Right now I'm excited to start a new school year just so that I can get some sleep again. I'm usually a good sleeper -- I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, stay in the same position all night, and awake in a bed that hardly needs to be made. My sisters have even accused me of having narcolepsy because I can fall asleep anywhere, anytime. Lately, though, I've just had a terrible time falling asleep. I have 50 million details running through my mind about starting school in two weeks. Then, when I finally do fall asleep, I have one of two recurring nightmares:
1) My kids walk in the first day of school and I have nothing planned. I am completely unprepared.
2) My kids won't listen to anything I say. They won't follow directions and I'm in front of the class screaming at them. The class is out of control.
Oh yeah, and did I mention that my student teacher is in the back of the room observing me in both nightmares? (I did inform you all that I will be having a student teacher this year, right?)
I also must add that neither of these scenarios have ever actually happened in real life. What's with the nerves? I've definitely had them prior to the start of school for the past three years, but do they ever go away? Let's hope so!
Despite the nerves, I'm actually getting pretty excited to start working again. I'll have the same kids this year as last year (I loved them!). I love my school, my administration, and my coworkers. I'm looking forward to feeling "productive" again at the end of the day. And the icing on top of the cake is that my hubby will be coming home just four weeks after school starts! I CAN'T WAIT!!
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Wine Tasting
My younger sister, Lauren, and her boyfriend were here visiting last week. On Friday, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful vineyards around us and travel around to some local wineries to do a little wine-tasting. We live in the middle of Southwest Michigan's "Wine Trail" and so visited Lemon Creek Winery, Domaine Winery, The Round Barn Winery, and Tabor Hill Winery. It was too fun! I tried to be a grown-up wine drinker and try all of the reds, but if there's one thing I learned, it's that I just don't like 'em! My favorites were the sparkling wines, the Demi-Secs, and a special Cranberry Wine from The Round Barn. I'm excited to take Jon for some tasting when he's home for R and R. I just kept thinking how much he would love it!
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Coming to an End
I can't believe it.
I'm going back home in only 11 days. My summer is quickly coming to an end. I've been trying to just soak up every single moment of time spent with my loved ones before I go back to my empty house. I feel like a little kid getting ready to take a bath. They don't want to get in, but once they're in they don't want to get out! When I first came home, I was nervous about getting bored and annoyed with my family. But it's been so much fun that now I don't want to leave!
Ahhhh ... well. Jon and I will be coming back to visit while he is on leave in September. I guess that's not so long, right? I'm very excited for Jon to come home. I am a little nervous, though. I don't want to say goodbye to him again once he's home!
The last week has been quite busy and a lot of fun. My sister, Lauren, is here visiting for 10 days. We went to Chicago last Friday and had Uno's pizza and caught a show at The Second City (a comedy club with sketches similar to SNL). On Saturday, we spent the entire day on the boat -- fishing, wakeboarding, and tubing. Then, on Sunday, all of us girls went to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's. On Tuesday, I went to visit two of my close friends who used to live at Fort Carson. What a blessing -- but oh how I miss them!
I'm so glad I decided to visit my family for the summer! I just wish that it hadn't gone by so fast!
I'm going back home in only 11 days. My summer is quickly coming to an end. I've been trying to just soak up every single moment of time spent with my loved ones before I go back to my empty house. I feel like a little kid getting ready to take a bath. They don't want to get in, but once they're in they don't want to get out! When I first came home, I was nervous about getting bored and annoyed with my family. But it's been so much fun that now I don't want to leave!
Ahhhh ... well. Jon and I will be coming back to visit while he is on leave in September. I guess that's not so long, right? I'm very excited for Jon to come home. I am a little nervous, though. I don't want to say goodbye to him again once he's home!
The last week has been quite busy and a lot of fun. My sister, Lauren, is here visiting for 10 days. We went to Chicago last Friday and had Uno's pizza and caught a show at The Second City (a comedy club with sketches similar to SNL). On Saturday, we spent the entire day on the boat -- fishing, wakeboarding, and tubing. Then, on Sunday, all of us girls went to spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's. On Tuesday, I went to visit two of my close friends who used to live at Fort Carson. What a blessing -- but oh how I miss them!
I'm so glad I decided to visit my family for the summer! I just wish that it hadn't gone by so fast!
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Good News
Oh yeah! We did get some good news the other day -- Jon will be coming home in about 2 months for some R&R. I CANNOT WAIT to see him!
