Brayden's Name Gallary!!!

Our dear friends Jake and Michelle Zieg experience great loss last June 2008. Their 17 month old son was called home after a sudden tragedy. Our hearts have been so heavy for them and have tried to support them any way we can. Michelle decided to do a "Brayden Name Gallary".

She has gotten a lot of picture and they were so creative. My son, Davis was only two days younger then Brayden and we are so sad that he is not going to grow up with his buddy, Brayden. Here is the picture that Davis send to the Zieg's

Davis in Concert!!!

Davis wanted to show off all the songs that he knows. Isn't he sooo cute!!!

School Field Trip!!!

Today I took my last school field trip for some time. It is bitter sweet!!! I have decided to stop teaching for a season and focus on other things like my Family, and church responsibilities (not just my official role at the church but my role as a pastor's wife). I am going to miss teaching but I am very excited to start a new chapter of my life. As long as I am touching the lives of children, I am doing what I am called to do!!

Our field trip was to the Washington DC ZOO. The kids had a blast and we had so many parent chaperones. I was able to take my son and he was so happy to be a part of our outing.




Davis has so many caretakers at school. He is so popular!!! He was on the phone taking to his Titi 'lyssa telling her what he saw at the zoo.

Noah's Ordination

Today I was so blessed t0 be a part of my husband's ordination. I am so proud of what Noah has accomplished so far in our 7 years of marriage. In 2004, we sensed God's calling to serve at CCF in full time ministry. Even though Noah felt called, it hasn't been a "bed of roses". We have experienced....

• hurt
• pain
• confusion
• frustration

At times we have wondered...

• Why the struggles?
• Did we miss God?
  
• Are we a fit here?
• Why aren't we liked here?
• Why is ministry so difficult and hurtful?
  

Then we relied on the the call and pressed on and now...

• We understand why we were called.
• We love the CCF body to pieces!!
• God is moving in our church and in the lives of the people.
• We believe we are here for a long time.

Today was the day that Noah and I could commit further to the call to full time ministry. I believe that God has amazing plans for my husband and the things that he and I have gone through, is getting us ready for what God has for us. Today I quoted the song from the movie "Cars," "Life is a highway, I'm gonna ride it all night long." I shared that I am so honored to be on the ride with Noah and that I am ready for whatever life brings and I will "ride it all night long!!!"

"Noah, I love you and I am so proud to be called your wife. You have grown leaps and bounds and you are an amazing son, brother, husband, father, pastor, and friend. You touch so many lives and I want to continue to walk beside you and support you with all that I am.."

Noah posted a video that was shown in the service today. Click here to check it out!

Mine!!!

Why do children think everything is theirs? They see something and they automatically say "MINE." When they see another child with a toy they want, they don't ask for it or wait for the child to be done, they just say,"mine" and snatch it away. Then the crying begins and when you get the toy back more crying happens and all you here is " MINE, MINE, MINE." Can you relate?!?!

I have a two year old that is having a hard time sharing and he thinks everything is his and that he has the right to have whatever he wants whenever he wants it. Help!!! How can we help him share his toys and have more patience?

Leave a comment!!!

Muffin and Mug

Just a reminder to all my readers that Muffin and Mug ( Our woman's ministry) is this Saturday at 9:30am at my home. We will be having breakfast, fun, a devotion and rolling out the new face of Woman's Ministry. Please try to come and I promise you God has something for you.

Friendship

"A friend loves at all time.." (Proverbs 17:17)

Today I had chapel at my school. I love the opportunity to talk to the students at my school. A lot of our kids do not come from Christian homes or attend church. Every Tuesday the students are given the opportunity to worship God and hear His word.

This morning I brought in my favorite teddy bear. Yes, Tricia still has a teddy bear, and don't lie most of you do too!!! I have had lots of teddy bears or stuffed animals in my life. I gave an opportunity for some of the kids to share about their favorite stuffed animal. Then I began to share about three special ones in my life.

1. I had a stuffed doll that had a shirt that said, "You're so lovable." This was the last thing that my (birth) mom gave me before she died. She gave it to me because it reminded her of me because I was so lovable. I loved that doll!!! I took her everywhere and I slept with her every night. I had her the morning I learned that my mother had passed away. I held that doll like it was my link to my mom. Several months later, our house burned down and I lost her. That was a sad day.

2. I was then given a bunny stuffed animal that I slept with every night. On nights that I was scared or lonely, I would hug it and pretend that I was hugging my mom or sometimes I would pretend that I was hugging Jesus. The bunny needed to be sewn several times until it was so destroyed that I had to get rid of it. After that I didn't hold on to a stuffed animal so much ( they were more for decoration).

3. My husband gave me my last stuffed animal when we were dating. I was in my sophomore year of college and he gave it to me as we parted for the summer. Little did he know that I really needed a stuffed animal again. When I left for college, I started breaking down some walls that I had put up and with each day more hurt would come to the surface. There were many nights that I would lay in my dorm room feeling scared and alone. I know this is going to sound stupid, but I used to hold onto my bear and ask God to hold me through this bear. I would hold on for dear life and the next thing I would remember was my alarm going off in the morning.

I was so thankful for all my stuffed animals!!!!

