My life is fixing to change...........

Changes. Changes are often difficult; yet, as we live on this old earth we will face changes. Changes. Our children grow up. We move to a new location. Loved ones die or move away. Changes.

King Solomon talked about changes in Ecclesiastes 3:

1 To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to
every purpose under the heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

The past few years have brought about many changes in my life and in our family. We moved back to Georgia after living in Florida for seven years. I went back to college. Paul decided to start attending public school. Now, I am getting ready to start Student Teaching next Monday. Changes.

I have been telling Mark that my life is changing again and I am not sure if I am ready for the changes. I wish I could slow down time. I wish I had the years back when Christi, Bobby, Michael and Paul were babies. I would live this live again because despite the sorrow, my God has never left me.

There were times when I felt alone and forsaken but looking back I see that I was never alone. God always surrounded me with his loving children who took our family under their wings and displayed the love of God in our lives.

People will fail and disappoint but God never fails. He uses those sorrows to shape and mold us into his image. The point of our lives is to display the love of Christ to those around us.

Change is like the seasons. Winter must come before the spring. Summer's heat gives way to fall's breeze and coolness. Our lives are like those seasons. We have to embrace each one in order to be ready for the next.

I wish I could homeschool my sons again. I would do it so differently. I would focus only on them. I wouldn't be consumed with the minor things of life. I wouldn't worry about tomorrow but I would see the joy in every moment spent with them.

Life is so very precious. Our children, family and friends are so very precious. We need to live our lives with no regret for the words we speak, or the thoughts we have. We need to keep our hearts and minds focused on Christ and his desire for us.

A few pictures in Tennessee at Mark's Mom's.

Grandma and Michael


Mark and his mom


Grandma and Paul


Playing Monopoly

Christmas eve....... hanging stockings......

I left our stockings at home, so Michael hung a doggie stocking and Paul a giant ugly one. Neither my sons or Lauri's kids wanted these photos made. Too bad!

Christmas pictures........

A few Christmas 2007 Photos!

Posting a couple of Christmas pictures for Deborah.

I didn't decorate much this year. But here are a few photos!

My piano Christmas party.........

Here's a group shot of some of my students. They all seemed to have a good time. Once everyone got here, they played their Christmas pieces on the piano. Then, I finished putting out our spread (which I forgot to take pictures of but it was pretty) One of my students prayer over the food and then everyone ate.

Oh, my final menu for the party was:
Sausage Balls
Pigs-in-a-blanket
Meatballs in BBQ sauce
Chips
Veggie tray with ranch dressing
Pickles
Chex Mix
Iced sugar cookies
Chocolate chip and nut cookies
Chocolate/peanut butter fudge
Divinity
Dipped pretzels
Brownies
A Christmas punch

You could not tell from the weather that it is December. Everyone ate out on the screened in porch. After we ate, we came in and I gave the students their gifts and opened my presents from them.

I am freezing lots of cookies to carry up to Lauri's house. I have all the Christmas baking done that I plan in doing. Well, I may make some Cranberry orange loaves. I found a recipe and now I just need to find it, again. I bought the cranberries to make the bread. LOL

HoHoHo and Merry Christmas to All!!!

Blessings,
Debbie

Big Band Christmas music playing......

Cookies baking, lights on the tree........

I love this time of year.

I am always amazed at the hope of the season. Even with the deep longing for my children, I have hope because of my Lord. This is the time we celebrate God becoming a man and living among us.

I love the name....... Emmanuel .... God with us.

Blessings,
Debbie

Assignments are all submitted to WGU!!!!

I finally got my last assignment written up and submitted to my college before I begin Demonstration Teaching in January. I am thrilled to pieces. I can now finish getting ready for the holidays with a little less weight on my shoulders.

This is such a busy time of year without having to worry about school assignments.

I have lots to do but not school. Anyway, sharing my joy!

Blessings,
Debbie

Hohoho!!! I hope this works.

