Alex's First Day of School

I can't believe it...my nephew started kindergarten today! I have been so nervous and excited about him going to school. I told my mom that if I'm this nervous for him, I can't imagine how nervous I will be when my own child begins school. Here are some pictures that Kelly (my sister, his mother) e-mailed me. The first one is of Alex showing off his new Pirates of the Caribbean backpack.



This next picture is of Alex hugging my niece, Elena, good-bye. I don't think Elena is excited to see him go (or maybe she is).



This final picture is Alex scurrying up the steps of the bus. I'm sure that Alex will do an excellent job at school.

Open House Blues

Tonight was open house at school and it was totally boring. It was two hours long and I spent more time working on my thesis (yes, I'm still working on it) then meeting with parents. I have 115 students and only eight parents stopped in to meet me. That's okay, I got a lot of editing done on my paper. Of course, I would have rather worked on it in the comfort of my own home instead of the oven that is my classroom.

First Day of School!

Today was the first day of school and I am exhausted! It was a little different because I was not actually in my classroom at all. The upperclassmen all had an extra day off as we had freshmen orientation all day today. It was kind of cool.

We are starting a new program that is related to the Challenge Day Program that we have used in the past with the juniors and seniors. This year we are beginning what is called the "Eagle Link Program." I have been paired up with another teacher and we were assigned a teen leader (a senior girl) who has gone through the Be the Change Program. Today we were grouped with five freshmen to lay the foundations of our group. Next week we will have five seniors, juniors, and sophomores added to our group. Then, for the rest of the year we will meet once a month. It will be interesting to see how this works out.

I guess tomorrow will be my actual first day of school. I'm getting excited about starting another year of school.

Texas Hold 'Em and Friends

This evening Jeromy and I hosted our cell group for the final time (we are moving our group to the McQueary's house next week). For our final activity we had a Texas Hold 'Em tournament (no gambling, of course). The exciting thing about it was that I actually won! I can't believe it! I don't usually do well (which is why it is good that I don't gamble), but I always have fun! It was definitely fun tonight.

Michelle took this picture (I stole it off her blog) of me wearing the championship hat after the tournament. I didn't know Jeromy had jumped into the picture. Incidentally, Jeromy was the second person to go out. Isn't he cute?

Final Friday

Today is the final Friday of Summer Vacation! We have meetings at school on Monday and Tuesday is our workday and then the grind begins on Wednesday. Oh Well! It's been nice while it lasted.

A Reflection on Heartbreak

As I was reading my friend Michelle's blog this morning, I saw a statement that truly reflected how I felt about the miscarriages I had suffered. Even though the book the statement came from was about relationships, it made me think about my own heartbreak.

"I am the woman I am because of the heartbreak I've lived through.
This doesn't mean I cherish heartbreak. It doesn't mean I want to go through it again. Doesn't even mean that these experiences were always God's best for me. But it also doesn't mean that they weren't."

As much as losing my unborn children tore me up, I know I am the woman I am today because of it. Why did God have me go through those horrible times? Why, even though God has given me peace, does sadness sweep over me at times in an overpowering fashion? I know God has a purpose for me and a reason for this suffering, but I just wish I knew what that was.

I know that Jeromy has used our suffering as a reference point when at work. My heart breaks when I think about how he has to be the one to tell someone that they are miscarrying the precious child they are carrying. Jeromy has empathy for these patients because of what we have gone through.

Maybe God will use me in a similar fashion some day. Maybe the reason we can't have a child is because God wants us to adopt (which I truly believe) and we wouldn't have done it otherwise. I don't know. I probably will never know.

All I know is that I will never be the same woman that I was before the first miscarriage and that is okay because I believe I'm stronger now. My faith in God is stronger as well.

However, I always wish I had those children who were taken from me. As I sit here, I realize the oldest would be turning three this November and the youngest would have been born a few months ago. I am not happy about the slices cut from my life, but I can use this pain for good and not turn it against myself or someone else.

A Lifestyle Change

This past weekend, my mom and I joined my sister Laura on a search for her bridal dress. Yes, she is getting married to her boyfriend Andy. Anyways, we made a couple stops on this journey the final being David's Bridal.

As mom and I sat on the couch waiting for Laura to appear in the next dress, I started to look at myself in the huge mirror in front of me. To make a long story short, I did not like what I saw. I have been overweight for a while but that mirror was not flattering at all.

To solve this problem and to prepare for Laura's wedding (it's in St. Lucia and Jeromy and I are hoping that we will be able to attend), I have decided to work out on a more regular basis. My friend Michelle has been going to Lifestyles for Ladies this summer and has greatly enjoyed it. However, as the summer progresses she has begun to lose steam. So, we have decided to work out together on at least three days a week.

Yesterday, we went for the first time. I worked on my upper body strength. Even though I had difficulty with some of the weights I am not sore today which really surprised me. We are going again tomorrow and I guess I will be working on my lower body. I will keep everyone updated on how I do.

Garage Sale Excitement? (Maybe Not)

For the past two days we have jumped into the land of garage sales. Why? Because as I was cleaning the spare bedrooms to prepare to paint I realized that Jeromy and I had a lot of "junk" that we never use. So for the past few weeks I have been bugging everyone I can to add their "junk" to ours to have a garage sale.

