Happy Anniversary…
This past Tuesday would have been my mom and dad’s 36th wedding anniversary! So, it inspired me to go through some pictures. I always enjoyed looking at my mom and dad’s wedding pictures as a kid. It was hard to imagine my parents so young and with no kids. I don’t know if that’s just a kid thing or what, but I was always so interested in their lives before they had us. And boy did we hear a lot of stories… especially from my dad. He would tell the same crazy stories over and over, but I never got tired of listening to them. Somehow I kind of felt a part of the stories the more I heard them I guess. They had some great adventures and fun times. I couldn’t wait until the day I would be married. (I feel so blessed to have such a great husband). So here are some pictures to look at in honor of my parents. 
Look at those chops!
Fun with friends
These last couple of days Jada has had friends over. Here are some pictures of all the fun they had!
CHEEEEESE!
Pretty toes…
Exercising to “Fit Kids” video. Go Tyson!
Jada and “Mr. Boy” (as referred to by Jada this morning).
At the zoo…
Hi Mr. Penguin!
Ladybugs!!
Yesterday for Father’s Day we had Scott’s family over for a BBQ. Grandma gave Jada some ladybug stickers and thought it would be a great idea to put ladybugs on every body’s noses.
We looked pretty funny!
Okay off the subject of ladybugs…. Today was my last day of work as a “teacher” I feel a huge sense of freedom, yet sadness as well. I know God has called me to do other things, and I am so excited about it and have been looking forward to this day soooooo much! But, I feel a little sad at the same time. Teaching has been my career for six years. I’ve always identified myself as a teacher and like knowing that I am impacting children’s lives for the better. In my new position at Church, I will have the impacting children’s lives part, but the teaching part will not so much be a part of it. Part of me is excited about that, yet I have to say that I will miss having a whole class full of kids that I am teaching. I’ll miss the “light bulb” moments, and anticipating how the kids will react to what I have planned for the day, the daily routine of a classroom and most of all the moments that I get to talk to students about their lives.
God has changed me over the last year and has kept me the same too. I have always had a passion to reach out to kids. God has not changed that part of me. He has changed my perspective on how He might like to use me to do his will. I’ve faced some difficult times this year teaching, God has stretched me and has provided a job that will fit what I have to offer to do his will. I am so excited and thankful to God. I truly feel that He has rescued me from the position I was in. However, if it were not for the difficult time I had this year teaching, I would probably not have accepted his calling to work at my church. I’ve always had a strong passion to reach out to kids in the public schools, that was my mission field. God has shown me that He can use me in other ways too. So, I guess you could say this ladybug has spread her wings and landed on a new leaf.
See the forest inspite of the trees…
Weird title I know… I was listening to my Alison Krauss CD and the song, “In the Palm of Your Hands” started playing. (One of my favorite songs) The chorus goes:
I’d rather be in the palm of your hands though rich or poor I may be
Faith can see right through the circumstance, sees the forest inspite of the trees
Your grace provides for me…
It touched me deeply and I decided that I am going to start focusing on all the positive things going on in my life. I discovered there are a lot!!
1. I have a great husband and sweet little girl.
2. Speaking of sweet little girl… Today Jada climbed up on my lap and gave me a big hug and said, “Mommy, I love you very much!” She must have known I needed that. I am so proud of her. She is learning things so quickly and becoming such an independent little girl. One of her newest accomplishments is riding her big girl bike! Here is a picture of her on it with her new helmet.
3. I got a new job that I am soooo excited about. I will be working at my church as a Children’s Ministry Assistant.
4. My mom is moving back to this area, so we will be able to see her more!
5. Summer is near! I can’t believe it is going to be 90 degrees this week!
6. I’m going to Kah-nee-ta to soak up the rays this weekend with two of my best friends!
So, it turns out I have a lot to be happy and excited about. God is doing amazing things in my life right now. He is making me stronger and I am going to focus on the “big picture” (forest) instead of focusing on all the little/big frustrating things that are happening (trees).
Dayda & Katewyn
Jada and Kate have become such good little friends. We had the Roupp kids over the other day and they got to play all day. It was a lot of fun. Jada thinks Tyson is sooo cool. The girls (Jada & Kate) usually follow Tyson around everywhere and play whatever he is playing. But… this day they decided to go play on their own. As they headed upstairs Jada is saying to Kate,” Comin’ Katewyn?” and Kate answers, “I comin’ Dayda!” They repeated this dialogue all day.
