SUMMMMMEEEEERRRRR

I'm in love with summer.

Kyle and I had a great Memorial Day weekend by making our first trip to the lake with the James family. I just enjoyed a little boat time while Kyle had to go out and pick on all the kids!
Kyle & Griffin

Kyle being a pain & sprayin water

Girls vs. Boys

Dawson making sure we know who won!


I'm even more in love with this summer because for the first time in three summers I am not totally stressed about my job. Even though I'm not going on a cruise or to Vegas this year (tear) it is sooooo nice not being worried about what the next year holds. I had a WONDERFUL year of teaching and can't believe I've already been in it for 3 years! I'm hoping next year that I will CHOOSE to have a great year even if I don't have great classes!

It was really hard saying goodbye to my 8th graders. There were some great mentor-like relationships built this year. It's been fun to encourage them and have "real-life" talks with them that will help guide them in high school. I cannot describe in words the joy I have felt from meeting some of their parents & them being so thankful for the positive impact (hopefully!) we have made. Teaching is tough, but it's so rewarding!

Love this kid. Even wished me a Happy Mother's Day for bein like a mom to him. *tear*

Our boys. Intramurals will never be the same.

Hannah and Addison. Addy is my special kid...can't wait to watch her grow up!


Don't I look like I fit right in with these ganstas?! (talent show day)

Look how much Keshon & Rasheen changed from 6th to 8th!! Love these boys!!

They are on opposite sides in this one:

Texan Talk

I have been made fun of more this year for my Texas talk than any other year! Even though many people here use "y'all", I apparently use it "different" than others. I still get told I say "hill" and "male" funny...but the 2 new ones for this year are "field" and "goal". Apparently I say "field" more like "feld". And apparently you are supposed to say (in basketball instructions) "go shoot at that hoop" not "goal".

One of the first things Kyle and I noticed was that everyone here always puts the emphasis on the 2nd word in 2 word things...like in Six Flags and Taco Bell. In Texas we. For the first time, one of our youth noticed and made fun of Kyle for emphasizing the first word. Crazy how different we can be!

Next weekend I am going to Texas and I will be made fun of for talking like a northerner...and adapting words like "soda" and "salsa" and "you guys"! Everyone will also notice how I say my O's different, like in "stop", and think St Louis has corrupted me. I don't know where that came from...its more a Wisconsin thing...and I even get made fun of here for that lingo! (and I was told in college I sounded like I was from WI - and I was all Texan then!)

There is no point in this blog really. It doesn't bother me a bit, I actually like when people from either side bring it up & tell me it sounds funny b/c I think it's such an interesting thing that people can talk so different in regions that aren't really that far from each other...and I'm like a mutt - I can be labeled so many different things! :) So there is your random, pointless blog post for the day.

Parker Happenings

Now that I think about it - quite a bit has gone on in the past couple of months!

- I visited Indianapolis for the first time for a conference and loved it - such a neat place! Peyton & I were going to go out for dinner but he was out of town during my visit...oh well, there's always next time. Anyway, I definitely want to go back & see all the sites & watch a Colts game. (I was by myself so didn't do much)

- Driven Youth had their first annual Freedom Weekend. (Disciple Now) It went really well! Kyle did an AWESOME job planning and organizing everything. We had Runks (from Levelland, TX) come speak and he did an amazing job as well. He's hilarious and always has a powerful message. For me personally, his messages have been a tool in some major turning points in my own life.


A few of the derby car teams:




- Mike, Valinda, Kevin, Emily, and my parents all flew up in March for the Midwest Regional. We love, love, love having visitors (especially family!) and had a great time! Adding the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 was a special bonus! We are so lucky to have such great families!


Magic!!


- I mentioned in a blog about 2 years ago (click here) about one of my good friends from HS, Caleb Campbell, being draftd in the NFL. The army changed their policy the day after he arrived at spring training camp & had him return. Well 2 years later, he has served his time & officially signed a contract with the Detroit Lions once again. You can follow him on twitter: LTCampbellLions I am super proud of his perseverance and accomplishments!

Check out who he's stretching with!

