Tuesday, August 30, 2011

How do you measure LOVE?

Around this house with a sweet little 5 year old we get lots of lovin!  After storing it up for four years with no one to share it with,  there is more than enough to go around.  



We play a little game and say, "I love you to ____ and back."  It usually goes something like this, "I love you to China and back."  Then the other person says, "I love you to the moon and back."

Tonight, it went like this:

Me: "I love you to the moon and back."

Lia: "Well, I love you to China and back."

Me: "Well, I love you to Australia and back."



Lia: "Well, I love you to

AND BACK, AND TO
AND BACK!

Now that's what I call a LOT of LOVIN!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

School days and play days

The lazy days of summer have come to an end and the routine of another school year is now upon us.  As much as I like a routine, I don't like the early mornings that accompany it and the fast paced evenings in order to get to bed early.  
As we prepared for this new year, I was so proud to be part of a church that spent Sunday afternoon walking the halls of our schools and praying for the students and staff who would soon fill the buildings.  Teaching is a huge responsibility, but one I can face with confidence because I know that my heavenly Father is the One who gives me wisdom and endurance to face each new situation.
I am thankful to all the prayer warriors that daily bear our burdens 
in the classroom and lift them up to heaven on our behalf.
I have the awesome privilege this year of having Tia in my reading and writing class and will cherish this year and the time we get to spend together.  She made me promise not to embarrass her, but I wonder if that is possible!  Isn't that our goal as parents-to embarrass our children? 
I did promise to be on my best behavior!
Do I have to?
  
We have had two great days and I look forward to an exciting year and making lots of memories.  Lia is loving kindergarten, although the rigor is quite exhausting.  She asked yesterday, "When is rest time?"  Obviously, the powers that be have decided that 5 year olds no longer need rest time.  It has certainly made for an early and easy bedtime and a very tired little girl!
First day of kindergarten
Day two and still smiling!
After sending Brandon off of to college again last week David and I looked at each other and said, "I guess we could have been enjoying the empty nest now."  
Well, as much as we love our time alone, we are so glad our nest isn't empty!  
We are having a BLAST with our two girls and the laughter they bring to an otherwise stressful journey with young adult children.
 
 Who wouldn't have fun when every mealtime is a new adventure...
and we get to once again enjoy the simple pleasures like ice cream sundaes and merry go rounds?


This ride was the one and only thing Lia wanted to do all summer and
for $2.50 she was one happy girl!

We try not to take a single moment for granted as we know too well how quickly this time will pass and other challenges will arise.  I am trying to keep my sanity as my FAITH grows daily while my boys are facing difficult situations.  My morning devotion is spent in prayer and reading The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children, by Stormie Omartian, which is helping me keep focused.  

Please keep our boys in your prayers as Justin is traveling back from Mexico again this week, Nathan is working a very dangerous oil field job 
and Brandon is in a new college town(enough said on that!)


 All your children will be taught by the LORD,
   and great will be their peace.  
Isaiah 54:13

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Look what you could win!

Wild Olive

I hope you will click on the above link to read the story about a precious little orphan in China who was taken from this world so early but who will never be forgotten. 
In memory of this little one, Wild Olive, is given away 15 t-shirts with 100% of the profits going toward heart surgery for another little one so he/she can pass on some love!
The deadline is tomorrow to win a shirt just like this one.  
Follow the link to enter to win!