i'm back!

wow...it's been almost a year since my last post! i can't believe that! i hate that i didn't keep up with blogging this past year. i hope to get back on track...starting now!

schools out for summer! yay! it's so nice to be home with kenley and jarrett and during the day. i feel much more relaxed and it's nice to not have to rush around in the mornings (and evenings too). i'm excited to take the kids to bible day camps at church, story hours at the library, the fort wayne zoo, and just enjoy days outside in the sunshine :)

i wanted to share some of my recent thoughts following one of my last days of work. the morning of our last day consisted of a staff breakfast and program for wabash city schools. the program consisted of multiple teacher recognitions such as 25+ years of teaching, retirements, and a teacher of the year award. a few thoughts crossed my mind as i listened to the honors of each recognized teacher. first, wow...MANY years were spend and dedicated toward teaching children...one teacher is retiring after 40 years!...amazing! second, so many great things were said about each teacher...how they truly had a passion for teaching and they went above and beyond for their students, etc. as these recognitions were being made, i couldn't help but think about what it will be like not only when i retire, but also when i reach the end of my life. what an honor it will be to be recognized for years of service to so many children, but what will be truly honorable is to be applauded for my passion, commitment, and everyday strife to live for christ. that's what i desire...to live with purpose and passion in such a way that my love for jesus and his love for us is evident in all that i do!!

can you tell that my heart has been melted and moved?? :) yes, god has been working hard in my heart and i've let him have at it! i love what he's done. i've grown up in the church, and accepted christ when i was about 8. but only recently (the past several months), do i feel like i've truly discovered what it means to be a christian. god has been revealed to me in so many new ways and i'm in complete awe of how big and powerful, tender and loving he truly is. i'm excited to continue to grow in my faith and let my light shine :) one of the things i've diligently prayed for for a long time is that my husband will accept jesus as his lord and savior and that we would grow closer to each other and closer to god. i have really believed that this would happen...in god's timing of course. i'm ecstatic to announce that it happened! after MANY prayers and discussions through sunday school, small group, sermons, etc., chad went forward after church on sunday, made his acceptance of christ public, and was baptized! praise the lord!

Mark 11:24-25 "Whatever you ask for in prayer, BELIEVE that you have received it and it WILL be yours."

so thankful for that promise :)