2014 was just what I had expected: A great adventure!
1. My goal for 2014 was to simplify. I believe I did accomplish that (in a way). It's still a work in progress, but I feel like I am at least thinking about things a little more deeply and prioritizing my goals.
2. We went to Africa!!!! We loved it - it was an amazing adventure. We were able to share our love for Jesus and we fell in love with the people there. I hope to return someday!
3. I enjoyed the remainder of my year away from teaching. I still believe it was the right decision for my family and I will always look back on this year with fondness and no regrets.
3. I was able to be hired back to teach in Melba. I am currently teaching 5th grade and I really enjoy it. Rhett began kindergarten and Addison began her year in 4th grade. They both have done so well and enjoy school and their teachers. I LOVE having them with me all day!
4. We were able to spend a few days in May in Moscow, Idaho with Jeremy's grandma helping her celebrate her 90th birthday. We had a lot of fun!
5. We said goodbye to our beloved dog, Solomon and said hello to our new family member, Gerti. She was a difficult addition to get used to because we LOVED Solomon. But, she has fit in quite nicely and she is a great dog.
2014 has been a great year! The only thing that we were unable to accomplish this year was a new house. We were all ready to build our dream home and it just was too much money for us. So, we are back to the drawing board and actively looking when adequate homes come onto the market. We are being pretty picky and so we HOPE that 2015 will find us moving into a new place.
SO - onto 2015!!!
I'm looking forward to 2015! I'm looking forward to finding a new home for our family. I'm looking forward to reading books and eating healthier. I'm looking forward to continuing to simplify. I'm looking forward this unknown adventure!
Monday, December 29, 2014
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Confessions - I need to do this often!
So - I know a few years back I did a post about some of my confessions. It was rather liberating to admit some of them and so I'm doing another one. Mostly it will consist of things that people may not know about me, things that might embarrass some, but possibly encourage others (because you do the exact same things!!!), or things that I'm just now discovering about myself.
Here I go:
1. I have a lot of jewelry ( necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc....) but I hardly ever wear them. Mostly I just wear a watch , my wedding ring and some earrings. I have three reasons. Reason #1: jewelry bugs me. It itches my neck, drives me crazy when I'm typing or writing, and always tends to need to be rearranged. Reason #2 - I can't afford nice jewelry - or even if I could I think I would choose to spend it on other things. Therefore, when I wear the necklaces I DO have, they smell like metal - and may or may not leave a green line around my neck, wrist or finger. Reason #3 - I'm mildly allergic to cheap metal - so my fingers and wrists will get a rash on them if I wear my "cheap" jewelry for too long.
2. Preferably my hair would be in a ponytail every day. And I would be wearing comfortable jeans and a sweatshirt. That's when I feel the most "myself".
3. I prefer the wild of the mountains and rivers to the ocean and the beaches.
4. Most people want to take a cruise to a tropical location. I would chose an Alaskan cruise! Complete with jeans, sweatshirts, warm coats, gloves, fireplaces and hot cocoa!
5. I HATE folding laundry and unloading the dishwasher. Those are the worst chores ever!
6. I love games! Any kind of game - I'm in!
7. I have a love/hate relationship with mornings. I LOVE getting up early, but I also HATE it! When the alarm goes off I HATE it, but once I'm up I LOVE it.
8. I struggle with follow-through. I will start many projects, but have a hard time finishing them.
9. The cabin is my favorite place - and England and Disneyworld!!!
10. My new year's resolutions last until about February 4th - If I'm lucky! And they don't start back up again until the following January.
11. I don't enjoy cooking and I don't like grocery shopping. Probably because I REALLY don't like to clean up the mess afterwards. And I rotate through the same 10 meals ALL the time.
12. I don't mind baking - but I have to be in the mood for it. And that means that I want to eat whatever it is that I'm baking so it's not necessarily a "good" thing.
13. I believe the Bible to be ultimate truth - nothing added, nothing subtracted.
14. I LOVE to color! with sharp crayons and many colorful markers
15. I won't let my children drink out of public water fountains. And I NEVER get water from any faucet unless it's filtered or in a sealed water bottle.
