Projects, Muffins & "Curdee" Hair

                                 Klaire & Karlee doing their "projects! "

                      Joe giving Kassidy pointers on her space project.

                                                            Finished projects!  

                                         Moms & Muffins in Kassidy's class.

                                             Kelly letting Klaire wash Kassidy's hair!

                                                Klaire with her "bootiful curdee" hair!

   This week has been full of things to do.   Kassidy had a space project due for school.  Since she was painting...Klaire thought she should get to paint too, so Joe got her- her own  painting project.  Karlee decided she also wanted to paint-go figure! :)  They all finished their projects about the same time and all of them looked great!

   Kassidy's class had Moms & Muffins on Friday morning!  It was a special time for me to get to go to her class and share a book and some breakfast!   Kass read me the book, "Cookies- Bite Sized Life Lessons".  What a great book!  If you haven't read it- you need to get it!  It is one of my favorite children's books!  

   After school, Klaire & Kass both had hair appointments.  Klaire loves when Kelly curls her hair.  She couldn't wait!  Kelly let her help wash Kassidy's hair and then it was her turn.  She was so excited when she was turned around to the mirror and saw her "curdee" hair.   The first thing she said was "Me- bootiful!"  It was so cute!  She wouldn't even let Kelly put a headband in or her bow....she said she just wanted her curls.   Isn't that the way it always is?....if we have straight hair we want curls or if we have curls we want it straight.  :P  The girl has learned very early.

   

Happy Birthday, Dad!

  Today is my dad's birthday!  On his birthday- I can think of so many reasons I am thankful to my dad and for my dad! Here are a few of those reasons:

* He has always been there for me!

* He taught me how to fish-even though I didn't really care to learn- I was just on the boat for a good tan.

* He always made sure my brother and I were treated equally- still does! :)

* He taught me what a curfew was! 

* He taught me that everyone has a special name to him- he always makes them up- mine was "Nules" and" Yuska-nules- Apuchie" ( I think that is how you would spell it!)  Don't know where he comes up with them- but all my girls have them too! :)  Even Joe was "Wilsoninski". 

* He taught me to always go to people and work things out! - not always easy, but I am so thankful that he taught me that!

* He taught me how to check the oil in my car. (he used to call me in college and the first thing he would ask- "have you checked your oil")

* He taught me how to be a good steward of my money.

* He taught me that I should be at church each time the doors were open- even if I was sick! :) (mom helped me out a few times- since I was puking!-thanks mom! ) :)

* He taught me to always try even when it was hard!

* He taught me how to watch the news with my eyes shut! :)

* He taught me to always do my best!

* He taught me to work hard!

* He taught me to love Jesus with all of my heart!

* He taught me that family was special & important!

* He helped show me the world by taking me on many family vacations!  

* He taught me to NEVER run from him when I was in trouble!  ( I always did anyway!)

* He taught me what the sound of a belt being pulled through belt loops sounded like! :) ( I can still hear that sound! ha!)

* He taught me to respect others!

* He taught me that you can do anything you put your mind to!

* He taught me how to stand up for what is right!

* He provided everything I have ever needed and much more- a lot of wants too!  He still loves to share with us! 

* He provided me with a Christian home to grow up in and for that I am so grateful!

* He has shown me how much he loves me over and over again in so many ways!

* He has taught me that even though we live several hours apart- he is always a phone call away!

There are soooo many more things my dad has taught me in the past 40 years that I couldn't possibly list them all!  Dad, I appreciate and love you so much!  Thanks for being the best dad a girl could ask for! :)  I hope you have had a GREAT birthday!  I hope to celebrate many more with you!  

I love you,

Nules :)

1 marker, 2 walls & a 3 yr. old blooming artist!

    What is it with markers, walls and 3 yr. olds????   Klaire LOVES to color!  Now that she can write her name - at least the letters in it...she loves to write it anywhere- even on her sister's bedroom wall.....

   Back in January, Klaire used her coloring skills to draw a dragon on her bedroom wall.  It was a nice dragon that was luckily easy to clean because thankfully she drew it with a washable marker.  She was very proud of her dragon and cried when we cleaned it off.  We thought that was the end of it......

    Well, tonight after we had cleaned out our closets and I had cleaned out some old purses- I left a black sharpie on the floor in our bedroom not realizing it.  Well, my 3 yr. old realized it and decided to write her name on Kassidy's bedroom wall.  Kassidy didn't see what she was doing until Klaire yelled at her and said, "Hey sis, look what me wrote on your wall! "   Kassidy being the wonderful big sis...ran to tell dad!  Joe came in and got on to her and told her that she should not do that ever again- she cried and cried!  Why is it that when dad gets on to them they cry, but it seems to take more than that for mom?? UGH!

