Summer Fun

Kyle started school today. What better to do the day before school starts than to go off on an adventure? Kyle and I adventured through an area he's been to before, but I had never been. It is near Shaver Lake in an area called Dinkey Creek. I loved being out in creation with my husband!
Doesn't the ripples in the water make the rocks look dazzling?

My stomach had become a bit sour due to the curvy roads. I was so taken back as I stepped out the of the car and smelled the forest. I don't know how, but some how I had forgotten how good it smelled to be in the forest. Just breathing in that air cleared my stomach issue in no time.

These reminded me of some flowers I took pictures of on a windy day with Kari and Stephanie at the dog park.

I was startled as Kyle was vocally not so excited about me putting my feet over the edge of this rock. It went down a ways. I thought I was the protective one:)

These guys will be great to show my kids when I teach a lesson on surface tension. I did one of my science fair projects on surface tension when I was a kid.

Meet Inferno

On Tuesday the 19th I found a pet suitable for my office. It was tough to decide what type of pet would work best for the environment. It couldn't be loud or messy. It had to require minimal maintenance. I wanted it to be interesting to look at and be a fun addition to the office.

Done-da-da-done! Inferno is a male Crown Tail Betta. His name was chosen to emphasize his red coloring. He reigns in an 1/2 gallon tank which has a Zen-like garden decor. I plan on adding a plant to the tank to provide a more natural feel. Perhaps a freshwater snail could also join Inferno's domicile.

My colleagues are impressed that he has made it this long without going “belly up”. I predict that he'll be around for awhile. I am confident that he'll become integrated as part of our office family.

Afternoon Ambling

Isn't water fun in photos?


This one reminded me of the Dr. Seuss book Horton Hears a Who.


I did an Ellie style photo by lying on the ground to take this one. It was rather fun for me to take:)

Things I Loved About This Summer

I'm in a bit of a reflective mood thinking about things I miss.

Things I loved about this summer:

1. I loved seeing the Bahers in Wisconsin. I still think everyone should visit there. It is GORGEOUS!!! Plus I got to see the Bahers, and well, they're just cool!
2. I loved going on runs early in the morning. I'm getting up at 5:45 now, and it is dark. I'm not all about running in the dark or waking up at 5:15 to go running. Luckily, I have been on a few afternoon walks since the preparation for school started.
3. I love how much sunlight we get in the summer. I love that I wake up to sunlight even if it is 5:15 in the morning. I love how the sunsets after 8.
4. I love that I'm not nearly as likely to stress during the summer. It is a constant battle once school starts to see if I'm going to choose to live about worry and stress.
5. I love that if I want my quiet time to be an hour and a half, it can be. Now it is structured to about 1/2 hour, but that all depends upon how quickly I'm moving in the morning. Thankfully, Deut. is proving to be more interesting than I thought it would be:)

A Walk Full of Color

These look so delicate to me, like etty bitty paintbrushes coming out to play.

I didn't remember that these came in purple:)

The tops of some of these remind me of a pine cone.

Doesn't this look like several tiny bouquets?

Awe, how can you not stop and look?

My Favorites

Here are my favorites from Tasha's last camera excursion.

First


Second


Third

A Touch of Color

Last night I went looking for the supplies to make a conduct chart. I didn't have one before, but I've heard that is what 3rd grade teachers do. Kyle was willing to join me at GWs, which I am ever so thankful for, and I began my search for the perfect pockets, poster, and cut outs. After being discouraged by the lack of the perfect cutouts, I opted to paint the whole thing. Kyle was super helpful and stuck all the pockets on for me and I got to finger paint the rest! Yeah for a touch of art and color in the class, and yeah for "art therapy" for me last night.

Clovis Flowers

I went for a walk and what did I see
A bunch of flowers coming after me



These were flowers that I got at Costco for my sister's shower. Don't they look great?

Letters By Lisa

A friend of mine is starting up a business from home. She's been working on her website and it looks fabulous. If you're looking for some art, a gift for a friend, or love names check out http://www.lettersbylisa.com/index.html. I got a piece as a gift for teaching one of her sons. It has my initials in it. I love it! It hangs up in my bedroom. I then wanted to have Kyle's initials done. I just picked up this piece last weekend and it looks great too! Definitely check out the studio!!!

If you want to find this link after this post is archived, you can find it on the links section on the right side of the screen.

Another Reason I Love my Husband

This weekend Kyle went hiking with two other guys. They had a great time. Kyle came back terribly sore due to the hiking for more than 11 hours in a day.

