Fallen

It's always hard when tragedy hits home... SSGT John James Cleaver, a 1992 Galena High School graduate, was killed on Thursday, November 19, 2009, while serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. He received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

Thank you, John, for your service...

I Little Creepy, I Have to Admit

I fix an egg-cheese-bacon sandwich almost everyday for breakfast, and this morning when I cracked the egg in the skillet, this image emerged:

I think my food is trying to tell me something........

Thanksgiving

I think I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves......... :D :D :D

Never Been This Far Before...

~Galena Bulldogs~

Coach Beau Sarwinski

12-0

Sectional Champions

On the Road to State...

Tranquil

For my birthday, my sister "bought" me a Sisters' Spa Day! We drove to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, to be pampered with facials and, as it turns out, hand and foot massages. Wow, what a day... We were in adjoining rooms, but weren't able to talk during the facials/massages because.....well, we were.....tranquil...

We then went out to a fabulous lunch and a walk around town--and if you haven't been to ES, ever or lately, you should plan an excursion :D

[As a result of this Sisters' Spa Day, we've both decided that in lieu of getting birthday gifts for each other, we are instead going to plan a day like this in the summer between our birthdays :D]

Wow, oh Wow.....

That title will encompass a wide variety of topics [in a slightly random order, because that's the way my mind has been working these days]:

(1) It has been over two months since my last post. So incredibly sorry, folks...

(2) A LOT has happened in the last two months!!

--(a) The perfect date mentioned in the last post has developed into a wonderful relationship with an amazingly fantastic guy!!

--(b) We have planned, and carried out, several key events: driving to Manhattan for a K-State football game, dressing up as a couple for a Halloween party, and cooking dinner together for his family [we had game night afterwards :D].

--(c) Our high school football team is currently undefeated and is on its way to state playoffs :D. We still have a few key games to get there, but we're on our way!!

--(d) I'm so incredibly happy, I feel ready to burst!!

(3) I have no idea what the future holds, but I like where I feel like it's headed........

(4) The following picture is from our date this last Friday. I took him to his favorite restaurant, Hackett's Hot Wings, and was amazed at the difference in our plates at the end of the night......And what's crazy is that he could have eaten more!!!

(5) I am so sorry for my long absence, and I'm going to try to keep you more updated!!

(6) I am so truly and wonderfully blessed.........

Ball Field

My idea of a perfect date: spending the evening at a ball field somewhere -- little league, high school, wherever watching whatever age. No fancy stuff, no getting dressed up. Just us. . . and big bugs that groom themselves near us :D

Bu Bu

Benito on The Thing. . . Kate in the kitchen. . . Kate's "Mama Talk" on random.

Rejoice

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." --Psalm 118:24

New

I just have to say that it has been somewhat nice to have new distractions this week. . . :D

Independence. . .

. . . or maybe not!!

Heart

"Friends love through all kinds of weather,

and families stick together in all kinds of trouble."

--Proverbs 17:17, The Message

I heart my new women's group! We had some awesome, awesome talk tonight!! Thanks, girls :D

Quietness

"This is what the LORD says to me: 'I will remain quiet

and will look on from my dwelling place. . .' " --Isaiah 18:4

If you know me very well, you'll know that I usually have music playing all the time: when I'm driving, when I'm teaching, when I'm sleeping, when I'm breathing. . . But for some reason, I've purposely chosen to leave the radio off in the classroom, when I'm home, and especially when I'm sleeping. And to tell you the truth, I kind of like it. . .

School

We've been in school a week!! Here are a few shots of what we've done so far this year:

Day One: We built towers out of playing cards! I've never done this before, and this is a photo of the tower I built with two 7th grade girls :D See the fun stuff we get to do in math class?

Day Two: I introduced Kow to our class. Kow is a stuffed monkey I bought overseas and who doesn't know very much math. He sits in my classroom all day, but doesn't listen to me [what's new?]. So the kids have "Kow Kwizzes" to explain to Kow how to do something mathematical. In this picture, Kow is learning how to add :D [And thanks, Gigi, for making Kow's purple tie!]

