A Page Is Turned

It's fascinating to think about how God orchestras our life, my life. It is amazing to think about His perfect plan, and while I made several mistakes through my life- He knew two things would happen and has been preparing me this whole time. 1. My salvation- that I would accept his saving blood to cover my sins, and that I would become His child. 2. That the Lord was preparing Stephen for me, and me for Stephen. I truly believe that I was created for him, and him for me.

One of our wedding songs is, "A Page Is Turned"- it absolutely describes our life.

A page is turned by the wind to a boy in curly grin
With a world to conquer at the age of ten
But as history unfolds and the storybook is told
He finds salvation but not at the hands of man

And the God of second chance
Picked him up and He let him dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, preparing him, the one
To hold him up when he comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And now a man, here you stand
Your day has come

A page is turned in this world to reveal a little girl
With a heart that's bigger, as it is unfurled
By the language in her soul, that's teaching her to grow
With a careful cover of love that will not fail

And the God of second chance
Picked her up and He let her dance
Through a world that isn't kind
And all this time, preparing her the one
To hold her up when she comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And grown up tall, here you are
Your day has come

Beneath the air of autumn, she took him by his hand
And warm within the ardor, she took his heart instead
And high upon the mountain, he asked her for her hand
Just for her hand

A page is turned in this life, he's making her his wife
And there is no secret to the source of this much life
When the grace that falls like rain is washing them again
Just a chance to somehow rise above this land

Where the God of second chance
Will pick them up and he'll let them dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, they're sharing with the one
That holds them up when they come undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And once again, here you stand
And once again, here you stand
Your day has come

Trans Siberian Orchestra...

...Biggest let down :(

We had a wonderful time with all our friends tonight, but had been looking SO forward to going to this concert. Stephen has been watching YouTube videos daily, we both walk around humming their songs, and have been counting down the days.

The best part of the concert is when we left, oh and the lights.... they were pretty cool.

BUT... we did have a great time with friends, somehow, we never stopped laughing (probably because Stephen was acting out all the ways he could kill himself during the concert due to how AWFUL it was... haha)!!

On another note... Another week off, soooo excited!!!!

Our Christmas with Mili

Merry CHRISTmas!!

We had a wonderful early Christmas with Mili. She opened a TON of presents and then her and Nana started a tradition, baking a cake (this year, Mili wanted cupcakes though) for Jesus. We sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and focused on the best gift of all. Here are some pics, more to follow later....

The Clan (and soon-to-be Wards ) :)

Crazy Uncle Sean with sister (She LOVES him)

Thank you Nana, we are so happy about ALL the sounds this baby makes. NOT! :)

She got a laptop like Sean... 4 years old, crazy... but they make cute twins!

Happy Birthday Jesus cupcake pictures to come... And pictures from today. We played games from 9am to 7pm, stopped to eat, and played some more. I wouldn't trade my family for anything, I am so blessed!!!

Mili's Christmas with Mana's family

Amanda and her family are true blessings to my life. I am so thankful for them! For years they have been really good to me, it's now sweet to watch them take in Stephen and Mili. I am not sure who they love the most anymore lol.... but that's ok with me. Mili's favorite people could possible be her "Mana" and Amanda's family (including Pooka and Minnie). They waited for us to have Mili to let her help decorate their Christmas tree and then the next day had Christmas with her. Here are some sweet pictures from that evening...

Engaged!

Soon to be Mrs. Stephen Ward

Wow. What a week!

Over a year ago I met the man of my dreams, he is everything and more than I have prayed for. This year has totally changed my life forever and I am so thankful for God's blessings. December 10, 2008 is what Stephen and I call our anniversary, it was like a fairy tale date... Stephen often says it was magical. That day was our first time to go out alone, without friends or Mili. And of all days it snowed so hard, which made for a beautiful night. It started with the three of us (Stephen, Mili and me) going to church. Then Stephen and I went to Cullens (at the time I thought this was amazing... fancy restaurant and all), we had the most romantic dinner. Afterwards, we walked to this wide open field next to Cullens and we danced in the snow. He hummed and held me tight, and it felt so right even a year ago. He often reminds me that this was the night he fell in love with me, a night I never will forget....

SO... this past Thursday, December 10, 2009 was our one year anniversary. Another AMAZING night. A night I have been dreaming about since last March, after I found out Stephen had asked my mom's blessing to marry me.

