Scavenger Hunt Sunday

So, I stumbled upon this linky party by accident really.  Amber over at Amber's Articles was participating, and I found it to be really cool.  I take lots of pictures throughout the week and never know what to do with them.  I think this will be a great outlet, I am very excited! Enjoy!  (All of these were taken this with the exception of the Historic picture...I cheated and pulled it from the archives, but it wasn't that long ago.)

Black and White 

 my youngest nephew

"cheese"

I Ate This

a jello wreath filled with pineapple

Historic

 found in the woods a few miles from my house

Off-Center

deep in thought

The End

the last of the leaves have fallen

the end of autumn is here

the cold air is moving in

and santa will soon be here

stuck in my head.

You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace

The mountains and the hills will break forth before you

There’ll be shouts of joy, and all the trees of the field

will clap, will clap their hands

And all the trees of the field will clap their hands

The trees of the field will clap their hands

The trees of the field will clap their hands

While you go out with joy

Isaiah 55:12
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Thankful Thursday Week 4

76.  I am thankful for prayer.  God answers prayers, hears prayers, and sometimes doesn't answers prayers.  It is the fact that he listens to me that gives me comfort.  I am a believer that prayers work.


77.  I am thankful for flowers.  The fact that something so beautiful comes out of the dirt, is amazing.  All shapes, sizes, and colors.  God's hands at work.

78.  I am thankful for radio.  I love listening to the radio, for no other reason than they pick the song for me.  It requires little work for me and its free!


79.  I am thankful for babies!  Yes, I know they cry and spit up and poop.  But they are so cute and lovable.


80.  I am thankful for weekends.  2 days off to recover from the week and prepare for the next week.  I don't think you could be a teacher without weekends.


81.  I am thankful for true acceptance.  I am glad that there are people that accept me just the way am I, and love me for being me.


82.  I am thankful for blogs.  I love writing on mine and reading lots of others.  I actually created this blog in 2005, when I was in college.  But it took some inspiration from my friend Kendal for me to get it going right and to figure out how to use it.  Thanks Kendal!


83.  I am thankful for memories.  The good ones with my aunt and grandparents and the bad ones that I don't like to talk about.  They all make me who I am today and allow me to never forget the important things.

84.  I am thankful for presents.  Not for me  (even though I do like getting them), but more than that I LOVE TO GIVE THEM.  Especially when it is for no reason at all.


85.  I am thankful for our puppy Jake.

86.  I am thankful for inventors.  You know what if Albert Einstein had given up or Alexander Graham Bell had said no one will ever use this.


87.  I am thankful for book stores.  It is like its own retreat.  I could stay for days especially if they have a coffee shop.  I think I could just live there forever.


88.  I am thankful for bath and body works.  I know this one is a little crazy.  But I have always loved this store.  When I was 11 or 12, bath and body works was something only in the big city, which I would visit once a year to spend a week with my best friend Emily in Raleigh.  It was a must that we went to this store while I was there.   Still love it, my favorite are the holiday fragrances.


89.  I am thankful for surprises in the mail box and Christmas cards.  (This does not include unexpected bills.)  A card from a friend brightens my day.


90.  I am thankful for birthdays.  A day of celebration just for you being born.


91.  I am thankful for hugs.  They just seem to make you feel better and their free!

92.  I am thankful for my Sunday school class.  We have a close bond in Christ and there is nothing better than that feeling.

93.  I am thankful for thoughts and the fact that we can think them without anyone hearing them, well some of us:)

94.  I am thankful for a week off from school, which has given me time with Owen.  This is the best time in the world.


95.  I am thankful for windows.  They let the sun in and make my house a home.  The view out the window puts life back in perspective.

96. I am thankful for close friendships.  The ones who know something is wrong even without you telling.  The ones who make you smile and laugh and are there when life is tough and when life is good. 

97.  I am thankful for today.  I thankful God gave me life this morning, to share a day of thankfulness with my family and eat good food.

98.  I am thankful for the future.  Whether I'm here on earth or in my heavenly home..the future looks bright.

99. I am thankful for the life I have.  I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you Lord for my blessings, without you I wouldn't even have a list of 1 thing.


100.  I am thankful for those of you who have taken the time time to read all the 100 things I'm thankful for.  I encourage you to make your own list.

I wish you a very happy thanksgiving.  We have more than enough.

teaching thankfulness

Owen is thankful for.....

