Bye-bye 2008

It's here, the end of 2008. I always wonder where the time has gone as I look back on a new year. This year is no different. It seems like just yesterday I was at the watch-night concert at the church ringing in 2008. Now, according to my phone, I'll be saying hello to a new year in 14 hours 877 min 52640 seconds.

As I look back at 2008 I'm amazed at what's gone on:

* My David started pre-school & finally finished potty-training

* Carlo & I celebrated 10 years of marriage

* Our first year of MCC finished and I came to the program full-time for our 2nd year

* We moved into our new home, a blessing we knew, but didn't realize how much of one until July when

* My mother & brother-in-law moved in with us

There are so many other things that have happened, but these are the things that stand out for me. I hope to add lots more to the list for 2009.

Ice...Dangit!

We have a stupid ice day. The kids are happy. I'm sure our MCC students are happy at getting to sleep in today and moving closer to their break. I know all the school age people in the city are over-joyed. I'm not! I really wanted clear weather today. I wanted to go to work (hello, money is always nice to make), I hate the inevitable news of accidents and downed power lines and stuff. I also worried about one of our students who is from Florida and has no experience in the ice and snow. He picks up a student who lives up 2 very steep hills and he drives a little Chevy Cobalt. I'm glad now that I don't have that worry, but I was looking forward to today.

I think teenagers are a little crazy and whole lot of stupid (if you are a teenager and you know me, you know I love you, but it doesn't change the way I feel). I'm subbing for the middle/high school class at our church school this week, and I'm telling you, my feelings are being reinforced. Thank You God you did not call Carlo & I to Youth Ministry. Thanks for giving us the burden for discipleship and young adults. Mark Rutland has said the only difference between a high school senior and a college freshman is a 6-week break. This is very true, but at least when our 1st year students act crazy, we can tell them to stop being dumb and grow-up and not worry about a momma who is going to be mad at us. We get to deal with the real world and real world issues...there's nothing better.

Snow Day

A really bad ice storm hit the northeast this weekend. There are some 90,000+ home without power. Here in Clarksville we are expecting an ice storm later tonight. It's already like 28 degrees outside and feels more like 16. I absolutely love winter! I love fires in the fireplace, jeans, boots, sweaters, hats, and all that stuff. It's so cool to look out a window on a winter morning and see everything sparkling like diamonds because of the frost. The crunch under your shoes is great. What I don't like is that the meteorologists have called for snow for like a total of 7 days since Thanksgiving weekend. Have we gotten?? NO, but you can believe we'll be getting the ice. On my way home from substitute teaching the rain drops on my rear window were frozen and the little bit of water left on my windshield after I swiped my wipers over it froze as well.

~I don't like ice. It's dangerous, and people always drive crazy in inclement weather. Carlo and I have a Christmas dinner to go to later. Lord keep us safe as we go.

~I don't want a snow day tomorrow. This is the last week of school & MCC before Christmas. There's a lot to be done. I want to make my 3 days of subbing count.

Wow, a month since my last blog. Never said that my posts would be frequent, that's why it's titled "Random Thoughts."

We've been pretty busy. My boys are growing up way too fast. Last night was their Christmas program at school. I had the best donkey and lamb EVER in the history of children's programs. The program was short and sweet and to the point: Jesus was born in a manger, angels proclaimed His birth to shepherds who came to see Him, Wise Men saw the star in the sky and came to see what it was all about. At the end of their journey they found a King, the King of kings and worshipped Him. It was an awesome 20 min.

My family life has been pretty busy too. My mother-in-law has had a stay in the hospital and a trip to the emergency room in the last 3 weeks. It's been crazy and scary, but praise God, we're getting results. Doctors are working to get to the bottom of things and we are hearing good reports concerning illnesses we thought were bad, but aren't.

MCC has been rocking it. We've got no travel plans til 2009, but that doesn't mean we don't have stuff to do. We've helped with services, are prepping for the church Christmas cantata, and we're still maintaining all our other workload. Yesterday was finals for the students. 3 took Hermeneutics and Evangelism, while one took Homiletics and Romans. I know that all 3 passed Hermeneutics and Evangelism, and we're just waiting on grades for Homiletics and Romans. I'm proud of all 4 of them, especially my 2 first years. They scored really good marks. Keep it up you guys!

