Check out
www.iamsecond.com

Blessings!

Catching up...

CHRISTMAS without CHRIST is mas.

Do you know what mas stands for?

Missing A Savior!

Let's remember the Reason for the Season.. Jesus Christ!

I am making a point in telling everyone I come in contact with "Merry Christmas!"

On another note...

I have been so behind on my blog.. and I do have several things to post.. I will try and get to it this week. Life has been crazy.

An update on the Hall's adoption.. everything went great with the judge. They are now in a waiting period and are still in Ukraine and will be there through Christmas.

More to come soon.. the baby turns into a big boy in less than one hour...

Please pray for my friends, Randy and Valerie Hall.
Randy was my Youth Minister at FBC Arlington. They are very special people.
Randy is the founder of Student Life Ministries.

They have 3 biological children and 2 children from Ukraine .. AND .. they are in Ukraine right now adopting 4 more children.

They have a court appointment at 7 a.m. CST on December 4th.
Read more here
http://www.hallfamilyadoption.com/

I bet you didn't know...

that JINGLE BELLS was written for the Thanksgiving Holiday. I learned of this unknown fact in my local newspaper the Fort Worth Star Telegram. I enjoy reading it each day.

May you have a Happy Jingle Bell Thanksgiving day!

Our Thankful Tree

Our Thankful Tree began as an annual tradition when Cara was 2 years old. Each year, I make a tree out of craft paper and place it on the door to the laundry room. Then, I use leaves diecut from a diecut machine. And each night, we each place a leaf on the tree saying something we are thankful for this year. It is something that I have grown to love.

My leaf today will be I am thankful that Wade asked me to marry him on this day 18 years ago.

Blessings!

Freeze Time

I wish that we could freeze time.

The other night, Caleb who is normally a good sleeper was having difficulty getting to sleep.

My heart was pulled out of me as I heard him not crying but sobbing. I went and picked him up and I took him to my bed. It was still early before 10 p.m., but Wade was fast asleep. He can sleep through anything so nothing disturbs him.

Caleb crawled on top of sleeping Wade, laid down his head and fell asleep. It was too precious.

I could not communicate it better than this.. so if you have time.. please go visit this blog..
http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2008/11/united-house.html

Let us be in prayer for unity I know it is what would please our heavenly Father.

It takes time to grow fruit...

It takes time to grow fruit. Well, yes that is common sense. However, I had really not thought about it in relation to fruit of the Spirit.

Yesterday, I was studying God's word and my Bible Study book that I was using said to choose a short verse and to meditate on it. The description used to mediate was to review, repeat, reflect, think, analyze, feel and even enjoy it.

So here was my verse,

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." Psalms 1:2-3

As I truly meditated on this verse, I was struck with the fact that I have always just expected that the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22)- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness,Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control would just come immediately.

Instead God truly showed me, that just like fruit is yielded in a season. It takes time to grow the fruit. It just doesn't happen overnight. So it is with the fruit of the Spirit, it slowly develops and grows until it is ripe.

My lesson for November 3rd.

Tricks are over, but the Treats remain!

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The Tricks are all over, but the treats remain especially the sweetest treats of all, Cara and Caleb.

I had a fun filled and eventful day on Halloween! I got Cara's lunch made and shipped her off to school at 7:30 a.m. since she has Safety Patrol duty. Caleb awoke and we ate breakfast and watched some Mickey Mouse. I cleaned the house, before Debbie our house cleaner came! :-)

I worked on Cara's 4th grade scrapbook and got it almost finished. We then ran and got a cake for Cara's 5th grade class. Then, ate lunch with Shelley and Jace for Shelley's birthday. Then, the most important task of the whole day was I voted! I had Caleb with me and I was so afraid he was going to push the wrong button... he loves computers. We then picked Cara up at school.

We got ready for Halloween and took some pictures and then we were off to Trunk or Treat at church. Then a quick run by Sonic for dinner and more trick or treating in our neighborhood.

It was a great day!

