overdue updates

Once again, many weeks have elapsed since my last posting.  I do have an excuse this time, though!  I got a job! No one could have been more surprised than I was!  :)  Due to some crazy, unexpected events, I was asked to become the 3rd grade teacher at our small, Catholic school.  It has sure turned my life upside down and given me little extra time for things like blogging.   Heck, it's miraculous for me to even get the laundry done these days! :)  But I truly believe God wanted me to take this job to help our school during a crisis, and I love, love, love these 3rd graders and will strive to do my very best in teaching them and guiding them closer to Jesus!  Please pray for me!  But more importantly, pray for our school and all the families and teachers there--for God to guide, heal, and bless them.  It has been a difficult year at our school, but I continue to cling to the Scripture verse that says:

"All things work together for good for those who love the Lord."  

(Romans 8:28) 

Here are my sweet 3rd graders!

Other overdue updates:

Nathanael turned 9 in November!  What a fun, smart, and sweet kid he is!  And now that I'm his 3rd grade teacher, it is neat to see what he is like in that environment too.  He makes me a proud mother AND teacher, and I think he and I will both treasure this year in our hearts forever :)  Here are some pictures from his birthday party waaaayyyy back in November:

Opening presents with his best buddies!

He loves this Star Wars piano book and has already learned most of the songs!

He was super thrilled with this Yankees backpack and the Babe Ruth picture for his wall!

Nine candles on a Dairy Queen ice cream cake,

surrounded by friends and love and God's grace...

doesn't get much better than that!

Dearest Nathanael,

Your daddy and I sure do love you

and we are so grateful you are in our family!

May you keep growing closer to Christ each year,

may your Irish eyes always keep smiling,

and may you always know that you are loved--

more than all the baseball cards you ever collect...plus,

all the other baseball cards collected in the world combined!

Love,

Mom