Immeasurably More

Merry Christmas from the Wilsons!

2011-12-25T05:27:00.000-08:00

Time flies! ......

2010-10-16T07:33:00.001-07:00

Time flies when your having fun! It has been a long time since I last updated my blog! Yesterday, we had to order Karlee's graduation announcements! Can you believe it??? Karlee will be graduating in May! Time sure does fly....even when you don't want it to! I am so proud of Karlee and the woman she is becoming daily in Christ! God has given her a beautiful heart and I pray that she will continue to use her talents and abilities to glorify Him throughout her life! We are now trying to decide on a college she will attend...she has applied to several. I am looking forward to seeing what all God has in store for our first born. It is hard to believe that we are approaching a whole new chapter in her life! I am so thankful to be her mom!

Klaire's new puzzle- Go10! :)

2010-06-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

Klaire got a new puzzle last night! She LOVES puzzles! She put it together all by herself- 101 little pieces! :)
We thought the puzzle was perfect for Go10 Walk for the World! (Don't you love the princess dress & headband that she is wearing! She is such a Diva! lol!)

Our day with Go 10

2010-06-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend we have been so blessed that Joe is home at night because the Go10 Walk that he is project coordinator for is in Nashville! He has been gone since Easter weekend! The girls & I decided to join him on the walk on Saturday. Karlee, Kassidy and I walked 10 miles through Nashville, while Klaire helped him run support for all of the walkers. My brother, Craig and niece, Maddi Kate also helped Joe & Klaire with support!
It was a very HOT but awesome day walking for missions! So honored that I could be a part of something so much bigger than me or my family! God is really blessing the walk and am so blessed to have been just a little part of it along with my family!

Karlee & Kassidy signing the scroll before walking 10 miles for missions!

Joe encouraging the walkers with Klaire's help!

Maddi Kate & Klaire waiting to help!

Klaire & Maddi handing out gatorade to all of us walkers!

It is amazing at what all God is doing during this walk to help with missions and our missionaries. You can see what all is happening in the past few months on the website....www.go10walk.com
It has been difficult having Joe away from me and the girls for the past 2 1/2 months and we still have 1 1/2 months to go...but I know it is just a little part of God's big plan for us and for His message to be spread to the regions beyond!
I thank God for the opportunity to be a part of this incredible journey!

One blessing after another....

2010-04-26T18:56:00.001-07:00

"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." John 1:16

To start off my weekend...I had these beautiful flowers brought to me from Joe's office! They are just beautiful and made my day! They also sent gifts to all 3 girls! Thanks to the wonderful staff that work for International Missions! You all are wonderful!!!! :)

My handsome husband came home for the weekend! I am so proud of what he is doing with the Go10 project and how God is using him, Bill & Jim to accomplish such a great task to help further the gospel to the regions beyond! I am so thankful for such a godly husband of 20 years! I love you, Joe!

My mom came to visit this weekend too! I love my mom so much! It is always a highlight when she comes to visit! She came to see Karlee in the spring musical that she had at school- "Singing in the Rain." Craig & Tara and the kids also came to see Karlee perform! It was an awesome night to share with the whole family! I just love my family!

Today was awards day! Kassidy was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society and also got an award for all year honor roll! I am so proud of her and the young lady she is becoming on the inside and out! Great job, Kass! I love you!

Awards day take 2! Karlee was inducted into the National Honor Society today as well! She also took home the award for all year honor roll and the President's award for academic excellence! So proud of you, Karlee! I love you!

Needless to say....I am one blessed person! So many times I take too many things for granted and don't stop to thank the Lord for all the things He has done for me! So here are a few of my blessings from this past week....what are your blessings??

What does a girl do when her high heels break???

2010-04-19T17:46:00.000-07:00

First she examines the other shoe to see the damage done....

Then she cries and pouts for a long time.....

And finally....she tells her mommy that if she puts this on the "compooter" she will be so mad!

Her mommy thinks that one day she will look back at this and laugh....at least her mommy hopes so!

Where does the time go???

2010-04-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

I can not believe my little girl is all grown up and went to the Jr/Sr Banquet last night! Where does the time go??? Last time I looked she was the little girl in the dress up trunk finding the perfect dress to wear. Then she would dance around wanting Joe and I to dance with her.

Joe and I are so proud of Karlee and the beautiful young woman she is- inside and out!

Klaire was a little jealous....so she had to dress up too! It wasn't fair that big sis gets to go to "prom" and she doesn't! What you don't see in most of the pics is Klaire crying because she is not getting her picture taken as much as Karlee....oh my...we have a diva on our hands!

Karlee & Kassidy- sisters & friends! (well....sometimes!) So proud of my girls!

Cool chicks! I prayed and prayed that God would give Karlee good friends at her new school since we moved before her junior year of high school....and this is proof that God answered my prayers!!!

The crew before the banquet....these pics were being taken by a huge mob of parents! :)

Karlee & Aaron- what is hard to believe is that his parents were at the hospital when Karlee was born! Never knew that one day they would be dating!

Who knows where Karlee gets these poses?! ;) I just love her fun personality!!

One last pose before we send them off to have fun! We did see them a short time later...since we were chaparones at the "after banquet party! "

Joe had the last words though...he wanted to make sure that Aaron knew who he would answer to if anything went wrong tonight! (Karlee looks real scared! LOL!)

