goodbye pre-k

Hello Kindergarten!

it's inevitable

I am going to cry tomorrow.

While I'm glad summer is coming.

I will miss these kids, they are 12 of my closest friends {3 are missing}.

School comes to an end tomorrow, these kiddos move onto Kindergarten.

It has been a fun year teaching them. 

I've loved watching them grow.

more talking, pajamas and pizza

Talked to a good friend today.  She called me.  She had read my blog and was concerned (sorry about that Ange).  I enjoyed hearing her voice again.  I sat out on the deck in this beautiful weather imagining that she was right there beside me like old times.  She was actually 2000 miles away but I felt her love.  There is so much healing in a conversation, at least for me.  I could have used more of it in April but by my own fault I pushed friends aside when I needed them the most.  I tried to go it alone, acting like I was handling it all when really inside I was falling apart.  Lesson learned Lord. 

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Today was a catch up day.  I was home all day and up until Art and a friend showed up at our house I was in my pajamas!  I tend to roll out of bed and start working and forget the fact that I'm still in them.  My neighbors must get a chuckle out of it.  Art on the other hand is embarrassed more than anything :).  I worked in cleaning the house, started more laundry, wrote out thank you notes for Sarah's birthday, called my parents and sister, wrapped presents for tomorrow, mowed the yard and ordered pizza for dinner.  We ate while watching Ramona and Beezus, love that movie.  It was a good day.

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"Thank you Lord for Angelique.  Thank you for putting it on her heart to call.  Please be with her Grandmother, bring healing and comfort.  Thank you for Brian, for his help, friendship and continued strength. Please be with Mike's Dad, give the doctors guidance.  So many are hurting Lord, please bring comfort and mercy. - Amen"

tomorrow

This sweet girl graduates from high school. 

Celebrate Hannah Banana!

Your Aunt Ny loves you.

five

While I was away from the blogging world, this girl turned 5.  Wow and sob.

sweet moments - sloppy joes, long talks and ice cream

I sit here typing, eating a handful of pretzel M&M's (a new favorite), listening to the beef in the skillet sizzle as it cooks.  Tonight is Sloppy Night at our house, the girls are thrilled.  I'm getting help from the can with some "power" thrown in for my guilt.

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Had a lovely talk with my friend today.  One long and over due.  I have missed her so much.  Sad that her recent diagnosis with cancer had to bring us back together.  We talked about parenting, health, family, work, husbands, televisions and other things that I cannot mention on here, things that made us laugh.  The usual girl things.  We both needed to laugh.  It felt so good to be in her presence, I could have stayed all day.  She had some good news today in tests but her journey with cancer is just starting.  Please continue to pray for her.

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Ice cream....  I volunteered to lead a craft in Grace's class, the last craft of the year to be exact.  We made paper sundaes complete with the scent of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.  Cute craft they all liked.  I saved the best for last though.  We made homemade ice cream in a bag or baggies actually.  Simple really but it takes ALOT of ice.  As they finished up the ice cream craft I began to wonder how I was going to put 16 bags of milk, sugar and vanilla together so quickly and get them all "shaking."  That's when I saw my angel.  A friend of mine was coming down the hall, her daughter is in the same class with Grace.  She was a welcome sight and ready to help.  The kids loved it, even the part where their hands turned ice cold ;).  There was a whole lot of shaking going on in Ms. G's first grade.  Upon getting to her room today someone said, "It's Grace's mom, Mrs. Sanderson, YAY!"  That made things sweet.  Grace came running, happy to see me with big hugs - made it even sweeter.

Beef is almost done, time to open the can.

"Thank you Lord for today.  For reminding me how sweet friendship is.  For more sweet memories with Grace. For the sunshine. For the rain. For sloppy joes in a can.  For life in you."  - Amen

two bricks

I've been gone for awhile now. 

Life as I know it stopped the morning of April 3rd.  I received a call from my brother telling me my parents and my Aunt had been in a car accident on their way back from visiting my Aunt and Uncle in Texas. 

<Enter brick number one to hit me in the face.>

  It happened in Oklahoma and they were in the hospital.  Janene and I headed for Muskogee Oklahoma, not sure of what to expect, all we knew is that Dad had a broken leg and Mom a broken sternum BUT they were okay.

Nothing could prepare me for this.

I still have a very hard time looking at it.  I drove by myself to collect my parents things from their Prius.  I wasn't really thinking of how it would affect me.  I have to say my knees got weak, my head felt as if it were spinning, tears streaming down my face, in awe of what stood before me.  "How did my parents and Aunt survive this?" I had to turn around and breathe.  I kept telling myself, "Just breathe Nyla, just breathe."  I had a job to do and passing out was not an option.  I got through it but in the end I just wanted to scream and then throw up. 

You see they were hit by a drunk driver.  A young woman, 27 years of age who was 4 doors down from my parents in the hospital.  I saw her parents anguish, I heard their cries.  She's ruined her life by one stupid choice and she has forever impacted my parents health and well being. 

Senseless really.  Sad and senseless.

Over a month has passed.  I have learned many things (I'm still learning) in the process of the after:

1) family is everything

2) Muskogee Regional Care Facility has a wonderful, caring staff

3) my Dad is my hero

4) health is taken for granted

5) my parents are loved in their community, by their church, by their friends

6) my siblings and I can laugh through the pain and tears (it's that Van Hooser blood)

7) my Mom is my hero (I can have two!)

8) I have friends and co-workers who love me and are there, praying

9) I have a husband who performs in a crisis even if it means doing the girls hair ;)

10) God loves me and my family, he is in the good and bad and there is a plan in all of this.

While my parents continue to heal I have had my moments of depression.  I have cried out for mercy for them.  You see there is more than just the physical pain I witnessed with my parents through all of this.  I continue to witness pain in another sense.  I won't get into it here but my heart is heavy for my two heroes.  I question how God could allow this pain on his faithful servants.  It has made me question my faith.  It has kept me from him.  It has kept me from worshipping.  I don't see his plan but I trust he will show me some day.  I move forward doing my best to help.

If you are reading this... please pray for my parents.

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Yesterday I got some news.  Scary news. 

Remember my Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Tree?  The one that hangs in my classroom?  It was created by a talented, loving, tremendous woman.  I sing her praises to my kids when we use this tree.  She is my friend and she is sick. 

<Enter brick number two> 

If you are reading this.... please pray for Jonica.  Pray for healing.

I have more tears. Once again I am on my knees asking for mercy and healing.  I know he is listening because I have a peace. 

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I said goodbye to one of my fourteen friends today.  It was her last day with me, in my class even though we have one more week of school.  She gets to go to Disney World :).  She told me she was going to really miss me.  I blubbered like a baby as I hugged her. 

I am one big cry baby these days.  April was wet and I foresee May being the same.

"Your servant is praying Lord.  Please bring healing, mercy and peace to those I love.  AND keep the kleenexes coming!"