Life with boys...

Back in the saddle...

2009-08-27T12:31:00.003-05:00

It's official...I start teaching September 30 at Val Tech. The wonderful Dean gave me 6 classes - and I'm choosing the text for one of them! Two of the texts I'm using I've taught from before - how cool is that?

I'm really excited about the possibilities. We've got some debt that's my fault and I really want to work to erase it. My Mom raised me to accept responsibility, and sometimes it's harder than others. I'm not looking forward to being away from the boys, but I'll be home for lunch 3 days a week. The other two I'll be home a little after 3, so it shouldn't be too bad. They're actually looking forward to a babysitter - go figure!

I've been hired part-time right now, but I've put in for a full-time math position that begins with the January quarter. Here's the kicker - I'll actually be teaching FEWER classes as a full-time instructor! They're about to start remodeling the general studies building, and it should be really nice when it's done (supposed to be finished in December). So that's really promising.

I know this job is from God...I'll post later how the whole thing played out. And in this economy it's a real blessing to have the extra income. We are so blessed!

Big changes...

2009-08-24T19:17:00.002-05:00

And I'm still not sure how I feel about them. Lots of mixed emotions right now. If you're reading this, please pray for me. I'm in the midst of some big decisions. I really only want to do what's best for my boys.

Some layouts...

2009-08-23T16:39:00.001-05:00

Birdhouses...

2009-08-23T16:25:00.003-05:00

These little houses are from my favorite etsy store: www.damboisedesigns.etsy.com. Aren't they adorable? I used some My Mind's Eye glitter paper for the houses, which is really hard to see in the pics. I love the way they turned out!

Another day in the life...

2009-08-23T16:03:00.007-05:00

(Note: this is a copy from the other blog.)

We’ve started week 2 of our homeschool jouney with Will and Christian. Today Andrew even joined in for some math. That’s my boy.

As promised, here’s some pics of the schoolroom. We converted our house’s formal dining room into the homeschool room. Here’s a view from the living room:

And here’s Will hard at work on his handwriting exercise (yes, he’s a leftie):

And, finally, here’s Christian at his desk:

Christian was actually done for the day, but he posed for me. With his balloon.

Speaking of Christian, here’s a cute story that involves him. A few days ago he got cold while watching tv and I told him he could grab a blanket from the dryer as I’d just washed them. Fast forward a couple hours. As we’re putting the boys to bed I realize that Christian probably didn’t close the dryer door when he grabbed the blanket. So I go to the laundry room to check. And find this:

Cupcake the little sneak. But we love her.

Hope your week is wonderful!

God bless,
Dawn

I'm back...

2009-08-21T10:31:00.000-05:00

I switched over, but now I'm coming back to blogger. I'm going to try to move the posts from the other blog over here later today. Wish me luck!

I've moved...

2009-06-01T18:24:00.001-05:00

my blog, that is. My new blog is www.dawnhopkins.wordpress.com. Please come follow the boys and me over there!

Life happens...

2009-05-21T15:46:00.002-05:00

We've had a crazy year. We've moved again, but just across town. And this time we're staying! The house in PA sold (hence our move across town) and we've bought the house down here in GA. Will is happily homeschooling and Christian has started to join us. I recently became a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator (love that!) and am starting to plan some scrapbooking events. We joined our church (I had to stand in for Max 'cause he works on Sundays, but it's all good). And we've added another member to our family...Oreo, the greatest cat EVER! I'm trying to get my sister to move to GA too...we'll keep praying about that one. Is this totally random or what?

I'll try to post later with some actual pictures...maybe even a video if blogger cooperates.

It's been a while...

2009-03-25T05:56:00.001-05:00

I've actually been debating whether or not to delete my blog. I've been so busy with life that I haven't been updating. In the end, I decided to give it another go...we'll see if I can keep up this time.

It's cold...

2008-10-28T07:18:00.001-05:00

There's something wacky going on when it's colder in south GA than in south PA. Currently it's 39 degrees here in Hahira. I'm running the heat. Brrrr....

I feel like the dam is about to burst...

