Everything New

It's a new year. And while many are fighting to keep their New Year's resolutions going, I sometimes feel like I am fighting just to keep my sanity!

With a small one bedroom apartment (and lots of junk) our home can get pretty messy very quickly. Many times I feel as though I am struggling just to keep my head above water with laundry, dishes and dust piling up. And I am not even a classroom teacher who has to take her work home with her yet.

I really do love taking care of my own home. I like when my home is clean, and laundry is put away, and dinner is on the table. I enjoy caring for myself and my husband in that way. But often times I wonder- (1) Is it ever enough? (2) Will it ever be completed? Seems like the second I finish one basket, a new pile of dirty clothes is ready to be washed.
But every so often I stay ahead of the game (for a few days). Today was one of those days. Just a great gift from God.

Bobby and I started the day with devotions and coffee, as we often do. I threw dinner in the cock pot and went off to school- our first day back since Christmas break- and it was a great day. I came home and actually got to spend time with my husband. We first went to the store for groceries (much easier when we go together). Then we came home to a yummy pot roast in the crock pot and watched a movie together. All in all, a very good day indeed.

Rev. 21:5 "Look, I am making everything new."

"Take Ten" Card Challenge

Often times I get to have "play dates" with my aunt Inez in which we have fun rubber stamping together. She's pretty impressive. Her (whole) downstairs is a craft/stamp room. And she can stay up with the best of them! Last night I had to turn in before her.
Last night was extra fun, though, because of what we were working on. She decided she would have her stamping groups try a challenge from a rubber stamping magazine. The magazine is called "Take Ten". Supposedly all the cards in the mag take ten minutes or less to make. I can tell you right now. It's not true. Haha. But it's a great little magazine, with lots of cute, simple, card ideas.
The magazine gave us a template of a large rectangle that frames the card, and one that crosses over the opposite way. Other than that- you could do whatever you want with colors, themes, and embellishments. It took a little time for me to get my brain started. But once I did, it was a really fun challenge! It's interesting to see how many different cards can be created with that simple idea.
Now we have to wait. My aunt is sending our pile of cards in this weekend. But the next issue of the magazine doesn't come out until the summer time. We are sending in over 20 cards I think. I made 7 different cards. I predict none of them will get published. But it was still really fun!!!

Here are some of the cards I made. :-)

2012- A Year in Review: Top Ten

Wow. Another year draws to a close. Already?! Where did it go?

I think back over the year and there were some really great times, and some really hard times- as I am sure is true for you too.  So hear is a "TOP TEN" list of the most memorable and influential events of 2012.

1. My NY Resolution to Read through the Bible:
Last New Year I decided to try to read through the Bible in a year. Now that the year is over- did I finish? No. Was it still beneficial? Of course! According to my Bible app, I got 51% of the way through. I absolutely loved the challenge. I am sad, and a little ashamed to say I only got 51% finished. But I cannot tell you the number of times God fed me with exactly what I needed to hear! It is amazing the difference being in God's word can make in your life. My new New Year's resolution? FINISH reading through the Bible! Hey, I've already got a 1% lead on last year! haha.


2. Critter and Ian's Wedding:
In March my best friend got married to the love of her life! It was an awesome wedding. I am so overjoyed to see my best friend so happy. Now, my husband and her husband are best friends too. We spend so much time with these folks, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I look back on the past, and I never imagined that we would be where we are today. I am so thankful for God's work in her life.

3. Death of Granddaddy: 
In April Bobby's Granddaddy (Robert Raymond Moore I) passed away. We made a quick trip to North Carolina to be with Granny and the extended Moore family. I am amazed at how close the Moore family really is, even though they live throughout the country. My entire side of the family lives in west Michigan, so it was an adjustment for me to get used to not seeing Bobby's family all the time. Yet, every time we get together, it feels as though we never left. I am honnored to now be part of the wonderful family. We are all thankful for the many wonderful years Granddaddy had on this earth. His influence is seen throughout the Moore family, in the importance everyone puts on family.  We are rejoicing for him now, as he celebrates in his forever heavenly home.

