The Year End Meme

1. Where did you begin 2008?
I honestly don't remember. I am thinking  it was at home.

2. What was your status by Valentine's Day?
wife, mommy, teacher

3. Were you in school (anytime this year)?
all year long - teaching
I started grad school -- online through Walden University in June

4. Did you have to go to the hospital?
not for me but took Eli to the ER

5. Did you have any encounters with the police?
I don't think so that speeding ticket was in 2007

6. Where did you go on vacation?
Nashville with Cheryl and Holly, Atlanta in June for Congress, TN/KY for family reunion, Mt View with hubby for our anniversary

7. What did you purchase that was over $500?
vehicle repairs

8. Did you know anybody who got married?
I don't think so

9. Did you know anybody who passed away?
Yes.

10. Did you move anywhere?
Nope.

11. What sporting events did you attend?
Agape Eagles Basketball games to watch Alli cheer

12. What concerts/shows did you go to?
I don't think so.

13. Where do you live now?
same place I did for the last 8 years  :-)~~~ Rhonda

14. What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2008?
Start Grad school

15. What has/have been your favorite moment(s)?
Congress in June - Hubby and I made our recommitment to Officership

16. What's something you learned about yourself?
That it is okay to be me. 

17. Any new additions to your family?
New great nephew was born in early Nov

18. What was your best month?
I don't know

19. What music will you remember 2008 by?
Chris Tomlin's worship music

20. Made new friends?
One or two - it's more been a year of getting closer to people I already knew.

21. Favorite Night[s] out?
Nashville, Our anniversary in Mt View

22. Any regrets?
I can't think of any

23. What do you want to change in 2009?
To learn more about myself and being me-

24. Overall, how would you rate this year?
on a scale of 1-10?
 8 or 9

25. What would you change about 2008?
Stealing Cheryl's response here: If it all served a purpose in leading me here, nothing.

26. Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
Church. School,

26. Have any life changes in 2008?
yeah

27. Change your hairstyle?
a couple of haircuts and highlights = once I think

28. Get a new job?
No.

29. Do you have a New Year's resolution?
I have a one word theme so far -- prepare

30. Did anything embarrassing?
I can't think of anything

31. Buy anything new from eBay?
always

32. What was/were your favorite purchase[s]?
I don't really know

33. Get married or divorced?
no

34. Get arrested?
no

35. Be honest - did you watch American Idol?
Never seen it!

36. Did you get sick this year?
cold, sinus junk here and there nothing major

37. Start a new hobby?
scrapbooking

38. Been snowboarding?
Nope.

39. Are you happy to see 2008 go?
It's bittersweet.

40. Drank Starbucks in 2008?
For the first time - I don't drink Coffee - still don't - but love their Carmel Apple Cider

What are you wishing for in 2009?
God's will to be done in my life.

EEEEEEEEEEkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw the mouse my MIL saw a week and a half ago!!!!

Prepare

That is the start of my theme for 2009 - Can't say a whole lot more right now but I will as I can.

16 Things

This is the meme that is going around Facebook and I thought I'd give it a whirl. There is not alot that some of you don't already know about me. Some of you know more than is really good for me for you to know. Lol did that make sense? I guess what I am saying is if you know something that isn't on this list you better keep that wonderful knowledge to yourself.........you know who you are.....

And for that matter why 16 things? Is that some OCD number or something? It sure isn't very round or anything. But any way here goes...........

1. I still have one of the blankets I slept with as a child. It has a nice rough edge to it, much like the hem on your jeans. That rough edge is soothing to me. Don't ask my why but it just is.

2. On that note I have this "thing' about textures. There are several foods that I just can't stand to eat because of the texture - bananas and oranges are two of them.

3. Touch is my primary love language, as well as my primary sense (is there such a thing?) and my primary learning style. I have to be able to manipulate things, physically write them down in order to be able to remember them.

4. I decided I wanted to be a teacher when I was six years old. I decided at that young age that girls could either be nurses or teachers and I didn't want to be a nurse. From that humble beginning the desire to be a teacher was born and I can honestly say that I never wanted to be anything else. I love what I do and am constantly working to improve my craft. Hence

5. I am working on a Master's degree in education. Not earth shattering news by any means. But I am doing it online totally because at this time I can't commit to going to class because of hubby's work schedule.

6. I am married to the most amazing man. He is rough around the edges to many, but I can honestly say that God chose him for me.

