Hi....anyone out there?! I think I'm going to resurrect this page. Facebook doesn't give me enough room to "express" myself fully. More to come!

She's BAAAAAAAAAAACK!

Wow..7 months....a much needed break from blogging...a whole school year almost under my belt and so many changes. Life has been a little stressful at times to say the least, but God is still so very good. Spring break this week and my little family took off to Savannah and Charleston . What fun.

Thinking about Easter and praising God for his death , burial and mostly his resurrection! He lives!

Happy Easter!

LuAnn

It's Me!

Being a mommy and a teacher seems to keep me hopping anymore. School started back for me. The kids go in two weeks. Busy times. My commute has increased and I'm having a time getting my body used to the changes. I think it will be a good year. God is faithful. So much to do like moving boxes and such from one campus to another. Alot of changes at our church and just changes in life in general.

I'll be back on soon. Praying for you and trusting you are praying for me!

Rainy Days and Mondays

Here we are...it's Monday. We've been so busy yet seems like we haven't gotten to all we wanted to this summer. My cousin got married...my sweet boys were in the wedding..they pulled the runner down the aisle. Handsome they were if I do say so myself. My family went to spend Father's Day with David's dad in VA. The kids spent two nights and David and I took off for a night in Kentucky near Cumberland Falls . The kids and I have eaten out several times during the day, one time being at Chuck E. Cheese...I lived to tell about it! School will be here before we know it. I go back Aug. 3 and my kids start Aug. 10. We are hoping for a delay of about a week since our school is consolidating and we are moving to a new campus.

This past week has been surreal...major changes at our church which just at times send me to tears and other times to my knees. God's makes no mistakes and I hope he soon reveals his hand in all this....

Have a great week...it's a rainy Monday here, but it's still the "Day the Lord has made....off to rejoice in it!"

I'm making a list..checking it twice....

I'm so behind...I have at least 4 doctor's appts. ..all check ups...to make...they all fall in the summer for me. I've waited too long and now they'll fall at the start of school.....Eye appt, mammgram....(yuck) Gynocologist and regular check up. I don't recall my husband having this many appts, ever.

We had a nice getaway even if it was just for one night. Cumberland Falls in a beautiful place to visit. Knoxville is a great place to shop! woo hoo. The kids spent two nights at David's parents and went to VBS with her one night. I met her in Kingsport today to pick them up and had lunch at Cheddars with her and my sister in law, and Connor and Baby Elliot, my nephews.

I was reminded in all this "business" that we forget to "Be still and know that HE is God". I pray that I reflect on that thought more and make an intentional effort to "Be still" from time to time for the purpose of knowing HIM more.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, If off to "somewhere" we go.....

I've been told I'm on the go alot this summer. In some ways yes, and in others no.....I guess I'm doing something cause I sure haven't been blogging. We have Bible school this week. I've been catching up on some things I needed to do around here. Cleaning I haven't tackled yet. I have some pictures posted on facebook that tell what has been up. We are having family pics made Sunday with David's family and the next week my boys are in my cousin's wedding. I'll be back on soon...just so you know, I've haven't abandoned blogging...just taking some time off.

Investments

I don't know much about investments...I have a few stocks my dad left me. Really, I don't have a clue...glad I have a husband who does. I was reminded tonight at church of some "investments" that I can be, should be, must be making....and that is in the lives of my children. We get so caught up in "giving them things" that in light of eternity won't amount to a hill of beans. Yet, so often, we neglect the very and most important elements. We are so bent of preparing them for a good "education" in college, and we should, but sometimes to the neglect of knowing about their spiritual walk. Adolf Hitler was remarked that give him a child till he was 10 and you could have them back after that. Our children , ever so small as they may be, are sponges that soak up the environment that we provide for them. God help us to do a better job of controlling that environment. For many years we were scared off by the word "legalism" that we ofter err on the side of not controlling things at all. I pray that we who name the name of Christ see the urgency in setting examples that will lead our children first to a saving knowledge of Him and then to the realization that our lives are to glorify Him....it's all about Him! We make our lives revolve around our children and our "wants". God help us to see the bigger picture...eternity.....

