Seeking God's Kingdom

"Seek God's Kingdom

and all the other things you need will be given to you."

Luke 12:31

Tomorrow Michael and I take one giant step of faith-We leave for Abilene. Nothing has really fallen into place since Michael has accepted this job, actually. It has been one hurdle followed by a challenge and nothing is nice and neat. We are both really sad about living apart. (Hey, I thought we were done with this when we got married!) But, despite the 3 years now of being out of Abilene and being together, we have come full circle and are back in our traditional mold of long distance. I know it will be fine, but my heart will long for my hubby who I love so dearly. We have been full of tears lately.

We want our house to sell, but no bites during the holidays.( Which I wouldn't expect it to anyway) I am just praying that this will be answered with the new year and be one of things God will give to us. It is hard to try to begin a new chapter of your life when you really can't because of your responsibilities elsewhere. It is especially hard for me because I have no place to call my own there and help me make the real life connection with the move. Michael has already set up his office and has a new job. So he is excited and has some sense of belonging already. Without a home and a job for me I am just floundering about without any real since of "home" not to mention, I have huge for sale sign in front of my home.

And then all the other stressful details that have kind of imploded at this time to just make life a little more complicated.

Tonight I told God I just needed some of his wisdom and flipped open my new bible (this really neat magazine style bible my dad gave me for Christmas) and He told me Luke 12:31:

Seek God's Kingdom

and all the other things you need will be given to you.

So with that to say, here we are seeking... And trusting that all these other things will be provided.

Here is to a new year of Seeking His Kingdom.

Happy 2006!

Party, Party, Party

La Te Da!
This week is full of parties! I love parties! I love the cookies, stories, and of course the outfits.

We kicked off our Holiday week by going to our Young Couples Christmas Party which was really a SURPRISE goodbye party for us. It was so sweet and sad. A little sweet and sour if you will... But we will miss them a lot, a lot, a lot!

Saturday Michael and I had a pajama day party!!!! We slept in and bumed around till noon!!!!! It was so great. It had been ages since I slept that much. But I guess we needed it. We went to the galleria for some holiday shopping which is like a party for me.

Wednesday we will have a High School party! I am sure there will be some cookies there too!
(It might be a good thing Michael is leaving in January so I can start working off all these cookies.)

We have our class party on Thursday and I am not as excited about that one. The kids are always SOOOO excited and are sometime out of control. I am also worn out after that!

Friday is a party all day because it is OUR LAST DAY OF 2005! Can I get a what, what!!! It is also my team party which will be lots of fun to. I have to come up with a good gift for the Chinese Christmas exchange!

Saturday kicks off the 1st Christmas for us too. We will have Christmas with Michael's mom.

Party, Party, Party! :)

not much to say...But so much to do

I have been soooo busy in all areas of my life but none of it is really eventful enough to write about. But I will anyway!

Work is nuts-o! Always is at this time of year. I don't think I will ever get done the things I have to complete ASAP.
The Kids are SUPER excited. Always are at this time of year.
Will Christmas Break get here already?!

My husband is leaving soon. Sniff, Sniff...
I am at a loss without my sidekick.

We have said our goodbyes at church. Another Sniff, Sniff.

Christmas Shopping-So not done!
Christmas Cards-So not done!

I want and need to catch up with so many people, but the timing never seems to work out.

With life so uncertain and chaotic I find myself relying fully upon Him. He is my one constant and giving me peace as the transition seems to become overwhelming at times. Not to mention heartbreaking...

"Oh, NYC!"- Annie

NYC...
EVERYONE IS GOING!

It is a phenomena right now. 2 girls on my team have just come from NYC. I think most of my girlfriends have been over the last year. People from church have just returned from the city.

EVERYONE...
EXCEPT ME!

I have been dying to go my whole life. I am a huge fan of anything from the city. Friends-huge fan, shopping at Bergdorf's-one of my favorites on the computer, anything Broadway-pick me!, SJP-I love her and Carrie is one of my favorite girls!, ALL my ABC soaps and soap stars-have watched my whole life, NEED I GO ON, BC I CAN...

I won't be going to that city anytime soon. How does Abilene compare? We will be going there soon...

I will have to get my fix with

Tuesday and Wednesday nights with Carrie Bradshaw
Pull out my Friends DVDs
And watch SOAP net tonight
bergdorfgoodman.com

I heart NY!
And I have never been.

Deck The Halls

FaLaLaLaLaLaLaLaLa!

Well, today I started decorating for Christmas. Yipee. It looks so cozy in our home. I enjoy decorating anytime of the year, but I especially love the holidays. I got to put out my new Christmas decor for the last time in this house. Sniff, sniff.

We went to Abilene to search for a home, but we are still searching. However, while we were gone we had some showings!

I have got to get busy on my Christmas shopping. I am trying to decide if I will go through the Friday madness or not.

For tonight, I will relax in my new Winter Wonderland. :)

Mrs. Viola Swamp

I was visiting with one of my many Kinder teacher friends and she was telling me a story I had to share! Enjoy. :)

My friend read to her class a classroom favorite Miss Nelson is Missing. If you aren't familiar with the tale, a teacher is having trouble with her class showing respect and following the classroom rules. So she dresses up as the "Evil Substitute Viola Swamp." She is a mean sub and all the kids miss their teacher and learn to appreciate what they had. When Miss Nelson comes back, the kids are angels.

Well, five year olds can have some trouble separating fiction and reality.

