Daniel 4

Wow - In the Dare to be God's Messenger - study guide by Kay Arthur - Day 11 has your read Daniel Chapter 4. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=daniel%204&version=31

This is an incredible chapter. King Nebuchadnessar has a dream - about a strong tree, it reaches to the sky, feeds the beasts and the birds, but an angel cuts it down. The interpretation from Daniel says that the King is the tree, and he will be cut down, (and basically go nuts) - God's hand of protection will be removed from him and he will live like the beasts of the fields. Dew will lay on his body, he will eat the grass, and live like the beasts live. This will last for a period of time. During this period of time, he will come to realize that the Lord is the god most High...and He rules over mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes. He will then come to his senses, and he will exalt the King of heaven.

This is - in a sense what Craig and I pray for often. First that we would remain humble and true to God's leading. That God would use us, which is a bit scary at times. But we have also realized that while praying for the salvation of others - they may go through really hard times - in order to recognize that God is Who He Is.

Father - I thank you for your Love. I thank you for getting ahold of my heart without the trials some have had to endure. I continue to lift up those that Craig and I are praying for. I ask that even if it appears as though your hand of protection has been removed, that you will still call them. Give us strength.

How time files

Last night was my last night in class. I still have until July - I need to finish my research project, but after that...I'm DONE with my Masters. I was pondering all of the things that have happened since I started this program. Wow, God has surely blessed me...

Let's see - I started the program in August of 2007

• I took the test for my Administrative Credential in September 2007
  
• My mom died in October 12, 2007
• I found out I passed the admin test October 12, 2007 (Sat)
• My Grandma's memorial service was one week later
  
• I walked/ran a marathon the next day
  
• November 07, the most incredible man in the world proposed
• Spent through March - planning a wedding
• March 15, 2008 - I married my best friend
• May 2008 - I interviewed for, and received a position at our school for Learning Director
• July 2008, I started my new job
  
• December 2008, Craig graduated from the LVN program at Fresno Adult
• January, 2009, We started faithfully attending First Assembly church - I have been so incredibly blessed by following my husband
  
• February, we went to Santa Maria for him to take his boards - and he passed
• March 2009 - I was diagnosed with skin cancer
• April 2009, I started a short series of spot removal
• April 2009, Craig came down with Valley Fever - was sick for 5 weeks
• April, 2009, also bought my purty little Toyota Solara
  
• Now he works at Corcoran Prison and goes to school full time for his RN
• May 2009, were privileged to be able to allow two of the sweetest little boys from Africa come stay with us for the weekend.
  
• June 6th - First time at doing the Lemoore Mud Run - our team time was 1 hour 24 minutes. Will eventually get a movie up on YouTube.
  
• June, I rode my little 3 year old - Mary - for the first time....
  
• Later that day - I completed my last class - now it's just the project and I"m done....

All I can say is - Thank you Lord for giving me the ability to do this.

Another well written article in the Times Delta - about VCIS

We are all looking forward to the move... :)

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20090605/NEWS01/906050306/1002/NEWS01/VUSD+charter+school+program+will+move+into+space+previously+occupied+by+Chapman+University

Lemoore Mud Run

What an incredible time! Somehow - Marissa told us about a mud run - and a few of us at work decided to take on the challenge. It was out at the Navy Base in Lemoore - and benefited a children's hospital. We had such a blast! It was a five mile course, with military obstacles. Craig was our official camera man - he ran quite a bit too! Hoping that next year - more of our teachers - and maybe students will do it! Team VCIS included: Marissa Castro - Danny Cantelmi - Greg Bentson and myself.

Visalia Charter Independent Study

Great article about the school I work at.... Sometimes, I'm amazed at the Times Delta :) We do give grades... but other than that - good work!

130 students to graduate from Visalia Charter Independent Study

Shadrach & Yafesi's pictures

This is the slide show of pictures from Shadrach & Yafesi's visit last weekend.

The weekend

When I asked Craig if we could be a host family for some of the children from Children of the World Choir - http://www.worldhelp.net/Children-of-the-World/cotw-about.aspx - I never in a million years expected to be so blessed! As an American, I like many others, have taken so many things for granted...such as a loving family that stuck with me even in tough times.... Friday night we met at church with 5 other families for an orientation. Shortly after, we got to meet our "children". Shadrach and Yafesi - because we don't have any chilen's at home, nor do we have a swimming pool, Shadrach wasn't sure he wanted to come with us... Yafesi, on the other hand - was in the car pushing buttons.... LOL I made it through that...and even tolerated him honking the horn whenever he passed it... (Sorry Miranda and Deven - guess I had you too young... :) you may have been beat for that!) Friday night we went to Adventure Park and had a great time eating pizza... (You want Ketchup on WHAT?) Riding the bumper boats - OK, I didn't have a great time with that...- and riding the race track... We were going to have Aunti Karen with us, but she's alergic to cats - so we took her back to church.

Yafesi's reaction when we got to the house was... CARS!!! THERE ARE A LOT OF CARS!!!! LOL I don't think he understood that most of them don't run .... Craig took the boys to meet Goober (who was a chicken) and Ace - and to pick oranges. We had a late night snack of fresh oranges, then it was shower time - and bed time... How incredibly special it was to hear my husband read the word - and share with these little boys how much God loves them... wow, I'm tearing up just writing this!.

Saturday, we were up decently early (Ungodly early for Craig and I) Craig made breakfast - the boys ate a LOT... what healthy appetites. They wanted to watch tv - and ours doesn't really work - so we watched the Lion Witch and the Wardrobe - they loved it - and were able to appropriately share the symbolism between Jesus and Aslom... Next - it was off to the horses... Funny thing - the boys had more fun in the horse trailer, looking at the chicken sitting on it's eggs... Both boys got to ride Alex - and play with the goats and sheep.... Yafesi helped feed - while Shadrach roped everything he could!

We had to rush home - (they weren't into that - Uncle had to scold them) so they could have lunch and nap before their 5 PM show at church. I left to take Aunti Karen with me for a pedicure... Very nice - relaxing afternoon.... Got home in time to get on the road again - and off to church. They put on such a good show - it was really incredible....especially after getting to know the boys. After church, Jay, Michelle and Donnie came by for dinner... the boys got to have a "chilren" come over for a while.... Got a late start to showers - and bed...but all in all it went well.

Sunday was hard - we had to say goodbye to these wonderful sweet little boys... We stayed to watch their show again - and then said our goodbyes... they will forever be in my heart though..and I would host again in a minute!