• mommy and daddy
• mawmaw and pawpaw
• chris and jessica
• levi, ty, and bryce
• tyler and breagha
• mawmaw combs
• scott and rebecca
• granaw and grandaddy
• my puppy
• my toys 
• God

Teach them to say thank you

Teach them to say their sorry

Teach them to share

Teach them to keep their hands to their selves

Teach them to brush their teeth and say their prayers

But most of all teach them to love the Lord

 

come as you are

 

I have heard it said "I can't come to church my life is too messed up.  I'm not living the way I should.  I need to get my act together before I come."  You can't get yourself clean enough for God.  Only He can wash you clean.

PSALM 51

¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
   according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
   blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
   and cleanse me from my sin.

 ³ For I know my transgressions,
   and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
   and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
   and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
   sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
   you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

 ⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
   wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
   let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
   and blot out all my iniquity.

 ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
   or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.


 AMEN!

thankful thursday week 3

51.  I am thankful for the wonderful lady who cuts my hair, my son's hair, my mom's hair, my sister in laws hair, my brothers hair, my nephews hair and two of my best friends hair.  Just for the record she was mine first!  She is a wonderful friend and is always there to have great converstaion with.  And on top of all that she makes m hair look good too!

52.  I am thankful for my sister in law.  She has always been some one I looked up too, since I was a little girl.  She is a Christian role model to me as a friend and mother.  I am thankful my brother choose to marry her!

53.  I am thankful for a new camera.  It has awesome zoom and it a Nikon, which to me says photographer, even though I'm not one.  I still love to take pictures!

54.  I am thankful for Thanksgiving.  Besides the week I get off of school, I get the chance to decorate for Christmas, put up my Christmas tree, spend time with my family, watch the Macy's day parade, and enjoy just being happy and thankful.

55.  I am thankful for God's plan.   WOW!  This one just amazes me daily.  Everything will work out, God is in control.  He has a plan.

56.  I am thankful for doctors and medicine.  Today, especially, my son has strep throat.  Medicine has came so far in healing.  We have a lot to be thankful for, other countries don't even have tylenol.

57.  I am thankful for contacts/glasses, without these I couldn't drive, teach, watch tv, with out seeing a blur of objects.  Life would be very different.

58.  I am thankful for shoes!  oh how i love shoes.  I have gotten a lot better.  I remember going shopping with my granaw Sue and I would come home with four or five pairs of shoes!  I miss her.  And they keep my feet warm and clean and dry.

59.  I am thankful for my donkeys.  They are just so cute. And when I call them they come and eat out of my hand.

60.  I am thankful for uniqueness.  I am so glad we are all different.  And it is amazing that we all have a different voice, different DNA, all uniquely made.  You are the only you in the whole world.  That is something to be thankful for.

61.  I am thankful for homemade quilts.  My great grandma has made many over the years and I am so glad I have one.  They are each beautiful.  Maybe one day I can learn and care on the tradition.

 62.  I am thankful for old photographs.  It is such an awesome thing to see what my grandparents and great grandparents and even me for that matter looked like when we were little.  Their wedding pictures, their houses, and cars....all tell the story of their lives.  I'm glad we have them.

63.  I am thankful for my sense of smell.  cookies baking. christmas tree. pepperiment. 

64.  I am thankful for my wedding.  It was one of the best days of my life.  All my friends and family together in one place, having lots of fun.  We have the pictures to prove it.

65.  I am thankful for crayola.  One of my favorite things in the whole world is a new box of crayons.  I get one every year from Santa Claus.  Crayola has came out with some cool products over the years.  I'm glad I get to experience them again with Owen.

66.  I am thankful for teachers.  (not just because i am one)  Teachers are amazing.  They teach children how to read, write, count, be nice, share, say thank you, and the list could go on for days.  Thank you teachers for all you do.

67.  I am thankful for the Holy Spirit.  There is no greater feeling than the holy spirit moving through you and around you.  I am thankful that I can feel it and stop to listen to what it says.

68.  I am thankful for basketball.  I loved to play basketball and still do.  Now, I love to watch.  Hopefully, Owen will like it, too. 

69.  I am thankful for tractors.  Not only are they the only way out of my drive way when it snows, but they are just fun.  When I was a little girl, my daddy would pick me up from school and we would go mow, rake, and bale hay or I would ride with grandpa to feed the cows.  They just make me smile.

70.  I am thankful for banks.  I know thats crazy.  But I'm glad I don't have to carry money around or put it in a jar under my mattress. 

