Beach Fashions

We are packing up and heading to the beach in the morning!  Here's some great things I'd like to be packing to take along...

via

via

via

via

via

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Last week I made my first homemade spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes.

I'll be honest, we didn't like it very much!  It just tasted like fresh tomatoes- which is good, but not what we were hoping for.  Maybe it's because we ate it with spaghetti squash instead of actual spaghetti, but I just didn't like the tons of veggies taste.  (I know, that sounds bad, I should love veggies!)

I used this recipe, but used dried basil instead of fresh- perhaps that was the problem?

Perhaps I'll give it another go eventually, but for now we'll stick with the jarred stuff :)

Bathroom Tour

There is just one room in our house that I haven't shown you yet- our bathroom.  I've meant to several times, but it just seems pretty boring. :)

The shower curtain is from Target

My favorite part of this room is our linen closet nestled behind the main door.

I just love the look of clean fluffy towels!  

Functional space that somehow manages to stay organized- I think I like the way it looks too much to mess it up :)  

One new addition for the summer is a basket of beach towels- ready for swim sessions at the gym or for our beach vacation (coming up in just a week and a half!)

Fresh Tomatoes and Cooking

Praising Jesus for a bounty of fresh tomatoes shared by sweet family and friends!

Today I'm making my first fresh, homemade spaghetti sauce!  It's been something I've wanted to attempt for a while, and these tomatoes are a perfect excuse to try it out!

I'll be sure to let you know how it turns out. :)

I'm also whipping up my favorite pumpkin muffins for dessert- yum!

Here's to a day in the kitchen!

Reading Goals Update

12 Books in 2012

I think it is important to evaluate your goals and progress. This time of year is perfect to do that- we are half way through the year, and it's like a little check up. I like to make yearly goals for reading books,etc.  And I wanted to give you an update on my reading goals for the year.  Here is what I've read so far this year:

Made to Crave by Lisa Terkeurst

Women Reaching Women by Chris Adams

The Money Saving Mom's Budget by Crystal Pain

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

The MockingJay by Suzanne Collins

Here were my goals for 2012:

January- Spiritual Disciples for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
February- Made to Crave by Lisa Terkeurst  
March- Women Reaching Women by Chris Adams
April- Margin by Richard Swensen
May- Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day
June- Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman
July- Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick
August- Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
September-  Knowledge of the Holy AW Tozer
October-  Transformed Lives: Taking Women’s Ministry to the Next Level by Chris Adams
November- The Money Saving Mom’s Budget by Crystal Paine
December- One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp


Continuing Reads throughout the Year:
Jesus Calling
Home Comforts

I have not done very well with keeping on track for what books to read each month, however I'm glad that I have read at least one book for each month this year, even if they weren't originally on my list.   One reason is I don't want to buy some of the books that are not available at our local library.  I've signed up for them on Paperback Swap, but haven't received them yet.  

Currently I'm reading Marvelously Made by Monica Rose Brennan.  Monica was the director of the Women's Ministry program at Liberty University and I took many classes with her.  It is so awesome that she has a book now!  

via Amazon

I'm also wanting to read the book Radical by David Platt.  We are going to the beach in a few weeks, so hopefully I can read it while we are there.  

What about you- what have you been reading lately?  

Plate Wall

I finally got around to putting my plates on the kitchen wall.  Thanks to those of you who gave me advice on whether or not to put up the plates right away- it was helpful!

I decided to wait until I got a few more pieces to hang, although I would like two more large plates to go on each side.

Overally, I've happy with how it looks, and happy that they are finally off the floor :)  Jeremy said today while we were eating supper, "you know, I actually like those plates.  I thought they were going to be old ladyish, but you pulled it off."  So sweet :)

Check out my inspiration here

The Lord Directs Your Path....

How many times I have said those words over the past year?  That our plans are not in our hands, but the Lords?  

I look back now and am so thankful that Jeremy didn't get that job last summer....we wouldn't be where we are today- where God wanted us, if so.  We have fallen in love with our student ministry at Element.  We also love the opportunities we have to serve in our church.  I'm so proud of how Jeremy has poured himself into our students.  The Lord knew what He was doing when He directed us away from what we thought we wanted.

God has also directed my path so much in the last year.  Last August, I quickly scrounged and found a teacher's assistant position in a local middle last year when we found out we weren't moving.  It was a special education assistant job, and I was a little nervous about it.  But I really loved it!

Amazingly the door kept opening for me to teach this upcoming year.  I was approached several times by the administration about becoming a teacher.  I was really surprised.  I didn't go to school to be a teacher, so this sounded crazy to me.  But I saw the need for quality special education teachers- they are few and far between!  I found out that I could take the Praxis tests in Special Education and Fundamental Knowledge and I could qualify for what NC calls "lateral entry".  This is where I can begin teaching while taking the classes to become a fully certified teacher.  This doesn't happen often, but when there is a big need (like in special ed) it is an option.

I decided to just go for it.  I had three weeks from the time that I got the go ahead to sign up for the test and the time that I had to take it.  I studied non-stop for three weeks straight.  And to God be the glory I passed!  I couldn't believe it when I received my score- I had made a 192.  It is on a scale on 100 to 200 and I had to have a 158 in order to pass.  I know that the Lord was in it for me to make that high of a score and only have studied for such a short amount of time!  Usually it is a test that education students take right before they graduate college in their subject area.

Everything just kind of fell into place.  The doors opened, and I walked through- moving on faith that this is what the Lord has for me at this time and place.

I have signed a contract with our county for a special education adapted curriculum teaching postion this coming year.  I am going back to school- something I never really thought I would do.  But I'm happy and excited.  That's what happens when you are in the center of God's will- you find peace and joy.

I'm thankful for the opportunity, excited for the possibilities, and thankful that the Lord directs my path instead of me.  So glad that I have decided to write my plans in pencil instead of sharpie!

Youth Camp

Jeremy and I spent last week at summer camp with our students. It was an awesome time where we got to know each other better, relationships were formed, true worship was experienced, and the students really grew in their relationships with Christ.

Jeremy and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to invest in the lives of our students.  They are an awesome group- so much fun!  Jeremy has been the youth pastor for going on 8 months, but this trip really changed how we look our what we do.  We opened up more to them, and they to us.  They really are "ours" now.

I love it!  Thanking Jesus for an awesome week and our awesome students!  Excited for a fourth of July cookout with them this week!

Kleinspiration

Kleinspiration is a great resource for technology in the classroom.  I love this blog, and I've already gotten so many great ideas from it!

Today Kleinspiration is hosting a HUGE giveaway because they have reached 1,000 followers.  Seriously, this giveaway is huge.  If you have anything to do with education, you need to check it out!  (Click on the photo below)

If you follow me on Pinterest, I'm sure you've seen the educational pins I've been focused on lately- there is a reason!  I've got news to share this week! :)