"Hop-Cotch"

2010-04-14T19:15:00.001-07:00

I love spring! This week it has been beautiful everyday! Of course, we want to get outside and play some after school since it is so pretty. The two older girls have practice almost every night- Karlee for the musical, Singing in the Rain and Kassidy for basketball. So, as Klaire told me tonight, "It's just you and me again, mom!"

First, she watered my flowers on the porch and then she wanted to play "hop-cotch" (as she calls it- she can not say her s's). She says she has been playing it at school. So.....she went and got out the sidewalk chalk and begged me to make a "hop-cotch" for her. As I was making it, she was getting so excited and even clapped when I finished! :)

She went and found 4 "good" rocks to play. As you know, hopscotch usually goes to 10......well, needless to say....that was not good enough for the princess! She wanted me to make it to 12- then 15- then 18- and finally stopped at 22! We have the longest "hop-cotch" out in the road in front of our house! She can't wait to show her sisters and her daddy! :)

Concentrating on where to throw her rock!

Wasn't satisfied with just 10- she wanted to go up to 15!

Up to 17 & 18?? Have you ever seen a hopscotch this long?!

She added to 22!!! She wanted to keep on going....but it was time to go in and take a bath!

One proud little girl!

What can a girl do in high heels?

2010-04-12T16:29:00.001-07:00

Pick the "flowers" in the yard!

Then blow the "flowers" in the air!

Ride her bike!

Pretend to be a duck to try to pet the duck that flew in the yard!

Climb a "great wall"!

Walk across the "great wall"!

Color a masterpiece with sidewalk chalk!

Run down our steep driveway without falling!

Run back up our steep driveway!

And melt this mommy's heart!

Blessed X 3

2010-04-07T19:12:00.001-07:00

I came home from school today to find my kitchen table filled with beautiful pink flowers! My girls had stopped at a road side stand on the way home from school and used their own money to surprise me with these flowers! ( they had to tell me that got 3 for the price of 2- love the bargain shopping!- see Joe I am teaching them something when we go shopping! ) They all had written notes to me thanking me for being a wonderful mom- what a way to melt my heart!
I couldn't ask for 3 more beautiful and thoughtful girls that God has blessed Joe and I with! I am so proud of each one of them and the beautiful young women they are becoming more and more everyday inside and out!
Thank you Karlee, Kassidy & Klaire!!! I am so proud to be your mom! :) I love you all!!!

Go 10!

2010-04-05T15:49:00.001-07:00

This year, Joe took the position to be a project coordinator for Go10 Walk for the World. It is sponsored by our International Missions Dept. of Free Will Baptists. It is a 2,500 mile walk to commemorate 75 years of International missions in our denomination by tracing the steps of our first missionary Ms. Laura Belle Barnard. We have always been involved in some way with International missions and love all of the incredible missionaries that are out on the field spreading God's Word! I am amazed at missionaries and what they sacrifice to go and tell others about our Savior in the regions beyond!

I feel our lives have come to a full circle moment with Joe being a part of this. The walk started today in Glennville, GA , Ms. Laura Belle's home town. Glennville was also the first place that Joe and I moved to after graduating college and getting married, which was 20 years ago in July! I actually got to spend the last year or a little more than a year having the priviledge to get to know Ms. Laura Belle. What an incredible lady!!! My only regret is that I didn't get to hear more of her wonderful stories of India and her travels abroad to spread the Word! I am so honored to have had the time with her in her last year of her life and then to celebrate her life at her funeral. What a legacy she has left for our denomination and to me personally! Joe and I are so honored to be a part of this whole project!

The journey of the Go10 project is:
*Started today in Glennville, GA- Ms. Laura Belle's home
*on to Columbia, SC- where she went to college at Columbia International Universtiy
*then to Greenville, NC- she was commissioned at Black Jack FWB church into missionary service
*up to NYC- to the port where she boarded a freight ship to India
*down to Nashville- Free Will Baptist Bible College- where she taught ( that is also where I graduated! ) :)
*Then it will finish in OKC, OK- at our National Association of FWB!

2,500 miles, hopefully over 1,000 walkers (500+ are signed up now), and hopefully 1 million dollars raised to help plant churches in countries around the world! Every penny that is raised up to $500,000 will be matched by an anonomous donor! What a HUGE blessing!!!! :)

I ask that you pray for Joe, Bill and Jim as they are on the road with this project for the next 4 months! Also, pray that lives will be changed around the world because of people willing to Go 10 ( whether it is 10 miles walking or $10 or 10 + prayers)! I pray that everyone will be a part of such an incredible journey!

I am claiming Ephesians 3:20 for this walk- "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," God has already done so much in the 10 months that Joe has been working on this project! I can't wait to see what all He has in store for the next 4 months!

I am meeting Joe to walk in NYC! I have set a goal to raise $1,000 for missions! If you would like to sponsor me to walk my 10 miles- all of the money that you donate will be doubled and go directly toward churches being planted all over the world! You can go to my walker page -www.go10walk.com/juliewilson

Thank you for your prayers for Go10! Can't wait to post exciting details in the coming weeks! :) For an update on the walk from Joe's point of view-you can go to Joe's blog-by clicking on- A cup of Joe and read the updates!

Egg Hunt Fun!