3. Mission Trip to Indy
In June Bobby and  I went on a missions trip to Indianapolis with our church's youth group. The trip grew be as a person, and a youth leader. It renewed my passion to see children grow closer to their creator. "Look, I am making everything new." was the Bible verse. It was an amazing experience for Bobby and I, and all of the students and leaders!

5. First Wedding Anniversary 
In July Bobby and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary! I am so thankful for the man that Bobby is, and is becoming. The depths of love that I have already experienced in our marriage have already been more than I could ever imagine. Bobby truly loves me for ME. Who i am, even with my faults and insecurities. He is my support. We have been trying really hard to do devotions together in the mornings, and are growing so close in doing so. I am so thankful for a husband who can grow in their relationship with God alongside of me.

6. Sailboat at the lake
This summer my Dad bought a hobie cat. It has been a most wonderful addition to the lakehouse. We all have been learning to sail, even Abby Lou! We have had some great times together already... My favorite being the loooooong talks we have when there is no wind and we are stuck in the middle of the lake, and the time there was so much wind the mast cable broke and we had to get towed home by a jet ski!




7. Family Vacation / Granny's 90th Birthday:
In August Bobby's immediate Family and I got to take an amazing vacation to North Carolina Beach! On our way down we stopped in Big Stone Gap, Virginia for Granny's 90th Birthday party. We got to spend time with the extended Moore side of the family, and also had a more formal memorial service for Granddaddy. After a few days in Big Stone Gap we headed to NC! We rented a beach house right on the water for a whole week. Bobby and Coleman helped me become a pro body surfer, we enjoyed some Brit's Doughnuts, soaked up lots of rays, read some books, and we ended the week with huge crab boil!!

8. Eleanor Gracelyn Roer is Born!!

While Bobby and I were on vacation, my brother and Sister-in-law had their second child, Eleanor Gracelyn Roer! She was born on August 4th, a date that was already full of meaning in the Roer household. Now we not only remember this date as the day Mom passed away in 2004, but too, as the day Ellie Grace was born!

9. Job Change:
 During the 2001-2012 school year I worked as a Kindergarten Parapro at Dutton Christian School. It was a MWF kindergarten, and I only worked during part of the day. I loved it. I loved the community there and all of the staff and students. While on vacation I got a call from Knapp Charter Academy saying they would like to interview me for a full time Kindergarten Parapro position. When we got back i went to the interview and was offered a job. Although I loved Dutton, and did not want to leave. Knapp was offering me full time employment. (and was only 10 min from my house.) Financially, it made sense to accept.  Although i still long for my own classroom (someday) I am very much enjoying what I am doing now. I have made new friends, and get to influence a new set of students. I know that this is right where God wants me to bed right now. But I also hold on to the hope that He is using this to prepare me better for where he really wants me to be. :-)
10.Coleman:
In September my Father-in-law Coleman heard his doctor say, "You have cancer." The same three words that started my Mother's 4 year battle. I cannot describe to you the terrible brick that landed in my stomach when I heard this news. My mind was racing with fears and memories. My body was numbed at the thought of my husband having to loose a parent, as I had.  Coleman had gone into the hospital because of pain in his abdomen, and quickly had an appendicitis.  Routinely, they checked the removed organ for any abnormalities, and they found some strange cells inside that were a rare form of cancer. This particular type of cancer is very terminal if it gets into the abdominal cavity, and it usually travels there from the appendix, through the colon. So they approved Coleman for a surgery to remove 1/3 of his colon  and search the abdominal cavity while they were inside. In early October had had the surgery, and everything went miraculously well! They found no cancer in the abdomen, and the colon removal went smoothly. Coleman is doing very well now, and has almost fully recovered from his surgery.  Though this seems like a short period of time looking back, these we the darkest part of our year. I can honestly say, the love I felt for my husband, through the fears, was the deepest form of love I have ever felt. I (and everyone else) am so thankful that Coleman is now cancer free, and healthy. And, most of all, here to continue influencing those around him, and living out the life God has called him to.

