Our school didn't begin its break this year until December 22nd so I was rushed to finish shopping and get all the last minute preparations for Christmas together. While it was a whirlwind few days, I think I like the break falling this way. When everyone else is going back this coming Monday we still have another week. I usually have the week before to run around and prepare then the week after to clean up but this year it really feels like I have so much time off. I am so thankful. I enjoyed my years at home with my kids and going back to work was so difficult to adjust to but I am so thankful that if I am going to work I have the same schedule they do..and I really do love teaching.

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Unfortuatetly we didn't get to see my side of the family but we did get to see quite a bit of David's side so that was nice. My mother-in-love has Alzheimer's so we try to get together as much as possible while she can still remember a little bit.. My sister-in-love,Helene, is always so gracious to host the majority of family gatherings we have, she has plenty of space, is a wonderful cook and my mother-in-love feels comfortable in her home because it is somewhat familiar to her which makes it easier for everyone.


Our Christmas Card this year- of course I had over 50 to send out but only sent out 18--how does that happen you ask??? Well busy got in the way and I had done 18 so they went out so if any of my friends are reading this and didn't get one I am so sorry but here is the picture and Merry Christmas about 5 days late....ha!

Can't have Christmas without watching Rudolph
We are never guaranteed tomorrow, only today, so with my Mother-in-Love's Alzheimer's we try to get a group shot whenever the whole family is together- This is David, his parents, and his sisters, Pauline, Helene, & Diane
These are all of the grandkiddos and the only great-grand-daughter, Molly--she is soooo sweet!!!
Uncle John and John-Paul serenading us
Memere & Pepere-(french for grandmother & grandfather)
Christmas Eve- the boys sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, then ring bells so Santa knows exactly where we are
Every year "santa" leaves a clue in each of the kid's stockings. They have to search to find each clue, usually 3 or 4 of them and this will lead them to their "big" present. Here are all three of them reading their clues before the big hunt is on.. My 18 year old loves this so of course he still gets a clue in his stocking too--tons of fun!


Some of the haul--the rest already made it to the playroom

Have a great night!!
Blessings,

A glance at 2011

Wow!! One might think I walked off the face of the Earth by the lack of posts on my blog.. One might think that our lives are just plain boring and we just sit around with nothing to do so I quit posting... Nothing could be farther from the truth :) In fact walking off the face of the earth would have been much easier than this crazy busy year we have had but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love my life and all of the busyness that goes along with it. In fact I heard a friend, a very young friend, once say, "Let's go!! We can all rest when we are dead!" I guess she is pretty much correct in that statement except I bet the busyness will be replaced with Awe and worship in the presence of my Savior..

So since February, our oldest, Chandler, graduated from High School which was exciting and bittersweet all wrapped into one. I traveled to Nashville for Cameron's first out of town soccer tournament, Sat at many baseball games, Carson broke his leg ending his baseball season a little short( I did not cry) Cameron finished his baseball season in first place, I finished my second year of teaching, Carson finished 3rd grade and Cameron finished 2nd grade both on all A honor roll for the year, We watched Chandler's high school team win state for the second year in a row and watched his club team, Tennessee Rush compete in their final games in regionals, We went to Hilton Head, South Carolina for vacation, visited my mom and dad's new home in Alabama( so excited to have them live somewhere we can drive to rather than on another continent), Saw my sister, Sandy's kids,we got a fish, celebrated birthdays, Chandler started his Freshman year of college where he plays soccer, Carson began 4th grade, Cameron began 2nd grade, I began my 3rd year of teaching, we traveled to Tulsa and Birmingham to watch Chandler's team play, Carson played football for his school, I traveled to Nashville for Carson's first out of town tournament, I watched countless soccer games between the three boys, and now am embarking on countless basketball games.... Talk about a run-on sentence!!! Wow that made me tired all over again...


A Glance at our year-- Christmas pictures to come later....( Aren't you holding your breath????) These are mainly to record for me and of course for my out of town family to see.



