If You Wish Upon A Shooting Star

I am wishing-

-My dad could surprise me with lunch

-It could stay this nice all summer long

-I could sleep 10 hours straight

-I could do a better job keeping my house cleaned, the laundry got clean by itself, and dinner was done in the snap of a finger

-My students could repeat 1st grade, I have the best class ever!

-I got to spend all day everyday with my "boys"

-I lived closer to my family (even though I love my life here)

-I would still be teaching with some great friends next year

-Everyone had something to live for and had joy in their lives

-I could do more for people in need

-I didn't like chocolate goldfish so much (is it bad I eat all of Jackson's crackers?)

-I won a shopping spree:)

-I didn't have to be pregnant for 9 months to have another baby

-Lesson plans wrote themselves

-My student loans were paid off (we would be rich then, HA!)

It is fun to dream:)

I may not know what the future holds but I do know WHO holds my future and the world in His hands.

"This is what the Lord says,

He who appoints the sun to shine by day,

who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night,

who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-

the Lord Almighty is his name."

Jeremiah 31:35

I love these verses that show God's greatness and power. He is the I AM, the almighty and the everlasting.

Here is a picture of the next Superstar!

Our New Hangout

The other day we headed out after school
It was rather warm this particular day.
We spotted the Splash pad next to the pool
and Jackson wanted to play!

Not prepared to get wet

we had a choice to make.

We didn't panic or fret,

rather hoped he wouldn't bake!

Not even a day goes by,

without a thought of the Pad.

We don't want Jackson to cry,

so we head on out to make him glad!

It's fun to hear him squeal and scream

and run right through the water spouts.

We know what will fill Jackson's dreams,

and we hope that there are no droughts.

Wordless Wednesday: To God Be The Glory

"And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

My Mind Is Running

Brian always jokes with me that he wouldn't want to be inside my brain and if I was in his I would be bored! There is probably some truth to that.

Here in a glimpse inside my mind on a Sunday night:

just finished cleaning the kitchen for the umpteenth time today. why can't they clean themselves? need to grade spelling tests and find a cute outfit for my picture tomorrow. hoping my bangs cooperate with me tomorrow. loved spending the weekend with Jackson, can it be summer yet? i'm ready but not ready for a break. i get bored when i don't have things to complete. need to work on online wiki class for staff development that i want to do. excited about that and about next year. i'm going to a new school with my old principal and some good friends. need to scan some articles and email them to myself to use on the smartboard at school. teaching students how to use powerpoint tomorrow, could be interesting. although they actually know a lot about computers for 7 year olds. did you know my students this year were born the year i graduated high school? crazy... that makes me feel old.

oh, how he loves us! love that david crowder band song. it goes along with my bible study and verse for the week. esphesians 3:18-19, "and I pray that you may have the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge." church was great today, loved worhsip and the message. i wish i had more time to study the word. again, can't wait for summer! need to check on story time for Jackson and me at the library and mommy and me swim lessons. excited for play dates. need to get up early and get more done. want to eat better/healthier. i am doing good on not drinking soda. i only had one all week. i think one is ok-i'm happy with that. now i did to do the same with candy, maybe i can do one treat a week. i'm going to try it. i know it will be hard, but will feel much better in the end.

got a lightweight stroller for Jackson today. can't wait to go shopping with him and try it out. we stuck to our budget last month and i'm so proud of us. trying it again this month. the stroller wasn't part of the budget but since Brian got called in so many times this weekend, i think that paid for it. wanting to save and pay off student loans as soon as we can. missing my family in Wisconsin, can't wait to spend some time with them this summer. hoping the price of flights comes down so Jackson and i can go home and visit them. looking forward to going to california for the first time and seeing some of brian's relatives and staying on newport beach with brian, maybe a 5th year anniversary trip without Jackson.

praying constantly for Katrina and her family. can't imagine what they are going through on a daily basic. God be with them, give them the strength they need to get through each day, place people in their lives to provide them with your love and support and to encourage, give them peace instead of worry, place your healing hands upon Katrina's body and help her to get through this next round of chemo without complications and that she can get home quickly, be her source of contentment and happiness.

I think that is enough sharing for tonight. I will leave you with a picture of love for our friend.

Mommy Son Day

"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say REJOICE!"

Brian is on call this weekend at the hospital. He was called back 7 times so far. Every time he called to say he was on his way home, less than 15 minutes later he would call back and say he was headed back in. Oh well, Jackson made the most of our time together!

First, we headed out to an event in honor of Katrina. It was so sweet to see all of Louis and Katrina's students wearing their Yang's Gang shirts. They are greatly loved!

Katrina, Jackson and I- Katrina looks so great! Please pray for her as she starts her third round of chemo on Monday. Pray for no reactions to the chemo so she can be in and out, also for peace and strength for the whole family.

Jackson kept eyeing up the blow up slide and since he goes down the slides at the park all by himself, I thought I would let him go down.

Starting out- not too bad

Coming down- NOT liking it

Then it was time to read the Bible and practice climbing up on the couch.

Of course, we got in a trip to the park.

This slide is so much better!

Next up: Dinner Date at Chick-fil-a

He couldn't get enough milk or...

PICKLES!

Jackson loves to eat but whenever we go out to eat, he barely eats. He is such a people watcher, and it doesn't help when everyone that walks by stops to talk to him!

After dinner, we had to make a Target run for a few things. I wish I had video of Jackson running wild through Target. Now that he can walk, he doesn't want to sit in the cart. Target wasn't too busy so I let him "walk" next to me. I'm sure the other shopper thought we were crazy. He would run circles around the racks, come run into me, and scream with sheer delight.
He was having so much fun that I just let him roam the store and followed him around!

