Sunday

Wanted and hoped to sleep in this morning….sleeping in for me is anywhere between 9 and 11am. I woke up at 7.30am! Boo.

So i spent it wisely, getting stuff done and having an extra long time with Jesus. I’m reading Deuteronomy.

The first half of the book just spoke and spoke and spoke to me in all new ways, I just loved every second. This morning i got into all the crazy laws and stuff, and all I have to say is that I’m happy we’re not under that law and there is grace when we do screw up.

I loved this morning’s message. Pastor Nate is so gifted in his ability to teach. I loved learning more about the thief on the cross that had too much pride. Never heard anyone talk about the guy on the cross next to Jesus who couldn’t humble himself enough to recognize that Jesus is God.

Makes me think about how some people wait to give their lives to the Lord. Lots of times trials bring repentance for people, but in some cases, trials can bring a more hardness of heart. Don’t wait for something to happen, give your life to the Lord today. What do you have to lose? Compare that to what you have to gain!

This week is a busy week with conferences and a full five days again of teaching. Also, a wedding to attend and then going to Grandma’s 90th birthday!

training

Im at a PBIS training right now. PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Something Something. I’m the King Coach for PBIS.

I have a sub in my class and its a half day, but I get to be here a full day. Conferences are in full swing too. I scheduled one at 2:45 so I’d have to leave early….darn it….

Getting a bunch of teachers together is always a fun eventful time. Some teachers continue to be loving, caring wonderful teachers that are always that way, then you also get the cranky, “I’m too good for this” type of teacher who cannot stand the activities and conversations we are doing and having, even though they basically volunteered to be here.

hehe.

My principal was suppose to be here, but unfortunately my school was broken into for the 3rd time this last weekend. My poor principal’s laptop was stolen again. The cops called her right away this morning and thought they found the laptop, but she needed to go and identify it. Its too bad that someone would steal from an elementary school, especially one with poor students and poor teachers within a state that already has NO money that is given out to schools!!

Hopefully it was her laptop!!!

UK

I bought my ticket to the UK last week. Super stoked to be heading out to my favorite place for a week. Everything about it just makes me smile!! :-)  And with all the flights and jetlaggedness I will be sleeping a lot—so even though its such a long way to go….I will be able to rest on my week off quite a bit.

I told my students that I would be going to England over our Fall Break. Their first thing they said was…"You’re leaving us? Who will come and be with us if you aren’t here!” I love my students!

jeremiah 33:3

Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

just thinkin'

just thinking about how God answers prayers.

Sometimes you pray for something with a very specific outcome in mind. You can pray and pray and pray for that specific outcome but it never comes.

I've been quite guilty of this and recently I've just been taking a step back and God has been every so gently showing me how HE has answered my prayers, just in completely different ways than the desired outcome I thought I desired. God has fulfilled desires and needs in my life, only in His way, not mine.

Isn't it funny that we (and we think we're so smart and know exactly what we need) ask God (creator of the universe, knows how many hairs are on our head, can see the entire picture) for something and then complain when its not answered the way we want it!

goodness!! Another example of why God calls us sheep. I'm so thankful God hears my prayers, answers them, and gives me so much better than I ever would have known to ask for.

Sometimes you just have to take a step back to see it all.

On another note, I went to see the David Crowder Band on Thursday night. I have a new favorite song called Shadow.

"When shadows fall on us....we will not fear...we will remember......when all seems lost, when we're thrown and we're tossed...We remember the cost....We rest in Him....the shadow of the cross."

a cuppa

I had afternoon tea today at the Cypress Inn in Carmel. Doris Day's hotel, a very dog friendly place to visit.

We went there to celebrate Janet's "Baby #2" aka Isabel Grace. I was able to get caught up on all the exciting news with the girls. Nobody remembered their camera, except the guest of honor, so hopefully soon I'll get some photos of today!

Congrats Jaime and Janet!

another summer day

Another Summer day at 51 degrees in Monterey. It has been so cold here! I am loving my summer more than ever before, and I am fully taking advantage of the fact that I am on vacation. Resting, reading, hanging out with friends. I can’t get enough!

