tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22811612010629984852024-02-06T19:41:49.724-08:00Faith Journey...Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-77146783348526388552012-09-22T18:27:00.000-07:002012-09-22T18:27:36.349-07:00The Ephesians JarWe are always trying to think of better ways to parent. Ways to reach our boys, teach them about God's love, and to help them grow into Christ-like young men. And many times, we are also trying to come up with things to "motivate" them to obey! :-)<br />
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As an educator, I firmly believe that positive reinforcement is waaaaaay more effective than negative. It's also a lot more fun to implement as well! :-) The other evening when I was at baseball practice with Will at one ball field and Jeff was at baseball practice with Colin at another, Jeff called me on my cell to tell me that Colin was not trying his best at practice. "He's being lazy," he told me. He continued telling me how the practice was going and told me about how he had several times yelled out to Colin from the bleachers for him to "hustle" or to otherwise work harder at practice. Jeff was feeling pretty frustrated. Then it hit me, "Try ignoring the bad stuff he's doing a little and only yell out with praise when he does something good." Colin responds really well to praise, as most kids do. Maybe what the sweet baby needed was a little encouragement. :-)<br />
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Well, I was on Pinterest this afternoon, and I came across an idea for a "Caught Ya Being Good" jar. The idea was for the parents to "catch" the kid(s) being "good" and then let them put a cotton ball, pom-pom, etc. into the jar each time they were "caught". Then, when the jar is full, they earn some kind of privilege or reward. I loved this idea because it went along with my idea that I want to encourage my boys and build them up and cut back on the reprimanding whenever possible.<br />
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So, we went to Hobby Lobby and got the supplies needed. I made some changes, though. Instead of "Caught ya being good", I made it "The Ephesians Jar".<br />
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And, yes, there are already some pom-poms in there that they have earned. :-) I told the boys that we would talk about why it is called "The Ephesians Jar" tomorrow when Jeff is home. Basically, it is called "The Ephesians Jar" because there are several verses from Ephesians that deal with the positive ways in which God would have us behave. The verses deal with: being humble, gentle, patient, forgiving, honest, kind, compassionate, and loving. Other verses tell us not to sin in our anger or let unwholesome talk come from us. And finally, a wonderful verse instructs children to obey their </div>
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To share this message with the boys, I wrote each verse out on paper and cut them out. Then, the boys can take turns pulling a verse from a ziplock bag and reading it aloud. Jeff and I will talk with the boys about what the verse means and how they can follow that verse in their lives. </div>
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For now, the boys know that I (and Jeff) will be watching to see the choices they make. Will earned a pom-pom this evening for taking his plate to the kitchen sink the FIRST time I asked and with a good attitude. Colin got to add a pom-pom to the jar for letting me "borrow" this computer to write my blog without him whining or complaining. Both boys added a pom-pom for giving hugs to each other. :-)</div>
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Tomorrow when we discuss the Bible verses with the boys, we will also have them decide and agree on a "reward" that will follow when they fill up the jar. It will be more effective and meaningful if they get to choose the reward. </div>
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The verses from Ephesians that I chose were: (NIV)</div>
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4:2- Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.</div>
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4:25- Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor...</div>
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4:26- In your anger, do not sin...</div>
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4:29- Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.</div>
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4:32- Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.</div>
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5:2- Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us...</div>
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6:1- Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.</div>
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I am also going to put a copy of the verses on the refrigerator as a reminder of what the jar is based on...</div>
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I'll keep ya posted on how this works for our boys. Maybe it will provide some accountability for me as well. All of those things are things I need to remember and do in my life, as well! :-)</div>
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<br />Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-61250280370686955452012-09-15T17:27:00.000-07:002012-09-15T17:27:53.513-07:00It's Been Awhile...Hello There!Wow! I don't think I wrote on my blog once over the summer! I guess it was due to a combination of two things: One-I was trying to be the ultimate lazy person and not do much of anything=TOTAL relaxation, and Two-The types of things God was dealing with my mind, my heart, and my spirit with over the summer were not really blog-appropriate things. Some things are just between you and God-ya know? Well, and your spouse- unfortunately (maybe) for Jeff, I tend to tell him everything I'm thinking/feeling! :-)<br />
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But, rest assured, thankfully, even though I took a long break from blogging, God did not take a break from working in my life and growing and changing me. Probably the biggest thing he dealt with me on over the summer was just forgiveness and letting go. In big things and in little ones. Ultimately, forgiveness is for the forgiver, not for the person we are to forgive. Seems like given our natural selfish natures, this should be an easier concept to grasp, but it is so hard sometimes. But, forgiveness means freedom, and I am ALL about that! :-)<br />
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Things are pretty much the same overall. I am still riding my bike as often as I can. I just got back from an 18 mile ride this evening, and the weather was beautiful! Over the summer I still rode a few times each week-I just had to wait until 7:00pm or so to begin my ride since it was so blasted hot out!<br />
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School has gotten off to a pretty good start. My schedule is super-crazy because we have about a million kids in our school! :-) I leave most days absolutely exhausted, but I tell you what- we have the BEST kids at Eagle Ridge! And I am not just saying that- we really have some awesome kids. They feel like family to me, and since I see all 777 of them, that makes for a really big family! I am blessed!<br />
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Will and Colin are both playing fall baseball. One of my VERY FAVORITE things to do in life is watch my boys play baseball. I don't, however, like the busy-ness of practice, games, etc. in the fall. The fall is such a crazy time with school starting and all, and I always feel the need to have my home life be a "soft place to land" after the "stressful beginning-of-the-school-year" days. But right now, it's busy wherever I am- home or school. Jeff and I have already decided that next fall, we will take a break! :-)<br />
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Today has been a REALLY good day! We didn't have any plans- didn't have to be anywhere at any given time, so we got to sleep in! Then, we had a family breakfast full of laughter around our kitchen table. Later, I got the laundry done for the weekend, did 2 school projects, and took my bike ride. Jeff took the boys to shoot their bows earlier-something they have been wanting to do all week, but we didn't have time for. Now, Jeff and I are watching the Rangers! Yay! My kind of Saturday!<br />
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<br />Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-49250919508021385762012-04-18T18:14:00.000-07:002012-04-18T18:14:23.796-07:00"What I'm Reading" WednesdayYay! It's Wednesday again and time to talk more about books. I finished the Steve Jobs biography, and ended up buying an iPhone! Now I've moved on to reading about a woman named Henrietta Lacks. Ever heard of her? Most people hadn't until this book came out...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJtXOuMqZD8r6KxXr7fgfBhtEtSQgLYAfqn2eekfY5-TQ9XfW-CONhxns3LvKIlyx1uUFdc6dNryV4beDuI5dYdwoXfCctIPdUQYKXxs4JzVt7hyYsSog2HPzUs40AUkJ90Nh3BLtdFYB/s1600/The_Immortal_Life_Henrietta_Lacks_(cover).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJtXOuMqZD8r6KxXr7fgfBhtEtSQgLYAfqn2eekfY5-TQ9XfW-CONhxns3LvKIlyx1uUFdc6dNryV4beDuI5dYdwoXfCctIPdUQYKXxs4JzVt7hyYsSog2HPzUs40AUkJ90Nh3BLtdFYB/s320/The_Immortal_Life_Henrietta_Lacks_(cover).jpg" width="210" /></a></div>I have only read the free sample on my Kindle so far, but I plan to buy the full version tonight. Basically, Henrietta grew up poor and suffered cervical cancer as an adult. When she died, the doctors asked her family for permission to save her cells for medical research. This request was denied, but doctors took her cells anyway. Her cells became immortal (and were called HeLa cells) as they were grown in laboratories all over the US. In fact, her cells are still alive today. The review on Amazon.com says that:<br />
