5 Months Ago Tomorrow...

God had a plan for my life that I never anticipated! As I sit here now, five months later I stand amazed at the rate and degree to which He has healed my body. I so LOVE teaching two classes of the most fabulous fourth graders ever. I give God all of the glory for providing me this opportunity. I know now without a shadow of a doubt that it was definitely in God's Plan for me to be a teacher both outside and inside the home. I have become a more hands-on mother over the past few months. This is such a huge accomplishment for me. I can now carry Ella, load her in the car seat, and of course experience life with a very energetic six-year old little boy! I want to thank every single person who has walked this journey with me and stood by my side through it all. I want to thank all of the people who lifted my name up and prayer and continue to do so today. I still have at least a seven month journey until "complete" recovery according to the physicians if there ever will be one. I know that God, the ultimate Physician has it all worked out in His plan. I will accept whatever God has planned for the rest of my life. I do feel that He is calling me to share my testimony with others. I have an amazing story to share of how God works in every single intricate detail in our lives. I ask for prayers that doors will open for that opportunity for me to share. I believe that was God's intention... for me to witness to others. I am amazed when I think about what a witnessing tool I have already been. Sabrina, I could NEVER thank you enough for walking this spiritual walk with me and praying over me in church each time I ask you to go to the alter with me. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for my life over the next several months!

Ella at 19 Months!

• Has some sort of crazy virus that includes gooky eyes, loose poopy, and congestion
• Has had her first school picture made
• Has adjusted quite well to her school
• Loves to run and wrestle with Carson
• Has learned to enjoy drinking water out of a sippy cup
• Loves to "get up" and "down"
• Loves to squeal with her brother
• STILL drinks her milk from a bottle
• Loves to have her teeth brushed at night
• Still takes a 2-3 hour nap each day
• Can say "Sponge Bob"- - - definitely NOT something I am proud of
• Has outgrown many of her summer clothes
• Has had a sip of some really bad stuff (soda)
• Waves and says "Bye Bye" when leaving
• Still LOVES her pacifier
• Loves her shoes
• Takes her shoes off as soon as she gets in the car every day after school
• LOVES books and even has to carry two with her to bed each night
• Loves to cuddle with her mommy before bed each night
• Twists and turns in the mirror with a smile when she wears a long dress
• Is getting ready to celebrate her Big Brother's sixth birthday
• Loves to play with balls
• Calls Harley Carley
• Loves to give Harley treats
• No, No, No are her favorite words. I remember when Carson went through the same stage at about the same age.
  

Tid Bits!

• Carson finally had a FULL week of green smiley faces, so he got to have a sleepover with his mommy last night. He came in my room around 10:00 to wake me up and ask me if I was ready for my sleepover. He asked if I wanted the top bunk or the bottom. Then he was quick to tell me that dirt racing was on! Our sleepover was so much fun even though he was sound asleep within minutes, and I was up all night because I couldn't sleep on that uncomfortable bed.
  
• Carson decided to play baseball in the house AGAIN yesterday, and when he did I heard glass breaking. He knocked down a picture frame. By the time I arrived, Ella was playing in the glass, and blood was all over our floor. I couldn't get her little finger to stop bleeding, so I did all that I knew to do and that was call Grammy over to the rescue. Grammy got the bleeding to stop and knew exactly what to do.
• Ella has adjusted so well to school!! As soon as she gets to school now, she reaches out to the teacher or goes and begins playing with her friends. This is a completely different change for our family! We are so glad!
• Lately, we have been having Ella practice saying everyone's name either by pointing to them or by showing pictures of them. My heart melts when she calls Aunt Lizzie by a special name that very closely resembles "mama". Aunt Lizzie was Ella's "mommy" for the time when I was in the hospital and then when I arrived home. Liz spent so much time here taking care of Roo for me when I could not. They even formed a special bond by watching CMT every morning on the couch before Car and I woke up.
• Ella has her first "school" pictures made on Monday! I can't wait to go find the perfect outfit for her! It is so great having a baby girl to dress, but I must admit it is a little expensive!
  
• Carson is about to be SIX years old! I cannot believe that time has flown by this quickly with him. I must spend part of today preparing for his big Gamecock swimming party!
  

My Nine Year Old Angel on Earth!

