The Big Apple

It has taken me forever to sit down and post about New York, so I'm going to do my best to get the trip "blogged" over the next few days!  

Day I

Our flight left San Antonio at 6:30 AM...arrived at the airport at 5.  Met Michael's parents to take us to the airport at 4:45...early!  

When we arrived in New York we went to get our bags and walked outside to catch a cab to the hotel.  We have never tried to "catch" a cab before.  There was a man standing in a suit and he asked if we needed a ride, so we said, "Yes."  He walked with us to the edge of the stre

et and said the driver was bringing a car around.  Weird....2 drivers?  Anyway, we wait and finally a black escalade, windows completely black, pulls up.  We are soooo trusting, so we got in this vehicle with these 2 men.  Michael had the route from the airport to the hotel pulled up on his phone and he was watching it carefully as we rode with these men who were taking us "fingers crossed" to the hotel!  I texted Michael as we rode and my text said, "if we get 

off course, give me the look and i'll open my door so we can jump out of the car!"  Fortunately, we didn't have to do that and later learned that these guys own a limo service.  In this eco

nomy, they are not getting much business so they decided to give rides in the escalade.  We made it to the hotel and were able to leave our bags with the front de

sk so we could head to the Yankees game.

We took the subway to Yankee stadium and arrived at the game in the 4th inning.  Yankee

stadium is gorgeous.  The field is gorgeous and the hot dogs were amazing!  :)  

The Yankees ended up losing, which was sad, but the experience was amazing.  There's nothing like a major league baseball game in the summer time!  (it helps when it's Yankee Stadium too!)  Michael was so excited and we both had a great time at the game.

After the game, we took the subway back to our hotel on Time Square and we were able to check in to our room.  The Crowne Plaza was super nice and we loved being right on Time Square.  Once we checked in, we decided to go walk around and just take everything i

n!  We were able to walk around Time Square and somewhat gain our bearings on where things were.  Time Square is amazing and pictures have never done it justice.  It is over stimulating for sure...all the lights, all the people....so much fun!  We went into the M&M store, which was HUGE and had more M&Ms one could possibly imagine!  After buying some peanut butter M&Ms we headed back out onto Time Square to try to figure out where to go for dinner.  

We were walking down the street and I spotted a restaurant called ESPN

Zone.  I immediately knew this is where we had to eat...I know, you are thinking WHY??!!  After our wedding, when we arrived at the Gaylord Texan and were starving, that is the place we ate! Since this was our anniversary trip, and I hadn't seen this restaurant anywhere else, I thought it would be fun to eat there and remember our first "married" dinner together!  The place is so cool and the view of Time Square was great!

I would totally post more pics, but I am having trouble...when I add a new one, it keeps deleting the ones I have already posted. Any tips on this would be great!  :)

Anyway, after the baseball game, our first day mostly included walking around Time Square! We were in awe!  We were really exhausted from a long day so we headed to bed and were eager to start Day II of our trip!

Joy of Summer!

I love summer!  We are having a great time off!  Last week we took a trip to Lubbock.  We hadn't been back since we moved 3 years ago...crazy, I know!  We stayed with Michael's aunt and uncle and had an amazing time hanging out with Job, Janis, Jeff, and Jennifer!  Thanks Buschmans for a great week!  :)   We also were able to meet Mailey Williams!  She is adorable.  Her mom, Melissa discipled me all through college and it was so amazing to be back in their home hanging out!  Thanks for letting me hang out with you and your family!  On Tuesday night, we were able to have dinner with some sweet friends at Buns Over Texas.  We so enjoyed getting to see Tim, Kailee, Jake, Amanda, Coby, Jennifer, and meet baby Camren!  We left Lubbock so refreshed.  We have so many sweet memories there and it was fun to revisit those memories.  

On Monday Michael and I are flying to New York!  Michael surprised me early for our 4th wedding anniversary with a trip to New York.  It has been my dream to go there!  We are sooo excited!  We know for sure we are going to a Yankees game and to see Wicked on Broadway.  Those are the only things we've bought tickets for and planned so far!  If you have any "must dos" to share with me, please do!  I know it's a huge city and we won't be able to accomplish everything in just 5 days!  Any pointers you may have would be so appreciated!  I will definitely blog about the trip when we get back (with pictures).  This is going to be a much needed get away.  I feel like I'm going on my 2nd honeymoon!  :)  

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and trying to stay cool!  It's so hot!  