I explained to the kids that when I was younger I thought I needed my stuffed animal to talk to and hear my problems because I felt safe doing that, but God is safe too. As I got older I knew that God was my special friend who will always listen to me. And like a loving teddy bear, God loves me no matter what I say or do.

Did you have a favorite stuff animal? Leave a comment!!!

Kids are so funny!!!

So here is a picture of church friends with their dogs....

This is what Davis said, "Daddy can DayDay ride on the horse now?" Kids!!! lol

Ocean City Baby!!!!

This weekend, we took a 24hr vacation to Ocean City, Maryland. We had a blast!!! Here are some pictures.

Davis is trying to get use to the sand. It was a bit Cold!!!!

Hey, come back!!!

Naylin and Davis are sharing a little hug in the middle of throwing sand at each other!

"Cheese!"

We are on top of a play castle.

Selah and Naylin

Davis is in a really big tire!!

Davis loves playing in the pool with his daddy!!!

Anthony is having a blast!!!!

They were out like a light. It was a good thing because the hotel thought it would be a fun thing to wake us all up at 5am. The whole hotel was able to take a field trip outside in the cool morning spring air. All for a smoking Coke machine. How rude!!!!

We had a great bike ride. What a work out!!! lol

Davis had the time of his life go-kart racing with his daddy!!!

Don't you think Davis had a great time?!?!?!

TGIF!!!!

I am so glad it is Friday!!! My students we driving me crazy this week. When my students return from a school break they...

Somehow forgot the classroom rules.
They forget the morning routines.
They are less focus on schoolwork and more on their friends.
They cling more to me.

Don't get me wrong I love getting hugs from my first graders, but they feel the need to hang all over me. Today I took a half day so the Kaye/Hunt household could head to the beach. Instead of my students being excited about going to lunch and recess, they were more concerned that I was not going to be here when they came back inside. This is what I got: "Mrs. Kaye, we don't want you to leave." "Please don't go." "Can you come back before school is out." We are going to miss you."

Man, talk about guilt!!! If I didn't have people waiting for me I would have stayed. I never thought I would say this (because of the year I had) but I am truly going to miss them next school year. I have come to admire and love all 14 of my students. They drive me crazy most of the time but they are soooo cute!!!!

Here is a taste on how cute and sweet they are!!!!

She loves having her picture taken

4th grade is buddy reading with my class

Going through Seasons!!!

I have really gone through a lot these last two years....

I had my son ( was a big adjustment, but I have loved every minute of it)
My father died
I had to deal with family drama (still dealing with it)
We walked our close friends through the death of their baby
I started having health problems
I had a miscarriage.

I was starting to feel that my life was never going to look up any time soon. I had so many questions for God:

Why me?
Why them?
Why now?
Haven't I been through enough?
Why can't I be skinny and healthy?
Why couldn't my baby survive?
Why must I hurt all the time?

I am pretty sure I will never fully understand why I have gone through the things I have gone through in my 29 years of life, but I do understand God's grace. It is by His grace that I am healed, it is by His grace that I am saved. He has my back and I know He will carry me through the tough stuff if I ask Him too.

Sheila Walsh is my favorite Author and speaker. She spoke about grace at a Women of Faith Conference and it really stuck in my head. I found it on You Tube. Check it out!!!!

Easter Weekend Reflection

When I think about what God did when he send His son to die for my sins, I am in awe of it. I cannot fathom being able to do that. Are you kidding, I could never decide to lay my son Davis' life down for anyone. He means to much to me and I would be in too much pain if I lost him. How in the world could God do it? How could anyone decide to sacrifice their child to save others?

The movie called "Most," is a about a bridge conductor and his son. In this short video, he is faced with the worst decision of his life. Should he save his son or the people on the train? Watch and see.




Could you imagine what God felt? What Mary felt? What this father felt? I can't, but I am so thankful that God loved us so much to do what he did. Stop today and thank our heavenly father for this great sacrifice!!

Book Review

My favorite hobby is reading. I love to curl up with a book every spare minute I get. I don't get a lot of time during the day or evening. I wonder why?!?! I can't wait to get into bed each night so I can get my read on! So far this year I have read 27 books.

My husband gets on me because I read more novels then so called"Christian books." I think he is just jealous that I can out read him! I love reading books that help me grow in my relationship with Christ or on how to be the best mom, but I really love getting down with some amazing authors like Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs, and Sherryl Woods.

In the last week I read three really good books. Sherrly Woods writes awesome novels about family, friendship, and home. These stories made me laugh, cry, and it even gave me a bit of suspense. This Trinity Harbor series ( "About That Man", "Ask Anyone", "Along Came Trouble") took a Family and showed them how to love unconditionally, how to hold on to friendships, and that a home doesn't always have to look perfect.




If you want to curl up with a nice book, I highly recommend this series to you. It is a must read!!!

Family Night!

This weekend we had family night....Easter Party!!!!

We decorated and got ready for our Easter party.

We made egg shaped pizzas.

We are enjoying dinner!


Naylin and Davis had fun coloring with chalk.


Naylin found her Easter basket!!

Davis found his Easter basket. He loved his Elmo bunnies!

We ended our party dying Easter eggs.