71.  I am thankful for snow.  A fresh coat of snow when you wake up in the morning with no foot prints - priceless.

72.  I am thankful for strawberries.  My favorite!  Strawberry ice cream, strawberry cobbler, picking strawberries.  I can eat them till I'm sick.

73.  I am thankful for people who smile and say hello even though you don't know them.  These people can change your whole day.

74.  I am thankful for the people who clean the bathrooms at walmart.  Because it never fails that when I go there I have to pee. 

75.  I am thankful for dates with my husband.  We don't have them often.  But I'm glad we still do.  We hold hands and go to dinner.  It just makes you feel young and special.

Peace.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

Even in the upside world we live in, where chaos demands time.  Peace can be found in the promise of eternity.

 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

Tuesdays Unwrapped with Emily

Thankful Thursday Week 2

26.  I am thankful for my students past and present.  They make everyday worth coming to work.  They have taught me patience and understanding, the importance of discipline, and the real meaning of respect.

27.  I am thankful for animals.  From the smallest mouse to the largest elephant, they are amazing.  Each with its own purpose and job.  They show God's work in everything they do.

28.  I am thankful for my love of cooking.  I love to try new recipes and cook for other people.  It is so much fun to cook with Owen as well

29.  I am thankful for Christmas!  I love watching people open presents.  I love going to the Christmas play.  I love the smells, the tastes, and the sounds of Christmas.  My Granaw Sue loved Christmas and she made she we all did too!

30.  I am thankful for the Bible.  All the answers you need, all the comfort you need, and a place to go when you think you have no where else.

31.  I am thankful for farmers.  They work long days and nights to put clothes on our backs and food on our tables.

32.  I am thankful for my car.  It gets me to work everyday.  It takes me to the beach and the mountain and to my friends houses.  It may not be clean or big, but it gets me there.

33.  I am thankful for coffee.  It just has the ability to make everything ok.  Whether you are sharing a cup with a friend or to start your day.  It truly is good to the last drop.

34.  I am thankful for snuggle time with Owen.  There is nothing better than a blanket, Owen, a good movie.

35.  I am thankful for Veteran's.  Thank you to the men and women who have proudly served this country.  We will never know the cost of freedom.

36.  I am thankful for my bed.  It is just what I need after a long day.  It is warm and cozy, and just the right balance of hard and soft.

37.  I am thankful for time change.  I love getting up with the sun and not having to go to work in the dark.  I also enjoy my husband getting home before bed time.

38.  I am thankful for family dinners at the table.  These are one of my favorite things.  Eating and sharing things about our day. 

39.  I am thankful for indoor plumbing.  Imagine if you had to go and you had to walk outside to do it, this would be no good. 

40.  I am thankful for technology.  What did we ever do with it?  It helps me stay in touch with the world and family and friends.  It just makes life easier....most of the time.

41.  I am thankful for beautiful sunsets.  They just make you appreciate the simple things in life.

42.  I am thankful for the beach.  The sound of the waves, the smell of the salt, the size of the ocean, it all makes you realize how small and insignificant you are.

43.  I am thankful for a good comfortable pair of jeans.  They have just the right fit and are just the right color.  You can wear them anywhere.

44.  I am thankful for fresh fruit in season.  I love picking strawberries and blueberries, not so much picking blackberries, but eating them.  Apple season it one of my favorites, too!

45.  I am thankful for movie popcorn.  It is one of my favorite things in the world.  And I don't get it very often.  I remember when I was pregnant with Owen I would go the movie theater just to buy a bag of popcorn and not even watch a movie.

46.  I am thankful for random text messages from friends.   There is nothing that brightens my day more than to hear from a friend.  Today, for instance, I got one from one of my dearest friends Martha just to say hey and love ya.  They bring a smile to my face.

47.  I am thankful for my ambition.  I am glad that I am always looking for a way to be a better teacher, mother, wife, and friend.

48.  I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to travel.  To Europe in high school, all over the east coast, once to Texas all by myself, to Iowa for CERES (my college fraternity).  One of my favorite - to Kentucky on a mission trip.  I haven't been all over the world, but I have been enough places to know there is more to life than just where I live.

49.  I am thankful for the movie Cars.  It has helped get a lot accomplished but entertaining my son for hours.  Even though we have watched more times than is healthy for one person.  I am thankful we have it.

