Youth Ministry Vision Statement

Well, it finally happened. My hubby has been offered a Student Pastor position with a local body of believers and we will be planting a church. If you would've told me a few years back that this would be happening I would've probably died laughing (not really). I am just amazed at how awesome our God is! Anyway, I wanted to share our vision statement and see what you all thought. Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Timothy Bush

Wife: Brandy Bush
Married: October 10, 1998
Children: Alexander (Alex) - 8 years old; has autism
Alayna Grace - 3 years old
Hobbies & Interests: Traveling, reading, playing video games, music ( Skillet, Jars of Clay, 12 Stones, Mercy Me, etc.), and most of all spending time with my family.

As the Student Pastor I believe that every journey begins with the first step! I am committed to helping young people achieve their full potential, find meaning and purpose in life, and to know the unconditional love of God through teaching, praying, sharing and giving. I believe that young people belong in the life of our church and community and should be respected and encouraged no matter where they are when they take that first step.

An award, for me? Wow!

I got an award from Bobbi at Mixed Blessings. I've really enjoyed reading her blog and wish I could give the reward to her in return. :)




Here are the "rules":

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link to the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs you’ve nominated.

So, here goes the 7 blogs that I enjoy reading:

1. Betsy at MY FIVE MEN. I really enjoy visiting her blog and reading about her boys. She's also got some great recipes and food pictures. :)
2. Melinda at Dear Noah. I love the idea of her blog. I wish I were better at writing so I could do the same for Alex. Her blog touches me deeply because it is the truth spoken from a mother's heart.
3. Kristin at Kristin's blog. I love visiting and seeing all the pictures of her adorable little ones.
4. Shay at Uniquelyyoursbyshay's Weblog because she is a friend and a VERY talented artist. Check out her artwork!
5. Kerry at Colored with Memories. I really enjoy looking at the pictures of her girls and reading about the cute things they do. Also, her daughter and I share a birthday. :)
6. Bee at Dare to bee creative. She has some of the best ideas I have seen. Very creative!
7. Suzanne at Just a bunch of nothin' has a WONDERFUL way with words. When I read her post about mental retardation I instantly felt a connection because so many of her words could've come out of my mind. I just can't say them as beautifully as she can. She also takes some GREAT pictures of children.

Well, it took me awhile to do this because I really wanted to research the blogs I have saved over the past 6 months to find just the right ones. Please check them out and I hope you enjoy visiting them as much as I do. :)

"Welcome to my Class" goodie bag idea

My son's teacher gave all of her students a "Welcome to her class goodie bag". I thought it was the cutest thing, so I thought I'd share. Here's what was in it:

WELCOME

Welcome to my 2nd grade class!
I am so glad you are here.
I have made you a bag of goodies
to help describe our year.
The eraser is to let you know
it is okay to make mistakes.
We will correct them and learn from them
no matter what it takes!
The "Smarties" say I know you are smart
and really special too.
The "Lifesavers" are to remind you
that I am here for you.
The pencil represents the learning
that we will do.
2nd grade can be very hard,
but it is a lot of fun too!
The "Snickers" says we will laugh a lot
while traveling through grade 2.
The penny is to let you know
how valuable you are, too!

Back to work I go!

Well, today is my last day of being cooped up in my house all day with my two little angels. :) Yes, I am happy about it. I am so ready to get back on a schedule. I know I probably won't feel this way when I have to start getting up at 5:30 every morning though.

I've had a pretty good summer besides being sick with bronchitis for most of it. I didn't really get to do a lot of things I would've liked to do with the kids due to my illness and lack of funds but I really enjoyed being home with them. I did get my home more organized and less cluttered. That is very hard to do when you are home all day with 2 kids. Staying home is a lot of work! We also had a GREAT week at the beach! (note to self: I still need to get the pictures off my camera and blog about our trip). :)

I hope everyone else has had/is having a great summer! Let's go back to school now! :)

Enlightened perspective

If you will take the time to read these I promise you'll come away with an enlightened perspective. The subjects covered affect us all on a daily basis:

They're written by Andy Rooney, a man who has the gift of saying so much with so few words. Enjoy.......

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.


I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned.... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned.... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom/Dad that I love her/him one more time before she passed away.

