Counting All My Blessings!

This is Ashby's Mother's Day Out Program at First Baptist. She was telling me that she could see herself on the tv at the back of the church! She was too cute!! I love her so much and I am so thankful that God has blessed us with her!

When Things Catch You Off Guard

Since Boomer went to live with Jesus, we have heard over and over again that the pain gets easier and easier to deal with over time. I guess that’s why it totally caught me off guard when I broke down last week and sobbed like Ashby does when she doesn’t get something that she wants. As I sat on the couch in Josh’s arms, I realized that I’m just like Ashby. There’s something I want more than anything and I can’t have it! Last year was a little easier than the year before so I just assumed this year would be a little easier than last year, but I was wrong. This year feels just like the first and I was not prepared for that. As I sit here spilling my heart out, I am looking at our stockings hung on the mantel. Yes, we still have Boomer’s stocking right there along with ours! As I think of all the things I won’t get to see him do this Christmas season, or the presents that I won’t get to buy, I start to have a pity party for myself. As I sat in choir practice last Saturday and balled because I won’t ever get to see him get up with all the rest of the kids and sing in a musical, I started having a pity party for myself. As I see all the shoppers out buying presents and looking happy because they are buying for all of their kids, I start to throw a pity party for myself. But as I think of what it might be like to see Boomer as he is now, in heaven with Jesus, I remember that all of the pain that I’m feeling right now is not forgotten. God knows exactly how I feel and he is holding me tight in his arms.

I read a book recently about a family that went through something similar to what we have gone through and it was very hard for me to read. One of the biggest differences in our stories was that they have a substantial amount of money and everyone knows that I stay home and Josh is a youth minister, so they were able to go on trips and leave work for long periods of time without worrying about money and they could take all of their loved ones to counselors and get them all the help they needed. As the story unfolded, I realized they had all these luxuries that our family didn’t have, I wish we could have paid for everyone that was at our house that day to go to a counselor to help them make it through what they saw, and I wish that we could have gone thousands of miles away from here for a long time. Then I also realized that God’s grace is sufficient and he provides for all of his children in ways that we could never imagine. Although the people in the book that I read did have many more opportunities than we did because of their financial status, we still have everything that we have ever needed. God is so much bigger than having money and friends in high places! He is a God of love and grace and peace. That’s why I know that even though my life is so small, God is so big and he will take care of even me.

Spending The Day With Ashby!

Since school started back this fall I have been trying to work as many days as possible. Because of this, I have spent many days away from Ashby and I have really missed our time together. Today was an awesome day. We woke up early and ate a sausage biscuit from McDonald's, then we gave Kali and bath, then we played with finger paints, then wrote in colored shaving cream, then went to my school for a little bit, then played outside!! I had so much fun just hanging out with her today. All I keep thinking is that these days are going by so fast and she is growing up and one day I'm going to wish that these days were back! Hope you enjoy these pics :)

College...

This week I start the 4th week of the fall semester and I am already starting the countdown to the end of the semester. On Monday nights I have Reading 343 which I haven't really learned much in to this point. The great part about this class is that we always get out early but we really don't learn much which won't be good when it comes time to take the test! I go to school Monday and Tuesday night and Wednesday late afternoon which has really been a struggle. I am already tired of fixin supper and sitting down to eat then leaving a few minutes later to the sound of Ashby crying because she wants me to stay home. Then I get to school and I feel like I'm really not learning much and I feel like it is all for nothing. I know that in a couple of years I will be teaching and all that money will be flowing in (haha) and I will know that it was all for a purpose but for now it's just not feeling that way. I don't want my blog to be a big prayer request line, but for this post I am going to ask for your prayers. I know through everything that we have been through, prayer is the only thing that gets you through certain situations, so I am asking you now to remember me and this semester when you pray.
Until next time...

Yesterday's Youth

Last night at church we had our annual Senior Appreciation Banquet. It was a time for our church staff to come together and serve the more mature members of our church (and our parents) who mean so much to us. Thanks to our church life minister, we had fried chickens, along with mashed potatoes, green beans, a roll and then dessert. Soon after dinner was served the church staff, and their lovely wives, were the entertainment for the evening. We sang a few great old songs and had a blast. I know that some people would think that an evening like this would be boring, but I look forward to it every year.
Every month, this same group comes together on a Thursday night to share food, memories, games and fun. We are always priveledged to enjoy this evening with them which is something I love. There are many things that I love about sharing this evening with our "Yesterday's Youth" like great food, stories, and lots of laughter, but my favorite part is just getting to sit and visit with the generation of our church that has made it what it is today. In my opinion, South Union Baptist Church is the greatest church in the world. The main reason for this is because of the members of Yesterday's Youth. I love each and every one of them and I am so thankful that they are such great examples of faithful followers of Christ!