Quilting

My mother loved to quilt. She used to go to quilting classes at the local quilt shop all the time. She enjoyed learning new techniques so much, she would start new classes before finishing quilts from old classes. As a result, she acquired many unfinished projects.
When she passed away in 2004, the lovely treasures became mine. (Including her sewing machine and many, many tools needed to complete the projects.) One thing she was very good at was keeping the projects separate. Each unfinished project is in its own box, with all the pieces and parts, and in some lucky cases, the instructions too!
I am not much of a quilter myself. I love to sew. I have been sewing since I was 7, but i mostly sew clothing and crafts. I have only made two quilts before(both small lap quilts, one sampler and one around the world). So the idea of taking on these projects has always been a bit overwhelming. I remember going with my mother to the fabric shop and helping her pick out coordinating fabrics. I also remember helping my mom arrange all of her quilt squares on the living room floor once she finished them. Needless to say, it would mean a lot to me to finish these projects, but I need help.

Luckily I was talking about this with a lady from church, and she offered to have me over for a quilting afternoon at her house! So we spent a few hours today sorting out a king sized log cabin quilt my mom had started.
It was very interesting opening up, and working on this quilt. I didn't think I would get emotional, and it's not like I cried or anything, but I did have some pretty strong feelings today. There were feelings of excitement, memories of sewing flooding in, and a return of the emptiness of missing her presence.
All in all, I am happy to have the opportunity to work on this project, and I am so thankful for the community of friends I have at church. But I know there is nothing that will fill that void created by her death. But somehow, sewing together squares that my mother had cut, felt like saying, "I love you" all these years later.

Costume Party!!

This weekend was our annual family costume party! It was so much fun. The competition this year consisted of four events:
1) Costume Contest
2) Pumpkin Carving Contest
3) Glow-in-the-dark Ping Pong Tournament
4) Beatles Rock Band Competition
I ended up winning the Ping Pong Tournament (much to my husband and brother's dismay) and my husband ended up winning overall! It was a very fun night, and we were so glad we had so many people show up!! (Over 25 people!!)

I got really into the costume making this year, and tried two different ideas, both of which I had found on Pinterest of course! For myself I ended up sewing a Mrs. potato head costume, complete with interchangeable face parts. I also sewed an Angry birds costume for my best friend's four year old son! I was really happy with the way they both turned out!!
Here are some of the pictures:

Fall fun!

Today was a perfect fall day! It was warm enough to walk outside with a tshirt on, and the colors on the trees were just beautiful. Each fall I am reminded of how amazing our God is, and how stunning his artwork of creation can be.
This afternoon I took my 2 year old niece, Abby, for a walk to the apple orchard right by our lakehouse. It was a walk full of giggles, smiles, questions, singing and dancing. This little girl makes me so happy. She is pure, explorative, cute, and fun.
We gathered various colored leaves as we walked up the hill (as well as a few flowers and a stick). When we reached the top of the hill we found the trees almost bare of apples. But we did manage to find three apples! One of which was even edible! Abby was so cute as she said, "three apples! I like apples!" in her singsong voice. :-)
Once we got back to the lakehouse we used the leaves to do some crayon impressions! It was a great day. We took lots of fun pictures too! Enjoy.

Mother's Day

When I think about what the word "mother" means to me, at first, my mind goes blank. But once I snap back to reality my heart is rushed with thoughts of loneliness, frustrations and hurt.
I suppose it's true for everyone in the world, but the word "mother" means something to me that is unique to me only. No one else feels and thinks the same exact things as I do, when they hear the word.

I think of how you were a warrior in the Lord's battle. The thousands of prayers you sent up for those around you. I remember the hours of time you devoted to studying the Word. I value the pride you took in teaching me to devote time to God too.

I think of watching you make pumpkin rolls at Thanksgiving time. Of helping you make peanut brittle and sugar cookies at Christmas time. I hate how you had the frosting recipe in your head, and never wrote it down for me.

