MY WEEK IN REVIEW

UPDATE~~CORRECTION to last post:
The snake was not in our sand but but right outside yard along our road. Apparently it was crawling around our bamboo fence when my hubby found it. STILL DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT WAS THERE AND THAT MY BABIES PLAY IN THAT AREA.

N*E*WAYS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Cuz SUZANNE is now in the hosptial for the long haul and is current in her 25th with her quads. She recently posted pics of her belly and family there with her at the Hosptial. Everything is looking good and the babies are all over 1 lbs that this time. Please continue to pray for those babies and all the staff that will attend to Suz' every need. She has setup baby registaries on her page for those of you that would like get her things that she will need.

I don't have any pictures right now but I still want to post about our VBS this year. I had the privilege to be able to attend as well as be a mentor for the 3rd/4th graders. It was different from what our church has been in the past but it went really well.We did what they call a group VBS this year to were we rotated around to stations and had 30 minutes of group time to followup on the bible lesson. One amazing sister of Christ provided the bible study and we followed up with that in our group time. That is why I called it a mentoring position. We escorted them around to all the areas for activity and were there for any questions and corrections of students that was needed.

I learned with our class movements to numerous popular christian worded songs, great verses for comfort and guidance, and was in 2 skits to which I really really hammed it up. Here is the music that we learned movements for this week... they are just short clips Let me tell you, getting on a stage to act like and be wild and crazy is a wonderful way to unload a bunch of stress. It was so much fun acting crazy and getting all the kids action...I love the rush of getting young ones geared up for GOD... We are talking about 4 yrs up to 6th graders. WHAT A GREAT TIME!!!! We studies about Jericho, a river being pushed back for the ark of the covenant, Rahabe and the spies, healing of lepercay(?), and Christ final walk. It was absolutely amazing to recall those memories and be able to refresh those "church camp" emotions and share them with kiddos. I have already signed up for next years VBS!!! During our time there we had 8 children pray to ask God into their hearts and that was just my class. I don't know about the others but how inspiring is that. GOD IS GREAT AND GOOD!! GOD IS REAL...GOD IS WITH US...GOD IS STRONG...GOD IS AWESOME...GOD IS IN CHARGE!!!! Make no mistake about it, there were volunteers there to run the music and powerpoint, provide food, perpare and instruct the recreational and art time. It was a whole group effect and it is all credited to GOD.

Life is going well for us and seemed to have slowed down some too. There is always something going on and it depends as to how you handle that STUFF that will determine if you will given or rise above it. When those time approach remember Jesus in the desert:

10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'[d]" 11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:10

Trails and tribulations-one of many references 12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."[a]
1 Peter 1:13-16

(all scripture taken from BIBLEGATEWAY.COM and in NIV translations)

STREAMING!!!!

It was one of those days yesterday and let me tell you it brought me to tears. I am going to be out for a bit from work so I am in the process of getting all my reports and odds and ends done for that time I will be gone. I am swamped with it plus a bit stressed. I know that stressing about it will not get it done nor make it less stressful. I guess I like the drama of the whole thing, or I would not stress all the time. Well with that said here is a general recount of the final straw to draw out my tears.
I got a call just as all this mess was stretching me like taffy, my hubby calls and says, "Hi how are you?!" I said stressed but ok..."Well, we just had a close encounter. I was working in the yard when I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I knew it was not the kids because they were playing in the side yard and not where I was. I went over to the kids sandbox because I saw it go over there. As I lifted the lid I saw something inside and jumped back. It was a rattle snake. We are all ok but thought you would like to know." My reply," YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING RIGHT?! IT WAS WITH IN 10 FT OF OUR BACK PORCH AND I COULD HAVE WALKED RIGHT BY IT THIS MORNING!" With this I was crying by now and now my hubby was apologizing for making me cry. He did not want to tell me but felt I needed to know. When I got home, they had it stretched out on the tailgate of the truck to show the kids that if they ever see one to run away. I can tell you that it had 9 rattles and a button, female, and about 4 ft long. I am still upset about it. I mean that could have been my babies it could have bitten. He said that it did not have time to coil up before he got to it. If it would have been me, I would have had that thing in pieces all over my yard or pelted to bits to were no one would be able to make out what it was. IN LAMANS TERMS.... I don't like snakes nor do I have any room in my heart for them. The are creapy, evil, and I just don't like them. I am not afraid of them, they just gross me out.
Thank goodness my day so far today have been a bit less stressful but it is building already so with that note please pray for those of us who live in the sticks so that we can avoid those deadly slitthering things and that we have an eye like an eagle to spot them out to avoid harm....and that I get all this stuff done !!!!
****DO YOU KNOW JESUS BECAUSE HE KNOWS YOU. God knows every hair on your head (Luke 12:6-8 NIV:Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies[a]? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows), and he gave his only son for you John 3:16 KJV-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.)
****

