Deer Park Homecoming

Change is everywhere...

First, Mili, that little toddler I fell in love with is growing up entirely too fast, she started Kindergarten today. And I LOVE my job, but I have finally found a negative part of it and it's that I will probably always miss my kid's first day of school because I am having to prepare my own classroom to welcome students. However, I am sure that didn't matter to Mili all that much, she was one excited little girl about starting school. I know that I am partial, but she REALLY is the smartest little five year old in the world. I am VERY proud of her, I am excited for her to get to go to school every day so she can bless others (teachers and kids), the way she blesses our family.

Furthermore, a lot of changes at church are taking place. Stephen and I have been praying for awhile that God would use us as a couple in the church. I have grown up in the church, lived and loved the youth department, so I am excited to get to serve in it. Stephen has been singing in the praise team and loves being involved with the church. He has the biggest heart for the Lord and for the youth, so I am excited to watch him teach in the youth as well. God is really doing some cool things in our life and I am thankful that He wants to use us. I am looking forward to next Sunday to begin teaching in the youth department, along with my husband and many other couples that have grown up in our church.

Finally, today was my first day back at school. It went GREAT! I am thankful to be at Deer Park, and thankful to be teaching seniors. Several of my students are ones that I have known for awhile, or I graduated with their older siblings. It's just sweet to come full circle with my church and now career- getting to attend at Deer Park and now be a teacher here. All five assistant principals have taught me in school at sometime. And people who are on my grade level team have all been teachers of mine- so it's very sweet and encouraging. God has blessed me so much!

As my day comes to an end, I am looking forward to all the new adventures/challenges that are in front of us. I am ready to work, and let the Lord lead so I can do my best through HIM. More and more I wouldn't trade my life for the world. At times I feel selfish for thinking such a thing, but it's my honest feeling-I couldn't think of a better life!

p.s. Next will be babies... and between the dreams everyone keeps having about us getting pregnant and my husband asking for one every time he sees a cute baby-That too might be sooner rather then later. But I will say that will HAVE to be the Lord :)

Sean's Haiti Trip

Recently, Central had a group go to Haiti on a mission trip. My brother, Sean, was able to go. I wanted to share some of the cool pictures he brought home... He said it was life changing, and now Stephen and I have started saving money to go next summer. I can hardly wait! Enjoy these pics... (I might add, I couldn't be more proud as a sister. Sean is a great young man who is willing to be used by the Lord and uses his gifts to serve the Lord.)

Fun Fourth of July!!

We had a wonderful holiday weekend! Sunday, the 4th of July, we had a wonderful service at church. Our pastor brought a great, convicting message... it was a great time with the Lord. Afterwards, we went to Richmond to meet Stephen's brother, Dwight, and his family. They threw a wonderful cook out and we had a great time with family. Finally, when we got home, it was JUST in time for the fireworks. Friends met us at our house and we climbed on top of the roof (I was much more scared than Mili) and had front row seats to the Deer Park firework show- might I add, it was the best one in years! And it felt like the fireworks were right in our face... completely AMAZING!

Summer Fun

New Jersey Writing Project

Just as I was getting use to sleeping in every day, my first workshop of the summer started. Intense. Three weeks, eight hours a day. It has been so wonderful, learning new strategies, challeging myself, and more than anything growing as a writer. I have a reflexive piece due in a couple days and then I will begin working on my extensive piece that I must send off to be published. While I hate the alarm clock every morning, I truly have learned so much.

My relfexive piece is not fully fleshed out and is still a work in progress, but I thought that I would share it with my close friends and family (or other people who are bored reading my blog) :)This is a piece that is dear to me.

So, here it is, a draft of my piece. I am still titleless as of right now (and I hate my closing sentence, so bare with me)....

“Hush Sean, he is going to hear us”, I would nervously say, anticipating his arrival.

It was after nine o’clock so dad would be home any second. My little brother, Sean, and I would lay in our parents’ bed waiting for our dad to get off of work and come home. We would pretend to be asleep and any time the bedroom door would slightly open, we would lay as still as we could, hoping it was dad. Looking back now, I realize dad knew every night we were awake; yet, every night he played along. Quietly coming in and walking to the nightstand to gently take his watch off, acting like he was trying not to wake us. Sean and I would lay as still as we could, somehow covering our mouths to where we could breathe, but if we cracked a smile it wouldn’t show.

“Well, I guess I will have to eat ice cream all by myself,” dad would say, as if he were just thinking aloud. Sean’s side of the bed would begin to wiggle as his giggle made the covers bounce up and down. Dad would then say, “I sure wish these kids were awake so I could have ice cream with them.”

Depending on the night, Sean and/or I would start the laugh that made our whole bodies move but still not making a sound; but, clearly saying we were wide awake. Dad would jump on the bed, laying across us and finally making us laugh out loud. Anticipating his arrival and the thrill of dad finally being home, our excitement couldn’t hold us back any longer. Both, Sean and I would jump up and start playing with dad. Often times we forgot about the ice cream and just enjoyed being together with him. Dad worked a lot and was not home often, so we soaked up this ritual every night.

Dad has been gone for eight years now, but even as an adult, I can still smell him walking into the room, I can still hear him put his watch quietly down on the nightstand and I can still feel the bed move as my little brother and I couldn’t hold back our laughs any longer. Above all, I still feel the love I felt from our dad, as he would come in and play along every night showing us he too enjoyed soaking up every second with us he could.

My birthday bash and Bella

Although May was already exciting and HUGE life changes took place, my birthday was no let down...

1. The Wednesday before my birthday Stephen called me at work and asked if I would go with him to Baytown that night. Of course I would, but why? We NEVER go there. He knew it was too suspicious to keep from me, so he said he had bought my birthday present.... BELLA! I was so exciting, we picked her up that night and have been ATE UP with her ever since. Bella is a maltipoo, she was 6 weeks old when we got her (she was born on Mili's birthday... April 1). She is the sweetest and best puppy ever! Potty training has been a breeze and she hasn't chewed up anything yet, so we are feeling pretty lucky!! She is one spoiled puppy,Stephen swears I talk about her more than I do Mili now... lol. I tell him my love just doubled, but he has doubts. :) Bella is the best, I will puts some pics up of her.

2. Stephen threw me a little cook-out-get-together at our house my birthday weekend. He was really sweet and thoughtful. He asked all my friends to write a letter to me, about what I mean to them, along with a funny memory. They went around and shared each letter, it was so meaningful and thoughtful. I cried and laughed... I truly have the best friends, as well as the very best husband.

3. Family dinner on my actual birthday was sweet too. As much as I love married life, and I do with my whole heart, I miss my mom. She means so much to me, and so many evenings I look at Stephen and say I want to go visit her... and he is so good to go anytime I want. (He loves her almost as much as me anyways). So my birthday dinner with my family was great, some great quality time!!

As you can tell, I was a very fortunate and blessed girl this year. Thanks to everyone who made it so special!!!

BTW... being out for summer is a great present too, I am LOVING it!