Hannah Grace's presence brings so much joy into my life every single day! Please don't get me wrong, I LOVE all of my children. They each have a dear place in my heart. But, it was Hannah Grace who stood outside of her car holding her mommy and daddy's hand on the night of my accident and prayed not only for me, the stranger, but for Carson and Ella who were not in the car with me at the time. God worked MIRACLES when He placed us together once again! I am so thankful for the opportunity to teach Hannah Grace this year!!! I cannot wait for our relationship to grow closer not only this year, but in the future! I hope Hannah Grace will one day understand the HUGE role that her prayers that night played in my life. She is truly an ANGEL! :)

The End to My Hiatus...

I know it has been awhile since I have posted, but to be completely honest my life has been in some sort of a whirlwind lately. I absolutely LOVE my job as a teacher to the most precious fourth graders!!! I know God perfectly hand picked each and every child that I teach! I LOVE my new school! I LOVE my new coworkers! I LOVE my new administrators! I LOVE teaching so close to home! I LOVE the brand new beautiful school building I am blessed to teach in! I LOVE having Carson at school with me! I LOVE seeing the excitement of learning in Carson's eyes each and every afternoon when I pick him up from the car line! But despite all of the things I LOVE, my body is physically REJECTING my new life. By three o'clock every day, my body and mind begin winding down very quickly. After much prayer, I have decided to begin physical therapy yet again! I thought after an entire summer of therapy three times per week, that I was "healed". I guess I could say I was "healed" when I could lay down whenever I chose to, sit whenever I chose to, and my brain didn't have to fully function for seven to eight hours a day! And...I sure wasn't reponsible for forty-three children! I had my first therapy session last night. Since I have decided to return to therapy, I had to find a facility that provided evening/night therapy. I loved my new therapist. After my initial assessments last night, I quickly learned that my body is NOT in good shape. The therapist told me that it would be at least three months before I would be "feeling" better. I struggled with the decision to return to therapy because it would take away from what little time I have for my own two precious children in the afternoons/evenings. God had other plans for me though. Yesterday, on the day I was to begin my therapy again my daily devotion said,

Accept each day exactly as it comes to you. By that, I mean not only the circumstances of your day but also the condition of your body. Your assignment is to trust Me absolutely , resting in My sovereignty and faithfulness.

On some days, your circumstances and your physical condition feel out of balance: The demands on you seem far greater than your strength. Days like that present a choice between two alternatives- giving up or relying on Me. Even if you wrongly choose the first alternative, I wil not reject you. You can turn to Me at any point, and I will help you crawl out of the mire of discouragement. I will infuse My strength into you moment by moment, giving you all that you need for this day. Trust Me, by relying on My empowering Presence.

Psalm 42:5; Corinthians 13:4; Jeremiah 31:25

God is GOOD all the time! All the time God is GOOD! I know that He is still working his miracles in my life. I am turning it all over to Him. I look forward to the progress He has in store for me physically.

A BIG Heart!

Yesterday was Nana's funeral. We opted to take both children. Carson really insisted on going, and talked about it throughout the week. The funeral was perfect...just want I think Nana would have wanted. It was very small with only family members present. We were provided the opportunity to speak, and I praise God that He provided me the strength to speak of how special Nana was to me. Carson did very well throughout the service until the end. We had all finally stopped crying. Then we looked over at him, and he was REALLY crying. He said, "I just miss my Nana". As they were burying her under the ground Carson walked up to the hole in the ground, stood so seriously, and placed his hand over his heart. Then tears were flowing from everyone else's eyes again! I am so proud of Carson.

Then there was today...

We found a small dead baby snake in our driveway. Carson decided that he wanted to bury the snake. He went inside got the lid of an ice cream container he had just finished, walked outside, used a stick to scoop up the snake, and walked back inside. Then he quickly proceeded back outside with the snake placed in the ice cream box, and the lid was covering it. He walked back inside and "buried" the snake. His idea of burying the snake was to place the ice cream box in the empty drawer in the bottom of our refrigerator. He then asked to sprinkle the snake with his p0wdered Hawaiian Punch. The "dead" snake is patiently waiting in our refrigerator until Daddy gets home and tries to convince Carson the snake MUST go in the woods! I love this boy to pieces!!!!

God is GOOD all the time! All the time God is GOOD!