I'm ready for the break we'll get with Christmas. I can chill with my kids, get some school work done myself, and try to do some Christmas shopping. I've done none as of right now, but it'll be good. I've got a good idea of what we're getting the kids and what I'm getting my husband. That just leaves my mother, brother, & sister-in-law. More to the point, I've got to get Christmas cards done. If you follow this I usually send you a card, you'll get it at some point this month. That's the best I can promise.

History

Tonight history was made.  For the first time, America elected a black man as president of this country.  

While I may not agree with or support anything this man stands for, it is very moving to see a black man be called "President-elect" or "Mr. President" and it not be on t.v. or a movie.

I know so many people who are disappointed, or mad or whatever that John McCain didn't win the election.  I personally didn't vote for Barack Obama, but I can't help but echo my friend Israel in saying that maybe this is the kick in the rear Christians need to really start praying for our country instead of just paying it lip-service.  Something we must never forget is that God is in control, and nothing EVER takes Him by surprise.  He knows what He's doing, even when we don't.

So, I may not be particularly happy about the next leader of this country that I love, but I am putting my trust and dependence in the Leader I know has only  my best interest at heart.  The Leader who will "never leave nor forsake me."  The Leader who will be there for me no matter what.  The Leader who promises me that while "the sorrows may last through the night, His joy comes with the morning."  I'm not saying that Barack Obama and Joe Biden are going to bring us 4 years of sorrows or darkness, but I am saying that as long as I have faith in and depend on my God, I am safe and secure.

I encourage those of you who are believers to have that same faith in God, and invite those of you who aren't believers to place your trust in Him, and allow Him to give you that peace that passes all understanding.

Man oh Man!!

It's only Tuesday, but it has already been a crazy week. I had a great time with my boys on a field trip yesterday. We went to a century farm (just meaning that the farm has had one hundred years or more of continual agricultural production) and saw the sights. There was a 40-foot tunnel slide that was a favorite of all the students. I learned that I am definitely not cut out to do the whole, "Let boys be boys. Sometimes they do dangerous things, but they're boys, it's what they do." thing. I was going crazy watching my boys in particular, but all the students try to climb this dirt mound that had them slipping and sliding and in some places had a sheer drop. And of course because they were kids none of them wanted to use the easy path up the hill to go back down the slide.

In an effort to live drama-free, we had a whole lot of it today. In our MCC fashion we were real in the face of everything. We learned somethings today. I think for all of us it was something different. Some learned compassion, we all learned that "If not for the grace of God, there go I." Tomorrow will give us a clearer picture of everything. God, just please give us the wisdom in finishing this out, and the grace to handle it all with Your love and mercy.

My Newest Discovery

RedBox is the coolest thing ever. For $1 you can find a movie to have an awesome movie night with your family. How do I know this? Last Friday we spent $2.16 renting "Iron Man" and "Baby Mama." Obviously the kids didn't watch "Baby Mama," which is a funny movie by the way. That was something more for Carlo and me to enjoy, and we did. We let the boys watch "Iron Man" and have their fun without us adults getting annoyed hearing their comments and sound effects helping the movie develop. But I digress, the people who came up with the concept of Red Box are geniuses! I wish I had come up with the idea. It's an economical, yet fun way to encourage family time. By offering family friendly movies at a cheap viewing price, the makers of RedBox machinges have allowed families who can't afford to go to the movies, meet Blockbuster's standards, or purchase movies when they are released to see these new movies with their families. Thanks RedBox people, the ease of use; selection; and price made for a great Friday night!

So, wow it's been a long time.

I've had tons going through my mind, but I just haven't taken the time to get it blogged. Live has been hectic, but in a good way. My boys are growing up and I can't be prouder of their progress. David is finally potty-trained!! Thank God that journey is over! Tony has been doing great with school progressing through his work at a good pace, and making straight A's on all his tests. They marvel me each day with the new things they think up, say, or learn and share with me. I'm blessed to have 2 boys who love me and love God. The fights and pouts I get out of David each night over who's turn it is to pray (he always says it's his night), and who's going to pray before school are endearing. My children are applying the Word of God to their lives everyday and growing in faith and love for Him.

