New Family

This weekend we were visited by all the Waters' children.

As I prepared for their arrival, I remembered mom's weeknight cleaning frenzies as we all pitched in to prepare for weekend company. She trained me well! I must say however, that I am quite blessed to have a home much smaller than what we resided in as children, one that cleans in half the time (and a hubby who can vacuum the entire thing in a flash)!

Prepared with fresh linens, scrubbed toilet, and a stocked fridge, we welcomed the clan, which brought the total to 5 Waters and only one water closet (bathroom that is)!

We endured bad football while enjoying Taco Pizza and Rachel's famous chocolate chip cookies before turning for the night. This morning we went to Brookhills before parting ways to start a new week.

This afternoon as I return to a clean (thanks to my fantastic guest) and quiet home, I am grateful that the Lord has taken three fantastic Waters and by His grace seamlessly added two more to the mix.

While I am proud to be called both a Sexton and a Waters, and I am even more grateful for the fact that all of us, Sexton, Waters, and Turners alike are part of the greater family of God!

panCAKES

Adam has many, many talents: gardening and yard work in general, caring for precious children (and adults), and, just discovered, baking.

Adam has always been able to throw together a mean box of brownies, but this evening he demonstrated that his abilities lie beyond the box.

Introducing...panCAKES.

These may appear like normal pancakes, but they are made from chocolate cake mix.

And when stacked with cream cheese icing in between, they make a lovely dessert.


Great job dear! Now to go enjoy.

Dessert for Two

Do you ever get tired of having to eat the same dessert for a whole week because recipes feed thirty and there is only two of you in the house? Yeah...me neither :-) However, I realized it probably was not the best thing for my waist line for Adam and I to eat a whole pan of brownies.

So, today I found the perfect thing for us single couples or empty-nesters.

Dessert for Two: Southern Desserts Scaled Down to Size features a wide selection of desserts for two (but they would probably serve four). There are cupcakes, cakes, frozen treats, pies, cookies, and candy...all sized to fit a couple of love birds.

I found a tasty recipe for red velvet cupcakes (Adam's favorite) and made, not cupcakes, but a fun heart-shaped cake. I tried to find a special occasion worth celebrating today...like perhaps it was an anniversary I had forgotten or something, but no such luck. So, today we are celebrating Tuesdays, marriage, and the ability to exercise :-)

Around Here

A weekend with no plans turned out to be a busy three days.

I went to bed Friday evening with no clue what I was going to do with my long weekend, but I woke up Saturday morning excited and inspired to re-decorate the bathroom. Adam went tile shopping this week and while that big change is coming soon, I decided to jump-start the bathroom transformation with some small changes

Change #1

Replaced shiny gold knobs with these stylish options

Change #2

Got rid of those tulip light covers in favor of these trendy brown ones

Change #3

Replaced the wood framed mirror with this $30!! Martha Stewart from Home Depot

This is a glimpse of the "before." I'm always too excited to rip out the old that I never actually take time to make pics of it.

Adam was busy making his own changes around the house, although I can't really tell you much about them. This much I know:

This box is new

This job is not for the faint of heart

Most importantly, through the help of an amazing neighbor we were able to save $750 or more on this project! (Savings based on estimate from licensed electrician).

Saturdays are for...

Swiffering floors

and new knobs for doors

Stoves that shine

In front and behind

Football games which make your heart quake

Removing pen from paint which makes your arms ache

Dinner with friends and lunch with the hubs

No dishes to wash and a Clorox-clean tub

New mirror, new rug, new light covers from Lowe's

So busy redecorating but no pictures to show....

Maybe that is what Mondays are for!

Saturdays are for...

• wake up calls from the sun instead of the alarm clock
• two bowls of cereal
• laundry
• food network (Pioneer Woman at 10:30a!)
• coffee

After a hectic and somewhat disheartening week...I praise God for a relaxing, agenda-free Saturday.

Hope you all are enjoying yours as well.

Nothing Says Love Like...

Fill in the blank:

Nothing says love like ____________________

Flowers? Leaving the middle cinnamon biscuit for you? Sweet notes? Coffee in the morning?

