"A man's pride brings him low..." Pr. 29:23

Before I had children, a wise woman once told me, "Let God change you now. If not, it will show up in your children." Boy was she right. One of my children, not naming any names, spent the entire drive home from school defending why she WAS INDEED prepared for her History Test today. Since there was an actual study guide that I never saw, and since she did not bug me to "quiz her" on the info like she usually does, I KNOW that she was not prepared. The conversation got ugly and there were tears. I will not divulge who all was crying.

The sad part is.... she didn't really make a bad grade. I just thought she could have done better. That nasty sin of pride reared it's ugly head on both our parts. "I" could've done better on that test if I had just known about the study guide. Wait. Whose test was it anyway?

Maybe it was just God's "test" to see how we would respond. We failed. But in the end, "He" aced the test, because once again, He taught us all we needed to know.

Lovely: having beauty that appeals to the emotions as well as to the eye.

She is lovely.
She is kind, and she is gentle, and she is patient.
She is laughter and joy and delights in all things delightful.
She serves, and serves, and serves...with a happy heart.
She is thankful.
She accepts with open arms all that God gives her.
She loves to sing His praises.
She is gracious and rarely complains.
She is not perfect, but she is close.
She is my hero and I wish I were more like her.

This weekend she turned 34 and I got to celebrate with her! We three (she and Bebe and me!) enjoyed a wonderful weekend in the mountains relaxing and doing all things girly and fun. We ate, we shopped, we scrapbooked and sewed.
We laughed alot.

Happy Birthday Mary Elisabeth Cutliff! I am so glad you were born!

It is not "Autumn" yet.

Why do they already have these things out? They were just sitting there at the check out at Walgreens. Don't they know that I eat entirely too many and get a horrific stomachache. There should be a law. "No candy corn and pumpkins until October 1st." And who knew they made Caramel Apple Candy Corn?

Hand Towel Happiness

About a week and a half ago I was at Target all by myself (that can be dangerous at Target) and I wandered down the kitchen towel aisle. I saw this cute little apple hand towel and picked it up, decided that I did not NEED it, and put it back on the hook. After all, I had a buggy full of school supplies and cute little apple hand towels are really not in the budget these days.... even if it is just two dollars and some change.

Today (day 2 of school), I found a little bundle on my desk from a student. It was a bag of coffee wrapped in a "cute little apple hand towel" with a big bow and note that said, "We are praying for you and wishing you a wonderful school year."

Could've been coincidence. Or it could just be that my Heavenly Father loves me that much.

(Thanks Sydney... and the whole Stewart family!)

Ready or Not, Here we go!

I have had the best time "creating" my classroom for this new school year. Tonight was Orientation and tomorrow starts a brand new year. When I was a little girl, the night before the first day of school was like the night before Christmas. I loved it. Still do.

Gumballs and pennant bunting...so fun!

(Writing Center)

"Swimmingly" Good Behavior!

Pennant Name Plates!

My happy place for the next 9 months!

Now I just need some students to fill it up. Looking forward to making memories with them!

Monday Thanks

#400 A week of highs and lows and ups and downs and the way God worked it all together for good.

#401 New classroom full of new ideas all ready for a new year with new little munchkins...so grateful!

#402 Mary Kathryn's arrival...safe and sound....beautiful!

#403 Eliminating pizza from my diet for a good solid month and then having it three times this week.

#404 Fellowship with family, swimming, grilling out hamburgers, making homemade "Frostys", cousins laughing, Caroline dancing to the Wii, sharing ideas with my sis-in-law, refreshing good time.

#405 Pinterest....love.

#406 Teacher Treats

#407 Overflowing tomatoes

#408 Staying on top of the clothes...sort of.

#409 2 1/2 hours all by myself in Hancock, picking out fabric for my newest quilting project, the sweet lady's help, 9X9 templates

#410 Stormy ride to Royston and arriving to the sun

#411 Youth Group Summer's end swimming goodbyes

#412 Andy's delight to be there

#413 Iced Chai Tea Lattes

#414 The movies with friends....The Help....so enjoyable.

#415 Celebrating Taylor's move-in day at AU....pink dorm rooms...happy smiles on the faces of mom and daughter.... new adventures

#416 Food Network Star finale with the girls

#417 Singing on Praise Team with my daughter... her teaching me.... the privilege of serving Him in that way.

#418 Faithful ants...ha.

#419 Praying with my husband...just before we both drift off to dream.

#420 Peaceful sleep.

#421 A new day, new week, fresh with no mistakes in it.

#422 Oh and Andrew David's arrival! So precious! Healthy and safe and beautiful!

You're Not the Boss of Me!

Caroline loves to tell me what to do....or better yet, what I am not doing right. She does it all the time. Like, just now, she is yelling at me from the kitchen:

"MOM! You left all this stuff on the counter and it is going to get hot and ruin!"

"Caroline, that is on the counter because I am about to cook it for dinner."

"Well you better hurry because it is going to spoil. And I need this counter space to make my brownies."

She forgets. She forgets #5. You know the one about "Honorin' yo' momma!"

Thank goodness she's got me to remind her.