Discipline, and LACK there of... We need PRAYER and PARENTS!

Saturday, July 20, 2013

I don't know why I'm surprised... I teach PUBLIC SCHOOL!

 

This past week I taught and led the pre-school music at my church's Vacation Bible School. I have worked VBS at various other churches in the past but this particular year was very eye opening for me. I was asked to teach Pre-School music in early spring and after much prayer and consideration, I decided to go ahead and teach since that was the only way that Natalie was going to be able to come.

 

Although she is not yet 4 until next month, she was slated to be in the "Worker's Children Only 2s and 3s class". She was still able to come through the music and craft rotation, her class seemed lacking and at the end of the 1st and 2nd day, she could not even tell me what she learned nor anything about the lesson beside what she made in craft and what songs she learned in my class.

 

Tuesday was especially eye opening for me not only as a worker of VBS but also a TEACHER and most importantly, A MOTHER! Again, this was worker's only children but the kids were 2-3 years old and Natalie is basically 4. I noticed on Monday the lack of discipline and control in this particular class but on Tuesday, there seemed to be somewhat of an "Aura" about the kids in the class and they were literally bouncing off the walls during my 20 time in music. As a sat and watched and led this time with them, I noticed my own Natalie not running around like the other children (A few of whom, were even OLDER than Natalie) but just sitting there quietly and singing along. It was after VBS on Tuesday when she came home and told daddy "Daddy, I don't like BBS. I am with babies". This was my last straw... I moved her to the Pre-K class on Wednesday. The rest of the week was a HUGE success and not only did Natalie express that she had a better time but I can tell she actually learned things. She called some of my family members and even told them her Bible verse and we SKYPEd her singing the VBS songs too! This thanks to her teachers Mrs. Priscilla and Mrs. Sheila... They were AWESOME! Thank you both so much for taking my little girl under your wings and help her learn more about God!

 

Despite my desire to move her to a more challenging class, I was appalled at the discipline amongst kids in this class. There were several kids who I know in this class and they acted well and one little girl, who is younger than Natalie, even knew the topics of the lesson (You could tell her mom was a VBS teacher... She knew it all). Another little boy was very well behaved and so polite and nice throughout the week. However, there were other kids that were OUT OF CONTROL. They came in and would immediately go to the area where the instruments were despite their teacher telling them not to. Now this is nothing out of the ordinary for 2-3 year olds but the thing that got me was the reaction from the teachers. Most of them just kinda shrugged their shoulders in dis-belief. "They're 3... its OK" they would say. Haha... I went into FULL TEACHER MODE at this time. I was taking instruments away, having them sit in time out and all kinds of stuff. One little girl came up and hit me on the leg and said "No teacher... NO!" HAHA... I think I just about lost it. I don't think I have ever prayed for more patience (Those of you that know me, know this is TRUE!)

 

I realize that in this type of volunteer environment that is church that some people are scared to discipline kids but NOT ME... I mean there was a mother and daughter in the class and during the music time the 4 year old would just run around the whole time while mom watched! SERIOUSLY? Are you kidding me? Somebody had to step up and be the mom... I apologize for doing this but... SOMEONE HAD TO! I was just dumbfounded! A youth worker came up to me afterwards and said "Can you come back to class with us please. I don't think I would have such a big headache if you did!" Again, so very eye opening!

 

Natalie was 2 once and is still 3 but as a mother, Christian mother at that, I have raised her to be kind, respectful and listen to her teachers. She has also been in church enough times to know when to run around and when to sit still. Now, I am not perfect and I certainly have many faults (Please, no one say any Amens here!) but I feel as if I have been called by God to be a good Godly, Christian mother to Natalie and Luke. These kids need to know how to respect and respond to authority. Sure, Natalie has moments of back-talk and fits but when these moments occur, SPANKINGS occur too. Spankings occurred this week in my music VBS classroom... but they were given TO me instead of BY ME!

 

Now I have seen some pretty remarkable discipline problems teaching public school for 8 years but to see the same problems, if not worse, within church walls really makes me worried! There's a running joke in our SS class at church about a guy who upon his first request to work in the nursery back years ago gave a spanking a kid in the room. He said he had "No idea you couldn't do this at church". He always says "He was mis-behaving and needed to be disciplined so that's all I did". As a class of young parents we all laugh but I witnessed that this week and I am appalled! Parents, please discipline your children! Teach them to respect and respond to authority in the way God wants us to.

 

Lord, I pray that You will help me be a good, Godly mother to Natalie and Luke. Lord, help me to be patient with them and raise them up to love, worship and honor YOU and their authority/ elders! Thank You, Lord for these 2 blessings I call Natalie and Luke! I praise YOU for these gifts! Thank You, Lord!

 

God is good... All the TIME!

A Blast from the Past

July 2, 2013

It the end of an ERA

This morning I got a text and phone call from my college roommate and dear friend Jessica Adams who was in San Antonio with her family on vacation. They wanted to go to the beach since her husband and 2 kids had never been. I convinced her to drive to Galveston and meet up with Chris, the kids and I.

We got to the beach around 4:30 and had just enough time in the beach for little kids and toddlers to play and still not get sunburnt! Alex and Natalie just ran around and chased each other in the waves while Luke and Evie sat in the sand and made funny faces at each other! Chris and Andy helped out the older ones while Jess and I were able to catch up on old times.

Jessica was my best friend during my college years and the times we spent together were some of the most fun and memorable times of my entire life. She holds a very special and dear place in my heart and I thank God for her all the time!

After the beach, we all cleaned up and traveled up to League City for dinner. Here we were able to really catch up and on some levels get to know each other again. A lot changes in 7+ years of marriage and 2 kids each. It had been close to 3 years since we had seen each other last and both had a baby since then so this get together was monumental! We finished dinner and they headed back up North to OKC where they live.

While our time together was short lived this time, the memories we got to relive and the new memories we made with our husbands and families was priceless. I certainly hope it wont be another 3 years until we see each other again!

Jessica, I love you girl and thank you for our wonderful friendship! God Bless!

