one blessing after another

We're back from Chicago and it was wonderful! We started our trip with lots of site seeing by foot. The weather was beautiful and there's so much to see. Live music on the street corners, statues, water fountains, gardens, great people watching and lots of good food!

We stopped at "The Bean"... along with dozens of other tourists.

We went to Westside Story at Cadillac Palace. It was a great show and a lot of fun!

Navy Pier

We also went on a horse and carriage ride around the city at night. This was so romantic since Navy Pier has fireworks at night and we got to ride right past them.

I feel blessed to have spent the weekend getting some QT with the hubby. With his adventure to Fort Benning only a month away, the time we spent in Chicago feels EXTRA blessed.

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16

Sincerely,
Lynette

to have and to hold

Happy anniversary, Tory! Thank you for being my best friend in good times and in bad. Thank you for always being there for me and for working so hard to build our life together. You are my everything. XoXo

My favorite reason for being married is to grow and learn with my best friend. Through all of life's ups and downs, we stick together no matter what. And by the grace of God, we are not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and as no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

We will be celebrating 2 years in Chi-town tomorrow through the weekend! See you when we get back! :)
-Lynette :)

victorious living

It's been awhile since we've updated our blog. The last couple of months have been busy. Tory started his drills- it's true what they say about men in uniform :) Although the time commitment has made planning for the summer a challenge, God continues to bless us. It has become more apparent to me than ever before that God has placed the most amazing girl friends and mentors in my life to keep me company and walk with me as I embrace change.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

On May 10th Tory turned 25 and we went on our sky diving adventure. If you haven't done it... DO IT! It was so much fun. It took about 15 minutes to reach the jumping altitude of 15,000 feet, but you drop at a rate of about 1,000 feet every six seconds. Unfortunately, I can't put our videos on the web because I don't have a dvd burner. When I get one, I'll be sure to share the videos with you.

Tory was the first to jump!

Free falling!

My turn :)

So awesome!

Thank you to those of you who have been praying for me as I interview for positions for next year. I have been offered a position at Cedar Park once again, which has eliminated a lot of stress and anxiety. I hope to sign my tenure contract early next week. I will continue teaching 3rd grade, which I have really loved the past two years. I am so blessed to have a job that I love. My passion for teaching children becomes stronger each year and I can't wait for what's to come. God is good.

Waving good-bye on the last day of school

Love, Lynette

But he said to them "It is I, do not be afraid." John 6: 20

take love & multiply it by infinity

"Take love, multiply it by infinity and take it to the depths of forever...
and you still have only a glimpse of how I feel for you."

This vacation was just what we needed. We have arrived home tired, sunburned, refreshed, and happy. The only thing better than sipping pina coladas with colorful umbrellas under the sun... is doing so with your best friend.


Before we left on our cruise (Carnival Inspiration), we spent two days with my aunt and uncle in Tampa. It was so good to spend time with family. Thank you Titi Melba and Tio Julio for hosting us for a couple days and for making our trip even more special.

(Since we were in Tampa, we HAD to hit up Busch Gardens.)

Our cruise left from Tampa and stopped in Grand Cayman and Cozumel. In Grand Cayman we took a bus tour and stopped in Hell, a rum factory, and the beach. We walked around town with coconuts in hand.

(That's my devil face. Scary, huh?!)

The highlight of our trip was definitely swimming with the dolphins in Cozumel. We were in the water with the dolphins and the trainers would instruct them to swim to us so that we could touch them. We also learned some dolphins commands and instructed them to talk, jump, and twirl in circles. They are incredibly smart and beautiful. It was surreal being in the water with them. The best part was when we got to swim out in the cove a ways and ride on the back of the dolphin. Of course we also got to kiss them.



We are blessed to be able to travel together. As we unpacked and continue getting ready for the work week, we both agree that the hardest part of our travels is always coming home. However, now we're refreshed and we can embrace the work ahead of us with more peace of mind and heart.

I'm leaving you with a gift: peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So, don't be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)

Yours truly, Lynette :)

Jesus gave it :: all to him I owe

Many of you have heard that Tory and I are opening a new and exciting chapter in our life together. Tory officially joined the National Guard on March 2, 2011. I was so proud to be in the room as he took his oath and made the 8 year commitment to serve our community, our state, and our country.
Tory will begin his weekend drilling with a unit in Rosemount in April. His basic training is scheduled to begin in September. After basic training graduation Tory will return home. Sometime after basic training he will attend officer candidate training. The officer candidate training is held in two 4-week training periods (when he will attend this is TBD).

I am a firm believer in God having a plan for each of us and I am blessed to be married to a man of faith. After Tory and I had our first meeting with a recruiter a few months ago I came home feeling confused, afraid, and frustrated. I am comfortable and happy in the life that we have built together and I don't like change. That night I woke up in the middle of the night and sat on the couch with my bible. I flipped to a "random" page and the first verse on the page was Joshua 1:9.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

I can't argue with that... God is good!
-Love always, Lynette

new year's resolution

Ahh, 2010. Hard to say goodbye. It was a fabulous year. However, we had a great time ringing the new year with the bestest friends we could ask for. I have BIG aspirations for 2011.

Tory and I contemplated making new year's resolutions. We never seem to stay true to them... mostly because by the end of January we've already forgotten about them. In the end we decided to give them one more try. This year we tried to set three basic, attainable goals that we could hold each other accountable for. Together we set one financial goal and one spiritual goal. Then, we each separately set a goal for ourselves.

Setting goals is easy for me since I'm addicted to the feeling I get when I finally accomplish them, but this year I decided to try something new. Instead of creating a resolution that has a finish line or an end date, I am choosing to set a goal that will be a work in progress (forever). My hope is that in time I will see and feel changes in myself, which will help me positively influence others. My goal in 2011 is to begin to see myself the way God sees me and, in turn, love myself the way God loves me.

I am always self-reflective, but even more so at the beginning of a new year. This year I reflected a lot on the madness that is my life. Work, work meetings, school, church, church meetings, family, travel, and a busy social calender. Some weeks I feel that it'll never end. I am guilty of placing my value in the things that the world views as important, instead of the things that God views as important. I understand that the "stuff" that makes up my life is not a reflection of what I am worth in God's eyes, because he loves me for who I am (after all "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalm: 139:14). So, this year, I hope to fill my life with the things that challenge me and bring me joy... but not as a measure of the kind of person I am. You can remind me of this, because as I said, seeing myself the way God sees me is going to be a lifelong journey.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Against such things there is no law." (Gal. 5:22-23)

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." (Phil. 4:8)

Love, Lynette :)

believe in yourself

There's something serenely beautiful about autumn. The crisp air is rejuvenating and the world seems a little more breathtaking this time of year. God is so good.



Fall also means I am back at work fulfilling God's purpose for me... teaching! I have a very special class this year and it has been a joy getting to know all 27 of my students in our first month of school. They are eager learners and hard workers. The sense of community, respect, and love that they have shown me and each other has been a blessing to me. We have been very busy learning basic addition math strategies, elements of fiction, the engineering design process, and much more. Tomorrow we will be going on our first field trip of the year to Lebanon Hills for a nature study. We are veeerrryyy excited for Friday as well... our little crayfish will be arriving and we will be studying their structures and their habitats. Jealous, aren't ya? :D

-Until next time, Lynette
jeremiah 29:11 "for I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."