For me the answer that my hubby knows all to well is....

A diet dr. pepper and something sweet!

Today was our first day back to school, filled with long meetings that left me a bit weary-eyed. I stayed late at school working on lesson plans and waiting to drive to 280 for a meeting this evening. Adam called and requested that I come outside for a moment (a welcome surprise) and he delivered this special treat...something to say "I LOVE YOU!"

Almost Gone

It's still HOT outside, the ice cream man still comes by everyday playing his tantalizing tunes, I still stay up late and sleep past 7--on the outside it seems that summer is still in full swing.

However, the lines at Wal-Mart, screaming children at the shoe store, and restlessness in my heart tell a different story--summer is coming to close.

School starts back next Monday, leaving this week to get my classroom my brain in order. I have spent the last few days savoring summer and attempting to ward off any thoughts of school for just a little while longer.

Adam was off for the latter part of the week, helping me to appreciate summer even more! On Wednesday we enjoyed lunch and a movie together as well as an entertaining, leisurely stroll up and down the aisles of Bass Pro Shop. Did you know that they have fishing lures BIGGER than any fish I have ever caught? It's true!

These are the moments that I have loved the most this summer, times when I was able to really enjoy just being with and serving my husband without the constant distractions that come with the rush of school and the burden of teaching students. I must say, however, that I have not always done this well or without selfish ambitions.

I have learned am learning that to truly serve I must cast aside any desire for recognition or return and instead focus on serving my Savior by serving others...a humbling thought as I face the challenge of not only serving Adam well but also my students!

Mayberry

Sometimes it seems like we live in a place that is a bit removed from the normal pace of life. It's a place where we stand on our porch and chat with our neighbors. A place where people mow other's grass if it seems to be getting a little high. A place where the library has four sections: western, mystery, romance, and large print. A place where I feel felt safe.

Lately I have been burdened with a sense of fear, a quiet sort of fear that creeps up when its time to go to bed and I check the doors one extra time or when I've been home alone too long and the I jump when the door bell rings. I open it to find the terminator exterminator...sigh.

Last night just before we clicked off the nightly news, we heard a headline featuring our Mayberry. Normally the headlines surrounding this sleepy town include drug busts by our hard-working, ever-present law enforcement but this one hit a little closer to home:

Man attempts to assault 18-year-old woman while walking at 2 PM on Monday

The news awoke my dormant fear as I had a morning run planned. I shared my fear with Adam and his response was exactly what I expected, did not want to hear knew to be true.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed --Isaiah 41:10

In this world you WILL have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world--John 6:33

Last night as we prayed I was convicted for placing my hope in this world. I so treasure safety that I had let the fear of losing it control my heart instead of finding my security in Christ alone.

This morning, I awoke and ran as planned, with a few extra precautions including mapping out my run for Adam and staying in well-populated areas. As I ran, I prayed, not only that God would protect me physically, but that He would shield my heart from the "flaming arrows of the evil one."

As I was driving home from the library (the one with four sections) I heard a song that seemed to sum up well the journey that God has led me on these past few days

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

What a reminder that what Christ wants for us is not a life in Mayberry but holiness.

Guests

This weekend my fabulous husband organized our storage shed a bit to make room to store the twin bed that is being replaced by a full size beauty (more on that in a minute).

When we first moved in there was quite a large rat out in the shed who ran off with a few of our sticky traps. However, he has not been seen for some time. Perhaps this was the reason.


Most people run from such unwanted guests, but my husband put him in a bucket to scare surprise me and then picked him up as you see here so that I could get a good look at the smelly substance he (or she) was releasing and even pet it. Adam never ceases to surprise me with his lack of fear--he is teaching me that creation is something to be enjoyed and respected (not conquered).

After releasing our uninvited guest into the woods, we made room in our home for the full size bed that was graciously loaned to us by the Beavers, which is now available for all out-of-town family and friends.

I'd like to invite you to the Waters home and entice you with the thrills of Hueytown, the taste of fresh veggies, the smell of Waters cinnamon rolls and the feel of a lovely, Sealy posture-pedic matress:

Idea Thief

This week I have been making more small changes around the house thanks to ideas and contributions from friends and family (which they may or may not know about).

