Music and Poetry

Well I made it through another year and another March 22. It's been 6 years without Dad, and I have to say that it hasn't gotten easier. Some days feel harder than others, some days are okay. But there is definitely not a day that goes by that he doesn't cross my mind. There have always been certain songs that make me either A. Cry my eyes out or B. Smile when it comes to memories of my Dad. Heres a short top 10 list of what can trigger a pile of an emotional Casey:)
No Particular Order...

1. Raise Me Up- Josh Groban
2. Forever Young-Rod Stewart
3. What I Cannot Change-LeAnn Rimes
4. Very Last Country Song-Sugarland
5. It's Not Suppose to Go Like That-Rascal Flatts
6. Who'd You Be Today-Kenny Chesney
7. Days Like This-Van Morrison
8. Fire and Rain-James Taylor
9.Wonderful World/Over the Rainbow-Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
10. Let It Be- Beatles

Sunshine

I love the fact that I am sitting here on our living room floor with the sliding door and windows open! okay, so it's not 70 degrees out, but there is sunshine outside, and that is all that matters :) Spring is just right around the corner. I just finished grading some papers, and completing report cards (what a task!). So this means that there are only 9 weeks left of school until the kids are out for the summer! 9 weeks folks! It seems like I just got in the classroom, and I feel like I am just getting settled in with knowing the kids. Time has gone by so fast! M y goal for these next 9 weeks is to do my very best, whether its a great day, or a challenging day. God hasn't given me anything yet that I haven't been able to handle.

On a side note...It was Phil's 27th birthday on March 10. We kept it low key, and had a few friends over to eat some dinner, hang out and chit chat, and play some board games/Wii. I had some help with my mom for baking his birthday cake. I was really trying to get everything done, but by the time school let out and I actually finished half of my work, it was 4. So thankfully I called my mom when school got out and told her that I was planning on baking Phil a cake, but was running short on time. Being the good and supportive mom she is, she baked a cake for me. Which helped me out A LOT! So I snuck it home and frosted and decorated it. Over all Phil had a pretty good birthday. He got a ton of cards from friends and family. Me on the other hand, being a bad wife, did not get him a card, and I felt absolutely horrible! I swear, I need to take a time management class! Either that of find a way to add 3 hours to each day.

Phil getting ready to blow out his candles *Friends* Birthday Boy ;)

Anyways, enough babbling....I've got to finish weekly progress reports. I am going to Aunt Mariannes tonight for dinner, and for some helpful advice on how to teach poetry using Lucy Caulkins ;)

Aaron's Birthday and March

Today I slept in until 11:30, and it felt good. I rolled over in bed only to call time and temp to check and see how warm it was out. I am so ready and eager for warm weather. It was 56 degrees out. Not too bad. It was also warm enough for me to get out of bed and motivated for the day. However, after about an hour, I noticed it had gotten gloomy out and was starting to rain. "Ugh", I thought, but just appreciate the fact that it isn't snow!

We have already seen a week in March go by. March is full of all sort of events. March started off with my brothers 29th birthday. I called him on the way to United Art & Education. I chatted with him about random conversation bits. I really do wish that he lived closer. We always used to fight and argue growing up. My brother wasn't your average kid growing up. He was always getting himself into something. Whether that was a detention or suspension from school. Or the one time he brought home a few mice from biology class and hid them in a cage in his closet for a couple of days from my mom. She eventually found them when Lucky, our cat at the time, kept scratching at his door. Every Saturday, I would try my best to get up before my brother to beat him to the TV remote. Because if I didnt I would end up watching fishing. My parents were always so supportive of my brother, but he was a teen with everything on his mind but school. He ended up moving out to his dads during his sophmore year of HS. I eventually saw less and less of him. In March of 2002, when everything happened with my dad, my brother and I seem to understand each other on a very different level. I can happily say that we get along today better than ever. He has turned out to be a good guy. He has his flaws, which are his worst habits. But then again, everyone has a few. He's a good husband and father. I just think it took him a little while to get through a few rough patches in his life to get where he is today. I guess with time and a little patience, things did turn out.
So as we approach March 22, our family will go through yet another year with out dad and his smile, his loud laugh, and family love. It has been one of the hardest things to try and adjust to. I still hate the fact that he is not here, and wont be coming back. I can only hope that I can make him proud.