Spring Break

Isn't this what Spring Break is all about anyway?

Spring Reading Thing 2012

Can it be? Are you sure? Spring has Sprung? I'll be melting away in the desert heat before I know it. For now, I focus on joining Katrina, over at Callapidder Days, for her Spring Reading Thing 2012.

Here are the list of books I would like to read this Spring:

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
Two Kisses for Maddy by Matt Logelin
Prayer by Phillip Yancey
The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice

I have had Two Kisses for Maddy on my shelf since it came out, April 2011. I have followed Matt's story, pretty much, since the beginning, and have followed his blog since then. I preordered his book on amazon when he announced we could. Peyton is only a few months older than Maddy, and little did I know, the day I preordered Two Kisses for Maddy, that I would end up a widow a couple months later. I am tired of looking at this beautiful cover of father and daughter and not having the courage to open it and read it.

I am committed to reading this list of books. I'm sure I'll switch it up, and/or add something to the mix, as I go poking through all of your lists. If I get these read, I'll be pleased.

I haven't read much since Fall Into Reading 2011. Well, I should clarify, I have thrown myself into women's bible studies since the death of my Beloved husband. I'm in the word, but zero recreational reading. I feel left behind in the times right now. Some of my own doing, I'm sure. I just don't feel the need to "join in" on much, while my world around me is still in ruins.

HDC - Apple Valley Campus

I am truly blessed. I have an AMAZING church home. I have been attending High Desert Church (HDC) since November 1995. I was saved there, and baptized there in March 1996. Mande's memorial was held there. My (Grand)Mother's memorial was also held there, and just 2 months later, we honored my Beloved husband there.

Two years ago, HDC launched their first satellite campus in Apple Valley. And just last year, they launched their second in Phelan.

With the gas prices up, ours was $4.31 on Friday, I knew I was going to need to adjust my traveling plans accordingly. I am at HDC 4 times a week. I attend Tuesday for TLBS and Thursday for SMILES. I then go back Thursday afternoon for Dylan's Sonshine Choir practice, and finally Sunday morning for church service. My 4 trips to Victorville, plus the bussing of Cameron and Dylan to and from school every day, leaves my already drained finances at a dangerous level every time I have to put gas in the Mama Mobile. My budget for gas has increased by $27 a week. Something has to give.

As much as I adore walking in to church every Sunday morning, I knew I was going to have to give it up, at least partly, until the end of the choir year. On weekends where Dylan doesn't lead choir, we will be attending in Apple Valley.

Today was our first time at HDC's Apple Valley Campus. Did I mention it's 3 minutes from my house? Apprehensive, as I despise change, we walked in, having no clue where to go. Fortunately, one of Peyton's favorite teachers, happened to be there (she was on stage this morning), threw her arms open for Peyton and showed us the ropes. We checked in, took Peyton to her class, took Dylan to his class, and the cherry on top of our morning is Evan, junior high pastor, who has been a mentor to Cameron since Mike died, is in charge of the junior high group at AV. Cameron was beaming!

My TLBS leader's daughter was working in Peyton's class, and a dear friend's son, who Evan also mentored after the death of his father, helps Evan and the junior high group. As we were leaving, Cameron's 5th grade teacher was standing in front of church, and upon seeing Cameron, began to dote over how big he's gotten, asking how Cameron was doing, and about his health in regards to his diabetes. I love how God always knows what we need. We left church, smiling from ear to ear, and the kids can't wait to go back.

Prayer Time

I enjoy our family prayer time at night. The kid's prayers have grown leaps and bounds in the last 14 months. Tonight Peyton volunteered to lead prayer. She started out wonderfully, even thanking God for her warm bed (I've been teaching them to thank God during prayer). As she was coming to the end, she said, "Bless our new Daddy. I hope he gets here soon." Sucker Punched. God Bless her heart of gold.

Knights in Training

Peyton is growing up. What makes this worse is the fact that she is doing it without her Daddy. Peyton starts Kindergarten in August. To help transistion the incoming kids, AAE has set up Knights in Training. The students come to their Kindergarten classroom for a little over an hour, every other month, and work in stations, getting familiar with the teachers and environment. This also allows the teachers to assess the child's academic ability. I am pleased that Peyton will have the same Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Cambridge, as Dylan. Ms. Cambridge is special to us, because like us, she lost her husband, suddenly, with her 2 daughters the same ages as Dylan and Peyton at the time.

I snapped a few pics of Peyton's writing her name assessment. She struggles with the letter e, but I think she's finally getting it.