Storm's A Commin'!

I'm sorry, but considering the personality of our littlest one, these headlines are so very hilarious.

Our little Isaac does like to whip up some trouble now and then (or daily), but believe you me, he FAR makes up for it with his adorable antics and truly he can be so very sweet.  I have proof.  This was my birthday present from him last year.

Did I just hear your heart melt?  Gotta love my little Storm Isaac!

The Not-So-Fun First Day of School

Well, today I sent my three oldest, David, Emily, and Josie off to their first day of 6th, 4th, and 1st grade.  Normally the first day of school is marked in our home by a big family breakfast, lots of pictures of smiling kids in crisp school uniforms, and hugs and smiles for teachers.  This year...not so much.

You see, last week we got the news that Ruben Hernandez, aka "Coach," the Rosa Parks Academy physical education teacher, died tragically in a cycling accident less than a week before school started.  When I heard the news, it was if my heart was ripped out. I cried out to God, "Why?"  Coach was not just a teacher in our family...he was a friend.  He loved my kids and knew all about their lives outside school.  My kids adored him.  Dan and I adored him.  He was David's teacher for 5 years, Emily's for 4, and Josie's for 1.  When I volunteered at school, we sat in the break-room and laughed over my kids latest shenanigans, and he told me all about his adorable daughter Gigi and her own toddler adventures.  When he was at our home, we watched with sheer pleasure as his competitive side shone through as we played Kubb with all our Rosa Parks teachers.  He inspired our children to love exercise, treat each other with respect, and always be a good sport, even when you loose.  And the most beautiful thing is, he was not just all these things to my family...countless other families have many of these same kind of memories of Coach.  He leaves behind a legacy that will not soon be forgotten.

I have to say that from the perspective of a parent, Rosa Parks Academy and the Aspire Public School system system have handled this quite well.  They sent home letters to each family, followed up by a phone call.  They shortened today's schedule to allow teachers and families to attend a celebration of life for Coach today.  They had counselors in the classrooms today (and all week) and activities planned for the kids that would help them grieve or reflect on their feelings for Coach, as well as a parent meeting to answer questions.  They even allowed Dan to come in and offer grief counseling for those seeking faith-based answers.  It was the first and hopefully only time Dan ever had to wear his clerical collar to school, I pray.

I was so consumed with my own grief and worry for the kids and teachers at Rosa Parks Academy that I didn't even take pictures of the kids this morning.  It's not that I didn't think of it or have time.  But for some reason, it just didn't feel right.  Maybe tomorrow?  Maybe next week?  Who knows.

In the last few days, my kids have learned a lesson in what it means to reach out to others in times of tragedy.  Last Thursday and Friday, we helped many of the RPA teachers prep their classrooms in a time when all they wanted to do was stay home and grieve their lost friend and coworker.  My kids worked diligently helping teachers sharpen pencils, make name tags, organize pencil boxes...whatever was needed to get ready for the first day of school.  The teachers expressed their gratitude with words and hugs.  I praised my kids for being the hands of feet of Jesus in a time when they might rather sit home and cry.

I don't know why this happened to Coach.  I don't know why sweet little Gigi has to grow up without the most amazing father, and his wife has to live each day without his love.  What I do know is that God is still good.  I don't for a minute believe God wanted this to happen.  The Bible tells us that every good and perfect gift is from God, and this is not my idea of a gift.  I think that Satan has done this to pull us away from him...to make us question God's goodness.  To ask, "Why would a loving God allow such a thing?"  But what Satan intends for evil, God can use for good.  God can take this tragedy and use it to show us that his promises still endure.  We are still his creation, loved by him.  The tomb is still empty.  The price is still paid.  I'll see Coach again some day, and maybe, just maybe, others will share in the glory or Christ as well because of this.  In this lies my hope.  In this lies my joy.

Rest in peace, Ruben.  I thank God for your life.  Say hi to the Big Guy for me.

The Tooth Fairy Cometh

It was a milestone day for Miss Josie.  She goes down in the history books as the first (and quite possibly only) Deuel kid to loose her first two teeth on the same day.  Even better, she lost them both within 35 minutes of each other!  Crazy kid.  As you can see from the picture, the replacements are already on their way in, so unfortunately, no toothless grin for her.  

First tooth lost

Immediately followed by second tooth and the replacements are already coming in!

Hope the Tooth Fairy has extra cash tonight!

It's funny how excited we get over teeth, don't you think?  I mean, we got all excited when the first two came in, and we got all excited when the first two came out.  Fascinating!

And while it was super cute to see Josie all a flutter over the lost teeth, the conversation after she lost them with Emily was HILARIOUS!

Josie:  I guess the Tooth Fairy will come tonight and bring me lots of money!

