It's summer!

Summer night skies...

Summer salads...

Summer fruit...

Summer fun...

Wow! I can not believe it is July already. We have really had so much going on! School ended and we moved the same week. Then the weekend after school was out, we packed up for a road trip to head on up to my brother-in-law's wedding in Washington state.

We spent some time with my mom, dad and sister and then after the wedding we headed home with a pit stop in Boise, Idaho.

We had a great time with friends that we made in college. It was wonderful to visit their church and stay a few days with them. They also have 3 girls and 1 boy and our kids got along fabulously! It was like a dream.

We drove over 3,000 miles. It was so tiring, but it was a great time of memories. Now we are home and trying to settle ourselves in this new home that we're renting. It's been great so far and I'm looking forward to making amazing memories here!

Just aching to write...

but there's just been so many thoughts in my head!! Don't worry. I haven't completely forgotten myself. I do journal daily - it's just not here. Part of the problem is that I've had some trouble with my personal laptop. Hopefully, that'll get taken care of soon...
We made it through our first full week of school. Everybody has been doing great. Little Marco is even on a schedule there and he loves it.
We all took turns with a 24 hour flu bug, but it wasn't too bad. Anyone that knows me knows that I don't get sick very often. I just don't have time for that. lol
I've really enjoyed being in the classroom again. I am definitely in my element. I know that my children are enjoying school and they are all in very trusted hands not very far from my own classroom.
Our church has been at our new location for going on 1 month tomorrow, but it's funny - it feels like we've been there so much longer! Our congregation is growing and the people there are all working and worshipping in unity. One of the areas that is really booming is our Youth Group. The teens and young college age kids are so happy to be there and they love being a part of everything. It's very inspiring.
I've also finally got myself to a place where I am really making progress with some goals in my life.
I am really focusing my family and those around me. I recently read a blog post by my friend Denise. She talked about Feeling Loved and about helping others to feel loved.
I love doing things for others - I really do - but sometimes, I think I get caught up on worrying if it's enough or good enough or whatever and it holds me back from doing what was originally in my heart to do. I have missed many a birthday gift opportunity or just a plain old "random act of kindness" because I feel like I better add more to it or I second-guess my choice of way to show someone love.
What's up with that insecurity??
Anyway, today as I write this I am making a mental note of the different people I need to send a note to or buy a coffee for...
I've also missed all of my faithful readers here. I know it's my fault for being so sporatic, so one of my other goals is to really stay on top of my blog. I do love being here. It's very comforting to me to write and think.
I haven't been shooting pictures lately either. That'll pick up as we all settle into our schedules and I am more aware of my daily routine.
We've got a big day planned at church tomorrow and then Monday is Labor Day. Marco actually has the day off! We will probably just lay around with our bellies up in the air all day - but who knows? You'll have to check back and see. =] Hugs to you all!!

Life is good...

I can not say that I have the perfect life,

but I can say that I have a good life.

I am blessed beyond measure.

I am surrounded by positive, loving people.

I have a God who loves me as I am.

I enjoy laughing and laughing hard.

I am not afraid to cry when I need to cry.

There is beauty around me.

I have friends all over the world,

some I've never met face to face.

I love all different kinds of music,

it speaks to my soul.

I enjoy trying new things.

I am learning from my mistakes.

Life is good.

Time to reflect...

~~"Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting."~~Edmund Burke

Sometimes, you just get in a funkadee funk!...Right? Okay. Maybe it's just me - I don't know. Lately, I have just been needing to regroup, to get myself together, to get things in order in my home (that includes my children).

My virtual friend Lee is so good about sharing interesting blogs and websites with me. Recently, it's been exactly what I need.

So, you will be seeing more posts in the future that may be more for me than for you. =] Things that I may need to work through. You are welcome to join me in this journey.

Love Post #14 ~~ My Life...

