I think I can. . .

I think I can, I think I can. . .  I've decided (with a whole lot of help from Jen and Kellye) to walk the Country Music 1/2 marathon this year!  Now folks, I can hardly breathe after a 3 mile walk right now, so this is going to be a huge challenge for me.  My body is already sore and the training has only just begun.

There are a million reasons not to do this, but . . .well, sometimes you just have to do things that simply don't make sense! (Right, Jen?!)  Andy has basketball  that extends into February and guitar lessons after school once a week.  But, this could work in my favor if I walk while he is at practice.  This portion of the school year is always hectic, not to mention that I'm finishing up my graduate work.  This is going to call for some clever scheduling, but I THINK I CAN!!!

Go, Shires!

I am so proud of the kiddo's for having so much school pride!  Andy and Gracie are playing basketball this year, and Caroline is jumping her heart out on the school's jump rope team, Dayspring Unwound.  Even Anna Kate has school spirit!

Anna Kate laughing

This is the forth year for the school to  have the jump rope team, and the kids LOVE it!  When the team began, we were happy to just have them jump the rope.  Now, they are doing all kinds of cool tricks!  It's awesome to watch.

Just a few of the Unwound teammates waiting for half time!

Little Bit showing us what she can do

Go, Little Bit!!!!

Go, Gracie!

Gracie is showing everybody just how tuff she is!  She is the youngest player on the team, but she plays like she is a PRO!!  She gets in there and gives it all she has.  (She plays ball like her Daddy! )

Andy, Gracie, and our mascot



Andy and Gracie are getting so BIG!  I can't believe they are old enough to be playing on the middle school teams. 

Mary and Gracie

Andy

Andy has learned so much this season.  Coach Rob is doing a fabulous job of teaching these boys how to play basketball!  They are a young team. . .watch out for them in a couple of years!

The team and our mascot

If you could only hear the music! :)

Go, Shires!!

Bucket List!

So, thanks to Jen, I've been thinking about my "Bucket List". I know I'm not normal, and my list probably wont look like anyone elses, but here goes. . .

1. See my son grown into a man who serves God with his whole heart and soul!
2. Live a life that God will be pleased with EVERY step of the way
3. Take my parents on vacation instead of them taking me on one
4. Teach to the best of my ability for as long as God allows me to
5. Graduate with a Master's Degree in Education with a 4.0
6. Grow old with someone

and a few things that really don't matter. . .

7. Walk a marathon
8. Fly a glider
9. Learn to sew
10.  Dance more!

Tears in the driveway

It's hard to believe that another year is coming to an end.  Time sure flies, huh?  This year has been full of sweet blessings for me and Andyman.

 I graduated from WGU in April with my bachelors degree in Elementary Education.  After three years of hard work, much of which was done late at night and on the weekends, it was an answered prayer to complete my schooling.   I made the decision not to travel to Utah for the graduation ceremony, so I checked the mailbox EVERY day to see if the diploma had arrived.  The day it did arrive, I sat in the driveway crying while holding a very expensive piece of paper in my hands that said I was a graduate.  (One of three times during this past year that I found myself alone and crying in my driveway.)

In May, Anna Kate joined our family.  She is just a doll, and we couldn't love her any more!  Having a baby with us again just seems right.  Watching the kiddo's play with her is  just the sweetest thing ever.

Graduate school?  Yes, I decided to get my Masters Degree!  With years of on line classes, I really wanted to be back in the classroom.  I wrestled with the decision for  a while, but I'm currently attending Union University with a great group of ladies.  I promise, I'm stopping after this - I'm not Dr material! ;)

The second time I sat in the driveway and cried. . . let's just say . . . my name is now Hall, not Frizzell. I hate the way it looks, but believe me, this is a blessing.  I know that God removed me from a very dangerous situation.  Enough about  this!

The day my teaching licenses arrived in the mail, you guessed it - I cried again!  I worked so hard to have my licenses.  Tears of joy  flowed as I kept reading the papers over and over again.  Truly, I know that I would have never earned the licenses without the help of God every step of the way!

The most wonderful blessing this year was my sweet son and niece being baptized! Andy and Gracie were both baptized this fall at the youth retreat.  It was the sweetest thing to witness.  I have prayed for Andy to love truth since the day he was born.  He is a good kid, and I'm so thankful!  He really wants to do the right thing in all that he does.

Yes, we are blessed!

I AM FROM

The worst part of earning my Master's Degree is that I have to go to school on Saturdays.  I really don't like it when the alarm clock starts singing on my day off, but it won't last forever. :)  Anyway, today was the first class for "Literacy Across the Curriculum".   Dr. G started the class by explaining that in order to truly teach literacy to our students, we need to know about them, their personal lives, and their prior knowledge.  Makes sense, right?  She gave this great example of writing a poem entitled "I Am From" that would give us great insight into our students' lives.  Then she dropped the bomb - we had to write one and SHARE IT!  So, here it is. . .

I Am From
by Heather Hall

I am from Mom's well used Bible, chiming grandfather clocks,
and unique antique furniture with stories to tell.

I am from phone booths that really work, a claw-foot bathtub never used,
and a home overflowing with love.

I am from grapevines with sweet treats, trampolines,
and my favorite place to be alone - the pond.

I am from where everybody knows you whether you know them or not,
and childhood friendships that last forever.

I am from  Ma and Pa, Granny, a precious church family,
and Acts 2:38.

I am from, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!"
and every nights line, "Is your homework done yet?"

I am from Mom's famous meatloaf and banana ice cream
and family meals around the table every night of the week.

I am from album after album with thousands of photos
turned in to new scrapbooks with precious memories to treasure!

In God's Time

The past few months I've had a hard time understanding why life has to be so hard. Last night, as I was yet again trying to make sense of things, I realized that it's not mine to understand. This is God's business. He knows what's best for me and Andy. As difficult as life can get, I do trust that He has a bigger plan than I can see. I'm putting my trust in God and waiting for his time!

One more time?!

As Kellye and I watched the kiddo's on the beach today we couldn't help but wonder if this just might be the last time all three of them would be willing to hold hands and jump the waves together! For them to be so close is truly a blessing, but as the teen years approach I'm afraid that the simple joys might turn into more "grown up" activities - like jet skis! (Oh my!!)

The first time we took them to the beach Caroline was just a baby! She refused to touch the sand. Andy and Gracie spent hours digging in the sand and running up and down the beach. The next year, Caroline decided to touch the sand and Gracie and Andy decided to jump the waves. Gracie wanted Grandad to hold her hand as she squealed and jumped each wave - and you know he did so with a huge grin on his face. He held her hand for what seemed like hours one year - her jumping and jumping and jumping! ;)

Andy thinks that he HAS to run on the beach. Of course, he ran today just as soon as his feet hit the sand. One day down and 6 to go on this adventure!