Copy and paste this link into your address bar and see us become elves!

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Blessings,
Debbie

My thoughts this evening.....

As we were driving home a little while ago, Paul had the group Yellow Card on the stereo. They were singing a song that contained the words, “Do You Remember When?” My mind started reliving all my years with this man that God gave to me as a husband. It went back to all the firsts. I was lost in thought and overwhelmed with my emotions and was saddened about how quickly our life together is flying by. We have had sorrow and heartache more than I ever thought that I would have to endure; yet, by God’s grace, we have endured. We have also experienced great joy and laughter. I remember the day each of our children were born and the day I picked up Paul. What amazing joy!

Tears swelled up in my eyes, as I realized that since we have already been married twenty-eight years, and we may not live to see another twenty-eight. Silently, I thanked God for this man. I adore my husband. He has always been my friend as well as my lover. God has blessed me beyond measure.

Young wives love your husbands and treasure each moment that God gives you with them. Don’t get caught up on the temporal things in this life. Life moves by all too quickly. Take time everyday to build your relationship with your husband. Enjoy each other.

Blessings,
Debbie


Our Wedding Day, December, 1979


Our Vacation this Summer, June, 2007

My new Christmas quilt and other ramblings.

My friend, Linda, from Florida surprised me by FedExing me a Christmas quilt. I just love it. I thought that I would share a photo of it.



I got my official scores on the GACE exams. That was such a wonderful feeling. I passed my last objective test with WGU for my degree program on Wednesday morning. I have gotten one of my six assignments completed and submitted yesterday. It only took me five hours. LOL

I am hoping to finish another one today. That will leave me with four to get done. My adviser told me not to kill myself trying to finish them all by tomorrow. So, I will work on them over the week-end and the beginning of next week.

Merry Christmas! Tomorrow is December 1. Sunday is the first week of advent. Mark bought a new Christ candle a week ago but I have to go and buy the tapers for the advent wreath. Our tree is up and I am so glad. We have a busy schedule over the next three weeks. I have lots of my Nativities out. I love Christmas. It's my favorite holiday.

Blessings,
Debbie

I passed my GACE exams!!

I got my unofficial test scores in an email yesterday. That feels like a huge weight lifted off of me.

Tomorrow, I take my last proctored test for this degree. Now, I need to study for it. I also have to complete 6 more assignments by Friday night.

The GACE exams were two sets of the area content for Elementary education.

Blessings,
Debbie

Thanksgiving..... thanks!

Today was Thanksgiving! It seems like yesterday when we were celebrating the last Thanksgiving. I am so blessed because God is so good to me. Today, has been sweet. The weather has been lovely with the fall colors proclaiming the artistry of God. This first photo is one of Paul earlier today in the backyard.



This photo is of Paul cooking the green beans. He loves fresh stir fried beans. And, he's a pretty good cook.


This photo is of the boys and me. Not the greatest photo, but I thought that I would post it anyway.


I spent all day yesterday cooking our feast. It was just our family this year. Today has been pleasant. I made quiche and grapefruit compote in rosemary syrup last night for our brunch today. After our brunch, Mark and I put the turkey in the roaster and while it was baking, we all played Pictionary. Mark and I beat the boys! The turkey got done quicker than I was expecting, so we all got busy and finished the last minute dinner items (mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh green beans) while the cornbread dressing and sweet potatoes baked in the oven.

Later, Mark and I watched the movie, "Amazing Grace." I highly recommend it.

Today has been a day of gratefulness. I am so thankful.

Love,
Debbie

Today........ has been fun!

I got to meet Miss Jean from my ChristianMoms board. Our families met for lunch.

And, Paul decided to get his hair cut short! I couldn't believe it! Here are some photos from the day!

Me and Miss Jean


Our families.


Paul getting his hair cut.


Paul and Missy after his cut.


