My Joy Bucket

As I was running this morning and it was lightly snowing, I thought I would burst with joy and peace that was filling my soul. Don't you love those moments? The snow and the run were just filling my "joy" bucket! Ha. Ha. Christmas was so wonderful and again, the older you get, the more you realize that it is not the gifts but the people. The first night that Ben & Anna came home from OBU, we were just lounging around watching tv and chatting away. They were going on & on about being excited for Christmas and I asked them, "Why? Because of the gifts?" They looked at me like I had a 3rd eye and said, "NO! Because we get to spend time with all of the 'familia' and it's always so much fun!" This comment exemplified Christmas for me!

I spent Christmas Eve with 4 of my sisters (minus one who lives in Georgia) and their families. Bobby was able to join us and this made it extra special. Sylvia, my eldest sister, had her boys there with their families (plus 2 new grand-babies!). It's awesome to see your nephews with families! Then Christmas Day, we traveled to my sister Dahlia's house in Amarillo and feasted on pork tenderloin for dinner. That evening, I was able to be with Bobby and all of his family as they had their Christmas celebration. Such a blessing as his four girls were all there and that was truly a joy for everyone!

Ben, Anna, and I have enjoyed our mornings during this Christmas holiday. It's so nice to not have a 'schedule' and to just lounge around, read, watch movies, and catch up with each other. We just watched "Horton Hears a Who" and were just rolling on the floor laughing. I thought to myself, "Who would have thought I'd be enjoying this type of movie with an 18 yr old and a 20 yr old?"

So, as I recall the earlier Questionnaire Blog & it's question about 4 things on my Wish List.... well, I have received 3 of the 4. The massage is still "out there". But after the rest and relaxation that I have been experiencing these last 6 days, I don't much need the massage anymore....no stress here!!! Now, talk to me in a few weeks, after school is back in session and then I might be telling a different story! Well, let's not think about that now - ha! I will end this blog by saying that I am going to go finish my novel, "The Bonesetter's Daughter" by Amy Tan (awesome read!). Ben is downstairs reading his 3rd book of the 3 book set from, "The Giver". Anna and John Mark (her bf) are working on a 550 piece puzzle that they are almost done with!!

I got tagged!

Rules:
1. Post rules on your blog.
2. Answer the six "4" items.
3. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment.

4 Things I Did Yesterday:
Had 3 Classroom Christmas Parties (3 more to go!! yikes!)
Watched tv show "Eli Stone" with Bobby and his parents
Had homemade peach pie that Bobby made (he's a baker...who would've thunk?)
Made 2 dozen Rugelach Cookies for Borger High Christmas Goodie Day

4 Things On My Wish List:
a massage (I am right there with you Holly!)
to thoroughly enjoy the Christmas break with my kids, Ben and Anna
to thoroughly REST during my Christmas break
to do lots & lots of reading during Christmas break

4 Things I Look Forward to:
the 14 exquisite days off that I am fixing to start beginning tomorrow at 12:30 pm!
Christmas and it's true meaning
Grandkids someday
Heaven

4 Restaurants I like: P
Cheddar's
Kabuki's
Tacos Garcia
Coffee Ranch

4 Favorite TV Shows:
Eli Stone
Jon & Kate Plus Eight
Naked Archealogist
Law & Order

4 People I Tag (You're it): only one...Kaci Lusk!!

I got tagged!

Rules:
1. Post rules on your blog.
2. Answer the six "4" items.
3. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment.

4 Things I Did Yesterday:
Had 3 Classroom Christmas Parties (3 more to go!! yikes!)
Watched tv show "Eli Stone" with Bobby and his parents
Had homemade peach pie that Bobby made (he's a baker...who would've thunk?)
Made 2 dozen Rugelach Cookies for Borger High Christmas Goodie Day

4 Things On My Wish List:
a massage (I am right there with you Holly!)
to thoroughly enjoy the Christmas break with my kids, Ben and Anna
to thoroughly REST during my Christmas break
to do lots & lots of reading during Christmas break

4 Things I Look Forward to:
the 14 exquisite days off that I am fixing to start beginning tomorrow at 12:30 pm!
Christmas and it's true meaning
Grandkids someday
Heaven

4 Restaurants I like: P
Cheddar's
Kabuki's
Tacos Garcia
Coffee Ranch

4 Favorite TV Shows:
Eli Stone
Jon & Kate Plus Eight
Naked Archealogist
Law & Order

4 People I Tag (You're it): only one...Kaci Lusk!!

Is it 4:30 am????