Homesick

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times

And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you

But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry

Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place

Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways

The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know

But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same

Cause I'm still here so far away from home

I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place

Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbye

And in Christ, there is no end

So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have

To see you again

To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place

Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

Matthew 5: 3-11

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me."

This was in my daily study one day recently. It reminded me again that all of us are blessed.. you know we wouldn't mourn if the life we had lost hadn't blessed us.

This is close to my heart as the anniversary of my Mother's death draws near.

God is good. He loves us and blesses us. Are you looking for the blessings He has given you here on earth?

Some of my family favorites...

Yesterday, I was visiting with a friend at church. She has recently returned to work and is juggling work and home life. I told her I would email her with some easy crockpot recipes....
which I did....
Here are some easy crock pot recipes..

1. Crock pot Barbeque chicken- chicken breasts (they do not have to be totally thawed) and a jar of bbq sauce

2. Pork Bbq sandwiches- Hormel Pork bbq flavor and a jar of bbq sauce cook all day... then use a big fork to shred the pork.. eat on hamburger buns and serve with your families favorite veggies or mac n' cheese, etc

3. Stupid Chicken ( I got this recipe out of the newspaper don't know why it is called that)
Diced chicken breast ( you do not have to thaw out the chicken breast totally to cut into pieces)
2 cans of Italian diced tomatoes
1 package of Savory Herb and Garlic mix ( this is like Onion Soup mix )
Cook all day in crockpot.. Then serve over Bow Tie pasta with salad and cheesy Texas Toast bread (found in the freezer section)

4. Crock Pot Roast
Roast
2 cans of sliced new potatoes (drain)
baby carrots
2 cans of Golden Mushroom Soup
2 cans of water
Season roast and then layer veggies around the roast .. cook all day

5. Chili Coke Roast
Roast or stew meat (already cut up into bites.. that is what I buy)
1 can of coke
1 jar of chili sauce (you can find it by the ketchup)
cook all day on low in crockpot.
Serve over rice

Enjoy!

Tag! I'm It!

I've been tagged by Stephanie at Stephanies Spot for this fun little meme. To play, you have to go to your sixth photo folder and post the sixth photo.


I actually have several places I keep my photos. I download them once into Picture Project from Nikon. Then, I transfer them over to Memory Manager by Creative Memories. I also have some miscellaneous files in My Pictures. So I decided to go to Memory Manager by CM for my pic. If you do not have Memory Manager, let me recommend it to you. It is awesome and a great tool to organize all of your photos.


My Sixth folder was found in the year 2005 photo box. It is from June of 2005 when my nephew, Cole came over to swim with Cara at the neighbor's pool when we lived on Foxchase.




Cole and Cara have always had a special bond. They are eight days apart. The first child for both of us. I kept Cole when he was an infant several days a week. As they are growing older, my prayer is that their friendship continue as it is harder to find commonalities.... things to play and do together...

Now it is my turn, to tag five people to play along..

Bryan at Spare Change

Stephanie at AbundantJoy

Jennifer at AJournalsAddict

Tamara at ThisismystoryThisismysong

Brian at Grooverz

Enjoy!

Safe and Sound

Can’t believe you’re here now
Tiny dream come true
The answer to a prayer now
I’m so in love with you
Couldn’t wait to meet you
Hope you like your name
I get the funny feeling
Life will never be the same

Safe and sound
You’re here with me now
Like I hoped you’d be
Safe and sound
You’re here with me now
And that’s all I’ll ever need

The world’s a scary place here
But baby it’s alright
I’ll make sure the coast is clear
So you can just sleep tight
But if you’re afraid of monsters
Like everybody is
I’ll be right beside you
Closer than a kiss

Safe and sound
I’m here with you now
And you will always be
Safe and sound
I’m here with you now
And that’s all you’ll ever need

Someday I’m gonna teach you
The reason why we pray
So that heaven’s love may reach you
Every single day
So, baby close your eyes now
And say a prayer with me
Lord, I lay me down to sleep now
But I know I will be

Safe and sound
You’re here with us now
And we will always be
Safe and sound You’re here with us now
And that’s all we’ll ever, all we’ll ever need
You’re all we’ll ever need

Matthew West artist
I wanted to put the song on my blog, but couldn't find it on playlist.. so I included the lyrics instead.


