My Good King

I have to say that no matter how long I've been a Christian, I find myself constantly amazed at the humanity of the Bible characters. Of course, I know they're human, but they somehow always seem holier than us. I was reading 1 Kings 18:20-19:7 today, and have to say I was fascinated when it dawned on me that Elijah, in spite of having just witnessed two great miracles in the same day --fire for the sacrifice and a huge rainstorm after 3 years of drought , practically curled up in the fetal position with fear when Jezebel threatened to take his life. He's just like us. How many times has God performed amazing miracles for me, and yet I continue to doubt and live in fear instead of just trusting Him and His Word? I mean, God had just allowed him to perform a great miracle in front of the entire Israelite population, kill ALL of the prophets of idols, sent a huge rainstorm (and told him before the rain came so he and King Ahab would be prepared and take shelter). Then this

Wow! I am so bugged that I never post anymore. Facebook is just so much easier. I'll just keep it simple-- random data: today I had Pho (Vietnamese soup) for the first time and LOVED it!! Seriously, you haven't lived till you've tried it :) I created two and a half sketches of future layouts, and halfway finished two more layouts. really on a paper-scrapping frenzy! This is one sketch: I joined the Facebook group "I grew up in Fairfield, IL, and thought I would die of boredom (but I didn't)" :D ... you have to have grown up in a dinky town to "get it" had a "day off from life" hanging out at my in-laws house all day ... ahhh! gotta love days like that I can't believe it's almost June already

in other news, let me begin by saying, "I became an aunt again today!!" My nephew was born today, and I can't wait to see pictures of him. let alone MEET him!! There are no babies to spoil in our little neck of the woods, and I wish I could be a real aunt and be there with him to watch him grow up--and take a gazillion photos of him. oh well. So here's why I'm DESPERATE for Spring Break. I get to: catch up on my "Home Office" project, including painting and assembling these (so excited to finish them) go to this park with my in-laws, nieces, and nephews (and my own kids, of course). Ashley has decided we need to make it a yearly tradition the day after Easter :) catch up on house-cleaning and use this (thanks, Samantha!): scrapbook for four hours straight --paper scrapping (vacation photos from last summer) most of all--NO RUSHING the whole day from one thing to the next catching up on grocery shopping, errands, and PLANNING MEALS, something I haven&

It was truly only a matter of time until Facebook crept into my blog life, lol! I truly tried to hold off as long as I could, but it is so energizing to connect with people in the middle of the day during my breaks at work. For the longest time I didn't "get it." (What's the point? Who cares? What is the purpose of Facebook anyway?) Then my niece went to Australia and I really wanted to connect with her and see what her life is like there 'til she comes back in July, so I "re-joined" facebook, and I have to say I'm loving it. My favorite part is that you get quick little "snippets" or "sneak peeks" into the lives of people that you know (or knew) but don't connect with on a regular basis anymore. What have i learned on facebook? my brother still works his schedule so that he takes off every other friday, and last friday he went out to lunch with his wife--just made me smile :) i'm not the only parent with a crazy, hectic l

My schedule today: 7:00-3:15 work 3:15 rush to pick up Carlos 3:40 arrive home to get Carlos ready for his baseball game & answer an email 4:15 go to his game 6:00 pull him out of his game to pick up Ashley at her friend's house 6:30 pick Ashley up and take her to church 7:00 drop her off at church 7: 20 get Carlos ready for bed ... and finally have a few moments to myself to catch up on blogs and facebook 8:15 pick Ashley up from church 9:15 Ashley goes to bed and I get some R & R :) Hmmm ... how much do taxi drivers get??!!

That's what I feel that this job has been for me. I am constantly amazed at the many ways that God uses this job to bless me and fill me with His presence and help me to maintain His perspective about things. Today was no different. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays they always start out with a devotional for 1/2 hour before school starts. WOW. what a way to start the day--in a room of teachers (and a principal) who share your belief and depth of faith, listening to praise music & the Word, sharing prayer requests. Just a quiet reminder of Almighty God before the hustle and bustle of the day. It's so much more powerful in a group than just at home by myself. So that's how my day started. And the devotion seems to get to me every day. Then we had a staff meeting--and I must admit that I have a very jaded perspective about staff meetings. So I really wasn't looking forward to it, but I was looking forward to spending a little time with the teachers. I have to say I

