Summer Must-do's and Want to-do's

Forgive me if I'm not jumping for joy for the Memorial Day weekend like most. It's just that I'm so fixated on getting through the next 4 school days. I have a bigger "weekend" in mind-it's called SUMMER! As the summer-itus has set in, my mind begins reeling over all the possibility that summer promises. And since list making brings me great joy, I am making my yearly list of all of my "must-do's", "want to-do's", and "ambitious probably won't get to-do's", so I can get the most out of my 65 day vacation.

So here it is:

1. Read A Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers
2. Read Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson
3. Read Bringing Up Girls by James Dobson
4. Clean out my closet, including finding a better system for organizing my shoes.
5. Organize my scrapbook hallway.
6. Paint my room and get a new comforter.
7. Take the kids to the library once a week.
8. Take the kids to the beach once a week.
9. Go to the pool most mornings.
10. Get together with friends at least once a week.
11. Scrapbook-alot!
12. Prepare 5 days a week for the October triathalon. (more on this craziness later!)
13. Count calories. (something I've never done before!)
14. Do 6th grade math lessons with Dylan 3 days a week.
15. Complete One in a Million Bible study by Priscilla Shirer.

So there it is. Not too ambitious... I'll mark them off as I complete them, so stay tuned!

Friendship for Grown-Ups Book Review

Friendship for Grown-Ups by Lisa Welchel

This book was about women’s friendships. Lisa honestly tells about her friendships, both of her childhood and adulthood. She then goes on to give practical advice of how to discern between a healthy relationship and one that is not edifying to either party.

As I began to read this book, I thought, “Friendship is not an issue for me”. But as I read on I realized that I have faced the same questions, concerns and insecurities as Lisa had. The book was an easy read that left me with interesting points at the end of each chapter. I admired how Lisa gave practical, Biblical advice to help me find godly friends and be a godly friend. I would definitely recommend this book to all women-who have friends!

Thomas Nelson provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Weekly Plans

Bible Study:
Just started One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer-loving it!!

Memory Verse:
Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Husband Encouragement:
It's hard to encourage him from another state-but I've been trying to be attentive on the phone when he tells his "work stories".

Train Them Up:
*Had a great talk with Dylan about his attitude yesterday. I really want to make a conscience effort to keep the lines of communication open as we enter this unchartered territory of the "preteen" years.

Personal Goals:
*Continue on my exercise plan (I slacked big time over the weekend.)
*Finish reading my Bible this week-just have Revelations left!!

MUST Do:
*Scout out new medical insurance
*Start packing up my classroom for summer!!!

Zone:
my van must be cleaned!!

Menu:
M - Bbq chicken legs, baked beans, salad
T - Breakfast night-pancakes and sausage
W - Sonny's for kids eat free night
Th - Hamburger helper, green beans
F - Graduation Party at the Keller's
S-Brian comes home!!
Su - Memorial Day BBQ at the Ainsley's

FUN Things!!
* Graduation Party @ the Kellers
* Brian comes home Saturday!!
* Memorial Day Weekend!!

3 Things I'm Thankful For Today:
1. Brian comes home Saturday!
2. All the bills are paid!
3. The house is clean! (at least as clean as it gets!)

I want to be "One in a Million"

Did you know that you can go to Lifeway.com
and download Bible study dvd sessions? Well, I did not until the other day. Sometimes I've wanted to do a study but didn't have a group to do it in. Nor did I want to spend the $150 that Lifeway charges for the dvd set. But I discovered that I can purchase the member book and download each session for $5. So for $30 I can complete a 6 week study at home on my own at my own pace. Pretty cool.
God has laid on my heart to do the study by Priscilla Shirer called One in a Million.

It parallels our journey through this Christian life with the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land. I'm just finishing reading through the entire Bible-about 10 days away (so it took me 4 months instead of 3...)and I've been thinking about what I'm going to do after I'm done reading-perhaps going back chronologically or through each book with an in depth study. Not sure what God has for me yet. But this study interested me because it goes back to the beginning with the Israelites. I just finished the first session and WOW! I'm so excited. I love when God knows just what we need when we need it.
As you may know (if you've read my blog at all!), I'm going through a wilderness of my own right now with Brian being in North Carolina for the past 2 months with no end in sight yet. So I know that God has given me this study "for such a time as this". I'll leave you with the verse from the first lesson of the study:
Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free;(Christ's part)therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (our part)

Random Dozen

1. What is one really fast, know-by-heart "go-to" meal to fix in a pinch?
Chicken tacos-it's my family's fave and it's sooo easy!


2. What is one item you won't leave home without. (Purse and license do not count.)
Duh-my Blackberry


3. Where is one place you never tire of visiting?
other than home...Target


4. Share one factoid of your family's history.
My mom has 11 brothers and sisters and my dad is an only child

5. Complete this sentence: "Once upon a time I ...."
dreamed of being married to my handsome prince and having a beautiful son and daughter and of being a teacher...and it all came true! (by the grace of God!)

6. If you could win a one year's supply of anything, what would it be?
groceries


7. "One quirky thing you may not know about me is ...."
I am not a people person-it is by the grace of God and lots of self-control that I am able to connect with others!

