Thursday, February 28, 2013

Sledding.

Imagine getting 10 two-year-olds dressed in snow pants (then you have to take them off and try again because they got the strap stuck around their legs and can't pull them up), boots, coat, hat, and gloves.

It makes me sweat. I think our "getting dressed" record is 14 minutes.

It's freezing cold outside, but I'm still sweating when we walk out because all the work it took to get ready.

But today we went sledding. There was so much snow on the ground, and we had to walk through about a foot of it to get to the hill (which only resulted in about 27 falls because their little legs are so short), but we made it.

It was a blast. Hearing their little screams going down the hill was awesome. I was worried some would be scared, but they all did it at least several times. Everyone liked it, and most of them LOVED it. It was a moment in my teaching history I will always remember.

Everyone had such a good time and was smiling so wide.

Then we had to walk back in- another 27 falls, and take off all of those clothes we worked so hard to get on.

But, even though it takes twice as long to get ready as it does to sled, I would do it any day. To see their smiles and squeals of delight is so so so worth it.

Walking in, one of my kids just sighed and said to herself, "That was so cool." They kept asking to do it again.

Made my day. :)

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Things to be thankful for this week.

1. Not getting pulled over when I clearly should have. I went speeding right past a cop (I didn't see him until I was too close), but he didn't pull me over.

2. Finally hitting a big mark in our savings account we had been aiming for a long time.

3. An early out today.

4. Putting up a cute new spring bulletin board at school. Funny that it happened on a blizzard day. (My spring board is always from March-May.)

5. Getting to see great friends in Denver this upcoming weekend! So pumped!

6. Getting to see my Uncle Jeff on Thursday at family dinner.

7. Hearing favorite songs on the radio.

8. Coming in under budget for the month.

9. Watching The Bachelor with friends last night.

Hope you can find the little (or big) things to be thankful for too! :)

Monday, February 25, 2013

Weekend of movies.

So starting last Thursday and going through Friday (February 21-22), there was supposed to be this huge blizzard. Everyone was talking about it. Go to the grocery store. 9+ inches of snow. Blowing winds with little visibility. 

We got an early out on Thursday, which was nice, even though we would have been fine with still having school. The snow was supposed to start around lunch and snow two inches per hour.

So I planned for a snow day Friday, and I was so excited! I did all my Friday jobs at school, so I was ready to not come back until Monday. I went out and rented three movies (which we never do), thinking we would be completely snowed in.

Did any of that happen? Nope. We got a few inches of snow, but everything was fine.

But we ended up watching all three movies over the weekend anyway (which we never to either). It was really fun, and of course I wanted to watch them since we paid to rent them! 

Thursday night we watched The Words. It's about this struggling writer trying to make it, and he finds this amazing story inside of an old briefcase he bought at an antique store on his honeymoon in Paris. He ends up publishing it, and it's about the after effects of publishing someone else's work. 

Honestly, I thought it stunk. The ending made no sense and it was like it ended too early. If it's on your "to watch" list, I recommend taking it off. (Kley said he liked it though, so maybe talk to him.)


Friday night we ordered Olive Garden take out and watched Won't Back Down. (Take out is kind of our new thing, so we still get yummy food but don't have to wait for a long time for a table!). I was so excited to watch this, being a teacher, and had been waiting for months.  It's about this mom and teacher that end up pairing together to help overtake this bad school in New York and make it better, running it their way. 

It was really good, and I'm so glad I watched it, but it does make me want to research more about the logistics of what happened and learn more about teachers unions. I learned some in college, but not enough details.


Sunday night we watched People Like Us. I had been wanting to see it, but it wasn't on the top of my list. It's about this guy who looses his father (they weren't close), and his dad leaves him $150,000 to give to his half sister that he never knew he had, and it's about him getting to know her and her son.

It was amazing. I loved it! This was my least favorite of the three picks going in, but after watching all three, this was my favorite! I would definitely recommend it. A lot. (Although it is PG-13, so not for young kids.)


Saturday, February 23, 2013

Contentment.

I think one of Satan's best traits to ensnare you is subtlety. Subtlety pulling on your heart, turning a desire into discontent, turning feeling happy for someone else into feeling sorry for yourself, twisting you so slowly until you don't realize how tangled you are until it's too late.

I fall trap to this way too easily and way too often. God, help me guard my heart, to only allow YOU to have influence in my life.

Recently, I have found out that numerous people I know are pregnant. I have met several new adorable babies that my friends have had. Today we had brunch with some friends in their new house they just bought and are having fun decorating.

