The Biltmore Estate

After a weekend snowed in some cabin together and the day before we head off to Washington DC for another school trip, Dad and Mom whisk me away for a day at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

We used to have a coffee table book of the Biltmore as I was growing up (funny, now that I think about it because we had never visited there) and I used to pour over it, amazed by the beauty and enormity of the estate and everything on its grounds.

So, it was like a "little" fulfillment of a dream to actually get to see it up close. It was beautiful and amazingly efficient for that time period. I have been sort of obsessed lately with information from that era so it was great to walk through the halls of a time that has become strangely familiar to me.

A little pricey...but I highly recommend it.

The Glasses Family

Those were his words. "Well, I guess I have really joined the glasses family..." And in a way he has. I knew that it was only a matter of time with both mom and dad wearing glasses.

After we picked up the glasses, when he first came outside, he said, "It is like a whole new world." Then he proceeded to lower the glasses and then raise them back up saying, "...old world ... new world ... old world ... new world ..." Then he stopped and said, "How long have those smudges been on the window?" They had been there for a long time.

It reminded me of when I first got glasses. I can still remember walking outside and looking at the trees. I couldn't believe that you could actually see the individual leaves from a distance. It was so weird at first.

Anyway, I think that he looks pretty sharp with those glasses on. But it makes him look older too, which I am not so sure that I like. For me it seems like he just started crawling yesterday. I am not ready for him to look this old.

Prayer

Prayer is absolutely essential to living in this world. Constant communication with God and pouring our hearts out to Him is not only essential, it is commanded. In the Gospels, Jesus tells us to be in prayer always.

I know these things, but so many times I fall short. I find myself thinking, "I really need to pray about this." But then I never seem to get around to it. The knowledge of right that I have learned for myself and have taught to others has missed its way to my own heart and has remained a head knowledge only.

I bring this up because lately I have been convicted more and more on this topic of prayer, knowing that I need to make a change. Knowing that I have been working, ministering, and making decisions without an adequate amount of prayer.

Recently this was impressed on me again when I read this quote by E.M. Bounds,
"The absence of prayer is a sure sign of work done in the flesh. Conversely, the presence of prayer is a sign of work done through the Spirit."

I read that and I had to admit that much of my work has been done in the flesh.

I have spent much of my life focusing on the importance of reading and studying the Word, but I have neglected this area. It isn't like my life has an absence of prayer. I do pray, but the prayer life of a Christian should grow and change as the person grows and changes.

My prayer life has been stunted in its growth for too long, and I don't think that the Spirit will allow it to remain that way any longer.

Therefore, I am endeavoring to spend more time in prayer. But not just time, where I a adding up the minutes, like some little checklist. I am not going to try to meet some quota of time in prayer. No, I have decided to spend some time each day in real, genuine, heart-felt communication with God. I don't care how much time I spend, I just want it to be genuine and I want it to happen daily.

I share this with all of you because of accountability. I want to be able to post again later, and be able to speak of the work of God in my heart. I want to be able to share with you how God can change and mold.

My new favorite Sudoku

As I mentioned before, my sister got me started on Sudoku. My new favorite version of this is a sited called Fiendish Sudoku. And if I have a ton of time on my hands, I might print out a Samurai Sudoku to work on.

Thanks again sis for starting this obsession.

Spring Break!

Well, Spring Break has officially begun.

There were no students today, only a couple of teacher's meetings. We were supposed to be done at noon, but here I am, just getting ready to go home, and it is only 10:50. Thank you for quick and to-the-point meetings!

So, I don't care what the rest of you are doing, but it is vacation for me!

Pi Day

I completely missed Pi Day. If I had known, I would have done something special, like... eat pie.

Wikipedia says of Pi Day,

"March 14, written as 3-14 in the United States date format, represents the common three-digit approximation for the number π: 3.14. Pi Day is often celebrated at 1:59 p.m. in recognition of the six-digit approximation: 3.14159."

Oh, and here is pi to 1,000,000 places.

Brotherly Love

I know eventually the "Big Brother" responsibilities will change, but for now...



They include comforting a little brother to sleep in the van after a long day at the zoo.

So Sweet...

You know you're getting older when...

Your young students invite you to their wedding!

Congratulations, Nick and Laura!




Charity and Janet (Mom of the Bride)


(Charity, Sam and Josiah-ready to celebrate!)

Thinking of you.

I was thinking about you today.

I was thinking about
our times on the beach,
playing with the kids.

I was thinking about
watching you as you
relaxed in your chair.

You are beautiful.

Sudoku

Alright. Thanks to my sister I am now addicted to Web Sudoku.

Thanks Ashley.

Supper Club Celebrates...

This Thursday's Supper Club was lovingly dedicated to my birthday. It was so sweet that my girls would do this because, in fact, my birthday was last Monday and they all had been so kind and generous already.

Supper Club broke loose tonight and went "out" for dinner but before we went, everyone presented me with the birthday gift of a lifetime...

My long, desired after Seat Belt Purse.



Mine is the beautiful razzleberry one in the front and I now join the ranks of my supper sisters and our awesome purses. This was an expensive present (and the little bit of tact I have left won't let me cross over and tell you how much it was...Shut up, Charity! Get over the cost!) but I am aware it was a sacrificial gift given out of great love.

We laughed ourselves till the near midnight hour...Which in turn got us all free meals but that story is too long and sorted to explain for now! Regardless, we had a ball and I could not have felt more like I was celebrating with family.

In a time where I thought I had given up the chance at best friends...I am blessed four times fold!

Anne, Di, Cella, and Amy...I love you guys! Thank you for a lovely birthday I'll never forget.


Charity and Anne


Charity and Di


Charity and Marcella


Di and Anne

NASA Picture

I know that it might sound a little bit on the geeky side, but one of my favorite sites is the NASA Site.

Some of the current missions are really cool, and they always have some really neat pictures. One of the coolest pictures that I have seen lately is this one. It is a picture of Mars rising over the Moon. You can read about it here: NASA's Solar System Exploration Gallery: Mars Over Moon