2010-04-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

Today was our church's egg hunt. They sponsor it every year for the community at a local park. It is an awesome outreach event. We were not sure if it was actually going to really take place this morning.....when we woke up to down pours of rain. But soon after we got there and the event started, the clouds started to make their way out of Nashville and the sun started peeking it's head through! It turned out to be a wonderful day! My 2 oldest girls, Karlee and Kassidy, are now too old to officially hunt eggs (snif....) so Karlee worked the consessions with the youth group and Kassidy worked with her Lifegroup and hid all the eggs! I am thankful that we still have one that can hunt eggs and hunt she did! Klaire had a basket full of eggs to bring home! Enjoy the pics below of our day!

Getting ready to head to the egg hunt!

Maddi Kate, Miley and Klaire playing on the inflatables at the egg hunt!

Waiting for the count down to hunt the eggs!

Cousins!

The hunt is on!

Klaire after finding a basket full of eggs!

KarKar with 2 happy girls after all the eggs they found!

Kass & Klaire (who was over having her picture taken by this time! LOL!)

Alli, Kassidy, and Landon

Karlee selling concessions with the youth group!

Wordless Wednesday!

2010-03-31T18:59:00.001-07:00

Warm??

2010-03-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

Today before school, my friend Julia, brought me a Frappe from McDonald's. If you haven't tried one....try the carmel...even if you are not a coffee drinker! I am not a coffee drinker and they are great! :)
Well, while sipping on it this morning in class, my kiddos said, "Mrs. Wilson is drinking a shake." I then proceeded to assure them that it was NOT a shake, it was "coffee" , at least my type of coffee. ;)
One of my students, then piped up to tell me that his uncle drinks coffe and he is REALLY big! (showing me with hand motions just how big his uncle is) Taken back by his comment, I said, "Do you think I am big?" ( not a great question to ask kindergarteners....) Then they all started telling me aloud..."Mrs. Wilson, you are not big- you are skinny, you are beautiful..." and etc.... (one reason I LOVE teaching kindergarten! LOL!)
After a little time of listening to everyone's opinion of how I look...one of my boys (who I might add...is extremely smart) stood up and said, while making precise hand motions, "Mrs. Wilson-you know there is like hot and cold and you are right in the middle- kinda like WARM!"
Warm, huh?! Don't exactly know how to take that....but....warm is better than cold...but I am working toward being hot! LOL!

Kindergarten.....

2010-03-25T07:26:00.000-07:00

My Kindergarten Team

Heather & I at Kindergarten registration (notice the Sonic cups-gotta have the caffine!)

I am so blessed! Almost a year ago, I knew we would be moving to Nashville, TN. I was happy and sad at the same time. Happy for the new opportunities, but sad to leave behind good friends and a great job!

Almost a year later....I see how the Lord orchestrated our move and had His hand in the whole thing!

I left an amazing team of kindergarten teachers (16 of us) and an amazing school - Esther Elementary. Although, I miss my friends there dearly....God has blessed me with an amazing new team of kindergarten teachers (8 of us) and another amazing school- A.Z. Kelley Elementary!! I just love how God orchestrates everything so perfect!

This year has been a huge adjustment for our family with Joe's new job...my new job...the girls new schools...etc. But through all the choas of a move across several states, I can say that it was worth it! :)

I love teaching kindergarten and how much more can you love a job when you have outstanding teachers & staff to work with! I am so thankful at how they accepted me and brought me on board from day one!

From Sonic stops in the morning (Thanks, Ruth!!), eating out every chance we can get,
celebrating birthdays, amazing cooks on my team, new recipes they give out, laughing uncontrollably, crying on each other's shoulders, praying over each other's needs to taking on each others "precious" students & texting each other to find out what we are wearing the next day.....I love my kindergarten team!!! :)

Thanks girls for making me feel a part from the get go! You all are amazing!!! :)

What Not to Wear!

2010-03-15T19:55:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite shows on TV is What Not to Wear on TLC! I love to watch Stacey & Clinton work their magic on people helping them like themselves and look good in what they wear. One of the stipulations of being on the show is that you have to throw away ALL your old clothes and be willing to buy a whole new wardrobe. It is all a matter of a better self-image and liking who they are and seeing what they can be if they just let go of the past! At the end of the show...you see a whole new person with a brand new wardrobe that fits them and a newfound confidence in who they are!

I am doing a Bible study, on my own, by Kelly Minter called Ruth. It is GREAT!!! It is all about the story of Ruth and gets into more details of her love, loss & legacy! I love when studying a well known "story" from the Bible... God brings it to reality! Because these events in the Bible truly happened...they are not just stories!

Tonight while doing my Bible study...Kelly asked the question "Is God asking you to throw off some weighty garments??" She also said, "When we're wrapped in garments of mourning, we're unavailable for whatever else God has for us." In a sense, when we choose to live in the past of whatever is weighing us down then we take ourselves out of the game. WOW!!! Those words hit me between the eyes like a brick!

I have been willingly taking myself out of the game for several months now. I have been living with hurt, unforgiveness, anger and even jealousy for things that have happened in the past. It just has not been working for me, though! I have asked God over and over to forgive me of all of these feelings and then I would get up from my prayer time and throw the load back over my shoulder, as if I had to carry them around anyway! :( I have been living in a pity party not wanting to do anything or get involved. I just haven't let go UNTIL tonight!!! I am throwing away those old ugly clothes and trading them in on some new beautiful clothes that will actually glorify God!

Isaiah 43:18-19 says " But forget all of that- it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See I have already begun? Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."

I am happy to say that I am back in the game! I have traded in my old frumpy clothes for new ones that make me look and feel a lot better! I want to glorify God in all that I do each and everyday!

