A TIME OF THANKSGIVING!

Day 18: TODAY I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THANKSGIVING AND BEING SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND LOTS OF GOOD FOOD...AND FOOTBALL-GO COWBOYS!!!


Day 17: Today I am so THANKFUL FOR THE TIME I HAD WITH MY WONDERFUL FAMILY ON VACATION IN BROKEN BOW!


Day 16: Today I am so THANKFUL TO BE SURROUNDED BY GOD'S BEAUTIFUL CREATION: NATURE! It is breath taking here!!

Day 15: Today I am so THANKFUL FOR A TIME OF REST AND RELAXATION ! I am on vacation with my family in Broken Bow. It is so relaxing and peaceful here and I'm getting caught up on my rest.

Day 14: Today I am so THANKFUL to God for creating me and bringing me into the world on November 23. Today I'm celebrating 30 years of life! WOW!!! A BIG THANKS GOES OUT TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR MAKING MY B-DAY SO SPECIAL!!!

11, 12, & 13...

Day 13: TODAY I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I AM HEADED TO OK TO SPEND SOME QUALITY TIME WITH MY FAMILY. Tomorrow we are headed to Broken Bow, OK for a family vacation. We are renting a cabin along the lake. I can't wait to RELAX and enjoy nature!!

Day 12: Part One: One of my bf's Yates(2nd grade teacher I work with)surprised me Friday morning at school with a sign on my door, flowers, a sack full of my favorite candies, a bear, and a b-day balloon! I AM SO THANKFUL FOR OUR FRIENDSHIP AND HOW YOU MADE ME FEEL SO SPECIAL!!!
Day 12: Part Two: TODAY I AM SO THANKFUL FOR MY LITTLE TRIBE OF INDIANS AND THANKSGIVING BREAK(I get a week off)!Bailey Tribe

Day 11: TODAY I AM SO THANKFUL FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS!Thursday night Rach and I had a LG(Life Group reunion)Thanksgiving dinner.

Days 9 and 10

Day 10: TODAY I AM SO THANKFUL FOR GOD'S LOVE!!!


Day 9: I AM SO THANKFUL FOR ONE OF MY BF'S AND HOW SHE HAS MADE MY 30TH BIRTHDAY SPECIAL!!!

Look at ALL my gifts...I can't wait to open each one!!!

One of my bf's Ames surprised me Monday morning before work with a small gift and card and yesterday she brought me breakfast before work(a tradition that's been going on for years). She also brought me a bag full of gifts and cards-one for each day until Sunday-my 30th b-day. This has given me something to look forward to everyday when I wake up-SO FUN AND THOUGHTFUL!! Thanks Ames for making this week SPECIAL for me! I love you and God has blessed me so much with our friendship!!!

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!!!

Bee Thankful!

Today I am so thankful: I AM THANKFUL THAT I'M NOT ALLERGIC TO BEE STINGS!

So here's the story: I was on recess duty today minding my own business, watching the kiddos, and talking with another teacher. Then, along comes this bee and it is swarming around the side of my head near my sunglasses. I shoe-d it away with my hand. I thought that the bee had totally gone away because I no longer saw it. Well, about 2 seconds later I FELT THIS HORRIBLE STING! The sneaky little bee totally crawled into my hair and stung me behind my ear-OUCH!! I had to go see nurse Nelms and she took very good care of me. The bee's stinger was still in my ear and she had to remove it. She asked me if I wanted to keep it, but I said NO and laughed. I'm so thankful that it just stung for about an hour and that the whole side of my face didn't swell up or my ear fall off =) Poor little bee...no more buzzing around for him!!

FYI if you ever get stung by a bee put a penny on it...it takes the sting away...it really works!

Days 6 and 7

Day 7: Today I am so thankful for THE BOYS AND GIRLS THAT MAKE UP THE L.I.T. PROGRAM AT TRAVIS! This morning we had our first Kidz Jam and it went AWESOME!! It's so cool to see God using 5th and 6th graders to minister to other kids!! More pics to come.

Day 6: I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE WONDERFUL FRIENDS GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH!!!

Last night my roommate Rach through me an early 30th b-day roller skating party. It was sooo much fun! Growing up this was a favorite hang out-to go to Roller Express! I even won the limbo and red light green light-yes I've still got it(not bad for an almost 30 yr. old)! More pics to come.

Day 5 Update

I am so thankful for:

THE AMAZING 6TH GRADE GIRLS THAT ARE APART OF MY LIFE!

Last night I was invited to the 6th grade girls slumber party at Ashley's house. I've gotten to know these amazing girls through the L.I.T.(Leaders In Training)program at church. It is TRULY AMAZING to see how God is at work in their lives and how they are growing in their walk with the Lord!

