Last Post ~

To my faithful followers ~ this will be my last blog post to this site.  You have visited, and I have not given you anything.  My blogs are few and far between.  I’m going through transition in several areas of my life right now.  Maybe I just need a break from lots of things.  Time to breathe and figure out what’s next for me.  REALLY figure out where God is leading me, because right now, I’m unsure. 

Thanks to all have been with me from the beginning..!  I do so appreciate your love and support..!

Peace Out (as Kyle would say…)…!

Tuesday Thoughts ~~

Some random ramblings for a rainy Tuesday…….

• Only 25 days of school left ~ this year has flown by. 
• This Wednesday will be our last PTA meeting for the school year.  It will be bittersweet for many of us who will be serving this board for the last time ~ as most of our children are moving onto middle school.
• My weight loss journey is continuing on a slow, but steady, pace.  I am currently 20 lbs. lighter..!
• Enjoying a new women’s bible study – we are studying the “Ester” study by Beth Moore.
• Looking forward to see Kenny Chesney for our 5th straight year on May 21, in Greenville, SC. Sad he’s not coming to Charlotte this year.
• Work has been busy and stressful the past few weeks, but things seem to be settling down, with the new boss settling in.
• Looking forward to spending some more time at the cabin over the next few months, especially since we’ve got the boat back in the water, and we can tube & fish. 
• Starting to plan Vacation Bible School for our Preschool and K-5 kids @ Rocky River Church.  It’s alot of work planning, but I know its going to be a GREAT week.
• Looking forward to “Girls Night Out” tonite ~ It’s been a while…..!
• I love the rain, especially the days when it just seems to rain all day long.  It just really makes me realize I need to slow down.  That’s what a rainy day does for me.
• One of Kyle’s bff’s Grandpa passed away this week.  He’s very concerned.  I love his compassion.  He is too young to have such a broad understanding of deep grief. He asked this morning if we could go to the store after school and get a sympathy card.
• I’m an organized planner & list maker…!  Why is it that I can’t plan a weeks’ worth of grocery shopping?  My goal (especially after finishing our Dave Ramsey Bible Study on money), is to plan better, use coupons and not go to the grocery every day or 2.  Once a WEEK – it can’t be that hard??
• Mother’s Day is this Sunday ~ I have not enjoyed Mother’s Day for 11 years now – since my Mom passed away - a month after Mother’s Day.  I still look at that picture of her standing on her boat holding the flowers we sent her for Mother’s Day – Happy, fairly healthy, cancer in remission (so we thought) ~ a month later, she was gone.
• Please pray for my niece, Katie, who will go through her first Mother’s Day without her beloved Mom this year.  I remember how much those “firsts” really stink…!
• Families are complicated, frustrating and sometimes unreliable, but we can’t choose them, and we can’t trade them in, so we must learn to love them unconditionally, and appreciate them.

Have a blessed week.

Psalm 147:7-8:  Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.  He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.

Faithfulness ~~

I wanted to share a Caring Bridge website for a 4-year-old little boy from Mooresville, NC, who was critically injured last month in a lawn mower accident.  The testimony from his parents is just incredible and inspiring.   Check out their website, read the “journal” and make sure you have plenty of tissues.  But most of all ~ pray for healing for little Preston — he has already touched thousands of lives, and God has a bigger plan for him..! 

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/prestonloyd

Thought for Today ~

God shines His love on us not so we can catch it and keep it for ourselves but so, like mirrors in the sun, we can reflect His love on others.

20 Years ~

Today Lonnie and I celebrate 20 years together.  Lonnie has a blog post today which I can’t top, so check it out here:  http://lonniebateman.blogspot.com/

Happy Anniversary, Lonnie.  I love you more than ever.

Wedding Day - 4/15/89

Us in Charleston in March '09

This and That ~~

I’m sorry to my faithful followers for not posting in a while.  One of these days, I will learn how to say “NO”.  Anywho, I’ve just been really busy with all sorts of stuff ~ mostly work (my real job), not the 100 other things I do ‘on the side’…! But, I have some things to unload…..