Inspiration
I can't stop thinking (and worrying, and crying) about the upcoming decision we have to make about whether or not to stay in the Army. Originally, Jon said that he wanted to either try Special Forces or get out. Now, he is bringing some other options to the table -- other options within the Army, that is. Frankly, we are a little overwhelmed! I think that I pray at least 10 times each day that the Lord will make the right path clear to us. I think that deep down in my gut, I feel like the right thing to do would be to stay in the Army. I wonder if this feeling is from the Lord? On the other hand, I also feel like I know what we should do, but I don't want to do it. Like I know it will be hard, so I'm fighting it. And round and round we go ...
It's hard to explain. During the day, I just feel certain that Jon should stay in and that I CAN DO IT as a military wife. I feel like God is calling us to this, and I want to be able to step up to the plate and be the strong military wife and mother that He wants me to be. But then at night I change my mind! Especially when I talk to Jon in the middle of the night. He talks about staying in and right away I get a kind of sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. What does all of this mean?
There are two songs I've been listening to on my iPod lately. They are so inspirational to me, so I thought I'd share. :)
IF YOU WANT ME TO by Ginny Owens
The pathway is broken, and the signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why you brought me here
But just because you love me the way that you do
I'm gonna walk through the valley if you want me to
Cause I'm not who I was when I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise you're not through with me yet
So if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will go through the fire if you want me to
It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But you never said it would be easy
You only said I'll never go alone
So when the whole world turns against me and I'm all by myself
And I can't hear you answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering you're love put you through
And I will go through the valley if you want me to
PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM by Casting Crowns
I was sure by now,
God, you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away ...
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen"
And it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"
And as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away
I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You've never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm
I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you and raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on if I can't find you?
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"
And as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth
It's hard to explain. During the day, I just feel certain that Jon should stay in and that I CAN DO IT as a military wife. I feel like God is calling us to this, and I want to be able to step up to the plate and be the strong military wife and mother that He wants me to be. But then at night I change my mind! Especially when I talk to Jon in the middle of the night. He talks about staying in and right away I get a kind of sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. What does all of this mean?
There are two songs I've been listening to on my iPod lately. They are so inspirational to me, so I thought I'd share. :)
IF YOU WANT ME TO by Ginny Owens
The pathway is broken, and the signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why you brought me here
But just because you love me the way that you do
I'm gonna walk through the valley if you want me to
Cause I'm not who I was when I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise you're not through with me yet
So if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will go through the fire if you want me to
It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But you never said it would be easy
You only said I'll never go alone
So when the whole world turns against me and I'm all by myself
And I can't hear you answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering you're love put you through
And I will go through the valley if you want me to
PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM by Casting Crowns
I was sure by now,
God, you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away ...
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen"
And it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"
And as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away
I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You've never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm
I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you and raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on if I can't find you?
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"
And as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Blessed
The girls in my family (me included) have always had a "fat" complex. We are all normal sized, athletic-looking women -- far from obese, but nowhere near twiggy. We are constantly saying to one another that we need to go on a diet, lose weight, "I'm such a cow!" etc. etc. You get the point. My mom usually joins in these little sessions, but always ends by saying -- "You know what? We could be really sick with cancer or be paralyzed or something like that. We should be thankful for the healthy bodies that God has given us. No more complaining!"
I used to work out because I wanted to be ready for whatever sport I was playing. It was easy to be motivated when I had a goal in mind. However, there are times in your life when your only goal for exercise is to stay in shape or to keep from gaining weight. These are the times when it's hard to be motivated and you sometimes dread working out. Last night, I was at the YMCA at the Step Aerobics class that my sister and I signed up for this summer. I used to love Step, but for some reason, I abhor going to this class every Monday and Wednesday. Maybe it's because our teacher is SOOOO BORING -- I don't know. Anyways, here I was, thinking I would rather be anywhere in the world than jumping around on this step when I saw something that made me stop and think.
There was a man in a wheelchair just coming in to the gym. He had no legs -- just a torso that was probably cut off just below his belly button. He would ride his wheelchair around the track twice, then stop for water, then do it again, etc. I was sickened by how selfish I was, by how instead of praising God for the blessing of being able to move around as I please and jump up and down on this step, I had been complaining about having to exercise. I thought about how I feel sometimes when I drive by a really nice house and I think "Do those people know how lucky they are? What must that be like?" You know when you see something that you just really wish that you had, but you know it will never happen? That must be how this man felt watching us in the aerobics room. Did we know how lucky we were?
How did I get so lucky to have a healthy body, free from disease or disability? That could have easily been me in that wheelchair. For this simple reason, I am so blessed.
