walking

My devotional the first day back to school prompted me to pray for my principal. I also was led to pray about my attitude and that it be right regarding teaching, etc. I did not want to be sucked into the grumbling, discontent, being upset about large class sizes, and speaking ill about administration. God really helped me do that! I had a wonderful 2 days of working and my spirits stayed jubilant and content. I pray I can continue to be like this...to be sensitive regarding gossip, grumbling, and hearsay. Lord help me.

My devotional: "Jesus walks with you. Are you walking with Him? Do you fulfill God's purpose for your life? Do you seek a life of peace? Do you intend to be a Christian, not just in name, but in deed as well?"

"Whoever is not willing to carry the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who try to hold on to their lives will give up true life. Those who give up their lives for me will hold on to true life." Matt. 10:38-39 NCV

Best Ideas

This week is my and my daughter's birthday (July 10) and we were both feeling a bit bummed. For me the reason was thinking that we would not get a summer vacation this year or go on any trips. For my daughter, it was because her boyfriend is working in Houston for 3 weeks. We therefore decided to celebrate **Birthday Week** and it's been the best idea for us! On Monday, we bought $30 pillows at JCPenney (on sale for buy one and get one for a $1) which we have wanted for a very, very loooong time! We felt so decadent!! lol. Today we are going to go watch "The Proposal". We can't wait!! Tomorrow, we are buying new makeup at Walmart (yippee!). Thursday, we plan on each buying one new top at JCPenney (I work there so I get a good discount). Friday's agenda is lunch with Anna's close friends. Saturday is our yearly tradition of going to Wonderland Park with all of my sisters and their families. This week of doing little and fun things lifts our spirits and feels like our mini-vacation. God is good and lifts our spirits in ways that are meaningful to us doesn't he?

My devotional yesterday was this... "Never yield to gloomy anticipation. Place your hope and confidence in God. He has no record of failure." -Chuck Swindoll

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be provided for you." -Matthew 6:34 HCSB

10 days straight

Today is my last day of work prior to having 5 days off...yippee! Especially since I have worked 10 days straight. Praise God because I remember a month ago and I remember how distressed I was about work and possibly not having extra income for the summer. God is so good. The job at Penney's has been perfect for our situation (single parenthood). Anna has been great as well. Her help with her grandpa this past month has been immeasurable. It has worked out wonderfully.

I thank God because he has been impressing upon me to be a diligent and hard worker. I wanted to exemplify Christ in my work ethic. To not slack off, be lazy, or ignore tasks that need to be done. I want to be an asset as a worker. To be a good steward of my time at work ,etc. Even if this is a part-time job, what I do and how I work reflects my walk in God.

I thank God also for this week without my Father. He left Sunday to spend a few weeks with my sister in Amarillo. It has been such a reprieve and has given me time to regroup and rest from being a caregiver. It was soooo needed. He was excited to go as he has not spent time with my sister in Amarillo in some time. I am so thankful for his good outlook. It eases my heart.


"I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities, because that is his reward." - Ecclesiastes 3:22

Devotions

My devotions this summer have been awesome. During the school year, I am at work by 7am so I don't get to lounge around the house but this summer it's been different. Having the mornings to do my devotions leisurely is something that's been so enjoyable. The first week of summer vacation was *bliss*! It was void of any activities and my Dad was staying at my sister Sylvia's house so the a.m. time proved so beneficial to me spiritually. The second week was VBS which didn't start until 9am every day so once again, the mornings were mine to enjoy! This week I started at JCPenney's and my work day doesn't begin until 10 am or 12 noon (depending on the shift I am working). I am so thankful for this because once again I am not losing my mornings! Isn't God good?

Here's a excerpt from today's devotion. It so blessed me.

"Did you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind? Because, when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that my Savior!" -Fanny Cosby

This quote by Fanny Cosby was pretty amazing I think. Seeing my Savior's face for the first time. Just plain awesome!

dilemma and worry

So it's summer and it's very nice to not have to worry about grades, lesson plans, students in detention, etc, etc. Very nice. BUT (there is always a "but" in my world)I am now facing the dilemma of what to do job wise. As a single mom I have always worked during the summer. The extra income allows us to catch up on some bills and places us in a better position financially for the onset of the school year. My summer class at Borger High didn't make so I was disappointed. Now, I have to think about 3 options:

1. work at JcPenney where they only need me 2 days a week
2. work as a substitute teacher for summer school (days are sporadic and probably few)
3. work at Toot-n-Totum where they need someone from 2pm - 10pm every day.

