Did you know that I'm Superwoman? That's what one of the kids in nursery told me tonight. It was too cute! He said that he was Superman and another boy was Batman.

Things have been busy. I enjoyed the 3 snowdays even though I was sick. I'm thankful that it happened on those extra days off.

One of my students is moving to England. His last day will be Friday. I spent a lot of time getting things ready for him and his family. I had to go through all the papers I correlated at the beginning of the year to give to his mom since she is homeschooling him for the rest of the school year. I find it slightly ironic that she asked me advice on homeschooling. I've never been homeschooled. I was public schooled all the way. I just shared with her some of my experiences while teaching this year.

I just got news that my great-grandma passed away today. I called my mom to see if she had been told and apparently she hadn't.

Well, I must go for now.

Can you hear me now?

Here's an outline from a recent message in a series my pastor did.
"Can You Hear Me Now? Communication for Edification"
Eph. 4:29

Principles for building up your spouse:

Make it safe to communicate. (Eph. 4:29)
Seek to understand, not to be understood. (v. 2;Phil. 2:2-4)
Don't assume you know- ask.
Listen- don’t interrupt. (Prov. 18:13; James 1:19)
Don't nag. (Prov. 10:19)
Don't jump to conclusions. (James1:19; Prov. 21:23)
Disagree? Yes. Disrespect? No. (Eph. 4:32)
Deal in potential, not the past.
Don't force your spouse to be your carbon copy.
Pray for one another. (I Sam. 12:23)

Better communication depends upon change.

WATCH OUT FOR THE…..

Black ice patch! Wednesday night after church, I walked over to Karyn's house with her and her kids. She said she'd give me a ride home (in reality, the time it took to walk to her house, I could have walked home!), so I accepted. Within 20 feet of her house, her oldest boy slips on the ice. I help him up. We keep walking that short distance, and then it happened. Have you ever seen the drainage slot in the side of a curb? Well, I slipped on the ice and *CRACK* both of my shins hit the curb as my feet went into the drainage slot. I didn't fall, but boy did it hurt! I had discolored goose eggs on my legs by the time I got into the van. When I got home, I just sat in the reclining chair. When I decided to go to bed, I could barely move! It hurt so bad. It's a little better now. :o)



I found out that my car is not worth fixing. I had it towed to a shop Tuesday night and found out yesterday. The head gasket is blown and the starter is bad. **sigh** Oh well. The car was given to me, so I can't complain. Now I am trying to find another one. If you would, please pray that God gives me wisdom in choosing a new one.

There's sin in the camp!

In college, I heard a sermon on the story of the sin that Achan committed. It stuck with me. Achan sinned against the word of God.

Joshua 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

He saw, coveted, took, then hid the accursed thing. How often do we do this in our lives? We look where we shouldn't, then covet what we shouldn't, then we go ahead and partake of it thinking nothing will happen, then we hide it thinking no one will find it. God knows it all. We can not hide our sin from God. We can not cover it up. Sin does not only affect us, but those around us.

Joshua 7: 24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

Satan lies to us about our sin. It will be found out, whether it be today, tomorrow, or some time down the road. We need to guard our lives. When you are looking at the wrong things, you think the wrong things, and then you act upon those feelings.

I John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Galatians 5: 16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

What a week! :)

This has been a trial of a week. I feel like I've been hit with everything (although I know I haven't). My car is down, me class has been a bunch of wild banchees, my classroom computer quit performing certain very important programs (such as my GradeQuick program for uploading all my grades), and I turned a year older. I didn't quit. I kept at it. Today (well, Friday, since this will post as Saturday) was actually pretty good. My kids were still not obeying well, but it was probably their best day this week. I've been able to get some computer things fixed and/or fixed them myself. Now, I'm sure it sounds like a gloomy post, but its not, really.

On my birthday, I had a few students bring me in gifts (these kids melt my heart). My roomies surprised me with a cake that they brought out at lunch time (mind you, I have to eat with my class), and we all had cake and ice cream.

My roomies and I are getting along pretty well. We've had quite a few laughs recently. Thursday, "A" called my phone, but left a message for one of her students who has the same first name as I. When I got the message, I told her I didn't know I had a test to take....that I am usually the one giving the test..lol. I even told her we don't need all the formalities (she said, " Hi Nicole, this is Miss ________")...hahaha...we laughed about that!

Oh, the lady I babysit for treated me to a birthday dinner: a kid's meal! We were going out visiting and then I was going to watch 4 of her kids while she took the one to the Dr. We all ended up going since they called and said they could see at an earlier time. My birthday was interesting to say the least.

On Friday, we had a few ladies over and had a good dinner and a great game of Phase 10. I finally know how to play! I never played it before. We were all cutting it up and having a good time. I guess we are having Friday night get togethers more often. We're already planning for next week.

Well, its way past bed time and I am tired. I do want to say that I am blessed and that I know God will not give me more than I can handle as long as I am looking to Him. With God, all things are possible and there is nothing too hard for Him to take care of. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Have a great day/afternoon/night...whenever you may read this!
God Bless!