I think of rearranging all the quilt squares on the floor upstairs, again and again, until it was just right. I remember all those late nights in the stamping room making cards for fun, or all those scrapbooking retreats where I always got twice as many pages done as you.

I think of tears shed at the family meeting when you announced that you had cancer. I feel once again the trembling, the fear of the unknown. I recall the prayers we spoke that night.

I think of the dinner when you found hair in your food, once again. I see your face in the mirror as you tried on your first wig. I hear your laughter as you say, "I save so much money on shampoo, but spend it all on hats."

I think of driving you to chemo treatments. Of waiting outside the doors as they stuck you with the needle one more time, then I would come back in and we would eat lunch together in those big chairs.

I think of the laser light shows, and all those sharpie marks on your skin. I hear the radiologist's words describing what the computers were doing. I hated all those boring magazines in the waiting room.

I think of when you fell over in the department store when going Christmas shopping, because of the pain in your leg. I'm thankful for the honest chiropractor. I feel the pain of the words, "the cancer has spread."

I think of the four large bolts they used to screw your "tiara" into your skull. I remember coming into your room after the stereotactic radio surgery, and you asking me, "Do I look like a princess?"

I think of the times I cared for you while the others were at work. The sponge baths and tea times, all those oblong pink pills. Lifting you up, and walking side by side to get to the bathroom.

I think of that day, not wanting to leave the house for basketball practice. The slow breathing, foam flowing, body stiffening. The end of the buzz from the oxygen machine, them taking your body away.

I think of choosing out your casket and your headstone. I still feel the emptiness of the silence as they lowered your body into the ground. I feel the tree bark against my back as I stare down at your plot.

I think of the empty chair at the dinner table. All those drawers of clothes, the day your closet no longer smelled like you. The jewelry box that now stands in my room.

I think of wanting you to see me cross the stage to receive my diploma. I recall the candle flame Dad and I lit as I walked down the aisle to meet my groom. I wanted your help making that recipe last week.

I think of how I hurt every August when we remember your death. We all feel depressed every March when your birthday comes along, and I always cry in church on Mother's Day.

I think of how I would never want to feel anything different than what I do, when I hear the word, "Mother."

DIY - Sugar Glider Pouch

Today I thought I would treat my girls (our pet sugar gliders, Petrie and Pearl) to some new furniture!

I started out with two large rectangles of fleece (I used 8"x14") and a 1" strip. I Folded the rectangles in half (hamburger style) right sides together. Sewed up the sides of both and trimmed the edges. DONT sew along the top! you should have one edge open, making two pouches.

Next I turned one right side out and put it inside the other. (so now right sides were together on both "pouches") I used 1" strips to make some loops, putting them in between the two before sewing them. (making sure the raw edges were matching, so the "loop" part was inside) I sewed the two together along the top edge, leaving about 2" unsewn to turn the pouch right-side out. Then I turned the pouch right sides out, and pinned the remaining two inches.

Next I top-stiched right along the top edge to finish the pouch (and close the last two inches)

And There we go! a finished glider pouch! Done  in no more than 15 minutes!

I think the girls are happy. :-)

Update

Wow! A lot has changed since the last time I posted!

First, I am MARRIED!!! Bobby and I had a wonderful wedding day, this past July 3rd. We are so in love, and feeling so blessed to be where we are at!!

Second, I GRADUATED!!! I am so thrilled to have made it through those hours of student teaching! It was hard work, but it payed off! 5 years, and thousands of dollars later- I not have a small piece of paper that says I know a little bit about education. haha.

Third, I now have a job working as a Parapro in a small Christian Elementary School! AND I LOVE IT!
The kids are so funny. I am working in a three-day kindergarten class in the mornings. We have so much fun.

I didn't realize how much kindergarten is about learning how to do school. I knew it was about letters, and numbers, and writing skills and reading starts. But we also do a lot of teaching about how to go through a school day. Walking in the hallways, asking to go to the bathroom, what the bells mean, what we do when we have indoor recess... Wow, there is a lot to learn.