05/08/10

On being a mother...

Learning
Growing
Uncertain
Confident
Overwhelming
Exciting
Heavy-hearted
Joyous
Praying
Listening


Each day is a journey.

Each hour a memory.

Each moment realizing the need for the Lord.

05/07/10

Do you know what these are?


They are the latest craze in Childville.... that has led to Middleschoolville, Highschoolville, Collegeville and even Adultville.

They are shaped bracelets that are the RAGE called Silly Bands (and other names like Believer Bands, Crazy Bands, etc....) They can come in all kinds of shapes and forms. The kids get quite excited over them.

I had to ban them from my classroom. They were QUITE distracting as children kept laying them out across their desks checking out what shape they had or didn't have. I was beginning to think I needed to turn into a Silly Band in order to teach. :)

Some people have gone to the extreme. There have been parents rushing out to buy these things at all costs for their kids.

I would not fit into that category. I have not purchased any of these...nor do I plan on doing so.

Mikayla has a few but only because she has gotten them from friends. The kids love to trade them.

It is definitely a fad.. and it isn't a bad one, but... it's still a fad.

In time it will fade and become an "icon" or a "remember when" just like ones from my growing up days: Twist-A-Beads, add-a-bead necklaces, Duck shoes, purses with wood handles where you could change the cover, etc....

I'll let Mikayla enjoy the fun in small amounts. She'll look back on these like I do on my fads from the past.

However, I can't say that I want them for myself. :)

What is a fad you remember from "way back when?"

05/06/10

Today is 59th observance of the National Day of Prayer.

The theme for this year is "Prayer! For Such a Time as This," based on Nahum 1:7 - The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.

The thoughts on "such a time as this" are from Esther 4:14 where Mordecai, Queen Esther's uncle, told her she should go to the King on the behalf of the Jews who were to be destroyed following a decree brought about by a wicked man named Haman.

Esther was unsure about going to the King. She knew she had to be summoned or she would risk being put to death. Here is Mordecai's response to her from Esther 4:

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?"

Esther realized then that God was in control. The word "God" or any form thereof is never mentioned in the book of Esther but His Providence is evident all over the book! She was placed in the King's palace... for such a time as that!

America is not what it used to be! Our country is moving further and further away from it's foundation of believing in the one TRUE God. Instead our government keeps pushing tolerance of many religions and being politically correct.

God has placed us where we are for a purpose. We know we have to stand for what is right. We must stand for the only path that will lead others to Heaven. There are not many ways to eternal life in Heaven. There is but one way and that is through trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior.

Aren't we just like Esther who at first was so scared of the outcome she was afraid to do anything about it?

The Lord has brought the theme's verse of Esther 4:14 to my mind so much in the past few months. I have been placed where I am in this world "for such a time as this." He has reminded me of it in ways that I never thought of before. When I found out it was the theme to this year's National Day of Prayer I was in awe of God's timing because it has been so evident in my life where He has placed me. He causes something that looks bleak to turn into something that He has providentially planned to work out for good.

We must keep the faith.

We must stand firm.

We must PRAY.

Have you prayed today?

Is it something you only do when you "think" about it or do you do as the Bible tells us in I Thessalonians 5:17 - "Pray without ceasing"?

Is it something you only do today because of what today is?

Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ to whom you may come boldly at any time and any place?

My prayer life has definitely changed in the past few years. I am thankful for the relationship I have with Jesus Christ where I can go to Him anytime in prayer whether I am driving down the road, in the shower, or by my bed at night. He is ALWAYS there.

Let us rejoice.

Let us praise.

LET US PRAY to the ONE TRUE GOD
for "in Him we live, and move, and have our being" - Acts 17:28a

05/05/10

Oh, how I love me some Hostess Ho-Ho's.

When I was little I could eat a box of ten at one sitting.

Good memories accompany these delightful, individually-wrapped, sweet creations. I used to sit in the bend of my Daddy's knees on the couch while he took naps to rejuvenate himself after getting up at 2:30 in the morning. Many times I would have me some Ho-Ho's in hand as I sat there. I would take small bites as to soak in all of the goodness and keep it lasting as long as I could.

