This is a letter I wrote to my sweet teenager who, is I'm sure using up all the hot water right now so my morning shower will be nice and cool. grrr....But, I do love her so much and my heart has been aching for her lately.
Dear Kate,
I know how frustrated you are right now. I know too well in fact. I feel like I am watching myself.
Not only are you discouraged with math, but you are dealing with weird emotions that come from who knows where. The world is such a mean place and I know now that I can only protect you from it so much. I just want you to remember and dwell on these things: God is for you (Romans 8:31) Since God is on your side, you have no reason to fear (Psalm 27:1) God calls you His child (Galations 4:6) and your Daddy loves you. You've been uniquely gifted and you are needed, at this place and time. (1Cor. 12) God loves the way He made you. You reflect Him. (Genesis 1:27)
When you say things like, "I'm horrible," or "I'm so stupid in math." It doesn't line up with God's truth. Refuse to believe them. Turn away from them. Replace them with truth!
Remember, "I can do all things through Christ who Gives me strength!"
You, my love, are more precious to me than any jewel I could ever lay eyes on. I love you and pray that today during your tests, in class and in life, you will experience peace and comfort that is undeniably from your Father. Let Him love on you.
Love,
Mama
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
My New Love
Yes, I have found a new love. This new love creates an excitement in me that makes me want to go bake, braid my daughters hair, look through my closet and find scarves that would look good with old t-shirts I never thought I'd wear again, and put on my red high heels even though I don't own any. It awakens my creativity! I LOVE PINTEREST! I have tried so many new things in the kitchen and in my classroom. As the nights grow colder and we can't sit outside and practice roping the dummy or go for walks, I'll sit and shop on Pinterest....while I probably should be doing homework. ... ah...well. It will all be there tomorrow. Even Pinterest!
I believe
I can't take credit for this. I came across it years ago and blogged it then...it still rings true.
I Believe...
Birth Certificate shows that we were born, A Death Certificate shows that we died, Pictures show that we lived! I Believe... That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other. I Believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. I Believe... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I Believe... That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. I Believe... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. I Believe... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I Believe... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't. I Believe... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. I Believe... That either you control your attitude or it controls you. I Believe... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. I Believe... That money is a lousy way of keeping score. I Believe... That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up. I Believe... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. I Believe... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. I Believe... That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others. sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself. I Believe... That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief. I Believe... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become. I Believe... That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever. I Believe... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. I Believe... That your life can be changed in a matter of seconds by people who don't even know you. I Believe... That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help. I Believe... That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. I Believe... That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon. I Believe... The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything.
I Believe...
Birth Certificate shows that we were born, A Death Certificate shows that we died, Pictures show that we lived! I Believe... That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other. I Believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. I Believe... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I Believe... That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. I Believe... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. I Believe... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I Believe... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't. I Believe... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. I Believe... That either you control your attitude or it controls you. I Believe... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. I Believe... That money is a lousy way of keeping score. I Believe... That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up. I Believe... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. I Believe... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. I Believe... That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others. sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself. I Believe... That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief. I Believe... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become. I Believe... That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever. I Believe... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. I Believe... That your life can be changed in a matter of seconds by people who don't even know you. I Believe... That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help. I Believe... That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. I Believe... That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon. I Believe... The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything.
Locked in the Courtyard
I sent this story to my school friends back in Lubbock, who proceeded to forward it to the entire school. My teaching team thinks I should send it to readers digest. For now I'll just post it here.
Dear friends, I miss you all so much. My new 'school friends' just aren't the same. I know you probably miss laughing at my stupid mistakes and my nerdiness. So I will share this story so you can have another laugh on me. I know it's long but it just had to be to get all the details in. Maybe you'll find time to read it.
Ok, let me start by saying, my new school was built in 1957. So, needless to say, every time I go to the ancient, barely lit bathroom, I think that the door is not going to open and I will be locked in because it is so hard to open. So I have this fear of getting locked in somewhere and not being missed for a while. After all, Meredith and Karen aren't here to notice I'm gone.
Last week we were given the news that the school would be closed on Thursday afternoon until Monday because they would be waxing and sealing the floors. I panicked because I hadn't finished unpacking, much less, gotten bulletin boards up. I NEEDED that time! So, smart little me, left a window cracked so I could break into my classroom to get work done. I told my principal that I was going to do this and he laughed, but was fine with it because he understood my desperation. I don't think he thought I would really do it though.
I made a practice run on Thursday before I left to make sure I could reach to get into the window and decided I would need my husband to come give me a boost. I got into my classroom and worked all day on Friday. The custodians were good to come check on me when they realized what I had done. They let me go to the bathroom and told me I wouldn't need to crawl out of my window when I was ready. I could just leave out of the cafeteria with them.
They were ready to leave much earlier than I was, so I insisted that I would just crawl back out the window. They told me I could just leave through the cafeteria which is right across the hall from my classroom. I had been warned and threatened by Mr. Principal, that my footprints would be on the floor all year if I walked on the wet seal so I was a little nervous about this already, but taking their advice, I locked my window when I was ready to leave and took big giant steps to the cafeteria, with a box of stuff to go home with me.