   After she sat in her room for a little bit crying &  yelling for me...I went in there and asked her why she did that.... all she could say was, "cause".   They learn that way too early too...don't you think?!

    It was time for bed...and Joe was in the bathroom and overheard Klaire in Kassidy's room saying to Kass, " Oh no...I forgot my r & e!  Oh, there's my r...I just forgot my e! "  She was still really proud of her writing skills even after being in big trouble!  She is such a mess!

   Another funny Klaire saying this week.....we were getting ready to go outside one day and Klaire's allergies were acting up.  Her eyes & nose were running.   It was a nice day so I put a short sleeve top on her.  She said, "Mommy, why you put short sleeves on me?"  I told her because it was warm outside.  She proceeded to tell me then, "No, me need long-sleeves 'cause I need to wipe my nose! "  as she swiped her arm across her nose to show me just how it was done!  Oh my- this girl is constantly cracking us up! :) 

Spring Break & the ER

                                                 Sisters enjoying the sunshine!
                                                  Enjoying a picnic in the yard!
                                      Klaire showing off her big girl bike!
                                             Take a look at Karlee's closet...it won't last long! 
                                            Same with Kassidy's closet!
                             Klaire & her cheesy grin while getting her nails painted!
                                                  Karlee getting her pedicure!
                                 Finally home after the ER!  We had Taco Bell for supper! :)

  We have been on spring break this past week!  It has been so nice to have a week off! :)  The weather has been overall beautiful- except for these past couple of days.  It was so much fun seeing family in TN, going to the park, playing with sidewalk chalk, playing basketball ( well, a little) and running/walking each day outside. Karlee, Klaire & I even went and had a pedicure to get ready for the sandals!  Klaire only wanted her fingernails done! :) WOW...I LOVE spring!  We have also done some spring cleaning...we cleaned out our closets and the girls cleaned their rooms (which they needed to badly).   When spring is in the air...everything seems a little easier to do! :)  

   We were having great day on Wednesday...just got back from the HS track after we took a walk. I started making supper...I thought we would have fried potatoes with veggies.  I started slicing the potatoes with a knife and doing just fine...when my husband comes in and offers for me to use his "handy-dandy" vegetable slicer that he bought the other day.  He showed me how to use it and then offered for me to try it out.  The last thing I remember him saying was..."Be sure and be very careful! That thing is really sharp! "  The next thing I knew I screamed ouch and put my finger under the faucet in the kitchen sink.  I thought I just cut my finger a little...well, I didn't just knick it...I almost cut off the whole end of my pointer finger!  I just remember saying..."I don't want to go to the ER! "  Well, I had to go and almost passed out twice, but finally after 3 hours and 4 stitches...my finger is on the mend. Thanks to my wonderful husband who took such GREAT care of me!  He will be using that slicer from now on and I will stick to my knife! :)

    I am sure my kindergarteners will love to hear the story when I get back to school on Monday after they see my finger all bandaged up! ha!

  Hope you all are enjoying your spring!  Bring on the capris and flip flops! :)  Summer is just around the corner! :)

Minister's Wives Conference videos

If you would like to see a recap of our weekend at the minister's wives conference ...Beth Moore and her staff has put up 4 powerful videos they shared with us at

the conference. 

This is her blog....http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com

Went struggling. Restored by His calling!

         We got our hair done before the conference- Thanks to my talented sister-in-law, Tara!

   
                            Our friends we sat by during the conference!  Sweet ladies!!! :)

                         Travis Cottrell and the amazing praise team!   Powerful worship!

                                       Beth Moore teaching!  We were on the 4th row!  




I just got back from an amazing weekend in Nashville, Tennessee!   WOW!  Emily and I went to a Pastor's wives conference by Beth Moore!  It was absolutely one of the most powerful conferences I have ever been to!  I was amazed at how much knowledge God gave her into our lives as Pastor's wives.   There were around 1,400 women that were there!  We met a lot of incredible ladies and became good friends with 4 women that sat near us!  It was amazing how all of us just clicked!  It was such a God thing! :)

     The worship time was OUTSTANDING with Travis Cottrell and the praise team!   There was so much freedom to worship God freely and not worry about someone looking at what you are wearing or if you are raising your hands,etc..! :)   We sang the song , We are Family, at the beginning of the 2nd day- it was so great, because we all are family!  How appropriate! :)

    Beth's lessons were all from the book of Galatians.  The whole entire theme was "YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING!"    God is our everything or He should be!  There is so much that I would love to tell you of how God spoke to me....but I have 8 pages of notes and I don't know that you would like to sit and read all of it! ha! :)   I will highlight some of what she said.  If you are a pastor's wife- you really ought to consider going to this conference!  Hopefully , she will schedule another one soon!  You will feel so special and chosen by the time you leave! :)  I sure did!

