Well............

I got started on my spring cleaning but it sure does go a lot slower when the hubby is home. I have so much to do and so does he. But..............he wants me to be involved in what he has to do. Of course since our son is older I don't have to help as much, but he likes for me to come and see the progress and give my opinions and listen to his plans and go to Home Depot with him. I don't mind going to Home Depot, I like that store. Love the garden section. Needless to say, though, I didn't get a whole lot of cleaning done today. I have my list and it will get done if I pray for FedEx to keep my husband all day just for one day. LOL! No, really I love having him around. I just don't get anything done when he's around. LOL! Tomorrow is another day.

Spring Brings Cleaning

Our school officially begins Spring Break on Monday! My break always means it's time for spring cleaning around my house. Believe it or not I actually enjoy it. It's one of two or three times a year that my house gets cleaned thoroughly. I know that sounds bad, but I don't think I'm a bad housekeeper. I'm talking from the ceiling down. Windows inside and out. Turn mattresses. Clean under the big furniture that never gets moved. Move furniture around for the Spring and Summer arrangements. Yes, I arrange for seasons! We have a wood-burning stove and we don't set our furniture near it in the winter. When it gets warm again, I move it closer since we won't be using it. This is only a few things I will be doing this weekend. I also plan to have some quality time with my boy. I only have a few years left with him and I am going to make the most of it.
Have a great weekend, everybody!

My Day

My boy got his brown belt tonight in karate! He is only one level from black now. We had to postpone the test back in November because we had an important family event to attend. Thankfully his instructors understood, but it has been a loooooooong time. They have changed up their curriculum a bit and I have to buy the belts now. They also changed location and some other things, not 100% on board with all that, but we are going to finish!

The school went to the T.B.A.C. Music Festival today. They did a great job. Tomorrow we will go back and finish up with the high school students and then we are on spring break! WOO HOO!

My dad won't be able to come back for Wayne's surgery. Pray that the Lord will give him peace while all this takes place.

Update

Wayne got his second opinion yesterday. As far as all goes with the tumor in the kidney, it was the same. This doctor, however, wants to try and save the kidney. I think that is wonderful. If he can't then he will remove it. They are waiting to find out if the surgery will be on March 31 or April 10. I am praying for the tenth because my dad is trying to get here from the Philippines. I know he and his wife want it done sooner and I completely understand that. But I'm sorry I'm praying against you guys. Keep praying for Wayne. Pray for my dad to get her quickly and as inexpensive as he can.

Sunshine and Roses

I had a thought one day while working in my flower bed that I wanted to share with you. I love to work in my flower bed. It's a lot of work but well worth it all. My thoughts led me to see how we are like roses in God's flower bed. This is what I learned from my roses.

1. Roses need sunshine and water. Notice that roses grow toward the light. Water causes the roots to grow longer and deeper. We are the same. A christian grows toward the Light of Christ and we are rooted in the Word of God.
2. Roses are distinct flowers. I don't think there is one person who does not know what a rose is. They are very easy to identify by their appearance and fragrance. A christian should be the same way. A complete stranger should be able to identify us with Jesus just by our outward appearance and character.
3. Roses have thorns. Thorns protect the rose. Staying in church and reading God's Word daily protects us.

I haven't a clue why God sees me as "work well worth it," but He does. I'm so glad He gives me the nourishment I need to grow spiritually.
Have a great day!

Congratulations Danielle!

My niece, Danielle, got engaged today! I'm so happy for you and Jeff! I'm so excited for the both of you. My girl is getting married! I pray all your dreams will come true exactly the way God has them planned. You'll be graduating college in May and then off to your new journey in life. I love the way God works everything out. His ways are perfect and right. As long as you both love God first, your love for each other will be right. This is what I have learned over 16 years of marriage, I'm sure I'll share plenty more of my "wisdom" :) with you. As I look back over the time your uncle and I have been married, when I was standing in your shoes and I thought I loved him so much then. I couldn't imagine loving him more. But, as two people grow together, the love grows too. What I felt then isn't love compared to what I feel now. One day you will have that same feeling. It only gets better from here. You deserve it all, Dani girl. I love you.

Little Things

Have you ever noticed it is the little things that make us happy in life? One of my favorite things for my husband to do for me is to make sure I have a cold Diet Coke. There is always one waiting for me after school. I love it when one of the students gives me a big hug at school and says "I love you, Mrs. Shelly!" Just like today, I drove my niece to the dentist. I enjoyed that time with her. I don't get much of it and she's all grown up and about to embark upon her own journey in life. I'd drive her anywhere. I love the little talks with my other niece. I like to think I have a small part in her finding her way through this life. I doubt I offer much to her except my love. I love it when my son comes to me and hugs me before he goes to bed every night. It will be gone before I blink. I love it when my best friend rubs my back and says "How are ya?" Most of all I appreciate their prayers on my behalf. I hope and pray I am all these things to the ones I love. I cherish all of this and thank God daily for those little things.

Spring!

