A Funny for Valentine's Day

His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh....His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. Song of Songs 5:13, 16

I hope your Valentine has sweet words for you today...unlike this funny guy!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is for Kelly!

Chatty Kelly had a post that caught my eye last night. It made me chuckle because I could relate, and it also spoke a truth. So I decided to expose our current messy side, too! Praise God for loving us whether we're clean or have a case of the messies!

Eric's desk.

My personal disaster!

Blanket of Rest

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

If you live on the East coast as I do, you're probably covered in a blanket of snow. Now, I am not a snow lover. I would prefer a warmer climate all year long. However, as I learned that my school and my sons' schools will be closed again tomorrow, I could feel my stress being replaced by comfort, peace and a fuzzy warm happiness. Rather than enjoying a four day weekend, I have ended up with a six day weekend!

I've been on my laptop almost every day this week trying to get something done for work. Something that was due tomorrow. Suddenly I have more time to complete this project. I've mentioned before that one of my classes is particularly challenging this year and that it has been draining me. Now I find myself with an unexpected break.

As I thought about this I realized that within this blanket of snow, God has given me a blanket of rest. Since I have been feeling distanced from him lately, I find it no coincidence that this blanket of rest is pure white. Just a gentle reminder from my Father as to what his Son has done for me.

If you're annoyed by this winter storm and all the closings and delays that it has caused, please know that He sees your weariness and your burdened heart. Find peace in the fact that God is offering you a chance to slow down and rest in Him. Take the time to offer up praise to the only One who can give this to you. Amen.

Scenes from My Front Porch

BLIZZARD OF 2010

I think I like my jeep better on a sunny beach!!

Tired and Uninspired

My title to this post says it all. It has been rolling around in my brain for weeks, but I haven't been able to write anything down. First, I just became plain lazy during my 2 week Christmas break. I love having that time off with my family, but having no schedule does more harm than good to me. Second, when I got back to work, I just found it discouraging because I'm unable to give each of my students the time they need. I have a lot of special needs students in one of my classes, and it's taking everything I've got to do what I need to for them and the other kids. Plus, I'm in the middle of preparing student profiles to get ready for conferences. This is taking up a lot of my time. Third, the winter blues have set in. I hate that darn groundhog! Thankfully I don't live as far south as I used to. Y'all really got slammed!!!!

Also, I suppose this wasn't the best time of year to go on a diet for the first time in my life! I began Weight Watchers two weeks ago. I was 3 pounds away from being considered over weight for my height, and I thought I'd better do something about that. So far I've lost 7 pounds. Eleven more to go! Even though that won't put me at the thinnest I've been as an adult, it will be a happy, healthy medium.

Since Christmas, I've also been uninspired in my relationship with God. This happens to me every year. I think the commercialism of Christmas and the busyness of getting ready for it just really turns me off. I prefer celebrating Easter over Christmas. For whatever reason, the Easter story is more significant to me than the story of Christ's birth. I don't know if that's right or wrong, but it's the way I feel.

Thanks to all of you who have checked in on me during the last 6-8 weeks. Oh, and thank you to those who were praying for me regarding my Christmas solo at church. It went just fine!! I've missed you all and appreciate your kindness! I am still alive but have just been struggling to do it "all" lately. Blessings!