We started the night going to Mili's performance at school, so cute btw... and she was the cutest kid there, not that I am the least bit partial. I had given Stephen his present before her concert but he said "I want to give you yours in a special place so you will have to wait." So I did. We went to Cullens, he had reserved the exact booth we sat in a year before, which was so sweet and special. Again, we had a beautiful dinner. After dinner I wanted to go over to Cullens Live and say hey to some friends, so he said we should after we took the food to the car. So, as we walked to the car he grabbed my hand, put the food in the car, and started walking towards the field. He told me this is where he wanted to give me my present. He took me to the same place we had danced the year before and started to dance with me again... so sweet. He pulled out a James Avery box, and I opened it... it was the snowflake charm. I loved it! He told me some things and to always remember the night he fell in love with me by this charm. Everything made sense, I had NO clue what was coming next. I hugged him and thanked him, and while we were hugging he said, "This spot is special to me because it was our first date, our first dance and our first kiss" Well, me being me, suddenly became angry on the inside, how could he forget where we had first kissed? It was before that night in the snow. And I guess he really knows me too, because as I started to correct him, he was already down on one knee... and said "our first kiss as you being my fiancee". He was crying and I was in shock. He completely caught me off guard. I don't think I even answered for about 5 minutes... Needless to say, it was perfect.

I am so in love with him, I can't wait to marry my best friend. And on top of that, he makes me feel like I am the best girl in the world, like he is the lucky one.

So... May 8, 2010... I will become Mrs. Stephen Ward :)

oh and my ring is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Pictures will be posted soon!

My funny kids...

I love my job, especially on days like today. While this three week stretch, between the Thanksgiving holidays and the Christmas break, is usually hard for all of us... today was great.

I love my job, because I love my kids. It's funny to me to think that our age difference really is only about 6 or 7 years, but I feel like they are all my kids. I find myself feeling like I am the only one who can get on to them, but no one else better talk to or bad about my kids, going to their basketball games, etc. However, my classes know this and is the reason I have a close relationship with most of my kids, they also know I am on their side. Sometimes when I assign an essay that is difficult (or just causes them to think), or spring a pop quiz on them over some text we might have been reading, they act like I am the worse person in the world... I call it tough love. It's actually easier to cater to them, keep up with their projects for them, or remind them to shave, tuck in their shirts, or to grab their ID badge from the desk but I am trying to teach responsibility along with everything else, because I am NOT their mom. Anyways, today caused us to get the giggles that could not get us back on track...

One of my boys started complaining (and not really, just more like a whine). Naturally I listened for a second and then quickly put him into place. Without missing a beat, he said (still whining), "But mom..." and then quickly caught himself. We ALL died laughing. He wasn't trying to be funny, but just called me that on accident... Proving to me I STILL baby them too much. It was a nice laugh, and everyone found it hilarious. Instead of Ms. Hall, my 5th period now calls me, Mom.

What is love?

There are so many ways one might define love. Yes, it might feel good, maybe even look good; however, I have learned it's a verb rather than a noun. It's not a person or thing, it's an action. Christ and what he did for me is the most perfect example. What did I ever do to deserve Him? How can I ever repay Him? Why does He even love me? Questions I don't completely understand, because I am so unworthy and seem to fall short of his glory too often. I just can't get enough of Him though. Lately, my favorite time of the day is when it's just me and the Lord- in my classroom, walking down the hallway, driving. Times where I could easily find something meaningless to take my time up with, I spend just trying to get to know Him more and grasp how the love He has shown me and how His mercy and grace has completely transformed my life... these are the times I am loving. Maybe it's with age, maybe it's just the way I am suppose to "mature" in my walk with Him... I'm not sure, but now more than ever I am becoming aware of how he didn't have to save me or bless me. And yet, he has done both. I surely don't deserve salvation-but by grace through faith-and I am so thankful he has placed His spotless blood on my heart. I often can get caught up in my unholiness and just forget to thank Him and take His blessing and use it for HIS glory-again, showing the Lord I love him through my actions rather than anything else. That is what He has been dealing with me lately... that and much more.

Of course I must end in a song... It's the perfect answer to my original question... What is love?

I've heard it said that
Love is blind
It's never afraid, patient and kind
I've heard it said
Love's all you need
And that it is a many splendid thing
I've heard people sing of Love at first sight
And how it's so wrong, and how it's so right
It lifts you up, it lets you down
But I have found...

Love is a Cross
And Love let it be
Love is saving you
Love is saving me
The blood and the nails
A body so bruised
A Holy heart was broken
That's how he chose to prove
Love is a Cross

I've read that Love is just a myth
It's only a crutch, it doesn't exist
It's something the world cannot achieve
But I believe...


Peace is like a rushing river
Hope is paradise
Joy's an overflowing fountain
Love paid the price...

-Russ Lee