2008-10-17T14:02:00.002-05:00

In my spirit, I feel like something big is about to happen. I don't know what yet, but I think it's going to involve me getting over my fears of speaking out and possibly offending someone. There are people dying without hope...I have loved ones without hope. I need to tell them about Jesus, but more than that, I need to show them Jesus.

And I'm going to start singing again. Healing is coming.

From Mark 5:

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
31"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "
32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

A little preaching...

2008-10-08T06:25:00.003-05:00

Things have been busy and I haven't been feeling so well, but we're on the upswing. I went to the doctor, I'm getting better, and the house is just about unpacked! We've found a great church, made some new friends, and are generally very-much enjoying Georgia (the bugs I could do without!).

Will's birthday was Sunday; I'm still not believing he's 6 years old. We had a low-key celebration, but it was good. One of the gifts that Max and I bought for him was a Bible (and here's where the preaching comes in).

So Monday I read the story of David and Goliath (I Samuel 17 if you're interested in reading the whole thing). And I've heard the story so many times but I haven't often actually read it. And it's powerful. You've got this giant who has petrified the entire Israeli army...I'm talking they're hiding from him. And then you have this boy come onto the scene and he's the only one willing to stand up to giant warrior. David has such faith and trust in God; he says that God has protected him from lions and bears and he will protect him now. Wow! You've got a giant, a trained warrior, in full battle armor and then this boy with nothing but a slingshot a 5 rocks. And the boy is not afraid!

But it gets better. The giant starts to taunt David and is almost offended that Israel would send a boy to fight him. So David says:

45 "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

If those aren't fighting words I don't know what is. So the giant comes after him and the Bible says that David runs to the battle line to meet him. Looking at the picture from a human perspective, the odds were completely against David. But we so often forgot about the ultimate warrior that was standing beside David. God loves to work through the weakest and most unlikely person because it's not by power, or might, or sword, or smooth-talking that the battle gets won. There's another passage in Exodus 14 that I love (this is as the Israelites are leaving Egypt and are being followed by Pharaoh's army; the people are afraid and starting to complain):

13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

How often do I try to fight the battle on my own and I fail miserably. As David says "the battle is the LORD's". Every person on this planet has battles - whether they be health or financial or marital or whatever. We need to remember that God is our ultimate warrior and He will fight for us. We simply need to be still in Him.

My scraproom...

2008-09-16T14:47:00.002-05:00

It's still a work in progress, but it's coming!

We've arrived...

2008-09-07T17:24:00.003-05:00

Still sinking in...dude, I live in Georgia! It's hot and humid, but the AC works so life is good! ;)

Total God thing yesterday - so cool. Some of our neighbors came over...they have 4 kids. Turns out she's a former teacher, now staying at home, will be homeschooling, and she scrapbooks! No kidding! I've been praying for friends for Max and I and how cool is that? God is good!

I'm off to scrounge up some dinner...I'll update later this week with pics and some stories.

It's here...

2008-08-27T09:50:00.003-05:00

we're finally moving. The packers are packing, I'm sitting around feeling guilty that I can't help. It's hard to believe we've finally reached this point. Crazy last few days, including an ER visit for me for an anxiety attack. But things are calming down. I'm actually more relaxed now than I've been in quite some time. We're leaving tomorrow afternoon for the trek to Georgia, so I'll probably be AWOL for a bit. Internet doesn't come to the new house until next Friday...what's a girl to do? ;)

Cool story about my anxiety attack. My blood pressure was super high when I first got to the ER, and I'm paranoid to begin with about my heart (it's fine, by the way). Anyhow, I'm trying to calm down and I prayed for a sign. I thought about Gideon's fleece and I asked the Lord for my next blood pressure reading to be 150/90 or lower (it was 171/106). Next reading...149/88. God answers prayers big time! It gets better though. When I get home I decide to read the story about Gideon. As I'm paging there, the first verse that I see is from the previous passage. It read "Peace. Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." No kidding. If that's not a word from God, I don't know what is. It's amazing...a few days ago I was praying for God to make Himself really real to me. I'd say He did. What a good God we serve!

Craziness...

2008-08-20T10:21:00.003-05:00

This week has been a little nutty. We're exactly one week away from the packers. One week from tomorrow they'll be loading the truck and we'll be on our way to Georgia. Still hasn't completely sunk in.