One of the students in my friend's class went home and told her mom about the mean sub they had that was sooo mean and that she even tore up their homework! This mother was up in arms and was ready to talk to the principal about Miss Viola Swamp. First she mentioned it to my friend and asked, "Can you request substitutes?" My friend responded with yes wondering where this conversation was going. The mother went on to explain her concerns. "My daughter came home and told me about Miss Swamp and could you request her not to sub in here again?"
(hee-hee) My friend responded, "Well, Miss Swamp is fictional!"

I LOVE KINDERGARTEN!

Making A List, Checking It Twice

We have been working on a list of homes to check out next week when we make a visit to our new c-i-t-y.

I hope that we fall in love, but nothing on my list is as perfect as my home right now! And who knows, maybe we will get a bite this weekend on our home!

Now, if I could only find a job too...

Garfield will be teaching my class about Thanksgiving courtesy of Garfield's Thanksgiving. :) Hee-hee. Thanksgiving Break Here I Come!

The Nutcracker

My favorite shopping affair! Every year the guild for The Houston Ballet Company puts together a extravaganza full of thousands of sugar plum fairies and chocolate covered apples! There are all these really unique booths for home decor, clothing, food, ect. Today was my day! I went with my mom and we tackled the crowd. As I squeezed through to get the hot item this year (glitter Christmas Trees) I got giddy thinking of Christmas. I love to decorate for Christmas. This will be our second and last Christmas in our house... :( I told my hubby that regardless I want to decorate for Christmas even though we will just pack it up along with the whole house as we relocate to Abilene. Yup, that's right. This city chicka is going to play country for a while.
But no worries...I have already made my plans for returning to the Nutcracker next year. It will be a true vacation.

Hmm...Maybe a new beating path

You Should Get a MBA (Masters of Business Administration)

You're a self starter with a drive for success.You'd make a great entrepreneur.

What Advanced Degree Should You Get?

After today, this might be a good sign for me. :

Books-A-Million

After reading another blog, I started to think about ol'Suess and other favorite children books of mine. After much thought (and flipping through my old lesson plans ) I came up with some of my favorites:

My favorite Big Book: Mrs. Wishy-Washy-If you don't know her, you will grow to love her. Wishy-Washy,Wishy-Washy!

Some of my favorite Teaching books: Brown Cow, Green Grass, Yellow Melow Butter-Not only can they "read" some of the color words, it also has the fun clay like pictures.
Stranger In the Woods-REAL PHOTOS put to a story! Just WONDERFUL!
GAIL GIBBONS...

Books that are my favorite to sequence with: The Jacket I Wear In The Snow- It gets me all ready for winter. Wouldn't you know I would love this-A whole book on Winter Fashion!!!
The Napping House
All the Brown Bear,Polar Bear ect books

Just Good Reads:
Bear Snores On
Any Kevin Henkes book- I HEART THE MOUSE STORIES!
The Ghost's Dinner-I love writing a book with this one.
The Kissing Hand-Kindergarten's Signature

AND SOOOO MANY MORE.

I know I left out probably my favorite ones, but these are the ones that I could remember after a long hard day's work. What is your favorite children's story?

P.S. Books can be my weakness. My husband doesn't allow me to purchase any more. He groans every time I want to go to Barnes and Nobel. This customer is limited to one book please! :)

A Rainy Day

Well... I don't know if we are going to have any trick or treaters. It is really stormy here and appears to be a large storm. :( What am I going to do with all this left over candy?

Well, I know what I could do with the left over candy, but that is not what I need to do. heehee.

Michael and I went to the church Halloween party last night. It was about 10 minutes before the party and we decided to dress up. As we were rummaging through the closet we got a brilliant idea! Michael would wear his baseball get up and I would be the ball. We were the "perfect catch!" Amazing what all you can do with a trash bag! Hey roomies, remember the 5some pumpkins we were? Another great costume out of trash bags. :)

Happy Halloween!

I love Halloween!

Candy, Pumpkins, Crisp weather, candy!!!!

We are having so much fun this week gearing up for the big "Great Pumpkin Celebration" Friday! Today we had an extra 10 minutes before the day was over. I turned off the lights and told scary,spooky stories! They all screamed and jumped at the end. Hee-Hee!
I am making pumpkin cookies tonight for my students. I love these pumpkin cookies. I used to beg my mom to make these every year for my class. 20 years later kindergarteners still love them like me! Crazy, but true I was in Kindergarten 20 years ago.
tomorrow we are reading one of my favorite monster stories and making one of my favorite art activities! Friday will be nuts-o as it being the first party and all, but I will survive!

Did I mention the candy? ohh pink starburst here I come. YUMMY!

Side note: The 'stros made me a zombie teacher today. I wish we could win already, but we will see. I am still rootin and tootin' for the 'stros!

For a little kinder humor:
Today we were writing a story about what my monster eats. I had had one kid write "My monster eats butts." He had a great picture of a monster with a butt beside it. Oh, to be 5! Needless to say, We had to pick something more appropriate for school. Speaking of butts, I learned a new word for the "b" word-/boo-talk-is/. See even I can learn everything I need to know in kindergarten!

Go Astros!

I really hope the 'Stros win. They sure are freezing their patooties off there in chi-town. My girls know what that is like, right! Have I mentioned I have developed a crush on Ausmus? Too bad were both taken. haha j/k
I went shopping for the first time since school had started way back in August! The mall missed me and I missed it. I am trying to earn money for our school, but I think the private schools in our area have us beat. You turn in your receipts at the customer service booth and the school that has spent the most during the months of September and October. See...Shopping for a cause!

Life's Accessories

My new blog!
I am turning over a new leaf. Fall brings changes and this is mine.
Happy Reading!
-ls