“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. with Him at MY right hand, I will not be shaken…. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at YOUR right hand.” Psalm 16:8, 11
Hard to believe school has started and we are seriously almost over the first 9 weeks. How fast time goes. I didn’t feel super prepared this year as my brain was in wacko mode and unable to really focus well this summer. BUT….God. I am so thankful.
So, how did we end the summer and start the school year?
One of our biggest highlights and biggest blessings for me this summer, was seeing my extended family for my parents 50th wedding anniversary. It was so nice to just talk to them and share time with their kids.
Hopefully you can click on these photos and look at these amazing people. My parents were blessed to have people fly in from all over the country to celebrate their year’s together. We enjoyed time with each other in Branson, MO. I wish I was able to see them more then I get to. My dad’s 4 brothers had 14 children and those 14 have had 33 so far. So it’s so much fun to get together! I was very blessed to have been anointed with oil from Israel (please tell me I’m remembering this right!) by my cousin Paul. Well, technically he’s my dad’s cousin, but that’s how my dad’s family functions. We are just ONE BIG group. It’s great!
Spent the rest of the summer getting ready for school. Did I mention that Scott and I celebrated our 20th anniversary? When you type that and say it sounds like a long time! But, it’s gone really fast and I have been blessed to be loved by him.
Bryant High School honored us for winning state at the beginning of the year. They had us come to the school board meeting to get certificates and the girl’s got their State Championship Rings. It was very special and the girls soaked it up. Wished we could’ve had more of the seniors from last year, but they’ve all left for college.
Along with my new ring, I got a sweet bracelet from the Pass on Joy ladies. They are such a blessing to so many as they send encouragement out and desire to share the Love of Christ with people all over the country who are battling cancer. Misti Coker is an amazing woman who has ministered to so many in and through this organization. Check it out on line or facebook.
One of the hardest and craziest things we had to do was drop Garrett off for college, gulp. Scott was gone at Razorback game so Scott’s mom, Ann, was gracious enough to drive up there with me and Nathan to get him moved in. He’s getting involved in some different ministries and checking out churches up in Conway. I am glad he’s focused on school, but I am surprised when he seems to be in his room by 7:00pm almost everyday. He’s working on keeping high grades., so can’t complain. I love to facetime him and just see him smile and see his (I’m taking a break from working at Chick-fil-a) beard! Love that kid, and I miss him.
Nathan cried and cried when we left. He misses his brother.
The girls started a new club team this fall. Not going to lie, it’s a little different now. I drop kids off and then sit there and think that I should be coaching the club team! Ha ha! But, it’s good for the girls to see what being coached by other people is like and gives me more time right now in the offseason. I do miss these girls. They are working with new players and learning new positions, but they are enjoying their team. And that’s what’s important. They’ve won a couple tourneys and enjoy driving to training sometimes.
My friend Nikki Funk and I explore sometimes and finally got to see the windmill that was in the movie Gone With the Wind when we dropped girls off to train one day. Coaching sure takes up some time!
We got to celebrate Nathan’s 10th bday! Wowser. That makes me sad. My little guy isn’t so little anymore. In two years he will start to look like a young man, not a boy and that makes me think, wow. Kid’s grow fast and it’s crazy. He’s loving tennis and piano still. Very glad about that. He loves music and loves to sing with me or wants me to play piano with him. One thing that I am thankful for, my memory and mind haven’t been very focused and there has been so many things I’ve struggled with but, I am finally being able to speak better spanish and read music to play piano. Very thankful to have these moments and reminded that we don’t recognize or understand the gifts we’ve been given, we just like to complain about what we don’t have that we would want. There are so many great little things that if you didn’t have it, would be hard.
So I’m back at the high school teaching and coaching. I’ve had the opportunity to share with my students about my life, my battle and God’s hand in my life. I am thankful to be able to know that He isn’t wasting a moment He desires for His people to share and live His Truth. That is my prayer everyday. That I may be used by Him to love these students and that they may see His light and share in His fellowship as He lives in and through me. The Lord has given me too much and I am so thankful to finally understand a small part of it.
I want to thank you all for the continued prayers. I know that your intercession has been an amazing weapon and gift. Today I went in for my MRI and I am blessed. Nothing has changed – well I’ve decided the MRI machine needs a new back support and place for my head, ha! There’s nothing new happening in my brain with the tumors. I do try and be creative and think sometimes 🙂 I am thankful but, I know that God has me and this. The doctors and I may not know what we “need” to know, BUT HE DOES. I was asked to remember three items today and she said she would ask me later what she said….drumroll….. I remembered.
Listen, I forget a lot of stuff so, I am blessed to even remember that she asked me this today, and I know the Lord is removing the clouds and pushing the sun right through. NO DARKNESS can EVER hide the light of Christ. When I look back and remember that picture of the sun that was set and the bright rays billowing up and out on top of the river and into the sky, I think about my life and I know that NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE for the Hand of God. His hand was there reminding me to rest in Him and I have my right hand reached out to hold His.
Continue to pray for energy, healing, God’s hand in my life to meet the needs of those around me, for Him to continue to use this road to bring more people to Him. He is my strength and shield and holds my right hand.
