A New Beginning

www.etsy.com/shop/baby2bigkid www.facebook.com/jumpin.in.puddles

What does the phrase, "almost a year later" mean to you?

In September, 2010, I feared what the next year would bring.

sadness.
loneliness.
confusion.

In November, 2010, I met

happiness in The Word.
joy in my family.
bliss in the classroom.

Christmas brought

music.
memories.
support.
family.
SNOW.

Then, the snow stuck around

literally.
feet, not inches.
for what seemed like months.

Spring had sprung,

birthdays came
and
went.

Teenagers blossomed along with my Petunias.

They planned movie outings, shopping sprees, make-up, and
Camp Ridgecrest.

I left the classroom knowing that

God knows what's around my corners.
God has a better plan.
God wants me to work to glorify Him.
God's Plan A is often my Plan B.

For many, that is cliche. For Christians, that is Gospel.

The phrase, "Almost a year later" means

JUMPIN' IN PUDDLES!
~custom clothing for boys and girls~

"Almost a year later" means

Reconnection with old friends

MJ Kayser Ramo
Abby Hanlin Stimpson
Cammie Harper Singleton
Gina Postiglione Lee
Robin Long Brunson
Jill Puckett Aldridge
Megan Saxon Murphree
Sandy Burns
Cristen Taylor

Meeting New Friends

Leslie Yankie Guilian
~aka The Paperdoll~
Beth Owens
Susan Cowan of Betty Sue's Quilt Shop
Cristine Smiga
Jori Harman

A Renewed Family Bond

Nancy and Steve Walker
~aka Camp Nancy~
Devin & Christine Walker
Deanna Walker
Edna Rubley
Melissa Rubley Dixon
Clara Brennan

A new marriage on "the Myrick side"

Deanna Marie Walker to Evan Seaman

A new cousin on "the Sullivan side"

Teagan Christine Castelanetta

A new fiance on "the Muzi side"

Kyle Jacobs to Sara Muzi

A new home for Andrea

She's only 40 miles away, but we miss her sooooo.....

A new companion for my Mama.

Around the same time that the daffodils began to peek through the leftover snow, I was introduced to one of the most compelling books that I have ever read. It was a short read, but a hard one. It was definitely not the type of book that one reads with the hopes of curing insomnia. It was thought provoking. It was reminiscent of my own father's life as a part-time "lay missionary". It was convicting. It lived up to its name.

RADICAL

Ten months ago, "almost a year" was a frightening phrase. Now, "almost a year" is a phrase on my short term goal list.

In "almost a year", I want to

have to buy a new sewing machine because I have worn mine out.
use my proceeds and time in a mission project.
be able to "hire" my girls to sew for me.

In "almost a year", I will be able to help others BECAUSE of the trials and journeys that I have endured.

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." Ecclesiastes 9:10

If God is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?

Wednesday, February 9, 2011 brought news of yet another Winter Weather Advisory fast approaching the Metro Area. I am willing to bet that 99.9% of parents and over 80% of students within the boundaries of this Advisory were hoping that school would be OPEN today, if for no other reason than that we have all memorized every level of every Wii game known to man and that we have holes in our outerwear from the last week of sledding. We are Georgians. We like our SEASONS. We like that our SEASONS are mild. I like the mildness and general predictability because it helps me handle the OTHER seasons of my life with a little more composure. Contrary to the fact that we are home of the CNN Headquarters and a base for FOX News, we would rather make headlines because the Republicans gained back the Gold Dome or because our homeschool kids win spelling bees. We cherish the fact that we are NOT factors in nationwide weather statistics.

I guess God is showing us how powerful He really can be. He is reminding us that His will is the ONLY will that matters. With the turn of the new year, I leave sickness and death behind, and God brings Snowmaggedon 2011 to my back door--literally. 10 days of snow and ice, 4 days of no MAIL service, and a week or more of no extra-curricular activities (yeah, I have to admit that I kind of liked that part), yielded cranky husbands, whiny daughters, and lots of school work to be made up. Then, the sun shone, the temps climbed, and we eventually stopped talking about it, until Wednesday night, February 9, 2011. It was a month to the day of the onset of Snowmageddon 2011.
The snow that we woke to was beautiful, but the roads were not.
However, after checking all websites and seeing that there were only 11 school closures, I didn't even think twice about the roads. I was about half way to school with the girls, driving along my usual route, which carried the usual traffic load, when all of a sudden I drove onto a patch of "black ice", and my world started spinning...literally. We skidded and slid in multiple figure 8 formations across Hog Mountain Road until we came to a safe landing in a ditch off the OPPOSITE shoulder. I could have killed 20 + people, including my own daughters, but amazingly no one was injured and Bessie the Minivan survived without a scratch.God provided an off duty paramedic (whom I almost hit) and an off duty detective (3 cars back watching the my amazing stunts) right away. We were treated like queens, and Marc came to drive the van out of our landing spot...2 feet from a big hearty Georgia Pine! God is GOOD ALL the time!

