Family Christmas Pictures - Take 1

As we left the Fulton Thanksgiving yesterday, we tried to take some family photos. I brought the camera, coordinating clothes, and my tripod. Surely I could make this work, right? WRONG!

We started a little stiff,

So, here, Jeremy used their level of humor and said "butt," so they're laughing theirs off...

And, these would have been terrific, but it seems my daughter has a tongue and wants everyone to know. We threatened her with using one of these on our christmas card, and she cried. Then, we felt bad.

And, here, Hudson just looks evil...

Back to stiff...

We told them to dance...

In more excitement - I found the REAL MATER:

And his buddy...

Touching family moments:

Oh, and the decorated tree...the kids hung the ornaments. I left it alone all of 30 minutes before the prefectionistic side of me took over!

Thankful

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It would be Christmas, but our society has skewed Christmas so far from what it is supposed to be that I find myself frustrated. So, I like to focus on Thanksgiving because it is a time we stop and practice being thankful. With that, here is my thankful list…

1. God. I have to admit this wasn't first in the beginning, but as I proofed my list, I noticed the prevalence of God in my thoughts. Duh! And, it seems like a very wise pastor I know always reminds me that God should be above everyone else, as a matter of fact, I think that's what we practice teaching our kids!
2. My husband. God is so good, and Jeremy is one of the ways I see that. I love to see how God uses him in the lives of others through the church, with our children, and, of course, with me. We all know I can get pretty neurotic and OCD about things, and Jeremy has the best manner of knowing how to calm me and redirect me. He puts up with my hard-headedness and can make me laugh in an instant.
3. Jenna and Hudson – how precious are they? I truly value their giggles, questions, hugs, and snuggles. I was looking at them this week as we all snuggled in bed after Jeremy had gone hunting, and something hit me. I was never one of those people who dreamed about what her life would be, but somehow, my kids are exactly what I always expected, but without the expecting it (yeah, that’s hard to follow).
4. StoneWater. All aspects of what God has given us and done through StoneWater. The friends that are really an extension of family. The life changes that I’ve been allowed to see. The fulfillment that I see in my husband as God continues to use him. The increase in my faith that has happened as I have seen God do amazing things through two brothers when Joey came to Jeremy with this vision of starting a church. Thanks, God, that you didn’t let my fear and doubt stand in the way.
5. Friends. You all know who you are. Know that I value each and every one of you. Thank you for your influence on my life, and know that I treasure you.
6. My job. But, teaching is truly a passion in my life (most days), and I have been blessed to enjoy it on a part time basis. I love working with those crazy teenagers, and hope that I make a positive influence on their lives beyond reading and writing!

Again, I find it funny that I never spent a lot of time in my teen years planning where I would live or what I would do. But, somehow, my life is completely as I imagined it and perfectly fitting for me. I can say, without a doubt, there is not one single thing I would change. I am thankful.

National Board Certified Teacher

About a year and a half ago I was quite frustrated with my school district. I felt as if I wasn't being trusted to do my job despite my teaching experience, proven results, and even a Master's in Education. So, I did what I usually do - I decided to prove that I knew what I was doing, and so I took on the National Board Certification process.

Well, as I got further into it (like $2000 from the State of Texas, $750 from a university, and had paid my own $1000), I discovered that it was truly like another Master's in many ways, condensed into a year's worth of time:
Analysis of Student Growth in Reading and Writing - select 2 students and for each student 2 essays, 1 written response to reading, 1 non-written response to reading;
Instructional Analysis - Whole Class Discussion - video and analysis of video
Instructional Analysis - Small Group - video and analysis
Documented Accomplishments - list continuing ed & analysis of how it helped the students

THEN, I went and took a 3 hour test for 6 different areas - Literary Analysis, Universal Themes, Teaching Writing, Teaching Writing, Language Study, and Analysis of Writing. In any case, after I finished the test and the portfolio, I really didn't think I would receive the certification. Scores wouldn't post until "prior to Dec. 31, 2008."

