T-shirt Tuesday.

T-shirt Tribute #11

This shirt comes from my first experience as a music camp volunteer. Now that we're in our church building, it's hard to imagine how we put a musical together in that old strip shopping center. The kids didn't even get on the Fossil Ridge stage until Friday! In spite of logistical problems, that musical was tons of fun, from the amazing seaweed costume Caren made to the inflatable whale/big fish that swallowed Jonah. And the ship made out of cardboard? It rocked.

Next week the Dub family will be participating in our seventh music camp. I'm so excited to see what the kids will do with Nic at Night this year!

I read the news today, oh boy...

Today's Star-Telegram devotes both Op/Ed pages to Memorial Day. Two pages filled with the names of U.S. troops killed in action since 9/11/01. Twelve columns of names in tiny type. So much heartache. Too much loss.

The point of the list is to get us to pause, to take a moment to remember all those who gave their lives. For me, it's yet another reminder to pray for these families who have lost loved ones.

At the same time, we're also praying for our troops still in danger overseas.

Please, God, keep them safe and return them to us quickly.

- - - - - - - - - - -

P.S. Here's the site Jim mentioned yesterday:

adoptourtroops.org

No more pencils, no more books...

What a wild ride it's been! Today Ryan says goodbye to elementary school while Katie says so long to third grade.

First Day: August 15, 2006

Last Day: May 24, 2007

Easy rider.

T-shirt Tuesday.

T-shirt Tribute #10

The ol' schoolhouse is really rockin' this week! We have two half-days with students, a workday and graduation to go. All that's left between me and summer are finals, a few more yearbooks to get rid of, a computer lab to pack up, a mountain of papers to file... OK, so there's a lot to do, but THE END IS NEAR.


I love Schoolhouse Rock, and I can't even think of the Preamble without singing the Constitution song. Usually out loud. And parts of speech? Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your adverbs here. In college I was so excited to find the "Grammar Rock" and "History Rock" videos, and now I've upgraded to the DVD. When Ryan and Katie were learning their multiplication tables, it was fun to pull out the Schoolhouse Rock so they could learn that 3 is a magic number.

Another Six Flags Saturday.

The dangerous game of tag.

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

Anything for a laugh.

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Adventure World.

I'm still amazed that this little nature walk is smack-dab in the middle of an NRH residential area. It was awesome to get in a mini-hike and take in the spectacular weather tonight--a school night, even!

(Katie spotted one of the six creatures listed on the warning sign. Guess which one!)

T-shirt Tuesday.

T-shirt Tribute #9

It's almost here--the coconutty smell of sunscreen, the messy goodness of ballpark nachos, the fizz of gnats bumping into the porch light.

When summer finally arrives, so do music camp and VBS. It won't be long until I'm laid off from one job and jumping headfirst into volunteerland. This week's shirt dates back to the first Midtown VBS I helped with. This little Joseph guy showed up on everything: pillowcases, labels, nametags. I especially remember the hours spent making Joseph nametags for all the volunteers.

With seven school days left (plus a workday and graduation), I am SO ready for summer to get here! It's great to have more time with Ryan and Katie at home and at events like music camp. And what comes with those summer church activities? More T-shirts!

Really scary.

Seeing Tami's "scary baby" picture reminded me of another scary baby face from 10 years ago:


It seems like it was just a few months ago that my little boy was slobbering all over his Happy Cabana, but now he's just eight school days away from being a middle schooler. Now THAT'S scary!

Diving in...

Brett and the kids have been swimming since May 5, probably the earliest we've ever opened the pool. Today, I joined them for the first time, and even though the water's still chilly, I can't wait until school's out and swimming can be part of our daily routine! Bring it on!

Yes, we still have kitties.

And I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted their pictures! Obsess much? Why, YES, we do!

Mother's Day program.

Katie and her third grade classmates honored moms at school. Even though I had to miss it because of work, I was still delighted to see my gorgeous daughter all dressed up for the program!

T-shirt Thursday.

T-shirt Tribute #8

I hadn't planned to post this shirt today; after all, it's not one I'm really getting rid of. But since I just spent three hours (some of which in the rain) waiting for our yearbook delivery, I thought this would be appropriate. The truck with our 1,100 yearbooks on it got stuck in traffic, so I was held hostage, waiting until the 18-wheeler pulled into the school parking lot. It was only three hours late!

I've taught for almost 16 years, and I've advised newspaper for all but three of those years. The yearbook gig is a new one. I advised the 2003 and 2004 yearbooks, helped a tiny bit with the 2006 book, and here I am again with the '07 edition. In spite of my limited yearbook experience, I've been around long enough to realize that distribution day--that would be tomorrow--is a BIG DEAL. So wish me luck!