Thank You, Lord for my friend!

God is good... ALL the time!

Pure Joy

June 2013

Swing-set Fun

 

This month I received a small portion of my great-uncle's inheritance and wondered what to do with the monetary gift. I thought about it and came to the conclusion that I would use this money for my kids. Uncle OD was always so family oriented and although he never was able to meet Luke, he was able to meet Natalie and loved getting to see her! With this inheritance money, Chris and I purchased a new wooden swing-set for our kiddos.

 

I started shopping around towards the end of the school year and then Chris and I went and looked at some swing-sets that were already put together to see how it would look and fit in our backyard. After doing some major shopping and debating, we decided to go with a small swing-set from Toys-R-Us. This set had 3 slots for swing and 1 slot includes a glider swing. It also has an 8' Slide, a rock climbing wall, picnic bench and even a chalkboard landing.

 

Luke LOVES his swing and I am wondering where the "Automated" button is

After only 3 weeks of having this in our backyard, Mr. Luke has watched Natalie climb up the slide enough times to figure out how to do it himself!
Monkey see... MONKEY DO! It is too funny!

Luke looking out from the Landing!

 

 

It is the perfect little addition to our backyard and I know our kids will LOVE it! More importantly, I know Uncle OD would have loved knowing how he contributed to my family's happiness.

 

 

I love and miss you Uncle OD!

 

God is good... ALL the time!

Happy Birthday, Luke

Sunday, June 18, 2013

Let's Party- 1 year old style!

 

Luke's ACTUAL birthday on June 12, 2013

 

Yesterday we had Luke's First Birthday Party at our house for my parents, sister, My in-laws and Brother in-law and his wife. We all had a great time eating and fellow-shipping with each other but most of all celebrating BABY LUKE and his 1st year of life.

 

The boys relaxed and played with the dogs in the morning hours while all the ladies went over to Dan and Jackie's house to get Mary Kay make-overs with Leeanna. This was lots of fun to get a "new-do" and be able to show it off for the party and while family was in town.

 

For lunch we ordered pizza and was able to fellowship together by playing "Mexican Train" dominoes. This was always a pleasure since Chris and his brother John were playing and incorporating their "dry" sense of humor into the game. All in all, everyone had a great time.

 

After playtime, and nap time for Luke, it was time for PRESENTS! Luke got LOTS AND LOTS of gifts from Gigi and Grandpa and Gigi Shirley and Poppy too. Even the Aunts and Uncles had gifts for him. This little boy "CLEANED" up in the gift department. These are just SOME of the ones he got:

 

Luke's SPREAD of gifts BEFORE he opened them!

His John Deer tractor from Gigi Jackie and Grandpa!

His Ride-On Fire Truck from Gigi Shirley and Poppy!

His Basketball Goal from Gigi Shirley and Poppy!

 

 Luke's ENTIRE Spread of gifts... HE is ONE HAPPY BOY!

 

We had a good ol' fashioned BBQ for dinner with Hamburgers, Brats and Hot Dogs. Luke liked everything but the hamburger, which is odd since meat is his favorite food! After the main course we broke into the Birthday Cookie Cake and ICE CREAM. Oddly enough, Luke didn't really care for either of these but I guess that is good!

 

Chris was the GRILL MASTER for this party and he did an AMAZING JOB! Thanks Honey!

 

 

It was a wonderful day and I still am getting used to having a TODDLER in my house and not a little baby! He has really grown up these past 2-3 months and I know this will only increase in the near future!

 

I love you Luke and I cannot wait for the next 30 birthdays!

 

 

 

God is good... ALL the time!

My Growing Boy: Month 12

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LUKE!

It is hard to believe that this time last year I was waiting to be rolled into surgery to have Baby Luke, via C-Section! I was glowing with excitement to meet the boy I had waited for my entire adult life. I remember telling Chris right before they cut me open that no matter what, I was grateful to God for Chris and this baby! About 3 minutes later, Baby Luke graced this world with his presence and my life was forever changed!

Feeding

At this point, Luke is a BOY and eating too much like his daddy! He is no longer eating ANY TYPE of baby food and rarely eats items of food that we are not eating. He LOVES hot dogs and sandwich meats as well as lots of veggies and fruits. We have found that he is NOT a fan of fresh apples or bananas but LOVES most citrus fruits like oranges and lemons. He likes to try to eat the peel and all! He usually only eats scrambled eggs for breakfast or just dry cereal. We have not been able to get him to eat much of anything else for breakfast. Lunch and dinners are hot dogs or meats preceded by veggies. We have learned that if we feed him the meat first, he will not eat the greens (He is ALL boy!)

Sleeping

My little "Sleep Angel" is sleeping really well and taking 1-2 naps per day that last anywhere from 1 to 3.5 hours. He sleeps from around 8pm to 7-8 am each evening and is easily put down. Unlike Natalie, he does not mind being put into his crib without being rocked completely to sleep. In fact, I have found in these 1st summer weeks that depending on how tired he is, he actually LIKES to be put in his crib to fall asleep on his own!

Playtime

Again, Mr. Luke is ALL BOY... ALL THE TIME! He likes to play with the trucks and cars that Natalie has and also likes to play fetch with the play-balls we have! He also likes to running around and messing up pretty much everything around the house. He likes to "re-arrange" almost everything in my house! "Silly Luke"- As Natalie puts it! But WE LOVE HIM!

Today is Mr. Luke's first birthday and he is no longer a baby but a TODDLER! He has managed to roll-over, crawl, pull-up and even walk all before today and now even more than ever, I look into his eyes and see the little BOY I have wanted all my life. He is the most perfect little angel and I am FOREVER grateful for this gift God has blessed me with and I am so grateful he chose ME to be his mommy!

 

 

I love you Baby Luke!

Especially the past 365 days...

GOD IS GOOD... ALL THE TIME!