I feel that God is wanting me to share the rest of the Hall family story with the blogging world. On Saturday before school started on Tuesday, a local church in the community volunteered to come in and conduct a prayer walk through our school. I felt God was strongly leading me to join the participants that morning. I was a few minutes late, so I arrived in the middle of the opening prayer which began in our front office. Upon the completion of that prayer, we were asked to split up and walk through the school and ask God's blessings on each component of it. Sitting on a chair in the office was Mrs. Hall. I was so excited to see her. She told me she was planning to go pray in my classroom, but since I was there, she was going to pray over me in my room. When we arrived in my room, she asked that I sit at my desk, and she would sit beside me. She began telling me the rest of the God story and how He worked it out for Hannah Grace to come to our new school which wasn't in their original plan. She then proceeded to tell me that when they received a postcard saying I would be Hannah Grace's teacher, she knew God was in complete control. As we were talking my principal walked in, and Mrs. Hall immediately asked if he minded hearing our story. He pulled up a chair in front of my desk and listened intently to how God had brought the Halls into my life and continued to have our paths cross. They were truly my angels on earth the night of the accident, and continue to be my angels 'til this day. Mrs. Hall then asked if she could pray. All three of us held hands, and all three of us shed many tears as she asked for God's blessings upon me, my classroom, my students, the entire faculty and staff, her daughter, and our principal. I truly felt God's presence in my room that day! It was the most miraculous feeling, a feeling I have NEVER experienced before as a teacher. As we were praying we had several visitors stop by to hear part of my journey through prayer. Finally, the minister entered my room and asked specifically to pray over our principal. I am so blessed to have such a strong Christian leader who appreciates the way God brought the Hall family and me together as much as we do! What amazes me the most about the Hall family is they pray on the way to school each and every day for each child in Hannah Grace's class by name! Each day I have walked in my room since Saturday I feel such peace, and I know God is in there protecting and providing witnessing opportunities for each of us. Hannah Grace gave me a journal before school began. I vowed for the first time in my ten years of teaching to journal each night about my day and my students. I couldn't believe to read the verse at the bottom of the page that I began writing on after the first day of school. At the bottom was the verse, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" Isaiah 43: 18-19. That verse put me at complete ease with my decision to begin a new journey at a new school this year! I thank God daily for the Hall family and the blessings they bring into my life!

Carson's First Day of Kindergarten

Carson is happy on his way to school way too early in the morning!We met Tripp in the parking lot, and of course both Sabrina and I had to take a first day of school picture.

I snapped this shot in my classroom before walking him to his room.

Carson had to have a picture with his Mommy on the first day of school!

Here is Carson with his teacher Mrs. Deal.

God truly blessed our family when He provided me the opportunity to teach and the same school Carson would attend! I have to admit that he wasn't too excited to be going to kindergarten to begin with, but as the days drew closer his excitement increased slightly. He really seems excited once he met his teachers at Open House the Thursday before school started. He had a wonderful first day even though he was exhausted by the time he made it to my classroom. I am so excited about all of the experiences he will be blessed with this year!

On the Day Before School...

...all the posters were secured on the wall in their special place, the morning message was ready, each table had its needed supplies, the books were neatly placed in their special homes, the library was perfect and cozy, the pencils were sharpened, the colored pencils still rested in their correct boxes, the scissors were new and inexperienced, everything was labeled, the pillows were patiently waiting for some new friends, the lessons were planned, and the lights were turned off 'til the CHILDREN would bring the LIGHT bright and early the next morning!

A Team that Will Always Be

Last Saturday, Sara had a housewarming to share her new home with friends and family. We had a great time. It was so nice to see Charlene and Carolyn. This was the first time I had seen Charlene all summer!

Roo at Eighteen Months

• Still must drink her milk only from a bottle
• Has ventured out to drink water from a sippy cup
• Loves to create her own artwork with pens on her body on the way to church
• Can call Grammy, Papa, Daddy, Mommy, something that sounds like Mama for Aunt Lizzie, and something that resembles brother for Carson
  
• Still LOVES her necklaces
• Just got over an ear infection
• Had to visit the doctor the day she was supposed to go back to school
• Can say ball, bat, shoe, hot, bath, tickle, book, and much more
• Still loves her pacifier
  
• Is adjusting a little better to school this year
• Has slept on a cot for the first time
• Is STILL a little cookie monster
• Is STILL a Daddy's girl
• Says poo poo and grabs at the front of her diaper when she has pooped
• Shows signs of wanting to potty
• LOVES to cuddle with, wrestle with, and hug her big brother
• LOVES to give real kisses
• Must have the same toy in her crib each night before going to bed, and it's not a soft cuddly toy
• Enjoys music
• Still has her little temper tantrums
• Continues to melt our hearts every single day
• Has a toothless grin even though she has a mouth full of teeth
  

Memories of Nana

When I arrived home from school today, my mom told me that Nana passed away this morning! I am so thankful that she has walked through those golden gates and can now live a life of happiness with all of the memories she once had. Today has been very hard for me because I have constantly thought back to all of the memories I was blessed to have with her. I am deeply saddened that she was never able to meet Ella, a great-granddaughter I know she would have LOVED!!! So as I cope with the loss of Nana, I want to list some of my fondest memories of her that come to mind.

