New Furchild

Well after many years of saying that Sasha needed someone to play with....we finally did it.

Meet Blossom. We adopted her from APAC who was at PETSMART this past Friday.

Blossom was one hour away from being put down in the Dallas city shelter. She is obviously a mutt with some Lab color, German Shepherd protectiveness and who knows what else.

She and Sasha bonded right away and we knew that this was the right thing. So Merry Christmas, Sasha. She is probably about a year old and isn't housebroken just yet. Joy, Joy! Oh Well! We are grateful that we were able to rescue her.

All God's Critters

One of my favorite songs that I have used in my school music programs is "All God's Critters Gotta Place in the Choir". Well my new version is "All God's Critter Gotta Meal on the Porch".

It started with just a little hungry cat. I saw a small black and white kitten crouched under the rocking chair on my side porch. Well of course I had to feed it. It came and went for a few days

Then one evening I was sitting in bed solving my nightly round of puzzles and I heard a very loud "Meow" that sounded stressed. It continued for quite a while. Finally I decided that something was wrong so I go outside in my pj's with a flashlight and follow the sound of cat's cry. Finally up in the tree was a beautiful orange tabby that obviously was stuck up in the tree. I tried to coax it down but after trying to maneuver a few angles, it continued to tell me no. So with a husband who is several inches taller than myself, I convinced him to come and help. Tim tried to just reach the cat and could actually touch him but couldn't get the critter down. Well I am married to such a smart man! Tim went and got a board that was nearby and held it up to the tree and the orange tabby just walked the plank and came right on down. Of course there was a bowl of food on the porch waiting on him ....well I guess I should say her.

Now there were 2 critters to feed...the black and white kitten and the orange tabby. So I went to the store and brought home a good size bag of cat food that I left out on the porch closed up. The next night I go to put out some food for the cats and the bag has a hole in it. Then one morning when I was home from work I heard something on the porch and a squirrel was inside the bag eating the food. Okay....bad idea to leave the bag outside....

Over the next couple of days a half-mixed calico cat appears; another light colored tabby and of course the black and white kitten and the orange tabby are all taking turns at the bowl. This keeps Sasha keeps really busy going back and forth from our bedroom door to the other bedroom door to watch them.

Well one night she started barking really loudly so I went to look through the glass doors and a possom was now enjoying the food. I sat and watched it for awhile and tried to take pictures. None of them turned out very good. After the possom finished dining the mixed calico came for a few moments, then the orange tabby took her turn.

So for now....a possom, several cats and probably some squirrels are enjoying the cheapest cat food I can afford. Tim has assured me that when I go in the hospital that he is not feeding anybody but Sasha!

Pictures!

We have a beautiful new addition to the Spurlock family! Charlotte Ann Lamsens born to Caroline and Frank on September 28th. She is beautiful and has all ready wrapped Pappi Vern around her little finger. Somehow I didn't get Frank in any of my pictures.

Below is a short video of Mom and Vern with Charlotte.

Turning 50

Well turning 50 is definitely a turning point in my life. I am not uncomfortable with the number but I have to admit that's it's feeling rather surreal. The party was great and I am so blessed to have had my family and friends be with me to share in the sunset over the lake.

Unforgettable Day

15 years ago today I was teaching at Jefferson Elementary where Audrey was a 3rd grader. I had bought tickets to see Disney on Ice in Austin and we had gotten permission to leave school a little early to get down there ahead of traffic. Before we left school Audrey was honored for receiving 1st place in the Fire Prevention Poster contest for the city of Temple. The award also came with a gift card to Wal-Mart. So much excitement for a 3rd grader! Finally in Austin at the Disney show we watched with excitement as the characters and music came to life before us in full dazzling colors and lights. As soon as we got in the car, I put Audrey in her pj's and had a blanket handy for the ride home. Before we ever got out of Austin she was fast asleep in the back seat. At that point I turned on the radio.

In this pre-9/11 era, the first news that trickled out about something happening in Oklahoma City was minimal at school that morning. The excitement of our day far overshadowed a possible explosion at an office building. However by nightfall the news was far worse than anyone could have ever imagined. Life in the United States had now been forever scarred.

As I begin to hear the horrific stories on the radio of the number of children killed and wounded I couldn't help but look in the back seat and see my precious child safe and sound through the tears streaming down my face.

So April 19 will always be an unforgettable day of joy and heartache.

May God comfort all of the grieving hearts this day.

Overload

I am recovering from information outlet overload. I don't really know what else to call it, but I guess I just got to a point where Facebook, emails, blogs, school emails plus required weekly school webpage updates and school blogs were just too, too much.

So for now here's an update of my little world.

• I have celebrated with 2 of my friends their 5oth birthday. Mine will be here before I know it.
• Tim and I went to New York in January to see Audrey perform in her own play "Stranger than Alice". She was fabulous! We hadn't seen her perform since high school due to the distance and monetary factors. We had a great time and got to meet many of Audrey's friends.
• I have gone through menopause!!! Gained weight but didn't have hotflashes. I think hotflashes would have been better
• I somehow managed to get 150 4th and 5th graders onstage in 80's costumes in the midst of sleet and bitter cold temperatures.
• I enjoyed the first snow experience with the Sashadog. She was so excited and even though she didn't realize it, her breeding kicked in. We went for a walk and I thought at one point I was going to be mushing rather than walking!
• I have been so blessed this past year...this past decade. I am very grateful for the lessons I've learned; for the new friends I've made; for the dear old friends that still put up with me; for the love of my husband and the neverending inspiration from my daughter; for the godly examples of my mom and father-in-law; and above all for the continued unbounded Grace that surrounds my spirit.