It was two years ago a day I will never forget .. October 5, 2006. My prayers were answered that I had conceived a child. My husband was in a foreign country doing Mission work. I couldn't share with anyone but my GOD who had answered my prayers. I sat in awe as I looked at a plus sign. As anyone who has experienced years of infertility knows.. we always have a stash of pregnancy tests... but never get to see a + sign. It was amazing that when I saw that + sign that God gave me a peace like no other. You see I had been pregnant four other times besides my Cara but everytime I never brought that child home. It was my prayer to not only conceive but to bring a baby home with me. God gave me a peace and a doctors appointment that day, October 5, 2006. Thank you God for knitting my Caleb in my womb and bringing him to this world. May he know you at a young age and follow you all of your days. May he serve you mightily. You are a FAITHFUL God.. I love you so...

Squidoo (an online group that raises tons of money for charities) is giving $80,000 to the charities of your choice. Basically, anyone who wants to participate can vote for one charity (from a list of about 50...don't vote more than once or all your votes will be deleted)...Squidoo will donate $2/vote. You don't even have to sign up for anything! Just click here
http://www.squidoo.com/squidoo-charity-giveaway

There is a charity on there that I am very compassionate about The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society . As you know, my Mom passed away from Lymphoma. Vote for any charity you believe could use $2...OR, choose mine that I mentioned above! You have until October 15 to vote!

My soapbox..

Why is it that we can not allow children to be children? Why do we have to think they are little adults? Why do we as adults expect so much of them? We push and push and push. It frustrates me to no end. Yes it is important to have high expectations, but there needs to be a balance.

There are numerous examples.. and some have to do with the change of our times.
When I entered Kindergarten, we learned letters, sang songs, cooked, played, had circle time for half of a day. My mom said I was so exhausted I came home everyday and took a nap. So I must have had a good time.

When I began teaching Kindergarten in 1991, we taught letters,their sounds and how to write them, sang songs, cooked, had centers, math, science, pe and library for half a day.

When I taught Kindergarten again in 2005, we taught children how to read, how to write a complete story,how to do addition and subtraction, science, math for all day. We sang some songs, but we never cooked. I was the rare teacher who had a home center in her classrrom and allowed time for her students to just PLAY!

If you can see the difference in expecations at Kindergarten.. think about 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade and 5th grade. My 5th grader is doing things that I did in Junior High when I was 11 and 12 and 13. However, at the age of 10, she is expected to do so much and remember so much. I think educators often forget that the kids they teach are children.

Children who like to run outside, tell a joke, get a hug, who still play with dolls and cars. Children who have feelings and emotions.

We must remember that they are not minature adults.

High Heels or Flip Flops

There is no one else in the whole wide world like you. I'm sure you have heard that before, but I wonder if you understand how true it is and how precious you are to God. We are not always treasured on this earth. Our relationships with our parents or friends or spouses can lead us to believe that we may be unique, but that it's not a good thing. So often we are encouraged to blend in, don't rock the boat, don't be different, but I say, rock that boat, and be who you are...

When you hold back who you really are, we all miss out. So whether you are a pet nut like me or a wordsmith like Patsy Clairmont, whether you like high heels or flip-flops, be who you really are. You have a voice and style that is all your own. It has been given to you by God so that through you, a unique picture of our Father is seen.

Shelia Walsh

One moment

It's amazing that in one moment your whole perspective can change. One of my dear LISA friends, who hooked me to blogs to begin with... sent me an email this morning telling me about another blog to follow.. and requesting prayer for her friend who is the author of the blog and leader of her Bible Study. I first lifted her in prayer as I headed to her blog where my eyes welled with tears and streamed down my face. This Sister in Christ, Molly lost a baby at 14 weeks last year and is now dealing with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma all before the age of 40 while she has four other children at home who need her.
Why is it that it takes something of this magnitude to rock my world? I know that I am blessed. I am grateful. But everything seems a little more precious and sweet and my heart wells in gratitude to God for the simplest things of all.. especially my health.