This morning I didn't want to get up because:
1. It was dark outside. I hate losing daylight. It makes me crabby that it is dark close to 8 and isn't light at 5:30.
2. I have a math training that stretched my brain yesterday (it was much better today), so I wasn't too motivated to get up anyway.
3. I was tired.
4. My eyes were all goopy like I'm getting a cold (yuk!).

So, when my alarm went off at 6 I wasn't up for it. Thankfully when Kyle's went off a few minutes later (I had totally fallen back asleep by the time his went off) I decided I really needed to get up, and he willingly did too!!! We had to walk parts of the route because he was sore which made me feel fast and capable of beating him in a race. I know it is just because he is sore, but it still made me giggle to be "the fast one." Plus, Kyle is actually talkative in the morning if he is going on a run or walk. This is a very pleasant surprise for me!!!

Reasons I Love my Husband (just in case you missed them):
1. He went running with me.
2. He boosted my confidence.
3. He talked with me.
4. He woke up early for me.
5. He went running/walking despite how terribly sore he is.
6. He did all of these despite how crabby I was after my conference yesterday.

Awe, what a lucky gal I am.

Funny Moments

Yesterday I dropped Kyle off for a doctors appointment.  He was supposed to call me when he was done.  Meanwhile, I'd be enjoying some sweet ice cream with a couple friends.  Once I was at the ice shop my friend said something about Kyle calling me when the appointment was done.  For whatever reason, truly a God moment, I checked my cell phone pocket in my purse.  It had disappeared.  Yeah for Lori saying something about my phone, otherwise Kyle would have had no way to get a hold of me.  I called Kyle from a friend's cell phone and told him that I thought I'd left my cell phone at home.  

So, once home I searched.  Nothing.  It wasn't on the kitchen table, in the bedroom, or on the coffee table.  I had to start rethinking all the phone calls I'd made the day before.  Finally I thought I had an idea.

This morning I checked the house I'm kitten sitting for.  Low and behold it was there.  The kittens looked like they'd messed with it, or it just vibrated off the counter.  I was also startled to find 8 missed calls.  Wow!  How did we ever survive before we had cell phones?

My thoughts today

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." Matthew 7:24-25

People are drawn to the pastors that say Jesus will give you health and wealth. But that is a contradiction of what Jesus said. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with everything in you and to love others as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). Our foundation in God is to be built upon loving Him and loving others. When the storms of life beat on us, we can stand firm in Christ.

What does is look like to love God with everything in you? How does your time reflect that you love God? Does it sound like you love others when you gossip and judge about people at church or even strangers at a restaurant?Are you holding onto something that God wants to clean up in your life?

Control is something I often grab a hold of and try to keep from God. I know, it sounds crazy for me with a three pound brain to keep something for the One who created the heavens and the earth. It comes in the form of worry, fear, and stress. I realized this summer that I was really worried, fearful, and stressed about the coming school year. Once I finally figured that out (it took half the summer to admit to myself and God these things), it was amazing the freedom I found in trusting God to take care of this school year. I don't have to fear because he will never leave me nor forsake me (Matthew 28:20). He is a compassionate God who asks me to cast my burdens upon Him, because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). He hasn't gotten off His throne and begun to fret and wring His hands because another school year is about to start.

Does fear continue to pop up (nearly daily)? You bet! But I have the choice to get a tummy ache over it OR I can pray and ask God to take my fears.

So, my in-laws are going today to serve for at least a year, if not more, over in Central Asia. I've been fighting the what if game. Could they get hurt? Yes, it is always a possibility (really it is no matter where you live). Is it going to be hard not seeing them regularly and calling just to say hi? Yes, it is going to be hard, but with technology we'll still stay in touch. Do I know that this is where their supposed to be? Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I know they are in God's will with the purpose of glorifying God. Does knowing that make it easier for me to handle their move? Sometimes.

A friend of mine named Karen Watson served over in Iraq bringing water and aid to people. God called her to serve, and she obeyed. Karen and others were shot and killed while driving in between cities.

So, sometimes I handle my in-laws move being so blessed to know that they are following God. Other times fear creeps in that they'll be hurt or killed while in service.

Think back to my summer struggle of fearing school starting. Did fear help me any? No, it just gave me plenty of nightmares. Did praying and handing over my fears help? Yes, I am much more at peace now. What does fear do to my foundation in God during storms? It creates cracks and weakens it. With that said, please keep my in-laws and our family in your prayers, specifically that we will hand over our fears and trust God.

Humor

Kari has a postcard, I believe, on her refrigerator door that has a picture similar to the one below. It has a woman kneeling along the flowerbed tending her flowers. It reads something like this: After doing some yoga, having tea with my friends, and spending time in the garden I still feel like I want to smack somebody." Here's one she could add to the refrigerator door.