Another one bites the dust.

Ah, I am finished with yet another semester.
Hooray for me!

Nothing new going on... yeah, right.
More on that later.

I am loving the sunshine and the warm air.

Emma is doing the Academic Bowl for Kindergarten tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. She is excited. Eli should have done his today. He loves to compete, and it looks like his competitiveness's has rubbed off on Emma.

Oh, we got his ACT results back. You know, like the REAL ACT? The high school one?
Well, he made a 26.
That is pretty dadgum cool cause I made a 19. And Dave made a 19.
So, technically, Eli could go ahead and start college.
:)

Is It God Calling?

Have you ever felt as though something was supposed to happen or that you were supposed to be somewhere at a certain time?

Have you ever been "called" to do something?

We have an opportunity that I feel is a blessing. Not necessarily a blessing maybe, because the circumstances were not that great to begin with - maybe the right term is that we are in a position to make a difference.

Last week, I had a serious conversation with God. I think I am still talking to Him about this particular thing. Anyways, I went for a walk on a sunny day. I thought about life as I walked around in the blowing breeze, the warm air, the sun... and I told Him, "Here I am. Do with me what You will."

I think of a song we sing in church, "Here am I, send me." This is what I want. This is what I need. But I want to make sure that my needs and wants are His needs and wants.

I have to pray harder. And completely rely on God.

Last week of school... here I come!

It is with great anticipation that I finish the last week of this practicum. I have come to love my second graders! I was blessed to spend last week with fourth grade and I proctored the TCAP. Guess what! I love fourth graders, too.

On May 10th, I will move to middle school and spend two weeks with either fifth or sixth graders. Will I love them also? Or will they scare the goo outta me like I think?

It is hard to believe that next month at this time, I will be a senior. :)

In other news, it has been a difficult two weeks for both myself and Dave (and the rest of the family) emotionally. I have learned some hard lessons about government, people and trust. I have prayed for a specific family that has been brought to us. I have told God that I am here, use me how he wishes. I have repeated that God is in control of the situation - even when I did not feel it.

I pray for guidance for a sweet family. I pray for the social workers, I pray for my family who are all stepping in and working together.

We have so much and now I know that there are so many that have so little. Not financially. Emotionally. While my own little family is not perfect, Dave and I love, love, love the kids. We hug and kiss and play. Even when we are exhausted at the end of the day, we love.

So many children do not get that.

I always look to grow from certain situations. From this situation, I have learned to be extra careful with my words and actions. I am watching my own movements about the house. I want to make sure that my family knows how much I love them and appreciate them.

Eli is an awesome teenager with a wonderful future ahead of him. I love his wit and charm. I have saw a different side of him this week... I see how tender his heart really is. This child has the ability to love others deeply.

Emma is ready to share and be loved by others. She takes change in stride, opens her heart to those in need. She is a welcoming child full of love and loyalty.

Tripp is happy to be here :)

Anyways, please keep my friends in your prayers in the upcoming weeks. They need it.