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.