Emily:  Unless "Mr. Tooth Fairy" comes and brings you foreign money which you can't spend anywhere!  (This was said with a severe case of rolling eye)

I guess Emily wasn't too fond of her daddy's little prank a few months ago?  Dan and I thought it was hilarious, personally.  In fact, just remembering the look on her face in the morning when she found Cambodian money under her pillow makes me laugh out loud right now.  Side benefit of taking a mission trip?  I think so.

Chicken

Okay, first of all, let me just get honest here.  The main reason why I'm giving up Facebook is not because I'm tired of all the junk I see every day (although I have to be honest...I won't miss the latest e-card craze).  The real reason that I had to give up Facebook was because, apparently, I have no self control. I have a mini computer in my pocket all day, and instead of using my free moments to, say, clean out a messy drawer or read my Bible, I have fallen back on the crutch of the mind numbing 2 minute scan through the old FB.  I gave up FB for 13 weeks this winter/spring, and I thought I'd be much more controlled when I returned, but alas, within a few weeks I was back into my old habits like an addict.  I'm not sure why FB had such a grip on me.  I'm not normally one to get hooked on things.  I don't even drink coffee anymore and gave it up easily last year.  But the pull to check FB first thing in the morning was making me feel like a total loser, and yet even when I felt that way, I still did it!  This is not good.  So the only way for me to loose this grip on my mind was to go cold turkey.

So I did it.  I shut it down.

Well, sort of.  See, turns out that you can "deactivate" your FB so that you can't be searched and friended, no further activity on your account, but your timeline and pictures are not deleted from FB records so that when you want to rejoin FB, your friends are still there and you don't have to start over.

Ohhhhh, they are so smart.  So smart indeed.

So I deactivated.  Because I thought, you know, what if for some reason I HAVE to rejoin FB years down the line.  I mean, like, it's absolutely necessary.  Then I have to go through the long laborious process of finding you all again, friending, etc, etc, etc.  What a hassle!  Really, I'm just trying to save you the trouble of accepting my friend request again.  But I did delete the app from my phone.  And if any of you ever see my name pop up on the side of your page as "currently online," you have my permission to drive over and give me a good, hard scolding.    But not too hard... I might unfriend you.

No More Facebook

I started this blog right before I signed onto Facebook for the first time.  Then Facebook took over and I forgot about the blog.  Well I'm done with FB now.  While I love 90% of my "friends" posts, there is another 10% that make me think, "huh?"  And it's totally addicting and I spend way too much time on it, obviously.  I've been thinking about dumping it since January, but I'm finally taking the leap.  It's gonna hurt, but if you are reading this, you are the few who actually care that I'm not going to be on FB any more, so you can catch up on my family here, though I can promise you I won't be posting daily status updates!  And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE send me updates and pictures on your family! You can text or email them to me, or respond to my blog posts.  That is my biggest regret to leaving FB...keeping up on my friend's lives.  


Anyhow...the FB page is coming down soon, though I'm not exactly sure when.  I'm really hoping it will help me focus on what Phillipians 4:8 says:


 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."


I promise no profound moments on this blog.  Honestly, I have no idea where this is going. I'm just going to roll with the punches!  


Love to you all!


Miriam

Renaissance Man

David is constantly surprising us.  Over the last few years he has emerged as an athlete, artist, scholar, responsible big brother, respectful son, and over all great kid.  He loves to be part of the team, whether that be in the classroom, on the field or court, at church, or with the family.  His friendship is true and loyal.  His smile is contagious.  He aims to please but knows right from wrong.  He is always wanting to play with others and thrives off group activities.  We are very proud of his accomplishments and the little man he has become.  If things continue on as they are, some day Dave is going to grow up and do great things.  

Peeking out the window as we drive through a tree in the Coastal Redwoods

Indulging his little sisters as they host a tea party.  Thanks for humoring us, Dave.  Your a champ!

Sick as a dog and apparently unaware that he was sleeping with his head off the side of the couch

Working on a masterpiece - a fire breathing dragon!

Drama Queen

Emily has a knack with the camera.  She's one of those who rarely takes a bad picture.  Obviously she gets that from her father since her mother is not photogenic.  The funny thing is that even when she is being a total goof-ball, she is adorable!  Dan and I get a huge kick out of her love for the camera, and it's love for her.  During a outdoor painting session in our backyard, I grabbed the camera to get some shots of the kids painting and Emily took this as an opportunity to try her best faces.  What I love about her is that she is not afraid to look silly.  She is a beautiful girl who does not rely on her cuteness but rather her even more beautiful personality to define her.  I love that about her.  This is only a small sampling of the pictures that I took in about a 20 second  stretch in which she managed a new pose every 3 seconds.  Priceless. 

The Thinker

Here it comes...

Oh my gosh...another academic scholarship?  How surprising!

Simon gave a standing ovation last night on American Idol?  Are you kidding me?

Vogue