God has blessed me so much in spite of my constant pity party about different things going on in my life. I just haven't sat down and really looked for the blessings that are all around me each day! I can't wait to see what all God has in store for me and my family!

Please pray for me that I will stay in the game at all times and when Satan comes to tempt with my old "seemingly" comfy clothes that I will not even put them in my closet for a later use, but that I will stay in my newly updated wardrobe and glorify My KING! I don't even want those clothes anywhere near my newly replenished closet! :)

Who knew that a study on Ruth and a TV show on TLC could have so many similarities! :) I just love how God speaks to me in the most unusual ways! He knows I am a little thick headed at times...so he has to get on my level! I love how God ALWAYS meets you where you are! How incredible! :)

Mid-Life Crisis???

2010-03-15T14:07:00.001-07:00

Today, I decided to do away with the blonde and go brunette! I debated over it for awhile...but wanted to do something new! Just felt like I needed something...since I can't seem to lose any weight these days even after giving up sweets for the last month and a half (ughhhh!!!, but that is another story!)...sooooo....thought I would color my hair! I am so thankful for my sis-in-law, Tara, who is an amazing hair stylist!
I wasn't sure if I would like it...but I really do! Anxious to see what everyone else thinks! Joe & my girls like it!
Just figure if this is my mid-life crisis...it is not too bad! LOL!

Better Late than Never!

2010-03-06T18:10:00.001-08:00

Kassidy's birthday was actually February 5...but we just had her party last night. Busy month! :(
I got a great idea for Kassidy's birthday party from Family Fun magazine! Rainbow cupcakes!

Started with a white cake mix and some food coloring.....Klaire was a big help!

Klaire loved tasting the cake batter (she thought it was icing)....She is just like her mom! ;)

Kassidy was proud of her rainbow cupcakes...although they looked more tie-dyed than rainbow!

I let the girls decorate their own cupcakes! Fun times!

Kassidy gave me the thumbs up! She likes hers without icing!

Alli liked the cupcakes! :)

Then they decorated pillow cases!

Finally, it was movie time!

As you can see...Klaire didn't want to miss out on any fun! She had to sleep downstairs with the girls too...so I made her a place on the couch! I had to get up and get her calmed down at 1:00am!!!! :(

Still all smiles in the morning after only a few hours of sleep! What a great group of girls!!!

Happy Birthday, Kass! I love you!!!

Aunt Tara Tuesday!

2010-03-02T18:14:00.001-08:00

Tonight we went to see Aunt Tara. Karlee and I went to get our haircut. While we were there...Klaire decided she wanted to get her hair cut too. She knew exactly what she wanted done with her hair and then told Aunt Tara just how to do it! LOL! She wanted it cut really short because she said that way everyone would ask her if she got her hair cut and she could say yes! ha! She is such a mess! She did get about 2 inches cut off. I wish you could have seen how she was smiling and posing while she was getting it cut! After Tara was finished, she wanted her to curl it! She loves curly hair. Needless to say...Aunt Tara curled her hair and she is feeling beautiful as you can see from the pic! :) She can't wait to show her teacher, Mrs. Robin, tomorrow....the sad thing is....I hate to tell her that it won't look this way in the morning!

Wacky Wednesday!

2010-02-24T18:54:00.001-08:00

This week is Read Me Week at AZ Kelley Elementary! It has been a week of fun filled activities, but it is also the first full week of school that we have had since Christmas! So...that saying.....it is one CRAZY week!
Today was Wacky Wednesday and the picture shows my kindergarten team dressed up for the festivities! :)(later in the day I sported pig tails,but no pic was taken! ha!) What a team! I love these girls! We fit in perfect for the theme today...Wacky! :)

This is what having older sisters can do.....

2010-02-16T17:57:00.001-08:00

Our older two girls both have cell phones, so Klaire thinks she needs one too! I am sure that a 4 year old needs a cell phone- NOT! She loves to take my phone or Joe's and push the buttons really fast.....when asked what she is doing she always replies "I am texting!" Monkey see...Monkey do! Tonight Kassidy was actually texting Klaire on my cell phone and then teaching her how to reply.... this may be dangerous!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T16:15:00.001-08:00

Valentines for 27 years! ( 7 dating- 20 married!)

A heart cookie for my sweetheart! I used to make these for Joe when we were dating- brings back memories! :)

Alli, Kassidy and Emily ( Emily couldn't have a cookie because of allergies)

Alli (my neice)

All the girls with their heart chocolate chip cookies! :)

Happy Valentine's Day! This year, my daughter, Karlee wanted to make something special for her boyfriend for this day! I started thinking about what I used to do for Joe when we were dating....which led me to the idea of making a huge chocolate chip heart cookie. I used to make those for Joe since it was his favorite! I told her that I would help her....then thought why not make one for Joe to surprise him and then for all the girls! The one for Joe turned out pretty well...but the girls cookies....well....as you can see from the pics that the icing helped make the hearts! LOL!
We celebrated last night with a movie and dinner and a little shopping spree! I have the best husband in the world! I love you, Joe! :)

Sharing Popcorn...

