Take me out to the ballgame...

Yesterday we had the chance to see the Springfield Cardinals play ball (thanks, Mom!). Austin is our big baseball fan and this was part of his birthday present. It was a great day and I enjoyed spending time with Lance, Lindsay, Chris, and the boys. The weather was perfect for baseball, too! I don’t think Austin missed a play because he talked about it all the way home. He even knew the speed of the fastest fastball! (99 mph just in case you were wondering). Logan wasn’t as interested in the game as he was “Louie the Cardinal” and “Fetch the dog”. Around the 5th inning he looked up at me and said, “I wish I’d stayed with Nana and Landon, I’m ready to go home.” He was having problems sitting still; maybe it was all the cotton candy.  After a stroll around the concession area, and a trip to the gift shop for a giant foam finger, he was good for a few more innings.


I really hate that we didn’t make it back in time to hear Mom and my aunt and uncles sing; I know they did a great job. I love to hear them sing.

Family is so important, go do something with yours very soon, you won’t regret it.

One week behind us

Austin wasn't thrilled about the obligatory first-day-of-school picture.


My little Kindergarten man on his very first day of school.

We finished the first week, or half week, of school. Logan loves Kindergarten and was really proud that he didn't have to move a card "all week" and got to pick something from the treasure box. He has lots of new friends, and said his favorite class is the "one where we get to go outside and run around"...PE.

Austin has some pretty tough classes for the 8th grade. He has Algebra I, I don't think I took that until the 10th grade! He is playing basketball again this year, and really likes it. He enjoys school; I hope he keeps that attitude.

I'm having a good year, so far, too. I really like my classes. I have the biggest group of kids I've ever had, 23 in Art I, 22 in Speech, 18 in 8th grade Art, but then I do have a few small classes, too. Drama only has 4, Graphic Design has 8, and Advanced Art is down to 3.

Casey starts her classes next week. I hope she has a good semester, she needs one. Her classes are on Tuesday and Thursday, so she will still work Mon, Wed., and Friday. I think she likes working more than she likes going to school.

Please pray for our students, teachers, administration, and parents as we begin the new school year. I pray for my students everyday, that I will be an example of God's love, even though I can't say it in the classroom. Let's not forget to invite Him to school with us, He is desperately needed.

New beginnings

My crazy child riding a ride I'd call "Ring of Death" instead of "Ring of Fire"...maybe ring of junky metal thrown together and held in place by a paper clip?


L's daycare buddies.


Logan's table in his classroom.

Tomorrow (8/19) begins the new school year for both boys. Logan told me tonight that tomorrow he wouldn't be a preschooler anymore, he would be a big Kindergarten boy. I can't believe it! Last night was open house at school, so we took all his supplies, found his table and cubby, and met some new friends. He's so excited because one of his best friends is in the same class. They have been together since they were little babies in the same daycare. It's funny, there were 3 from the daycare going to our school, and all 3 of them got in the same class.

Austin will start 8th grade tomorrow. He has Algebra I this year! I think I remember having Algebra in 10th or 11th grade! Kids are just so much smarter these days. I had to include a little photo montage of one of the things he rode at the county fair. I don't think you could have paid me enough to get me on this ride, but he thought it was great!

I just realized this will be my 13th year of teaching, too. It doesn't seem that long, but I guess time flies when you are having fun. I'm looking forward to the new year, it will be a challenge, but I love a challenge. My classroom is 95% ready, just have to get a few more lesson plans figured out, but the first week we don't get much accomplished, anyway, so I'm not going to sweat it!

Don't forget to pray for the kids as they go back to school, pray for the teachers and administration that we may examples of God's love; pray for protection and guidance. Tomorrow is an exciting day!

Farewell, summer.

I'm a little sad tonight, this is the official end to my summer break from school. Tomorrow I have mentor training and then the teachers head back to school. Even though I enjoy being home with the boys during the summer, beginning a new year is always exciting for me, too. I'm looking forward to seeing the kids...most of them, anyway, and see what kind of summers they've had.

I know God has a plan for all of us, just like Doc's testimony this morning. God's plan for him was the medical field, and I know I'm supposed to be a teacher. I love being in the classroom, I love seeing that lightbulb go off when a child finally "gets" it, or maybe I'm just addicted to the smell of brand new school supplies!

Now, I know how boring a blog post can be without pictures or a fun little slide show, so here is a little background about my photos for this post. Yesterday Chris was going out the back door, when he turned and said, "Come here! There are twins in the yard!" I grabbed my camera and slipped out through the garage and got a few great shots of these cute little twins who are just beginning to lose their spots. I was afraid the dogs might try to chase them away, but they were stretched out, snoozing on the garage floor. I love our lazy dogs!

Sometimes....

...you run across something that just sums it all up in a way you can never say it yourself!

I found this on the Jessica Sprague blog and had to share, it's the best thing I've seen in a long time. Oh yes, I will use this in my high school speech classes!

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.