Scores posted last week - "You are a National Board Certified Teacher." Woo Hoo! Can I brag on myself and add that I'm only one of 2 in GISD? And, of only 406 in the state of Texas? No, I don't get anything special for it, except that feeling of accomplishment that I am here to share with you! :)

All I Want for Christmas...

is a new front tooth! And, from the looks of the one beside it, by Christmas we may be singing the full, unmodified version of the song.

Can I admit this is almost as hard for me as giving up the bottle was with Hudson? There is just something about those gaping holes and knowing the front teeth that will come will be too big for awhile. She's growing up too fast!

Side note: no, Maggie does not live inside, nor does she come inside (at least I don't think). But, this moring when I got out of the shower, Maggie was in, and I wanted the picture of the hole before I shooed Maggie out. Maybe that's why they were in a rush for me to get in the shower and why, for the first time EVER, I had a full shower on Sunday morning without someone bursting in crying, yelling, or tattle telling...hmmmm...

Pictures

What have I been doing with myself in the long absence from blogging? Not working as much at school stuff! I've been practicing the skill of saying "no." And, you know, I can do it, and it feels good. Also, I've been spending lots of time with God in study, prayer, and listening to some great podcasts. Jeremy shared some of his other favorite preachers with me, so I've added Perry Noble and Mark Driscol(l?) to Andy Stanley. I know that this additional time with Him has also helped my attitude. And, I've been studying photography stuff, editing some baby pictures of sweet Eden, Brett & Audra's daughter, and watching tutorials for Photoshop. Oh, and how can I forget our trip to A&M!? Enjoy some pictures...

Jeremy & I have decided that Justin and Jennifer are absolutely, amazingly photogenic...

And, meet Eden...isn't she just scrumptiously cute?!On our trip to A&M, we stayed at an amazing ranch around Normangee. On our way back to town, we passed this old gas station. I liked it so much, I had to ask to turn around for some pictures. The ones of Justin and Jen are taken there, and she took some of us, but I haven't processed...here it the little station - and my first attempt at playing with textures that I took from some rocks...

I've asked Jeremy several times if we can just move that little station here somehow, but so far we haven't come up with anything. I'm still trying, though!

What REALLY matters?

I am the first to get distracted. One of the days, actually a few, of my Believing God study have made that blatantly apparent to me. There are the things I love to do (play with my family, teach, plan for teaching, photography, play on the computer) and the things I have to do (housework, teach - yeah, it's in both categories-, pay bills). I allow both to consume me and stress me. Then there is the thing I'm privileged to do...

Very little detail is given over Enoch's life in the Bible. Most of the references say he lived, had Methuselah and other kids, gives his genealogy, and says, "he walked with God." It was his walk with God that made him important enough to land him in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews. Right there - that key phrase, "He walked with God." It follows that he was taken from this life without dying...and "commended as one who pleased God." It pleased God that Enoch walked with Him so faithfully.

That's when it hit me, the things I love to do and the things I have to do, both of which get me so stressed out, don't matter. It's the one thing I have the privilege to do that really matters, and you know, I don't get stressed out when I miss my time with God. Why? It's the most important "thing" there is, but it's not important enough for me to get stressed out about it. All I have to do to please God is walk with Him. My house being clean, not so much. It is natural for my relationships with my family and others to be vibrant and healthy if my walk with God is where it should be. I know this in my head, but how often do I not own it and write it in my heart?

As I read Beth Moore's commentary on the section, I had to agree with her on so many points, especially since this was God giving me a big ol' neon sign. (I need to long quote this in the center, but I can't do that here, so bear with me you formatting people:)

"We have so many good ideas. The world, even the Christian world, is full of options. Each of us could name a dozen things we'd really love to do with our lives...sometimes all in the same day. We often suffer from spiritual schizophrenia or at least a serious case of ADD. Like the Israelites, who suffered from the potter-clay reversal syndrome, I sometimes forget that I didn't see Jesus in the distance and call Him to follow me."

