Not a fail...

So, this blog was a valiant effort if you ask me. I am a little disappointed that I didn't keep it going. It amazes me how much LIFE can take over.

2011 in summary:

read my Bible more
started working on my Masters degree
got a cat
Linus turned 2
road tripped to CA and back (2.5 weeks)
had a student teacher
started my 10th year of teaching
found a new church home
took my mom to her first midnight premier movie
met lots of new people
spent quality time with my BFF and her family
met my new "nephew" Reese

To those of you who checked in often, sorry that I didn't keep this going. I am going to close this blog soon. You can still follow me here.

coming soon....

The past few months have been a real struggle for me.....trying to keep up with everything just got a bit overwhelming. Sometimes I get a bit OVER-zealous and try to do way too much. I am hoping to get back into a regular routine. For those of you that keep me accountable and ask about my blog, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! With school starting, I should get back into a regular routine. I'll do some "catch up" posts then get back to my regular daily schedule.

Much love, Dina

Please advise

So, I got behind on my blog (in case you haven't noticed). I've still been reading and taking pictures. However catching up the blog is exhausting to think about!

For those of you that read this, need some advice. Should I catch it up? Should I just pick up with the current day? Should I do one large post of all the days that I have missed?

Let me know because I have no idea what I should do.


Thanks,
Dina

Day 96

PICTURE: Linus and Grandma Jean playing tug. This is my 84-year-old grandma after Linus gave a HUGE tug on his rope. He had been playing so nice and gentle. All of a sudden he gave a pull and gma had to let go. This picture makes me laugh every time I look at it!


READING: 2 Samuel 20-22. 21:17 "But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, 'Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.'” Why is David referred to as the lamp of Israel?

2 Sam 22 - What an amazing song! I love how David gives ALL the victorious glory to God, praising HIM for the success of the Israelites.

Day 95

PICTURE: The Creek. This creek/stream/river is about a 5 minute walk from my grandparent's house. Linus and I went down there every day to walk and play. It is sooooo peaceful and beautiful.



READING: 2 Samuel 17-19. 2 Sam 17 - Absolom is advised not to go up against David (history would tell him that this is not a good idea). He didn't like that so Absolom found counsel with another. IDIOT!

Then Absolom gets killed.

David is an amazing king. The people really seem to admire him. Sure he has his faults, but he really is a man seeking God's heart.

Day 94

PICTURE: Linus and Grandpa Dean. We made it to Arkansas! Linus got to meet 2 of my most favorite people. He was so happy, he is even smiling for the picture. I had to take it without gpa knowing or he would have made silly face. :)



READING: 2 Samuel 14-16. 2 Sam 14:32b-33 "[Absolom says,] I want to see the king's face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death. So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absolom, and he came in and bowed down with his face tot he ground before the king. And the king kissed Absolom." Forgiven....

Then Absolom plots against David! UGH!

Day 93

PICTURE: Linus's first motel visit. We are on our way to Arkansas to see my grandparents. Linus wasn't too sure about this whole motel thing. He eventually ate and then fell asleep on one of the beds. (Motel 6 is a pet-friendly place to stay if you ever travel with your pets.)



READING: 2 Samuel 12-13. 12:7-10 "Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’" I can't help but wonder how David really reacted. Vs 5 says "David burned with anger..." and then he finds out that Nathan is speaking of David. God has bared David's sin to Nathan....AHHHHH!

2 Sam 13 - Seduction, rape, murder...things don't seem to have changed too much since then. When will we learn from our ancestors' mistakes?

Day 92

PICTURE: Saturday evening naptime. Linus LOVES to curl up on the couch. Then Charlie will squirm his way in close and cuddly. Charlie's head is completely smashed between Linus's paw and the couch, but he totally doesn't care!


READING: 2 Samuel 8-11. 2 Sam 9 - Why did David want to suddenly show kindness to the house of Saul? What a life for Mephibosheth to have! I"m sure he thought he was going to be an outcast for life because he was crippled. maybe this is David's way of preparing Jonathan (Mephibosheth's father) for all Jonathan did for David.

2 Sam 11 - Holy Smokes! David is gonna be in HUGE trouble. Not only did he commit adultery, but then committed murder to try to cover what he did.

Day 91

PICTURE: Limbo Contest/Beach Party! Every year, on the Friday before Spring Break, we have Beach Day at school. It is something our principal started 6 years ago when he came to SES. The day is capped off with a school-wide Limbo contest. Classroom winners are decided during music class. They then compete for the Title in front of the whole school. These are my kiddos with their signs in support of our class winner, Tiffany!



READING: 2 Samuel 4-7. 5:4-5 David rules over Judah, Israel, both....anyone know the dates, as to figure out the chronology?

5:10 "And he [David] became more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him."

6:22 This is one of the pictures of David that brings me joy. "I will become even more undignified than this..." David dances before the LORD with wreckless abandon and he doesn't care what people think.

I am learning from David. I have to TRUST God! I'm going to look like a fool to the world, because the world doesn't know God. But, I DO know God and I need to trust him in all I do and worship HIM!

Day 90

PICTURE: nothing :(

READING: 2 Samuel 1-3. 1:26 "I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother, you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women." What a glimpse of the heart of David.

Battle between the house of Saul and the house of David. Amazes me that, even after Saul's death, the war continues.