P90X

Brett and I started the P90X routine this week, and we are having a Blast!

Each workout is around an hour, and we have been doing them after we put the kids in bed.

I have really enjoyed the "us" time, and since we are both SO COMPETITIVE it's been a lot of fun! It's fun to see which one of us can do just one more push-up (Brett) or one more squats (Me)! We are excited to see some results by the time Kelly's wedding is here, that will make our 90 days! The other day we attempted to do it with the kids awake, and while we had to end up doing it later without them it was too cute to watch them try!!

I mean seriously what is cutter then a 20 month old doing squats =)

Or lunges?!?! =)

Unplugged

~The past few weeks I have felt totally unplugged from any type of normalcy! ~

• Two weeks ago the kids and I were on Doggy-Duty while my family were all on vacation. We are excited to be going with my In-Laws to Kansas City for a few days the last weekend in August. This WAS going to work with my work schedules...

• As you may know I WAS working two part time jobs, and I can very very happily say WAS! On Monday I heard from the coop and they had a full-time position in Structured Learning (Autism) Middle School and I could have it if I wanted, and I definitely wanted (not to mention it was $6.00 more than I was making at Good Will and $4.00 more than I was in my previous placement through the coop)!

• I feel that my heart will always be in Life Skills, I have really began to have a passion for children who are on the Autism Spectrum. I long to understand their minds, and their way of thinking. There is so much going on, and they just need a way to communicate that to our world. One of my new favorite books is Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin. I was able to watch the Temple Grandin movie this past weekend and LOVED IT!! I recommend it to anyone who knows (and those who don't) someone on the spectrum.

• As of yesterday I was thinking that I could still make our trip work. Being that I would work Monday - Friday 7:30-2:50 (love love those hours) at Eisenhower Middle School in Goddard. Being that I have two personal days. I do feel badly about asking for them off so early in the school year, however when we booked our trip I was still going part time and this wouldn't have required I miss work. Then I received a phone call...
  
• Today while working on homework I received a phone call from Kay Bartel (one of the assistant directors for the Coop) asking me if I would like to help them out. She was requesting that I continue the process of getting my Emergency Substitute Teaching License and be the long term sub for a structured learning teacher in Maize. She then went on to tell me some of the good things she has been told about me!! If I ever doubted for a second that special education was where I should be after today I don't =) She told me that they would save my job as a para, although I would have to resign as a para and apply as a sub teacher.

• I am now just waiting.. waiting to see if my license comes in time.. waiting to see when Tasha has her baby (if we are able to go out of town with Brett's family)

As many of you know about me I am not a patient person, and the hardest discipline in my walk with the Lord is to let Him lead me and not try to do it myself. But if I have learned anything it is that I can fully rely of Him and I don't need to worry myself sick (which I have been) over things I have no control over. Just after realizing I would have to continue with two jobs (I thought) working evening and weekends while doing three full days for the coop I went to the Lord totally broken one evening, and I realized just how silly I have been, and was given a peace and closeness I had been missing. Just prior to this I had given someone the reference of Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean no on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take."

I am guilty.. I am a people pleaser! This has just about ran me into the ground over the last two weeks. Trying to make everyone happy, the employers I quite, the new ones I 'm starting, the possible sub job, not disappointing my family over our trip, and on and on and on.. The reality I came to while on my knees in my room the other night was: none of this maters in the big picture of things. Two years from now it won't matter that we did or didn't go to Kansas City for three days. It won't matter that my Supervisor at Good Will was disappointed in me for quiting to return full time at the coop. It was all of these things that was making me a bitter wife, mother and Christian. Since letting all of these things go (which has to happen on a daily basis) my home has once again became a happier place. When I find myself becoming working up over these things I try to retreat to my room, or at least a quiet spot for prayer, and God has never failed me! I am thankful for the busy time in my life, and hope that I am able to one day use it for His glory to guide someone to Him.

No More Cast!!

In case you hadn't already heard.. We are cast free!! Monday morning when I returned home from jazzercise I found that Cadence didn't have a cast any longer?!?!? While she and Brett where playing Brett accidentally pulled it off!!! I have to say that I am very Thankful that we didn't have to have it Cut off!

