Summer's End

"Who among the gods is like you, O'Lord? Who is like you - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders." Exodus 15:11

A lot of folks on blogspots and Facebook have been talking about summers end and all the fond memories of this summer. I decided to jump on the bandwagon.

The verse above is one that spoke to me during my week in the Colorado mountains (one morning as I was having my quiet time out on the porch of my cabin). I felt so grateful and blessed for the summer I was having.

The summer began with teaching Summer School which is quite taxing and tiring for me. Working 9+ hours with only one 20 minute break in the day can wear one down. This coupled with teaching only ONE subject the whole day long is also difficult. But my Father God is kind and thoughtful and merciful. He gave me only 2 students and Mr. McCarthy (principal) allowed me to teach the class anyway since he knew I was a single parent and the extra income is needed. This greatly lightened the load. Both students were *TOP NOTCH* and over-achievers which for a teacher is a huge blessing! Bobby Forrest also blessed me by giving me spa days twice during the month. I can't begin to tell you what this meant to me!! As a single parent, I never ever splurge on anything like this (I get my hair cut at Frank Phillips College due to the price). I felt like a QUEEN! I thank my Heavenly Father for the month of June.

Then in July, I worked another week administering the summer TAKS. This was difficult because I was battling a *severe* upper respiratory infection at the time. It really "ate my lunch". I was so sick. I thank God that the week was only for 1/2 days and that the other teachers helping (Mrs Wilson and Mrs McCarthy) were such great ladies to do this with. They kept me laughing and entertained so that the morning passed quickly and enjoyably.

I then went for a FABULOUS week to Colorado with Bobby and his girls. He treated me so great and refused that I pay for anything even though I kept offering. It was such a time of refuge, relaxation, and rejuvenation for me. We golfed, fished (I caught 4 fish!), rafted, hiked,shopped, and played miniature golf. Greatest vacation *EVER*!! I got to know his family better (his 2 girls and his brother's family) and the week went fantastically.

The last week of July was full of shopping garage sales & Salvation Army with Anna (in between her summer classes at FPC) for her wedding. I love having her home with me during the summers. She is such a wonderful companion, helper, and best friend. I will miss her terribly next summer as she will be married! Wow huh?

August, so far, has been busy with getting ready for school. I love, love, love this time of year. The "newness", the "excitement", the "anticipation" of school starting. I love working in my room and planning my year with my wonderful students. I love my profession and the gifts I am able to use to minister with my students.

So it's been a fun and productive summer. Now, I await the arrival of my precious son, Ben in two weeks. Another GREAT JOY!!

Thank you God.

latest

The names Elizabeth...
I now reside... in a house that I've lived in(on & off) for 21 years.
I come from...small town in south Texas which is drastically different than Borger,Tx
I just want to....enjoy the last weeks of summer before teaching resumes.
I am learning to...trust God re: my future (however scary and wonderful that is!)
I believe in... trying always to be kind.
I want to make a difference....in the kids I teach and the kids I am raising.
I believe in helping even... when it's not convenient.
I cant wait to figure out...how I will live the rest of my 40's.
I am.... sensitive (sometimes to a fault).
I like to.... journal (I have them dating back to when I was 12 yrs old)
I drink....coffee every day (I just got a coffee press for my b-day!!!)
I over-analyze...*EVERYTHING* (absolutely everything!! I am not kidding!)
I am very.... naive and moody (weird combination)
I like....tattoos & piercings (but never, never on myself!)
I love ... Bobby Forrest
I would love to .... travel more.
I am a terrible ... lier.
I am addicted to .... the website www.mydailyplate.com
I live my life through ...quotes from books, movies, & music.
I do not know how to ... be bold.
I ____ when im depressed.....cry deeply and heartily.
I have a huge ... crush on Bobby Flay.
God's _____ gets me through every day..... presence

Thankful

I am so thankful to be feeling better. A bit of a cough and a slight headache are all that remain from the upper respiratory infection. Praise God! Bobby, his mom, and my sister all got it as well. Not fun. As Bobby likes to remind me, "You are not a great patient." He is so right. As a single mom, EVERYTHING depends on me (income, bills, house, yard, etc) so being sick is a *BIG* inconvenience in my life. I praise God that I was the worst during Sunday and Monday which were the days that I was not working. Tuesday through today...I had to give the summer administration of TAKS which involves lots of talking and walking which if I had been very sick then would have had to cancel. God is good because he knows the extra income is for the wedding.

Good news is that I leave with Bobby and his family on Saturday. One whole week in the mountains. Fishing, golfing, swimming, and just hanging out. Lots of fun and I am looking forward to it immensely!

I also am excited because I got to meet with Abbie Reyes today. She is our new addition to the Spanish department. She taught 5 years in White Deer and is an *EXCELLENT* Spanish teacher. My twin in teaching methodology and pedagogy. I love her and am so thrilled to have her on board. We will have an amazing, amazing, amazing group of teachers this year in our department. Whoop! Whoop!

Something Fun

For Today
Outside my window: Dark since it's so early. I have been sick (upper respiratory infection) so I have been up trying to get a control on my "uncontrollable" cough.

I Am Thinking: About giving TAKS exams this morning and if my voice will hold up or not.

I Am Thankful For: Feeling better even though I still need a ways to go. And also for good friends who were so sweet to me during my time of illness.

From The Kitchen: Nothing but hot tea, lemon, honey, and vinegar. I ate a little of some yummy chicken pot pie that a friend brought by.

I Am Wearing: black capris, white "bling" shirt that Bobby got me for my birthday, and a sweater (I am cold for some weird reason?)

On the 'Go Organize' Front: I organized my closet last week. No organizing this week due to illness.

