A Peaceful Thing!

Well, I've had a lousy Monday after Easter......mostly by my attitude of choice! I am sad to say, work is stressful for me right now. I am in a position that could be all I want it to me, but the problem is, I want to be home with the kids. I know, wah, wah....so many need a job and I have one but want the release from it.
So, here is my peaceful thing....My oldest 2...son @ 15 and daughter almost 13....basically don't want anything to do w/ one another. Well, Hope's pre-algebra homework was hard, very hard and we needed Luke's help (because he is just the smartest thing ~ it's annoying). I had been a bit irritatible so Hope made the best decision....she politely asked Luke to help....and hearing them work together peacefully.....was music to my ears!!!! Earlier in the afternoon Hope had a meltdown about how terrible her teacher was and she wasn't going to do the work. 4 hrs later and after a few breaks she is putting the final touches on her work AND she understands it!!!!
The neat thing is....this so reminded me of my teenage years with my older brother. I hated him when we were younger but in our teens we did so much together....I pray the same for Luke and Hope.
I think I will focus on Philippians 4:8, and think about whatever is lovely and pure, true and right.....anything praiseworthy, my mind will dwell on these things.
Thank you Luke and Hope!

EASTER Rambling and Rejoicing!!!

It's Good Friday!!! Why do we call it good when something so terribly tragic happened on this day so many years ago? Because it was God's good plan that it happen. This is a hard one for us humans to accept and believe but it's true, but God says so in His word.

"Still, it's what GOD had in mind all along, to crush Him with pain.

The plan was that He give Himself as an offering for sin so that

He'd see life come from it -

life, life, and more life."

Isaiah 53:10, the message

So, let me tell you how NATE is making this known and giving God the Glory.

So I go into school one morning because Nate forgot his homework folder for the 1st time the entire year. We still managed to do the homework but Nate was so scared to disappoint his teacher he wanted me to explain to Ms. Hammond what happened. Well, she was meeting w/ a teacher so we had to wait in the hall, along w/ all the other kids. On the wall by their class were posters each kid had made about themselves...their families, what they like, etc. One of the selections was favorite music/song....other kids had Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Rascal Flatts (these are 3rd graders I remind you!), Black-eyed Peas.....(whatever!)

And then there was Nate's and he has Steve Fee....if you aren't familar with Steve Fee, he's a Christian song writer that sees, obviously Nate's favorite song! :)

And it's true, when we're in the car he always says....cut on Steve Fee!!!

So here is the song that earned Steve Fee a spot on the 3rd grade wall at Timber Drive Elementary.....

Hope this works and Rejoice in the Lord who "despised the shame and endured the cross for the joy set before Him"!

Well, I can't get it to work, so search Steve Fee, and Glory to God!!!

Where I have been....well that is a long story

Wow, has it been 3 months since I posted something???? All I can say, is how do working moms do it? How do they love their families, fix the food, do the cleaning, love the sick, fix broken things, find missing things.....and do their jobs well?????

That is where I've been! You have missed hearing about school and rec. basketball. That Luke was one of the few freshmen to see playing time and received the academic award, the all around Trojan award, and one more award (I can't remember it). Nate scored an average of 20 points at each game....he really needs to go back to the rec league next year. I love the church league for the message, but Nate hangs w/ a 9th grader and 5th grader daily...he's just too good!!! And NOAH....was just the best baller on his team that lost in the semifinals of his league toury by just a few points.
Where is Hope this whole time.....being Miss Social and finding as many chances as possible to hang w/ her friends! Thank you Lord for friends!!!!

I hope to be back on a regular basis now. Work has been overwhelming lately. Teaching is a new challenge this semester. Gone are the days of coming in and teaching the body parts, color or clothes....weather, seasons or anything else that the level 1 english student needs. This semester I have read the classic short story, The Most Dangerous Game ~ along with many other freshmen level readings....not to mention all the English Grammar I never learned or paid attention to in class.
That is in addition to managing 17 BLOGS created by our EL/Civics Grant. Actually this, I am quite proud of....take a minute and check out our program. The easiest link is to just go to elcivics.waketech.edu ~ no www. or http. We made it easy so second language speakers could find it.
And in addition to that, I helped organize a FREE Statewide ESL conference to NC. It was a huge success. That was last Saturday....tonight, for the 1st time in I don't know how long, I am home on a Friday night and just hanging out w/ the family! AHHHHHH....loving it!

So, check by often and hope to share some lovely stories about my wonderful kids!