**

My Cadie Lynn is defiantly back in the swing of things. I guess I didn't really notice how much her cast did in fact slow her down or detour her from doing something. Not Any Longer =) My family all went to Colorado this week, and we stayed behind of "dog duty"! It actually worked out pretty good, and gave us something to do. It allowed Curtis a chance to earn a few extra stickers for his chore chart.

**

Of course as soon as the cast came off... We went straight to the pool!!

My little fishy didn't miss a beat!!
I almost opted to leave this out, but Curt is SOO CUTE!!

Of course going for walks is always a joy for us! I am Thankful that we are able to live where we do and this is possible! I do truly get so much joy from being Curtis and Cadie's Mommy!!

Everything has a Season...

"The end of a matter is better than its beginning,

and patience is better than pride.

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,

for anger resides in the lap of fools."

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

**

To finish what we start takes hard work, wise guidance, self-discipline, and patience. Anyone with vision can start a big project. But vision without wisdom often results in unfinished projects and goals. I am having to remind myself of this today... I was offered a second part time job today, and with a reluctant heart I smiled and took the offer. I would have liked to have just returned to the coop full time, but was placed back into the same position I had last year (which is part time). So to help make ends meet I am now working two part time jobs while going to school full time and running a household. Please don't take this journal entry as a seeking for pity. In fact it is the exact opposite. I would be lying to say that I haven't had a few tears this evening (privately) with the thought of working evenings, and what that will entitle that I miss out on... also working Saturdays now and every 4th Sunday afternoon. This isn't want I would choose to be doing, but it is what I have to work with right now. I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that Curtis and Cadie can be home with either Brett or I as much as possible. I am very Thankful for my Mom and the love she has for my children, but we are supposed to be raising our children, not Grandma. It is important that I focus my thoughts that "The end matter is better than the beginning" and remember that this season of our lives too shall pass. Although I am in no hurry for my "babies" to grow up any faster than they already are. So I chose to be thankful for a second job, in a time when some people have a difficult time finding one job. Two years from now I will be getting ready to start my own classroom, and I will know then that the "end" was worth all of the hard work put in, in the beginning!

Remembering...

I was going to save this post until July 27 ~ This is the date my Grandpa Peeka (Coslett) went to live with Jesus! I can now smile and have such *beautiful* memories of this wonderful man. The pain and tears are still there, but I have such a wonderful love and memory of him that hasn't faded even a little....

I decided to go ahead and post about him today because my three year old unknowingly brought me to tears this evening. Curtis was up in his room playing and carrying on a conversation with someone. Upon entering his room to put his laundry away I asked him who he was talking to? His reply, "An Angel!" ~ Oh I said smiling~ put his cloths away and went to walk out, with my back to him he then says, "Yea he says that he likes firetrucks and that he loves you Mommy...." I stopped there in the middle of his door frame as tears filled my eyes I was speechless...... As I recomposed my thoughts without turning to Curtis I simply replied, "Hey Curtis, tell him I love him too!"

Curtis and My Grandpa on Father's Day 2007

Hubby Bragging

I have so very proud of Brett!! He has been *hard-core* on a diet since January and has lost almost 100 pounds!! He counts his calories and goes to the Y every other night (more if possible)! I see him everyday and had of course noticed (*believe me*) but hadn't really noticed until looking through pictures from last Summer!!

Brett July 2009

Brett July 2010

*Am excited to see how much hotter he looks next summer* (although he's always been to me)

One more week...

Well One more FULL week of the cast =) That makes everyone in this house VERY VERY happy!! Yesterday she started saying "done please" and pulling at her cast! She has done exceptionally well, but we are very ready for it to come off. Her blisters have almost gone away on her finger, but we are not watching blisters on her lower forearm. (one more full week)..

***

As much as I'm ready for the cast to come off, I am not wanting to wish away summer either. Two more full weeks before my summer of 'officially' over. I am very ready to be done with the classes teaching elementary social studies, reading, and math.. however next semester looks as if it will have a new set of challenges. I know that anything worth having is worth working for so I guess I'm ready!