    Beth used the the whole concept of saying/summarizing things in 6 words.   She gave us an Aggravation and an Alteration for being a Pastor's wife.  I will give you the Alterations that she gave..... :) 

    #1- Chosen by God. Have Holy fit.- God chose us to do His work in the pastor's wife role and it fits us perfectly into His will.  (Gal. 1:10)

   #2- Seek God's Approval.  Find your peace.- as long as we seek God and His approval- we will have that perfect peace.  Don't seek man's approval or we will always fall short. (Gal. 1:11-24)

   #3- Choose to trust. Not to rust.  - We have to be people that work through conflict and be less easily betrayed.  It is the enemy we are fighting not people. (Gal. 6: 3-4)

   #4- Don't ignore. Get restored then restore. - the Word of God is our ONLY offensive weapon we have- we need to use it!   She asked us to get 20 scriptures in our heads that we can call upon when things that hit you try to overcome you.   ONLY scripture will overcome strongholds in your life. ( it is my goal to learn 20 new scriptures in the next 10 weeks!- why don't you do that with me! ) (Gal. 5:1 & Gal. 6:7-10)

  #5-Sow the Spirit. Reap the Life!- Start starving what you need to die and feeding what you want to grow.   (Gal. 2:20)  You can be ordinary or you can be filled with the Holy  Spirit & leave this life extraordinary!  ( Gal. 5:6 & Gal. 6:14-15)

  #6-Keep the King the Thing: J.E.S.U.S.-We work for God and it is a sacred job- nothing can be more sacred.  Keep Jesus #1 no matter what! (Eph. 3:10 & Gal. 6:14-16)

  One thing that spoke to me was that whether we married a preacher or came into by de-fault, like I did!  I married a teacher, not a preacher! :)   We have a sacred job of working for our Savior!  Sometimes I take that way too lightly!   I work for a King- my King, Jesus!   I am a daughter of THE KING- which in turn makes me a princess!  WOW!  If you are a child of the King...then you have a sacred job too!  It may not be in a pastor's wife role, but we all have a sacred job of serving our King each and everyday!

  I came away from this conference feeling special and realizing my calling as a pastor's wife.

 ( which I didn't realize I was called- thought only Joe was- I just happened to be along for the ride since I was married to him) God chose me to be Joe's wife and He knew he would be a pastor before I did- so that in turn makes me know that God chose me too! :) I am one of the most unlikely candidates for a pastor's wife ( just ask anyone around here, ha!), but knowing HE chose me makes me delight in Him even more!  God is also not sorry that He chose me! Hallelujah!  If God can raise the dead- He can use me and you too!!!!   He can use each and everyone of us- no matter how we feel about it! "God has good taste- creative, but good!"- quote from Beth!  Love that quote!  :)

   Galatians 1: 15  "But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace."      No matter where we are in our lives- remember God chose you even BEFORE you were born and you were called by His marvelous grace!  How awesome is that???

  I went to this conference struggling in my role as a pastor's wife....not feeling good enough and not meeting people's or God's expectations, but by God using His word and His servant Beth Moore- I came home feeling restored in my calling as a pastor's wife.   I may not be the ideal pastor's wife that the world might think or see...but I am chosen by God to do this sacred work for Him and that makes me ideal in His eyes!  What more do I need?!

   

   

    

   

Thankful Thursday!

This has seemed like a very long week.....so I needed to stop and take time to be Thankful today!

*I am so excited! Emily & I are leaving to go to a Beth Moore Minister's Wives conference this afternoon! The conference is in Nashville on Friday night & Saturday. WHOO-HOO!!! :)

*I am thankful that my husband really encouraged me to find a conference to go to and is willing to take care of the girls all weekend! (Kassidy & Klaire- Karlee is going with me) I love you, Joe!

* I am thankful that I will see my brother & sister-in-law and my nieces and nephew this weekend! It has been a while! I just love them so much and miss them! It will be some fun times shopping- can't wait, Tara! :)

*I am thankful that my parents are coming home from Florida this weekend and happen to be stopping at my brother's to spend the night! So, I will get to see them too! How great is that! I have really missed them while they have been in Florida being snowbirds all winter! Love you! ;)

* I am thankful that after school today- I am on Spring Break! Halleujah!!! I need a break! :)

* I am thankful that all my kiddos are tested and their report cards are almost finished! One less thing to do over spring break! :)

* I am thankful for movies....because inside recess is getting on my last nerve! When will it be spring and STAY spring!

