The Jack O Latern

Saturday we carved our jack o lantern. Noah was super excited. We don't have fancy tools. Just a pink sharpie and a kitchen knife. But it gets the job done.

I couldn't help but remember this post from two years ago. I thought about how the Holiday s

eason is approaching fast and furious and I really want it to be a special time for me and Jesus. Ans before I focus on thanksgiving, growth and the miracle of Christ I need to deal with some stuff.

Scoop it out. Throw it away. Hollow me out. So that His light can shine out from me.

So here it is. The think the big thing I am struggling with is vanity and selfishness. I feel like I have really grown in my faith this year. Like God is growing me up. Turning me into a grown up. Changing my perspective. However..... I find myself focusing on my wants. Like new shoes. A cute pair of jeans. An outfit that wasn't on sale.Something trendy. Oh my. Did I forget that God clothes flowers? Who am I to worry about clothes? Do I have some? Yes. I do. More clothes than 90% of the world. Why do I whine? Is that what really matters? I feel petty.

I struggle with laziness. I am so tired. So often when I have a few minutes at either end I do nothing.

I struggle with trust. My heart knows God has plans for me. But my head wonders when our break will come.

And I worry. I have had about four to five severe headaches a week for the past month. I am pretty sure they are stress related. There is some secret worry buried deep. I need to hand it over. Hopefully after being honest with myself and my Grace Filled Savior I can work on scooping out that gunk. And letting my light shine. In the dark places God has positioned me in.

Like our lantern. Willie.

The Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend we went to the pumpkin patch at Bennett Farms. It is a smaller operation but kind of in the middle of Tuscaloosa and Macon, Ga. So it was fun to have my sisters and all the

cousins running around. I think Mimi enjoyed it the most. And Papa too. After the pumpkin

patch we headed to my Granny's house. My parents are having the house remodeled to

accommodate more people. The plans are fantastic and I am super excited about having an

escape. An escape to a place filled with my childhood memories. And now my own boys will have

memories of running around in the country too. Then the entire clan went to get pizza at a favorite of Adam's in Anniston (he interned there), Mata's. It was a great long day. And I look

forward to many more.

These pictures are in reverse order of the day. And most are self explanatory except the first two. Noah is sitting on the stoop of Granny's. So many wonderful memories on this step. Touches my heart to see him there. The next one is the only picture I captured of Michael. The oldest and ever patient cousin. He is so good to his cousins who think he is the coolest thing ever.

Always wrestling.

The Teaching

Posts have been very few this month. One reason is school. School is extremely stressful this year. Not in the ways it has been in the past from a management or despair standpoint but from pressure. We are deep into the process of failing to make AYP for several years in a row. This has lead to lots of extra documentation and accountability and LOTS of data collection, documentation and analysis. All good things for our kids. But all very time consuming. At eye opening. We just recently gave our kids a reading assessment and the results were staggering. Staggering. No wonder the act up and won't do classwork. My heart breaks over it. And I decided to take an online course to better understand some reading strategies to help. I am also on some great committees designed to help the morale and organization at Bryant. Every month we put together a social for the staff and faculty. Last month it was a BBQ tailgate. Noah had a good time.

God has really changed my heart about my work. There has honestly not been one day yet where I have dreaded going to work. He has blessed me with several opportunities to minister and love on my kids. I don't want to share too many stories since this is a public blog but there are two moments so far this fall that I will remember and cherish always. Where for just one minute I was able to minister and love and comfort students, touching them with God's love in a way I am certain impacted them.Just by taking the time to let them know that even though things are rough someone loves them. It blessed me just as much. Sometimes He lets me see the long lasting impact of loving on these kids like this weekend I got a random phone call at ten o'clock. It was a student from last year who lost his mom and two weeks later his apartment in a fire. He still comes by and hugs me everyday. He was calling from the hospital. His sister just had a baby. He had become an uncle and I was the person he wanted to call. God has me right where he wants me. It may be stressful. It may not be fun. But its rewards are great.

The Boys

I am so very behind. But life is full and busy. I see a light at the end of the tunnel. A weekend almost free of things to do just four days away. I will catch up then. Until then.....

I sure do love my boys.

The Successful Day

Saturday was a good day in my books. We had a garage sale that made enough money to cover my trip to the Kid's Market Preview Sale. Plus some. I spent a lot of time deciding and pondering over my choices and walked away with all of their fall and winter needs taken care of right on budget. While back at the house Adam and my parents carried on with our garage sale. And Nana and Puddin loved on the boys. And Noah got some fancy new tennis shoes that he is obsessed with! Later that day my gracious mothers went to the guest sale and filled in some of my less practical desires for the boys. They are ready to style and profile in the cooler weather. It felt so good to make good and wise money choices. My mom also scored two metal Tonka dump trucks and a big wheel at a neighboring garage sale. Noah thought it was Christmas morning. In October. He was so excited. Miller enjoyed them too.

He won't walk but he will ride a Big Wheel and climb aboard a dump truck. Hope everyone had a great weekend as well!

The Cutest Stick People Ever

Noah has recently started to LOVE coloring. Wants to color everyday after school. He has just over the past couple of weeks started draw recognizable shapes. And today I received the cutest family portrait ever. I don't know what it is about this little family that chokes me up. But I find them as adorable as their artist. They might live on my fridge forever. Noah's first stick figures. Please note that I have brown eyes. And everyone else has blue. And we are all a little serious.