8. You have one dollar in your pocket. What will you buy?
a coffee

9. "One thing that always makes me laugh is ...."
the things my kids say:
Dylan recently said "Other than God and us, duct tape is Dad's favorite thing"
Holly recently said "I want to marry a boy with the last name, Wood"

10. What is one thing you could do today to help yourself reach a personal goal?
Get off my butt and move!

11. What is one thing you could do today to bless someone else?
Take time to do an activity with each of my children that they choose.

12. What is one thing you're looking forward to soon?
Brian coming home!! 12 days!!

Weekly Plans

It's been a few weeks since I've posted my weekly plans. Since Brian has been out of town things have kind of been out of the norm lately. But he's still going to be gone for awhile so we need to get some of the norm back for my sanity's sake and my children's! So here we go:
Bible Study:
week 7 of Esther by Beth Moore, and finishing reading Fasting.

Memory Verse:
Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Husband Encouragement:
Text Brian every day and let him know how much we miss him and need him!

Train Them Up:
I see Brian's absence taking a toll on Dylan. The men in my family and at our church have been so gracious in taking Dylan places and giving him some "man" time. I would like to focus our family devo time this week on attitude and soft voices and the like to hopefully help Dylan and all of us in this area.
I also need to be more faithful in praying for Dylan.

Must Do:
-none-really??

Personal:
I'm just working on staying positive in the midst of things constantly breaking since Brian has been gone! God's Word is my refuge right now through this.

Weekly Menu:
Monday - Going to see my dad at the hospital-so my guess is we'll probably eat out.
Tuesday - Tacos
Wednesday - either Sonny's or Duffy's for Kids Eat Free nights
Thursday -Bible study at my house so I'm making pulled pork sandwiches for the girls and my kids
Friday - BBQ chicken legs, loaded mashed potatoes, salad
Saturday - Dylan's class party and my class party-so we will eat at the parties
Sunday -Sunday School social potluck after church

FUN THINGS!
-Will work in a bike ride this week as the kids have been asking for one!

3 things I'm thankful for today:
-Only 13 days until Bri comes home for a week!
-We only have 15 school days left!
-Even though my van is the shop we have Brian's grandpa's car to borrow in the meantime

Random Dozen

1. Please share one memory of your high school graduation.
The most significant memory I have of my high school graduation is praying with my parents at the altar of the church. My mom was holding my hand and her tears were dripping on my hand the whole time. I remember thinking she was being a little dramatic-now, of course, I get it.

2. What is one "emergency use" item you keep in your vehicle at all times?
I've learned the hard way to keep plastic bags for throw-up!

3. In your region, do you celebrate graduation open houses? Addendum: (If so,) how many open houses/bridal showers/weddings are on your upcoming events calendar?
Actually, only one graduation so far-which is pretty rare!

4. Tell me one truth you believe about motherhood.
Certain seasons seem to last fooorreevvver (like the sleepless nights), yet time seems to fly by and before you know it your babies are 11 and 6!

5. What was the last thing you broke?
my air conditioner-don't ask...

6. On average, how many pieces of junk mail do you receive daily?
Probably 3

7. Do you like to shop by catalog?
No-I'm a tactile person-I need to be able to touch it!

8. Is lawn maintenance at your house a "his job," a "her job" or "his/her job" or "that's why we have teenagers" job?
Thankfully I live in a community where they do the lawns for us! But if not, it would definitely be a father/son job!

9. Which room would you like to redecorate in your home?
My bedroom-actually scouting out new comforters now!

10. Do you read a newspaper regularly, or do you read most of your news on line?
I do not read the newspaper-I catch glimpses of headlines on my aol homepage.

11. Do you believe everything happens for a reason?
For God's reason-yes

12. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
Wow-I don't think I can pick ONE of those...

Go to 2nd Cup of Coffee and check out the Random Dozen.

Perfection Ain't Happenin' Here...

I want to be the perfect Christ follower, Wife, Mom, Daughter, Friend, Teacher and Citizen. But perfection ain't happenin' here-so I have to give up things to do my best in all of these areas, because they are ALL a apart of who I am and they are ALL necessary.I read a post on God Speaks Today about keeping the balance in our lives. It provoked a lot of thought on my part about the things I don't do to keep my life (and the life of my family) balanced. Some of the things that I have given up in the name of sanity are:

1. I don't watch soap operas, specifically my all time favorite General Hospital.
2. I don't keep up with American Idol and Dancing with the Stars though I love the shows.
3. I don't enroll my children in more than one extra curricular activity at a time.
4. I don't grocery shop during the week.
5. I don't make my bed in the morning.
6. I don't keep up with extended family birthdays.
7. I don't blow dry my hair everyday.
8. I don't fold and put away my children's laundry (they do it!)
9. I don't take out the garbage (my son does).
10. I don't feed, water, or walk the dog. (my son does).
11. I don't make homemade bread.
12. I don't serve in the church nursery.
13. I don't get manicures or pedicures. (unless it's a special occasion)
14. I don't sleep past 7:30.
15. I don't play farmville or mafiaville or whateverville.
16. I don't make breakfasts for my children that don't come from a box or have "frozen" in the title.
17. I don't volunteer in my children's classrooms.
18. I don't take my children to birthday parties that aren't family or my closest friends.
19. I don't go to church on Wednesday night.
20. I don't iron.
21. I don't buy my children anything (clothes or toys) outside of birthdays, Christmas, or extra extra special occasions.
22. I don't clean my children's room (they do).
23. I don't go to every event that I'm invited to.
24. I don't crochet or knit.
25. I don't grade papers or do schoolwork at home.
26. I don't shop online.
27. I don't stay up past 10 p.m. on weekdays.
28. I don't fix my daughter's hair with fancy braids or hairdos in the morning.
29. I don't let my laundry get piled up.
30. I don't read magazines (that don't have recipes in them :)).
31. I don't keep a stack of "junk mail" I read it and toss it immediately.
32. I don't vacuum more than once a week.
33. I don't clean the bathrooms with anything besides Lysol wipes. (love those things!)
34. I don't stay at work past 3:30 unless I am required to for a meeting.
35. I don't let my children play or watch t.v. until homework is done.
36. I don't clean the sliding glass doors.
37. I don't make my husband's lunch.

Though it makes me sad that I can't do some of these things (like 6, 11, 16, 17,28),
I know that the balance in my life makes me a better servant to Christ and those around me.
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
What DON'T you do?

REFRESHING!

There is one thing I dislike about my job, and it's probably not what you may think. I work at an amazing place, BUT...they serve Pepsi on campus. Yep, that's my big complaint. I love Coca-cola. I used to drink like 6 cokes a day. But a few years back I gave it up. Now I can drink the occasional Coke when we go out to dinner and not fall off the wagon. I know some of you can relate to my love addiction of Coke. Although I've got my Coke consumption under contol, when I am overheated or super thirsty, drinking an ice cold coke is soooo refreshing. And sometimes only a Coke will do!
This morning when I read Proverbs 11, verse 25 really caught my attention:
...he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
I want to be "refreshing" to my children, my students, the clerk at Target, my family and friends, and all I come in contact with. When I looked up refresh on dictionary.com is said "to restore strength to". The opposites of refresh are tire, wear upon, tire out, weary...sometimes I feel like that is what I do to others around me. The promise is-if I am refreshing to others, I, too will be refreshed. And, oh boy, do I need to be refreshed!!!

One of Those Days

I had "one of those days" today. To be honest, this doesn't happen very often. I am not a drama queen and drama doesn't find me, but today...I found my throne. I don't even know where to begin but the words, "blubbering idiot" come to mind. This morning was Holly's Mother's Day Tea in her kindergarten classroom. A substitute teacher was supposed to come to my room at 7:55 a.m. to cover me while I went down for the presentation. I let Holly come to my classroom with me so we could walk in together like all the other mommy's and children. But... the sub didn't arrive until after 8 leaving us to have run to her classroom. When we got there, they had already started. All the mommy's were seated. The whole class was standing in the front of the room in their places singing a song. When I quietly told Holly to go ahead and take her place, she froze. I don't know if she was embarrassed and felt on the spot or what she was thinking. (However, I can relate to her-I am not a "center of attention, in front of the crowd kind of person myself). So I took her in the hall and tried to reason with her and she calmly told me she was not going up. I then threatened to leave since she was not going to be performing. She still would not go up. At that point, I felt tears coming on. So we walked to the bathroom so I could commpose myself. Why was I crying? I started to feel worse when I saw Holly's face wondering what in the world was wrong with me. As we walked back into the room, her teacher asked me if all was o.k. and...I started crying. I went back to the bathroom and composed myself AGAIN. We went back into the classroom and slipped into our seat. The mom to my right, who was also my co-worker said, "Kris, next time, just line your class up and come down with them". And then, you guessed it, I started to cry! The mom to my left, whose son is also in my class, said "Are you o.k.?" And as I nodded yes, the waterworks happened again. OH.MY.GOODNESS. Several more times throughout the day I had to hold back the tears again-I'll spare you the details. What is the matter with me??? You may be reading this thinking, "What's the big deal? You're a woman. We cry." No, not me. I'm not a crier. I don't cry at movies. I'm not emotional like that. And when I do feel tears coming on, you can bet that I use all the strength that is within me to hold them back. Who knows why? But crying is not my m.o. I know my husband has been gone for work for 5 weeks now, and though I thought things were going fine, maybe this is how it catches up to me.
Needless to say, I was drained the rest of the day. I couldn't wait to get home and get my Bible and veg. But that would have to wait. My elderly neighbor, who doesn't drive, asked me to drive her to the rehab center to see my other elderly neighbor, who just had surgery. What could I say but, "It's my pleasure." And it really was. We had a nice visit.
But then I just came home and collapsed. As I "tried" to soak up God's Word, I walked Dylan through the steps of making Ramen noodles. And of course, went through the whole bath and bedtime routine. In the midst of that chaos, God gave me a couple of great verses to cling to:
Psalms 94:17-19
Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. (Oh boy, can I relate!)
When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I LOVE GOD'S WORD!