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.