For Rebecca - PEEPS

PEEPS: little marshmallow candy shaped into chicks and bunnies - they have a sugary coating and are usually found around Easter

Wednesday Hodgepodge - March 30, 2011

1. April rolls in at the end of this week and in celebration of that infamous date (April 1st) answer this question-What is something foolish you've done?

Lately? It seems I'm always doing something foolish. Some things don't seem as bad as others. For instance, choosing to wear flip-flops on a day when it rains? Slightly foolish. I'm super my friends would be more than willing to give you some of my super foolish moments but I'm not telling on myself.

2. With April comes Easter and that classic edible treat known asPeeps...so tell me...what's your favorite way to fix/eat chicken? That wasn't what you were expecting, was it? I 'fooled' you. teehee.

I LOVE double-breaded oven fried chicken! YUM!

3. What's the best museum you've ever visited? Or your favorite? Or the one you'd most like to visit?

I have been to several museums in NYC - Metropolitan Museum of Art was probably the most impressive. Been to a couple in Chicago and an art museum in St. Louis. I would really like to see the King Tut exhibit that went around a few years ago, though.

4. You know what they say about April showers...what's your preference-a shower or a bath?

Depends. Typically a shower because it's hard to wash my hair in the bathtub, but a bubble bath can be so relaxing!

5. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"...fact or fiction? Why?

I think it can. I'm not sure it always does. Sometimes absence just makes you realize how annoying the person was to begin with.  ;-)

6. What's your favorite product made/grown in your home state/province?

Peaches. There are several peach orchards close to where I live and I LOVE peaches!

7. What is going on in the world today that affects you the most?

-Oil Prices - gas is killing me!

-Issues in Education - IL is currently making some changes regarding how teachers are evaluated - No Child Left Behind is insane - making cuts, expecting more - lack of parental involvement - there's a lot going on in the field of education. As a teacher, it directly affects me, but it will eventually affect all of us.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Wedding updates coming soon. Some have started complaining because I'm not sharing details, but I just don't want that to become all-consuming. However, I will update very soon.

Prayer Monday - March 28, 2011

Oh weather, how I loathe you! Make up your mind what season it is! Sheesh, I have been sickly most of this week. It seems the weather is not my friend. It's been a decent week, though. I had a little break at the studio because half of my students were performing in a production of Hairspray (which ROCKED - congrats to them!). There were 2 afternoons where I sat on my couch and did what I wanted (which was pretty close to nothing).

This week I was able to take care of a few more wedding things (chipping away a little at a time) and My Precious and I were able to spend a little time together which was really nice. Saturday, I nixed my original plans and spent the day with my mom. We shopped and had our nails done.

I think sometimes when you're in a place of "I don't know" it's nice to just spend time with people you love.

Praises
~Time spent with those I love was super encouraging.
~I took some of my students on a field trip and no one died (in other words, they were very well-behaved and I didn't have to kill them)
~I am thankful for the movement I see - I know God is working in several situations that I am currently seeking His face over.
~My uncle Roger (who has been very sick) had a few great days last week where he was able to eat and felt like getting out of the house - so thankful for that.

Prayer Requests
~I am pretty sure I'm addicted to food and allergic to exercise. Please pray for me as I try to become un-addicted and un-allergic.
~My Precious
~My little brother. Please pray that God will have His way in lil bro's life - no matter what it takes that God will get his attention
~Please pray that God will give me wisdom and guidance as I make decisions regarding the future - I have a couple of job possibilities but I want to be where God wants me - His will, not mine.
~My uncle Roger - please pray that God will continue to strengthen him and heal his body

God, there is so much going on in my life and in the lives of those around me. I am thankful for the movement that I see. I am thankful for seeing Your grace bring healing to specific situations I have been praying for. Some days are still a little overwhelming, though. When those days come, help us to trust You with our whole hearts. As we go through this week, may we pour out our hearts before You each and every day - to empty ourselves so that there is more room for You. Remind us, God that You alone are the answer for whatever situations arise.

Amen

Wednesday Hodgepodge - March 23, 2011

1. Sunday was the first day of spring. So they say. Ahem. What is your favorite outdoor springtime activity?
Sitting on the porch in the swing - reading. It's so peaceful...well, it's peaceful as long as the dog is tied up.

2. Who would you want to come into your kitchen to cook dinner for you?
Famous People: Paula Deen, Rachel Ray
Should Be Famous Chef: Casey Stout

3. When did you last fly a kite?
I have NO clue. I HAVE flown a kite, though. Today would be a good day for it. Hmm...perhaps I'll visit Wal-Mart this afternoon and go fly a kite rather than cleaning like I had planned.

4. What topic puts you to sleep faster than anything?
Right now just about anything would put me to sleep. So sleepy. Typically politics and economics do me in. History used to be that way for me, but as I've gotten older I've decided it wasn't so much the subject as it was the one presenting the information (if you know what I mean).

5. Which flowers do you associate with specific people, places, or events?
-Hydrangeas remind me of my grandma. She had a beautiful bush in front of her house. It bloomed blue and purple flowers. So pretty.
-Sunflowers make me think of Crystal.

6. What significant historical events took place during your elementary school days?
-The Challenger exploded when I was in the 2nd grade. I don't always remember things from when I was younger, but I remember those images of the explosion

-The fall of the Berlin Wall

-Halley's Comet appeared

-Czechoslovakia became Slovakia and the Czech Republic

-The Gulf War

7. Do you swear? Do you pseudo-swear? (You know crap, shoot, friggin'?)
I wish that I could tell you know, but I would totally be lying. I pseudo-swear a LOT!

