Blessings and bloggings

Even though I am struggling with a few things right now... I'd like to make this an extremely positive blog. (No one likes a whiner, as I always say. So I won't do it in this post at least.)

I was sitting here tonight trying to find somethings that are wonderful in my life.... some things that are truly blessings to me. So, I'd like to share a few of them with you. We all need a reminder some times, right?

Here are some of the few things the Lord has blessed me with this past week.
1. He has blessed me with a healthy life, and abundant life through His eternal salvation.

2. He has given me, an extremely patient husband who continues to just keep quiet and listen. He never condemns, never criticizes, and never puts me down. He truly makes the unbearable, more bearable.

3. He has allowed us to put a bid on a house. During this bid, He impressed the importance on the bank to fix the mold that was in the basement. One thing that we won't have to do, if our bid gets accepted.

4. He has made me extremely busy. (While most of the time this is more of a curse than a blessing... actually all the time it seems to be more of a curse than a blessing... I've been able to appreciate such a fact this week.) I've been too busy to sit and fret or watch the clock while we wait the 2 days to 2 weeks to hear anything about our bid.

5. He has given me great family. Family who when asked gives really great advice, and most of the time when you don't solicit, you don't get it.

6. He has provided a roof over our head, food on our table, and a job (however painful it may be at times) to go to every day.

7. He has also given me one more day with which to praise Him.

8. He helped me find a book that I thought I had lost. I'm so relieved to have found it! That brought a smile to my weary face.

So, what has the Lord done for you? Where do your blessings reside?

I hope that I've been an encouragement to you in some way shape or form. God is good... I just need to stop and smell the roses... and appreciate Him for who He is!

~K~

Where were you 4 years ago?

Where were you 4 years ago today?

I know exactly where I was!

4 years ago, I was a very atypical cool, calm and collected bride. (No seriously, I was.... I got a good solid 8 hours of sleep. I didn't even wake up once during the night!)

So happy Anniversary Jeremy! It's been amazing 4 years already. I can't wait to see how God blesses us for the next 4 and beyond! Love you!

Last night... oh the frustration....

So I think that the "situation" I'm in at school is just completely ROTTEN!

The year before I came on the teaching staff our school worked hard, and got their charter. Because of that, every so often we are "entitled" to some money. (I'm not sure how we get it, or even how much.) So last year my boss let us order a few things that we wanted for a classroom. I of course reached for the stars and ordered a SMART board. (Click that for an explanation). Needless to say the board is being installed some time in September.... so right now, all I have to use is a projector.... not that is not what had me irreversibly frustrated.

You see, as part of the "being allowed" to use the state funds, we cannot put anything religious. So, I had 24 amazing power point slides for my Earth Science class... and I had to delete 8 of them. Why? Because by mentioning that God is the creator of everything... that we are saved by grace through faith, and that through Jesus' redemption on the cross... we have a blessed hope.... is a direct violation of the "rules."

Now the part I don't understand is... why, if our parents and teachers at our school are paying taxes (and the affiliated church goers, do too, I'm guessing.) and we choose to educate with a Biblical worldview in mind... then why the heck can't we use the projector/SMART board/anything given to us by state funds... the way we want to? Or don't my tax dollars count?

I am getting just sick and tire of Christians being told that they can't do what we need or want to do! I am sooooo sick of being called narrow minded, and intolerable... when it seems to me that those who are behind things like the ACLU, or Freedom From Religion Foundation are the ones who truly are narrow minded. Who am I offending at our small private school?!

While I'm ranting, I might as well mention that there is a school in the NE Ohio area that is coming under fire for having "we value...." "belief in God..." in their mission statement. As most of us I'm sure are aware this is not the first time (nor will it be the last) when some nosy meddling organization wants God to be taken out of our school. The reporting newspaper said that the Freedom From Religion Foundation was hoping that talks would suffice and that legal action won't be neccessary. But the funny part (or not so funny part) is that if they decide to go for the legal action... then the FFRF needs a plaintiff. That's right! They don't even have anyone from the school complaining. They're just picking at this school for something... that apparently doesn't even bother their student body. I just think that this Wisconsin based foundation needs to BUTT out of our business, and quit tormenting people. That doesn't seem too tolerating of things, now does it?

Anyway, any one else got any thoughts on this issue? I've already written a letter to the FFRF relaying my disapproval. I refuse to be pushed around or bullied.. any further.

Let me know what you think!

A contest

I got this from a friend's blog... so I thought... why not. So.. here ya go.... a contest for you!

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me, especially for you. I promise I’ll make it worth your while!

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make but I hope you will.

2- What I create will be just for you.

3-They say I have a year to get it to you. But I sure hope it won’t take that long!

4- You have no clue what it’s going to be. It’s a surprise to both of us at this point.

The catch? You must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.
So the first five people who post, and are willing to pass it along,will get a handmade gift in the mail from me. (It probably won't be something knit... because as of now... I do not have the slightest idea as to how to knit.)