My Growing Boy: Month 11

May 12, 2013

Just one month away from the BIG Birthday

 

I cannot believe that in one short month my "Little Baby Luke" will be 1 year old. It is hard to imagine where the time has gone and how big and FAST my little guy has grown up! It seems like only yesterday I was holding my 8 pound baby for the first time! Now, that 8 pounds has nearly tripled and is walking, ha... practically running, all over my house! In less than 30 days I will have a toddler and it is only down hill from there!

 

Feeding

Luke has reached the point where he is just not interested or satisfied with Baby Food. Instead he stares and whines for "big people food". He will just watch us eat and then show us his sign for "More" and then basically cry til we give him OUR food. Right now his favorite food is hotdogs and deli meat. I swear he ate nearly 3 hotdogs the other day. He is still drinking about 20-26 ounces of formula each day and still taking it out of a bottle but we are working on transitioning to a sippy cup! He is drinking apple juice and Crystal Light lemonade from a sippy cup but for whatever reason he will NOT take his bottle from a sippy! I am afraid that is going to be a slow transition process!

 

Sleeping

Luke is still sleeping really well and averages 10-12 hours of sleep each night. Lately he has gotten real good at falling asleep on his own and often without having to have a bottle right before. Usually he falls asleep while I am rocking Natalie and even with the TV on and Chris and I talking he will fall asleep and we can take him to his crib without him waking up completely. This is SO DIFFERENT from Natalie at this age who had to be completely rocked to sleep in order to NOT throw a fit! Luke is so easy in this perspective.

 

Playtime

He is now a FULL TIME walker. In fact, he practically is running everywhere. The other day he tried to jump like Natalie and almost did. Lately he has been watching daddy, play the Wii and will try to run just like Daddy. He also will chase the dogs around the house. He has also just recently found out he can climb the stairs. Ha... This is a nightmare because even though he knows it is not good, he will grin at us and then run to the stairs and try to climb up them! Crazy little boy!

 

This 11th month of life has been monumental since he has transitioned from a Part-time walker/ crawler to a FULL TIME walker! He is so much more active than Natalie was. He is in to EVERYTHING! I think I will have to completely baby proof my house with this guy! I have tried to keep cabinets locked with basic rubber bands but I think I am going to have to take the time to install actual baby locks! He has slammed his fingers a few too may times!

 

In just 1 month he will be 1 year old and a toddler... WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE? I cannot wait to see him smash his little cake on his birthday!

 

I love you Luke... and here's to the last month of being a BABY!

 

God is Good... ALL THE TIME!

Career Crisis... Great is thy Faithfulness

June 17, 2103
God will ALWAYS provide

Today, after 2 long weeks of interviews and phone calls (within the same district) and nearly 3 months of job searching and interviewing in general, I was offered and accepted a teaching position within one of the most prestigious and sought- after districts in the North Houston Metro... Willis ISD.

The very last day of school at Spring, June 3, I received a call for an Middle School Band Job interview the next day and that went VERY well. So well, in fact, that I went on vacation that week thinking that Band Job was in my back pocket. The following week, June 11, I had a 2nd interview for that job and it was there that I realized that as much as I longed for a band job, the reality was my family may not be ready for this type of FULL-TIME job!

Elementary Music is a very limited "outside of the work day" type of gig and most people who know me and anything about band, know that teaching BAND is NOT so easy. Band jobs require nearly as many hours OUTSIDE of the school day as are in the ACTUAL school day. In the midst of this career crisis, I got a phone call from an elementary in Willis ISD. In fact, this particular school had not even posted the music position on the main HR website yet and they had already scheduled me an interview. I went to this interview on June 13 and it went VERY well too. Going into the summer months, my goal was to get a band job but since realizing that may not be in God's plan, my 2nd choice was to teach elementary music in this AMAZING district.

As I sat at home pondering and praying about my career options and choices I kept feeling torn between what I wanted and what I felt God was telling me HE wanted. I had not been offered ANY job yet but was told by the Head Band Director of the district that they would be making a decision soon regarding a candidate which led me to believe I was the #1 choice. I kept thinking "I really don't want to have to TURN DOWN my dream job but... I don't think it is the best for my family RIGHT NOW!" I would cry myself to sleep each night just thinking about it. This was seriously, exactly what I was looking for in a Band Job and as I mentioned before IN AN AMAZING DISTRICT! I prayed and prayed and CRIED AND CRIED about it but still felt God telling me that the band job was NOT "the one" for me. Finally, the Head Band Director called me to tell me they had hired someone who had been teaching 34+ years and I was not going to get that band job. As much relief as I felt to NOT HAVE TO TURN DOWN MY DREAM JOB, I still felt awful in knowing I didn't get the job and I was not the #1 choice. The Band Director told me that "Our paths will cross, again... TRUST ME". Little did I know at that time that he had talked to this Elementary Principal about me and knew I was getting the Elementary Music teaching position.

The following morning, the Elementary principal called and offered me the Elementary Music Teaching Position. I prayed about it overnight and called the following morning and accepted the job.

While this was not my 1st choice this particular year (or at least I didn't THINK SO)... It was GOD'S 1st Choice and while I still may feel a little defeated for not getting that or any BAND JOB, I know that there is a reason why I didn't get the job or any band job for that matter. I have always prayed and it is a life philosophy of mine that GOD IS IN CONTROL and ALL things work together for GOOD for those who are called according to his purpose!

I feel really good about this year and I cannot wait to start this new adventure. I have already begun creating lessons and curriculum's to help these kiddos and I know God has put me in this particular school and teaching position for a reason and I cannot wait to Glorify HIM through my daily job!

Thank You, Lord for your continued blessings and let me be a witness and example to these kids!

Even through a Career Crisis,  GOD IS GOOD... ALL THE TIME!

