May is December in Disguise!

Our Pastor, Scott Heare always says that May is like December in disguise.  I have to agree!  With end of school, graduations, Mother's Day, Memorial Day and all the Birthdays. Whew!  It's a lot!  Just taking one day at a time and not getting ahead.  Live in the NOW!
It's hard to believe that the last time I wrote was in a hectic April.  So, now I take a moment to write in our active May.  May is full of exciting days, the last day of school and the last day of school, along with some very special birthdays!  My dad will celebrate 69 this year (all praise be to G-d) and Lauren Cramer and Caleb will celebrate turning 8, and our nephew, Brenden will be turning 11.  With those we have some other sweet friends that will celebrate their birthdays as well...too many to name them all...really!  We finished out our April with lots of commitments, and some of those commitments are carrying over into our May.  Phil has been assistant coaching Emily and some friends in a Spring Volleyball League.  So twice a week we are either watching them at practice or watching them play a game.  She is also still in horse riding lesson once a week as well.  So, what I have heard is true...the older your kids get the busier you become.  Phil and I continue to lead a Marriage Bible Study once a week as well.
Emily and I took a Mother/Daughter paint class with my friend, Jenny Rudd.  It was so much fun to have that time with Emily and to see how gifted Emily is.

Emily and I at the Mother/Daughter Paint Class

Our final piece!

At the end of April the kids school has a school wide field day.  It's one of my many favorite things about Bracken.  Each student participates with their S.A.L.T Partner (Serving And Leadership Together)  Its a mentoring program.  So, the now 12th grade have been S.A.L.T Partners with 5th grade since we started Emily there in kindergarten.  Caleb is assigned with the 8th graders.  Each grade level either has a SALT Partner or IS a SALT Partner.
Field Day is Olympic type events.  Each grade is assigned a Country that they represent...the Seniors are always team USA.  Something to look forward to!  They set up games around our football field and have a set time at each game.  At the end of the games is pizza for everyone for lunch and after lunch is the awards ceremony.  Everyone gets a medal!  Something else that's done.  The Seniors all wear a Red, White and Blue bandana during the games and at the end, during the closing they select a child to give their bandana to.  They give it to the child that they saw being encouraging to their classmates and that had a Christ like attitude on the field.  Its such a sweet moment.  I'm so happy to say that Emily received a Red, White, and Blue bandana this year.  This is her second USA bandana!  Caleb received one two years ago.  Always a surprise and always a blessing.

Caleb with his SALT Partner

Emily with her SALT Partner

Caleb trying to fill the bottle with wather

Emily making the shot!

Caleb and his SALT Partner, waiting for the game to start.

One of the games.  Wet sponge toss.

Emily after she received her USA bandana.

Field Day is lots of fun and the kids always look forward to it.  Next school year Emily will be a SALT Partner.  She is so excited and looking forward to loving on those K-4 kids.

Now then...for the now!  Last week I took off to be with my parents while my dad had his defibrillator replaced.  The battery only last for five years and it was time to have it replaced.  With the medical history that my dad has, it always makes for an unsettling moment with my mom and sometime for my dad as well.  So, I took off on Tuesday to be there for his surgery time on Wednesday.  I left Thursday morning to be home in time to pick up Emily and Caleb from school.  

On my way to Rockwall, I was able to stop in at First United Methodist Church of Waco for a prayer vigil for Emilys friend, Molly.  Molly was diagnosed last summer with a brain tumor and underwent an 11 1/2 hour brain surgery in July 2011.  Molly and her family were recently informed that the brain tumor has returned and also in other areas.  Molly and her family were granted a Hawaii trip with The Make A Wish Foundation, but her health has declined so much that they are not able to go.  Hospice has been introduced to Molly and her family.  We are praying that G-d heal Molly this side of heaven.

The 5th grade girls were taught how to crochet in November 2011 from a sweet friend, Ana McCrum.  Ana thought it would be sweet for the girls to crochet their mom's a Christmas gift.  I have been asking the Lord to give me a unique idea that would let Molly know how much we love her and are thinking of her.  With each of my request to the Lord, I felt like I was getting nothing.  I was getting so discouraged and was thinking and even googling for ideas.  I ask Emily and she quickly responds with lets get the 5th grade girls to crochet squares and make her a blanket.  I'm so overwhelmed with joy when Jesus speaks to my kids.  That was it!  That was the unique gift!  So, I contact my friend, Ana and she puts it into action.  She had all the 5th grade girls over one Saturday afternoon, and spent 3 or more hours with them to get them started on their squares.  Ana then decided it would be neat to attach crocheted pockets on each of the girls squares for Molly to know which square belonged to who and for the girls to place a note of encouragement in the pockets on the blanket.  This week the blanket was delivered to Molly.  She was so happy to receive it and began to open the pockets and read each note.

Molly with the blanket that the 5th grade girls crocheted for her.

You can keep up with Molly on her CaringBridge web site, under "teammolly".  Please help us keep her lifted up in prayer, that G-d would heal her this side of heaven.  Emily has shared with me that she has faith that G-d will heal Molly this side of heaven.  It has taught me to have faith like a child.  I learn so much from my children.  

Here the things coming up for us in May!

Volleyball,  and more volleyball, Caleb's Birthday!, Mother's Day, BCS Graduation, (Emily's SALT Partner, Payton will get her diploma!), our Pastor, Scott Heare and his family's send off party, Heare's leave for Israel, Daddy, Lauren, Ty share a birth date, our nephew, Brenden will celebrate his 11th birthday!, 5th Grade Graduation & last day of school, our niece, Brittany Graduate's!, and Emily leaves for Summer Camp for a week!  So much to do and so little time.  Like I said...living in the now and so thankful for all that the Lord has done for us and giving us.  We have lot's to give thanks for.

Thank you for keeping up with us through our blog!  I hope that each of you are all doing well.

Shalom,

Vicki