Scary Quote of the Day

"Well, what do you want to do in High School?...ya know like run track, etc."


Response from my 1st grader: I'm gonna be a mom!!!

AHHHH!!

The Word of the Lord for Thought

Proverbs 14

¹ The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

² He whose walk is upright fears the LORD,
but he whose ways are devious despises him.

³ A fool's talk brings a rod to his back,
but the lips of the wise protect them.

happiness

This weekend was a blast! Friday Justin ended up getting home so I was super excited- we watched tv and sat around like usual. Saturday we got up and I took Pip on a walk. I am determined to walk walk walk! We have been going 2.3 miles a day! (Well today, Monday, is only my second day but Im proud) When we got home Kimberly called to see if I wanted to lay out..YES!! Hello, Kason & Carla's wedding is in like 4 weeks and I am pale as can be! So I went over there and laid out. I was only out there for an hour and a half and I am a little pink....Saturday night Justin and I headed to eat on our remaining gift cards from when I was sick. Jason Deli was just right. Justin had a headache so the rest of the night we watched tv as usual and just loved being together.


Sunday morning we got up and made breakfast before heading to church. It was such a good sermon. He was talking about Psalms 23:1 and how we need to be his sheep and there are two things a shepherd does. Protects & Guides. So we have to let him protect and guide us. He also talked about how when you find a good herd (church) let them become your herd...stick together. Summer of 2004 my dad suprised us and took us to the David Project- AMAZING! I still can sing the whole CD! I just spent the past 45 minutes trying to find it on youtube, the internet anything...no luck. I have put mom on research, she is going to try and find it. *Update* found it...here is a link to the songs...Psalms 23...love!

After church I headed to Katy for Carla's Katy Shower. It was a 3 hour drive there and back but it was totally worth it. I wasn't sure on Sunday because my allergies had been so bad but being with two of my sisters-in-law was a perfect way to spend my sunday afternoon. The shower was beautiful and Carla opened presents for hours! The lady sitting next to me at the shower said she probably got enough to furnish two houses, haha, not really! : ) Overall it was a beautiful day with a house full of beautiful people who all love Carla. You could really see how Carla has been such a shining up-right woman for all these woman to love and adore her and Kason so much. I am proud to call her my sister. Carla and I have joked often God knew not only would Kason & Carla be perfect, Justin and I would be perfect but that Carla & I woudld be perfect for each other when dealing with the boys! : ) I cant believe the wedding is less than a month away! It seems like just yesterday that got engaged...crazy its been a year and a half! I can't wait to see Carla as a beautiful bride in just a few short weeks. Here are some of my favorites from yesterday.... (Carlas blog has the rest)

Brad- I am jealous- I want one.We didn't even plan to match!

It was a great weekend! Yesterday I was super crabby once I got home and headed to bed but today was wonderful!!

SOOOO EXCITED!

I just purchased two tickets to CASTING CROWNS CONCERT on April 30th- Next FRIDAY!!! OMG I am sooo excited! They are my favorite and have been forever! I can sing every single one of their songs by heart! I am super excited that Justin and I are going to have a date night...maybe dinner then the concert. I am so so so excited. My favorite man and my favorite band!

The Joy of Spring

Today my team leader comes in my room and tells me that we need to go the long way to lunch. For those of you who don't know- my school is three seperate main buildings then a library building & a cafe building. (its "character") so anytime we go anywhere we have to face the weather. So anyways, back to my story, she comes in and tells me to go through the office to lunch so we headed the long way to lunch without asking questions. Come to find out..this little guy was the reason why... (see him on the brick?)that door is the door to my hallway! We go in and out of the door many many times a day. Thankfully though no kiddos saw him and he was gone by after lunch. YUCK! You can't really see how big he was!! SCARY!! I don't know who would have freaked out more...me or the kids! ha! glad we didn't have to see him!