• Her wonderful cooking... We used to always go to her house on Sunday afternoon for lunch
• Sleepovers at her house
• Watching baseball with her
• Listening to the scanner and always hearing her say, "Oh, that's just around the corner!" I would be so scared.
• Walking to the bowling alley and bowling whenever we wanted to
• My yearly batch of fudge for Christmas
• Hearing country music blaring throughout her house
• Taking her to see Christmas lights each year once I began driving
• Her amazing hugs
• Hearing her fuss at my daddy
• The love that she had for animals especially birds...which by the way I do not like
• Hearing her and Brian discuss and fuss about the Braves when they weren't doing well
• Going to see her at the small restaurant she worked at up the street
• Having my friends spend the night with her
• Hearing her insist that EVERYONE call her "Nana"
• Her homemade biscuits
• Brushing her hair when she got older
• Counting on the traditional Christmas gifts of socks and underwear
  
• Watching her crochet
• Watching wrestling at her house on Sunday afternoons
  
• Knowing that she loved my sister and me to death!!
  

God is Always Working and Blessing!!!

I have NEVER been able to write about one particular situation that God had His hand on during the night of my accident, but I feel that he is laying it on my heart to share with the blogging world tonight. This summer during Vacation Bible School, Sabrina told me about a family that almost immediately arrived at Target at the time my accident occurred. This family did not know me at all, however, they parked their car at the end of the Target parking lot closest to the highway. They each got out of the car, held hands, and prayed for me... a stranger they didn't even know. After praying, they went into Target for the shopping they planned to do. When they were leaving Target, they saw the JAWS of life and the two car seats in the back of the car. Once again, they prayed...they not only prayed for me, the stranger, but for my two precious children pf whom they feared were in the backseat. They prayed God would have His hands on those two precious children! The next day they went to church and saw Freddy, Sabrina's husband. He explained that Sabrina wasn't at church that day because she was at the hospital visiting her friend who had been in a car accident the previous night in front of Target. That stranger the Hall family had prayed for was no longer a stranger in the same way. I was blessed with the opportunity to speak to and hug this sweet family this summer when I was told of this miraculous God story. Well, God continued to work! He continued to heal my body at such a fast rate in which I would be able to return to what God planned for my life- to be a teacher and begin a normal school year as a walking teacher, not one from a wheelchair. God continued to work. He handpicked for me each individual child that He wanted me to touch this school year. He chose for Hannah Grace, the same little girl who stood with her family to pray for a "stranger" to be in my class. I pray now that God will allow me to touch Hannah Grace and her parents' lives the way that they have touched mine! They are truly a blessing to me!!!

My New Team!

Me(Language Arts and Social Studies), Mrs. Peterson (Language Arts), Mr. Owens(Math), Mrs. Simmons (my partner, Math and Science), Mrs. Harrill (Social Studies and Science)

I work with an AMAZING new team! They have been an amazing blessing to me so far. They are always willing to help me with anything to prevent me from climbing and injuring myself! My partner Patti is wonderful! I can't wait for us to work so closely together and to share our children! I am so excited about working with a super-creative language arts teacher and social studies teacher!!!! Even though my new team is FABULOUS... I do miss my old team(s) from O.P. Earle!

An Official End to Summer!

This is our behavior poster. Students will change their colored cards based on their behavior. All students begin each day with a while smiley card. Then if they receive warnings they have to change their card to pink. There are five colors over all. The poster will travel with my homeroom when they go to Mrs. Simmons for math and science.

Since my outside bulletin board was dedicated to the growth of our classroom, or Lions' Den, I decided to put each student's name in my homeroom on the door, so when they arrived on
Thursday night they would know where to go.

I copied the idea I used for Ella's first birthday party for each of my colored teams. I have five colored teams. (pink, blue, teal, orange, and green) Each team has a matching tub and set of polka dots hanging above their team.

This board will be for my special students of the week. I will select one student to highlight for my homeroom and one for Mrs. Simmons homeroom per week. This board will eventually have picture frames on it.

I love this polka dot pillow for my rocking chair that my friend Teresa thought would be perfect for me!