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"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yet, Henrietta's family has never seen a dime of the money. This story follows the journey from her cancer through all the amazing things her cells have done for the medical world.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sounds really interesting. I'll keep ya posted! :-)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I'm also reading a book for my 4th grade book club at school. Actually, I am re-reading it- I read it through once to make sure it would be appropriate for elementary school, but I always reread the chapters I've assigned the kids each week. This book is: <u>Floors</u> by Patrick Carman.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This book has a little fantasy, a little mystery, and even some realistic fiction elements. Leo and his father,Clarence, live in the famous Whippet Hotel. The whimsical owner-Merganzer D. Whippet has been missing for over 100 days, and strange things are starting to happen. Leo stumbles upon 4 mysterious colored boxes that lead him through a series of adventures through some of the hotel's many secret rooms. There is a little "twist" at the end, which is always fun.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">At each meeting, we discuss what we've read for that week and answer some discussion questions. We've also been designing our own versions of the 4 boxes that Leo finds during his adventures according to the boxes' descriptions in the book. We end each session by answering some "Reading for Detail" questions. I will ask some very detailed questions from the pages we read that the students will only know the answers to if they really read closely and paid good attention to what they read. If someone gets the right answer, they win a rubber "ducky". Ducks are central characters in the book-adding to the quirkiness of the story. I found some little rubber ducks from Oriental Trading, and that is what I give the kids if they get a right answer. It's lots of fun and they are very motivated to read for those details! </span>Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-10822881732481534532012-04-15T19:27:00.000-07:002012-04-15T19:27:40.526-07:00Good day-good things happening!Today was a busy-but good day! It started with church this morning and Preschool Praise. Then, we went to have lunch at one of our favorite restaurants- Palio's- and then back home for a couple hours before I had to be back up at church for a VBS meeting. It's so hard to believe that we are already getting ready for VBS again! The time has flown by. This will be my third year to teach the VBS music/dances to the first graders. I really enjoy it, and am always impressed at how much the children learn in 4 short days. There are usually a few students from my school that attend our VBS, so it's a neat opportunity to get to know them in a "church" environment as well. :-)<br />
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I took a bike ride after the VBS meeting, and it was a beautiful afternoon. Since it had just rained, there was a cool breeze in the air, and everything seemed clean and fresh. The honeysuckle smelled SO good! The only bad thing was the dozens of gnats that I think I swallowed while I was riding! :-)<br />
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During my ride, I kept thinking about a situation in my life right now that I am not entirely happy with. I was complaining (in my mind) and whining, and feeling pretty sorry for myself. Then, Father broke in and turned it all around on me. "What are YOU doing or not doing that could help the situation?" "Are YOU doing your part?" "Are you praying over this?" "What should YOU be doing?" "Focus on that, and trust ME to take care of the things you cannot control." Wow!! Not really what I wanted to "hear", but so very very true. And although it put some responsibility on me and took away my pity party, it also gave me peace. For that, I am so thankful! :-)<br />
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On another note, I am working really hard right now to leave behind some bad eating habits. Two things: I LOVE chocolate and other sweets, and I LOVE Cokes. Unfortunately, they make you fat and unhealthy. Why can't I LOVE broccoli instead? So...I am really trying to cut back. Luckily, it helps to take the bike rides because it's a lot of work to ride 13.5 miles, and I can't stand to think about "wasting" the effort by eating junk. I have now gone.....DRUMROLL PLEASE...5 WHOLE DAYS without a Coke! Yay! And my mother-in-law dropped off one of her "best-chocolate-pies-in-the-world" last week and I only ate ONE thin slice! That's progress!<br />
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So, good things are happening- God is continuing to work on me to handle situations in life the way He would have me to, I am now in a pretty good habit of exercising regularly, and I am working on replacing unhealthy eating habits with more healthy choices. Good things!Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-66380960887926317572012-04-08T18:49:00.000-07:002012-04-08T18:49:04.236-07:00Glorious Day!Happy Resurrection Day!<br />
What a great day today! Wonderful service at church-even though we had to go to the gym for the "overflow". It was still a beautiful service, and I was impressed at how well our church had planned ahead for the event that we would need a place for those of us who made it to church "just in time"! I LOVE that we got to sing "Glorious Day"! It was an amazing moment to sing that song and think about the truth in the words. It overwhelms me:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">"Living He loved me, dying He saved me</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">And buried He carried my sins far away</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">Rising He justified freely forever</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: sienna; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">It was one of those moments when everything around you just disappears and it's just you-singing worship, and gratitude to the Father. Thank you, Jesus, for being my savior and dying on the cross for me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">My sweet "Grandmommie" joined us for church this morning. She also came to Sunday School with me after "Big Church", and she was treated like a princess in there! Several of my friends came over and introduced themselves and spoke with her. Our director even gave her a candy treat for her birthday (which was Wednesday- 91 years old!!- and which she ate on the way to our house after church!) and told her that we as a Sunday School class have prayed for her often in the past. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">Grandmommie spent a good while on our SS prayer list because a couple of years ago we almost lost her. She had a series of health problems that kept her in the hospital for an extended period of time. She couldn't seem to get her footing and as a result, we were told that she wouldn't make it much longer. It was terrible-I went to the hospital one afternoon to tell her my "goodbyes". I was the only one there with her at the time, and she asked me a few times to pray for her, with her, sing to her, etc. She was so at peace and ready to go. It was so hard because at one point she wanted to take a nap, and all I could do was sit there and watch her breathe-in and out- and wondering if each breath was going to be her last. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">But, God still had plans for Grandmommie here on earth, because she rallied and recovered and after a fairly extended period of time, went on with life. So...we are lucky to still have Grandmommie and now she is 91! She mentioned today how life is different now that she's elderly. I asked her how she feels about life now. She said, "Well, it's not as fun as it was, but it's good." A piece of my heart broke at that moment because I want her life to be AWESOME, not just "good", but I can only imagine how disappointing that would be to have so much of your freedom and your choice to do what you want taken away from you with age. She doesn't drive anymore and has to rely on others to do many things for her that she used to be able to do for herself. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">I also felt REALLY guilty today because I don't go see her at her assisted living facility near enough. I feel terrible about that and it kills me to admit it. I think I am a pretty bad granddaughter for that. I felt VERY convicted today to change that. I have NO excuse except that, like I have said before, I am not good at juggling tasks, and I usually feel like I am doing good to handle what is directly in front of me: being a wife, a mother, and an employee. Above and beyond that, I am not always reliable. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">I need to make a goal to go see her at least once a month. I pray for forgiveness and that the Lord will grant me time to make it right. I don't want to waste the time we are privileged to still have her with us, and I don't want her to feel lonely or unloved (I know that is how I would feel if my grandchildren didn't visit me). She made a really sad statement today over at my parents house. We were all in the kitchen and the cousins were all playing and she said, "I wish I could get to see all these kids grow up into adults." That took my breath away. We joked with her about "are you planning on going somewhere?" But, it was a sad shock of reality. I don't like to think about it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">I can't stand to end this on a sad note, so let me just say that my Grandmommie is an amazing woman of faith. She has ALWAYS been a wonderful example to me of what a Godly woman is like. Growing up, she and my grandfather (Big Daddy) always lived far away from us in another state (Georgia and then later, Florida), but I always felt so close to them. We would mail audio tapes back and forth to each other full of messages of love and stories about what we were up to. Grandmommie would always include a "chat" on her tapes that she sent us. Her chats were just little stories about her childhood, and we loved to hear them. I always knew that she loved me, and I loved being with her. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">We went to my parents' house today after church for lunch, dessert, and the annual Cousins Easter Egg Hunt! This year was a little different because my sister and her family couldn't be there- they were missed! But, my boys and Ben, my brother's, girls had a great time hunting for eggs full of quarters! We had to hide the eggs inside because of the rain, but they didn't care! :-) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">Overall, it was just a nice, peaceful day. It's funny how your parents' house can always be a place of comfort and peace. That's how I feel about my parents' house- even though it's not the house they had when I was growing up, I still feel "at home" and "safe" there. I guess it's just because that's how my parents make me feel! :-)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;">So, I end today feeling so thankful- for God's gift of His son, for my sweet family, and for my life! Glorious day! </span><br />
