Project Life Tuesday!

Yes I know that it has been awhile since I have posted my project life. So here is 3 weeks worth of pictures! If you want to join the fun please go over to Jessica Turner's blog to see others.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010


I didn’t have to be at school but I went anyways. I wanted to be with the kids be there while they were hurting and just be a comfort to them. I don’t know if I could have sat home and wondered how everyone else was doing that day. The button says “He died for you, why not live for him.”

 

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

This is what a community that is mourning looks like.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

My dad bought me flowers because I’m a big help to him. I kind of keep my dad on track and keep his ducks in a row when we are at a school together. Today I made breakfast dishes for him to take to his “Happy Breakfast.” His “Sad Breakfast” comes in the fall when he has to start another school year, get it. So there are the flowers!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Kindergarten Graduation! Caty Graduated from Kindergarten!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

More open houses! This weekend we had seven to go to. Four on Saturday and Three on Sunday!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

A very good friend’s mom when home to be with Jesus. She was 61 years old and it came as a huge shock. I also started a Discovery Class and we are studying this book.

Monday, June 7, 2010

My mom and Dad have been married 30 years today. I trying to find the right picture!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010- Thursday, June 10, 2010

This was my week sick Caty and homework. Caty had a really bad case of constipation and a sinus infection.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Caty was feeling a lot better so she went to her day school for the first time this summer. This is Ms. Jane. We love Ms. Jane. I also went to another funeral. Today was the day that they buried Liz’s mom.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

I found this on mom’s tire. Can we say bald?

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Caty thought that this pose was hilarious. Going to Dairy Queen and like usual Caty took two bites and Papa got the rest!

Monday, June 14, 2010

A couple of weeks ago I joined the local YMCA. One of the summer programs is called Move it and Lose it. So I decided to join that too. Weekly weigh ins and prizes. So I will give it a shot this summer. This is what Caty looked like for her first swim lesson.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Dobby the Prince, Caty made Dobby a crown. Doesn’t he look thrilled to be wearing it.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Caty and my mom went out into the back field to pick wild flowers. Aren’t they beautiful!?!?!? Caty looks very proud of herself.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Dad has surgery today to help alleviate his carpal tunnel. This is what he looked like when he got home.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Just a new picture of me and Caty. I want to track my progress as I go on this journey to Move it and Lose it.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Caty and her girl scout troop when and played miniature golf for their final outing. It looks like they had a ton of fun.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

With the mission trip less than a month away I started a To-Do List. I ended up making it for the week.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Got a ton done for the mission trip today, permission trip copied and meetings made so I can pass them out. Man it was good to cross off the list that I started yesterday!

Project Life Tuesday!

Thanks for joining me again if you want to join in the fun please go over to Jessica Turner's blog and see some of the other wonderful Project Life's That people are working on. If you read nothing else please read the entire journal entry for Friday, May 28th.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Senior’s Last Day: This is what the principal’s office looked like after the seniors got to it. The principal prides himself for a clean office. So that makes it even better.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Captain Obvious and his sidekick Nitwit: While subbing this is the presence that came into my class. The kid in the cape found both costumes in his locker. He had used them for spirit week in the past. I did get a flat tire today. My dad and a couple of kids went out to try and fix it no such luck. I had to call a tow truck. Not as much fun as you would think. Although the tow truck that came out only charged me $26 for coming out, taking the flat tire off the car, taking the tire back to the shop to fix where the nail had punctured the tire, and returning to put the tire on the car. I was thinking they were going to be jerks and add a bunch of charges that weren’t nessarry. You know the “girl charge” where you automaticly get charged more just for being a girl. Or the “emergency charge” getting charged extra for needing it done now. But none of that was done, PTL!

Friday, May 28, 2010

There are many things that I have learned as a teacher that they did not teach me when I was in college. For instance the first time a student asks you on a date, which now I respond with “July after you graduate!” What about if you are subbing a 2nd grade classroom and one of them pees their pants? Find the nearest paraprofessional they will know exactly what to do. And my personal favorite magic trick is catching a kid chewing tobacco. But you never reveal you secrets on how to do that so you can keep catching that disgusting habit. And I tell them every time I catch one of them that they are breaking my heart and they are eating worms. Eating worms never fazes them.

