More Prom and Monday's Prayer

I've known this young lady since she was a new-born.

Her dad has been vice-president of my ex's family company for many years.

I have been friends with her mom before this young lady was born.

She does not go to our high school,

but to a vocational school.

The boy is from our high school,

but goes to the same vocational school as the girl.

Ah-ha!

I was surprised but pleased to see her there.

The parents gathered inside the convention center and it was a bit chaotic.

Several of us teachers 'new' at these things 

have some different plans in mind for our years,

such as a red carpet

and seats for the parents---outside.

We would like to make it an event

 where the couples get center stage

walking into the prom.

The high school where my kids went

did this.

The fathers were valets.

But we parents did not have seats

and that was fine too.

I wanted to show you the camouflage dress from the front.

This is definitely a 'country' girl's choice--from a hunting family.

The counselor and I were taking pictures of the girls.

I got mine printed today.

Tomorrow Diane and I will put our pics up on a bulletin board

for all to see.

Then when we take it down, the kids can take the pic of their choice.

These colors are so VIVID!

And underneath . . .

BOOTS!

The theme was "A Country Tale"

and boots were encouraged.

Diane and I thought this was a cool choice of a dress

that this young lady will be able to wear in college.

The one on the left is usually not flamboyant,

but the one on the right dresses with pizazz at school.

The one on the left has her cell phone tucked into the middle of her top!

Only K. would do that and forget about it for a picture!

Classic model type.

Some of us teachers.

The teacher in the white and black skirt with boots

is our art teacher.

She was the advisor for the prom.

I'm behind her in classic long black skirt

with black heels and a simple gold metallic v-neck.

The prom king and queen begin to dance

as everyone snaps pictures.

They really got into it.

He twirled her around---was fun to watch.

They are good friends but are in long relationships with others.

Then everyone got to join in the dance.

A lot of the boys take their jackets, shirts, and ties off

and just wear their vests on top because of the heat.

The girls take their shoes off.

One huge difference since my high school days

is not just the style.

Yes, we wore long sleeves and modest necklines,

but most of us did not have much to hold up a strapless dress! Ha!

I am constantly amazed at how old the high school girls look today.

It's got to be all the additives and such in our food---surely.

(The counselor Diane got such a kick at of how all the girls

would simultaneously grab their tops and hoist them up

before a picture.

Actually they 'hoisted' them up most of the night!)

Monday's Prayer

Thank You, Lord, 

for Your Infinite love.

Make me an optimistic Christian, Father,

as I place my hope and my trust in You.

Amen.

Short and sweet and to the point this week!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Corner View: Architecture

Nine years ago my husband and I celebrated our fiftieth birthdays

with a trip to Ireland.

Some of you have already seen my Ireland photos.

However, I decided that some of the finest examples of architecture

in my photo collection were from Ireland.

Therefore, I am showing these photos again.

A humongous home that became a Catholic girls school and is now open to visitors.

The next three are of a church in Dublin.

This next photo shows the charming stone homes

 that are an integral part of Ireland's architecture.

They may not qualify as stunning to some,

but the attention to detail in these humble abodes

are stunning to me.

It is late and my mind is foggy, so the specific names of these buildings and places

are shut away in a back room in my brain.

I apologize for not giving more detail.

Next up are photos from my hometown.

The town is on the National Historic Register as a Victorian Village.

I have shown this house before also.

It is across from the home where I grew up.

I considered this my dream home. 

I introduced it on my blog here.

I was thrilled when it went on the real estate market.

I posted reasons why it was my dream house here

 and the reasons why it wouldn't work for us, here.

Here is another home we looked at.

But it was up for auction without a clear title.

Our lawyer advised us to leave it alone.

We complied.

These two photos are of our Gay 90s Museum.

It is a stunning example of Victorian architecture

--at least for us small town folks!

For more views from around the world,

please check out Francesca's place.

Barn Charm: # 70

When I, camera in hand, drive on a favorite road out west of my town,

there are two farms that I can see way down in the valley.

Some day this summer I hope to go exploring with hubby

and find the way down to them.

I got a better shot of this one on my way back to town.

It is much further away than it looks.

This barn is one I've taken before, but never this early in spring.

For more barn views, head on over to Trish's place.

"My Girls"

These are "my girls" as I call them.

Five senior girls who entered my life four years ago as freshmen.

They are now seniors.

I have taught them Advanced English two years

(the other English teacher and I alternate).

I have witnessed drama in their lives

and so much growth in themselves.

The above and below photos were taken in September

for Homecoming.

They were the queen candidates.

There are always shots taken for the newspaper

to highlight the court several weeks before the festivities.

This was taken before they each got in a pick-up truck

'awaiting' them to be their country version chariots

to take them to the football field and the crowning.

This one is for Sweetheart Court.

The four in front are the seniors for queen.