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</span></span>Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-40785125376173452182012-04-06T19:44:00.000-07:002012-04-06T19:44:59.448-07:00Have I mentioned that I love riding my bike? Well, I do! :-) I know it may sound silly, but I am just so glad that I have found a form of exercise that I enjoy doing. In college, I was really good about working out in a gym 3-5 days a week, but I can tell you- I DIDN'T enjoy it. But, biking-I enjoy.<br />
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As I was riding today it occurred to me that one reason that I like it so much is that it is not just a physical experience, but a spiritual one as well. I pray while I'm riding, and think....ALOT. Today I had my favorite praise music playing on my IPod as I rode, and let me tell you-there is nothing like riding through a beautiful treelined path beside ponds and ducks-just surrounded by God's amazing creation while "How Great is Our God" is playing in your ears.<br />
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"The splendor of a King<br />
Clothed in Majesty<br />
Let all the earth rejoice<br />
All the earth rejoice..."<br />
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I was riding outside in the warm spring afternoon with goosebumps!<br />
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I love "where" I ride as well. I always ride from my house to Bear Creek Park, follow those paths to Keller-Smithfield Park and then back home again. Bear Creek Park has always been a favorite of mine. I love all the trees and the tranquil walking/biking paths. The other day I rode through there and saw a whole group of ducks up on the bank with their heads twisted on their backs taking a peaceful nap.<br />
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We took the kids there a lot when they were younger, so there are a lot of memories there, as well. Every time I pass by the giant sandbox, I remember when my boys would always want to play in it every time we visited. It always kind of grossed me out a little bit-wondering how many animals might have used it as a litter box, but I always let the boys dig, and bury, and build in that sand.<br />
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I love that along the way I ride over the place where my sweet Will once asked me to stop right then and say a prayer to thank God for all the wonderful things he created. I remember it every time I pass that spot.<br />
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I even love the steep inclines along the path that can be so hard to climb. I struggle, and sometimes think "I can't do it", but then I push on-refusing to give up, and I finally make it to the top. I love this too, because I know that after I make it to the top, there is a downhill on the other side where I can coast, and rest, and breathe...FREEDOM with the wind whipping through my hair! And the hard work and struggle was worth it. What a great metaphor for life!<br />
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I love the families I see along the way-enjoying the weather, the beauty, and each other. I see representations along the way of where I have been- in the moms jogging with their little ones in strollers, and where I am going- in the elderly couple walking hand in hand.<br />
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I thank God for this place and that I am healthy and able to enjoy it. I am thankful for the difference that being there is having on my body and my spirit. I love the time I can spend with the Lord while I am riding. You can't help but feel closer to Him surrounded by nature.<br />
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And I am thankful for your prayers, as well. Today is the first day in about 2 weeks that I have felt like myself again. I have felt strong and "normal" and like maybe I am over the worst of the adjustment period. Thank you for your prayers as I was working my way up that steep hill-wondering if I would make it. I think that maybe-I have reached the top and can now enjoy the downhill- to coast, rest, and breathe....FREEDOM with the wind whipping through my hair! :-)<br />
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Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-3608062083306835512012-04-05T14:34:00.000-07:002012-04-05T14:34:01.010-07:00"What I'm Reading" Wednesday (One day late...again!)This is one of my favorite kinds of blogs to write because I love talking about books and what is good/not good, etc. Sorry it's a day late...again! I had a lot to get off my chest last night and I so appreciate everyone's kind and supportive words and prayers!<br />
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Ok...onto what I'm reading................<br />
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</div>Right now I am in the middle of Steve Job's biography. Overall I am liking it. If I had to rate it on a scale of 1 to 5, I'd give it about a 3. It has been interesting so far to learn how Jobs developed Apple from just a small start-up in the garage to the empire that it is today. Although he was a pretty "hard to love" guy who was intense, perfectionistic, and sometimes cruel to others, there are (were) enough redeeming qualities about him that keep me turning the pages. Things I can appreciate about Steve Jobs:<br />
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* The customer experience was most important to Jobs. It was extremely important to him that his products be easy to use and intuitive.<br />
* Jobs would accept nothing less than a quality product. It was ingrained in him by his father early on that you should always "do things right". Even the motherboard inside the computer had to be put together in an attractive manner using only the best equipment-even down to the screws (even though no one would ever see it). It makes me feel confident that anything I buy from Apple is going to be a solid, classy, quality product. Although he could frustrate his engineers to death by making them redo and redo something until it was "perfect", I still respect him for not taking shortcuts and for doing things right.<br />
* He spoke his mind. Although he went waaayyy overboard and could have taken a course or two in "tact", I respect anyone who is not afraid to be honest.<br />
* He was a genius- he was not an engineer and did not build any of his products. But, he had the vision and the uncanny ability to know the exact way to promote/market a product. He was feared by many because of his volatile personality, but he was also deeply respected for being a genius and a master of the craft of product development/marketing.<br />
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I'm sure there will be more to come, especially when I get to the part where his cancer strikes. It's not a book you can't put down (at least for me), but it is a nice relaxing escape as I fall asleep each night. :-)Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-9972789163741408062012-04-04T17:19:00.000-07:002012-04-04T17:19:39.370-07:00It's Been Awhile!It has been a long time since I have posted anything on my blog. I guess with the school year in motion, there's not as much time to reflect. Sometimes that's good and sometimes it's not. I tend to get in autopilot mode during the school year and everything is "all business". I become a major "task master" ticking things off my to do list and taking care of business. I'm not near as fun! :-)<br />
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But, lately, I have taken on a new exercise routine that I LOVE-biking! I can't get motivated to go into a gym on a regular basis and workout. Goodness knows I have tried and had SO many good intentions. But, I just can't do it. It is so boring to me. But, biking-I can do that! I LOVE the solitude, the peacefulness, and being outdoors and watching the scenery as I ride. It's very relaxing to me! Weird, I know, that exercise would be relaxing, but that's what's so great about it-it doesn't really seem like exercise because I love it so much! I have to be "fooled" into exercising to actually be consistent with it. :-)<br />
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My typical ride is about 14 miles. I prefer to go by myself because I can get better exercise when I'm not having to stop frequently to give the boys a break or make sure that they are doing ok on the ride. They have done the entire ride with me before, though. :-)<br />
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It takes about 1 1/2 hours start to finish, so it has given me lots of thought and reflection time. I began to think about this blog once again as a way to kind of get my thoughts down and continue growing into the woman that God has planned for me to be. Not that I should ever stop that journey just because I am busy with the school year, but I think I just so very easily get sidetracked when there is so much to get done. I don't juggle multiple things very well, and unfortunately, I think I tend to lose touch with myself when life demands so much.<br />
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I've always had tendencies towards anxiety and have let it get the best of me on several occasions throughout my life. For the past 10 or so years I have taken Zoloft to help ease my anxiety (shortly after 9-11). It has worked REALLY well up until the last few months. I found that I had started feeling just kind of "blah" and apathetic-like I just had no motivation. I had read on the Internet that when taken for extended periods of time, medicines like Zoloft can actually start CAUSING the symptoms that they are taken to PREVENT. Thinking that I was really lucky to have gotten so much benefit from Zoloft for the 10 years I've taken it and now maybe it's time to get off it, I started "weaning" myself off.<br />
