Summer 1/2 Over

Today has been kind of an odd day. We had church and then the kick-off for VBS which starts tomorrow night. I stayed at church for a while this afternoon to help decorate and then took a long nap when we got home. We aren't having church tonight so I am thinking about buying some fireworks and doing a do-over for July 4th. Not sure about grilling again, but you never know. One can't have too much red meat...well, actually, I'm sure one can, but you know what I mean.

What has been up?
Thursday we got Matthew back home from Camp Electric. He had a great time and learned a lot. Met lots of rockers from all over the USA. Really funny to hear all of his stories. Now he is an alum so he gets to pay a lot less to go this next year. Yea! He got to hang out with some of the guys in Pillar and other groups and actually got to have Red's set list from the concert they did at camp. He also had them all sign his shoes. He was pumped.

I am excited about VBS. I am basically just going to be helping. I didn't sign up to teach a class. I will just be jumping around and doing the music, etc.

After VBS we are heading to Gatlinburg with Mamaw for a couple of days. She rented a cabin which looks awesome! Except, we were looking at its picture and there was a black bear in one of them. I guess I forgot about this part about the mountains.

I can't believe summer is half over. It has been good in a lot of ways and just surreal in so many others. Grandpa passing away still hasn't totally hit me yet. That was not a good thing at all except for him. He was suffering so much at the end. He was so special and is so missed, but is so much a part of who we are that he won't be forgotten. Grandma is being so strong and Mamaw being there with her has been wonderful. I hope I am that kind of daughter to my moms. I also pray that I have that same kind of daughter when I am in her position. Judy is such a sweetheart. The boys and Matt got to be with them yesterday to grill and hang out. I stayed home with sick Matthew and Claire. We didn't want to share our cold.

I am still not sure what I will be doing next year (job-wise). I am really praying about it. I know God had a reason for my not going back to my school, but I am still not sure what that is. We'll see in time, won't we?

Hope you all have a very blessed week!

Goodbye, Jonesrestoration.com

Well, Matt and I said goodbye to my old friend that has been around for several years, jonesrestoration.com. We decided that we didn't need to spend the money on the site since it has gotten so little traffic over the years.

I do have to admit that I have been very blessed by a few people saying that they were blessed by the site, but it has been very few people. We just thought that maybe we should focus on getting out and singing more before we get another website. Not a lot of need for it now and we can always keep people informed through this blog.

I have put so much time into the site that it feels very strange to let it go. I do think it makes sense, though. Anyway.......

This past week has been wild. I met the kids at Nana's almost two weeks ago to help her with the guys. Matt came down on Friday to get ready to lead worship at Park Place on Father's Day. We really enjoyed the sermons we heard by their new pastor, Keith Grubbs. They were on wisdom and were great. God really taught me a lot through them.

Then....Monday we met the other adults and kids from our church at Central Hills Baptist Retreat for kids camp. Monday through Wednesday. So funny that the adults who went on the same trip with the youth were bored some of the time. They had a lot of free-time. We went everywhere the kids went and walked about 100 miles. The kids had a blast and two of our boys asked Jesus to be their personal Lord and Savior. One of the boys was my Jacob. So, you know that I love the camp.

I was kind of waiting to pass-out on the trip from the heat and all of the walking and...the fact that I am not in the best shape at this time in my life. I never did and I actually climbed the rock wall and went down the zip-line. Of course the guys working their probably gave me a few extra boosts to get up the wall, but I was happy.

We got home Wednesday and were so glad to rest. Matthew found out that he made a 30 on the ACT that he took a few weeks ago. Yea!! Then on Friday Matthew got his driver's license. A lot is happening for him lately. Tomorrow he leaves for Camp Electric in Nashville. He is so excited. I would have died to have gone to a camp like that in high school. It is for worship leaders and bands. They are going to work with a lot of people in the Christian music industry. Fun!! They also get to hear big bands in concert at night.

As for me....I am kind of still and quiet and thinking about my second interview Thursday for a position in the Oxford School District. I am praying about it and know if that is where God wants me then I will be going there. I also applied for a job at Ole Miss, so we'll see. Who knows.....

Tomorrow is the Lord's day and I am so ready to rest in Him and worship. It will be so great to be back at our home church. I feel like we haven't been there in a month.

Blessings to you guys................

Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Blogger, Hostbaby, Youtube....is it too much? Nah.

I am thinking to myself. How much time is reasonable for one to spend on the computer? What do you think? Is it a fun little outlet that connects you to your friends and family? I think so. Can one spend too much time on these websites? I think so. I guess it is just like anything else. All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial.