16. However, the 5 second rule stands strong when a food item is dropped on the floor.
17. Sometimes I have to stop and think, "when was the last time I actually cleaned the bathrooms?" Yikes!
18. Spontaneous Fun is always my favorite!
19. I am the teacher who will stop a lesson and run outside during the first snowfall, excited to land a few snowflakes on my tongue, with the rest of my students in tow. OR be VERY tempted to jump into a large puddle after it rains, just to soak a few unsuspecting students lurking nearby. (I have never actually done this by the way but have Really, Really wanted to).
20. I go through phases of who my favorite actors or actresses are - BUT Christian Bale has always been my fav - always!
21. I can't get enough of history - I LOVE it!
22. I ask my husband every year for a metal detector for Christmas. Finding buried treasure is on my bucket list.
23. I love, love, love the smell of books and carpet.
24. weeds will grow in my flower beds or in my yard until my husband says something about them. I refuse to notice them. They are a nuisance that I refuse to give any of my attention or time to unless absolutely necessary.
25. Harry Potter Every Flavor Beans are a really gross.
26. Cartoons these days are really dumb.
27. I miss my grandparents every day!
28. my walls are decorated with my children's artwork
29. Living in the woods, off the land, in the middle of nowhere sounds like a great plan to me.
30. If I wasn't a teacher I would love to work in a library, or read Children's books and write reviews or rate them.
Here I go:
1. I have a lot of jewelry ( necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc....) but I hardly ever wear them. Mostly I just wear a watch , my wedding ring and some earrings. I have three reasons. Reason #1: jewelry bugs me. It itches my neck, drives me crazy when I'm typing or writing, and always tends to need to be rearranged. Reason #2 - I can't afford nice jewelry - or even if I could I think I would choose to spend it on other things. Therefore, when I wear the necklaces I DO have, they smell like metal - and may or may not leave a green line around my neck, wrist or finger. Reason #3 - I'm mildly allergic to cheap metal - so my fingers and wrists will get a rash on them if I wear my "cheap" jewelry for too long.
2. Preferably my hair would be in a ponytail every day. And I would be wearing comfortable jeans and a sweatshirt. That's when I feel the most "myself".
3. I prefer the wild of the mountains and rivers to the ocean and the beaches.
4. Most people want to take a cruise to a tropical location. I would chose an Alaskan cruise! Complete with jeans, sweatshirts, warm coats, gloves, fireplaces and hot cocoa!
5. I HATE folding laundry and unloading the dishwasher. Those are the worst chores ever!
6. I love games! Any kind of game - I'm in!
7. I have a love/hate relationship with mornings. I LOVE getting up early, but I also HATE it! When the alarm goes off I HATE it, but once I'm up I LOVE it.
8. I struggle with follow-through. I will start many projects, but have a hard time finishing them.
9. The cabin is my favorite place - and England and Disneyworld!!!
10. My new year's resolutions last until about February 4th - If I'm lucky! And they don't start back up again until the following January.
11. I don't enjoy cooking and I don't like grocery shopping. Probably because I REALLY don't like to clean up the mess afterwards. And I rotate through the same 10 meals ALL the time.
12. I don't mind baking - but I have to be in the mood for it. And that means that I want to eat whatever it is that I'm baking so it's not necessarily a "good" thing.
13. I believe the Bible to be ultimate truth - nothing added, nothing subtracted.
14. I LOVE to color! with sharp crayons and many colorful markers
15. I won't let my children drink out of public water fountains. And I NEVER get water from any faucet unless it's filtered or in a sealed water bottle.
16. However, the 5 second rule stands strong when a food item is dropped on the floor.
17. Sometimes I have to stop and think, "when was the last time I actually cleaned the bathrooms?" Yikes!
18. Spontaneous Fun is always my favorite!
19. I am the teacher who will stop a lesson and run outside during the first snowfall, excited to land a few snowflakes on my tongue, with the rest of my students in tow. OR be VERY tempted to jump into a large puddle after it rains, just to soak a few unsuspecting students lurking nearby. (I have never actually done this by the way but have Really, Really wanted to).