Hopes and Dreams

Never did I have such high hopes and dreams than with my own children.. but even so I also have high hopes and dreams for my nieces and nephews. With my Mom and Stepdad, now on the other side in heaven. I feel great responsibility to continue the prayers that they as Grandparents prayed for their grandchildren. So my heart is glad and full of hope as the oldest grandchild is now embarking on his own. He has landed a great job with the corporate office of Gamestop which is located in my town. I had made the suggestion to him that he look at their website. He has played games with excellence since he was three years old if not before.

I was so excited when he called me first to tell me that he got the job. I then later emailed him to just check in. My heart was glad and tears streamed down my cheeks as at the end of the email he wrote these words to me, "I can't thank you enough for finding me this opportunity and hope you realize how huge of an impact this could be on my future for taking me in a successful direction."


My prayers continue!

what's so wrong with tradition?

tradition

Main Entry: tra·di·tion
Pronunciation: \trə-ˈdi-shən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English tradicioun, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French tradicion, from Latin tradition-, traditio action of handing over, tradition — more at treason
Date: 14th century
1 a: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) b: a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable
2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction
3: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
4: characteristic manner, method, or style
— tra·di·tion·al \-ˈdish-nəl, -ˈdi-shə-nəl\ adjective
— tra·di·tion·al·ly adverb
— tra·di·tion·less \-ˈdi-shən-ləs\ adjective

What is wrong with tradition? I know that we need to sometimes think outside the box.. but I personally like tradition. It brings me comfort. It reminds me of good times. It helps me remember all those who have gone before me.

Remember

It hardly seems believable that seven years have passed since September 11, 2001.
I was going about my normal Mom duties on that day. Wade was at home after working all night at DFW airport. I had gotten up and dressed and taken Cara to Mothers Day Out. As I drove up, I saw my sister who also took my nephew to MDO at the same place. She mentioned to me what had happened. I was in disbelief. I had not listened to any news or even the radio as I drove that morning. I dropped Cara off and headed to my school in Irving to tutor. The television was on in the lounge and I watched. It seemed so surreal.
I immediately began getting phone calls about the whereabouts of Wade since at the time he was working in airports and traveling most of the time. I knew that Wade was safe at home. Praise God!

That evening, we all went to church to pray for all. All who were involved. All who lived in our country. Everyone! I was touched by President George Bush's words on that day.

I chose to commemorate that event with a scrapbook. A day in history, that we should never forget. May we truly remember and pray for those who lost loved ones on that day. And for all those who fight for our freedom.

From my Inbox...

I received this today in my Inbox and thought it was worth passing along... I wasn't able to add all the pictures.. there were 15 of them...


Just read


Don't dismiss the fact that Sarah Palin is Commander of the Alaska National Guard-- consider this.


Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. Itʼs on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units.

As governor of Alaska , Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism. Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden's and certainly by far exceeds Obama's.

She's also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security's counterterrorism plans.

Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country's defense. Given Alaska 's proximity to Russia , she may have security clearances we don't even know about.

According to the Washington Post, she first met with McCain in February, but nobody ever found out. This is a woman used to keeping secrets.

She can be entrusted with our national security, because she already is.