And then exaggeration kicks in. Then it seem like ALL of your friends are buying houses and EVERYONE you know and see is pregnant. But that's not true. And even if it was, I have to be content that it's not our time yet.

When it's something you want, it's not hard to be truly happy for them. I really am. What's hard is to not let it influence me and turn my desires into discontent.

Wanting a house and a baby is a good thing, but not when I am discontent with where I am now. It's a straight sin to think that having those things will make me happy. IT WILL NOT. Whenever I have a baby, there will always be something else. Maybe something not going well with that child. Maybe wanting another child. Whenever we get a house, there will always be nicer and bigger houses.

NOTHING will make me happy except trusting fully in Christ. Having a baby and a house will not make me happy. It never will. Not by itself.

Hebrews 13:5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Philippians 4:11-13: I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Him who gives me strength."

1 Timothy 6:6-7: For godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it.

Matthew 6:31-33: So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kindgom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

I want to be like Paul when he said he has learned to be content in any and every situation. I want to seek first His kingdom, because my Father knows what I need. When I seek Him, I will be filled. Earthly things will always keep me wanting and seeking more. Only Jesus is the true fulfiller.

I'm not saying that I hate my life, please don't take that away. I truly do love the stage of life we are in right now. Me teaching, Kley in law school, living in an apartment. This is the stage God has led us to, and I am grateful. I do love my life. I love Kley, the school he is working so hard through, and my job. But I do admit that sometimes I struggle with wanting to move to the next stage. But I have to be careful, because I don't want to always be wanting more and to miss out on all the great that I have right now.

I do want a baby and a house. But more importantly I want Jesus and to be content in Him and where He has called us. I believe God gave me the desire to be a mom and homemaker, and that is a good thing. But even though that is not where I am now, and even if that is never where I end up, I have a great life and I am content with that.

I am thankful for my apartment.


I am thankful for my man, and for my job and his law school. 


As a great friend, mentor, and second dad (David Groen) told me often: "Only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." No one cares where you lived or what job you had, what only matters is what I did/do for HIM. 


Friday, February 22, 2013

Welcome Home.

I am still having picture uploading problems. Bummer.

In the mean time, I love watching military homecoming videos. Check out welcomehomeblog.com if you would like to watch a few.

One of my students right now has a dad overseas. Can't wait for my little one to get to see his daddy again! :)

Monday, February 18, 2013

Business of Being Born.

This weekend Kley and I watched our first documentary together. (I don't ever remember watching a documentary before. At least not on my own free time.) It was so interesting! It was called The Business of Being Born. It talked about the differences in birthing in the US verses other countries, and it talked a lot about using a midwife. It said that a midwife is present at at least 70% of births in European countries, while they are only at 8% of US births. Wow! I was also shocked at how they portrayed hospitals as businesses and how they wanted to rush your labor if it took too long, encouraging you to use methods such as petocin and the vacuum during delivery, even if not completely necessary. Now, I know this documentary was filmed in NYC, and this was only at one particular hospital, but it was still shocking. They talked about how births have changed over the years- in 1900, almost all births (95%) took place at home, but by 1955, only 1% of births took place at home. They also showed several home births. The whole thing. Every detail. Wow.

I'm not trying to give an opinion on home births, hospitals, or midwives, but I would recommend the documentary. It was very interesting. If births interest you, watch it! It's on Netflix. It definitely made me think a lot about midwives, when I never have before, simply because I didn't know very much about them.


Sunday, February 17, 2013

Halloween Candy Video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YQpbzQ6gzs

For some reason, it's not letting me upload my pictures, so instead you get a video clip. This is a video of Jimmy Kimmel asking parents to tell their kids they ate all their halloween candy. The last two boys on the video are so funny it brings tears to my eyes.

Watch it. :)

Monday, February 11, 2013

Quick weekend recap.

This weekend was so nice! Friday night Kley and I brought a meal to some friends who had a baby- so fun to hold their new little boy! Then we went out to eat at Panda Express- yum!- and I got to go on a shopping spree at Old Navy (my favorite stores) because my great mother-in-law sent me a gift card! Yay!

Saturday we hung out at my parent's house because my sister, Karlie, was home from college for the weekend. That was also fun! We played Mall Madness again, our childhood favorite game, had a great steak dinner, drove around and looked at sweet houses, and hung out.

Sunday we had church activities, went to my sister Kayla's volleyball tournament, and watched a few episodes of Private Practice last night.

A good weekend, if I do say so! :) Hope you had a great one too!

Overcome (Desperation Band).

I love the song Overcome by the Desperation Band.

