perfect ending to my day...

I'll love you forever

I'll like you for always

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be

Today was a good day...

A very good day in fact... and just what the doctor ordered.

I have been so busy and so caught up in my work, that my family

has been coming in 2nd on the priorities list lately and that just isn't right.

So today, I woke up with nothing on my agenda... No TAKS test to administer... No Track meet... No wedding showers... No place to be... but of course with a monster headache and a very stuffed up nose... Lucky for me, my little angel just wanted to cuddle in bed with mom and went back to sleep along with his allergy-ridden mother. So around ten thirty, I finally rolled over to a sweet, smiling little boy and everything was right with the world. Forget the snot running down my nose... forget the scratchy-ness in my throat... Forget the huge headache between my eyes... My little one wanted to play and he wanted to play with his mommy! We did finally roll out of bed around eleven and Casey suggested we take a family trip to the Dallas World Aquarium. Well, we would have gone, if the entire world hadn't been in downtown today marching on behalf of something to do with immigration. I don't really even know what they were marching for... I just know it was about immigration. So yeah, we didn't go to the aquarium... BUT we did go to the zoo instead! Now, I will admit that at first, I was not completely sold on this idea... Don't tell my husband, but I just knew that it was going to be packed and absolutely miserable. Oh but God's a funny guy and must have been trying to teach me something today... It ended up being absolutely beautiful outside and not crowded at all! Kudos to you, hubby, it was a great idea and like I said before, just what the doctor ordered.

I absolutely loved watching Colton discover new things today. He is such a curious little boy and enjoys watching the world around him. He especially loved the fish in the Koi Pond and I'm pretty sure he and his daddy will be trying to catch those together one day.

Here are some pictures from our day:

Lesson learned - Take time to enjoy your family and all of the small things that we so often take for granted.

Yes, today was a very good day...

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Half Birthday!

Happy Half Birthday to the little boy who single-handedly changed my life forever!

I cannot believe it has been SIX months since Colton was born... Here is a recap of the day that my life changed:

AND MY FAVORITE... I told him "Happy Half Birthday Little Boy"... and this is the face I got in return!

I love you more than words could EVER express... YOU are my whole world little boy, silly faces and ALL!

Wordless Wednesday... hopping on the bandwagon!

I love my job. I really do... so if you ever happen to catch me on an extra-frustrating day and I look like I HATE my job... I promise I actually do love it. I honestly couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life...

**Not particularly interesting fact**

Right out of high school I got my first job in a restaurant, ok a BAR, but they served food and had a "dining room" and I was a naive 18 year old! (I mean seriously, what "restaurant" stays open until 2 AM every night??) Anyway, after opening my eyes (AND WALLET) to the food/service industry, I realized how easy it was for me to make some fast cash! So, throughout college, I moved up the ranks and was fully prepared to be the Assistant Service Manager at our restaurant when I graduated. However, the Big Man Upstairs had other plans for me... The day before I was to sign on the dotted line to go on salary, I got a phonecall from my old high school coach telling me that I should head over to Carrollton to interview for a teaching/coaching position. I didn't even think that this was a possibility at the time because I wasn't certified and I didn't think you could get hired without it... I'm not tooting my horn, because I think they were desperate to hire someone so late in the year, but I got hired on the spot. This began my journey as an educator in the state of Texas. I only ended up staying in Carrollton for one year, but I fully believe that the one year changed my life. I made mistakes, I learned lessons, I gained friends and I lost friends, but most of all, I grew up. Shortly after leaving, I reconnected with the man I now call my husband and the rest is history...

SO all of that to lead up to my next statement:

I didn't get the job.

But you know what? It's ok... I am ok... and I know that God has bigger plans for me.

It's interesting to me how much change is happening in our school and our district now and also for next year. The man that hired me... an INCREDIBLE principal, is retiring and moving across the state. The woman that is replacing him, just so happens to be a family friend, whom I have known my entire life. Coincidence? I think not... We also have recently acquired a new athletic director/football coach... I can't tell you how excited I was after meeting him because of all of his references to his faith and his God. I honestly can't wait to see what kind of transformations are made in our athletic department. Another major change is that, my department head... an AMAZING friend, mentor, and person is leaving the district as well. We are in for some MAJOR changes at Poteet High School and I can't wait! Change is a pretty scary thing... but now that I know that I am there to stay... I WILL embrace it with open arms! How else can you allow yourself to grow??

I think when it comes down to it, that is the lesson that I was supposed to learn through all of this... GROWTH is so important in our lives. We aren't meant to always be babies in life... We have to grow up and we have to mature. And we do this, through our trials and our triumphs.

Daniel 2:21

"He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning."

So what's next?? Well, I have applied for Graduate School... which is huge for me! Our district is wonderful and actually pays for us to go back and get our masters. They even work with certain universities and have programs that are only online. Other than that, I am going to finish out the year and enjoy my time with my boys at home! AND, I am going to try to post at least once a week! Hopefully I won't have to eat my words next Sunday afternoon!

