True Confessions

#1  I LOVE seeing my family serve.  On Wednesday we went to Dallas to help an amazing group, Our Calling, that was preparing to serve a Thanksgiving meal to people in need.  We went and helped set up.

Caitlyn moving chairs

Then we prayed over the tables and seats that would be occupied on Thursday.

One of the tables we prayed over

Each table has a host family that supplies the dishes, glasses, silverware, etc. for the meal and enjoys the meal with people that come.  It sounds like such a neat experience.

#2  I despise Christmas decorations, music, and shopping before Thanksgiving.  I really enjoy Thanksgiving and its simplicity.  Coming together with family that we haven't seen in a while, thanking Jesus for the many blessings He provides, filling up on delicious food.  I like to savor the holiday.  Don't get me wrong, I am totally into Christmas, but it has to wait until the day after Thanksgiving.  That is when we crank up the Christmas music and break out the tree and decorations. 

Our Advent calendar

#3  I used my food processor for the first time.  We have had it since we got married almost 16 years ago!  I don't remember ever using it before.  Crazy, huh?  Conner asked about making homemade salsa, so we took a shot at it by using a recipe out of our church's cookbook.  It was pretty good!

#4  I might have a slight obsession with free prints.  I wanted to update our Christmas decorations without spending money, so I searched blog land.  I found some prints I liked, printed them at home, and put them in frames that I already had.  SCORE!

Photo Update

Ok, so I took a little break from blogging as summer finished up and school started.  I wanted to blog, I thought about blogging, I intended to blog, it just didn't happen.  It seems like that happens a lot with me.  I have grand ideas and good intentions, but I have a hard time finishing...
So, in an effort to catch up but share some moments from the last few months, here is an update in pictures.

Conner receiving a medal from the mayor for "Shining the Way"

Caitlyn and buddy Wyatt on Halloween

Caitlyn visited her wonderful teacher's house for an extra Halloween treat!

Caitlyn and Kirstan at their third grade program celebrating America

Caitlyn and cousin Emory enjoying fun at cousin Kalyn's birthday party

Conner waiting for the doctor-doesn't he look pitiful?  Both kids had strep last week!

Conner's decided he likes shrimp cocktail

It is hard to believe it is two days before Thanksgiving!  These last few months have just flown.  The kids and I have enjoyed a couple of days off from school, and we are all looking forward to time with family later this week.
I'm off to get ready for date night!  Woo hoo!  We are going to see Lincoln.  Until next time, which hopefully won't be next year!

June Highlights

Oh my!  I can't believe it is already July!  Where did June go???  It was a crazy busy month, but it was so wonderful at the same time.  After VBS and our anniversary, we finished baseball, served in Mission Unleashed, went to kids camp, and enjoyed some r and r!

Conner enjoyed his first season of baseball

We served with this wonderful group of friends from church during Mission Unleashed.  We did a Backyard Bible Club at night at a local mobile home park.  What a blessing!

Kids Camp theme shirt

Our cabin was trying to win a cabin award and thought a towel animal would impress the judges.  This was my attempt at an elephant...

It seems like it just isn't camp without me getting a huge bruise.  Last year it was on my leg as a result of the inner tube game.  This year I did a face plant into the water off the zip line and earned this beauty on my chin.  

A trip to see the cousins just isn't the same without a stop at Buc-ce's!

The kids love seeing their cousins!  We went to the Blue Bell factory, but it was closed.

Conner's idea of a yummy meal -Chicken and dumplings from Cracker Barrel

This was Caitlyn's favorite place on the cruise-looking out the window

Climbing the steps at Uxmal.  We enjoyed exploring the Mayan ruins

Caitlyn really likes to swim

Conner preparing for authentic Mexican food

Yesterday at church a missionary shared the message.  It was so neat to hear about how the Lord has worked in his life.  Throughout the message, he repeated the verse, Proverbs 19:21 - "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."  I pray that I will seek HIS purpose and not my own.

Fabulous 15

This past Thursday, June 14th, Chad and I celebrated fifteen years of marriage!  Although we took an anniversary trip back in January, Chad still made arrangements for us to go out that night!  He is SO thoughtful.  It was a wonderful dinner that ended with a special treat.

It is hard to believe it has been 15 years!  I am very thankful for our time together and look forward to many more years to come.  Chad is the most humble person I know.  He does not ever want credit for what he does and works behind the scenes to get things done.  He is very thoughtful, always putting the needs of others above his own.  He makes me laugh, is handsome, and is a great Words with Friends player (I'm not bitter at all that he has beat me the last 8 times we have played!). 
Happy Anniversary, Babe!  I love you! 
Thank you, Jesus, for blessing me with a Godly man!

SOS

Start of Summer, it is here!  I am already behind, and we have been through two weeks. 
The day we finished school, we enjoyed frozen yogurt with friends.

Caitlyn doesn't like yogurt, so she just gets candy!

The first week of summer I had four days of work!  I got all of my professional development days out of the way so that I could enjoy the rest of the summer.  While I was working, the kids were at Track Camp.  They actually enjoyed it! 
The second week of summer was spent at Vacation Bible School.  I had the pleasure of teaching 4th grade and worked with some wonderful people.  We had a really sweet group except for this one kid...