Substitute Teaching

For any of you that don't know, I am a substitute teacher. I have been working at Daingerfield High School for about 2 and a half years and I really enjoy it. Some people have asked why I substitute at the high school when I want to teach elementary. Here are the reasons why...

At the high school level:
1. you don't have to memorize names
2. you don't have to take children to the restroom
3. if you work for a coach you usually have a shorter day
4. and I really like the staff in the office

When working at the elementary level:
1. you work all day and are standing most of the day
2. you don't have a big break in the middle of the day
3. you have to know all of the kids names
4. there is more work involved

Now I know some of you are thinking, "it sounds like she is just lazy!" But how many of you would rather do less work for the same amount of money? I know I would, plus I get to see all of our students when I work at the high school.

Thankfully I will be finished with college in a few short semesters and I will be the one calling for substitutes! I know the day I get to walk across that stage and declare to all of my family and friends that I am a college graduate will be a victorious day in my life and I can't wait for it!!!
Until then, just keep me in your prayers because I know that I'm gonna need it!

Busy Life!

Wow! It's been many months since my last post. I know there aren't many who read this blog since the only one who has noticed that lack of a post in the past 9 months has been Josh! Oh well.
To catch you up on what has been going on in the last few months, it's going to take a lot, so I will just make a list.

1. School
2. School
3. School
4. Summer
5. School
6. Youth Events
7. School
8. School
9. School
10. School

As you can tell, the majority of my time is taken up by school. This semester I am taking 12 hours again. I know that for a fresh college student, who is only going to school (and maybe working) this doesn't really seem like a lot. But for me it seems like an overload. I have class from 7-9:45 on Monday and Tuesday nights, then I have a class from 4-6:45 on Wednesday night, and then one online class. My prayer for this semester is that it will fly by so fast that I won't even realize that I had such a crazy schedule. I hate missing out on things with my family and with our students at church but I know that this is something that I must do now or it will only be harder to finish!
I will try to continue to blog as much as possible but please forgive me if it is not as often as you would like. God has done some awesome things in our life since January and I would love to tell you all about them, but I really need to do some homework right now, so that post will just have to wait until a later time.
Please be in prayer for me this semester...it's going to take a lot of prayer to get me through this one!
Until next time...

New Beginnings!

I know I'm a little late on the "New Year" blog entry but I'm just a little behind. Please forgive me.



I have officially completed all of my "first days" of college! I am taking Children's Lit, Advanced Expository Writing, Advanced Technological Communications, and Reading Overviews and Strategies. I actually think I am going to really enjoy all of my classes. The only negative is that there will be a lot of homework in every class. Usually you get one or two that are a little easier on the homework but all of these have about the same amount. Even though it will be a lot of work I really think I am going to learn a lot and I am excited about this semester!





Ashby is doing lots of new things since the last time I talked with all of you! She is using the potty almost all of the time. We still have quite a few accidents but it is getting better and better everyday! She has 16 teeth so her smile is beautiful!!! She has been moved up to the 2 year old class at Mother's Day Out and she loves her new teacher, Mrs. Stacey. We have watched Strawberry Shortcake and Cars more times than we can count in the past month and we are lovin every minute of it! She has started talking like crazy and you can actually understand most of the things that she says! She is growing up so quick and time is flying by but we are trying to make the most of every minute we have with her.




As far as church goes...IT'S AWESOME!!! On our first Wednesday night of the new year I was privileged to lead one of my junior high girls to the Lord! It was such an awesome way to ring in the new year! Our first big event was Hot Hearts in Beaumont Texas. We took 19 kids and had a blast! On the first night we had 3 students that changed their eternal destination!!! As if God hadn't blessed us enough on Friday night, He decided to show off a little more and 2 more of our kids got saved on Saturday!!!! Josh and I are still beaming from a wonderful weekend and wonderful blessings!!



So far this has been an awesome year and I only expect it to get better! I hope this finds all of you having a great week!