The first month and 2 days of MCC have been great. I love what I do. I get up everyday ready to go to work. The students are growing and allowing God to work in their lives. God is at work in me, and I can see in my life the changes taking place. We've been pretty non-stop the last 3 weeks, so I'm looking forward to a slower pace as we get geared up for Christmas. I'm expecting big things in the weeks to come as we spend more time in prayer together, study the Word, and just let the Holy Spirit do His thing in us.

I'm Back!!!

It feels like forever and not like 8 days since I last posted. Here are some quick catch-ups.

* I'm thirty now...that's crazy!!

* I LOVE working full-time with Master's Commission

* My boys are growing up way too fast

* Our WAR Week, D-Day, and Commission Service were outta sight

* I'm looking forward to Kansas City

* I miss my family very much and hope to see them soon

* My 10th wedding anniversary is in 14 days

* God is always right on time when He answers prayers

* I want a new cell-phone, preferably an iPhone

* This year's MCC class is awesome (note the picture)

I haven't posted in a while, but I've been busy. Last Thursday officially kicked off the 0809 class of MC Clarksville. Thursday and Friday were full of information overload. We went over the handbook, the church campus, academic guidelines, and lots more. We chilled Thursday night at this awesome arcade in town and Friday we were able to chill at the Lerman's house. We roasted wienies over a fire (that got started thanks to me, Jamie, & Laura). Saturday we went to Ft. Donelson to take pics and then headed to Paris Landing just to chill out before the Next Level service.

Yesterday started our WAR week phase of orientation. We've styled it after Navy Seal HELL Week, and it's been great so far. Lots of surprises, exercises, and training. Yesterday we spent time all over town learning about practical ministry. Today we spent about 90 min at the best gym in Clarksville, Clarksville Mixed Martial Arts Academy. John Rankin, the owner, operator, and pastor of the church based out of the Academy is great. He worked us hard, but it was so good. I've got that great feel good burn in my legs that lets me know I had a good work out. I can't believe that tomorrow is Wed. and after that will be D-DAY. If the last 2 days are any indication of D-DAY, it's going to rock!!

It all starts tomorrow

2 students should be in Clarksville as I type this, and our last one arrives tomorrow morning.  1:30 tomorrow afternoon officially kicks off the 0809 year of Master's Commission Clarksville.  I am super excited about it, but I'm sweating my pants off as well.  This is technically my first year with Master's as I worked a full-time job last year.  I know and love two of our 2nd years, but I'm starting fresh and new with our 2 first years and 1 new to the program 2nd year.  I'm going to be learning our program and how my husband ticks in the Master's environment.  Lord help me learn what I need from you and from the students.  Let my pride fall in the face of humility, and help ME to BE what YOU want ME to BE!!!

I Need a Nap

My mind is whirl right now. For whatever reason, my girl Camille was up late and decided to throw something at me on Facebook. I got the text at 2:51 am! Now, I've got my mobile updates set to run from 10 am to 10 pm. What happened?? I've decided to start working out with my husband in the mornings, so being woken up at 2:51 and then again at 6 was not cool.

We're moving fast and furiously towards Zero Day for Master's Commission Clarksville. We've still got some of the small details to work out for our Orientation Week, but I'm realizing that time is running down, and we've got to "get 'er done!" With students straggling in over the next 8 days with Aaron arriving Thursday right before we kick off, I'll be focused on getting everything finished and prepared before we get started. Lord help me stay focused on what needs to be done and trust you for all the small things.

A Day Off

For the first time in a LONG time Carlo and I are off on a Friday. His day off is always Friday, but when I was teaching, I was at work and he was home, or during the summer we had the boys. Well, today we are both off, and the boys are at school. So what did my husband decide to do? He decided to take me on a date! Isn't that great? It's been a long time since we've been able to just go me and him. I think the last time we picked up and went without any thoughts to kids was the summer of 2004. Tony spent the summer with my folks in South Carolina and I was pregnant with David. No responsibilities as far as kids go and the ability to just go grab a meal or catch a movie or whatever. I have no idea what Carlo has planned for today, but I'm excited about it. Maybe I can get some awesome pictures of us today, we have so few of those.