Yes, I taught Conner's class.  It was fun, and he actually asked if I would do 5th grade next year.
While our mornings were filled with VBS, our evenings were filled with baseball games.  Conner's team was progressing in the tournament.  Unfortunately, they did not make it to the "World Series", but they did finish third in their division.

I enjoyed watching the games and meeting new families.  Conner really grew a lot in his skills and says he wants to play again in the fall.
This next week, we are looking forward to being part of Mission Unleashed with our church, spending time with friends, and catching up on appointments (the kids get to go to the dentist!).

Summer's Coming!

It is hard to believe that summer is just around the corner!  We are gearing up and getting ready!

Caitlyn got her summer cut.  It is shorter than we were expecting, but she loves it!

The kids enjoyed catching lightning bugs at a friend's house.

We went bowling before Chad left for his first "summer" mission trip.  I started with a strike!

The kids like this game. 

Our nature girl picking "flowers" during our bike ride.

Tonight the kids had a party in our backyard with their neighborhood friends.  Caitlyn also had a friend over.  They put it together themselves and had volunteers bring snacks, drinks, and music.  They had fun jumping on the trampoline, playing cards, dancing, and just laughing and talking.  They had so much fun staying out until it was dark.  We are looking forward to summer fun!

Trampoline fun

Playing cards

Our neighbor made quesadillas for the kids!

Chilling in the hammock

This next week will be fast and furious as we finish up the school year and celebrate the kids' accomplishments including Conner's promotion from elementary school.  Where has the time gone???  We are looking forward to our time together with family and friends this summer!

Mother's Day

Today has been a good day.  It started with homemade cards and gifts from my sweet Conner and Caitlyn along with some hot tea.  Church was great this morning, and I was given a wonderful treat-a chocolate bar!  After church we took my awesome mom to lunch.  She is such an incredible woman, and I can't imagine my life without her.  I admire her perseverance and love for the Lord.  She got to choose lunch, and her pick was Spring Creek.  They made it a special lunch by handing out free bowls of ice cream and a flower to each mom!

The rest of the day I enjoyed a lazy day at home.  As I think about what a blessing it is to be a mom, I can't help but think of Proverbs 31:28.  It is my prayer that, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."  There are so many days that I feel like such a failure as a mother.  I am so thankful for the love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ!
As much as I have enjoyed this day, my heart has been really heavy today.  A single mom was brought to mind today, and I started to wonder...was she told today how special she is?  Does she know how appreciated she is?  I have really wrestled with these thoughts today.  Is there something I can do to let her know?  If so, what?  I'm praying for wisdom in this area!

Teacher Appreciation Week

What a fun week!  Our awesome PTA provided a special treat every day this week!  Between yummy enchiladas, sub sandwiches, delicious breakfast items, baked potatoes and salads, and delightful desserts, we ate well!  It was so nice not to have to worry about bringing a lunch for most of the week.  On top of all that, they also gave us a $10 gift certificate to a local shop.  What a blessing!
If that was all not enough, my wonderful students and their families gave me all types of special gifts.  Some of my goodies included...

This was one of the two cupcakes I received this week.  Delicious!!!

I love fresh flowers!  These flowers really brightened my day with the pretty colors.

My kids know I love chocolate!

This is a cute and crafty idea-the flowers are pens!

I think that these note cards are adorable!  I have already used them all!

I also received a really cute blingy shirt that a parent made, a big tub of trail mix, and gift cards to Chick-fil-a, Maggiano's, and Starbucks.  I feel so undeserving of all this.  I am most thankful for all of the homemade cards and sweet notes that I received.  It is hard to believe that we only have a few weeks left!
Our principal and assistant got in on the giving as well.  This was a much needed gift!

I love the little flag things.  They are so handy!
To top it off, my sweet friend Cassie and her husband sent me a super cute plant.  She is so thoughtful!  I just hope I don't kill it!

This month, our church is encouraging us to take part in the Wisdom Challenge.  We are reading a chapter from Proverbs each day of the month of May.  It is such a good book!  Proverbs 13:3-4 states, "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold."  I pray that I will always seek wisdom from the Lord and that I am able to share that with my students.

Time Flies...

Things have been crazy busy the last few weeks!  Between work, church, baseball, family, and friends, we haven't been home much in April.
Conner was selected to represent his school and shadow a school board member.  It was quite an honor!  He enjoyed pizza with the board and participated in the board meeting.  He was excited to cast the votes for his assigned board member.  We were thrilled that he was the shadow of a friend from church.

We are so thankful that Conner got to enjoy this experience!

This weekend the kids enjoyed some fun with friends.  Caitlyn, her friend Molly, and I went to see Charlotte's Web together.  Somehow I managed to not get a picture of our evening together!  While we were at the play, the boys, including one of Conner's pals from school, were at the church for Team Impact.  Team Impact did a show for three nights, and we saw many come to Christ.  It was awesome!

On Saturday Conner had a baseball game.  It was a horrible game.  However, Conner had a good stop in the outfield AND he hit the ball for the first time!  We were so thrilled for him.  I think he was in shock that he hit it because he just stood there for a second.  He did so well that the coach gave him the team ball.

One more thing, I just have to share what an AMAZING husband I have.  He is always so thoughtful and knows how to brighten my day.  I came home last Thursday to these...

Off to prepare for another week!