Think about that one in depth. I do that - I'd love to study photography, be a professional, go to grad school for English to teach Dual Credit, go to grad school for psychology to teach Dual Credit, quit teaching, write books, have a perfect home, decorate, clean,...shall I keep going? But, what's the one thing? Walk with God.

She goes on the point out that we can "walk ourselves right into the place we may as well call less-than-land, the place of God's permissive will. When we choose to walk with God rather than off the path to handfuls of other options, we find His perfect will for our lives. We find our promised land." Notice it's not through the "other good ideas" of life, but it's through Walking with God.

"But, to walk with God is difficult." Ain't that the truth! Horrendously hard many days. Think on your material possessions. What are your favorites? What makes them your favorites? Most likely it is tied to a diligent pursuit of that item - you had to wait a long time or you had to work really hard to get it. One of mine is my camera - I started researching and 'shopping' in 2001; I saved enough money on 3 different occasions, but the money went elsewhere. Finally, I received my camera this past December. That's right, 6 years later. How is a relationship with God any different? We value things more and are most satisfied by those things that we had to diligently pursue. (all ideas originally from Beth Moore) It's worth the struggle to read, study, memorize, and apply because we value it all the more.

So, what stops us? Distraction. "I have discovered that if Satan can't get to me with destruction, he will try to get to me with distraction.... We cannot do a hundred things to the glory of God, but we can certainly do a few. What you and I need is focus. Day in and day out. Eyes on the goal. In our frenzied lifestyles we are desperate for simplicity: for a hundred things to narrow down to one." One = Walk with God.

Walk with God. So simple, and yet so difficult. But, so worth the challenge. After all, that's what makes something more valuable to us.

This has been swirling in my head for weeks. I couldn't put it into words until today. The catalyst is the death of a Godly woman. Jill is a friend from college. I have to admit I hesitate at friend, because we didn't hang out together or have many, if any, individual conversations. However, Jill was one of the first people to express her faith in a way that was so truly genuine and ask questions in conversation that were so deep that my relationship with God grew as a result.

Jill passed away Sunday. Oddly enough, really just flat out WEIRD, is that on Saturday, probably just hours before the car accident that took her life, I found a link to her Facebook from another person's Facebook. Honestly, I don't know that I had even thought of Jill in about 5 years, since Jer ran into her at a conference in Dallas. But, I can tell you that I was really excited about "finding" her and catching up a bit. I mean, I came home from church Sunday hoping she had already seen my request and had added me so that I could email her. It was Sunday night that we got the phone call.

Why has it hit me so hard? Granted, I had lost contact with Jill long ago, and we were never close friends, but I can confidently say that Jill walked with God. She was a light in my life that God used at one of the most important junctures of my life. And, I have to say I'm having a hard time with this one - I've asked over and over, "Why God? God, what about that little boy (almost 3 months)? What about her husband? How can he continue to lead his church after such a tragedy (he's a pastor)? What about her ministries?" I echo the sentiments another friend voiced - I know you can't be sad in heaven, but as a mom I mourn for her not being able to raise her son and for her son to not know her.

So, that brought the study of the last weeks to my mind - what REALLY matters? What's distracting me?

Most importantly, What am I going to do about it? And, I challenge you, What are you going to do about it?

Halloween

Okay, here is some of the other stuff I've been doing...

Jeremy and I had the opportunity to attend a marriage retreat at the Franklin Family Ranch. We LOVE this place. Peaceful. Beautiful. I swear the minute I see the gates and we enter, the worries of the world just melt away from me. It could be the delightful 3 hour drive where we have no little voices in the back making requests, arguments, or just chattering. We have real adult conversation. I LOVE that. I also love our stop at Bluebonnet Cafe where we have pie - my favorite is the fudge - complete with ice cream and whip cream. Yum. So, about the time we enter the gates, the sugar rush is calming, too. I've always loved the animals (it's an exotic game ranch), and this year I had a camera with which to shoot. My zoom needed to be a little, well, zoomier, but I got this guy pretty well. At first it made me want a big zoom lens, but, really, to use it once a year, nevermind.