One of the other things they never teach you is how to say goodbye to kids. I mean you become so invested in their lives, work with them to succeed, cheer them on at their sports event, and celebrate with them when they accomplish something they never thought was possible. Tonight the class of 2010 went from being high school students to high school graduates. Some by the skin of their teeth others taking all Art classes their final semester because they had received all of their credits and where just biding their time. Things will never be the same again for anyone of these kids.

Tonight is a night to celebrate the accomplishments of the class of 2010, but that is not what tonight will be remembered for. Tonight will be remembered for the toughest goodbye of these kid’s lives. On the way to the graduation ceremony a high school junior was killed instantly. No one is releasing details at this point and to be honest I don’t know if I ever want details.

Her name is Debbie or as some people called her “D to the Ebbi.” She was going to be a Christian rapper just like TobyMac. She loved people and people loved her. She took the time to get to know why you were hurting and she listened to your problems. Her greatest fear was that her classmates would never know Jesus the way she did. She told everyone about Jesus. I had the privilege of challenging her on walk her walk with Jesus. I challenged her to pray for those her persecute her, all while assuring her that this was an area I struggled with as well. That my flesh usually took over and I pouted “But I don’t wanna….” She was never getting any condemnation from me just support on this journey, together, because we are all supposed to spur each other on in the Faith.

The first time I met her she was in 8th grade and she had something about her that made her stand out. She did it on purpose and that is what everyone loved about her. Some of her classmates gave her grief about her wacky personality but I think that was because they wanted to be that free and where unable to do so for whatever reason. From the girl I remember in 8th grade to the woman she was becoming I was excited. Excited to see who God was going to turn her into. Excited to see how God was going to use her for his Glory. I was also excited to see that she didn’t make excuses for that passion either.

I have a feeling that D to the Ebbi made the same deal I made with God. That her life was for him to use in any way he needed to show off his Glory. When I made that deal I forgot, or as my mom would say I choose not to remember, that it means death too. So I have no doubt that at the end of this tragedy God is at the beginning of his Glory.

This is my message to D to the Ebbi: Debbie is has been an honor and a privilege to get to know you. You are an amazing young woman whose life was cut way too short. And while I run the spectrum of emotions happy that you have gone home to be with Jesus and sad because I want you here with me, I know that it will only be a blink of an eye before I see you again. And there will be a few people I want to see and hug before I get to you, I do want to find you and hug you and say that it was so worth it. I do think that there will be a long line of people that will want to hug you and tell you how much they missed and loved you. Thank you for being an example to me and to everyone around you, your legacy will be one that will effect generations, simply because you loved.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Spent the day going to 3 open houses and ran into a lot of these kids and at the end of the day this is what grieving kids look like. At this point it had only been 24 hours since they had lost their team mate, classmate and friend. Huddled around and remembering the positive things that she brought to each and every one of their lives. And during the open houses they were happy and celebrating their friends accomplishments but at the end of the day they are still hurting.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Not a very exciting day church and 4 open houses.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Happy Memorial Day!!! We (I mean my dad and Caty) got flowers into the flower boxes.

Project Life Tuesday!

Thanks for joining me again if you want to join in the fun please go over to Jessica Turner's blog and see some of the other wonderful Project Life's That people are working on.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Just the start of a really busy summer! Two classes that will take my time, one Bible study, one mission trip and my dad is going to have surgery. Nothing major, he is going to have some work done on his hand for carpal tunnel.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

For some reason I forgot Secretary Appreciation Day. So I made up for lost time. I made bouquets of flower pens for them to keep on their desks. They were a huge hit. There are things I would do differently the next time, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that everyone loved them.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

I didn’t get a picture for today.

