Saturday, April 19, 2014

the easter dragon strikes again

last year, we didn't receive a visit from our beloved friend, the easter dragon.  but this time he flew in for some fun!!

but before he visited, we had a quick game of kick-ball.  it was intense!!














he left papaw paul with the first clue.






the kiddos were mighty quick in solving the clues this year & reading the messages left.




below are the clues he left for them:
“Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!” Psalms 149:3 - World English Bible 

 1.   E-E-E-E-EASTER..E-E-E-E-EASTERTIME! .WHAT DO YOU THINK I SAY?  I LOVE THE SONG “WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY?”  IT GETS STUCK IN MY HEAD ALL DAY LONG & MY OTHER DRAGON FRIENDS THINK I AM A BIT SILLY SINGING RATA-TAT-TAT-TAT.    I HOPE YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER THE JOY THAT CAN BE FOUND IN SINGING, DANCING & WORSHIPING OUR LORD.   




MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT DOES THE GOOSE SAY (HINT, HINT)??


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Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-8 
2.. OH, LOVE..I LOVE LOVE – DO YOU?  A WISE WOMAN ONCE SHARED THAT EVERY NIGHT, BEFORE SHE SAID HER PRAYERS, SHE WOULD PUT HER NAME IN PLACE OF “LOVE” AND ASK HERSELF IF SHE WAS ABLE TO DO THE THINGS IN THE VERSE.  I, THE EASTER DRAGON, LIKE TO DO THE SAME & LET ME TELL YOU- I FAIL DAILY.  BUT I KEEP TRYING & HOPE YOU WILL TOO.  AT NIGHT, ASK YOURSELVES, DARBY, BEN & GRACIE IF YOU WERE ABLE TO BE PATIENT AND KIND.NOT RUDE OR ENVIOUS.  IT IS A HARD TASK TO DO, BUT I’M SURE YOU CAN ACCEPT THAT MISSION! 
THE NEXT SURPRISE IS IN A SPOT THAT GRANDMA DEEDEE LOVED TO BAKE FAVORITE TREATS FOR FAVORITE PEOPLE. 



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THOSE “DRAGON EGGS” YOU FOUND ARE FOR YOU TO DECORATE HOW YOU CHOOSE! (OUTSIDE)

But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  Matthew 4:4

3.  THERE’S NOTHING I LIKE BETTER THAN A GOOD BOOK BEFORE BED.  GO CHECK WHERE YOU LAY YOUR HEAD & SEE WHAT IS THERE!
ONE OF THESE BOOKS IS VERY SPECIAL, BECAUSE IT IS A BOOK TO BE WRITTEN BY YOU ABOUT YOU!  YOU CAN WRITE WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE, BECAUSE IT IS YOUR STORY, MY FRIENDS.


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Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
John 11:25-26




4.   I LOVE TO STOP & SMELL THE FLOWERS, BUT SOMETIMES I LET OUT A SNEEZE & END UP CATCHING THEM ON FIRE!  
AS YOU CELEBRATE EASTER & THE ETERNAL LIFE GOD HAS PROMISED US, I COULD USE SOME HELP WITH CREATING SOME BEAUTIFUL ARRANGEMENTS TO CELEBRATE LOVED ONES WATCHING OVER US FROM HEAVEN.  I STARTED, BUT I KNOW YOU GUYS CAN DO A DRAGONTASTIC JOB FINISHING!

TO FIND THIS, YOU MUST REARRANGE THE LETTERS BELOW TO FIND THE HIDING SPOT:

LLWYHAA ETCOLS 


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Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10


5.  HOW DO WE HAVE A CLEAN HEART??  I THINK THIS IS DONE BY GIVING OUR HEARTS TO JESUS & LIVING OUR LIVES FOR HIM.   PRAYER, READING YOUR BIBLE & TALKING TO THOSE THAT LOVE YOU WHEN YOU HAVE QUESTIONS IS A GREAT WAY TO DO THAT.

I’VE HIDDEN YOUR NEXT SURPRISES IN A PLACE YOU CAN WASH OFF...


I GUESS YOU REMEMBER I’M KIND OF A GERM-A-PHOBE, HUH?  THAT SANITZER & KLEENEX CAN COME IN HANDY THOUGH!
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.JAMES 1:17
EACH OF YOU ARE A GOOD & PERFECT GIFT FROM GOD & YOUR FAMILY COUNTS YOU ALL AS SUCH WONDERFUL BLESSINGS. 