Chandler & Cathleen before prom
Cameron- baseball
our newest addition- Mayo
A school tradition for the parents to decorate their senior's car with the colors of their college

Chandler's last home soccer game with my family here for graduation the next day

Carson broke his foot the day before field day at school- boo hoo

Enjoying our backyard this summer
visiting a historical battlefield
Hilton Head
Some of the cousins at my parent's in Alabama
Chandler's first game in college
Cameron's birthday

Carson's 4th grade bug collection
Carson carrying the football to score for his school team...

The Bottom of the Laundry Sorter

Oh darling where have you been all my life?? I never ever get to see you. In fact it has been so long I forgot what you looked like. I now have the picture to prove that you do exist.... Please I beg of you don't stay so covered up all the time. It doesn't have to be everyday but at least once a week I'd love to see you if...if... it's not asking too much.

More snow!!!

Yes it was predicted but I really never believe it till I see it but they were right this time and here we have it a beautiful blanket of white snow. I am pretty sure we will go to school tomorrow but we will have a late start so that will be nice. Several of my students live in rural areas though so I may have a few absent. Here are a couple of pictures of our house when I came home from school. I just love untouched snow. It reminds me of the fact that our sins have been washed whiter than snow. I don't like what lies beneath the snow. The brown muddy mess left behind after is melts is certainly not as pretty as when it was covered. Kind of like our sin. The cross where my Savior died covered all the ugly muddy mess of my life with a beautiful blanket of forgiveness. Thank you Lord!

A really nice day

We have had a fabulously busy but fun Saturday. We started with a 9:00am basketball game then an 11:00am basketball game and finally a 1:00pm basketball game all three of which our team won. Both our younger boys are on the same 2 basketball teams so it is nice that we only have to go to practices once or twice a week rather than more because of two different teams. My hubs coaches one of the teams and does such a great job with the boys. I watched today as the opposing team's coach screamed at his players (7-8 yrs old) during a time out while my sweet hubs is just encouraging and instructing his players. I am so proud of all that he does to teach these little ones. In fact he coached our oldest son for years in every sport and to this day at age 17 some of the kids he coached through church ball still come up to him and say, "Hey Coach". I know it makes him feel good to have played a part in his players' lives. Having three boys you are bound to get a coach that really shouldn't be coaching..... Thankfully we have been blessed so far and have been pleased with all the coaches our kids have had and the impact and influence they have made in them as individuals.
The championship game is tomorrow at 3:00--hoping we can win it but if not we will have fun in the stands and so will our kids on the court--

After all three basketball games we scurried over to an end of the season soccer party to cook out and honor our coach whom we love dearly. The host family had such a beautiful home. Next time I go back I am taking pictures so I can share. She has a real knack for decorating-- not museum decorating but family friendly living decorating.

Here are a few pictures from the party


It was still a little wet outside from the melted snow so the boys were covered in mud after they played some football and soccer. I am soaking their clothes now.. hope they come clean.....

As the party came to a close I was able to capture this beautiful sunset-- How can anyone look at this and say there is no God??

Blessings,

New Bible study and a cool plate or at least I like it!

Well tonight I went to a new Bible study by Priscilla Shirer called Jonah- Navigating a Life Interrupted. It was amazing! I sooooo needed it. I teach at a Christian school and I am surrounded by wonderful godly women and men yet there is not much time to fellowship with them when you are teaching all day. I was exhausted but knew I needed to go and I am glad I did. The premise is basically what are you going to do when your life is not what you expected it to be at this time. I have done one other study of hers and I was blessed to see her in person at our church several years ago. She reminds me a lot of Beth Moore. I am excited to get deeper into the study and feast on God's word as well as be in the presence of other women who are seeking Him through this study.



A friend of mine had this plate and I fell in love with it. I saw it at a local novelty shop and scooped it up. I love how you can change out the main piece. It has velcro attached to the plate and to the decorative piece. They have them for any season, holiday, sports etc.
Hope it was a great Wednesday for you!

Back to school!

Well, ready or not it's back to school we go! It was a great snow day yesterday but we are headed back today with a one hour late start.. I was so hoping for another day off but thankful for the one we had yesterday. Hope y'all have a wonderful day, wherever you are.
Blessings,

It snowed! It really snowed!!