Friday, May 21, 2010

This is a picture of my mom, my friend Deanna at the Hotel. Even though my birthday is in September, I got my birthday weekend this weekend. For my 29th birthday (9/8/09) I decided I wanted to see my favorite speaker live and she came to Grand Rapids. I love Beth Moore. There were so many amazing God moments for this weekend. For instance, my friend had a huge family emergency and through a ton of prayer she was able to go to the event. Lifeway only expected about 4000 to come to event a final total would be 7300. That’s right almost double of what they expected. And she brought a message! Hokey Smokes!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

These are pictures of Beth. I tried really hard to get her on stage. Multiple settings and different angles, so I took a couple of her from the video. This is her sitting down with a group of 7300 women and just having a chat with us. That conference could have lasted a week and I still would have wanted more! If you were at Van Andal this last weekend, I am so honored to have been able to share this experience with you!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Wendy’s is offering a program where if you donate $1 you can get a free Jr. Frosty with any purchase. Well Caty, my mom, my dad and myself got Frostys for under $5. My mom got a tag as well. After such a fantastic weekend, it was kind of nice to get back into “normal” life.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Caty arch-nemesis! “Papa’s stinky pillow” when Caty and I snuggle in my mom and dad’s bed one of the running jokes is who gets to put their head on “the pillow” Well we played that game. Caty told me that I would never get her to touch the pillow that she wouldn’t do anything that gross. So I took the bet and won!!! That’s right I got a 6 year old to touch something that she didn’t want to. I picked up the pillow and touched Caty with it. She wasn’t impressed. So she picked up the pillow and hit me with it. So I had to point out that she had touched it. I even made her smell her hands and she did it.

Project Life Tuesday!

Thanks for joining me again if you want to join in the fun please go over to Jessica Turner's blog and see some of the other wonderful Project Life's That people are working on.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

My “Oprah” product!!!! Every woman has an “Oprah” product whether they call it that or not. I know you are all asking what is an “Oprah” product, right? Well it is the product I will take on to Oprah with me when I become famous and she asks me my favorite beauty product, I tell her and then she yells… “EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIANCE IS GETTING ONE!!!!” For me that product is Mary Kay Eye Primer. I love it!!!!This product help keep my eye makeup on because sometimes my eye makeup goes on as early as 5 am and it still looks fresh and as one of my friends put it “Hot Momma!” when I take it off at 9 or 10 at night. The other great part it’s really cheap. If you are not a Mary Kay Lady it is $12 plus tax and I find that one tube last me a year. I have a friend that goes through 2 a year, so I don’t know where else she is using it.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Notice the before and after! I took Caty to her end-of- AWANA’s carnival and to kill a little bit more time I got my face painted too. Caty loved it and thought I was AWESOME! Yes that is a butterfly on my face. It was only after when I was taking it off did I think to myself, “Man, I hope this comes off!” It did.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Because of my favorite product ever is a product that helps keep your eye makeup on I found out that L’Oreal made a product that will help keep your foundations on all day. I have tried it a couple of times and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I think it makes my skin smooth but I’m not sure if it’s worth it.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Today is my baby brother Chris’s birthday. He turns 21. This was the start of a wonderful Birthday Weekend for Chris. That’s right we celebrate someone’s Birthday for an entire weekend. That doesn’t mean that they get big fancy dinners every night it just is a little bit more relaxed. So you can enjoy their birthday.

Dobby went to the groomer too!

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Dad went mushroom hunting today. This was all that he found. This hasn’t been the best years because it has been really cold at night. We have had enough rain but the temperatures will not corporate to make the perfect conditions.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Today was the day that we celebrated Chris’s birthday as a family. Happy Birthday Weekend, Chris! Caty said the cutest pray for dinner. She made sure to pray that the food wasn’t’ full of poison. I will regularly check her meals, drinks, and/or treats for “poison” when I want to try it. You know just to be on the safe side.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Caty taking my dog for a walk in the stroller. He had a pretty good time and Caty had an even better time.

Project Life Tuesday!

