Quick Update

David and I have been on the go quite a bit lately.  David's sister, Kimberly, is staying with us for a few weeks, and we're so excited she's here!  We're going to be doing a lot of fun things around FL that she hasn't done before (even some we've not done).  

We babysat an 18 month old over the weekend, as well as spent time with David's parents (and the sister that is now here).  Bethany (the baby) was adorable and stole all of our hearts.  David and I enjoyed feeling like "parents" for the weekend and are even more excited about the part of our future that entails, Lord willing, children.  She was so cuddly and sweet... I'm sure her parents and siblings would inform us that she's not always that way, but I know she's a very good baby.  

I would love to update more and include pictures, but we're going to have company for dinner, so I've got to finish up dinner and get cleaned up.  

Hope all of you are doing well...

And for the one who asked:  FYI means for your information.  

FYI

David graduated from Bible school and both of my fish died today... it's been a busy day!  Will update later.  Quite a busy and fun weekend!  

How Dumb!

Dumb... that's what I am sometimes.  As I was scrubbing one of our toilets today, do you know what I was thinking?  This is kind of like brushing somebody's giant tooth.  Why do things like that pop into my mind?  I mean, I'm glad terrible, sinful thoughts don't; but why that?  Why couldn't I be scrubbing a toilet and having scripture float through my mind?  That surely would be nice.  There are times when a verse does pop into my head, and it's such a blessing to me! 

Very random, just thought I would share.  

Busy Little Bees

Have you heard that song, "I'm busy, busy dreadfully busy..."  Well, that's been us for the past week and a half.  Life has been wonderful and fun, but unbelievably busy!  I told David last night, it's a good thing I'm finished with school!  I wouldn't have been able to keep up with my classes, as well as all the other things going on right now.  

The next week and a half isn't looking much "better" in terms of business.  Things are going to be just as chaotic and wonderful as they have been this one.  So...  for those of you who don't know what to do without my posts (all 0 of you), you're going to have to hold out a little bit longer.  I'll probably have funny stories and lots of pictures in the near future.  

Oh, but an update on the fish:  Dalton and Charlie live on!  I did tell you that Sophie died, right?

Here's my theory:  Charlie poisons them.  Why is he still alive?  I did exactly the same thing for Sophie and Josie as I have for Charlie.  Oh well... we'll see what happens.  

Photo Ramblings

Classroom Library

As if you all aren't already tired of reading about my classroom...  This week, my project has been organizing my library.  Tomorrow, I'm going to a Scholastic warehouse sale.  I've heard you can find some really great deals on books, so I'm hoping that's the case for me. I've been beefing up my collection at used books stores and on Ebay, but there are still a lot of non-fiction titles I'd like to add.  

Today, I subbed in 3rd grade.  It was the worst substituting experience I've had thus far.  The kids were out of control!  I tried time and time again to rein them back in, but it was so hard. They just wouldn't stop.  I finally got their attention when I had them, of all things, put their heads down on the desks for a few minutes.  While their heads were down, we discussed how we could improve the remainder of the day.  Then, I passed out the next assignment and told them when it was on their desk, they could raise their heads and begin working on it.  

I can't wait until I'm done subbing and on to teaching in my own 3rd grade classroom!  School starts August 20.  

Photo Ramblings

Sunflower Theme

cork boards painted red with sunflowers glued on

sunflower pens I mentioned in a previous post

Well, I signed a 1 year contract with "my" new school today.  It was very exciting!  The 2007-2008 school year hasn't ended yet, and here I am planning for the 2008-2009 year.  I've decided that my "theme" is going to be sunflowers.  Whenever I have time, I've been hunting for sunflower school supplies, or making them myself like I did today.  

When David first started working at the church, I covered 12 X 12 cork board squares with fabric and we hung those up in his office.  Ever since then, I've wanted to do something similar in my classroom (by my desk) where I can hang notes, reminders, or student work. After meeting with the principal today, I swung by Walmart to see if I could find the necessary supplies -- cork board, fabric, etc.  Well, I couldn't find any sunflower fabric that I really liked.  There was some that was very cute, it just wouldn't work for my purpose. Instead, I purchased a cranberry colored acrylic paint and several silk sunflowers.  I pained the squares of cork board the cranberry color and hot-glue-gunned the flowers on.  It turned out very nicely. While I had all the supplies out, I also painted a box I am planning to use for pencil storage to match (even adding a sunflower).  I used tape to paint the pale green stripes on the lid of the box.  I wasn't sure how it would look, I just knew I didn't want solid red. I really like the way the box turned out, though.  I used scrapbooking rub-on letters to write "supplies" across the top.  I put another red coat of paint on top to make it more permanent and to give it a more "weathered" look.  