Yesterday was crazy. I'll post about it later once I have my pics uploaded.

Max is working so hard right now. I wish I could convey how proud I am of him and all that he has done for our family. It's overwhelming really.

I'm playing with some new scrapbook goodies today. I've got some other things on the to-do list, but I really needed the stress-relief. The boys are enjoying a new Tom & Jerry dvd...speaking of, I need to grab it before they watch it for the 17th time!

I needed this one today...

2008-08-15T21:41:00.001-05:00

Two weeks and counting...

2008-08-13T11:21:00.002-05:00

Exactly two weeks from today, the packers should be at our house. It will also be Max's last day at work at the Chambersburg plant.

I'm busy getting all the utilities switched over to our names at the new house. We still need to sell this one, but we're very thankful we're able to lease our new home until we can settle. Prayers for a quick sale of our current home are very much appreciated. :)

Listening party...

2008-08-12T07:45:00.001-05:00

David Phelps is releasing a new cd in a couple weeks. Lots of covers on this one. Today through Thursday his record label is having a "listening party" where they're streaming most of the new songs on the internet. If you're interested, the site is HaveYouHeardtheWord.

Updates...

2008-08-07T09:45:00.003-05:00

Okay, I need to do some serious catching up on this blog. First, here are the pics I promised Kristy a while ago. This is the best of all 4 boys:

And I just thought this was cute:
Remember how I talked about all those tags I helped make for CHA. Well, the awesome people at Fiskars sent me a thank-you gift:
That's a pair of the limited Heidi Grace scissors that were being handed out at CHA. And how cool is this? They had Heidi autograph one of my tags to send back to me!
Another scrappy update...the contest I've been in at Scrap Shanty is over (it actually ended Monday, but I'm a little late). And....drumroll please....I won! Very exciting! I was able to choose my prize, and I'm getting a gift certificate to my favorite store, Scrap Diner. Here are my layouts, in order, for the 4 weeks of the contest:

Lastly, here's a fun project that took me forever, but is finally finished:

I used some fun My Mind's Eye from the Diner to cover a Maya Road chipboard mini-album. I think it turned out really cute!

And that's all for now. I've got some Georgia updates, but I need to get off the computer, so those will have to wait. Three weeks until the move though!

Family bonding at the Hopkins' house...

2008-08-02T11:16:00.002-05:00

God is good...

2008-08-01T21:56:00.002-05:00

It's been so easy to get discouraged about our house, but I am trusting that God will provide. It's so easy to praise Him and be thankful when everything is going right, but I was reminded this week that I need to be thankful in all circumstances.

I am thankful that God has allowed us to lease our house in Georgia. I am thankful that He has blessed me with two nephews in the past two weeks. I am thankful for my amazing family. I am thankful that Max's company is providing so much for our move. I am thankful for Max's hard work that allows me to be home with my boys. I am thankful for my health and my family's health. I am thankful for a God who knows my needs and will meet them. So, in faith, thank you Lord for providing a buyer for our home in Your time. Amen.

I just needed to get that off my chest. :) Have a happy weekend!

Quick Monday update...

2008-07-28T15:15:00.003-05:00

First, I made it to the final week over at Scrap Shanty. Later tonight I'll update with my layouts from the last couple weeks. That made me happy!

I just found out that Valdosta (our new hometown) won ESPN's Titletown. It will be on Sportscenter tonight, but here's an article from the local paper. :)

And Kristy - I'll add some more pics later. The ones with Christian turned out okay - the lighting was a bit funky. I'll play with them and then upload.

I so need to get better at updating...

2008-07-27T07:44:00.005-05:00

I'm about to grab a bowl of cereal, but here are some quick pics:

Fuzzy as it is, this was actually the best pic we got of my Dad and his 4 grandsons.

Max had moved his car to the side yard for our yard sale. When he went to move it, Christian and Andrew climbed in for a ride around the cul-de-sac. It always amazes me how little things make them so happy.
This expression is so Will.

And a video...Will and Christian have just started climbing trees. Again, it's the little things!

Welcome Timothy Joseph...

2008-07-22T09:56:00.003-05:00

He looks like Dad! I guess it's appropriate to resemble your namesake though. :)