Update on the job

I am going to be a 2nd grade teacher next yaar! I got a fantastic job at a great school! I was very nervous after my interview because I was very honest about what I was looking for in a school and everything they asked really. It is just so hard to read people sometimes, but the Lord led and I am really excited!!! Thanks for the prayers! I am honored to be on your prayer list! Bless you for blessing me!

Diaper Dilemna

We have a new major dilemna in our house. Karoline has decided that she doesn't need to wear a diaper anymore. Every time we wake her up from a nap or wake her up in the morning she is naked. Let me rephrase...butt naked! I don't know what to do with her. She just hands us the diaper and says,"I pa-poo" or "I ta-too" and then when you take the diaper she says, "Thank too". I don't think she is ready to potty train yet, but I don't know. She doesn't seem to know the "sensation" of going to the bathroom before it happens but as soon as it does she wants it fixed. What do we do? I need advice! Do we try the potty training or maybe some special panties? Help????

Happy Pictures

Family, family and more family

To sum it up...I LOVE FAMILY! I love every moment that I am here with each one of them. Just a few tidbits that I have loved this week.

Poppy-letting the sprinklers run a few more minutes just to watch the babies run through them.

Mamaw-brings in cookies and cheetos at midnight just because the kids requested some. I am sure milkshakes will be next!

Cindy-got up with me at 5am to help with the babies and have some deep conversation with me, trial and error bow making 101.

John-always kisses his 6ft kids goodbye when he will be back in an hour.

Nick-gets lost going to his grandma's house while enjoying his chick fil a #1 with no pickles and extra honey mustard.

Kaitlin-bracelet making EXPERT! ran with the babies through the puddles in her clothes.

Aunt Gene-dug through piles of clothes and sizes just to find the girls matching outfits! They are SO cute!

The week is going great so far! Every conversation, every meal, every hug, every laugh has been so blessed! I cherish this sweet time together because it goes by so fast. Jesus, you are the greatest member of our family! Thank you for uniting our hearts and minds under your sovereignty! I am forever grateful that despite our few differences and momentary lapses of love you remind us and bring us back to you! This family loves you now and forevermore! Amen.

Death of a California Toddler

I don't even know the words to say to this story. Let us gather before our Jesus and pray. May our words be few but Your Word run deep, Lord!

TURLOCK, Calif. —  Police killed a 27-year-old man as he kicked, punched and stomped a toddler to death despite other people's attempts to stop him on a dark, country road, authorities said.

Investigators on Sunday were trying to establish the relationship between the suspect and the child they say he killed Saturday night. The Stanislaus County coroner said the boy appeared to be between 1 and 2 years old based on his size, according to county sheriff's deputy Royjindar Singh.

"It's been a long night of wondering, 'Why?' — not only for the officers and the passers-by who stopped and tried to help out, but for anyone. Why would somebody do this?" Singh said.

Singh said the coroner does not plan to confirm the identities of the suspect and victim until Monday. Because his injuries were so severe, the child will have to be identified through a blood or DNA test, he said.

The suspect had a child's car seat in the back of his four-door pickup truck. The truck caught the attention of an elderly couple at 10:13 p.m. Saturday because it was stopped in the two-lane road facing the wrong direction, Singh said.

As they got closer, the couple saw the man brutally beating the toddler behind his truck and throwing the child on the ground, according to Singh. Two or three other cars stopped, an unusual number to be passing through the remote area surrounded by a dairy, a cow pasture, a cornfield and a farmhouse, he said.

"What we got from witnesses is he was punching, slapping, kicking, stomping, shaking," Singh said. "They tried to intervene and get involved, but their efforts really didn't have an effect. The suspect was engaged in what he was doing. He just pushed them off and went back to it."

A sheriff's helicopter responding to emergency calls from the area landed in a cow pasture at 10:19 p.m. carrying a Modesto police officer who shot the man to death after he refused an order to stop beating the child, Singh said.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate the toddler, who was not breathing when they arrived. The boy was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

No children within the dead boy's age range have been reported kidnapped or missing in Stanislaus County, Singh said.

The incident happened on Bradbury Road about 10 miles west of Turlock, a city located about halfway between Sacramento and Fresno.

J to the ARED

J-jumps around the house like a frog, chasing our daughter until she passes out from intense belly laughter or because she ran into the table.