Life

My sister, Danielle, just welcomed a baby girl into the world. I'm stoked, for one reason, this is a miracle child. My sister had cancer back in 2002. She lost a baby right before she was diagnosed, and the possibility of having kids was very slim. Every week of this pregnancy has been a blessing and the culmination has arrived. My niece, Aubree Alaina, is here and is welcomed by parents who love her greatly, grandparents on both sides who are going to spoil her rotten, 2 aunts who probably will as well, uncles who won't know what to do with her, and 7 cousins who will be fascinated by another little one when they get to see her. It has occurred to me that my mom is OLD!! Not really, she's just over the half-century mark, but she does have 8 grand-kids & there's only 5 of us kids. You do the math. We'll have to get everybody home from their parts of the world to have a reunion, not everybody's met everyone else's significant other and their kids. Isn't that something??

Wow!!

That's pretty much all I can say right now. Things are moving at a pretty good pace right now. The boys are in school, I'm working alongside Carlo daily, my sister is having her baby sometime today (get er done Dani!!), and I won a $500 scholarship that is going to pay off my first level of classes with Berean!!

Life has been great and God has been greater. One of the highlights of this week for me has been that I killed a spider on Sunday morning. For those of you who don't know me, I am terrified of spiders. If I see one, my world stops. I'm like the mouse who is mesmerized by the snake that's about to eat it. Carlo knows my "there's a spider voice," and usually comes running when he hears it. My problem Sunday? Carlo was in the shower, the spider was chillin' on the kitchen curtain, and Carlo had just preached a sermon on Wed. about being "faithfully fearless." What kind of wife or Christian for that matter would I be if I completely ignored the Word of God and let my fears rule me. It doesn't help that I've been reading Mark Batterson's In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day, and am challenged repeatedly to unlearn fears and fight that lion.

Well, I fought and won on Sunday. What's awesome is that I wasn't afraid to kill the spider. You see, that's my problem. It's not the spider itself I'm afraid of, it's the spider getting on me when I try to kill it, that's my problem. On this particular occasion I was more afraid of breaking the stained glass leaf Tony made for me that was sitting perfectly aligned behind the spider in the window sill. Well, spider dead, leaf okay...Rock on Jaemi!! I did it!

Take me out to the ballgame

Last night we took a group of our young adults to see the local AAA ball club play. Our couple's fellowship at church goes every year and makes it kind of a family outing. We always pick a time when they have a Christian artist playing, and for $10 you get the concert, the game, a hot dog, and a soda. Last night Jars of Clay played. It was pretty cool having them there. Their set wasn't like the best, but when are you going to hear Jars of Clay for ten bucks??

One of the best things was being able to take Tony with us. He's been going to ball games since he was 3, and he always looks forward to them. One of Tony's favorite things to do with my dad is go to Columbia Blowfish games whenever we're in Columbia during the summer. Tony spent the night hanging with some friends who were there, watching the game, and doing what everybody loves to do at games: eat. Mimi Cathy got her spoil on with Tony treating him to bag a peanuts so it was an overall great experience for him. I think for Tony is was a great cap to a great summer.

I've been working

This past week I've been working at MCA helping out. It hasn't been too bad. I've been administering Diagnostic Tests and getting my old classroom set up. The teacher that will be taking the class is in training this week, so in order to make sure things are ready to go on Monday morning, I'm setting the room up. For me this is cool, because everything I wanted to change last year I was able to change during summer school, so now I'm prepping the way I wish I could have before school started last year.

I'll work Monday to help the teacher out, let her know where things are at and how they are set up so she can decide to make any changes if she'd like. Starting Tuesday, it's the MCC office for me. I'm really excited about this change. Setting up in the office and working and planning with Carlo to get our year off the ground. It's going to be the best!

Get Yo Preach On

Tonight my wonderful hubby preached the message in service. The message should be up in a couple of days on the church's website (www.clarksville1ag.net). The message was about fears and facing those fears to become fearless. Carlo used great pictures to illustrate his points and referenced Mark Batterson's In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day. The main text was found in 2 Samuel 23:20. The story of Beniah and his fight with a lion is incredible. When you think of it, Beniah was crazy, but his actions showed a guy who looked at an opportunity and was FEARLESS!! He got down and dirty and because of it, he became the commander in chief of Israel's army!! What an opportunity God gave Beniah!! If only we took the opportunities God place in front of us and used them to become fearless and move where God wants us to go. What is waiting around the corner for us when we get down and dirty in the pit with the lion?

