God is So Good....AGAIN.....

This evening I was laying on Clarissa's bed with her "chatting". It was almost time to go to church. Our conversation went from silliness to seriousness quickly. Somehow or another the topic of heaven came up. (insert - As we got deeper in the conversation, I decided to keep going with it and miss church while Sal and Jonathon went on. I'm glad I did!) We talked for about 30 - 45 minutes. Throughout the course of our conversation, Clarissa kept asking me what heaven was like and what the "fire pit" was like. She told me about people in other countries and even our own that don't believe in Jesus. All of a sudden, she looked at me and said, Mommy, I want to accept Jesus because I know he died for our sins. What a beautiful moment! So, right there, on her hot pink bedspread, she and I prayed and she asked Jesus to come into her heart.

I realize that some are so skeptical of a child making such a decision. However, it isn't our job to judge and I firmly believe that God knows the tenderness of her little heart. Does she understand everything? I'm sure not but then again, neither do I. What she does understand is that God loves her so much that he sent Jesus to die for HER. She also understands that now, no matter what happens on earth, that we will be together, forever.

On a funny note, while we were talking, she asked me if I was going to be here when she got married and had children. I explained to her that I hoped I was but that God had a plan for my life and that He was the one that knew how long I'd be here. She looked at me real serious and said, so, do you know what day your leaving? I almost cracked up! No, I don't know but I am so glad that I was given today to be here on earth with her.

God has been so good to me. I'm ashamed to say but I don't recall hundreds of people that I've gotten to lead to the Lord. I pray that I've planted seeds in several but He has granted ME, the opportunity, to lead both of my children to Him. I am so thankful and blessed!

Proud Mommy Moments

This week was filled with many proud mommy moments. On Wednesday evening at church, Clarissa was given a speaking part in an upcoming Valentine's program. She was so pumped!!! It was a very proud moment to see a child who struggles with speech to be trusted with a SPEAKING part! Thursday Jonathon "shadowed" at the middle school that he is applying to. I thought I was doing OK with all of this middle school stuff but had a small (OK, maybe larger than small) breakdown when I dropped him off. However, after taking the parent tour, I was so proud of him and his acccomplishments that he could be invited to such a wonderful school. Friday morning Jonathon called me at school to tell me that he had won 2nd in the Science Fair and would be advancing on to Regionals in March. Saturday he had his first gymnastics meet of the season and came away with 1st in tumbling, 2nd in Double-Mini, and 4th in trampoline. I sure did enjoy watching him compete and excel! I don't know what else could be better in life than being a Mom except being a Mom to two really cool kids!

A Year Later and still messing with bacteria!

Well, I looked back on my blog and it's been almost a year since I posted about our, I mean Jonathon's, Science Fair project. Nothing has changed. Here it is....Superbowl Sunday, I missed the game, the commercials, and halftime BUT on the bright side, it's only 10:45 and Jonathon's board is finally complete! Now....we did start working on it yesterday. He was testing the importance of washing your hands after using the restroom. He has been observing bacterial samples from five toilets. Yesterday while he went to a skating party........I stayed home and made potties for each Petri dish to go into. Fun! I said we were going for the kill this year. I don't know if I would describe it as that but I will say we are much better prepared than last year. I'll leave you with just one piece of advice....ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS wash your hands after using the potty!!!!! Have a great week!

Life's Journey

It has been quite a while since I have blogged. I don't really know why. I guess I felt as though I really had nothing to say. Yeah, I know! That's a hard one to believe!

However, this week has been different. Over the past week, I have been faced with supporting a dear friend whose baby has been dianosed with a brain tumor, supporting my husband with yet another rejection at work, and learning of a coworker whose spouse has been told they only have a few months to live.

Believe it or not, I still have little to say. Really, the only thing I can say is this: I am so blessed. I hope never to take any of you for granted! Life is precious and so are you.

PS - Please keep my friend and co-worker in your prayers. God is still in the miracle business!

I Just LOVE this time of year!

We've been putting up our tree now since Friday. Yes, it tends to be a process. Last night as I was unwrapping the last box of ornaments, it was like Christamas Day had already arrived! I couldn't wait for to unwrap the next one to see what memory was going to return with it. I love to sit and look at the tree and the many ornaments that have been given to me. My favorite are those that my children have made!!! I could look at them forever! My tree, to some, may look a bit chaotic because it has no general theme. However, it really does have a theme. It has a theme of memories. I can't wait to make more! I love Christmas and everything it stands for. I hope and pray that you and yours will take time this year to create some very special memories!

I Am So Thankful

I've had several moments today that have allowed me to reflect. My students wrote letters to someone important in their life today. I had one young lady who's Mother is deceased, her Dad is in jail, write to HIS girlfriend, thanking her for taking her in. She went so far to say that even though the girlfriend won't be around for Thanksgiving and that she (the student) would have no Thanksgiving, she was still thankful to her for all she had done. I had another young man tell his Mom that he was proud of her for working hard in school and that he understood why they would have no Christmas this year. He went on to tell her that he knew she wanted to find a man so that he would have a role model but for her to remember that as long as they had God, they had enough. Then...tonight on the news, I hear stories of how children in my very own community who are living in foster care and group homes will not be receiving gifts for Christmas.

You know, I love this time of year. It isn't because everyone around me has all the love, peace, food, etc. that they need. It is because God uses these situations to remind me of all I have. I am so thankful for....

The fact that my children don't have to worry about a parent being in jail;
The fact that my children don't have to be the ADULT in my life;
The fact that, although small, my children will receive presents this year;

BUT, more importantly...

I'm thankful for.....

God giving me a job where I work with amazing children;
a God that I know is going to bless these children;
and for a God, that reminds me through some of the toughest situations, that I am so richly blessed and that I need to share those blessings with others.

I encourage you to look for your blessings and to be thankful. I also encourage you to SHARE those blessings with others who need them! God Bless!

Happy Halloween!

Tonight the kids enjoyed lots of fun at our church Fall Festival. They went trick-or-treating at one house (a co-worker friend of mine) and then they just HAD to get to the fesival. Jonathon was an old man and Clarissa.....at 3:30 today informed me that she was not going to be the old lady that she had planned but that she was going to be a Texas Tech cheerleader. You've gotta love the female mind.....so free to change at any minute! I hope everyone had a safe evening! Can you believe Thanksgiving is just right around the corner???????? Run turkeys!!!!!!!!