Words are Powerful

I have been thinking a lot about the power of words lately. Richard and I had a discussion a while back about words versus actions. We were talking about how actions speak louder than words and so many people these days use their words so flippantly. It amazes me that God only created humans to speak, yet more often than not, we use our words to tear down, not build up. I know one of my spiritual gifts is the gift of encouragement, so I try very hard to say what I am thinking to edify those around me.

As the boys get bigger, I am really starting to see how my words can affect them, both positively and negatively. Every night before bed I tuck in Teague and pray with him and then go into Troy's room and pray with him. Some nights I just want to skip it all together because I am so tired and just want to crash, but I remind myself that it is so important. I feel like I am not only modeling what prayer looks like and how we should talk to God, but I am also speaking blessings over them every night. I am so thankful that God has given me this opportunity, and I do my best not to rush through it. Troy likes to pray after me and it's neat to see where his heart is. And although I always pray specifically for him, he seems to pray for others, which is so sweet. Teague isn't quite there yet, but he does manage to say "thank you, God for my food", and it doesn't matter if it's meal time or not! LOL!! Soooo cute!

I have come to see that my words are also very important to my students. Most of my students come from homes that are not a good environment and I wonder how often they are told they are smart or funny or special. I try to accompany a hug or a pat on the back with words that lift them up and let them know who I think they are, regardless of what they are told, or not told, at home.

And last, I have also been very cognizant about my words with Richard and others who are close to me. I seem to have this "feeling" about when to say something. I think about that clip from 'My Best Friend's Wedding' where Julia Roberts is on the boat with her best friend and she is going to tell him that she loves him and the boat goes under the bridge. We are all just waiting for her to say it and she doesn't and the moment passes her by. I think when those moments arise, I know it and I say what I am feeling or thinking and I pray that God uses it to encourage or build up or maybe just to show love to them. I try very hard not to let those moments pass me by.

I pray I don't forget that my words carry power and I have a responsibility to use them wisely.

Proverbs 16:24 "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

A Christmas Challenge

The other day Teague was telling me what he wanted for Christmas and Troy told him that he needed to tell Santa, not me, and he was in the sky and he could just talk to him. Troy proceeded to tell Santa what he wanted and then Teague followed suit. I told them Santa is at the North Pole and can't just hear them like he is God. We would have to go visit Santa to tell him their requests and that only God can hear them like that when they pray.

So now that the boys are getting older and starting to really get into the magic of Christmas, I am struggling with how to keep the magic of Christmas alive and also keep the meaning of Christmas at the forefront. We have talked a lot about the season and Baby Jesus was born on Christmas. We have talked about giving to others and helping others out that are less fortunate than us. We have talked about Santa and how good behavior gets you toys. I have seen the Elf on the Shelf and would have bought it had they not been sold out. But I wanted a way to tie it all together without making God seem like a sort of Santa figure that just does what you ask when you pray.   I found this book that seems to do a pretty good job of it. I have it wrapped and it's under the tree for them to open tonight. I also found a website that does videos to the kids from Santa. My plan is to let them watch the videos for each of them and then be able to let them open that one gift from Santa and be able to read the book until Christmas time. As a kid, I understand that God has a hard time competing with a man who brings you free toys, but as an adult, it's hard to believe that God would send us such a special little gift, free for those that believe. Here's to hoping my boys get it!!

Adventure #19

Putting up the Christmas decorations is always something I have done the first weekend in December for the last two years because the boys are usually gone and I have the time to get it all just like I want it and when they get home "It's Christmas!" as Troy would say whenever he sees anything Christmasy. But this year, I ended up having the boys and thought since they are older it might be fun to include them in the decorating. It wasn't quite as peaceful as it normal is, but it was an adventure so what else can I ask for!!