On Monday, the stuff began to arrive in the back of my Aunt Cindy's car and the trailer hitched to the back end. It took two trips - one from my Aunt Cindy's house and another from my Aunt Judy and Uncle Jim's. Then, on Tuesday my sister Kelly showed up with things that she would like to sell as well. On Wednesday morning, Jeromy and I drove to Eisenhower Middle School to borrow six tables. We then spent the afternoon setting up the tables and I began placing items. Later that afternoon, my mom and Aunt Cindy (with more stuff) came over to help set up. It didn't take too long. We were finished by 7:00 (we would have been done sooner if Mom could have focused before dinner- Mom, you better know I'm kidding).

It really has not been stressful, but it has not been rewarding monetarily either. In the end I'm tired, relieved we are not continuing with it tomorrow, and our house is lighter without all the "junk." I hope the new owners enjoy it.

Really Cool Video!

I saw this video on Good Morning America this morning while eating breakfast. It's not exactly professional quality and drags at some points (they had it nicely edited on GMA). Actually, the guy who filmed it said that he isn't very good with a video camera (this is obvious) and it was actually another guy on the safari who put it up on YouTube.

As I said, it tends to drag and the last minute is pretty worthless, but if you like Animal Planet or Discovery Channel, you'll like this. Enjoy!

I'm Getting Too Old!

Actually, I think the title of this post says it all. After playing softball ALL day yesterday, my body is full of complaints today. It's so sad when you realize you are old.

Finally...Clean and Sitting Down!

Today has been a very long day physically. We had our tournament for softball and our first game was at 11:30 this morning. We played three games in all, the last ending at 5:15. So, let me fill in all the other details.

At 11:30, we played against New Heights (yes, the team which we are very competitive with) and won. Actually, it was one of our best games all season. There were a few innings where they were only able to get three people up to bat and then the inning would be over. Our batting was also much better than normal.

After that game, we had about 45 minutes to grab something to eat and then head over to Loop Park to play Heritage (the team who had to forfeit the previous two games against us, because they broke league rules). We beat them by only three points. By the end of that game I think both teams were willing to hand over the game because we were all so tired. Our age was catching up with us.

So, we headed back to Railway Park for the final game against Northwood (the team we played on Monday). It was a tough game. Everyone was tired and it showed. There were a lot of pulled muscles and other such injuries (nothing serious, thank God). In the end we won by one run!

Yes! We were league champs!

But, now I am home finally clean and able to sit down. Actually, Jeromy just finished dinner so I am going to get something to eat! (Yes, I am spoiled)

Visiting Family and More Softball

This weekend Jeromy and I traveled to Dayton for a visit with his family. We had a great time of playing games, swimming, and just plain visiting.

On the way home we stopped off in Lima so Jeromy could go to an orientation at St Rita's Hospital. He is picking up moonlighting shifts at Putnam County Hospital and this was the last step to do just that. While he did that, I sat in the lobby reading. I like to read, but the lobby was freezing and after a while it does get a little boring.

Once we finally made it home, we decided to rest up for our final softball game of the regular season. We played Northwood Church of God, which was nice because we always have fun playing them. We won our game and ended the regular season in second place. We moved up from 3rd place because the last two games we played were forfeited by the other team. It was discovered that they had played a couple players who were not on their roster (after being told a month ago that they could play if they signed the team roster). I think this is sad because what was supposed to be a fun time with other Christian was turned into something ugly and competitive. The league is not supposed to be like that. If they stay in the league next year, I hope there are no issues.

I almost forgot (I don't know how)...I was injured last night. As I went to get a ball flying through the outfield I overshot it and it hit my arm instead of my mitt. I have a nice ball shaped bruise on my left forearm. It is also a little swollen. Then, a couple of innings later I tried to stop a grounder with my leg. I had a huge bruise on my left shin. Even though by this time I was in considerable pain, I had no choice but to continue playing. We need to have three girls on the field at all times and we had no subs. Last night when I finally got home, Jeromy babied me a little bit with getting me some Motrin and a ice pack. This morning both injuries feel much better.

Another BIG Decision

I have held off writing about another BIG decision that Jeromy and I recently made until we had talked to a couple of people. We have decided to change churches and attended Bethel United Brethren in Elmore. This was a tough decision. We like our current church a lot and will definitely miss seeing some people on a daily basis.

A lot of you who know us are probably asking why, so I will tell you. For the last six to nine months I have not felt as if I was serving the way God was asking me to serve. However, I also did not feel like what He was asking could take place where I was at. Then, before Easter, Jeromy and I ran into Pastor Norm (my youth pastor when I was in middle school and early high school)and found out he was a pastor at a church in Elmore. Later that same day, my mom and I ran into Pastor Norm and his wife Cindy again. During our conversation, I mentioned that I felt called to work within children's ministry. Pastor Norm became excited because they needed someone at his church to revamp their children's ministry. Nothing happened with this until late June when Cindy called to see if we could all get together. We were unable to get together until early July. Everything has moved so quickly since then. I have been praying constantly and talking to Jeromy and finally I gave in to God and decided this is what he would have me to do.

We do not plan on leaving ONC totally. We will definitely be attending our small group still and we will probably attend on random Sundays when we don't get up early enough for the drive to Bethel (20 minutes).

I'm excited about the work God will have me do, but I am also scared. I'm also sad about the people that I will no longer see on a weekly basis. However, I trust this is what the Lord would have us to do and I trust Him.

Softball Loss

Yes, we lost again to Heritage. No excuses, they just outplayed us. At least we had fun! (Well, at least I did)

Another Loss in Softball

Tonight at softball we played a team we have yet to play, Heritage Christian. They are new to the league and so we did not know what to expect. Unfortunately, we lost by one run. It was a good game. We made a few errors and the umpire made some bad calls and in the end we lost. But, we had fun and that is all that matters!