Yesterday I spent most of the day around the house and thought a lot about the book, If you Give a Mouse a Cookie. I was feeling that that was becoming my day.....
If I start cleaning my house,
I will load the wash with dirty laundry,
I will then begin to clean the back bathroom,
then will see areas that need touched up painting,
then I will get the ladder and paint from the garage,
then I will discover after painting that the bathroom needed wiped down again,
then I notice the time and realize the laundry has been waiting for quite some time to be removed from the wash into the dryer,
when I fold some of my boys laundry and bring them to there proper drawers,
I start to remove clothes that don't fit and put them into a goodwill pile,
I will also observe that this cleaning house day still needs to be accomplished and I have very little time till I have to pick up kids! Ugh!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Katrina 6yr Anniversary
On the morning of Katrina's 6 year anniversary, this is what was taking place across the street from my house. I found it amusing that it was happening on the actual anniversary date, August 29th. Its a house I have wished to see go for awhile. The house supposedly had never been gutted. Yep, it still had curtains in the windows. It sort of gave me the heeby-jeebies to think of what was growing in there! It did not take long to see it fall to the ground. From what the neighbors say, the guy who owned the house was not doing well before Katrina. Once the hurricane hit, he moves back to live in a trailer in front of the house and drinks himself to death....basically. Its a sad story....there are many sad stories after Katrina. Katrina put a period on a lot of peoples lives. Fortunately, for many lives, it has been a renewing. Everyone has a story and every story is different from one to the next. I'm glad to be here and witness progress and even participate in progress:)
{Thanks to the Lot-next-door program, where home owners that live next to a home that needs to go, can purchase it (for next to nothing) as a yard and increase value to their home!}
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Stay Grateful!
Thankful for.....
- friends that know me and still love me
- music that speaks truth and for the funky kind that's fun to dance to!
- air condition during New Orleans summers
- laughter! ('can u spare a square')
- color
- hugs
- Coffee
- reading with and without my children:)
- anticipation
- mangoes
- growth
- creativity
- accomplishment
- my honey-bun:)
- my garden
- dreams
- vacations
- reflecting
- my Savior
- rain
- blogging (something I hope I'll do more of)
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The Simple Man
What you see in this (blurry)picture is 12 of my husband's folded T-shirts that just came out of the dryer. 10 of the 12 T-shirts you see have blessed my husband's wardrobe at no expense to us. That is right, $0. Thanks to Kaboom, the Hornets, Compassion Int., UNO, Volunteers of America....the list goes on.....he has a plethora of shirts to choose from in the morning, and those T-shirts are what he chooses:)I'm married to a simple man. A man that loves Jesus, that loves doing good, and that loves free T-shirts!
Blessings....he is blessed to have a job that allows him to wear such clothing any given week day. Facilitating mission teams and loving on neighbors in 100 degree heat....you bet he is going to wear a T-shirt.
I'm married to a simple man. A man that loves Jesus, that loves doing good, and that loves free T-shirts!
Monday, June 27, 2011
"Love Never Fails"
By: Brandon Heath
Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all matters the most
Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep locked inside
Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you
Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease at the end of time
Love will protect
Love always hopes
Love still believes when you don't
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you
When my heart won't make a sound
When I can't turn back around
When the sky is falling down
Nothing is greater then this
greater then this
Love is right here
Love is Alive
Love is the Way, the Truth, the Life
Love is the river that flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly too
Love never fails you
Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all matters the most
Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep locked inside
Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you
Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease at the end of time
Love will protect
Love always hopes
Love still believes when you don't
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you
When my heart won't make a sound
When I can't turn back around
When the sky is falling down
Nothing is greater then this
greater then this
Love is right here
Love is Alive
Love is the Way, the Truth, the Life
Love is the river that flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly too
Love never fails you
Saturday, June 11, 2011
School Life
The year has finally come to an end, and what a year its been!
Two kids in two different schools, in two different areas of town, and two completely different cultures.
As I reflect, I do not end this year feeling like I survived, more like I thrived!! It has opened my eyes to what I confidently feel God wanted me to see....and I'm more eager then ever to continue that journey. I've wanted to write about this journey but have been hesitant at the same time. So, here it goes....
There are so many options out there on how you can school your children. To give a little history: I grew up attending only four schools ( including college!), all of which were private. My husband attended 13 public schools by the time he graduated high school, then attended college and grad school. Based on our backgrounds, we wanted to find a happy medium. Private school was not an option, even if we could afford it. For me, my parents wanted to provide a safe environment for their kids, which was all fine and good till we had to 'enter the world'. We felt putting our boys in public school, in hopes of engaging in our children and the school life, would be profitable for our children, family and the community.
When we first began this journey, we were in a small town of 60,000 where you bought a house based on what school you wanted your child to attend. Easy enough! Our oldest son's Kindergarten and first grade years were quite lovely. I helped a lot in the classes, helped on PTA, visited at lunch, knew the principal from our church, and was even involved in praying for the school weekly with a group of moms! Sounds quaint? It was....sort of Smallville like! (ha,ha!)