I love spring! I really do. I'm so ready for the grass and trees to be green again. I'm ready for my flowers to all be blooming with their pretty bright colors. And best of all, I'm ready for the warm weather! Everything comes back to life again. Yes, Lisa, my hydrangea is coming to life. No flowers just yet, but lots of green! The other plant is growing as well. I'm excited to get out in the yard and work. I don't look forward to clearing the leaves from my flower bed, though. We have a lot of trees! But, I'll just get my husband's blower and it will be easier this year, I think. Once I get them out in the yard, my husband or son will just mow over them and they will become mulch for our grass. I'm also looking forward to having a vegetable garden again. Can't wait to start getting tomatoes. Of course, that is still a while away since we are going to plant them this coming weekend. Happy Spring everybody!

I Need Your Help!

I tried to make some updates earlier and I have lost some info that was on my blog. If you were following my blog, please sign up again. Also, I tried to remember each of the blogs that were on my blog list, but I fear I may have forgotten one or two. Please let me know if your blog is not on the list. Sorry for the troubles, but I do think I know what I did wrong if that helps. LOL!

My thoughts and prayers today

It's been a few days since I have been on here. Wow, it just seems to get so busy sometimes!
First of all, I will let you know about my brother, Wayne. He has been having some pain in his right side, which he went to the doctor for. They were thinking gall bladder, so they did some blood tests and sent him for an MRI. The MRI didn't show anything abnormal, but the blood work showed that his liver count is high. They think it may be viral, but still unsure at this point. He can't take anything for it and on top of that he has a chest cold and can't take medicine for that right now either. The doctor then sent him for a CAT scan, still not giving up on the gall bladder. During this they stumbled upon (I believe God revealed it to them) cancer in his left kidney. So, now the focus is on the cancer and not the liver. By the way they are hoping that whatever is wrong with the liver will pass for the moment. That's why no meds. Back to the cancer. They believe the cancer is just in the kidney and have given Wayne a few options that he could do. He has chosen to have the kidney removed since the other kidney is almost perfect. He is going ahead and getting a second opinion for the sake of it, but the surgery is scheduled for April 8. So keep praying for him that God will intervene!
My church celebrated its 63rd anniversary this past weekend. What an accomplishment. I'm so proud to be part of a church that still sticks by the stuff and still remains true to God and His Word.

Prayer Request

Please pray for my brother, Wayne. He is having health problems and will be having surgery later this month. I'm not sure if he wants me to tell about it all here, but as soon as he gives the go ahead, I will let you know details. Just know, he needs your prayers. Thanks.

The Lord delivered

I said here yesterday that I was trusting the Lord for a good day today. He gave me one just like I knew He would. He hasn't let me down yet! I've let Him down so many times and yet Christ remains true and faithful to me. I don't deserve any of it at any time, but He loves me far beyond my understanding. He is a Good God! And so I am trusting the Lord for another good day tomorrow. Thank You, Lord for my good day.
The simple things in life are what I have learned to love the most. I was just talking with Mrs. Sue about that today. What she misses most right now about Bro. Jesse is that she can't kiss him everyday. Small and simple. It's the things like the little kiss from the one you love, or a good day, or even a friend's smile that make this life wonderful.
Y'all have a great day!

Looking For A Good Day!

I am looking for a good day tomorrow. I'm trusting the Lord to give it to me. I know it can't be a good day if I don't trust the Lord. A good day to me is to just be happy in the Lord! I like to be happy. I hope it is one of the things I am known for. My verse is Psalm 28:7, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." My happiness is because I trust in the Lord. I trust Him even with something as simple as a good day. He's the only one who can give it to me. I don't believe it's what we make it to be. It's what God makes it to be! Thank you, Lord for giving me the simple things in life like a good day!

Fun At School Today!

We have two different T.B.A.C. competitions coming up in the next several weeks: Music Festival and Track Meet. The kids have been practicing hard on their music and they are sounding great! Some of them are on our music schedule at church to sing their songs. I have also been running them like crazy for track practice. I found a great way to wear them down and keep them quiet! LOL! OK so you are probably wondering where the fun is, right? Well, today, instead of making them do running exercises, I made up a game, which probably isn't an original anyway. It was a keep-away game with teams and they all had a blast! I had a blast watching them play!
We are looking forward to next week, because Mrs. Sue is coming out of retirement! We, teachers are excited because we won't have to score English! Woo Hoo! The students are excited because they will have her there for English! Woo Hoo! We all are excited because we love her and miss her and need her there! I'm looking forward to Mrs. Sue being back at school!

Backed Up!

Wow, that is what my laundry was! I didn't have a chance to wash last week, and because of that, I have been washing clothes all day long! I think it's just a prelude to my spring cleaning which will begin in about three weeks. I cleaned all day today, while my husband and son continued to build our deck out back. It's coming along. I'm excited for it to be ready when we open the pool up this summer! I won't have to climb over or up a ladder to get into the pool. How nice that will be! Spring is almost here, one of my favorite times of the year. I love to see the flowers blooming. Everything is coming back to life and I love it!