My friend left last Thursday and I dropped her off at the airport and then continued to drive down to LA and then to San Bernadino County. I was able to meet with my dear friend Aaron for some lunch, catch up—and then continue on down to Rancho Cucamunga. My friend Hannah who lived with me a few summers ago came out with her family for a 3 day layover to visit Aunt Martha and Uncle Jeff. I had visited Aunt Martha and Uncle Jeff in Las Vegas, so when they invited me down, I had to go! It was a really fun time---swimming, hanging out and of course catching up! I hadn’t seen Hannah’s mom, dad or sisters since her little sister, Jess’s wedding 3 years ago!

From there I drove up to Costa Mesa and got to meet Gracie Moo. What a beautiful lovely little girl! Jaime had motherhood completely under control too! Congrats David and Jaime!

So now, after driving down to hot weather and then back up to cold, my sinuses didn’t really like that too much. I am fighting another sinus infection, but this time I am not going to do the antibiotic route! Should be slower but as long as its gone by the first day of school, I’ll be alright!

things that make you go hhmm

1. talking with people who know ( aka think they get it) see your point of view, but really have no clue. You know those people who think they get what you are trying to communicate but have missed the boat by a mile? Those conversations go no where fast!

Summer Break

People keep telling me to enjoy the season that I am in….so this summer I am doing just that! I’m being productive as well as enjoying my break, i.e., sleeping in until 10:30. But then the same people who keep telling me to enjoy the season I’m in right now—give me crap about sleeping in until 10:30. Seriously? :) Don’t be a hater. lol

I went to IKEA this week and bought a chair and a bookshelf and a lamp. I successfully put together the chair and lamp last night, but need to do the bookshelf. It should be a project but I’m ready to do it!!

Yesterday I took 3 former students to Jamba Juice and then to petsmart. All little boys who have such a difficult home life—so I gave one my number and told him to call me if he wanted to get out of his house this summer. He called on Monday night and said, “Miss Dobie can we go to Jamba Juice?”

We oooohh’d and aawww’d over every fish, snake, lizard, chinchilla and cat in the place at least 3 times before making it out the doors.

I just LOVE summer vacation! I feel like I’m on vacation every day living where I’m living!

$18

Even with a washer and dryer, my electric bill is only 18 dollars!!  YEAH!!!!

So much cheaper without quarters in my life!

once again for its beauty.

"You are My Hope"

In Your Presence Here I bow, I am aching for you now

To touch you with Your love somehow, You are my hope.

And when my hands have gotten weak, from the empty things I seek

As I crumble here, You Speak, You are my Hope

And God most high, come and be near me now.

And Draw me nigh to your heart.

God of Life, fill me with your presence now

(Where I am humble, Where I am free)

When I'm hurting for a friend, I see the marks upon your skin

And they tell me once again, You are my hope.

Closer than a brother stays, the one who holds me in His grace

Forever, Yesterday, Today, You are my hope

Who have I have in heaven but you?

And beside thee I desire, nothing on earth.

sometimes it sucks!

what a week.

I had to have a conversation with someone yesterday that I did not want to have, but needed to be had. I wanted to respond via email, but wanted to honor the person by going face to face.

it was really hard to do even though I knew God’s will needed be done—and His ways are higher than mine. I think they got it, we’ll see.

what to say!

over this last week i’ve been thinking of all the things I needed to blog about but now that I am actually typing, I have lost all of those thoughts!

I have 7.5 days of school left….super excited!

We’re making piggy banks out of paper mache at school. I am so impressed at how well they are turning out. I will try and take some pictures. They all have little feet and ears and once we do our final layer of paper mache—the pigs will be painted and put the little googly eyes on them. I am so proud of my little monkeys.

I can’t believe summer break is so soon! I feel like it could be February. I don’t know how May got here sooo quickly.

Still waiting to hear about what grade I will be teaching next year. I will be at King! yea! Only 4 out of 13 of us are able to stay and they are letting me stay. I feel really blessed and honored!

Starting a new bible study on heaven on Thursday with my girls in Salinas. I’m excited to learn more about Heaven and although Heaven is such a huge inconceivable thought to even try and wrap my mind around it, so prayerfully after the study I will be able to long for heaven like I should. To be honest, although I’m learning more and more on Wednesday nights, the unknown is scary to me. I am a black and white person who likes to be in the know.

