Great News

I know some of you will remember my friend Jenny that I wrote about here and here.  Her family has been on an adoption journey for a little girl from Ethiopia.  They have worked long and hard to jump through all the hoops and raise all the money necessary.

I have some exciting news for you:  She is in Ethiopia right now picking up her daughter, Joleigh!  That is some fabulous news!  I am so happy for her and her entire family.  Please continue to pray for their safe arrival back home later this week and that there will be immediate bonding for Joleigh and her brothers and sister that are waiting for her at home.  Here are some pictures that Jenny has taken of the newest addition to the family.

What a lucky girl that Joleigh Bereket is!  Welcome to your family.  May you be blessed like you have blessed them!

Five Question Friday

It's been a little while since I have participated in Five Question Friday, but I'm working on getting back on track with my blogging.




1. What is your favorite sign of spring?  I love when the temperatures start to warm up.  To me, that is a sign that winter is leaving us.  However, my favorite sign of spring has to be when I start seeing the daffodils blooming.  They can be pretty much anywhere: in flowerbeds, along driveways, wild ones in the middle of yards, along the side of the road, even whole fields full of them.  The daffodils are a sure sign that spring is on the way in Arkansas.


2. What was your best birthday ever?  I always have great birthdays.  My birthdays are in early May so there is always so much going on and there is usually nice, spring weather.  My most memorable birthday was probably five years ago when I got engaged.  The very next birthday we mailed our wedding invitations!  Those were definitely very exciting.

3. What is your favorite dessert?  I LOVE dessert and so I'm not very picky about it.  I don't know that I have a favorite, but I love cheesecake of just about any variety from traditional to no-so-traditional.  I love cheesecake so much I have even ordered it from a bakery in New York City a couple of times.  I'm craving some now just thinking about it.  I also love my chocolate, too.  Chocolate desserts are always very tempting to me.  I think I like dessert just a little too much.  If I would stay away from it maybe I could drop a few pounds.  Ha!  I don't see that happening!

4. What is the best excuse you've ever used to get out of a ticket?  I have never had to use an excuse because I have never had a ticket.  I have had two written warning, but those were back in college.  I would have to say I am just lucky because I have been known to speed.  Now, I need to go knock on every wooden object I find so I don't get a ticket.  I hope my luck doesn't run out!

5. Do you wake up before your alarm, with your alarm, or after hitting snooze several times?  I usually wake up a little before my alarm.  My internal alarm clock works very well.  I think it's a safety mechanism for me.  I am always worrying that my alarm won't go off and I will oversleep.  Talk about a panic attack.  That would cause a big one for me.  However,  I don't usually get out off bed until the alarm goes off and I have hit the snooze button once.  Wow, when I reread this, I sounded a little OCD.

Have a great weekend!

Blog Friends

In the past couple weeks I have really begun to realize how supportive the blogging community really is.  While they aren't all "in the flesh" friends, you can bond and grow with these people.  I read several blogs and they each add something to my life, whether it be humor, inspiration, or just practical advice.  Many of these people I have never me. Some live thousands of miles away.  Some are people I know and don't live near anymore.  It's a nice way to keep up with each other.  Some are former classmates that I haven't seen in years.

One nice thing about blogging is getting other people's perspective on life.  I can honestly say I have learned so much about faith, family, and what is really important in life from reading blogs.  It's also nice to get the encouragement and feedback from blog readers.  I get so excited when I get comments because it's a chance to connect to people.

I am so thankful for all of my blog friends.  I'm thankful for those that write daily words of wisdom, encouragement, and even their daily happenings.  I am also thankful to those friends that read this blog and leave sweet comments with encouraging words.  The blogging community lets readers know they are not alone in the world and that someone somewhere has been in a similar situation.  If your curious my favorite blogs to read are listed over to the left.

Letting Go

I look at the title of my blog, "Journal of Our Blessed Life" and I am really disappointed in myself.  Even though I know I am blessed and I can verbalize it, I don't always live like I believe it.  One of those times would be right now.

I look at the time on the computer and it says 12:32 AM.  I am still up working/playing on the computer instead of being in bed with hubby asleep.  Why?  I'm not really sure.  I know we were kind of upset irritated with each other.  The irritation stemmed from us being stubborn with each other.  Instead of letting go of the irritation, I dwelled on it and in my mind made it something much worse than it is.

I pouted, wouldn't speak, and went to another room.  Real adult-like, I know!  This was almost 3 hours ago.  Now I must pay the consequences of my decision.  Those consequences include: a bad mood, a lack of sleep, and complete frustration with myself.  I will continue to deal with these consequences throughout the day.

Things would have been much simpler if I had just let go.  Hubby would have/was willing to let go so that we could have a good night, but I wanted no part of the compromise.  I'm not sure why.  This is not the kind of person I want to be.  I don't enjoy being stubborn and rigid, so why do I do it.  It is a definite weakness I have.  I need to make the choice to stop.

Hubby and I together have been making an effort to read the Bible more, attend church regularly, and grow deeper in our faith in preparation of growing our family.  I do these things and yet I seem to forget the kind of person I want to be the minute things don't go my way.

Wow!  That was a big realization for me.  I am still selfish and child-like in so many ways.  I pray that God will help to overcome the type of person I am and help me in my journey to becoming the type of person I want to be.  I need to start with the ability to let go of the small, inconsequential things.

Tuesday Tidbits

I know it has been awhile since I last posted.  We have been pretty busy and yet I haven't been inspired to post anything.  We had a wonderful trip to Dallas over Spring Break, which was kind of unexpected.  I didn't know there was so much to see and do there.  I still hope to do a post or two about our trip.  But, today I am going to give a little update of what is going on.

*  This week is Benchmark testing week, what this whole school year has been building up to.  I am testing a small group of 5th graders.  They get as long as they need to take the test, which can make the day seem a little long.  On the positive side, though, I am having a lot of quiet time to think.

*  I have hit the time of year at work where I am extremely busy!  It is easy to become overwhelmed.  I have to conferencce with all 25 families of the children I provide special education services to, some more than once.  I also have to conference with the incoming kindergarteners that may need special education services.  I love having the chance to visit with the families, but there is also A LOT of paperwork to prepare before each conference.  The good news is by the time I'm done with all the conferences, Summer Vacation will be here.

*   We finally got our new bicycles in and have been able to ride several times.  April 1st was the first chance we had to ride.  Since then we have ridden about 37 miles.  I really enjoy it and the exercise is good for us.  Plus, Fayetteville has some really nice trails that let us mix up our route!

*  The last thing I have is some really good news: hubby passed the first section of his Praxis test!!!  The Praxis is the test that Arkansas requires everyone to take to get a teaching license.  Hubby passed the part that is required for him to get his license for next year.   We are still waiting on the results of the other Praxis test he took, but he doesn't have to have that part passed until after next year.  Now, we just have to find a job.

I hope everyone is having a great Spring so far!

New Blog Address

Well, I changed the address to our blog.  The new direct link is:
http://journalofourblessedlife.blogspot.com

I will be back to soon with new posts.  Excuse my absence while the most crazy time (aka testing time) is going on at work right now.