Saturday, May 07, 2011

God is always there

God, I know you're always there. No matter the situation. No matter how good or how bad things might be or appear to be.

Please be with my cousin who needs You right now.

Please be with Rob & I and a situation, You already know it all and how it will all work out. Help us to be like You and forgive where we need to forgive. Help us have Your wisdom about how to proceed. Please provide what was taken from us so that we can provide shelter, food, transportation for our family as we enter the lean season once again. Right now I can't see a way through this lean time intact, but I know You can provide. Help me to give it to You totally, trust You totally and wait patiently for Your help.

Most of all, God, please help me to forgive because I've been forgiven much I know.

Friday, May 06, 2011

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Sunshine

Thank you God for another pretty good day- well, by this year's standards, a really good day.

I even got to see "my girl" come back out from the dark recesses she's been hiding in. I was afraid I'd not see that side of her again, but thank you heavenly Father, the hurting, angry side went back in just as quickly as it had popped out again these past few weeks. I'd begun to feel like a failure for the backtracking she'd done. I'd questioned myself and my ability to reach "these" kids. I must confess that I was truly regretting my decision to move up to be with her.

And it wasn't just her; the past weeks have been seen behavior in other friends really worsening. The days have been so dark lately in our classroom for some of us kids and their worn-down teacher. Today was like the sun emerging after a raging storm. Its warmth reached way down deep inside me and the smile on her face and her wonderful laugh, oh how I wish she knew how happy she makes me too! We spent some one-on-one time at specials together, making copies, grading papers, laughing, her telling me jokes, talking about her grandmother, and sharing her worries and wishes for the EOG's. It was time so wonderfully well spent.

I moved up to be with her- both sides of this wonderful child. I do so love this child- the sunshine-y side and the stormy one, but this day... well, it was a welcome and much needed reprieve in the storms of our third grade life.

I pray the days of sunshine increase for her and the days of storms, hurt, and anger lessen. I pray that anyway, for her and for all my friends, and for children all over the world.

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

just a photo of my "baby"

Matthew got his cap & gown today. He came home late from a JROTC event and asked me, "Do you want me to try this on for you?" :) I know it's still five weeks away, but here's a photo of our youngest son. He really hates getting his photo taken so his smirky smile made my day!
He almost died at birth and when we brought him home from the PICU a week later, the dr.'s told me he'd be a scrawny, puny, frail boy. I ask you- does this 6'5" young man look puny, scrawny, or frail to you? :) God has a sense of humor I believe! No matter what the future holds, we are so very thankful that we've had 18 terrific years with him!!!

Boy, I love this young man!!!! I'm also posting a photo someone posted of him at the last JROTC campout when they went rappelling. He loves to do that!
If you've got little ones, hug them tight; they grow up before you know what happened!

And though I know he'll never look at this, I LOVE YOU MATTHEW LANE THOMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!