Our firsts....

This week has been very exciting for us all.   We all started a new adventure.  Nathan started at Snowden, and Mari Morgan came to my cottage school. This has all taken a lot of getting used to.  I will be teaching Nate and MM at home on Mondays and Fridays. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I will teach 6 students, along with MM, and Nathan goes to Snowden.   Today, was the first time for me to teach them at home.  I must admit, it felt really weird, but I loved being able to work with them. They were very good students.  Surprisingly, Nathan was very self-motivated, and Mari Morgan cooperated very well too.  We will see how Monday goes.  I added some pictures below of other action in our week.   

First day of school, taken in our annual spot!

Mari Morgan, 3rd grade and Nathan, 6th grade

Brian's Birthday was Thursday.  He was very down in his back, but we still managed to eat some cake. :)

Mari Morgan conquering the balance beam!

My cutie pie--lovin' gymnastics!

Her big girl layered haircut...sniff, sniff

 Nate working hard this morning

Parent Night

I was completely overwhelmed last night as I hosted a parent night for my cottage school.  It is amazing how God has provided.   This is such a new lifestyle for me, after working full-time in a public school, one that we look forward to.  Thankful for all of my parents who took the time to come, and for showing such huge support and encouragement!  I pray that I will be a blessing to them.  

Getting Ready for School

God has truly blessed me by providing 6 children to tutor in my cottage school this year!  God provided in His beautiful timing.  The greatest concern that we have is financial.  We know that God will provide our needs, but I believe it is going to be hard to give up some things that we are used to.  I have accepted the fact that times are going to be hard, but I know that He will also give us our needs.  It will take great discipline for us, but we are ready!  I am looking forward to what God is going to do. 

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."  Habakkuk 3:17-18

Not that I believe that God will take away these things from us, but these verses encourage me to believe that He is all we need.

These are my kids' cubbies and my calendar

I will be adding to this room as time gets closer.  I will share more photos soon.

Come on August 15th!!!!!!

Our Special Date Night

Brian won first place in a golf tournament in March, and the prize was a one night stay at the Peabody.  Neither of us had stayed there before.  JoJo came and stayed with our kids so that we could go enjoy our Peabody stay.  It was super nice.  We went and ate, and walked downtown for a while.  It was great timing, and a much needed short little get away!  

My day??? God's day!!

Well, today is July 1, my birthday.  I have already been spoiled by 2 friends who took me out to eat supper last night, and to get yogurt!  Robbie and Monica, you have been a blessing to me, and I am truly grateful for our friendship.  

This morning, I was reading from Colossians 3 that says, "Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."  Also from Matthew 13.  This passage has come up a lot for me lately...The Parable of the sower.  Verse 23 says, "As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it.  He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundred fold, in another sixty, and in another thirty." This is where I want my seed to fall, but honestly tha is not always the case.  

As I sit here and meditate on those 2 parts of a passage, I am charged to be less self-absorbed, and more of a fruit bearer.  It is so EASY to be caught up in your world, your stuff, and your problems....especially on your birthday.  ;)  

I also look back to how He saved my life almost 15 years from physical death, and I think to myself, how can I NOT love and serve Him with all my heart...that's the least I can do.  I am thankful that he spared my life, gave me a wonderful husband, 2 awesome kids, great parents, and Godly friends.  So, on this birthday, I want to praise God for both physical and spiritual life, focus on His blessings, and keep my thoughts above!  I want to bear much fruit!!!!

Trusting...

I am getting excited about my tutoring program for the fall.  I have had quite a few parents interested.  I am trusting that God will provide just the right children that I will need!  Trust is a difficult thing to do.  Through this experience, I have learned about trust more than any other time in my life.  I gave up a very secure job, one that I loved,  to pursue this road.   I truly believe that this will be a blessing to my family and to others as well.   I will be doing what I love: teaching, but with a lot less stress!  Less stress=better wife and mother.   This morning I was reading in Jeremiah, and this passage stuck out to me about trust.  

" Blessed is the man who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year or drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. " 

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Praying through this since October of 2011 was a challenge for me.  It was very hard to give 100% to a job that I did not know if my heart was in anymore.  But, through it all, I knew that I needed to bear fruit where I was, and that is what I tried to do.  I'm not going to lie and say that I was not anxious, but I strived every day to be content and stay planted and do His will there.  There was lots of drought, and times that I just needed answers, but God just continued to tell me to TRUST!  Now, we are at peace with our decision, but still and always needing to trust.......

     

May has seemed to fly by!  Here are some highlights of our month!! 

5th grade promotion for Nathan. I can't believe I now have a middle-schooler!  Nate received Honor Roll for the year, and Silver President's award!  So proud!!  

 Mrs. Powell, Nathan's 5th grade teacher--wonderful!!!

Brett and Richard

 Nate and Jay

Nate and Riley Capps

 Mari Morgan receiving her music award

Mari Morgan and her awards--Music and Principal's List for the year!

Emma Kate and Harper

 Her CRAZY brother!

 Ms. Moses, her 2nd grade teacher

 And..Ms. Wilroy--asst.

 My room getting packed up

 Packed and ready to load up!

 I will miss this place

My Mother's Day gift from my family!!  Now, we can bike ride together--so excited!!!

 Just my size

Thanks, guys!!

Well, the decision has been made.  I will be doing a cottage school in my home starting in the fall.  We are so thankful to God for opening this door for me, and are confident that He will provide.  Although I have no one signed up to attend right now, I know that He will send me the right children at the right time!  Praise Him!  Please be in prayer for us as we embark on this new journey!

Decisions!

We have been praying most of the school year about a major decision in our life.  We are getting so close to our final decision.  Our verse for the year has been;  If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives generously to all without reproach and it will be given to him.  Soon I will announce our final decision.  There will FINALLY be some closure!  God is good, and continues to open and close doors for us!  Praise Him!

Easter Sunday at Grandma's House

MM searching for eggs

 Nathan on the look

 Holly hiding the eggs

 My niece, Holly, and Mari Morgan

Nephew Hogan and Nathan

 My mom and dad hiding eggs

 Cousin Jennings and the "little mommy" :)

 Precious!