For Such a Time as This

I am in a women's Bible study with ladies from our church.  We are doing Beth Moore's study on Esther!  It is changing my life!  The Lord is so faithful and the Spirit knows exactly what we need and when we need it.  There are so many things I've learned, but last week spoke so clearly to me in the season of life I am in.  

Ephesians 3:2 tells us there is "a time to be born and a time to die."  Beth Moore states, "God cut out those exact perimeters for you and me on the kingdom calendar so that we would be positioned on earth right now."

Acts 17:26 tells us that God, "determined the times as for us and the exact places that (we) should live."

This specific part of the study spoke so clearly to my heart because it reminds me that the days of my child's life are already set on the kingdom calendar!  Our child will be born and be placed on this earth to fulfill his/her purpose because God has determined the exact times and places he or she should live.  By grace, our children will come to a saving knowledge of Christ and by grace, our children will fulfill their God-given destinies for "such a time as this" when they are on this earth.  

At the end of the day's lesson, she posts the lyrics to the Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Miracle of the Moment."  I've heard this song many times, but never really paid attention to the words. I was so encouraged by reading them...

There's only ONE who knows what's really out there waiting

In all the moments yet to be and all we need to know is HE'S OUT THERE WAITING

To Him the future's history and He has given us a treasure called RIGHT NOW

And this is the only moment we can do anything about

And if it brings you tears then taste them as they fall and let them soften your heart

And if it brings you laughter then throw your head back and let it go

YOU GOTTA LET IT GO

Listen to your heartbeat

There's a wonder in the here and now, it's right there in front of you

And I don't want you to miss THE MIRACLE OF THE MOMENT

Longing

I am longing to be a mom.  I am struggling with patience.  I know God's plan is Sovereign.  I know that in His perfect timing, we will have a baby.  I trust Him completely.  I am thankful for the time Michael and I have and I cherish him as my greatest earthly blessing.  I still struggle with the raw emotion that goes along with infertility.  I am longing deep in my soul to be a mommy.  Praying, seeking, and longing...

Change

is never easy!  I found out that I'm going to have to teach 3rd grade next year.  My first year of teaching I taught Kinder.  After that year, I thankfully moved up to first grade, which is what I've taught the past 2 years.  I LOVE teaching first grade!  I LOVE teaching reading and seeing the growth the kids make in the course of a year.  Our school currently has 5 first grade classes and 4 3rd grade classes.  Next year, we only need 4 first grade classes and they will need 5 3rd grade classes....so....that sends me up to 3rd grade.  I can get excited about all of the things I'll be able to do with 3rd graders!  I get really excited thinking about them reading big chapter books and doing literature circles and even writing workshop....and just as I get excited the dreaded word is spoken....TAKS!!!!  I am scared to death to teach a TAKS grade.  Everyone keeps telling me how horrible it is and that TAKS is all you can teach if you want good scores.  Maybe I'm naive, but I think somehow, I can still do my writer's workshop and literature circles and prepare my kids for the test.  Please tell me if I'm living in a fantasy teacher world!  Any advice would be appreciated!  Mostly, I am bummed about leaving my team.  We are so close and we plan everything together!  It's such a blessing!  I am going to third with the hopes of a spot in first opening back up the next year and I'll go back down.  My principal's words to me were, "Once you go up, you'll never go down!"  Wonder if that's true?  Guess I'll find out!

In other news...our church is currently seeking our own place.  This is so exciting!  The church has been meeting in a school cafeteria for 8 years!  It is time!  We are seeking and praying for guidance and discernment.  This is a really exciting time in the life of our small, but full of life, body!  