50.  I am thankful for cereal.  Whether it is for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, with or without milk, its good stuff.  You can take it anywhere and it comes in all flavors, which I don't think there is one I don't like.  I'll have to raisin bran crunch might be my favorite.

Looking forward to the next 25 next week :)
Read last week

So much to be thankful for!

Linking up to http://ourhappynuthouse.com/2010/11/11/thankful-thursday-32/
http://www.undeservingrace.com/2010/11/thankful-thursday_11.html

Breathing.

Sometimes you have to....

B R E A T H E
S O A K  I N  T H E  S U N

T a k e i n l i f e

B E  W I T H  T H E  O N E S  Y O U  L O V E

You may have to go to great heights and sometimes you my go in circles.

R e m e m b e r!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 
Y O U  A R E  N O T  A L O N E !

linking up to chatting in the sky

Lord send a revival...And let it begin in me.

There is nothing I love more than to hear a person speak about the Bible, Jesus, their faith, or a sermon God has laid upon their heart.

While listening to speakers I always take notes.  I was going through my notes in my Bible tonight.  This is what I found from the 3 sermons I heard this week.

Faith. 

Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen” 

How much do you trust Jesus?

He's not only everything - He's Enough

Hebrews 11:7 - Noah heard God's word and Did it

Hebrews 11:8 "he is our peace"

be fearless, proactive, steadfast

Reunion.

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:24

Forgiveness given..doesn't mean there is no consequences.

Revelation 22:20 -21

²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

   Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 ²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. 

There is going to be a great revival!

Get off the boat. 

Mark 5:1-20 

¹⁸ As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. ¹⁹ Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

 PIGS?

We want people to be right with God before we send them out to tell of his gospel.

Jesus wants us to GO - TELL.

What's the Lord done for you?

How has he showed mercy on you?

Do you marvel at his works for you?

What is revival? Being made alive again

We are on the boat saying..."People around must have heard of Jesus because they live where I do".....but have they?

Get off the boat!

GOD SPEAKS.....LISTEN to HIM!

Linking up to what i said; what He says

@ a spacious place

 

Thankful Thursday

 1.  I am thankful for freedom. Freedom to worship the Almighty Lord. Freedom to work where I work.  Freedom to choose or freedom not to choose.  

2.  I am thankful for Jesus. Without his love and grace, I could not/would not be who I am today.  I am thankful he took my sins and died for me on a cross that I may have everlasting life.

3.  I am thankful for my moma. My moma is everything a wonderful moma should be (although it took having my own to figure this out).  She is loving and kind, and stubborn and strict.  She has always been there for me through the good times and hard times.  She made sacrifices for me and has unfailing made sure I have everything she could possible give me.  I love her and am thankful she is not only a mom but a friend as well.

4.  I am thankful for my daddy.  I am thankful that he always listened to me and combed my hair.  He drove me around in the tractor and taught me to help a neighbor and everyone you meet.  He loved me no matter what I did right or wrong. 

5.  I am thankful for my brother.  He has always took care of me.  He looked out for me and despite being 7 years older took me places with him even though I know he really didn't want to.  He has continually gave me good advice, even though I didn't listen sometimes.  He has  been more than my brother but my best friend.

6.  I am thankful for my husband.  He is my rock.   He is who I go to with everything.  He offers love and understanding every day.  He is an answer to my prayers and I love him more every day.

7.  I am thankful for my son.  He gives me laughter, patience, humbleness, and unconditional love.  He is honest and strong willed and smart.  I am grateful for his warm heart and out going self.

8.  I am thankful for my family.  At birth I had 6 great grandparents, 6 grandparents, 5 aunts, 5 uncles, 13 great aunts, 14 great uncles, and many many many cousins.  Through the Christmas', Easters', decoration days, Mother's Days, Father's Days, weddings, funerals, reunions, and birthdays, these people have been there.  Some of gone to be with the Lord and many more have been added.  Now I have a whole new family with Matthew and I love them too.   Your family is a precious thing.  I could not be more blessed.

9.  I am thankful for my friends.  If I named them all from birth to now, I could finish my list  with friends.  I don't really have a large number of close friends, but I do know that through out my life I have been surrounded by some awesome people who are right down the road and a long ways down the road. I could call upon any one of them and they would take the time to listen and understand.  I am truly blessed with friends and will never have too many.

10.   I am thankful for my education.  I attended a small K-8 school in a rural area.  But they provided me with as many opportunities as possible which lead me to NCSU where I was able to graduate and be successful in my field of education.

