Out

I won't be posting much this week simply because I'll be out of town and super busy. Mom and I are going to NYC to the Reading Institute. Well...I'm going to the Reading thing and mom is going to play and have a great time!

Galatians

I am reading through the book of Galatians right now. I have read through it before a long time ago. So many of the verses remind me of "firsts"....First time I understodd that Paul took the Gospel to the Gentiles, first time I realized my life as a believer was "crucified with Christ" and that it is He who lives within me (2:21), the first time I tried to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and full of self-control all at the same time!..(just a quick aside...trying to take on all of the fruits of the Spirit at once is IMPOSSIBLE!...but I love that I was so eager to try:), first time I understood the term "agape" and that this was the kind of love He has for me. It's a great book to read. Here's a verse I read this morning that I love...

"Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'-Galatians 4:6

Doesn't the verse make you want to jump from the bottom of your feet high into the air shouting, "Abba! Father!"?

4 yo Kaitlyn Maher - America's Got Talent 2008 NYC Auditions

This might be one of the cutest things I have ever seen!

Thanksgiving

So often I forget to say thanks. I get way too busy with life and forget to be thankful. Here are some things I am thankful for right now:

A wonderful, Godly husband who is REALLY funny.
Family who would give their left arm for me.
Friends that are so precious and wonderful.
Mentors to learn from.
A wonderful church.
A home.
A bed to sleep in.
Food to eat.
A body that works well.
A Savior that is so indescribable in the love that He gives.

Yeah...I am thankful today. Thankful for all He trusts me with and all that He freely and generously gives. What are you thankful for?

New Kids On The Block - Summertime

Everytime I hear this song on the radio I revert back to 9 year old Lane. I catch myself singing and smiling in the car! I was such a New Kids on the Block fan...I had everything...shirts, socks, sleeping bag! My sister and I sang so loud to Hangin' Tough and Step by Step! All that to say....what causes you to revert back to the kid inside? For me...New Kids on the Block..what is it for you?

Need some help with Flashbacks.

I have been itching my brain trying to figure out a creative way to teach Writing with Flashbacks. This is a standard in the state of GA for 5th grade. I have some great book examples of flashbacks in books but I really wanted to show my students a visual image from a movie or maybe even a commercial clip. If you can think of a flashback in a movie or any other type of media comment and let me know!

strawberries filled with cheesecake!

I saw this on Food Network and boy does this look soooo good! It is a strawberry that is FILLED with Cheesecake...that's right...the strawberry has been cut open and FILLED with cheesecake. Then, if that weren't enough...they cover it with chocolate! Amazing! All of my favorite things...strawberries, cheesecake, and chocolate!
Cheesecake

Night

I picked this book up in hopes it would be a good book for my 5th graders to help teach my WWII unit. I read it yesterday and though I thought it was a little too detailed for my 5th graders I found it to be one of the most beautifully written stories I have ever read. The description and beautiful figurative language he used to write this memoir made it difficult to put down. I would put it up there with "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "Number the Stars."

happiest day

I found out this morning that today is officially marked as "The Happiest Day" of the calendar year! How exciting! I also love that I was born on this fun day. I think it is very fitting:)

Yummy Grape Salad

This is my mom and Mama June's recipe and it is sooooo Yum-o! If you like grapes you'll love this recipe!
*note-I AM NOT A COOK! But I can make this!

Ingredients:
2 lbs. of red seedless grapes-washed and drained
2 lbs. of white seedless grapes-washed and drained
8 oz. lite cream cheese
8 oz. no-fat, fat free, or lite sour cream (any of them will work fine)
1/2 c. sugar or (if you are going super healthy a 1/3 c. of Splenda)
1/4 tsp. vanilla flavoring (use real vanilla)
1 to 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar
1/2 to 1 c. of finely chopped walnuts

-After washing grapes and draining; cut some of both types of grapes in half & leave the smaller ones whole.
-In a large bowl; combine cream cheese, sour cream, splenda or sugar, & vanilla. I've found that it's better to beat the cream cheese until smooth, then slowly add the sour cream and other ingredients. Add grapes to cream cheese mixture and stir until all are covered with the cream cheese mixture.
-Place in a large dish-sprinkle 1 to 2 tbsp. of light brown sugar on top of grape mixture; then sprinkle with approximately 1/2 c. to 1 c. of finely chopped walnuts.

the Today Show

I have watched the Today Show consecutively since I was 7 years old. As I child I didn't appreciate it but my dad ALWAYS had it on every morning before he took us to school. I love it so much now that I actually TIVO it...(lame...I know, but I don't get an opportunity to catch up on things happening around the world if I don't).
I want everyone to know (for whoever cares) that I really miss Katie Couric. I'm not saying I don't like Meredith but Katie was my favorite. So I guess this is my small tribute to Katie just thought I would get that out there...

2 years of marriage

I can't believe B. and I celebrated 2 years of marriage just a few weeks ago...June 3 to be exact. The time has flown but I know that each moment with him has been an incredible, growing experience and I love him more than I did June 3, 2006! People ask me quite often, "Do you laugh all the time at your house?" The answer is a capital "YES!" He makes me laugh so hard sometimes I get sick from laughing so much! I've heard before that laughter makes you live longer...B. and I have decided if that is true we have many years ahead of us! Bottom line....I love life with him.

website -Reading Power

I had to create a website about something educational for a class I am taking right now. I decided for my focus to be on Reading Comprehension with students and how parents can effectively help them. Check the site out and let me know what you think....Reading Power is the title.

Lane

http://web.mac.com/lane.moore/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html

you will have to manually type in the address. I couldn't get it to link for some reason.

Liberty Mutual Ad (1st edition):

This is hands down one of my favorite commercials of all time. I think it is beautiful and inspiring. I am showing it to my students on the first day of school this year to help paint a picture of the community we should strive for in and out of the classroom.

boston with Katie

Katie and I went to Boston over this past week and had the best time. We did so much and I can truly say there wasn't one part I didn't love! It was a cool city with lots of things to do. Here is a synopsis of our past few days:
Salem, MA
House of 7 Gables Home
Concord, MA
Sleepy Hollow Cemetary: burial of Nathanial Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson
Louisa May Alcott's Home where "Little Women" was written
Walden Pond
Boston, MA
Freedom Trail
Boston Commons
Quincy Market
Fenuial Hall
Burial of Paul Revere, John Handcock
King's Chapel
Park Street Church
and my favorite
Martha's Vineyard ...this was so great...probably one of my favorite places I have ever visited. I felt like I was in an episode of Anne of Green Gables....I kept thinking, "How in the world could You make something so beautiful?"...but He did and it was my favorite place I think over the entire trip. This is a picture I took at Martha's Vineyard.

Blue Hydrangeas

I love blue hydrangeas. For some reason everytime B. and I are driving around town I always look for blue hydrangea bushes. They only bloom in late spring and early summer...the rest of the year it's either too hot or too cold. I'm always so surpised at the beautiful colors of hydrangeas, but I especially love the blue ones. One of my favorite memories with blue hydrangeas:
The morning before Brett and I got married my mom and I got up early to go cut blue hydrangeas for the bouquets and decorations at the church. We were both so excited to see how gorgeous they were and all the beautiful blue tones. As always my mom would go above and beyond. One of the go-zillion reasons she's so special.