It's about to get all Pinteresty up in here.

I have this friend Jayme who makes me think I can do all these crafty things.  Which sounds good until I buy all the supplies and procrastinate until the night before to actually do the projects.  Jayme is room mom and inspired me to do some Pinterest projects for my kids' class this year.  Here is how they turned out:

Popcorn witch hands.

Mummy juice boxes.

Treat bags.

Here are the girls all dressed up and ready to have fun.

Rapunzel Precious.

Vampire Sissy.

I think the favorite part of her costume was her red lipstick.

Boys having fun with the gummy skeletons from the treat bags.

The most handsome football player I have ever seen (only because
I never got to see Bubba play football).

Sissy being silly with her friend.

 

Pumpkin Patch

We made it to the pumpkin patch this year and all the kids had a wonderful time.  Here are the pics:

BubbaJ on the teeter totter.



He needed a little help from Daddy so he could teeter totter with Precious.



Precious showing BubbaJ how to have fun on the teeter totter.



All three posing as marshmallows.  Sissy's wish came true.



Sisters and friends.



BubbaJ's favorite ride(anything with a steering wheel).



Precious trying out the sling shot.  She came really close to the target a couple of times.

Sissy's turn.



I even gave it a go.  Precious came closer than I did:)



Watch out!  Here come Precious and Sissy.  Actually, they're pedal
cars and Sissy rode on the back of mine.  Hard work!



King and queens of the mountain.  Or tire anyway.



We even conquered the corn maze.

Worry

I had a hard time with the teachers my kids got this year.  Last year when they sent home the form to request a teacher, we thought about it very hard, but decided that God had our kids' best interests in mind and that He would take care of it.  Now, it's one thing to do that and another to truly let God have control.  It sort of overtook me around the time school started.  I am always a bit emotional at that time anyways because I miss my kids so much. It's almost a time of mourning for me when they go back to school.  I mourn the time I had with them during the summer that will soon be spent in school.  This year was even harder because I was not comfortable with the teachers they got. 

After the first few weeks, I knew that God was right.  Big surprise, huh?  You mean God knew what he was doing?!  Why does that continue to shock me?  Precious' teacher was structured and strict, but at the same time caring and approachable.  Exactly what she needs.  Then, I was able to get to know her teacher even better because she went to our church's women's retreat.  That was really cool.  There is something super comforting about knowing you are sending your child to a Christian every day.

Precious struggled with her AR goal accuracy last 9 weeks.  It literally came down to one book to decide if she would make her goal or not.  Her teacher told me that she stood over her and prayed for her as she took the test.  I love that she is praying for my child during the day when I can't be there.  She'll never know how much that meant to me.

Last weekend, we went to see some friends and family out of town.  Well, some of our close friends know Precious' teacher from their church.  Cool.  Then my sister-in-law spoke up and said that Precious' teacher was her first grade teacher.  CRAZY!  Precious talked to her about it at school today and she said that my sister-in-law was her first class to teacher, ever!  God has a way of speaking to me.  It's His you-can't-deny-this-because-it's-just-to-crazy way of getting through to a stubborn woman.

Let this be a lesson to me.  God is sovereign and amazing and I could never create a plan for my kids that is better than the one He has chosen for them.

Heartbreaking

Yesterday was the first time that my heart completely broke for my daughter.  I've been sad for her before, but this was different.  When she got in the car after her student council meeting she told me she needed to talk to me in her room.  She raced downstairs as soon as we got home and said, "Come on Mom."  Then I listened to her tell a story through her tears that I'm sure I will hear many, many more times.  How her "friend" buddied up with another girl and purposefully left her out.  How it hurt her and she didn't know what to do.  I did the best I could to make her feel better.  I reminded her that she is so lucky to have a family that loves her no matter what, a God that is always with her, and lots of friends.  But even as I spoke those words, I knew they weren't enough.  I wanted to scoop her up and make it all go away, but I knew that I could never give her what she needs.  I'll never be enough.  Because that's how God intended it.  He is the only one that can fill that void.  That can make Precious realize that it doesn't matter what those girls think or how they act.  That she is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).  That she is precious in His sight (Isaiah 43:4).  That she is made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God (Ephesians 3:19).  My eyes still fill with tears as I think of the pain she felt and my heart breaks for all pain she will feel in her life, especially pain brought on by her friends.  Being a girl is hard.  I pray that she will turn to God to help her get through it.