Today marked the official end to my summer! I had to begin work at 7:30, which was much earlier than I normally woke up this summer! Today was a productive day mostly working in our rooms. I did get a few things done in my room, so that made me feel a little better. Overall, I felt like I got more accomplished on the days when I went to work without being paid. I met with my new fabulous team and had a short meeting with both the principal and assistant principal. Tomorrow will be our really LONG faculty meeting. Of course, I am absolutely EXHAUSTED after working all day! It is definitely going to take my body awhile to adjust to this new change. I love my new school and the teachers I work with! I am very excited about the upcoming year. I can't wait to meet my new students that God has hand-picked for me on Thursday night!

Today was supposed to be Ella's first day at school. I called Brian to check to see how she adjusted, but when I called he said he was just leaving the doctor's office. She has had a runny nose, but this morning woke up with a runny nose and a pretty bad cough. Her official diagnosis was an ear infection and mild croup. Ella just decided she was not quite ready to begin school just yet! She wanted to spend a little extra time with her big brother and Grammy.

A Very Special Visit!

Here is Carson with Mr. Henson!

Here is Carson with Mrs. Hines!

Carson enjoyed a mini-tour of his new classroom!

He even had a chance to wear Mr. Henson's hard hat for awhile.

Izzy sure did enjoy her time with Mr. Henson! I think he may have her a little spoiled. Ella would quite let him hold her yet!

Today Carson was provided the opportunity to meet his new principal, assistant principal, and take a quick tour of his new school! He was so excited! I think he enjoyed hopping from one colored block to another the best of all! He really liked Mr. Henson and Mrs. Hines! Let's hope he only has to visit for positive reasons!

Day Seven of My New Adventure...On Yet Another Saturday

This is the bulletin board on the outside of my classroom. Our school mascot is the lion, so I decided to use that somehow on my outside board. Aunt Lizzie was the creative one who helped me come up the title. I decided to print pictures of how my new Lions' Den has grown over the past couple of weeks. I have pictures on the board from my car being packed, to each day that I worked, and finally what the new classroom looks like now. I can't wait to see how all of my new little lions are going to grow this year!!!I added a "Look What We Did!" sentence above what will be my Learning Focused Board. I also added all of the punctuation marks and their uses above what will be the computer and writing centers.

I did work on cleaning up my desk a little today. I LOVE the new little baskets I found at World Market!

My new lion has to be one of my favorite attractions in our den! He will be KING of the room! He is a very smart lion who LOVES to read! I will let the class name him.

This will be my "King of the Week" or "Lion of the Week" board.

Today was the last day I planned to work before summer "OFFICIALLY" ends for me on Tuesday. My great mom watched the children while I worked in my room today! I didn't work for too long, but feel that I did get a lot accomplished!

Day Six of My New Adventure...An All Day Adventure!

I love this small group teaching area! Hopefully, students will enjoy reading on the comfy carpet and pillows too!

This is a view from my door after six days of working.

I decided to change my desks. Who knows...I may just change them again!

This will be my language arts Learning Focused board.

This will be my social studies Learning Focused board.

My reading center is finally coming together! I love, love, love the bright colorful rug of the world! It doesn't go too well with my polka dots and the colors I have chosen, but I love it!

This is my Magic Tree House area!

I love this nifty chart hanger! I create many charts in my class! Now I will have a place to store them!

I love this triangular magnetic calendar. It frees up some wall space for me. I decided to turn the two sides in since it will not be a center in my classroom.

The next few pictures are of the beginning stages of my Writing Center.

I was one ecstatic teacher to find a set of ten brand new dictionaries and thesauruses in my room waiting for me today. This is my reference center.

My children will definitely have plenty of paper to choose from when publishing!

Carson and Ella spent the day with the Wilson family, so I could work in my room all day! I have to admit I was beginning to feel very overwhelmed yesterday after my class, so I definitely needed some time to work in my room. After dropping the children off, I decided to visit O.P. Earle again because I had to return some books that were mistakenly placed in my book baskets that I had taken with me to my new school. I spent way too much time there talking, but I felt so good when I left. I do have to say that I did feel a little sadness seeing my old friends and what had become my home away from home for so many years. I was blessed to be able to share my testimony with several of my friends there! When I finally made it to my new school, I was determined to get to a point in which I feel comfortable with the progress! After working for many hours, I feel at ease with where I am at this point. I may go to work for a few hours in the morning and definitely on Saturday! I am so thankful for ALL of the help that I have had to get my room to this point. There is NO way it would be this far along without assistance!