1. After seeing a floor to ceiling shower curtain at Laura's house, which looked oh so sophisticated and made the room look larger as well, I decided to try it out myself. I got these panels at Target for $10 a pop and hung them on a tension rod.
Before:

After:


I also replaced the palm tree light switch (a relic from the previous owners) with this neat piece ($2.50 at Hobby Lobby).


While at Hobby Lobby, I picked up some burlap (3.99/yard) and created these backties for my dining room chairs to mimic those I saw I at a friend's house the other day.


My original purpose for going to Hobby Lobby (so easily sidetracked) was to get a hanger for this canvas, painted by my most lovely sister-in-law. On it are the words of Paul in 2 Thes. 3:5

May the Lord direct your heart into God's love and Christ perserverance.

I hung it in our bedroom as a reminder of the essentials of our marriage: the love of God compelling us to love one another and the perseverance of Christ who set an example by willingly submitting to the Father and laying down His life for His bride...oh the gospel is SO good!

Adam thinks that things are starting to look a little girly around here. I may have been inclined to agree, but this reminded me that its okay to have a few girly touches here and there.

ThredUp

I LOVE getting packages, so the latest groupon was a double thrill for me.

My friend is giving birth sometime very soon and I wanted to welcome the newcomers with something special. ThredUp is essentially ebay, simplified for moms (and non-moms alike). Mother's pack flat rate boxes with new or gently used children's clothing and post a summary of the contents online.

Searchers pick out the box they want according to gender and size and one week later...viola! The mail lady arrives with your package.

It was so much fun to pull out the contents and ohh and ahh over each item. The best part..it's a bargain! Normally the boxes cost $15, including shipping. Through the groupon I got two of them for $12!

Perhaps I will post a picture of the contents after the shower so that I will not ruin the surprise.

Buy Fresh, Buy Local

Before I started dating Adam, I had never met a farmer..have you ever met a real-life farmer? Now I not only know, but I am related to some of the best farmers around (around Auburn that is, but they are so good that I think we could say they're the best "around" no matter where we happen to be!)

Growing up in West Jefferson, some of the neighbors had small garden plots with the normal variety of tomatoes, okra, and cucumbers, rarely, however, did we find ourselves privy to their harvest. We bought our fruit and veggies at the grocery store and were blind to the goodness of farm-fresh produce. If all you ever have is grocery-store veggies, then you may think, as I once did, that the phrase "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" is simply a marketing campaign.

However, it is TRUE! If you want the freshest, most flavorful bounty that the earth can offer, you must go to the source!

On Monday, that is exactly what we did!

After a wonderful weekend getaway in Auburn we stopped by Randle Farms to select some goodies that we don't have growing in our small plot. For the first part of the morning, we picked blueberries and one or two or three or more of them may not have made it from my hand to the bucket :-) Sidenote: We had a blind taste test to compare Randle Farms blueberries with "organic" blueberries from the store...no comparison.

After 6 gallons of blueberries were collected, we were offered the chance to explore another portion of the farm which contains veggies galore. There we selected yellow tomatoes (yes, yellow...I had never heard of such before either). Today I canned them and they look simply lovely (Waters--2, Tomatoes--0)





A special thanks to Zach who collected this garbage bag full of peppers for us! Most of them were chopped and placed in the freezer while some grace our table as a lovely, colorful centerpiece and others have already found their way to the tummy.



Other bounty from the farm included melons of all shapes and sizes and lovely flowers. I am so grateful not only for a husband who is a gardening master, but also for his family, their farming skills, and their willingness to share "the gifts from the goodland."

Little Changes

When anyone asked what I did this summer...I am going to show them a picture of this
It literally feels like I have spent every day of this summer either sanding, staining, sanding, polishing, sanding, painting, sanding...Did I mention that refinishing a table requires a lot of sanding? I almost thought I was going to give up but my hubby came in from the bullpen and finished the sanding on the final pieces.

Here is a glimpse of the chairs before and after the first sanding.

