Wine and Design

To celebrate our VIF teacher we headed to Wine and Design.  We had a great time.  We thought this would be a great idea.  Each of us has something to remember our year together even though we are on opposite sides of the world now.  We can look at the picture and have this memory.  We realized we acted just like our students when it came to learning something new or being taken out of our comfort zone.  

Mrs. Loken, me, our VIF teacher Mrs. Gopun, Mrs. Bretz, Mrs. Wilson, and Mrs. Ruby

Our First Grade Team

What an incredible team this is.  They were my saving grace many times.  Four of them have been together for 5 years since Poplin opened.  Mrs. Gopun came 3 years ago and then I joined the team this year.  

They work together so well.  They share lessons and ideas.  God was guiding and directing my path each and every way as I stepped back into the classroom after 9 years at home.  Being with these ladies each and every day may my job bearable and a joy.  

We are missing our Phillipino teacher already.  Many tears were shed the last few weeks before she left.  

End of the Year

I saw this come through some social media.  I needed this reminder to help me have the strength to make it to the end.  I wanted this from my children's teachers so I needed to do the same for the kids I taught.  

End of the year awards - Ella received the Citizenship Award.  So thankful for teachers who recognize character in our children.  Ella has the most helpful, giving heart.  She will go out of her way to check on you to be sure you are having a great day.  She is a rule follower and very trust-worthy.  

Meme and papa were able to come and be with her for her ceremony.

This was Ella's best buddy in class  - Alyssa

She got an award too.  Ella was so excited for her.

Seth also received awards at an awards night.  He received straight A's and a team award for being a top math student.  I will add pictures later.  

Another day, Ella had a writing celebration.  WOW!  What a great accomplishment.  

The stack in front of her is all her writing from the entire year.

Ella's Phillipino friend Nica with their long dresses on for the celebration.

Ella had already been picked up early from school on the last day so I only had the boys.  Garrett spent the last day of school with me in my classroom.  Seth was picked up early and brought to me and spent the afternoon with us.  We had a grand time.  My students were so excited to spend the day/afternoon with my guys.  I talked about them all year so to have them in real life was a huge treat.  

This was us loaded in the car to say 2013-2014 school year was OVER.  We survived.  This was truly a transition year with many, many changes for our family.  We had our ups and downs but truly it was a great year and we are super excited for summer.

Happy 19th

I love May.  I love May 20th even more.  Happy 19th Anniversary.  

How time flies.  What an incredible journey we have been on in marriage.  

We celebrated by dinner at The Cheesecake Factory then shopping.  Yes, shopping for TOMS.  I was so excited.  I have been wanting a pair of these for some time now.  I have worn them almost everyday since our anniversary.  

Jeff and I have certainly been on a journey through marriage.  We have truly come to an incredible place in marriage.  We both agree that marriage is not about our own needs by the needs of our spouse.  We help each other.  We have each others back.  We stand together.  We talk together.  We work together.  We pray together.  We honor God through our marriage.  We work hard each and every day to make this work.  

Casting Crowns has a new song.  I listened to it and it made me think of the turning point it took for us.  Putting God first.  

“Marriage is tough. We bring a lot of fairytales to the picture when it comes to marriage. We bring them to the altar with us [thinking]: ‘This is going to be perfect. We don’t have to be apart. We can just wake up together every morning and no one is going to have morning breath. We’re not going to have any problems.’ And then the problems hit and you don’t know where to file those into your picture. . . The idea I’m trying to say is: ‘Can you lay down who you thought I was and love the ‘me’ that is? Can we take this from where we are now and realize that I can’t be that person?’ Only God is going to be able to make this work and broken people can be broken together.  -Mark Hall

This is what we finally had to realize to known that we were both broken people that needed grace, mercy and forgiveness each and every day.  

May God be glorified daily in our marriage.  So excited for the years to come with my man.  Love him dearly.