Attempting To Launch

A couple of weeks ago, I finally "opened" my etsy store to sell children's clothing that I create. Of course, there is an over-abundance of information to muddle through, and I am still in the process of finding my niche, network, group, and circle. I am also still tweaking my adsense with coupon codes, buttons, and badges.
Am I the same person who told her mother that the main idea of the internet is to simplify life? I am thankful a million times over that my livelyhood does not depend on the profit of my little cyber shop, because though I have launched, I am still not at cruising altitude! So, I am asking for a little "social networking" from anyone who reads this blog...young and old! Please, share my blog with everyone you know...in the real world as well as in cyberspace. Tell them that they can find my shop at www.etsy.com/shop/baby2bigkid; on etsysaver; on Facebook: Jumpin In Puddles; and here on my blog www.mamaof2tweens.blogspot.com. The orange badge above is a link straight to my etsy store. Please feel free to "grab" it if you know how. I am still trying to figure all of the badges and buttons out.
Thankfully, trial by fire is Biblical.

This week brought many new adventures, for sure! Aside from burning the pavement going to and from many of the girls' extra curricular activities, I also launched my new virtual store on Etsy.com! I love to make the classic A-line dresses, which are very versatile and can be worn all year long. I also make pants and shorts to match, as well as pillowcase dresses, custom "heirloom" outfits, and little boys' shortalls and longalls. It has taken me some time to get the online store organized, and I finally created a banner and listed my first items!

Today's sermon was quite fitting. The last in the "What do you have to Lose" series, it talked about leaving your hurts, habits, and hangups at the alter and clinging to Philippians 4:13--"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Yes, once again, Larry was talking right to me! I need to leave my grief for God to bear. I need to leave my fear of failure in the children's clothing world at the cross. I need to follow the doors that God opens-and closes-as I seek full time employment "in the classroom" so that my girls can continue their studies in a Christian classroom. I have no problem leaving grief at the altar. Who wants that anyway, right? However, I feel like I leave my fears only to pick them up again. Ironically, fear is often like a security blanket for me. If I am not in fear or worrying about a particular situation, I feel like I am ignoring it. Today, I realized that giving it away and ignoring it are two different things. I give it to God, and he will give me avenues to take that will eliminate that fear. So really, what DO I have to lose?

Tomorrow won't come soon enough. It will be the 100th day of school!!! YIPPEE!!! We have 100 minutes of exploration planned for the afternoon. The students will rotate to 4 25 minute sessions. My session is EXERCISE! In this area, I know exactly what I have to lose. I will refrain from sharing just exactly how much....

Check out my etsy site...www.etsy.com/shop/baby2bigkid Tell all of your friends! I'm not scared!

The Day the Snow Came Down in Georgia

Up Close and Spiritual

Happy New Year! January, 2011 has come, and it is almost over! If you live anywhere in the U.S., you have probably been pretty cold this month! I guess the Global Warming advocates are pretty confused right now. As soon as my girls were settled back in school, a very strong and fast snowstorm covered the Metro Atlanta Area with 6 to 20 inches of snow and a few inches of ice. The Atlanta Mayor declared a state of emergency before the snow began to fall, and our new governor was inaugurated in the midst of the storm, after which he also declared that our great state needed help! As a result of the storm, our school was closed for an entire week! There were many complaints about cabin fever and boredom, but I was grateful for the time that we were given to spend with our sweet girls. An acquaintance mentioned that they actually studied at their house, citing Latin vocabulary and a novel study. I just shamefully giggled and said, "The only thing we learned how to do was kick booty on Wheel of Fortune for the the Wii!"

However, I did get some really cute outfits started for some friends, and I will post photos eventually. I am trying to get my Etsy site up and running, but my real life keeps getting in the way! I am now serving another interim in the 3rd grade at Hebron Christian Academy, and I am in Heaven on Earth. It is quite possibly the most amazing place to teach and learn. God has been so good to me!

God is so good. This is my theme for 2011. It is no secret that my life was turned upside down several times in 2010, and there were times when there was no place for me to look but UP. When I looked into my sweet Daddy's eyes each day between July 7 and September 3, I never knew if I was going to get another chance. On September 3, he hugged me and Marc with strength that he hadn't had all Summer. He then engaged Marc's attention and pointed to me and back to Marc. He then put his hand over his heart, winked at me, and smiled. We told him that we would see him soon, and we left his bedside to attend our dear friends' wedding at the beach. Less than 48 hours later, my Daddy was sitting at the right hand of our Father, and we were scurrying around trying to figure out how to enter into yet another "new normal". Though we are all so thrilled that my daddy is now living eternally in a perfectly healed state, it has been tough to get used to. I still half-way expected him to knock on my door with my mama on December 23. The van's air conditioner broke in my van, and I instinctively dialed his number. While I have the peace that passes all understanding that everyone prayed over us for, I am still having to learn to live without my daddy--my true first love. I have declared to the Lord that I am in a state of emergency. I have dedicated this year to my spiritual revival. I read scripture, and my favorite way to worship is through praise music. However, I want to truly live "in the word", trusting God in every area of my life. I want to live simply, not worrying about the fluff in life. I want to spend my time with my family and friends. I want to enjoy every minute for what it really is: precious time here on Earth with the people that Jesus has let me borrow from Him. I want Him to use me to impact those people for Him.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Sidewalk Prophets - The Words I Would Say