Shoes!

I bought the most AMAZING flip-flops today!  I had a doctor's appointment this morning to do some lab work (he's checking my progesterone, prolactin, and thyroid--it's Day 21 of my cycle) and went to Dillards afterward to kill some time.  I have been having some terrible back problems, and my massage-therapist sister has told me that it's probably due to my wearing cheap flip-flops (I'm a sucker for the Old Navy 2 for $5!!).  I've been on the lookout for some more comfy sandals, and the other day, I bought these Clark's online:

Cute, huh?  One of my students has them in the Pewter color, and I tried them on and loved them! 

THEN, like I said, I went to Dillard's and found THESE:

They are Sanuk brand, and made from Yoga Mats!  They are the most comfortable flip flops I've ever worn.  And not only that, they're brown Zebra print!!  I was smitten!  They have tons of other colors.  I noticed they also have them on Shoes.com, but they're a little more expensive! 

Love me some shoes!

It's Been FOREVER!!!

I cannot believe that I haven't posted anything since FEBRUARY!!!  There haven't been many exciting things going on recently, but I didn't have time AT ALL in February or March to post, because I was smack-dab in the middle of drama competition. 

The kids were AMAZING at competition.  Three of my students got acting awards, with one of them winning BEST ACTOR!  I was so impressed.  We also got Superior Play for The Diviners, which is the top honor.  Yay kids!  We also received several other awards, for costumes, ensemble acting, etc.  I tell people all the time, if I didn't have the kids I do, there's NO WAY we'd do as well as we do at competition.  I love them.

Spring has quickly turned into summer.  It seemed like one minute it was brown, with little daffodils everywhere, and then the next minute, it's summertime.  It's going to frost tonight, though, so I'll have to cover my tomatoes.  I decided this year that I'm not going to go overboard and try to plant a huge garden.  That little escapade did NOT work last year.  I just don't have time, and I don't enjoy pulling all those weeds.  So my "garden" this year is four tomato plants, and some herbs in pots.  I think that's enough. We have a wonderful farmer's market here, so if I need any veggies this summer, I'll just go buy them. 

There's a  little hopeful news here on the baby-making front.  Dr. Wonderful (that's just what I call him, but he truly is--I've never been to a more compassionate doctor) told me that if I wasn't pregnant by Spring, when I was due for an annual exam, that we'd talk about our next steps.  Well, of course I wasn't.  Last week I had an appointment, and he told me, after I told him how incredibly frustrated both Colby and I are (that really doesn't even BEGIN to cover it) that it was probably time to try something else.  So he's doing bloodwork on May 17, which is Day 21 of my cycle.  He's checking my progesterone, thyroid, and something else, and I'll start Clomid after my period.  So I'm a little nervous, but I'm VERY hopeful. 

Mother's Day has been hard the last two years, but I found this poem on two other blogs that I love.  It's enough to give anyone some hope:

There are women who become mothers without effort, 
without thought, 
without patience or loss,
and though they are good mothers and love their children,
I know that I will be better.

I will be better not because of
 genetics or money or because I have read more books, 
but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.

I have longed and waited.
I have cried and prayed.
I have endured and planned over and over again.

Like most things in life, 
the people who truly have appreciation 
are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.

I will notice everything about my child.
I will take time to watch my child sleep,
explore, and discover.
I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life.

I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold, and feed him
 and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream.  
My dream will be crying for me.

I count myself lucky in this sense; 
that God has given me this insight, 
this special vision with which I will look upon my child.

Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to 
or a child that God leads me to, 
I will not be careless with my love.

I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. 
I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend, and sister because I have known pain.

I know disillusionment, as I have been betrayed by my own body. 
I have been tried by fire and hell that many never face, 
yet given time, I stood tall.

I have prevailed.
I have succeeded.
I have won.

So now, when others hurt around me, 
I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. 
I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs.
I listen.  
And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely.

I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, 
of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth when life is beyond hard.

I have learned a compassion that only comes by walking in those shoes.

                                                       I have learned to appreciate life.

                                       Yes, I will be a wonderful mother.


Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, mothers-to-be, and mother's in waiting!