We started Saturday morning by going out and getting a tree. Since I had the boys I wasn't able to lay all my seats down in the car, but figured the guys could load it in and let it stick out the back window. Well, the place I decided to get the tree from this year wasn't quite as prepared as I would have liked. I checked out with my sticker for the tree and then the cashier asked if I needed help. I guess I looked like I could handle a 6-7 foot tree on my own with two kids?!?! I said "yes, please" and he called over a young lady smaller than me!! I knew this was not going to go well!! So we walked outside and I showed her the one I wanted and she looked as puzzled as I was and said she would be right back with a guy from inside. I thought, "now we are getting somewhere" but no, she shows up with a man not bigger than us and well into his 50's...not that 50 is old, but come on, I need some muscle to help me with this tree!! He was able to get it out of the pile and drag it to my car where he put it in and then said "I don't think it's going to fit"...really, I kinda figured that?!?! I was getting a bit frustrated on top of the boys asking a million questions and just talking to make noise, which made it harder to think and communicate with the woman, who was now in my car pulling the tree and the man outside pushing it!! He decided to cut some string off the tree and rig my back hatch to keep it as closed as possible while I drove home. The whole way Troy was saying "it's gonna fall out, it's gonna fall out!" But it didn't and we made it home.

My next task was getting it inside and on the stand.  Last year, this was so easy so I wasn't too worried.  I drug the tree inside and got the stand situated and then stood it up but it wasn't straight so it tipped.  I tried to mess with the stand screws to get it straight and it just wasn't working, so I laid it back down and started over... and over and over.  I think I tried this 3 times, all the while the boys are on the couch watching cartoons and telling me "it's leaning" or "it's gonna fall over."  After 2 hours of messing with it, needles all over me, the couch, the floor, and sap and dirt all over my hands I finally got it to lean against the wall and I that was perfectly fine with me at that point.  So here is my leaning Christmas tree, lit and adorned, with packages underneath!  It's so beautiful but I definitely have a love-hate relationship with this tree!!  Who knew Christmas decorating could be so strenuous!!

Adventure #18

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun this year. Since I wasn't able to get home for my birthday my mom had a birthday cake and a little gift for me to open, so that was fun. We also did the traditional Thanksgiving day activities of eating way too much and then watching the Cowboys until we got bored and wanted to eat again.  Having the boys with me would have made it perfect, but it was a pretty relaxing day!!

Amber and I did a little shopping on Thanksgiving day also at the few places that were open.

And then adventure #18 was Black Friday!!  I have never participated in Black Friday shopping, so this year I had my eye on a toy for the boys that was greatly discounted so I thought I would try it.  I was planning on going at midnight, but I am soooo not a night owl, so I decided to go to bed and then whenever I woke up I would go.  So around 4am I looked at the clock and decided to see what kind of deals I could find.  The places I went were not too crowded and I did find a few deals that saved me some money.  With 30 lefts til Christmas I am about done with my shopping and that's a good feeling.

A day with Amber

Last weekend we were able to spend some time with Amber and her boyfriend, Taylor.  We decided to meet half way and take the boys to the Mayborn Museum.  I\We had been there before but it had been a few years ago and thought the boys were at a better age now to really enjoy it...and they did!!  It's a great museum for adults, too.  Everything is very hands on and interactive.  You are encouraged to touch and even mess things up so you can experiment and learn while putting it back together.  It was a fun day and I'm glad they were able to spend some time with Amber!

The weather room was neat with a tornado the boys loved watching and putting their hands in it to watch how it formed again.

Meteorologist Amber bringing us the weather report

The transportation room with cars and buses and fire trucks and all the accessories to go along with it.

This room looked like safety city with several of these cars to drive to different locations like the grocery store, the post office, a little house.  This was Teague's favorite I think.  He loved driving to the grocery, filling up his cart, loading his car with groceries and then taking it to the house and putting all the food in the fridge.  He was so cute!!

We all loved the water/bubble room. We couldn't get the boys away from the water table. Troy enjoyed making different paths for the water current to move through and then sailing his boat down it. Amber and I played with the bubbles for awhile and then Troy decided to join in.  Here he is inside a bubble.

The bubble wall

Teague popped my bubble!!

The trains were by far the place the boys wanted to stay the longest and where we kept coming back to as we went from room to room. It was a pretty amazing model train set up with different levels and 4 or 5 different trains running around it. Oma got them involved with trains by showing them her model train several years back and they both have loved trains ever since!  At the end of our visit, Amber told them they could each pick one thing from the gift shop and guess what they both chose...a train!! 

