"These words... from my heart flow/ I love you"

And since I'm already here....

In celebration of Easter I made the decision to teach my kids a string of six bible verses. My nieces learned it at their school when they were five. My kids are three or four. They remember bible verses from October. I thought, Let's give it a try. The first day was rough. They struggled with the world "Sabbath" and they didn't understand that "dawn" didn't mean the name of one of the girl's moms. And then I started handing out SweetTarts and Hershey's Kisses anytime the kids got a line right and the ball started rolling.

We learned the verse in two weeks. That means some of the kids learned it in FOUR days (the other kids in six... still impressive!). I was so proud. But that didn't mean we didn't have some stumbling blocks along the way. The last line in the verse is "He has risen!". Instead of risen, one kid said ribbons, another prison, and presents got mentioned a couple of times. It references Mary Magdalene and my assistant had a baby girl named Mary Ellen a few months ago. We talk about her a lot and all the kids think she's really cute. And apparently they always have her on the mind because one girl said "Mary Ellen and the other Mary Ellen went to look at the tomb". And if there was ever a tricky word, we would break it down syllable by syllable and say it over and over until it wasn't scary. This lead to us chanting/screaming "cru-ci-fied" for about twenty seconds until I realized how it must have sounded to passerbys in the hall and we moved on.

We really pounded this into the kids' heads. On Thursday, the last day of school before Easter, I was telling them about the "Angel Rolled Back the Stone" craft we were going to make later that day. And I asked them what the angel said to the women and they ALL automatically replied, "Do not be afraid. For I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, He has risen!" I said, "Wow. I kind of turned you guys into robots". And one little boy laughed and said, "No! If we were robots we would sound like this: "Do. Not. Be. A-Fraid" as he did the actual robot. It was AWESOME. And then we were done going over it for the morning so I started to tell them what I had planned for the day. I said "First we are going to have snack. Then you need to go potty before music. After...," and several of the kids jumped in and started with "After the sabbath." Like I said, robots.

But I am SO proud of them for learning SIX verses all together (Matthew 28: 1-6). They are little rockstars. I would totally post the video I spliced together of all nine kids saying it but I don't want to get fired for privacy issues. And if you want more kids stories (and I want a paycheck) let's not and say we did.

Happy Easter!

"Cause I just found someone special and that's really something special/ Nice to meet you anyway"

I got a new laptop! I am SO excited (I'm talking I danced as I waited for the FedEx lady to walk up to my door). And you can be a little excited too since maybe this will mean I will write more on here. I know. I abandon all the time. I keep telling you I'm going to come back and then I leave again. It's an abusive cycle. I'm sorry. And I really am trying to get better.

But seriously I had my iBook G4 since I was a senior in high school (the summer of 2004). I did get Mac a new hard drive circa 2008 and that solved the slowness/memory issues for about a year. And while it was hard to say goodbye, it was time. I couldn't even watch YouTube videos because the processor was SO slow. And now I can do all sorts of things! Like make movies and actually burn them (Mac lacked a DVD burner... so two-thousand-and-late). But productivity may go out the window cause I now have PhotoBooth and we all know how much fun that can be.

So now I have new inspiration/motivation to write on here and edit the book some more. I still have been working on the book but man, having a job really cuts into my free time. So I know I always say it but stayed tuned!

"Maybe I'm amazed at the way you're with me all the time"

True Story:

Me: Who.... *Girl #1 raises hand* You don't even know the question yet. *Girl #1 lowers hand* Who *Girl #1 raises hand again. I give up* Who can tell me one of the old bible verses we learned a long time ago?

Girl #1: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Deuteronomy 31:6 [give her props. We learned this back in October]

Me: Nice. So I guess you did know the question before I even asked it. Good job!

Girl #2: Booyah.

It was so perfectly timed. Said so deadpanned yet with feeling. It was amazing. And yes shameful* since I have uttered this term in my classroom (five times at the most... okay six) but it's cause I watched a lot of Community in a short period of time.

Another little girl told me she liked my shoes (grey new balances) and asked if they were new. I told her they were approximately seven years old (but apparently are still in good shape) and she said "Wow. Wait. So are you seven years old too?" I wish.

* Whoops. I also then begged her not to repeat it at home or say it to her parents.