2010-02-11T18:59:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I decided to pop some popcorn for us to eat while watching the new season of Survivor! Klaire and I were sharing a bowl while sitting in Joe's recliner. She decided that I was eating too much so she divided the popcorn into 2 separate piles in the bowl. As I reached down for more popcorn, I reached on her side not knowing that she just did this- she quickly told me that I was to eat only the popcorn on my side. She is such a mess! :)

Project Chosen

2010-02-11T16:37:00.001-08:00

A dear friend of mine that I met through the adoption community online(and finally in person) asked me to be a part of her Project Chosen posts in the month of February. She is featuring adoption stories from different families that she knows. Well....tomorrow (Feb. 12) is the big day that our Chosen daugther, Klaire, will be featured! It is such an honor that God chose our family to be Klaire's forever family! I love telling our story to anyone that will sit and listen! I am thankful for the opportunity to share what God has done for our family through adoption! Our lives are blessed beyond measure! You can click on the Project Chosen button on the side bar to go to her blog. You will truly be blessed as you read each story!
Thanks Jeanette for asking me to be a part of this wonderful project! :)

Valentines....

2010-02-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

I have always enjoyed Valentine's Day since I was little! I loved buying the boxes of paper valentines and filling them out for my friends. It was always so much fun to open up those little paper cards to see who they were from.
My girls have enjoyed filing out valentines as well. Now they think they are getting "too old" for filling out the little paper ones, but Klaire is just now starting to get the excitement!
She had so much fun going and picking out her favorite box of valentines. She had a hard time deciding between the Princess ones, Ni Hao Kai Lin, and the Barbie ones. She finally decided on the Princess cards, but had to have suckers to go along with them for her friends too. You can actually afford to buy the bag of suckers when you only have to pay $1 for the box of cards! ;)
Last night, we sat down at the table and we took our her class list and started picking out each friend their special valentine. She wrote her name on each one. She was really impressed that I knew the names of each of her classmates...she forgot that I had the class list in front of me! LOL! As you can see, she was very proud of her work as was I! I hope that she will always find the joy in the little things as she does now!

20 years ago....

2010-02-09T08:07:00.000-08:00

Dell Ann and I - teaching buddies and great friends!

Dell Ann's Family

Joe with a few of his former students

Ms. Doris-99 years old! :)-used to go to her house for tomato sandwiches!

This past weekend we went to Glennville, Georgia. Glennville is a small little town in south GA that is about 1 hr. away from Savannah. This small little town holds a VERY special place in Joe and I's hearts! 20years ago we graduated college, got married, and moved to Glennville to teach at GCA- Glennville Christian Academy.
We were very young- 21 & 22! (that really seems young now that we are 41! LOL!)

We lived 2 years there. I taught 2nd grade and Joe taught Jr. High & HS. I was also the cheerleading coach and he was the coach for most of the sports there! We had some great times going to all the games and just being with the kids there!
Joe was also the part time youth pastor at the Glennville FWB church.

We lived in a very old house on the main street there for the first year of our marriage.(that house is now torn down! :( ) The next year we lived in a brand new funeral home! Yes...I did say...funeral home! It was so nice and brand new! Hey...for $100 a month...we couldn't pass it up! LOL! :) I used to always tell people that you better come see us before you have to! LOL! :)

Going back there this past weekend brought back many wonderful memories of our time there! Even though it was only 2 short years...we made so many wonderful friends and left a part of our heart there!

We stayed with one of Joe's former students and his family, who is now a doctor in the town and has 4 beautiful children! (talk about making you feel old! ha!) We got to see a lot of our former students & teacher friends and church people that we haven't seen in over 18 years! What wonderful people live there!

I am so thankful that God led us to little Glennville, GA to begin not only our marriage there but also our ministry! It will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart!

SNOW DAYS!!! :)

2010-02-02T09:23:00.001-08:00

I LOVE snow days! I know being a teacher I should not be as excited as the kids are, but I think I am even more excited! :) Snow days are just so much fun to spend time as a family sledding, making snow angels, eating soup and snuggling on the couch with good movies. Snow days are just made for relaxing and spending time with family!
After moving to Nashville from Missouri, I didn't really think we would have any good snow days this year. Little did I know that we would bring the snow with us from MO! ;) School has been out now for 3 days and we are loving it! These are days that will make so many memories for a lifetime!
Poor Klaire has been sick during this whole time we have been out, so no sledding for her...she got out to take a few snow pics and then was in the car while the rest of us went sledding. I was very thankful that I was able to be home with her while she was sick instead of having to take some sick days! You know you need your momma when you are sick!:)
Hope all of you enjoy snow days as much as our family does! It makes me so thankful for a warm house and warm p.j.'s (that is pretty much what we have been in these past few days)!
Now that we have had our 5 built in snow days...I am ready to go back to school and bring on summer! :)

P.S. (the one in the face mask is Kassidy...she didn't want to take her face mask off just for a picture- it was too cold! LOL! :)

Merry Christmas!!!

2009-12-22T21:37:00.000-08:00

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Sorry I didn't get cards mailed out this year, but things have been a bit crazy in our household! All good....just crazy! I don't actually even know what box the girl's stockings are in, or the angel for our tree, etc.! :)
It has been a great year and I have so much to be thankful for! I wanted to be sure and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I pray that God will bless you more than you can ever ask or imagine in 2010! Love to you all!!!

Testing of my faith!

