happy new year!!!!

Can't believe 2013 lurks around the corner....just a little over 7 hours away.  I have to say that I am somewhat grateful for a new year.  This is been a bit of a blah year for me. Yes, we have been blessed beyond measure, but there is just some bit of dissatisfaction with the way things have gone.  It has been a hard year!!!  But honestly, I know the discontent is with in my self and I will search out the Father's heart for what this year holds.  That is what I intend to do...I will not spend another month or year in this funk.  My brain is churning with all the things I would like to change fix revamp consider polish rethink...don't even know the word that best fits.

I had pretty much quit blogging because I just simply didn't make the time. As looked back through all the posts, I see what a story it tells of my precious family. So blog I will continue to do...they are growing ever so quickly and I want to document each moment to love and cherish for later years.

happy.new.year my friends...may 2013 be the best of our lives.  may God open doors in our lives that allow us to experience His fullness.  may we enjoy each breath that He has given.  my prayer is that we each treasure every second with our precious families this year.

many blessings from our family to your family....we are blessed to have each of you in our lives.

the big picture

Two weeks ago today, a great kid from Vega High suffered a life changing injury.  An injury that may never allow him to walk again, to use his arms again, to experience life as he knew it again.  Life as we  all know it for that matter.

Yesterday, after two really hard weeks, he flew to California with his mom for intensive rehab.  Although my heart is rejoicing that he is going to rehab, by heart is aching at the separation of his family.  I can't even imagine the heart ache of putting my child on a plane to go a thousand miles away.  Not being there for every crucial moment of recovery.  This makes my heart ache.  Ache to the point of crying big tears for them. {This would be very ugly.}

As the two weeks have passed, I caught my self asking God what his plan was for Luis.  How does this fit into His plan?  Why do such horrible things HAVE TO HAPPEN??  Sometimes, I just don't get the big picture.  But over and over and over and over, God reminded me that He has a plan for Luis.  And this is part of His plan.  {I will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5}

I want to see the big picture.  I want to see how the story ends.  I am impatient and don't want to wait for the long recovery.  I want to know it's all going to be ok.

I think...we don't see the big picture because if we automatically see the end, the big picture, we wouldn't run into His arms, and fall on our knees, and cry out to him to heal our friend.  If we immediately saw how the story ended, we wouldn't learn to lean upon Him for strength and peace and comfort.  So we wait...

Father, I know this IS part of your plan.  Thank you for having a plan for each one of us.  Show us your glory in these weeks and months in Luis's recovery and all the life situations we encounter on a daily basis.  Remind me daily Father to fall at your feet and lean upon your understanding.

Be blessed...

pinterest love

Weeks later, I am still suffering from a serious addiction to Pinterest.  I have searched through recipes, birthday party ideas, clothing that I love, cute hair cuts...you name it!!  I made a vow last week that if I was going to spend so much time combing through all the wonderful things, I was going to have to put some of them into effect.

I am very happy to report that I did just that.  This week my family tried a few new recipes.  Recipe #1 was an artichoke pasta recipe.  I wasn't overly fond of it and already deleted it from my board.  It wasn't terrible, just not worth fixing again.

Quit the contrary for this recipe.  One evening I made this roasted sausage and veggie recipe and it was so delish.  It was a crazy night at our house and dinner was a little on the fly.  With this casserole, I was able to get it ready with little prep work, toss in in the oven, and then we could pretty much eat when we had a minute.  I think I might have had two such minutes because I am pretty sure I ate twice.  Shh, please don't tell!!

Next on my list of goodies to make are these yummy looking pizza bites.  I think my kids will rave about these.  What a great after school snack or school lunch.  A little ranch dressing and I think we will be all over these babies!!!

A roast has been cooking in the oven all afternoon.  I can't wait to walk through the doors when we get home from school.  I think these potatoes will make an amazing side dish instead of just regular mashed potatoes.  {Besides, I am not much of a gravy girl...just can't make brown gravy well!}

Calleigh has decided to have her upcoming birthday party at the house.  When it comes to extravagant birthday parties, I fail miserably.  I am hoping that Pinterest will give me just the motivation and inspiration to make her last "little girl" birthday party a blast.  This will her last year before she "officially" becomes a TEENAGER!!  A whole other post....