Yes,I got up at 4:30 am this morning! Egad! It's funny though because my dad has been with me the last week and a half and I guess I am used to getting up with him. He left last night to go back to my sister's which is where he is at permanently. It's sad but I kind of miss him. I miss fixing him his oatmeal and visiting with him after my a.m. run and before going off to work. I will also miss the TV being parked on the old westerns on AMC and sitting and watching them with him. I miss him telling me to "bundle up and to check my tires in my car and to drive safely". What a lovable dad. When you lose your mom, you cherish the time with the other parent. Now, if he lived with me permanently, I might say otherwise! Lol.

I spent all of last night reading! I have not done that in forever! I came home and took my dad to my sister's and then read from 6pm - 10pm! It is a great book, "The Last Sin Eater". I loved, loved, loved it! The writing style is similar to Katherine Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia, Jacob Have I Loved, etc). Anyway, it has an awesome message and very well written. Read it if you get the chance!

Anna and Ben are almost set to substitute teach. Yeah! I am so proud of them. They come home next Thursday'ish. Can't wait. They will be home for 6 weeks on & off (between visiting their dad in Oklahoma). It will be nice to have them home again. The next semester at OBU doesn't start until Jan. 29th! I asked them if they were willing to substitute teach at the high school level (for me!) and they said, "NO WAY!" ha. ha.

I am so thankful that next week is the last week of school. It has gone by fast and for that I am thankful. I am also thankful that the semester does not end next week. We, teachers, are usually going crazy giving semester exams, grading exams, turning in grades, getting semester grades finalized, getting kids' to turn in make up work, etc, etc, etc. It makes the last week before Xmas most *CRAZY*. Thank God that it won't be this way this Christmas. I might even end up working just a 40 hour work week next week in comparison to my normal 50-55 hour week....wow! If I do, it will be the first time!

So now it is 6 am and I guess I can go on my a.m. run and then go to work. Don't try getting a hold of me tonight though because I will be snoozing away at 7 pm probably!!!!!

A day in the life of ME

So this morning, I was working away in my classroom and a fellow teacher comes in and says, "Did you know your tire on your car is really low?" I gasped and said, "Oh no. Will it be okay until the end of the day?" He said it would be okay. Then at lunch, another teacher comes and says, "Your tire on your car is COMPLETELY flat!" I again gasped and ran out to the parking lot. Thankfully the gas station is less than a block away and I was able to air it up. This is on top of a teacher coming in to say, "Elizabeth, you did remember that you were speaking to my classes today about growing up as a migrant farmworker, right?" Then the vice principal comes in and says, "Elizabeth, you did remember that I am coming in to observe your classes today right?"

This is a day in the life of ME! So typical of my life. Lol!

Truthfully, Becky Dietz' blog site challenged us to tell what we were thankful for. Thanks Becky because it is something to slow down for and to think about. I am thankful, of course, for my children Ben & Anna. With the "cards stacked against us" as a single parent family and a broken home family, God put us back together and made us a beautiful family again. That blows my mind! I am thankful for a job that I love even on crazy, hectic days. I am thankful that Bobby Forrest and his family are so precious to me. I had so much hesitancy with dating and was so apprehensive with the "issues" that surround all ofthat but have realized that they have been pale in comparison to the blessings and I know that is because God is involved! It is still difficult but God is so good and shows up time & time again. I am thankful for my sister, Sylvia, who is such a great sister. We are as different as night & day but we love each other and "get" one another. I also am thankful to my Wednesday Lunch pals, Debbie Chowins & Margaret Vance. It's so nice to have close friends to be real with and to share & understand what life with college children is like. To pray with one another and to fully bear one another's burdens. What a beautiful picture of Christ.

So be thankful no matter what. Praise God in the dark and in the light.

autumn

It's such a beautiful time of year don't you think? I am so thankful to God for the fall and the crisp weather we have been having in the mornings. I am a runner so the early mornings have been so spectacular for me to run and have my quiet time. I love the whole ambience of God's handiwork. It just blows my mind.

