What a couple of Smarty- Pants!!

Reese and Cole made Honor Roll this quarter and we are very proud of them! Cole was honored with a breakfast at school, and Reese had an honors assembly which Barry attended and got this smiley picture!!

(I think the kid behind Reese was about to attack him for the certificate ??!!!)

Please pray for my friend, Julie. She is having a tough time with her son's health, and has had a really rough past year and a half. She was in the process of finding a new place to live that would be better for her son's allergies than their current older home. Then, late last night, her home caught fire, and they are currently staying with her parents!! They are safe, and thank God for that, but she is understandably discouraged by the seemingly endless string of bad luck! Pray for her strength and courage, although I think she does an awesome job of being strong and courageous already...we all need the Lord's help sometimes!

Happy Valentine's Day, my darling B!!! We are an old married couple now- EIGHT MONTHS this weekend..and you still haven't run screaming!
I love you more than you will ever know. You are my rock, my best friend, and my heart's desire. Words cannot express what you have done for me. Whether we're dancing, parenting, eating, folding clothes, kissing, laughing, or having a surprise adventure you always give me butterflies. Thank you for taking care of us. This is my dreamlife..I love you, my tenderly drowsy husband!

Here are quotes from our wedding...the happiest day of my life.


A man admires a woman not for what she says, but what she listens to.
A man reserves his true and deepest love not for the species of woman in whose company he finds himself electrified and enkindled, but for that one in whose company he may feel tenderly drowsy. Author: George Jean Nathan

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.
Author: Antoine de Saint Éxupéry

Doubt thou the stars are fire; doubt that the sun doth move; doubt truth to be a liar;but never doubt I love you.I love thee, I love but thee with a love that shall not die. Till the sun grows cold and thestars grow old.William Shakespeare

Song of Solomon 8:6-7“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.”

fun goings- on

We have had so much fun lately! Last weekend, we went to the Natural Science Center. Yesterday, we went to a Chinese New Year celebration downtown, and spent a long time at Artquest. I thought you may enjoy these pictures from those outings. We love you!!

Here is Cole making a Chinese paper ornament...them making friends with a wallaby!

Barry made this scuplture at Artquest... Reese was "attacked" by a T- Rex...both boys build towers taller than they are!!

This is actually Barry in a traditional Chinese Lion costume! He wanted to wear it to church, but I didn't think you could until after Memorial Day...?

all is well

Mom came out of surgery fine, and is sleeping as of 4pm. Thank you for praying!

news

Congratulations to my oldest and dearest friend, Brandy...she's getting married!! The wedding will be in September at the Outer Banks and I am so excited for her!!!!!!!! I am currently at work choosing a "first dance" song to sing for them....maybe "Bootylicious" or "U Remind Me of My Jeep"...??
Mom has surgery scheduled for her foot this Tuesday. Please pray for relief for her nervousness and a speedy recovery! She's not the best at resting and taking it easy (yes, I know it's crazy), so recovery will be boring and difficult for her!! We trust God will take care of her.
I have started teaching my After School students street tap, jitterbug, and Shim- Sham (an old line dance from 1930's!!) They are doing great and I'm having a blast! There will be a performance in February for Black History Month, so I'm busy at work on that.
True is the Star Student this week at school. He got into some trouble with the "law" last week and was charged with Excessive Talking, but has apparently been rehabilitated enough to receive this honor - yay!
Reese started his AL classes, and he loves the teacher! She sent me an email saying he was a sweetheart, and that is a true blessing because his classroom teacher is not the warmest of ladies and has not seen the good in Reese this year. He likes school, but he has needed a boost like this!
Cole is working out with Barry three nights a week and getting ready for baseball. His recent standardized test scores were the highest in his grade, but don't mention it to him because he says it's embarrassing to be singled out for smartness. I pointed out that it is more embarrassing to be singled out for dumbness...
Barry and I are having a quiet week compared to last week...and that's just fine. We have to rest up for the next surprise adventure!!
Have a wonderful day and count your blessings.