The final stretch.

It's official.  Tomorrow, the 4th quarter begins! I love this milestone in the school year.  The students suddenly perk up because they see the finish line in sight.  The smell of Spring is present, and I, as a teacher, gain a greater motivation than ever to finish well.  "What else do I need them to know before they leave my class?" "How can I instill 'life learning' into my 'school learning' for my students?" It feels like the first week of school, but instead of a marathon ahead, we have an intense sprint! I love it! The energy is infectious and thrilling.

The unique element of a beginning and an end to the school world is a fascinating element of my job. It graciously provides seasons to my life and career.  I think it also promotes change.  Whether the summer months are a hiatus from the classroom or merely a shift in curriculum, the end of a school year initiates a change. I love change --- it means variety and challenge. It can be difficult, but that will only help me grow along the way. Change is a win-win. I am so thankful for change being an integral part of my job. 10 more weeks, and we'll talk about what changes are to come!

Happy birthdays!

This weekend we celebrated two very important birthdays, my Mom's and baby Nolan's! Apparently, March 28th will always be a big day of celebration for us! Even with rainstorms forecasted all weekend, it was a great time to celebrate special people, and to do it with friends and family!

Nolan had an awesome 1st birthday party! We were thrilled to be there to celebrate with Jesse and Laura. It seems like yesterday that we were visiting them in the hospital when Nolan was just 15 hours old! We'll pray for amazing little babies just like Nolan! I'm taking note Laura!

For Mom's birthday we headed out for dinner, only to find that the entire city of W-S decided to do the same thing. Opting out of an hour and a half wait, Chris and his dad improvised a special Italian carry-out meal in our living room, complete with NCAA basketball, which is a huge plus for my mom! We ate, we cheered, we relaxed and yes, we sang "Happy Birthday!" It was great! Happy Birthday Mom!

We have poison ivy.

Yes, I am sad to announce that our good intentions for our little backyard have subjected us to the enemy --- poison ivy. Invisible poison ivy nonetheless! It's currently not blooming and we can't find it amongst the English ivy! Prednisone, shmednisone.... this stuff doesn't care about powerful steroids. It is determined to claim the back yard as it's paradise and keep Chris and I out.

Once the rain passes, we will attempt to kill it off, but we are pretty confident that we are getting the poison ivy on us, not from yard work, but from the dogs. They run all over the place in the yard and then I proceed to do what I do everyday --- hug them, pet them, touch them constantly! Keep in mind that dogs are not affected by the poison ivy, so they are fine, but Chris and I can see this going down hill fast!

Pray that we can eliminate it from the backyard easily and quickly! Otherwise, we will advise you to invest your dollars in poison ivy cremes and medications while we increase the consumer market.

What does Billy Graham pray for our country?

At 90 years old, here is what Dr. Graham is praying for our nation. This aired on a radio show recently and received an incredible response! Thought I would share.

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare... We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics... We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!"

-Billy Graham

Fetal thighs and the power house.

Yes, I am a pilates lady.  Let's be clear; I am a WINDSOR pilates lady. Mari Windsor's workouts do some serious damage to my surfaces. I love that I can make an impact on my body without sweating!  That just feels like cheating.  

Most pilate-e-ers would agree with me that while you work your muscles you also gain a sense of metal decompression.  I always feel "better" mentally when I finish.  Low effort; high payoff.  I wish we could have Chris comment on the silly positions he finds me in or the strange noises I make when I'm doing the fetal thighs series or using my power house.  Don't judge; I don't care how I look or sound, as long as my body parts stay where they are for the next few decades!

I just finished the workout after a vacation-week hiatus and had to declare that I'm back on track. Despite all the Hershey kisses I ate right before, I feel great!

Happy 4th of July!

You're a grand old flag, you're a high flying flag, and forever in peace may you waive...

I know it's only March, but we love the 4th of July, and with all of this bum-me-out weather happening, I can't help but day dream of the sun, the sand and the sparklers of 4th of July at the beach!  I want to be there now, contemplating the serious decision of SPF15 or 30? At my count we are 105 days from departure. 

Last year, we showed up on the beach with more national pride than any other vacation party on the beach.  Picture this; a group of young couples (yes, us), walk over the dunes covered in red, white and blue paraphernalia, American flags in hand and to the patriotic music of our free country.  People may have expected the red, white and blue --- typical.  The flag, yes, assumed. But, when a group of young Americans play a patriotic CD for hours as they enjoy the sand, now that shows our commitment to celebrating America.  At one point, the flags were blowing in the wind and the guys put their hands to their chests as the Star Spangled Banner played. I love celebrating America!