(for you non-football fans, that's Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska - the 2nd overall pick this year)


- I am seeing the goodness of God's plan in my job more now than ever. I just about thought the world had ended when I found out I couldn't get my IL stuff in time to teach math my 2nd year. Then, I got a PE job at the same school and felt better...til I started & my students were INSANE...and I was clear across campus (we have a big middle school) from everyone I knew. I cried just about every night for 2 weeks before school started this year...freakin out about having to teach PE and not understanding why a job in another district hadn't opened up. Now, I am thankful I stayed put. My classes have been much better. I love knowing so many more kids & therefore can enjoy sporting events. I've gotten to know some great teachers & administrators. And I've become so attached to many of my 8th graders that I've had for 2 years. I feel like I fit now. Most importantly, being 3 years in Alton saved me from getting cut and if I would've moved anywhere else I would be jobless right now. Praise God!

Last Friday was our 8th grade dance. I know none of you really care, but these kids feel like my own...so I'm going to post pictures & show them off. :)

Teacher friends:

Love these boys: (and worried like heck who is goin to take care of them/keep them out of trouble next year!)

I want my daughter to be just like this girl: LOVE HER!!!

The say she looks like she could be my kid...maybe it's b/c she is always at my side!


I want to take the 2 boys beside me home! (below..NOT above! haha)




- And last but not least...I'm pretty sure I bought too many flowers this year with my yard sale money. Check back in a month and I might be the house known as "flower power!" Ok. That's it.

Margin

HOLY SMOKES! I didn't blog in March or April...wow. I know my hundreds of readers have been disappointed - but seriously, after this I'm probably down to NONE - they're tired of checking! You may find it surprising, but I just haven't had a lot to say...I guess it's spring fever.

We started a new series at LifePoint last week called: MARGIN. Bob speaks on this type of thing at least once a year & several smaller times throughout the year. I always love it because as they say, "If Satan can't make you bad, he'll make you busy." Since I graduated college, busyness has become my biggest struggle. It's not something I'm proud of. I truly am improving as I become honest with myself about how bad the problem is, but it's a daily battle. And I'm not just talking about having a lot in my schedule....I'm talking about a personality trait...a bad one. Like freakin out trying to prepare my house before family comes (like Martha did in Luke 10:38-42) and even when my schedule is clear I'm thinking of the millions of things on my to do list or project list or house list or my "when I get time" list.

Although I wish I had more "Mary tendencies" I am also learning to appreciate my "Martha-like" personality. This thorn has caused me to learn just how truly dependent I am on God. I have been blessed with a husband who is willing to call me out and with friends that are like me to work with & encourage - especially Laci and Martha (my real friend Martha!) - who both told me "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" was a must read. I HIGHLY recommend this book if you struggle with similar busyness/worry/full schedules. I feel like it was written by someone in my head knowing my every though I fight the battle each day. I wake up asking God to reign in me, to be my one thing. I pray that I would focus on fellowship with Him & not worry about my to do lists. Sometimes I lose, usually because I beat myself. But, my goal is to win the war. Which is why I love doing a series at LifePoint on it once in awhile. It encourages me, keeps me accountable, and motivates me.

So, here's a few points (or a lot) from Week 1 of MARGIN that stuck out to me. I hope they encourage someone out there!!

Margin - the amount available beyond what is necessary; the difference between what you have and what you need

We need margin in time and money, emotionally and physically.

Most of us live at an unbiblical pace of life.

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE HAPPEN IN THE MARGINS!!


We get so consumed by good things that we miss out on great things.

If you constantly forget things...
If you can't remember where you're going...
If you have to write everything down...
If you frequently double book things...
You are too busy.

If you say, "Everyone else is doing it" or "Everyone else's kids are doing it and I don't want mine to miss out" then read ROMANS 12:2 (wide is the path to destruction - you will destroy your family by being involved in so much stuff!)

As margin decreases - your stress increases & your relational intimacy decreases. (amen - been there, seen this, burned the tshirt)

Don't wear busy as a badge of honor. Don't brag about it & try to one up others - it ain't cool.

We stay busy and involved in way too many things because we don't trust that God is going to be enough without those things.

We'd be furious if someone broke into our house & stole something. We'd find out who did it & get it back. We are robbed everyday & don't do a thing about it. When we say, "Oh I'm sooo busy" we should be convicted because we are making the choice to let Satan rob us & we are breaking God's heart.

If you don't go to LifePoint here's the challenge Bob gave us for this week:
1 - Sit still & listen 5 minutes a day.
2 - No phones out during meals.
3 - Don't say "I'm busy" to anyone.