OBEDIENCE

E-this post is for you since you asked me(no told me)to explain it! So here goes, this is me being totally honest with a few of my closest friends and some strangers who visit from time to time. My hope is that God will use my words to speak to you in whatever circumstances you might be facing.

THE LIFE OF OBEDIENCE LEADS TO AN ABUNDANT LIFE!

Here's the part where I'm going to try and do my best to explain so bear with me. The past couple of weeks, no months, have been STRESSFUL and very CRAZY for me. School is very stressful for me this year because I'm having to teach a K-1 bridge class(I have kindergartens along with 5 first graders), which means I'm trying my best to teach two curriculums to my wonderful, hardworking, students. These days I'm lucky if I leave the school by 5 or 5:30, which makes for a very long day. Another part of my life that has been stressful is in my personal life. One of my hearts deepest desires is to be a wife and mother. I really thought that I had surrendered this area of singleness over to the Lord a long time ago and I felt pretty content with where God had me, but over the last month God has opened my eyes to the fact that I keep taking my singleness back. I've let the thought of marriage and motherhood become an idol in my life. Thinking that being a wife and a mommy will make my life complete and whole, fulfilling God's purpose for my life and that is a sin.

This year in BSF(Bible Study Fellowship) we are studying the life of Moses. This has been an AMAZING study and God has really used this study to challenge me and grow my faith. A couple of weeks ago, God brought it to my attention how much I was complaining about where he has me in my own life. I've been studying about how God brought the Israelites out of slavery and out from under the hand of Pharaoh, protected them from the plagues, and provided manna and quail for them in the desert yet the Israelites doubted God's plan and complained every step along the way. God opened my eyes and made me realize that that's exactly what I had been doing in my own life. I have been complaining about where he has me and doubting that his plan is the best plan for my life. I was complaining about my job and the fact that I don't even have a boyfriend and how I'm getting ready to turn the BIG 30 in about a week and how in my perfect plan for my life I should already me married and have at least one kiddo by now. Recently, God has brought me to a point where I'm so tired about complaining about where he has me. My hearts desire is to put my trust in him and surrender EVERY area of my life to him and TRUST in his perfect plan for my life. The last couple of weeks God has given me 2 verses to meditate on and they have brought me so much peace, comfort, and encouragement.

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
I need to be quiet on the inside even when circumstances around me are crazy. I can do this because of who God is. He is the mighty God who's in control of everything.

"Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee." Hebrews 13:5
I don't need to compare what I have to what others have. I need to be satisfied and happy with what God has given me. I need to remember that God will never leave me and that is better than anything else I could have.

The hard part has been applying these verses to my life. The past couple of weeks have been some of the sweetest times before the Lord, but also some of the hardest times. I'm really trying to surrender my job to the Lord and remember my passion for teaching and working with kids. I'm also trying to surrender my singleness to God. I'm praying that I will truly see my time of singleness as a blessing and a time in which God is preparing me for something greater. My hearts desire is to be content and know that the greatest thing I could ever have I already have and that is Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior! So for me, I'm trying to be obedient to what God is calling me to do right now and that includes being devoted to him with all my heart and soul, to family and friends, being the best teacher I can be, and serving him through the ministries he has placed upon my heart for me to be a part of. Being obedient to God with these things will bring me love, peace, and joy and that is what the abundant life is all about!!!

E- I bet you didn't know that I was going to write a book to explain my thankfulness =)

THANKS GOD!!!

Today I am thankful that:

OBEDIENCE TO GOD LEADS TO AN ABUNDANT LIFE!!!

So Thankful...

GOOD NEWS CLUB
So here's my update on days 2 and 3 of being THANKFUL:



I'M SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THE SEEDS THAT ARE BEING PLANTED THROUGH THE GOOD NEWS CLUB AT MY SCHOOL!



We average around 45 students on Tuesday afternoons after school. For those of you who don't know what the Good News Club is it's an hour that includes praise and worship songs, a memory verse, a Bible story time and a review game. The kids love coming and God is REALLY at work!! So far 5 kids have accepted Jesus as their Savior and we had about 16 kids come forward yesterday that we will talk with next week. Please pray that God will be at work in their hearts this week.


Today, I AM THANKFUL FOR MY NIGHT AT HOME: TO RELAX AND GET CAUGHT UP! Some alone time=)

I'M SO THANKFUL...

