a nutshell

the kids are watching dragon tails. they're all spread out in the floor. calm, quiet, interested....

it's been a challenging school year for me. a lot of changes - good and bad. i started the process of buying a house last summer, but didn't get to close and move in until december. My dad, my favorite person in the world, passed away in september. my world temporarily fell apart. i made many home repairs during the second semester. my papa became sick and stayed in the hospital for a couple of weeks before he was moved into the nursing home. he has no idea who i am - his youngest grandchild....

i hope these kids forgive me for not being able to give them a great year....

through all this, GOD HAS BEEN GOOD AND FAITHFUL!!! every single day, he renews my strength. He has given me a group of friends that i could not have handpicked. some have been through the exact things that i have had to go through this year. what an awful thing to have in common, but what an awesome inspiration. ONLY God could have done that. He's put me in a church full of people who love God and have a passion to learn about him. I grew up in church, but i've never had that. It's amazing to me how God knows exactly what we need and gives it to us exactly when we need it the most! God also gave me Boone, laugh if you want, but he's a pretty good companion. i love him even when he throws up on the bed in the middle of the night.

the show's over. i want to go read to the kids.