What a Fun Evening

Well, tonight was not quite what I wanted for Paul but it was very enjoyable. I was late in calling everyone, but everyone ended up coming over to the house. It was nice to catch up with family. It is too bad that we don't get together more often... and we even live in the same city!! Too sad. Well, I think Paul felt blessed. He is such a wonderful husband and a very humble person. He does not quite like being in the spot light at all. I am finally getting over my cold and feeling better. I hope that I can finally exercise tomorrow. : )

sooo Cold

Maybe it's just that i'm getting old... this turning 30 thing is fun to play up. Tonight the air temp is supposed to it 19 BELOW zero. Not a good thing when tomorrow's high is -4. BRRRR. I have to go pick Steve and Janice up at the airport @ 11 tonight... they will be in for a rude awakening when they get off the plane after a week in Palm Springs!

Three Strikes, You're Out!!

Okay, okay... part of this is totally my fault, but the majority is the puppies' fault. It all started when Mary, knowing I was feeling better, asked to make noodles. I was very excited to show her how and she picked it up fast. We ate some for lunch and I was proud to have her take some home for her use. Well, the noodles were on the counter drying and ... you guessed it, the dogs ATE EVERY LAST NOODLE!!!! AHHHHHH!!!! Two Sunday nights in a row!! (First tortellinis, then pumpkin pie and now noodles!!) I was so mad... They were stinkers! I guess now I have to learn to lock my noodles away somewhere where they can dry in peace.

(Paul is sitting here on the couch a tired 30 year old man, who just played a rousing game of basketball... he's so cute!!)

Happy Birthday Paul!!

Yeah!! It's Paul's 30th birthday!! Happy Birthday Paul!! I love you!!

Blacklist

Wow, this week has been about as bad of a leadership week as i've had! The irony of it all is that I'm in the midst of working on my Masters in LEADERSHIP. I guess it's true that leadership is not always easy, nor is it always fun. It seems this week that being the leader has put me on everyone's blacklist (or maybe i just perceive it that way because i'm such a people-pleaser).

Last weekend due to horrific weather in Wyoming I had to cancel our Junior High Winter Retreat... what at disappointment for the 60+ junior highers and volunteers who were looking forward to a long weekend away.

Then on Monday, I had to make the tough call of canceling our missions trip to Kenya scheduled for the first week of March... the political situation and violence that is currently flaring up is just to unsafe and unpredictable environment for us to take a team of 13 people to.

And then tonight to cap it all off, I had to give the disappointing news to 7 High School kids that we are not able to take them on a missions trip to Bolivia which they had applied for, simply because there is not enough space to take everyone... 12 get to go, but it sure is hard to tell the other 7 they cannot! I know that keeping the team small is best for the team who is going, and that for the missionaries in Bolivia adding another 7 would be to overwhelming, but it is so hard because these are all such great kids, all who I love and want to encourage to pursue missions experiences and opportunities.

Bummer.

Swallowing My Pride

Well, I had to swallow my pride today to admit that I was too sick to go to school tomorrow. I have the worst cold I have had in years. (My nose is like a red nose reindeer!!) So, I will suck up my pride and sleep and sleep... I am just hoping that I can breathe and not because of my nose, Hunter and Bailey jump up on the bed (they are not supposed to, I blame it on Paul and he blames it on me) and smother me with doggy slobber kisses. (yuck!!) My students were so funny today, they were doing their best to help their teacher out who just wasn't remembering things. It was awful. So, I am praying that a day off is the cure!! This is where I should be!! : )

pumpkin caper

So last Sunday night was one of those classic stories. I had been at church playing basketball for a few hours while Abbie was at a friends house having a Bible study. When I picked her up, she got in the car with half of a freshly baked pumpkin pie! I was so excited for digging in when we got home. Mary was staying over that night as Steve and Janice are in Palm Springs this week. Before devouring the pie, I decided I would go scoop the multiple inches of snow that had been piling up during the day. The whole time while outside my motivation to finish the drive was knowing there was a warm pie waiting for me. About half way through my task I heard a sort of scream from inside... I stopped for a second, then though "ah, it's just Abbie and Mary having fun". I quickly finished up the driveway and came inside where I was greeted at the door by Abbie and Mary with the tragic message: Bailey and Hunter got up to the counter and ate all the pie!!!

Tired!!!