Still not good enough

Friday, May 17, 2013

I feel defeated

 

For the past 4 years, I have steadily been looking for a job and I hate that feeling and want it to end. In 2010-2011, I was looking for a job in Texas, anywhere in Texas, to move Chris and I from Shawnee, OK. In 2010, I was offered a job in Midlothian, TX but declined the offer because we just felt Houston was a better choice over the DFW metro area for our family needs. In 2011, after Chris accepted his new teaching position at Aldine ISD, I spent over 2 months looking for a job teaching band or elementary music. I accepted my current position in late June and felt as if it was all part of God's plan, and ours too, as we wanted to continue our family's growth and have a 2nd child. In June 2012, Baby Luke graced us with his presence and while I was going to stay at my current position so I could have some maternity leave in the fall of 2012, I was still on the look-out for any possible band positions since I knew that is where I wanted to eventually get back in! Now here I sit in the spring of 2013 still searching, at this point frantically, for a band job! I have a "To-Do" list EVERY SINGLE DAY that I check countless school district  and other websites for postings. I feel like I cannot even relax or enjoy the fact that it is May and the end of the school year is near because I am anxious about finding and locating a BAND job.

 

I went on an interview last week for Huntsville ISD. This was an interview for 1 of 2 jobs at the intermediate school. The interview went really well except for 1 area when the Head Band Director asked me what I knew about Huntsville and Sam Houston Music Department. I did not attend or graduate from Sam Houston so honestly I did not know very much about the university or its music department. It seemed as if several of the directors, presidents and other higher up people at Sam Houston had kids who were part of the band program at Huntsville so they wanted someone who was familiar with Sam Houston and its Fine Arts department. Despite having a MASTERS and 8 years of teaching experience, they went with 2 people straight out of college from Sam Houston.

Honestly, this is where my frustration and depression started. I feel like all the hard work I put into getting a Masters degree in 2009 is a "moo" point and not even appreciated. I feel like since I have not taught band in Texas and am not in band currently, many people are overlooking me and finding others who have that experience in Texas or are young enough that Head Directors can "MOLD" into their own liking. I get that feeling like "I am still not good enough"! What else can I do to get these jobs?

All of that frustration happened in mid-May and then last week I saw on Facebook that a friend/ colleague of mine from OU had been offered and accepted the Director of Bands Position at a major university in Oklahoma. This friend and I spent all of our undergraduate days together in Catlett and were pretty competitive with each other by nature. We even taught in the same region in Oklahoma and were colleagues for 5 years. He quit teaching and started working on his Masters in PERFORMANCE about 3 years ago. He had always wanted to perform and teach horn lessons and not so much band. We always joked that I could be the band director and he would teach applied lessons. While I did not know this Director of Bands Position was open and did not apply, as I saw the post and update on Facebook I immediately felt joy and happiness for him but selfishly I was jealous and frustrated. He never wanted the "Head College Band Director" gig I like did. I have always had a dream of doing this and there was my dream job just miles away from my home and I was not there to apply or even know about it!

I have always dreamed of being a "Big-Time" band director, teaching high school or college and here I sit just longing to teach ANY type of band. I feel so anxious and am yearning to be on the podium once more. I know I just have to relax and trust God to open the right door. But that is easier said than done!

 

I realize it is only May and several weeks remain in the prime time job hunt but I am feeling defeated and as if I will not be able to locate a band job. I have my name in several different schools and programs in the North Houston metro area but have yet to hear anything from any of them. Some of them have implied they may not interview until school in out (Second week of June) but I am getting restless.

 

I really REALLY want to teach band again and I feel as if that is where God has called me to be and teach. I am anxiously waiting for Him to open and close doors but once again, I am failing at the PATIENCE game. As my dad ALWAYS says, "This is a FAITH issue. Trust Him and He will do the rest". I do currently have a job and even though I am not satisfied with it and have basically become burnt out of teaching because of it, I do have a job so that is a good thing.

 

Please continue to pray for me as I strive to find a band teaching job. I pray that God will open my eyes to His plan and help me and guide me in the way HE wants me to go. I covet your prayers!

 

Even in a time of waiting...

GOD IS GOOD... ALL THE TIME!

Beach Day- May 2013

Saturday, May 25, 2013
First Family of Four Trip to the Beach
Stewart's Beach- Galveston Island, TX

What a wonderful and beautiful day to visit the beach. It was a nice 88* and the overcast and breeze made it a very pleasant experience. My Cousin, Curtis, and his family were visiting my mom and dad in Tyler and decided since they had never been to the beach before, they would travel down to Galveston on Saturday. Since they were practically driving right by our house and we only live less than 1.5 hours from the beach, we decided to trek on down there and enjoy the day with them.

It was so good to see Curtis and his family. I don't think I have seen them since October of 2010 at my grandmother's wedding. And before then it would have been my own wedding in March of 2006. It is hard to believe how big his kids have gotten. I realized that his kids were teenagers by pure mathematics but seeing them live and in person made me realize how old I was getting. I swear Tristan was just Natalie's age and Emilee was just a baby! That is how I remember them... WOW! They are not that small anymore. Tristan, and Emilee for that matter, were both taller than me and Tristan was creeping up on Chris and Curtis' heights! They both were so smart and bright and it was good to get to know them as teenagers. Shelly, Curtis' wife, was also a pleasure to talk to and I miss being able to talk to her on a frequent basis. Curtis and I were the oldest of all the grandchild on my mom's side and we kinda always had a special bond because of this! I miss seeing and talking to him too!

Daddy and Luke at the beach

While at the beach, Natalie and Luke once again showed how different they really are. Chris and I predicted that since Luke was so active and mobile he would LOVE the water and the waves. We took Natalie to Galveston for the first time when she was this age and she went CRAZY! She could not walk by herself yet but she LOVED the waves and water and we practically had to pry her away!


Luke... was not like that at all. When we first arrived he was enjoying the sand but as soon as we took him out to the water, he hated it! I think he was scared and not sure what was going on. He likes the water in the bath at our house but at Gigi Shirley's house and anywhere else he hates bath. Still Chris and I figured he would love the beach and I even imagined me having to chase him down the beach. Instead he was a little frightened by the water, but he did love the sand. Once we fed him and got him all sunscreen-ed up, he was ready to go. He did however like to eat the sand toys. He had one shovel in particular that he seemed to want to always have in his hands and mouth.

Luke eating the sand toys!

 

Luke LOVED playing the sand!