20. I go through phases of who my favorite actors or actresses are - BUT Christian Bale has always been my fav - always!
21. I can't get enough of history - I LOVE it!
22. I ask my husband every year for a metal detector for Christmas. Finding buried treasure is on my bucket list.
23. I love, love, love the smell of books and carpet.
24. weeds will grow in my flower beds or in my yard until my husband says something about them. I refuse to notice them. They are a nuisance that I refuse to give any of my attention or time to unless absolutely necessary.
25. Harry Potter Every Flavor Beans are a really gross.
26. Cartoons these days are really dumb.
27. I miss my grandparents every day!
28. my walls are decorated with my children's artwork
29. Living in the woods, off the land, in the middle of nowhere sounds like a great plan to me.
30. If I wasn't a teacher I would love to work in a library, or read Children's books and write reviews or rate them.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Our adventure begins . . . .
Our adventure to Africa that is!!! About a year ago when I heard that our church was going to gather people and head to Africa I immediately thought - I'm going!!! I've always wanted to visit Africa in particular. I don't know why - but my heart yearns to help them, to tell them about Jesus. And today, I'm off to do it. And I'm soooo excited!!!!
Our church put together an amazing team of people and I already love them all dearly! We have been preparing for this day in prayer and physical preparation. We already have to take two planes to Chicago so that all of our stuff will get to Africa.
On the verge of every trip - no matter where it is to, I get a bit nervous. The dreaded "what-ifs" creep up on me and crush my joyful anticipation. This morning was no different. I woke up early, prayed fervently for safety, health, my kids while I'm away, my parents, the missionaries, our team, etc . . . and then I just got out of bed and decided to do my devotions.
What a great idea that was - This is what today's passage was. Out of Jesus Calling for Feb. 14th:
Give yourself fully to the adventure today. Walk boldly along the path of Life, relying on your ever-present Companion. You have every reason to be confident, because My Presence accompanies you all the days of your life - and onward into eternity.
Do not give in to fear or worry, those robbers of abundant living. Trust Me enough to face problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them. Fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfecter of your faith, and many difficulties on the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am holding you by your right hand. Nothing can separate you from My Presence!
So I read this with a huge smile on my face. Of course He had this for me today, of course He did!!! And I'm relieved - and the joy has returned! I'm so excited for what God is going to do for us in Senegal. I'm anxious to get back and share our stories and pictures with everyone!
Continue to pray for us daily - that we will be able to bridge the language barrier, for safety and health and that we can adequately show them the love of Jesus.
So excited - let the adventure begin!!!!
Our church put together an amazing team of people and I already love them all dearly! We have been preparing for this day in prayer and physical preparation. We already have to take two planes to Chicago so that all of our stuff will get to Africa.
On the verge of every trip - no matter where it is to, I get a bit nervous. The dreaded "what-ifs" creep up on me and crush my joyful anticipation. This morning was no different. I woke up early, prayed fervently for safety, health, my kids while I'm away, my parents, the missionaries, our team, etc . . . and then I just got out of bed and decided to do my devotions.
What a great idea that was - This is what today's passage was. Out of Jesus Calling for Feb. 14th:
Give yourself fully to the adventure today. Walk boldly along the path of Life, relying on your ever-present Companion. You have every reason to be confident, because My Presence accompanies you all the days of your life - and onward into eternity.
Do not give in to fear or worry, those robbers of abundant living. Trust Me enough to face problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them. Fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfecter of your faith, and many difficulties on the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am holding you by your right hand. Nothing can separate you from My Presence!
So I read this with a huge smile on my face. Of course He had this for me today, of course He did!!! And I'm relieved - and the joy has returned! I'm so excited for what God is going to do for us in Senegal. I'm anxious to get back and share our stories and pictures with everyone!
Continue to pray for us daily - that we will be able to bridge the language barrier, for safety and health and that we can adequately show them the love of Jesus.
So excited - let the adventure begin!!!!
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