Whew

I finished my Evangelism class today with a 90%. This is a marked improvement on my Hermeneutics final. I'm just happy to be done. Next up...Pentecostal History (I think that's what Carlo said is next).

WAR Week (our first week of MCC) is kicking off in 2 1/2 weeks! I'm so excited. Carlo and I have just about everything roughed out, now it's just details. If you don't know me, I live my life in the details. It's those little things that I love to see to and take care of, unfortunately, it's those little things that kill me too. I see them so perfectly in my head, I plan for them so pain-stakingly and then something goes wrong and I feel a failure or like I screwed up somewhere. It's gotten to the point that I try not to think about things that can occur in the future because I don't want to ruin "what might be." Lord help me not sweat the small stuff when it doesn't go the way I think it should, but to always remember that you are in control and things are going the way You want them to.

Lions

So I've been reading In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day, by Mark Batterson (www.evotional.com). My husband has blogged with about this book a couple of different times and how his life has been impacted by it. Well, my life and my outlook on life is changing because of this book. In a very general nutshell, Batterson equates lions with opportunities presented to us by God, and we can do 1 of two things. We can 1) be like Beniah and jump in the pit and face the lion, or 2) be a punk and run away and lose the opportunity that God has given you.

I personally believe God put a lion in my path today, and I think I got in the pit with that sucker. It's nothing big like a drastic career change or a divine call to something new. It was just sharing my testimony with someone who probably needed to hear it. I know sharing my testimony doesn't seem big, for me it was. It was a one on one sharing of major events in my life to one of the most unreceptive audiences in the world, (in my opinion), an American teenager. I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit uses something I said to impact this person's life and hopefully they will be able to change and allow God to work in his life.

I challenge you to look read the book if you haven't read it and to be on the look out for the lions God puts in your path and get in that pit and win. You never know when your lion will become an elephant.

It's time dangit!!

I am so ready for Tony to come home. He's been camping out since Thursday afternoon for his Royal Rangers Pow-Wow. I know he's had a good time, but I'm ready to see his sweet face bopping around the house. Poor David has missed his "bubby" very much. He's slept in his bed, and asked when he's coming home since he left. This morning when he woke up the first words out of his mouth after asking for "cheese biscuits and eggs," he wanted to know if it was time for me to pick Tony up.

My poor honey has been asked to drive the van and trailer to get the boys and their gear and bring them back. This is his first experience in a long time driving a van with a trailer, so I'm riding shot-gun. This oughta be a fun experience for the two of us. So with that said...bring on the adventure!!

It is finished

So, I just finished my Heremeneutics final. I passed!! Yay me, right? Well, I'm not happy...I didn't get the grade I wanted. I'm mad at myself because I've been done with the class since the end of April and I'm just now taking the final. I'm mad because I know that I could have studied a little bit longer and probably done better. Well, what's done is done, it's just that my goal of straight A's is down the drain. I'm determined to do much better on my Evangelism final.

Gettin' my dork on

I've loved anime (Japanese animation for those who don't know) for as long as I can remember.  I've watched since I was a kid, and had a great friend in high school who got a job with the sole purpose of being able to buy anime and manga (Japanese comic books).  He turned me onto watching in Japanese with English subtitles. This is the method I prefer, but have managed to deal when watching adult swim on Cartoon Network. This weekend I spent much of my time on YouTube watching "Bleach." I think the show is hilarious and action-packed. I'm hoping to get caught up with the show (there's like 180-something episodes released so far), and then continue to follow with the postings that people are able to put up.

So, now you all know my secret...I love anime & I'm not afraid to say it.

It just hit me...