We went to a Halloween Party for the Life Group Coaches...games, carving pumpkins, eating, and fun...Notice Jenna holding her nose. She has an "expensive" nose as she said when she was 2 - sensitive is an understatement. If it smells bad, she's probably going to throw up. Evidently, they carved pumpkins at school, and she had to leave the room for heaving.

And, I mentioned the costumes. This year on superhero day, a former student of mine was dressed as an Incredible. It was instant inspiration for me...

So, in case you wondered, yes, we are dorks. But, it was fun to go all dressed up as a family to the square with the kids. Some people just didn't get it. One guy, "Hey, look, they're iPods." Uh, no. But, as other people realized, "Ah, The Incredibles, how cute" I realized how cheap Halloween can be! Happy Halloween!

What have I been doing?

I don't really even know the answer to that question. Stressing out way too much, but why? I don't even know.

I have taken on some handy home "improvement" tasks. Like, (this before)

You know how the caulk in your bathroom cracks or water gets under it and it looks awful...well, I decided I had enough. So, I scraped it all out (like your supposed to do instead just caulking over it which is what I usually do). Then, I re-caulked. In the process we had 5 days where we couldn't use our shower and had to share with the kids. It was tough, but we survived.

And, of course, I've been keeping up with the pets. As you can see from their close quarters, they've formed a bond. I suspect that Maggie was already in the crate and Howdy, desperately jealous of her towels in the crate, just joined her. She seemed most surprised when she poked her head over his body as if to say, "Where did he come from?" and wouldn't jump or climb over him. Now I have made her her own house (a plastic tote with a hole cut out so she can have her own "house" and towels).

I've done a few other things, like clean the house, make shirts for our Halloween costumes, study in Photoshop (I got CS3 which is more quite a step up from Elements) and even read a little just for fun. School/teaching has, admittedly, overwhelmed me lately, and I'm trying to let it go...letting go seems to be a theme for me :)! I'm trying to continue to meet with God and seek His will for my life, and I've ordered 3 books to help me on this journey:

When Women Say Yes to God

Dangerous Surrender

Bringing Up Boys

Can't wait to see what is next!

Maggie

Just a few Maggie pictures. Yes, she's the star of the family. She's not supposed to be in the house, so Jer, when you see these, they're illusions! It was just one day when I needed some company and she helped me with my computer work (attacking the mouse, climbing on the keyboard, and finally sleeping under the monitor. She stayed in my lap or on the desk the whole time - promise, dear!

You'll notice from the picture with Hudson that Howdy is not trying to eat her. Sniff her behind, yes. These were taken after we had her only a week. Now we even leave them alone in the back yard for short periods of time. I trust Howdy. It's only if he gets too excited playing that I worry.

Maggie feels comfortable enough that she wanders into Howdy's pen to share water...and Howdy just keeps that "what are you" thing going with his ears perked up. She's swiped his nose, "attacked" his leg, and run circles around him and he just watches...

Wow, a whole week

without blogging! I AM getting good at this "staying off the computer" thing! Here's the mundane as I'm still working on the spiritual stuff...

Today I was giving the TAKS retest (the seniors have just this and one other chance to pass or they don't graduate) on the computer. Online testing is new and since I've been involved in the implementation of other online testing, I was chosen to help instead of teaching my classes for the day (giving this test is like watching paint dry, by the way) :)! So, we start the day with no internet, phone or power in some testing rooms. You kind of have to have internet to give the test. My room was ready, so I had only a slight delay -the other rooms had an hour delay. We never lose both phone & internet at the HS, and even internet stays down briefly maybe once per year. For testing day, though, it made a special consideration! Ha!

