2013: a year in review

What a year.

I've struggled with this post for a few weeks. I said I wouldn't be posting and I am not. But, I had to come back and edit a bit of this. I just couldn't post, including or excluding certain information.

Truth is, I am thankful we are on the last hours of 2013. I can't seem to classify this year. It hasn't been "good" and it hasn't been "bad." It has been triumphant, hard, draining, joyful, changing, and trying. I have traded up my dreams of Ishmael for God's unforeseeable Isaac plans. I have watched my parents touch the last days with their parents and not slip into "until eternity" just yet. I have welcomed a fearfully and wonderfully made nephew into my arms and celebrated the arrival of a precious angel nephew to Jesus' arms. I sat two feet from someone as the words "anaplastic hemangiopericytoma" changed their life. I stepped down from full time work and a full time pay check to relieve myself from stress and remind myself that I still love doing this. I took on the full responsibility of the education of a tenth grader. I welcomed my family back to this state and this time zone. I danced in the song of my Father in the bright noonday and wept in His arms in the early morning darkness. I have hurt. I have danced. I have laughed. I have cried. I have grown. I have come to know one thing when everything else seems so unknown. My God is GOOD.

Come along with me on a journey through the past pages, praise Him with me for the joys He brought, and sing with gladness that the victory is His!

- The call was in and they were moving home!
- My job was wearing me out emotionally and physically. Waited on the Father.

-The Bean turned 12 and entered the last stage before teen hood!
- I landed in Nashville for the last time to drive them home!
- I turned 23 and my parents surprised me with a weekend in DC! We stayed in a hotel, ate some awesome food, toured our nation's history, and had a wonderful time all being together!

 

- Pocket change celebrated their first anniversary and the discovery that sweet p was on his way!
- The Bubs turned 4 and my aunt heart cried a little as a tall verbal little boy enjoyed his transformer day!
- My job began to wear on me in every dimension.

The Bub's big 4!

- Baby pudge made me an aunt for the third time.
- The same week my mom had a birthday.
- and guy and girl became guy and girl.
- job hit the climax and I made a huge decision to stop.
- co-planned and co-hosted a childhood friend's wedding shower.
- I opened my closet blog in hopes to post through the items in my closet. 

My baby pudge on his BIRTHday!

Childhood Friends

 

- sweet baby p was welcomed to heaven as we celebrated the short time we got to know him.

- we celebrated mother's day and my sister's birthday.

- we came to know our angel baby as sweet little Enoch.

- Madalee graduated from highschool!

- Sped off west to celebrate my cousin's college graduation.

For everyone of my angel nephews I have written a poem. This is Enoch's.

St. Louis for this girl's graduation!

 

- tried a girl's conference with some awesome ladies and got sent home because of a power outage. =/

- celebrated one of my teenagers birthdays in traditional latino style, quince!

- attended our annual homeschool convention.

- last day of work full time and cut my hours by a lot for the summer. Best adult decision this year.

- volunteered at King's Fest with Pocket change.

  

- God directed guy and girl in separate directions. 

- celebrated the Poc's second birthday.

- spent some extra time with my sister and the nephews. 

- took the second chance to attend the girl's conference and enjoyed a wonderful time with the Father. 

- co-planned and co-hosted a baby shower for a childhood friend. 

 

- Enjoyed the last few days of summer.
- Experienced some scary days with my grandparents.
- Celebrated mom and dad's 31 years as Mr. and Mrs.
- Started back to work more full time than the summer but less full time than before!
- Face reality, fears, and emotions as guy was taken to the ER.

- Extensive brain surgery.
- Grandparents getting better.
- Therapy.
- Fighting myself and wrestling with my God about what I was doing in the situation.
- healing.
- family vacation.
- started homeschooling.

- recovery.
- facing reality.
- fundraising.
- apple picking.
- Madalee's 19th birthday.
- second brain surgery.
- God's call on my heart.