One more reason I love my Valentine's Day present

So today I found yet another reason to appreciate the Valentine's Day present Jeremy got me... if you remember, I mentioned that he gave me a small light blue digital camera. I had wanted one for some time... one that I could keep in my purse and just randomly snap pictures when necessary. Today, I saw the fruit of my request... here's the picture I managed to capture.

I went to a grocery store on my way home from my grandparents' house. I was so excited to see this and actually take a pic to prove I wasn't making it up. Enjoy!



The light changed before I could snap a picture of the tent with the peace sign... but, I thought the hippie gothic clan was a fun sight to see. (Which I was already in an amazingly happy mood since I found out that they are almost done putting in a sonic out there too. More reasons to go see my grandparents, Which I am sure they will love.)

Cruisin on up..... (Please sing the Jefferson's theme song )

So I promised pictures from the cruise.... Here they are:

We left Cleveland about 8am on Monday, August 3. We drove, and drove and drove. Our destination? Elizabeth, New Jersey which is just outside NYC. Somewhere along the way my parents made a quick switch of drivers. A couple hours later we stopped at a rest stop. After we did our thing... I was sitting in the van waiting for everyone to get back in, and I noticed this sign straight ahead of us.



Let me zooooooom in a little closer so you can read it.

Apparently Mom thinks we have a higher status than we really do. From the time I realized it, until we moved I was prayin that we wouldn't get ticketed... but I did think it would be a funny 1st ticket for my mom!

So, we drove, and drove and drove some more. We made it to Elizabeth without a problem.
On Tuesday, about noon, we ventured into "the City" to catch our ship. My father was the pilot, and I was the co-captain/resident Garmin reader. Amazingly, while enjoying the sights, we did NOT get lost!

This is the Verrazono Bridge headed into Staten Island(?). You don't have to pay to go on it, but it's $11 to go back out of Staten Island. Oddly enough when we put in the address to go home, it skipped this lovely bridge, and instead cost us $0.75! Now that's a deal!


I loved it that as we got closer to our ship, we could see glimpses of the Statue of Liberty. This is by far one of my favorite US landmarks. It's just a neat symbol of our freedom! If you look closely you can see it! (It was extremely hard to get a good picture of it between buildings driving at average pace on a heavily populated freeway.)


This was our view as we left the harbor. Kinda cool huh? I would highly recommend leaving out of NYC. It was also a neat way to come back to U.S. soil! Almost like a smile saying "Welcome Home!"

And what would a cruise be like without a show? Ironically, this was the only show we went to!

Our first stop was in Bermuda! This is probably one of my favorite ports of call. It was clean, and there really wasn't a lot of poverty evident. Oh I'm sure it's there, but... we sure didn't see it. While we were there my dad and I did one of the most fun excursions. We took a tour of the island on Segways! Oh my goodness are they soooooo much fun!

Below is my dad, getting our quick crash-course-"lesson" from our guide, Jordan.

They made us ride around in circles for the first 10 minutes. Something about letting novices out on the public roads, near water on a $5k+ machine. The only song that kept going through my mind was Weird Al's "White and Nerdy." (Thanks Jeremy for implanting that song in my head!)

Proof that we both were on it... beautiful beaches... beautiful island.... fun ride!

Two of my most favorite people. I had so much fun with them on this vacation. (Course I have a lot of fun with them on any vacation.... or any place for that matter. Amazing how fun they get when you grow up!)

This is she! Our BEAUTIFUL Caribbean Princess. I am a little sad, we booked for another one... and after 3 wonderful cruises on the same ship, we're gonna give her younger sister a try.
When we were in Puerto Rico, my mom and I decided last minute to take a bus tour around Old and New San Juan. This was our first stop... they let us out and this nearly paradise looking oasis!
This is a drive-by picture taking.... it came out kind of cool though.
Mom and I somewhere in the "new" San Juan, I think?
This is the only type of picture I got from St. Thomas. These little guys were EVERYWHERE. They freaked me out! (Not enough to deny myself the excitement of a helmet diving excursion, though.)


As you can probably tell, we had an amazing trip! It's probably my favorite cruise so far... beautiful ports, GREAT food, AMAZING service. It was yet another gold star of excellence for Princess Cruise Lines. Tomorrow (?) I will try to share a few stories... I will also give you a few reasons why I have fallen in L-O-V-E with Princess Cruise Lines.

Quick!

This will be a quick update.

I am home from the most wonderful vacation. I have some great pictures (from excursions we took, and this and that). So I will try to post them either tomorrow or at least by Friday.

The lack of post is because I am working diligently on getting everything I need ready for school to start. Today was our first day of inservice. (YIKES) If you're thinking of me, please keep me in your prayers. Next Monday is our 1st day of school. I'm excited, yet anxious. I've also been battling fatigue a little bit. It seems like lately I am exhausted.

With that said, I will need to go now, so I can go to bed early!!