A Hero Lies In YOU

I FINALLY completed phase 2 of operation Turn the Jungle into a Yard...

Our backyard, is tiny, and it was a DISASTER. 

It was literally nothing but weeds.. some of the weirdest looking plants I have ever seen. Some looked like tiny trees, and other resembled heart of romaine lettuce.. There was trash and junk everywhere. And it looked janky, because 1) they didn't dig down when they poured the concrete, so our fence is about to fall over and 2) the crappy fence led us to use chicken wire and large rocks to barricade Polar in, in a last ditch effort to keep him from escaping.

Tired of being pasty white and not having a place for the kids to play outside, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Over the last two weeks I have spent hours on our yard... Not easy when there isn't enough time in the day as it is.. Anyway, I probably gave myself carpal tunnel syndrome while treating the entire yard with weed and grass killer (I wasn't smart enough to get a continuous sprayer lol). I also gave my neighbors plenty to laugh at as I stood back there in 'protective clothing', my brown knee high boots (not the cute ones with heels, the flat ones), and Nathan's ugly army goggles spraying, raking, and pulling away.

I finally finished today, and I must say, I'm pretty impressed with myself. 

During this process, I decapitated a frog with the lawnmower, hesitated and DIDN'T decapitate the stupid vole that has been attacking our house for months, I found siding, busted bird eggs, markers, beer cans, towels, a blanket, two cans of cooking spray, grilling tools, a stereo speaker, cups, my tupperware (Nathan is lucky he isn't here ;)), socks, a dead rodent (once again, Nathan is lucky) and plenty of other things..

Tomorrow I get to rough up the soil, possibly lay some more, and plant grass. I can't wait to see if it actually works!

Anyway, as I was outside being Mrs. Fix It and cursing at not having a man around lol, I found myself humming, and visualizing the sign language to a song... A song that brings back wonderful memories, and reminds me of my husband.

If any of my old REACH buddies are reading this, you're probably shaking your head.

The song is by Mariah Carey, and we performed it for classrooms and audiences. I don't know that I will ever forget the signs.

More than that, I will never forget the teacher that had us do this.

This is the same teacher that has inspired me and affected my life in more ways that I know.

I give her credit for my creativity and confidence, both of which have led to the success of my photography.

Mrs. Brenda Fatchette helped shape me into the person I am today. She inspired me, she believed in me, and she made a lasting impression. She is one of the greatest women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and it is because of her that I am going to school to become a teacher. I want to follow in her footsteps, and I want the chance to work with other gifted children, to channel their special skills into productivity. 

In REACH, I fit in. I was able to expand my horizons, and it kept me from being bored in a classroom, which could have ultimately led to trouble. I made some friends that I will never forget. Even though I don't speak to some of them often, or even at all, I feel as if we all have a special connection to one another. I will never forget the days of Dopey, Carmen Sandiego, TanGrams, and stickers.

I will never forget Shine Night, and putting on a skit featuring Stone Cold and HHH. 

I will never forget all of the times we had to prepare to be videotaped giving a report.

I will never forget learning French, although I have forgotten most of it, (except the songs).

I will never forget holding our mock election in 2000.

Mostly, I will never forget selling pickles, for .25 each, to raise money for a 9/11 memorial bench.

I will never forget the way we banded together during this horrible time, and I never would have guessed that those attacks would lead me to the life I live today. The life that makes me so proud of my husband, my hero.

Hero

There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are

There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

It's a long road
And you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold

You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will disappear

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

Oh ho, Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away, hey yea

Hold on
There will be tomorrow
In time, you find the way, hey

Then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

That a hero lies in you
Mmm, that a hero lies in you