A., the girl in the purple and white checked shirt standing to the left of the tractor

(in the homecoming candidate shot),

could not be a candidate again because she was crowned Homecoming Queen.

So there are four together here.

This is the night of the crowning when they are dressed up in their lovely gowns.

Here they are dancing together at the Sweetheart Dance.

They are best of friends.

This was taken this past Saturday night at our 2013 Prom.

I asked them to gather together so I could get a photo of "my girls."

K., second from left in the orange, was crowned Prom Queen.

T. and M., the last two on the right, were the other ones up for the title.

The two A.'s, one in the short dress and one in the long peach dress

were the queens for Sweetheart and Homecoming. 

They are all in their bare feet by this time of the night.

They do not dance in their heels!

They are very special girls.

I hope to finish up the year with their graduation photos.

Monday's Prayer:

Dear Lord,

make me a woman of constant prayer.

Your Holy Word commands me to pray without ceasing.

In all things great and small,

at all times,

whether happy or sad,

let me seek Your wisdom and Your strength . . .

in prayer.

Amen.

Blessings to you all as you begin this week.

Corner View: Shadow

These photos were taken last year.

Cambridge city park.

East of my little town.

Looking up from our acre property to my sister-in-law's home,

which used to be my parents-in-law's.

My father-in-law's metal barn and old shed are on our acre 

and are my husband's sanctuary.

For more views on shadows, please head on over to Francesca's place

.

Corner View:Spring

Sometimes you have to 'fake' spring.

Here's a collection of spring 

that I have had for years

and put out each year.

Then, of course, you can always 'purchase' spring.

Now, if it would only show up outside!

For more views on spring from around the world,

please 'hop' on over to Francesca's place

.

Barn Charm #69

Last week I began a series of seasonal photos of a group of barns

that are in my favorite photo-taking area out west of my small town.

Barn Charm # 68 featured them in the snow that enveloped us a month ago.

Last Saturday I took a drive hoping to see signs of spring.

What I found instead, was still the brown tinges of remaining winter.

However, I snapped away.

These were taken March 30th.

This is my favorite barn of all that are around here.

It has an Ohio State emblem on the other side 

and a buckeye (our state's nut).

I rarely am able to get a photo of it for a variety of reasons.

It always amazes folks as to how close it is to the road.

I got a first-hand experience with that closeness

as I saw this beauty.

If I had opened my passenger door,

I would have been almost touching the fence with it.

I was so close that it was difficult to get a photo of the doorway 

to the little one's home.

It was a busy day out there and a car came up behind me.

I pulled forward and over a tiny bit (all that I could manage).

I waved him around and then saw that the farmer

was standing back 'a ways' looking indignant and wary.

I then realized he had seen my car come down the hill 

and realized it had stopped by his colt/pony (?).

So I waved and hurried on my way.

(My camera's battery had run out right then too.)

I was unable to get a shot of the 4th barn in the series

as it was across from this one

and there was a group of folks standing in the homestead's yard

close to it.

I will venture out again this weekend as it is supposed to go up in temps

and perhaps some green will be coaxed out to herald in spring.

Meanwhile, hop on over to Tricia's place

and check out more barns.

In-between snow and spring and Monday's Prayer

As I wrote about in my previous post,

I went driving out west of town to some of my favorite spots

to take pics of nature's progression from winter into spring.

The next two photos are of the same area a month ago.

The color of the 'lake' is an unusual and a bit unnatural green.

Spring is still not evident out here.

I discovered another 'lake' on the other side of the road.

I didn't know it was there.

I'm not sure how these bodies of water occur.

There is strip mining going on out there, 

but these areas still have plenty of trees,

so they don't fit 'the strip pit' explanation.

Two of our three days for Easter/spring break were taken from us

to make up for two extra snow days.

Today is Professional Development Day.

We are spending the morning working on our curriculum maps

which are due in May.

This entails a revamping of our curriculum to meet the new state core standards.

We will also be sitting in meetings,

one of which will be about SLOs.

It is a commentary on the state of Ohio's revamping of educator's requirements

that I still can't explain to you what an SLO is

even though ours are due May 1st.

None of us can---not even our principal, who is quite good.

Sigh.

I thought this was an appropriate prayer for this Monday.

Heavenly Father,

I seek to be Your faithful servant.

When I am tired, give me strength.

When I become frustrated,

give me patience.

When I lose sight of Your purpose for my life,

give me a passion for my daily responsibilities,

and when I have completed my work,

let all the honor and glory be Yours.

Amen.

"Be strong and courageous and do the work."

I Chronicles 28:20 HCSB

"You can't climb the ladder of life with your hands

in your pockets."

Barbara Johnson.

"In the very place where God has put us,

whatever its limitations,

whatever kind of work it may be,

we may indeed serve the Lord Christ."

Elisabeth Elliot

From 100 Days of Grace for Women

Blessings to you as you begin this new week!