If We are the Body

My classroom looks like a war zone....a little better now since I've been able to box up most of my things, but still a war zone. Since our school campuses are consolidating to "one" campus, we all have to pack up our classrooms. What a job. As I packed I had a lot of time to think and reflect on the year at school and just the year in general. I usually put in a praise and worship CD. One song I listened to over and over was "We are the Body"...Casting Crowns maybe? I often wonder how Jesus feels when he looks down and see the "Body" behaving how he feels. ???
We are discussing the passage that talks about we are all members and yet have many gifts. The hand benefits the mouth when it comes to eating. The foot takes the head many places. We are are important to each other. When we work together we accomplish so much more for the kingdom. When we don't there is divisiveness among fellow Christians and Satan has once again seen another dream of his come to life....in affective Christians in the body. I often say that sometime the "unsaved" treat each other with more respect that believers do sometimes. I think, and I speak for myself, that we get a "prideful" way about us. Surely it can't be us that needs to change our ways. Why, we grew up in the church, were saved early, and we know how to behave with others. How dare anyone question our ways and motives. Scripture is full of the "how to's" of working with believers and unbelievers. If we only followed the instruction manual our relationships could be so much more wonderful and effective for the Kingdom. "Look not everyman on his own things, but every man also on the things of others". That's not as easy done as it is said, but it reaps beautiful results when done God's way. Will others get on the band wagon? Maybe not right away. But we are responsible for "our actions" and that's where it all starts. ( A revival of sorts in our own hearts). I pray we learn to work as a body so that we may be most effective for the Kingdom.................

And the Crowd Goes Wild....

I can hear the cheers now....( or maybe that is wishful thinking). School is officially out for the kids as of yesterday at noon. I still have to make it to Friday. Thursday ( today) we have in service in the a.m. and then I need to pack my classroom. We've had a whirlwind of a week with field day at school, field trip to Fun Expedition, Awards Nite for Daniel on Tues, Awards nite for Daniel and Sean on Wed. and then meetings Thursday day and Thurs. Nite. I promised my boys next week we'd take it easy and do something "fun" one day.

The Lord has done much in my life this year....I wouldn't even know where to start. I'm moving to third grade next year. I'll miss my 10 little K-5 kids in a strange sort of way. I'm glad I had the year to try the grade...I learned more than they did I'm sure.

I hope to be back Blogging more this summer. I plan to help with the Beth Moore Simulcast at our church again for the fall.....

Till later!

Change....you can believe in!!!

Nope...I'm not chanting the cry of a certain political party. I spent the weekend at the Extraordinary Women Conference that came to Johnson City. My cup runs over.....I absorbed so much I can hardly contain it all. I really don't even know how to blog all that I took in. Friday night I enjoyed the conference with a friend. Saturday she had other plans so I enjoyed it alone...and it was great too. I ran in to several I knew and just loved the whole experience. One thing that one of the speakers commented on is that one can not touch the presence of God and not be changed....ouch. Makes you wonder how little we are actually in his presence since often there is no change in our lives. You've heard the phrase "you'll know them by their fruit". People often say they've "changed". I think the proof is in the pudding. Change you can "see"...now that's change you can believe in!

Happy Lord's Day!

"Oh Where, Oh Where Has LuAnn Gone"

I'm still right here! Whew....it's been a roller coaster. When I started teaching back in January of 1989 I learned how busy teaching was. When I had kids in 2002 being a mommy was a full time job as well. Then I combined teaching and being a mommy in 2007 and whew! Let the games begin!

I'm wrapping up a year in Kindergarten. It's been a good year. It's been a learning year.

I hope to go see my mother Mother's Day weekend. We haven't been to NC since Christmas.