As for now, I will be scowering Pinterest for great girl birthday party ideas...then for the follow through of actually preparing them.

Be blessed...

time

Last night as I crawled into bed, I noticed a Carebridge update from a lady I am following.  Most of the people on Carebridge are terminally ill, usually cancer.  I honestly don't know why I follow them because their stories break my heart.  Their stories have a impact to someone in my life, even if not directly connected to me.

As I was reading her update, she talked about the value of TIME in her life.  For her entire grown up life, she has taken time for granted.  But, her doctors have told her that 2-5 years would be a miracle for her.  Her life has been put into a new TIME perspective.

I laid in my bed sobbing.  I was hoping Robby couldn't hear my sniffles as he was drifting off to sleep.  She is teacher, she is a mom with young "threads," she has an amazing husband that she wants to spend  forever with.  JUST LIKE ME!!!

It really made me think about TIME.  We never know how much of we have left?  What do I do with my time?  Often times we fill every moment of our time with something.  We want to make sure our kids "experience" all of life.  We (as a family) don't want to miss a thing.

What if TIME changed for me?  What if TIME changed for you?  Are you content or satisfied with how your days are spent?  What would you do differently?  What would change?

I would focus less on making sure all the "chores" were finished and spend more TIME with my kids.  Thinking back to yesterday...Carson asked me to listen to his UIL Oral Reading story.  I remembered when he was already tucked in his bed, sound asleep.  Didn't get done.  I was more intently focused on  us cleaning out the car, wiping down windows, scrubbing the carpets because the car was driving me crazy!!!  I know for a fact I missed an opportunity to rock Cydney.

Quit honestly, there are things I so desperately want to change involving how we spend our time, but I just can't make the change happen.  I don't know how.  It all goes back to...we don't want to miss a thing.

TIME could change in the blink of an eye.

mom challenge

Saturday we had Cydney's birthday party and before the party could get here I found my self frazzled, grumpy and ready to bite my children's head off.  Really, I did bite their heads off!!!  I had to ask over and over to get things done, and I had had it!!  As I ask forgiveness from them that evening, it left me feeling like a terrible mom.  I knew something had to change...and soon!!!

For one, I will not ask more than once to get something done.  After that, they will suffer the consequences.  I sat them down last night and explained my expectations and consequences to them.  Let's hope they were listening.  If not, it could be some miserable last days for the Kirkland Kids.  It would totally stink to spend the rest of the summer in their rooms contemplating their behaviors.

But I knew my heart needed softening too...In the mean time, I found this 30 day Mom Challenge.  Maybe this was God's way of giving me one thing to work on everyday to improve my own actions towards my children. What better day to start than TODAY...the first of the month.

I love that it says "Mom's Ultimate To-Do List."  I get to caught up in life and all that I having going, that I often forget they are my top priority, my greatest job, and biggest blessing.

I made a copy to hang on my fridge to remind me my big job... 24/7, 365 days a year.

Hopefully, I will blog about my experiences as I work through this challenge.  If this is something you would like to join me in, please leave us comment and we can keep each other accountable.

You are a super mom!!!

so cool...well if you're a teacher

While searching teacher blogs last night for a good writing lesson plan template, I came across this cool website called Tagxedo.  Wonder where that name came from?  I don't even know how to pronounce that. For my students that are familiar with Wordle, this is just a way cooler version of it.  (Yes, way cooler is a word in Jr. High!)  Go try it out and let me know what you think.  If you are teacher...there are a million ways to use it in the classroom.  Tell me one way you think you might use it in your classroom.

I'll start....I think I could use it in my spelling center to practice the weeks spelling words.

Oh yeah...and have fun!!

my new love

This week I discovered a new addiction love thanks to Darby!!! (My family is so grateful to you!)  It's crazy.  I don't even know why I love it so much, but I do.  I have spent hours and hours playing, and looking, and searching, and drooling, and wishing I was creative and rich so I could do, do, do!!

Ok, ok...I have kept you waiting long enough.  It's this new (at least to me) website that is an online bulletin board.  There is EVERYTHING!!  I originally thought is was so cool for my classroom, but the possibilities are endless.