***This picture is a glimpse of my life. It's where I love to spend my time. It's my happy place. It's usually not so cluttered, but the piles are there for a reason. There are books there that have been returned after loaning them out, there are books to be read, loaned out and put away. There are some things to go through - school papers, ladies group ideas... The little cabinet holds some of my favorite treasures. The walls are adorn with special pictures and gifts from friends. There is a picture of my Great-grand parents on their wedding day...I love it. It's my story.***
I love my life. I love every aspect of it. Are things always perfect? No, but I am blessed beyond measure.
My husband is my true love and my best friend.
My children make me proud and make me love life even more.
I have a wonderful family. We love each other and are the best of friends.
I am humbled by the awesome church family that God has given us.
I am thankful that I know how to be a friend and am learning every day what true friendship is all about.
I am thankful that there are many parts of me - the wife, the mother, the friend, the sister, the daughter, the artist, the teacher, the listener, the supporter, the forgiver, the thinker, the joker... I could go on.
It has taken me a while to get to the point where I am happy with myself and who I am.
I am a work in progress.
I am learning to prune out clutter and negativity.
I am learning that God is good. Always. His ways are not our ways. We do not always see the Big Picture, He does.
I am learning to embrace opportunity and shun discouragement.
I am more aware of showing gratitude.
I love to write, but sometimes, the words get stuck.
I lovet to create, but there is something just at the tips of my fingers or rather at the edge of my soul that is going to burst forth soon. I can feel it.
Life is good.
I am blessed.

"It's going to be fabulous!"~~Richard Currie

How's Your Juggling Act?

Marco and I were talking about life yesterday. We were discussing our priorites. I, of course, am always talking about wanting to be more organized, get more done in the day, be a better teacher... We also started talking about our responsibilities at church. He mentioned this speech that he heard on the radio. I knew that I wanted to share it all with you here. It puts a lot of things into perspective.

Five Balls Of Life

This was written by the CEO of Coca-Cola Brian G. Dyson.It was used as Georgia Tech's Commencement Address:
Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - Work - Family - Health - Friends - Spirit, and you're keeping all of these in the air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls -- family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?

1. Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

2. Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

3. Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

4. Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.

5. Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

6. Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us together.

7. Don't be afraid to encounter risks It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

8. Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

9. Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been, but also where you are going.

10. Don't forget that a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

11. Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.

12. Don't use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.

Sad times...

Some one I knew passed away yesterday. She was only 20.

The scrapbooking board that I am a member of seemed to have an unusually high amount of bad news on their prayer board. Lots of sickness, deaths, financial troubles...

My car wouldn't start for me to go to a meeting I needed to go to. It was raining and I had all the kids in the car. Would.not.start. My husband came home later and started it right up. Weird. We get ready to go to Youth Group and I make arrangements to meet up with my advisor at a local McDonald's to cover the meeting that I missed earlier in the day. I drop everyone off at Youth Group, go to the meeting (with my baby in tow), get ready to leave - car won't start. I am about to cry at this point, but decide not to, because there is a group of teenagers hanging out directly in front of my car. They were listening to music, smoking, trying thier best to be cool... So I wait for my husband. He gets in and the car starts right up. Weird.

We are on our way home and we see an accident happen - actually did not see it happen, but heard it - on the freeway overpass. We get on the freeway. The rest of the cars are stopped behind us and we see another accident that has just taken place. Police were already there.

We are driving along, when out of nowhere, we see a huge tire coming full speed at our car! My husband can do nothing but let it hit us. It only clipped our bumper and went flying the other direction. Traffic stops in front of us. There was ANOTHER accident. This one was really bad. As we get closer to the scene, I begin to cry. My daughter who is 8 is also crying. You can see by the accident that it must be fatal. There were probably a total of 10 - 12 cars involved in this crash.

I know that things happen. I know that life happens, but sometimes you wonder. What if I had made it to the meeting in the morning? What if I did not have to be at the later meeting therefore putting us on the freeway later than usual? What if my car had started right away allowing us to get on earlier than usual?

The young lady that died was only 20. It looks like it may have been an oversight from a simple case of tonsilitis gone bad. What about her young husband that has a birthday today, but will not be celebrating?

I hugged my children closer. I told them that all of these things may have happened for different reasons, but for us - it should be a reminder. We need to love each other. Quit fighting over things. Be thankful for life and health. Realize that all things happen for a reason, even if we don't always understand why.

I Corinthians 13:12 says For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.