I had never been in the cafeteria other that glancing inside. I had no idea about exit doors. I went to the door that led to the back of the school that was closest to my parked car. The door was locked. So I left out the only other door that led to the outside world. As soon as the door latched and locked behind me, I knew that I was locked out of the school and something wasn't right. I took a look around and realized, I HAD JUST LOCKED MYSELF INTO THE SCHOOL COURTYARD. This courtyard is gated and surrounded by a brick wall and the school. There was no way back into the school and no way out of the courtyard unless I climbed an 8 ft brick wall, then a 12 ft chain link fence with barbed wire at the top! How was I to do this with my box? Plus, it was 8:00 in the evening soon to be dark.
After a few minutes of trying to figure things out, I called Tadd to come help me. He was not too happy with me. He really wanted me to call my principal, but I'm not ready to show him how air headed I can be, and I really wasn't in the school 'legally'. I hated to get a bad mark this early in the school year.
While I waited for Tadd, I pushed a picnic table up to the brick wall. I still had to hoist myself a good bit. I stood atop the brick wall feeling very triumphant and ready to try out for gladiators, only to realize that at the end of the brick wall there was a little walk way that I hadn't been able to see during my perimeter glance of the courtyard. So my brick wall climb was not needed.
I decided it was time to call in the troops: My sisters (who live an hour away). Melanie didn't answer so I called Sara, who happened to be with my mom. I'm not sure what I expected them to do, I just needed them to know and be my shoulder to laugh/cry on. My mom, who like Tadd, is very used to me getting myself into these 'situations' begged me to just call the police. :) I was laughing so hard at this point I couldn't even think straight. Tadd and the girls arrived with disapproving looks on all of their faces. After a few minutes of Tadd trying to figure out a way to get me and my box out, he was trying not to yell, telling me I would just have to climb the fence and the barbed wire. I was worried about my box though so I started trying to throw it over the 12ft. fence, still laughing uncontrollably. I think Tadd wanted me to get serious, but I just couldn't! Thank goodness one of my smart daughters, Kate, suggested we lift the chain link so I could crawl under. If we only had the eyes of children. To me it didn't look like it would lift enough, but thank goodness, it did and I escaped my courtyard captivity. Kate said, "mom I've been dying to say this to you some time, because you always say it to me, "you have a noodle, USE IT!!!"
This may not seem as funny to you as it was to me but I just had to share the story. Hopefully you got a good laugh and maybe learned a lesson or two from my stupidity.
Moral 1 : if you break in somewhere, go out the same way you went in.
Moral 2: Never let a door latch behind you if you don't know for certain where it leads to.
Moral 3: Don't listen to custodians, I'm sure they were sitting at home laughing their heads off at me.
Moral 4: It is next to impossible to throw a box over a 12ft fence while laughing, so don't even try it.
Dear friends, I miss you all so much. My new 'school friends' just aren't the same. I know you probably miss laughing at my stupid mistakes and my nerdiness. So I will share this story so you can have another laugh on me. I know it's long but it just had to be to get all the details in. Maybe you'll find time to read it.
Ok, let me start by saying, my new school was built in 1957. So, needless to say, every time I go to the ancient, barely lit bathroom, I think that the door is not going to open and I will be locked in because it is so hard to open. So I have this fear of getting locked in somewhere and not being missed for a while. After all, Meredith and Karen aren't here to notice I'm gone.
Last week we were given the news that the school would be closed on Thursday afternoon until Monday because they would be waxing and sealing the floors. I panicked because I hadn't finished unpacking, much less, gotten bulletin boards up. I NEEDED that time! So, smart little me, left a window cracked so I could break into my classroom to get work done. I told my principal that I was going to do this and he laughed, but was fine with it because he understood my desperation. I don't think he thought I would really do it though.
I made a practice run on Thursday before I left to make sure I could reach to get into the window and decided I would need my husband to come give me a boost. I got into my classroom and worked all day on Friday. The custodians were good to come check on me when they realized what I had done. They let me go to the bathroom and told me I wouldn't need to crawl out of my window when I was ready. I could just leave out of the cafeteria with them.
They were ready to leave much earlier than I was, so I insisted that I would just crawl back out the window. They told me I could just leave through the cafeteria which is right across the hall from my classroom. I had been warned and threatened by Mr. Principal, that my footprints would be on the floor all year if I walked on the wet seal so I was a little nervous about this already, but taking their advice, I locked my window when I was ready to leave and took big giant steps to the cafeteria, with a box of stuff to go home with me.
I had never been in the cafeteria other that glancing inside. I had no idea about exit doors. I went to the door that led to the back of the school that was closest to my parked car. The door was locked. So I left out the only other door that led to the outside world. As soon as the door latched and locked behind me, I knew that I was locked out of the school and something wasn't right. I took a look around and realized, I HAD JUST LOCKED MYSELF INTO THE SCHOOL COURTYARD. This courtyard is gated and surrounded by a brick wall and the school. There was no way back into the school and no way out of the courtyard unless I climbed an 8 ft brick wall, then a 12 ft chain link fence with barbed wire at the top! How was I to do this with my box? Plus, it was 8:00 in the evening soon to be dark.