=============================================================


Posted on Monday, September 01, 2008 1:22:41 PM by Jeff Head
HOW THE SARAH PALIN PICK TRUMPS OBAMA-BIDEN
On August 29, 2008, Republican Presidential nominee, John McCain, announced Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska as his VP running mate. That selection has trumped and checkmated the Obama-Biden ticket.
Coming the day after Obama's historic acceptance speech at the Democratic convention, which speech and Obama's earlier pick of Joe Biden as his own VP running mate, were expected to be the top news item leading into the Republican convention the following week, McCain's pick of Sarah Palin however completely eclipsed those events.
In less than 24 hours, Obama's day in the sun had been come under a cloud of shadow and was relegated to history being completely upstaged by the Palin choice. The news cycles have talked about nothing else since in terms of the presidential politics.
The choice by McCain has stunningly energized the conservative base of the Republican party, an important segment McCain had his own problems with. But by choosing Palin, a staunch conservative, he has revitalized his commitment and perception in that area. Many conservatives who had relegated themselves to simply voting against Obama, are now more than willing to for "for" Palin.
The choice also reached out directly to independents and disaffected Democratic voters, particularly women, who were so sorely disappointed by Hillary Clinton's narrow loss and the way they had been treated since Obama sealed the nomination. Particularly in overlooking Hillary Clinton, who won 18 million votes in the primaries, and actually had more votes than Obama, those disaffected women are also excited about Palin, and indicating by the tens of thousands on blogs and disaffected Hillary voter sites on the web that they intend to cross over and vote for her and McCain.
The Obama campaign and DNC, curiously, have already launched all out attacks against the choice and Palin herself, indicating that she does not have enough executive or national experience.
Excuse me? She does not have enough executive experience?
A simple analysis of the relative experience levels of Sarah Palin compared to either Democratic candidate puts this to rest. For over the past decade, Sarah Palin has been involved in executive decision making at increasing levels of elected positions of public trust. Obama has no executive experience, Biden has no executive experience. During that time, Palin left off running an actual private business in Alaska , a commercial fishing business and was elected to her city council and then, in quick order to be Mayor of her home town. She did so well there that she was ultimately elected to be Governor of the State of Alaska , managing 17,000 personnel and a 9 billion dollar budget. Obama and Biden have absolutely no comparable experience at all, neither of them.
Mayor Sarah Palin executing her duties as Mayor. Sarah Palin being sworn in as Governor Governor Sarah Palin executing her duties as Governor, signing legislation. Governor Sarah Palin acting in her capacity as the executive of the State.
In Alaska , as Governor, Sarah is also the Commander in Chief (CINC) for the Alaskan National Guard. This is a critical national assignment as Alaska sits on the border with Russia where Air National Guard aircraft intercept Russian Bear aircraft. Sarah Palin has taken her role as the Commander seriously, regularly visiting the units and coming to understand their duties and capabilities.
Governor Sarah Palin meeting in the field with Guard Units. Governor Sarah Palin, an avid shooter herself, learns the operation of equipment of guard units (She's manning the gun).
As Governor, Sarah has helped devise and push through a project for the largest natural gas line in the history of the US ...taking on entrenched politicians (on both sides of the aisle), lobby groups, and large corporations in the process. Her involvement with, and her understanding of, the Energy issue is unmatched by either Democratic candidate.
Outside of her direct role as Governor and speaking more to her personal values and commitment to them, Sarah walks the walk on the pro-life issue. Having found out well in advance of delivery that her youngest child would have downs syndrome, she and her husband thanked God for the blessing and brought the baby into a loving home. (By contrast, Obama has stated publically that he doesn't want his children "punished" with a baby).
As Governor, Palin actually visited the wounded soldiers in Germany , while Obama, when given the same opportunity in Europe , refused to comply with Defense Department guidelines regarding his entourage, and skipped that part of his schedule.
Beyond all of this, there is also a part of Sarah Palin that most hard working, patriotic, and committed Americans are coming to adore about her. She is real. She is authentic. Not only has she stood up to corrupt politics and the old networks that have produced so much waste, fraud, and "bridges to nowhere", she is also a regular person, and authentic all-American girl, wife, mother, and citizen.
She has actually walked the walk of reform and change instead of just talking about it.
She does not come from privilege, did not aspire to it, or become placed in it. She did not attend the Ivy League or prestigious schools. She has gotten to where she is by pure honesty, integrity, and strength of charachter and has been raising five kids and enjoying life while doing so.
Sarah Palin loves to Four-wheel and fly with her family in Alaska . Sarah Palin loves to fish in Alaska . Sarah Palin loves to hunt in Alaska . ..and, oh, did I mention? Sarah Palin loves to shoot.
All of this drives the leftist and anti-American crowd mad. Sarah Palin is the real deal. Young, refreshing, committed wife, mother, American citizen. She is the real deal when it comes to the change that is so much needed in American politics, particularly in Washington . John McCain must be congratulated for vetting her, seeing this, and putting her on the national stage.
She represents in fact, and in her own actions, what so many others (including Obama and the entrenched Biden) only talk about, and then go on with business as usual.
Obama, in his own actions and positions as a State Senator (voted merely present so many time in the State Senate, but voted no defending the Born Alive Abortion Protection Act there), in his own actions and positions as a US Senator (spent only 144 days on the job before beginning his campaign for the President, but in those short days was recognized as the Senator with the furthest left record), and particularly in his own willful associations of long standing with hateful, racists individuals like Jeremiah Wright (who preached "Not God bless American, No, No, No, God Damn America!) to Obama and his children, and with the likes of Bill Ayers, the unrepentant, arrogant, and militantly anti-American political connection where Obama kicked off his own political career, who bomber the US Pentagon, the US Capitol, and NY City Polic Headquarters and then claimed in an interview published on 911 that his only regreet was that he had not done enough...no with such actions and such associations (npot to mention TOni Rezco, Pleger, and others), Obama has proven that his change is precisely the type we do not want or need in Washington.
CHOOSING THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
NOBAMA MOVEMENT SPREADS ACROSS THE NATION

