Vacation is over...

Our family vacation has come and gone already!! We did something completely different this year...we didn't go to the beach. We went to Michigan. Why?? Well...we thought doing something different and going back to the country where Kevin and his family are from would be a great thing for the kids. The weather there was cooler than the weather here..which was good. But...can I say it??? It wasn't the BEACH!!! We are beach-lovers...always have been and always will be!!! We had fun in Michigan...but it was a different kind of fun. It was the kind of fun that was family fun. My sister-in-law and 2 of her kiddos came along as well as Kevin's folks. We enjoyed being together as a family. We ate meals together, shopped together, and enjoyed some sights together. That was fun!!

Kevin now thinks that we should go to Colorado for our next family vacation....so I have exactly 11 months to try to convince him that the rest of us would really really really enjoy another BEACH vacation!!!!

What in the world???

Every 6 months I enjoy the privilege of taking my 3 kiddos to the dentist for their checkups. And every 6 months I get to read the literature provided by the office while I wait for 1 hour for all 3 to cycle through!! Well, this week was the week to do that again. So, I picked up I think 2 or 3 different People magazines and was sickened as to the content. There was a little survey in one of them about the Hollywood Star's view of Gay marriages....and all 5 or 6 that were surveyed were in complete agreement on how if 2 people love each other and are committed to each other than the fact that they may be a same sex couple shouldn't be an issue. Judge not lest you be judged sort of thinking. These stars have shows that my kids like to watch on Disney. Miley Cyrus was one that really popped...can't remember the others cause I didn't know them. Anyway...what in the world is going on??? I would rather not go into ALL the many reasons why being a homosexual is against God's Word...His word speaks for itself!!!!! What in the world are people thinking??? Why am I being completely bombarded with this nastiness?? It's on every single primetime show it seems, every single soap opera now has a story with a gay couple, and now in print. I'm seriously appalled...and I just wonder if anyone else feels the same way? Why is it not politically correct to oppose homosexuality? Why are straight people shunned for feeling that gayness is wrong??? And why is it that you automatically know when you either see someone or hear someone talk that they are gay?? Why do gay guys want to look like women and gay women want to look like guys?? Does anyone else see this as very odd?? And if you'd like to stretch your brain a little....it's not even natural to be gay. I'm talking about the act here. How can 2 people of the same sex enjoy the act when the parts don't exactly match up?? Gross!!!!!!!
I love that God created us for HIS purpose. HIS ways are always right and pure!!!!! And there are alot of rewards to this life when we follow HIS plan for our lives. I'm learning that for my sake and the sake of my children, that I'm going to have to be alot more conscious of the viewing decisions we make concerning TV. It's a shame that a company like Disney does so much to support the gay/lesbian community. I'm afraid that God's disgust and utter anger towards the way our country has leaned to make the gay community more accepted is not going to be pretty. And one more thing....has there ever been a homosexual that has "woke up and smelled the coffee" that what they were doing was totally wrong in God's eyes and then changed because they were convicted to change?? You never hear about those stories...however, there has to be at least one.....sure would like to hear that story.

Staying Afloat

This may truly sound funny...but I can't seem to swim underwater!!! What's up with that? The more I think I'm swimming underwater, the loves of my life in the pool with me, remind me that I'm just floating!! How on earth does that happen? I used to know how to swim underwater, even though it was never my favorite way to swim....I could do it "once up a time"!! Oh well...I suppose I'll do what I tell my own kids to do....keep practicing!! All three of our kiddos are excellent swimmers...Kevin is also an excellent swimmer....now I just need to join in the clique!!! I got a mask yesterday and it is helping me with the water up the nose issue. I'll post later when I've mastered the skill of swimming underwater!!!!

