One Hundred Years From Now

I came across this the other day, how true it is.  It really will not matter how much money I earn as a teacher, what house I have, what kind of car I drive.  I am a person, I am a teacher.  All the materialistic things in the world cannot buy true happiness.  It has to come from within.  I really believe the poorest man could be filled with the most richest possessions and the richest man can feel they are always missing something in their life because they have yet to find the simple things in life that cannot be bought in a store.  This is why I teach, I teach because I know that every day I give my students the opportunity to see and experience the world of science.  I show them a whole world that is ready for them to find their way.  We all have our ups and downs in our jobs, I just think I may be fortunate enough to have a career where everyday I realize how fortunate I am to live in a country where we are free to educate our youth, free to educate our minds, and free to be who we are.  Learning is a life long road, educating your mind is something no one can take away from you. 

    

One Hundred Years From Now

Author: (excerpt from "Within My Power" by Forest Witcraft)

One hundred years from now

It won't matter

What kind of car I drove

What kind of house I lived in

How much money I had in the bank

Nor what my cloths looked like

BUT

The world may be a little better

Because, I was important

In the life of a child

Support the American Heart Association

Today I decided since it was Valentine's Day to do something for a heart!  I went ahead and signed up for the American Heart Association's Mini Heart 15K in Cincinnati.   Please feel free to support a wonderful organization by clicking on the link to the right of my blog page.  Have a great Valentine's Day and support today!

First Race of 2012

Yesterday, I ran in my first 5K for 2012.  At moments I felt a little crazy for running in 25 degree weather but felt it was well worth it once I finished.  I did not break any records however it was not my worse.  I am looking foward to running this year.  I plan on running my usual races and hopefully adding a few more in when I can.  There is just something in me when I run.  Yesterday it wasn't about the time, who I was going to beat, it was just about me out there with a goal, with a vision, with some hope, with the courage that I was just going to do my best. 

Just 10 weeks away from the Flying Pig! 

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

-- Confucius

"Human beings are made up of flesh and blood, and a miracle fiber called courage"

-George Patton

Scars

I have been thinking a lot about scars....Why we have them after we are hurt physically sometimes, maybe how some scars are invisible because the wound was caused by words, scars we get as children because we are so clumsy, sometimes how scars can be covered by clothing but yet they are still very present.   I came across this the other day and really needed to read it. 

"It is beautiful to have lived, really lived, and to have the marks to prove it. It’s not a competition—as in “My scar is better than your scar”—but it’s a testament of our inner strength.  It takes nothing to wear a snazzy outfit well, but to wear our scars like diamonds? Now that is beautiful."

"We may hurt, but we will heal—and there’s beauty in our scars"

Merry Christmas

Riley, Brody, and Lily

 Brody with Grandpa McKinney

 We can't wait!  Let us see what Santa brought us!

 Our Family on Christmas Eve

My boys!

 Four generations of McKinneys

 Momma with her little man

 Brody, Ella, and Riley

We had a wonderful Christmas together!  Year after year we are running a marathon between family events for two days.  However, I would never change a thing.  It reminds me of all the love we are fortunate to be apart of.  The smiles and sparkle of Christmas in my kids faces this year has been priceless.  Riley said it best to Brody, "People think what they want to think, we BELIEVE!  WE believe in Santa, we believe in reindeer, and we believe they fly!"  Perfect!  My perfect gift this year did not come in a small box, wrapped with a bow, nor given in a bag full of tissue paper.  My perfect gift this year was my family and health.  I cannot be more fortunate and happy to spend the time with my kids and my wonderful husband. 

Waiting Game again.....

Last week I had my first blood test since my surgery. I recall not thinking much until it was taken and sent to the lab. All of the sudden I realized there is no turning back, its there and being tested and soon we would see if the surgery was a success. I am happy to report all my levels are regular and my CA-125 is down! Yeah!! Now step two, yesterday I had to have my bone density scan and CT scan to check everything inside. Now, once again it is the waiting game. Patience……. It is hard to have when it is your body they are looking at for problems. Today while sitting at home with some awful stomach bug, hopefully just 24 hours I realized how wonderful life is to have the people in my life I get to call my family and friends. Ups, downs, tragedies, and triumphs my husband, Brian is here for me and the kids. He truly is my rock. He is always the one telling me it is going to be ok. He is always the one giving me a hug just because he can tell I need one. I love you Brian! My friends and family have been wonderful as well. Phone calls, emails, texts, and visits just to check in and let us know they are ALWAYS there for us. Soon, hopefully in the next day or so I will have the results from my CT scan and move past this part. The problem with borderline tumors are they always have the possibility of coming back so every 6 months to a year another CT scan, blood work, and worry. However, I know God gave me Brian, my family, and friends to be my strength when I am weak and my smile when I am sad. No materialistic object can take the place of the love I have for my family and friends. This is a true blessing!!

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Holiday Fun 2011

We had a great weekend with our friends celebrating the holiday season!  On Friday we had our annual Christmas Party and Saturday night we attended the wonderful Lebanon Horse Parade!

 Love those smiles!!

 Momma with the kids

The McKinneys

 The Ladies

 The Gentlemen

 All the kids!

 Momma's Reindeer

Ready for the parade!