Oh, and I have a third grade classroom for next year? Someone asked if I was excited? And the answer is mostly YES. New changes for the school so some "uncertain" aspects, but it's still good. Third grade is a grade that I'm no stranger too at least....I've logged about 12 years total there......

I'll be back....haven't forgottent he blog...and have some thoughts and once I get passed dealing with some daily life things I want to sit down and "blog" about them.

Have a great week! Or month till I see you again!

Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail...Shoveling snow from the Bunny Trail!

This egg decorating kit came all the way from Russia... compliments of my friend

Rebekah Anglin!

Ok...I know Easter isn't about Bunnies...but that's the best title I could come up with.

Today I colored Eggs with my boys....and watched it snow at the same time..no kidding! Surreal

Sean picked out "Jesus Eggs" as he called them...the kid with the crosses, lilies, Stained glass windows, etc. Daniel picked out goofy faces.......One out of two isn't bad, huh

Tomorrow we leave for Charleston for a few days. Hoping the snow stays here in East Tennessee and that we have some good days and some good fun. The boys are excited. They didn't realize our motel is not on the beach...but we're ok with it.....too cold to swim in the ocean probably anyway...I'm for the indoor pool.

Please pray for a dear family associated with my school...the Schoondyke Family. Baby Kari, 8 months old, went to be with Jesus this morning around noon. Kari had a history of hear trouble since birth that brought on other complication. The family will have her memorial on Easter Sunday.

Here are a few pics from today.

Spring Break at Last

I feel like I have been so negligent with this blog. I started off on a roll and then full time motherhood and full time teaching took over my life. It's OK...it's been a good year, full of life lessons for sure.

A week ago this past Thursday I went to see my friend Trudy. Trudy lived in Norton, VA where we moved from. She was my neighbor and my friend. Trudy was 64 and went to be with Jesus after a battle with cancer. I couldn't rest till I went to see her. I wasn't prepared for what I found. She was in the bed, heaving breathing, obviously struggling with some pain. I held her hand, cried, talked to her a while. Her daughter Julie called her name, told her I was there and then she opened her eyes. Trudy was my friend. She was what she was...no pretenses. I loved that about her. She visited me when Daniel was born, brought me a "trinket" when Sean was born, and participated in many ladies' luncheons that I organized. She was born in Australia near Tasmania and grew up in Germany. Ken met her while in the military and the rest is history. I left Trudy about 6:00 on that Thursday and 1:30 a.m on Friday she went to be with Jesus. Julie tells me they found her holding her Bible. Sadness....oh yes....but gladness....my yes! When I saw Trudy it was like being with my dad again. I remember that breathing, that last journey of the cancer journey.....I'm so grateful to the Lord for spurring me to go see her. What a gift.

This week has been full with achievement testing at school. Boy is that fun with Kindergarten! We are now on Spring Break! yahoo...and we may go to Charleston, SC.

So blogging friends, I'm still here...just alot of "life" happening.

Blessings!

Missing in Action

I've been missing in action from the blogging world for a while now. Life has been crazy and kids have been sick. Our latest victim in Daniel with Influenza B....hello spring, where are you?

Been thinking about the verse in scripture lately from Proverbs 31...."She open her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness". That's been something I've had to keep close to heart lately.

Today my children were stir crazy so I took them by Sonic for the Happy Hour Drinks...you know..the sodas and slushies that are half price. ( you don't have to get them out of the car either). We decided to take a ride to the airport campus where our school will be next year. It took me 28 minutes one way and 29 the next. I had to think on my "opens her mouth with wisdom verse. I'm a little spoiled this year with a literal 1 minute commute...a little over a mile to work. That will increase to 15 miles approx. Then I think instead of complaining I should be grateful for the job which I remind myself is really my ministry. ( provided when I get my post -interview letter is says "you are a winner"! You know.."you have a job!"......

I think I'll just try to find some great praise and worship Cd's.......you can do alot of worship in 30 minutes!

What if?

Do you ever ask yourself the "what if" questions in life? I have.....