God's Mercies

I have a little "situation". It's called "I opened up my big fat mouth syndrome". I'm just reminded through this deal that my tongue is a sharp object that really needs some more taming. I thought I was wise and mature...and I truly think I am....but yesterday I was not. So, after apologizing to my sweet sweet friend, I had to drop and pray. Isn't it amazing how forgiving God is? And isn't it also amazing how He brings Christian friends in our paths that are also able to forgive?? True forgiveness and true love comes from Christ. How wonderfully comforting is that?? I am experiencing His mercies today!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Man...I've really neglected this blog thing!! I've been really busy lately. It's amazing too...cause with school being out...I should have some extra time on my hands. Ryan graduated from Justus on May 15 and that began a whirlwind month!!!! Following that was our last week of school and that just is a crazy week no matter what. But...I'd like to take a minute and do a little bragging: Ryan was awarded the Wildcat Pride award!! It goes to an 8th grade boy and girl that exhibits characteristics of what it means to be a Wildcat and voted on by the teachers in the district. What an honor!!!!!! Then we went on the 8th grade trip to Branson. That was a really neat time...very organized and fun!!!!!!!! After we got back from that, the girls had dance recital. I love watching them dance.... After that fun time....we packed up and went to church camp. (Just the girls and I). And finally this week....I went to Great Expectations. Yes, it's been busy...but it's been memorable and that's the sweetest thing!!
Now, I have a couple of weeks to do some things I have needed to get done for a while: yard work, closet cleaning, etc. Then the first part of July, we leave for vacation: going to Michigan this year. It will be lots of fun....but I'm secretly going to miss my beach retreat at Casey Key, Florida!!!! But, we'll have that to look forward to next year.
This is my birthday weekend...so my wonderful friends are hosting an eat out night and movie time tonight!!! I'm looking forward to spending some time with my peeps. We always start out talking about important stuff: kids, husbands, pet peeves, funny things that happened during the week, and ultimately we end up talking about school. When we retire and get wrinkly....will we still talk about school???

Mother's Day

This is Mother's Day weekend. This blog is dedicated to just that...I love my mother so much. Growing up, I never doubted her love for me....and I always dreamed of being the kind of mom she was to me to my own children. She came to all the school parties and functions. She got excited about events happening to me as I grew. I remember one time being initiated into the FHA...and she knew about it...and kept it a secret from me. When the girls came knocking and running in my room at 5:30 a.m. to get me up for school...she was right behind them taking pictures!! We used to make "wacky cake" on Sunday afternoons. She used to sit outside for hours in summer watching my brother and I play. She was the mom that took my friends and I to walmart, to VBS, to the pool in town, or simply go pick them to bring them back to our house to play. As I grew, we were close. She would write letters to me when I went to college. She and I would talk for hours on the phone when I got my first real job as a teacher in Gentry, AR. Then after Kevin and I got married, we still spent time talking on the phone...daily!!! She came to the hospital in the middle of the night when I went in to have Ryan. Big deal, cause we lived in Gentry...she in Claremore. That's about a 2 1/2 hour drive.....at 1 a.m. She came and stayed for a few days after I got home from the hospital with Ryan. When we moved back to Claremore...we still stayed close. I suppose since we've lived here...I've taken the closeness for granted....b/c we don't talk everyday now. As I ponder Mother's Day from the perspective of the child...I need to make a better effort to keep the closeness real for me and for her.

My own children remind me daily of how much they love me. The hugs, kisses, gestures of love keep me so filled of the Mother's Day spirit. It's alive everyday...not just one day out of the year that is on the calendar. I thank God daily that I am a Mom. There is so much joy, contentment, and Love in being a mother. I'm truly blessed!!!

What a week!!

What a week it's been!! Lots of rain fell this week and also last week!! This has created a terrible thing...INSIDE recess. With school getting close to being out...the last thing a teacher or student likes is yucky inside recess. Rain leads to other problems too...an increase on the volume of children's voices and high blood pressure...b/c of nerve damage due to the close proximity of children in a classroom....BUT there is good news...and it is called 10 days!!! That's how many school days we have til the last day....but here's how I do the math: 1 personal day next Friday + 1 Fun Day + 1 Awards assembly day +1 AR goal party day =4...so 10 - 4 =6....I can do anything for 6 days...gee....I can do most anything for 10 days too!!!!

I always tend to reflect on the school year as it gets closer to being over....b/c sometimes that's when the full circle comes together and you finally see the "big picture". I think the big picture for me is still a little foggy and unclear. I really have enjoyed this year. I have enjoyed teaching 2nd grade and the looping thing has been totally awesome for me. There are so many ideas floating around in my head for next year. I have learned so much this year and I can't wait to build on it next year. There are some things that I'm going to change next year too. But I'm so totally excited about moving into a new classroom that's bigger, has more storage and finally has way more outlets!!!! YIPPEE!!!!

Change is hard for me. If you know me at all....you know that it takes quite a bit to get me to change to some stuff and for some stuff I welcome change. One thing that I'm dealing with is my children getting older. They are changing....and I'm so happy that they are embarking into new seasons of their lives...it's natural and normal and exciting!! I just don't want them to change too fast!!! I need time to process a.k.a. enjoying their seasons....everything MUST slow down in order for me to accomplish that goal.

I suppose that is all for now...I know I'll have more to post as we experience our oldest child graduating from the 8th grade next week. What a week this will be for me!!!