Today is the last/first day that I will have a child of my own having their last/first day of school. I didn't get a picture, just like I haven't taken a picture for the last 4 years of his high school career because teaching 25 miles away requires me to leave earlier than he even wakes up for the day. But, I'm ok with that. I have 25 miles a day to think about stuff in the morning and today I thought about this...the last first day isn't about me being sad or mad at myself for not having those pictures. Seriously, I can take one tonight, post it and it wouldn't seem any different I suppose. Here is my thinking, this is about him, his independence, his forward moving steps toward adulthood, his ability to not need me for much of anything anymore (except for the laundry he likes to drop on the floor and some food), and his life beyond this household. I'm not saying I'm not sad about being an empty nester sooner than I feel prepared for, but I am saying I feel good about how he will be able to get out there, move beyond needing Ken and I for stuff, and for him to take on new challenges.

Am I ready for a senior? What choice do I really have? The alternative isn't an option. Who would really want to force their child to become less independent instead of more? Who wouldn't want their child to find their way to college and feed the passions they may not even know they have right now? If I wished my way back to their childhood, would I do things different? Certainly I would take back moments when I lost my temper with them, didn't play with them when they asked me to, or just the times I was a crappy wife and mom. I can't wish my mistakes away, I can learn from them and hopefully lead others in a way that they don't make the same mistakes I did, and most importantly be an example to my own kids to be good parents to their children some day. (Side note: I am probably going to be the greatest grandma in the world...just a future goal I have).

I didn't get the picture this morning, but I sure have my memories of my little boy, the one that I had to have a second surgery to even have the chance to have, the one that a doctor feared may have failure to thrive but thankfully didn't, the one that later on was so chubby he carried the nickname "Beefcake", the one that bravely walked into Engleman Elementary all by himself when we picked up and moved 3 weeks previous to the first day of school, the one who has Pars Defect, an extra vertebrae, some weird toe bone thing, and yet has worked to be a pretty great quarterback (in my humble opinion), and a kid that may be the quiet one in the room but is taking in all that is said and is very intuitive, can read people so well, and is one of the funniest people I know.

I'm excited for his senior year and I'm sure I'll shed a tear at graduation but I will absolutely try my best to treasure every moment I have watching him play football and basketball and whatever else he does this final year of high school.

The Moment You See Answers to Prayers

Sometimes I've felt the way a lot of others have felt...do my prayers go unanswered? Am I asking selfishly? Do my prayers matter? This week I've been overwhelmed by answers to prayers, not that they all just "happened" this past week, just a week of very obvious realization of those answered prayers.

It was a really tough week for many people in our community. A young boy, a friend of many, including my son, was killed in a car accident. This community has mourned the loss but has also poured love into the lives of his family and others who have been affected by his death. Why would I include this horrible tragedy in this post about answered prayers? Let me explain. A long time ago, I began praying for my children to have friends that were strong believers in Christ; that they would have good influences around them, friends who were not afraid to share their faith with others, despite the peer pressure of other teens. Carter and Nick went to middle school together, played X-Box, hung around each other in our neighborhood, and most recently, roomed together at CIY (the church camp that over 90 kids from our community went to in July). I don't know a single conversation that Nick and Carter may have had this summer at camp, I don't know a single thing about the last time they hung out. I do know this, Nick's faith was lived out loud and it was evident at his funeral, he made a lasting impact on many people, and as an answer to my prayers, he made an impact on my son as well.

As I was struggling this week with the loss of Nick, the teachers at my school gave me hugs, asked how I was, told me they were thinking of Carter and of Nick's family. The teachers I work with are simply amazing. They, too, are an answer to prayers.

When I was in college (not very long ago) preparing for my second career, I prayed for 2 things; I wanted to be in a school where kids really needed me and I wanted to be in a school where I would have other believers as co-workers. My first few days of getting my room ready in August of 2014 I had my first "A-HA, God answered my prayer" moment. I walked by the first grade teachers room, she had on Christian music, I stopped and said that I liked that kind of music too. We began a friendship immediately and while I'm practically old enough to be her mom, she's a mentor to me in my faith. Where I am impulsive and quick to anger, she's calm and slow to get irritated. Where I am easily frustrated with different challenges, she reminds me it's all ok, we can work it out. We were able to share rides last year with another teacher who is also a sister in Christ. (And also very young...is there a theme here???) I was blessed to have her join my women's Bible Study group last year and spend time with her learning about the Lord together.

