Two years later...

Some days I jump out of bed excited to start the day! Some days...... I roll out of bed, reach for the alarm, hardly crawl to the shower, then race....ALL. DAY. LONG. And for two  years {apparently} that's all I've been doing. My sweet little blog...well, it has taken a crazy back seat! That, ends, today.
Since I last blogged.... I found out I was pregnant! I had another sweet baby....

 Oh. my. heart! Those cheeks! World...meet my newest addition: Grady Archer! Yeap, he's a GAB baby too! He entered our life on September 10th, 2013. Yes, that makes him ONE now. (Yikes. #badmomstatus #heneedsanintroduction

 And here he is now! WOW... that was one really fast year....of no blogging! Before Grady arrived...I blogged about my GAB often....remember this guy?

Well, while we've been busy with little brother, big brother GAB was steadily growing... here he is now!

How did this happen?! Griffin is becoming a sweet little boy and leaving that baby stage in the past. (sniff...) Here's a few more...just to capture his spirit....

He is a silly little jokester who REALLY loves The "Engine" Turtles! Geez....FOUR?! Four years old!
I'm still teaching...but I'm first grade and it ROCKS! There have been zero days I've regretted making that switch. Lots of challenges and tons more victories.
Okay, so my sad neglected blog needed a catch up!

Until next time...
Big hugs!
XO

Wait....What???

So, I fell off of blog wagon because I was simply overtaken by life and the craziness of being a full-time mommy, coupled with a full-time teacher and full-time wife. As many of you may know, I switched from the world of sweet seconds to fabulous firsts this year and boy...what a switch! I am so in love with these sweet six-few seven-year olds it is unreal. The innocents in their smile and the awestruck wonder they exude is amazing. They have helped me rekindle a love for teaching. First grade is so my speed....FAST! Anyway..on to the post....
Pretty much like everyone else, I am in complete and utter disbelief over the events that occured this past week in CT. Last Friday began like any other. My children are released from busroom at 8:15 where they walk down the long hallway to our room. There they wait quietly to be invited in. I usher them in with "good morning" and hugs all around. {I must insert here that firsties hug on average 69 times a day. NOT KIDDING!} They fervently unpack, potty, and begin their welcome work. 10 minutes later, our guidance counselor leads the morning announcements school wide. Pledge, patriotic song, moment of silence to reflect on the day, description of our character word of the week and how to display it with our actions and words. She closes each day with, "And have a wonderful day boys and girls!" in her sweetest teacher voice. My firsties and I sing and gather for our calendar and morning message. At this point in the day, I get to hear how Adrianne's* mom is turning 40 today! Billy's* brother is having knee surgery tomorrow. Noah's* dog passed away last Saturday. Jonah*, Avery*, and Carson's* daddies deployed yesterday together...and they aren't coming home until July....etc. I get an in-depth look into my babies eyes. This is where I get to know them. This is where we laugh the most, cry together and all and all build a relationship. Anyway....I digress...last week we were doing an indepth informational study of reindeer. We started reading fictional stories about reindeer. We concluded the study reading non-fiction books about reindeer, then brainstorming facts about this creature, and we even wrote our very first research paper! On Friday, we would conclude our reindeer unit by making reindeer sandwiches and building a reindeer out of various shapes. (And I must insert here they were absolutely adorable and the sandwiches were cute and delicious!) My camera is on my desk or I would flood this post with pictures!
We were so immersed in our work we never knew about the horrendous events our "peers" seperated by only miles were facing in those very moments. Time and time again I have thought about if that were me. If those were my sweet innocent, babies? If we were bombarded in such a way that you can't even begin to brace yourself? It is completely unfathomable. I can't even begin to say I know what they are going through, but last year we had a "gunman" scare and I remember the sheer horror that filled me. I played it cool to my children, but in my mind I was thinking all about what we could do should we need a game plan. There was absolutely no way any of my students could be harmed! I can actually feel how those teachers who did face the massacre felt. It's in our teacher genetics. My heart breaks all around for this. I have many questions about why, but there are somethings I won't know until I get to heaven. I can, however, pray. Today, I pray God wraps his arms around those broken hearted parents who are laying their babies to rest today and in the days ahead. I pray for a peace that none of us can understand or comprehend. I pray for the teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary that are mourning the loss of their friends and colleagues while praising the Lord their life was spared. I pray for the parents of the surving students who feel a gaping hole in their heart who aren't sure what to do. How do you comfort someone who has just suffered an unimaginable blow? I pray God will guide their speech and actions. I pray for the leaders of their school board. They now have positions to fill and decisions to be made during this time of grief. I am covering the student body in prayer daily. How do you move on? Slowly? I also pray for the comfort of all my fellow educators. I didn't think twice about walking into school on Monday. I had 22 babies I needed to hug tightly as least once more. For most teachers, I think they can concur; but for those with fear, I pray God will give them peace. We are placed in positions for a reason. The unimaginable blow to Sandy Hook has raised the attention of the world. God doesn't promise us tomorrow, so we should live a life prepared to go at any time.
Anyway, as an educator, I needed to say my piece. I feel heart-broken with saddness, but encouraged to let me children feel and increasing amount of love each day.
Thank you Lord for the children you have given me in past and all of the babies I will teach in the future. I want to be used by you!