You have just gotta visit.  If you have an i-phone, they have an app for that (imagine that, right!)

If you like it and want to see what I have "pinned" here is a link to my bulletin board.
http://pinterest.com/amykirkland/pins/

So cool!!  I absolutely love it!!!

Happy pinning!!!

i do

My dearest Robby...

I am so blessed to have married you sixteen years ago today.  As I met you at the end of the aisle, I was head over heels in love.  Although I was in love you from the beginning, today our love has grown to be so much more than I ever dreamed.  I am so blessed and honored to be your wife.

You are so kind and generous.  I love your heart!!  And I love your eyes and your smile!!
You balance me in so many ways.

Even though our life is often a circus wild & crazy, I am so thankful for the three little monkeys we have together.  Being their mother beings me the greatest joys in life.

Our babies are so absolutely beautiful!!

You have given me a life that is far greater than any princess could imagine.  Thank you for working so hard to provide a great life for the kids and I.  Once again, we are so blessed!!

In so many crazy words...this is how I feel about you my love.

Thank you for making ME the happiest woman in the world. 

with all of my heart.

Happy Anniversary

I said I DO 16 years ago, and I DO today and always.

I am so excited for the next 16 years and all the years to come.

I look forward to sharing our dreams and growing old together.

I know through the love that has grown between us over these past years,

we can weather any storm.

I love you!!

85 years

Only about a month ago, I sure didn't think my precious grandmother would be celebrating her 85th birthday with a celebration at our house.  What a double blessing to have her this past weekend.  About a month ago, she became seriously ill and doctors weren't quit sure what to diagnose her with.  Honestly, I am not sure they still know, but they said encephalitis.  What I do know is she was a very sick little lady.

Praise Jesus, she has made a great recovery and was able to come to our home to celebrate her birthday with a cookout and birthday cake.  Even at 85 years old, a birthday wouldn't be a birthday without cake and ice cream.  She deserves it!

A few of her great-grands enjoyed crowding around to help her "blow" our her candles.  (No, we didn't put 85 candles on the cake!) I think she had a pretty good time celebrating with them as well.

What a pleasure to be able to celebrate my precious Grandmiere...I love you!!!

summer week 1

It's been a week.  Thankfully it has been summertime and work was one thing I didn't have to worry about this week.  To start our summer, we have had round 2 of Fifths Disease, 2 sessions of basketball camp, 2 rounds of the stomach bug, more than two trips back and forth to basketball camp, football camp, 2 rounds of company staying at our house (one of which I was a horrible hostess because I had the stomach bug) and a birthday party.  Whew!!!  That is definitely a week full.  Thank goodness it is vacation time because I am not sure I could have handled one more thing this week.  We should all be healthy now, camps are almost over, so....LET THE SUMMER BEGIN!!!!

summer top 10

It's here...summertime.  I absolutely love summer.  Not because it means I don't have to get up and go to work, but because I don't have to go to work.  I know that makes absolutely no sense, but it just seems as if life slows down for a brief amount of time.  I love every moment of it.

10.  I love that my yard is usually full of kids playing in the water or doing something fun.  This is one of the greatest things of living in a small town...the kids can go play pretty much anywhere on our side of town and I don't really worry about where they are, who they are with, or what they are doing.

9. I love spending afternoons at the pool.  It makes for a very tired momma and babes, but the time is so worth it.  For as long as I can remember, my two older babes were little fish.  They always loved being in the water.  And could play in for hours on end.  Cydney hasn't taken to water as quickly as the older two, but after today at the pool I have high hopes we will get there.

8.  I love feeling like I have accomplished something during a day.  My house is usually not always clean, but the kids and I do get chores accomplished and it feels good.

7.  Coffee in the old blue rocking chair.  I am sure I have posted before how I love having coffee in our blue recliner.  Robby and I bought it when we first married...16 years ago.  It has rocked all my babies and provided many a good nap for all members of the family.  I love climbing in it first thing of a morning and rocking while enjoying a cup of coffee.

6. Sleeping In.  I am a huge fan of sleeping in (and then moving to the rocking chair).  Thankfully my kids are sleepers too and we do enjoy late mornings through the summer.  Sleeping in actually makes me feel really lazy!!!