2009-08-15T22:04:00.000-07:00

Wow! It has been a long time since I last posted! There has been so much going on in our lives all summer long! We have been travelling and living out of suitcases all summer! I think the last time I slept in my bed was in June sometime! I miss my bed!
Things have been pretty crazy, but I can't complain, because God has proved Himself faithful over and over again to us through all the unknowns! There were times that I thought that I just can't do this anymore....but I KNOW that God has called us to this task and He WILL see us through! He never said that following Him and His will would be easy...but He did say that He would take care of us through it all! He has done just that!!!
In the past 2 months since I have written...we have lived with my brother & sister-in-law and my 2 nieces and nephew for the summer...travelled to several different states...and we are now living in the basement of some of our sweet college friends, who so willingly offered us their home to spend a few weeks in until we can find a place to rent!
I was panicked and having some doubts a few weeks back....I didn't have a job....we didn't know where the kids would go to school....what about daycare for Klaire if I did get a job....our house selling in Lebanon.....finding a house here....etc., etc., etc..... I seriously thought I was going to have to go to the doctor and get some serious drugs for my mental well being! How much more Lord is what I kept asking....and He kept reminding me that He is ALWAYS there and He was in control! We serve an awesome God!!!! Every time I went to church...the SS lesson was on finding joy in all things...look back at what God has done....then I would go in to the service and guess what the sermon was on..... rejoice in the Lord always! God is so good to remind us that He is in control!!! :) I just LOVE Him for that!!!
Well...in the past 2 weeks....I have a job...teaching kindergarten with an incredible godly team with a godly principal and assistant principal! The girls are in a Christian school and Klaire is there as well in the preschool program! WE have found a house to rent close to the school and church! It is amazing what God has done in less that 2 weeks...just when I thought I would lose it! You know that His timing is not always my timing ;)
We are still praying that our house will sell soon!!! Please pray that with us! We need to be rid of that burden! I do know that God has the right person to buy it...they just haven't seen it yet! ;) Also...we would love for our small inflatable game business to sell too! These would be huge prayers answered!!!
Testing of your faith is NEVER easy, but it is ALWAYS worth it! I am growing more and more each day in the Lord and I will strive to rejoice in Him always! That is a hard thing to do at times...but God is so good and has been to me all my life! Who am I to complain about living out of a suitcase in a friend's basement..... I have my health, my family, clothes, shelter and food-what more do I need! I am gaining a whole new perspective on life and what really matters! My faith is still be tested...but I am going to choose each day to make the choice to learn from it not complain about it! (even though that is really hard at times-ask me tomorrow! LOL!)
I am claiming Ephesians 3:20- "God can do immeasurably more than I can ever ask or imagine!" I pray that you will claim that too!

One HUGE thing I will miss.....

2009-06-18T21:15:00.000-07:00

A treasure from my kinder friends!

My friend, Dawn, covering up the Bud Light sign for the pic! LOL!

Sweet friends!

Tonight, I was blessed to have one last dinner with my amazing Kindergarten team before we move to Tennessee! I am really going to miss my co-workers who are also dear friends! This was a very sweet night...but hard night for me! Of course, there were a lot of tears shed! I could not have asked for a better team to work with! We have had a lot of fun over the last 6 years!

My friend, Dawn, made a scrapbook with notes from each one of them! It is something I will treasure for a lifetime! How special it was to read all of the notes! :)

As I think back over my time at Esther Elementary.....I will have to say that it has been one of the most wonderful and exciting parts of my teaching career! As we move, I am leaving part of my heart at Esther Elementary in Lebanon , MO! I will never forget each one of these special people who have made an impact on my life! You all are the BEST!!!

Overwhelmed....

2009-06-08T22:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry, it has been so long since I last posted! Just wanted you to know that Joe resigned our church yesterday as pastor and we will be moving sometime this summer to Nashville, TN.

Joe is taking a position as a program director at the Free Will Baptist International Missions Department.

Needless to say...I am a little overwhelmed at the task at hand! We have to sell our house, find another house, say good bye to good friends, find a teaching position, sell an inflatable game business and our girls will be starting new schools in the fall! So....we have a lot of things going on in our household right now! Please pray for us as we make this journey of faith that God is leading us on! I have a variety of emotions going on in my head right now! I know God is leading and He will take care of every detail....I just need to believe that with my heart and not just with my head- because right now, it is a little more than this girl can take!

We will be taking Karlee tomorrow to Nashville and leaving her for the next 3 weeks as she goes to France on a mission trip! Please pray for her during this time!

Just wanted to update you all on our family! I hope to write more in the near future...when I can finally see over the boxes of stuff that we have! I do know one thing....we are selling a lot of stuff! How can you collect so much "junk" in just a few years! So....garage sale...here we come! :)

I would appreciate your prayers- I need all that I can get! :)

Great Bow Giveaway!!!

2009-05-13T10:44:00.001-07:00

I wanted to pass along to you a great give away that my dear friend, Jeanette, has on her blog right now! She is giving away these 3 sets of bows! Aren't they adorable?!!! I have several bows from her and everyone is sooooo cute and Klaire loves them! :) Jeanette is selling bows to bring her daughter, Sara Beth, home from China! Every bow she sells...the profits go to her adoption fund! How great is that...you get adorable bows and it helps bring her daughter home! :) (they have been waiting for 30 months today!)

Just click here to go to her blog and sign up for these super cute bows sets! Maybe you will win some for your daughter or granddaughter! (hint, hint, mom!) ;) Let her know that you heard about her bows from me! ;)

Good luck!

I am one blessed mom!

2009-05-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

Today, Joe, Klaire & I, went to an adoption seminar in Springfield and the other 2 stayed home. Joe also took me shopping! :) While we were gone, Karlee & Kassidy were watching cooking shows on TV and decided to make me a special dessert for Mother's Day! Look how beautiful it was...... :) (notice I said was....)

