Breathe in, Breathe out, Move on...

Ok, so I can't stand it anymore! If I don't say something I am going to EXPLODE!!!! 

I beg you, please do not read further if you do not t-r-u-l-y love me.

When I say t-r-u-l-y I mean through the thick and thin, good times and bad, agree or disagree. I don't want to disappoint, disgrace, or upset our relationship. What I have to say must be said if I'm going to get any rest tonight. So here goes...

This everybody get's a trophy philosophy that we have adopted in American society is ridiculous.

What is so wrong with failing?

Why is it so bad to be disappointed?

Why does it need to be fixed if everyone isn't happy? 

What's wrong with working harder next time?

What's wrong with congratulating the winner and moving on with life?

I have had many disappointments in my life... Many of them I brought on myself...Many of them happened by chance. I am a better person for all the disappointments I have come through. Most recently, I lost a very sweet friend to cancer at age 29. TWENTY-NINE!!! My momma can't fix that; my daddy can't make it right. I have to take the time to hurt and heal through this.

Everybody DOESN'T get a trophy!

This country started with such valorous beginnings. Some folks took a chance, put their necks on the line, experienced defeat, learned and reevaluated, and became victorious. I hate to break it to you people, BUT there has to be a loser. It's the name of the game. 

I thought that my viewpoint was warped because I don't have kids. Then, I realized I do have kids...I have 46 babies that I love to the ends of the Earth. I have a niece and nephews that I would do anything for to see them happy. I have a Godson that I love as my own. I do have kids, and I realize that they must learn through disappointment. They must fail to succeed.

THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH!

WHAT DOESN'T KILL US MAKES US STRONGER!

PUT YOUR BIG GIRL PANTIES ON AND DEAL WITH IT!

If kids don't learn to cope with disappointment and failure now, how are they going to make it in the real world later?

Much Love,

Casey Raine

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

OKAY...no wonder America is a fat nation. This whole working, working out, cooking dinner, eating dinner, getting ready for tomorrow, and trying to stay up for American Idol is a J-O-K-E! How do people do it?

I'm not going to quit, but I really can't believe how structured my day has to be. I had to stop and get sour cream and cereal (no I'm not eating them together), and I was stressed about making it home to workout in time before my sugar crashed.

It's been a crazy week. Thank goodness it was a short one. I have been so busy at work this week, that I have to wait till the end of the day to figure out what I haven't done yet.

What are this weekend's big plans?...Itemizing tax deductions. Hot huh? I'm really depressed that they took away the $800 married deduction. BUT I'll get over it, whatever's better for the national deficit right?

Gonna lead you into the glorious weekend with one of my favorite grooves. I know he looks scary, but he sure can R-O-C-K...

Much Love,
Casey Raine

Better late than never...right?

I know it has been for-ev-er (from one of my favorites The Sandlot) since I wrote last. I've been trying to use the first two weeks in 2012 to get into a routine. I have been trying to accomplish some musts within my day...a devotion in the morning and exercising in the afternoon. It has been good so far. I have exercised everyday (intentional rest days not included:) except one. That was the Sunday before the kids came back to school and I was a bit panicked. I always get nervous when we go back after a long break, like I forgot how to teach or something. The week has been good...my kids have been very responsive this week.

Blessings all around...God has brought my family and friends through some scary times the past few weeks. My cousin has a cyst/growth on her pancreas and has been in serious pain lately. She was sent to a top-notch oncologist in New Orleans. After a test on Thursday the cyst is a blood-filled cyst and not cancerous. They said no surgery at this time, hoping it will go down in the next few months. Praise God! Eric and I have to pay estimated taxes each quarter. God provided a way for us to pay them without dipping into our savings. Praise God! My teaching partner's fence was struck by lightning this week, and the fire stopped just before her house at the GAS METER with no explosion! Praise God!

I was going to be very productive this weekend and work on my soon-to-be dining room. BUUUUT, it is teacher appreciation day at the Tennessee Aquarium in downtown Chattanooga. Eric and I can get in free; so we're GOING. I'm real excited and trying not to stress about getting home before the football games start at 4. I know you are laughing, but this football thing is serious! Tebow has got to win, and I love me some Who Dat? Saints. 


So tomorrow we will tackle the soon-to-be dining room. I'll take some before, during, and after pics to show the progress. It's gonna be great!

Gonna leave you with a song that's been carrying me through the week...

Much Love,
Casey Raine 

SURRENDER!

All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

            Early this morning while doing my "wake up the spine" yoga sequence, I kept hearing the word SURRENDER. Surrender your breath. Surrender to the pose. SURRENDER YOUR TENSION.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

       Later on in the morning, I met with my precious prayer group before school. We attempt to meet every Tuesday to pray. It is such a valuable time. As we are sharing our prayer request, I share that I need an attitude adjustment. One of the ladies quickly agreed with me and said she could benefit from one as well. She then precedes to suggest that we just Praise Him during our prayer.  What power there is in praise!

All to Jesus I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

            My therapist (yes I have a therapist) says I'm incredibly hard on myself. She suggests that I not say things to myself that I wouldn't say to one of my students. ( I tried several times to write this without double negatives but had no success.) I continue to struggle with this. I have always been very goal-oriented. Thus, my frustration...I have a bagillion goals to accomplish within a 24-hour period. Eight of those hours MUST be spent sleeping or I ain't no fun to be around. Therefore, I am left with 16 hours to accomplish my many feats I have set out for myself.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

       I surrender all, I surrender all; All to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all. I surrender the to-do list. I surrender the to-don't list. I surrender the I can't list. I surrender the this sucks list. I surrender the woe-is-me list. I surrender the I want this list. I surrender the do better at list. I surrender the must be done today list. I surrender the this is what I didn't get done yesterday list. I SURRENDER ALL!

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

"A life lived in fear is a life half-lived. "

Rainey Days is the name of my bar I have dreamed of opening for many years. So, I figure a blog is the next best thing. All the design elements for Rainey Days are drawn out on a napkin and live in my top-desk drawer. However, fear and finances (or fear of finances) have left me in my secure position of teaching. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. There aren't many professions where you get to laugh and learn with America's future everyday. Not so long ago, I used to be fearless. I would go and do without much planning. That "doing" mentality has been replaced with a "thinking about it" mentality. Lately, I've been stuck in a rut. I am an out-spoken, inquisitive almost 30 year old; who has found myself to be lazy for the first time in my life. That laziness is really stressing me out, thus the reason for this blog...accountability. I have so much that I want to do and experience in my life, but am lacking the drive to accomplish any of it. I have noticed myself truly aging this year, and it really bothers me. Endless energy used to be my speciality. Now, however, I love my couch, TV, and sleep. I have gotten really good at talking myself out of anything. Perhaps, there is a link between the laziness and lack of energy. I am going to take some advice from a really cool guy...the toy department manager at Gimbles in ELF..."Make work your favorite, works your new favorite!"