before it went downhill

The morning started out so well. We woke up, ate breakfast and got dressed for our first day of preschool. He was really excited. As you can see, he took his cat and lunchbox and headed in with me trailing behind. Once inside, he kissed me and told me bye.

When I picked him up, there was a note from the teacher in his cubby. Apparently, when Mrs. Laura directed his behavior in any way, he screamed/kicked/slapped at her and told her "NO!" At lunch she told him he had to eat his turkey before his fruit snacks. He got really mad, balled up his meat and threw it at her! Eventually he calmed down and ate!

I hope this is not something that will continue! Scott and I sat him down and had a "talk" with him this afternoon. We'll see how tomorrow goes......

(Any encouraging thoughts/comments are welcomed!) :)

is it normal?

...to feel like you want to cry like a baby because you have to drop your three year old off at his first day of school tomorrow?? I'm not sure I am prepared for this! I literally have a knot in my throat. I know he will do well. We went to open house Thursday night and he ran around the room playing with the toys. His teacher seems really nice too.

Oh well, I will update you tomorrow and post some pics too. Yes, I will be the obnoxious parent at the door asking the teacher if I can take a picture. I've made fun of parents like me before!

surgery date

Scott's surgery is scheduled for September 21st. Please remember him in your prayers! THANKS!!

doctor's eve

Scott and I would appreciate your prayers tomorrow (Thursday). We have a much dreaded appointment with his surgeon to discuss the possibility of his surgery. It's at 3:45.

I was reminded today of how easy it is to slip into "whoa-is-me" syndrome. On top of my not-sure-what-word-to-use classroom this year, Scott is feeling bad, and our air went out today. I am typing this from my mom and dad's couch. JP and I are sleeping here tonight. It's really not a big deal...just a little inconvenient.

I sat in the bathroom floor earlier today praying. God reminded me gently that there are MUCH WORSE THINGS! Scott and I are so incredibly blessed and I do know that. Some people never have air. Our time without air is very temporary and we have a place to go! Although Scott is worried and a little scared about the decision to have this surgery, it is not life and death. We are thankful for that!

Well, I am going to bed now. At least we get to sleep in a king's size bed tonight!! WooHoo!

Goodnight!

writer's block

I am having a MAJOR case of writer's block. I have several blog ideas in my head, but I cannot seem to gather my thoughts right now. So, please hang in there with me. For now, I will just list a few thoughts that are going through my mind:

• Our friends who live in Guatemala are here for a few months. We are hoping to see them soon.
• My classroom is VERY, VERY difficult this year, if you want to add that to your prayer list!
• After much prayer, consideration, interviews and research, Scott has made the decision to go ahead with a much dreaded surgery that will hopefully help with some of the problems he's had over the years. I won't go into detail on the public blog. Those of you who know us well, know what I am referring to. He is talking with his doctor tomorrow. We hope to be able to do this sometime during the month of October---another prayer request! ;)
• Church was awesome Sunday. We are doing a series called, "5 Lies of the Devil!" Good stuff!
• I am so sleepy right now, my head hurts.
• And yet, I am still on the computer. (I don't struggle with idolatry!)
• Going to an open house at JP's new pre-school Thursday night. I look forward to meeting his teacher...he begins school next Monday. Tear :(

Well, that's all I can come up with for now. I hope everyone reading this has had a blessed day. Stay tuned.....

misc. pictures from the past few days

Watering the weeds.

Squirting bubbles on daddy's head.

I LOVE this face!Look how old he looks in this picture..



I was in the kitchen the other day and heard him reading his book...he's learned how to recline in his daddy's chair!

why i do what i do

I work with people who make me laugh hysterically.

I (usually) walk out the door a little before three in the afternoon.

I am off for a week in November.

I am off for two weeks in December.

I am off a week in the spring.

I am off ALL summer.

I have excellent benefits.

Okay, I feel better now....After this week, I needed a visual reminder!

" When I want to do good , evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? THANKS BE TO GOD- THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!! " Romans 7:21-25

Today, someone special came to me for advice. I had plenty to give. I think I rambled on for an hour or so. When this person left my house, I resumed my nightly routine. I was in the bathroom wrestling JP in an attempt to get him in the bed when it hit me...who am I to give anyone advice?? My list of sins is at least a mile long, if not longer. And this person is asking me for advice?! I spend more time walking around in my flesh than I do in the Spirit. What do I know? I actually started feeling kind of bad. Once JP was FINALLY in bed, I sat back down in the bathroom (NOT on the toilet, just on the side of the tub..it's the only quiet place in the house.) I prayed specifically for this person and their need.

It was then that I heard from the Holy Spirit.

While it is our job as children of God to strive to live a life that is pleasing to Him, we are not going to be perfect. If I waited until I was perfect to try and help someone, it would never happen. When God looks at me, He doesn't see a dirty, sinful, flesh-filled woman. He sees Christ. Two thousand PLUS years ago, Jesus took care of me. I'm washed. I'm clean. I'm forgiven.

When my sweet friend comes to me in need of council, my job/obligation/duty is to be the mouth of God. To share with them what Christ shares with me every day through His Word. What they do with it is not my responsibility.

I share all of this because I am so thankful for what God has done for me. I feel like it is important for me to be very public with my thanks. He was public with giving me Jesus. I am not perfect and sometimes it is hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that God loves me and is going to use me IN SPITE of who I am.

