04/30/10

Here, then, is the real problem of our negligence. We fail in our duty to study God's Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy.
-R. C. Sproul

04/29/10

Don't these flowers look like mint candies?


Wesley and Mikayla had a substitute teacher today because we are having our Fine Arts competition today and tomorrow and their teacher was in charge of poetry. The sub came up to me at recess and said Wesley and Mikayla were some sweet kids. She said that earlier in the morning kids had been talking when they weren't supposed to be and they had to run laps. She wasn't sure who all did talk because of it being many in the class so she told them they had to run. Well, she shared with me that Wesley came up to her right after recess began and said he had run his lap for talking. She was impressed that he not only remembered the consequence but did it without being told again.

Some days when the kids have "selective hearing" at home it seems they aren't paying attention, but moments like that show me they are learning and applying what is being taught. I am so thankful for that. Goodness knows they are not perfect and it is a work in progress.

What makes a child successful, in my book, is the knowledge of listening and obedience. If they listen and obey those who God has placed over them now, it will be an easier transition as they become more mature in Christ to listen and obey HIM.

04/28/10

My last picture from Charleston.... looking out one of the windows of a slave cabin. I stood there and wondered how many families had looked out that very window living a life totally different from my own. I often do that when I go to historical places. There is something about history that does things to me emotionally and gets me thinking.


I'm looking at the end of this school year and I am feeling it. My brain is getting quite "FUZZY" as of late. I am marking things wrong that are right, I am giving children credit for things they haven't done, and, AS ALWAYS, I am "mis-speaking." lol I think if I could sleep for a whole day that would benefit me, but we know that will not happen! I'm looking forward to summer and I have about 5 weeks till I get there.

I found out how Mikayla "knew" how to text from last week when she kept making fun of her MOTHER.... I was searching through some of my old texts on the phone the other day and found some that said "I love you Mommy"..... etc... and they were from her. I have saved them. I wish I could date them but not sure how to do that because she never really sent them.... just wrote them as drafts because she really doesn't know how to text. lol What a precious gift that is to me.

Off to see if I have a "fuzz-buster" for this brain of mine. Whew....

04/27/10

Let's just say this is some interesting moss. It was growing on the slave homes at Boone Hall Plantation. I have never seen orange moss... and it may not even be moss!! I thought it was quite lovely in color.

I did not go to school today and teach.

I was just a "Mom" on a field trip.

It is so nice to just be "Mom" and not make sure all of the kids are there and such for a field trip. Field trips can actually be quite stressful for a teacher. You just never know if someone has "escaped" or if you forgot the lunches (Been there, DONE THAT) or if all children have been accounted for. I have found myself in the past at Wesley and Mikayla's field trips having panic moments because I wasn't paying attention and then realizing I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION. :)

We went to a local park/forest area for the field trip. It is good to learn about something you are teaching at the very moment to your own students. lol Yes, I am sure you'll be seeing pictures of that soon, too. Of course, you have to see the Zoo ones first.....

soon....

eventually....

when I finally work on them.

04/26/10

Here is a man who spoke the "Gullah" language of the slaves that lived on Boone Hall Plantation. He did a presentation for us and it was so good. It helped me understand why certain traditions and thoughts are still carried on today.

Here are the slave cabins. These are the only remaining ones left. I believe there were over 30 here at one time.

I can't imagine living in that with my family. I am just thankful slavery is no longer practiced here. We are ALL created in the image of God and should be treated as such. Unfortunately, all over the world there is mistreatment in that area. May we be ones that see others of different color/cultures as special in God's eyes. God sent His Son to die for ALL.

04/25/10

Psalm 121
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

04/24/10

The entrance to Boone Hall Plantation. Could you imagine riding up in a carriage or on horseback underneath the canopy of trees? It was just breathtaking!

If you ever saw the series "North and South" in the 1980's with Patrick Swayze this is where the Maine plantation was filmed. I loved that mini series growing up since it took place during Civil War times.

The only problem with the memory..... it was proven FALSE when I came to the house. lol

I thought this was the original 1860's house. I thought they built all plantation homes like this...

Not so much.

