Saturday I spent a beautiful sunny day outside working in the yard. The thrill of spring overtook me and I seriously looked at cleaning the windows. There is nothing prettier than sparkly bright windows. I decided to burn some of the paper trash that had mounted up over the week and keep the windows for later. Then came Sunday’s wind! Today we were back to winter winds and cold temperatures. They’re forecasting rain for Monday and temperatures in the 40’s. I optimistically bought onion sets and tomato plants thinking I would start the garden! Well, the jokes on me! Wayne Powell said he had already put his onions in, so I guess once the cold goes away, I’ll put my onions in the ground. We are certainly having cold, miserable weather. Mind you, I was looking at the pictures we took last week of all the snow, and it really does look beautiful! At least my fruit trees aren’t blooming early!

I watched the hockey game today between Canada and the USA. What a wonderful game. Those guys played magnificent hockey. It was interesting to me that they did not fight like they do in NHL games. They played tough hockey, but didn’t have those brawls that some people seem to think belong in the game. I don’t like the fighting. Both teams played so well I hated for one to have to lose. It did seem right that Canada won, because that is their national sport. To my feeble female brain, no USA team should ever lose in basketball. That is the American national game, along with football of course. I’m sorry the Olympics are over. I’ve spent more time in front of the television these last two weeks than I have spent in the last few months. I try not to miss the Amazing Race, but everything else is on a take it or leave it basis. Housework and class work usually get in the way of leisure watching. I do love to see the countries that I have not visited. I wish I had the time and the money to go visit every country in the world! God has created such a beautiful world!

The 4th, 7th and I think 8th are taking their first TAKS tests on Wednesday and Thursday. Math and writing have to be taken early so that if anyone fails; they have a chance to retest before the end of the year. I’m sure Mrs. Wyatt will be checking to see if her kids all pass the writing TAKS. They did so well for her last year. All of our elementary classes did very well last year. The degree of difficulty rises each year so students must continue to improve, if they hope to succeed. I think we will be fine this year also, but one never knows. This testing process is very stressful for these young children. Please send up a prayer for our young ones on Wednesday and Thursday.

I’m writing this before the elections on Tuesday. I hope everyone voted for the candidate of their choice. I tell the kids if you don’t vote someone else gets to vote for you. It could be that the person whose vote takes the place of yours does not have your best interests at heart. If you missed this vote, please make sure you vote in November. Exercise your privilege, and fulfill your responsibility.

The basketball season is over for our boys. The home crowd travelled to Comfort, Texas prepared to fight a tough game. They came home proud of our boys but without the win. They’ve had a very successful season, and we are thankful that they are such a great group of young athletes. Most will not proceed to either track or tennis. Coach Burkhart has been putting some of them through their paces the last few weeks. I can’t say that I have put the tennis team through too many paces, the weather has been just too miserable! Coach runs the boys and then they come to me for tennis practice if the courts aren’t wet. We definitely need a new paint job on the courts, but the backboard is working well. I need to send out a special thank you to Ed Smith who sent a crew down to spread some rock under the board. It needs to be smoothed a little more, but the weather has not permitted any work on the dirt. Thank you Ed!

The candy sales for the 5th graders went very well. We sold 450 bars in the first three days! The 8th graders are going to take over the fundraiser and raise money for their end of year banquet. They are going to sell many more bars than my class. I’ll have to starve myself between chocolate bars! If you’re real careful, I’m sure you could lose weight as long as you didn’t eat anything else. It might not work, but it could be some excellent research!

I was talking to some of the booster club members. It seems they have lots of members on the rolls, but most of them are too busy to help out at events. I know both of my kids have to work concessions if their children play on a team. It was that way in Dallas with my kids. Parents of team members had to work at least one game. They may have to go to the parents for help. They have enough money to put on the sports banquet at the end of the year, but the concession stand at the basketball games was closed down for several games that I attended. Had I known then what I know now I would have volunteered to help out. So my point to everyone is this. If you can, why not volunteer to help the booster club with concessions or other activities?

I was the recipient of a warm fuzzy this weekend. Russ and I went to Wal-Mart on Saturday. Some of my students from Victory Life were selling raffle tickets for their graduation trip. I stopped to see how they were doing and wished them all the best in the future. I heard one of them say something but didn’t catch what it was. Russ told me one young man said, "I sure do love Mrs. Ransom." Several others agreed with him. Those words are pure joy to a teacher. We’re used to being under appreciated most of the time. When one young person stops to thank us, there is no greater reward! I feel LOVED!

I am missing my grandchildren. Scott says they are finally settled in a place of their own. The children are enjoying their new experiences. My Dallas kids are growing so fast I should be aging five years at a time! Soon a trip to Granny’s house will have to take second place to teen stuff. It’s the way it should be, but it is a lonesome way for Granny. Which reminds me, Elisa Draper asked for prayer for her eldest grandson. He has a thyroid problem and they want to remove his thyroid. I didn’t know they took that organ out! So we will leave that in God’s hands! Funeral services were held for Betsy Lane Adams this past Saturday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family. Please pray for our President, our government, our precious troops and their families and our country. God bless America. Have a great week everyone.