As the year progressed, I knew of others in my building who are believers and this year we started meeting one morning to share a time of devotion and prayer. How amazing it is to know that people not only share your joys, but comfort you in times of need as well. Again, what an amazing and overflowing answer to my simple prayer to be with other believers in my school.

I know sometimes the answers seem to come so slowly, sometimes they feel like they don't come at all, but on a day when God chooses, he reveals so many answers, it's a bit overwhelming. I've been given the chance to have a mission field right in my little tiny classroom with 21 little humans that I love so dearly. What better way to practice being a faithful servant? I get a chance to give unconditional love every day. Sometimes I fail, I always get another chance. I tell my littles that I will always give them another chance as well. It's my responsibility to teach them unconditional love, even if I don't say it with those words. We all have a chance each day to do a little better the next time.

I told one of the pastor's of our church today that within the last week, so many lives have been impacted, it's the strangest feeling. In the midst of such a tragedy, to see so many people who are hearing the message of the love of Christ, to see the faith of people moving so fiercely, and to watch God do amazing things, I'm definitely overwhelmed. I know that my life has such a bigger purpose than what I see in the day to day routine. The days when I don't think I can tie one more shoe, fix one more ouchie, or sing the calendar song one more time without losing my mind, I know God can strengthen me to do those silly little things, because in His Kingdom, they are not silly, not little, and actually very significant to the lives I'm impacting.

My Second Year of Teaching!

My first year of teaching left little time to keep up with my blog...that's an understatement since my last post was a year ago. After having some great classes this summer in my Master's Program and hearing about the importance of blogging from more than one expert in the field of teaching, it's long past due for me to get going again!

Reflections on my first year of teaching...

It was everything I had hoped for and so much more than I ever expected! I had some days where I thought I may lose what was left of my mind but, more often than not, my days were filled with laughter and discovery. My kids learned, more importantly, I learned. I know I'll be challenged again this year but people grow through challenges, and I'm ready to grow! One thing that hasn't changed in my philosophy about working with children: they have to feel safe and secure in order to learn. No matter what happens in their lives, when those children walk into my room, they will know they are loved and they are safe. 

With kindergartners, every day, almost every minute, is a new adventure. They are hilarious, adventurous, and curious. They are excited to learn, share, and teach each other. My best days were the ones where I could step back and hear their conversations. They were the best at teaching each other and helping each other. They wanted to be helpers and storytellers. I know that this is the goal that I have for my students and it is what will help them become confident learners as they move through school. 

Other 'stuff' that happened my first year...

My daughter had a busy year at UNL. She became the President of her sorority and was a member of the Husker Spring Spirit Squad. She is still interning with a great company and turned 21 in June. I am quite certain I do not feel old enough to have a child that is an adult!

My son finished his last year at middle school and played his last baseball season as a Riverdog. Ken continues to work at the surgery center and coach football. They all get a kick out of the funny stories that happen in my classroom and I love sharing those stories with them. I have continued to take classes to get my Master's Degree; I was on target to graduate in May but due to some scheduling problems, I will have to put that off for a semester. I have so little time left with my son at home I just can't afford to miss his activities. 

I hope to share some of my adventures this year through this blog. I've learned so much from so many people, hopefully, I can pay it forward by sharing my experiences with others!

Cooperative Learning Final Reflection

My Life is in Constant Transition…

A Story of How God Keeps Teaching Me

            This story is a continuing saga, some trials and tribulations, many joys, new experiences, and daily opportunities to learn more about fulfilling the passion God has set on my heart.  It’s been a journey that has taught me many things; some caused heartbreak and sleepless nights, but many more that brought laughter, learning, and love into my life and into the lives of those around me. 

            This story begins on a farm where I was so desperate to do gymnastics, I drug pillows and blankets out on to the lawn and risked broken limbs attempting tricks that I was sure I could master.  When my mom signed me up for lessons out of town, I was ecstatic!  It was short-lived unfortunately.  As a farm family, we could not afford the time it took us to drive an hour one way and I had to stop taking the lessons.  However, I was lucky enough to take dance and acrobatics from an instructor in a rural studio not far from my home and then additional ballet lessons later on.  As a high school cheerleader, my passion remained, I still wanted to learn.  My parents bought a trampoline and I also took tumbling classes from a gal in the next town over from ours.  I so badly wanted to tumble across the gym floor during a basketball game.  While that dream did not come true, God gave me the opportunity to teach others to do the eye-catching tumbling tricks I so longed to do myself. 