This house was actually built in the 1930's by the people who bought the plantation from the original family owners. This is not a true colonial style home because the sides are not symmetrical. See that the left has three windows and the right has two?

The original house was actually a saltbox type house that looked similar to some that are near my own now. It was no grandiose mansion as we would think. Kinda burst my bubble. lol
However, I can learn to move past it all and see it for what it is today. It is a beautiful place and I recommend anyone to go if they are in Charleston. Boone Hall Plantation is one of the only plantations still operating after all of these years. Most plantations have gone by the wayside or have been replaced with modern areas. Boone Hall still grows crops and has festivities in the spring and fall for people to attend.

So, if you need to find me..... I'll be in my fancy gown with a hoop, fanning myself and waiting for my "soldier to come back from the war." (Said with my most lady-like southern drawl)

What a beautiful drive....

04/23/10

This beautiful spot is at the marsh dock on the Boone Hall Plantation. I stood there and imagined the boats going down the water carrying the goods that were grown there.

Today was the field trip to the Zoo for second graders. It surely was a lovely day, but tiring! :)

04/22/10

I am now moving on to Boone Hall Plantation pictures.... our last stop in Charleston.

You may wonder why I took pictures of the tractors.

Of course, if you have read this blog or know me well enough you KNOW why I took them.

Wesley. :)

He got his first Oliver collectible tractor at Christmas so I had to photograph this one up close.

The other night I was texting a friend. I usually am not a texting individual. My phone has the capability, but it is just a regular cell phone without the "keyboard."

As I was texting my friend, it was taking me longer and I didn't include all of the punctuation and capital letters because I was already having a hard enough time getting the thing typed in a timely manner. Remember.... when you have a regular cell phone without the keyboard you have to press each key possibly 3 or 4 times to get the correct letter.

Mikayla decides at that time to ask me if I needed help with texting.

She's ten.

She has never texted in her life that I know of....

How in the world did "girlfriend" think she could "help" with texting?

She decided to keep asking me that night if I needed help in a joking way as if I had no clue as to what I was doing.

My precious daughter WAS MAKING FUN OF ME!

Oh, goodness.... I had to chuckle inside. Now, instead of me being the one that picks on my own parents, I am now having MY CHILDREN DO IT TO ME!

Maybe I won't be like my sweet Daddy as I get older and go with them to college to get a parking permit and say "My daughter is a computer and needs a sticker!!" (He meant COMMUTER!)

Oh the laughter we have had over that one!

I guess I need to see these moments that are now beginning with my own children as laughable memories that will forever be cherished.

SO... according to Mikayla, if you need me for anything don't TEXT me or it may take a while. :)

04/21/10

The Citadel in Charleston.... went there as a sixth grader.

I was on Safety Patrol that year and we had a year end trip to Charleston. (I was serious about my Safety Patrol duty. For years after that my family would jokingly tell me to get out at intersections to do my "duty." I loved directing traffic. Maybe I should have worked for the DOT????)
Included in that trip was a visit to the Citadel.

I had glasses... BIG brown glasses with my initials on the side. Oh, if you could have seen me then you would have wanted to be JUST LIKE ME.
At that time of my life I had super straight hair and had lived in a bowl cut for all of my born days.

Not so, in sixth grade.
I had gotten my first perm the summer before sixth grade so by the end I was really wearing it well. I was sporting a beautiful "fro" of my own at that time... with my big brown glasses with the initials on the side that blocked my peripheral vision.

I know you are wishing I had posted a picture of that, but for now you will have to live that dream in your head. If you want to see an actual photo, come see me for real and I'd be glad to show you one in the scrapbook that has ALL of my "younger years" wrapped up in one happy place. So happy that you laugh hysterically. (At least, that is what my students do every year when I show them.)

Truly, the only things I remember about Charleston from that sixth grade trip was the fact that Charleston does not have any real hills (King Street is about as high as you go for elevation) and the Citadel because we got to watch them do drills and such in the middle of the campus. I took pictures but they were horrible because I used my Kodak 110 camera and had no clue as to what I was doing.

There is one picture of me standing with my cousin beside a huge tank. I looked like a geek.

