Teacher Appreciation Week

For those of you who don't know, it's teacher appreciation week. I remember growing up and always getting my teacher something special like a card or a teacher candle, etc. Now that im the teacher, I laugh because sometimes I don't even remember the stuff kids will give me.

Tonight, Alex, Everett and I were invited to dinner at the home of a student in my class. The Moran family is a family of 7. They have two boys and three girls. The second boy, Ty, is in my class this year. It's funny because he was also in my class that I student taught. He was in first grade then.
We came over for spaghetti and dessert. It was so delicious! Winni did a fantastic meal and we were very grateful to them for opening their home to us.
More than that, Winni and Ty wrote a special note to me and gave me a daisy plant (my favorite).
I am so blessed beyond measure to have this family in my midst. They are a wonderful example of a loving and supportive family.

Moments

 Since Everett's turned one, it seems like life is moving just a little bit faster. A few of these pictures are our FIRST family pictures taken on purpose. I love them dearly. These moments I will always cherish. Family is everything and God is constantly guiding us on our journey.

 The morning of Everett's first birthday.

 Goofing off with POP!

 Everett has such a curious spirit. I love watching him observe things outside. He is a thinker.

 This is a tear jerker for me. He is at the point in his life that he is taking steps. This is a much bigger event than I realized. He's not just taking steps, he's growing up. There will come a point in time when he won't need his mama like he did when he was just a baby.

 I love this picture of us kissing him. You can just tell he's taking it in.

 This is also one of my favorites of the three of us. So happy.

 This was the FIRST time he stood on his own for a long period of time.

 My baby boy. Look at those gorgeous brown eyes.

 YES, that is my husband on the left side of the screen at the Blues game. Hahaha!

 Don't worry, I will be getting this in a huge print for our house.

 One of my favs of Alex and Everett. My two guys are teddy bears.

 Adventure and hope in those eyes.

 They hold my heart in the palms of their hands.

 This is a fantastic MOMENT captured. Laughter and joy.

Again, curiosity and wonder. Everett is such a joy in our lives. Our family is growing in Christ with love everyday.

Scentsy Future

Today I just got done helping a friend start her new Scentsy business! It's been a wonderful 4 months so far with Scentsy and I can honestly say that I've been blessed beyond belief. Holly Moran, who has not only been my Scentsy Director, but also a good friend, has shown me what Scentsy can do to help your family, change your life, and change your future.

Within the past 4 months, each month I've made at least $100. This was simply my goal, to make a few "extra bucks" to go towards our goal of getting out of debt. I never expected it to be this much fun!!!!!! I've met fantastic people, I've used incredible products, and I'm enjoying the business side of selling.

I've always been a person to set goals. My goals for the future with Scentsy are the following:
March: Sell at least $500 in product (I've already hit $400).
Spring/Summer (March-August): 1.Use Scentsy pay to pay off credit card.
                                                       2. Get 1 recruit.
Fall/Winter (September-December): 1. Use Scentsy pay to work on Emergency Savings)
                                                           2. Get 1 recruit.
The year of 2013: Get two recruits to have a total of 3 on my team; pay off a credit card; build emergency savings.

I'm sure things may change depending on what's to come because as we all know, God has plans for us that may be bigger than we expect.

YAY FOR SCENTSY!!!!!

Back to School

Yes, it's true. "Back to school," is the saying in my mind. Today I signed up for classes as I called to find out that the Graduate program of Education Leadership accepted me for Summer 2013. The first two classes I will be taking are School Supervision and Curriculum for Leaders. These classes will be blended, so partially online as well in the classroom.

Monday was the day that I went up to SEMO campus to finalize my application and to pay the $30 fee. It was not fun. It was raining, I had to park at a meter, AND I was sent to three different places. Needless to say, I was tired after being there on the campus for 2 hours.

This summer will be tough, there's no doubt about it. Luckily, I'm teaching summer school which will help pay for a portion of my classes. I'm planning on filling out the FAFSA and hopefully we will qualify to get some financial help.
My goal is to pay class by class to get my Masters degree. The beauty of these summer classes is that when I get to six hours of credit, and when I get 8 hours, I will move over one step on the pay scale for Jackson r2. Yay!

I've discovered that if I stay on track and take two classes every semester, including summers, I will graduate in two years with my Masters degree in Educational Leadership. This is my goal for the next step of my life.

I kind of feel like Billy Madison, not wanting to go back, not wanting to grow up. I'd like to be able to just sit back and enjoy where I'm at. I also understand that if our family is to grow and and if we are wanting to work on our home more, I need to do this for my family and myself.

Alex and I have talked about how we would like to wait until Everett is 3 to have another child. This would put us after I graduate with my degree. We'd also like to finish the basement before we have another one too. We will definitely need the room!

Needless to say, we have goals and we have dreams. With hard work, dedication, discipline, and God's grace; we will succeed! 

Circle Maker

Have you ever wondered what your purpose is? What you were meant to do with your time here on Earth? I wonder that sometimes. My husband wonders that more often than I do but yes, I rarely question my purpose. I know that I'm supposed to work with children. I know that I'm supposed to be a mother. I know I'm supposed to be a wife. I also know that I'm supposed to spread the word of our heavenly father. But the question is, do I really excel in any of those?
Do I put EVERYTHING, I mean, EVERY breath, EVERY bit of energy, EVERY bit of my heart, into what I KNOW I'm supposed to do?
A bigger question is: Do I truly pray for things that I struggle with? I struggle with the idea that I can fully depend on a God who truly does love me. I struggle with the fact that we are in debt and we are trying to get out of it slowly. I struggle with knowing that I go home every night to a home with food on the table knowing that some of my students don't.

I've made it a point to sit down with God daily. If I find time early in the morning while drinking my coffee, or driving to work, or even laying in bed at the end of the day exhausted, I still talk to him.
At church, we are focusing on the story of Honi, a circle maker. He stood before God and created a circle in the sand. He stepped into the circle and told God that he was not moving from the circle until God answered his prayer. We are learning to be audacious and bold in prayer. I've asked God many a time to give Alex and I a mountain. Something that only God can do.
You hear stories all the time about people who have amazing stories that seem like a miracle. Well, that's God. God envelops every part of their being. That's what I want. I want a God moment that, when I tell about it, it doesn't seem possible.

I pray constantly for God to reveal himself to me to show me what to do next. I want to do something BIG. Something that I will look back on and say, I didn't do that. GOD DID.

http://www.lacroixchurch.org/media.php?pageID=115


 

Quiet Morning

As I woke up this morning, the boys are still sleeping. I slept in a bit until 6:30 and all I can think about it how I would love to stay home everyday with these two. A quiet morning every morning would be nice.

Today, we will bury my grandfather. I don't need to go on and give anymore information about how he was a good man. He's with our heavenly Father partying on the golden streets! Who wouldn't want to do that?!
I have faith beyond faith that has grown over the years to know that he is sitting at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
Today will be hard and it will be tough. BUT! Family together means love. And where there's love, there's God. I'm so thankful for the family that came into town to spend this time together and to say goodbye to Gene.

After the funeral today, I'm sure we will say our good-byes and everyone will go a different direction. That doesn't mean that life will be hard for us here in Cape County. I'm planning on cleaning grandma's house at least once a month to help her with the upkeep. She will need support and hugs and kisses daily. With support and prayer, my grandma will be okay. And that means I'll be okay too.

Showers of Grace

I'm starting to follow the blog, Showers of Grace. This woman and her two sons lost their husband/father recently in the fall of 2012 by an accident in the Air Force. I am learning that everyday is a gift and He is faithful.

http://www.showersofgrace.com/blog/?month=january-2013