 

Luke trying to help Tristan build a sand castle

 

While we all stopped to eat lunch, Luke decided he would have a ham SANDwich! He took his ham and shoved it in his mouth like usual but when it hit the ground, that was ok to him, he just picked it up and continued to eat it! This drove me crazy but the more I tried to keep everything nice and clean, the more things went wrong and he would just continue to cry and whine. Chris said to just "let him be a boy" and as soon as I did this, all was well. He ventured over to our snack bag and got out the Oreos and starting running down the beach as if he knew he had stole them. I opened them and gave him one and that too was almost immediately covered in sand! None the less, he LOVED it!

Luke eating the Oreo he tried so hard to get

He started digging in the sand with Tristan and Poppy and loved tearing up sandcastles after Natalie put them together!

Poppy and his grandkids playing in the sand

 

Luke playing in the sand!

Natalie on the other hand had the TIME OF HER LIFE! She loved playing the sand more than usual and was able to fill the sand buckets and actually create a sandcastle. She also learned from Cousin Curtis that she could be buried in the sand. And of course, against all of mommy's wishes, she asked Daddy and Gigi Shirley to bury her in the sand at the end of the trip! Her and Gig had so much fun out in the ocean chasing the waves and screaming at them as they came in. I remember the one and only time I went out into the ocean with Chris. I kept hearing her scream and I wanted to go and check on her but this was a fun scream. She absolutely LOVED it! In fact, on our way out she said "Mommy, I want to come back for my birthday!" She loves the beach and will forever be my BEACH BABY!

Natalie and Gigi Shirley in the ocean

 

Natalie playing in the sand and building sandcastles

 

Daddy and Gigi Shirley burying Natalie in the sand

 

Mission Complete! Natalie is buried in the sand!

 

 

 

Chris and I too had fun but despite me being a crazy anal mom about putting sunscreen on my kids, I failed to put enough on myself. I used a small amount from the last of 1 tube of sunscreen on my left shoulder and back but failed to go and get the new tube and re-apply to my right side and even apply a 2nd coat. After about 3 hours, I could feel the heat coming from the top half of my body! At this point, it was too late! The DAMAGE was done! I am a LOBSTER on my shoulders and top of my back! Even though I stayed under the umbrella 60% of the time, I am still feeling the burn. I think it is going to be a long road to recovery! NOT FUN!

I think for future trips to the beach we will invest in a large "Tail-gating" canopy and camping chairs. This will give us plenty of sun coverage as well as seating for numerous people. We spent $60 on rentals for 4 chairs and 2 beach umbrellas but the cost of the canopy and other minor supplies would balance that out and pay for itself within 1 trip! I think with the BEACH BABY in Natalie and the SAND GNAT in Luke, we will need to make these investments!

We had a great time with Family and hope to be able to come back soon!

 

 

GOD IS GOOD... ALL THE TIME!

My Growing Boy: Month 10

Friday, April 12, 2013

 

It is hard to believe that in 2 short months I will have a 1 YEAR old! It seems as if only yesterday I was holding my tiny little baby boy for the first time. God has blessed me so much these past 10 months and I cannot wait to see how He will continue to bless my family and I the following 10 years and then some!

 

As always, Mr. Luke has been on the move and in to trouble this past month! That is just going to be his personality, I'm sure! This month he took his first steps on his own and has been crawling to the stairs to try to climb up! He loves crawling over there and then screaming until you come and see what's going on then smiling and grinning with excitement like "Haha... look mom, I made you look!" He is such a little stinker!

 

Feeding
This particular month, more than previous months, he has looked more at the food we and especially Natalie are eating and crying til we give him some. He loves our crackers and breads. I just recently tried to give him deli meat and tiny bites of hot dogs! He loved both of those and would just grin and grin eating "Big People" food! Either way, he is still eating us out of house and home. I have to send 2+ containers of baby food to school each day and in the evenings he will eat 3 containers of food at dinner and then a LARGE bowl of rice cereal before we put him to bed! I have to wonder if he is still only in the 30% for weight! I am sure he has gained some ground there because he is eating and eating and EATING!

 

Sleeping

He still LOVES his swing to sleep in and we have been having a hard time trying to get him to nap in his crib! He is improving nightly with sleeping in his crib during the night but he doesn't want ANYTHING to do with it during the day! In fact, the past week I have been able to put him down while he is still awake or half-asleep and he will cry maybe 10 seconds and then go to sleep on his own. This is the exact OPPOSITE of what Natalie used to do. Haha... we had to Ferberize her! I am hoping he wont force us to do that with him! He still naps 2-3 times a day but again, they are in the swing. I am hoping between us and MDO we can get him to start sleeping in his crib for all his naps!

 

Playtime
Since he has taken steps on his own now, he wants more and more to follow Natalie and chase her around. He loves her SO much and wants to be with her ALL THE TIME! Natalie will be doing a puzzle with Chris or I and Luke will come over and just destroy it. Natalie of course then cries and Luke just looks at her and laughs... But then he starts to cry too! Chris and I each take a child and within minutes they are ok but it is amazing how much Luke wants to be with and be LIKE Natalie! I cannot wait to see what this sibling relationship will be like when they are bigger!

 

I am so very blessed and I thank God for His blessings each and every day! I have always dreamed of having a little boy and girl but NEVER in my wildest dreams did I expect these perfect angels! I am so very lucky! Two months from now we will be celebrating Luke's first year of life and looking back at how far he has come in the past year! I think we need to slow down a little bit PLEASE!

 

God is good... ALL THE TIME!

Mother's Day 2013

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mother's Day 2013

 

 

Today marks my 4th Mother's Day and once again, I am reminded of how blessed I really am. This morning Baby Luke was dedicated at Mims Baptist Church and this was a very special in my family's lives. It brings me back to 5+ years ago when I sat in church nearly in tears longing for a baby! In fact, Bro. Gene preached from a passage that became the backbone of my prayer life in 2008!