I Simply Remember...

My favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad...  

I was tagged by Karen to list three of my favorite things:  

1.  My favorite color:  the easy answer?  blue.  But, I also love the color of cranberries.  

2.  My favorite time of day:  whenever David is home with me. 

3.  My favorite book:  The Bible.  There are many other things that I love, but that's my favorite!  

Any of you who read this blog are welcome to consider yourself "tagged."  You know who you are! 

Thanks!

Thank you to Sara from Simply Sanctified and Jennifer for passing along the "You Make My Day" Award.   Actually, you all made my day!  

I pass this award on to 

Hannah

Karen

Lauren Christine

Dawn

Tori

Arlene

Thank you for making my day!

Youth Rally Update

The youth rally went so well yesterday!  There were 85 or so young people, plus adults.  It was a great time of fellowship, fun, and good preaching.  

The day started with a service at 2 p.m.  During that service, there were several specials, congregational singing, a skit, and a brief devotion by David.  The skit was hysterical!  It was a "support group" scene, and the addiction was bubble wrap popping.  The gist is that we shouldn't allow any sin to have a hold on us, and that the only way we can get rid of the sin in our lives is through Jesus Christ.  Those in the skit did an amazing job!  

After the first service, we went bowling.  There were competitions (in 3 age groups) for the highest and lowest score, the most gutter balls and the most strikes, etc.  It was really funny. There was a girl in my group who had 16 gutter balls!  

After bowling, we had pizza and dessert at church.  On each table was a list of 50 Bible Trivia Questions.  The team who got the most questions correct also received a prize.  I believe one team answered 44 correctly.  They weren't easy questions, so that was great!  

The day ended with another church service.  Bro. Jeb Smith preached a great message about how God winnows but the devil sifts.  He's a farmer, so he was able to explain the differences between the two.  When you're winnowed, the good is left visible.  When you're sifted the bad is what people see.  Obviously, the Lord wants to take the bad stuff out of our lives and leave the things we do for him visible.  The devil, on the other hand, wants the fact that we're saved to be concealed by our sins.  It was a really good message.  I pray that the word of God will effectually work in their lives!  

I unfortunately, didn't take any pictures!  I'm mad about that!  However, there were several ladies taking many pictures.  I'm going to ask them for a CD.  Once I get those, I'll definitely share!  

Thank You!

For those of you who prayed for my unspoken prayer request, THANK YOU!  God answered that prayer this morning.  It was nothing unbelievably major, just something that's been causing me a lot of worry these past few weeks.  

I think I've had a mental block lately... I've been having a hard time coming up with things to write about.  I think that's partly due to the things I've been worry about (unspoken & job situation).  Now that those are taken care of...  look out... I'm back!  Also, even if I haven't been commenting as much, I have been reading your blogs.  

I am so excited about this new job!  It's at a private school here in DeLand.  When I was at Stetson, I didn't think I wanted to go the private school route, but the public school thing just didn't work out.  Needless to say, I still wanted to teach (I didn't put 3.5 years in for nothing). Also, unfortunately, many private schools pay ridiculously low salaries.  Since the point is to save money for when we have children, that wasn't what we were going for either.  The Lord really worked things out because where I'm going to be teaching, the pay is comparable to public school pay.  It sounds like all I care about is the money, but David and I want to homeschool our kids. We want to be prepared when the time comes by saving money now.  

Once again, thank you for your prayers.  Please remember to keep the youth rally in your prayers!  We are very excited (will be setting up today!).  

Youth Rally

This Saturday, our church is having its first youth rally.  There are about 60 guests scheduled to attend (from other churches).  A dear friend of ours is preaching (Bro. Jeb Smith), and it should be wonderful.  Obviously, the messages and activities are going to be geared towards teenagers, but it is open to everyone in the church.  Please be in prayer for this meeting.  David and I (as well as our pastor and others) are praying that the Lord will work in the hearts and lives of the young people at our church.  

