Have You Read Romans?

Sunday our pastor referred to Romans 12:1 in his sermon.  I had my bible (remember the one my dad gave me and has taken thorough notes in) opened and 12:9-21 caught my eye.  Have you read it?  How about, "...Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."  Or "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves."  What about "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay".  Oh how these words go against the grain in our society today.  Today we are supposed to tolerate evil.  We pay to watch it, listen to it, and willingly partake in it.  Society pushes and pushes that we think about ourselves, look out for ourselves, make sure that we are taken care of, when God tells us very plainly that it should be the other way around...we should be honoring others before us!  That's a paradigm shift!!!  And let's not start on revenge!!!!  How many reality tv shows focus on revenge...payback...righting the wrongs.  Stop...wait...the bible tells us as much as we can to live in peace with one another.  Let God handle the revenge.  Is it only my heart that is being convicted?  If we profess to be Christians (ugh-I dislike that word) or how about followers of Christ- then shouldn't we act like it?  As corny as it sounds, the bible is our instruction manual...we should read it and follow it.  We should not accept the things society throws at us.  How would our nation be different if followers of Christ really acted like followers of Christ? 

My Boy is 8!!!!

Today left me a little speechless...

So today was interesting...waaaaay interesting.  At one point I was standing in my classroom, with feathers on the floor, in pajamas, with blue rubber gloves on, holding pee stained pillowcases in one hand and a Kroger bag in the other wondering what I could tell my principal/superintendent if they just so happened to walk in at that moment.  And yyyyeeeessss, there were students in the room...this was not some crazo-banano dream!  And nnnnooooo I don't teach kidnergarten.  And nnnnooooo we do not have a class pet.  This my friends, was just another day in the life of an elementary school teacher.

Gatlinburg Get Away!

Hip, hip, horray for 3 day weekends!!!!  Double hip hip horray if you are lucky enough to have a snow day to make it a 4 day weekend (like my lucky duck hubby!!!).  Well, we packed up the truck and headed to Gatlinburg with 5 other couples...yes 12 people under one roof!!    We arrived Friday and loved the cabin!  It was a little bit of a crazy layout, but we were happy as pigs in slop with the hot tub, kitchen (beautiful view from the sink & wall of windows), fire place, theater room, etc.  It was a nice time relaxing with friends, shopping (GREAT finds at the outlet mall!!!), eating, and running...yes running!  A friend's hubby and myself went running down our mountain.  You noticed I said DOWN not UP.  My hubby was nice enough to "lead" us down the mountain in the Armada, and then drive us back up.  It was a steep 2 miles down (withsome MAJOR inclines) with a beautiful view. 

My legs were WAY sore the next day- which was awesome!  I haven't been sore after a run in a while and I actually like that feeling...crazo I know :)  

 

There was also some good eatin' out...Flapjacks, The Old Mill...yum yum in my tum tum!  I didn't get too out of control, but did allow myself some slack :) 

And we had some good eats at the cabin!!!  My mouth waters every time I look at this plate...delish!

  

New friendships and good memories were made; fun and relaxing times were had by all!  Hope YOU enjoyed the lo-o-o-ong weekend too!

Checking in on those resolutions!

Well, I'm happy to report I'm doing well on my new year's resolutions. I had predicted that #s 7, 2, and 1 would prove to be WAY hard.  So here's the update on those first...

#7-making responsible financial decisions.  I recreated our budget.  It's a little bit more user friendly (for me), including a checklist for each month after I pay a bill.  I've broken it up into a bill and an expense section.  I'm sure this makes NO SENSE what so ever, but I assure you...it's working so far.  Kevin and I have also dialoged about not rushing ANY big (or bigger) purchase...we are going to pray about it and sleep on it for sure.

#2-feeding my family healthier.  We returned the yucky-blucky, mistreated, hormone fed chicken back to Wal-Mart and got fresh, organic, packaged here in Kentucky yummo chicken!  We also have a freezer full of fresh deer meat. I made granola bars, granola, and yummy energy bars Sunday and surprise, surprise they are gone!  The boys love it (so did we)!  Round two this Sunday. 

#1-more time with God.  I have been waking up about 10/15 minutes earlier each morning and after I get ready and head out to the kitchen, I read my devotional book, bible and spend time in prayer.  It's wonderful!  Have y'all read Esther?  It's GOOD!  I didn't want to stop reading that morning.  And starting your day off in prayer is the best.  I love my time with God.

