Only 4 more days until Spring Break...

I believe the title of this blog says it all! I had a pretty good day at school today, but the kids were wild today after a fire drill. It's amazing how upsetting a high-schooler's routine will make them crazy!

Callie is snoozing right now (probably not for much longer). She is getting her front two teeth as we speak. The poor thing just gnaws on anything she can get her hands on... that includes her own hands. :) She's been holding out her arm/hand at things she wants. She hasn't pointed at anything just yet, but I know it's coming! Today, when I picked her up, she was so excited. Some days it's so hard to leave her! :( She's just getting so cute about things, and it makes it even harder.

We have heat! Yea!!! Our heat pump's fan motor decided to go bad on us last week, so we've been without heat in our house since Friday. If you know how cold it was this weekend, then you know it's not been fun! We have had two little heaters going in the house just to keep warm. Praise the Lord it's fixed now though! You don't realize how much you take things like heat and electricity for granted until you don't have it!

Into EVERYTHING!

Today I let Callie pilfer through my purse while I washed a few dishes. She was content for literally 10+ minutes. She would take out something, look it over, then toss it aside and take out something else. It was funny to watch. I had to capture a picture of the damage. :)

Also, I've attached the link to my album of Callie's Easter pictures. She WAS NOT in the mood for pictures on Sunday, hence the reason there are not many of them, and I did not get any that were just what I would consider fabulous. :) Anyway, enjoy! http://picasaweb.google.com/brittanyb82/CallieEasterAndPlayingInMommySPurse

Still here...

Hello to the three people (probably less than that!) who read my blog every once in a while! I'm still here, but I've just been busy. I only have time to blog when Callie takes a nap or goes to bed it seems! Anyway, Callie is getting her top two teeth. They are coming through the gums as we speak. She's been fussing about it, but who wouldn't and didn't?!

I'm ready for Spring Break. I don't think I need to explain that, do I? :)

Pi Day Video

Hello! Here is one of the "Pi Day" treats I was able to see last Friday, 3/14. I had a great time with my Geometry class. I put together this little video so that you all could see one of the things my kids came up with. They are so creative and talented! REALLY!!!

Peace in the Midst of the Storm

I just had to write on my blog what happened to me on Friday night. Ashley, Andy, Levi, and I were all together with our Sunday School class from church. We went to Atlanta to watch the Atlanta Passion Play. While we are watching the crucifixion scene, there was "lightning" in the clouds in the background on stage. Well, about that same time, we heard what we thought were cool sound effects or rain. We knew it was rain (or possibly hail) when we heard it again after the scene was over.

I looked at my cell phone just by chance and noticed moma had called 2 times. Then, she called Levi. Well, I went to call her to make sure everything was okay. She said we were under a tornado warning. I couldn't believe it since it wasn't even raining outside or did not appear to be bad weather just by looking out the door.

On the way home, we stopped at Krispy Kreme, indulged in a way too fattening donut, and then went home. When we got home, we turned on the news (at around 1 am!) only to find the news was STILL on. We saw the damage at the CNN Center, the Georgia Dome, and just all around downtown.

The Civic Center is only a couple of blocks (less than 1 mile) from the Dome, CNN Center, Centennial Part, etc. We were SOOO close to the tornado that actually hit. I could not believe how close we were. It was scary, but I was SOOO extremely thankful to God that He somehow saw fit for our group to be safe from the storm. It was like He had His hands shielding us from that tornado, and He sent the path on a particular course that would avoid us and where we were. I was reminded of how great God is and how wonderful it is that He's still in control.

We didn't deserve to not be hit by the tornado, but we literally were at peace sitting there in that auditorium while the storm was just over the way. We had no idea of the storm that God was steering away from us, keeping us safe. I wonder how many times everyday God keeps bad things from coming our way as His children just because He loves us, and we don't even know it, just like we had no idea a tornado was causing damage less than 1 mile away from us. We all take His protection and His power for granted! I know that I do!

Sorry for the verbiage, but I just had to share the fact of how thankful I am that God kept us safe and that He is just SOOO good to us EVERYDAY!!! ALL THE TIME!!!

Gotta love technology!

So, I spent precious time updating my blog only to have it NOT load/save correctly. Apparently my Internet connection was bad and Andy ever so nicely closed the window before I could retry to post sometime later. Sigh... figures!

Well, originally I had written about the fact that Levi got a job offer today and he accepted it! He is on board with Chestatee for next year. Then, Ashley is still waiting to hear about the Lula position. She also has another interview coming up. Keep her in your prayers! :)

Then, I wrote about my epiphany last night while watching "The Nativity Story." If you've never seen it, you must! It was so great! I just realized how sweet it must've been for Mary to give birth to the One who would ultimately die for her sins and how she was a moma just like I am. I know she felt so unworthy to be the mother of her Lord, but that's the way God had it planned!

I really just realized last night how much Mary must've loved Jesus, not only as her Savior, but as her son. I know it must've broken her heart to see Him mocked, spoken unkindly of, and finally seeing him hang on the cross in agony. She was his mother, and I'm sure she remembered holding Jesus while he was just a little baby. Those precious memories probably tore at her heart.

After hearing the Christmas Story so many times, I was just amazed at how God showed me something different that I'd never seen before. His Word is truly alive as is He!

Sunday - tired and too much to do

I have been lazy about posting here lately. It seems like this past week was just so busy. It was hard to find time to sit down and actually think about what to say.

Callie and I went outside one day this past week when it was so nice and pretty outside, and I put down a blanket so she could sit on the ground. She was totally fascinated by the grass. I believe she'll be one of those girls who likes to play outside. She likes being outside so far. She hasn't had a chance to get out much since it's been so cold these last few months, but come spring time we'll be getting her out! I'm ready for warmer weather myself!

Ashley and I sang last night at a benefit singing. She and I did well singing, but we were there with a bunch of groups with their own bands and everything else. It was just me and Ashley - with my measly piano skills. I felt so inadequate and plain. I know it was just the devil trying to get me down. I know in my heart I went to sing for a good cause and the right reason, so I won't let that other "stuff" bother me, I guess.

We had a good service today at church. A missionary we support in Poland came to speak to us. The choir also did a good job, and the youth choir got to sing a song too. I have been trying to teach them some songs that are easy and have a good message, but they are just so shy when it comes to singing! They sing hard when we practice, and then they freeze up when we sing in front of the church folks. I guess I can't blame them. I used to be the same way, BUT years of experience and having a chance to get out of that comfort zone have changed that about me. :) Lots of practice singing with Ashley and with A Cappella Three have helped me a lot! :)

Callie is now fascinated with my guitar. I got it out the other day, and she just had a fit over it. She wanted to pull at the strings and just touch it. She wouldn't even let me play it. Now that she's so mobile, I can't get away from her so that I can play it without her being able to reach me somehow. :) I just hope she has a hunger and a love for music like I do. She's definitely got the genes for it! Maybe I can have me a little singing buddy one day. Her daddy just won't do it! :)