- SCC concert with the family.
- radiation for his head and my heart.
- Meg's *whisper* 30th birthday festivities!
- Thanksgiving.
- Gettysburg.
- co-planned and co-hosted a bridal shower for a childhood friend.

volunteering for Show Hope for the second time!

being a volunteer has awesome perks! That is Jason Grey

Gettyburg

- radiation continued.
- my heart began healing.
- Childhood friend's wedding.
- Bethlehem Walk.
- Christmas lights in our PJ's.
- Girls' Christmas concert.
- Behold the Lamb of God concert.
- Christmas.

This girl got married!

Bethlehem Walk

Show Hope volunteer for the third time!

I can honestly stand before you today and say that if I was asked to repeat the last six months I would cry. But as Stephanie Fast puts it, "There is not a thing in my life I would be better without." In the new year I have plans to post about it. For now, celebrate the things the Lord has done, is doing, and has yet to do! I am.

This is the day that the Lord has made. I am rejoicing and glad in it! Psalm 118:24
Happy New Year!

leaving heaven

I have decided to break a little from blogging through the end of the year! I have two posts (this and another) that will go up but nothing consistent or up-to-date until 2014. God has given me two full weeks completely off. No work, no teaching, no nothing. I am really looking forward to some family time and relaxation.

I have been reminded in a fresh way this year of the Father's great love for us. I think my students are getting tired of me learning new things because I can't wait to share them and then I talk on and on about them! The thing of it is, God so loved us that He sent His Son from the splendor and glory of Heaven to touch the earth in an unforgettable way. He broke the barrier between us and Him with the gift of a baby, all in the name of love. I can't seem to wrap my mind around the God of the universe laying wrapped in my arms.

Matthew West released this a few years ago but it hadn't found it's way to my ears until this year. I posted the lyrics below. My heart rejoices for that dirty manger, small town, and those days on this broken earth. At the end of the song he wraps up John 3:16 in one phrase. "And if you wonder how much my love is worth, you should know, I'm the reason you'll be seeing heaven." God's plan is glorious and beautiful and I am so thankful His love makes me valuable.

Listen and read along and remember to praise the Father, so full of love, for the gift that can't be wrapped under the tree!  

Well, it’s been real nice, living way up here. 

In paradise, over the atmosphere. 

But I can’t stay long, gotta make my way, 

I’m leaving Heaven today. 

You see the world is dark and it needs a light, 

I’m gonna hang a star in the eastern sky.

So everybody’s gonna know where I touch down. 

I’m leaving Heaven right now. 

I’m gonna walk around that broken Earth. 

Trading in these streets of gold. 

So if you ever wonder how much you’re worth, 

You should know, 

That you’re the reason why I’m leaving Heaven. 

Ain’t gonna be no kingdom, 

ain’t gonna be no crown. 

Just a little old manger, 

in a little old town. 

But it’ll do just fine for this humble King. 

I’m leaving Heaven let all the angels sing. 

I’m gonna walk around that broken Earth. 

Trading in these streets of gold, 

So if you ever wonder how much you’re worth, 

You should know, 

You’re the reason why I’m leaving Heaven. 

And when my time comes to an end. 

I’ll lay down my life like a truest friend. 

And when I get back home, I’m gonna make some room. 

So, don’t you worry, ‘cause I’m coming back for you. 

And you will say goodbye to that broken Earth. 

You’re gonna walk on streets of gold. 

And if you ever wonder what my love is worth, 

well you should know, 

That I’m the reason you’ll be seeing Heaven. 

Oh, you’re the reason why I’m leaving Heaven.

Bridesmaid for $50

I posted here about the wedding this past weekend! I was very excited to be asked to be a bridesmaid but I was not so excited about the prices I was looking at. My mom forewarned me about the money I was to expect to begin with but I was still not wanting to do it! 

Tightwad

Frugal

Cheapskate

penny pincher

I've heard it all. I prefer budget-minded, wise, and the like. However, I digress...

