Wrapping up another school year

April and May have been full of adventures for us. The boys played T-ball and coaches pitch baseball with Greenwell Springs Baptist Church. Stanley coached the Orange Crush coach's pitch team and I assisted coaching for the Red Birds T-ball team. After the first game, our oldest son broke his arm falling (pushed by his little brother) out of a swing. It was a small fracture in his wrist but resulted in limited mobility and about five weeks in a splint. Luckily we got the removable one that can come off for bath time. He had a hard time at school but he managed pretty well and endured til the end. He made it to all but two games and helped his Dad coach 1st base and encouraged his teammates from the dugout. The cast came off four days before his 8th birthday.

Both boys had end of year programs at their schools. Such a contrast between the Christian School's David & Goliath program and the public school's African folk tale program. Even still, we were very proud of our boys for their parts in the programs. Little man participated in the church's spring musical put on by the children's choir as well.

 Our little man finished second grade with awards for A/B Honor Roll, Reading Achievement, Champion of Conduct, Excellent Attendance, and Most Improved Boy Student.

Sunshine graduated from Pre-K and received a reading award for being able to read independently. He also had excellent attendance.

 

After school was out we headed to Georgia for Little Man's birthday and on the second day of our trip Sunshine fell off the monkey bars at Mamaw & Pawpaw's house and broke his wrist. Today he got a hard cast (more indestructible than the velcro) that he will wear for four more weeks. So much for swimming this summer! At least he thinks its cool.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day 2013

My boys gave me a great mother's day. Saturday they helped clean the house, and helped get decorations ready for VBS. Sunday after church we had a living room floor picnic, quiet, relaxed, good times together. I'm so thankful for the blessing of my family. Thank you to my wonderful husband for helping the kids show their love in such tangible ways.  The roses we wore today represent a three generation tradition of my family to wear a red rose on mother's day to honor your mother, or a white rose if she's deceased. These roses came off the  rose bush in our yard the boys gave me as a mother's day gift 3 years ago. 

The Secret of Life's Joy

I just finished reading this most exceptional book "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. I don't do many book reviews because frankly I find many books just aren't worth sharing about but this one is meant to be shared. 

Beautifully and expressively written, Ann takes you along on her very personal journey of faith, one that many will find familiar as we all have asked ourselves the hard questions about life at one point or another. Tightly woven throughout is the idea that the secret to having life's joy is in being thankful to God in all things. Admittedly easier said than done. 

This is not just naming objects that we are glad we have but instead slowing down enough to live in the moment, consider the things only God can do, and GIVE thanks. Eucharisteo the Greek word for thanksgiving from the root word charis meaning grace and chara meaning joy! The unexpected part is that as you give thanks your trust in God grows because you are naming the blessings, growing closer in your relationship with Him, growing your faith, living with a God-given well of joy. 

There is always something to give thanks for. "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18  Oh, but what about the hard times, like when your kids get hurt, or the air conditioner has to be replaced unexpectedly, or a job falls through, or your mom announces a terminal illness. How can you be thankful then? It's then we have to learn to trust in God's hand when we can't see His plan. Ann challenges me by her words, "If I am rejecting the joy that is hidden somewhere deep in this moment - am I not ultimately rejecting God?.....The secret to joy is to keep seeking God where we doubt he is." You have to choose to believe that God is good and that He loves you. Further, because that is true, He will work all things for your good and His glory according to His purpose. 

A most humbling experience, that as you are being filled with thanks for the blessings of God, you are also being emptied of self. It's the discovery of knowing "our endless desires are fulfilled in endless God." He is trustworthy. And when we trust Him, He will change our desires to match His. Glory! Give thanks!

Take a joy dare of your own. See if you can discover 1,000 gifts God has given to you. Read more about Ann Voskamp's journey on her blog, A Holy Experience.

All in a day's work....

Last week this is what our back yard (and neighbors back yard) looked like....behind the bubbles...

After about a day's worth of work and a LOT of help from some pretty sweet friends.....

As many great home improvement ideas as my husband and I have, we are NOT do-it-yourself kind of people. We just haven't acquired those skills yet. Words and BBQ dinners cannot express how grateful we are to the friends God has allowed us to meet that teach us while lending a helping hand. Thanks to Warren, Tyson, Rodney, and Stanley we have a nice fence standing in our back yard that makes life in this neighborhood just a little more enjoyable. May God bless them for putting up the fence and putting up with us.

Disney Magic – the Highlights

Disney Magic – the Highlights

Saturday – All Aboard!

ª   Adventure’s Away Deck Party at Goofy’s Pool Stage

ª   Visit open house at Oceaneer Lab & Club and Welcome Party

ª   Showtime: Let the Magic Begin in Walt Disney Theater

Sunday – At Sea

ª   Kids swim in Mickey’s Pool & Slide

ª   Kids make Flubber in the Oceaneer Lab and attend Mouseketeer Training in the Oceaneer Club

ª   Mom & Dad attend seminar in Vista Spa Fitness Center

ª   Showtime: Twice Charmed in Walt Disney Theater

ª   Spa Bingo with Grandparents

ª   Hats off to Peter Pan in Oceaneer Club

ª    Cabaret: Bean & Bailey comedy in Rockin’ Bar D (we knew them from when they visited Central Baptist Church in Bearden, TN while we were there – so funny!)

