Graduation, Retirement, Friendship and Thankfulness!

My sweet babies graduated yesterday. They will be the class of 2024! The ceremony was a tear jerker and special! Graduation day is always extra fun because almost all of our kids go home after the ceremony so we get to go out and eat lunch together. I had my post-op appointment so I left an hour earlier than the other teachers on my wing, but then afterwards got to enjoy lunch downtown.

My support teacher, Ms. Judy, and I hanging out on graduation day! :)

Later that day, we had a retirement party for my support teacher, and the teacher next door to me at Ruby Tuesday's. I loved it! Babies, weddings, and retirements on wing A....we stay busy!

Y'all I have received so much encouragement over the past few weeks from precious friends and co-workers. I will be forever grateful. My friend, Gini, had back surgery last week, and couldn't come over and see me like she wanted to, she is finally feeling better so she surprised me with a blizzard, two books of encouragement, and a very sympathetic and understanding ear last night. :) I rambled for hours...in my pajamas, while I ate my blizzard. :) Just what I needed.

Also, I just love my hubby! He is so funny and hardworking! We were trying to take a picture the other night when he was working in his office and Blakely kept jumping up on us. We almost got knocked out of his office chair! I like these pictures! I'm thankful he puts up with me. :)

Jesus Calling last week and this week has been just what I needed to read..yet again...another year...another season. I will probably be posting a few of the devotionals by Sarah Young over the next few days.

"Thank Me in the midst of the crucible. When things seem all wrong, look for growth opportunities. Especially, look for areas where you need to let go, leaving your cares in My able hands. Do you trust Me to orchestrate your life events as I choose, or are you still trying to make things go according to your will? If you keep trying to carry out your intentions while I am leading you in antother direction, you deify your desires. Be on the lookout for what I am doing in your life. Worship Me by living close to Me, thanking Me in all circumstances."

The most beautiful and our weekend...

Ok. So I might be obsessed with Christy Nockels. But I always have been, and it just so happens that her newest album that came out in April was written just for me. :) I was looking for the lyrics to one of my favorite songs last night when I stumbled upon two new videos that were just uploaded last Friday. Her voice in these is more beautiful than I have ever heard it sound. Matt was nice enough to listen to each one with me twice, yes while I cried! :) I love music and am so thankful that she writes lyrics that touch my soul. I also love when Christy and Nathan play together, just the two of them because it brings back glorious memories of their Watermark days. Please listen!!!




Our Friday started out busy as it was Relay day! Relay for life is so important to me and I love helping out each year. I have been in charge of our schools mini-relay for the last 3 years. This year the theme was New York, so I created a NYC hot dog stand to raise money for a cure. I'm not sure how much was raised yet, but the kids usually donate a pretty surprisngly big number! It is fun to come out and walk around our front circle and dance to good music for a few hours! We had apples for a snack and hot dogs for lunch too! I'm not "supposed" to lift anything heavy, so the office staff and my sweet kiddos basically did all the setting up, moving tables, setting out cones, etc. for me. It was the easiest mini-relay set up I've ever done! :) I'm thankful, y'all! My kids are actually in the newspaper today for helping with this event!

Friday night we had a much needed date night to Jonah's. A co-worker gave Matt and I a huge gift certificate there, so we just had to use it. It was so good....shrimp and grits...yummy! After we ate we walked over to the municipal auditorium for the Troupe Show. It was so sooo good, but long, and I was exhausted. Somehow I made it until almost 11pm. I will say that our local high school kids are so very talented. I love that our pretty little town has such great opportunities in it! I wanted to go out to the high school for relay for life after that, but knew that I needed to rest. I hope I can do more with it next year again.

Matt and I had a keylime pie back porch date last night. I am ready for sweet summertime and many more back porch dates.

A lot...