I used to work out because I wanted to be ready for whatever sport I was playing. It was easy to be motivated when I had a goal in mind. However, there are times in your life when your only goal for exercise is to stay in shape or to keep from gaining weight. These are the times when it's hard to be motivated and you sometimes dread working out. Last night, I was at the YMCA at the Step Aerobics class that my sister and I signed up for this summer. I used to love Step, but for some reason, I abhor going to this class every Monday and Wednesday. Maybe it's because our teacher is SOOOO BORING -- I don't know. Anyways, here I was, thinking I would rather be anywhere in the world than jumping around on this step when I saw something that made me stop and think.
There was a man in a wheelchair just coming in to the gym. He had no legs -- just a torso that was probably cut off just below his belly button. He would ride his wheelchair around the track twice, then stop for water, then do it again, etc. I was sickened by how selfish I was, by how instead of praising God for the blessing of being able to move around as I please and jump up and down on this step, I had been complaining about having to exercise. I thought about how I feel sometimes when I drive by a really nice house and I think "Do those people know how lucky they are? What must that be like?" You know when you see something that you just really wish that you had, but you know it will never happen? That must be how this man felt watching us in the aerobics room. Did we know how lucky we were?
How did I get so lucky to have a healthy body, free from disease or disability? That could have easily been me in that wheelchair. For this simple reason, I am so blessed.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Fourth of July Fun
Despite the fact that my hunky husband wasn't home to snuggle with me during fireworks, I had a really good Fourth of July! Actually, in the ten years we've been a couple, I think we've only spent this holiday together twice! YIKES!! Of course, I thought about my soldier all day and my heart swelled with pride knowing that he is doing such a good job serving our great country. :)
Every year, our city has a fireworks display on the beach. I've watched this many times from the sand, but this year was the first time I've watched it from the water. It was AWESOME!!! On July 3, we took the boat out around 8:30 and entertained ourselves on the lake with pizza and Euker until the fireworks started at 10:45. I went with my mom, dad, brother, and some of his friends. We were a little paranoid about taking the boat out after hearing from my brother-in-law that it took him 7hours to get back to the docks the last time he went. However, we were very lucky and ended up being the first boat in line on the river back to our dock. Everything was going great until we started to park in our boat-slip. Something happened and our engines went out and we couldn't get it started again! Here we were, blocking the river and being pushed back downstream and into other boats!!! Luckily, we flagged someone down who was able to tow us back to our slip and all was well. WHEW!!! That could have ended up badly!
The next morning, July 4, I went to a little Amish town in Indiana with my in-laws. The town is called "Shipshewana" and has a big flea market. We shopped around the market for a little while, then went and had lunch at an Amish restaurant on the way back. I LOVED seeing all of the Amish people. The little kids, especially, are SOOOO CUTE in their little bonnets and black hats! All I could think about was a series I read about an Amish family by Beverly Lewis (The Covenant, The Betrayal, The Sacrifice, The Prodigal, The Revelation) I SO Enjoyed reading this about a family who delighted in one another so much! They are Christian fiction and left me with such a warm feeling in my heart!
Anyways, after spending the morning in Shipshewana, I came home and spent the rest of the afternoon with my mom, sister, and my sweet sweet Grandma! My dad went fishing with Grandpa and my father-in-law. In the evening, everyone met back at my house for a cookout. What fun!
Every year, our city has a fireworks display on the beach. I've watched this many times from the sand, but this year was the first time I've watched it from the water. It was AWESOME!!! On July 3, we took the boat out around 8:30 and entertained ourselves on the lake with pizza and Euker until the fireworks started at 10:45. I went with my mom, dad, brother, and some of his friends. We were a little paranoid about taking the boat out after hearing from my brother-in-law that it took him 7hours to get back to the docks the last time he went. However, we were very lucky and ended up being the first boat in line on the river back to our dock. Everything was going great until we started to park in our boat-slip. Something happened and our engines went out and we couldn't get it started again! Here we were, blocking the river and being pushed back downstream and into other boats!!! Luckily, we flagged someone down who was able to tow us back to our slip and all was well. WHEW!!! That could have ended up badly!
The next morning, July 4, I went to a little Amish town in Indiana with my in-laws. The town is called "Shipshewana" and has a big flea market. We shopped around the market for a little while, then went and had lunch at an Amish restaurant on the way back. I LOVED seeing all of the Amish people. The little kids, especially, are SOOOO CUTE in their little bonnets and black hats! All I could think about was a series I read about an Amish family by Beverly Lewis (The Covenant, The Betrayal, The Sacrifice, The Prodigal, The Revelation) I SO Enjoyed reading this about a family who delighted in one another so much! They are Christian fiction and left me with such a warm feeling in my heart!
Anyways, after spending the morning in Shipshewana, I came home and spent the rest of the afternoon with my mom, sister, and my sweet sweet Grandma! My dad went fishing with Grandpa and my father-in-law. In the evening, everyone met back at my house for a cookout. What fun!
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