If wetting your pants is cool---I'm Miles Davis.

A girl peed in my class today. It was so much and she just stood there. Her pants didn't even soak any of it up. I heard this flowing water sound and turned around and this little girl just was standing there and peeing. It was so much I told the kids she had a water bottle in her pants that she forgot to put the lid back on it. All the kids then shouted out--OH that's happened to me before! It was soo much. I asked her why she didn't ask to go to the bathroom, and she said that she didn't want to interrupt the class. The funny thing was that she wasn't even really embarrased. She was as shocked as I was.

Just like in Billy Madison---if wetting your pants is cool---I'm Miles Davis.

Hmm.

Got to go to Shoreline CC in Morro Bay today. Pastor Jack taught from 2 Corinthians 5. "For we know that if our earthly house is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

I'm not great at re-explaining things, but Pastor Jack also talked a lot about "Putting on vs. Putting Off" and the choice we have. As we "put on" the Lord and as we grow closer to Him, the more we want. It was awesome. It was my first time with Pastor Tonye (PT) gone--but everything was still in place that PT did---just with PJ spin on it.

We also got to sing one of my favorite worship songs that I sing regularly in the shower and in my car, so it was nice to hear it sung nicely. It's called

"You are My Hope"

In Your Presence Here I bow, I am aching for you now

To touch you with Your love somehow, You are my hope.

And when my hands have gotten weak, from the empty things I seek

As I crumble here, You Speak, You are my Hope

And God most high, come and be near me now.

And Draw me nigh to your heart.

God of Life, fill me with your presence now

(Where I am humble, Where I am free)

When I'm hurting for a friend, I see the marks upon your skin

And they tell me once again, You are my hope.

Closer than a brother stays, the one who holds me in His grace

Forever, Yesterday, Today, You are my hope

Who have I have in heaven but you?

And beside thee I desire, nothing on earth.

I was able to make it back up to CCMB for the downtown service to hear Pastor Nate teach on Marriage from Mark 10. Got tons of wonderful tips on keeping a marriage healthy--and hopefully I'll get to apply those to my life someday. As Nate said, "I'll prepare as I'm single to ready myself if I enter into marriage sometime in my life."

Good word, but truthfully, a little sick of hearing always about marriage. There are married people, but also lots of single people! I feel so strongly that it is so important to focus a lot of attention on marriage, and encourage the married folk--(because as i've seen and been told...marriage is HARD!) because of the statistics of divorce, but...

I wish some effort went into encouraging those who would not choose singleness but are trying to live their singleness in a Godly way. I think the married people forget about the time when they were single. My wish would be that they would remember.

Yes I am just being cranky and selfish. I feel like I'm prepared and ready to be a good wifey for a Godly man, but obviously God doesn't think so right now. So one day, hopefully, I will be able to put into practice the words from Mark 10.


And with that...I'm off to take the quiona (sp?) off the stovetop and head to bed! This single gal has 24 little monkeys to deal with tomorrow as well as a district walk-through, where 4 district level people walk through my classroom and grade me on my student's engagement, my direct instruction to the students, what I'm teaching/how I'm teaching it, what I'm using to use teach the kids! Thank you Jesus that summer break is in 19 days!

Please

http://mabyssal.blogspot.com/2010/03/uniforms.html

Please click that link. This is my favorite European named Michael. I call her “Meeee Call”. I spent an entire summer in a TINY room not even big enough for us and our suitcases.

Needless to say….we laughed a lot. Watching this made me actually giggle outloud, so hoping to share some joy with you.

Michael is German—but has an american sense of humor.

Cian Vince

I am the proud Godmama of Cian Vince Ramirez.

His older brother-Cyle was in my class last year, and I got to know the family. I think because of my travels to the Philippines, I fell in love with the people in the culture.

What an honor to be asked to be part of Cian's life! He does have like 8 Godparents, but the duty of the Godparent is to help Cian's parents, bring Cian up in the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Heck yes! :)

Happiness

Happiness…..like grace, enough for us and the whole human race. :)

New song by David Crowder. Love it!!

