Other places in Paris and Toulouse France

After my brother left Paris, I was able to sit Sunday in the Jardin des Tuileries in a lawn chair waiting for Eva. This was the view I had for the day...amazing memory of solitude, only God could plan something like this.

Eva and I then took a tour boat on the Seine River.

I then with no phone or form of communication pulled out my notebook paper drawn map from friends, bought a RER train ticket for the latest hour so I didn't have to pay for another hotel that night, woke up in Toulouse France, found my way to the smaller train to take me to Saint-Gaudens and thankfully ran into people who spoke English who let me borrow their phone to call the friends to tell them I had arrived at the train station. Here's the street where they live.

And amazing French cheese.

With a trip through the Pyrénées

This trip was just the beginning of my new spontaneous self, and what an adventure it turned out to be.

Who knew this was on my bucket list too?

We all have those people in our lives. The ones who push and challenge us to try something new and make us realize that we just did something we previously thought was impossible. That person for me is my brother and he has been inspiring me for the last 30 years. Little did I know four years ago how much his impact would begin to help transform me into a beautiful person. This trip up Alp d' Huez with him at my side was a culminating moment.

Who dreams of riding up the world famous Tour de France Alp d' Huez on a bicycle as one of their bucket list dreams, my brother of course. So when he found out about his trip to Paris, he began researching how to get there. These are snapshots of my adventure as he let me tag along for the journey.

The train ride 6 hours south to Grenoble, France. We had to change our plans that day because a bike race was coming through the next day.

At the bike shop getting equipment and ready to start. My face sure says that I am not really confident about this whole thing, so my jersey (King of the Hill) is a boastful but only jersey I had to wear.

At the base of the Alp, about to make the turn to head up.

Looking down from were we came. I don't have a picture, but after that turn the incline increased by a significant grade. I took one pedal stroke, tried to switch gears, yelled out to my brother...he yelled out put it in the lowest gear, and I didn't see him again for a couple of hours when he was on the way back down. Most of my "journey" and it was a journey rather than a ride for me was mixed with riding, stopping, and walking. Phillip actually had to coach me up for a good part of the way with tough love and inspiring encouragement.

We didn't make it back down in time to see the bike race that came through, but we did see a lot of the buses for the teams the next day.

The summer my couch moved to France.

Despite the many amazing awards from my school year, there were a lot of hard personal trials, so when people asked what I was doing for the summer my response was always...relaxing, laying on the couch, doing nothing. Well all of that changed two days before school ended. My brother told my mom he needed to go downtown to get his passport updated, his company was sending him to Paris on Wednesday. She told me later that night and I told her how on the way to school that week I had a French Bakery shop and thought how good a chocolate eclair would taste. So June 5 I bought a plane ticket to leave for Paris on June 9....this was the beginning of my spotantious lessons.

My brother and I in front of the Arc de Triomphe



Notre Dame

Climbing the Bell Tower stairs.
We attempted to get a bike to ride on the streets like my family did last time, but the card didn't work, so this is the closest we got.

Looking out from on top of the Arc de Triomphe

Spring Branch ISD Elementary Teacher of the Year

Desert had come, we had finished the meal, listened to last year winners give speeches and now were waiting for the announcement of the Elementary and Secondary district winners for Teachers of the Year. Although desert looked amazing, my stomach was filled with butterflies as they played the video of pictures and comments from the finalist. Like a RED Carpet moment, our Superintendent opened the envelope, paused to glance at the name and read the winner of the Elementary District Teacher of the Year is Lisa Luce. You know that moment when you think you heard something, but it seems too big to believe...that's what happened. I was still unsure my name had been read, why would they pick me? But as my principal, math SIS and mom turned to congratulate me, I knew it was real! Trying to appear calm, I walked up to the stage to receive my apple trophy and thank the committee for choosing me. Desert was so much sweeter as I sat thinking what an honor!

Sasha(math SIS), Me, Valerie (Principal)

A sweet pink cast for Abby

Yesterday Abby hurt one of her nails, so had to take a trip to the vet today. She is not excited about the pain, so is sleeping it off. The pink bandage seems to make it all better. (She did not like the soft cone around her head, so I took it off to stay away from embarrassing pictures.) Other pictures below of better times.

Feeding herself from the bag.

