January

While it is completely clique... January has such a strong meaning for me.

A new start.

Fresh calendar.

Goals for the year.

This year is no different.  

2014 is going to be one great year, and I want to make sure I am documenting it.

I want to blog.

{Which is a big deal since I have not wanted to for quite some time...obvious by my lack of posts.}

So here is hoping... that I will find time.  Make time.  Use a few minutes of my time to write.  

2014 is going to be a year of big thing, and I am feeling...ready. 

homemade flour tortillas...

Flour Tortillas

Ingredients:

2 cups of flour (I used a gluten free flour mix!)
½ teaspoon of salt
¼ heaping teaspoon of baking powder
¼ cup of oil (I used coconut oil, but you can use canola or vegetable)
2/3 cup hot/boiling water

Steps:

1.    Put the dry ingredients into a food processor and mix well.

2.   While it is running, add the liquids slowly.

3.       After a minute or two, it will form into a ball.  Don’t mix too long!

4.       When you take it out, knead it together and form a ball.

5.       Place it in a bowl and cover with a damp cloth for 15 minutes.

6.       Split the ball into 8 smaller balls, and then let it sit from 15 minutes to an hour.

7.       Roll out each ball SUPER thin.

8.       Place in a medium/high dry skillet, and wait for it to barely brown.  The top will puff up quickly, so flip it over to quickly brown the other side.

9.       Enjoy!

These were super easy to make, and SO yummy! 

word of God speak

I sat in my car today after a 2 hour training {on top of a very busy and loooong day} and cried.

I drove home crying.

When I walked in the door, I dropped my bags and started crying.  

I headed back out to the gym to work out with my best friend in hopes it would make me feel better. 

Seems like free therapy for me.

Got back in the car to head home again, and the tears started flowing.  

Then this song came on, and I literally had to pull over and just...listen.

Word of God speak

Would you pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty

To be still and know

That you're in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In your holiness

 Word of God speak

He's here. 

He loves me. 

He cares for me.

  

He knows my future better than I ever could imagine I do.

And I need to {rest} in that tonight, tomorrow, and every. single. day.   

decisions...

I pull up this blog every day.

Late in the evening, after everything has settled down, I pull up my blanket and open my computer.

I feel like the blog posts I read are written by close friends.  I love reading each story and feeling the emotions shared about everyday life, heart ache, pain, and love.

But something in my stops me from blogging about my life.

Not sure what, but something in me says stop.



So where does that leave me?

Do I start a new one?  Do I leave this behind?  Would something new and fresh be good?  Something different?

In so many ways right now, my life feels.... unsettled.  But at the same time, life feels so great.

Ahhhh decisions.  

testing is done!

Our BIG state testing is now OVER!

Which means I am no longer going crazy in my classroom trying to cram everything I can into my little kiddo's brains.  

I am no longer reviewing everything I can think of. 

I literally felt like I was sleeping, eating, and breathing TESTING.  

I have SO much I want to blog about!

A few days before testing, I was going CRAZY, staying late and trying to finish everything. 

And then this guy showed up at my classroom door. 

I.Love.Him.

Hot coffee, and flowers.

Just Because. 

BLESSED.

weekend happenings...and the tulip festival

This weekend, was B-U-S-Y!

Friday, I came home and CRASHED after a crazy week at school!  My hubby let me sleep for about an hour on the couch...which was exactly what I needed.

We headed out that night to go to dinner at my sweet friend Donna's house with her hubby Byron and my parents.  We spend the evening laughing, eating, and playing a very fun card game called SCUM.  Let's just say I got second place and we stayed until 11PM.

We work up EARLY Saturday, which is very rare for us.  However, it was totally worth it.  My sister-in-law was celebrating her birthday and the whole family somehow was able to come together!

We woke up at the crack of dawn...hopped in the car, got on the ferry, and drove some more!

LOVED getting to spend special time with all of my family....can't believe I have been able to call them MINE for almost a year now!

Sweet Abbie playing the guitar with grandpa...love her little look of concentration!

She obviously has great style.

This is my brother-in-law and my sweet niece.  I snapped this as we were walking up to the fields...and thought it was just too sweet!

And NOW for picture overload... we spent most of Saturday at the Tulip Festival... SUCH an amazing sight!

I seriously won the mother-in-law jack pot.

 In-Laws.  Never knew I could love them this much.

 Being an Auntie is awesome.

 My hubby and I...love the bright flowers.

 Such an amazing example of God's awesome creation!

 Fields for days.....

 Gorgeous.

 Beautiful.

 Amazing.

 Stunning.

 Striking.

 Delicate.

 Special.

My sweet hubby and his Mama...in the pink field!

This is Ryan's side of the family!  The day we got married, I inherited a Mom, Dad, 3 sisters, 3 brother in laws, 4 nephews, and 4 nieces!  And miraculously, with only a weeks notice... all of us but two were able to get together and celebrate Terra's birthday!

 

I always wanted a sister...and now I have 3!

All the siblings and spouses.  Funny story... Stacy's husband Jeremy had to work...so my nephew Ian made a balloon.  It came everywhere with us, and gave us a great laugh!

 

All the women in Ryan's life :)

Fun, fun weekend...now back to the daily grind!  One more week before state testing...we are cramming! :)

P.S. Here is a neat video of the aerial view of the tulip festival... so neat!
http://www.komonews.com/home/video/148579185.html

sweet celebrations...

My hubby and I, along with 3 other amazing people, get the privilege and honor of leading a high school 'small' group through our youth group at church.

I put small in quotes because our 'small' group has ranged everywhere from 8-80! 

Yes, I have 80 kids that I love dearly and willingly subject myself to their never ending drama. 

In other words, I truly love it. 

This past Wednesday, happened to be one of our leader's birthdays.

Mel joined our group in January when she came to Winter Camp... and hasn't left since.  She has fallen in love with all our kids...and honestly, I think they have fallen in love with her!

She responds to Mel, Mama, Mama K, Mama Kunkle, Mrs. Kunkle...the list goes on.

We decided a celebration was in order, and spent part of our Wednesday eating cupcakes, laughing, and praying over her.

{Mel is the tiny woman being squished in the middle of the picture}

 

I am so thankful God brought her to our group...she brings with her years of youth leading experience, wisdom, the knowledge of teenagers since she has raised FOUR boys (currently who are 17, 18, 19, and 20...WOW), and one of the kindest, biggest, sweetest hearts. 

Thank you Mel, for your love and commitment to youth group, and to our small group!