I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned.... That when your newly born child/grandchild holds your little finger in his/her little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

We're back!

We are back from our beach trip! We left on Monday and were supposed to return on Friday. We got there and as the week went on we decided to stay until Sunday. We had a blast. We were back home by 5:30 last night. I am now home and trying to catch up on laundry and such. Tim started back to work this morning. I know he hated getting up at 4:00 am after having no time restrictions for a week. Well, school will be starting back in 3 weeks, so I better enjoy my time at home while it lasts. :) I hope to be catching up on some blogging over the next few days too. Looking forward to checking in with everyone! Have a great day!

I did it!! Woohoo!!

I took my bus test and I passed it!! You have no idea how many hours I studied the parts of a school bus. :) I am so glad it's over. Now I can look forward to my vacation next week knowing that I have a job to come back to.

Please excuse the mess!

I am currently trying to give my blog a facelift. Since I am fairly new at all of this it may take awhile. Please excuse the mess while I figure everything out. :)

School bus test

I haven't been around much the past few days because I have been studying for a test tomorrow. I have to drive a school bus in order to be an aide in our school system and tomorrow is my test to get my CDL. I am really nervous because if I do not pass I do not have a job. I am trying to be optimistic but I'm not very good at it. I know I have God on my side and His will is what matters. I just wish I wasn't so nervous. My test is at 8:00 tomorrow morning. Please pray that everything goes well. Thanks!

The Simple Woman's Day Book - My First Entry

For Today:

Okay, I know it's not Monday but I just couldn't wait to try this. :)

Outside My Window...Cars flying down the highway.
I am thinking...about VBS tonight, School bus driving test on Tuesday morning, my trip to the grocery store later today.
I am thankful for...My family, air conditioning, a job where I get the summer off to spend with my kiddos.
From the kitchen...Clean dishes and table (dinner at church tonight). :)
I am wearing...I'm embarassed to admit this.... My pajamas. :)
I am creating...Lots of scrapbook page ideas in my head. Hopefully soon I'll be able to get them on paper and in albums. :)
I am going...to church tonight and Wal-Mart later today for groceries. I'm even out of trash bags!
I am reading...A Woman of Moderation
I am hoping...that I will continue to do this weekly to get myself posting more on my blog and meeting more people.
I am hearing...Caillou on the TV.
Around the house...Alex & my nephew, McNeal are playing the Wii in the living room, Alayna is trying to fall asleep in my bed and I am playing on the internet while I wait for Alayna to fall asleep. She's gotten really clingy lately.
One of my favorite things...Pictures
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...Study, study, study for my test on Tuesday!
Here is a picture thought I am sharing...




To read more Daybook entries, please visit The Simple Woman for the list of participants this week. Have a great weekend!

Traveling solo tonight

I will be leaving in a few hours to drive to the Atlanta airport to pick up my mother and step-father. They have been visiting family in California for the last two weeks and my step-father forgot to book a rental car for the drive home. :) I am kind of looking forward to some quiet time to myself. I don't really like driving long distances by myself but I'm going to use this 3 hour trip (approximately) to spend some alone time with God. I may or may not be on tomorrow. It will depend on how exhausted I am after 6+ hours of driving. Have a blessed evening!

Beach vacation

I'm just sitting here thinking that two weeks from today I will be here....




Anyone else taking a vacation soon? If so, where? Beach, mountains, etc.

A Day at the Park

I just thought I'd share some pictures of our day at the park this week. Enjoy!



Alayna enjoying the swing!



Alex getting ready to slide.




My nephew, McNeal, doing something I never could do! :)

Clutter

It has finally happened! We have outgrown our house and have been taken over by clutter!

I have been out of work for the summer for 3 weeks now and still haven't gotten the clutter under control. I have come a long way by doing a little each day but still have lots to do. My to-do list is getting longer and longer! :)

Some of the things I have done so far:

1. Cleaned the refrigerator off (magnets, school work, pictures, etc.)
2. Cleaned out freezer.
3. Cleaned out the kids toyboxes.
4. Cleaned out my "to be filed" pile.
5. Organized DVD's in entertainment center.
6. Straightened up and went through books on bookshelf. I got rid of the books the kids had outgrown.
7. Scrubbed the bathroom baseboards, floors, walls, doors, tub, sink, toilet, etc.
8. Cleaned laundry room.
9. Gone through mail over the trashcan daily.