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Doctors never recommend quitting an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medication "cold turkey". There are terrible side effects to quitting so drastically. Instead, you have to gradually stop by cutting back on the dosage a little at a time. I was on the lowest dosage to begin with (50mgs daily), so I went a week cutting back to 25mg daily. That went pretty well. After that, I decided to try 25mg every other day. Since then, I have really been struggling.<br />
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The withdrawal symptoms are really hard to get through right now. I have a lot of light-headedness, headaches, slight nausea, "brain zaps" (kind of like electricity is shooting through your brain really quickly), trouble sleeping, and I have not been this emotional since I was pregnant! I am not normally a very big crier at all (takes a lot to turn on the water works usually!) , but I have cried rivers in the last few days! I have been EXTREMELY irritable as well-so much so that while I'm being that way I even have the presence of mind to think, "Wow! What is wrong with you?" :-) I even got mad at a website that I was registering with because it told me my password was "weak". How rude! :-) I am REALLY ready for this to be over so I can feel normal again. The apathy I was feeling that led to this process suddenly doesn't seem so bad. But, I really feel like I need to push through the process to get to the other side. I feel like it's time to say goodbye to Zoloft for good.<br />
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Strangely, even in the midst of feeling so yucky, I have continued to bike-it makes me feel better. That, and gummy bears. Weird, huh? :-) Whatever works.<br />
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Long long story short, I would covet your prayers for this unpleasant time. Both for me and for anyone that has to be around me while I'm going through it. It can't be easy to be in my family right now. I'm pretty good at work because I know I have to hold it together there, but I've been falling apart pretty bad otherwise. At least this whole thing has found me on my knees in prayer. During my bike rides I've done some crying and lots of praying along with the reflecting.<br />
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I know that "this too shall pass"and that eventually my body will adjust. I am just not enjoying the trip there. I know this post is long, thanks for sticking around to read it. Please don't take away from this that I think anti-depressants are bad. Quite the contrary-I firmly believe that life is way too short to waste it feeling bad when there is something you can easily do to help. I knew when I first started taking Zoloft that getting off it could be challenging. Despite how bad I am feeling right now, it was well worth the help that I received from it the past several years.Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-40158122465707765272011-07-23T15:46:00.000-07:002011-07-23T15:46:51.589-07:00Can We Stop Right Now...I love remembering sweet times with the boys. One of my very favorite memories took place on a bike ride through Bear Creek Park.<br />
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The boys were probably 4 and 2, and Jeff and I had recently purchased one of those little bike trailers that small children can sit in and be pulled behind a bicycle. It was a nice Spring day, so I decided to load up my bike and the trailer in the back of the minivan and head to the park with the boys (Jeff was working). <br />
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At the park, I hooked up the trailer on the bike, strapped the boys in, and began our "nature bike ride". We saw all kinds of bugs, birds, animals, and trees on the ride. We talked as we rode about all the beautiful things that God had put in our world. <br />
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Halfway through the ride, Will's little heart was so full of joy at all of God's beauty, that he said, "We need to thank God for all of these beautiful things." I told him, that yes, we would be sure to remember that when we said our prayers that night. But, that wasn't enough for Will. That sweet little 4 year old boy asked me, "Mommy, can we stop right now and thank Jesus?" What do you say to that? Of course, I stopped the bike, got off, and knelt down right there on the bike path in Bear Creek Park (with runners and bikers passing us) and thanked Jesus with my two precious babies for all of His beauty. <br />
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Such a sweet memory and a great reminder to stop and thank our savior for the beauty that He has given us in our lives. :-)Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-27581146255273364582011-07-21T11:53:00.000-07:002011-07-21T11:53:37.802-07:00My Favorite Tv Shows...I LOVE TV. I hope that's not bad. I guess I should love working out or eating veggies, or something more conducive to a healthy lifestyle, but I love TV! During the school year, I don't watch a lot of TV. But, in the summer, I LOVE it! One of my favorite things about summer is sitting up late at night watching stuff on TV. <br />
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Here are some of my favorites:<br />
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* Cosby Show<br />
* Full House<br />
* Roseann<br />
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I love these 3 because I love shows about families. During the time that my parents were separated and divorced, I watched The Cosby Show a lot. For some reason, it was comforting to me. I craved that show at the time. I loved the family dynamics and the safety and security that existed in that make believe family. Cliff and Claire have such a sweet marriage, and always knew the perfect way to handle their children! I love this show!<br />
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Full House is such a sweet family show full of great life's lessons. My boys (especially Will) like this show a lot, and we have every season on DVD. We have watched many of these together. <br />
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Roseann is hilarious, and I love the honesty of that show. It's not sugar-coated or idealized. Some of the episodes are even downright sad. I just wish it came on TV more often. I may have to see about getting it on DVD.<br />
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* Lost<br />
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Oh my goodness! I can't say enough about Lost! I LOVE this show! I have all 6 seasons on DVD. It is an incredible show. If you have never seen it, I highly recommend it! I watched the entire series for the first time last summer, and I can't say I have ever seen anything like it. Each episode is like watching a mini-movie. It doesn't have a "TV" feel to it. It is so complex and ingenious, and the character deveopment is amazing-especially with the large number of characters the show has. It is not a show where you can predict what will happen. You have to be willing to part with reality a little when watching this show. It doesn't play by the rules of real life, but that's part of what makes it so magical. <br />
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*Sex and the City<br />
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Ok, I am coming out of the closet and admitting publically that I like this show. BUT, I feel that I must clarify that I love this show because of the friend dynamic between the four women on the show. Their friendships are sweet, touching, and honest. They would do anything for each other, are always there for one another, and are honest with each other. They are the type of friends that you could ask, "Do these pants make me look fat?" and they would tell you honestly, "Yes!" They can trust each other, and are like family to one another. I love this!! I could honestly care less about the "sex" part of the show. I will admit, however, that I am a sucker for the ongoing "Carrie and Big" love story. I also love Miranda and Steve together. Samantha's antics got old in about the first 5 minutes of the first show I watched, but she's a great friend to the other ladies, so we'll keep her around. :-) So, judge me if you must, but I love this show and the friendships portrayed. :-)<br />
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Other shows I really like or have enjoyed over the years:<br />
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* 19 Kids and Counting<br />
* Toddlers and Tiaras (who doesn't love a train wreck!)<br />
* Cheers<br />
* Friends<br />
* Little House on the Prairie<br />
* Grey's Anatomy (I don't really watch it anymore, because it has kinda gone over the top, but the first couple seasons were great)<br />
* Glee (ditto for what I said about Grey's)<br />
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I'm sure there are others that I have left off, but that's all I can think of for now. What about you? What are your favs?Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-53352164771638390102011-07-21T11:14:00.000-07:002011-07-21T11:14:57.568-07:00What I'm Reading Wednesday ...(a day late!)Sorry, I'm late again! We went to Six Flags yesterday, so I didn't get a chance to add to my blog. As I said last week, I have been reading the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60YDE1MsoNxxM98tz2HFmNvwsNrieNAH0WeQvozIMGxZRKkrB8qJnaYZ5LHwEkseBUDdFXolQ6vqjbPveP8OyACUdTwuBmRiMEekfPLfUzT1L5H2DrDtdgRFPWkQHSfeuRVi9pnmwg597/s1600/Hunger+Games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60YDE1MsoNxxM98tz2HFmNvwsNrieNAH0WeQvozIMGxZRKkrB8qJnaYZ5LHwEkseBUDdFXolQ6vqjbPveP8OyACUdTwuBmRiMEekfPLfUzT1L5H2DrDtdgRFPWkQHSfeuRVi9pnmwg597/s320/Hunger+Games.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>I finished the last book on Monday. AMAZING series! I loved these books. Not because they were uplifting, because they are pretty dark, but because I couldn't put them down! I would be so tired at night reading, and would be thinking in my head, "Ok, after this chapter, I will go to sleep." Then, I get to the end of the chapter and would think, "Ok, just one more!" I LOVE when books are like that! Suzanne Collins is an amazing writer, and has the knack of knowing just how to end a chapter (or a book for that matter) in a way that makes it almost impossible to wait to keep reading. <br />