So yay me!  If I can keep up the ones that I know are going to be hard for me, then I KNOW I can handle the others.  Smooth sailing folks, smooth sailing!

New Year = New You!

And so it begins...the writing of resolutions that we seem to forget about 2 weeks into the new year.  I don't think I have ever kept my resolutions for more than a couple of weeks...heck I don't think I have ever remembered them for more than a week or so!  But each year we strive to better ourselves, our environments, our choices, our relationships.  So here goes...
-In no particular order-

1. Pray more often; read my bible; spend time with God.  This one is self explanatory.
2. Feed my family better foods.  First of all you should watch Food Inc. and wake up about where and how our food gets in the grocery store...YUCK-O!  I am determined to feed my family better this year by limiting processed foods and buying organic or locally grown meats.  For example, instead of buying a box of granola bars I am determined to make my own!
3. Continue with running and going to the gym.  In 2011 I completed 4 5K's!!  In 2012 I am registered for a half-marathon and a 10K.  I would love to run a race a month, but don't want to get burnt out.  My husband and I have a good schedule with the gym and we plan on continuing with it!
4. Limit my time at work.  News flash people...teachers do not work 8:00-3:00!!!!  There are many, many more long hours put into teaching.  I love my job, however I am tired of pulling out of the school parking lot at 4:30 or later every day.  I hate that my kids and husband get what I have left at the end of the day.  I am determined in 2012 to leave after I get my students on the bus everyday (except faculty meeting days of course!).
5. Schedule, schedule, schedule our time.  This comes as a direct result of #4.  Since I plan on leaving and will be able to pick my boys up from school, I want to have a good schedule, or flow, of what our afternoons will look like.  I want to incorporate a healthy snack, free play time outside, homework time, reading time, dinner, gym, and some DSI time.    
6. Be aware of my relationships with other people.  Face it folks, we are all super busy!  And having and sustaining relationships with other people takes time and effort.  Sometimes I get upset because I feel like I am pulling more "weight" in the relationship, but I need to realize if it is a truly important relationship to me, then it shouldn't matter.  I should be willing to go the extra step, make the phone call/text/email to connect with them.  I am also going to pray over my relationships more in 2012.

      7. Be financially responsible.  My husband and I have made some STUPID financial choices in the   past!  And we are reaping those consequences today still!  I want to get out of the cycle and become responsible with our money.  I know that it's going to be hard...we are really going to have to change how we think. 


Whew!  That's a lot...but I think they are all realistic for me and my family.  Honestly I think numbers 7, 2, and unfortunately 1 will be the hardest.   #7-Money is just a hard thing for me...I want to spend it foolishly instead of making the responsible choices.  #2- I am going to try soooooo hard on this one.  I just hope our busy lives don't make this too hard.  And I know it's going to be more expensive which ties in to #7.  #1-This should be the easiest of all, but I know how life sneaks up on you and after skipping a day or two with God it just falls by the wayside.  I am determined to start and end each day with prayer and the reading of His word.

So, what do you think?  What are some things you are going to commit to working on in 2012?

What a great Christmas! Words cannot describe my feelings of gratitude for my life right now. On my run this morning I was giving thanks for everything in my life right now...healthy kids, a family that loves and supports me, a relationship with Christ, restored relationships, friendships...etc. My heart is just full today, and it has been all Christmas break.

The boys' baptisms this morning were beyond amazing! I remind myself daily that these are not my kids. They are God's and he has chosen me and Kevin to raise them. I pray daily that we are guiding them correctly and I pray for their lives. I am so proud of them for being soooo excited about their baptisms this morning! They went from one adrenaline high-baptisms-to another-Christmas presents!

They hit the jack-pot this year!!!! Two DSis and a Nook Tablet...plus DSi games and legos and MUCH more!!! They didn't want to go to bed tonight obviously.

I got one of the best presents I have ever received. My mom gave my dad a red leather bible Christmas of 1983. I have fond memories of my dad and this bible. Every Sunday after Sunday school I would put one of my stickers in the front of the bible and then watch him underline, make notes, etc. I always told him that I wanted him to pass the bible down to me when the time came. Well, he chose this Christmas, and I couldn't have been happier! There were definitely tears of joy coming down my face!!! What a special gift with so much sentimental value.

Merry Christmas!