I sure like being able to see people who, because of the way our world is, I have lost touch with. I love to see what these people are up to and to hear their thoughts about life.

Do I think I need to say no to most of the quizzes, etc.? For me...probably so because I could get a little too into them. Spend a little too much time on them. Is is totally fun to farm on facebook? I think so. Can one get consumed by sending their friends fruit trees? I think maybe so.

I remember my dad staying up late at night programming on the computer. It was a sight I got used to. I also remember wanting him to stop and talk to me or play with me. I need to remember that. Computer programming was his career. It's not mine. I have loved creating our website, but I probably should admit that I have spent time on it that I could have used on other things. I prayed yesterday that God would set my family on fire for Him. That we would be sold out and seeking how He can use us. Before I beat myself up about being on the computer too much I will remember that this can be used for God's glory, too. Because this is where people are a lot, I will use the time I am on to be a light for Him. To point people to Him. Otherwise, this time could be wasted. Not that a little wasted time is not OK, but too much would be sad.

OK, I have rambled enough. See you around on facebook....the short time in the day that I am on. :)

Keeping my cool

Well, I'm not doing this so well. No, really, I am OK but so many unknowns right now are really making me make myself give our lives to God over and over and over. Every time I want to worry, I just tell myself to snap out of it and then I tell God thank you for being so constant and my protector and provider and just basically everything to me. He is so good, there is never any reason to worry.

I know that is all so vague.

I have 3 more days of school. The kids are at Mamaw's for the weekend having a good time. They may stay for Memorial Day, or we may go down and join them for a cook-out.

I have been listening to so many good sermons online lately. Andy Stanley at Northpoint just finished a series on "Staying in Love". It is so good. I highly recommend it. :)

Well, I am going to stop being a slug and get out into the real world and off of this computer.
Blessings to you....

Winding Down

It is glorious. It is lovely. It is precious. It is beautiful.
It is the end of school.
I basically have no more days with students. I will see some of them around school, but my time of preparing lessons for them is over for this school year. My last program was last night. The 3rd graders did a patriotic program and then got their awards. A lot of work to be over in 30 minutes. I guess it is times like those that will hopefully stick with them. I tried so hard to make in impact with the kids. There are some whose futures are going to be tough unless their paths are changed. Even at 3rd grade. It is great to see the little boy that is constantly in trouble in his classes get up and speak in front of an auditorium of people. Maybe that will make a difference.
And.....now it's over. Paperwork, packing up, cleaning rooms, saying goodbye to other teachers is all that is left.
What to do this summer? Well, a lot of it is planned out for us already. I am looking forward to the different trips. Taking Matthew to Camp Electric is going to be cool. Well, off to bed. Take care, everybody.

Why I love my job

These pictures were taken during our last full week of school. I have a class of first grade girls that really like to draw on the board. Since this was the last week of school and I was letting different girls take turns on the keyboard, etc., I let them draw. When I saw what they were writing, my heart broke. So sweet.

Next year they will be big 2nd graders. How they change. My Claire is about to be a 3rd grader, Jacob a 5th grader, Benjamin in MIDDLE SCHOOL , and Matthew a SENIOR. I can't believe it. This time of year is always a little emotional. After our concert the other night the kids slowly drift off until none are coming to class for different reasons. Strange building up to our concert and then it is over so fast.

For the first two weeks of summer we are doing nothing. I mean no planned activities. After that it all starts, but for those two weeks, I am going to reclaim my house, etc. Just enjoy being together as a family. I wish I were going on a mission trip, but we just didn't work it out. We will have to make our summer one big mission trip.

Take care.

Thanks, Mom!

Here is my beautiful mother yesterday at her house in Jackson. We got to go see her for Mother's Day and she baked this awesome cake for my birthday today. We had a great time with them all. Mom, Chuck, the kids, Ron and Steve were all there.

The weather was horrible on our way home. We almost stayed in Jackson, but we prayed and drove on. Matt said the weather was better up north. It was a little better. We thanked God when we got home. The kids were pretty nervous about it.....then they fell asleep, which was good. I was glad to be back with my boys. The den was really clean because Matthew cleaned it up so he could have a lady friend over to watch a movie. I was thrilled until I went in my room and saw where everything in the den had gone. :/

Today I went to Tequilas after church with the Matt, the kids, Amber and Nathan. Matt surprised me with the hat and song from all of the nice folks at Tequillas, but sadly I missed out on the whipped cream in the face. (sarcasm)

I can't believe I am almost 40. wow!

Hope all you mothers have a wonderful Mother's Day!!!!