Lots of Pictures!

First, let me start by saying that I am typing this blog post while sitting on my deck on my new patio set! It's actually just a bit chilly (in the 60's) but overall, it's really nice. I'm looking forward to spending more time out here this summer!



I had a fun filled weekend starting off with a night of games with some friends from work. We went to a place called Sempek's, which we decided is the adult version of Chuck-E-Cheese. We spend the evening playing laser tag and bowling. It was really fun, and I discovered a love for laser tag that has been hiding since middle school (the last time I remember playing!).





Saturday was spent catching up on errands, cleaning the house and watching a movie. It was a dreary, rainy day, so it was a good day to stay inside.

On Sunday I headed out for some garden shopping. I had planned to plant my garden that evening, but it had been raining all day, and we were supposed to get cold enough for frost overnight, so I decided to hold off on planting anything. While I was out shopping, I happened upon the cutest garden boots ever! I couldn't resist their cry of "buy me and you will be the most fashionable gardener ever!" Aren't they fantastic?!



Sunday evening I made a yummy dinner, Chicken Lo Mein Super Yummy!



Today after work I was finally able to start planting my garden! I am so glad to be doing the community garden in my neighborhood! It is so much closer, and a much more manageable size than last year's garden. I planted peas, beans, lettuce, carrots, onions, tomatoes and zucchini. It should be yummy!



Finally I topped the evening off with a nice walk around the lake. It was such a beautiful evening, and so fun to see everything in bloom. I picked a handful of flowers to bring some of the spring color home with me. They look so beautiful in my kitchen!



Overall it has been a restful, relaxing few days. Now, if only I could speed up the next 2 weeks so I can get home for my sister's wedding!!

My week so far

This has been a busy week, after arriving home late Sunday night from my quick weekend in Colorado. I arrived home to stifling hot temperatures. We had record highs of 96 and 97 on Monday and Tuesday. I was feeling grumpy since my AC was struggling to keep up, and frankly, that is just too hot for early May (in my opinion!). Well, luckily storms arrived early this morning to chase away the heat. With the storms came the kind of thunder that wakes you up at 3am because your house is shaking. Geez, I forgot about that from last year. We had storms off and on today, and had a pretty significant storm this afternoon. Bible study was cancelled tonight, since there was the possibility of more severe storms this evening. I have had a pleasant evening of unexpected downtime :) I decided to pop in "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and enjoy a little movie time. We've had rain off and on this evening, but nothing severe. The temperature dropped into the 60's, so I have the windows open and a nice breeze going through the house. Tomorrow is supposed to be stormy as well, and then we'll be consistently in the 60's for several days. Phew! I was not ready for heat and humidity yet! Here's a picture of the sky tonight after the last round of rain moved through:





I also made a really yummy dinner earlier this week:



These chicken tostadas were super easy to make: I just cooked chicken in taco seasoning, warmed up some refried beans, added salsa and sour cream, and tada! finished! The recipe also calls for lettuce, tomato, and avocado, but I haven't been to the store in a while so I left those off :)

Now I'm looking forward to sleeping in a cool room, since it won't be 85 degrees outside when I go to bed!!

Teacher Appreciation Week

This week is teacher appreciation week, and Boys Town does a good job celebrating! I think everything was organized by our admin staff and some parents, but I'm not sure (that's part of the fun). We've had something special every day this week. On Tuesday we had Panera + for lunch. I say "+" because one of the parents made several yummy sides, and one of the most decadent chocolate cakes I have ever tasted. I really had to work hard at controlling little moans of pleasure as I ate it :) Here's a picture of lunch (cake not included, I was too distracted to think about taking a picture!)



On Wednesday we had a nice breakfast of fruit and muffins waiting for us when we got to work. Today may have been my favorite day though (although it's awfully hard to beat that chocolate cake). Today each of the teachers received bouquets of flowers from one of the kids, and lots of kids gave us cards. My very favorite (I know I'm not supposed to play favorites, but I really can't help it) was a small canvas painted by one of kids. On the back his mom attached a picture of him working on my canvas and a note that says: "Ms. Sara, Thank you for helping me find my voice." Love, XX. I have to say, a little tear escaped from my eyes as I read that note. Such simple words, but such a wonderful way to say thank you. And it's true, thinking back on when I started with this little one 2 years ago, he barely said a peep. Now he's doing lots of talking (although it's still very difficult to understand him), and he's so much more confident in himself.

This week has been a wonderful reminder of why I do what I do, and why I love it so much!

Challenge for May

This month my church is going through Proverbs. Our pastor issued a challenge this morning for us to read through a Proverb a day for the month of May (clever, huh? it's always nice when it rhymes!). I think it's a great challenge and I'm going to make it a priority to stay on top of my reading. Our pastor is also going to be posting a daily blog video talking about each Proverb, which should be helpful! If you'd like to take this challenge with me, click here to visit Pastor Mark Ashton's blog for your daily video!

If I were a really good blogger I would say that I will post something each day about what I am reading. I'm going to go ahead and guess that that's not going to happen, but I will post as often as I remember! Here are the verses that stood out to me today:

"My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck." ~Proverbs 1:8,9

When I think back on all the lessons and bits of wisdom I have received from my parents, I know this verse is true. God has used both of them so many times to teach me many valuable things!