Jada and Kate used to have a big problem with sharing (actually still do a little) but when I went upstairs to check on them they were sitting at the coloring table reading books together, then they proceeded to try to do the sit n’ spin together. Jada could barely stay on because she was laughing so hard!
It’s so cute to see their little personalities come out. Kate is good for Jada because she gets Jada to do things that she normally wouldn’t try on her own. I’m so glad she has such good little friends.
We are thankful that God gave us such great friends too.
Daddy & Jada
Scott is such a good daddy. As I sit here blogging he is giving Jada a bath. Not too long ago he was afraid to bathe her and would refuse to get involved. Lately he has become very brave and has taken on giving Jada a bath every now and then. Her bathing has become very exciting. Rarely do I leave her bathroom after a bath session without being totally soaked with water. She loves her bath and has convinced herself that she is a jellyfish swimming in the water.
Not only does Scott give Jada baths now, I also caught him drying her hair (well atleast attempting) he was working so hard to coordinate the whole event I couldn’t help but sneak a picture and laugh silently as he struggled. (I guess he’s never used a hairdryer before).
Sometimes a feel like I’m not as good of a parent as Scott. He handles Jada and work a lot better than I do. After the days I work I’m so tired that I don’t have the energy to do the things I want to or should be doing with Jada. I feel so guilty!! I spend all my day putting so much energy into other peoples kids (5 & 6 year olds)that when I get home I don’t have the energy to interact with Jada like I want to. 
Some days I don’t even want to listen to anybody talking. That sounds weird… but anyway it’s like my ears have been overloaded with sound (talking, screaming, crying, singing, etc, etc, etc…) that I just can’t take anymore by the time I get home. Don’t get me wrong I love working with kids… but it takes a lot out of me I guess is what I am trying to say.
Besides I’m used to teaching older kids (10 & 11 year olds). They don’t require as much attention all together as the kindies do. That’s a whole separate issue that maybe I will address at a later time. For those of you who don’t know me that well, I started teaching kindergarten this year which I have never taught before. Previously I taught 4th and 5th grade. HUGE DIFFERENCE!! Well I need to go spend time with my family so I will write on that issue another time.
Best friends
My best friend Kelsey is so special to me. I thought I’d take the time to write a little bit about what her friendship means to me. We have known each other for over 20 years and most people think we are sisters or actually twins (which I take as a huge compliment). She has stood by me through thick and thin! (bad boyfriends, family drama, my dad’s passing, marriage, having babies, etc, etc, etc.) I feel like I can tell her anything and she will still be my friend. I don’t know why but our relationship has always been so strong and nothing has ever made us too upset or mad at each other to make us drift apart. I know I’ve probably made her mad enough times for her to stop being my best friend, but she never lets me know about it.
People make fun of us because we always do everything together including the big life change stuff like getting married, having kids, moving to a new neighborhood, even getting our driver’s licenses at the same time when we were in high school. I think we annoy some people because they think we’re together too much, but I don’t really care. As Anne would say from, “Anne of Green Gables,” she’s my “bosom buddy.” (ha ha ha!) I think that book/movie is a little corny myself, but that’s just my opinion. Anyway the point is, well I guess it’s really hard to express just what I’m trying to say. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have Kels. She laughs at my jokes when others don’t quite think it’s that funny, understands and listens to all of my issues, gets how I feel when people ignore what I say , relates to my introvertedness that some people mistake as unfriendliness and understands the stresses of being a working mommy and dealing with childcare. Oh yeah, that’s a big one. Kels has watched Jada every Thursday since she was 1. They’ve formed quite the little bond. I think it’s sooo cute how Jada calls her Dachees and tells her, “Dachees hold you.” I know Jada hasn’t been the easiest at times, and has had one too many nasty diapers (she went through a BAD diarreah(sp?) stage), but Kelsey has always welcomed Jada, good times and bad. Thanks for that Kels.
Well anyway, I guess I am just thankful that God has allowed me to have such a special friend and hope she knows how much I love and appreciate her.