THIS AND THAT AND IN BETWEENS

Well, I can honestly say that Summer is here and I am not ready. Where we live it gets blistering dry and hot fast and is very hard on little ones. I know it is here when I can hear the locust in the trees singing with the grackles (black birds). It is the sound of summer. Most of the little ones spend most of their young life in water and of course indoors most of the hot afternoons. After spending a afternoon couped up with littles ones, one could easily go nuts... It is like trying to keep a mud puddle calm and contained plus keeping the piglets out of the mud or human terms: trying to keep the house clean, childs occupied, and content and keeping yourself sane.......CRAZY!!! Since I don't have the summer off, my hubby has the crazy task of handling the childs.. WOW... HE IS AMAZING!!!!

This month we will be going to a tradedays event with my in-laws, we have a summer water day this coming week w/ our church family,VBS starting up in the middle and birthdays in the last leg of the month. Then you throw in the last minute mini-vacations and surprise events and your month is full. Our summers always fill up with things like yard improvements, and trips and get more active every year. We don't know at this point what our July and August will be like but I'm sure it will be as active or busy. With Family reunions and weddings and showers.... you just never know for sure.

Well, so far my Cuz is at 22 weeks now in her adventure of carrying quads.. and looks fabulous. She is in good company with spiritual and physical family there with her right now. Please continue to pray for her and that all going well and that this will be a learning experiences for all those she touches. There is a link on my page here that will take you to her page for the latest updates. Her name is Suzanne and she covets your prayers for strength, support, and blessings.

My sis just got out of galb surgery this past Friday and seems to be recovering well. She is staying at my parents with her little boys. My mom is pinch hitting for her because she can not be doing to much at this point, and her hubby has gone to a work thing and will be gone all week. I know that my mom is having a great time with having them there. I know my daughter is loving the attention and visiting with them as well as my son.

We are the same ol same ol... Hubby is out for the summer and working on moving his classroom since he had been reassigned to a different grade this year. As for as me, I am still pushing the pen and still on a solo mission on this end. Word is that there might be someone to join my duties sometime in the fall but in the mean time it is just me. There is always something going on or something that needs my attention or assistance and that is always a promise in my profession. I love my job and the different challenges that it presents everyday. I have reports that I do on a weekly and month schedule to keep my grounded in the right direction thank goodness.

The volunteering event that I was apart of went well. I ending up running one of the events involved and had a great time doing it. The only draw back was the I was not able to get my family to be there. It was just a very busy weekend of my little family. There was other events planned for that weekend and then we got lots of rain which created additional work too. It was nice but I would have been fabulous if I would have had them there. It is just nice to have my family there to support my efforts. I know that they do support me but sometimes it is nice to actually have them there physically to enjoy the event as well. I know that I would be nothing with out them and that I need then to stay grounded and sane in this crazy world.

Well...That is pretty much it on this end! Same ol same ol... boring or informative you be the judge. Either way this is our lives and how we choose to live our lives...
May you be bless richly with friendship, support, and love this week and I send my love and support thru our Lord and Jesus Christ.
OUR TRUE REWARDS ARE NOT FROM THIS EARTH OR SHOULD COME IN OUR LIFE TIME BUT SHALL BE AN ETERNAL REWARD IN HEAVEN....
GOD IS THE CRAFTMAN, THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE CHISEL, AND JESUS AS THE HAMMER THAT IS CHIPPING AWAY AT MY IMPERFECTIONS (SINS) TO REVEAL THE BEAUTY OF HIS CHILD AND WHAT I COULD BE UNDERNEATH. ARE YOU A WORK OF ART IN THE MAKING?! REMEMBER THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOME HARD TIMES EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, YOU MAY NOT BE GROWING INTO THE CHILD OF GOD THAT HE NEEDS YOU TO BE TO SHOW THE WORLD HIS GLORY!!!!--YOU ARE NEVER ALONE AND HE WILL NEVER GIVE YOU WHAT YOU CAN'T HANDLE--DEUT 5:30 "NOW THE THINGS THAT I COMMAND OF YOU TODAY ARE NOT TO DIFFICULT OR HARD FOR YOU TO REACH"