A lot has happened in just one week. I wasn't sure if I was going to blog about this, but here I am. :) I didn't realize so many of my "real-life" friends read this blog, and I have gotten a lot of calls, texts, and messages. My principals helped me keep this quiet, because they wanted to give me time to heal and rest. Keeping things quiet is really hard in small town by the way. :)

Last Friday, wasn't a very happy day in our family. We found out that the little baby that we were so excited about meeting (most likely around Turkey Day) didn't have a heartbeat. :( Yes, I was pregnant and we were FINALLY going to have a baby! My beautiful, wonderful, smart, compassionate OBGYN, Dr. McCollum, was there with me every step of the way...from trying to get pregnant, to all of my appointments and ultrasounds (I had quite a few) and she performed the d and c on Tuesday. I am so thankful for her and grateful that the Lord brought me just the Doctor that I needed a few years ago. We chose to do the surgery because I was pretty far along and my body wasn't ready to miscarry any time soon. We felt like it would be safer to go ahead and do a d and c. It was so weird being put under, but I had really great nurses, and so much support from family and friends. I am recovering well. I felt great after surgery. I probably overdid it by going back to work on Thursday, but any kindergarten teacher knows that the week before graduation and the two weeks before the end of the year are hard to miss...after missing just 4 days I was very behind on things. I'm feeling better this morning though.

Of course, our hearts are just broken. Our spirit is a little bit crushed, but we are fine. We really are ok. We know that even though we were ready to meet our baby and be parents, the Lord has different plans for us. He has always been faithful to us, and we are excited to see how He can use these newest trials in our lives to help others. We know that this is just another test that will strengthen our marriage even. Matt always says that the best things come to those who wait. So, again we will just wait on the Lord and His timing and plans.

I will also probably post pictures from our first trimester of pregnancy soon. I just want to remember all the joy that we experienced in those first few months! We had waited so long to be able to say the words, "I'm pregnant" and "baby Whelan", that we just ran with it and probably went a little bit crazy too soon. :) But, y'all, I wouldn't change it.

Thanks everyone for checking on me!

Psalm 33:20-23
We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.

What's going on Wednesday...

I am so thankful for all of my family and friends. Mike and Ellen fixing their supper last night. It was prepared for us by my sweet friend Robin and it was super yummy!

Matty and I at the beginning of our day...a little anxious. Then relieved to be home and resting last night. :) You know I have to take a picture to remember everything.

Our room looked so cozy last night. I couldn't wait to go to sleep! Please excuse how the pillows are thrown everywhere.

We spent a lot of time sitting outside on our back porch this morning. Matt and his dad set up his hammock and they played catch. I think Matt was reliving his childhood a little bit. :) We had a Whelan favorite for breakfast, Whataburger.

The doorbell rang this morning and I got the prettiest flowers delivered from my four seasons. I was so surprised. They instantly brightened up my kitchen and my spirits! Thank you girls so much! I LOVE them! I am a blessed summer season. :)

My SmartBoard is up in my classroom. Finally! Yay!

I love this little nail polish article that I stumbled upon.

Look how sweet Blakely looks on our front porch. Matt said it just looks like she should be going to kindergarten with a backpack on and getting ready to get braces. WHAT???!! Hahahaha! We love our puppy!

Even though I've had to miss most of teacher appreciation week. My mama made sure that I felt appreciated. :) Thanks Mama!

The lyrics to this song are so near to my heart right now. Thank you, Christy Nockels once again. Such powerful words that have always spoken to my soul, but now I truly understand! Sweet little babies, it’s hard to understand it ‘cause we’re hurting We are hurting But there is healing And we know we’re stronger people through the growing And in knowing- That all things work together for our good And God works His purposes just like He said He would… Just like He said He would…

Perfect Timing

How did Christy Nockels know that I REALLY needed to hear this yesterday after I got home from the hospital? :) I love this SO! And her! The LORD is so, so faithful to me!

Lately

Thursday night I got to go out to a fun jewelry trunk show at Glen Arven Country Club. The club is so beautiful. I know everyone is all about the golf course, but the pool and the clay tennis courts call my name. I got some fun, cheap finds! And a little surprise for Mama!

Friday was a long day. It was pretty tiring emotionally and physically, but we made it! Us right before bed after a day that we won't ever forget.

Saturday we celebrated Billy and Miranda's graduations from VSU. My brother didn't walk this year, because he did last year...and wanted Miranda to have a turn in the spotlight. We ate lunch at Kinderlou, then spent the rest of the afternoon around Valdosta.

We celebrated Cinco de Mayo out on our back porch. We didn't even use our fun margarita glasses....I almost forgot that we got them for a wedding gift 6 years ago. I just set them out for decoration. We had chips, salsa, and tacos.

Some other favorites from this weekend... Fresh peaches

A pretty notebook to put my final gifted case study in.

Morning back porch dates...

These verses. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. -Psalm 34:18