone who visits here may not believe as I do, but that's OK... I don't believe that Heaven is made up of Nancy clones, but rather people who came/come to know God in a personal way. God loves you and has a plan for your life - it may not seem that way all the time, but it's true, He does. Praying the He reveals Himself to you in an obvious way today!

Happy Spring Break to me (tomorrow is my first day off) and Happy Easter to us all - may we truly see the real meaning behind this season of renewal and new birth - that Christ loves us enough that He died for us, while we were yet sinners (and even though we still ARE sinners), to provide a way for us to have a personal relationship with the Father.

Be blessed,
N

*accidentally - don't really believe things happen by accident - - - I believe that God leads us to things and expects us to make choices... what do you think?

New layout, new grid paper

OK - had to share - this is the layout I just finished of my daughter, Kari, who got married in November and her daddy, but the background is four pieces of the new style of SU grid paper - it has a centering rule, plus the gray over to the right has card/envelope dimensions, basic supply reminder checklist and wish list area - i LOVE it!!!! (If you click on the picture you get a bigger view and can see more detail!)

I love the layout, too - the ribbon is from Hobby Lobby (bridals) and the letters are Heidi Swap, the big flower is off a flowering bush - Hobby Lobby again with a pink Prima centerflower and the stamens are from the cake-decorating area of HL again....who would have thought to look in cake decorating for flower stamens???????

I handed this to hubby to read the poem and he read the first verse and said, "um,...nope, not right now" lol - I got really misty reading it and so did he :)

Here's what it reads - found it on the web by "Anonymous"

Today is finally the day
that I will be the bride;
I look at you to see
a father gleaming with pride.

But first there are a few things
that I would like to say,
I love you more and more
with every passing day.

I remember as a little girl
I felt comfort in your arms,
and hoping that someday I'd find
a man with all of your charms.

I've found that man, daddy,
that I do love so,
but please know this daddy,
that my love for you will never go.

So as you walk me down the aisle,
I know we'll shed some tears,
and remember all the good times
and love through all the years.

I am the bride today
but in my eyes you'll see,
that some things never change,
"Daddy's Little Girl" I will always be.

OK - now, all together - awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww - isn't that sweet???

Have a good one - off to do one of Garrett and his mum with a different, yet really sweet poem....