What if I had met David sooner and we had married much earlier than when I was 32? Would we have more kids by now?

What if I was a size 8 and not a size ______ ( removed for the author's protection!)

What if everyone at my church was "just like me?" Would it be a better place or a declining church?

What if I was a better mother, wife, daughter, sister?

What if I lose my job? ( ummmm....anybody know my situation????)

What if I lose someone I love?

What if my children don't turn out right because I mess up?



The problem with the "what if I's" in life are the "I's". The older I get, and I'm getting older mind you.....is that I find that "I" tend to make a mess of things. Maybe we should be asking what we could do if we really let God take charge of our whole being.....physically, mentally, socially, spiritually? Wow...can you imagine?

I read an article recently and here is an excerpt:


It’s easy for our emotions to get out of control if we let them. Our fears can keep us up at night as we imagine all of the possible worst-case scenarios. As we imagine the “what ifs,” we try to figure out how to respond to each one so that we’ll feel better prepared for whatever we could possibly encounter. In other words, we’re letting our emotions take us away from God as we try to rely on ourselves and our own strength instead of His.

The truth is, we can’t handle anything in our own strength—including all of the “what ifs” we come up with. In heartbreaking times, the only thing we can do is to take our “what ifs” to the God who is. We have to depend on Him. We have to come broken and helpless, giving all of our fears and emotions to Him.

When things are hard, cling to God. Cry with Him. Tell Him your fears and your hurt—get point-blank honest with Him about everything. Read David’s desperate cries for God’s help in Psalms 7; 17; 28; and 31. Ask God to be your rock, your fortress, and your strength—everything that you need Him to be. Then let Him carry you.
If you choose not to rely on yourself, but instead depend on God in your weakness, you will find the support that you desperately need. How do we know? Because the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). The situation might not end or be fixed like you want it to, but God will give you all you need to get through it—Himself.

In Psalms 73:26 and 119:57, the psalmists called God their portion. Why? Because just like we each need an amount (portion) of food to sustain us each day, we need God. So every time you hurt, go to God. He is—and will be—enough for you.

Be Anxious for "Nothing"

I have to admit...I don't usually worry about "politics" but I do get concerned. The news of late on the cabinet picks for our new President send up so many red flags for me as a Christian.
I read this on the news today:

Christian right challenges Obama's Justice picksThursday, February 5, 2009 5:02 AM EST
The Associated Press By DEVLIN BARRETT Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Christian conservatives are challenging President Barack Obama's picks for top Justice Department positions, charging that past clients like Playboy taint their resumes.
The criticism comes ahead of a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing Thursday for David Ogden, Obama's pick for deputy attorney general, the No. 2 position at the Justice Department.

Obama's attorney general, Eric Holder, was confirmed by the Senate on Monday and started work the next day. As he waits for confirmation of his top aides, many on the religious right are questioning the nominee's backgrounds, saying they have promoted far left, pro-abortion, pro-gay policies.

"Ogden has been an activist in the support of a right to pornography, a right of abortion and the rights of homosexuals," said Patrick Trueman, a former Justice Department official during the first Bush presidency who is now in private practice.

"It isn't so much that he's represented pornographers or that he's been a porn attorney, but it's his world view, and his world view reflects President Obama's world view," said Trueman, echoing criticism from conservative activist groups like the American Family Association and Focus on the Family.

While a private attorney, Ogden argued on behalf of Playboy and librarians fighting congressionally mandated Internet filtering software. His clients also include corporate giants such as an oil company and the pharmaceutical industry.

The challenge to Obama's Justice picks come as conservative evangelicals seek to limit the power of the new Democratic administration and maintain their own within the Republican Party.

Some Republicans believe a tight embrace of social conservative values turns off independents and moderates, but many Christian right leaders resist compromise and contend that, if anything, the GOP has strayed too far from its principles.