7. I have learned more about myself in the last 4 years than in the first 30 combined. Yeah you can add that up to get my age. Who knew that turning 30 would begin and education about myself.

8. Growing up I always thought I would marry and live in my hometown, it never occurred to me that something different might happen.

9. I was and still am to some extent all about tradition. My dad was in the band and played the cornet. So that is what I did. I even played his cornet. for 7 years. I loved band. I loved the camaraderie I felt in band. I wasn't very good, however, I kept the third trumpet section well manned. But that was okay with me.

10. I did however, and I can't believe I am actually writing this now, have a huge crush on the first chair trumpet. I didn't talk about it much to anybody, It was bad enough when people in my class found out about my first big crush on another trumpet player. I wasn't about to let *this* secret escape.

11. Enough about high school, My original major in college was Social Studies w/ History emphasis. And an English minor. I was going for dual certification to teach. The semester I had 14 different papers to write for my classes, I changed my major to Early Childhood Education. That only put me a semester behind in graduating. I also have enough hours to have middle school social studies and English on my certificate.

12. I just realized the my teaching certificate expires in 7 days. Must start on the renewal process after the first of the year.

13. I have 3 children, 2 of which are boys, I never ever dreamed I would have boys, or that I could love them so much. I always thought of having 4 children. We will just have to wait and see on that last one.

14. I collect Nativities. At the moment I have 26 out and that is about half of them. There are also three or four on the tree as ornaments.

15. My favorite Christmas Carol is "O Come All Ye Faithful". I just figured that out this year.

16. I like to write, I discovered this in high school, not in the last 4 years. I have a dream of writing curriculum one day.

Christmas Blessings

I have been home most of the day and really most of the weekend and have managed to avoid many things including this blog. I worried all Thursday night about things financial - we had tuition payments to make and I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to finish up Christmas or keep up on my other bills because of it.  However, I did pray and give it all over to God - though I still worried.

I emptied our accounts to make a partial payment - a third of what we owed, knowing that a small bonus check coming in later that day would get us through until payday.  I went to school to inservice and a staff luncheon. I talked to my principal and was granted a reprieve from a about a third of what was left, but I still had a hefty amount to pay.  I got home later that afternoon to a Christmas Card from my Grandfather, with more Christmas money and checks for the kids education!  I was able to put double the amount in the bank than I had thought I would.  And I will use half the kids money for tuition payment and put the other half in college fund. I won't have to dip into household funds to finish Christmas or pay tuition.  Yeah God!

And on another but no less significant note.  I also came home to a spotless kitchen floor and all the laundry done thanks to my wonderful Mother-in-law!  She was watching the kids for me and did house work too.  I told her I need no other Christmas present than that!  My floor was NASTY!
 

1. Hot Chocolate or apple cider?

Hot Apple Cider

2. Turkey or Ham?

We actually have done both - holiday dinners are not the same without my mom's dressing which requires bird meat, though it is usually chicken. But a ham is usually cooked for the main meat.

3. Do you get a fake or real-you-cut-it-yourself Christmas tree?

We have a fake tree. We have been given several hand me downs over the years for various reasons but we got our own brand new tree last year. As for live trees read THIS to know why I don't want a live one.

4. Decorations on the outside of your house?

No but I love them. We go looking every year, and growing up my neighborhood always won awards for our decorations. I want to get a nativity scene for the yard some time..

5. Snowball fights or sleddin'?

Neither ... I prefer to be on the couch, reading. :)

6. Do you enjoy going downtown shopping?
Without children I love it! With children the internet is my friend.

7. Favorite Christmas song?

O Come All Ye Faithful

8. How do you feel about Christmas movies?

Love.Them. The kids saw the Charlie Brown Christmas for the first time this year.

9. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music?

any time before November.

10. Stockings before or after presents?

First thing, please! But that isn't a fair answer either. Christmas with my family does family gifts on Christmas Eve so stocking and Santa gifts are the only thing for Christmas morning.

11. Carolers, do you or do you not watch and listen to them?

Um, we don't have any usually. But, I would listen if they came by. :)

12. Go to someone else's house or they come to you?

We typically go, swapping out between my parents and Hubby's mom's

13. Do you read the Christmas Story? If so when?

Christmas Eve, if we don't hear it at church that night.