Work on creating margin!

Proud Teacher

Many of you know that last year I was willing to beat my head against the wall everyday rather than teach another year of PE. Luckily, this year I've learned that it was the batch of students I had more than PE itself that made the year soooo miserable! :) For the most part, I have a great bunch of students this year. It makes it sooo much more fun when I can participate with the kids. I've also really got to know some of the students since I've had them 2 years in a row now....and a majority of them play on the boys 8th grade basketball team. I am sooooo proud of them for winning 3rd in the state this year! (All you Texans...yes, I know it is a little ridiculous we have playoffs in middle school!)

I decided to brave the fan bus to attend the 3rd place game so we could have extra support. We took about 60 students...and let's just say the ride back was the craziest thing I've ever been a part of! One of those things you hear about but you never think it will actually happen to you!! Well, I made it. I almost committed murder...or at least assaulted some people....but I kept myself under control. Anyway, it was soooo worth supporting these guys:



Mrs. Nicolet & I with our faves....their true colors:

Wil making his *almost* half-court shot at end of 3rd quarter...I always yell at him for practicing this shot in my Intramurals class instead of other shots...so he was sure to let me know it paid off!

My all-time favorite student Keshon!!

My favorite 7th grader, LaVonte, who refused to move out of my way to take a team picture until I took one with him

Our fans that kept me sane on our bus ride home!

Daniel Fast

On January 31st Kyle & I completed a 21-day fast. (along with many other fellow LifePointers) We had decided to do the Daniel Fast - click for more info. It was one of the hardest & most rewarding things we have every done. Here are a few things that I learned through the process:

1 - My life is radically better when I depend fully on God in all areas - big & small.
2 - Eating out and caffeine had a much larger grip on my life than I realized.
3 - The power of fellowship with Jesus & him being my "one thing". (I've been reading "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" and it discusses when Jesus tells Martha that she is worried about many things but there is only "one thing" needed - fellowship with Jesus - Luke 10:41)
4 - God desires for me to have a much simpler life. (this ties in greatly with #3)
5 - I've had a greater sensitivity to God & His desires for my life and things I need to work on.
6 - I am so incredibly blessed.
7 - God is in control. The bigger the problem, the greater the chance for Him to be glorified.
8 - I have been more attuned to the waging war within me. (Romans 7:18-20)
For example: During the fast I was seeking God with a greater intent & making healthier eating choices all in one. Our lives were blessed spiritually, physically, and financially. I'm hearing the battle of, "You can just stop & grab something quick on your way home so you can have more time to clean" and "It won't take that long to just fix something good & healthy...you will save money...and you can clean what you can...it's not going anywhere." Of course, this is just one example...I'm hearing it all throughout my day in all sorts of crazy situations!
9 - and finally....beans definitely live up to their reputation when eaten daily!!!

Read the below post to learn more on the purpose of fasting. (or click here)

Clean House - Purpose of Fasting

During our 21-day fast Bob sent out daily devotions. I copy & pasted this one because I love the way it describes the purpose & importance of fasting.

Romans 8:5-6

5 For those who live according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.


Have you ever looked up at your ceiling fan blades or in the deep recesses of your couch cushions and noticed the filth that builds up over time? Even though we might clean on a regular basis, there are times when we need to go…a little deeper. We realize that what appeared to be clean on the surface was in all actuality, quite filthy.

The same thing can happen spiritually. As we go about our daily lives, there are things that can build up over time. Even if we regularly worship, pray and read our Bible, the different pressures and cares of this world can quietly build up, and end up consuming our lives. Without even realizing it, we can lose our peace, our joy, and our passion for the things of God. Our service to God, which used to fill us with life and excitement, becomes a duty that we must fulfill.

Fasting is the deep cleaning that helps us take our mind off of the things of this world and instead have a refreshed focus on the things of the Spirit. It is an incredibly effective way to get into the nooks and crannies of our soul and bring all those dusty old habits, broken mindsets and rusty attitudes out into the light of God’s truth. In fasting and prayer, our service to God returns to something we want to do rather than something we have to do.

As you pray and fast today, ask God to show you any areas where you could use a refreshed spiritual focus. Like David, in Psalm 51:10-12, pray that God will cleanse your heart, renew your spirit, and restore the joy of your salvation.

Pray with confidence, knowing that He wants to fill you with His life and peace.