There may be more but I can't think of anything else right now.

Anyone want to share their secrets to overcoming clutter? :)

Video games & autism

Alex's favorite pastime is video games. It's not a certain system or certain game. He will play anything and everything as long as it's a type of video game. Actually he likes board games too. I am not a parent that likes my child to spend a lot of time playing video games but it truly makes him happy. I will admit that he plays more than I really like him to because I am having a hard time finding ways to keep him entertained and happy at the same time. I would love it if somebody would give me some fun ideas for me and the kids to try this summer. I am keeping my 10 year old nephew, my son who's 8 (has autism) and my daughter who is 3. The boys are playing video games together and entertaining each other, which is an accomplishment for Alex to play with others. He prefers to play by himself most of the time. I am entertaining my daughter most of the time. Thanks for any ideas!

Autism evaluation

We finally got an autism evaluation last week for Alex with the Carolina Autism Resource & Evaluation Center. We have tried to get this evaluation before but couldn't get our schedules to work out.

A little background:

Alex was diagnosed with ADHD in Dec. 2004, Asperger's Syndrome in Jan. 2006 and LD in May 2006. I have known something was "different" with Alex since about 3 months before his 3rd birthday but never thought it could be Asperger's. I have done LOTS of research and just didn't feel this diagnosis (that we received from 2 different doctors) was accurate. I finally found out who to contact and was referred by the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs to the CARE Center.

The evaluation team consisted of 3 very knowledgeable and caring professionals. They were wonderful with Alex. We all felt very comfortable there. When we left with the diagnosis of Autism I had mixed emotions. I was sad because nobody wants to hear that their child has a disability. I was relieved because we finally had some answers and I knew my motherly instincts were correct.

Anyway, all of this to say that we are now on the next leg of our journey with autism. We are now in search of a new developmental pediatrician (didn't care for the one we went to before). Thanks for reading about our journey. :)

Bronchitis, bronchitis, bronchitis!

I am REALLY starting to dislike that word. I have been sick for 2 weeks now and am getting exhausted. School was out here on the 5th of June. I came home that afternoon with a fever of 101.8 and it progressed over the next few days and got as high as 103.7! I cannot remember the last time I had a fever that high! The fever has been gone a little over a week now but the cough is still hanging on. I have coughed so much I feel like I need to go back to diapers! :) Anyway, enough with my complaining. I'm hoping that maybe since I got my thoughts written down maybe the cough will decide to finally leave me with a little help from my new best friend, Mucinex DM. ;) This stuff really works but I think I'm going to have to get a second bottle at the rate I'm going. Praying that nobody else is having to spend their summer dealing with bronchitis!

Wonder Pets

My daughter and I have discovered a cute show on NICK JR, the Wonder Pets ! This is a cute show where classroom pets become superheroes after school is out for the day. They teach little ones how to work together while saving animals in trouble. Teamwork! And the animals are as cute as they can be. I personally like Ming-Ming and my daughter likes Tuck. Check it out with your little ones and see how they like it. Also, if you'd like to win a copy of Wonder Pets : Save the Nursery Rhyme then check out the giveaway at Seven Dogs and a Baby. Good luck and I hope you enjoy the Wonder Pets as much as we did! :)

Encouragement

I received this in an email from a friend and really liked some of the points made. :)

This should probably be taped to your bathroom mirror where one could read it every day. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.


1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.


2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.


3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.


4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.


5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.


6. You mean the world to someone.


7. You are special and unique.


8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.


9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.


10. When you think the world has turned its back on you take another look.


11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.


Good friends are like stars.
You don't always see them,
But you know they are always there.


Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another


Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Life keeps You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going!

Flip Flops

Just something fun because my daughter's newest addiction is flip flops! :) The funny thing is that this sounds a lot like me!

What Your Flip Flops Say About You

You are a very sweet and sensitive person. You connect with other people easily. You're the type of person who feels bad about killing bugs. You hate to see anyone - or anything - in pain. Your ideal warm weather place: Thailand

The Flip Flop Test