  .  TO FIND YOUR FINAL TREASURES, USE THE FIRST LETTER FROM EACH WORD: PAUL,AMAZING,TOYS,INCREDIBLE,OLIVE  IN BELIEVE, ALWAYS, COOK, KOOL-AID
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DARBY, BEN AND GRACIE,
AS YOUR SCAVENGER HUNT COMES TO AN END, ONE MORE VERSE I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU. 
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BIBLE VERSES.  IT REMINDS ME TO TRUST IN GOD ALWAYS, TO NOT BE AFRAID & KNOW THAT HE HAS A PLAN FOR ME, AS HE DOES FOR EACH ONE OF YOU.  I ENJOY WATCHING EACH ONE OF YOU GROW INTO THE INCREDIBLE LITTLE PEOPLE YOU ARE BECOMING.  THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FRIENDS! 
I LOVE YOU ALL,
THE EASTER DRAGON



the kiddos did an amazing job crating flower saddles to go on mamaw barb's & deedee's tombstones.  it was a great to share the love that dee had in making sure to pay respect to those that are no longer here on earth with us.  i know i am worn out from all the fun & am looking forward to celebrating Easter tomorrow at One Life & with family and friends! Happy Easter!!



















Monday, March 17, 2014

lori & janet

i may be an only child, but have been blessed with family members that i love just as if they were my sisters and know they feel the same.  always there for advice, a shoulder to cry on, love and just to listen.  some of my favorite memories have been with these gals; be it watching iu win the ncaa way back when steve alford was the coolest dude alive, watching their kiddos grow, having our shopping trips & laughing at the outfits on one another.  unlike most sisters, there have only been a handful of disagreements in life- watching a soap opera over sesame street (sorry janet), gentle persuasions on better way to handle situations, etc.  i love them so. and my kiddos do too, calling them their aunts. (to those not familiar with our family dynamics, it can be a bit confusing).

the last year has been hard & we've dealt with it together & on our own.  talking on the phone or face to face always, always makes me feel better, though tears are usually shed.

i am so proud of both of them.  lori & her mom inspired me to go into a male dominated field, mechanical engineering.  it was a job that was challenging but i really loved.  as long as i can remember, i wanted to do & be whatever janet was.  a cheerleader/ a drum major / you name it.

when their mom passed away, janet was working on creating some common core math books for each grade.  as a family, we all got to help edit the books & help meet deadlines.   it was a added stress for janet, but looking back, it was a great way to focus my grief into something good by helping edit the books.  thank you, jl, for having the confidence in me to help out.


i was so excited to see these on fb today & can't wait to read all the positive reviews.  i truly think these will help parents, teachers, and students better understand the goals of common core in math & how to reach the solutions.

the amazon link to order these books & other awesome books by janet is here: janet's books.  another favorite of our home

we loved it since it was just computer sheets of paper.  a fun, learning math book for boys and girls!

now, i just need to enroll for a semester in school & study abroad so i can enjoy harlaxton with you!! :)

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

love you always, deedee


november 4, 2012 is a day frozen in my mind.  i still wake up, wishing  it was just a bad, bad dream.  i lost my hero, my rock on earth, the one person that had always been there and could always make everything better. time has yet to heal the heartache i feel everyday. not a day goes by that i don't miss deedee.  
for us, it started out like a normal sunday..daddio had to work, we went to church & then to a ms walk.  i forgot my cell phone and when we got home, our answering machine was full.  daddio got home a few minutes after the kiddos & i and said "dee is gone."  dee who?  not our deedee - no way!  i could not believe it or accept it.  she passed away, selflessly serving others, as she was always doing.  
though i pray a lot every day, i still do not have comfort or peace of her passing.  i know i was so blessed to have the relationship with her that i had and those memories of comfort with her can never be taken away but my heart hurts.  my heart hurts for my kiddos, who also miss her (little g carries a picture with her of deedee everyday).  she had so much more to teach us - i never learned the right way to make those sweet rolls & so much other lessons in life we had to learn from her.
i am so thankful for all the time & love she did give to us & everyone.  she was the best.  (i don't want this to sound ungrateful for my wonderful mom i have or husband or kiddos or other family...we all felt this way about dee).  
after her death, i tried to fill the void by working at preschool & trying to do as she did...but i sure couldn't keep it up.  she spent her life devoted to her lord and savior, doing for others, loving all in her family & doing it all with great joy.  
the kiddos and i made a sign in our home & this perfectly describes dee:

every day, i try.  i do. i really do.  but i fail.  dee will always be my role model & i will keep trying.  & hopefully, someday, i won't have to go to the bathroom to hide my tears from my sweet kiddos.  i love you & miss you, deedee.