Count Your Blessings...

Name them One by One, count your blessings see what God has done!

Yesterday (Wednesday) was *yucky* busy for us! Wednesday mornings we have staff meetings. Which means I have to be to work and in the library ready for staffing by 8:00. So I dropped the kids off to  my Mom at 7:45a.m. (BLESSING #1: I am blessed to have my mother as our “daycare” I never worry that Curt and Cadie are missing love or attention, and she refuses to be paid, that should be a dozen blessings) During my working day I get more hugs then I can count. (BLESSING #2: Since I have to be a working parents, I get to hug children all day long) After I put my 24 1st graders on the bus I cleaned up my room, headed for my van. Only to find that I didn’t have enough gas to get from Goddard to Southwestern at Pawnee and Rock, for class at 5:00p.m. So I quickly stopped for gas (BLESSING #3: I had to resign from my full-time job in May so that I could student-teach full time. Which means we are now a one income family, so I am blessed that I had not only enough money to buy gas but also a diet coke and granola bar ). We missed youth group last night because we had a parent’s meeting at Curt’s preschool. Which means I got home from class at 6:30 and Brett and I had to leave for Curt’s school meeting at 6:40. Kelly came to watch/play with the kids so that we could go. I had told Brett that if Cadie cried for me that I would not go and he could fill me in. However, when Aunt Kelly came in and asked the kids if they wanted to play in the water outside with her, they were THRILLED, and hardly noticed that Brett and I left!! (BLESSING #4 I am blessed that Kelly loves my kids almost as much as I do). After our meeting, Brett and I were approached by a super nice couple. They asked if we were Curtis’ parents?
They were the parents of one of the little girls in Curt’s class, who was also in his class last year. They told us how sweet they thought he was, and that Addy was so excited to have him in her class again because she liked playing power rangers with him (and that she tells them “he is kind of her boyfriend”).(BLESSING #5: I am blessed that through wonderful models, Brett and I are raising great kids). When we got home around 8:30 our children were on their way out the door. Our sweet neighbors had called to see if they would like to come down and help them feed the horses a popsicle. OF COURSE THEY WOULD!! (BLESSING #6: My wonderful neighbors, who have fallen in love with my children… Donna and Annette).

So many blessings, to many to mention. However while singing this song to Cadence tonight, I felt the need to “Count my blessings, name them one by one. Count my blessings see what God has done.”

Spiritual Warfare

Satan knows what our soft spots are, and in a battle to win souls he will use these things against us. My achilles heel is my sweet babies! After confiding in a few close friends (and my sweet Uncle Johnny) I have come to a place where I fully trust the Lord with these two little lives. It is more important for  me to spend eternity with them, then 100 years here on Earth. It is important for me to stay in scripture daily and remember promises from my Heavenly Father, who loves my children more than I do... I read in a Max Lucado book that, "fruit doesn’t grow on mountain tops, but in valleys". I am currently running through a valley: miscarriage, extended family issues, and the latest... my nightmares of loosing my children have started to reoccur.

I am choosing to fully rely on God, while I am continuing to produce fruit in my valley. 

And again, "I put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I. and the children God has given me." Hebrews 2:13

Only seeing these sweet faces for about 3 and a half hours a day, plays mind games with a "mommy heart" BUT my God is greater!

...I confess my weaknesses, and strive to fill the purpose set out for me, and my heart is at peace...

Peanut Butter and an Ice Cube...

WILL take gum out of a 2-year-olds hair!

A couple weeks ago, Cadence woke up with gum in her hair... no clue other then she must have had a piece of gum in her purse that she took to bed. (I will now be doing a purse check before bed)

I text a picture of the gum in the hair to both of my Moms. My mom said that she always hear ice would take gum out. We tried and tried, I was about ready to give up and cut the gum out when Brett’s mom called. Cindy said that some of the nurses at work said peanut butter would take gum out...

And sure enough!! Thank Heavens!

Early Graduation Gift...

My cooperating teacher is *phenomenal* In the four days I have spent with her, I have learned so many wonderful and practical things that I will be able to use in my classroom! When I met Melissa a few weeks ago, she told me how tech savvy she was, and that she would require my lessons to be build around her Mimio System. She also teaches a Mimio class to other classroom teachers. Brett and I have been watching craigslist for an iPad for several months... like just after Christmas last year. Last Sunday my Mother and Father-In-Law gave us the  money to go and buy a new iPad for school and work. They (and we) were so much more comfortable with buying one from a store that would come with a warranty. *Melissa has already shared many apps and tips and I am loving my iPad... and so are they* 

She is going to be reading by Pre-School! (maybe)

thank you terry and cindy

The Tale of a Turtle..