What a day today was! I woke up sicker than a dog and my head ached. I missed my girls group this morning because I was hurting too bad. I finally dragged myself out of bed (really late) dressed and left in a cloud. I had a n appointment for my evaluation... it went well, besides the constant nose blowing and the continuous strange clicking noise in my ear. (yuck!) I made it to my class and I tried my best to keep my head on straight... but boy was it difficult!! My poor kids had no recesses and they were restless. To make matters worse I had a literature/reading evaluation today by a teacher in the district... the surprise though was that she brought another teacher with her to watch. I felt so extremely scattered! yikes! The teachers actually came late to Meadowlark so they missed part of my introduction. When they came into my room so did a high-school girl (she happens to be my new career student.) I felt so bad because I was so feather brained and I wasn't even able to introduce her to my class or anything because I had to continue my lesson. We did get a chance to talk about her schedule and everything over lunch... but my class had to stay in from recess (again!) AHHHH!! I missed eating and by the time I had my prep time I was not able to print my report cards because WORD would not print the second page... I was thankful for a friend who printed mine out for me. I left right away from school and now I am sleeping and trying to heal. I just woke up to drink some tea and write quickly.... so good night!

the runaway

Abbie has been kindly reminding me that this blog is a record of our life and i have not posted to it since creating it... so here goes.

It seems this week that Hunter has been trying to expand his horizon a bit... i guess take your dog to work day (everyday) is getting a little boring and uneventful for him. I was home on Thursday working on an assignment for my seminary classes. Hunter appeared from the basement, where he was playing with Bailey, took 1 step toward the front door, stopped, looked back at me, and began to pee (yeah, right there in the living room). I quickly grabbed him by the collar opened the front door and scooted him out... not knowing that it was 2:30 and school was letting out across the street. Hunter finishes his business and i grab him by the collar and start leading him back inside when all the sudden he evades my grasp and darts through the yard, down the driveway, and across the street right for some nice lady waiting for her child. As she bent down, Hunter leaped into her arms knocking her flat on her back. Luckily the lady had a smile on her face, as the crossing guard and teachers across the street got their laugh for the day...

You'd think I had learned but this morning, not wanting to walk out in the snow I opened the door to let Hunter, who had been whining at the door, out... yeah, he finished his business and darted down Poly Drive... good thing I had my running shoes on! This time I didn't think it was quite so funny!

Bible

I am more than once awed at how cool the Bible is. I am always amazed at the neat things I learn every time I read it. There is just an endless amount of really amazing things. Sometimes I think that there couldn't be any more to learn and then I am pleasantly surprised. I am studying the patriarchs right now and I am blown away at the intricacy of the lineage of the Hebrew nation, from where it was at the beginning point with Abraham to the present. What an amazing God we have!! He heals, plans, forgives, loves, gives grace etc. , etc. , etc. He is endless and words really can't describe all that He is. Boy do I love Him!!

The Joy of Teaching

Let me tell you how great it is to be a teacher. I truly love to work and be with the each and every student in my 4th grade class. Every day I go home amazed at how much they are learning and how they are challenging themselves. Each and every student hits a "light bulb" moment when something suddenly makes sense. I LOVE THAT!! I think the "light bulb" moments are the things that teachers live for. I love seeing them occur in my class. Another thing that I love to see is passion. My students love animals and they were so excited to get started with their animal project that I had to change my lesson plans to show them the procedures 3 days earlier. It was hilarious!! I literally could not hold them back!! So, I had to give them the knowledge freedom they wanted. What a great feeling to watch them take their own learning into their hands and begin running with it.... AWESOME

Amazing Life

~Sometimes I am so overwhelmed with how great it is to be alive. I left Albertsons yesterday and it was a beautiful black night outside. The air was crisp and the stars were brilliant. I felt so refreshed and glad to be alive. : ) I felt extremely close to God in one moment. It was one of those moments when you have no questions, you just know that He is there, and that He cares, and that there is purpose and meaning to life. I am always very thankful for those moments. It seems to make life make sense for a moment. I feel that I am listening more to God than I have in a long time. I am always excited with what I hear Him say when I stop and quiet my heart. I talk so much that I know that I over power, at times, what He is saying to my heart. I am working on being still before the Lord. ~ I am sharing this picture from Africa because it was one of those breathless "God" moments. enjoy!! ~

What a Day

Whoa, what a day!! I am really exhausted... I went to TILT today and learned great things about new technologies. It was fun to teach in a different classroom. I am excited to start the new Bible study this week. It is great fun to be with other women who encourage you to do better in your spiritual walk. Whew... I am too tired to write...sorry! :)

A prayer for Africa

Today I was thinking of all that is happening in Kenya and at times I am a little frightened. I am stunned by the unrest and all that has happened so quickly. I am amazed at all that continent has gone through and is going through. I am now no longer afraid but I am praying over the country. I have no clue if God is going to take us there still in a few weeks or ask us to remain here and wait for His timing. (His timing is ALWAYS what is best, even when we don't understand.) Please continue to pray for Africa, what God is doing over there and what His will is for Paul and I. We are willing to go... we are just waiting for the okay and the when.

Happy, Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year! Paul and I wish you the best!! may God bless you in the coming year!!