Eye-opener

Tonight I showed Nathan and Mari Morgan Levi and Lindsey's website. They have recently moved abroad to serve our Lord. The looks on their faces were priceless. I know this will help them appreciate praying for them even more. We are so glad Levi is doing better, and will be praying for them daily. Excited about possibly going to help them soon. We miss you guys very much!!!

Exciting time!

Today Mari Morgan and I made a big accomplishment! She always wants me to put her hair in a ponytail. As many of you know, I have nerve damage in my right hand and have never been able to perform that task very easily. If I did get it up in a ponytail, it looked like she had done it herself. I got very close yesterday. She wore her hair in a ponytail to the last night of Bible school. She helped me hold it while I looped it around. It looked okay, but not the way I wanted it. One of her teachers ended up fixing it again before the night was over. Ha! Today we were getting ready to go to a birthday party, and again we tried a ponytail. I had her hold it a different way this time, and it WORKED!!! We were both excited. She ran and showed Daddy what we had done. I was very excited. I have always told people- why have a little girl if you can't fix her hair? Mari Morgan has always been so patient, while I groaned and threw ponytail holders across the room. Yes, very special moment for us both. When we practice more, I'll take pictures. It's still a little sharky and crooked. Ha!! Yeah us!!! Thank you Lord for blessing us with a little girl.

Our Awesome VBS

We had our first VBS at Riverebend this week. It was a total success!! We believe that each and every child heard that Jesus loves them and has a plan for their life. We averaged around 35 each night and had many visitors. I believe we had about 38 volunteers help. WOW!! Thank, thank you, thank you! Liz organized it all so well, and Brian and David helped her tremendously so she says. Many of us came out to decorate the Thursday before and got almost everything done. Here are some pics of our awesome week.

Nathan and his silly class (1st and 2nd grade)

Preschool worshiping Jesus!

Miss Tina and preschool

Mrs. Marlene teaching her class

Kimberly and Anna (youth helpers)

Shelley with kiddos- Mari Morgan, Harper, and David

Katie and Riley

Hannah

Phyllis, Liz, Nicole, and Cheri helping out with snacks

Twinkies- My hubby and me

Ellie and Mary Beth- aren't they sweet?

Look at Nathan and all the girls

Charley and Zach (mother and son)

Allison and Libby

Missions class

Casey and Raegan

Phyllis and her daughter Chelsea

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Bible study- my class- LOVED them!!

5 and 6 yr. old class singing for parents

Kinda blurry- I obviously did not have my camera on the right setting

1st-5th grade singing for parents

Mari Morgan and me dressed alike

What a FUN week!!!!!!

VBS Rocks!

We have had an incredible week at Riverbend VBS! Thanks to Liz, David, and my hubby for all the hard work. We have averaged about 35 each night. They all have seemed to LOVE it. My children can't wait until 6:00 when we leave to go. Looking forward to tomorrow night as we get to meet with the parents of these awesome kids. We'll have food and the kids will get to sing some of the songs they have learned for them. Should be a special time. I've talked to two 5th graders about wanting to give their lives to Christ. That's what it's all about!!! So excited for them!! Praying God will solidify this desire very soon. I will be posting some pictures next post. God is good!!!!

Bye Bye Mac!

I have finally accepted the fact that I no longer have a computer, but man it is hard. Brian graciously said that I may use his for an hour or so each night. Well, if nothing else I will get more done around the house. You know, I believe everything happens for a purpose. I think to myself humorously, God must not want me to have a computer right now. There is nothing I can do. We definitely don't have the money to buy a new one. We really don't even have the money to get it fixed. I still have it plugged in like it is going to miraculously work one day. Maybe I should put it away or lay my hands on it daily and pray! ha! At least I have my hour or so on Brian's. Needless to say, blogging will be scarce from now on. Until my next post........ who knows when it will be.

Me and my technology!

