Ingrown fingernails, foot slaves and 3rd grade teachers

Right now I have an ingrown fingernail on my thumbnail. It hurts every single time I use the space bar. Ouch ouch ouch. I think it's infected because my right thumb (the affected thumb) is about twice the size of my left thumb and it wont bend properly. Being right-handed, I had an interesting time trying to apply my makeup this morning. I can feel my entire heart beat inside this one appendage. Pain, what awful pain from such a tiny little ailment.

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Someone found my blog by searching for "husband clean bathroom foot slave." First of all, I can't figure out WHY in the WORLD someone would search for that. What were they trying to find, and did they find it? If so, I would like to know what they found and if it came from my blog. Weirdos I tell ya, weirdos.

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I've been thinking a lot about the people who have had a great deal of influence on my life. Being that I am about to turn 25, I've done some reflecting this week. My parents and my older sister are obviously huge influences on who I am today, but who are the other people who have helped shape my personality and character?

Teachers, I've had a lot of great teachers in my life (and a lot of not so great ones). My third grade teacher was my all-time favorite. She had an unfortunate name though ... Mrs. Raper (I wonder how many sicko-searches I'm going to get from putting that on my blog!). Mrs. Raper was amazing. She taught me so much in one short year, I will never forget her. One of our class projects included planting trees from seeds. I planted a red bud tree. My little red bud was one of the few trees that survived the entire school year. At the end of the school year I took the little baby tree home and planted it in my back yard. For the next four years I watched it grow taller and taller until we moved to South America.

Three years later we moved back to Tulsa. I thought of the little tree and drove by my old house to reminisce and see if I could catch a glimpse of my tree. I had a deep fear that the new owners of the house had removed it. As I drove past my old house I saw the most amazing thing: my tree was tall enough to see from the street! It was such a great feeling seeing something that I took part in creating had grown to be such a beautiful and sturdy thing.

Mrs. Raper gave me such confidence in life. The last time I saw her I made a special trip to her third grade class right before I graduated high school. I wanted to hand-deliver the invitation to the commencement ceremonies to the teacher who, through all of my years in school, meant so much to me. When I handed her the invitation she cried and I cried. She told me how proud she was of me and how she always knew I would make a difference in this world. All teachers should be like her. She gave me confidence, made me feel special, and taught me so much about life and loving people.

If only all teachers could be like her ... (to be continued)