            As it turns out, the gal that I took tumbling lessons from decided to move to another state and needed to sell her mats.  She asked if I would want to buy them…um, yes, of course.  After a conversation with my parents, I decided that this was going to be my career.  I would be a gymnastics teacher!  I had a dear friend who cheered with me on my squad who was a great gymnast and we took on our first small business the summer after I graduated.  We opened our tiny gym in a downtown building her dad owned and taught ballet, jazz, and tumbling classes.  I was hooked and couldn’t imagine ever doing anything again in my life.  I read magazines, researched teaching methods, subscribed to publications, anything I could get my hands on to learn, I grabbed.  That fall I got a job in a gymnastics studio in my college town.  I vacuumed, cleaned toilets, and taught recreational gymnastics.  I was in heaven!  I was learning to coach from an amazing teacher; she was always ready to show me strategies, techniques, and ideas to help children learn the art of gymnastics.  I asked if I could travel with them when they took the team girls to competitions (I figured I could be everyone’s ‘gopher’ and I didn’t care, I just wanted to go!)  I learned about competitions, I watched higher levels of gymnasts, I met coaches, and I learned by watching, doing, and asking a lot of questions.

            I had another conversation with my parents who had already entrusted me to make my first purchase of mats, I didn’t want to go back to college, and I wanted to buy a building, teach gymnastics, and get my career going.  They agreed and we found a teeny, tiny building where I would teach tumbling and Jazzercise!  In all the excitement, I also married my high school sweetheart at the mature age of 19! 

            Fast forward 17 years of coaching recreational gymnastics and teaching lots of girls and boys to do those fantastic back handsprings!  I was ready for a new career and had returned to school to get an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood.  I had opened a preschool and had decided I was ready to sell my gym.  My children were older and I was missing out on their activities.  I still wanted to work with children and particularly loved the preschool age so it was a pretty easy transition.  I used many skills and strategies in the gym to teach skills in preschool.  We played, we sang, we tried new things, we moved our bodies, and we told stories, all things I had been doing for 17 years with children.  I found that teaching gymnastics had given me the hands-on experience I needed to teach.  I found that God was leading me to my next career. 

            In 2010 we moved to Grand Island.  My husband had gotten a new job and we packed up our lives and headed down I-80.  I had signed up for some college classes but had to drop out because of our move.  I needed to find a job instead.  I took a position as a lead teacher in a preschool.  Although I loved every one of the 31 children I taught, I knew almost immediately I was in the wrong place.  My director had a completely different philosophy from my philosophy of the “whole-child” development.  I passionately believed in social development over academics.  I believed in relationships with children over ill-advised paper/pencil worksheet “school readiness” activities.  I spent lunches alone and in tears, talking myself through the next week, day, and even hours.  I staunchly defended my belief that children learn while doing, not while sitting and tracing.  I wrote an eight page lesson plan to my boss and the preschool board defending play, social development, physical development, and relationships.  I did not win.  I put my resignation in to finish the year and spent my time laughing and playing with the children I had come to love so much. 

            I did get back to my college classes the next summer.  In the fall, I taught at 2 preschools and taught dance/acro classes at a dance studio.  My joy returned.  My passion was growing. I began to imagine myself teaching kindergarten…

            Our final reflection for Cooperative Learning was an open-ended project with no parameters as to what or how we found the class useful and how we will use it in our classrooms.  I couldn’t think of anything “cool” that would express my appreciation for the concepts shared in this class.  This class that brilliantly tied my past to my future, this class that legitimized my passion for hands-on experience and social development as being “best practice” for educating children, this class that shared my vision for moving children becoming engaged learners, this class that fueled my passion even more.  I will be teaching kindergarten this fall.  God steered me to Grand Island, to student teach in an environment where I worked with at-risk children and families, to apply for a position in a low income school, and to be the one chosen for the ONLY open elementary in the district.  He leads, we follow, He weaves, and we lie under the blanket of His protection and security.  He loves with grace and mercy; I will allow His love to overflow in my heart to spill over into the lives of children who may not have ever experienced unconditional love.  I will pray that I will ignite the passion God places in the hearts of the children that I will have the honor of teaching. 

Time to Change the Name of My Blog To...I GRADUATED!

THE DAY FINALLY ARRIVED...