Ahhh-Mazing

For the past couple weeks I have been trying to find some cheap sandals & boots! I remembered this website one of my sorority sisters had given me in college and I had then gone and bought green, pink, purple, white, (all colors) you can think of high heels- however, now I need some cheap shoes that I can wear all the time! Well I could not think of the website for the life of me- so I messaged my friend and she remembered! YEAH!!!

It is www.gojane.com I want these...And to make it better...only $15 GREAT!! I will be doing some damage this afternoon when school gets out! : ) Their clothes are super cheap as well! PERFECT!

Long Time No See

I have decided that this time of year is just busy and crazy for everyone. My google reader has been down and I haven't blogged near as much! I am through with my observation and finished all my TPRI's! I am so excited. TPRI determines who gets out of school in May and who has to stay till June. I only had 2 kids!! : )I was pretty proud. I still haven't heard about my observation but I think it went well. My kids are still talking about it. I did a lesson on the brain. We talked about the different parts of the brain and when you put your friends down or say something that hurts your feelings your brain "downshifts" and you can't learn as well. Every day now, I hear "J, could you not do that? You are making my brain downshift?" or this one is one of my favorites... "Guys!! Stop talking! You are making Mrs. Knights brain downshift!" : ) Love it!


Yesterday we went on our field trip. We headed to the Children's Museum. It was so much fun. My kids loved it. They had so much fun. After the museum we went to the park and ate lunch and then let the kids run around and play. I'm the smartie though, that left my emergency kit at the museum. It had every kids info for my class and one of the other teachers as well! Also, our personal stuff such as germ x, advil, blood pressure medicine, etc. Thankfully though I called the museum and they have it so I had to go get it after school! I don't know where my brain was!

Pippy

“No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich”
by Louis Sabin

Genesis 47:13-27

My cousin sent me this is an email, and I just had to share. Its long, but totally worth the read. You can't refute the word of God.

Genesis 47:13-27

Recent Virginia Church Service- Stimulus Sermon

I would love to give the Pastor of this predominantly black church in Virginia a hug and a high five. This guy is obviously a leader.

Perhaps we should each decide who our real leader is.....It is amazing to see that very little has changed in 4,000 years.

---------------------------------------------------

"Good morning, brothers and sisters; it's always a delight to see the pews crowded on Sunday morning, and so eager to get into God's Word. Turn with me in your Bibles, if you will to the 47th chapter of Genesis, we'll begin our reading at verse 13, and go through verse 27. Brother Ray, would you stand and read that great passage for us? ".....(reading)...

"Thank you for that fine reading, Brother Ray. So we see that economic hard times fell upon Egypt, and the people turned to the government of Pharaoh to deal with this for them. And Pharaoh nationalized the grain harvest, and placed the grain in great storehouses that he had built. So the people brought their money to Pharaoh, like a great tax increase, and gave it all to him willingly in return for grain. And this went on until their money ran out, and they were hungry again. So when they went to Pharaoh after that, they brought their livestock - their cattle, their horses, their sheep, and their donkey - to barter for grain, and verse 17 says that only took them through the end of that year. But the famine wasn't over, was it? So the next year, the people came before Pharaoh and admitted they had nothing left, except their land and their own lives. 'There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh.' So they surrendered their homes, their land, and their real estate to Pharaoh's government, and then sold themselves into slavery to him, in return for grain. What can we learn from this, brothers and sisters? That turning to the government instead of to God to be our provider in hard times only leads to slavery? Yes. That the only reason government wants to be our provider is to also become our master? Yes. But look how that passage ends, brothers and sisters! 'Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly.' God provided for His people, just as He always has! They didn't end up giving all their possessions to government, no, it says they gained possessions!

But I also tell you a great truth today, and an ominous one. We see the same thing happening today - the government today wants to "share the wealth" once again, to take it from us and redistribute it back to us. It wants to take control of healthcare, just as it has taken control of education, and ration it back to us, and when government rations it, then government decides who gets it, and how much, and what kind. And if we go along with it, and do it willingly, then we will wind up no differently than the people of Egypt did four thousand years ago - as slaves to the government, and as slaves to our leaders.