"Who are you?/ Who who who who"

A few months ago, my mom got an iPhone and she jumped on my plan so we could do the family plan and save some money. Apparently now when she calls from her phone, my name shows on caller ID since it is in my name. That's your background information.

I was sitting at home playing on my iPhone when the house phone started to ring. We have a phone where it will say the name on the caller ID out loud after two rings. So it started saying (in it's weird automated, accented voice) Call from Petrella Ansley. I looked down at my phone, still words with friends on the screen. I'm not making a call. But I keep hearing my name. HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?!

Mystery solved when my mom called my phone and we realized that my name shows up when she calls. Still, I was a little scared. It was like that Urban Legend where the killer is calling from inside the house. And it's like the killer was ME!

This could also be because I am currently knee deep in watching The Walking Dead. I'm a little paranoid. Zombies! Run!

"I just want somebody/ Need somebody/ Love somebody/ Need somebody/ Want someone/ Need someone/ I need someone to love, darling"

I'm going to try something new on the blog: As opposed to doing lengthy recaps of shows I'm watching, I'm going to do short thoughts about each show at the end of the week (either on Friday or Saturday). Cause I'm sure you want to know what I think!

Amazing Race: The Redheads are unbelievable. If the car crash situation had been reversed, she would have been absolute witch. If some foreigner hit her car and couldn't communicate with her and just kept trying to shove money in her face, she would probably tried to have him arrested for being an illegal immigrant. I can totally see the guy being interviewed with subtitles: "She keeps saying this F-word over and over. Is that the English word for police?" And while I liked Mike and Mel, you knew they weren't going to make it much longer. I loved the Cowboys the first time around but they are sloppy this season. I'm pulling for Zev and Justin and the Globetrotters. The rest are just ehhhh.

Pretty Little Liars: I think the finale is in two weeks. Ahh. I still obsessed even though this show is completely not following the books AT ALL. Loving the Spencer and Toby matchup and praying it isn't because Toby has ulterior motives. Also loved the Hanna/Caleb pairing and hope that comes back. I don't understand why the writers want me to root for the Aria/Ezra teacher/student affair. It's icky. And same goes for the Paige/Emily deal when Paige tried to drown (read: KILL!) Emily like three episodes ago. I honestly have no idea who "A" is but think that it still might be the same as in the book. Won't ruin that for any of you.

Glee: I am clearly in the minority (from what I've read) but I did not like this episode. I just don't buy the Santana thing. She went from being a skank to being in love with her best friend? I... just... don't know. I've heard rumblings that she is sleeping with some bigwig on the show and that is why her scenes and storyline are getting amped up and I am starting to think that might be true (come on. She went from a glorified backup dancer to one of the principal characters and singers. Something ain't right). She is getting more solos than Rachel at this point (and say what you will about Lea Michele but the girl can belt it out). Poor Tina and Mercedes. They got passed over and never even had a chance. But I did ADORE Blaine singing Neon Trees' "Animal" and for the love of all that is good, Darren Criss does NOT need to be autotuned. So stop. Okaythanksbye.

Survivor: Best. Episode. EVER. Russell finally faced the music and he is OUT of there! Second person to go of the season! Ah! That duel was nerve wracking and awesome. I almost felt bad when the little hobbit started to cry. Almost. And Rob finding the idol was awesome, I'm just a little worried he is drifting a little to far to the shady side. And while Rob doesn't really need the money, I'm pulling for him to win it all since he was cheated by a bitter jury (see: Lex and Tom) in the first All Stars season. But other than Rob, I'm liking Grant (his right-hand man which surely means he will be the first throat Rob slits) and Mike and Steven on the purple tribe. I like Sarita too or whatever her name is for the girls. And Phillip is surpassing Coach in the crazy factor. The season has made up for the snoozefest that was last season (Sorry Fabio) is three episodes. Score.

American Idol: I've already shared my thoughts on the performance episode. Still LOVING Casey (like I might be listening to his single as I type this. And I might sing it at the top of my lungs in my car...when the windows are down... and not care who can hear me). And I was on the money with Ashton's elimination. And 2/3 for bottom three ain't bad. Go me! I think Karen is out next week.

And I think that is all. A lot of shows were repeats this week: Gossip Girl, Modern Family, The Office, and The Vampire Diaries. And no I'm not embarrassed at the amount of tv I watch.