I am devastated! Some of you are aware of my cell phone instances, but for those of you that do not know here goes. Since this time last year I have had 4 cell phones. Not because I lost them, but because of liquid. We were at the beach last June, and my cell phone was in my beach bag. Red Gatorade was also in the bag, and obviously the top was not on very well, and my phone was swimming in it when I opened my bag. Got a new phone. Then I was upstairs cleaning Mari Morgan's room one day. Mari Morgan was HELPING me. I had taken my phone upstairs because I was expecting a call. I was busy cleaning, and looked for my phone to see if I had gotten a message. I looked and looked. I asked MM if she had seen my phone. She said, "Yes, mom I put it in a safe place." She gladly marched over to one of her teapots and pulled it out. Did I mention this teapot was full of water. I was sooooooooo upset, but could not be mad at her, after all she was HELPING!! Then Brian made me get a cheap phone from Wal-Mart. It was horrible. No one could here me talk. So, Brian finally gave in and let me get a better one. The phone that I have now I dropped in the toilet while cleaning it the other day. As soon as it hit the water, I jerked it out, but it took a quick plunge toward the hole in the toilet. AGH!!!!!!!!! I took it apart, dried it out, and it's a miracle it works!! If not, I think I would be phoneless right now. It blinks on and off, but it still works. Now here is the biggy. I took my Mac to the kitchen and sat it on the counter top to follow a recipe. As I was chopping up a cucumber, the chopper slipped, hit my coke, and the coke spilled all over the keys of my computer. IS THIS FAIR????????? NO!!!! I'm so mad. So now I'm stuck with a mal-functioned computer and a blinking phone. Brian said that he read that Coke was the worst thing to spill on your computer because it eats the components. Needless to say, me and technology DO NOT mix. I plan to continue my blogging, but it will be a lot harder now, because I will have to use Brian's computer. Oh well. I'll do the best I can- that is if Brian even lets me touch his computer. HA!

Our Golf Outing

Brian and I went to the St. Jude golf classic.  We both love the golfer, Phil Michelson.  Ben Williams, a friend of Brian's got us tickets.  It was so neat to be there and watch them play.  We followed Phil ten holes.  After one of the holes I stood beside the path that the golfer's follow to go to the next tee.  When Phil walked by I said hey to him.  He smiled at me and nodded and said hello.  I felt like a teeny bopper, but hey, it was Phil Michelson, one of the greatest golfers today. I was excited!    It was a lot of walking and very hot and humid, but so much fun.  I enjoyed spending the day with Brian.  Thank you, Ben, for allowing us to go.  Below are some pictures.  Brian almost got kicked out of the place for taking them.  

 

Visit with Baby Jake

I was able to go spend some time with my friend, Jennifer McGinnis.  She had her first baby on June 2, very early in the morning.  She is feeling good and the baby is starting to nurse much better.  It was so good to be able to visit with her, and of course love on Baby Jake.  He sure is a cutey!  

Jake McGinnis

I'm in love AGAIN!

Just 2 days ago

It's amazing how things happen.  Just 2 days ago I posted about my job situation.  I had a peace about waiting and "living" one day at a time, sweet Jesus.  Today, I had an interview at Oak Grove Elementary School, which is the school I am most interested in.  Wow, that was FAST!    The interview went pretty well, with a few flops here and there.  Last night I tossed and turned in my sleep.  This morning I didn't know if I needed to just cry or throw up.   The meeting was at 1:00.  At 12:00, I texted Brian that I was sooooooooo nervous.  He said, take a deep breath and let God take you through the thing. i love you.  That did it.  While getting ready I took my computer with me and played Kris Allen singing "Make You Feel My Love" three times- calming.  When I pulled into the parking lot, I stopped the car, took a deep breath, and said, "Okay, God it's all you."  I was at peace while interviewing, and could feel people praying for me.  Thanks to you all.  He said he would be letting us know something soon.  Now, it's just a waiting game!!  How great it is to know that God is in control.  His ways are higher than mine! :)

To work, or not to work?