I'm testing smoothly, aside from two kids trying to cheat. Then, at 12:10, the fire alarms go off. I know we don't do drills during testing, so this is for real or a false alarm. Either way, I have to evacuate my students. I need to evacuate, but I can't leave secure test documents. In the old world, you take all documents with you, but I can't really load up the internet and haul it outside. hmmm. I can't lock the door as it's not my room and I don't have a key. Hmmm again. So, I stand outside my door, watching and smelling for smoke. Eventually an assistant principal walks up and tells me to evacuate. I explain my situation, he/she shrugs and tells me to "hang in there." I smiled and laughed. Then, one of the counselors comes, tells me to evacuate and locks my door. Right as I start to walk away, the alarms stop. The security guard tells us a girl was smoking in the bathroom, and since smoke was detected, the fire dept. has to come and check the building. I just went back in the room and did some grading until all were returned.

So, I've given up cokes since Sunday, but this is the kind of nuttiness in life that makes me turn to Happy Hour at Sonic in just 10 minutes...I better go and get in the car to make it home in time to get the kids!

Life is too funny. Moral of the story: girls smoking in the bathroom make Mrs. White break her coke fast - actually it will be a glorious DP with cherry & vanilla! Isn't sad that I'm so OCD that this is the pathic thing that got me!

You know you have church planter's kids when...

Tonight we had the joy of visiting Lake Highlands Baptist Church, our church home prior to coming to Granbury to plant StoneWater. Those were truly some of our happiest years as Jeremy served in the youth ministry, I was pregnant and gave birth to both kids, and developed so many lasting friendships and mentorships. As we showed the kids around the church, here are two profound thoughts from our children that made us laugh out loud.

Upon inspection of the worship area, which is a gorgeous room with chandeliers, stage filled with instruments, and beautiful windows, Hudson remarks, "Why do they leave the guitars out? When are they going to tear down?" Not impressed with the beauty, just trying to figure out why they leave all the stuff out, after all, he's never seen it done that way before!

Jenna, when asked how she liked children's church replies, "Oh, they didn't have kid's church. They had school." We asked what she meant. "They sit at tables to learn, like at school, not like at church." Again, she's never sat at a table to do a lesson at church before.

The Solution

Meet Maggie

I felt that a cat was the perfect solution to the rat problem. I've wanted a cat for a while, so this just worked. Honestly, on my way to Wal Mart today, I found myself thinking, "There are usually free animals at Wal Mart on Saturdays." As I pulled into the parking lot I quickly scanned for "Free Kitten" signs. None. I did my shopping and came so close to buying cat food that I had it in my cart, but then I took it out. On the way out of the parking lot, I did another scan. "Free Kittens" was on a mini van, so over I went. 2 kitties, 7 weeks old, and they've been around dogs since they were born. I would have worried about health, but with Dr. White, I just didn't even think about it.

So, I took kitty, and we got in the car. She was great on the ride home - crawled up on my shoulder and rode there most of the way. The kids were so excited. I tried to introduce her to Howdy, and Howdy tried to eat her :(). So, Howdy is in his kennel & the kids played with Maggie all evening. Now Maggie is in the dog crate and Howdy is in his kennel.

Can I tell you I'm a hero? Now, if Maggie can survive two kids who are constantly carrying, loving, and chasing her, and a dog who thinks she's just another small, furry animal that he, as a retriever, should retrieve, we've got it made. We'll let little Maggie grow a little older and hang in the back yard a little longer and retry the introduction.

Oh, the picture in the crate is the picture Jenna drew for Maggie to "decorate her room." Later when Hudson made the comment, "she's just a cat," Jenna replied with, "No, he's another member of Team White." That's sweet. I can't tell you the memories this brings back. I've been a cat fan for a l o n g time. I can't tell you how many cats "followed me home" in various ways. So, to see Jen & H just watching her eat, made my heart feel good. This one, however, is staying outside!

Not so spiritual today

I have had lots of moments of talking with God (hopefully not out loud other than prayers with the kids), but this blog will be mostly the mundane stuff.