So... here are some pictures I took when my best friend and I went to visit. I definitely remember more about it this trip than I did over 25 years ago. There are no pictures of me standing like a geek in front of a tank. I know you hate that.

The chapel

I just love the buildings there... they look like a castle.

Wheel from a submarine that was important in rescuing people in World War II, I believe. I am not remembering all of the facts on this one.

The monument and periscope to the submarine.

Huge helicopter.... see the bullet marks on the windows?

A monument to those who have worked hard competing in drills and such at the Citadel. It dates back to the 1800's.

04/20/10

More visions of entrances for you to behold. Not many more to go, Peeps... then I'll be on to Zoo pics. lol

There are no words of humor or wisdom today. Just a weary teacher and Mom who needs to move on to the next duty... homework. lol

Hope you all have had a blessed day. Around here it has been beautiful!

04/19/10

This sunset was captured over the Ashley River in Charleston. I wanted to take more but there was an interesting gentleman who took that time to get into a conversation with my best friend and me. He was from "Vahginya" and the "sto-ries" he shared with us was a little more than we needed to hear seeing as we just ran into him a few minutes before. Actually, even if we had known him longer they were still stories that we didn't need to hear.

All I really wanted to do was eat my cupcake and watch the sun go down before we went to supper. BUT....

We got a chuckle.

And...

My best friend had a tall country/western guy twitch his mustache at her. lol She left me alone on the bench eating my cupcake while she got "busy" looking at something nearby hoping said country/western guy would take the hint.

We were MOM'S out on the town, dude... Don't even go there......

04/18/10

Hebrews 16:10, 11, 19a

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,

God has shown me so much this past week how He has been my anchor. I ended the week with two more children telling me they received Christ as Savior with their parents, and then I was able to lead another child to the Lord that morning. In all, eight children in my class came to know Christ this past week and then also my friend last Monday. I am so thankful to the Lord for how He worked all things in His timing.

04/17/10

Here are some of Wesley and Mikayla's ten year pics. They look so grown in these. I didn't think there was that much of a difference in how they looked from last year, but when I compared the two years I was surprised. Hope you enjoy seeing these.....

04/16/10

This is Mikayla Girl's little kitchen she has had since she was 3 years old.

Here you see her the Christmas when she received it as a gift.

Here is where she and Wesley are playing in the office with their cousins.

She has always loved to cook on this little thing. I have heard that stove music many a day. There used to be lots of dishes stored in the top and side and food in the refrigerator. I have walked in the office many times and seen the remains of a "meal" where powder and various other "ingredients" were used to create a masterpiece.

In the last couple of years the kitchen hasn't gotten a workout as much as it once did. I have noticed even more in the last year how things just aren't the same.

When we were out of school last week I asked Mikayla if she still used it. When I had asked her this a year ago she was adamant she did not want it to go anywhere and she still "used it." Well, this time her response was that she really didn't use it and it was OK if it was taken out of the office... with the promise that it would be stored in the attic for her little girl one day and that she could keep the microwave on top because she still needs that. lol She said she enjoys cooking and baking on a real stove/oven now. :)

On one hand I was kind of glad because now I can set up my scrapbooking table permanently and hopefully get caught up on the last 2 years.... or so.

On the other hand, my Mother's Heart sank because I have been dreading that day and those words.

I know she's growing up.

I know it is time.

... But that time has gone by way too fast.

04/15/10

I have seen some amazing things happen this week.

It has all been of the Lord... not me.

I was able to lead a friend to the Lord on Monday.

I have been praying for him for years. I was humbled at how God worked the day out for me to be able to talk with my friend and share how he can know he has Christ in his heart. Monday was the first day back from break and it was a CRAZY day.... but God turned the craziness into something I will never forget.

On Tuesday I had the privilege of leading one of my students to the Lord.

I had shared with the children again that morning that if they are not sure they have Jesus in their heart then they could come talk to me and I would drop whatever I was doing and would show them from God's Word how they could be saved. Normally, at the age I teach, the kids hear those words but do not always act on them because they easily forget in the busyness of a day or they may be too shy.