Besides Ogden, conservatives also have taken aim at two other Justice picks — Indiana University professor Dawn Johnsen for her association with an abortion rights group, and Thomas Perrelli, who represented the husband of Terry Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman at the center of a right-to-die case that energized evangelical groups across the country.
Michael Greenberger, a law professor at the University of Maryland and a past colleague of the three during the Clinton administration, said the conservatives' criticism of the trio is unusual and unwarranted.

"Usually, you may have a fight over who the attorney general is, but this is not par for the course, picking off next to the attorney general three of his top appointments," Greenberger said. "This is harassment and it is an attempt to reverse the election."

Accusations of political manipulation at the Justice Department are not new. Over the past two years, the Bush administration has been investigated and excoriated by Democrats for making firing and hiring decisions based on political considerations.

Tom Minnery, a vice president at Focus on the Family, charges that through the nominations, the new Democratic administration is not depoliticizing, but re-politicizing the Justice Department.

"They take our breath away the more we learn about these people," said Minnery. "This is left-wing politicization of the Justice Department. This is not a Justice Department that looks like America."

Lord Jesus, Open eyes!

This and That

I'm not nearly as good at "randomness" as Bethanne...but here goes.

I took the day off yesterday to have a place removed off the side of my nose. I went by school to get my check and found out they were letting out due to snow at 1:30.....there went the day off.

I got a call that school was to be out today. Another day off! Got a call today asking if I could bring Daniel in today to have his teeth pulled instead of Thursday. Can anyone say "Day Off Sabotagers???"

Daniel won the "No Cavity Club" contest at Dr. Bo's office....a stuff monkey that he can wear around his neck. He has named him "Mr. Monkey".

What happened to the "real" snow we used to get when we were kids? We....meaning the 1960 kids and such???? We've yet to build a real snowman or take a real snow ride.

Octuplets? hmmmmm......2 was work!

I never cease to be amazed at God's faithfulness...even in the little things....

Anyone want to grade papers for me?

I've seen Tom and Jerry till I'm blue in the face. I have my father-in-law to thank for that. He got my kids "hooked".

I made a spaghetti sauce in the crock pot for supper today. MMMMM

I'm still waiting for someone to really "please my case" for Disney to my husband. Any takers?

Happy Birthday, Sean!

January 30, 2004 was my second proudest moment as a mom. Sean David Walker joined our family. He had a little party at school Friday and then Saturday with some special friends at Fun Expedition! We partied....Veggie Tale Style!

Sentimental Journey

I was sitting in Sunday School this morning and the date jumped out at me off something I was looking at...January 25th....

Eight years ago my sweet daddy passed in the loving arms of Jesus. Nothing has ever moved me so much as that day 8 years ago.

I won't go into details but he is sorely missed. I treasure my memories and am eternally grateful for a dad who took me to church by himself for years, paid my way to Christian School and Christian College, and invested in my life so I could be a Christian school teacher on a small salary. When he left this world part of me did too.

Good memories..............

Good ole' snow days

Second day out of school on a much needed snow day break! We have the inauguration ceremonies playing on TV and I am surrounded by a sea of toys that have made their way out of the play room on these snow days.

Not much to blog about. I did go to Weight Watchers and recorded 2 more pounds lost....so I'm at 41 pounds lost now! I have 7 more pounds to meet my goal and then have to maintain it for 6 weeks. Here we go!

My kids ask so many questions. Sean is a little bummed that we didn't invited him to our wedding!??? Daniel is amazed this week because he just realized that David and I had the "same" wedding. He's asked me where Heaven is ( because his "Paw", my dad, is there). He wanted to know why I'm made differently than his brother and dad and himself. He wants to know what it was like when I was a little girl. I love their transparency. We were in Shoney's last week and Sean ran up to the food bar and exclaimed " I love you mommy!" and Daniel followed soon after. A lady getting her soup just stopped and said "AHHHHHHHHHHH". We say I love you alot in our home. We are embarrassed. Although, Sean does tell me he loves his daddy while his daddy is in the room . I say " Why don't you just tell your daddy?" He says "MOMMYYYYYYYYY...( and then he whispers) He's a boy!

