Ta Da

Not quite the original title, but I've just been having blogger's block for the past month or so.  Don't get me wrong, there's been a lot going on that's been "blog-worthy," but I just haven't felt like it.  Anyhow, thought I'd update you all on what's going on...

• I am 34 weeks along (officially tomorrow).  I feel irritable, and am working hard to not snap at people.  Things are bothering me more than, or just getting to me period, more than they should.  I, by no means, want to rush things though.  Olivia will come when she's ready.  But I am just plain tired, period.  Been trying to gather little things here and there for Baby Princess and getting her side of the room (will be sharing with Natty) more baby friendly. :)  I sorted through some gifts that were given and some baby clothes that were given to us, and have her side of the closet set up.  I'm very excited to go through all the baby stuff again.  I always forget how small their stuff is!  Got the carseat and carrier all cleaned up for her.  Nathan's very interested, and think it's his new toy - oh, little does he know!
• Tim's been picking up hours at Office Max, and making up for the low enrollment this summer.  He gets to teach an online class coming up in July, and he's pretty excited about that.  I like that he'll be work at home and won't have to go in.  I am concerned with how much the kids and I will be a distraction though. 
• Natty is just blossoming.  I am so proud of this little girl.  I cannot believe I will be registering her for kindergarden in March (2012).  It seems so far, yet so close at the same time.  I'm really having a hard time with her growing up.  She is so independent, and such a great helper to me.  She is so kind and compassionate.  Definitely can be bossy too, but it is usually in Nathan's best interest (when he gets into something that could hurt him, etc.).
• Nathan is just ALL BOY.  He is active from the time he gets up to the time he goes to bed.  Both kiddos do still take a nap, AND at the same time.  He has really been growing by leaps and bounds intellectually.  Of course, he has Natty modeling for him.  Just this afternoon, he counted to 9.  I was so proud of him.  He knows a few Spanish words, says quite a few sentences.  He is also quite the polite little guy.  I love the way he says please and thank you.  He's got the cutest lips.  He is very stingy with his kisses, but is an AWESOME hugger.  He is definitely my cuddle bug.
• Olivia is cooking and waiting for Mommy and Daddy to agree on a middle name.  Suggestions anyone?  She is measuring a week or so ahead (like Nathan).  She is also very active (also like Nathan).  I know she will not be overlooked because she certainly will make her presence known.  She is going to fit right in with Natty and Nathan.  I can't wait to see what she looks like (secretly hoping for dark hair and eyes), but I know she will be absolutely, perfectly made when I see her for the first time.

Will post pictures soon!  (I hope!)  Promise!

HAPPY MONDAY!!!!

Did you know this is my LAST Monday for THIS school year???  I am most definitely doing the happy dance today!!!  Of course, the students are making it "difficult," but I have a 3 day weekend coming up.  Two days with students.  One teacher workday.  And I'm OFF!!!!!!  So HAPPY MONDAY everyone!!!

Today's Thought

What do you do when you face trials?  Ignore them?  Praying them away?  Fight with them?  Embrace them???

I don't like trials.  But God's Word does say that the testing of our faith produces endurance (James 1:3).  Does this change my perspective?  You betcha!

This has really been a year long (or longer) process, but I believe I can confidently say that this year I am definitely a stronger Christian than how I started out.

I still don't like trials, but accept them.  They have a purpose.  I've also come to realize that sometimes God takes us to our lowest of lows, just to show us how high He will take us if we let Him!

I'm again reminded of the song Blessings by Laura Story.  This excerpt, "what if a thousand sleepless nights is what it takes to show you're near...."  This is SO true, and I have most certainly LIVED this.  When trials come, ask yourself what the Lord is trying to show you, teach you, remind you.  When you let go, and let God...you better be ready to see the amazing changes God will bring to you life.

What if...

Beautiful song by Laura Story, "Blessings."  This song SSSOOO very much encourages me.  She's definitely becoming one of the NEW favorite artitsts.




We pray for blessings


We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things



Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise



We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe



Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise



When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know the pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home



Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are Your mercies in disguise

Waiting...

Been in a contemplative mood lately. 

Driving to work this morning, my favorite song by John Waller came on, "While I'm Waiting."  Waiting to many different people can mean many different things.  We wait in line at the grocery store, wait in the waiting room of a Dr.'s office, wait for a phone call, wait for a child to be born, wait for a transplant, wait for a loved one to be saved....wait...wait...wait....

How DO we wait?  I, for one, DO NOT like waiting for many things.  I can be patient - - sort of, when I need to be.  But, really,...I'm not a patient person.  I don't like to be idle, so being still is really a struggle for me.  I am, however, waiting for several things. 

Waiting for this school year to end...

Waiting for Olivia to arrive...