(screeching brake sound)
The Lord then tells us to say goodbye, sell our house, and go back home to New Orleans. Huh?
Well, that is what we did.
When we arrived back in the wonderful city of New Orleans, due to the first year being a lot of transition, I chose to keep the boys home with me and schooled them myself. One was in preschool and the other in 2nd grade. ( I had told myself that I would NEVER homeschool....but I also said I would NEVER move back home....) (sigh) We had a wonderful curriculum that I borrowed from a friend, and we did a lot of field trips around the city (with the goal of educating and getting them to fall in love with their new home). It was a wonderful year that I will cherish forever but then it came time to look into schools for a Kindergartner and 3rd grader.
WOW! When you move to New Orleans (Post Katrina) you find out that you don't just sign up for the school in your area, and we are not just looking at public schools. There are Montessori schools, Language immersion schools, charter schools....there are established schools, brand spankin' new schools, and schools attempting all different philosophies of teaching! There was a book I got my hands on that gave info on all the schools in the city. I could look at it and see the location of the school, how it tested, what kind of diversity it had, and even what percentage got free/reduced lunch. It didn't take long for me to narrow my options. Little did I know that my list of three schools would have to enlarge to 10+ schools to apply to, b/c of the demand for everyone wanting their kid in the better schools and those schools only having so much room. Waiting list, waiting list, waiting list!
I will now end talking about the monster that it was and get to what I really want this to be about!
The kids had completely different teachers. One was an experienced, native New Orleanian, female elementary teacher - the other is a young west coast male Teach for America teacher. The schools, one relies on grants based on extremely high performances which then allows them a consistent group of special teachers that focuses on the arts. The other school relies on non profits or even a church partnership to have some special things. One is so well established and organized, the other required me to be forgiving while its still figuring things out. One doesn't bat an I to ask families to pay $15 for a field trip (and anticipates many parents to show up and help), but the other schools field trips mostly just required you to pay the two bucks for the bus. A non-profit provided the kids with great field trips (but did not welcome parents).
Where was I? I was scared. Not sure how the year would go. I firmly looked at that west coast teacher in the early part of the year and told him that the two things I cared about for my child was that he was academically challenged and environmentally felt safe. In the beginning, there were many days where I was mentally ready to pull him out if I felt that would need to be done. As the year progressed, my oldest would always come home happy except for when he did something wrong with school work! It gave me a peace. Into the second semester, the teacher gave me an opportunity to step into the class and 'pour love on them.' (Cookie decorating and Picture frame craft) I even got to volunteer ONE time which allowed me to rub shoulders with a sweet lady that works at the school, I now look forward to seeing her. Where am I now? Wondering what part I can play next year in helping the school on a bigger scale, not just the classroom, but to help parents get involved. I have a huge appreciation for that west coast guy that demonstrated leadership and compassion on this pour mom:) I also appreciate the other leaders and allowing (even encouraging) Alf and I to speak out on just about anything. I still don't feel confident and comfortable in the culture of the school but am confident and comfortable in it being where we need to be.
Meanwhile, I volunteered at least twice a month at my younger ones school. I did lunch, recess, and choice time when I would go help. I showed up at field trips and holiday parties. I embraced all their was to embrace in a Kindergarten year. It was comfortable. The year went above and beyond what I could have ever expected. And yes, there were times (of course)where I would wish that both boys were experiencing 'this', like the time Trombone Shorty played for morning meeting:) Note: If you don't know who Trombone Shorty is, google him.
Well, that is my story....for now.
Two kids in two different schools, in two different areas of town, and two completely different cultures.
As I reflect, I do not end this year feeling like I survived, more like I thrived!! It has opened my eyes to what I confidently feel God wanted me to see....and I'm more eager then ever to continue that journey. I've wanted to write about this journey but have been hesitant at the same time. So, here it goes....
There are so many options out there on how you can school your children. To give a little history: I grew up attending only four schools ( including college!), all of which were private. My husband attended 13 public schools by the time he graduated high school, then attended college and grad school. Based on our backgrounds, we wanted to find a happy medium. Private school was not an option, even if we could afford it. For me, my parents wanted to provide a safe environment for their kids, which was all fine and good till we had to 'enter the world'. We felt putting our boys in public school, in hopes of engaging in our children and the school life, would be profitable for our children, family and the community.
When we first began this journey, we were in a small town of 60,000 where you bought a house based on what school you wanted your child to attend. Easy enough! Our oldest son's Kindergarten and first grade years were quite lovely. I helped a lot in the classes, helped on PTA, visited at lunch, knew the principal from our church, and was even involved in praying for the school weekly with a group of moms! Sounds quaint? It was....sort of Smallville like! (ha,ha!)
(screeching brake sound)
The Lord then tells us to say goodbye, sell our house, and go back home to New Orleans. Huh?
Well, that is what we did.
