#11 Yesterday was a good day because...

...we had a nice time watching a movie with other families from our school!! The PTA put on a family movie night... what fun!! We were going to watch the movie "out under the stars", but the rain forced us to make a change to the cafeteria. It was still a nice time. I am so glad that we are getting to know the families in our neighborhood. It is so nice to be at a school that values family time!!!

Today, we are enjoying a lazy, rainy day. Anna and Dillon have already played outside in the rain and got soaking wet. Now is is really pouring. Oh how I love the rain!! We still need to make a trip to the store... we will have to time it so we don't get caught in the downpour!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

#10 Monday was a good day because...

...we had a nice, uneventful day...well... almost. The three of us made it through Costco successfully, Anna and and Dillon were great helpers. It seemed like everyone was in a good mood, maybe because of the cheery thought of a nice Thanksgiving break?? We had no homework, which was a nice break, and had a nice family time playing Sorry.

Everything was great until I went into Anna's room to say goodnight. Yikes!! Stuff hidden under the blankets, stuffed in the closet... oh my... we have our work cut out for us... teaching her to clean up after herself and be responisible with the things in her bedroom. Note to self... never try to convince a tired 7 year old to do a better job cleaning her room after 8pm... it won't go over very well and the end result will be frustration and grumpiness galore!!!

#9 Sunday was a good day because...

...we turned in our Christmas Child boxes. I love the service our church has. We watch their precious video with pictures of children around the world receiving their boxes. Then we hear from someone who has visited and witnessed first-hand children opening their boxes. I pray that Anna and Dillon will share our love for people around the world and that they will realize what is truly important... that all will hear the gospel. The gift of life that God offers in His Son, the redemption He offers to the world... these are far more precious than any physical gift.

We were challenged by our Pastor yesterday with the following questions, consider them with me today.
Are you a disciple of a slave king?
If you are His disciple, do you look like Him?
Am I being vigilant to guard against all forms of pride?
Do I live serving others?

"the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

#8 Saturday was a good day because...

Anna's team won first place in soccer!! The girls worked so hard, the game was so exciting, and Anna ran after the ball and blocked a few shots!! What fun!! Their second game... can you believe it? They had to play two games!!! ...their second game was tied, they had to play overtime, and then won with penalty kicks!! Such pressure!! But they had fun, and were so excited to get their 1st place medals. We are so proud of our soccer girl!!

#7 The last few days have been good because...

...I have had a chance to speak words of peace and truth. My PTA is suffering. We are under "new management" and the transition has not gone well. I have many heartfelt conversations with the women involved, and I hope that I have been salt and light in this difficult time. I feel tired and drained, and there are a few more conversations that I want to have. I am thankful to be here at this time to help.

On a happier note... we are looking forward to three days off from school!!! They are giving us Wednesday off too! I don't know if we will go somewhere, or just relax at home... but it will be nice for the three of us to get to hang out a bit, and then our family will get to be together for four days!! We are going to a friend's house for Thanksgiving... thanks friends!!! I am constantly reminded of how God has provided "family" for us down here. We miss our family up north and out east... but we are thankful for the community of friends God has richly blessed us with here.

Thanks God!!!!

The promised pictures!!!

September...

Our "first day of school" shots. Aren't they cute??? =)


From our last trip to CA Adventure... once again, thanks Grandma and Grandpa Rosencrans!!!
Here are my pictures from camping... I hope to get more... let me talk to my friends who actually remember to grab their cameras... unlike me!!! =)



October...

We had a nice time at Todd's sister's wedding. (I know, I have no pictures of the bride and groom... those are not yet in my possession...)We only went up for the weekend, but managed to squeeze in a trip to the coast... my absolute favorite spot on this side of the world!!!


November...

New haircuts and styles!! Look now because I haven't yet learned to style their hair quite like this!!!

#6 Yesterday was a good day because...

...Dillon got to go to his friend's house for his very own "playdate". Just him!! He loved the time with his friend, and I loved the time with just Anna... except I wasn't feeling that well... but still. I am recovered now. I have decided that I want to arrange more of these playdates. It is so good for them to spend time with their friends too!! I get too intense about homework and all, and forget to include playtime!!! With soccer almost over, we have a bit more time to spend. I am thankful for this reminder... hopefully I will now do something about it!!!

I am also so thankful for my neighbor. She has such an amazing outlook on life. Nothing seems to ever rattle her. She reminds me of truth, that my children are God's children, that I am doing a good job, and that I must trust Him for their actions, their lives, everything. I can come to her, heavy with the weight of what I think are my problems, and she helps me to lighten up, to trust God, come up with a plan, and then do it. She is so practical, and makes me laugh at myself. She is such an answer to prayer!!!! I hope you all have a friend like this. I am so glad that God has made us relational people, and that in relationships we can better understand His Character. Spend some time today thanking God for those special people in your life!!!