Yesterday, at 9:53 AM, I walked from the field house at UNK down the hall, down the stairs, and into the Health and Sports Complex.  According to Ken and Rylee, I was showing my nerves by my fidgeting fingers working my rings around my fingers and the piece of paper with my name on it for the reader to use later in the ceremony.  I knew I was nervous, not to be in the ceremony, but the nervous energy one has when a feeling of overwhelming accomplishment has finally achieved.  I followed the others to our seats and waited for the moment that I would walk across a stage to receive a diploma.  The last time this happened in my life was in 1992, my high school graduation.  

The first thing in the program I looked at was the paragraph that was written to the 2014 Spring Graduates.  Here is the sentence that immediately jumped out at me, "In 1992, the year, on average, when today's graduates were born, the world was a different place."  It kind of stopped me dead in my tracks...the year most of the people I was sitting with WERE BORN!  

Yet, there I sat, a person who graduated high school that very year, ready to receive a diploma with all these other 'kids'.  There were several times throughout the ceremony when I had to hold back my tears.  The first was when I saw my dad, 72 years old, waving his arms at me and pointing to where I could find the rest of my family in the huge crowd.  My dad, who told me this morning on the phone, "We're sure proud of you", my dad, who has been supportive of me even when I made decisions he probably wished I hadn't.  There is something entirely heart warming when your dad says he is proud of you, (even when you're 40).  

The tears began again as my row walked toward the stage and I looked up at my husband and saw him smiling at me.  I saw my daughter and my son and knew that this moment was truly something special.  I saw my mom, the one whose smile looks exactly like mine (I guess mine looks exactly like hers actually), and saw her smiling at me throughout the day.  I didn't care how goofy I might have looked because it was either smile like crazy or cry.  I don't think I even heard the reader say my name after I handed him my card, I just was so overwhelmed that I was on a platform shaking a hand and being given the folder that will hold my diploma.  (Of course it's not in there yet...I'll be anxiously awaiting for the mail for a few days).  I walked across and shook the Chancellor's hand, a man who has never met me, just as most of my professors.  I did almost my entire degree online so I didn't meet professors, the Chancellor, or anyone else on campus.  

The rest of the ceremony went rather quickly.  The final moment of near tears was at the very end when the ROTC graduates were given their commission to the United States Army.  A rather boisterous crowd fell nearly silent as these gentlemen held the respect of the audience.  Pretty cool to see.

My family waited for me at the top of the stairs and congratulated me.  (The pictures shown were taken right after the ceremony.)  We had lunch together and everyone headed home.  It was a great morning!

So...what's the plan now?  I decided that since I'm in the mode of homework, I should not wait to start a Master's program, again, age is only working against me so no time to waste!  I will be starting class in June.  I promise I don't need my head examined, I just have goals and I'm going to get there!  God has given me a desire to learn, to teach, and to not give up, so I'm doing my best to follow His path for my life.  He will strengthen me, there will be days when I'm exhausted, and He will help me through those days.  There will be days that I want to give up, He will use Ken and others to encourage me to keep going.  

My most exciting plan includes some very special children.  I will be teaching Kindergarten!!!  I will have a classroom full of beautiful children that God has specifically placed in my care.  They will bring challenges, joys, and their excitement into my life in 3 short months.  I can't wait!  There will be days that seem frustrating, God has been preparing me to handle those days.  There will be days of pure joy, I will thank Him for those moments.  There will be lessons He has for me to learn from the children, He will keep me humble in order to learn these lessons and make better decisions with more grace and mercy.  He has given me so many friends who I can go to for advice, ideas, and to share my joys with.  Old friends, new friends, and friends I have yet to meet.  He knows my need, He will provide.  

Our pastor teaches us that we each have a ministry.  I hope that any success I have had or will have will be seen by others as my ministry.  He has gifted me to work with children, it doesn't seem like work, it's joy, it's fun, and it's different every day.  It's been amazing to watch His plan fall into place.  

So, here's where I will end this current blog, I'm done with school!  Guess that means I need to come up with a new blog.  Anyone have any great ideas for a new blog title???

What a Weekend!