11.  I am thankful for my job.  I love middle schoolers!  I love that I am able to laugh and teach and be an advocate for children every day.  Yes it has its challenges and bad days, but at the end of the day I know that at least one person that day had a better day because of me and something I said or did.

12.  I am thankful I live on a farm.  The ability to walk out the door and not see anything but land, trees, and cows as far as the eye can see brings me peace and comfort.  The ability to feed a baby cow or hold a baby chicken, to plant and harvest, and to depend upon God for the things which you can't control that is being a farmer.

13.  I am thankful for my church.  I have a family of God and there is nothing better than a Christian brother, sister, and friend.

14.  I am thankful for the ability to read.  I love a good book to escape the world.  This is not something I have always been thankful and utilized.

15.  I am thankful for the people I work with.  It is a wonderful feeling to trust the people you are with everyday.  We are able to laugh and cry together.  It makes going to work an easy task.

16.  I am thankful for my mistakes and hard times.  I have not always made good decisions.  But I have learned many lessons.  Through these times I have grown as a person and a Christian.  Tough times make tough people.

17.  I am thankful for laughter.  I love a good joke.  I love to hear baby's laugh and older people laugh.  I think it is so cool that we all laugh differently.  

18.  I am thankful for music.  I am not a musician.  I played trombone for 7 years, but I'm pretty sure I can't play it now.   One of my favorite things to do is listen to live music.  It doesn't matter if its gospel, bluegrass, country, classical, rock n' roll, or karaoke, if it is live I will listen.  Music seems to just say all the things you can't.  There is music for when you are mad, sad, happy, or just riding the road.  There is a song about everything.

19.  I am thankful for seasons.  I am so glad that it is not hot year round, but then after weeks of cold, I'll be ready for some warm.  I am blessed to live in a place where in a years time we will have temperatures ranging from 100 to 0.  I will get to watch the leaves turn to beautiful shades of red, yellow, and orange, and then I will get to watch the sprout buds of green in the spring.  Change displayed beautifully, not always easy but good.

20.  I am thankful for good health.  Health is something we often take for granted until something happens.   7 months ago I was in the ER with an ectopic pregnancy, preparing to go into emergency surgery.  I am thankful I live in a place with creditable doctors who were there to save me.  And that I healed and now am in good health again.

21.  I am thankful for good campfire chats.  There is a wonderful feeling watching a campfire.  The way it crackles, smells, and smokes.  Through the years I have had some wonderful nights, with wonderful friends around a campfire.

22.  I am thankful for my mind.  I am not a genius or really all that smart.  But my mind is capable and useful and works over time.   I often wonder what is going on in other peoples mind, but I can barely keep up with whats going in mine.

23.  I am thankful for to be an American and for those who have fought and protected our country and freedom. 

24.  I am thankful for a roof over my head.  I have been blessed all my life to have a house/apt/dorm and/or space of my own.  I have never been cold or hungry or without running water.  oh, the things we take for granted

25.  I am thankful for the ability to garden.   This spring, Owen, Matthew, and I had our first garden.  We planted little bitty seeds that grew in really big plants.  We grew and ate tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, zucchini, squash, watermelon, and peppers.  It was a wonderful family bonding, money saving, and tasty experience.

Every Thursday in November, I will create a list of 25 things I am most thankful for.  There are four Thursdays in November making a list of 100!  (i did that without a calculator) Feel free to join in.

a Tuesday in November

election day.

change is good? left, right? conservative, liberal? republican, democrat? right, wrong?

a new congress. a new sheriff. 

still just politics.

my daddy's name on the ballot =) 

teacher talk.

rigor. technology. gifted. talented. differentiation. creativity. attention. time. money. class size. leveling. advocacy. curriculum based. research based. planning. data. tiered lessons. anchor activities. smart kids. dumb kids. administrative decisions. teaming. choice. media. parents.

after all that: 

students

we make a difference.

thought stopping question of the day:

are you in teaching for the long haul or are you going to pull some years and do something else?

what am i going to do. tomorrow? next year? five years from now?

 i suppose i need a plan.

"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

linked up with chatting at the sky

Giving out Candy and Jesus.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" Matthew 25:40

Sometimes a testimony is as simple as a piece of candy.  My church held our 2nd trunk or treat yesterday at Clingman Community Center.  We had about 300 trick or treat'ers come through, they received candy, tracks, fellowship, and hopefully felt the love of God from each of us.  We handed them out with a smile and a prayer.