Please pray with me regarding this. I want to do the right thing financially and for myself and for my family. I also am wondering if a combination of #1 and #2 would be enough? I keep hearing God tell me in the background (behind the worry and the stress that are clamoring for my attention), "Be at peace. I will be with you." What a loving God we have don't we? He understands our turmoil and anxiousness. I am so glad for that because I struggle with these emotions so very much...in so many areas of my life.

So I am listening to Jeremy Camp and eating fish sticks. The words of the song are nourishment to my soul.


Trust In You
Artist(Band):Jeremy Camp

When I can't see You I know You're there
When I can't feel You I will not fear
I will trust in You and I will not be afraid.
When the battle is close at hand
Though You're with me and help me stand
I will trust in You and I will not be afraid.

I will not be afraid
I will not be afraid
I will trust in you
I will trust in you
I will trust in you

When the darkness is close at hand
And I‘m running against the wind
I will trust in you and I will not be afraid.
When I'm standing upon that shore
All the battles I've gone before
I will trust in you, and I will not be afraid.

'Cuz I will not be afraid
I will not be afraid
I will trust in you
I will trust in you

My daughter

*So my daughter wrote this on her Facebook and I just HAD to share it! Touched my heart!*

"So, today I was walking around campus at OBU and enjoying the beautiful weather. I love summer time and I love everything that I feel when summer time is around. I guess I never really thought about how much summer reminds me of my childhood. I think, even though I went through a lot as a kid, I had such a happy childhood. I've never met anyone as close to their whole family as I am. I don't just mean mom and siblings, I mean my WHOLE family. My cousins have and always will be my best friends. I will never forget the love my grandma bestowed on everyone she encountered. My crazy aunts who say everything they're thinking and while it drives me crazy I wouldn't change it. I am so lucky and I love how random things remind me of that happy time as a kid and remind me of how lucky I am now.
I'm a list maker- I make lists for everything- movies I want to watch, things I need to do, plans for the future and planning out every hour of my day (sometimes). So on that note I decided to make a list of everything that reminded me of my days as a kid especially during the summer time.

1. small, white, paint-chipped houses
2. sprinklers
3.tether ball
4. pull out beds
5. rusty junk in a backyard
6. old broken campers
7. cooling units
8. freeze pops
9. watermelon and cantaloupe
10. obstacle courses
11. daytime television
12. telenovelas
13. sewing rooms
14. gas stoves
15. moist basements
16. hide n go seek
17. school playgrounds
18. fresh made tortillas
19. being so hot you can't move
20. "ay chi wa was", "oy cacoy", "pobrecita"
21. the price is right
22. house coats
23. bird fountains and lawn ornaments
24. cedar chests
25.steep driveways
there's a lot more but those are just a few. I don't know what made me think of this but anyways.
Grandma, I miss you. Family, I love you."

10 years

I went to my Borger ISD Appreciation Dinner last night. It profounded me to realize that I have been teaching 10 years now. Doing what you really love and what you feel is your "purpose" is such a great blessing. Other than motherhood, it's what I know deep within my heart that I was meant to do. Anyway, doing it for 10 years is a milestone for me since I have never done one job for that length of tim (other than motherhood). At the next milestone (20 years), I might be singing a different song but I hope not. Lol!

It's been a good spring for me. I have so enjoyed going to Breckyn's T-Ball games. Bobby coaches so it is fun to see the fun that they both have together. Grandfather and grandson...such a beautiful picture of family love. It is a blessing to have Sommer & Breckyn home until June. Pray for their future because Sommer's husband, Jeremy, will be ending his year contract in Port Arthur, Tx and they are looking for a job closer to home. Pray for God's will especially during this time of turbulent economical conditions.

It's also the end of the year and I am thankful that my year of serving as co-senior sponsor is coming to a close. My third year and it is the END! Yeah! It's a tough job (to coordinate between school & parents) but I am thankful that God got me through it. I hope to next year concentrate instead on forming a Spanish club and getting a trip to either Spain or Mexico together. That would be fun, I think.

A few more weeks and Ben & Anna come home. I can't wait!

2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.