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I felt similar to how I did when I finished reading the Twilight series when I finished these books. I was sad that it was over and that there were no more books to read in the series. However, I was a little relieved to "have my life back" because now that I have read all the books, I can do other things: like watch TV, do activities, talk to others, etc! Ha! I was literally a slave to these books while I was reading them! Great books!<br />
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A Hunger Games movie is coming out in March of 2012. It should be good. However, like I said, the books are pretty dark, and I'm not so sure I want to see a Hollywood version of some of the things that happen in the book. I know I will watch it, though. Just like the Twilight movies, it is kind of fun to "meet" the characters and see if they match up with the way you have imagined them in your mind as you read the books. But, I'm sure, as always, the books will be far superior to the movies. <br />
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So, I'm out of things to read for the moment. I am taking a little breather and getting to know my family again (ha!). Any suggestions are welcome! Read anything good lately?Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-64933544104427645692011-07-18T10:51:00.000-07:002011-07-18T10:51:17.201-07:00Cars...a Blast from the PastLast night Colin wanted me to sit with him in the recliner chair in the living room to watch him play "Cars" on the Wii. As I sat there with him and watched, I thought about the time long ago when we saw the first Cars movie in the theater.<br />
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It's very important to my parents for our family to do things together. As a result, they occasionally plan a huge family vacation where we all get together and do something really fun. When I say "all", I mean my sister, brother, and me and our families (spouses, children) and my parents. We have had many fun vacations together, going to places like: Hyatt Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, Islamorada, Florida; Point Clear, Alabama; and most recently, a cruise to 3 Caribbean islands.<br />
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During the trip to Islamorada, my boys were 2 and 4. Cars had just premiered in theaters, so my parents took us all to see it. Our entire family sat in the theater, and we watched this movie that ended up being one of my boys' favorites of all time.<br />
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Last night, sitting with Colin as he played his Cars Wii game, I remembered how we used to ask him, "What did Lightning McQueen do to try to win the race?" He would smile and stick his little tongue out and laugh. It was so cute. I asked him this same question last night to see if he would still do it, but instead, he just answered me in words, "He stuck his tongue out." "Show me," I said. He wouldn't. :-)<br />
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I also remember that for some reason, Colin was really afraid of the tractors when Mater would "tip" them. Colin didn't like the noise the tractors would make when they would tip over. I remember having to console him during those parts of the movie. As I watched a tractor tip over on his game last night, I thought of that with a bittersweet smile.<br />
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Another extremely memorable thing about that trip to Islamorada is that it was that vacation that my dad "re-proposed" to my mom. For a short period from about 2002-2005, my parents were separated and then divorced. But, sometime in late 2005, they started "hanging out" again, and that summer of 2006, my mother joined us on the big family vacation in Islamorada. On the last evening of the vacation, my dad gathered us all in the room he and my mom were sharing, and then gave my mom a card. In the card, he asked my mother to re-marry him. She said "yes", and you can imagine the tears that were flowing in that room from everyone! I will never forget that vacation! :-)<br />
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That was a good summer for me. My parents were reuniting, the incredibly challenging school year I had just endured was finally over, and I was looking forward to staying home with my babies the following school year. It was truly a time of redemption after a period of hard times. For that, I will always be thankful!Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-25203476439563228052011-07-15T18:25:00.000-07:002011-07-15T18:25:43.629-07:00"What I'm Reading" Wednesday (A little late!)Ok, so I am a little late for my Wednesday edition of "What I'm Reading". Know why? Because I have been so busy READING! Oh my goodness! I love to read, and I have been reading some good stuff lately!<br />
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First of all, I have to admit that I have abandoned Fergi. I just can't read anymore of her book. It was boring to me, and I just felt so bad for her for her life. What a mess she has to straighten out. I hope she finds herself and can be happy once and for all. Someone tell me when she does. I'll take your word for it. :-)<br />
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Ok, on to what I have not been able to put down. I have read 2 books in the last 4 days. First, I finally decided that it was time to start reading the <u>Hunger Games</u> trilogy. I am probably the last librarian in Keller ISD to read them, but I have this thing during the school year-I feel like if I am spending time reading books, they need to be the books that my students are reading or books that might be appropriate for my students. So...I have put off reading <u>The Hunger Games</u> by Suzanne Collins. These books are definitely NOT for elementary school age children.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyOoLhLnKarm1fDyuQvs0KvodAg74EJ4YMX-JhBOMmulvpPPYdk7N8irm7jUtRuUYA9s2lFqsBvP419k0MZv0Utjj9uT6uS6NYeeajtY-LD17au050IcgVTdbdk-rZ7O41OTts14RmObw/s1600/hunger+games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyOoLhLnKarm1fDyuQvs0KvodAg74EJ4YMX-JhBOMmulvpPPYdk7N8irm7jUtRuUYA9s2lFqsBvP419k0MZv0Utjj9uT6uS6NYeeajtY-LD17au050IcgVTdbdk-rZ7O41OTts14RmObw/s1600/hunger+games.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>I really don't know how to tell you what this book is about without you thinking, "Oh my goodness! You're sick! How can you read that?" But, I'm here to tell ya, even though the plot of this book is a little sick and twisted, I could NOT put it down! Here's what it is basically about:<br />
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Katniss is a 16 year old girl who lives in "District 12". This is a place that is left over after the great rebellion of the United States sometime off in the future. Every year, a boy and a girl from each "district" are chosen to participate in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are like Survivor gone bad. The "games" are televised, and all 24 "tributes" (boys and girls chosen from each district) must fight to the death. Only one person may remain alive, and that person will be the winner of the games. The book begins about the time that Katniss finds herself as one of the 2 tributes that will represent District 12 in the upcoming Hunger Games.<br />
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I don't want to give anything away if you haven't read the book, but I can almost guarantee it will suck you in and you won't be able to stop reading until you are finished. Then, you will want to read the second book: <u>Catching Fire</u>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlDG0tEGKAOHkNQtm0_BbELrmYthiF4YlUU-eBSoGwNvNSVHNXTKpnQ7WC0tGcDkOs9Fpc0wUFe-Uzlw-YzX1k7XF_s0JjUS_S1Njvr7BtDrtVwSF1kbtLKX6ql9oajwGBa7fpX7mDLHI/s1600/catching+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlDG0tEGKAOHkNQtm0_BbELrmYthiF4YlUU-eBSoGwNvNSVHNXTKpnQ7WC0tGcDkOs9Fpc0wUFe-Uzlw-YzX1k7XF_s0JjUS_S1Njvr7BtDrtVwSF1kbtLKX6ql9oajwGBa7fpX7mDLHI/s320/catching+fire.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This is what I am going to start reading as soon as I finish this blog! :-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ok, the second book I have read in the last couple of days is: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB15x3Nt5yVJD5mGWha8xnc-okxoj5CbNezYIFvzGRgK-spur1aWn4hGh9d_Av9z1SzIw6CzHtxufoFHtKeTWzOfW28sIcqgkfqHIQhIhdn7f-m30jjxokhK1ahGHjEzlPWH-BvlX8YYY/s1600/a-Stolen-life-193x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB15x3Nt5yVJD5mGWha8xnc-okxoj5CbNezYIFvzGRgK-spur1aWn4hGh9d_Av9z1SzIw6CzHtxufoFHtKeTWzOfW28sIcqgkfqHIQhIhdn7f-m30jjxokhK1ahGHjEzlPWH-BvlX8YYY/s1600/a-Stolen-life-193x300.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a memoir written by Jaycee Dugard-the girl that was abducted in 1991 and then finally rescued in 2008. She was kidnapped by a couple- Phillip and Nancy Garrido- on her way to school one day in South Lake Tahoe, CA. She was only 11 when they took her. Jaycee lived with the Garrido's for 18 years and endured horrendous abuse and treatment. She even had 2 children with Phillip. This book is a very sad, touching, and brave account of what all Jaycee went through and survived. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-51798956105051226672011-07-12T20:38:00.000-07:002011-07-12T20:38:56.439-07:00My Little ProtectorDid you know that the name Will means "Protector"? I didn't until just a couple years ago. Jeff and I decided to name our first boy, "Will" because we liked it, and because "William" is a big family name in both of our families. Here are all the Williams in the Carter and Moore families:<br />
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* Jeff's middle name is William<br />
* My dad's first name is William<br />
* Jeff's grandfather's name was William<br />
* My grandfather's (dad's dad) name was William<br />
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So, William is a special name in our families. I had no idea when we named our firstborn that he would live up to his name's meaning so perfectly. He has from a very early age been my little protector.<br />
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Will is a smart boy, and a deep thinker, and there is no doubt that he and I have a special bond. It is very clear to me that it matters a lot to him what I think about him and whether I am happy with him. He does NOT like me to be upset with him. In fact, he does not like me to be upset-period. He also doesn't like anyone to mess with his "mommy"!<br />