As I sat on the couch tonight with 5 boys on my couch, eating enough food for a small army, my husband looked at me and said, "Aren't you going to love the next 5 years of your life?  Surrounded by boys all the time?"  I smiled and rolled my eyes like I always do but yes, I am going to love the next 5 years, and plan to love the next 50+ years after that!  I want to be that house where 'all the kids hang out' even though it has resulted in torn furniture, smelly rooms, an ever shrinking amount of food in the freezer and pantry, and a substantial hole in our living room wall downstairs thanks to Foxy's backside being thrown during a tackle game that seems to be the popular sport at the Terry home.

This weekend was a 3 day reminder that life moves pretty fast and in ways you might not expect.  I'd like to share some of the highlights!  Remember that when you have a day that seems frustrating, there will come a day when the blessings seem to overflow and hopefully, you are willing and able to share the abundance with those around you.

Friday morning we dropped Carter off at school a little before 7:00 AM.  He and his show choir group were loading a bus to go to Omaha for a Show Choir Competition.  Yes, Carter...and his show choir group.  Now, those of you from our home town know that the Terry guys are not generally known for their musical/dance abilities, but instead for their love of athletics, sports, and competition.  However, with our move to our new town, Carter was able to see that there is so much more to try and the day that he announced he wanted to try out for show choir was a day I'll not soon forget!  I actually thought he was kidding but he insisted that he was most definitely planning on trying out.  Try-outs came, several days of singing, dancing, and auditioning in front of a panel of judges.  He made it and has been practicing 3 mornings a week for most of the school year.  He and the other 30+ members performed at an Omaha high school and came away with the 1st place trophy!  It was a lot of fun, all of the parents sat together and cheered as if we had just won a huge game!  (All the 'sporty dad's' had on pretty big smiles too!)

As if that wasn't enough for a person to feel pretty good about their family, Rylee also had a big weekend.  She is the activities chair for her sorority and she was in charge of a major fundraiser on Friday.  She had been working for several months to get everything ready and was pretty nervous about all the details.  She had a lot of motivation for a successful night as she had visited the St. Jude Children's Hospital (the recipient of the monies raised) in Memphis in January.  The trip made a huge impact on her and she was excited to be a part of something so important that helps so many children every day.  We stopped to see her before the event and helped out with a few last minute things but since Carter's competition was the same night, we weren't able to participate in the actual event.  As I checked Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, I could tell things were running smoothly for the event and again, had that feeling that made my heart happy for my children.

We returned home after Carter's event and got a short night's sleep before his final basketball tournament Saturday and Sunday.  While his team didn't do as well as they would have liked to, it was still a great experience.  We talked about how sports are important, to be a member of a team, to compete, to do all those things we all know sports can do for kids, but we also talked about the things that are more important in the lives of the athletes:  friendship, commitment, experience, and leadership.  Long after the games are over, those valuable lessons live on.  I firmly believe that there should always be "season's" for sports, there should be baseball season, basketball season, football season.  My child is 13, I want him to experience life, not just courts, fields, and traveling.  A successful day is when he laughs, works, concentrates, and learns that yes, he will lose, be disappointed, discouraged, and frustrated.  I will not shield him from those things, I need him to know that someday, someone will be depending on him to make a difference, and he will need to see the needs of others above his own.  I guess that is why Rylee's event was so important to me.  It was that moment when I knew that she was doing things that would not make her wealthy or important, but instead doing something that would impact a child she will never meet.

God does work in mysterious ways...if you would have told me 5 years ago Ken and I would sit at my son's show choir competition, watch my daughter put together a huge event, and sit with 5 smelly 7th graders in my living room after basketball games all in one weekend, I would not have believed you.  But, His plans are greater, His ways are better, His power is magnificent.

40

At midnight tonight I will be 40.  My parents had the option of choosing the 16th or 17th as my birthday as I was born at midnight.  My grandparent's anniversary was September 17 so my parents wisely chose the 17th for my birthday!  My mom and dad came to town to have dinner with us tonight and as dad left he asked if turning 40 bothered me, I answered with an absolute "no way".  I will tell you that I am honestly so excited about my 40's because I feel like I might actually have some things figured out in life!  The fact that I will be graduating with my Bachelor's Degree this spring is one big exciting thing that will happen, hopefully to be followed by a teaching job next fall!  But, this is just one little accomplishment that I am excited for, but certainly not the high point of my life.  

I have had a pretty blessed life, any problems I have had have been completely of my own making with no one else to blame.  I've had to learn some very hard lessons but luckily have had some very loving and supportive people around me to help me through those lessons.  I would like to mention a few of these people and I absolutely know I will forget someone and for that, I apologize.  Please know that I see every mistake and opportunity in my life as a road to where God has led me today.  He truly has "made all things new" in my life by allowing me to have trials and hurts, joys and blessing.  

