#13

It's the second half of the year... Only 12 more verses for 2011. Here's verse 13:

Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV)
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 

I want to encourage you to "stop and chew" on this verse. Really think about what the Lord was saying to the Israelites.

Live, Laugh, LOVE

Life is wasted if you do not love the things that come your way.  We are often blessed ten times more than we realize and acknowledge.  So today I am going to share with you some things that I love...

I love weddings... a time of celebration of two individuals and two families joining because of their love for each other.  I have the honor and pleasure of attending/assisting at a wedding today.  And might I say, it has been a joy watching the wedding party have their pictures taken... and the bride is beautiful!

I love spending time with family.  This past week my family (Dad, Mom, Brother, Husband, and I) enjoyed a vacation in Branson.  It was a blast!  We went with very few plans for the week; however, we seemed to always be going and having fun.  If you go to Branson this year, I highly recommend that you go see the show Noah at the Sights & Sound Theater.  We also did the usual... putt-putt golf, tennis, shuffle board, swimming (pool & lake).  Unfortunately, the sun was not my friend while we were on the lake.  My poor body is burnt!  But it will heal... hopefully sooner rather than later.

I love summer... and all of its festivities.  We have a cookout & swim with the youth this weekend... so exciting!  I'm also looking forward to our family's fish fry to celebrate the 4th of July... fun times ahead!

I love quotes.  One addition to my classroom walls next year will be quotes... some printed on colored paper, some framed and bought, some painted by dear friends... quotes come in so many different designs and are often great reminders that we need...

I love learning new things.  Yes, I'm weird - I like to learn.  I spent an entire week at a workshop learning how to have more engaging lessons.  I hope that I will be able to efficiently/adequately apply what I learned.  I love to learn and that is part of the reason I also love to teach.

I love pictures... and capturing the memories we make throughout our lives.  Unfortunately, I often forget to bring my camera along.  But I am getting better.  Hopefully I'll be able to get the pictures saved so that I can share them with you.  And I also have a nifty phone that is pretty good at doubling as a camera.

I love to laugh and have fun!

I love sharing life with others... which is why I have chosen to blog this year.  I hope my posts don't bore you too much.  I hope to share with you more and more along the way.

Until next time,
enjoy the life you're getting to live

Halfway!

After this next verse, I will be halfway through the year for SSMT.  It’s hard to believe that twenty-eleven is going by so quickly.  Here’s my next verse:

Colossians 3:17 (HCSB)

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

When we posted our verse this time, we were also asked to complete the following statement. 

Memorizing scripture has helped me…
to keep my focus on what is important and not let the “little things” bog me down.

I really needed this reflection.  I have been down a little here lately.  Of course, I think part of the problem is that I have been busy… running ragged… and it’s summer!  I have yet to understand how my time disappears.  It doesn’t feel like I waste it on insignificant things, but it also doesn’t feel like I’m being as productive/useful as I should be.  I need to make sure I keep my focus on the things that truly matter and that I am working toward those goals especially.

On a positive note, I have accomplished a few things on my summer to do list…

-     - go to niece & nephews ball games

-     - VBS

-     - work out… Insanity… enough said…

-     - swim… went three days in a row last week  

-     - started reading one of my books:  Mathematics for Every Student

-     - cook new food:  Baked Potato Soup = yum!

Until next time, 

Enjoy your summer!!

Sweet Summertime

Well, summer has begun!  Not officially... there's about 20 more days until it's official... 