Father,  Please guide my words as I deal with these issues alongside my kids.  Fill the gap between what I can do to help them and what only you can do.  Use every tear to draw them closer to you, making them a better Christian and friend to others.  Help them see when others are feeling that same pain and take action to help them feel better.  Lord, we know the evil one will try to use these things for his purpose.  Guard my kids' hearts from him.  Turn their thoughts to you so that you will fill them with love and compasion.  Remind them each day how precious they truly are.  Thank you for blessing my life with their presence.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Mom's Legacy

My mom's sister had a very sudden illness that really hit home for my mom.  I think it scared her.  Made her afraid that she could lose someone close to her, that she won't have enough time to do everything she wants to do, that she could leave this world at any moment.  She has started wondering what her legacy will be, so this ones for you mom.  Here is your legacy to me:

You worked so hard all of your life.  On those days when I'm not sure how I'm going to find the energy to make it through, I turn to memories of you cooking supper after working all day.  And you cleaning the house and working on the lawn every Saturday.  You instilled a strong work ethic in me that also transfers to my home.

You set a wonderful example as a wife.  Watching you support Dad through everything taught me that I need to stand by my husband even through the hard times.  And even if I don't agree with every decision.  It's hard to be a loving, supportive wife.  It is easier for me because you are there to talk to, to encourage me and to remind me what really matters.

As an adult, I cherish the many faith-based conversations we have had.  The Bible is complicated and hard to understand.  I take great joy in discussing it with you.  You have led me to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.  You have taught me that going to church is important, but going to a church that preaches God's word is vital. 

You have shown me that even though we all make mistakes, admitting when you're wrong can make all the difference.  There are so many times that I make a decision that I later realize was not the best choice.  Because of your example, I know how to make that right.

I am the mom I am today because of the mom you were to me. You have taught me how to love my kids unconditionally. How to see their flaws and love them the same anyways.  How to worry about them without letting it consume me :)  How to let them grow up and become their own person.

These are the things that you have given me.  The things that I will remember forever.  The things that will live on through me and my children and their children. 

Heavenly Father,  Thank you for blessing my life with such a wonderful mother.  Your sovereignty is so amazing.  The way you place each family together, knowing the outcome long before we do.  My mom could not be more perfect for me.  I thank you for her strength and courage.  Thank you for all the days I have left with her.  May I cherish each one and may you bless each one.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Sissy's Prayer Today

This is just a section:

"Thank you for mommy being a baby. I mean for making her be born. And that she is okay and normal and everything."

I wonder how much longer she'll think of me as "normal." I think Precious has already figured out that that's not true:)

5K

A few weeks ago I ran my very first 5K.  I have walked in charity ones before but never raced in one. 

I tried to run track in junior high.  I'm pretty sure my coaches still remember me.  And not because I am from a crazy small town, but because I spent more time complaining about running than actually running.  I was terrible at everything.  It was obvious that I couldn't sprint, so they had me try high jump and long jump.  Nope, couldn't jump either.  I eventually ended up with the 800m and relays of course, where other people who were fast could make up for my slowness. 

I distinctly remember the time I actually got a ribbon in the 800m.  It was the only individual ribbon I earned.  There was a girl right behind me so I had to go all out at the end, but I squeaked by with a 6th place ribbon.  I remember my coaches at the finish line cheering me on and giving me a hug as I collapsed into their arms after I had crossed the finish line.  I didn't realize what great coaches they were until recently.  They did not discard me and only pay attention to those athletes that they knew would succeed.  They cared enough about the person inside to devote part of their time to someone they knew they would never reap any benefits from.  That's what makes a great coach.

All that for you to see how pathetically bad I was at running.  I said in an older post that I have devoted my running time to God.  Well, it's amazing what God can do when you surrender a part of your life to him.  Galatians 5:22-23  But what happens when we live God's way?  He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard--things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.  We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.  We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

In the 5k I placed 51st out of 504 people in my age group.  I placed 478 out of over 4,000 people.  My time was 26:39:1.  I don't really know if that is good or bad, but I don't really care.  I had so much fun and I don't want to obsess over my time.  My friend, Erin, asked me what I want to do now.  Am I going to work on running faster or farther?  Neither.  I plan on continuing to love running 3 miles a day however fast God leads me to run that day.  Because running to me is about spending time with God, not about being the best or the fastest.