I tucked away the idea that I wouldn't spend less than $100 for the dress alone as I went out shopping. I still hoped but decided I had the money and needed to fulfill the commitment I agreed to! 

After a long day of in and out of shop after store after consignment sale we found a dress at JC Pennys.

source

I wasn't thrilled about the top of the dress but the length and color was perfect and I loved the material! I tried it on to see if we could do anything with it in way of covering up those spots. Plus the price tag indicated it was a clearance item and the last one left in my size. Score and double score!

I decided to purchase the dress given we could "fix it." Upon check-out I learned that the $70 dress in my hands would only cost me, $28!

Thrilled with my purchase price I knew I wasn't done and had to keep at it! I was contemplating returning the dress and starting from scratch at one point! 

In the LAST store we went in I eyed a dress that I loved! The only problem, it wasn't the color I needed. We turned to leave and as I walked toward my mom she pointed over my shoulder to a cropped lace top. Unsure of what and the world you would wear with that on a regular basis I sceptically grabbed my size and off the fitting rooms! 

It worked! 

The final item was my pink! The bride wanted to tie in pink throughout the wedding and wanted each of us to get some pink.

Again, after searching for pink everywhere I was coming up with nothing. My mom happened upon the jewerly section in our Joann's and viola, pink! 

These 10 inch sections of pink pearls were $1 each! I grabbed 5 and strung them myself! Nylon beading thread was $2...$7 total for my pink! 

 

After I finished the length I wanted I had enough to make some hair pins with them too! 

My mom (wonderful woman) spent several painstaking hours Monday practicing with my hair. Oddly enough, it wasn't close to what I planned but I LOVED it! 

 Didn't she do a great job!? The hair pins I made are on the right side of my hair! Can you see them tucked in there? Tutorial later! 

I had to wrestle my makeup myself. My sister offered but we ended up not having time Saturday morning. I don't wear much at all ever. BB cream, powder and eye liner is about as adventurous as I get. She took me to the makeup aisle and walked me through products she likes and knows well and some that I may like, knowing I don't like any! 

After taking along several new products I knew little about and given about 15 minutes this is what I came up with. So, any of you makeup connoisseurs, no laughing!

 

So, dress, makeup, and pink, and just missing the shoes. A quick trip to Charming Charlie fixed that! 

source

Shoes = $19

(quick tip: try them on with the dress...I ended up having to borrow a pair of heels 10 minutes before the ceremony because the dress was too long. I wore these for the reception and it worked well!)

 So, viola!
Dress/top = 28
Necklace = 7
shoes = 19
hair and makeup = nada

Grand total = $53!!

So, my reputation remains but all together, it was a beautiful day! I didn't spend a crazy amount of money, at least crazy in my book, and we all had a great time!

 Lessons learned:
#1 - start early, look long and everywhere!
#2 - don't settle! I was very comfortable in what I was wearing because I liked it and I didn't spend an arm and a leg.
#3 - don't fall prey to the "I have to have my hair done." With enough patience, hairspray, and hairpins you can make something happen!
#4 - Have fun and don't get caught up in trends!

Wedding weekend!

 Whew! What a few days this has been! I am feeling exhausted and slightly sick but what a great weekend to show for it!

I posted this picture a while ago about this girl getting married! Well yesterday it finally happened! All the months of preparation and planning resulted in a wonderful day of celebration!

The weather was supposed to be rainy and yuck but the clouds held back the wet and we just grinned and bared the cold!

She was a beautiful bride and I was honored to stand with her as she said, 'I do.' She asked me to do her hair for the wedding several weeks ago. I did a few practice rounds beforehand. Two days before the wedding her sister asked me to do her hair. The day before the wedding another bridesmaid asked for help and finally the day of the wedding I received a text from one of the other bridesmaids asking for help! While we were busy getting ready the mother of the flower girl asked me to spice up her little girl's hair. I ended up doing all but two of the hair styles in this wedding! It was fun and I am honored they asked!

Here is her hair. This was the second trial run!