Unfortunately, my self-control was not as it should be as a wee one. My Mom began to hide any kind of sweets from me and I would have to go to another room and close my eyes so she could get them out of the hiding place for me to have a SMALL amount. (I find now that I need to do that with Wes.. lol)

Well, I have not seen my old, scrumptious friends lately when in the grocery store. As we were perusing the aisles of Super Walmart last Saturday, what did my eyes behold but HOSTESS HO-HO's!!!

Immediately, I grabbed a box and put them in the cart. There was no thinking through on the price of those... NO sirreee!!!!!

As we walked around I began to lovingly share with my precious husband and children that they were NOT allowed to touch the box or eat ANY of those beloved Ho-Ho's because they were all MINE.

Yes, that was quite selfish. I realize that.

They had PLENTY of sweet treats in the cart for them.

My precious family understands my "needs" and lets me enjoy them.

These Ho-Ho's are taking me back down Memory Lane and have done so once a day since we've gotten them. I have 10 days to enjoy the memories.

Please excuse me now as I partake yet again.....

05/04/10

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. My kids have brought me in something special the last two days. Yesterday was flowers and most of my kids participated in bringing in a few flowers to be put together in a bouquet. It was so pretty and I told my kids I had to take them home so I could photograph them nicely. (Plus, I wanted to be able to enjoy them more!) They made me promise to show them the pictures so that is another reason I am putting them on the blog so they can see from school. Aren't they just beautiful?

This rose was like the "centerpiece" and it was such a beautiful color.

There were so many different flowers that just made it unique!

I don't know what these are but they are so neat!

Purple iris.... one of my favorite flowers!

Another angle of the centerpiece rose.

These daisies were such a bright pink! I loved how they had been dyed to be so vibrant!

Today my kids brought me homemade cards. I can't post all of them but this one just made me smile because the little guy told me yesterday he forgot to bring me flowers. He didn't realize it but just knowing that he cared enough to tell me (because I really wouldn't have known!) meant the world to me. Again, I got LOTS of sweet notes. Because of what he told me yesterday I just had to share this one.

Here is his sweet note:

Dear Mrs. Fowler,
I really appreciate you coming to school teaching us about....
Math, spelling, Geography, and most importantly God. You are the best teacher I ever known. You take your time teaching us when you could be taking pictures, or you could clean your house, or do garden work.....
I am sorry that I forgot to bring in your flowers but I will always love you and will never forget you like I did with the flowers....
Oh forgot to tell you that you are the most funniest teacher ever. Hope you like the card.

Oh, little guy.... I did... more than you will ever know. :)

05/03/10

Our bluebirds have made a nest in the yard. It is so fun to watch for the new life to come forth. Enjoy the pics of these today. Our babies hatched late last week!

My brain fuzz moments continue.... This morning I got in the shower in my half asleep stupor. As I was putting conditioner in my hair I noticed it was already quite smooth.... but I put the conditioner in anyway. As I was doing so, I began to think back and realized I NEVER WASHED MY HAIR.

SO....

I proceed to wash out the second round of conditioner, WASH my hair, and then re-condition. My hair is silky soft today.

Please tell me I'm going to be able to think straight in four more weeks. LOL


Wesley asks me a question this afternoon that went into something like this:

"Mom, is it true that every minute we are alive we are closer to dying?"

Oh, goodness.. that is quite deep.

"Well, yes, Wes, that would be true. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason, I was just thinking about it earlier."

"Thinking about what?"

"Heaven"

"What about Heaven?"

"Oh, nothing scary or anything.... I'm not scared to die."

What a comfort to know my little guy thinks deeply but isn't scared. He knows He has Jesus Christ as His Savior!

Do you?

05/02/10

In honor of Homecoming at church today where we see old friends and family who have moved away and get to eat pot-luck lunch together:

Psalm 34:8
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.