Journaling without hassels!

A few years ago, I came across a wonderful little journal book called.. the GUILT-FREE journal

written by Jan Silvious. I used it almost all the way up ... and I was straightening the other day..I saw it and decided to buy another one through Amazon. You see, I have a wonderful, true desire to spend time with God each day. Devoted time.. you see.. I am good at talking to God..I talk to him all throughout the day, but I have a hard time sitting still, not cleaning, or playing with Caleb, or being on the computer to STOP and just spend time with him. This book helps you do that. It has scripture and then each day is a little different in what it asks for you to journal, but not just any journaling you are journaling your prayer to God. You know as I looked through that journal of past days.. I was reminded once again by how many prayers God had answered. I believe and know it is important to write these down. We seem to forget how much God answers. We just simply go to our next request. By keeping a journal, it helps us to stop and truly recognize where God has been at work.

Here is a glimpse of the inside of one of the pages...

Gotta go.. get to my guilt-free journal...

I think I will vote for...

http://www.inews3.com/topstory.php?id=4a7564797c4b656c6c6579

Do you pray for protection?

This past week, Wade returned home from a hiking trip to Colorado. The first night at dinner, we started asking about his trip and how everything went. Wade has his ACL license and drove a lot of the way in our church's People Mover.. (bigger than a van but smaller than a bus). He with our Recreation Minister, Bryan Anderson drove over 12 hours to Colorado. I asked Wade if everything went smoothly with the drive. He said yes, but we were coming through a tunnel and as we exited the tunnel an accident happened right beside us and right behind us. I immediately said to Cara, "Don't you remember we prayed for angels to protect Daddy as he drove?"


You know there is a lot of misinformation about what angels are and their purpose in our world.
About five years ago, I did a Bible Study that discussed angels. It was very interesting. Pat Routen was my teacher.

Here are some of my notes from my study written by Pat Routen: There are over 300 references to them in the Bible. We are not to pray to angels, nor worship them. Angels do not indwell people and are not to be confused with the Holy Spirit. Angels are mightier than people, but they are not gods and they do not possess the attributes of the Trinity.

God uses angels to work out the destinies of men and nations. They keep in close contact with all that is happening on earth. They are here among us whether we sense their presence or not.

I could write pages and pages of what I learned about angels. But God's word speaks louder than anything

"For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways." Psalms 91:11

"Are not all angels minsitering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"
Hebrews 1:14

So I firmly believe that God did send his angels to protect Wade as he drove through that tunnel just as I had requested of God.

Isn't it a comfort that although we can not see angels around us, that they are there just as God promised?

You never realize...

You never realize how very fortunate you are until you see or walk in other footsteps...

This past week, I have been parenting alone as my husband has been hiking the mountains of Colorado. My heart truly goes out to those who parent by themselves without a spouse to help them out...