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Today Will and Colin had to come with me to a simple dr. appointment for a check up. This was not my ob/gyn, so I didn't mind if the boys came back into the examining room with me. Colin had brought his DS to play, but Will couldn't find his before we left, so he just sat there and watched as the nurse took my blood pressure and other vitals. As I sat there and watched those beautiful brown eyes watch me, all I could think about was the time Will had to come with me to an ob /gyn appointment when he was about 15 months old...<br />
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Back then, I always tried to schedule my appointments for a time when Jeff could stay home with Will, but for some reason, it hadn't worked out for that particular appointment. I brought Will's stroller for him to sit in, some toys to occupy him, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for him to eat since the appointment would overlap his lunchtime. All was going well until I sat down in the little chair for the nurse to check my blood pressure. As soon as she got the cuff on my arm, Will's little face crumpled up, and he began to cry. "Mommy!" he was saying. I just smiled and consoled him and told him I was ok. He finally calmed down when the nurse left me alone and had me go into the examining room. In there, I changed into the little gown that is always provided, and then got Will all happily settled in his stroller- with his peanut butter sandwich all torn into little bites on the tray of the stroller for him to eat. He was happy again. We talked as he ate his lunch while we waited for the doctor to come in .<br />
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The doctor and her nurse came in finally and had me lay down on the examining table. The second they started doing my exam, Will began crying again. I started apologizing, "I'm so sorry-he just doesn't like anyone doing anything to me. He thinks you're hurting me." The doctor was really sweet and unstrapped him from his stroller. By now he was really crying. She sat him on my lap (while I was laying on the table for the exam) and there he cried and ate his PB&J while I got my pap smear.<br />
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It was so funny, and so very very sweet. That precious little baby did not want anyone to hurt his mommy. He was my little protector. He has done and said several things throughout his 9 years that have further convinced me that "William" is not only a wonderful family name that we love, but also a perfect fit for my "protector" boy!Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-41296891927614366862011-07-08T23:07:00.000-07:002011-07-08T23:07:47.561-07:00Change is hardWhy is it that the boys can play happily without needing anything, but the minute I get in the shower I hear, "Knock, knock, knock" on the door? Seriously? Luckily for me, I always lock the door now.<br />
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I remember when the boys were babies, I would strap them either in their bouncy chair right outside the shower or in the doorway "jumper" while I was in the shower. That way, they were safe, and I could see them (and they knew I was there). As they got older, I would close the door when in the shower, but didn't lock it if Jeff was not at home. That way, if they needed me, they could get to me. Now that they are 7 and 9, though, I close AND lock the door when I'm in the shower. I figure whatever they could possibly need can wait until I'm out.<br />
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Those kinds of changes are not a big deal for me in and of themselves, but I have been struggling lately with what changes like those represent: my boys are growing up! I tease them all the time that they need to stop it and I am going to sit on them to keep them from growing so fast. They just giggle, and I do, too, but inside I am screaming, "Stop! Stay just the way you are right now and don't ever change!"<br />
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Ever since my 40th birthday in November, I have been keenly aware of how life changes. I've joked that I'm going through a midlife crisis, but I really think I am maybe. I have thought so much about how things are changing: I'm getting older and so are my kids. I am leaving the childbearing age, and that has been INCREDIBLY hard for me. Not so much physically (yet-though I did mention before some of the fun physical changes I've experienced), but EMOTIONALLY.<br />
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It hurts so much to think that I will never carry another baby in my body and feel it kick. I will never hold another newborn that belongs to me and Jeff. I will never rock a baby of mine to sleep or sit before him/her completely mesmerized by each little babble and coo. I will never have a daughter. Ever.<br />
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You might think this is silly, but for some reason for me, it is a big deal. It is a loss. It is hard for me to say goodbye to that stage in my life- I have LOVED it so much. I thank God for the blessing of my two beautiful boys. I am so thankful that even after Jeff and I had some trouble conceiving our first, that I was able to eventually have two very healthy and happy children.<br />
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One thing that helps a lot is that I KNOW that it is God's will that we are done having children. Jeff and I have prayed over this at length and received HIS guidance in this matter. I know in my heart that it is God's will for us to be through. My prayer is for God to ease my longing and to help me reach a place of acceptance and contentment.<br />
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Speaking of my boys making changes and getting older, Will asked me this past school year if he could start calling me "Mom" instead of "Mommy". "I am the only third grader at school that still calls his mom 'Mommy'," he said to me. Even though it stabbed me a little in the heart, I felt bad for him and didn't want him to be teased so I told him, "Ok." A couple weeks later, I noticed that he had not started calling me "Mom." So I asked him about it. He said, "Maybe I'll start calling you 'Mom' next year in 4th grade." Fine with me! :-)<br />
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Will has one more year in elementary school, and then he is off to intermediate school. Colin will be in the 2nd grade this upcoming school year. A friend of mine asked me the other day what I'm going to do when the boys are no longer at the same school that I'm at. I told her I was going to curl up into a ball and cry! :-) Obviously, I will be fine, but its just one more step in "letting go" that I will have to do as a mom. I pray for grace to handle each step.<br />
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There are certain things that can bring me to my knees emotionally right now such as:<br />
* <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">playdo</span>- Weird, I know, but my boys used to love it, but now they think it is for "babies".<br />
* <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">the song "Feels Like Home to Me"</span> (don't know who it's by)- When I was a stay-at-home-mom, I would often take the boys to Grapevine Mills Mall-just to get out of the house and walk around. This song was always playing in the mall.<br />
* <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">the theme song to the show "Family Ties" </span>- When Will was a baby, I would always watch this show when I nursed him in the middle of the night.<br />
* <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">pacifiers</span>- I can just see Colin- he always had more than one-just in case. At times he'd have one in his mouth and one in each hand. Then, he'd push the paci over to the side of his mouth like a cigar when he wanted to talk!<br />
* <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Thomas the Train, Jay Jay the Jet Plane, Bob the Builder, and Elmo</span>- Oh-the memories!!<br />
* <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Hap Palmer Music Video</span>- Will had a video of Hap's that he loved and would watch over and over when I was on bedrest with Colin. I still have this video. I don't plan to part with it!<br />
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I could go on and on. But, that's probably enough already to convince you that I am completely losing my mind! Haha! :-)<br />
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No, I am not going gracefully into this season of change, but I know in my head that God will walk me through it and that I will grow as a result. It's my heart that just wants to hang on. The GOOD news of it all is that I wouldn't be feeling this way if my experiences hadn't been so wonderful! I have been blessed with a beautiful life, and am so thankful for every minute- and I don't like to think of any of it changing.<br />
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It's like Colin wrote in one of his school assignments this past year:<br />
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"I like my life becouse my life is grete." --- Colin Moore, age 7<br />
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Precious boy! :-)Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-79548502239129965612011-07-06T18:05:00.000-07:002011-07-06T18:05:32.784-07:00"What I'm Reading" WednesdayThis week I have started a new book. It is an autobiography by Fergi:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtS6IfmviPeuuY2Z80epvC6fKz8OGEADNfoxnftgu6XkcEoThAiRMADbDoWKuf3mf4iWAnbsNvnXUt0x_0n3VbHrHCgt0RlQMK-BiYv1OCX9GlhEVZAplqZS0J-ZqM2_p554ywqnUxM0Wj/s1600/Fergi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtS6IfmviPeuuY2Z80epvC6fKz8OGEADNfoxnftgu6XkcEoThAiRMADbDoWKuf3mf4iWAnbsNvnXUt0x_0n3VbHrHCgt0RlQMK-BiYv1OCX9GlhEVZAplqZS0J-ZqM2_p554ywqnUxM0Wj/s1600/Fergi.jpg" /></a></div>I have only read the first 5 or 6 chapters so far. All I can say at this point is that it is OK. I feel really sorry for her as she seems like a kind person who has suffered greatly for mistakes and bad judgements that she has made. It can't be easy living in the public eye and feeling like a reject from the royal family. She is on a similar journey as I am on, and so I thought it might be good to read her book. Hopefully the more I read, the more the book will inspire. It's a little depressing so far, but I'm not ready to give up yet! :-) I'll keep ya posted!Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-92000629011989839872011-07-03T22:35:00.000-07:002011-07-03T22:35:32.528-07:00Happy Fourth of July!I want to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July! I love this holiday-well, I have a love/hate relationship with it. I love it because it is a ton of fun-I love fireworks and 4th of July get togethers, Patriotism, going to the Southlake Town Center fireworks with my parents, and having fun with all my "boys".<br />