14. What do you do after presents and dinner?

Relax. :)

15. What is your favorite holiday smell?
Apples and Cinnamon

16. Ice skating or walking around the mall?

Neither. See #5 re: curling up on the couch. :)

17. Do you open a present or presents on Christmas Eve, or wait until Christmas day?

Depends on the family we are with. see #10 for my family, Hubby's family all presents on Christmas Day.

18. Favorite Christmas memory?

I have many

19. Favorite Part about winter?

The cold. I am not a hot-weather person so this extra-cold winter has been WONDERFUL for me. :)

20. Ever been kissed under mistletoe?

Not until this year. We have a ball of fake mistletoe hanging from the ceiling fan in the living room. Hubby regularly catches opportune moments. :-)

STOP NOW!

AND GO READ THIS!

Dec 3.

Isaiah 35 (New International Version)

Isaiah 35

Joy of the Redeemed

1 The desert and the parched land will be glad;

the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;

it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the LORD,

the splendor of our God.

3 Strengthen the feeble hands,

steady the knees that give way;

4 say to those with fearful hearts,

"Be strong, do not fear;

your God will come,

he will come with vengeance;

with divine retribution

he will come to save you."

5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened

and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,

and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Water will gush forth in the wilderness

and streams in the desert.

7 The burning sand will become a pool,

the thirsty ground bubbling springs.

In the haunts where jackals once lay,

grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

8 And a highway will be there;

it will be called the Way of Holiness.

The unclean will not journey on it;

it will be for those who walk in that Way;

wicked fools will not go about on it.

9 No lion will be there,

nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;

they will not be found there.

But only the redeemed will walk there,

10 and the ransomed of the LORD will return.

They will enter Zion with singing;

everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

~~~~~~

I know the prophesy that this speaks of, to me and many people it is obvious -- However in today's reading, one verse spoke out to me and God told me to send it to a friend of mine. Which I did.

Tuesday December 2

Isaiah 55 (New International Version)

Isaiah 55
Invitation to the Thirsty
1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.

4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of the peoples.

5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations that do not know you will hasten to you,
because of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor."

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.

9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD's renown,
for an everlasting sign,
which will not be destroyed."

~~~~~~~~~~

What hit me profoundly today was verses 10 and 11. I was reading this to my class of second graders. As I began to read I wondered why I was reading this to 7 and 8 year olds. They couldn't possibly understand this. Why did you prompt me to do this God? Then I read verses 10. I will teach the water cycle later this year and I can point it out in the Bible. And then verse 11 it hit me. His word will not return void! I may not see it - but He will - He knows why I am reading this to them. They need to hear the Bible verses, not just in admonition, not just for memory work, not just to 'learn something', not to understand everything, but also just to hear, the lilt and cadence of it all, and to hear God speaking to them. That is a small part of why I am doing this,

And secondly - John 1 tells us that Jesusa - Yeshua - is the Word made Flesh - and He didn't return to Heaven without accomplishing His mission - and when He returns He will have another mission to accomplish.

Monday December 1 Reading

Monday Dec 1.
Psalm 89:1-29 (New International Version)

Psalm 89
A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. [a]
1 I will sing of the LORD's great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

3 You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,

4 'I will establish your line forever
and make your throne firm through all generations.' "
Selah

5 The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.

6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD ?
Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?

7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.

8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you?
You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

9 You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.

10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;
with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.

11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.

12 You created the north and the south;
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.

13 Your arm is endued with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.

15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
they exult in your righteousness.

17 For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favor you exalt our horn. [b]

18 Indeed, our shield [c] belongs to the LORD,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19 Once you spoke in a vision,
to your faithful people you said:
"I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
I have exalted a young man from among the people.

20 I have found David my servant;
with my sacred oil I have anointed him.

21 My hand will sustain him;
surely my arm will strengthen him.

22 No enemy will subject him to tribute;
no wicked man will oppress him.

23 I will crush his foes before him
and strike down his adversaries.

24 My faithful love will be with him,
and through my name his horn [d] will be exalted.

25 I will set his hand over the sea,
his right hand over the rivers.

26 He will call out to me, 'You are my Father,
my God, the Rock my Savior.'

27 I will also appoint him my firstborn,
the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
28 I will maintain my love to him forever,
and my covenant with him will never fail.

29 I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.

First Sunday in Advent

Prophecy Candle Reading Malachi 3:1-4

Malachi 3:1-4 (New International Version)

Malachi 3

1 "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.