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love
Destined to die, poured out for all mankind
God's only son perfect and spotless one
He never sinned, but suffered as if he did

All authority, every victory is Yours
All authority, every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory, worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever, awesome and great is Your name, You overcame


Power in hand speaking the Father's plan
You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb
And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome




The bolded part is my favorite.
I definitely shout this out in the car.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Compliments.

Hebrews 10:24- And let us consider how we can spur one another on towards love and good deeds.

Yesterday/this morning was discouraging and exhausting. My kids struggled at school and we had to have many talks about misbehaviors. It's hard to be patient at times, when we have the same conversation over and over and they continue to disobey.

But that's what I've done to God before, and yet He is patient, loving, and forgiving with me. So, I will continue to learn and pray that I will be that kind of patient, loving, and forgiving teacher to my kids.

Today I was the recipient of people "spuring me on." I received two wonderfully uplifting comments today- one from my director, and the other from the school's superintendent. Two AMAZING people to receive compliments from!

Thank you, God, for blessing me today with encouraging words.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Highlights of the week. :)

Here are some highlights from the last week(ish):
1. Last Saturday we hung out with some wonderful friends from church. It was such a good time fellowshipping together and we played a HILARIOUS round of The Game of Things. I was really uplifted by this time together!
2. My brother was home last weekend for J-term break!
3. I am taking this training class for work, and tomorrow is my last class. It was a pretty good class, but definitely glad to be done. This is also a huge plus because this frees up my Monday night to watch the Bachelor with friends! Way better! :)
4. Even though it was freezing cold this week, I am thankful for having more consistent time for my kids to run in the gym at school. Last winter we didn't have that, so I am definitely thankful for that when it's below zero!
5. Warmer weather coming up this next week.
6. Kley and I are doing much better at consistently doing devotions together everyday. This alone is a HUGE highlight, and most definitely a spiritual marriage booster!
7. Seeing my family on Friday night.
8. Kley taking me to Chocolate Storybook yesterday. :)
9. Seeing Jim Brickman in concert at Stephens Auditorium in Ames on Thursday. We were supposed to go for my birthday (December 20), but it got postponed for weather. It was good! If you don't know who he is, he is the best piano player ever. So beautiful and talented! You should look him up. I listen to him a lot- he is very relaxing, and I play his music during naptime at school a lot. He had a great stage presence too, and was pretty funny in the stories he told in between songs!
10. A SNOW DAY on Wednesday! It was awesome to have a day off and accomplish tasks at home!
11. Talking to friends on the phone.
12. Going out to eat at Noodles on Thursday before the concert.
13. Making chocolate chip cookies from scratch.
14. Making plans for the future- having things to look forward to is great (some fun trips coming up in March and April)!
15. I'm excited that it's now February!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Radical.

So I mentioned in this post a few weeks ago that Kley and I had finished reading the book Radical by David Platt. I said I would do a separate post on that later, and honestly I forgot. Whoops. I should have done it earlier, because now I've forgotten some of the things I wanted to write about it!

It was such a thought-provoking, challenging, and interesting read. It mainly just talked about being radical for Jesus. He talked a lot about underground churches in China that he'd visited and how on fire they were for Jesus and they would spend hours on end just studying the Bible together. Are we like that here in the US? Not usually. He talked about how people drive their cars to church, having everything they need, sit through a service, and judge it on how they "liked it" or how it "suited their needs." He talked about how it's crazy that there are millions of dollars worth of cars sitting in church parking lots, while other people in the world are starving and living on nothing.

One of the most interesting things he talked about was how the church handles this; mainly talking about how little churches give to needy causes, but how they raise so much money to build themselves a new building. I am not saying building a new building is bad, and neither was the author, but it definitely is an interesting concept to think about. He talked about a church article that had two articles featured on the front page, one where the church spent millions on building a new building, and the other about how great it was that they raised $5,000 dollars to send to a need overseas. Why such a discrepancy in the amounts?

He ended the book with challenging the readers to participate in a year long challenge, doing five things:
1. Pray for the entire world. He gave books/websites that could help you do this, to be praying for different needs and countries all around the entire world.
2. Read through the whole Bible.
3. Commit your lives to multiplying community- such as being really involved in your church, and specifically in participating in a small group.
4. Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose. He talked about setting a cap on your lifestyle so you can free up as much of your money as you can for helping the lost/needy and advancing the Kingdom.
5. Give your time in another context- spend one week on a mission trip somewhere outside of your community.

I would recommend it! You should check it out- you will definitely be thinking!

You can check out the Radical Experiment here.