Seeing the big difference that a small change in the table made, I was excited to continue projects around the house. Just as my housing interest was peeking, Karly, now OFFICIALLY a homeowner herself, introduced me to http://www.younghouselove.com/ a fabulous blog in which a young family chronicals each step of their low-budget makeover of a somewhat imperfect home (Just like ours!)

I am now hooked and just this week have made a few fabulous (and inexpensive) updates to our home.

I got this new lamp at JCPenney for $42.00 (regular price: $140.00).

I thought it a nice replacement for the metal one that was obviously a carry over from the dorm days.

I picked up this picture last week at an estate sale for $8. Even though it doesn't fit 100% with the rest of the decor, it reminded me of China.

I got this lantern at JCPenney for 60% off (aka 7 bucks). It makes an enteresting centerpiece and provides an excuse to have "candlelight dinner" any night of the week (like last night with our Mexican leftovers for example).

Here's the only before shot I could find (it's WAY before, like before we owned the house).And...here's the progress. We won't say "after" because hopefully there will be more updates to come.

Naked Buns

Awaiting their icing :-)

Waters-1 Tomatoes-0

Sometimes this feeling washes over me, a sense of peace and certainty that THIS is the good life. It is at odd moments though, not exactly when you would suspect. It came today when my husband and I were standing in the kitchen, both clad in aprons, arms covered in tomato juice. The battle between us and the tomatoes had been waging for a few days. They had been mounting a serious attack on our kitchen.
But today we called in all our forces (knives, pots of boiling water, and cans) to take them down for good.
Like in the Bible when God instructed them to destroy all the enemies...we had to do the same....defeating not only the big daddy tomatoes, but the baby ones as well.
It was a tough battle, but we have these as a clear sign of our victory (we also took out the tomatoes' allies...the cucumbers :-))

Small but Significant Differences

These are some small, humorous differences that I noted between American culture and the culture of East Asia, as I saw it during the short trip

•At home, water is served with ice; there ice must be requested
•There you get a moist, warm wash cloth to wipe your hands before meals; at home, just a napkin
•There most meals are served family style unless you are eating fast food (which I would not recommend)
•There fruit is one of the main snacks and sold on the street and in convenience stores like we sell potato chips (I prefer potato chips)
•There diet drinks are difficult to come by and people seldom drink sodas
•There commodes are holes in the ground, some holes are much better than others though!
•Mattresses are hard and box springs are absent
•Kids wear split pants and use the restroom whenever and wherever they get the notion, including the floor in the airport, so watch where you step and take your shoes off when you go inside
•People there are incredibly friendly and hospitable, willing to interact on campus and at the park, places that Americans usually prefer to keep to themselves and their families
•Karaoke rooms are rented like bowling lanes in america
•A big Mac value meal cost 2 dollars instead of 6 (but the cokes are much smaller)
•An ice shake (bing sha) is combo of a shaved ice and a milk shake and somehow taste better than either one

What did you do in East Asia?

After "How was your trip?" this is the inquiry that we hear the most upon returning from the Green City of Lights. Don't misunderstand...I do LOVE the question and I am always thrilled that people are interested in our adventures. However, my reply is usually sub par. So, in an effort to produce a more thoughtful and eloquent response, I have typed up an answer to this ever popular question.


We traveled to east Asia last week to visit friends and to learn about their culture and beliefs. While there, we learned that, unlike Americans, the people there think very little about god, religion, or death. They believe that when they die, that is all there is. Therefore, life has little purpose other than to be a part of and support institutions that are present and will outlast them, like the government, education, and the economy. The culture clearly demonstrates the truth that what you believe about God influences EVERYTHING else in life.

We shared with the people a different belief system, one that we believe is true based on the bible and our own experiences with Christ, not based on pride in ourselves or our own culture.

We told them that there is ONE God who created heaven and earth. He desires to have a relationship with us, but that relationship was broken long ago by sin, sin that is in each of us.

God sent his son, Jesus to defeat sin and give us the opportunity to be brought back into relationship with Him.

We told the people that God sent Jesus for all mankind, not just Americans, or people who grow up hearing about Him.

We gave them an opportunity to respond to this good news, and one night we saw 3 local people come to faith in Christ.