2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.

Daily Reading ~ Isaiah 42:1-9

Isaiah 42:1-9 (New International Version)

Isaiah 42

The Servant of the Lord
1 "Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him
and he will bring justice to the nations.

2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.

3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his law the islands will put their hope."

5 This is what God the LORD says—
he who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:

6 "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,

7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

8 "I am the LORD; that is my name!
I will not give my glory to another
or my praise to idols.

9 See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Long before He was born, His birth was foretold, His mission explained.

The Saturday after...........

Thanksgiving that is. I spent the day at home. We picked up the living room and vacuumed it, cleaned up the kitchen, did a load of laundry, bagged up two big trash bags of clothes to take to the thrift store and I wrote 3 weeks of lesson plans! I am caught up until Christmas break. I have a few worksheets to print out but that is it. I can now concentrate on writing for my course work. I have a lesson plan to write for that tomorrow. I had hoped to get it written today but I was too lazy to do that. I will probably start the outline tonight.

Tomorrow starts Advent. I have a schedule of readings that we will do at home and at school. Leann has a great schedule on her blog. I am printing it up to use. I want to blog on it as well. I have done Advent Sundays for as long as I can remember. But I have never been very good at doing the daily readings. I hope to change that this year. Keep me honest will you?

Makes you think......

   

Stop!!!!

Right Now! - especially if you are related to me.

grab a tissue -- heck grab a box of them and ---

Go read Shannon!

I Can Only Imagine

Hat Tip - Cheryl

a discussion question for teachers.......

any teachers - homeschoolers, classroom, Sunday School, music teachers, sports coaches.....
any body who teaches anything........

What keeps you teaching?

Atlanta and Calls

I am home from an amazing trip to Atlanta. We went down to the Southern Territorial Holiness Congress entitled Go Deeper With God. It was an amazing experience. Our National Commander is an incredible speaker and he was very challenging to all of us. Friday night he spoke on Isaiah chapter 5 and 6 (Isaiah's call) challenging us to move from the despair of chapter 5 into the holiness of chapter 6. Saturday morning he spoke more on chapter six, challenging us to be available to the call of God on our lives, whatever it may be. It was that point that I decided it was time to stop waiting until the time is 'right' and start our paperwork for training. And in confirmation of that, Hubby got the exact same message! So on Sunday morning's call to officership guess who went forward AGAIN! Yes, we are going to start this process AGAIN, but this time we are both determined to go through with it all the way this time. Pray for us as we overcome the obstacles that Satan will throw up. He is already working on us.

Daybook

Since I am home this Wednesday morning -- man is that nice -- except for the reason I am home on this particular day (hubby's hurt ankle - got to take him to the doc later) I thought I'd participate in this meme even if it isn't Monday

A Simple Woman's Daybook.

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window...are a few clouds and a sun trying to shine

I am thinking...that days off are particularly nice - Just as church wide family picnics are.

I am thankful for...the health and safety of my husband and youngest child. They were playing together in the field last night, Hubby was holding youngest when he stepped into the hole and fell. He dropped the child as he fell and the only injury between the two of them seems to be a bad sprained ankle.

From the kitchen...bowl of Cheerios with vanilla yogurt mixed in - my new morning staple - delish!

I am creating...a clean - uncluttered home - a life long process it seems

I am going..to be going to Atlanta in a little over a week.

I am wearing...blue
jeans and a blue and yellow floral shirt.

I am reading...March by Gwendolyn Brooks

I am hoping...for
lots of sunshine this week.

I am hearing...The sounds of the 'boys' playing a game in the living room.

Around the house...Oldest is still in bed, and youngest are up and playing with Daddy - got to feed them breakfast in a little bit.

One of my favorite things...a good book

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...Finish packing my classroom and preping for my part in Summer Care.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... okay there are 2 of them -- both pictures of the stacks of books on my dresser.
I am sorry for the blurry pics they were taken with my camera phone.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!!!!!!!

My Saturday

They say that they want to spend the night out there -- how long do you think that they will last?

New Hair

With Hubby home sick this weekend - I talked him into staying home while the boys napped and watching a movie with DD and I went to have my hair cut. I love love love it!!

I am excited again

Guess what showed up in my mailbox today?






I am not sure who sent it to me but whoever did ----

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!