I Am Going: To go give TAKS test this morning and then I will most probably come back home to rest even though I *REALLY* want to go see the movie, Despicable Me.

I Am Reading: see yesterday's post for a list of what I am reading. With being sick, I can't seem to focus in order to read. Every time I try to read, my brain gets muddled and foggy.

I Am Hoping: That vacation time with Bobby's family this weekend will be fun.

I Am Praying For: China Mission Team from our church. They leave Thursday.

I Am Hearing: our new kitty, Willy, playing with the blinds. He's so funny.

Around The House: Getting ready to go on vacation and making sure Anna, my 20 year old, is okay all by herself for a few days.

One Of My Favorite Things: Starting to finally feel better. I want to feel 100% so that I can go to Amarillo to see, Despicable Me & use my birthday gift cards (Target, Starbucks, Hastings...)

A Few Plans For The Rest of The Week: TAKS exams (I am the proctor/administrator) every morning this week. Trying to get 100% better and over this illness.

Have a great week everyone!

Good Quotes

Right now I am in the middle of reading 4 books...

*For Better: The Science of a Good Marriage (Tara Parker-Pope)
*Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey: The River of Doubt (Candice Millard)
*The Freedom Writer's Diary: How a Teacher & 150 Teens are Writing to Change Themselves & the World around Them (Erin Gruwell)
*My Name is Asher Lev (Chaim Potok)

Good quotes form the various books...

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools" - Martin Luther King

"Adversity is not something you walk through but something you leap over. The only obstacles are the ones you allow. A Chain is only as strong as its' weakest link. A truly self reliant person person finds his weak link and strengthens it."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The real soul mate is the one you are actually married to." -J.R.R. Tolkien

"If I get married, I want to be very married." -Audry Hepburn

"The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of." -Blaise Pascal

"What a happy and holy fashion it is that those who love one another should rest on the same pillow." -Nathaniel Hawthorne

Snow Storm Vacation of 2010

I've just experienced the most wonderful, exciting, fun, and restful Snow Storm of 2010! It has been *FaBuLoUs*!! The unexpectedness of it was what made it great as well as not being able to do many things outside the home (errands, chores, etc.). It truly was a relaxing time with special people.

I was able to get a lot of school work done (grading papers, etc) as well as enjoying one of my favorite hobbies....READING!! I read 3 books: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ramona the Pest, and A Year of Living Biblically. All 3 books were fabulous and were thought provoking on different levels. Yes, even Ramona the Pest because it shows such a beautiful picture into the mind of a kinder-gardener!! I spent time with Bobby which is always such a blessing to me. He makes life *FUN* for me. Even something as mundane as shoveling the driveway with him had me laughing and cracking up! He was a gentleman and didn't throw me into the snow which he had threatened to do. lol.

I spent time with the Rustens as well as Bobby's parents. Playing board games (Sequence board game is our new favorite game!) was so fun. Bobby's parents have a fire place so playing board games in front of a roaring fire is the BEST!

I also was able to spend a half day of solitude. This is something I used to do a lot when Ben & Anna would go spend time with their dad when they were younger (we are divorced). I read the concept in a magazine and loved it! The idea is to not do anything related to tv watching, computer use, cell phone use, chores, etc. A Day of Solitude to focus on oneself spiritually in one way or another. I usually spend one hour on each of the following: prayer, journaling, listening to praise music, reading inspiration books, going on a walk outdoors, preparing a healthy simple meal for oneself, and writing encouraging letters/cards to people. This time I used only a 1/2 day and it was such a blessing. Such a wonderful way to get away with God alone and undisturbed. I highly recommend it to anyone who has as little as 1 hour of free time!

Well, that is what my Snow Storm Vacation of 2010 was like!! Thank you God!!

Alert the Media!

It's a miracle yes I know. For me to blog after such a long absence huh? Lol. Anyway, I have been back to my journaling (the old fashioned way...notebook and pen)and thus the absence from blogging. Anyway, here I go with the latest.

Ben and Anna left yesterday to begin the Spring semester of their sophomore & junior year respectively. I really loved the Christmas break with them. It was such a perfect & wonderful month and a half with them. Ben was only home for 1/2 that time since he went to a wedding in Arkansas (he was a groomsman) and then to Oregon (to visit friends) but my time with him was still good & precious. I sure love him and the man he is becoming. He is not your Alpha type male and that is great. He is quite the contrary and I love that about him. I realize that this might be my last Christmas break with them in this leisurely, kicked back fashion. Next Christmas break will be busy with wedding preparation most probably (Anna told me that she & John Mark are wanting to get engaged and then get married the summer of 2011) as well as getting Ben graduated!! Wow! He plans on moving to Oregon and attending Multnomah Seminary in Portland, Oregon. My children are growing up. Something that brings me joy but also causes me to become melancholy.

My dad is with my sister in Amarillo. We are doing 1 1/2 month rotations at the time and it is working out well. Pray for us though because it is such a hard situation. The social worker says that it is not the best thing for my dad due to his growing dementia. The moving from place to place will cause him his dementia to advance more quickly. We are at wit's end about it because it is too difficult for only one of us to care for him full-time. Please pray for us.

Bobby is still very much in my life. A wonderful gift from God. His companionship helps me with the loneliness and the stresses of life. He brings much laughter and lightheartedness to my life. Something that I desperately need since I tend to be too serious and too deep in both feeling and emotion many times. Ben and Anna ask all the time when we will get married but we are just playing it by ear right now. There are other factors, such as my dad, that we have to consider at this point.

"Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy and is rising up to show you compassion, for the Lord is a just God. Happy are all who wait patiently for Him."
Isaiah 30;18

"He goes before us, follows behind us and hems us safe inside the realm of His protection."
Beth Moore

"Rejoice in hope, patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer."
Romans 12:12