__________________________________________________________

I read this morning about God being the God of hope. Reading some notes from my study bible---I found this: Unlike the English word “hope” the NT word contains no uncertainty; it speaks of something that is certain, but not yet realized. Our hope will be realized because Christ himself secures it.

I would define ‘hope’ as: wanting something/desiring something and hoping that I get it, achieve it, see God work through it, etc. Obviously not too biblical.

This changes everything for me! The bible’s term for hope contains NO uncertainty—something that is CERTAIN.

We can hope in Christ with full assurance and no uncertainty.

May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. So that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

cool huh?

Hawaii

Hannah and I lived it up in Hawaii. I used free miles to get a hotel and my flight from Monterey round trip. Hannah lives there and came and vacationed with me. We snorkled, tried Spam grossness, witnessed to a cute old lady who was a JW and put the couch on the balcony. It doesn’t get much better than that!!

Santa came early

I moved into a new sweet place in PG and Santa sent his little helpers and brought me a new LG washer and dryer. I'll be saving quarters in the long run---but it may take 10 years of quarters to pay for these sweet new machines, but oh is it worth it!!! Of course they were delivered during PG's busiest festival--The Good Ol' Days---so it even looks like they put up those "NO PARKING" just for me and my new washer/dryer.

These things are beautiful and white and clean. They even sing me a little song when the load is finished washing and drying. My trick is to wash in cold water as much as possible, because the new landlords pay the water---so I barely pay anything to wash the clothes....just paying for drying them! :-D And even then--a HUGE load takes only 33 minutes to dry! Thank you Jesus!

catching up

Hiya friends. Long time no talk. I've been looking at my pictures from my recent adventures and thought I would share! Goodness! So much has happened in the last few months.

The Lord has brought me through two really difficult things recently. I then went to Hawaii on a honeymoon after the Lord delivered me through the tough crap, come home only to another difficult thing. So thankful the LORD knows just what our breaking point is.

I found this picture of Jo and Jess from Valentine's Day. I've spent the last 9 months with these beautiful ladies every other Thursday night. We've been studying Beth Moore's teaching of Daniel--which has been helpful lately as we've been going through Revelation on Wednesday Nights. As Beth says..."Can I get an Amen?"

Just a random cute little photo of my students. We went on our yearly adventure to the aquarium. Here is just a handful of my lovely 25 Kinder and 1st graders. Only 4 years under my belt, but these are the best little monkeys by far--and I have 5 more kids than normal and Kinders and 1st graders in the same class!

I was able to fly down to San Diego two days after getting back from Hawaii to go to Jason Krach's wedding. I finally got to meet his beautiful bride and was sooo excited to see that Jason's biggest dream of getting married was coming true! He was glowing more than the bride. :-D Yeah for Jason!!

waiting-copied from roger and janet’s blog.

Blessed Is the One Who Waits"
It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier does not learn without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God's warriors than standing still. There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take. Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption? No, only simply wait.
Wait in prayer, however. Call on God, and spread the case before him; tell him your difficulty and plead his promise of aid. In dilemmas between one duty and another, it is sweet to be humble as a child and wait with simplicity of soul on the Lord. It is sure to be well with us when we feel and know our own folly, and are heartily willing to be guided by the will of God.
But wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in him, for unfaithful, untrusting waiting is but an insult to the Lord. Believe that if he keeeps you tarrying even till midnight, yet he will come at the right time; the vision will come and will not tarry.
Amen. A very encouraging meditation for us, especially in a season of waiting. God is so very good. We are enjoying the beauty of the desert, hiking, and each other. There is so much to be in prayer for. And as the prophet Isaiah says, "There is joy in my house of prayer." (Isaiah: 56:7)

Sunday-Saturday Prayer

If you are praying for someone who has gone astray in some way---the Lord gave me a way to remember to pray for that person Sun-Sat. My dear friend has been gone for over 3 months now, and I was getting discouraged praying the same thing.

This may be case specific-but it may work for you!

Sunday-Sorrow (Godly) will lead to repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10-For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.)

