This blog today is dedicated to teachers. Quite a few area
schools (K-12) are starting this week.  If
you haven’t already done so, ask God and the Spirit to bless your
classroom/classrooms, and if it makes you feel better “lay hands” on each wall
of the room while you ask the blessings. Teaching has changed so much in the
past 25-30 years, and you can never tell what type of “baggage” the students
are bringing into the classroom. In your prayers, I can advise you to ask that
every student who comes in there feel safe, and that each one is blessed
mentally, physically, and educationally with no harms.

As so many of us have experienced in our lives, natural
disasters occur all year round. Ask God to protect your areas from natural
disasters as well: Tornadoes, earthquakes, etc. I taught in the classroom from
1989 to the spring of 2008. Each time I entered a new classroom (usually during
pre-planning). I ALWAYS found a few minutes to close my classroom door, get on
my knees, and pray to God that he bless my students and my room. I also asked
Him to bless me to be a better teacher.

Good luck all my teaching friends, and may God bless you in
your teaching endeavors this year.

Our Hummingbird Moth: August 8, 2011

Around our swimming pool we have several hibiscus plants,
lilies, and butterfly bushes. Several weeks ago we were swimming, and I thought
I saw the familiar sight of carpenter bee/bumble bee, etc. nipping into the
nectar of the butterfly bush. I kept watching because I neither wanted Carter
nor Ammon to get close to it. The more I watched the more I realized that it
wasn’t a bee at all. It was a hummingbird moth! Those critters are so cute and
so entertaining. I tried to get a good photo, but they are fast! Please enjoy
the “borrowed” photo and my photo with the moths on our verbena that is in the
front flower bed.

Aren't they cool!?

On Sunday evening,  I saw pink lightning! It was the first time I had ever seen that, and,
unfortunately, I did not have my camera. We had jogged with a clear, blue sky
above us and a warm, August breeze hitting us frequently. When we finished, I
went to feed the coonhounds. As I was walking back from the barn, I was
visually attracted to a huge, mushroom, pinkish-white, thunderhead cloud to the
north. It was a beautiful scene. All of a sudden a pink bolt of lightning
flashed to the right side of the cloud! It was beautiful. As we went to bed
around 10:30 p.m. there was another silvery thunderhead to the north with
lighting embedded in it. The picture I have provided is not from me, but I
wanted you to get the idea what I had seen Sunday night.

We are fortunate to have Nana over just about every evening
to help/play with Carter and Ammon while we jog.  On Saturday evenings, Nana leaves and Ammon
and Carter go immediately to the shower so as to get ready for church on
Sundays. Saturday night was no exception; however, when Ammon and I accompanied
Nana to her car, we looked up and saw a gorgeous half-moon with silver clouds
drifting across it. Ammon said, “Look it’s the moon!” We all looked up and
commented on it. In a few moments I looked down and Ammon was shaking her head.
“What are you doing?”, I asked.  While
shaking her head once more, Ammon replied, “I’m shaking the moon!”

We had a surprise at the Texas Roadhouse on Friday evening.
Mamaw, Aunt Karen, Uncle Tony, and Alusha joined us for dinner! It was great.
Carter and Ammon could hardly eat due to the excitement. I don’t think Ammon
and Carter have ever eaten out like that with them. We’ve had plenty of family
get-togethers where we have enjoyed being together, but not out at a
restaurant.

Another enjoyable moment for Friday came when Sean and I
jogged late in the evening. It was cloudy, and it sprinkled rain. It was so
refreshing. There wasn’t enough rain to make our shoes soggy ( I hate jogging
with soggy shoes/socks!), but the rain on my face and shoulders felt so good
especially after our days with temperatures hovering at 100 degrees. Enjoy your
weekend everyone!

Los Fraternales: Lladró

Ammon and Carter hold up Haven’s world.

I was so surprised that Lladró had a piece dedicated to male/female fraternal twins. The Spanish name is “Los Fraternales”. Sean gave it to me the Christmas of 2009, and I adore it. The piece sits on the side board flanked by pictures of Carter and Ammon. I am so blessed to have them in my life.

Carter, Ammon, & Aunt Karen: August 3, 2011

We had such a great Wednesday with Aunt Karen and Cousin Alusha. Karen has a gift for giving attention and energy to children that is phenomenal. Carter and Ammon love being with her. Everyone swam for about two hours. Karen and Alusha then had lunch with us. I know Alusha can still come swim with us on the weekends, but it was his last time to come during the 2011 Summer Vacation time away from school. We think he enjoyed himself as well. It is also worth noting that it got up to 100° on Wednesday afternoon on our front, shaded porch! You all stay cool!

We had such a great Tuesday. It was Sean’s 4^th
day of a four-day weekend. We had been trying to figure out which summer
cartoon movie Carter and Ammon would like. We decided to go see “Cars 2”. It
was great. We were big fans of “Cars”, and we have several CDs by Larry the
Cable Guy: He cracks us up!

Carter and Ammon did real well. The pop corn and Coke helped tremendously since it was
a 12:30 p.m. movie, and we had not eaten lunch ;o) There was some wiggling and
squirming, but we made it! Carter even got so relaxed in my arms that he slept
the last 15 minutes of the movie. When it was over, I didn’t want to leave. The
moment was so perfect: Ammon was happy, the movie had been humorously great,
and there was little Carter asleep in my arms. I quickly stored the moment in
my heart, lifted up a silent prayer to God “Thank you God for such a wonderful
moment!”, and we got up and left the theater. The afternoon finished with a great trip to the China Moon Chinese buffet. Such a great, non-eventful day that meant so much.