And this staff shirt, like many others, is destined for display in our journalism lab. I have about a dozen newspaper and yearbook shirts that belong there, as part of journalism staff history, instead of collecting dust in my closet. So off it goes!

Tributes to Megann.

Megann blessed everyone she knew. One of the many sad things about losing her is that she didn't have the time for even more people to get to know her. If you never had the pleasure of meeting Megann, check out these links to some of her friends' blogs. They provide sweet descriptions of Megann's spirit and personality:

Jenna

Sarah

Tami

"Megann songs."

Megann was a teacher by trade and by lifestyle. Even before her cancer diagnosis, she taught us a lot about life. She truly loved living, and through her friendliness and straightforward attitude, she interjected that spirit into everyone she met.

After she was diagnosed, it was her faith that taught me even more.

On Wednesdays when the praise team rehearses, they often sing what I've come to think of as "Megann songs." I never heard Megann sing them, but they exemplify Megann's steadfast faith in the face of adversity. On more than one Wednesday evening, I'd be working in the booth and have to fight back tears so I could see the computer screen.

Ever since last summer, "Come, Now Is the Time to Worship" reminds me of that unforgettable evening when we were so honored to pray with Megann and Jon. I can't sing it or even hear it without thinking of Megann.

Another one that gets me is "I Will Praise Him Still," especially these two lines:

When dark trials come and my heart is filled
With the weight of doubt, I will praise Him still.

And then there's "Blessed Be Your Name," which has several lines that fit her spirit:

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place,
Though I walk through the wilderness,
Blessed Be Your name.

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise;
When the darkness closes in, Lord,
Still I will say,

Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your name...

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me,
When the world's 'all as it should be,'
Blessed be Your name.

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering,
Though there's pain in the offering,
Blessed be Your name...

It is wonderful to know that Megann's suffering and pain are gone forever, but now we're the ones who can see the darkness closing in. It's time for us to say, "Blessed be Your name"...

And keep singing.

Please pray.

Please pray for Megann's comfort and for Jon and the rest of her family.

Megann blesses us all with her friendship, her sense of humor, her spirit, her sweetness and her feistiness! We love her so much and are scared to lose her, and we ache for those closest to her.

We know what's next for Megann:

"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

(1 Corinthians 15:54)

But this is just too difficult. Her pain, our pain... It's too much. Help us, Father. Take care of our sweet Megann. And God, I very selfishly ask you to take care of the rest of us, too.

Crop 'til you drop.

This weekend I was lucky enough to join nine friends from church for a B&B scrapbooking retreat. This particular B&B, in Mabank, is specifically for scrapbookers, and even though my paper cropping days are nearing an end, I actually got a bunch done!

I cropped in this room, the Piggy Parlor: I got 60 pages done (well, almost--I still need to journal and add titles via PC at home)! That's major progress for me and my lame cropping skills. This weekend helped me make a major dent in our vacation album. Of course, in our room we also watched movies and chatted just a bit.

The rest of our crew worked in the Cropping Barn:

In addition to scrapbooking, we also enjoyed fabulous meals and the services of massage therapists. What a treat!

In the evenings, we could visit near the fire in the patio fireplace.

And then there was the relaxing view of the country:
Friends, fresh air and fun: Just what the doctor ordered! A big thanks to all the guys who made this happen!

Swan song.

Tonight was our last chance to see Ryan and his school's choir perform. They performed a variety of songs from musicals, such as "We Go Together" from Grease and "Singin' in the Rain."

Memaw, Nana and Papa were all there for the big show, too, which led to this picture: three generations of Dub men!

So long, CJ.

We shipped CJ off to her new home Thursday. (OK, we didn't really mail her. We just used the box for the car ride.)
It was hard to say goodbye, but we know she's in a good, loving home.

Cat and mouse.

C.J. is headed to a new home soon, so the photopalooza has begun!

T-shirt Tuesday.

T-shirt Tribute #7

Oh, how I love Lyle! I've been to more Lyle Lovett concerts than I can count (I'm in the late teens), and only instant sell-outs and exhorbitant ticket prices have kept me from his shows lately. "That's Right (You're Not from Texas)" is one of my all-time favorite road tunes, and I get tickled when it's blasted from Godzillatron (the massive scoreboard) during UT pregame warmups.

This T-shirt I bought off eBay, but since it's stretched out into an odd, ill-fitting shape, I've hardly worn it. Since it was dusty from lack of wear when I pulled it off the shelf, I decided I could let it go. Besides, Lyle will always have a place in my heart--and in my cyber closet!