Jer is out of town on a church trip, so it's always funny to see what God throws at me while he's gone. Last night, after I managed to get the 50lb bag of dog food out of the trunk, I went to feed Howdy. 9:30ish, dark outside. As I walk onto my back porch, I hear a pretty significant skittering on the metal covering of the porch. We've been seeing lizards, and this one sounded big, so I was a little worried already. Imagine my level of panic that set in as I saw a RAT running down the brick of my fire place just 2 feet from where I stood. Now, I know there is wildlife in the outdoors, but A RAT ON MY BACK PORCH. Being calm and mature, I shuddered and quickly stepped backward. Well, Jer's grill cover was draped over the smoker and I heard scratching inside. I'm not sure what I was thinking or what possessed me, but I decided to shake it a little - 3 rats ran out, one almost over my foot. Yeah, I stayed calm and cool and SCREAMED LIKE THE WORLD WAS ENDING while flailing my arms. Where was my dog? Laughing at me, I'm sure from his dog house. He came out stretching and yawning after I screamed. This caused panic enough to phone my husband a few states away and tell him to come and fix it. He laughed and told me to go shake out the grill cover and put it on the grill. "What are you, crazy? Did you not hear what just happened?" He stifled (mostly) some laughing, made some comment about how he wished he could have seen it, and told me to get a bat and go after them. WHAT?! I was poised to get rat poison, but he made a good point that Howdy could eat it. So, this is proof, PROOF that we need that outdoor cat for the back yard that I've been talking about getting but couldn't really justify. That realization hit me today - so, I need a young kitten that doesn't know to be scared of dogs or has been around dogs, because I'm pretty sure that if the kitten doesn't run, Howdy won't do anything to him. Seriously, I want a kitty. Anyone hook me up?

So, I come home today, open the mail and see that the kids' college fund and both retirements seem to have taken significant losses last quarter. Not really surprising, but when you see that -$673 it just hurts. Especially on multiple accounts. Hmmm. Just money, right!?

So, to console myself, I turn to my computer to catch up on my blog reading (thank you Suzanne for Google Reader!). While I'm at it, I start to install the Norton software I purchased when I GOT THE FULL PHOTOSHOP for an insane (low) price. I pop the CD in, nothing. So, I go to the My Computer to open it manually, and it won't show my D: or E: drives (CD & DVD). Hm. So, I inserted probably 20 different CD and DVDs thinking, like an idiot, that the computer was going to say, "oh, sorry, I wasn't paying attention, that is the CD I needed to find the drive." Don't ask me how I do some of the things I do, but I found an error message in the Device Troubleshooter, tracked it to the internet, deleted some registry files (who knew those were in there?), reboot, BOOM, I have a CD & DVD burner again. Fabulous. So, I spent the day backing up data in case there was a problem in the Norton installation or some terrible virus had taken over the computer and corrupted all my files. Not so much, just a couple that it supposedly wiped clean! I'm still a little intimidated by the CS3, so it's still in a really cool box sitting by my computer. That should be a fun story for another day...

I ended my escapades with a trip to Zumba class at the Y. I had a sad realization tonight. There was one portion where Amy instructed us to jerk around like Elaine on Seinfeld for the part of our "dance" (usually it's some salsa, hip hop, or something cool that I can't quite get). I am proud to say, I can do "the Elaine." When I realized that, at first I felt bad about myself, but then I got into it a little more because, well, it just felt good! :)

Still here

I know, some of you have wondered, is she still around? I am. I've been working to break my computer addiction. I've also been struggling with my latest week of Believing God - that would be week 4 - that I've been working on for 3 weeks. It's not that I'm skipping out - I did it once, and then decided I should revisit it again, and again. Week 4 is Believing You Are Who God Says You Are. Since this is a struggle I've been in for, oh, at least a year; heck, who are we joking, a couple of years, I felt I should camp out. I've been every where on this one week of study...and I don't like any of the places I've been.

The week started with Cain & Abel. Cain gave his offering without a pure heart; yes, he met the "quota" of the sacrifice, but didn't have his heart in it. Beth's words cut me, "Cain's offering represents every time a believer knows what God wants and refuses to give it. We often quickly give Him other things, as if He won't notice. Sometimes we give more in many other areas but doggedly withhold the one thing we know He wants."