It was sooo sweet of my girls to think of me today and take time to do this for me! After supper they surprised me with the dessert! It didn't take long for the glass to be empty! :) They told me they made me a bigger one than everyone else in the family. ;)

By the way....they also folded the laundry and vacuumed the house! WOW! I thank God for the privilege to be a mother- what a gift! I love you girls.... and I am sooo proud to be your mom! :)

What a fun night!

2009-05-07T20:41:00.000-07:00

Ok...I think I had one of the most fun nights of my life tonight! Our women's Bible study group surprised 3 girls from our church, Karlee, Katy & Nicole, with a shopping trip around town! These girls will all be going on summer mission trips!

As you know from an earlier post, we had a fried pie fundraiser a few weeks ago....well, we raised enough money to pay off all of their trips to France, Brazil and Mexico and also we had enough to give each one $100 to spend on clothes for their trips!

We asked them to come to Bible study tonight and fed them supper....then we proceeded to tell them that we were going to take them shopping! SURPRISE!!! Their reaction was priceless...there were screams and tears and hugs! It was so much fun to see their faces!

There were about 10 of us and the 3 girls that all hopped in cars and drove around our town to shop! It was like a marathon shopping spree! We made it to 4 different stores and of course we ended at Wal-Mart! (which 4 stores is about all we have in Lebanon to shop for teen girls)

They all got some really cute clothes for their trips! I was so blessed to be a part of this fun night! I think all of us women had as much or more fun than the girls! :) God blessed immeasurably more than I could have ever asked or imagined! What an awesome Thankful Thursday I have had! :)

(** the pictures are some we took while they were having fun in the dressing rooms....I am not sure any of those were purchased- I know the mumu dresses were NOT! ha!)

Handmade Necklaces for Sale! :)

2009-05-04T18:09:00.000-07:00

As you all probably already know...Karlee is going to France this summer with an E-Team. We have successfully raised all of the funds that she needs to go, but now she is trying to find ways to make some spending money! :)

My grandma, Aileen, (Karlee's great grandma) crochets necklaces to sell. She has donated 40 necklaces for Karlee to sell to make spending money on her trip. These are handmade and actually look like beads when you wear them. They are very lightweight! They sell for $5.00 each with $1.00 shipping. If you would like to buy one or have any questions- please e-mail me at teacherwilson@hotmail.com or just post a comment on here. They come in many colors....the pictures really don't do them justice! The necklaces come in blues, reds, multi colored bright or pastel, browns, black/silver, gray/purple, rose, teal/green, etc...

I appreciate Grandma for thinking of Karlee in such a sweet way to help her make a little spending money for her trip! Thanks so much for taking the time to look! :)

**The girls are modeling some of the necklaces in the pictures above! Klaire had to get in on the action too! :)

What did you do last Saturday???

2009-05-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

Klaire was so proud of herself!

Klaire & Landon "help" out!

Erin & Carsyn filling orders!
Joe frying some of the pies! (we had 5 fryers going!)

They all still look happy! :)

Making more fillings!

Kass was our "icer" for the day!

rolling out the pies!

Nicole, Karlee & Katy!

We made 1,500 fried pies! Last Saturday...we had one final fundraiser for the E-Team girls at our church that will be going on Mission trips this summer! Karlee- will be going to France, Katy to Brazil and Nicole to Mexico!

I am sooooo thankful for all the help that we had come out to the church that Saturday and also on Thursday night before.....we had over 30 people who came and volunteered their time and energy to help raise the money for these 3 girls to go spread God's Word throughout the world! My mom & dad (the expert fried pie makers) came down from IL to help us too! It has been amazing to see how God has provided!

We made what they needed and above what we had hoped!!! I love to when God blesses immeasurably more than I could have ever imagined!!! He went way beyond this time!! :)

I just want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all who had ANY part in these girls going on their mission trips this summer!!! I can't wait to see how God is going to use each girl to spread His love around the world!!!

**(I have a ton more pics....but couldn't post them all!)

Thankful Thursday!

2009-04-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

It was a crazy week last week...it seemed that I didn't have a chance to sit down last week to hardly even breathe! Well...this week has been MUCH better! :) I wanted to take time to list a few things that I am thankful for on this dreary (outside) Thursday!

* I am thankful for my mom & dad coming down to see us last weekend! They helped with the fried pie fundraiser! It was so nice to be able to spend some time with them!

* I am thankful for the ones who helped in ANY way with the fried pies...from buying to making to donating..etc.... it was an amazing day and we raised a lot of money for our 3 girls going on the E-team trips! ( I will post a separate blog about the fried pie day...maybe this weekend!) :)

* I am thankful for beautiful sunrises! Last Thursday...I woke up to the most beautiful sunrise that I had ever seen...especially since I don't like to see too many...I am NOT a morning person! ha! :) The picture says it all- I took it from our deck! We serve an amazing GOD!!! :)

* I am thankful for Ronald Mc Donald and his presentation today at our school! It was awesome! It was all on You are a Star! The whole program was about liking yourself for who you are and trying to be the best that you can be! ( side note...McDonald's is one of my least favorite places to eat!- unless they have the McRib-then I will make the sacrifice and eat there )

* I am thankful for my Bible study group! I lead a wonderful group of ladies that love the Lord and want to serve! What a blessing they all are! I love Thursday evenings for that very reason!