Thanks for joining me again if you want to join in the fun please go over to Jessica Turner's blog and see some of the other wonderful Project Life's That people are working on.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Ms. Kelly and Caty: I think that is enough said. Kelly is my BFF and she and little Ms. Caty were arguing about something. I really don’t remember what it was about but you can tell who is being the grown up in this picture. ME!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Cinco De Mayo: Went out to dinner at the local Mexican restaurant to celebrate Cinco De Mayo with my brother Drake and his girlfriend.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Went out and had ice cream with a new friend. I have this “game” where I have taken a bunch of questions fold them up and answer them. They are fun personal questions. Questions like “Favorite childhood memory?” “Favorite Bible Verse?” So they are just fun ways to get to know someone, of course they always have the options to pass on a question. Sometimes you just can’t think of an answer.

Friday, May 7, 2010

RAIN: This day was bitter cold and then the next day it turned to snow. It never stuck but it was still snowing.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

House of Hunan: This has been Caty’s favorite restaurant since she was old enough to eat real food. So tonight she announced that she wanted to go there for dinner. Beef and Broccoli is her favorite dinner. I don’t think she has ever tried anything different but for the longest time it was the only way she would eat veggies. Although she wasn’t really pleased with me when I snapped the picture.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

For Mother’s Day my aunt decided that she would through a party for my Nana. So my mom, my niece and myself left from Northern Michigan to drive four hours south to get to South Bend, IN to surprise my Nana. She loved the surprise and she totally didn’t expect it. Caty did FANTASTIC for a 6 year old and 8 hours in the car in one day. She had one meltdown and then got over it when Nana loved on her. She did take a 2 hour nap on the way home but I think that helped with the good attitude getting up Monday morning for school. So this is a picture of my mom, her sisters and her mom.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Since we spent Sunday in South Bend, my family celebrated Mother’s Day with my mom today. This is a picture of my mom and her sisters. I didn’t get a picture because I was busy doing all of the cooking.

Project Life Tuesday!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

This is my friend Deb. She has always been such a blessing to me when I first came back to Jesus and First Baptist Church she was one of the first women I connected with. We have both grown as women of Christ. She says she can see a lot of herself in me. Man I hope so, she is a wonderful wife and mother and most important child of God. The one thing I love the most about her is how transparent she is. A couple of months ago I felt the Spirit leading to give her a resource and she told me it was really funny that I had done that because she was thinking and talking about that topic with her husband the night before. She then told me what was going on and later I thanked her and told her what a blessing that was to me. She still is a huge blessing to me. Love you Deb! Happy Birthday!!!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

I had to get my hair highlighted and cut because I’m seeing my Nana on Mother’s Day. So I took Caty. I’m her favorite Aunt so we do a lot of things together. She got her hair cut and it is so cute! Well, while the bleach was working on my hair she wanted to be just like me and this is the picture my stylist snapped.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Found a bottle of my favorite wine in the bargain bin at a local store. $3.69 The wine is not terribly expensive to begin with, I just love it and love the fact that I found it for half the price. I can only find it in the fall, So I have to stock up when I can find it. I haven’t opened it yet.

Friday, April 30, 2010

This is how I found Caty sleeping in the morning. She is on a blow up mattress and it has a hole in it. So she kind of sunk into the bed a little bit. She looked so adorable.

Saturday, May 01, 2010

I caught this picture of my friend Deanna when she was peering at her brand new grandson DJ. DJ was 8 weeks premature and is such a little fighter. No one can touch him but him mom and dad so this was my friends attempt to get as close to her baby as possible.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

This wasn’t a picture taken on Sunday but I am excited to get to use it. I sent a threatening text message to my friend, since the day before I had taken so many pictures of her grandbaby, this is what is said. “I am holding the pictures of Baby DJ hostage until we go out to a movie. You have 9 minutes to respond.” She did and we went to see Date Night it was a really funny movie.

Monday, May 3, 2010

We all went to Caty’s Spring Sing and this is Caty with her Nina and Papa. I just love this picture!