Hmmm ... it hasn't really been THAT long, has it? Obviously, I'm not sticking to my New Year's resolutions. So, i think i posted that I'm a computer lab teacher now ... just Mondays and Fridays. Getting used to being a working mom again has been difficult, and as if that wasn't hard enough, I'm now a long-term sub on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in a first grade classroom. I will say I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying being back in the classroom. I do LOVE teaching, and first grade is what I'm best at ... but I will be extremely happy when the teacher's maternity leave is over, and I get my life back :) I spend so much of my life in "catch-up" mode. Always catching up on: laundry grocery shopping cleaning home projects work stuff Seems like life is a whirlwind of activity. Ashley has gymnastics for the month of March (I told her she'll have to take April off 'cause I'll be a basketcase by then ;) ) Mondays and

Saw this on the way home from Ashley's gymnastics and I couldn't resist taking it with my cell phone. Don't worry ... I wasn't moving when I took it.

Ashley took advantage of Martin Luther King, jr. Day to have her best friend over for a sleepover (I mean ... a non -sleepover, lol!). The best part of her sleepovers for me is when they shut the bedroom door (well, they have to leave it a little bit ajar) , and I hear the silly giggles and excited chatter from where I'm sitting in the living room (yes, we have a teeny, tiny house) . Soooo teenager. Sooooo cute. Sooooo fun. and sooooo funny :) I went to bed at midnight and they were still going strong. I'd better enjoy these days, because all too soon they will pass. Oh, and they insist that drinking sparkling cider makes them behave as if they're drunk. No amount of logic and reason can dissuade them. I would post a picture of them, but: I don't have the mom's permission, so I won't post. Ashley actually has a friend who hates getting her picture taken (woe to me, huh?). I could beg her, but I will restrain myself :)

I have been wanting to take this for some time now. This is how my "baby" sleeps every night. It is so adorable (to me, anyway, lol!) that my little eight-year-old sleeps with stuffed animals. The bear's name is "Big Bear" (how original, no?) and the panda's name is "Kung Fu Panda" (hmm... I'm sure you're wondering where he got that original name from!) I'm going to miss this when he's older. And, the moment I've been waiting for ... the link to the website for which I did the pictures. Before I post it ... a HUGE disclaimer ... I did not take the equipment shots, or the shots of Ashley or the female dentist. Those were very generously taken by my professional photographer friend, Dave . I learned SO MUCH just by watching him and asking questions. I also learned that I have A LOT more to learn than I ever dreamed of. But I did have fun taking the other photos. :) Here's the link in case any of you are interested.

So, a few months ago, I happened to see this movie on TV, and it has become one of my favorites--maybe because it combines two loves: romance and food! I also LOVE the soundtrack from the movie (which is r - a - r - e for me), so I downloaded several of the songs. To the right you'll see one of them (Mambo Italiano) ... it's not exactly from the movie, but it's really close. Very blue-sy. Anyway, thought I'd share. Maybe I'll take it down in a few days and put up another song. I've been on a serious "download music" binge lately and I can see where it would become addicting if I let it. Gonna have to restrain myself. It's SOOOO easy, though. Just a couple of clicks, and the song is mine. Hard to remember when I'm clicking that each click is $0.99. What's up with me? B-U-S-Y. That's what. I am working three days this week, plus a couple of hours another day. Which means I'm overwhelmed ... So behind in housework --as in I haven

Hope you all have had a very peaceful, relaxing, and joyful holiday season. I've had a wonderful week ... spent it relaxing for the most part. Thought I'd share my New Year's Resolutions for this year (I'm not actually copying you, Teena; I actually planned to do this before I saw your blog): exercise 3 x per week for a minimum of 20 minutes in Jan. Increase 5-10 minutes per month until I'm exercising 5 x per week @ 30 minutes per session. Anyone know of fun exercise, FEEL FREE TO TELL ME, lol! I love good dancing videos and strength training in particular. I LOATHE jogging! get more organized by really using Flylady again. Stick to the routines. Create a weekly chore chart to keep up with the house since I'm working 2+days per week. create a craft nook in my living room where I can be creative. The supplies I use on a regular basis will finally get a central home :) lose one clothing size by June 15th by making small changes in the way I eat. create a sch