Waiting for a full time job for Tim...

Waiting for the economy to turn around...

Waiting to be able to stay home with the kids...

Wait...

Wait...

Wait...

What should we do when we wait?  Like I said earlier, I don't like to be idle, so I try to find things to keep myself "busy."  Now I don't like to be "busy" for the sake of being busy.  BUT, when I am waiting for an answer from the Lord, I try my best to be productive. 

NOW, I still very much struggle with this.  But I try to ask myself, "Well, what can I do for the Lord, while I wait for this answer or this thing I am praying for?"  Sometimes, that in itself is exactly what the Lord is wanting to teach me.

So my little piece of advice to you , that I try to follow, is "while you're waiting" do something, find something to do, for the Lord.  You don't have to wait idlly, what good is that?  A productive "waiter" looks and sees what else needs to be done around him/her to help further God's Kingdom. 

And I believe if we seek God's Kingdom FIRST, everything else will fall into place.  So while you're waiting, don't WAIT for God to WAIT on YOU, but go ahead and make a difference to someone else.  Who knows, you could be the one that someone else is "waiting" to come along - for whatever reason.

Burnt Out and Stressed Out

Sometimes I wonder if I've got what it takes to be a public school teacher, let alone a special education teacher. 

Public schools have a really bad repuation, and I've always felt that was one of the reasons I was so drawn to them.  One of my professors (for a credentialing class) shared that if we had more Christian teachers willing to serve the public school, imagine the difference it would make!  I really took that to heart.  To be honest, I still do believe in the public school, but I also believe it is in need of much serious help.  I also still do believe it's very much a grossly neglected missions field.

The past two weeks have been trying through.  I feel like each morning I get up and find myself going against the current from 7:45 to 2:08.  We're (Christians) called to be light in this dark world, and boy does it ever feel dark here sometimes.

I've really been praying about a change in careers, but I feel convincted, and feel like I'm giving up.  If I don't do this job, then who else, and will that someone else be a believe and want to share God's love with those he/she comes across?  But then, I'm also torn with the amount of time I spend away from my own children and how exhausted I am to come home each day and still give of my time they deserve.  What do you do?  What CAN you do?

I feel at a lost.  I look at my class (thinking of a certain period in particular), and I think I may start to begin to feel how Christ did when He wept over Jerusalem.  It's so hard to admti and come to terms with thought.  I start out and I see lost children with no vision, no future.  They don't care, and they're happy/content to not care.  They talk about drugs, drinking, sexual immorality - and they think it's all ok.  Mine you, these are 8th graders.  One boy the other day shared about their family loosing their home, and about how they would trash it because, "if we can't have it, neither can the government."  I've never felt so my pain and frustration with this generation as I have this year.

A lot of families need your prayers.  A lot of our schools need your prayers.  So many people in so many positions seem to have their hands tied, and I pray that Satan's foothold would be taken away.  This is have so heavy on my heart, and I don't know what to do except cry out in frustration.  I really don't want to give up, unless the Lord makes it possible for me to be home with my kids.  At the same time, I am just one person trying to share Jesus, but sometimes I just feel like it isn't making a difference - definitely attacks from the enemy.

God is GOD

One of my new favorite songs lately...

Steven Curtis Chapman - God is God

And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don't know

And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must
On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He's painting
God is God and I am man
So I'll never understand it all
For only God is God

And the sky begins to thunder
And I'm filled with awe and wonder
'Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I

Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He's painting
God is God and I am man
So I'll never understand it all
For only God is God

Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for to Him and through Him and from Him are all things

So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He's painting
God is God and I am man
So I'll never understand it all
For only God is God

I am always encouraged when this song comes on the radio.  I am reminded that whatever comes my way - troubles/trials - God is GOD, and HE is in control.  I am reminded of my role in trusting God, and letting God lead.  I am reminded of my limitations here on earth, but my limitations also remind me of how GREAT my God is.

I work in a public school, so no, I don't get Good Friday off (tomorrow).  Sometimes it's very hard to "slow down" and really reflect on what was going on 2011 years ago.  A man - God in flesh - was getting ready to die...for me!  Actually DIE for me, and I don't understand it at all, but am eternally grateful.

Nothing brings you to your knees and makes you reflect and question what you believe like raising children.  With Natty, Nathan, and now Olivia (around the end of July) in the picture, it forces me to daily reflect on what I am showing them I believe with how I live.   Holidays come and go, and I am repeated forced to reflect throughout the year, how is this relevant to who God is to them?  How do I show them who God is?  How do we not get caught up in the world?  How do we set apart ourselves as a family that follows Christ?

I've had many goals in my life, and those goals change as time does.  But one thing I am certain is that I cannot fail in showing our children how BIG our God is and lead them to experience His love, mercy, and grace in their life.