Christmas at God's House

On Friday, December 15, 2012, the whole nation stopped to grieved what had happened in Connecticut  at Sandy Hook Elementary.  The whole weekend I purposely did not watch the news, nor did I want to really hear or talk about.  However, it was hard not seeing it on facebook or hearing the whispers around the school or at the dinner table.  My mind continue to think, "Wow, Christmas is just around the corner though."  I thought of the parents of those children who passed away and how they would feel as they finished up their Christmas preparations.  Would they try to have Christmas go on as normal?  Would they stop everything?  What about those gifts they already bought for their son or daughters--How hard would it be seeing those toys?  Gosh, as most people in the nation I grieved for the families.  Then I thought of those children who passed away and I thought they wont have another Christmas.

Then something said inside me........ "Says who?"

I started to think, "OMG, they are going to have the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!"  They are in Heaven for Christmas!!! Think about your best Christmas gift as a kid.  Think about your memories, the smells, the gifts.  I am sure you have the biggest smile on your face thinking about that special Christmas.  What great parents you had.  I know I had some fun Christmases growing up.  

Now think about what Heaven's Christmas would be like.....

I went into work thinking about this and trying to get my head in a positive mindset as we have a staff meeting and go over the new safety procedures.  When a coworker of my came in to my classroom and handed me a sheet of paper.  I proceeded to read it and chills went up my spine.  Its been what I was thinking about the whole weekend.  I wanted to share it with you today.  Think about great it would be to celebrate CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN!!!

CHRISTMAS AT GOD'S HOUSE

'Twas 11 days before Christmas around 9:38

When 20 beautiful children stormed through the Heaven's gates.

Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air,

They could hardly believe all of the beauty they saw there. 

They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say,

They remembered nothing of what happened earlier that day.  

"Where are we?" whispered a girl as quiet as a mouse,

"This is heaven," declared a small boy, "we're spending Christmas at God's House.

When what to their wondering eyes should appear,

But Jesus, their savior.  The children gathered near. 

He look at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.   

They he opened his arms, and he called them by name. 

And in that moment was joy that only heaven can bring.

Those children flew into the arms of their King.  

And as they lingered in the warmth of his embrace, 

One small girl turned and looked at Jesus's face. 

And as if he could read all the questions she had, 

He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of Mom and Dad."

Then he looked down on early, the world far below. 

He saw all the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.  

Then he closed his eyes and he stretched out his hand, 

"Let my power and presence reenter this land!

"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools!

I'm taking by back my nation.  I'm taking back my schools!"

Then he and the children stood up without a sound.

"Come now, my children, let me show you around."

Excitement filled the space.  Some skipped and some ran,

All displaying enthusiasm only a small child can

And I heard him proclaim as he walked out of sight, 

"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

So, I encourage you this holiday season as you remember these families, finish preparing for Christmas.  Lets focus the on the LIGHT instead of the darkness.  

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1st quarter

Well, I survived my 1st quarter as a teacher. This quarter, I have learned a lot and I am continuing to learn so much. I took my first school photos as a TEACHER!! We just finished parent teacher conferences, they went pretty well. I was not as nervous as I thought I would be. I got a great review from my boss the other day. She said that I have been doing an impeccable job, which made me feel good. I feel like I tend to focus more on what I things I dont know or what things are hard but getting a good review like that made me smile.

Its been a busy quarter, I have been driving down a lot to Springfield. It most averages about once a week. We had two weddings, various birthdays, went to hay ride with a few friends, and Sammy Jo was born!!! For birthdays, it seemed like everyone had a big birthday! We celebrated: a 1 year bd, a few 18th bd, my 25th bd, and a 70th bd. I enjoy going down there, I miss everyone there. Kezzie, Sophia and now Sammy Jo are so precious, and its so hard not to have a photo shoot with them when I am down there.

Here is a few photos of everything that happened this quarter.

Don turned 70 in Aug. Our surprise gift was flying out Rick (his middle son) to join us. He was very surprised and love it.

Sophia turned 1 in Sept!

Izzy and Scott tied the knot also in Sept! Congrats you guys!!

John and Kristi also tied the knot in October. Congrats!

I love this photo of Kezzie and I... Kezzie was the flower girl in John's wedding.

We went on a hay ride. Kezzie and Sophia are just so cute!

Sammy Jo was born on October 12, 2011. She is just so tiny and so precious!!

I love her just as much as the other two.

Here is one of my favorite photos of the sisters. This is the 1st time Kezzie held Sammy Jo.

She is doing so well, with Sammy! She will be a great big sister, and Hailey is there is teach her all that she needs to know! Love you guys!