Monday – At Sea

ª   Wake up with Disney Junior in the Promenade Lounge

ª   Oceaneer Lab: Animation Cells, 4^th Pigs Pasta Palace, Ratatoullie Cooking School, Eggsperiments

ª   Oceaneer Club: Heffalump Hunting, Little Einstein’s Adventure

ª   Showtime: Mark Nizer (juggler, magician, comedy) in Walt Disney Theater

ª   Swimming in Mickey’s Pool

Tuesday – Grand Cayman

 ª   Seven Mile Beach – sun, cool water, collect coral and shells, eat lunch

ª   Pirate Crafts in Promenade Lounge

ª   Pirates in the Caribbean Party (bad weather so fireworks cancelled and party cut short)

Wednesday – Cozumel

ª   Tour: Mayan ruins and Discovering Mexico museum, lunch, shopping

ª   Story time with Belle

ª   Goofy’s Rock Stars and Guitars dance party

ª   Showtime: Freddy Fusion in Walt Disney Theater

ª   Fireworks and dance party on top deck

Thursday – At Sea

ª   Character Breakfast

ª   Character Dance Party – Lobby Atrium

ª   Showtime: Disney Dreams in Walt Disney Theater

ª   Friendship Rocks Show (our kids sang on stage with Mickey & Friends)

ª   More swimming in Mickey’s Pool

Friday – Farewell for Now

ª   One last family breakfast with Timur and Maria

ª   Disembark & drive home

This is but a brief glimpse at all the fun we had on vacation from the 480+ pictures we made and many more memories.

Me, a Certified Personal Trainer?

 About a year ago, faced with the fact that my baby would be going to preschool in the fall, I started dreaming about what I would do with both boys in school. We have been so blessed to be able to have me at home with the boys since they were born and even now returning to work isn't a necessity, but I wondered if God had more in store for me. When my husband asked me if I could do or be anything I wanted what would I do, the answer always came back to helping people live their healthiest lives. It is my passion. He suggested personal training as an option, and so the desire began. I looked into it, prayed about it, doubted I could do it, and put it off. Then at the end of last year (2012) I believe the Lord spoke to me through this scripture in 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

10. Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it. 11. But now finish the task as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have.

Believing God was asking me to "finish the task" I signed up for eteach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). It's an exam prep course online that helps you prepare for the real certification exam. Honestly, my main motive for taking the prep class was the money-back guarantee they offer. If you don't pass the certification exam you get your money for the class back. Of course there's a lot of stuff you have to do to keep the guarantee like turn in all assignments on time, pass all your weekly quizzes and discussion questions, etc.  One week into it I realized this is no joke. This was going to be much harder than I expected - and it was. I had talked to several trainers before I started this and they all said NASM was one of the most respected certifications in the industry. One said it was like the Harvard of personal training certifications. Even four years of health education degree and a Master's in Public Health didn't fully prepare me for all that I'd learn through NASM. It was like drinking from a fire hydrant at times throughout the 8 week course. 

I didn't tell many people I was taking the class because deep down I wasn't sure if I could do it and I didn't want to fail so publicly. I still had my normal wife, mom, housewife, Sunday school teacher, pastor's wife responsibilities. I never could have done this without my husband supporting me through it. Even in the middle of Upward season he would help fold laundry and put the boys to bed so I could study. He prayed constantly for me and encouraged me when I felt like quitting. His faith was steadfast when mine wavered.  He reminded me to put my trust in God and not a money-back guarantee. It came down to was I going to obey or not.

Obedience brings blessing! There were definitely times when I thought it was going to be impossible for me to finish this. I felt like I just couldn't do it. I was under attack from the enemy on all fronts, spiritually, physically, emotionally. Then I was reminded that it was my own pride telling me to be self-confident rather than God-confident. I had to believe that if God brought me to it, He would bring me through it. I made it all the way through the course and then at the final exam although I passed, I lost the money-back guarantee by 3 points. I was devastated at first, and then I realized it was so like God to take away the idol that I had put before Him. I had put more trust in that guarantee than in His promises to me. I just had to remember that I had to be obedient to do my part by taking the class and test and doing my best to study and then trust God with the results. I wore this necklace, which my Dad wore in Vietnam with his dog-tags  that has the serenity prayer on the back. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." It reminded me that God is ultimately the one in control. I took the exam yesterday and PASSED the first time! God did that for me! He is so faithful to keep His promises.

I don't know what's next. I don't have job lined up. I'm not going to jump into something and leave my family behind. God gave me my family first and they will always be my first priority. Now, its time to be faithful, pay it forward, wait and see what God's going to do next, and then have the courage to obey. God has certainly done a new thing in my life. Whatever lies ahead, I will not forget the power of the One who resides within. 

Valentine's from the Kids

Valentine Tic Tac Toe for our preschooler with free printable from creationsbykara.com.

Friendship bracelets for our 2nd grader. We used embroidery thread with a simple braid, printed the card from the link above at dandee-designs and used a mini cupcake liner to add color and texture to the back of the card.