What Mr. Obama's government is doing now is no different from what Pharaoh's government did then, and it will end the same. And a lot of people like to call Mr.Obama a "Messiah," don't they? Is he a Messiah? A savior? Didn't the Egyptians say, after Pharaoh made them his slaves, 'You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh'?

Well, I tell you this - I know the Messiah; the Messiah is a friend of mine; and Mr. OBAMA IS NO MESSIAH! No, brothers and sisters, if Mr. Obama is a character from the Bible, then he is Pharaoh.

Bow with me in prayer, if you will...Lord, You alone are worthy to be served, and we rely on You, and You alone. We confess that the government is not our deliverer, and never rightly will be. We read in the eighth chapter of 1 Samuel, when Samuel warned the people of what a ruler would do, where it says 'And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day..' And Lord, we acknowledge that day has come. We cry out to You because of the ruler that we have chosen for ourselves as a nation. Lord, we pray for this nation. We pray for revival, and we pray for deliverance from those who would be our masters. Give us hearts to seek You and hands to serve You, and protect Your people from the atrocities of Pharaoh's government.

In God We Trust...

Happy Birthday Old Man!

Today is my better half's birthday. We didnt do anything special. When we got home we headed to one of J's favorite restaurants for Birthday Dinner! However, today after my observation we had library and then we had a few minutes once we got back to the room before lunch so we called Justin and I asked him how his day was going, etc. and then told him my kids had something they wanted to tell him so I put him on speaker phone and all 14 of my kids start singing Happy Birthday! They all sing at the top of their lungs and add a cha cha cha after every Happy Birthday and at the end they all sit in silence staring at the phone waiting for his response. (His response was another reason why he is NOT a teacher) He says..."What was that!?" I quickly took him off speaker phone and looked out over my class to see all eyes big with wonder and disappointment and I quickly told him they were singing you happy birthday...say thank you. So I put him back on speaker phone and the eyes lit up when they heard his voice say Thank Yall!

Happy Birthday Old Man! I Love you!! You are my other half, my best friend. The love expressed below could NOT be heard or talked about but must be seen with our own two eyes. I love you.

weekend

This weekend was really low key. It was nice. Last weekend we were go go go all weekend so just to be able to do what we needed to get done at our own pace was wonderful. Friday J surprised me and came home (he had been on a job and I didn't think he was getting back till this coming Wednesday). We went to Koppe Bridge (wonderful burger place) for dinner then came home and hung out. Saturday morning J had to get up to go to another job down by Corpus Christie so he left at 4 am. I of course kept sleeping. However, when I did get up I headed to school. My first formal observation is on Monday (TOMORROW!) so I went up to school for the majority of the day to work on my lesson and do some things to my room. Once I got home I was pretty lazy, did a load of laundry, watched Shrek the 3rd and made me some egg salad. J called again and said he was coming home!! YIPPIE! However, he wouldn't be getting home till after midnight. That was okay by me- I'll take what I can get! This morning I got up and got completely ready for church and then laid back down because I had a few minutes before it was time to leave (like 20) and fell back to sleep, completely dressed and ready to go. We didn't wake back up till 12!!! AHH! Bad us! Justin did the yard, I finished laundry and went grocery shopping. J grilled chicken for dinner and now we are just relaxing. I made brownies for J's birthday which is tomorrow!! My old man just keeps getting older.. : ) More on J's bday tomorrow...

I am determined to go take some bluebonnet pictures this week. I wanted to go today but J thought it was gay! UGH!

After this week my stress level will go down probably 100%. Starting tomorrow, not only do I have my formal observation but TPRI testing begins- which determines whether or not which of my babies will get to have their last day of school May 19 and which ones have to stay till June 4th. I am hoping my kiddos will blow me away with their reading!! I can't believe its already April...and the middle of April at that. CRAZY!!