Lazily "tanning" by the pool

She is also known for tearing up things. This is some of the stuffing of my couch pillows she decided make her own bed in when I had the cover in the washing machine.

The year of flowers

I wrote a month ago about these beautiful flowers I kept receiving and wanted to post pictures of two more from parents of students in my class. Amazing how flowers can brighten your day!

And now I'm a Spring Branch ISD finalist

Thanks to everyone who has given such warm wishes for my recent teacher of the year award. More excitement this week as I received an email congratulating me on becoming one of the Spring Branch ISD finalist. I will go to the district office along with 5 other winners for an interview on Wednesday. The person voted for this will become the teacher of the year for the district and then move onto interview for the region.

Spring Cleaning..well maybe not

During the recent spring break I was able to enjoy my dad's spring cleaning endeavors. Although I was originally enlisted to wipe down and clean off the items for sale, it soon became evident to me that my first days of spring break would be better spent reclining in the intended bucket seats for sale. Thankfully I was able to get him to sit with me for a while and quick picture.





As I was reclining I noticed my dad's childhood bunkbed frame leaning against the fence. Remembering a conversation from before about the possibility of selling them, I wanted to claim them before they were sold or given away to someone else. So although I don't have space for them right now and part of the bed is being used at my parent's house, we wanted to be sure I had in writing my prior claim to them before something else happened.

He loves me, He loves me NOT...He LOVES me!

As a young girl sitting with friends we would pick at the flowers in the grass and sing the famous, "he loves me, he loves me not" song trying to decide if the guy we were in "LOVE" with, loved us back. All girls know that it was a sad moment if the last petal ended on a he loves me not (soon to be followed with the picking of another flower to try again :)



Unlike the silly childhood past, I have seen the recent love from the all mighty God who chooses to love me. In spite of the fact that I continue to be hateful and mean, even rebellious at times, he desired to show and tell me how much I am loved by Him. The process all started a year ago, but I had to laugh this week as he continued to send me flowers. How does a God who is "invisible" send you flowers to show how much He loves you?



The whole thing started with me being able to do what I love, teach! Although I have had struggles this year, and learned many lessons, I do love teaching. So, when caught up in the moment, I enjoy the passion of incorporating new things into a lesson. Last year I began sharing with my students my journey to Kenya. It has carried a little over into conversation with those same students this year. Another fun project has been my discovery of videoconferencing and we were recently able to "travel" to the Grand Canyon while still in the classroom. You may be asking how does this all fit with flowers and love, well.... a few weeks ago I was surprised by the PTA president as she nominated me for the School Bell Award this is awarded in Spring BranchISD. She invited me to the PTA dinner, telling me it was going to be about technology. It really turned out to be an award ceremony. Surprised and honored, this is where I got my first flower "from God", a yellow rose.



Later that week they announced at our school PTA meeting about my nomination and presented me with more flowers-tulips. With my yellow rose greeting me in the morning by my bedside stand and the tulips on my dresser, I could feel my heart swell with love in return for a Lord who would let me struggle and then show me how much He loves me in that way.



The final set of flowers came in the form of beautiful orchids. These flowers came because the other teachers at my campus voted for me to be the teacher of the year at my school. At the time I didn't realize it, but looking back as I watched them bloom from their buds, I was reminded daily of the process the Lord takes with us and how He desires to make us Him own.

Romans 5:6-8 (New International Version)
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2009-My journal thoughts from the year (no wonder it was hard, God had a lot He was working on)

1/2/09 "Wisdom begins with basing one's life on reality. When we really understand who God is, the natural response is to offer Him whatever we can get our hands on and all we have is ourselves. If we have not yet gotten to that point of laying ourselves on the altar before Him without reservation, we have not yet encountered the living God. His glory prompts sacrifice. Worship is a lifestyle, a sacrificial way of living that acknowledges every moment of every day that there is One far more worthy of our allegiance than ourselves. " Chris Tiegreen





You are far more worthy to govern my life, help me to give up my right, you will never do me harm. Help me to say I exist for your purpose and for you alone.






Disney-where dreams come true year of a million dreams





1/8/09 Though we want God's guidance and ask for it, we often do not wait for it. We make decisions based on what our internal logic tells us. Is that logic guided by the Spirit? Or do we sense our own emotional needs, self-esteem cravings?