I was pleasantly surprised on Tuesday after lunch when one of my little girls came up to me and said she didn't have Jesus in her heart and wanted Him there. I was so excited but had to get my other students working on something so I could help her. Once the students were settled I was able to show her from God's Word how she can know Him and she understood her need for salvation. It was a joyous moment when she prayed her simple prayer to accept the Lord in her heart.

On Wednesday I had another opportunity to lead one of my students to the Lord.

Today.... I had yet another opportunity to lead one of my students to the Lord!

I am overwhelmed in a good way!

I am in awe of God's timing and His work in MY life to prepare me for those moments when He calls me to do His work. I can see so clearly how things the Lord has caused me to go through recently have prepared me for moments like I have experienced this week.

Here is a poem I read recently and it just seemed to fit what has happened to me this week. I just thank the Lord for all He does in my life and how I can show the love of Christ to others.

How Great the Yield From a Fertile Field

The farmer plows through the fields of green
And the blade of the plow is sharp and keen,
But the seed must be sown to bring forth grain,
For nothing is born without suffering and pain,
And God never plows in the soul of man
Without intention and purpose and plan.
So whenever you feel the plows sharp blade
Let not your heart be sorely afraid,
For, like the farmer, God chooses a field
From which He expects an excellent yield,
So rejoice though your heart is broken in two,
God seeks to bring forth a rich harvest in you.

04/14/10

Happy 10th Birthday to the "GOLDEN CHARIOT!"

She is ten years old today..... we realized when we were leaving from the hospital with two babies ten years ago that our little GMC Jimmy was just NOT going to be big enough for all of that "stuff" we needed with two babies. We truly thought once we got home that it would all work out. Well..... on this day ten years ago when we went to one of my follow up doctor's appointments, Steve waited in the Jimmy with the kids.... only to have Mikayla have a major moment where he had to change a diaper and the only way to get to her was to crawl through the back of the Jimmy to take her out, change her, and try to get her back in the seat. lol When I got back in the van and he shared with me his "obstacle course" to change her diaper, we both looked at each other and said "We need a van!" lol I couldn't even test drive her when we went to buy her because I was not past the two week mark after having the babies.

She shows her age at times.

She doesn't have as nice of an interior now as she used to because some things have had issues with two kids and various other things going in and out of her.

There has been gum stuck in her drink holders (in the back seat.... wonder who could have done that!?)

There have been crayons that melted in the back seat.

Juice has spilled.... on several occasions.

Her original cupholders do not work because they were accidentally stepped on when lowered between the seats.

She has a major issue in the back of the front passenger seat. I honestly don't know what made the fabric tear there and cause the lovely foam to pop through at times.

Part of the plastic that covers up the seat tracks on the driver's side kind of hangs there.... again, we have no idea how this happened.

BUT....

She still drives well.

She's not quite at 100,000 miles.... almost, but not quite.

Her radio and CD player still works.

She sits very nicely.

She's been a good vehicle.

I feel quite comfortable with her now and I honestly feel like she is part of the family.

The "GC" will always be loved. :)

04/13/10

I am talking about golf (of all things today) and this is the only picture I could find. I had all of these creative ones I did a few years ago, but I must not have kept them on the computer. For now, you can see Wesley around 4/5 years old enjoying his golf club.

This post is strictly my opinion and I am not here to argue any point. :)

This past weekend I watched some of the Masters Golf Tournament with Steve. I have learned over the years to watch a lot of different sports because, well... Steve loves a lot of them!

Steve loves, loves, loves the Masters and looks forward to it every year.

This year I knew it would be interesting with the "return" of Tiger Woods.

Steve and I have never been a huge fan of Tiger Woods. We've always thought he was arrogant and we never appreciate his language that he speaks on the course when things don't go his way. He IS good at the game he plays but, in my opinion, attitude goes a much longer way than how you played physically.

I know he made a mess of his life which was revealed to all last November, but I am all for second chances when someone truly has a desire to change and make things right.

I have been given second chances many times in my life when I have made mistakes. His life will never be what it once was, but it was/is my desire for him that he learn from those mistakes and change for the good.

His "story" was all that was on the sports news this past week. Tiger had a bazillion interviews and everyone speculated how he would play. Some people thought he did a brilliant job in his interviews while others weren't as trusting.