 

The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth was proving to be more and more true of Chris and I (Except for the old age... we were still "young" but seemed to be getting old with each passing cycle and no baby) and we would read and review this passage numerous times daily as a reminder of God's continued faith! This story is found in Luke 1:

 

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. ⁷ But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

 

¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

 

I kept thinking "Lord, you provided these two Godly people with a child. Why cant you provide me with a  child?" Selfishly, I was thinking about me and my happiness and as most people, even the best of Christians do this, I was also thinking about MY TIME and not God's Time!

 

The time had passed and it had been over a year since Chris and I started "trying". I remember this day like it was yesterday. I had become more and more discouraged as each month came and went and no pregnancy. It was early October on a Sunday morning and I had just completed playing the church orchestra. Bro. Todd Fisher was preaching a sermon on "The right way to pray" and as a preacher's kid, I naturally thought "yeah, I have heard this one before" and started to drift away during his sermon. God immediately pulled me into this sermon with an illustration by Bro. Todd. My hardened heart was being molded in the next to last row of the auditorium and tears began to fall from my cheeks as he continued to preach. I remember Chris just reaching over and holding my hand and putting his arm around me not even knowing why I was crying. Bro. Todd continued the sermon and each word that came out of his mouth seemed as if he was speaking directly to ME!  I remember bowing on my knees there in my pew during the invitation and I could literally hear God's small voice tell me "Kellie, keep the faith! I will take care of you." He never told me I would have a child but He told me to "Keep the Faith". These words really spoke to me and I left that worship service completely changed.

 

Another month's cycle came and went and still no pregnancy but this time I was not as depressed as usual and I continued with my daily and weekly routine with no emotional issue. I kept replaying God's small voice words in my head and this helped me get through the day! Chris and I continued to pray numerous times daily and I continued to read the passage above and know that He would take care of me! In November of 2008, we found out that after 15 months of "trying to conceive" we were pregnant with Natalie Grace.

Natalie Grace Davis- August 25, 2009
One of the GREATEST days of my life...

 

I sat in the service yesterday, May 12, 2013 and cried as Bro. Gene read from this passage and spoke of being a "Good Ol' Fashioned Mom". I remember wanting a child so badly those 4-5 years ago and here I sit on my 4th Mother's Day having just dedicate my SON to The Lord for a good Christian upbringing! That Sunday morning in October of 2008 as I sat there and heard the voice of The Lord speak to me "I will take care of you", I never imagined this beautiful life as a mother and I am eternally grateful to Him for allowing me to be Natalie Grace and David Luke's Mom!

David Luke Davis- June 12, 2012
A moment I had waited for SO LONG!

 

I have now dedicated both of my children to The Lord and I have made a commitment to be the best Christian Mother I can be! I will continue to need help and guidance from The Lord to help me be the best I can be but I know He will Take Care of Me!

 



 

 

Thank you Lord, for your continued blessings! This has been the best Mother's Day yet!

 

I LOVE YOU NATALIE AND LUKE!

 

 

God is Good... ALL THE TIME!

Top Ten Things I Learned From Traveling with Little Kids

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

This past weekend Chris, the kids and I met up with some Oklahoma friends in San Antonio for their Spring Break. This was only the 2nd family vacation we have taken and the 1st trip to have taken with Luke. Approximately 2 years ago after moving to Texas in June of 2011, Chris and I decided to try to take a "Family Vacation" to San Antonio with Natalie. This was a complete and utter diaster. She was not even 2 years old yet and she was OUT OF CONTROL! She had a temp-tantrum in the San Antonio Zoo that was just epic! She also didn't do well with the typical tourist attractions in San Antonio like the Alamo and the Riverwalk.

Despite that vacation record, we decided Natalie had grown up a lot and we REALLY wanted to see our friends. This quick- QUICK 48 hour trip turned out to be AMAZING and a blast. I am so glad we decided to go ahead and meet our friends.

I did learn a few things though:

10. When having to use baby food... Jar Food is better.
The 1st evening and day we were using the plastic containers that come in 2-packs. Then after an entire container spilt all over the back seat and diaper bag, we went to Wal-Mart and decided to get the jars that had screw-on lids! I swear this was just pure genius!

9. Don't forget the DIRTY CLOTHES bag!
Haha... So we already had a TON of stuff with a baby and two kids but after the 2nd night we realized we didn't have a large bag for all the dirty clothes. With Luke contributing several dirty clothes from blowouts, it would have been nice to have a plastic bag for those and some way to keep those nasty clothes from our remaining clean clothes.

8. Don't detail your car until after the trip!
This is a "DUH" thing I know but I spent a lot of time the previous week leading up to the trip cleaning out my car and getting it ready for our trip. I vacuumed and Armoral-ed all over the place and even went to the car wash to get it detailed further. We had not even reached San Antonio before there were cracker and chip crumbs everywhere and a container of baby food had stained my seats! I think next time I will just tidy it up and leave the real cleaning and detailing til AFTER the trip!

7. Sometimes McDonald's just isn't worth it!
Having traveled with my family my entire life, I was brought up to eat snacks in the car and way back in the day my family would not even stop to eat fast food. Instead, we would buy bread and peanut butter and jelly supplies and make sandwiches on the road. I use to hate this because I wanted to eat out, especially McDonald's for breakfast! However, it was on this trip that I discovered (Well... I should say I was REMINDED) that McDonald's is just terrible and should be avoided at all costs! We stayed at a hotel that did not have breakfast so both mornings we had to stop and get breakfast for all of us. We ate at Sonic on the first day but on the second day on our way to the Safari, we saw a McDonald's and decided to stop and get breakfast. WHAT A MISTAKE! The service was AWFUL and the food wasn't any better. I guess my Dad WAS right... NEVER EAT AT MCDONALDS! Thanks dad! I will remember next time!