How I feel like waiting is standing still with no action as the world passes you by. But actually waiting takes more action to accomplish. Does it also require more faith?


"See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains." James 5:7 "God can not be mocked. a man reaps what he sows."




1/19/09 "The center of God's will is our only safety." Betsie ten Boom


1/23/09 wrinkled pages of my Bible left me understanding obedience of hearing His voice and grace Ps. 107, 89





1/28/09 I was tired of trying to do things and events. My focus needed to go back to "my first love (God)" as they say, but I realized that God has never been my first love. I have loved myself more than Him. I must love the Lord rightly first. My prayer for loving people comes from this, to also love people, I must love God.






3/9/09 you are beautiful, I love you. Ps 145:16









I am so proud of my two cousins who graduated. One is a famous artist, the other an amazing lawyer.




5/14/09 "if you want to know God's will you must respond to His invitation to love Him wholeheartedly. God works through those He loves to carry out His kingdom purposes in the world. " Experiencing God-Henry Blackaby









Completed an Olympic distance triathlon with my dad




6/4/09 "Obedience is the outward expression of your love of God. The reward for obedience and love is that He will show Himself to you. If you have an obedience problem, you have a heart problem.








Uniform shopping with my sponsor child in Kenya.

8/5/09 culturally we are afraid to let anyone close to us, because we might have to be real-greet people, spend time with them ( the task can wait, people can't)

8/10/09 I can never be content with not being apart of what God is doing. I have seen the hand of God, like Elijah said, realized my sinful nature and will never again be satisfied with doing my own thing for long. It began many months ago as God started to woe me as Lord and reveal to me my love for myself instead of Him. I want to go where He is no matter where that is, not just do good things here in Houston, but those that vest in relationships. We live so earthly and forget that only things for eternity matter. ... I pray give me more of you and that excites me. Will it stretch me out of my comfort? Yes because otherwise I depend on myself.

9/10/09 ways we misuse our tongue: Proverbs 6:17 lying tongue; Proverbs 10:19 when words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.; Proverbs 12:22;Proverbs 17:9; Proverbs 17:27; Proverbs 18:13;Proverbs 20:19; Proverbs 26:20; Proverbs 26:28; Proverbs 27:2; Proverbs 29:20; Romans 10:14-15 Beautiful are the feet that bring good news.

9/16/09 "Pride is thinking more of yourself than you should. A person who has pride will never see a need for grace, that is why He only gives grace to the humble."

9/20/09 Submit yourself to God can only be done if you do not want to be in control, but humbly step down from "our throne" to let God be on THE throne. Falling into a "trap" of what others think of my actions, guilt and boasting.

10/9/09 the alarm goes off over and over again each time God saying rest, me knowing the night before I made a choice for others things instead of bed. In His grace He says rest until it finally feels like rebellion. My heart does not cry out love and desire, but routine. So I want to avoid, but that is just a play. Am I even asking to see His face?

10/10/09 Jesus said "come follow me" Matt 4:19

A broken relationship with Jesus is the primary reason for prayerlessness or ineffective prayer.

10/19/09 I went to Kenya because God told me to serve, that was the time He gave me to serve. Dealing with thought processes, confusion, calling, focus in the wrong direction and fear of mountain top experiences.

HIDING

10/31/09 As I have been reading 2 Samuel the kings go in and slay everyone after they succeed the throne. I do not want to be anywhere near the throne except for at the feet of Jesus who sits on it. I am too consumed with trying to make my own plans for the future, when James 4 says I am not even promised tomorrow and then it is the Lord who purposes our step, not the plan of man, the Lord's will prevail.

The Grand Canyon-connecting learning in BIG ways

11/27/09 Remind me what hearing your voice sounds like and not to feel guilty if it's not a "grand" thing, but content in walking out obedience because you have called me.

1 Samuel 7:7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came p to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. verse 10 ...the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before Israel.

Romans 8:31-32 If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things.

The Lord brought about victory, but not before they repented from pagan practices.

"Samuel's lack of trust and patience led Him to appoint his sons. His pride might also have wanted to keep the lineage. Envy leads a person to intimate others. "

Snow in Houston and the joy of sharing it with 9 and 10 year olds.

12/3/09 Another life principle I have been able to practice again-Will you give up something good because it is not in God's will?

12/27/09 In who do I trust?