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But, I am also always a little sad for 4th of July to get here because it means that summer is dwindling away. Not that I don't love my job, because I do, but I also love the freedom and carefree-ness of summer. I love no schedules and not having to get up at 5:30 every morning. I love not making sack lunches and not worrying about homework. I love the reflection time that summer affords- personal and spiritual. I love getting to read books I've wanted to read. I love the time with my family-the quality time that often alludes us during the busy school year. And it is always hard to let it go every year in mid August.<br />
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One thing I'm thinking about this 4th of July is that I am not happy with how I have "done" this summer so far. I don't feel like I have made the most of my days so far. For the first few weeks, I spent a lot of time in thought about the future of my job. Not very relaxing. Now, however, I can relax where that is concerned (thank goodness). I have been staying up waaaay too late every night and sleeping too late in the morning. I want to embrace each day more and make each day more special. My sweet boys are getting older, and soon they won't want to do as much family stuff as they do now. I want to live life to its fullest-and live it abundantly- the way that God intended life to be!<br />
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I warned that not all of my blogs would be "happy" and "perfect". Here's an example: for the past few months I have noticed some "changes". I turned 40 in November, so I guess I should have expected things to start changing somewhat. The biggest thing is that I can't seem to go a night without waking up in a sweat. And I mean, REALLY sweaty, friends! I'm sorry if that's TMI. It is not pleasant-trust me if you haven't experienced this yet. My cycle has been a little messed up at times, and I have had some <s>really fun </s> mood swings. I asked my dr. about all of this last week, and now I am on a low dose of estrogen to help out (hopefully). It just all seems surreal to me, and let me tell you-it's REALLY weird to leave your dr.'s office with a pamphlet about menopause. What???? Crazy!<br />
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All of this relates to the 4th of July and the reflection that I have done the last couple of days in that it further points out to me that nothing on this earth is permanent. Time is fleeting, change happens, and we (I) need to make the most of it (life)! This is something I always struggle with- living in the moment. I pray that God will help me relax and live the abundant life He has for me!<br />
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And, I have the entire month of July ahead of me to practice! :-)Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-59237822757684259922011-06-29T18:06:00.000-07:002011-06-29T18:06:01.593-07:00"What I'm Reading" WednesdayI'm going to try to make Wednesdays my day to share with you about "what I'm reading". I LOVE to read, and for Mother's Day, Jeff gave me a Kindle. Yes, I love "real" books, and I hope they NEVER go away (I AM a librarian after all!), but it has been SO nice to just push a few buttons and I have a new book to read! I don't have to go anywhere. With the Kindle, you can download a preview of a book just to see if you really want to buy it or not.<br />
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During the school year, I mostly read children's books. I am on a book committee for my district, and we read new books, discuss them, and decide whether we want to add them to our "list" of books that we recommend as "wow" books. But, now it is summer, so I am catching up on some "grown-up" books that I want to read.<br />
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I am really into memoirs/biographies right now for some reason. I recently read Shania Twain's autobiography, and it was OK. But, the book I most recently finished was WONDERFUL. It was<br />
<u>Choosing to See</u> by Mary Beth Chapman:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ3R9IwJPdYGiIuv19aGUE9nu9xamVPsdKemqKlJqORBTkrctSQ3Spw3iBRekCMrh6Li1WTBNdN_CNUHksH_0CeRpC-ZUjG-BPbi6jclkq2HPqDxPW3ZneF2GguPpm5cxiwmV_JMHnP-u/s1600/Choosing+to+See.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ3R9IwJPdYGiIuv19aGUE9nu9xamVPsdKemqKlJqORBTkrctSQ3Spw3iBRekCMrh6Li1WTBNdN_CNUHksH_0CeRpC-ZUjG-BPbi6jclkq2HPqDxPW3ZneF2GguPpm5cxiwmV_JMHnP-u/s320/Choosing+to+See.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Mary Beth is married to Christian music singer Steven Curtis Chapman. You might remember that a few years ago their adopted five year old daughter passed away. She was hit by a car in her driveway, and the most devastating thing was that her older brother was the one driving the car. As I read this book I was amazed and inspired by Mary Beth (and her entire family's) incredible faith that got them through this horrible accident. I highly recommend reading this book!Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-24422775120703326892011-06-27T20:39:00.000-07:002011-06-27T20:39:28.599-07:00"Just wait"...I am blown away at how the Lord has "shown up" for me these past few months! I am in awe at His power and His promise that we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart! I mentioned in my last blog that throughout this whole budget crisis in KISD and the possibility that I might lose my job, the Lord has been saying to me: "Just wait!"<br />
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Whenever I asked Him if I should apply somewhere else, he said. "Just wait!" When I cried to Him, "What should I do? What will happen to me? What will happen to my job?" He would say "Just wait." So, I have been waiting. I haven't been perfectly obediant-as I also said, I did apply in NISD. But, the whole time it has been so clear that His will was for me to wait and trust Him.<br />
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Well, tonight at the School Board meeting, the Board recommended that we use the federal stimulus money to keep teachers and librarians (that were at risk of being laid-off ) for one more year. Who would've seen that coming? Not me! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you for telling me to wait! Thank you for being faithful and for showing me that I can trust what you say to me and your guidance that you give me! I am so excited!<br />
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You might be thinking, "Well, it's only one more year, and then the lay-offs will still take place." Yes, but a lot can happen in a year. And at the very least, every year people leave the district due to moves, babies, and other job opportunities. Being given this gift of one more year increases the chances that if I am one of the librarians that is not kept, there will still be a classroom position available for me. I love Keller ISD. It is "home" to me, and I don't want to leave. I am thrilled to be given the chance to hang in there a little longer!<br />
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Thank you Dr. V, thank you KISD Board, and most of all, thank you, Jesus! :-)Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-12244330640069884842011-06-26T20:51:00.000-07:002011-06-26T20:51:49.436-07:00A Great Day/Some Stress...Well, let me start by saying that today was a great day! It started off at church where I got to hear a just-graduated Marine tell about how he led another recruit to Christ at boot camp. Next, Will had another All Star baseball game and they WON!!! Yay! That might not seem like a huge deal, but for Will's team it was. They have played 7 games together this summer, and this was the FIRST one that they won! I have felt SO bad for the boys each time they've lost a game. They've been beaten pretty badly (15-1, etc.) But, today was "their" day, and they won their game! And the best part about it was that each boy did something wonderful that contributed to the win. I have wanted (and prayed) so much for the boys to each have something to feel good about themselves for from a game, and today it happened! Way to go, Keller Blue!<br />
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On the way home from the game, we decided to go see Cars 2- cute movie! After the movie, we got ahold of my parents who had just landed at DFW from Cabo San Lucas, so we went to pick them up from the airport and then went to eat dinner at El Fenix. So....great day!<br />
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I have a huge prayer request if I happen to cross your mind sometime while you're praying. Like MANY people, I am waiting to find out whether I still have a job next year. I am an elementary school librarian in Keller ISD at Independence Elementary School. Since the TRE (tax increase election) did NOT pass, I stand the chance of being laid-off from my job. I LOVE my job-it is the absolute PERFECT fit for me. I had to get a librarian certificate added on to my elementary education certificate in order to be a librarian (it's actually a Master's degree). There were 8 classes I had to take online with UNT in order to do this. It was a lot of work (and a lot of money), but I did it, and have been working the dream job for the last three years. I DON'T want to lose my job.<br />
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Needless to say, I've been a little...stressed! And I am trying SO hard to trust God throughout this whole thing. I KNOW in my mind and heart that God is in control and that He has a plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11). I KNOW that I can trust Him to work out the details. But, I can't stop thinking about it. It is on my mind ALL THE TIME! I wake up thinking about it, and go to sleep thinking about it. I got to the point last night that I just had to pray for the Lord to "clear my mind" so that I could sleep (and He did!)<br />