The more the merrier for 4th of July Extravaganza 2009! It's a Saturday, come down to Litchfield and join us. For now, I'll continue to scout flags, noisemakers and pieces of patriotism to take with us in July!

"So in a way, we all is homeless--- just workin our way toward home."

I just finished Same Kind of Different As Me, by Ron Hall & Denver Moore. Many of my friends had recommended this novel, and I will continue their sentiments and tell you that you should read it too!  A non-fiction that truly exposes the heart of a Godly woman and her impact on a

modern-day slave, it's a powerful story.  Let me remind all of you that I am not a fervent reader of any sorts.  I empathize with my students as they struggle through their school texts and novels.  Reading has never been a natural activity for me.  As I began to set some goals for the year, one that really demanded my attention was reading more.  I seem to set myself up to fail in this area, by making lists, choosing poorly and making reading a "to-do."  This time I avoided the proven pitfalls and just started with a book that peeked my curiosity. It worked. I enjoyed reading!

As of the last page of Same Kind of Different..., I have read 4 books, and next on my list is The Poisonwood Bible.  I'm not strictly reading non-fiction, Christian or otherwise, but choosing texts that I'm interested to read.  Forget formality, just read; I keep telling myself.  My hope is to one day call myself a reader; to model that for my family; to enjoy the quiet of reading; to broaden my thoughts through other people's words.  That interests me.

5 stars to Same Kind of Different As Me

Thanks for sharing Laura Anne.

And Then There was the Ivy.

We have been waiting for the weather to warm up, anticipating a major overhaul of the backyard.  One of the best things about this house is the fenced yard.  It has changed our daily lives being able to let the dogs run freely outside. It spares Mommy and Daddy taking someone out on the leash in the middle of the night in the freezing cold! Hallelujah! But before we all break into song, let's talk about the current state of the yard and what we are up against.

The back half of the yard was beautiful ivy, but two things have occurred over the past few months: dogs and leaves.  The dogs, without surprise, have killed much of the ivy off, and as our neighbors could tell you, the houses along our street get more leaves then I have ever seen in my life.  Let's just say, people that you would never assume to own leaf blowers own two here! Thus, we had our work cut out for us.  I've always loved big projects, and my idea of a good time is clearing my backyard over spring break! Don't judge.

Thus, we spent two days, two beautiful 80 degree days, outside with the dogs, not only blowing leaves and picking up hundreds of sticks, but discovering all kinds of weird trash in the yard. Our neighbor said that no one has touched this yard in over 5 years!  I'd like to add that the previous occupants must have loved throwing broken bricks, old tools, and glass bottles up in the air to watch them crash into the yard, only to be left for the 2009 Henson Restoration.

This patch of grass (our only patch of grass) is our hope for the rest of the yard!

Jack was pretty excited to spot it too! (Actually, Jack is looking at the shadow of the grass, because he loves shadows!)

Here it is all cleared out! The back half will grow ivy again, and the front half will hopefully be beautiful green grass. Start praying.

Just in case you're a numbers type of person, we filled 32 of these bags with leaves. Each bag holds 39 gallons! Chris does great work.

A few highlights of the job include Jackson standing directly in front of the leaf blower and enjoying the shower of dirt and leaves all over himself, Tex finding a brick in the yard and falling in love with it. He licked it and pushed it around for an hour, and Ruthie digging herself a "lawn chair" in the dirt for lounging and supervising. 

Hopefully, in the months to come we will have drastically different pictures of this sweet little yard. I hear rumors of mulch, grass seed, chain saws and miracles! 

What's for Dinner?

Take a minute and think about how often your family eats outside of your home. We try our best, despite eclectic schedules, to eat at home often, but sometimes our best efforts are stifled by cravings and generosity! I have cravings, and Chris oozes generosity to keep me from having to cook. Since we have been "on vacation" this week, all bets are off regarding food. It's really felt like vacation! Let's see, where have we been....

*Warning the variety of restaurants below may cause your senses to overload or produce nauseousness. Wait at least 1 hour before reentering the pool. Oops, reentering a restaurant!

La Carreta
Krispee Kreme
Chik-fil-a
Steaks at El Ristorante Hennie
Kimono
Grilled Chicken at Henson's BBQ Grill
Sweet Potatoes
Spaghetti by Kate at small group
Ishi
Steaks at the Henson Steakhouse
Chik-fil-a
Bojangles
Dominos Pizza
Chicken Fajitas at La Cocina de Kate & Christopher
...and it's only Thursday!

Yes, we've enjoyed it all; the good, the bad, and the disgusting, depending on your palette. If you asked us for our top five favorite places to eat in Winston, here is what we'd say.