Jodi C. is one woman who probably turned my life around more than any other person.  Here's how she did that.  Every week at MOPS she loved on me, hugged me, told me she loved me, cried with me when I needed to, and taught me about how much God loved me, no matter what.  She welcomed me into a Bible Study with other women, which in turn led me to meeting other women, beautiful, amazing women.  We laughed and cried together, we shared what we thought no one would ever accept about us.  We read scripture together, learned together, and grew in Christ.  Julie R, Heidi B, Roxanne W, Sara R, and others, you helped me grow.  Thank you.

Megan, Thea, Robyn, Julie M, you all have been my rock.  I am a horrible phone call maker and don't always stop by when I'm back in town but I want you to know how much I love you all and how my life would be so much less if I didn't have your friendship.  You are those friends who I can pick up a conversation with and it's as if I never moved away. 

Parkview Baptist Church-there aren't enough ways to praise your grace and mercy.  If I could tell anyone one thing to do to make their life better it would be to go to this church, get plugged in, and learn what the Bible has to say about your life.  Pastor John sat me down with Ken one day and simply gave us permission to make a choice.  Do what "everyone else does" or make a different choice, see what God does.  We knew instantly what our choice was and worked, prayed, and came out better people because of it.  Not of our own power, all the power of submission to Christ and commitment to each other.  

My family...where to even start???  I have a dad with personality.  He's funny, stubborn, tough, and gentle.  He's a man who joyfully and anonymously gives to others in small ways but ways that bring tears to my eyes.  He makes conversation with anyone and I mean anyone!  He works hard, and even though we would like him to take it easy, that's not in his nature.  His passion for old cars shows but his passion for old cars with meaning to him (like the gas truck he has refinished) are the ones that make me the most proud.  He doesn't have the fanciest cars, he has cars with a connection to his past and his heart.  My mom couldn't volunteer anymore hours if she tried.  Who has time to work when you are busy serving your community?  She is the proverbial peacemaker.  She wants everyone to feel welcome, never has known a stranger, and is passionate about genealogy.  Her heart is so big and the dedication to finding every last detail about her family is amazing.  Taking her to Kentucky was such a blessing for both of us this summer.  My brother has beat brain cancer, become a grandfather, and follows my dad's footsteps in his passion for cars.  He loves his family deeply and loves the Lord.  My sister and I couldn't be more different in some ways but exactly the same in others.  I envy her organizational skills, craftiness, and ability to keep everything in it's place.  I know my personality drives her nuts sometimes but she loves me and I love her deeply.  

Carter, your heart is so beautiful.  You are funny, silly, serious, and share your love of sports with your father but every once in awhile, I see a little bit of me in you.  I think about when you were so little and sick and I can't believe you are so strong and athletic now.  Your sense of humor is one of a kind.  Sometimes I look at you and I swear, Jay Terry is in my house.  

Rylee, I wasn't the best mom that I wanted to be when you were little.  I was so young and immature and I made mistakes.  As I teach my preschoolers now I think I would have been such a better mom if I would have played with you more, snuggled with you longer, been less selfish.  But, God has given you so many gifts and I am humbled by your heart, your willingness to help others, the way that you get excited for things, and for the brave way you take on challenges.  While most kids would have freaked out at the thought of moving right before their junior year, you took the bull by the horns, jumped right in and made yourself a part of our new community and your new school.  You make the best of situations, you fight for your beliefs, you are strong.

Ken, my strongest supporter, my biggest advocate, the love that I have had for over 1/2 of my life.  I don't know anyone else who suffered the losses that you have and yet chose to live their life as one who takes on the next challenge.  You always remind me that when something bad happens, we have to make the choice how we will let it affect us.  We can dwell on the hurt, be mad, angry, and victimized or we can choose to move forward, be positive, and see results that bring about positive change around us.  I am so honored to be your wife.  I pray that I am becoming the wife that God made me to be.  

The reason that 40 is going to be so great is that God has allowed me to go through some big bumps in my life and has prepared me to share my life with children and with other adults, to show them the love that has been shown to me.  To play, to sing, to comfort, and to love.  To serve, to share, to laugh, and to cry.  The real stuff in life that is important.  The college degree is just one of the sprinkles on the top of the cake!