* I am thankful when I hear my students say..."Mrs. Wilson, you are the best teacher in the whole world." It makes these inside recesses not so bad after all! :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Take time to be thankful!! It made may day better just posting this! :)

What are you thankful for??

Proud Mom Moment! :)

I teach the preschool class at church on Wednesday nights with a friend, Marlene.  Tonight- we were talking about Jonah and the whale.  After we did the lesson, Marlene gave them a color sheet and let the kids color it.  Klaire yelled out that she was finished, so I told her to write her name on her paper (just waiting on her to scribble something like she usually does)- well, she proceeded to do it!  I was pretty surprised!  Her babysitter, Becky, has been working with her on her name-I didn't realize it!   She wrote a perfect K, then l, a, i then her r she did pretty well.  I had to help her with her e.   She colors and writes better than some of kindergarteners! :)  (no kidding!)   So, I just wanted to share a my proud mom moment today!  :)

Shamrock Shuffle & Upward!

  What a day we have had!  It started off this morning with the Shamrock Shuffle at the High school- they were raising money for Project Grad.  I was asked to be on a team with 2 of my fellow kindergarten teachers.  It was a 4 man race- 1 runs a 10K, 2 run a 5K and 1 walks a mile.  I was the lucky one and got to do the mile walk! :)  This was the first race I have ever been in!  It was fun- all except when I went to the sign in table to get my number they yelled out "Julie, you're 40 right?"   How embarrassing was that?! ha!  Oh well...my first race at 40- I am just beginning to live! :)  Karlee ended up and walked with me while Kassidy, Klaire and Joe cheered from the bleachers! I had my own cheering section!  After it was over, Klaire ran down to see me and as we were walking to the car...she said, "Mommy, eww did a good job!  Are you happy?"  It was so adorable and made the race even more special! :)

   We then went to Kassidy's last Upward game.  She played very well...even with all of her injuries from the fall this week!  She is such a hustler!  Klaire, of course, helped Joe and Paul coach the team.   She loves to be in the middle of it all!  It has been a good basketball season, but I am ready to have my Saturdays back! :)

   We have had a fun Saturday and to top it off- it was in the 70's!  I just LOVE spring!  I am so ready to wear capris, shorts and flip flops all the time! :)  Spring Break is in one week!  Hopefully the weather will be this nice for it- but you never know here in the Ozarks! 

My Little Trooper

Kassidy has been sick for the last 2 days and finally went back to school today!

While at school, she was running out to recess and someone stuck out their foot and

tripped her.  She landed on the asphalt nose first!  To top off her day...she had 

basketball pictures after school!  I just told her it will make good memories later when we look at the pictures! :)   As a mom, I would like to find the kid that tripped her and give him a piece of my mind!  She makes me sore just looking at her! Thanks goes to the school nurse who bandaged her up really well!  She is such a trooper and taking it all in stride!  I am sure she is going to be very sore tomorrow!  She has her last basketball game Saturday- hopefully she will be feeling a lot better by then!

 (as you can see...she wasn't thrilled about me taking this pics! )

Thankful Thursday!

I just love reading other blogs when they have their Thankful Thursday posts! It really makes me stop and think about what I am thankful for. I started this with my ladies Bible study group a while back , but got out of the habit of doing it. So…I thought I would do it on my blog.

There is so much that I am thankful for in my life!

* My husband who is such an encourager to me in everything I do! I can always
count on him to have a pep talk for me just at the right time!

* Kassidy is feeling better- she has been sick for 2 days and is finally back to her spunky self!

*Karlee- she was chosen as a star student at her HS for the month of Februrary! It was based on her character. She was nominated by her teachers.

*Klaire- who brightens my day when she tells me, “Mommy, you are bootiful!” Also, when she says “I uv eww soooooo much!”

* My family- I hate that we live so far apart, but I am looking forward to seeing them next weekend!

*The opportunity to go hear Beth Moore speak to the Minister’s Wives conference next weekend! I can’t wait!

* Friends- what a blessing! What would I do without them! Thanks to my sweet friend Jeanette who encouraged me to do this blog!

* My Bible study group- I love how we can be real with each other and not be in fear of being judged! I am looking forward to tonight!

There is so much more to list….but these are the few for today!
What are you thankful for ???

My New Blog!

After chatting with a friend on facebook tonight, I decided to start a new blog! Thanks , Jeanette!
I am excited about sharing a little bit of my life with you! I know my family and friends that live far away will enjoy the updates & pictures! I hope that sharing part of my family and my journey as a wife, mother, pastor's wife, teacher, etc.. will encourage you in some way! I am so blessed and God has given me more than I could ever ask or imagine! Immeasurably more!!! :)