5. House cleaning and organizing.  No, I don't love the actual process of cleaning my house, but the end product when it all looks nice, neat, and freshly organized is such a wonderful feeling.  It makes me feel like I have really accomplished something!!

4.  Cookouts & hanging out on our patio.  I love, love, love sitting on our back porch of an evening and watching the kids play in the yard.  We have a huge yard that is great for water games, football games, or just about whatever games the kids want to play.  The evenings have been so windy lately (and don't look promising in the next week), but I still love back porch time.

3.  Staying up late.  My true ME is a night owl.  If I could choose, I would stay up late and sleep in, but that rarely happens because of work.  In the summer, I do enjoy staying up late of an evening.  It is one of the few quiet moments in my day.  Robby and the kids are sleeping while I get a few things accomplished...catch up here on my blog, read a book, watch Grey's Anatomy from many weeks past, or just whatever I choose.

2. Vacation time...As much as I love being home (because we really aren't home all that much during the school year), I do love traveling and going on vacations with my family.  It's always a fun time for our family to spend time together.  This summer we will be traveling to Disney World in Orlando, then on to Marco Island for Florida Cattleman's Convention.  Calleigh, Cydney and I will go straight to Hampton, VA for the AAU National Tourney while the boys fly home.  They we will all meet back at a family reunion.  All in all...the us girls will spend 18 nights away from home IN A ROW!!!  I have never been gone this long in my life. It scares me a little!!

The number one thing I love about summer is just being able to hang out with my kids.  Things are more relaxed and we can just chill and have fun!!!

Hope your summer is amazing!!!  Be blessed..

we did it

It's almost been a week, but we survived our first half marathon.  Yes, my thighs were screaming at me Monday morning and I have been totally exhausted this week, but the experience was so incredibly worth it.  I can hardly wait to do it again!!!  (Yes, I did say before we ran that I would probably never do this again because the training was so time intensive. I was wrong!!)

We woke up Sunday morning to cold temperatures and drizzling rain.  My "I don't want to run in this" attitude kicked in immediately.  I couldn't imagine being wet and cold for 13.1 miles.  Anyone that knows me knows that I am cold all the time and I hate it!!!  I won't lie...I was praying for some lightening so they would call this race off.

But, they didn't!!!

I sat in the car for awhile having a pity party before finally deciding we would walk to the starting line and see what the plan was.  As we approached the coral for the runners, the announcer gave the signal for the wheelchair marathoners to start.  I suddenly realized that if they could do this marathon in a wheelchair, surely I could do half in the rain!!!  Into the coral we go heading for the start line.

I really was pretty excited by this time.  Part of me couldn't believe we were really doing this, but we had worked so hard to get here, I wanted to see how we finished.

Not more than a mile into the race, the OKC firemen, dressed in their full fire gear, were running.  And then a young lady ran past us with a picture of her mom and dad attached to the back of her shirt.  Oh my, this is when it really hit me what this race was all about.  Yes, I knew we were running to remember the OKC bombing, but I just didn't get the impact of it all until I saw all of these reminders.  They truly were running to remember the ones they loved and lost.

The rain was relentless, but we ran on, wet clothes and soaked shoes.  I can honestly say that God spared us from being cold and miserable for the 13 miles.  Thank you Lord!!!

Robby and I crossed the finish line in 2:50:23.  No, we didn't break any half-marathon records, but we did it.  We set out to run this race together, and that is exactly what we did.  We started training hand in hand, and that is exactly how we crossed the finish line.

What an experience.  Definitely one I will choose to do again.

Be blessed,

this is it

I am not sure if I am dreading this week, or looking forward to this week.  This is the week we run the Oklahoma City Memorial (Half) Marathon.  In a crazy sort of weird way, I am excited about running the half-marathon.  I (We) set out to accomplish a goal of running a half-marathon and get in shape.  That part, we have accomplished!!!  We both definitely feel better, we have lost a few inches, and maybe even a pound or two.

