It's done!

Remember this picture?

 Well my sweet finished pantry now looks like this:

What was useless wasted space before is now very usable!  Who couldn't use an extra closet?  Once again I'm blessed that I've married a handy man!

Snowflake Coasters (Cricut Project No. 2)

       Recently I added a section in the side bar of my blog called my someday list.  It's crafts or projects that I'd like to do "someday".  Here is the first completed project!  The idea came from Just a Girl.  She made her coasters for a teacher gift.  

     My needed materials:

• My Cricut
• Winter Lace Cartilage (I got really cheap off of ebay)
• Red Felt
• White tiles from Lowes
• Vinyl (I wanted red but settled for this slightly darker color)
• Transfer Paper (a small 6 inch square lasted for the whole project
• Hot Glue Gun

First I traced the tiles onto red felt and cut them out.

Next I hot glued the felt onto the back of the tiles.  Just a girl used cork instead of felt.  

 

Next I used the winter lace cartilage and  my cricut to cut out 8 different snowflake patterns.

Finally using the transfer paper I placed the images onto the tiles.

That's it...project complete.

Lessons learned by a Second Grade Teacher after Ten days of an unexpected Blissful Break

1.  No matter how much  you like your job its never easy going back after a break.

2.  I'm awesome at staying at home....while staying at home I'm awesome at:

• keeping a super clean house
• cooking dinner
• ironing
• being a Christian
• being in a great mood
• completing projects

3. Second Graders do not mature much in 10 days.

4. Second Graders can forget a lot of math facts in 10 days.

5.  Second Graders can remember addition with carrying over the ten days, even if their teacher forgets that she already taught it to them and is ready to teach an introductory lesson on it.  Seriously?  My Teachers used to do that, and they were old!

6.  My class is still as exhausting as they were in August.  The maturing that miraculously happens over Christmas break...not so much this year!

7.  Staying cuddled up at home is not nearly as tiring as teaching!

8.  Copying and prep work doesn't do itself while the teachers enjoy the snow.

9.  Lesson plans can be transferred to the next week pretty effortlessly!

and last but not least...

10.  Second graders do not mature much in ten days.  (it's worth repeating!) 

Christmas Play Decor

I just remembered these photos and wanted to post them.  They were some of the scenery from our church Christmas play.  Michael and I were able to help out a little while the majority of the work was done by the Edwards Family and Mrs. Beth. 

O Taste and See...Cricut Project 1

    
    For Christmas I got a Cricut (mine is actually a pretty blue color, and didn't cost that much!).  As soon as I knew that I was getting one, I knew what my first project would be.  I think I've mention on my blog before that my plan is to have scripture verses displayed in every room of the house.  I decided to start with the kitchen and this verse:


                    O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

                                   Psalm 34:8

    I wanted the verse to scroll around the top of my cabinets.   I used black vinyl and the storybook font cartilage.  The chandelier in the dining room (which joins the kitchen) is black so I plan on using black accents in these two rooms. The end results....

By the way, I took these pictures completely in the manual mode on my camera. :)


I'm linking up to the Sundae Scoop at I love nap time.


and





And

New Year Eves Party

    I almost completely forgot to write about our New Years Eve party.  It was our first unfamily get-together at our house.  We had a blast.  And I totally didn't take but one picture of the party itself.  I was having too much fun.  The one picture:

  

               Only about half of our guests.

Food Pictures:

We had soup:  Taco, potato, chicken stew, and spicy cheeseburger.

               

2010 in Pictures

It took me a while, but I'm finally through.  Enjoy! 

This free photo slideshow made with Smilebox

Hooray for Mr. Snow Miser!

    This week has been a teacher's dream!  We have been out all week for snow!  I totally expected to have to go yesterday and today...but we didn't. :)    
   
   Oh and the best part...Monday we are out for MLK Jr. Day.  Now I'm off to spend  a great weekend with my hubby.
 
    Reading between the lines, you should interrupt this as " I'm so sad....My heart is aching to be in the classroom."


P.S.  If you didn't read my post from yesterday please do.  It's important to me.  :)

My Story

    I have been writing on this blog for over two years now.  After reading Mrs. Helen's post, I realized I haven't shared my salvation story publicly on my blog.  It's not an elaborate tale.  Probably similar to ones that you have read before.  But that doesn't lessen it's significance.  My salvation story has kept it's power for 18 1/2 years.  (Wow I feel old realizing how long it has been). 
  
      I was a young girl, almost nine years old.  My family wasn't attending church regularly at the time.  However, I always ended up in church.  Every Saturday night we would make our weekly trip to the Oak Ridge Walmart and out to eat (usually Ryans).  After that we would head down to Coalhill where mom would drop us off in Kring Holler.  Every Saturday night Josh and I would spend the night with either Granny and Papaw Kring, or with our Aunt Jane and Uncle David.  They lived in walking distance of each other.  Actually in all reality, I usually had my pick at whose house I was sleeping at, and Josh always chose the other!  

      Spending the night with my grandparents or aunt and uncle, meant one thing...church on Sunday morning.  We always would go to Sunday school and church and then they would drive us back to our house.  We did this for years.  So even while my family wasn't in church I was still exposed to church regularly and heard the gospel.  At the time my grandparents and Jane and David were members at Fellowship Baptist Church in Coalfield.   
     
     It was June of 1992.  We were excited to be out of school and enjoying the summer.  One of the best things about summer was going to Vacation Bible School.  We always got to attend several, and I loved it!  The bible school of the week happened to be at Fellowship Baptist Church in Wartburg, a church of another one of my Aunts and Uncle. 
   
     I remember the night before I got saved being under conviction after hearing the bible message.  I wanted to be saved but for whatever reason, fear or pride, I didn't make any move.  The next night though was my night.  During prayer I raised my hand that I wasn't saved.  The workers later led me outside to talk with me.  It was actually my Aunt Teresa who led me to the Lord.  I wasn't pushed into anything.  I wasn't directed to repeat a prayer.  I knew I was a sinner.  I knew I was going to hell.  I knew and believed Jesus died for my sins.  I asked him to save me as I turned from my sins to live for him.  

     So am I now sinless?  I wish.  I fail everyday.  But I am a new creature.  I want to live pleasing to the Lord.  I have a peace that passeth all understand.  At the time of my salvation I didn't realize what all this salvation entailed.     It is much more than going to Heaven. 

     Many people have periods of times where they doubt their salvation, meaning the question if they are really saved.  Did they say everything right?  Did they really believe?  I'm thankful that I haven't had to experience that.  I am certain of my salvation. 

     Today Vacation Bible School holds a special place in my heart.  While our church focuses mainly on our church kids, there are still kids there who don't come to church.  Their parents aren't Christians.  It may be the only time that they hear the gospel.   


    My principal at the school where I teach is married to the pastor of the church that we were attending back in 1992.  It's neat seeing my old pastor from time to time. 


    Also now I share birthdays with my brother, Renee, and my husband.  While June 18th is their earthly birthday, I celebrate my spiritual birthday. 


    There's so much more I could say but I've already been lengthy.  I didn't reference it but I can back up all my beliefs with bible verses.  I would love to share them with you if you are interested.  


Thanks for reading!  I love sharing my story.

     Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.

Oh what a foretaste of glory divine.

Heir of salvation, purchase of God.

Born of his spirit, Washed in his blood.

This is my story, this is my song.

Praising my Savior, All the day long.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior, All the day long.