There are only 3 weeks until my boys go to school. Tony will be starting 4th grade (wow I'm getting old) and David, my precious baby, will be starting pre-school. This is wild for me because it's not a half-day thing. David will be spending every Mon.-Fri. 8:30-3:30 at school. He'll have some homework some nights, he'll be going on field trips, making projects, going to music class, the whole shebang! The school our kids attend is great. We've got full & comprehensive Pre-K and Kindergarten programs and I think the curriculum for 1st-12th grades is great as well. What will I do with myself while the kids are at school? Pouring my heart into 5 young people who desire to know God and make Him known. I'll be working full time with my husband with our Master's Commission program. I'm actually excited about it, that is until I realize that I've got to buy 2 sets of uniforms and school supplies for my guys. I'm thankful to my mom who's always been really supportive of the educational stand we've taken with our kids and helps us out with the purchasing of school supplies. We've actually not bought any school supplies for Tony since he's started school and last year my mom bought his uniforms as well!! Do I expect it this year?? Nope. Times and things change and I become dependent on other people to meet my needs and the needs of my family instead of depending on God to supply ALL my needs. Does this mean that I won't accept my mom's help?? HECK NO!! Who am I to rob her of whatever blessing God has in store for her due to her generosity and willingness to give? it's all circular: God blesses us, we give and bless others, God blesses us even more, we give and bless others even more. See how it works??

I'm hoping..

to get a sushi dinner tonight. The parent of a former student wants to take me out for sushi as a thank you for all the help I gave the family this year as far academics goes and stuff. Unfortunately I haven't heard anything to confirm plans so, I looks like Carlo called it right and I won't be going. Oh well, and night at home with my boys is better than dinner with a parent any day!

Catch-up Round 2

I am so ready for August to get here and this year of MC Clarksville to start. We're sittin' pretty with three 2nd years and two 1st years. I'm excited about the changes we're making and the new things we'll be implementing into the program. Starting with Orientation Weekend and moving from there, it's going to be a fast-paced, hard-hitting year. We got some disappointing news last week concerning the program, but hey we've moved on and we'll have a great year. Things are already looking up, we found out that we will become a fully Affiliated program with MCIN. This is like coming off your probation period with a company. We'll be looking forward to conference in Dallas even more.

Let's Play Catch...up

It's been a while since I blogged, but I never promised an everyday all the time kinda thing. So much has happened I don't know where to begin. For starters, I am no longer employed by Montgomery Christian Academy!! I am no longer a sometimes MC director, I'm an all-the-time MC director. Now that we're back from Dallas, it'll be time to start moving forward towards getting everything set up for the start of this new year. I can't wait. We've gotten some awesome ideas from Randy & Robin, and from all the directors we met this weekend. I think I may need to post a couple of times today to kinda get all my thoughts in order and keep from having a book long post on here, so I'll be back.

Memories...

The last 24 hours have been awesome. My youth pastor and his family are missionaries to Vienna, Austria, and have been in the States doing a new leg of itineration. Tomorrow Randy will be speaking for a few moments in the morning service, so the family has been staying us for a few days. It's been great having people I've known for a long time here hanging around and just talking. We've spent time just catching up and talking "shop" and I have loved it.

To change pace, I found out that a clothing company that we love, Faveur clothing is actually run by a friend of mine that I was in youth group with. What's crazy about this fact is I spent about 30 min. talking to this guy's brother back in Nov. and didn't know it. To my credit, I had never met the brother before so I didn't realize it. I wish I had known, so I could have sent a hello along. So to plug my buddy Bryan Atwood, if you want some really cool looking clothes that have a story behind them, check out this place: http://www.getfaveur.com

It's almost done

So I've only got 2 days of summer school left and my employment with MCA will be over. I'm kinda sad because I've loved some of the things I've done, but I'm also glad I'll be done with it. This is the longest job I've held in my life (1 1/2 years) and that's kinda weird. It's not really my fault, you know being laid off, moving, being put on bed rest, and different things like this have led to my short employment terms, but it's all good, I've been able to be home with my kids and experience all their big moments first hand.

So...

