Enlisting Help...

I have the best family in the whole world. The best parents...the best in-laws...the best husband...the best kids. They have been so helpful this week, and I love them for it! The classroom is coming along!

The white board masterpiece.


The tree.


The Poppi and the husband/The solar system and the soon-to-be math & science wall.


The monkey.


The Dondi.


The entertainment.


The Granna and Gramps.

Getting Started...

I am realizing there is a lot to think about when getting a classroom ready for the school year. I want the room to be full, functional and cute...and everything to serve a purpose. So needless to say I have been on education supply overload the past week. We started getting everything together on Monday, and it kind of got off to a slow start, but I'm feeling better tonight. Taylor has dance camp this week which cuts our work time down a bit...but it's a good break. There have been moments of freak out when I think about all the little and big things that need to get done. That's not pretty so I stuff the panic deep down and just take it one breath at a time. I am still on cloud 9 about this opportunity and still amazed at how awesome and amazing and cool God's timing is. PERFECT!

And thankfully I have some pretty cool helpers by my side.

I Got the Job...I'm a Teacher!!!

Praise the Lord!!! I got THE call today!! Central Office called to offer me the 2nd grade position!!! We were eating lunch with my mom when the phone rang, and it was a blocked number. I was so excited, nervous, anxious...a roller coaster of emotions. I answered and it was the sweet voice of Mrs. N!!! I told her I was so happy to talk to her and she asked me a couple of questions and congratulated me on getting the job!!

I had gone outside to talk since the restaraunt was kind of loud. While I was away the kids were talking to Granna and they said "If mom comes back with a big smile on her face that means she got it!" And that's what happened!! We were giving high fives and screaming and thanking the Lord! Chad was so happy. He said after a decade it's about time I get a job! LOL!

What makes it even better...Pepper was offered the 5th grade position! We went to Central Office together to sign the letter of intent and criminal background paper. Yay!!! Thank you, Lord! Best day ever! Here's the envelope the papers were in!! We are just a little excited :) Thanks to everyone who has been praying!!

Hanging With Uncle Brant...

Brant and his girlfriend, Sofia (who is super sweet), came to town a couple of weeks ago to see the fam. The kids always have a blast with Uncle Brant. First thing off the bat, the girls challenged him to a game of Super Mario Bros. on the Wii. His reply was "Pshhh...I own this game!" Little did he know it wasn't 1991 anymore...Mario and Luigi have advanced a bit since then!

Taylor and Averi didn't rub it in his face too much that he couldn't get past World 1!

Afterwards we grabbed some bread and headed to the park. Connor didn't exactly get the whole "feeding the ducks" concept. He ate most of the bread...what wasn't eaten he threw out in whole pieces to the poor ducks who had to break it up themselves. At one point I watched as he took turns eating a bun with a duck who was following Connor's every move.







In the Silent Wings Museum watching airplanes take off.

**Another Job Update**
I heard from Central Office today! They told me to sit tight...they were working on paperwork...I should probably get a call tomorrow!!!!!

I Want to Remember...

TAYLOR

The kids and I were in the car, running around town yesterday...Taylor was in the front with me, and she had been unusually quiet for a few minutes. I guess she was deep in thought because, out of the blue, she started this conversation with me.

Tay: "Mom, does Lubbock have an orphanage?"
Me: "Yes"
Tay: (Sounding very concerned, she asked) "The person who runs it is nice...right?"
Me: (Starting to feel guilty for not adopting 10 kids, and hoping they WERE nice, I said) "Yes"
Tay: "Because every movie I see about orphanages, the person who watches the kids are mean. Miss Hannigan was the worst!"

AVERI
My little girl went to her very first slumber party this weekend. Averi doesn't do anything unless her big sister does it too...she follows her every move. So it was a little strange dropping her off knowing she didn't have the security of Taylor with her. We didn't know if she would make it through the night or not, but she did. And didn't want to leave when I picked her up this morning. We were so proud!

CONNOR
Little Connor has been VERY attached to me lately. He does not want me to go anywhere without him. He stays right on my heels and cries "Can I come wif you, mommy?" if he thinks I am going somewhere. It is sweet, but I'm not sure where this behavior is coming from. Maybe it's just part of being a 3 year old boy.

One of my favorite things to tell him is "You're my best boy." The other day he looked at me and said "You're my best boy, mom!"

He always asks, "What time it is?" I think it's so cute...and he's my last baby, so I don't feel the need to correct him. I hope I don't cause issues he'll need therapy for later in life!

**Update on Job**
I ended up texting my cooperating teacher from student teaching, Holly, Thursday afternoon to see if she had talked to the principal at the school where I interviewed. (That was the longest sentence ever!) A few minutes later she called me back and said she had!!! I told her to tell me everything! Holly said that she got the feeling she wanted to recommend me for the 2nd grade position!! We will see!!

Learning Patience...

Thanks to everyone who said a prayer for me on Tuesday! It feels like a lifetime ago since then. When you want time to hurry up, that's when it seems to go the slowest. I feel like the interview went really well. The principal told me on more than one occasion that she had received many emails from teacher candidates wanting a job...she deleted most of them...but for some reason kept mine!! Thank you, Lord!