They will now be encouraged by the body of Christ that is there, be baptized, and continue to be changed by the spirit of Christ that now resides within them!

This is the power of the cross, that Christ became sin for us (and by us I mean believers from every tribe, nation, and tongue)!

First Day of Summer

It's official! School is out and I am a stay-at-home wife (at least for a few months).

It seems that all around, celebration is occurring. In fact, I hear the ice cream man now, taking his first trip of the year down our street. While I am tempted to run out to greet him, I'm on a diet...sort of. This diet includes 30 minutes of exercise which is later rewarded and reversed by a night-time ritual of food network and dessert. Sorry ice cream man, perhaps you would have better luck if you returned around 9 pm.

One of the highlights of the spring and summer thus far has been walking out to the garden each evening to see what vegetables have, unlike myself, thrived in the blazing heat. I was given permission to water and pick, but I have been reprimanded for being "over-zealous" with my picking. Who can blame me though? If you saw a red tomato hanging on a vine, free for the picking and you had been paying $3 a pound for them at the store, you would probably be over-zealous too...just saying!

So, I have slowed down the picking a bit, reminding myself that they will still be there tomorrow, and if I leave them, they will be even better than today.

Here is a preview of the summer's bounty with much more to come. There is more than enough for two people, so if you are interested in some fresh veggies, just let us know. We'll even let you pick them yourself...just stay away from those that aren't ready :-)



Toodles for now

-Sybil

Birthday Week

It's birthday week here at the Water's household and, unfortunately, also a week filled with work for Adam. However, we have had the privilege of a few celebrations:

1) When Adam returned from work on Sunday, we went on a birthday date to Surin and enjoyed YUMMY sushi and Thai food. After dinner we sat on our neighbor's deck and devoured chocolate cake and ice cream.


Note the delicious ganache as it runs down the side of the cake and excuse the pipe cleaners that are being used to hold up the numbers!

2) Monday morning my gift to Adam was me rising early on my day off to join him for a bike ride across the western part of the county--32.3 miles to be exact.

3) Monday evening, family and friends met us for a SURPRISE birthday celebration (I do believe Adam was surprised!)

4) The birthday festivities will continue this weekend as we head south and celebrate yet another milestone...the end of school!

Happy Mother's Day

This week in food...

Cooking more regularly than before has been one of the most enjoyable challenges of marriage thus far. The past few weeks have been a bit busy for both of us, so the menu has been toned down a bit. However, we still attempt to prepare a fresh meal at least a few nights a week.

This post and future posts like it serve two purposes

1. To remind myself of something good to cook for dinner when I am drawing a blank
2. To encourage you to whip up something fresh and to save you some time on meal planning

So...here's what we're eating this week

Sunday evening: Dinner at Wings (yummy!)

Monday evening: Left-over hamburgers and home-made fries

Tuesday evening: Taco soup with mexican cornbread (p.s. this is the most moist cornbread I have EVER tasted!)

Wednesday evening: Calzones by Adam and salad

Thursday evening: Chicken spaghetti from the freezer (I love making a double-batch and having something on hand that can be re-heated with ease)

That's all I've got so far this week. I'd love to hear what your eating!

Aftermath Uncertainty

I sat in the closet with my brother, uncomfortable but scared to move as my parents stood in the porch and listened to the characteristic roar of the tornado passing too close for comfort. We would exit our home to find, over the next few weeks--schools, houses, and lives lost to the monster behind that roar.

Fast forward thirteen years and nineteen days...here I am again. However, this time I am in the closet with my husband and I now know the roar that can only mean destruction is nearby.

Just a few minutes earlier we watched with horror as the tornado roared through Tuscaloosa. We prayed together but really did not know what to say to the God who created the world and everything in it...maker of heaven and earth. I KNEW that he could direct the storm away from us or lift it back into the sky. However, I also knew that He could direct it right at our home...for His glory. Which would it be?

We continued to squirm on the couch until we heard these words "If you live in Hueytown or Pleasant Grove...take cover" and at these words, the power went off. We grabbed couch cushions and the phone and ran to our "safe place."

About fifteen minutes later, we exited our safe place to a yard that was eerily quite and unscathed except for pieces of insulation and shingles littered here and there, a sure sign that destruction was not far away.