Meanwhile, there is a sweet teacher at my daughter's school.. whose husband is in last days on this earth after a tough battle with cancer. I have been praying without ceasing for this family.

It makes you truly appreciate what you have when you realize there are so many without...
Let's be thankful for what God has given us...

Eternity is impacted...

A teacher affects eternity;
he can never tell where his influence stops.
~ Henry Brooks Adams

I've been on all sides of teacherhood. I've been a student (and continue to be one), a teacher and now a Mother who watches her child interact with her teachers.

Teachers don't always seem to realize how very valued and important they are in the life of a child. I can remember when I first started teaching, I would have parents who would tell me how very important I was in their child's life. Yes, I heard them, but I truly did not grasp the concept until my own child went to school.

The first thing my daughter said on Monday when I picked her up from school was "Ms. Yockey is like Ms. Morris."

Now none of you can know what that means.. but to her Mom and Dad we know it means everything. Ms. Morris was Cara's 4th grade teacher. She was kind, loving, and compassionate about her job. Cara had a great year in her class. So hearing this come out of Cara's mouth.. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that this will be a great year.

On a total other note, a lot of my former Kindergarteners are in college. Last night on facebook, I was able to reconnect with some of them. It is incredible to see where they are in their life... I saw them as they were embarking on their school years and now I can glimpse at where they are as they are embarking on adulthood and college. So cool! Of course, two of my favorite kiddos were red heads and that is who I contacted first on Facebook. Several of my students are playing basketball at the college level. I feel like a proud mom. I only had them for one year, but they all hold a place in my heart.

Dirt, Nerds, Toilets,Dog Bowl, Stairs

What do all of these things have in common? My son, Caleb.. I always knew that boys were different than girls.. but not till I had my own sweet little guy did I truly understand it.

In one day, he knocked over a plant, got into the cabinet with the doggie treats and started feeding them to the dog (thankfully, not to himself), climbed the stairs numerous times, got a box of Nerds out of the refrigerator.. shook them around like they were a rattle then figured out how to open them and then I had Nerds all over the floor, played in the dogs bowls, and played in the toilet. YUCK! I am certain there is more.. but that is all I can remember.

It is a choice

Gratitude

Seems like such a simple thing

But yet it is so big

It is a choice that we make each day. I never realized how hard it was for others to be grateful.

It comes easily to me. I think it is how I grew up and the way I saw my Mother and Grandmother choose gratitude.

When I was little, my Mom had divorced. She had an old yellow Nova with vinyl, peeling, black seats and no air conditioner. But yet she was grateful that she had a running car.

That is just one example of thousands, I could share. It seems so easy to me to be grateful for even the small things. I truly learned this from my Mom.

My sweet Mom, who is now with Jesus, had a gratitude journal the last 9 months of her life.

I love to look at it on occasion.. to see her handwriting.. to see what she was grateful for on that day...

I am amazed at how she was grateful for the simpliest things...

a blue jay in her yard

a phone call

a visit

and I love how she would write down "my Judy"..

Let's choose to be grateful for what we have...

Seems like yesterday...

First Day of Kindergarten, August 2003



It seems like yesterday that my little girl with a cute little dress and a bow in her hair was off to Kindergarten. This morning, my 10 year old young lady was off to 5th grade. I am amazed at how quickly time does go by.



I can still remember that first day of Kindergarten. Cara awoke very early out of excitement and joined Wade and I in bed. We prayed together and snuggled before we hurried off to get ready. This morning, five years later, I woke Cara up at 6:50 a.m. per her request. She set her alarm for 7:00 a.m. in case her Mother overslept. Caleb gave her some love and Cara jumped up and got ready and did her hair. Then, she was off to get her lunch ready.



She graciously allowed me to walk into school with her to her 5th grade classroom, Ms. Yockey so that I her shutterfly happy mom could take her picture. This will be the last time, I am able to walk her in on the first day of school. I can't believe that my little girl is now a little young lady.



On that day in 2003, I shed tears. This morning, I just smiled as I saw her sit down in her seat ready for what 5th grade has to hand her.






First day of 5th grade, August 2008