6. A Hotel is just a place to sleep.
Our friends from Oklahoma had originally asked us to stay with them on the River walk at a very extravagant hotel and was pretty pricey per night. Having not stayed with Luke in a hotel situation I was very hesitant to pay that kind of money to stay with a newborn. I remember Natalie as a young child in a hotel room and I wanted to PULL OUT MY HAIR! We decided to stay at a Red Roof Inn close to the airport. My dad also taught me that if you are going to stay in a cheaper hotel, at least stay near the airport because those hotels are usually nicer! I looked and looked and looked and finally found one that was recently remodeled and still under $100 a night! Again, I didn't know what to expect. It turned out that this was a hotel that worked well for our family! I do think next time we stay in San Antonio we will stay closer to all the amenities, however! It did NOT have breakfast so that too became and added expense and hassle! But overall, it worked for the reason we needed it... TO SLEEP!

5. In Texas... Vacations are ALWAYS better when it is not as hot!
Nearly 2 years ago, Chris and I took Natalie to San Antonio in late July and that was just a nightmare. She is naturally hot natured (Just like her Mama and Poppy) but this was just ridiculous! She was sweating and getting so hot she would need to be held all the time! We tried to go on a river boat tour on the Riverwalk and she just screamed and screamed and screamed! That was in July... This time around, in March, she and all 4 of the kids were just fine! It was very pleasant at only 80* most of the time! We did the Kiddie Park and it too was very nice and pleasant! I don't think I will do San Antonio in July again! Whew... it was too hot!

4. Don't Let Mommy (Kellie) feed the Zebras
So on Sunday before we headed home to Houston, we stopped in New Braunsfel at a Drive-Thru Safari. We figured Natalie would just love it! SHE DID! We reached a point in the Safari of feeding the Zebras and a sign said "Don't let the Zebras eat from your hand... THEY WILL BITE". I immediately got a little nervous since we had been holding our hand out the entire tour until then. Chris had Natalie in his lap first and he continued to hold his hand out for the animals to eat from. Sure enough, a Zebra bit him! This scared me so when the zebras came to me I still placed my hand out the window to allow them to eat from my hand but I was nervous! One Zebra came and ate and did not bite but I only had a handful in my hand. The rest was still in the bag in my lap! Like any other animal of the wild, he smelt the rest of the food in my lap and reached his head into our car and took the entire bag. I think I had a "My life just flashed before my eyes" type of moment. Natalie started immediately crying and said "The Zebra took all the rest of our food". Poor Natalie was so upset. Luckily, we had 2 more bags of food for the rest of the Safari. I get freaked out by big animals and obviously I should NOT feed Zebras!

3. Having an older child around to help is AMAZING!
Natalie Grace was so AWESOME on this trip! Seriously, looking back on our previous trip to San Antonio when Natalie was 22 months old was so depressing going into this trip! On that trip Natalie was very needy and cling-y and was constantly fussy! Now as mentioned above, it was 110+* in San Antonio and this was our first trip as a family (As parents!) but I was very nervous going into this trip remembering that trip. It turns out that taking a baby or a toddler on vacation BY YOURSELF is HARD but when a young child is available to help AND ENTERTAIN the baby... it is pretty easy and FUN! Natalie Grace was a life-saver at some moments on the trip! She would go and help entertain Luke while we paid for a food bill. She would also help keep him entertained and HAPPY on the car trip! She was able to ride in the stroller or walk along side us! She even helped out with our friends' 2 year old and baby! Thank you Natalie Grace! This makes me want to do it AGAIN!

2. I need a BIGGER car!
Our poor Small SUV was loaded to the ground with all the stuff you need for a baby and a toddler. Chris and I had to practically share a suitcase just to have room for all the gear and equipment needed for a family of two small children. Plus we needed snacks and  a cooler for the car. It felt as if we were actually moving to San Antonio at some points of the trip! I know Chris likes NOT HAVING a car payment but I am thinking that if we are going to take anymore family vacations, WE NEED A BIGGER 3rd row SUV!

1. A Family Vacation is ABOUT THE KIDS!
I think one of the things we did wrong on the 1st trip in 2011 was trying to meet the needs of Chris and I... Not of Natalie. This time we realized that this "Family" vacation was about our kids! For example, as soon as we got to the hotel and got our stuff unloaded Natalie was so Excited! SHE WENT CRAZY! She started chasing Luke around and just having fun! The OCD person in me kept wanting to get the suitcases unloaded and other stuff ready for the next day and get on to her and tell her to settle down. Instead I was just let her run around and get her energy out! She wanted to have fun and she has stayed in hotels with Gigi Shirley and Poppy numerous times so she was just having fun! Luke loved it and was belly-laughing frequently. Both nights were like this and it was fun! We also planned our activities to meet the kids needs! We ate pizza instead of a nice sit-down Mexican restaurant. We went to the Kiddie Park and Safari instead of spending tons of time at the Riverwalk! This allowed it to be a memorable experience for Natalie! Despite this being "ABOUT THE KIDS" I still had a ton of fun! I think it was because I got rid of my "All Serious, All the Time" attitude and started to act like a kid! Thanks Chris for helping me get into this "MODE"!

Our mini-vacation to San Antonio was really fun and I hope to be able to meet up with our friends from Oklahoma ANNUALLY to see each other and watch our kids grow! We really miss y'all and are so glad we got together!

God is good... ALL the time!

Beginning to Feel the BURN

Thursday, April 25, 2013

 

When we think of how our life, career and dreams will pan out, we often think of all the wonderful things that will happen to us and never really think of the reality. This is probably why there are millions of people in the world suffering from depression (One of the many reasons, I'm sure!). But then again, who really wants to think of the bad things or "REAL" things that might happen.

 

I have been performing music since I was 5 years old. I have always had a knack and talent for music and I knew at a VERY early age that music was going to be a big part of my life. In fact, I figured out when I was only a freshman in high school that I wanted to be a teacher, a band director specifically.