• Planning VBS for Rocky River Church is in the works.  Mark your calendars for June 22-25.  Thankful and grateful to a special friend for lots of insight on planning the event.
• Last quarter for Kyle @ H’burg Elementary.  Everything I do now is so bittersweet, and I say “this is my last ((fill in the blank))…!  I’m certainly going to miss my PTA peeps.  We have one more meeting — that will be sad.  But I’m thankful for the the friendships (which will definitely continue) that both Lonnie and I have formed.
• Kyle continues to amaze me.  I’m not just saying this b/c he is my child, but I really think that God has some great plans for this child and reaching people..!
• Oh my – big news — Lonnie and I will be married for 20 years next week (tax day – April 15th).  How AWESOME is that.  We’ve actually been together since high school (1984) so that totals 25 years. 
• Spring Break ~~ I know Kyle will be happy for a break..! We are going to spend a few days at the cabin.
• Sadness: Our dear, dear friend Shelley (some of your may know her from doing the “Angel Tree” program thru the Salvation Army), lost her husband last week.  Steve was just 42 — leaves his beloved wife and 4 great kids…!  But his memorial service today was a wonderful Celebration of his life….!  So proud of you, Shelley.  I hope you read my blog.  You amaze and inspire me…!
• Easter Egg Hunt — Donnie and 65+ volunteers pulled off a really successful Easter Egg Hunt this past Saturday @ Pitts School.  We had a great turn-out, and we even got some press.  Hope to see some families this sunday ~~ we have a great day planned for the K-5 kids…!
• Proud:  Sherry and Donnie opened Studio Impactlast week, and Sherry has been teaching Zumba classes there, along with Carol M. doing Pilates…!  This has been their dream, and God has opened lots of avenues for them to achieve their dream.  Love ya’ll – and so proud to right there with ya.
• Friends: Barbara, Tony & Madison ~ Y’all mean so much to us, but you already know that.  I am just so happy that you have decided to join us on our walk with Christ, and have been coming to Rocky River Church and Small Group.  So, so, so happy….!
• Ladies Lunch ~~ We meet on Tuesdays, and need to get MORE ladies coming..!  Not that I don’t love my time with Kristin and Bria (and Ellie every other week)…!  It’s a great time of fellowship for the girls…! (BTW – can we add Supper Come Together to the rotation).
• Cochrans ~~ Love this family, and I really feel blessed that I can hang with Maggie during Rock Group so T&J can listen to the message.  Mags is awesome.  She is one of the sweetest babies I know (besides Sydni & Bria), and I really love spending time with her.   Thank you for blessing me with her.
• P252 Girls ~  Dang – our church has an awesome group of Middle School Girls…!  I simply love them.  Stephanie and Robin do a great job in leading these girls.  And whenever K-5 needs help, these girls come through in a BIG way – even if they have to get up early to serve @ the 9:30 service…!  Girls – if you read my blog,,,,,you need to know that y’all are setting a great example for the little ones and that Jesus is shining through each of you…!
• Miss Dad Bateman & Nelia ~ we love ya’ll so much.
• Hopeful ~ my brother, Bob and niece Katie will come to spend a week with us over Summer 2009..!

With the joyful message of Easter upon us, let us simply reflect on God’s love and amazing grace for each of us, and let God’s love show through us.

Easter Egg Hunt ~~

This Saturday, April 4, Rocky River Church will hold the 9th Annual Rocky River Church Easter Egg Hunt on the campus of Pitts School Road Elementary School.  ‘Doors’ open @ 10am and hunts will be conducted by age group starting with 2 years old and under  beginning @ 10:30.  The event will conclude with a hunt for special-needs children @ 12:15 pm.  Inflatables will be available throughout the event, and the Easter Bunny will on hand – so parents don’t forget your cameras.  Everything is FREE of charge, and 35,000 will be hidden for the children to find. 

Feel free to email me if you have any questions….!

house for sale ~~

my dad’s house in Tupper Lake, NY, has been on the market for just about a year now.  With the tough economic times, there has been little interest and few prospects.  The house is almost through the legalities of being in mine and my brother’s name once the probate/estate mess is finally done….(Ughhh…what a mess all that is, but that’s another blog)…!  Our Realtor has been showing the house the bit, but no substantial interest, and one ridiculous offer. 

I’m pretty biased about loving this place, because it is where I spent my summer and winter breaks for most of my young life.  Summers on the lake ~ boating, swimming, fishing.  Christmas and winter breaks ~ skiing every day.  The Adirondack Mountains are so peaceful, serene, and somewhat isolated “from the rest of the world”…!  I wish I could keep the house in the family, but circumstances are too tough — for us — being a 2 days journey by car — and for Bob — just too tough in that he and katie shared so much with Nisey there — too much pain.

Anyway – here is the link to the Realtor’s website with info:

http://www.gillisrealty.com/property/listings/listing_detail.php?mlsid=130340

please feel free forward to anyone who might be looking for a great vacation home in the Upstate, NY (Adironack Mountains).

secret sister ~~

I attend a women’s bible study (giggles- girls in God, growing, laughing, eating, sharing).  Each semester, we draw names for our ‘Secret Sister’.   Then from time to time, we can surprise our sister with a gift.  We have a giggles table setup @ church where we can anonymously leave them.  Anyway, just wanted to say thanks to my ’sis’ this week ~ not sure if she reads my blog, or not.  But, you obviously know that I LOVE coffee.  Also loved the other gifts…!

Sunday Inspiration~~~

Great day today ~ church, kids, Rock Group ~~

I have this little inspiration calendar I flip each day. 

Today’s message was:

All you need to be  a world changer is love, because love changes everything it touches.

OK – I’m challenging you to change that verse and accept this:

All you need to be a world changer is Jesus, because Jesus changes everything He touches.