Of course, my competitive self would like to finish the race in a respectable fashion.  Preferably not the last one!!!  I know I won't be the first, but hopefully somewhere in between.  I would like to finish in about 2:30 hours.  Not sure if that is a reasonable expectation for our first race.  We are going to give it our best shot, and cross that finish line with pride alive!!

Ready or not, here we come!!!

Somoma-day 1

As we travelled through Sonoma on this cool, rainy day, I was continually amazed at the beauty of our surroundings. Everything from beautiful flowers...EVERYWHERE...to the perfectly constructed grape vines in the vineyards. It is quit a change of scenery from the dry, dusty Texas Panhandle.

Just wanted to share a few photos of our day in Sonoma. I will post more through the week.




I love this view from our balcony.




There are lemon and lime trees everywhere we turn. It is so tempting to just pick one. Just because!!!






This old building was built in the late 1800's. During prohibition, it was used by the members of organized crime to make wine and smuggle out of the county.



These old, twisted vines are so intriguing. In the past week, they have just begun to bud.






Be blessed~amyk

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

already miss 'em

Robby and I had an amazing travel opportunity this week to go to Sonoma, California.  Three days of wine tasting, business friends, and lots fun...how could we say no.  We didn't!!!  Sunday morning, we hopped on a plane for wine country.

As we were driving to the airport, we realized how much harder it gets to leave the kids.  Whether it is their activities, chores, saying good-bye, or just simply missing them like crazy.  It just gets harder!!!

On a day-to-day basis, we pretty much pour ourselves into kids.  There are times Robby and I will stop for a moment and realize that we haven't taken a moment to just sit with each other and just talk. So, for three days...we will talk, we will laugh, and we will just enjoy each other.

As hard as it is to leave, Robby and I need the time together.

This morning, I already miss these three cuties, but for the moment I am looking forward to my time with Robby.

a little reminder

Just laying around as a subtle reminder of the jobs that didn't get finished during Spring Break.  Reminding me, I should must go through their drawers.  I keep telling myself I am not buying a thing for summer until we have gone through and cleaned out old clothes.  But, I don't want to!!  My kids hate it!!  It would be such a relief to get this reminder off my kitchen counter.  Oh no, then I will never get it done.  On the counter-top it must stay until the job is done.

oh geez!!

I got this email tonight.

It was a concrete reminder of our "bucket list" half-marathon that will be taking place in a few weeks, three in fact!!  As the runs get longer and the time gets shorter, I often find myself asking...
    
     What was I thinking?

I have never previously been a runner, not really in any shape for that matter.

     What was I thinking?

Why not a 5K, or something shorter.  13.1 miles???

     What was I thinking?

We have trained for 15 weeks now.  Pretty faithfully, in fact.  I am in much better shape.  I feel great...most of the time.  We are running with friends. But...

     What was I thinking?

Oh geez!!

Then I remember, we have paid our money and worked really hard...there is no turning back now.

WE CAN DO THIS!!!!

if you really knew me

If you really knew me...

...you would know that I struggle with trying to be someone that I really am not.  I want my house to be clean all the time.  Realistically, we are a family of 5 that live in most every corner of our home.  I have to remind myself there will be a day when I wish there was a shoe in the middle of the living room floor, or breakfast left on the island.  I wish my closet were full of clothes that show perfect cuteness.  Realistically, I love wearing t-shirts and jeans, and I can't afford to dress the way I would desire, but am thankfully for my husband that keeps our budget on track (as best he can).  I hate it when he quotes Dave Ramsey "If you live like no one else, later you can live like no one else." Problem is, I am not a very good listener.

...you know my expectations for myself and others are extremely high and often unrealistic.  These unrealistic expectations cause tension when things don't measure up quit like I expect them to. They cause me to become frustrated and angry.  I say things I have to apologize for later, or I just don't say them and pout!!  (Wonder where my kids get it from?)

...you would know I have a passion for seeing my students be successful, but often get bogged down and stressed out with all the things that teaching involves.

...you probably know that I think my husband is the greatest thing in all of the world.  He would not give up on me when we were dating even though I tried on numerous occasions to push him away.  He loves me unconditionally, and he tells me!!!  He is the best part of my day.  He can cure any heartache or stressful day.  He is AMAZING!!!

If you really knew me...

