Top 10 Reasons I LOVE our LORI!! Happy Birthday, GIRL!!!

Tomorrow, October 21st, is my friend  Lori Gore's 39th birthday!! And this one's pretty special!!! So I started thinking of the TOP 10 Reasons I LOVE our LORI! So, here they are....


10. She's been my friend since the 4th grade at Apollo Elementary School! Now, that's been a long time ago.  And she's still my friend! (The early 80s~ when we wore "Lovit" jeans and Farrah hair)


9. In 5th grade, we were in the same homeroom.  We had Mrs. Ernesto, and I have our class picture on the side of my desk at school.  Dee Dee was in Mrs. E's class, too. (My classes love finding their teachers in that photo!) We wore our rabbit coats and thought we were all that!!!


8. We went to Greenacres JUNIOR High together!  We were Mustangs in Mrs. Ray's American History class!  English with Mama Moose!(Mrs. Maples)


7. We went on to Airline to become Vikings!  Lori is the reason that I'm spending my Tuesday afternoons learning Spanish after teaching all day!  When we took Spanish at Airline, I didn't learn too much!  Lori was in my class, and our teacher (who shall remain nameless) didn't like perfume because it bothered her allergies.  One day Lori decided she wasn't in the mood for Spanish so she took a perfume sample out of her purse and crushed it into the floor. Then she smeared it around the room.  When our nameless teacher arrived, she politely confessed that she had "dropped" some perfume out of her purse and it spilled onto the floor.  Lori wanted her to know so she could leave promptly before her allergies got to her! How sweet!! The nameless teacher left to go visit with "Rambo", the principal, and we got to visit with each  for the rest of the class period! 


6. We were/are the same height, size, hair color, even the same hair texture!  We have BIG Hair!  (Well, Lori had some big hair before she shaved it.  She has more hair than any bald person I've ever seen before!  And when it grows back~ it may get bigger!) We completed for the title, "Biggest Flirt"! Not sure who won, but it was a tight race!  People were probably confusing us!  Double Trouble!


5. We attended LA Tech University and became BULLDOGS!! Go DAWGS!!!


4. She is smart!  LOL! So smart that she came back to Bossier Parish to teach elementary school.  Now, finally, we are together at the same wonderful school, Legacy Elementary.


3. She can get into my dirty car or come into my dirty house, and I don't care!! I know she loves me whether my car is clean or my house is spotless.  Now that's a great friend!


2. She taught my youngest son 3rd grade!!! I think he may love her more than me!???! Oh dear!


1. She is my heroine!!!!  She's been through and is still going through her some tough chemo treatments, and every time I see her she has a genuine smile on her face! That smile, that glow, can only come from her faith and relationship with the Lord! What a witness she truly is to God's goodness!!!  Whether she's counting my tshirt order for FCA or running  our papers for the next week, she has a joy and peace that attracts others to her and ultimately to Him. WOW!  


So HAPPY BIRTHDAY LESLIE!!!!  YOU REALLY ARE A ROCKSTAR!!!  HAVE A GREAT DAY!!! BRING ME SOME CAKE! I love ya!

Lori and I at AHS class of '89 20 year reunion! YIKES!  

Initiative: JUST DO IT

Each month at school and church, we study a virtue. Virtue-a good or admirable quality. In September, we studied Respect.  Respect- showing others they are important by what you do and say. As a school teacher, I really like that one!


When I discovered October's virtue, I was thrilled.  I introduced the virtue to my class. My smart students knew what initiative meant on Friday, October 1! The VERY first day of the month.  We talked about initiative, and the students gave me various examples of where they would "see what needs to be done and do it"! I was so excited!! Now, I'd have the perfect class! Each and every student would always do their homework, remember/review their multiplication facts, clean up around their area each day, take up for the under-dog on the playground, make their AR goals, and of couse, put up their chairs up before leaving. My job was going to be a breeze!


But, I gave a multiplication quiz on Monday morning.  Not so good.  I cleaned under THEIR desks, around THEIR desks, and put chairs on top of THEIR desks on Monday afternoon.  Not so good. When returning into the building after recess today, the rug by the door was wadded and folded.  I knew someone would trip and fall at any time.  All stepped over the rug, but no one stopped to unfold it properly. I had to remind them of our virtue for October. Had they forgotten INITIATIVE? Didn't they SEE what needed to be done? So why didn't they just do it? 


I wasn't until I was in FX tonight at church that I finally understood!  I, too, am very good at seeing what  needs to be done.  I saw trash that should have been picked up under desks, chairs that needed to be put up, I even stepped over that very rug that I fussed at my students for not "fixing". It's the doing it part that I struggle with daily. God really got my attention.  When God shows us what needs to be done, it's our job- our responsibility- to do it.  I vividly remember that God told me something last year that He wanted me to do, and I still haven't done it! Oh, I have every excuse in the book- I'm busy, I have busy children, I'm tired, I don't have time, etc.! But it's sin! That's the bottom line! When God lays something on your heart, it is up to us to show "initiative" and JUST DO IT!


Jame 4:17 says, 
"Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (NLT)

That verse convicts me everytime I read it! If you are unsure of some things that need to be done, I can help.  This Sunday our church family has planned several outreach programs  in our community . These activities allow the entire family to participate! So if  you are looking to show initiative and not sure where to start, let me know....I can hook you up, but...  I bet you will come up with something....so what is it? What would God have you do? JUST DO IT!!!