Heavy on my heart has been my job situation.  This week I plan to pursue full time work even further by visiting some school principals.  But,  at the same time I still question if this is really what God wants for me right now.  I have a peace about going back into the classroom, but understand that this year in particular will be hard for my kiddos.  Nathan will be in third grade which is a HUGE transition, and Mari Morgan will be in school all day long every day which she has never done before.  This concerns me.  A dear friend told me yesterday, "Paige, don't rush it, you have plenty of time to teach".  I am so confused.  But, I do know that God is not a God of confusion.  He is teaching me to wait on Him.  This morning I read a passage of scripture that is very familiar to me, but spoke to me in a different way.  Matthew 6:33-34 says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  I felt God whisper to me.  He wants me to enjoy each day.  Look for ways to minister to others, and enjoy my family.  Take it one day at a time, which is extremely HARD for me.  Trust Him to work out every detail of my life.  He knows what's best- not me!  I thank God for this refreshing time this morning.  Now, I'm off to ENJOY my day- worry free!      

We love You!!

A lot of the fun we had at Disney, we owe to "Daddy"!  He did all of the "hard" stuff like loading all our luggage, carrying backpacks, and most all of the driving.  He had a great attitude, even though this was not his thing.  Below was our last dinner of our vacation.  The smiles say it all.  We absolutely adore you, Daddy!!  

I love my husband!

THANK YOU!!! 

Best Vacation Ever!

What an awesome trip to Disneyworld!  This is by far the best trip I have been on in quite some time.  It rained a good bit, but did not keep us from doing everything we wanted to do.  It was not too hot or too crowded.  Nathan and Mari Morgan had a wonderful time.  Brian and I enjoyed loving on our kids and seeing their eyes light up with excitement!  Thank you Pop and JoJo for such an incredible gift.  We made some great memories.  Below are a few snapshots we took with our camera.  We got a photo pass and will have to go on line and get the nicer pics they made for us.  I can't wait to see them.  I plan to post those at a later date.  

Magic Kingdom was awesome!  The rides were fun, but our favorite was "It's a Small World"(well, mine and Mari Morgan's).  Meeting the characters was exciting!   The overall atmosphere was great!  

Ariel and Mari Morgan

Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Dumbo

Character meet and greet at Crystal Palace (Eeyore)

Minnie's house

Nathan playing in water at Aeriel's grotto

Piglet at Crystal Palace

Pooh bear

It's a Small World

Tomorrowland Speedway- of course Nathan loved this!  Brian said it was very slow and boring. Ha!

Swiss Family Robinson tree house

Epcot was my favorite.  The rides were for the most part laid back and relaxing.  The highlight of this day was dining with the princesses. Mari Morgan's eyes lit up like diamonds.  I think Cinderella had a crush on Nathan.  She blew a kiss at him and said "hello handsome".  Nathan grinned ear to ear and turned blush red.  It was so cute.  

Nathan's toy squishy.  He loves this thing.

My hubby and me at the princess dinner

The banquet hall

Mari Morgan and Ariel

Aurora and my kiddos

Cinderella and Mari Morgan

Belle and Mari Morgan

Snow White and MM

Minnie time

Nathan loves Donald

Nathan, MM, and Mickey

Pluto was funny

The shark got us at the Living Seas exhibit!

They had a flower festival.  This Snow White and her dwarfs were made out of flowers and greenery.  It was really pretty.

Mari Morgan and her Minnie waiting on bus to Epcot

Animal Kingdom was a lot of fun.  The highlight for the kids at this park was Dinoland.  Nathan loved digging for bones in the bone yard.  Mari Morgan liked the rides.   They also enjoyed  meeting the characters in their safari suits.  I loved all the greenery and the big tree.  It was beautiful.    

All of us at the dino playland.  This place was so cool.

Rainforest Cafe

Digging for bones

Tree of Life

Chip n Dale

Mari Morgan and Minnie.  She adores her!!

Nathan and Minnie

It rained a lot- they loved their ponchos!

Not quite tall enough- look at that face.

Mari Morgan and Pocahontas

Rainforest cafe again