Monday-Mom/Daughter

Tuesday-Tired (He will grow tired of his sin)

Wednesday-Weather and elements will bug ‘him’ the wrong way to just return home.

Thursday-Thoughts (That the enemy will have no reign over his thoughts and that he will remember scriptures and memories of the times he was clean.

Friday-Fears and Failures

Saturday-Sin that separates.

God loves His Stupid Sheep

So tonight Pastor Geoff spoke on God being our Father, Shelter and Shepherd. The thing that stood out to me is God as my Shepherd. I learned that sheep refuse to drink from running water. He leads me beside still waters. He makes me lie down in green pastures. I love that God will make us be where we need to be. A shepherd sometimes needs to use his ROD to push the sheep down, even if the sheep fights, the Shepherd knows what's best for his sheep. A Shepherd spends 100% of his time staring at sheep. His job is to keep the sheep safe, even when the sheep think they know what's going on.

In high school, one summer at camp, we made up a song--and one of the verses was, "God loves his stupid sheep, even when we get no sleep."

Sheep are so stupid, but think they know everything!

The summer of 2005 was spent in Austria living at a Castle doing housekeeping. I almost despised every second of my time there. I met a few special people and I feel like that's why God had me go....but after tonight I can think of another reason. Sheep.

The weather at the Castle is nuts during the summer with the biggest thunder and lightening storms I had ever experienced. Lightening that flashed the entire sky and thunder that made the whole castle shake!

Well imagine a whole bunch of dumb sheep having to be outside during a thunder and lightening storm. This thunder shook the ground, and not just for a few seconds, but almost a minute at a time shaking! Those sheep cried like mad. I have never heard a group of animals complain about how miserable they were like those dumb sheep. They also stunk. After a hard rainfall, those sheep were soo stinky.

We were able to compare humans to sheep in so many ways that summer, and got a greater understanding of why God compares us to sheep. We deserve it. We think we know best. We try to fight our shepherd. We cry and get scared when we shouldn't be. We also are good at making ourselves stink. (not physically, but we can totally stink spiritually.)

He Walked Away-changed “She to He” By Barlow Girl

"He Walked Away"
He couldn't take one more day
Home was more his prison now
Independence called out
He had to get it
A fight was all he needed
To give him reason
He slammed the door with no goodbye
And knew that it was time
Now he's driving too fast
He didn't care to glance behind
And through his tears he laughed
It's time to kiss the past goodbye
I'm finally on my own
Don't try to tell me no
There's so much more for me
Just watch what I will be
He walked away
Couldn't say why he was leaving
He walked away
He left all he had believed in
He walked away
Not a day goes by
For the one he's left behind
They're always asking why
And thoughts of him consume their mind
God please let him know
The love we tried to show
We'd promise anything
If you'd just bring him home
Tell him we love him
Tell him he's wanted
One more thing God
Tell him please come home
Please come home
The choice is yours alone now
Tell me how this story ends

[spoken:]
While the son was still a long way off
His father saw him, and felt compassion for him
and ran and embraced him and kissed him
"Let us celebrate for this child of mine was dead
and he has come back to life,
He was lost and now he is found"
and they began to celebrate
[Luke 15:20 and 24]

just a test

just a test to see if this works! i’m setting a link from my computer directly to the blog!

Don’t know where to begin, it’s like my world’s caving in

And I try but I can’t control my fear

Where do I go from here?

Sometimes it’s so hard to pray when You feel so far away

But I am willing to go where You want me to God, I trust You

There’s a raging sea right in front of me

Wants to pull me in, bring me to my knees

So let the waters rise if You want them to

I will follow You, I will follow YouI will follow You

I will swim in the deep ‘cause You’ll be next to me

You’re in the eye of the storm and the calm of the sea

You’ll never out of reach

God You know where I’ve been, You were there with me then

You were faithful before, You’ll be faithful again

I’m holding Your hand

God Your love is enough,

You will pull me throughI’m holding onto You

God Your love is enough, I will follow YouI will follow You

prayer

Please pray for my friend who is making some really dumb choices right now.

I Believe

I Believe in the Sun

Even when it's not shining

I Believe in Love

Even when I don't feel it

I Believe in God

Even when He is Silent

----Barlow Girl