Can't believe it but we are out of school today because of snow. We have had a blast so far today. The kids went sledding and we played out in it for a little bit now we are sitting here watching old home videos... Fun times! I hope you are all enjoying your Monday!

Dallas, our Lab has to be in the middle of everything

The firepit looking very much like a doughnut

My Father-in-love made these two chairs after we moved in. They are perfect looking over the frozen pond

Blessings

Hair today gone tomorrow

So I went for a haircut over my Christmas break and while I asked for it to be short I am not sure I wanted it this short. I have been growing it out for a while and was just sick of it looking good okay in the morning but falling into a mess by day's end. So here is the before and after.. not been thrilled with it so far but after almost 2wks it is growing on me.

The before with my hubby at Christmas

The after with my crazy phone in the picture and no smile..

It is just hair after all I suppose it will grow... haha

We are supposed to get a winter storm this evening and being a teacher the thought of maybe having a day off for snow would be awesome but I don't want to get my hopes up too much... Who am I kidding they are already up!!! I just need to be careful because if we don't get snow I know my students will be even more disappointed then me so I need to have an extra measure of positivity( a word??? ) for their sakes...

One of my favorite pictures when it snowed about 3 years ago.

Blessings,

Happy New Year

January 2011! Can't hardly believe we are at the beginning of a new year. The days seem to come and go a lot quicker the older I am getting. I can remember wanting my driver's license and how it seemed like an eternity would pass before I would actually get it and now I have been driving for more than 25 years. WOW!!


A lot has happened since I last posted interms of still trying to get settled into our new home. In fact the last pictures I posted of the living room are not even what it looks like now. I have to post some pics later of the "now".


Chandler's club soccer team won their fifth and final state championship. They qualified to play in Regionals in June but then the team will be done as they all go their separate ways to college. Thankfully for us Chandler has chosen a college close to home so, although he will live on campus we will still get to see him often( for food and laundry hah ) as well as watch him play soccer for the school so that will be exciting.

We had a fabulous first Christmas in our new home and after visiting relatives on David's side of the family my parents, who recently moved from Germany to the state of Alabama came to visit for a few days with their two Jack Russells Bear and Pooh. It was nice to have them.

Carson and Cameron stared on their first competitive soccer teams this year and are having a blast. We are on a short break then the spring season begins soon. Right now they are both playing on two basketball teams. David coaches on and a friend coaches the other. They are so much fun to watch. Soccer may have been for Chandler but he played or tried everything and didn't decide on "one " sport till he was eleven.. Not sure what these two will choose but we want to make sure they have fun till they do or even if they do. Till then we will keep running all over creation if they are enjoying what they do. I love seeing them active as we are seeing such a trend of inactivity in people(myself included) because we are way too busy for our on good.

David is loving coaching and teaching and his "day job". I am still enjoying teaching. I didn't think I could love a class as much as my first one but I love these kiddos just the same. It has been a good year so far.

Our church is doing a churchwide reading of the Chronological bible in a year. I started it last week and am enjoying it so far. In fact this was my only resolution-- yes I desparately need and want to lose weight, be more organized, strengthen and rekindle friendships, be a better mom and wife, handle my money better and many more things but I am finding that if I keep the main thing the main thing then everything else falls into place because my priorities become a little more like His priorities so basically doing everything I can to rekindle the love I have for the Lord is my only resolution this year, and in my life at this moment that's all I need.


Although I haven't blogged as much as I would like too I do still lurk and it brings me joy to get a glimpse into so many other lives to see how they are living for the Lord, giving tips on cooking and decorating, watching kiddos grow and just plain living life.



Here are a few pictures of the new home, some were taken the month we moved in so we still had some flowers. Some were taken recently by my mom. Of course I had to include some pictures of everything else going on in our life as well. Until next time!

Cameron's room

This year's Christmas picture
Dad and one of the dogs
The playroom

out back

The pond that our Lab, Dallas loves to jump in

The firepit

Blessings,