It's been a while. I've been busy and stuff, so let's recap: 1)I joined Facebook last week. I wasn't going to, but there are people I've wanted to connect with that aren't on MySpace so, whatcha ya gonna do? 2)The 4th of July was awesome! We had a great time with some dear friends, and what had to be a 4 hour firework show. My dear husband started after lunch with some "pre-show" stuff & then after dark he got going with the big stuff. We went from 8:30 - 10 and then spent about 30 min cleaning the street after. 3)David took his first trip out of the house in big boy undies and stayed dry last week (I'm so happy)!!!! 4)My youth pastor will be here on Friday for the weekend and I'm excited to see him and his family. They are missionaries to Austria and home itinerating right now. 4)ONLY 3 DAYS OF SUMMER SCHOOL LEFT!! 5)My downstairs bathroom is finished! The crew finally finished and I got it cleaned up on Saturday. This makes a total of 1 room decorated in the house with 7 rooms left to go. 6)WE GOT WIRELESS!! I'm super excited about this. It means we can stay connected even better, and that I can put my awesome MacBook my sis-in-law Sylvia game to even better use. That's if for now, I think it's time for the boys to go to bed, and for me to enjoy some Cherry Garcia. That's what's up!!

Fireworks, Potty Training & Life

So life has been a whirlwind the last couple of days. We've been pretty busy with our church's 4th of July service and basic work. I'm glad to slow down for a couple of days and just kinda chill. I'm super-excited about David's progress with potty-training, he's pretty much staying dry all day now and (this is the big part) going on his own. We've gone from "Mommy I gotta pee-pee!" to "Mom I going pee-pee!" It's great...good-bye Pull-Ups, hello Spider-Man undies!

Last night started our 4th of July fireworks spectacular. This spectacular will take us t0 the 6th of July (the last legal day to shoot them in Clarksville) and take a couple of hours. I'm really excited about the 4th because we'll be heading off to celebrate with friends, and will spend some quality time shooting stuff off. The only downer is David doesn't like the "boom-boom ones" as he calls anything that makes a scream or a bang or a pop. If everything were fountains of color and smoke bombs and sparklers his life would be great.

God Bless America

We got back about 45 min ago from the Patriotic service at Cornerstone Church in Madison. All I can say that it was awesome. There was an incredible mix of music (old & new, secular & and sacred), great dancing, and a thought-provoking word to say the least from Pastor Davis. The fireworks were as awesome as promised. Fun was had by all. David played it up in the 3-story indoor playground in the nursery, Tony was awed by everything, and Carlo and I loved the medleys that were preformed. I can't even begin to think about what next year will hold. If you live in the area and aren't busy tomorrow, you should go to the service. Check my husband's blog to get a definite on the service time tomorrow, but I think it starts as 7.

A man from the church sang a song that he wrote after one of Pastor Davis' messages. The title of the song is "I Get To." Those three words say it all, we don't have to do anything...because of God's grace and mercy, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, and God's divine placement of putting us here in the United States we GET to go to church, read our Bibles, pray, complain, and do just about anything else we please. I for one know that I'm going to start rearranging my thinking and and thanking God for allowing me to do all these things.

Sickness

Unfortunately, my loverly husband has a summer cold. I think these are worse that being sick in the winter because it's hot outside and there's tons to do, you shouldn't have to worry about blowing your nose, or coughing, or any of that junk. Poor Tony has a cough and some congestion, and David's been complaining all week as well. Lord, just please keep me from getting whatever is bothering them. Everybody's yuckiness is throwing a dark cloud over our plans for this weekend (see my husband's blog, www.pastorcarlo.blogspot.com), so I hope we can keep them.

Yesterday

Yesterday was so awesome. My girl April came and had lunch with me at school, and then stuck around until the end of the day. I invited her home, and she had dinner with us. It was so awesome to just kick back with her and chill without the MC Director/Student or ministry leader/member barrier between us. We were just friends. I've missed that with her and I felt like I missed out a lot with her this year with Master's because I wasn't around a lot, so I'm excited to see what's going to happen come August. She'll be my road dawg for all we've got coming up, and we'll both see what's in store for the program with Jamie and Aaron back along with some new faces.

Spa, Spa, Spa!!!!

Saturday was an awesome treat for me. I was able to take my husband's place at a mini spa escape experience hosted by our worship leader. As I sat and was pampered I realized why people drop a couple thousand dollars a week on such experiences. If I'd had a couple hundred dollars to just spend with no thought behind it at all, I would have bought the companies full line of spa and skin care products. I'm planning to host one of these things later on this year, and I'm sure that it will be fun for those invited to that one as well.