A-always gets up with the babies when I complain at 3am of a headache, bellyache, tired-ache or some other obviously lame excuse.

R-rambles on and laughs hysterically about random stories as loud as he can in restaurants until I start saying,"SHHH!!!" and turn hot pink.

E-every idea I have for the new house, he says,"I can build that!"

D-devours ANY dessert you put in his path!

Jared, 

If the girls could could talk a little better they would tell you how much they adore you! You are the first thing on their minds when the wake up and the last thing on their mind before they sleep. They would tell you how they love to follow you through the trees and find cars buried in the sand box. They would tell you how they love to tackle and tickle you until you run away. You are their hero! You are the man of our house! Thank you for loving our girls as a father should. You tell them how Jesus loves them more than anyone else! You already tell them about how He died just for them to be saved! You tell them how beautiful they are! You encourage their gifts and discipline their faults, all with a deep captivating voice! You are the man that I have dreamed of to lead my family! Bless you today for being a Father who loves his Jesus. Bless you today for surrendering your dreams to the dreams of your children. Bless you for giving up your new guitar money for a girlie toy. We bless you for humbling yourself before us! Bless you for blessing us!

We lu loo!

Scoop 101

I must be honest...I am not so much angry anymore as hurt. The reality of the Enemy's power over the world and people is hitting me hard.  My job is really the only thing in my life that is not called "Christian" so to say. Is that sad? What do you think? Reality check.  

Situation: Person A tells Person B (me) on the last day of school as I am leaving for summer that she will not have a position for me at my current school because I am not a bilingual teacher. The district will place me at a new school that needs an English speaking teacher unless I find a new school myself. There is more to the story that involves a lot of emotion that I have surrendered so we just won't go there. 

As I began my summer quiet time study, my heart was convicted of the anger, bitterness, doubt, I could probably go on and on with the sinful thoughts I had toward Person A, the school system and the situation. Leave it to Beth to speak a fresh Word into my harden heart! Who knew that a study over the fruit of the Spirit would speak to me about persecution on Day 1. Talk about the Spirit meeting you where you are! Thank you, Jesus!  In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas are spreading the Word of the Lord, the Gentiles are joyful and glad, honoring the Word. The Jews got "top dog" men and women to stir up persecution  against P and B, expelling them from the region. Here's the gold..."So, THEY SHOOK THE DUST OFF THEIR FEET AND WENT ON!" Whoa! My heart be still. I don't think I even have to explain, the Word says it all. Amen!

I never understood persecution to be more than sharing the gospel until now. I see persecution against the character of Christ in us. We can be persecuted for thoughts, actions, words and feelings. I can only imagine how Jesus felt as he walked the road to the cross, felt as people questioned and criticized his every move, how God felt as he saw His 32? years on earth. The emotions of  a Father, a friend. Persecution is deep. Jesus, use this attack of the enemy for your glory. Only You know how to turn pain into beauty. No pain, no gain. I want to GAIN! I could go on for hours but you are probably getting tired of reading and Karoline is starting to push buttons on the Mac. (Sorry, hubby!)

***We are in Texarkana for the week while Jared in on Mission Trip 08 in Houston! Shout out to the Smith's and Jones', Love you guys and girls! Expect some fun stories and pictures to come your way.

XOXOXOX

please...

Please pray for me today. There is alot going on today and my heart is so hurt. I will explain more when I feel like I can do it without anger. Persecution is damaging. Pray that I will be thankful and joyful to the One who knows more than me. Thank you in advance for laying me before Him.

Looking Ahead...

Well, school is almost over! Two more half days and we are OUT!!! Let me repeat myself...O-U-T...OUT!!! My mamaw is here for the week taking care of the girls while I work and Jared enjoys a week without a tag along.

Here is what I am looking ahead to this summer...

-backyard playdates with the girls
-sleeping past 5am
-eating a sno cone from the one and only Texas Snow!
-visiting The Jones' family in Houston
-camp with The Murrell's
-vacation at the infamous river house in CO
-decorating the new house
-girly vacation in Texarkana with The Thomas' and the rest of the gang
-Baby Mosty!!!
-a pregnant free summer!

I am sure there is more to think of after Friday. Hopefully, I can post some pictures soon!

P.S. I love you.