My friend, Pepper, had her interview this morning and called me right after. She said that as of yesterday another teacher resigned, so two positions needed to be filled. My prayer this whole week was that more than one job would open up, and that prayer was answered!

The principal said she was putting her recommendations in to Central Office today, and the administrators downtown would be the one to call us if we got hired. All day I was so nervous waiting for the phone to ring. I couldn't sit still. I called my parents to meet for lunch. I browsed Barnes and Noble. I just had to keep myself occupied so I wouldn't go nuts. But neither Pepper nor I heard anything today, and Central Office is closed tomorrow...so it looks like we will wait til Monday. (By the way...if Pepper gets her doctorate...she will be Dr. Pepper!!)

I feel like this opportunity has come at the perfect time. If you know LISD, you know that it has been REALLY tough to get a job for the up-coming year. There have been MANY changes throughout the district, and I had resigned myself to subbing for a year while I finished school. Then, BOOM!, I get a call and here I am...THIS close to having my own classroom! It is a miracle...an answer to prayer! And in the meantime, I was able to focus on and finish summer school, enjoy the first half of summer, the Fourth, and our anniversary.

Waiting is soo hard! But I don't have a choice. I will try to relax a little. Stressing won't help the situation. It's all in God's hands! I have a deep sense (Holy Spirit) that it is already taken care of. I am definitely learning patience and building character!

Camping Trip to Interview...Relaxation to Stress

It's amazing how quickly I can go from summer-lovin', book-readin', sleepin'-in mode to "oh my gosh...I have so much to do...and not much time to do it in" mode.

It all started with a text. I woke up this morning to a text I received from a girl I know at Tech. We have gone through the Post-Bac program together...we went through student teaching together...and now we are going through the hiring process together. This morning she texted me to say she had an interview this Thursday at one of the elementary schools in town. I was happy for her, but felt a little deflated too. As much as I try not to stress about finding a job, it is something that is constantly on my mind. I NEED one, people!

Well, my phone is usually on silent mode, so I decided I would just check my voicemail to see if I got a call from the principal at the same school. Lo and behold I did!! And I interview tomorrow at 8a.m. for a 5th grade position. I am trying to focus, stay calm, and keep my head on straight. I am so excited yet trying not to be so excited. All I know is that God has provided, in perfect timing, everything I have needed during this whole process.

I spent the day shopping for an appropriate summer interview outfit, making a portfolio to help me stand out from among the rest, and reading up on my interview questions/answers. I feel the butterflies in my stomach, and I am trying to keep them under wraps.

Please say a prayer for me!!!

A Night Under the Stars...

One of our favorite things to do is sit outside on a clear, summer night...visit with friends...and look up at the stars. I love that Taylor can already spot the Big Dipper. I only learned how a couple of years ago...and everytime I see it, I am reminded of how small I am in the grand scheme of things. It's humbling.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?

Psalm 8:3-4

This past weekend we camped at Roaring Springs with some friends, and the star-gazing was extra-amazing. Take away the city lights, traffic noises...add a campfire, sounds of nature, good food and drink...and it makes for a beautiful scene.

Life is Good...

This week:

We celebrated our 10th anniversary!

Spent time with my brother and his girlfriend.

Started to re-read the Harry Potter series.

Played at the park with my kids.

Drove around the loop, listening to some of my favorite tunes, just to clear my mind!

AND...

Big Brother Started!!

I LOVE SUMMER!!!

The Cape...

Every little boy needs to feel like a super-hero!





My friend, Elizabeth, makes these cute capes. Connor has been looking forward to getting his all week. Now he doesn't have to resort to using the girls' aprons anymore. I guess he knows his super-power limitations, though, because as I was swinging him today he told me he didn't think he could fly! The song, The Cape by Eric Bibb is fitting for my little super-hero.

Spread your arms...and hold your breath...and always trust your cape.

A Boy Will Always Need His Diddy...

Today would have been Diddy's 75th birthday. Diddy is Chad's mom's dad. He was a great man of God...was passionate about Israel and the Jewish people....and loved his family more than anything. We miss him everyday.

Chad thought Diddy hung the moon. They shared a special bond...especially when it came to cheating at Monopoly! They were always on the same team, and you could always count on them to find a way to steal from the bank. They loved to trash talk. And one time on the golf course, I don't know how it happened, but Chad ran him over with a golf cart. They always had a good time together...and a story to tell afterwards!

Diddy was absolutely head-over-heels about his great-granddaughters. He didn't live to see his great-grandsons, but it would have thrilled him to pieces to have two little guys to wrestle around with.

Taylor was not even 4 when he passed, but she was oh so tenderhearted and aware of what was going on. I remember driving in the car after the funeral, and she told me she wanted to spend the night with Nana so she wouldn't have to sleep alone. It broke my heart.

There is a great big void without Diddy...but he is home now.

Thank you, Diddy, for leaving a legace of love. We love you!

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.
Proverbs 17:6