2011...A Year of Memories

     It's hard to believe that another year has passed and a new year has begun.  The year 2011 was definitely a busy, full year for our family.  It was filled with both happy times and sad times.  God has been so faithful to us.  He continues to pour out His blessings on us day after day.  Phillip and I officially became parents of not just one, but two teenagers.  We are so proud of them and the young people they are becoming.

    Our family was blessed with the arrival of two precious little nephews to love on.  Tyson Lamar Spillers was born in June.  Then in October, Jackson McClain Gilbert was born.  They are both so sweet and such blessings to our family! 

     Our family also lost some really special people too.  In February, Juanita Ross (one of Phillip's first cousins) lost her fight with cancer.  Then in June, the night before Father's Day, my 94 year old grandfather went to his home in Heaven.  They are missed so much by those of us who loved them.  We were blessed greatly by having them in our lives. 

     I was blessed this year to be able to spend a week with my daughter at BLUME, the national Acteen conference in Orlando at Disneyworld.  We had an awesome time together!  Less than 48 hours after getting home, our family left again for a 10 day mission trip to Wyoming with youth and adults from our church.  In addition to working with a church in Wyoming, we also had the opportunity to see a Rockies/Braves baseball game in Denver, Yellowstone Park, Mt Rushmore, and some of the most beautiful country that God ever created.  We were all worn out when we got home.  But it was a great trip filled with lots of special memories. 

I started the year teaching at Harper Elementary.  In the spring of the year, we started hearing the phrase "fruit basket turn over" quite often.  The idea of making changes was pretty stressful for a lot of us.  When it was all said and done,  I am still teaching at Harper Elementary.  And for that I am very thankful!  This fall has been a great adventure at Harper.  New teachers, new principal, lots of new kiddos, and new walls...just to name a few.  But I have enjoyed every minute of it....well, most of it anyway!  I love my job!  I love my first graders! And I love the principal and teachers that I work with everyday!  All I can say is... God is in control!  He makes all things beautiful in His time...not ours!  It is such a blessing to go to work with such a great group of people who love children.

     My prayer is that this new year 2012 will be another wonderful year of memories for our family and yours.  The following words are "borrowed" from a sweet coworker, but they say exactly what is on my heart today so beautifully.  They are certainly the desire of my heart for 2012 and always!

     "Well, 2011 was full of life lessons, love, laughter, and change. During 2012, I pray that I am the wife my husband needs, the mother my children need, the teacher my students need, the daughter, sister, and aunt my family needs, but most of all, the child that God needs!"

     Happy New Year to you all!!!

Look Out Orlando...Here We Come!

Today was a great day!  Our day began EXTREMELY early!  I was up before 4:00 a.m.  We all made it to the church....on time, I might add!!!  We left at 5:15 and rode the bus to Alexandria to meet with other acteens and leaders from Louisiana. Thanks, Mr. John Tucker, for getting us here safely!  We switched buses and took off for our exciting week.  We have wonderful leaders from our state and Mr. Jimmy is a super bus driver.  After stops in Denham Springs for lunch, a couple of rest areas for breaks, and dinner somewhere between Pensacola and Tallahassee (not sure where we were), we made it to our hotel in Tallahassee for the night.  I'm very tired and ready for some sleep.  The only problem is that the other three ladies in my room aren't ready for sleep.  Hopefully, they will be VERY soon!  We have an early start tomorrow morning for what is sure to be a busy, fun-filled day!!! Please keep us in your prayers as we travel tomorrow.  We are so thankful that God has given us such a wonderful day.  This afternoon we enjoyed some rain!!!! Good night!!!

6 Hours and Counting...

Should I stay up and sleep on the bus? or Do I go to bed now and try to get in a few hours sleep? Hmmm...  Either way, I'm looking forward to a few days in Orlando with my daughter!  Sure gonna miss my two boys here at home though!  Got to get up and get the last load of laundry out of the dryer.  Praying tonight for my sweet nephew Cason and his Mommy and Daddy as they get ready for his tubes and adnoids tomorrow!  I love you! 

Well, next post from Tallahassee!!!  Good night!!

Where Did the Time Go?

Well, so much for successfully blogging through 2011.  Once school started again after the Christmas holidays, life continued.  Winter turned into Spring.  And Spring quickly turned into a very HOT summer.  We all had birthdays and are a year older.  Another group of first graders came and moved on to second grade.  My firstborn has completed the classroom portion of Driver's Ed.  My princess has almost completed the Learning Rx Program.  Nathan is not far behind.  They will both graduate from Learning Rx in August. 

Our school system is in the process of making major changes.  Our elementary schools in Minden are consolidating.  This means that the school where I teach will become a Kindergarten and First Grade school.  The 2011-2012 school year will undoubtedly be a great adventure!!  I'm looking forward to working with the many new teachers who are moving into our school!  We will also have a new leader in our school.  Our new principal is a wonderful Christian lady!  I can already tell that she is going to be great to work for.  She is caring, kind, and knows her stuff!  Someone who has worked with her told me recently that I was going to think I had died and gone to "principal heaven" when school started.  I think maybe she was right.  We'll see...