#5 Yesterday was a good day because...

...I learned I was wrong!! I was wrong about the book The Five Love Languages. I was interested in reading it, but I put it in the category of "pop psychology", like "Ten Ways to Improve Your Marriage". (My favorite book on marriage is Gary Thomas's Sacred Marriage... the complete opposite of most marriage books) I finally started reading Love Languages a few days ago, and I have to say, I was wrong! This book includes some very simple yet profound insights into what communicates love!! He gives great suggestions for determining your spouse' love language and how to then speak that language. Yes, some of the book is a bit over-simplified, and I have only read about half so I cannot speak to the latter half, but, I was wrong to dismiss it entirely. I will include some of my favorite quotes with tomorrow's post, or maybe this evening.

On a different note, I just want to publically thank my wonderful husband!! He came home to a pretty grouchy wife, listened to my frustrations... even though I know it is bad to "dump" on your husband first thing... and calmed me down. He was tired from work and not feeling that great, and still worked pretty hard at calming me down in a loving way. He is amazing!!!!

The reason for my grouchiness was my children's reluctance to do their homwork. Any suggestions?? I try to make it fun, we even played "sight-word" hide and seek. Maybe we should have started with that.... I feel so inept in this department... which is why I chose to teach high school and now college, and not elementary!!! I do not know what I am doing!!! Today is a new day... I have a few ideas... hopefully it will go over better this time...

Enjoy your day!!!

#4 Yesterday was a good day because...

...I was so encouraged to hear the way God has been at work in the lives of the women who teach our Bible studies. We met for our last meeting of the year... no outline due this time, just a chance to share how God is at work in the lives of the women we teach and in our own lives as well. It is so amazing to have the privilege to study God's word and to teach with these women. I have been so encouraged by these women who pray for me and give me words of wisdom when I share my struggles. We are strengthened as we each share a similar love for God's Word and struggle to teach His Truth. God is at work and we are a part of it. What a beautiful and humbling truth!!!

#3 Today was a good day because....

...because Dillon scored two goals in soccer!!! He just took that ball and drove it up the sideline and scored!!! This was our first year with two in soccer. It has been a bit crazy at times, and occasionally frustrating, but overall we enjoyed our experience. It was nice to get to know other families in our community and to start to teach Anna and Dillon how to work together on a team.

After the soccer games, pizza party, and a hour of much needed "quiet time", we enjoyed the evening just hanging out as a family. After the craziness of the day, it is nice to relax, play a game of Sorry, and hang out before bedtime. Soccer is fun... but it will be nice to have our Saturdays back!!!

#2 Today was a good day because....

...because I finally was able to clean my house!!! It feels so good to have it back to normal. How quickly it falls to pieces when I fail to be diligent to clean up a little each day!! Now I am just tired, and hoping that Dillon won't wake up crying in the middle of the night tonight... are growing pains normal for five year olds??

So, what caused the collapse of my house? The children were off school on Monday... doctor's appointments with Todd... taking way to long to grade this last batch of tests.... life!! Todd had/still has kidney stones!! We were in and out of doctor's offices, the hospital, urgent care, and the ER all day last Wednesday.... thankfully they diagnosed him Wednesday evening. What a relief to know what was causing all his pain!! A normal diagnosis brings such relief and calms the wonderings about weird diseases no one knows about.

We were so thankful for our kind neighbor and friends who watched Anna and Dillon on that crazy day. God has richly blessed us with extra family down here!!!

I know I keep promising pictures... they will come. Keep faithfully checking back and you will be rewarded!!!!

Love to you all!!!

#1 Today was a good day because....

...I got to chat with my sister!!! I love being able to see her and her precious boy!! Even though she is half-way around the world... she is still dealing with the same issues I deal with, and we can chat together and encourage each other. I love my sister!!

Anna and I also made a gingerbread house together at church. We enjoyed a special time together, and Anna really enjoyed being in charge, for once. I forget to appreciate her love of art and her creative side. I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time with just her. I will post a picture tomorrow!!

Enjoy your day!!

My new plan...

...is to end my day writing about what I enjoy. I can get too analytical and forget to be grateful for the good moments in each day. Yes, life does not always work out like I had planned. I still have many, many special moments in each day... moments that I do not want to take for granted, moments I want to treasure. Join me in sharing your special moments too!!