I can't believe I haven't updated about baby stuff since I heard some really great news.  During my last round of blood work, I ovulated!  My levels had gone from 2.4 the month before to a 15.5!!!!  This is awesome!  I ovulated!  Praise the Lord!  He is so good!  My doctor said, "call us when you miss a period and we'll do a pregnancy test!"  I wanted to jump up and down, and at the same time I wanted to say, "that's it?"  "After alllll of the tests- that's it?"  I'm reading a book that's called Taking Charge of Your Fertility.  It's been really educational and I'm learning alot about my body and how all of this stuff works!  It's making God so much bigger to me because of all of the details about our bodies and conceiving.  It is amazing!  He is amazing!  What a perfect design!  Anyway, so....no clomid or fertility treatments yet.  If I'm not pregnant in a few months then I'll call back and see if we can do something to help regulate my ovluation...but it's a HUGE praise that I actually did!  Thank you so much to those of you who have been praying!

I'll end the post by telling you some cool news!  Michael and I were asked by a friend of mine who works at the capitol in Austin to sing Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) at a ceremony for fallen soldiers' families.  The ceremony is at the capitol and will be in front of the Senate, House, Governor....and precious families of soldiers from Texas who have lost their lives in the last year fighting in the war on terrorism.  We are humbled and honored to be able to do this! We are also veeerrryyy nervous!  It's on May 30th.  We are praying now that the words to this song will speak truth about our precious Savior and minister to those who hear.  

That's it for now!  Hope you are all doing well!  Until next time.....(no telling when!)

Home Improvement

Summer is quickly approaching...34 days of school left to be exact!  (but who's counting??)

After we moved in our house, I was super excited at first to get everything decorated and set up!  I did some stuff, but then busyness took over and I've let house stuff sit on the back burner for too long!  This summer I want to work on the house more.  We still have a spare room that is painted bright green with a bright green stripe around the walls because it was the previous owners' baby room...still needs to be painted!

I am not the greatest at decorating, choosing colors, knowing the "rules" of matching rooms with bathrooms in the house...or gardening.  So, I'm asking for your help!  Here are a few questions!  Feel free to respond to all of these or just a few!  I know some of you have skill in this area!

1.  Our spare bathroom is in between our two spare rooms.  Do the colors in this bathroom need to coordinate with the bedding in the spare bedroom? 

2.  What are some good stores with reasonable home decor prices?  I know about Kirklands and Home Goods...any others you like?  

3.  What do you do with a big blank wall?  What are some ideas for things to hang on a huge wall?  

4.  If our flower beds already have a liner to keep weeds out, do we just need to buy top soil to re-do them?  

5.  What kinds of flowers are good to grow in a flower bed that will make it through summer?

These might seem silly, but any help is definitely appreciated!  :)  Let the home projects begin!

Much Needed Spring Break!

Although I love my job, I have to say the best parts are June, July, August, 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week for Thanksgiving and Spring Break!  This year we were able to go to Pagosa Springs, Colorado.  We stayed in Pagosa Springs and we skied Wolf Creek.  4 friends made the 15 hour trek with us in a rented mini van....awesome!  The drive was long, but well worth it!  

The whole group at the top of the mountain!

We stayed with some friends of our friend Dave who went with us.  The house we stayed in was amazing and the owners were amazing people who I feel blessed to have gotten to know a little bit.  Thank you so much Chris, Rachel, Sierra, and Cedar!  You made our trip so wonderful!

We skied for 3 days and it was a blast.  Michael snowboarded for the first time ever.  He did take some pretty rough falls, but ended up boarding blues most of the time.  I ventured out and skied my first black ever!  It was scary, but so much fun!  I am horrible at sports, especially ones that involve eye-hand coordination.  For some reason, when long things are attached to

 my feet, it feels natural!  I love to water ski and snow ski!  

      I still cannot figure out picture layout in this thing!  Sorry!

It was amazing to see the view from the top of the mountain.  I was thinking as I looked at the mountains and the beautiful snow how amazing it is that those mountains are there to glorify God. They were created to give Him glory and they cry out praises to Him in all of their beauty!All of this to say, Spring Break was great!  We feel so blessed to have this time off in March to recoop!  We feel extremely blessed to have it off together!  What a good thing the Lord has done for us!