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?

My brother is an Ironman...

Recently my brother accomplished a goal that not many even think or have the desire to achieve, he completed a Ford Ironman event. (Most people know and watch the big one in Kona) After months of training and preparation he swam out into the cold waters of Tempe Town Lake in Arizona among thousands of other participates. With a final wave from the waters to us standing high above on the bridge, the starting gun sounded and he was off on his 2.4 mile swim. Through transition to the bike portion, he gave us another excited wave and was off again for the 112 mile bike ride. We repositioned ourselves at the parking garage and waited for him to pass by on the first lap, there were 3 laps to make the full course. He was making great time on all the portions so far, and the best was to come... the run. He hates running, but we all knew he was going to do an amazing job. He had trained not only physically, but mentally as well. He would have to run a full marathon, 26.2 miles after all of the other portions he had completed. His goal to finish the whole event was under 12 hours. The proof of what make my brother MY hero and a true Ironman is shown in the picture below:


Notice the clock time...11:58:24, just under 12 hours he pushed himself to make it the last few miles.

Great run form and untrue to his normal head cock to the side.

More great form on the bike.

A little spectator action

Here's the wave I mentioned earlier.

Prepping the night before, he even had his number shaved into his hair.

SO now at 28 years old, (Happy Birthday Today!) My brother continues to be my hero and inspiration for many of the athletic adventures I have been most recently inspired to achieve.

Happy Birthday Sis~

My sister turned 24 today. Despite the stares we get sometimes at the mall, we are not twins. From the sweet little Christmas gift she was to me one year, to this amazing women God is calling her to be, I continue to blessed to get to know my sister more and more. Here are some of the moments we have most recently shared together.

Her wedding day, April 4th


The Wurstride from Austin, Tx to San Marcos, Tx

On the steps Jesus walked in Israel.

Goofing around in Paris, France

I know not all people are blessed to have a sister, but I sure able glad I am have one who loves me so much! Happy Birthday sis.

Road Trip

As a child, I remember during early morning hours being guided half asleep with my pillow through the house to the direction of the car. My brother, sister and I would all settle into our seats, quickly falling asleep again as one of my parents would start our journey towards the coast. Some years it would be towards Savannah,Ga to see my dad's parents, other years (mostly during the summers) it would be in the direction of Sarasota, FL to see my mom's parents. We never flew anywhere, but I always enjoyed the special moments that a road trip brings; stops at the gas station (of course for gas, but more importantly the snacks you don't get at other times) the games to keep yourself entertained to make time pass quicker (the license plate game, or alphabet bill board game), but best of all the many hours of being together in close quarters together(drawing imaginary lines on the car seat to be sure you have a fair amount of space) therefore building a foundation for the family you will become later in life. Slowly as we grew up, other members of the family would become legal to drive therefore sharing the burden of the long drives. Recently as full grown adults, we were able to share these memories all over again. (Perhaps more joyfully shared by me than my other family members, but a trip that I will treasure all the more because of the connects it allowed me to make)

Here's some wonderful stops along the way...

Thankful we were able to all fit in my brother's new car, and because of the "rule" of no eating in the new car, we had to stop for meals along the way. This stop was at the Grand Canyon, a planned stop along the way. What a measure of God's amazing creative power. I was also in awe because after 3 weeks of teaching my 4th graders about erosion, I was seeing up close real life application. Below is our next stop, a little less planned, but planned thankfully to the hotel rack of brochures. My dad was excited when he found the brochure on the Meteor crater that was near us.

Next stop...the petrified forest and painted desert, then onto Carlsbad Cavern...

These quick pictures were another moment along the trip that allowed me to connect the teaching of 4th graders with real life. Is the sun really a renewable resource?

All in all, the trip was "Grand" and the family road trip at 30 years old crammed in a car still proved to be able to build memories.

International moments in the States

The first year I taught at Bunker Hill, I was like one of those kids caught in a daze when I watched the International Day parade. The drummers kept the beat as students stumbled, waved, and walked proudly to represent their country. The parade is a tradition at the school and students proudly dress to culturally represent the sign they hold proclaiming their country. This year was no different and as the students filed pass the audience, I could feel the emotion arising within me, what a proud nation we are gathered together as so many. This year I think held more meaning, I had lived for seven weeks in a foreign country so I felt like in someway I could relate to those students who still couldn't speak English, but could wave their flag with a smile on their face. They were the ones who I had been called to come back and teach. They are the ones who I try to walk out obedience on a daily basis with wisdom.

Earlier before the parade, I had the privilege of having another cultural moment. Some of the friends from my church have started to befriend refugees from Nepal. During Halloween, my church puts on a big event like a carnival, so we invited these families to participate with us in the event. Below are some of the pictures with the little boy, his mom and some friends.