I am also thankful for the work that God is doing in my school year this year. It's been a challenging year with very large classes but you know what? The more I have taken this to God in prayer (pretty much I have tackled it like a prayer warrior), the more I see Him working so mightily! He is just making those large classes be a ministry to me and He is showing me how they truly are enjoyable. If you have ever taught school and have had large, challenging classes then you realize what an answer to prayer this is! I love my students in those classes (as well as the other classes of course) and the relationships that are being built is such a testament to God's hand. I will never understand how He can be so kind and tenderhearted to answer the lowly prayer requests of his children. But He does. And for that I give Him praise.

My children will be home in a few weeks...home from college. I am so thankful that BOTH of them will be home for the FULL week of Thanksgiving. Woo Hoo!!!!! Ben did not get to come home for fall break in October so I am especially happy to see my son again. Having both of them home together is a treasured gift. I always look at families with younger children and I think how fast the years go and I realize that I really covet the times with my two young s. (ha...sounds wierd to call them that!) We get eachother's jokes, understand one another's biases, we finish eachother's thoughts, have similar tastes in music & movies....the list goes on. Family is GREAT!!

Well, it's time for life group. Another BIG praise! If you are not involved in a life group. I highly recommend it. It's been such an awesome blessing in my life. To dig deep in God's word, to share your innermost struggles, thoughts & questions, and to have a true sense of "spiritual family" is just another way that i feel like we grow as Christians. We are starting a study on the Old Testament and believe you me! It's pretty deep & "meaty". I feel like I am back in a seminary class which I attended a few back when Ben & Anna's dad was in seminary in Kansas City.

Well, be blessed and see you soon.

Long time no see...

It's been awhile (2 months) since I have been online! I feel good in saying that I really have not missed it but it's something that I do enjoy. The reason I haven't been online is that my home computer has been.....ZERO. My kids, Ben and Anna, have laptops so they are now home for fall break (correction: Anna is home whereas Ben went on a road trip with dorm friends to Arkansas).

So many ask me, "How are you doing without the kids at home? How is empty nesting?" I have always been fearful of this phase of my life especially since I am a single mom and I have investing 110% into my children. It's been a fear of mine that I will be alone and lonely. God is so, so good. He is so sensitive to the needs of this child of his named Elizabeth. I can picture his loving heart and warm hands as he "takes care of me" at this time of my life. What a wonderful Father we have!

So, guess what? Life is WONDERFUL!! Having a home to come home to that is clean all the time, no dirty dishes, as well as having no particular schedule is like being a teenager again. Having Bobby in my life is also a blessing. His companionship and love is the silver lining.


"Now on whom dost thou trust?" -II Kings 18:20

Beautiful Rain

It's raining and it's downright beautiful. It reminds me for some weird reason of when we lived in the Philippines. We were in the Air Force and were stationed there for 3 years. We only had 2 seasons....hot season and rainy season. This is what rainy season was like....raining buckets. It makes me think how God uses times of isolation to grow and strengthen you because those years were so awesome! No tv, phone, car, etc. We had Ben during that time and I got to spend a precious hassle free year with him. It is what solidified my desire to be a stay-at-home mom.

So, guess what? I am slated to run a 5k Midnight Run tomorrow. Did I mention MIDNIGHT? Yep, you heard right! I ran my first 5k last fall (Susan B Komen 5k) and have become addicted. In case you don't know, I love running!! Yes, it's sickening. I have NEVER been athletic. I am a 100% egghead so sports and being kinesthetic has never appealed to me. Well, running doesn't take coordination (put on foot in front of the other...I can handle that!). Running doesn't involve winning or losing. Running doesn't involve others so you have no guilt about not performing well or disappointing others. Running doesn't care if you have the "latest" sports outfit (especially at 5:30 a.m. which is when i run and NO ONE can see that I have an orange tshirt, blue shorts, sleep in my eyes, and hair in a haphazard ponytail!). I am excited and will let you know how it goes.

Here's a scripture I wrote down in my journal today. With my "empty nest" jitters, etc. I felt like God was lovingly whispering this to me. Just gave me goose bumps!

"Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know." jeremiah 33:3

I think God has great things in store for me!! In fact I *KNOW* He does!!

sunday lunch

So today I got to fix Sunday lunch for Ben, Anna, John Mark, and Bobby. Just the small group of us but God is so, so, so good because it was such a gift to my heart. Laughing, conversing, and discussing various topics . Sweet times together. Yes, I am in a melancholy and reminiscent mood. Knowing that Ben and Anna will only be home this week is what causes me to feel this way. But also that God shows himself to us in so many ways and blesses us with wonderful relationships and shows that he is the God that redeems also causes me deep joy. Happiness, fulfillment, and sense of purpose despite heartache and sadness (divorce).

So, this weekend was great. With school beginning this week, for teachers, this past weekend was my last "hurrah". Went to see Texas (drama in Palo Duro Canyon) on Thursday night with Bobby's family which was so enjoyable. Then on Friday, Bobby was off so we spent the day hiking in Palo Duro Canyon. If you haven't done this...I highly recommend it! Pure awesomeness!!! Yesterday, I went shopping for a new car (with my 2 kiddos taking the only reliable cars I own to college...I will be in dire straits!). I fell in love with a 2005 Nissan Altima. We shall see if this works out or not.

I also went to a workshop this past Monday in Levelland/Lubbock. It was geared toward Foreign Language teachers which you don't find very often. The other 2 Spanish teachers that I went with were crazily *FUN*. I haven't laughed so much in a very long time! The workshop itself was 100% excellent and we all left totally rejuvenated, full of ideas, and on fire to teach another academic year! What more could you ask from a workshop?

So maybe I should name this blog "happiness" or "thankfulness" or something like that? Whatever the name, I will end with a quote from my 1 movie of all time (1940's movie, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn) which is also a Bible verse........... "My cup runneth over..."

End of Summer

It's close to the end of summer and it's such a great time for me. Anna and I returned from San Antonio and it was just a fabulous time of relaxation and enjoyment. I really praise God for this time away as well as these days not having to teach. After a stressful month of June, these days without work have been like heaven! I spoke to another teacher in my department today and we spoke about this time of "rejuvenation" that keeps us sane and keeps our passion alive.

I was able to cook for the Toppers tonight and it was a blessing for Anna and I to take the meal over to them. Also today, I was able to clean out my closet and being the clean-freak that I am..this act alone made me feel "over the moon". Lol. :-)

I came across 2 quilt tops that my mom made. It touched my heart to find them. My sisters and I grew up quilting with my mom during the summers that we worked as migrant farmworkers in Wyoming & Washington. I am planning on using these next few weeks of summer to quilt these tops. I am thankful to God for this project. It will help me connect with my mom and it feels good in my spirit.

Summer School

So today was the last day of teaching summer school. It's been quite an eventful undertaking for me. It was a test of my fortitude most definitely. Teaching 9+ hours every day with only 30 minutes for lunch has proved to be difficult. One of my friends told me how teaching is different from other jobs because it expends your intellect, emotions, etc. This is so true. When you are teaching, you always have to be "on". This coupled with the fact that I was trying to continually come up with exciting ways to teach and engage the students especially since they too became weary of studying spanish for 9+ hours! Bless their hearts! I have really loved my students. Only 8 which is such a great thing! I have enjoyed getting to know them and connect with them. It makes me realize why i love teaching.

I want to say thank you to my dear friend, Debbie because she proved to be my weekly brightener with our "Coffee Ranch" get togethers. Love her! I also love my daughter because she has been SUPER patient with her cranky mother. Love her mucho-mucho!

Now that summer school is over, I can look forward to taking some days to go on a vacation to San Antonio! Woo hoo! A vacation? What is that? Haven't had one of those for 6 years!

For tomorrow, I plan to enjoy a day with Bobby. What a nice way to end the week. We are going to attend the War concert. I grew up listening to early Christian Contemporary Music whereas he grew up listening to 70's rock. What a study in contrasts, huh? LOL. Anyway, he is exposing me to this genre of music and it's been fun!

Here I go...

25 de junio

So my son told me about his blog spot and I loved it! Then my daughter shared hers with me. I became curious & interested especially since I have journaled since I was 13 years old. I am 43 yrs old now so my piles of journals are numerous! Therefore, blogging seems right up my alley!!

I am a single mom with a son and daughter who are both students at Oklahoma Baptist University. I teach Spanish at the high school level and it is my passion. It is just like my mom used to always say, "God created you to teach.". I agree.