Easter Weekend

After Friday's photo shoot Justin and I drove to Kingwood for the weekend. It was wonderful to be able to be together but I missed my sissy. Dad grilled steaks for dinner and we all watch Sherlock Holmes before getting to bed. Saturday we got up and got ready to head to a pre-season Astros game. Our seats were AMAZING! We were on row 6, right next to the Astros dugout! However, the roof was open and our seats were like basically melting so we only stayed down there for too long before moving up into the shade. After the Astros game we came back home and were pooped, that sun will wear you out! Mom and I got started cooking while Dad & Justin watched some TV. After cooking for awhile, Mom boiled the eggs and though Justin and I are married, have jobs and are getting older we still dye Easter eggs. Don't judge. I will stay young as long as possible.

Sunday morning we got up and headed to church. After church we took the ritual Easter pictures in the front yard, however, I had no gloves and tilted Easter hat. Doesn't Pip look like a smaller version of the flying dog in The Never-Ending Story???

After church and pictures we headed to the Parkers for lunch. I love love love having my family so close in age. Its like I have a twin sister because Elissa is my age. (cousins) It wasn't the same because our family circle to pray was smaller than usual because my sister and her husband werent there along with Jonathan and Erin & Kaylee (my cousins, Elissa & Emily's older sister) but a good time was had by all!
Oh yeah and how could I forget our Easter basket-stickers for my kiddos included!?! (Mom made one big one for both J & I)

Fits

What is with 1st graders and throwing fits!? PLEASE!! UGH! Drives me insane! They are almost in 2nd grade yet they act like little babies and throw themselves on the floor. PLEASE!!

That's My King! Do you know him?

Happy Easter!! I saw this video on a blog I follow and I had to share it with yall! Hope you have a blessed Easter and remember that my king is the reason for this season because death couldnt handle him and the grave couldn't hold him. This is amazing, watch it please!!

Easter Cookies...to be made the night BEFORE easter

I love this! One of my friends on facebook posted this so I thought I would share because I LOVE IT! One day I am most DEF doing this with my kids!!

To be made the evening before Easter.

You need:

1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don’t wait until you’re half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
John 19:1-3 (New International Version)
John 19
Jesus Sentenced to be Crucified
1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.


Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

John 19:28-30 (New International Version)
The Death of Jesus
28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." 29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
John 10:10-11 (New International Version)
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.


Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

Luke 23:27 (New International Version)
27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Psalm 34:8 (New International Version)
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
John 3:16 (New International Version)
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.


Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Isaiah 1:18 (New International Version)
18 "Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
John 3:1-3 (New International Version)
John 3
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.[a]"
Footnotes:
a. John 3:3 Or born from above; also in verse 7


Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Matthew 27:57-60 (New International Version)
The Burial of Jesus
57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

Matthew 27:65-66 (New International Version)
65"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

John 16:20 (New International Version)
20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

John 16:22 (New International Version)
22So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.



On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9

Matthew 28
The Resurrection
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him

He Is Risen!
Happy Easter!

Engagements!

OMG today was a blast!! I don't want to show all of them but here are a few of my favorites...they were great people to photograph! They had so much fun with it!! (I'll even throw in the photos liss took of j and me)

The photos of Justin and I was trying to wrap my legs around him but he thought I meant throw me in the air, hence the first one of my flailing legs! There are soo many cute photos of liss and sam, I only showed a few... : )

Im Famous! : )

My newspaper ad came out yesterday. I was SHOCKED!! I had no idea it was even going to be in yesterdays paper nor had I seen the picture or anything! My mentor came in my room yesterday morning and was like I saw you in the paper this morning! I am sooo surprised at how LARGE the picture is. It is half of the newspaper page!! I had no idea, I figured it would be like the size of an engagement announcement or something, not half a page!! I am blessed. Now if only I could be in the newspaper for something exciting, not a flu ad! ha!

P.S. I am so excited. Tomorrow Justin and I are headed to Houston to take engagement photos for my cousin/best friend/my maid of honor/now her matron of honor!!! YIPPIE!