This photo takes my breath away. Papa and his girls, he loves them so much.

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1st year of teaching

After graduation, I spent a few weeks at home in California. It was a nice break after 2 years of working so hard. I spent time with the family, went to all of our favorite restaurants, spent time with friends, mom made some of her famous tacos as well as other dishes. Celebrated a few milestones: Joshua's graduation, my graduation, Dad's birthday, Crystal's 26th birthday. We had father's day, Memorial Day, 4th of july parties. It was a great summer, we even took a family summer vacation in palm spring for the 4th of july weekend. A lot of good memories and a lot of fun times. Being home always end in a bitter sweet moment. I ended back in the middle of july for a wedding and to get set up for the next chapter of life.

The next chapter for me is moving, yet again, to another new town in Missouri and start teaching. I started on this chapter about the end of July so I can be all settled in my apartment the beginning of Aug. It was hard moving everything I knew, my comfort zone and doing life again by myself away from both my Missouri and my California family. However, this door flew open for a reason and I knew I need to walk through it: so, I did. I started by moving all my things into my apartment, which wasn't that much. It is still very empty. I have a bed, and a kitchen table.

Then I started on my class, there was so much stuff that I had to go through. It took me about one week to go through everything and to set up my classroom. There is still some things that I still need to go through but it gonna happen as I think of lessons. Here are some photos of the classroom.

This was my first full week of school. It was a challenge, I love my job but teaching is definitely harder than it looks. I feel like I am still stumbling over my feet, I haven't got my bags of tricks yet, but I am still learning. I believe it will be a great year it will just take time before I feel like it is 2nd nature. I love the school I am in, all my co-workers are really fun and helpful. Wish me luck and send tons of pray my way cause this chapter of my life is new and can be very overwhelming.

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Spring Semester is OVER!!!

I am so grateful that this semester is over!!! On one hand it seems like it just started and on the other hand it seems like January was a lifetime ago!! So many things has happened this semester: we had clients, we all had a day in the preschool, we had parent meetings, field trips, tests, and projects to say the least. A lot was required of us, which made all of us stress out but even though we were stressed we were able to have fun. We had field trips, graduation, and a few ‘girl’s nights’ (which are always so much fun).

Today was graduation for one of our classmates (she was doing the new accelerated graduate program). Today, she finished her undergrad career; I went to support her and to celebrate all that hard work she had done!! It made me realize that is just one short short year we will all be in the JQH area sitting down in our caps and gowns graduating with our Masters Degree!!! OMG!!! I can’t believe I only have a year left.

It is going by so fast.... We have a short 3 week break, then its summer school, then another short 3 week break, then the fall semester, Christmas, Spring Semester (and student teaching) THEN WE GRADUATE!!! OMG!! I am in shock... I can’t wait but at the same time... I can buy some time.

Overall, it was a great stressful and fun semester... but I don’t want to see anyone or the school for the next 3 weeks! ;)

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Spring Time is just around the corner

Spring is just around the corner and just that is worth celebrating and blogging about!! I am so excited for spring, it has been a long cold winter for this California girl!

School is still in full swing! We just had a midterm meetings and I am so happy that this semster is almost half way done!! It has been a roller coster, filled of smiles and tears! I was so uneasy heading into our midterm meetings. I was just unsure where I sat in the class. I had some really strong area and some really weak area and you never know how hard the teacher will grade on your weak areas. Good News!! I am doing great!! I cant lie, I was pretty relieved when I heard that! School is on its way and we have about 8 weeks left!!

Last week was spring break and I was able to go back home to california! Oh man! It was nice to be back! Nothing, as usual, stops at our house! Mom thought her kids were growing up too fast and decided that she was gonna get two corgi puppies!! OMG!! They are so cute! Bella is 9 months and Mia is 3 months! When I went home, I was able to play with them and spend time with them. This involved a photo shoot. I love those little puppies! They are the cutest little puppies that I have never seen. Here are some photos!

The puppies met me at the airport!

Holding Mia for the first time

Daddy and his NEW baby girl

This is Mia

Sisters!

Mia is the one with the white strip down her face and

Bella is the dark one!

This is Bella!

Shh... Its nap time!

Play Time.. They love playing with thier daddy!

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Spring Semester!

Well this semester started off with a BANG to say the least.

This semester we've had two big snowstorms. When I came home from Christmas break, there was snow on the ground and last week we got another 6-9 inches of snow. It is totally a winter wonderland. Margie and I went out after church and made snowmen!