Gee Golly...It's been forever!

Well, hello friends and faithful followers!
 It has been a minute....or 5....or 10? Dumb expression...
Anyway, boy! I certainly am busy these days! Momma of a toddler is kicking my hiney! Last summer I remember GAB napping for 2-3 hours 2 or 3 times a day. No longer! 2 hours tops 1 time a day! Anywho... since I have neglected to blog, I guess some pictures of what I've been doing lately are definitely appropriate! Here goes....

We have spent a fair amount of time on Daddy's boat....fishing boat, that is. Nothing fancy...and yet, we always have a darn good time!

 We took a trip to the zoo on Father's Day! What a good time! GAB is not in a phase that screams "I LOVE TAKING PICTURES" but we really do give it our best effort anyway....

One more shot of momma's BIG boy...sniff. Truly don't know where the time goes.

We spent time with family! This is my grandfather and GAB's GREAT grandfather. We'll just call him "Island Trader".

GAB was a teeny, weeny, bit obsessed with the boat. I think he played on it for a solid hour. He especially loved the horn....figures!


I am having technical difficulties so I can't upload the rest of my pictures, but we have swam until our fingers and toes have wrinkled and we also saw Sesame Street Live! GAB was in pure heaven at seeing Elmo in "real life." It actually was a good $100 bucks spent!

I hope you're having as great a summer as I am! Until next time....

Siesta, much?

Hello friends!
I know, I know, I dropped off of blogger world for a...while. I have no REAL excuse, instead I have 27,658,924,123  teeny ones. Sigh, such is life.
Anyway, I feel like I need to just put it ALL out there. I have been busy being the encourager I said I wanted to be. (Go me!) However, with being an encourager I faced some immense heartache and pain. I wrote all about wanting to be there for friends and loved ones, and BOY God sent the masses...AT ONE TIME! (Thank you, Lord for the favor!) I confidently say that the Lord answers prayers. I will talk a bit about something things I have recently experienced. A very near and dear friend of mine found out she was pregnant! Her father in law passed away...so young...with cancer and she and her husband were just beginning to grieve that loss when they were blessed with the joyous news of their baby!!! It was so necessary to help ease the pain. They decided they were going to keep the gender a secret, so we began praying for precious baby K! We knew no matter he or she, that baby was a blessing from the Lord! He sent comfort to the broken hearted by way of this sweet miracle. Unfortunately, 13 weeks in, they went in for a routine visit and ultrasound to find a heartbreaking loss had occurred and they'd never even known. There was no baby... no heartbeat and no baby. Talk about needing to be strong, done. They are such a blessing to my soul and the blow to their already broken hearts was almost uncomprehendable. God gave me words to speak and tasks to complete. I felt like a pillar of strength when hugging them and holding their hands, but the second I walked away I found myself sobbing wondering WHY THEM? God is revealing things in my life daily...I am thankful that I depend on him for comfort. No sooner than this occured, my mother called me needing an encourager. Her marriage is under attack by the enemy. She began pouring out all the bad, horrible, unimaginable things she's going through. I begin quoting scripture and immediately began praying. The Lord can heal them! Again, after being strong for her, I found myself wounded and shocked. (No one says being there for others is an easy job, I guess.) Through it all, I have found that I feel encouraged and more faithful in what I know is truth. After a whirlwind few weeks, with friends, family, and my health, I have good news to report!! I have prayed for  llllloooooonnnnnnggggg time that God would change me or change my working envirnoment and he has done just that! I interviewed for a first grade position at another school and our county and felt SURE there was no way I would get offered the position. Well, I did! I'm the newest First Grade Teacher at Richmond Hill Primary School! AHHHHH!!!! I am so excited. I'm so nervous and so thrilled all at the same time. The Lord is so good to me! I don't deserve the blessing and abundant happiness he gives.

"Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]." 2 Thessalonians 3: 3

I'm thrilled to be back in the saddle! On a side note, I'm DYING for SPRING BREAK!!!!!

All I want...

Have you ever thought about how you are perceived? Have you ever considered how other people view you or what they think or say when you leave their prescence? I have. Extensively. I am constantly learning and growing and by all means, trying to gain a closer more meaningful relationship with the one who matters most...Jesus. I am taking part in a 21 day bible study on influential women in the bible currently, and I am amazed at the faith, humility, strength, and graciousness some of these women show. It makes me want to be a better woman. I want to model my life after THE proverbs 31 women. Have you heard??? Incase not, this is what I want to be perceived as....

The Wife of Noble Character
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
6 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.Proverbs 31: 9b-31

I mean, WOW! I have a long way to go, but with the help of the Lord, I think it's possible. I hope that each person I meet feels blessed by the words coming from my mouth and the work that I do for them is good and beneficial. I hope that when GAB grows up and looks for his wife, he thinks he needs someone who is as generous in all things as his mother. I want to give as much as I can in as many realms as I possibly can. We are called to draw people to Him and I want to by acts of service!

Little Ditty!

This morning while catching up on some of my "friends" blog posts lately, I read an entry that began just like this:

I love, I love, I hate, I hate,
I like, I wish, for goodness sake,
I hope, I hope, I pray, I pray,
I will, I won't, and for today...

So, I'm totally following suit and doing it too!

I love my precious angel...

This boy is my whole world! He keeps me laughing, learning, and occasionally crying. (HA!)
I love knowing that today is Friday and tonight my sexy man is taking me on a date! Makes me smile on the inside....and out!
I hate that my precious GAB is so sick! Sick like, it's been almost a month and no improvements. He has such a good attitude through it all though. The doctor's visits, the medicines, the snot wiping, the ear infections...on and on and on...
I hate knowing that today the pediatrician is going to call me with culture results and tell me that GAB has to start coming in today for his 3 rounds of shot antibiotics. YIKES! Not only is it painful, he cries when we pull into the parking lot now. :(
I like this pin from pintrest:Isn't this hilarious?? I find that it so often happens to me, and I'm pretty use to it. What would someone say if I said this to them??? HAHAHA
I wish for peace with my child. I want him to rest and feel better today.
For goodness sake he's been sick  for almost a WHOLE MONTH!
I hope that in the beginning of 2013 I look like this with all these 4 am workouts!
I hope that one of my closests finds out she preggo next week! She's ready and I'm ready to plan that baby shower!!!!!!!!!!!!
I pray that my husband's best laid plans go exactly the way he wants...yeap, he's making some HUGE life decisions these days.
I pray that my wonderful friends find peace during this time of mourning over the loss of their father.
I will be an encourager in any way that I can.
I won't be a discourager to those I encounter.
And for today...I will make the most of those I hold so dear!

Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!

OR NOT! Last night, I was watching The Bachelor thinking to myself, "I am SO glad I didn't have to compete to get my husband." Some of these girls are complete basket cases over a STRANGER....okay, so he does SEEM incredibly sweet, however, a-hum, he is a man! He is going to swoon you and the next  Blakely "fast" girl makes a move, he's going to pounce. Evident in last night's show....

Okay, so I mentioned in my last Bachelor post who my picks were...if you need a refresher....click here.
I am still team Kacie B. ALL. THE. WAY. Last night they had a special one on one date. I felt like there was chemistry and my friend {also an obsessed fan} agreed.

Of course, she got a rose! Isn't she just darlin'???

I also really like Courtney...don't ask me why. She is the complete, polar, total, absolute opposite of Kacie B. She's kinda rogue. Mean girl, in your face, etc.
Ben really digs though....
They, too, shared a romantic one-on-one date and chemistry was also quite natural.
So much so, that being a Kacie fan, it made me a teeny bit sad.


On another note, I'm pleased to announce.....Alfred Hitchcock's CRAZY, stalker type, JENNA...
 was eliminated! HALLELUJAH!!!! She was awful to watch. {The blogger from New York...} YIKES!

Now, I am itching to see this girl go bye-bye next....

Meet Blakely!{Yes, this is how she looked almost the entire show.} She uses her "goods" to get what she wants....strong distaste for her....I most hated that she moaned while she was kissing Ben....really? All that was necessary? DOUBTFUL!

Until next time....