Me: u think its gonna snow tomorrw?
Un-namedStudent: hmm i dont know but i hope it does sunday nite so no school on mon.!!! haha
Me: lol
Me: i want it to snow NEXT thurs or fri
Un-namedStudent: haha y??
Me: b/c a bunch of my friends are going snow boarding lol
Me: and I WANT to go
Me: lol
Me: but probably WONT happen
Un-namedStudent: ooo i c hahaha jus skip skool ill teach math class for ya haha
Me: haha
Me: Noooo. id miss ya'll :-)
Me: i couldnt rob you of an awesome algebra education
Me: :-)
Un-namedStudent: haha aww
Un-namedStudent: ahah o no its ok rob away!

To Thy Truth Do I Cling
Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
Exodus 15:11

For the Lord is GOOD; His mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 100:5

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 96:9a

Mushy Morning
As I posted this morning, we are out of school today. I'm here with Maliah, while everyone else went to work. She and I played, read, and watched Nemo (for like the forty thousandth time), but now she is taking a nap. As I sit here, it continues to sleeting a little outside, but nothing major. Most of the snow has been rained away, and we're just left with a few mushy remnants.

As Disciples
So, the other morning, I was reading in John 8 and I came across the verses John 8:31-36. I posted them b/c they were such an encouring Truth to me. I had finished up Pursuit of Holiness not long ago, and those verse put an exclamation point on what God was teaching me through that book. Last night I was doing some reading in Of The Imitation of Christ by a' Kempis and I randomly landed on Book Three, Chapter IV. Much of the chapter is a reflection on those verse.

Book Three, Chapter IV
WE MUST WALK BEFORE GOD IN HUMILITY AND TRUTH.
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, walk before Me in truth, and seek Me always in the simplicity of your heart. He who walks before Me in truth shall be defended from the attacks of evil, and the truth shall free him from seducers and from the slanders of wicked men. For if the truth has made you free, then you shall be free indeed, and you shall not care for the vain words of men.

THE DISCIPLE
O Lord, it is true. I ask that it be with me as You say. Let your truth teach me. Let it guard me, and keep me safe to the end. Let it free me from all evil affection and badly ordered love, and I shall walk with You in great freedom of heart. (more)

From The Chasing Song
Well, I realize that falling down ain't graceful
But I thank the Lord that falling's full of grace
Sometimes I take my eyes off Jesus
And you know that's all it takes
-Andrew Peterson

First Snow of the Season!
Yipeee! No school today!

Andrew Peterson's Annual Christmas Concert
Oh, I sooooo... wish I lived in Nashville! (or at least close enough to make it to this show!)

Rocketown
401 Sixth Ave S. in Nashville
843-4000
Doors Open at 6 PM, Concert at 7 PM
Tickets are $20 General Admission, $18 Group
Special Guests include:
Phil Keaggy, Ron Block, Alison Krauss, Randall Goodgame, Derek Webb, Jill Phillips, Gabe Scott
For Tickets please call 615-352-5509
Ticket orders are taken between 10 AM and 5 PM Mon- Fri only.

Mary's Song
And Mary said, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior..." -Luke 1:46-47

Smells Like Christmas
Yep, My little apartment is filled with the aroma of the Christmas season. On Sunday, Erin, Maliah, and I ventured out into Danville to find a Christmas tree. No ax in hand. We did it the easy way... We went to Walmart, where we found a GREAT-looking tree. We bought it, threw it in the back of the truck, and hauled it home! (Side Note #1 - I was very thankful to have my dad's truck. I remember years where Amber and I would have to strap that thing to the top of her car, or stuff it in our trunk to get it home. Funny memories.) Anyway, when I got home, my grandpa and dad helped me unload, and saw that thing to perfection! With my grandpa under the tree, and me holding the top, we got that thing to stand straight and tall in about 5 minutes! (Side Note #2 - Again, I'm remembering hours upon hours of frustration Amber and I had trying to get OUR tree in Tally to stand. The feeling of finally getting the thing to stand, knowing if we EVEN breathed CLOSE to it, it would probably fall over! What did we know about setting up a Tree??? Funny Memories! Fun Memories!) Anyway, now my apartment is all decked out for the season. Friends came over last night and helped me decorate the tree, light my deck, eat cake and drink hot chocolate. Christmas gets me excited!

The Night Before Christmas
But you don’t have to be an angel to sing harmony
And you don’t have to be a child to love the mystery
-Carly Simon

Too Early!
It's too early to be at school! Yawwn!

Another on the Way
Oh, oh! My sister, Amber, is going to have a third BABY!!!!

My Heart Will Sing
My lips cannot describe You
But my heart will sing
My mind cannot define You
But my heart will sing
My eyes cannot behold
The precious beauty of Your face
Still my heart will sing of Your grace
-Silers Bald

Shopping Mishaps
(Disclaimer: I don't know the total validity of this story. It was told to me by my Jr. Highers. Funny mental picture, though!)
This morning my students told me a funny thing that happened at Walmart this weekend. Walmart had an 'After Thanksgiving' sale on DVD players. I guess it was a pretty good sale b/c some lady was standing in line stinkin' early to get one. When the doors opened, there was a mad rush and the lady was trampled..... When they got to her, she was unconscious. Good news, though. She got her DVD player. She still had it in hand. :)

The Truth Sets Us Free
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him," If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered Him," We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin....
...So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
-John 8:31-34, 36

Country Come-Back?
This past weekend I went to Cheasapeake, VA with my family to be with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. It was a rare occasion for us all to be able to hang out together since we are all sprinkled across the east coast. It was nice.

I drove, and Erin, Stuart, and Maliah road with me. On the way home, everyone was pretty worn, so everyone fell asleep (except for me, of course.) For some reason (maybe it was b/c I watched part of the country music awards), I felt a rare desire to break out some of my old country CDs. I went through a phase in my life where that is almost ALL I listened to. Scary, I know. Anyway, I put in some of my old faves. Diamond Rio, Blackhawk, Lone Star, Clint Black, Shenandoah... Kinda felt weird since I hadn't heard most of it in a while. Listening to some songs I was like, "What was I thinking, buying this stuff?" I did come across some really good ones though, and I have to say, I still like the stuff more than I thought I did. :) Anyway, this is part of a song that was one of my faves, and I thought it was applicable past 'girl/guy' love.

Something that We Do
...Love isn't something that we find
It's something that we do...
...Love isn't something that we have
It's something that we do...
...Love's not just something that we're in
It's something that we do...
...Love isn't someplace that we fall
It's something that we do...
-Clint Black

Love isn't a feeling. It's serving and caring for each other's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Let's 'DO' it!

Update: Seminoles Rally Past Gators, 38-34
Just thought I would spread the good news. :)

P.K. Sam ran a twisting, whirling, falling-down pass route for a 52-yard touchdown that lifted Florida State to a 38-34 victory over Florida on Saturday. (more)