Today: We are reviewing how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide integers [whole numbers both positive and negative] using these two-colored tiles. Eight graders sometimes like to play more than work :O

Weathering the Storms of Life

[From today's sermon:] "My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4 (NRSV)

I know that I'm not very good at this, that I tend to make every little thing about me and my woes. Deep down I know that everything I face is for the greater good [HP reference :)], but it's hard to see that right now, you know? I hope that years down the road I can laugh about the lessons I'm currently learning instead of being bitter about what didn't seem to go right in my life. Kinda reminds me of the song "Bless the Broken Road" made popular by Rascal Flatts. . .

I set out on a narrow way many years ago

Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream lead me to where you are

Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through

I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you

But you just smile and take my hand

You've been there you understand

It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream lead me to where you are

Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

The Dress

I heart learning new things using Photoshop!! Some of you more technical-savvy experts may think this is old hat, but I'm loving it!!

And the Greatest of These is Love. . .

"Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end."

--1 Corinthians 13:4-7 The Message

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

--1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NIV

[Sometimes I like to look at the same verse in different versions. . . ]

CONGRATULATIONS, KYLER & AMANDA COLGROVE!!

August 8th, 2009

Persevere

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." --Hebrews 10:35-36

Introducing. . .

. . . my new model, Guido! Guido measures about one inch tall [minus the fro] and is sporting a lovely Italian-flag-colored wig complete with Ferrari banner accessory. Guido loves spaghetti, building leaning towers out of tires, and speedy drives along the beach. He can often be found manning the tires at your local pitstop. Welcome, Guido!!

That's right, boys and girls, Guido from Disney Pixar's Cars is going to be joining me occasionally on my photo shoots! We are both uber-excited about trying out some new shooting techniques and we both hope you will stay tuned for future posts!

I know this isn't the best photo of Guido and I hope you don't base your opinion of my photography skills on this post. . . I just thought it was cute and appropriate since I'm holding a flashlight over his head as if he's in a spotlight. Pitstop!!

[Thanks to my students for bringing out the Guido in me :)]

I Heart Chocolate :D

I've joined a new women's group at church, and since the summer session has ended [meaning dinner has ended :( ] we've decided to eat on our own and one of us will bring a dessert. When asked last week if I'm allergic to anything, I replied, "Everything but chocolate!!" So tonight, a chocolate dessert was brought.

As you can tell, we devoured it. Yay, chocolate!!!!!

My Favorite Psalm

"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and

the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." --Psalm 139:1-18, 23-24

Broken

I am in no way whatsoever bashing the military here. . . PLEASE don't think that!! I just thought I'd show you what happens when a rogue parachute firework meets me, a five-year-old girl, and a nine-year-old boy. At first glance, it looked like the arms and legs were jointed so you could move them.

Yeah, they weren't. . . Sorry little parachute man!!!

Quiet

"O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still." --Psalm 83:1

[The following is an excerpt from my Semester at Sea journal, August 2003]

Do not be still. . . A headwind has made the past couple of days rough. Just a few minutes ago, I said to a friend, "I wish this would just stop for ten minutes." After reading this passage, I realize that can't happen, and I don't want it to happen.

God is a lot like this ocean. It is because of Him that we feel, that we experience, that we live. If it weren't for God shaking things up, making us feel sick to the core, we would not be able to grow, to learn from our mistakes.

God keeps coming at us, wave upon wave. Never giving up, never ceasing. Imagine what would happen if God ceased to exist, even for just ten minutes. Imagine all the damage that could be done in that small amount of time.

So even though we sometimes tire of all that God throws us and we wish that we could get away for ten minutes, the results [c]ould be disastrous.

[On a side note, later on in the voyage I did witness the surface of the endlessly moving ocean appear to be as smooth as glass. . . and it only lasted about ten minutes.]

Lucky

"But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones." --Isaiah 30:18 (the Message)

Sometimes, I really don't understand God's timing. I want what I want when I want it [which is usually NOW], and I'm greatly discouraged when my timing obviously doesn't match up with His.

I've recently been disheartened by past relationships [and lack of relationships, to be quite honest], and I'm hurt by the loneliness I often feel. I told my sister a couple of weeks ago that I never thought I'd be at this point in my life and not have a special someone to share it with. But according to Isaiah, God takes the time to do everything right—everything.

God is taking His time with me, getting me ready for that wonderful person He's going to put in my life. I just hope that I don't stay angry with Him and that I allow Him to work in me to get me ready for him.

[On a side note, I rode on a Harley-Davidson for the first time today--yahoo!! Thanks, M!!]