So I'm stealing this idea from my WONDERFUL and AMAZING friend Elizabeth. She is doing a Thankful Tree to help her remember what Thanksgiving is all about and to teach her little ones. Every day until Thanksgiving she is going to add a leaf and something she is thankful for on her tree. I don't have any little ones at home, but I just might take this idea to my classroom at school as well. Yes, that is EXACTLY what Ms. Bailey is going to do-YAY I can't wait!! E- I have no idea how to make the cute tree and add a leaf everyday, so can you PLEASE HELP ME OUT!
Until I learn how to make the cute tree and leaf words will have to do:

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR MY WONDERFUL BUNCH OF KIDDOS WHO WORK SO HARD AT SCHOOL!!!

Here is a pic of my class at the Pumpkin Patch this year!

Halloween Hangout!

Halloween night Rach and I through a Halloween Hangout. It was tons of fun!!! It was so much fun seeing all of our friends dress up in costumes and my favorite part was when the door bell rang seeing the kids react to our costumes as we passed out candy! Here are some of my favorite pics.

The show down begins...Pocahontas(me)with her bow and arrow takes on the cowboy(Melissa)with her gun...I wonder who will win that one? Two of the cutest bugs EVER...ladybug(Nicole)and bumble bee(Ann). The human cheeseburger(Kevin)from Burger King. Here we have our very own Phelps(Jonathan) and a triathlon runner(Clint). The costumes were great! The food, games, and fellowship were great! What a great way to celebrate Halloween-having a hangout with some of my favorite peeps!!

Yates' Annual Pumpkin Carving Party!

This past weekend on Saturday night Yates through her Annual Pumpkin Carving Party! We have been getting together for the past 4 years now to carve pumpkins. We started out as a group of 5, but gradually we have dwindled down to just the 3 of us. Ames and Mels we missed you!!

WATCH OUT! Kyna is using Yates' power tool

to do some carving. Surprisingly, no blood was shed...only pumpkin juice and pieces flying in the air!

Yates, me, and Kyna...Ames and Mels we set out pumpkins for our missing friends.
I had such a great time hanging with the girls! Looking forward to it next year...let's see...hum...I wonder who will be around next year?

Camping and Hiking in OK!

me, dad, mom, and Melissa

Two weekends ago a group of my friends(about 15) headed to OK to camp at my parent's place and then we headed to the Wichita Mountains to do some hiking. The guys put up their tents on the hillside along with a few girls that wanted to take in the whole camping experience. I bet you can guess where I slept...yes, of course I slept in the house along with a few other girls. My mom took good care of us and cooked us some amazing meals over the weekend. On Saturday we headed to the mountains to do some hiking. It was truly amazing to be out in God's creation! What's the difference between a buffalo and a bison? We saw this buffalo up close...well Kevin and Erik went really close to get this great pic. The crew at the top of a mountain that we hiked up. Rach and I...isn't the view of the river AMAZING! Melissa jumping off a 15 foot cliff into the river. The water was freezing! I gave into peer pressure and jumped, too. I jumped from the baby cliff(8 feet high). Crazy, I know!! We visited the Holy City. We ate at Meers before we headed back to Duncan. The best hamburgers and peach cobbler around! It was a truly amazing weekend! We got to my parent's place around 10 on Friday night and set up tents and set around the campfire. Saturday morning my mom fixed us a big breakfast of biscuits and gravy before we headed out to hike. After Meers we had smores by the campfire. Sunday morning my mom fixed pancakes and bacon for breakfast and we had some praise and worship time outside by the campfire. We threw the frisbee around outside and played washers until lunch. For lunch my mom made company casserole, salad, and for dessert banana pudding(my favorite). We spent the afternoon watching the Cowboys game(really wasn't worth watching bc they forgot to show up). Later that afternoon we headed back to Fort Worth. I had so much fun with my friends and it was really great to spend some time with my family and they always like meeting my friends. Thanks mom and dad for hosting and taking such good care of us!!!

Fajitas Anyone?

Today after church I met Amber(college roommate and bf)and Josh(her hubby) for lunch at Papasitos. They came down on Friday and went to the OU vs. Texas game yesterday. We won't talk about the upset though! We had a great time at lunch today catching up and eating some yummy fajitas! Fajitas is one thing I remember about Amber. Her love for Mexican food and fajitas. We always would split an order in college and nothing has changed about that, we did the same today, even though now she has a husband(he wanted his own order). Guess some things will never change like our wonderful friendship!!

Brunch with Glo and Ella!

This morning, I met Glo and Ella at Mimi's Cafe for brunch. This is one of my favorite spots to do brunch. It was so great to catch up on life with you Glo and meet your precious Ella! Ella is such a good baby. She slept most of the time, but I had plenty of snuggling and loving time and I even got to feed and burp her =) Can't wait to do it again!!!The proud mommy!