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So, does that mean I'm not trusting Him enough-the fact that I am constantly thinking about it? Is there a difference between "thinking" and "worrying" about something? Throughout this whole thing (which, by the way, started way back in January or February I think), when I have prayed about what I should do to prepare myself for the possible negative ramifications of the KISD budget on my job, I have ALWAYS gotten the same answer from the Lord. He has told me, "Wait. Just wait." Ok, So, I have just waited (not the ideal thing a determined control freak like me wants to hear!). NISD is the only other district I've applied to, and that was just a couple of weeks ago in a moment of panic! But, I have found peace in "just waiting" up until about two weeks ago. <br />
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There are actually two things at play here in this situation. I'm nervous about my source of income being cut-off, and I'm crushed to think that this career I worked so hard for might be coming to a close. If you've ever had a job you loved, you can relate. I know I can go out and get a job that could help with our living expenses. Jeff has a really great schedule as a firefighter and could take on second job if needed to help replace some of my income. But, it's the thought of not being able to do what I LOVE that breaks my heart.<br />
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I am going to the Board Meeting tomorrow evening. I just want to hear what they have to say, and find out if they are getting closer to making some staffing decisions. I think there are going to be a lot of other people there, doing the same thing. There are so many of us hanging in the balance right now.<br />
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To end on a good note, after we got home from dinner with my parents, I had an email from a principal in Northwest ISD. I have an interview on Wednesday at 1:00 for a librarian position! Please say a prayer for me that it will go well, and that if it is God's will, that I might get a job offer out of it. Thank you so much! :-)Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-55080262854407750942011-06-24T22:55:00.000-07:002011-06-24T22:55:10.026-07:00Much Ado About NothingA year ago today, God "spoke" to me for the first time ever. Well, maybe I should say that it was the first time that I was truly and completely aware that He was speaking to me. I have been a Christian for most of my life, but it took me until I was 39 years old to "be still and listen" long enough to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that what I "heard" was the Father's still small voice.<br />
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Before I tell how it happened, please let me say that I did not audibly "hear" a voice. It's hard to explain or to understand unless you have experienced it yourself. And, I bet that it is different for everyone. But, for me, it is a peaceful "knowing"; a quiet, but certain affirmation. A lot of the time, the truth that is being imparted to me takes me by surprise, "What? Really? Are you sure?" I ask. And it's not something that happens all the time-although, wouldn't that be wonderful? To always be so sure of the exact direction in which God is leading you?<br />
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Last year during this week in June, I took a week away from my everyday life and surroundings to devote myself completely to experiencing an encounter with God. Think of it as sort of a "retreat" among a few other women who were also seeking some time alone with the Father. On Friday afternoon of that week, I was alone, up in a treehouse (of all places!), praying and "listening" for God's voice to speak to me. It was a warm afternoon, and a little uncomfortable sitting on the wooden "floor" of the treehouse. As I got up to leave, I realized that while I had been praying and listening, I had also been absentmindedly doodling with a stick into the soft and weathered wood of the treehouse floor. I had carved a letter "N" into the floor. Weird! Why an "N"? I could understand an "S" or maybe a "J" (Jeff), but "N" was just random. Oh well. I didn't give it much more thought than that.<br />
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Later that day, I returned to the treehouse to once again pray. When I was finished praying, I asked God, "What does the 'N' mean? Does it stand for something?" I began racking my brain for all kinds of "N" words that might be significant (and logical). What could God be trying to tell me? Or, maybe I was just being weird and reading something into the doodled letter that didn't exist. That must be it! "Let me guess, Lord, it means nothing!" Suddenly, I clearly "heard" the Lord tell me "Yes!"<br />
"What? What do you mean it means nothing?" I thought, confused.<br />
And He said to me, "It means "Nothing". There is NOTHING that you need besides me."<br />
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At that moment a couple of memories from the week before I left town for this time alone flashed through my mind- so clearly I could almost physically see them. The first was of a billboard near my house that I had passed several times the previous week. It was sponsored by a local church and read: "Jesus + NOTHING = Everything". My oldest son had asked me what that meant, and I had explained that it meant that Jesus was all that we need and that we don't need anything else. He is our everything.<br />
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The second memory was a riddle that my oldest son had told us while we were driving in the car. It went something like this:<br />
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Will: "What do blind people see and Christians need more than God?"<br />
Jeff: "I don't know, what?"<br />
Will: "Nothing."<br />
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In the treehouse, I sat there in awe. I couldn't believe that God had spoken to ME! I have so often heard other Christians speak of all the wonderful things God has said to them, but I never understood it until this day. And the message He was giving me was so simple, yet so hard to grasp a lot of the time. I sat there and let His words wash over me and let the truth of those words comfort me. He's all I need! There's NOTHING more that I need. He will be faithful to supply all my needs, and He wants me to depend upon Him. NOTHING else can make me whole like the presence of God in my life.<br />
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Overall, the message I received from the Lord on that day was that He wants me to trust Him. He is trustworthy and I need to just let go and trust Him. I hadn't realized until that day how little trust I had placed in Him throughout my life. I had often been really good at trusting Him with the "small" things, but I'd had a bad habit of trying to take the bigger matters into my own hands.<br />
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A wonderful verse that I came away from that week with was: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 'I will be found by you' declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity.'" Jeremiah 29: 13-14 I had found the promise in this verse to be true. When I sought Him with all my heart, He showed up!<br />
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Once I returned home from my "retreat", I bought a bracelet with only one charm on it. And on the charm...the letter "N". :-)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYrArZCdBsO2Ya-O1uTPsgu6W-C-SIuIAEJcBmCNchNA67SLbANqmeJvAqqkkI8YvSgjdbN1LEpYSCerVP1Utq2YIc27pcht2cpy4LqwgS2Lr1QWVsUnmOBNHkFFloiv-U3WeCth6yTtl/s1600/N+Bracelet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYrArZCdBsO2Ya-O1uTPsgu6W-C-SIuIAEJcBmCNchNA67SLbANqmeJvAqqkkI8YvSgjdbN1LEpYSCerVP1Utq2YIc27pcht2cpy4LqwgS2Lr1QWVsUnmOBNHkFFloiv-U3WeCth6yTtl/s320/N+Bracelet.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
...and a little reminder in my laundry room:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ehBeNK932k473E4ZILGraNRnV6X-aM46WNdimhLDQsLucrWoz8NeJ0myO1E0KC4A72G84nV-rISE5q2-x6-iAN9E1I7f3Lni7PqH7hVL9rf0FlHy_MDe94sSulyW2l5tu3btH9fKPAWd/s1600/Laundry+room+N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ehBeNK932k473E4ZILGraNRnV6X-aM46WNdimhLDQsLucrWoz8NeJ0myO1E0KC4A72G84nV-rISE5q2-x6-iAN9E1I7f3Lni7PqH7hVL9rf0FlHy_MDe94sSulyW2l5tu3btH9fKPAWd/s320/Laundry+room+N.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2281161201062998485.post-9903094171732312262011-06-24T16:40:00.000-07:002011-06-24T16:40:17.053-07:00Hello, Blog World!Ok. This summer I have decided to take up a new hobby: blogging. When I was a teenager and had a lot on my mind, I would write poems to help express what I was feeling and maybe even make sense of it all.<br />
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I find myself at this point in my life to have a lot on my mind again. Turning 40 in November brought on a lot of life reflection and examination for me. And some of it has been really...hard. WARNING: this blog is not going to be all smiley faces and roses. My goal is to be brutally honest and to not sugar coat my feelings and thoughts so that I sound perfect. I am NOT perfect. I am a 40 year old "girl" (I can't refer to myself as a "woman"-that sounds too "old") who is on a journey right now.<br />
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I'm on a journey to finally fully discover and be completely happy with who I am. I am on a journey to learning to be thankful and content with where God has me right now (and always). But most importantly, I am on a journey to grow spiritually and to learn to trust God completely with every aspect of my life. I want to KNOW Him more. I want to have a stronger faith that He is in control-no matter what. I want to rest easily in the peace that only HE can give me. There are many things I intellectually "know" about my Lord and savior, but I want to live those beliefs out in my daily life-consistently. I am on a "Faith Journey".<br />
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This blog is ultimately for me- a way to express my thoughts and feelings and hopefully learn, grow, and change emotionally as well as spiritually. But, I invite you to come on this journey with me. Holy Spirit has a lot to teach me...how about you?Shelley Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589536028046193547noreply@blogger.com0