After a few minutes of trying to figure things out, I called Tadd to come help me. He was not too happy with me. He really wanted me to call my principal, but I'm not ready to show him how air headed I can be, and I really wasn't in the school 'legally'. I hated to get a bad mark this early in the school year.
While I waited for Tadd, I pushed a picnic table up to the brick wall. I still had to hoist myself a good bit. I stood atop the brick wall feeling very triumphant and ready to try out for gladiators, only to realize that at the end of the brick wall there was a little walk way that I hadn't been able to see during my perimeter glance of the courtyard. So my brick wall climb was not needed.
I decided it was time to call in the troops: My sisters (who live an hour away). Melanie didn't answer so I called Sara, who happened to be with my mom. I'm not sure what I expected them to do, I just needed them to know and be my shoulder to laugh/cry on. My mom, who like Tadd, is very used to me getting myself into these 'situations' begged me to just call the police. :) I was laughing so hard at this point I couldn't even think straight. Tadd and the girls arrived with disapproving looks on all of their faces. After a few minutes of Tadd trying to figure out a way to get me and my box out, he was trying not to yell, telling me I would just have to climb the fence and the barbed wire. I was worried about my box though so I started trying to throw it over the 12ft. fence, still laughing uncontrollably. I think Tadd wanted me to get serious, but I just couldn't! Thank goodness one of my smart daughters, Kate, suggested we lift the chain link so I could crawl under. If we only had the eyes of children. To me it didn't look like it would lift enough, but thank goodness, it did and I escaped my courtyard captivity. Kate said, "mom I've been dying to say this to you some time, because you always say it to me, "you have a noodle, USE IT!!!"
This may not seem as funny to you as it was to me but I just had to share the story. Hopefully you got a good laugh and maybe learned a lesson or two from my stupidity.
Moral 1 : if you break in somewhere, go out the same way you went in.
Moral 2: Never let a door latch behind you if you don't know for certain where it leads to.
Moral 3: Don't listen to custodians, I'm sure they were sitting at home laughing their heads off at me.
Moral 4: It is next to impossible to throw a box over a 12ft fence while laughing, so don't even try it.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Cast ALL Your Cares on Him, For He Cares For You
I really thought I was doing a good job of letting go, and letting God. Today in my Bible Study I had to rate my level of worry on certain things. 1 being the least of my worries, 5 being "I worry about that often." Finances, Weight, Career, Parenting, Ability to Succeed, and My Future took the gold for my worries. What??? I thought I was doing good giving my day to God!Peace characterizes the person who trusts God! Worry and exhaustion will take over and characterize the one who seeks to control and manipulate circumstances. Hmmm.....so why have I been so exhausted lately??? There's my answer!
"And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don't worry about these things, saying 'What will we eat? What will we drink? what will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs." (Matt. 6:30-32 NLT)
George Muller said, "The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."
I think its time I really lay my worries down at the feet of my Savior. That's what he wants. How could I have become so greedy with my worries when He has been there all along with His arms open wide, waiting for me to cast my cares on Him.
He is the first and the last. I need to give Him my in between. I am going to stop just singing songs about trusting Him and live like God is my source and sustainer. No more thinking that surely God has mistaken my abilities with someone else that can handle these tasks more efficiently.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Fabulous Fall
We started a fresh school year and time has been flying! I have an 8th grader, a 5th grader and a Pre-Ker. Life is busy and fun! Kate is still playing the fiddle and the saxaphone in band. She works hard in her Pre AP classes. Living with a teenager has given me a new spin on life. I just pray daily for guidance. She loves me like crazy one second and the next she can't stand the sight of me. I love her sincere happy smile, when she laughs she has an undescribable beauty about her.
Macy is crazy about Science and animals. She's totally captivated by The Hunger Game books and is counting down months until the movie. She reads book after book. She loves fiction and non fiction. Her dry sense of humor and prankster ways keep the laughs going in our house. Her big loud belly laugh is still contagious and beautiful. Shhhh don't tell her I sa
id so. She doesn't want to be beautiful. That's too girlie. :)
id so. She doesn't want to be beautiful. That's too girlie. :)Alyse is interested in anything right now that involves getting dirty. Her fingernails have to be scrubbed nightly from all the grime underneath. She digs for treasures to bring in that most the time end up in the washing machine. All rocks are dinosaur eggs, all pokey, sticker like objects are sure to be part of a porcupine. She wanted to be in basketball and ballet at school. We made her choose one. She's now our little ballerina. Recently, Tadd, Kate, and Macy were roping one evening in the front yard. She truly believed her daddy could rope the moon for her. She LOVES God and given the chance, she'll tell you all about Him. 
We are so blessed. "When I see who He is, I realize what I am. And I wonder why a Holy God would ever reach down so far and place me in HIS hands. My ears had heard the story. Now my eyes have seen His Glory. And I can't turn away from His GRACE. 'Cause I'm incredibly, miraculously SAVED."
Saturday, August 6, 2011
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