At the beginning of this semester, the Deaf Ed girls got together and just hung out, share stories and just got to know every one a little bit better. They are just a great group of girls and I just love this group!! Everyone is fun and open. We support each other and we always have so much fun together!!

I been told that I should blog about my little fall I had about two weeks ago. Since I am such a good little girl I'll blog about it. So... on Friday, the 22nd Don and I went on a little walk and I tripped over a rock fell on my elbow. I thought it was broke because it hurt a lot of move, so I Don took me to ER and we had it x-rayed, THANK GOD IT WASNT BROKEN, but I feel hard pretty hard on it. It because very swollen and I was on vicodin and it was on a sling. Its been two weeks and its slowly been getting better. Early this week it was all black and blue but now it healing. So, please don’t worry, it is constantly getting better!

This is when it was really really swollen.

This is when it was really really black and blue

Now, this is what it looks like.

This is the first week we are actually all in the preschool classroom at least once a week and teaching one subject a week! This semester is always the semester that we have our own clients and we are working on aural rehabilitation. It was scary at first because we had no idea what to do but we have met with our clients twice already and it starting to get easier every week! All the kids are just great kids, they are excited about almost everything, they challenge you and they are ready for anything. I've had a blast with them.

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The Storm has finally arrived

Imagine waking up and looking out the window and you see a band of dark clouds.. you think to yourself "oh man looks like we are gonna have a storm soon." Daily, you get up looking at the sky knowing that there will be a storm on the horizon but you have no idea when will it hit or how much damage it will do.

Well, thats what the last few weeks has been in grad school. It been a nice smooth road so far however, I always knew that they would be a storm in the near future. Well.... The storm has arrived!!! Midterms has just ended and the storm is picking up.

Daily, and sometimes even hourly, you turn on the weather channel in hopes to know when the storm will pass and when the sun will come out. Its a daily struggle to stay in the now, I look constantly for the break in the schedule where the work load get a bit lighter.

I never believe it when people said that a Master program is different than a Undergrad program.. I am now starting to believe it. It requires alot more time, research, more homework and more papers, not to disappoint the people who are wanting to further then education in going for the masters.. Just buckle up and get ready for the ride.

On the other hand...

Fall has arrived saftey in Missouri. I am in awe morning, noon and night to see all the wonderful colors that surround us daily.

These photos of the creek and they are taken right after we had a HUGE thunder storm.

I also went horse back riding the first time and I have an opportunity to go every sunday!

This photo is of me running through the pasture.

How do I look?

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College Life = bring it on!

It been about a month since I have moved to missouri. Life has been going great, school is well on its way entering the 3rd week. I am enjoying my classes, the teachers are keeping it nice and fresh and thats half the battle. It is crazy, I cant believe I am in Grad School.. the classes hasnt present thier "ugly-grad-school head" which scares me... grad school cant be this easy. I am holding my breath.

Life at Don and Margie's is just as good.. Its been a bit busy, with birthday parties, family dinners and saving time to play with the baby kezzie and austin! Fall is definitely in the air. The weather is getting cool, the plants are on this last leg, the trees are losing thier first leaves, and the last thing that drives it home is that the football team is out practicing everyday, getting ready for thier first home game this season!! YAY!!! I am so excited!

Things are certainly picking up speed: as school chugs on, as frienships builds, as college life flourish and to think the holidays are just around the corner!

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Road Trip

Let me catch everyone up... This summer has been busy.. With vactions, weddings, baby showers and getting ready for school.. Here is the lastest..

Crystal, Josh and I took a 4 day road trip from California to Missouri. We all hop in my new chevy traverse last week at drove through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and arrived in Missouri.. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. Crystal and Josh came on the trip to get me settled in my new home. I cant believe the summer flew by, and it is officially school time. I am glad that we ended the summer in a road trip. We stopped at every "Welcome to (state)" sign and took a few pictures. It was crystal's idea to take a time jumped shot at every state too... that was funny.. It was so hard to get all 3 of us up in the air at the same time. The days were long but nothing music can cure. Here are some photos from the trip:

We made a unschedule stop to the grand canyon.. It was 50 miles out of the way but we HAD TO STOP!!!

Stoped for breakfast on the last day..

We made it!! YAY!!

Driving in to Saddlebrooke with duckie!

I arrived in my new house on Thrusday Aug. 14.. I got all settled in and then we went grocery shoping for a few things.

School doesnt start till next week.. I am getting antsy to start.. I went to school a few days to finish off paperwork.. Its a nice campus.. I cant wait till I start my masters!! WOW, I cant believe I am getting my masters.. Crazy!!

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