These Days...

Today has been great...I am really tired though. However, it is probably my first afternoon/night at home in weeks. So, I thought I'd give blogging a shot again. :) We are immersed in all things pumpkin and Halloween in my classroom lately. I thought I'd show one of our class pumpkins. This is the one that we will carve. We have about 5 others though. A dog, a pig, a white one, and a baby orange one too.


And a cute book that my kids are working on about nocturnal animals. Kindergarten is a very fun grade to teach.


Aside from teaching, I, along with 4 other ladies was in charge of supper at Bible Study last night. We got yummy pasta from Mom and Dad's Italian Restaurant, we had two types of salads, two types of desserts, garlic bread, and of course Blue Bell Ice Cream.


Not only was the food good, but the message last night was probably my favorite. We are concluding the final chapter in Jonah this week. Have you read the book of Jonah? Do you like the way it ends? I don't! However, Priscilla made me think when she said this..."The question at the end of Jonah is not does he do what God is asking and completely trust Him? It is will we yield and surrender to God?"

Next week will be the last week of my Jonah study and I am really sad. I have learned so much. We were told that we will have hot apple cider, door prizes, and the video is only 7 minutes long....Carla said it will sort of be like a Fall Festival...HA! I will cherish my book because I have so many notes and verses written and highlighted in it. I have learned a lot about plans not going my way, about God's schedule not matching up with my own, about fully believing that God is able and fully capable to be God, and about having a firm faith in Him no matter what happens. I hope to recap a little bit more next week. I will leave you with an important verse from last week. One that I really love and has so much meaning behind it.

So, Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord.
Jonah 3:3

Worthwhile.

Matt and I headed out to the soccer park this evening to cheer on one of my sweet boys at his game. He was the star of the team, and I was one proud teacher! Of course, I saw several other students, including my baby from last year, MG!!! I was THRILLED!!! She asked me to come to her game. So, of course we made our way over to the next level and stayed for a second game. She was actually playing against a team with another favorite baby on it. I got to talk to her family and catch up on a few things...I was definitely blessed. And I am thankful and completely know with all of my heart that what I do for a living is worthwhile. Even when it seems so hard. I may or may not have been shedding tears of joy behind my shades as I watched MY babies play. Thank you, Lord, I will sing your praises forever!



Finally, be strengthened by the LORD and by His vast strength.
Ephesians 6:10

Serve and Party

What a busy day it has been for us! I had a formal observation today. Then, immediately after school I headed up to the church to serve supper. Matt met me up there when he got off work. I love serving in our church! We took a picture afterwards in our aprons. We had a little bit until Matt had to go back in, so we took a picture and just talked in my car. Matt sure was cheesin'.



Matt stayed and went to choir tonight, but I came on home because it is a sweet girls birthday in our house. Blakely turned 4 today. Is it sad that I woke up to my alarm going off at 4:30am and before my feet hit the floor or I turned my lamp on, I was already singing Happy Birthday to her? Ha Ha Ha! We love our sweet puppy and have spoiled her rotten all week.

Here is the birthday dog with her favorite present...a sock bunny.


I am loving KK's new book, Unlocked. It is so good...one of my favorites by her... and I've read them all...really. Y'all go pick up a copy! I'm also getting to spend a lot of time and focus on my Bible Study, Jonah. I'm thankful for a night to rest and get caught up on things.


Jonah 2:1-2
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said,“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble,and he answered me.I called to you from the land of the dead,and Lord, you heard me!"

Football and 10 Years!

We hosted a Sunday School party at our house yesterday afternoon. It was football themed. Our teacher graduated from Auburn, so we had the Auburn vs. Arkansas game on downstairs. We had the end of the Georgia, Vanderbilt game on upstairs. We were proud of our Dawgs!

We had a wonderful spread. I didn't even get pictures of it all. We had every drink you could think of, yummy veggies and dip, death by chocolate, Charleston Cheese (I'll give a shout out to the TJSL cookbook), vidalia onion dip, spinach dip, corn dip, leftover caramel apple tarts and pumpkin ooey gooey bars from my wing party.


Soon after everyone arrived we split up guys and girls...haha! The guys were so loud discussing football. Us girls gathered in the dining room. We talked for close to 3 hours. We had such a good time! 3 couples didn't make it and we missed them!



We were going to hear Steven Curtis Chapman at our municipal auditorium last night, but instead opted for a night in the pickin' shed, watching the movie Date Night. It was sooooo funny! We laughed and laughed! We tried to set self timer for a good picture. This is what we got! Ha!


Today we are celebrating our pastor's 10 year anniversary at FBC Thomasville. We love him so much and NEVER want him to leave. Plus, he baptized me...I just have a special connection with him. It was also our class' week to bring breakfast for our department. We had a good turnout this morning and I got to bring home an empty plate.

I have Bible Study tonight, then church, then a little reception for our Pastor. Sunday is one of my favorite days of the week!

We talked about this verse in SS today.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3

Rocking Chair Date

Typical quiet Friday night in our small town. The football game was away, and we were content to stay at home for once. After a busy week, Matt and I had a date on our front porch. Complete with some rocking chairs, diet coke in tervis tumblers, and a pumpkin scented candle. :) It was perfect. Add a little bit of country music and maybe a Karen Kingsbury book, it really doesn't get much better. We spend so much time out on our rocking chairs during the fall. We are loving this season!

Pumpkin Painting Party!

Thursday night, I had the teachers from my wing over to paint pumpkins and just hang out. We ate lots of yummy dessert, drank coffee punch, and watched a little bit of Grey's.

Two teachers couldn't make it, and a few of the supports...but we had a blast anyway. We are so busy throughout our days that we hardly get the chance to talk. We laughed so hard about some things! I really enjoyed our time together. We are already planning our next crafty get-together.

Our table full of sweets.


Everyone's creations turned out great.


And I had to sneak this picture in...Matt and I enjoying a little porch time late that night.

Busy and Thankful

So busy...Bible Study last night, JSL tonight, church tomorrow night, teacher friends coming over Thursday night, Sunday School class coming over Saturday afternoon, Bible Study Sunday night and church, repeat with Mon. night Bible Study. :) Throw in some community service, some time trying to raise donations, my actual job (report card comments and a formal observation), and spending time with my sweet little family, and I'd say I have a full plate...at least something most 6 out of 7 nights. I love it though.

Things I loved today.
1. My job. My babies. My teacher meeting...I love learning new things to do in my classroom.
2. My neighborhood. As I was leaving we had new neighbors moving in behind us (cue Desperate Housewives music), Matt was doing yard work, My friend Ali was talking to another friend in their yards as I drove by them, my AnnaBeth was practicing baton in her yard, the sweet Parkerson girls were having a pow-wow in their driveway, another church mom that I know was sitting on her front porch swing talking on the phone, a group of middle school boys were playing football in the road/yard. And this wasn't even half of the neighborhood...just around 6:30 on my way to a meeting. :)
3. Junior Service League. I LOVE those women. Am I really lucky enough to be a part of them? Hearing the board stand up and talk about some upcoming events made me so proud. I am friends with these women. Just made my heart happy tonight.
4. Talking to my sweet parents on the phone. I love them so much and miss them too.
5. FALL!!!! I know you already know that!
6. Evenings on the porch rocking in rocking chairs, taking walks down our street, and watching tv shows with my little family (wish supper was included, but lately we've been on our own). They make me so happy! I am so blessed.
7. Spending time with my Jesus. He is my light. He is my comfort. He is my savior. He is my EVERYTHING!

Here I am with my oh so cute donations from some local shops/restaurants!!! I can't wait to auction these goodies off later this year!


Psalm 95:6
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.