* I am thankful for my husband and 3 girls! They are the highlight of my life! Joe has been doing a sermon series on Parenting...it has really made me stop and think that I need to spend more quality time with each one of my girls....time is short and I don't want to miss anything in their lives!

* I am thankful for my pastor...which happens to be my handsome husband! ;) I love hearing what God has laid on his heart each week! You are awesome, honey! :)

*I am thankful for at least one outside recess today...before it started to pour! UGH!

There is so much more that I could list that I am thankful for....but I will leave you with these!
What are you thankful for today???

A Belated Easter Recap

2009-04-21T21:01:00.001-07:00

Easter is becoming one of my favorite holidays! What could be more exciting than celebrating our Savior's resurrection! We serve a RISEN Savior!!! What a wonderful weekend we had! From our Community Easter Egg Hunt to coloring eggs to our church service with Joe building a cross to lunch with great friends! It was an amazing weekend! I am blown away by God's grace and forgiveness! I pray that we will not take his sacrifice for granted! He gave His life so that we may live! What a Savior we serve!!! Hope you all had a blessed Easter too!

Easter Egg Hunt!

2009-04-11T17:38:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a few pictures of our Easter Egg Hunt today! Our church and Hardee's teamed up this year to put on a community egg hunt for our city! In the past we have both done one but on different days...so this year we joined forces to help each other and the community! We had a great turn out and wonderful weather! It was a lot of fun! Enjoy the pics! :)

Fun times!

2009-04-10T20:09:00.000-07:00

Preschool kiddos ready to hunt eggs!

Excited with their eggs!

All of us girls at Mulan!

We have had a busy week! Wednesday night, my friend, Marlene and I teach the preschool class at our church. We decided that we would have our own little egg hunt for the kiddos. We filled several eggs and hid them on the church lawn and let them find them. They had a blast! It was so much fun to see them get so excited about their candy! It made my night to share the story of Easter with these kids. Most of them do not come from Christian homes. My prayer is that as we teach them that God will touch their lives through His Word and that they will in turn reach their families! What a sweet group of kiddos we teach!

On Thursday night, we went to Springfield to see the play Mulan at the Springfield Little Theater. The actors were great and all of us loved it! Klaire kept saying "China? Their from China just like me! " She loved it! After the play...she wanted to get up on stage to take a picture by the dragon....we did it really quick because I don't think we were supposed to be up there! :) Oh well, we got the pic and Klaire was happy! :)

Mercy Me 5K Fun Run!

2009-04-04T08:58:00.000-07:00

Today, my whole family decided to run the 5k here in town that the hospital was sponsoring. This is the first time me and the girls have ever ran/walked one. I have been trying to gear up for it , since I am the most unlikely person to do this! :) Joe loves to run, but not me! He has even run the Chicago marathon! Don't think that is in my future.... But doing a 5K at 40 for the first time...I am pretty proud! :)

There were over 100 people that ran or walked the 5K. Some of our friends, Chris & Erin & their kids, ran it with us! It was fun for Kassidy to be able to run with friends! Karlee pushed Klaire in the stroller the entire way! (She is going to feel that in the morning! :) Joe finished in 26 minutes and then came back to get us! The whole family was across the finish line in 47 minutes! (each at a different time) I ran over 1/2 of it...so not too bad! :) I finished in 42 min. 49 sec. - I was expecting 1 hour! ha!

It was a lot of fun and a great way for our family to exercise together! We are planning to do another one in 2 weeks! My goal is to run more than 1/2 of it! WOW- never would have thought that I would look forward to running......funny what turning 40 will do to a person!

Show Hope & United Concert!

2009-04-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

Our 3 girls at the Show Hope booth!

Klaire & Hannah working at the Show Hope booth to help find more of their

friends in other countries a home!

Sweet friends!

SCC singing "Cinderella"!

Klaire & Hannah dancing like Cinderella while SCC sang!

We had the wonderful opportunity to give back to a special organization, Show Hope, formerly known as Shaohannah's Hope. Steven Curtis Chapman & his wife, Mary Beth started this organization several years ago to help families with the expense of adoption! We were so blessed to receive a $3,000 grant from them when we adopted Klaire! What a blessing this organization has been to us! We volunteered at their booth on Monday night during the United tour of SCC and Michael W. Smith!

It was so much fun to work with our adoptive friends that we haven't seen in awhile! There were so many little Chinese girls running around it was so fun! Hannah and Klaire hadn't seen each other in awhile, but you would have thought they were the best of friends! It was so sweet to watch them together! Linette, we will have to get them together soon! :) They had a blast and helped us at the table! It was great to catch up with the families and hear about what is going on in their lives.

We got to listen to most of the concert and it was AWESOME!!! It was great to hear SCC's testimony of their family and how God has brought them through the tragedy of their precious Maria's death. It was so special to hear him sing "Cinderella". As he sang, Klaire and her friend Hannah decided to get up and dance! It brought tears to my eyes seeing them dance. We take so much for granted everyday. I pray that we will just take the time to dance with our kids and not let the worries or cares of the day pass us by because we are too busy! Life is too short to pass up these precious moments!

Thank you Show Hope for a great night for my family!!!

Projects, Muffins & "Curdee" Hair

2009-03-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-21T20:16:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

   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

2009-03-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

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! :)

2009-03-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-07T17:52:00.000-08:00

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

2009-03-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-03-05T08:45:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-03-04T10:19:00.000-08:00

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!!! :)