I saw him in video snippets at the beginning of the tournament walking up to the crowd and smiling while touching a child's hand. Steve shared with me that he signed autographs, which he has not willingly done in the past.

I wondered.... was that just for show or has he really changed?

On Sunday after the tournament we watched his interview. After watching him and seeing how he acted Steve and I felt he was still arrogant stating that he came to win and he didn't win so therefore he did not do a great job. I am all for giving your all and doing your best, but there was just something about how he talked and acted that didn't seem any different than before.

His demeanor during the interview we watched was not one of a humble spirit saying that after having so much in his life that he came back and did his best. He just kept stating that HE didn't do what HE wanted so it was NOT good. Steve even talked about that last night because he heard a sports commentator on the radio yesterday speaking of the interview. Steve said he thought it was interesting that he acted as if he was THAT good that he could not have played competitive golf for over 100 days and still be able to come in, sweep the tournament, and win. The commentator on the radio yesterday even said as he watched Tiger through the week he turned right back into the same attitude that he had before.

Hmmmm.....

I watched interviews with other golfers on Sunday that didn't play as well but they were humble in their responses. They were rightly disappointed but it wasn't anything like Tiger's response.

I truly hope Tiger gets his life right, but he can't do that through his own efforts. Only the Lord can change a heart.....

We are all known by our doings. None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes and need second chances.

The question is.... When we do make a mistake, do we learn from it and grow or do we choose to act like we've changed for a while but soon settle back into our old ways?

Time will tell for Tiger.

04/12/10

Spring break is officially over and it was back to school today. ::::sigh::::

I surely did love my break and the ability to just be a "Mom."

Most of you who know me (or who have read my blog for a while) know that I am more of an inside person and am not the greatest at yard stuff.

Well, this past week I even shocked myself.

Steve began working on the yard doing various things since the week was so nice. He told Wesley and Mikayla one evening that the next day he wanted them to pick up the limbs he had trimmed.

We have almost 3 acres.... and a lot of bushes.... which meant a lot of limbs.

Well, the Lord began to whisper in my ear that I needed to get out there with my children, not only to show them I am willing to get out and work on the yard, too, but also to allow that to be some time we spend together.

"OK, Lord.... I'll help."

There was a part of me that was tickled to do so... and a part of me that went "OH NO."

The doctor told me in February that my Vitamin D was low so I figured this was a great opportunity to capture some Vitamin D from the sun!

It was a good thing I helped because with my help it took us almost 3 hours of constant picking up and toting off limbs to the "burn pile."

I raked while the kids picked up piles and used the wheelbarrows. It was interesting as I raked because I could feel the blisters forming on my hands even with gloves on... not so fun. However, it was all to help Steve and help the kids learn more responsibility so it wasn't something to complain about!

The next day Wesley even took it upon himself to pick up more pieces that Steve had cut the night before. It was the sweetest thing to look out the window and see him dragging that wheelbarrow around the yard without anyone saying for him to do it.

On Saturday we had another yard day and I volunteered to mow the whole yard.

As the words were coming out I thought "Am I really saying that??"

The yard can be very overwhelming so if I can help Steve by cutting the grass I was happy to do so. Once I got the hang of the lawnmower again and stopped having "Granny Driver" moments I was zipping this way and that giving our yard the fresh haircut it so desperately needed.

My family was in shock.

Mom and Dad even came down the day we were picking up the limbs and I was raking to "take a picture" of me doing yard work. They asked if I was their daughter. Kevin even had to sit down when he heard the news.

Funny, people. Real funny.

Steve helps me so much with various things so I wanted to be a blessing to him, too.

Is there hope for this inside girl to become more of an outside girl?

Maybe so. :)

04/11/10

II Corinthians 12:9b
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

04/10/10

Here are some Easter pics. It was such a beautiful day!! :)

The typical "pose before church on Easter morning" shot. They acted like each other had the plague!!

This is more like it.... silliness and all. lol

Family pic before church.

Wes in his suit. :)

Mikayla's Easter outfit that came with a matching doll dress which she put on her new American Girl doll, Lanie.

Together again

Later we had an Easter egg hunt. They had to find 106 eggs..... one is still MIA. lol