8. Spring Break please hurry. I NEED you like yesterday. UGH! Longest. School. Year. EVER!

Prayer Monday - March 21, 2011

This has been quite the week for me. I was riffed Thursday night at our board meeting. I'm not sure what the future holds. I don't know if I am supposed to continue to teach music or look for another line of work. I feel like I am in a huge season of  "I DON'T KNOW" and the only thing that I really DO know is that I don't like it very much.

Praises

1. I was able to spend some much needed time with My Precious this weekend.

2. God is BIG - even bigger than the boogie-man.

Prayer Requests

1. Work. I honestly don't know where to go or what to do, so I'm not moving until my steps have been ordered by God. Please also pray for the other teachers that were riffed or dismissed.

2. I don't want to be a worry-wart.

3. My Precious. His time at school is frustrating some days. Please pray that God would bring direction, clarity and understanding.

4. Please pray that I would be more disciplined both physically and spiritually - that my body would cooperate with my physical discipline efforts and that my mind and spirit would cooperate with my spiritual discipline efforts.

5. That I would be a good steward of what God gives me.

6. My Uncle Roger - please pray for healing

7. My little brother.


God, I don't know which end is up this week. I feel like I have been turned every possible way. I feel like You're shaking up my life and the lives of those around me. I know that all of this passed through Your hands before it landed in my lap. Help me to honor you with the decisions that I make and the steps that I take. I want Your will and purpose to be accomplished in my life and in the lives of those I love. Help me to trust You with my WHOLE heart.

Amen

Wednesday Hodgepodge - March 16, 2011

1. What would you do if you found a pot of gold? Let's pretend that pot of gold is worth exactly $1500 (which would actually be more like a cup of gold at current values). Anyway, let's also pretend you have to spend it as opposed to making a donation somewhere. Now, tell me what you would do with that cup pot of gold?
I'm getting married in October. I would probably save it back for the honeymoon or for house stuff.

2. Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in any way, shape, or form?
I like green....does that count? Crys's Favorite's b-day is on St. Patty's Day. That's worth celebrating. I like shamrocks. Crap. I don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but I think I really want to now.

3. Have you been bitten by the Spring Cleaning bug? What spring cleaning job most needs doing at your house? What spring cleaning job are you most dreading?
Perhaps its the Spring Cleaning bug or perhaps it's the "you're getting married and need to sort through your massive amounts of crap" bug, but I have began going through everything I own and making a yard sale/give away pile.

4. lime-shamrock-sage-forest....your favorite shade of green?
Green actually IS my favorite color. I really like grass green - I guess shamrock green is pretty close.

5. Thomas Jefferson once said, "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." So... do you believe in luck or do you believe we make our own luck?
I believe in blessings from God and the favor of God.

6. Monday (3/14) was Pi Day. Get it? Pi =3.14. Those math types are so clever aren't they? Since I'm not one of them tell me what's your favorite piE (the edible kind). mmm. PIE! I like lots of pies, but my friend Kim fixes an amazing banana split pie that I've grown fond of. I like coconut and chocolate. I like apple pie. I'm getting REALLY hungry.
 7. That same date (3/14) was also the birth date of the late physicist, Albert Einstein. I bet he knew the value of pi. What do you think is more important and/or valuable in life...intelligence or common sense?
YES. I am an educator. I think knowledge is invaluable, but lacking good common sense can definitely cause some difficulties in a person's life.

8. I have no idea why I am blogging when I have so much more to do, but my brain needs a break. Does anyone else make to-do lists and just want to cry at the sheer volume of tasks on that list?

Prayer Monday - March 14, 2011

This week has had it's ups and downs. We started Women's Bible Study last Sunday evening. I am excited yet I've only finished Day 1. What? In my defense, we have until next Sunday to finish the first week of study, but it just seems like everything else has demanded my attention this week.

I have been really frustrated with the situation in Cairo this week. I am at a point where I mostly just want to throw my hands in the air. I need a little bit of passion infused back into my teaching life or else I'm not going to make it until June.

Praises

1. I woke up every day this week. (I'm working on being thankful for the things I typically take for granted.)

2. My Precious - he balances me out and helps me keep things in proper perspective and I'm thankful for that

3. God's faithfulness

Prayer Requests
1. My Precious - he has Spring Break this week. Please pray that this week leaves him feeling refreshed and hopeful.

2. My friend, Stan - headache for days. MRI was today. Possible aneurysm.

3. Cairo School District and my place there. I simply want to do God's will, but some days I have a difficult time discerning His will.

4. Please pray that I would be more disciplined both physically and spiritually - that my body would cooperate with my physical discipline efforts and that my mind and spirit would cooperate with my spiritual discipline efforts.

5. That I would be a good steward of what God gives me.

6. I still have the same request for which I can't give details. God knows what it is, so please just pray that His will is accomplished in this situation.

Prayer
Oh God, I feel like most days I take so much for granted - a house, a car, running water - the simplest things that so many don't have. God, help me to be a good steward of the things you have blessed me with. I am thankful for my friends and my family and for my Precious. Their love and support reflect You and do wonders for lifting my spirit.
God, I'm struggling with being in Cairo right now. Please give me the wisdom to know what You would have me do every, single day and then grant me the strength to accomplish it. I simply can't do it without You.
I pray for those participating in Prayer Mondays. God go with them this week and accomplish Your will in their lives as they strive to seek You.

Amen