Okay, God...what am I giving you without a pure heart? What is it I substitute for what You really want? What do you really want? Since my biggest battle has been work, here are some of the thoughts I journaled:

• It's not as if I hate my work and am looking for a way or reason to quit (most days). So, is it a sacrifice to quit work since I do like it? Is that the sacrifice he wants? Maybe.
• Is it a little tougher than I imagine because that's the challenge? Stay where it's tough, wait it out, keep and share the faith despite tough times? Maybe.
• I am tightly holding on to money. Is it the part time position? Is that why I won't quit, because I like the freedom I have with money? Is He asking, "don't you trust me?" Maybe.
• Is it the money or is it the importance and control I have in the job, which, really is not that significant? We all know I could be labeled a control freak in some areas. I can admit it; I don't like that trait in myself. I want to be more type B! Is this what He wants - surrender my job as a show of surrendering control? Maybe.
• Other "opportunities for ministry" have come in the picture. Great opportunities. Opportunities that both excite and scare the pants off of me. In any case, there is no way I can do both - work and work on any of these "opportunities." Is that it? Maybe.

Obviously, I've been challenged, but I haven't gotten past "Maybe." That's all just from Day 1 of Week 4. Although I decided to move on to Week 5, this will be a bit of my "working through it all in my head and heart" through my blog back on Week 4. God uses the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and other believers to guide His children. I'm my own biggest roadblock in the study of the Bible, prayer, and circumstances, so I am reaching out to you - other believers - to share any insight God gives you. I'll be sharing more from Week 4 over the next few days, so don't be hasty, but I do ask you to be in prayerful consideration of sharing what God lays on your heart.

Sweet

Sweet! It's Friday tomorrow! I'm heading on a retreat! Woo hoo!
And, isn't he sweet:

Just two more...

Which do you like? Any tips from my photo friends?

Elijah

I can't tell you how much fun I had today with Elijah! His is too, too sweet.

Yep, Strep

By yesterday afternoon, approximately 5:30 AFTER ALL DRS. OFFICES WERE CLOSED, I decided to look inside Jen's mouth since she was complaining about her throat again. This is what I saw:

Well, that's not exactly it. I did not take my camera out and take a picture (surprise!). I did go to the computer and type in "strep throat pictures" and got this image. It was an exact match to what I saw in her throat. Of course, after I could take her to the doctor. This morning she was so perky and happy that I doubted myself. But, Jer took her to the dr. and it was confirmed - strep. Her biggest issue is throwing away her toothbrush on Saturday. It's a cool, pink Crayola toothbrush that has a suction cup to stick to the mirror (supposedly to keep it off the counter and germs). I have an orange replacement, but, we all know that pink is a girl's best friend. In any case, I'm not too disappointed because now Friday is my day home, and really, I couldn't be happier to spend the day with Jen! Yea!

And, I got to take pictures of Elijah (whom Jenna held Tuesday night before she was symptomatic). He is one sweet, sweet little guy. Stay tuned...I can't stay away from those pictures too very long!

When it rains, it pours!

God is so good. Jacqui has a beautiful baby boy. Lissa, another teacher in the dept., has a beautiful baby girl. Hopefully, very soon, I'll have some newborn pictures of Elijah to share; that's on the schedule for tomorrow. It was in the works for today, but the little guy had a rough night and Mom and Dad are zonked, anyone remember those days?!

Just a little prayer in the middle of all this good news. I am going to do Jac's lesson plans because she didn't have 9 months to get that all lined out! I really want to do this, I am going to do this, and this is probably my favorite part of teaching other than the actual in-the-class teaching. I am also tweaking the Eng. III lessons for the two subs, 1 newbie, and 1 who just got a class (long story). And, then, Jen's school called because she has a 102 fever and tummy ache; so, I might be doing my sub plans, too, which, really are a combo of the others. God's funny, huh!? This morning, I told Jer I thought I needed to take a day just to write lessons and get everything in line, and lo-and-behold, I think God has agreed and provided the perfect reason! Bless her heart, "I just want to lay in bed, Mommy." Cartoons, snuggles, and rest. Sweet, sweet girl!