Emily and I will be joining other jr high and high school girls and leaders at this year's National Acteens Conference at the Coronado Springs Resort at DisneyWorld in Orlando!  Yes, we are getting so excited!  After seven days and 6 nights, we will return home long enough to wash clothes and pack again. On this trip, our family will join others on an eleven day mission trip to Wyoming.  Along the way, we will enjoy a Rockies/Braves game in Denver, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore and others.  We will be working with a church in LaBarge, Wyoming.  So the month of July is full!!!

Hopefully, we will be able to share pictures and events of our trip as we travel!  Blessed beyond measure!  Think so!!

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's Back to Work I Go!

     These two weeks at home have been wonderful.  But all good things must come to an end.  It will be good to get back and see my 24 kiddos at school.  Can't wait to hear all about what Santa brought, where they went, and what they did.  I'm sure I'll get both ears full! I hope they are all well and ready to get back to work.

     As our pastor reminded us today, we only have 363 more days of 2011.  Let's wake up, get up, and be ready for whatever God has planned for us.  A sweet friend of mine sent the words below in an e-mail on New Year's Day.  I thought I'd share it with you!  Enjoy!  And remember how blessed we are! Thank Him and share those blessings with others!

Rules from God for 2011

1.  Wake Up!! Decide to have a good day.  "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24

2.  Dress Up!! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.  A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.  "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

3.  Shut Up!!  Say nice things and learn to listen.. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking.   "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3

4.  Stand Up!!.... For what you believe in.  Stand for something or you will fall for anything. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10

5.  Look Up!!... To the Lord.  "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:13

6.  Reach Up!!... For something higher.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path."  Proverbs 3:5-6

7.  Lift Up!!... Your Prayers.  "Do not worry about anything; Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."  Philippians 4:6

First Day of 2011

     Today was a quiet day at our house.  We just enjoyed some down time together before getting back into the daily routine next week.  These two weeks at home have been wonderful.  Some of them have been full of errands, appointments, etc.  But there has been plenty of time for rest.  Spending time at home with my husband and children is always special.  And, yes, I do count this time as a special blessing from God.

     As our holiday vacation comes to an end, it's hard not to feel a little down...a little sad that it's over.  But today I'm choosing to see even the daily busy routine as a blessing.  I am blessed that I have a job to get up and go to everyday....many don't.  I am blessed to work with good people...some don't.  I have a family to share the good and the bad with me...some don't have that.  I have reliable transportation to get me to work.  I have clothes to wear and food to eat.  So I am choosing to count my blessings and thank God for each one of them.

2010 ... Blessings Beyond Measure

     We have less than an hour now before one year ends and another begins.  When I was a child I'd hear grown ups say that time seems to pass faster as we get older.  I didn't believe it then.  Well, now I understand what they were talking about.  It seems like yesterday that Phillip and I brought our new babies home from the hospital.  Those babies are not babies anymore. They have now grown into a precious young man and a precious young lady that this mom is so proud of.  And together with the most wonderful man in the whole wide world, we are learning daily to be parents of a 7th grader and an 8th grader.  Husband, son, daughter.... Blessings Beyond Measure... Yes.

     For twenty years now, God has given me the privilege to be a part of the lives of over 400 children.  Many of the students I taught as a new teacher have finished school, married, and have children of their own.  Wow!  Yes, time flies.  Those students have left me with special memories.  Some make me laugh and some make me cry.  Each one of them has left their own mark on my life.  I've spent my days teaching children about the world...teaching them to read, to tell time, to count money, to add and subtract...the list goes on.  But they have taught me many things too.  Blessings Beyond Measure... Yes.

     In the past week, I have had the opportunity to visit with many, many, many relatives.  We've been to gatherings with my mom's family (around 25 of em), my dad's family (around 28 of those), and my husband's family.  They came from all over Louisiana, Florida, Colorado, and Iowa.  Some I haven't seen in several years.  It was wonderful to exchange hugs, conversations, and food, of course.  Time spent with family... Blessings Beyond Measure... Yes.

     Our family is so blessed to be a part of a wonderful church family.  And, yes, our friends at FBC Minden are like family.  We love our pastor and staff.  They are there loving us, caring about us, encouraging us, teaching us, helping us, and praying for us!  Blessings Beyond Measure... Yes.

     God has blessed me with some really special friends!  And I don't know what I'd do without them.  Some live close by and some live far away, but they are all special to me just the same.  Some have been friends for a lot of years and some are new.  The love, hugs, prayers, and neverending encouragement and support they continue to share with me keep me from going under on the rough days and make the good days even better!  Blessings Beyond Measure... Yes.

     The clock says 12:01 and I hear fireworks outside, so I guess 2011 has arrived in Minden!  I pray that all of you, wherever you are, have a wonderful new year in 2011.  And don't forget to be thankful for and share your many blessings with others... blessings that truly are beyond measure.

     Happy New Year!!!

Speaking of Blessings....Here are some of the most special blessings in my life!  These pics were taken the day after Christmas when my mother's family got together.  It was so good to see and visit with aunts, uncles, and cousins that I haven't seen in years!!!



  

                                                                

                   

A Life Filled with God's Richest Blessings

     I have often wondered if I would enjoy joining all the bloggers of the world with my own blog.  So I've decided that 2011 will be the year that I give it a try.  Along the way, I hope to be able to share bits and pieces of our life filled with "God's Richest Blessings"!