Potty Training take 2

I am so proud of my little David!! I want to shout it from the mountaintops. My baby is going potty all by himself. For the last 2 days David has not only gone to the bathroom all day, but he has told me that he has to go, gone standing up, and then flushed and washed his hands like a great big boy! I know 2 days doesn't sound like a lot to some, but for me...it's a big step towards not more Pull-ups and my boy starting school in August! Hip-Hip-Hooray!!!

Potty Training

So we're in the process of potty training our youngest son, who's 3 1/2. For most people they don't really stress or try to push their kids in the area of being diaper free, but I'm under a time crunch. David is supposed to start preschool on Aug. 11. This means that he has to be potty trained by then. I firmly believe that David knows when he has to pee, he just doesn't want to tell anyone that he needs to. I know for a fact he knows when he has to poo because he goes and hides in his room and goes in his pull-up and then comes and tells you he went and that he needs to be changed. For some people this brings the mindset, "Don't put him pull-ups anymore and let him feel how disgusting it is to have all that against his bare skin." I agree with the idea, and would do it since we have hardwood floors upstairs, the only problem with that is I teach summer school two days a week and I know consistency is what is needed to help him get through this.

With all that being said, I am encouraged because for the last two days David has only peed in his pull-up once! Not only has he been using the toilet, but he's been using it standing up, and he's even told me when he had to go. The best (and worst if I'm honest) was at 10:30 last night when he so sweetly yelled, "MOMMY I GOTTA PEE-PEE!!" Great that he needs to right? Well, it'll scare the fire outta anyone if he does it at 3 am. Today was great because it was a school day, and David went potty all day at school. I'm blessed to be able to have on-site childcare during school, so I am able to track his progress and hear straight from him that he went. Hopefully the promise of Incredible Hulk and Power Ranger underwear along with being able to go Ms. Jacque's class in the fall, and tons of positive reinforcements will keep him plugging along like he his.

It's been a while

So like the title says, it's been a while. Things have been pretty busy right now. We had our first MCC graduation Sunday night. It was awesome, sad, exciting, so many things. Members of our church hosted a reception for the students afterwards and it was great! Big thanks go to Jacque, Jayebea, Wanda, Althea, Sis Linda, Karen, and anyone else I missed that prepared food and whatnot. To see people's outpouring of love and affection for the students was great.

Summer school stared this week and I must say that I'll be glad when the next 5 weeks are done. I've got great students, but there are outside factors that are making this hard for me. I would say the hardest thing is knowing that before we are done I'll be meeting my replacement and have to turn some very hard work over to a stranger and hope that as they make the classroom theirs, my work won't be consigned to the recycle bin.

It's nice to get April back as my friend and not just a Master's student. There will be time enough for that come August. I'm looking forward to having her around as a second year when we start back up. Right now we have 3 female applicants for first year. This will be a big change since last year April was it and my time was spent teaching and taking care of the kids. My husband will have Craig and DayDay who will laugh at Office quotes and devour 24 during lunch and I;ll have April to roll eyes with and remember what it was like heading to Austin or Gatlinburg, or Chatanooga for Fine Arts.

So I think I've emptied the craziest, loudest voices bouncing around my head, time to spend some time with Robert Jordan's Fires of Heaven. If you are into Sci/Fi Fantasy novels, the Wheel of Time Series is excellent. Think LOTR but more. Mr. Jordan died before finishing the 12th book in the series, but was able to relate the rest of the story arc to his wife and cousin before he died, so hopefully the book will be out soon. R.J. also wrote the Conan books that helped make Arnold Schwarzenegger famous. Time to get lost.

See ya on the flip side!!!

This is the beginning

So, I know a lot people who have blogs. My husband posts one every day, www.pastorcarlo.blogspot.com, you should check it out. I started this blog because I want to get the random thoughts in my head out. There are so many in here, that I need to do something with them at some point. Who knows, maybe I'll start a revolution or help someone with a life-changing decision. Yeah right. Seriously, this is just a way for me to get things out of my head. The feedback (if there is any) may help to shape my thought processes or outlook on things. I can't promise everyday, but I can say when I've got something to say, it'll be here.