When we arrived back in the wonderful city of New Orleans, due to the first year being a lot of transition, I chose to keep the boys home with me and schooled them myself. One was in preschool and the other in 2nd grade. ( I had told myself that I would NEVER homeschool....but I also said I would NEVER move back home....) (sigh) We had a wonderful curriculum that I borrowed from a friend, and we did a lot of field trips around the city (with the goal of educating and getting them to fall in love with their new home). It was a wonderful year that I will cherish forever but then it came time to look into schools for a Kindergartner and 3rd grader.
WOW! When you move to New Orleans (Post Katrina) you find out that you don't just sign up for the school in your area, and we are not just looking at public schools. There are Montessori schools, Language immersion schools, charter schools....there are established schools, brand spankin' new schools, and schools attempting all different philosophies of teaching! There was a book I got my hands on that gave info on all the schools in the city. I could look at it and see the location of the school, how it tested, what kind of diversity it had, and even what percentage got free/reduced lunch. It didn't take long for me to narrow my options. Little did I know that my list of three schools would have to enlarge to 10+ schools to apply to, b/c of the demand for everyone wanting their kid in the better schools and those schools only having so much room. Waiting list, waiting list, waiting list!
I will now end talking about the monster that it was and get to what I really want this to be about!
The kids had completely different teachers. One was an experienced, native New Orleanian, female elementary teacher - the other is a young west coast male Teach for America teacher. The schools, one relies on grants based on extremely high performances which then allows them a consistent group of special teachers that focuses on the arts. The other school relies on non profits or even a church partnership to have some special things. One is so well established and organized, the other required me to be forgiving while its still figuring things out. One doesn't bat an I to ask families to pay $15 for a field trip (and anticipates many parents to show up and help), but the other schools field trips mostly just required you to pay the two bucks for the bus. A non-profit provided the kids with great field trips (but did not welcome parents).
Where was I? I was scared. Not sure how the year would go. I firmly looked at that west coast teacher in the early part of the year and told him that the two things I cared about for my child was that he was academically challenged and environmentally felt safe. In the beginning, there were many days where I was mentally ready to pull him out if I felt that would need to be done. As the year progressed, my oldest would always come home happy except for when he did something wrong with school work! It gave me a peace. Into the second semester, the teacher gave me an opportunity to step into the class and 'pour love on them.' (Cookie decorating and Picture frame craft) I even got to volunteer ONE time which allowed me to rub shoulders with a sweet lady that works at the school, I now look forward to seeing her. Where am I now? Wondering what part I can play next year in helping the school on a bigger scale, not just the classroom, but to help parents get involved. I have a huge appreciation for that west coast guy that demonstrated leadership and compassion on this pour mom:) I also appreciate the other leaders and allowing (even encouraging) Alf and I to speak out on just about anything. I still don't feel confident and comfortable in the culture of the school but am confident and comfortable in it being where we need to be.
Meanwhile, I volunteered at least twice a month at my younger ones school. I did lunch, recess, and choice time when I would go help. I showed up at field trips and holiday parties. I embraced all their was to embrace in a Kindergarten year. It was comfortable. The year went above and beyond what I could have ever expected. And yes, there were times (of course)where I would wish that both boys were experiencing 'this', like the time Trombone Shorty played for morning meeting:) Note: If you don't know who Trombone Shorty is, google him.
Well, that is my story....for now.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Dont Forget the Third Person!
God is amazing!
He gives me what I need, when I need it.
He gives me what I need, when I need it.
What he gave me recently is a reminder of the third person. In our christian faith, we need to take advantage of all three! God, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I was recently listening to a sermon on line where he was expressing four key things that he is committed to in this journey called life. He was committed to 1. living 'all in' 2. to follow leadership of the Spirit 3. to finishing the course 4. to doing life in relationship. All this was taken from a passage in Acts/admiring the work of Paul the apostle. (If your interested in listening, go to fellowshiponline.com The sermon is called A Call to Commitment by Tim Lundy)
What moved me the most was the commitment to follow leadership of the Spirit. These following verses encouraged me and empowered me to a deeper love for who I serve and how I live that out.
Ephesians 1: 13-14 "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory."
We are sealed by the Spirit. I am in His grip and will never let me go!
"a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance" - I have the Holy Spirit to walk with me and guide me, and gives me the best retirement plan EVER!
Galatians 5: 16-18 "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law."
This passage convicts me to be aware of spiritual warfare and to spend time with Him, to walk in the Spirit. I need to know Him and His character in order to know how to follow him. I read in a book recently, 'Sometimes he invites us to draw close and listen as He reveals Himself...Other times He calls to us to participate in His purposes" (L.Terkeurst) I cant just Do,Do,Do! It includes sitting down to learn and listen to His will.
Ephesians 5:18-20 "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in you heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
ALWAYS give thanks! What are my thoughts? Where is my heart? Am I looking vertical or horizontal? Am I being filled with the Spirit?
Romans 8: 14-18 "...those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."
We can choose, to be a slave to sin or to be a slave to the Spirit. A slave to the Spirit is eternal and freeing. I can rest in that no matter what, this day can work for good if I choose Him. Him, an intimate God(Father) that claims me as his child.
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