Adventure #17

I decided to do one of the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes this year and really let the boys be a part of it. I explained it the best I could by saying that there are children who won't get any Christmas gifts so we are going to pack a box and it will be delivered to a little boy to open for Christmas. Then I had them pick out different toys and things to include in the box. When we got home they packed it all in and sealed it up. Troy really enjoyed filling out the piece of paper telling about himself for the recipient of the box to read. Teague was a little confused and kept asking when he could meet the little boy with no toys. Although I know they are still so little to really comprehend it, I hope to always try to show them that it's better to give than receive.

Teague loading the box

They picked out monster trucks and balls!  And that was the paper Troy liked writing and coloring on.

All finished!  Not too sure what face Teague is making!!  LOL!!!

Birthday Weekend

I had a fabulous birthday weekend! It started Friday at school. It was pajama day so we all got to dress comfy and then we decided to do a dessert bar. There are several of us with birthdays around this time and we had already done several pot-lucks so we decided to do something different and just do all sweets! I made my famous (or Paula Deen's famous) Chocolate Explosion Cheesecake, there was a pumpkin roll, cake balls, Kool Aid pie, flan, chocolate pie and an apple cake. It was all soooo good and perfect for a Friday afternoon treat!! For my present from Richard, he got us tickets to the Tech/UT game on Saturday! I had never been to the Longhorn stadium, so that was an experience in itself. And I also had never been one of the few in the opposing team's colors. That was a little awkward, but everyone was very nice. We took a bus from our parking spot to the stadium and as we were walking down the aisle to our seats one girl whispered to her dad "awwww, look she's wearing red and black" LOL...like I was disabled or something!! It was hilarious! The game did not go well for Tech, but it was a lot of fun anyways!! Richard and I enjoyed the rest of the afternoon just hanging out without kids, which we don't get to do very often! On Sunday, Richard and the kids were able to come into town for church and then stay for pizza and the Cowboy game. It's been a lazy Sunday to end a perfect birthday weekend! I have a feeling 32 is going to be a GREAT year!!

The dessert table at work

Pajama Day with my co-workers!!

My co-worker got me these cute Tech socks!!

The parachuters flew in the flags and the game ball all before the jets did their fly over...that was really neat to see!!

A house divided

Halloween

Halloween is always so much fun with little kids. This year Teague wanted to be Batman and Troy wanted to be Ironman. After school, we headed up to see Richard and the kids and went to a carnival up there. There were games and inflatables and, of course, candy. After they had done it all there, they wanted to go to a different carnival and then trick or treat in that neighborhood. By the end of the night their bags were full and all they could say was "this is so much fun!" Kelby couldn't believe that all you had to do was walk up to the house and they would give you free candy!! Troy asked when it was going to be Halloween again, and was disappointed when I said a year from now.  As a kid, free candy is hard to beat!  I definitely think Halloween is pretty high on the list of favorite holidays!

Our Jack-o-lantern

Checking their inventory!!

Adventure #16

                                                              The WOLRD SERIES!!

This weekend Tanna, Brandon, me and Richard all got to go to the World Series Game 3.  The game didn't turn out to be a win for the Rangers, but there was a lot of scoring and a lot of cheering, so that made it fun.  Plus, it was the WORLD SERIES!!  Everything was just a little better...the flag on the field as Ronnie Dunn sang the National Anthem and the awesome fly-over afterwards, the fireworks, and, of course, the crazy crowd!!  What a great adventure to add to my list this year!!

Go Rangers!!

Troy's school

Troy is really enjoying his school this year. He has wonderful teachers and I love being right next door to him. I get to see a glimpse of what he is like when I'm not around. And a few times I have popped over there to snag a picture of him doing something silly during center time. Here are just a few random pictures of Troy so far throughout this year...

Troy being a lion with his friend in dramatic play during zoo week!

Troy was the pledge manager so he was the one that held the flag every morning for the pledge on this week

In block center working hard at building something

Troy celebrating again for his birthday.  His classmates were singing to him and he wanted everyone to have a Lightning McQueen cookie.