Father, I thank you right now for open doors of opportunity to share Your love with other people. I feel EXTREMELY unworthy. However, You have provided an amazing grace by giving Your Son. It is because of this that I not only have the right, but I am EXPECTED to point others to You. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for for forgiving me. Thank you for not giving me what I deserve. Thank you for allowing me to be Your hands and Your feet while I'm here. I love you. Amen.

waves

The ocean is amazing to me. It is so big and strong. JP really loved it this year. It was a lot of fun for him. I took this picture of my mom trying to hold him up in the water..it wasn't easy. The current was so strong. JP was truly fearless. There were several times when mom and I were sitting in our beach chairs and JP took off towards the water. I sat watching him for a second thinking to myself that he would stop at some point and wait for me. He didn't. I had to literally run (that was a site) to the water to catch him before he went too far. He had no intention of stopping.

We spent what felt like hours jumping the waves. The majority of the time, JP was trying to get loose from my grip because he wanted to do it "all by himself." Naturally, as his mother, I was not going to allow that. I knew how big the ocean was. I knew how strong the current could be. I knew that at any time a wave that was much bigger than he was could knock him down and swallow him up. I was not letting go. Or so I thought. He kicked, screamed, and finally I said, "Fine, fall down...go ahead!! It's your choice." (Now, let me tell you that I never would have actually let go if he was in any REAL danger. We were in the very shallow part of the water at this point.) I let go of my baby's arm. What happened? The very next wave that came knocked him down on his little bottom and he got salt water up his nose and in his eyes. Now he screamed for a very different reason. I quickly rescued him and carried him up the beach back to our chairs. He got over it as soon as he saw that his nanny had vanilla wafers for him to eat!

The Holy Spirit spoke to me very clearly that day. God does the very same thing with us, as His children. We are in this big ocean called life. The waves are big and at times, the current is very strong. He is with us trying to hold our hands. We, however, being the super Christians that we are, don't need His hand. We can handle things. The waves don't always look that big from where we are. He's taller. He can see what's ahead. Don't you think we should hang on to Him? I don't know about you, but this world is too big for me. I need His help!

I'm not saying that the waves won't hurt. I'm not even saying that you won't get sand and salt in your eyes. God doesn't promise that hanging on to him will be painless. He just promises NOT to let us drown.

moon sand

JP got some moon sand and castle props for his birthday. He loves it. I like it too because it's very easy to clean up. He enjoyed playing with it when we came home from school/Connie's today. Our first day back went really well. He walked up to Connie's door all by himself this morning and knocked on the door. He was excited to see their family! They have been such a blessing to us! We are so thankful....

My day went well too. I'm not sure what my class is going to be like, but at least I am surrounded by awesome co-workers. We laugh and have the best time! Looking back, I realize how God has always blessed me in this area. Not only here, but working at the Meyer Center for ten years. God has always allowed me to do a job that I love while surrounded by people that I love. Thank You, God!! I do not take it for granted.

the end

All good things must come to and end, right?! Summer is over and tomorrow the daily routine begins. Believe it or not, I am not too sad about it. JP is going to be staying with Connie for a few weeks until he begins pre-school. We have open-house on the twenty seventh and then he starts on Monday August 31st. I'll blog about that later.....the knot in my throat and stomach is already forming.....

I thoroughly enjoyed my first summer out of work! There is seriously nothing like it. I think I'll try it again next year!! ;) My plan is to wake up when Scott leaves every morning (5:30) and spend a little time in the WORD. We'll see how that goes...

I hope everyone has a great Thursday. Keep JP in your thoughts. He's not too big on change of any kind. I hope and pray that this upcoming transition will be a smooth one for him.

brookgreen gardens (from pawley's island)

Watching the horses with Nanny

JP was fascinated by the birds that eat fish

Loved the Otters

The employee fed rats to the alligator

random thoughts via bullets

• I can't sleep.
• My house is HOT. Not sure the air is working correctly. Air is set on 70, but house has been 75 for two days...wonder what the power bill will say this month???!!!!
• Not ready to go to work on Thursday.
• Sad about JP beginning pre-school. He is growing up too fast for me!
• Went to the library today and checked out three books. Almost done with one. I LOVE to read!
• Found a "Friends of the Library" gift shop there that sells book for 25 cents and 1 dollar! I was in heaven!
• Will be joining our FINAL church in the next month or two. Very excited about it. Check out this timeline:

-Scott and I are at Berea First Baptist for five years. God opens a door for us to become involved and be a part of a praise band at 5 Point Fellowship in Easley. Loved it there. Became members. Approximately one year later, a friend approaches Scott about helping with a church plant and ministering to the young people. Bittersweet, b/c we loved what we were doing. We moved. Stayed there approximately another year. Three months ago, the pastor feels like God has opened a door for him to pursue a new ministry through a book that he recently had published. Door closed. Now, we've moved on A.G.A.I.N!!! We have been attending New Spring in Greenville for a few months now. JP loves it. So, we are probably going to join soon. Mark it down in your books....I WILL NOT MOVE CHURCHES AGAIN!!! This is the last church for me this side of Heaven! Gonna get plugged in and serve every week to the best of my ability.

While I am thankful for the many opportunities to serve in different ways, it's too much. I'm ready for something stable and permanent.

I guess I just had to get these thoughts off of my brain......GOODNIGHT!

kenzie's birthday party

jp's birthday party at the park

Bop pushing the birthday boy on the swings Little Miss Kenzie who turned FOUR today (Sunday)

Luke

Baby Coleman doing what he does best...smiling.

They love sidewalk chalk. Did I say love? I meant they FIGHT over sidewalk chalk!

Scott, Pickle Dave, Angela and Kerri enjoying pizza and fellowship.

Opening presents while eating his M&M's.

My joy

Half sunburned from the pool/ half hot from playing so hard!

LarryBoy plush toy was the hit of the night!

Lighting the ScoobyDoo candle on the cupcakes that he cared NOTHING about!

We had a great weekend. Today we celebrated MacKenzie's 4th birthday at the skating rink. I will post those pics tomorrow.