I can still remember the day I heard a message that changed my life.  I was 12 or 13 years old, and Bro. James was out of town.  A missionary preached for him, and while he was speaking, I realized that I wanted to do more than just "be saved."  I wanted to live my life for my Saviour! That night, I surrendered to do whatever the Lord would have me to do with my life whether it be missions or serving him in a local church.  I'm so thankful for that message and for the impact it had on my life.  It would be awesome to see a young person be impacted in that type of way. David can also remember the time in his life where he surrendered to do the Lord's will.  Thankfully, we both made those decisions before we met. 

Hectic Day

Today has been a hectic day.  I had to run errands this morning (one was to pick up the forms for my job!).  Then, I went home to get a few things done.  After that, I ended up cleaning my grandparents' downstairs.  That took me from 12:45 until 4:30...  their housekeeper isn't going to be able to clean for them anymore, so I'm their summer fill-in.  I figure it will be nice to have some extra money to buy supplies for my classroom.  

I made a vase of sunflower pens today.  You can visit this website for step-by-step instructions (scissors will work instead of wire cutters).  It turned out so well, I don't want to use it for my classroom...  I made one for our house a while back, so maybe I'll just switch them out. However, I did use nicer pens in the one for school.  I figure I will be using them very often, so I purchased my favorites (RSVP fine point).  I'll have to post a picture later.  I purchased a glass bowl with a fluted edge and some craft stones to house the flower pens.   

Our Adventure in Okeechobee

As has been the case lately, I don't have very long...  it's late, and I'm tired!  However, I'm also very happy!  I am so excited about getting the job!  The principal sent me an e-mail this afternoon.  I certainly didn't expect to hear from her via e-mail, but I don't care!  That's just fine with me!  I'm going to pick up some paperwork tomorrow, and I'll be meeting with her on Monday to sign a contract.  

As for this weekend, it was wonderful (in most ways).  It was a great time of fellowship and working for the Lord.  The trip didn't go exactly as we had planned, but I believe it was good for the youth to experience plans gone awry.  We're used to very organized schedules, and the Seminole Indian Reservation most definitely isn't.  

There was a snake, lots of bugs, rodent droppings, and other lovely "surprises," but nothing that a little Easy-off Bam didn't take care of.  There were times of sharing our testimonies with one another, giving the gospel to a group of unsaved kids, and playing slip-n-slide kickball with happy children. There was sleeping on very narrow pews (thankfully, the boys were in the fellowship hall sleeping on concrete and picnic tables), showering in spider-infested showers, and talking until way too late.  There were Bible verse songs by Dean Runyan and People Need the Lord stuck in our heads.  There were Nutrigrain bars and breakfast pastries, orange juice and apple juice (and 3 waters).  There was, in a few words, a lot of good times and fun memories.  

I have some pictures that I will be sharing, but I haven't put those on my computer yet.  

Job Update

I AM A THIRD GRADE TEACHER!!!!!!!!!!!!  Well, not yet, but in August I will be.  Isn't that exciting?  Praise the Lord!  I'm sorry, but I haven't eaten dinner yet, so I will update in a little while.  

Absence Explained

Before we left, I meant to "tell" you why, but I was unable to do so due to the hectic schedule. David and I were on a mini missions trip with the youth.  We had a wonderful, yet interesting, trip... look forward to sharing some humorous stories, as well as how we were able to share the gospel with the Seminole Indians.  

Enter Dalton Eugene and Sophie

After researching fish a little bit, David and I decided to try a betta fish (Siamese fighting fish). Interestingly enough, two girls from church went with me to purchase betta fish of their own... Ours is Dalton Eugene, Shayna's is Darcy Edison, and Meredith's is Dexter Elliot (we gave hers a middle name for her... don't even know if she knows it).  Notice a trend?  We had a lot of fun picking out the names.  

We certainly couldn't get rid of Charlie, though, and we didn't want him to be lonely (well... I didn't) so we purchased another 28 cent common goldfish to keep him company.  Hopefully, this one will fare a little better than poor Josie. Sophie is much larger than Josie (and even bigger than Charlie).  I think he's having a hard time adjusting to not being the "big fish."