I wonder how many of us are quick to tell the Lord we love him in our home, but when we are out in public we are embarrassed to "let it be known". Food for thought.

As far as the inauguration, I've had several comments made to me this week. Here is the bottom line for me. No, it's not my pick, but I he will be President. I can't change that. It IS my duty to pray for him and that I will do. I pray that if he doesn't know the Lord, he will come to know him. I pray for wisdom as he is in office. I pray for the media. Their disdain for our current president who at noon will be our former president has appalled me. Just as I respect the office of our new incoming President , I wish they are done more of that with our temporarily present one. What a shame to disrespect the man. I didn't always agree with my parents, but I honored the fact that they were my parents. Again, food for thought.

I'm saying a prayer for the Street family who lost their grandmother of 98 years of age. Blessings!

Off to make use of a day off.

Communication Gap

I've always loved "sayings"...you know the ones like...

"You can't get blood from a turnip"

"If I want your opinion I'll beat it out of you!"

"There's more than one way to skin a cat"

"That's the Pot calling the kettle black"



Unfortunately I live in a world of small people....you know...4,5 and 6 year old...and home and school. They don't always understand my train of thought when I thought I so beautifully articulated it to them.

The other day Daniel, my 6 year old, was not hurrying as fast as I would have liked. I nicely but with great feeling said ,"Dear, if you don't hurry I'm going to yank a knot in your behind"....to which he replied , "Mommy, what is a behind?" . I said ,"it's your bottom Daniel". He said , "Hum, oh..that's neat. Do they say that in China?"

Somewhere in all that conversation he missed the main point I was trying to make. I think I just make it more difficult.

I find myself trying to explain the gospel to the kids at school or to my own kids, or to a friend that is on my heart. It seems when I try to use my "own fancy" words, the message just gets more complicated. I was remind last week that "HIS WORD" will not return void, so I tried just using scripture when I was talking to a friend about their need for the Lord. It's not my job to do the saving, but it's my job to share the faith. I'm so glad when I don't always know what to say or how to say it that he promised his word would do the job and plant the seed.

Well, off to do some chores.

See ya later gators! In a while, crocodiles!

wink!

Let Him Who Stole Steal No More

Thieves.....

Two hung beside Jesus on the Cross and he forgave them.

This week I went by school to do some lesson plans. I took our new movies we got for Christmas and promised the boys they could watch TV only to reach up to put the DVD in and "poof" there was no DVD player. I immediately jumped to conclusion, raced down the hall with the DVD on my finger and asked the secretary if the after school program had "borrowed" my DVD player. Not that I really minded but I would have like to have known. A few days before I had been in my room and found things out of place and once again "assumed" it was the aftershock kids. Mrs. Miller shook her head, pulled out a pad that had a long list of "items" on it and she said "It's probably another thing to add to our list." What list??? It seems that over Christmas break someone or several someones had time on their hands and decided to break into our wings of the Christian school. They made off with quite a few things, my new DVD player being one of them. I was sick at first and then livid on the other hand. We already struggle to have the "things" we need to have decent classroom time. A parent had donated that DVD player. It was more than losing the DVD player. How could anyone just go through someone's things unannounced, uninvited! We hear about crimes all the time taking place. We really don't stop to think about it thought till it happens to us. I was really angry at "whomever" did this.

I got to thinking about Jesus commands to "forgive", and how many times he told us too. I am praying for those who are responsible...really I am.

I'm so glad he forgave me.....................

Makes Sense to Me!

Daniel, Sean and I ventured up to Piney Flats to have lunch with David at Burger King. It's not my favorite place to dine, but we had coupons and I could get a decent salad so we went. Daniel gets his traditional chicken kids meal and Sean today was in the plain cheeseburger mood. He looked at the sesame seeds on the bun, tasted one and then exclaimed, " I know what grows when you plant these". I asked to "What grows?"....he answered "Cheeseburger Plants".

Makes sense to me!

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