Good night bloggers!

Yes, Yes I know... it has been MONTHS since I wrote my last blog on here. 5 months and 2 days to be exact... How do I know?? Because the last time I was on here writing about my life, I had just brought home the most amazing gift a person could ever receive... a brand new baby boy! It has been such an amazing journey since that day, so hopefully through this blog I can get you all caught up! Don't get me wrong... they don't tell you about the first night home from the hospital, or the fussy/needy days where you can't get anything done because he just wants to be held for 24 hours, or the ridiculous lack of sleep that occurs for the rest of my life. But you know what? It is all worth it to have a healthy baby in my house... I've learned that more than ever in the past week, but we'll get to that in a little bit.

Since the last blog, several holidays have past and here are some pictures of us celebrating those days!

not so happy about mom dressing him up for his first halloween

so much personality already!

First Thanksgiving together

Christmastime!

Santa's Little Helper :)

His daddy can definitely make him smile!

First road trip to see Aunt Z in Arkansas

First SNOW day!!

So fast forward to March 2010-

I started out the month making a decision to apply for a head volleyball job. This was a HUGE decision for me because I love where I am at right now and I always wanted to come back to my old high school to teach and coach. However, after talking it through SEVERAL times with my husband, I decided to go for it and throw my name in the hat. Little did I know that I would end up being one of three finalists for the job and interviewing for it this past week. I honestly can't imagine leaving my kids at PHS, but if that is what is in God's big plan for me, then that is what I will do. It is completely in his hands at this point and all I can do now, is WAIT. (ugh... I am HORRIBLE at waiting)

Then there was Spring Break. BUT, with coaching track comes a very SHORT break! Needless to say, I did get to spend some MUCH needed Mommy-time with mister Colton. As much as I really do love my job, I've realized how much I am missing of my little man's cute phases. He is rolling over, laughing at everything, and trying to talk to everyone! We are almost sitting up on our own and eating 1st foods like squash and sweet potatoes. I think I need a Spring Break every two weeks or so... Wouldn't that make teaching a job that a lot of people would want??

Well after my week of bliss at home with my little man and wonderful husband, I did eventually have to go back to work. The week was going pretty well until Wednesday... I found out on my way home that a friend of mine had just found her 3 month old little girl had passed away during a nap. I was sick hearing this... I mean, how? WHY? I couldn't get home fast enough and when I did, I think my little boy stayed in my arms for the rest of the night. I was so incredibly heartbroken for this family and still cannot fathom how they still must feel. My only peace in the matter was knowing that God has a bigger plan and everything (yes, even such a horrible thing as this) happens for some reason or another. And although I may not ever know what that reason is, I have faith in God that he will take care of things and take care of this family.

Then the day from H-E-double hockey sticks came... dum-da-dum-dum! Thursday I had three major things scheduled, plus I had to make sure I had everything ready for my sub at school the next day. **Sidenote to all the teachers out there: Isn't it just SO much easier to show up to work?? I mean, I love having days off every once in awhile, but preparing for a sub is way more tiring than actually being at work! Ok, off the soapbox there... So Thursday I had my interview and I think it went well. Again, playing the waiting game sucks, but it's no longer in my hands so I can't worry. Then after that, I had to rush back to school to help host a baby shower for our wonderful trainer at school. I still can't believe they are waiting to find out the sex until the little one decides to make his/her appearance. THEN, after that more rushing... but this time home. We had planned a surprise party for my mom, who turned 50 this year. Her birthday was on the 15th, but my sister didn't get to come home from school until last week, so we had to hold off on the festivities. She ended up being VERY surprised and everything went just as planned, but by the end of the day, I was exhausted!

Friday we took about 10 kids to the CFB Relays (in Carrollton) and we ended up breaking two school records in the 4x100 relay and the 100 dash. Those times ended up being the 5th fastest 4x100 and the #1 100 time in the state this year. Quite an accomplishment for our kids and I couldn't have been more proud!

I finally got some rest Saturday night and also got to spend some quality time with my boys at home. I even got to see an old college friend at church on Sunday **Shout out to Miss Kep :)** and I promised I would update my blog!

Here are some more recent pictures:

State Basketball Tournament in Austin...

Dallas Madison got 2nd place so G-Paw let me wear his silver medal

Taking it all in with Daddy at UT

My little heart-breaker

St. Patrick's Day

Trying "real food" for the first time... He really does like it now... :)

Bundled up and watching dad play softball

Thank you God for such an AMAZING little boy!

God has truly blessed me and my family over the past five months and I couldn'd be happier. So as I patiently wait to hear about the job situation, this one verse keeps replaying in my head. So for all of you DBUers out there:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

So I will wait...