Today

Got up this morning and decided to jump in the car with Scotty to Lawrence for his soccer tournament.  We left at 9:30 and the weather was beautiful.  The games were played the same place Hannah got her teeth knocked in during a soccer game years ago.  I left Scotty there, coaching his little girls.  

He's having so much fun coaching these girls.  I picked up my mama and we drove back across Lawrence to pick up Scott.  Come to think of it, most of my day was spent driving back and forth across Lawrence!  We ate at Chilis and Hannah called during lunch.  I had a huge bacon cheeseburger.  Yum.  

Then we bought Scotty some new shoes, waaaay outside his usually color range.  Makes him look tons younger.

 Then we took Scott back to the fields and did some shopping at Kohls.  I got a fitted pinstripe blue shirt and a bra and mom got a bunch of stuff.  Took he to the car and went back to the fields and had to wait through another game!  Finally got home and watched k state get neat up in Texas.  That was the day..

God Week

It's interesting to me that some weeks are just amazingly filled with God even though my morning devotions have been rushed or cut short....Wednesday was an amazing FCA (read previous blog post), then Thursday I had the most amazing sessions with each of the Homestead girls.  I felt like I opened my mouth and out came God's words right into their hearts.  Lots of Holy Spirit tears.  Then today, I shared the gospel and discussed it for over an hour with a dear friend!  So cool.

Eisenhower FCA

I have been an FCA sponsor all 14 years I've been at Eisenhower.  All 14 years, we've been sponsor led, meaning we prepared and taught the devotional.  The last several years, we've had a number of faculty step up and guest speak.  Three weeks ago, we got an email from the Superintendent reviewing the newly adopted school board policy saying that all religious organizations at school must be student led. This means that faculty sponsors can only be present in a "non-participatory role".

So at first, Coach Stout and I were blown away.  We felt defeated, discouraged.  But it didn't take long for us to be reminded that God is, as He says He is, in control.  And He works all things for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.  So, two weeks ago we met with the kids.  We have a really strong core group of churched kids and then, each year, we have a number of other kids, mostly unchurched who attend.  We used Romans 8:28 (mentioned above) and broke the news to the kids.  It was pretty quiet in the room.  We explained that we totally trust God and His word.  We said that we know we are called according to His purpose, to teach FCA at Eisenhower.  We trust that God would turn this for good.  We said that the purpose of FCA is to motivate and grow the kids in their walk withChrist as well as share Him with those who don't know Him.  We explained what all would be involved, and then asked who was ready to take the first time leading.  It was quiet.  Then one 8th grader, Kenny, stepped up.

I got an email from Kenny this weekend asking what was he supposed to do again?  I gave the simplest explanation I could.  I said to go to the national FCA website, click on devotional s and choose one he liked.  Then call on kids to read it and tell them why he liked it.

This morning was the day.  I printed out the devotional and handed it out.  He'd chosen a devotional about attitude.  We had a good turn out of kids including one kiddo who struggles with, guess what, his attitude.  Kenny confidently called on kids to read the verse, then the paragraphs.  He then went into detail about how important it is to keep a good attitude and asked the kids how they go about keeping a good attitude.  Several kids gave some amazing answers about keeping close to God, stay in His word, look at things positively, etc.  Kenny then read the questions at the end and facilitated a great conversation. I asked who'd be willing to teach next week, and two girls volunteered to co lead it.  At the end, I asked who would be willing to pray us out.  Kenny again volunteered and prayed the most amazing prayer.  I seriously had tears in my eyes.  

I am so excited to see all God has in store for FCA this year.  

Sick Day

I might have reached my HGTV max.  One day at home sick and I might be going crazy with boredom.  I've been fighting this cold, turned sinus infection now sinus and upper respiratory infection for about a month.  I started feeling icky again Tuesday night.  I had to work on Wednesday but went home at 1 and I've been pretty much bed bound since then.  I don't feel bad enough to sleep.  Last night I watched back to back episodes of Duck Dynasty from 5 to 10.  It was quite entertaining and now I'm hooked.  This morning I tried to sleep in after another sleepless night but the crap running down the back of my throat prevented that.  So I did my quiet time then drove everyone at work crazy by email then I watched back to back episodes of Modern Dads.  Entertaining but the values were somewhat disturbing!  I'm not even hungry enough to entertain myself eating.  I am reading an interesting series by Lisa T Bergen set in medieval times.  I have a friend who is a school social worker who is on bedrest with her pregnancy and I seriously don't know how she does it and maintains her sanity.  How in the world does Scott do this?  

9/11

We had our bully prevention kick off day at Eisenhower today.  It was a huge success.  It wasn't lost on me that today is the anniversary of the tragedy that occurred on September 11, 12 years ago.  I have vivid memories of where I was and all that happened within the first few hours of that first plane hitting the tower.  I mostly remembered feeling numb and helpless.  How could there be so much hate in the world?  Today our focus was teaching the kids how to make their school and therefore world a little better by eradicating hate, by doing your part to stand up for each other and to treat one another with respect.  I can easily get overwhelmed by all the hate and evil in the world.  So I leave the big problems in God's hands and I do what I can, day in and day, out to try to make my tiny part of the world a better place. 

Senior Pictures

One of the Homestead girls is really into photography and is getting really good at it.  So I asked them if they'd take Adelle's senior pictures.  Adelle told me a few weeks ago that she wanted them taken.  Her family has no money.  Adelle knew enough about it to bring several outfits, casual and otherwise.  So we took the pics last weekend.  We all met at Homestead and Adelle was pumped.  She'd been nervous about it earlier, even told me we should reschedule for spring.  But she went outside with the girls and told me to stay inside.  The girls said she posed!  She kept coming in and changing her clothes and going back out.  Tonight they emailed me some of the photos.  I can't wait to show them to Adelle!  Here is a sneak peek!

Old Trunk

So I repurposed an old trunk using really old sheet music.  I forgot to take a pic before I got started but there is one in a previous blog.

I put the music on, carefully trimmed around the hardware using a razor blade, then put mod pudge all over it.  I think I like it but I'm not sure.  What do you think?