This is a rather short tale! However my children thought this was pretty cool!

When Brett got home the other night he went out back to see what Ella was barking at. It was this not so little turtle. Of course ever time we find anything that is alive my children think that it needs to go down to Bill and Donna’s barn! So that is exactly what we did, We walked down to Donna’s to see if she was there.

.. and she was! Of course she offered to take him down to the big pond at the end of their land.

We told the turtle Good Bye and walked home!

Ready or Not?!

Tomorrow is the day.. the day that I have been working towards for the past 2 years. Tomorrow I begin my student-teaching experience. I have to admit that general education is not my realm of comfort. If I were stepping into a structured learning classroom or another form of special education I would feel better prepared. There is a larger part of me that is so nervous, but also a part that is SO EXCITED! For the next twelve weeks I will be student-teaching and working on my 35 page KPTP thesis for graduation and licensure! However when looking at the big picture, 12 weeks is nothing compared to the past 2 years SO ready or not, I step into a classroom tomorrow with twenty-three 1st graders as their "teacher"... I’m ready!

Look What I Can Do...

Paint my own toenails..

and Help cook dinner!

I am not sure when she "grew up", but I am having tons of fun with my "BIG GIRL"!

She was "supposed" to be sleeping

... instead she is doing this

... and that (playing babies)!

It has always been our rule that once we put Curtis and Cadence in bed, they have to stay in their rooms. They do have a nightlight which allows them to look at books or play quietly in the beds. However, Cadie is definitely toeing the line... but that would be what my "Rebel" Cadie!

When Daddy goes up to tell her that she is being to loud, and needs to go to sleep she flashes that pretty smile... and soon is working the system!

Mrs. Dyke

… is now how I will be referred to! As a para I was Ms. Kim, but I am taking off my para hat and putting on a teacher! Yesterday I met my cooperating teacher, she is wonderful. She is younger than I am, very peppy and seems very smart with electronics. She will require that I write my lesson plans to incorporate the Mimio board, but assures me that she will teach me how to use it! Melissa also gave me a tour of the building I will be student-teaching in, and I was able to meet the principal and see "our" room!

Friday I will report to Amelia Earhart at 7:30 a.m. to carpool with the other 1st grade teacher to all all day Goddard in-service. I am super excited and super anxious, this is my first in-service as a "teacher".. I’m almost done!

A Style...

All her own!!

Anytime I want?

Brett and teaching our children to pray.. we pray before we eat, we pray before we leave the garage to drive somewhere, and we pray as family before bedtime. But it dawned on me that I wasn’t do a very good job of teaching Curt to just talk to God!

Tonight after our normal bedtime routine which consists of baths, bible time (which is a story or a short VegiTale devo), one last trip to the bathroom and finally bed. After my shower and going back into check night lights Curt was still awake. He had a flashlight and a book that he had received from his Grandma Cindy for Easter, it was of the crucifixion and resurrection. He looked at me and asked, "Can we pray to God anytime we want, or just before we go to sleep or eat?"

We had a nice conversation about how we should "pray without ceasing" which may have been a little over his head, but I never cease to be amazed at the questions that come from this sweet child. Praying that I shepherd his heart in the right direction, he is a pretty amazing child.

AMAZING

After hearing an exert from this book at church on Sunday I decided I needed to read it. I bought it Monday evening and finished it this afternoon. I was not disappointed, and you won’t be either!

Heaven IS for real, I sure hope to see you there!

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

*Our weakness not only helps develop Christian character; it also deepens our worship, because in admitting our weakness, we affirm God’s strength. After opening my husbands facebook page today (to find an email address) I immediately see a sonogram picture of an 8-10 week old baby.. at first I let Satan use that, but am choosing Christ’s strength instead. Hope that someone else will receive encouragement from 2 Corinthians, just as I did! My character is being molded for His greatness.

Officially Four

Monday, August 1st my nephew Levi turned FOUR! We met them for pizza in Goddard and then went bowling in Cheney!

After some "rest time" at our own homes, everyone came over to our house for fajitas and cupcakes! (and of course a few more presents)

It’s back to work next week ;( We (Kristin and I) have really enjoyed our summer! Luckily we have the best of both worlds!