Thanksgiving

We are so excited to be visiting with my family in West Virginia. My cousin and I are like sisters and even though we only lived in the same state when we were very young, we have a bond that is unbreakable. She and her husband have 3 children and have recently renovated a home built in 1904. They invited us to stay with them for Thanksgiving and we are thrilled. We will have turkey, ham and all the trimmings at my aunt's home a few minutes away. There will be 21 of us all together. My other cousins and their families will be joining us. It will be wonderful for all the children to play together like I did when I was a little girl and came to West Virginia with my parents. I love my family and appreciate them so much.

Exhausted

With the Trunk n Treat behind me and the holidays in front of me I am feeling exhausted. I get more sleep than my husband yet working full time and rearing the 4 kids takes it's toll on me. I go in for surgery on my second leg next week and am looking forward to the break that it will bring. Just want to curl up in a warm blanket and close my eyes and sleep without a dog barking, without someone needing juice or help on the computer or dinner.

Prayers for Chris Smith #11 for Tuscola

My heart aches for a young man who lost his mother over the weekend. She was the victim of Domestic Violence on the night of the biggest Tuscola game of the year. Her son, Chris Smith, the place kicker and my son are on the line together every Friday night. The players are doing their best to support and be there for Chris. But it is a shock felt all through the High School and throughout the families in Haywood County. My daughter Bethany has a class with a daughter of the man who is now in prison for the crime. Questions of why and how and what if are all over the place. I pray that Chris will be able to grow up with a lot of support and encouragement and that this tragedy will not prevent him from reaching his dreams. As a mother of a senior I can only imagine how sad it is to think that all the big events of Chris's life will be without his mother. Life is precious handle with prayer and care!

A.W.A.N.A.

Just pondering today the topic of continuing my education. The acronym AWANA popped into my mind.
I am continuing my education so that I may be able to apply that education in the classroom as well as be seen as a person who is "approved". AWANA stands for "Approved" "Workmen" "Are" "Not" "Ashamed". There is nothing to be ashamed about no matter what your age if you are bettering yourself. Continuing my education not only helps me but it benefits the community of people that I serve. I will not be ashamed of the hard work and dedication I have to completing my degree. I am standing firm on these truths:

NLT  2Tim 2:15..."Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, opne who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth".
The Message 2 Tim 2:15..."concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple".
NIV 2 Tim 2:15..."Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth".

Loving Fall

Driving through the leaves on the ground and hearing Noah say, "look at all the colors mommy". It is beautiful this time of year. May we look at the wonder of fall and appreciate the excitement that it brings.

College Applications

Our family has lived through the college application, reference letter checking, scholarship hunting frenzy already once when our daughter Mary was a senior. Now we are in the 2nd round. Our son David will graduate this year. Once again we are being challenged to complete packages that will be sent off in many different directions. I remember someone telling me in a seminar or college Open House one time to have your child do as much of the application and package as possible. Well I am here to say that filling out applications for a child entering the Naval Academy are no walk in the park. When our daughter went through her senior year we thought is was tough because she was in the running for a Teaching Fellows Scholarship which required an extensive package, letters of reference and many interviews. All of that hard work paid off and she earned the scholarship and is happily settled into ASU's teaching program. Our son now is asking to be nominated to the USNA by members of state congress and getting letters of recommendation from City Commissioners. It is only the beginning for him. Eventually we will need these same letters from the President. We work on this process a little every day and hope to see him off to school next fall as well.      

Awana Lyrics Video