...you know I can't say NO!!  Sometimes I hate it because I do things half-heartedly and wonder why I signed up for this.

...you know that one of my greatest fears in life is losing one of my children.  My kids make my world go 'round.  I hope they know it even in the moments I don't show it.

...you realize that patience is not a virtue that I was blessed with.  I become cranky and irritable when life gets off my timetable and plans don't fall as I had planned they would.

...you might know that one of my greatest desires is to be so efficiently organized.  I would have all of our things in a clearly labeled box, stacked neatly in its perfect home.  There would be no question for my children or husband to know where it is or where it goes.  Then I think of the enormous cost of all of the boxes, and my plan falls apart quickly.  (If you saw the looks of my desk this very moment, you would not think there was an organized bone in my body.)

If you really knew me...
...you would know that I am forever grateful for this life that I have.  I am incredibly thankful to be a chosen daughter of the King.  I wouldn't change a thing about this life (well, maybe 1 or 2 things!)

Be blessed!!                                    

little faith

I have to admit I love that Cydney is a girly girl.

On a regular basis, she loves wearing necklaces and bracelets, rings, flip flops, dresses and lots and lots of lip gloss.  I don't really remember Calleigh being too much of a girly girl, so I love it.  She looks so cute!!!  {I would think she is cute even if she wasn't this girly girl!}

Her girly girl cuteness came to screeching halt this past week.  I came home from Calleigh's basketball practice and found Cydney wearing my wedding ring.  She was playing "married" with one of her cousins while I was gone.  To be an official "married" couple I guess she thought she needed my wedding ring.  Luckily, I found saw it pretty quickly.

When I put my jewelry on Friday morning, my 15th anniversary band was missing.  I knew exactly where it had to have gone.  As I tore through my jewelry drawer, it was no where to be found.  She and her dad stayed home for several hours, but no luck.  We looked after school...practically tearing this house apart.  Still no luck!!

As I sat at my school desk Friday morning, I felt like we were looking for a needle in a haystack.  Cydney and Brock had been in every room in our house, in the back yard and even playing with the calves.  I prayed that the ring would appear as a boulder.  So obvious that we couldn't possibly overlook seeing it.

As we were looking throughout the day on Friday, my hopes for finding the ring became smaller and smaller.  {I hate to admit that I failed to trust God for finding my ring.}

Calleigh, Cydney and I went on to Lubbock for a basketball tourney.  The boys stayed home...still looking for the ring.  Robby wouldn't give up!!!  Carson called several hours later and said they found the ring.  He has been known to be a tricker, so I wasn't sure I could believe him.  Sure enough...Robby found the ring....laying on the carpet in front of the couch Robby and I both looked through the couch on different occasions.  We walked through the living room probably a hundred times.  {In front of the couch, as if it were a boulder where we couldn't miss it.} 

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and hearing my prayer.  Thank you for not forgetting about me when I seemed to lose my faith.

Be blessed!!

time change

I have never been a huge fan of time change, but I certainly like "falling back" rather than "springing forward." Some how we manage to adjust through the week.  However, this time change has wrecked havoc on our schedule.  We visited at friends house on Saturday night and crawled in bed much too late, especially with losing an hour.  We sleepily crawled out of bed Sunday morning for church, and we were super excited for nap time after lunch.  We couldn't crawl in our napping spot quickly enough....except for the kids who gave the proverbial "I am not tired!" excuse.

Two and half or three hour later, we all managed to pry our eyelids open and crawl out of bed.  Of course...the rest of the day was running behind.  Playtime went on for hours and hours before we finally managed to eat dinner at 9:30.  YES!!  That is crazy late!!!!  About 1:00 (in the morning), my eyelids were wide open.  I knew I was in trouble.

Thankfully the kids slept in this morning, but now the kids and I are on a completely different schedule than poor Robby who isn't able to have Spring Break.  This is one of the very reasons that Robby dislikes summer and school breaks are not Robby's favorite....we sleep in and stay up late.  He gets up early...very early and needs to go to bed early.  Except for when we don't!!

I have to say that I am so thankful that "spring forward" fell during Spring Break.  I think it should happen this way EVERY YEAR!!!  This sure makes it so much easier to catch that hour back.