So here we are on the other side of the disaster...completely safe, with power and all the necessities, and yet completely lost as to how to move forward. How do you go on living as normal when you recognize how close you came to death? How do you clean your house and scrub your kitchen without thinking of those who have no house to clean? How do you eat a yummy meal and sleep in a warm bed? It is the same feeling that you get when you come back from your first trip (or your second or your third) to a impoverished country. How can we go on living as normal?

I believe that we cannot. So, we pray and we seek ways to no longer live for ourselves. We don't feel guilty for all that we have but rather use it to help those who have lost everything. If you have ideas of ways that we can help or families that we can assist, please let me know!

Early Dismissal

I arrived at school this morning to find that buses were delayed and school was closing early. So, after approximately zero minutes of quality instruction, we headed home.

What have I been doing since then? Glad you asked!

1. Dusted off the crock-pot and started some chicken tortilla soup.


2. Worked out with Jillian

3. Finished an assignment (my LAST ONE) for school

4. Explored in the garden and discovered one bloom.

Please note the professional irrigation; I'm so very proud to have this in my yard.


5. Up next...couponing!

Hope that you are enjoying your stormy Wednesday just as well. Stay safe and dry!

Easter Treats

Baby birds in the ferns! A reminder of the new life that we have in Christ

It was a sweet first easter together, together we read the Easter story and then were able to worship together this morning. I am so grateful for a husband who leads us in the Word.

After church we spent time with the family. Mom was a wonderful hostess and prepared a quite yummy meal! The best part: strawberry cheesecake. I think I will have another bite in just a few minutes. I did ride my bike for about an hour today, so perhaps I earned a few extra calories. :-)

HAPPY EASTER!

flabbergasted friday

why do crunchy things get soggy when they're stale, but soggy things get crunchy?

FYI--stale granola bars are somewhat soggy

Tenacious Tigers

The award to Minor High from Exxon Mobil was 10,000. That's right: dollar signs and lots of zeroes :-)

Here's a link to the Exxon Mobil commercial: http://www.mynmsistory.com/stories/jelani_grace/

Celebrating Academics

Tomorrow we are having an academic pep-rally. That's correct: a pep-rally to honor those who work diligently day after day, whose season never ends, and who rarely get to experience the thrill of a buzzer beater (except in Mrs. Waters class where you have to turn in your work to the basket before the buzzer sounds and sometimes that can be almost as thrilling as a last second half-court shot) or the encouragement of the crowd's chant.

At first I found this idea a bit strange, but it is growing on me. I'm excited to recognize my AP kids and honor their efforts. The reason we are having the pep-rally is because Exxon Mobil is coming to honor the school, our AP program, and specifically one of our students who was recently featured in an Exxon mobil commercial (look for it!!!). They are awarding the school and the student with some sort of prize. Not sure what it is yet but we're hoping for dollar signs and lots of zeros. I'll keep you updated.

So, all this to say, celebrate academics!!

Adam is the new author for the day!

So I'm new to this whole blog thing, but apparently you post thoughts and such for the world to read etc...so here goes nothing!! Since Sybil usually shares much of her work and life inside the home, I thought I would share some of what's been going on outside...the usual grass cutting and weedeating is ever present, but the thing I'm most excited about is our garden! When we first began looking for a house I made known my desire to have a backyard space big enough to have a place to grow vegetables and such as I have done this as long as I can remember. Well we found us one, and though it's not huge, our garden is just right and I am happy to report is starting to grow...the tomatoes and peppers are all looking happy in their new home and all of my seeds are beginning to sprout! We've got much of the usual garden veggies like squash and zucchini, okra and beans, and even cucumbers and sunflowers. (one of Sybil's favorites!!) We have in our backyard a beautiful silver maple that is at least 50 years old. (this according to our neighbors who have lived next door for 47 years) This type of tree if you are not familiar with it is truly stunning in the sunshine with a light breeze blowing. The tops of the leaves are green while the underside is silver (hence the name silver maple) and with a light breeze blowing through the tree it appears to shine as the leaves reflect the sunlight...what a perfect way for God to remind His children we are to be reflections of His life and love! Writing this reminds me of a poem by Cecil Frances Alexander
Maker of Heaven and Earth

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

(insert side note here...there is an author James Herriot whose books about his veterinary practice in rural England have titles borrowed from the first stanza of this poem, I highly recommend them!)

