Today's inspiration...

Trying to end the day on a positive note. I may even make this a regular practice:). I was inspired to post on my little used blog by a young woman who is starting her own blog. She hasn't divulged the site to us, her Bible study pals, but we plan to stalk her until we do find it. I am inspired that she is started on the fulfillment of a dream she's had.
I also saw some senior photo session pics taken of a nephew by his sister. The teen boy looks so fresh and handsome! Who wouldn't be inspired by youthful good looks and the talent of a budding photographer??
 I also find myself amazed at the great attitude of a high school girl who is trying to rise above the drama of her backbiting teammates and not let them ruin her outlook on all of life.
Thank you, young people! Keep up the good work.

#LessonsFromGideon this morning

I meant to go walking with a friend this morning but had to call her and cancel, due to this intestinal bug not being quite done yet:( But the upside was getting more time to do my Bible Study time. I'm doing the Gideon study by Priscilla Shirer and I'm still in the first week it's so meaty. There was so much this morning that shouted right at me. Let me share:
   God has deliberately positioned each of us to be His representative, beckoning our ailing culture to Him-one person at a time....
   But no matter what God's plan looks like in our lives, His hand is on us to wage war against the enemy within our spheres of influence...
   But without a doubt, outside of my relationship with The Lord and my husband, my sons are my highest priority, and I have been commissioned by God to be their mother...
   My role as a mom is a deliberate strategy initiated by God to rear young boys into godly men. And I am resolved to fulfill this calling to be for them what god needs me to be during this critical stage in their lives....
   God will empower us to complete His work(thank you God!)....
   He is still searching, not for perfect people but for individuals who are passionate about Him and committed to His call on their lives.

So I ask you, and I ask myself....what is God's assignment for you in this season? I am so thankful that God continues giving me assignments and empowering me to do His work within my family and community/sphere of influence. 

A new year and it's already almost March....

     Last Saturday, I spent some quiet time with God reflecting on how good 2012 has already been. I had the chance partly because my husband took care of cleaning the kitchen and starting the laundry-wahoo!!! Clint has started in the choir at church as part of the worship ministry. I am sure there are cute girls there to motivate his involvement. I'm totally okay with that. Jake is in the midst of choosing what college to attend. He and I just returned last week from a trip to Fort Worth, Texas to see TCU, and then on to Alabama to see Auburn University. We had some of the BEST food-fried and BBQ- EVER!! Luke finished soccer season and is now into track and possibly club soccer. Brett finished his first science project and now needs to dress and speak like Omar Bradley.
     For me, I've spent some time sewing and running. I achieved my goal of finishing a 1/2 marathon in under 3 hours. I've decided I'm done with running something so long-I'll stick to 10k's. To top it all off, my husband and I bought his long sought after new car- a black KIA Optima. He'll look terrific driving it. God is sooo good and I'm wondering what else is coming in 2012.

We live life....like it's the last day of school--do what you want to do!

School's out for summer! Promotion was today. Rather crazy, but not so crazy as last year. I still get amazed by what parents will let their daughters wear-super high stilletto heels and super short skirts on super tight dresses-yikes! So glad it was over in just over an hour. But finding your child or family afterwards was a little chaotic. What did people do before cell phones? A cool moment came when the students cheered really loudly for a student. I wondered who it was and realized it was the boy who had run out into the traffic after school 2 days before and had been hit by a car. Amazingly, he only suffered a concussion and some road rash. The kids cheered for him and his miraculous survival. I was encouraged by this pandemonium.
     See, teenagers aren't all bad. This school year I was encouraged a few times by the kids at junior high. Many would ask me about my run times when I would run in 7th period PE with them. When I earned my 100 mile run t-shirt in after school fitness club, they congratulated me. If you spend time with teenagers and take a moment to enjoy them, they will encourage you.

Wow! Getting a tan in January? Only in California!

Wow! This was an incredible weekend! Not only was it 3 days long-wahoo! But the weather was incredible. Luke had his first all-star soccer tournament. 2 games each day. They ended up getting 3rd. For their first, I think this was pretty awesome. Sitting outside in the hills of Corona, in the sunshine, looking out at the valley and across to the mountains-which still have snow-was amazing. Forget the Rose Parade--this is the reason people want to move here. A friend has family out from Wisconsin, and they left 18-20 degree weather behind. Their plane had to be de-iced on the runway. We even had to put on sunscreen. Besides the Southwest, what other place can you get a tan in January???? I dread going back to school tomorrow....

Students and Teachers return to school Monday....

Oh the beauty of Christmas vacation...(note the intended non PC terminology used). The family, the fun, the sleeping late, the delicious food that I ate too much of, the sickness, the overdose of TV. Yet, this moment, right before going to bed, the night before heading back to school, is so precious. It holds excitement of seeing people again, regret that the vacation is almost over, and the looking ahead to "when is the next day off?" Oh that's right, Martin Luther King, Jr day will be a Monday we get off soon.  Okay, I think I can make it :) I'm sure my students will say or do crazy things tomorrow to make me glad to be there and thankful that I have a job that isn't for the faint of heart. So, bring on the Monday, God, and help me get rest tonight that I will definitely need to start up in first period.

The world travelers are home!!!

Through pouring rain we drove to LAX to pick up our 2 sons who flew home from Paris, France. It was sooooo good to see them round the corner at the airport. They had a great time. Of course we then drove-through MORE pouring rain- straight to our local IN N OUT burger for dinner. One even got thrilled that "They speak American here!" The investment we made in sending them, fully accomplished what we hoped it would- they practiced their French- a ton! They were shocked that French people don't say a simple "Bless you,"but in French of course, when someone sneezes. They appreciate being American, living in America. They are glad we don't have gypsies here :) Their streetwise skills were put to the test as the gypsies and weird, drunk Parisians needed to be pushed away from their traveling companions. Above all they saw, in person, the beauty of landmarks previously only seen in books or on TV- the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur and Monmartre, the Notre Dame and other cathedrals, and the Champs Elysee. It made us as parents both proud and envious as we saw their pictures and heard their stories.
Thank you God, for answering prayers for safe travel!