Spring Break is Over

We had a wonderful, restful spring break, but now we're thrown back into reality! It's so hard! I think I'm more tired today than I was yesterday--and the kids sure were NOT as willing to learn today as they were yesterday (actually, I had something easy and fun for them to do yesterday).

Before I forget what all we did over break, I thought I'd summarize the week and put in a few pictures...so here goes...

As soon as we got out of school on Friday, March 13, we headed for Texarkana to see our family. We also went to Kara Pickering's wedding on Saturday. It was a very unique country wedding, outside at Kara's home. It had rained all week and was really cold, but she was beautiful and so was everyone else in the wedding. Patsy Griffin coordinated everything and decorated the area...she did a wonderful as usual! They even served a huge bbq meal after the wedding! It was fun getting to visit with my old students and my teacher friends from Redwater that I miss so much!

After dinner on Saturday, we headed back to Malakoff without the boys--they got to stay with Grammy & PawPaw for the whole week! They absolutely loved it! And we enjoyed our time at home...I CLEANED & CLEANED! My goal was to deep clean Evan's & Ethan's rooms, the office area, and my closet. I accomplished everything except my closet...maybe that will come soon! I was able to truly clean Evan's room without him here...he always watches my every move and has to keep EVERY single piece of paper and wrapper from every thing he owns! He's a bigger packrat than I am!

Ethan's Clean Room

Evan's Clean Room

On Wednesday, March 18, Eric drove me to Gladewater so we could meet PawPaw, Evan, Ethan, & Caleb for lunch. Dad took me back to Texarkana with the boys while Eric went back to church to work. He came up on Thursday evening. In Texarkana, I thoroughly enjoyed resting, visiting, and scrapbooking (FINALLY!). I created a little 7x7 album using a story book that Ethan LOVES to read called I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH. I used pictures of him and put the words of the story throughout the book. It really turned out cute. I enjoy scrapbooking so much because it's a creative outlet/stress reliever for me. I need to do that more often!

(Here are some pages from my new scrapbook...)

We also visited Ami in the hospital each day because she had back surgery on Tuesday. She's in rehab now & will probably go home by the end of the week. It was nice to see Ami's mom, Connie, too. She came to visit and help Ami while recovering.

Evan got a huge K'Nex set from Grammy & PawPaw. He built a roller coaster!

On Saturday, we had a little family birthday party for Eric & Evan. It was nice to visit with Pat & Larry Dodd too. Evan wanted a birthday cake with "technology" on it, so the only thing I could think of was to take a picture of him to put on top of his cake. Albertson's did a great job with that! I didn't realize it was going to be such a big picture, and Evan was so surprised! He loved it--he insisted that he would get to eat his face! Kind of creepy if you ask me! :)

After grilling hamburgers with the family, we headed back home to Malakoff late Saturday night. It was so hard to come back to reality, but we only have about ten more weeks until summer! We can make it!

My Baby Turned 10 Today!

Wow! It's March 18, 2009, and Evan is now 10! Time passes so quickly! I vividly remember what went on 10 years ago--going to the hospital early that morning and the nurse practically laughing and saying that he wasn't due for another 11 days so there was no way we'd have him that day! She said when I was really in labor I would know! (She was right.) Well, that was enough to embarrass us to walk AROUND the entire hospital to go back to our car. And after lunch, I knew exactly what she was talking about with the real labor...and it was all in my back. I remember Eric using a little rolling pin from the kitchen to try to make my back not hurt so badly (one of those little tricks they try to teach you at the birthing classes). We were so afraid/embarrassed to go back to the hospital that we waited until it was almost too late. I remember Mom & Shellye MAKING us go after supper. We got there at 6:30 and Evan was born at 9:34 pm (weighing only 6 lbs 4 oz--I was the one that gained all that weight--not Evan)!

Oh, I also remember how Eric stepped on my IV and made it start leaking on the floor. He was smart enough to know to lift it over my head while they fixed it so it wouldn't hurt me too badly. And I remember that I went from a 5 to a 10 in a matter of minutes so it was too late to get an epidural. I only had 2 tylenol at lunch time! I was kind of glad--I was scared of the big needle in my back.

Oh, the memories...he has grown up so quickly! He is such a blessing to us! Because it's spring break, he and Ethan are spending the week with Grammy & PawPaw in Texarkana. I knew Eric would have to work until Thursday evening, but I really wanted to be with Evan on his actual birthday. I had almost decided to stay in Malakoff until Thursday until Evan told me that I HAD to be with him on his birthday. That's all it took for me to figure out how to get here! I was so glad that he wanted to be with his mom! (Really, I think he just wanted his gifts! :)) We made arrangements for PawPaw to drive to Gladewater and meet us for lunch, so Evan could have lunch with his Daddy too. Caleb and Ethan came too. It was so sweet when we got to Subway and Ethan ran up to me. He hugged me and loved on me and patted my back--it just melted my heart! I told him I needed to leave him with Grammy & PawPaw more often. He stayed right by my side pretty much the rest of the day! :)

After eating supper with Grammy, PawPaw, Kevin, & Duke, we visited Ami in the hospital (she had back surgery yesterday).

Thank goodness for modern technology...we waited until Daddy got home from choir practice and he called us on the webcam. Evan opened his gifts with us in the kitchen & Daddy on the webcam. It was unique! Right before he went to bed, I could hear Grammy asking Evan if he had a good birthday. He said it was great but kind of strange. He said he's never opened gifts on the webcam before! (What a sign of the times.)

I'm definitely thankful for our webcam! It's been a lifesaver since we moved! I highly recommend it for anyone that has family out of town!

Thank you, Jesus, for blessing us with 2 very handsome boys!

(OK, does someone want to tell me how to rotate this picture? I need so much blogging help, it's pathetic! :) I had to take this picture of Eric on the webcam with Evan unwrapping his gifts...can you see Eric in the background?)

Memory Verse #6

A few years ago, I made a list of verses that I need to memorize. I came across the list a few weeks ago and found that I've only memorized 3 of them. This verse is on that list and out beside it, I had written that this would be a good prayer for me to pray for my boys--Evan and Ethan. I always need some accountability to make myself quit procrastinating and do something! I'm so glad that Beth Moore has given us this challenge!

1 Chronicles 28:9
"And you, my son Solomon (or Evan and Ethan for me), acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever."

Memory Verses

OK, I never took the time to put my last memory verse up so I'll do both today...

Verse 4 (Feb 15-28):
"So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
--Isaiah 41:10

I remember my dad telling us this verse many times in Sunday School. He said this verse gives 7 promises. I decided it was time for me to memorize these promises for myself.

Verse 5 (March 1-15):
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Romans 12:3

I think this is a good convicting verse for me, so I don't get so proud. I struggle with that.