Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012

This morning was interesting.  Naomi ate 9 oz. at her 5 A.M. feeding, so at 8, Naomi wasn't very hungry.  However, she attempted some apples and seemed to like them. 

We opened stockings around 8:30.  Then, Naomi was tired, so we put her down to nap, and we ate our breakfast and watched Claymation Christmas, which we had intended to watch last night but didn’t get a chance to because Naomi wouldn’t go to sleep!  (Is that an indication of Christmas Eves to come?!)

 

  


As I cleaned up, Stephen checked on Naomi and discovered that she wasn’t sleeping, so he brought her back out to the living room.  He decided that we should open her present from Grandma and Grandpa Rhoda and put it together first thing.   Naomi liked it, but she isn’t quite ready for it.  She needs to grow a little taller and be able to sit up without assistance before she’ll really be able to enjoy all of its features.  

 On to gift opening!  Naomi decided to help Daddy and seemed intrigued by the first  pretty box and ribbon. Her lack of napping quickly caught up with her, though, and she fell asleep after opening her first present (a dress from Aunt Lori).






























And so, our precious daughter slept her way through most of the unwrapping of presents, surrounded by the ones she loves…or at least by the ones who love her.

We’ll try to get pictures of her with the other gifts she received when she’s a little more awake.  THANK YOU for your generosity and love!

Returning...

I love that people have asked me to keep blogging even though it's been over four years since I was here last.  I actually had to google this page because I had no idea how to get back to blogging. :)  However, I know that there are friends out there who want to see the new addition to our family and want to keep in touch, so I will try my best to blog a little more often than once in four years for you.

For now, though, here's a picture that just might make you smile.

Naomi Faith

9 weeks, 5 days

Time flies when you're having fun!

I'm been asking myself this question: Where does the time go? I've finished another school year, gotten a year older, gone on vacation, and traveled with a bunch of teachers to Austin for four days since I last blogged. That doesn't mention the countless hours I've spent reading, playing Wii, taking naps, and hanging out with my hubby and pups. So, I guess I have an answer for where the time goes!!

Part of my vaca was visiting with Melissa, Jason, and Maddi. I took some great pics but have yet to upload them to my computer. =) Stephen and I also visited with my folks and first-born (isn't that better than oldest?) sister and her hubby. It was a week-long trip, packed with lots of stuff to do, and we had a good time. Mom and Dad even tried to teach me how to can peaches! I'm not sure how much of the technique I learned, but I'm truly enjoying the fruits of the labor!! LOL I tried a Paula Dean recipe for peach cobbler, and it was so yummy! Of course, with Paula, it had a whole stick of butter in it. Yikes!

So, do you want to know what made me sit down to type this morning? I'm procrastinating on my summer reading. I've got a new teaching assignment this year. I'll be teaching 8th grade ELA and Engish I (9th grade). For both of these classes, there is summer reading. I've completed The Hobbit for 8th grade and now need to reread Animal Farm. Let's just say, I've read three pages, and here I am. *sigh* I got into reading The Hobbit b/c I had read the Lord of the Rings trilogy and knew a lot of the story. I've read AF before, but I didn't enjoy it so much. I think I need to do some research on the history of Russian politics in order for it all to make sense.

You know, there is a saying that you learn something best when you have to teach it to someone else. I'm off to go wander the World Wide Web to find out what I can. Here's praying that time continues to fly!

The results are in!!

Overall, they are good results. So, why do I feel guilty that my kids didn't ALL pass? *sigh* I mean, I could write forever about how they didn't do this or that when I was teaching, but I still feel like it's my fault that I didn't have 100% passing. *Sigh* Okay, this is where I remind myself that God has a purpose and a plan for all things, and I can NOT control it all.

On that note...
My sister TAGGED me on her website.

Instructions from Maxine to do your own 'Six Word Memoir'.
1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog, and include a visual illustration if you like.
3. Link to the person who tagged you in their post.
4. Tag five more blogs with links.
5. Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs inviting them to play.

I'll list a couple of individuals but they are free to participate or decline. Please remember tags are always meant to be fun with no pressure.

Well, since I'm an ELA teacher, I feel somewhat obligated to write this memoir. So, here it goes...

Remembering God Loves Me For Me.

Hmm...that's actually causing me to pause. I'm not sure it's as much a memoir as a personal challenge. Here's to God using total strangers to make an impact on my life!
Okay, I know the directions tell me to do a lot more than just write six words, but I'm new to this blogging stuff and don't know how to do some of it. Maybe I'll come back to it another day.

In the meantime, thanks for your thoughts and prayers for my prayer group at school. We blessed one more kiddo before the last day of school (today - woohoo!). We had one returner and two newbies. I'm looking forward to how God will use us next year!

Blah, blah... I'm talking a lot for no reason. I'll be done now. =) Happy trails!

I Can't Wait!

This week has been all about TAKS testing in the state of Texas. My school has not had the best track record with the tests, but I really think our kids were ready to shine this year. It's hard to wait for the results, but I know we've done everything we could to prepare so a few more weeks won't kill me. Speaking of preparation... I know I've prepared myself for when Christ comes, but what have I done for my kids?? Prayers for their strength during the test are not enough, so I've started praying for their salvation and their integrity as they show the love of God to others around them. I even helped start a prayer group at school (for the staff and faculty) this week. There were only a few people there, but where two or more are gathered...I could feel Christ there! We prayed for our kiddos and decided to bless one a month with gift cards. So far, we have four donations and almost a hundred dollars raised. How exciting!! We'll be giving the cards with a verse in a God Bless You card. We're doing it all annonymously, so shhhh! I can't wait 'til next school year when we'll be able to do this from the very beginning!!

Who I Am

So, I'm new to blogging and really am doing it because one of my very best friends is moving away and wants to be able to keep up with me. For those of you who know me, you'll be used to my random thoughts and idiosyncrasies. For those of you who don't know me, well...I am a wife, an English teacher in a middle school, a baby sister, the youngest daughter, the "mom" of two beautiful miniature Schnauzers, et cetera. Most importantly, though, I am God's child, and I hope to remind myself of that when I talk to "the world" (i.e. you on the Internet). I have no real point for this page but to share what's happening in my life, my heart, and my mind. If you get bored with me, please forgive me. God's still working on me. ;o)