I may or may have not have been a bit annoyed by how many times Brian got called into work today, but I will REJOICE in the fun times I had with Jackson today!

Deals, Shoes, And a Few Other Things

I love a good deal and this weekend we got plenty. First, I went grocery shopping and my toatl was $71 and I paid $36. That is a savings of 49%! Then, we were at Target getting a few things and we saved 60% there. I have been eyeing up a pair of Vera Wang heels at Kohl's. However, they are $80 and my budget doesn't allow $80 shoes even if they are needed for an event that is coming up.

Aren't they breathtaking!? HA! Well, I ended up getting them for $26. That is around a 68% saving. Pretty good if you ask me!

I also got 40 prints and an 8 X 10 all for only 22 cents!

And last but not least we bought a dishwasher also for about 68% savings. On Friday night, I was visiting with Katrina when she mentions they need a new dishwasher. I told her we would be on the lookout for a good deal for them. Well, I think we did it. I hope it works out.

Man, I love a good deal!

Brian got the camera out after church today and Jackson posed just like this for him. He knows what that camera is for:)

We took his clothes and shoes off to change him. But, he kept trying to put his shoes on himself and then he brought them to us to put on. He wanted to wear his shoes and then later his sandals all day. I guess he loves shoes as much as his mama!

Jackson loves to "draw", so the other day I got out the crayons and I gave him a piece of posterboard. Since then he has been "drawing" and carrying the posterboard all around the house with him. I think we have an artist on our hands!

We borrowed this bike seater from my aunt. We thought Jackson might like it better than the bike trailer because he would be able to see more. He still was not a big fan of the bike ride all because he can't get his helmet of his mind (or his head). Hopefully, he will start to like his helmet as much as his shoes because I love bike riding.

We had a great weekend hanging low and relaxing a bit for once. Hope you did too!

For Papa

My name is Jackson Oliver and My Grandpa drives an Oliver and only Olivers!!!

I can't wait to ride on one with you, Papa!

Thank you for my shirt! I look very cute in it:)

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, Holy Holy is HE!!!

What a beautiful day it was worshipping our risen Lord! Our church service was great and Pastor David had a great message about Jesus as our HERO. He has resuced us from our darkness. Amen!

I am so thankful he took the shame and bore the cross for my sins that I may have eternal life with him. He is my hero!

After church we came home and put Jackson down for his nap. He slept for over 3 hours! So, Brian went over to my Aunt's house for lunch and we joined him later. Jackson still is holding on to that low grade fever and feeling under the weather. My boy only ate yogurt for breakfast and blueberries for lunch. That right there tells us he must not be feeling well! Brian will be staying home with him tomorrow. Jackson still had a fun with his new toys in his Easter bucket! Thanks to both Grandma's and Grandpa's for making us all feel so loved!

Lots of pictures to come:)

Jackson's Easter bucket with lots of goodies!

Diving in the ball pit to get his bucket

Posing before church

My boy and me

My handsome hubby and me (I couldn't keep my eyes open today)

Such a cutie:)

Jackson and all his Easter baskets- He got one from Miss Sandy and Aunt Midge and Uncle Dan too! He liked the Reese's Peanut butter cups so much he tried eating the tin foil.

Happy Easter from the Hartzler's!!!

Easter Egg Hunt

We took Jackson to his first Easter Egg Hunt at our Church this morning. He has been running a slight fever this weekend and is back on an antibiotic for an ear infection again, ugh. He was a little under the weather, but I think he still had a good time. The sun was shinning, hence Jackson's hat, I didn't want his face getting too much sun again. Last time that happened everyone made sure to let me know his checks were red and he got too much sun, just incase I didn't know.

We started right by this cone, AND we didn't move too far from it:)

Jackson liked picking it up and placing it back on the cone many, many times!

Daddy helping Jackson find a few more eggs.

He is walking around now but the Easter egg hunt is now over.

Where did all the eggs go?

There's the blue egg again!

That was fun!

It was a beautiful day. We can't wait to celebrate our Risen Lord tomorrow!

Tagged

Julie tagged me to tell 7 random facts about me! I met Julie when I worked at Reed. It is fun to keep up with her life via her blog. That is one of the reasons I blog is so my loved ones back home in Wisconsin can keep up with us and I think a few of them should keep a blog too:)

With out further ado here are my random facts:

1. I have to pick out my outfit for work the night before or I would be late everyday. I am even known to try on one or two or five outfits to find the right one.

2. I LOVE bread! I could eat just bread all day, every day. In high school, I worked at a grocery store and on my lunch breaks I would buy a loaf of the fresh bread from the deli and eat at least half of it all by myself.

3. I have a hard time sitting down and watching a movie without doing anything else. I feel like I should be doing something else like: folding laundry or lesson plans. I am for sure a multi-tasker!

4. I love staying up late and sleeping in. The sleeping in part is not happening these days but I dream often about sleeping until 10 again.

5. I hardly ever pay full price for anything! Brian has turned me into a bargain hunter and I am a coupon clipper.

6. I hate porta potties and have never used one. I would choose the great outdoors before stepping foot in one of those.

7. I play Bunco once a month with some girls from school, even though I used to make fun of those who played. It's more about the eating and talking with the girls! A lot of nights we don't even get to playing.

Like last night we met at a restaurant for dinner and even brought our babies:

Now I tag:

Caroline

Stacy

Emily

Claire