This is my third grade class, minus a couple who were absent, on dress up day during Spirit Week. They had a lot of fun coming up with outfits for each day's theme. It was a little wild, but fun for them. I have been looking at these pictures and thinking about how much they have already changed since the beginning of the school year. It's amazing how quickly they grow up. Third grade is a big transition for children. They have to become more independent and responsible for their work. Many adjustments have to be made from the days of the teachers holding their hands through it all. It's a really hard grade. They are doing well, some better than others (of course, that is to be expected) and I am proud of their progress.

Today, we said goodbye to one of our classmates. Rithvik (boy--last on right) is moving back to India with his parents. His father has a new job there and they must go. I will miss him. I have thought alot about him this week. They are Hindu and will be returning to a place where it is doubtful they will hear any more about Jesus. I took this seriously this week as I took opportunity to pray out loud with and for him. I realized that I might be the last person to speak the name of Jesus to him. Thankfully, his parents chose to send him to our Christian School (I'm not sure why). He has heard the truth of the gospel day in and day out for the past four years. I trust that God's word will not return void. Pray for Rithvik, that he will remember everything he has learned about Christ and that the seeds so carefully planted will take root and yield fruit in due season.

Why Can't I Blog?

I don't know why, (I mean I've tried and tried to begin doing this) but I can't seem to get it going. I want to. I love reading others. I have things to say. I'm pretty organized. I like it when I sit down and actually do it. Am I just not a writer? Am I afraid of others reading what I write? Have I spread myself too thin between teaching, mothering, wifing, bookkeeping, projects, etc. to have the time? I don't know, but I need to make some space in my life to do things I want to do before I regret not doing them.

Gran's 87th Birthday

We recently celebrated my grandmother's 87th birthday! The family went out to dinner at one of her favorite local restaurants to eat fish and then back to my house for homemade ice cream and chocolate cake. We are so blessed to have the best grandmother in the world. She is amazing. She is the best cook and Sunday lunch at her house is still the best part of the week. She does all, I mean all, of her own yard work and takes care of her home excellently. I hope that I am going to be like her when I am 87, although, to be like her I need to start doing my own yard work now! Happy Birthday Gran! We love You!

Herb Garden

I do not have a green thumb, in fact, it is pretty black. I tend to kill everything. My husband even asked me to please not buy any more plants, but I can't help it. I really want to have one of those beautiful magazine gardens. I've now decided to start small with some containers. I love fresh herbs to cook with and since those small packages at the grocery store are about $4.00 a piece, I decided to start with these type plants. I bought some good soil, peat, and vermiculite. I mixed the soil and planted some in strawberry pots, and some in a clay pot. I love the strawberry pot. It's so cute. I planted thyme, rosemary, oregano, parsley and in a separate pot some mint. I wanted sage, but in the whole town I couldn't find any sage plants. I put these pots on my back deck in a mostly sunny place and now the praying begins. I hope I don't mess up.

Pawley's Island

We went to Pawley's again this year. It was wonderful. The children played all day and had fun in the sun. We relaxed and enjoyed the time off from the duties of home. Chris even caught flounder. Aaahh, nothing better than fresh seafood! It was a great vacation and great time with our family.

Crazy, Sporadic Posting

I just cannot seem to post very often. Wow, it's been five months since my last post. I read blogs all the time. There are some I frequent everyday. I'm not sure why I don't post more, but I think it has to do with being a fairly private person. I want to open up and I am transparent to close friends, but it is that ''Who is going to be reading this?" question in my mind that makes me freeze up. It's the same with commenting on others posts. I don't want a lot of people reading what I wanted to say to the author. So why have a blog you may ask? I originally started this blog to share pictures and events with family who live far away. After reading many other blogs, I see how these women use this tool to share their thoughts and feelings and even their ideologies with the world. I like that idea. It's a sort of release or avenue put it out there in the open. I even believe it can be a therapeutic catharsis. I want my blogging to be more personal and more weighty from time to time. I am not going to turn every post into flowery philosophy, but I would like to speak more on the things of which I am most passionate. Don't worry Mom, I am still going to post pictures of the kids :).

I took this picture for a Valentine's Day card that went out to some family members. Its not exactally what I was going for, but it is very hard to get three small children to all smile at the same time and not be goofy. This will have to do! Happy Valentine's Day!