Henson Top Five (in no particular order)
Ishi (Japanese)
Mi Pueblo (Mexican)
Kernal Kustards (Disney World Food -- hotdogs & kustard)
Texas Roadhouse (BBQ/ steak joint)
Carrabbas or Paul's (Italian)

*Runner-up: The Loop.

To the Dog Park!

Today it hit 80 degrees outside! We couldn't resist the opportunity to go all the way to the Horizons Dog Park across town. It's the best park in the city.  Here are the true stars of the dog park! I love when we can be outside so much!

This might be the best picture we have ever taken of Ruthie!

Yes, Tex has foam all over his mouth. He was pumped!

Spring Break Begins!

Today as we left school, spring break 2009 officially began!  Consider this spring break blog #1. We're not traveling during this vacation, but we plan to stir up some fun locally! Last night we headed to the Carolina Cyclones hockey game just a few miles from our house! Our friends from small group made the game so much fun!  For some of us it was our first hockey game and for others it was old hat.  

CJ & Cy, the mascot, hit it off big time! *note: Cy didn't like Ryan.

I know, they look little.  This was the pee wee in-between game, but they might as well have been the Cyclones.

Okay, look closely and you'll notice a girl in green dancing hardcore. She has been identified as Tatum Fishel, yes I know everyone is shocked! She is one of our friends from church.

L to R, top to bottom. Kate, Laura, Ryan. Chris, Stuart, Stephanie, Aindrea, CJ (what is he doing?). Gwynn & Trip.

Just for you Dad!

See the guy up against the glass, aka Ryan C.  He waited all game for a fight and when it happened, he was right in there!

It was a great night! NC hockey is pretty much the same as the Northern hockey that I grew up with, but a lot less hardcore.  They did sing the Canadian National Anthem, they did boo the refs and they did have people banging on the glass yelling, "fight, fight!"

Thanks to Gwynn and Steph for coming up with the hockey game idea!

SNOW DAY!

It's official, snow day for Forsyth Country Day School, for everyone!  This is the most snow I have seen in NC since I moved here in 2006. My students must be in heaven!

This is the neighborhood road across from our house.

Ruthie & our neighbor's dog Bear were pretty pumped about the white stuff! The dogs are not phased by the low temps either --- they love it.

David & Goliath.

Last night at church, we were blessed to have a guest speaker, Dudley Hall.  Well known for his books, seminars and church in Texas, it was incredible to have him at Verge748.  I also spent a couple of hours with his wife, Betsy, at a ladies' luncheon earlier in the day!

Dudley told the story of David and Goliath.  While most of us knew the story, Dudley shared it with a completely knew perspective.

- The shepherd boy David had been anointed early on in life by Samuel to be King.

- 13 years pass under Saul's rule, and David continues to tend sheep.

- The Israelites fight the Philistines, but the Giant Goliath offers a man to man challenge.

- King Saul offers a great reward to any man who defeats the giant.

- 15 year-old David hears of the challenge his older brothers are facing, and asks to try.

- David faces off with Goliath, wearing no armor, only a sling-slot in hand. 

- David hits Goliath in the one spot he does not have covered with armor; Goliath falls.

- David beheads him in victory!

So far, the story seems rather consistent with what we learned as kids, but Dudley's insight changes everything.  If we consider David's story to be one of a hero, which we should emulate, naturally our spirit would respond, "ah, no thanks, no giants for me."

But, truly we need to see that this story is about Jesus! This story is a depiction of the ever-present battle between God's Kingdom and Satan.  You see, it bothered David to see God's army mocked by Goliath.  It bothered him. What bothers us tells a lot about who we are in Christ.  God wants us to join the battle where we are bothered.  It's a clue to our calling.

Dudley went on to share that if we show up, in God's name, not our own, to fight the battle, it will lead to guaranteed victory. Heaven will back us up!  Every battle requires a champion --- and that is Jesus.  If you walk with Jesus, the victory is guaranteed. Jesus is the greater David, and David is the greater us, and there's no excuse for avoiding the battle!

God has giants in each of our lives so that our anointing, our Godly gifts can be exposed.  David was anointed 13 years before his battle with the giant. God used that moment to expose his Godly purpose and blessing!  If David had chickened out, the anointing would have remained hidden. We are "in Christ" as the text reads, and "in Christ" means anointed one, and therefore we already have our anointing through Jesus' shed blood.  We are ready for battle!

Dudley closed with this challenge.  We need to quit seeing ourselves as ordinary.  We are chosen to rule in God's anointing and purpose.  Victory is sure!  

If you made it all the way to the end of this post; well done!  Chris and I really enjoyed the message and couldn't resist putting it on here.  If you want to here Dudley share the story of David and Goliath, go to the online audio: Dudley Hall, Facing the Giants. (It should appear at the top of the list).