Something else I was SUPER excited about was the price I spent for everything as a bridesmaid! But that is another post! *teehee*

My weekend didn't begin Friday, unfortunately. I tried explaining to my uncle that my weekend begun with the weekend activities on Wednesday but still acted like a week during the day! EVER exhausting, but fun!  

Wednesday we took Bean's friend and my student with us as a family to a local Christmas tradition! It is a live, walk-through tour of Bethlehem leading up to Jesus' birth and then following Him and His disciples through to after the Resurrection. The night was awesome! It usually takes several hours of waiting and walking but we had a good night!

 Thursday my family was able to spend the evening together volunteering for ShowHOPE again! We were thrilled when they asked us! For me, this is about as close to my heart's cry as I can get right now! God has been so faithful to meet that desire in my heart by allowing me to be a part of nights like this.

Plus, we were able to attend my MOST favorite concerts of ALL TIME! For fourteen years Andrew Peterson has been leading the Behold the Lamb of God tour with a collection of artists. It is by far one of my most favorite things to do! I have been to this concert three times now and it hasn't gotten old yet! If it is coming to a city near you I encourage you to go! The tickets are always $10. That is it! Get a sitter, better yet, take them with you and go to a good great concert! 

Of course Friday was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and Saturday was the wedding! By the time I got home yesterday evening I crashed! Still don't feel like I have caught up on sleep entirely but I am thankful I am through the craziness that was this last weekend! 

The big ice storm that came through kept us at home this morning so we decided to do some decorating! It was a nice morning and afternoon together getting our house Christmas ready! We still have some to do outside but the tree is up and things look like the most wonderful time of year!

I hope everyone had a blessed weekend!

30 Days of Thanks: recap

What a 30 days it has been! I have loved capturing these different moments! I know I got behind some but I know that there are not hard fast rules! So here is the quick run down! Left to right, top to bottom.

Day 18: Pastor Saeed and the encouragement to keep fighting and praying! 

Day 20: pink!

Day 19: Hot drinks

Day 21: uncles

Day 25: 5 whole days with the nephews

Day 6: these God painted skies

Day 30: this big sister's birthday

Day 26: hair turning out like it's supposed to! 

Day 7: my angel nephews

Day 28: THANKSGIVING

Day 29: surprises

Day 5: voting

Day 1: movie nights with my family

Day 9: my crazy family 

Day 13: heaters!

Day 16: day trips

Day 24: opprotunities like Operation Christmas Child

Day 10: freedom

Day 27: pizza for breakfast

Day 22: God painted skies (getting a theme)

Day 8: fall colors

Day 12: my job

Day 14: my bed!

Day 11: firemen

Day 23: good grades

Day 2: dinner dates with my family

Day 3: concerts with my family

Day 17: history

Day 15: nephews!

Day 4: the opportunity to bless this girl on her wedding

30 days of thanks: days 18-30

 

Day 18: Good news and the reminder to keep praying!

Day 19: Hot drinks on cold days!

Day 20: Finding the pink I needed for the wedding on Saturday

Day 21: uncles...

 Day22: This may be overkill but I can't get enough of these skies my God paints! Zephaniah 3:17 right there people!

 Day 23: Hard work and extra credit! Whoop whoop!

 Day 24: One of our favorite things to do just before December every year is Operation Christmas Child. This year our family gave 5 boxes and it was such a fun day putting it all together!

 Day 25: Their daddy brought work to us so they got to be here for 5 almost whole days over Thanksgiving break!

 Day 26: This pretty bride asked me to do her hair for her wedding! Such a fun thing and I was SUPER excited when it turned out like she wanted for her bridal portraits!

 Day 27: fun holiday breaks and treats that come with those breaks...like pizza for breakfast!

Day 28: THANKSGIVING! The whole day was something to thank God for!

Day 29: We planned a surprise party and 30 gifts to lead up to the party for...

Day 30:...this girl! *circa 1994* We enjoyed two whole days of celebrating her!