I think I'm getting it, Lord. Thank you.

Many of you may know the journey I have been on for the last 8 months or so.

About December of last year Paul and I felt like the Lord was leading me to go back to school and get my teaching certificate to add to my bachelor's degree. There was no "real" reason to do it...it was something I have wanted to do for a long time and the time was right. God's timing was right.

As I look back on the whole thing, God's timing was not only right, but PERFECT.

I signed up for the alternative certification classes and because God's timing is PERFECT, I had all the money I needed to pay for the classes.

The classes lasted for 4 weeks and I went to class 4 nights a week from 6-9pm and on Saturdays from 8-3 and because God's timing is PERFECT I did not miss ONE thing my children were involved in. We were between football and baseball season so I missed nothing. My husband was available (and awesome) to be home with my kids every class night to get them in bed so they didn't suffer in school. PERFECT.

And now I am waiting on God's PERFECT timing. I had an interview in May and have been waiting all summer long to hear if I would have a job at my kid's school. There is a position available. The enrollment numbers are above the state standard. So what are we waiting for? The district? Well I have been saying all along, "We're just waiting for the district to make the decision. We are just waiting for the district to call the principal. We're just waiting on the district."

Well. I believe the Lord is impressing on my that I am waiting on the WRONG thing! Seriously. Why has this not occured to me before now!??! God's timing has been PERFECT throughout this entire process. Why am I wasting my time "waiting on the district" when I could be BLESSED to wait on the Lord.

God revealed a very familiar passage to me the other day while I was praying and seeking Him about this whole ordeal. This verse was so impressed into my heart that I PROMPTLY (and I mean immediately) found a background, typed it up, printed it out and LAMINATED IT! Yes I did...see?



The verse is from Isaiah 30:18 and reads:

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you, He rises to show you compassion for the Lord is a God of justice and blessed are all who wait for Him.

Our pastor covered this passage not too long ago and said something about it that really stuck with me. "without the longing for something, wait is just the passage of time." The fact the the Lord LONGS to be GRACIOUS to me is very comforting.

I am no longer waiting on the district to make a decision. I am waiting for the Lord to be gracious to me, as He longs to do. And the end of the verse says that I am BLESSED to be waiting on Him.

Back to School Dates

'm not sure why...but my pictures uploaded in reverse order...

Every year, just before school starts, I take each one of the kids out for a special date. Just me and one of them. They get to pick the place to eat (Chuck E. Cheese is not an option...Thank the Lord!) and we go and finish getting all their school supplies and, of course, they get to pick a special gift. I also take this time to talk to each of them about how Paul and I expect them to behave at school. We talk about things they are nervous and/or excited about and we pray for their teacher. I look forward to this time each year...not sure if they do...hopefully they do!

This year, since I will most likely have a teaching job (but not until the second week of school...I know...) I got to have a back to school date too! Paul took me out to P.F. Changs (yum!) and we enjoyed WAY to much food! Then we went to do a little shopping for me and my future classroom. We had a good time and it was really good for us to have some time together before school starts. This is a new era for us. All of our kids will be in school (Can I get an AMEN and a HALLELUJAH!) We are so VERY excited for this new time in our lives. Our kids are growing so quickly and we intend to enjoy EVERY minute of it! We are gonna do Kindergarten, First Grade and Second Grade to fullest and enjoy every blessing that God has for us this year!



Here is Caleb and I. His dinner was very special because my brother was in town and so Caleb shared his special dinner with the family and Uncle Justin. Caleb chose Chili's and we had a great time chatting with Uncle Justin! Then Caleb and I went on a hunt for the rest of his school supplies and special gift. We drove to Target, got the supplies and then went in search of a certain DS game. Well, not a "certain" one because Caleb didn't know which "certain one" he wanted. He just kept looking for a "certain one". Since Target didn't have the "certain one" we moved on to GameStop...which closes at SIX pm on Sundays! Ahhhhh! Thankfully Toys R Us was open and after s.e.v.e.r.a.l. minutes of looking for the "certain one" he finally found it! Exccept it was a Wii game instead of a DS game...anyway...he was happy. I am praying very specifically for Caleb this year because he is starting a new journey in the Spanish Immersion program that is new to our school. By the end of fifth grade Caleb will be fluent in Spanish and it begins in First Grade. In classic Caleb style though, learning a new language is NOT what he is most nervous about. He's most nervous about not knowing everyone in his class. I assured him that he was an awesome "friend maker" and he would know everyone after the first day. And he isn't nervous anymore...Thank you Jesus.



Abby and I, dressed in EXACTLY the same outfit, went to Arbys. We were taking our friend Magan to the airport on our way on our date. We ate curly fries and then took Magan to the airport. On the way back to Target we talked about Kindergarten and how much fun it was going to be. We talked about being kind to one of the boys in her class who we know is in a wheelchair. She is determined to say "hi" to him each day and make him feel good. We got to Target found all the supplies she needed and then it was off to the clothes department to find "things on sale". She is my daughter through and through! We (and when I say 'we' I mean BOTH of us) looked and looked through the clearance racks for the best deals. Abby won't buy anything at full price! We found a pair of shorts and a cute polka dot tank top for $3.00...TOTAL! The best part of the night was watching her face when I told her the whole outfit was only $3.00...she was SO excited!