After the hair cut, Mark and I went grocery shopping and finished picking up the last things that I needed to make our Thanksgiving dinner.

Then, we came home and this evening watched "Hairspray".

Blessings,
Debbie

Bobby

Tomorrow my oldest son will turn 26 years old. I remember the day that precious child was born. He was a doll. I couldn’t get over all of his dark hair and huge blue eye. I remember crying when they told me he was a boy because my first thought was what would I do if he ever got drafted? ? Just the thought of the possibility of not knowing where he was or if he was safe caused me pain. Yet, I have had to live with unknowing since 1989.

Bobby was always happy. He never met a stranger. He would walk up to people and introduce himself and ask them if they had gone to church that morning!

He was my climber. I remember after the children got their swing set, I ran into the house for a minute to do something in the kitchen. I looked out the kitchen window and Bobby was sitting on top of the swing set. I went running out the back door totally afraid my precious child was going to fall off it.

I never go a day without thinking of my Christi and Bobby. I pray that God grants me my deepest desire, to see my children again in this life and for our family to be whole and reunited.

Tomorrow, I will weep. I will remember and I will pray. I will pray that God has blessed my son with joy and happiness. I pray that Bobby has found a lovely wife and that he has a child that he loves as much as I have always loved him. I pray that his life is filled with joy and that someday, he remembers his mom and dad and our life together before my parents stole him.

Moving Along with school...........

Because I know y'all are dying to know... NOT!! LOL

I know for sure where I will be Demonstration Teaching in January - just not the teacher or grade yet. I requested 3rd grade. We shall see what they give me.

My FBI background clearance finally got completed and I have mailed a copy to my school (along with my NEA membership) and taken a copy to the School Board. I had to join the NEA in order to get their liability coverage.

I am waiting for my last task in Teaching Math and Science to be graded.

I have only completed one task in Teaching Reading and Spelling.

I had a headache yesterday which put me further behind than I intended. For some reason these reading and writing tasks look horrible to me. Now, everyone (my mentor and the other students) says that the Math and Science tasks are the worse.

Well, I kind of liked doing those. LOL And, my grades were all really good on those tasks, too.

I will not find out my Content area GACE exams (state ones) until Nov. 27.

I take my LAST objective test with WGU on Nov. 28. I have taken and passed the pre-assessment with a high score, so I am not as worried about that test as I was.

Today, I have to clean my house and TRY to get serious about these tasks.

Then, I pick up Paul from school and take him to tutoring. Hopefully, Michael will stay at Brewton Parker and drive him home for me because Mark and I have a meeting (at our house) this evening.

Blessings,
Debbie

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Go take a look!!!

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Blessings,
Debbie

Saturday, November 3.... update.

Somebody tell me why at probably one of the most stressful and busy times in my life, do I decide to make a Martha Stewart sausage stew recipe that is served in little baked pumpkins? I must be insane. Or, my mind has turned to mush and I no longer possess the ability to think logically.

Anyway, I did do part of this recipe on Thursday. I soaked the beans and cooked them and then put those in the refrigerator. The presentation was lovely. But, the stew was so hot that all three of us were screaming. Anyway, I took pictures to show off my hard work. I hope y'all enjoy the pictures. Michael has been at the college all day. I guess he ate there. He's helping to make a movie.




I have managed to complete 8 papers this week! I have to complete the equivalent of 12 semester hours this month in order to Demonstration Teach in January. The school changed the time requirements on me after accepting me into the January DT cohort. I am treating college like a full-time job with horrible pay.

I hope that everyone else is having a lovely Saturday. I just may call it quits and not do another assignment since it's now 10:00 PM.

Blessings,
Debbie

My boys.........

Michael wore this to college today. Paul stayed home from school because the kid is sick but then he went to youth at church tonight dressed as a skateboarder.

Just look at my sons. I am so proud. Not! hehehe I know that it is the dream of every mother to have a pirate and a punker. (snicker)