Sweet, precious Ella!

HAPPY EARLY 3OTH KYNA!!!

Friday night, Steve(Kyna's husband)through Kyna a SURPRISE 30TH BIRTHDAY PARTY! It was an early b-day celebration. Her b-day isn't until Monday. It was so much fun! HAPPY EARLY 30TH BIRTHDAY KYNA!!! Here's a pic of Zoey(Kyna's dog) celebrating.Kyna and I Mindy, me, Kyna, and Yates

Volley Up!

First of all, I'm so sorry that it has been so long since my last post! My life has been SUPER CRAZY!! School has been stressful and two weeks ago I was sick, but thankfully I'm feeling much better. So I'll give you the quick version of what's been going on in the life of ADB. This past Tuesday, I went to watch Rachel(one of my old L.I.T. girls)play some volleyball. It was so much fun! She played great and her team won 2 out of 3 games. It was fun to see a side(serious and competitive)of her that I had not seen. She is such a great player! After the game, I headed to have diner at the Williams' household. It was great to have a family dinner(they are one of my TX families). I feel truly blessed to have them in my life! Thanks for dinner and letting me hang out at your casa!! Here's a pic of me, Rach, and Emily(her older sister). Rach is center in green.

Please Pray for the Fischer's and the rest of Louisiana!

Watching the news isn't a good idea if you have a friend that lives in Louisiana. I got really worried about Elizabeth and her family when the news guy said that they were worried because they hadn't declared an emergency evacuation for Baton Rouge. WHAT!!! That's when I decided to give her a call to check on them. I got in touch with her and she said that they were safe and have been without electricity for the past couple of hours. She is worried about her fence blowing away(yes, the fence that they had all the trouble getting put up the right way)and their house flooding. Please keep Elizabeth, Paul, Carly, and Bree in your prayers along with the rest of Louisiana!

A DAY OF REST...FROM MY LABOR!

I googled Labor Day and this is what I found:

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union (of New York City) sought to create "a day off for the working citizens".
Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894.[1] All fifty states have made Labor Day a state holiday.
Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer.
Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in the United States since the 1880s.[2] The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday—a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations," followed by a festival for the workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civil significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

Mi casa...a nice man came and put up our flag in celebration of Labor Day. Almost every house on our street has flags up. I love driving down the street and looking at all the flags!

I'm so thankful for my day of rest. I started my day off by sleeping in(8a.m. this is sleeping in for me, since school has started I've been getting up at 6a.m.). Then, I headed to the gym to get a work out in(along with everyone else who lives in Ft. Worth-the gym was packed out). Now, I'm getting ready to work on some school stuff(the work of a teacher is NEVER ending)for this week. Hope that you all enjoy your LABOR DAY HOLIDAY!!!

I SURVIVED...JUST KEEP SWIMMING!!!

I survived my first week back at school!!! This week has seemed like one of the longest weeks OF MY LIFE!!! to Miss Bailey's Class! This is how my furniture looked(all in a big pile)before I set up my classroom.

This is the wall outside my classroom where I will display my student's best work(the monkeys have clips on them). Thanks E for the cute motto!My classroom ready for FUN AND LEARNING!

The home living center...I added a palm tree this year and the kids love it! This is the word wall where I will post high-frequency words for my students to use in their writing.
This is where I post class news...it is empty now, but just wait as the year goes on.
My motto for this school year is JUST KEEP SWIMMING!!! Thanks Ames for the motto and reminding me about one of our favorite movies=) JUST KEEP SWIMMING, SWIMMING, SWIMMING is what I'm going to be singing to myself A LOT until Sept. 8th roles around. I have 26 five year olds in my room and will until the early childhood department makes a decision about what to do with ALL THOSE KIDDOS! I have a great group of kids this year, but 26 is too many for one classroom and one teacher(who do they think I am- SUPER TEACHER)!
I thought this year might be different from years in the past and I prayed to have a "normal" classroom(whatever that means). Last year I had an autistic child in my room and this year I have a child with Lyme Disease(mostly affects him mentally). He seems to be a smart little boy, but he has a lot of anger issues and doesn't like to be disciplined and is a runner. Please pray for me. I'm really not sure how to discipline him. I need to do some research to understand his disease so I can have a balance and know the difference between his disease and him just being disobedient. I know that he will be my CHALLENGE for this year. Even though this student makes my job harder, I'm sure that God will use this to make me a better teacher and person. I feel truly blessed to have a job that I LOVE and I see my job as a ministry!!! I LOVE WORKING WITH KIDS!!! I can't believe that another school year(this makes #7) has begun! Thank goodness for a holiday on Monday!!