 

I was VERY ACTIVE in sports, clubs and pretty much everything in Junior High and High School but through all the things I did, I never received the personal attention and care that I needed and DESERVED until I was in band. I was part of the volleyball, basketball and many other sports teams where I was just part of the team but the coach or sponsor never really focused on me. When I was in band as a 6th through 8th grader just learning how to play the saxophone my band directors would stay late into the afternoon to help me and some of my peers. They would help use learn songs we were playing in band class as well as help us prepare for other solo performing opportunities. Often times when my dad would come and pick me up from the band hall, all of the other teachers were long gone and sometimes even the principals and administration would be gone as well. My band teachers really took the time to help their students. I learned as a freshman in high school as my Volleyball coach left in her convertible before my dad even picked me up from a 4:30 practice that I wanted to take the time to help students just like my band director did. He had touched my life and made me feel like somebody important, just by being there for me and taking the time to HELP me. I knew right then and there that I was supposed to do that too.

 

From that day forward, I have had the blinders on and been on what I thought would be a path towards greatness in a career of Music Education. I went to OU in Norman, OK and was so determined to "get out there" and teach band that I took a 140+ credit hour degree that is usually completed in 5+ years and gradated in 4 years. In fact I was one of only a handful of OU Music Ed graduates EVER to do so. I just wanted to teach SO BAD!

 

I graduated from OU in May of 2005 and in June I was offered a job teaching at "Smalltown" , OK (Name to remain secret...). I would be teaching K-12 Music and Band. I was THE music department. It was a very small class C school in Eastern Oklahoma with an entire school enrollment of only 400. I taught elementary music, beginning band, intermediate band, marching band and even Jazz Band. But even after just 1 year, I was wanting more from my career and wanted to get closer to my home of Norman, OK. I got married in the spring of 2006 and in June 2006 I was offered a new job at a small school in a suburb of OKC.

 

I stayed at that job for 5 years and while there I had many emotions about the position itself as well as my career. There were days where I was elated with excitement about teaching elementary music and middle school band there and then there were days where, once again, I was left with a  desire with wanting more with my Music Education career. After my 4th year of teaching there, I tried to look for a job teaching High School Band so I could get that much needed experience of Marching Band. In 2008-2009, I decided to go ahead and start my graduate degree and attained a Master's of Music in 2009. At this time I still wanted to one day be able to teach at the collegiate level and get a PhD in Music or Music Education.

 

In 2009 I was blessed with our beautiful daughter Natalie Grace and my momentum took a slight turn as my heart was more with Natalie than with my career. But even with my blinders taken off for a short amount of time while she was a baby, I still desired to do more with my career. In 2009, Chris was laid-off from his business job and we began down a long road to where we are today. I continued to teach at that small school in the OKC suburbs during 2009-2011 and those turned out to be the best years of my career. I was awarded "Teacher of the Year" for my school and even "Teacher of Today" for my county! Even though I was not at a large high school teaching Marching Band like I wanted I was still make an impact on the students lives at my school and I was still doing what I LOVE... Teaching BAND!

 

In 2010, Chris changed careers and he too got into education. I think he has a gift for teaching and he does really well with kids. Within a few months of searching for a job in Math, Chris was offered a job teaching HS Algebra at a LARGE district in the Houston metro area. And just like that my "perfect" little job of teaching band had disappeared. I had wanted all my life to come back to Texas and teach band and now, even though I was FINALLY content were I was in MY CAREER, I would  get the chance to do so.

 

In the summer of 2011 I was on a mad hunt for a band job in the Houston Metro area. I went on several interviews and some of them were very promising. Some were going to be a haul of a commute (1.5+ hours each way) but I would be teaching band. In late June I decided that I was more "marketable" in Elementary Music since I didn't have that much needed Marching Band experience. Within days of applying for Elementary Music positions, I was offered 5 different interviews and 3 jobs. My current job was offered to me only 3 hours after the interview. Clearly, I was correct in making myself marketable in Elementary Music. Luckily, I took the job I am currently at and I have LEARNED a lot!

 

However, my heart is still with band and I really, REALLY want to get back into the performance side of Music Education. I have taught Elementary music at EACH AND EVERY one of my jobs and positions over the past 8 years but my heart has still been with band. During the previous 2 years, I have discovered that I still long to be in the band directors chair. That is where my PASSION is.

 

I have been job hunting for the past 4 years in a row... each year looking for band jobs. I know and realize that the band jobs usually don't come open until late in the game (Late April until June) but as I sit here and reflect my current state of emotions I feel defeated as I only see 2 band jobs posted and they are already full. Even with a Master's degree, I have been over-looked in these positions. I am so discouraged with my current position and depressed that I have even looked at other Elementary Music positions and of the 4 I have seen available I have been over-looked there too.

 

I realize it is VERY early in the Job-Hunting game but I feel as if I am in a deep hole that I may not be able to climb out of. My hopes and dreams of teaching collegiate band have LONG vanished and I have settled in the head and dreams for just teaching HS band and now I am so discouraged and depressed, I just want to teach BAND... I don't care what level, I just want BAND!

 

As a Music Education student (Heck, even a regular Education student) they would warn us about the dreaded "Burn-Out". They would say "The first 5 years are always the hardest and once you get past those you should be fine". I am currently in my 8th year of teaching and for the first time EVER I am beginning to feel the BURN. I LOVE music and I LOVE kids and I want to be able to combine the two but somewhere along the way (In the past 2 years especially)... my passion has diminished. For example, I am currently taking 15 minutes out of my designated 45 to teach math or reading on a daily basis! My personal Music Ed philosophy is based around performance and I believe students learn best by doing. I am just NOT getting that from my current position. I could go into much greater detail about my current frustrations but that is not necessary to understand my frustrations and sadness to the whole situation.

 

I went on an interview last week and the results did not turn out how I had hoped or even imagined but I know everything happens for a reason. As always, I know God is trying to teach me something from this happening in my life, unfortunately, I just don't know what He is trying to teach me.

 

As a 16-17 year old I dreamed of a life with a big happy family (That part came true... I love you Chris, Natalie and Luke) and myself being a band director and living the "Good Life". Over the past 8 years that dream has drifted further and further away and I feel as if right now that dream has almost vanished. I have such mixed feelings and emotions about the whole situation and I currently don't even know how or what to feel. I covet your prayers...

 

 

Even in the midst of this trial...

 

GOD IS GOOD... ALL THE TIME!