Nonetheless, summer is here.  And it is a great relief.  Plus it brings excitement.  Excitement to accomplish all of my summer goals.  And today, my friends, I'm going to share with you some of the things on my list: 
- spend time with family and friends... build relationships...
- go to niece & nephews ball games
- plan, decorate, and help with VBS
- go on trips 
- work out and get in better shape
- swim and maybe get a tan 
- organize the file cabinet... papers have been stacking up for months...
- make a painting for guest bath... "splish, splash, taking a bath"...
- create & complete wedding photo album
- plan for classes next year
- save pictures to computer/disk... create photo albums (?)
- make some new crafts and/or foods... gotta find some ideas...
- read books (Radical, Crazy Love, Don't Waste Your Life, Remarkable Women of the Bible, Love and Respect, First Love, Christ Centered Life, My Utmost for His Highest, Mathematics for Every Student, Why Didn't I Learn This in College, and more may be added)


So as you can see, I do not want to be lazy and waste my summer away.  And don't worry -- I will share the results of these lovely items.  I shall relax, but I shall also be productive.  Life is too short and too sweet to waste. 


As I begin this list, I have a new verse to be memorizing...
1 Kings 3:9a (NIV)
So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. 


Until next time,
Live Your Life!! 

Insanity

Yesterday marked the beginning of Insanity- the workout video program that we will be doing for the next nine weeks.  So this means some changes... work out everyday, change how we eat, push our limits, etc.  But, I must say that I am excited.  I'm tired of not working out and staying in shape.  My hope for Insanity is that it will get me back in to shape and that I'll be consistent.  Now Insanity's goal is to push you past your limits to get your hardest body ever using MAX interval training.  But we have decided to start out slow since it's been a while that we've worked out.  So we will work out everyday following the workout plan the best we can.  If we aren't satisfied with the results at the end of the "60 days" then we will start again and keep working until we get to our goals.  And we have the "before" pictures and measurements so we can celebrate how far we go...

And our motivation verses...
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (HCSB)
Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

A few projects...

So life lately has still been busy.  But this time, it's busy with things other than the ordinary day-to-day activities which encourages me to post.  If I posted more often, I would be able to devote a post for each item (along with all the lovely details).

First of all, I decided to create Mini Oreo Pops.  I got this idea from some cool crafty ladies at www.thecraftingchicks.com.

                     

              

It's a pretty easy project.  However I failed at creating these cute tasty treats.  When I would dip the oreos in the red candy, they would fall apart.  Or I would succeed in dipping the oreo but then fail at sticking the "stem" and "leaf" on the "apple".  Luckily (and thankfully), my wonderful husband was patient and successful.  Eventually he convinced me to try again.  Unfortunately this craft project wasn't my cup of tea... which really bothered me.  After all, I like to succeed.  Maybe next time.



My second project from this week was a name painting.  One of the graduating seniors asked for a painting with her name to hang on her wall.  She requested the blue and light pink as well as the swirls, hearts, and stars.  Hopefully, she will like what I created.

Note: I still have to add the ribbon to hang the board. 

And now I'm going to end this post with today's festivities.  I woke up at 4:45 (EARLY) to meet a crew of about 16 to drive down to Amory, MS.  We were going to spend our Saturday helping clean up the debris from the tornados that destroyed homes and businesses in the Amory/Smithville/Wren area a couple of weeks ago.  Now, I had seen pictures and heard reports of the damage but seeing it in person gives a new perspective.  It was sad to see how so many had lost everything.  But it was encouraging to see all of the volunteers and supplies provided to help the families.  I am thankful for the opportunity that I had to help.  It was hard work, but it was good... I was spending my day being productive and helping others (two things I love).   Here are some pictures of the area where we worked today in Wren, MS.  Our group helped clear a pasture so that the cows would have room to graze and what not.  

The cars' windows were out and the inside was filled with debris. 

What's left of the house.

An uprooted tree.  And one of the chickens.

Well, until next time...
Live life to the fullest!

Busy, Busy...

Busy, busy... dreadfully busy...

When summer is here, I will enjoy it!  I must.  I am too tired/exhausted and have been for about the past month.  So I will try and enjoy this next month the best I can... but come summer then there will definitely be some changes so that I can live life "better"...

Now, today is May Day (May 1st) which means that it is time for SSMT verse 9.


Philippians 4:11b (HCSB)
... for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Oh how this verse needs to be true in my life.  Feel free to hold me accountable.  :)
And I do hope to become better with blogging as I make some changes...
Please don't give up on me just yet.