Jacob got to go first this year...basically because that's the way the schedule worked out and we went to Olive Garden. We have been to Olive Garden every year. It's our special place. He held my hand, opened the door for me and even ordered our dessert. He is such a little MAN! It's crazy to think that he will be in 3rd grade in just a few short days. I love the person he is becoming. He has the special privilege of having the same teacher for 3rd grade that he had in second grade. She is f.a.n.t.a.s.t.i.c. and Jacob learned SO much from her last year. I'm excited to see how far he will go. He is excited about having the same teacher and is only worried about one thing...the TAKS test. Who knew the nervousness would start so early. I wasn't even sure Jacob new what the TAKS test was. But he does. And it makes him nervous. So we will pray.

So if you made it to the end of this, then you probably really like/love me and my family! Til next time...The Calm and Chaos continues.

Football and School Supplies...both cost me a fortune.

So Football has begun.

We have all three of our kiddos involved in football this year. No...Abby is not playing, contrary to what you might think! She is cheering for Jacob's team this year. Paul and I are already feeling the pull...in a good way. It's nice to be a little busy these days...after the lazy days of summer. I know, I know...ask me that in three weeks...see if I feel the same way.

Since all three are "playing" football, we had to PAY for all three of them to play. Seems innocent enough, right? I just walked right out my back door and pulled some money off that money tree we have! What? You don't have one? You really should get one.

I'm not going to divulge how much we had to pay...Let's just say it's pretty much in the same range as the price of our new-esque car we just bought! Oh, I jest...kind of. But love is spelled M-O-N-E-Y, right? How could I possibly look into my children's (green, brown, and blue/green)eyes and tell them no! Remember, I am Mother of the Year. So we payed. And they are playing. And they are so HAPPY! And so are we.

.....Then I reminded my husband about school supplies......

After he came to, I also reminded him that we have three, (3), THREEEEEE!!!!! children in public school this year needing a various array of crayons, markers, glue, glue sticks, folders (with and without brads, mind you) three ring binders, kleenex, and hand sanitizer. Oh yeah...don't forget about assorted packages of construction paper and manilla paper...in two sizes, of course.

ANYWAY...

In the next couple of weeks (because I'll have to space the shopping out between pay periods) I'll brave the crowds and take each of my children shopping for their specific school supplies and explain to each of them 1,000 times why I'm not buying the Avatar the Airbender Trapper Keeper(shout out to all my 80's peeps!)because the list says "3 ring binder" or the Star Wars folder because the list says "red folder" or the Spiderman pencils because the list says "#2 pencils".

We will try to have a pleasant experience and we'll pay for all of the necessary supplies so that they can have the best school year ever. On the first day of school they will proudly walk in to their classroom with all of their supplies and sit down next to the kid whose mom bought them the Star Wars folder...

Apparently it's time for a new blog design...

Well I clicked over to my blog today to find no background. Just a white screen with a little note on it that read:

"We're sorry. This image or video has been deleted from the source."

Well ok! I guess it's time for a new design then. I wasn't exactly planning on changing. I didn't really want to change. However, Blogger thought it was time for a change.

So...what do you think of the new duds? Kind of cute, huh?

Abby's Frogs

Please allow me to introduce the newest members of our family. Please meet Daddy, Mommy and Baby Frog. In case you can't make out who's who...The large circle is Daddy. The teeny tiny circle is Baby....I promise there is a frog in that circle! And the circle close to the "log" is Mommy.



About 2 weeks ago, Abby caught these frogs in our yard. She LOVES them. They are HER pets. She feeds them mealworms...ewww...that have to stay in my fridge...double ewww... She gives them water. She picks them up and holds them so they can "get warm". Don't worry, it's not like an "Of Mice and Men" situation or anything. She just likes to hold them!

The previous frogs we have owned have always found a home in the boys' room, but since she caught these all by herself, they get to live with her. I am really proud of the way that Abby has taken responsibility for her pets!

After all, doesn't everyone give their frogs water from a plastic teapot?

Phone Photo Phun

Here are some of the "Phun Photos from my Phone" of things going on this summer!


Our garden yielded ONE tomato.


I saw a GIGANTIC stick bug.



Paul and I went to Cozumel for our 10 year anniversary.



The construction on the new church begins.



Abby took a picture of the new fan in my bedroom.



I got a NEW CAR!!!



Our AWESOME pastor and his wife took us tubing!



And we...


learned to...



ski!

I know...I'm fired from blogging.

Well it has been WELL over a month since I have blogged. I have good reason though, really, I do!

My computer has had issues and I was not typing an entire blog on my iphone.

My computer issues are simple.
1. My battery does not charge.
2. My power cord is so over-used that the wires are exposed and everytime I BREATHE the cord moves and my computer shuts off because...as I mentioned in point number one...my battery does not charge.

So these two points of concern have been the bain of my existence regarding my computer. I have really been frustrated with it.

My wonderful husband purchased me a new cord today.
All better now.

So this summer has been pretty crazy so far. It all started with the end of school...which is always crazy. I applied for a Kindergarten postition at the kids school and I am still waiting to hear if the new class is going to make. The school needs about 9 more children to enroll for me to have a job. So...I'm waiting.

I'm not very good at waiting. I'm trying, but while waiting, I often carry the stress of waiting in my back and shoulders and that makes me uncomfortable and then I don't sleep well and then I am cranky and then my family is cranky and on and on and on....

So I am trying to rest in the Lord and wait.

Anyway.

After school was out, VBS decorating went on for a week. Then VBS for a week. Then Paul and I went to Cozumel. Then we came back and now it's today...

It's just flying by like always! We have had a couple of weeks at home now and it's been nice. It's been nice to get some things done around the house. And, even though I don't have a job yet, I'm still planning and preparing that God WILL bless me with one.

Paul and I feel confident that God is moving our family in this direction so I am making my rest as productive as possible.

Meanwhile...now that my computer cord is fixed...I hope to be visiting with you more often!