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly
and ordered their estate.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning
That brightens up the sky,

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
We gather every day,

He gave us eyes that we might see them
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

In other aspects of life, my new job at Children's has been truly awesome. It has sparked some thoughts though. I will preface these thoughts by saying first and foremost I am not a parent and because of that have no personal basis for what the parent/child relationship is like. And though I've been a nurse for almost three years now, nothing in my previous experience nor in nursing school prepared me for some of the social issues I would have to face...all that being said... How do you tell a little girl who is going to surgery that her mom couldn't find a way to get to the hospital and so she will have to go to the OR alone? Or what do you tell the little boy who was in a wreck that claimed the life of his mother when he cries out for her? What do you say to the couple who just adopted a little boy and nine weeks later find out he has a disorder that will plague him the rest of his life? These are just some of the thoughts I have had in the past several weeks. In all of them however God has been gracious to provide answers to these questions. In the gospel of John 15:12 Jesus tells His disciples, "This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you..." When you get right down to it, that's all I'm there to do, sure I can give some medicine or draw some blood, but it's the holding a hand, or rocking a child, or offering up a quietly uttered prayer on behalf of a child; that seems to me to be loving as Christ does. It is listening as new parents are faced with seemingly impossible news and then encouraging them to seek God and His strength rather than their own. It is hugging a grandmother who has health problems of her own and who has been standing tirelessly by her grandson's bed and assuring her that God tells us in His word that He is sovereign in ALL things. So, this is life around the Waters house in H-Town, if you're ever in the neighborhood, stop by and see us!

A Few Updates

Field trip: My chemistry students placed FIRST and SECOND in the Torch Invitational, winning a $1,000 scholarship.

Weekend happenings: We spent the weekend in Opelika, hanging with the Waters crew and relaxing.

Don't point and laugh: You know the cars that you or your kids point at while you're going down the highway and say "Hey...look at all that stuff in their car!" That was us this weekend. Here's the rundown of what was contained in our vehicle: a tiller, nine tomato cages, a weed-eater, two gas containers, two duffel bags, one teacher bag, one picnic basket, and two Waters :-)

Why, might you ask? Well, because my husband has a green thumb and he needs the toys to prove it. Stay tuned for pics of the fruit (and vegetables) of these labors.

Field Trip!

It's my very first field trip from the other side and I am so excited...like a 1st grader about to go to the Pumpkin Patch. Only, no pumpkin patch is involved :-)

We are going to Bevill State Community College for the Torch Invitational--a meeting of schools from around the area to compete in various areas of academia, technical skills, and the arts. I am sending a few of my kids for the chemistry competition and others of my students are going to compete in literature, history, home economics, etc.

For those of you who know me well, you know that it is much better to me than the Pumpkin Patch.

I came into this field trip due to another chaperon having to take sick leave. His wife is in the hospital battling Crohn's disease, so please remember her in your prayers.

I'm off...armed with my Minor tee and a bit excited to escape the four walls for the day and enjoy some time outside of schools with some great kids and teachers as well.

5 O'Clock Traffic

The drive to and from work is normally free of the usual rush hour, except for this train which is never in any rush at all!

Post #1

Welcome to the Waters' blog, post numero uno!

The purpose of this blog is to chronicle the little things in life...so here goes nothing!

Rachel is in town for the weekend and the end :-( of spring break.

Today we spent the day (unexpectedly) in the car, trying to make it to Tannehill State Park for the first trade days of the years! Apparently it was a popular event as it took 2 hours to make a trip that usually takes 30 minutes. But, two sandwiches, a bag of doritos, and a lot of oldies later we saw this sign

We bought nothing at this trade days except a yummy float!

After an afternoon nap we headed to dinner at Iguana Grill, ice cream at Edgewood Creamery...and a pit stop by the duck pond to check out the cutest sign.