what's your bait?

Summer opened this can of worms. Let's fish!

Since our one year anniversary Mark has been saying that the first year was the most difficult for us. And for the longest time I really had a hard time understanding what he was talking about. From my perspective, our first year was incredible.

The evidence is overwhelming that now is easier than then. As a general rule, I am passionate and short-fused. His even keel and absentmindedness demand peace and patience from me. As a general rule Mark is well-liked by all and unobtrusive. My hard-knock reality facilitates a sort of emotional awareness I don't think he owned before he loved me. Essentially, our marriage is producing fruits of the Spirit that a relationship with no one else offered. It's more than balance, it's God working in us.

To this day, there are times when I roll my eyes behind his back. But our first year we'd fight because I would try to "work it out." When I tolerate what annoys me about him, there's room for us to like each other! And he usually does do some super sweet thing, like hold me or hug me or say thank you. And the fire of annoyance is squelched.

When we promised to love each other unconditionally, we promised never to compromise. When we do compromise, we end up not only hurting the other but damaging ourselves. My hope is that our marriage will quench compromise and embody joy and steadfastness.

My hope for all my lovely friends is that they will find that person who mobilizes them to do in their mutal lives what they have been desiring to do, but were unable to on their own.

cerditos & niñitos

Woo Pig Sooie! Go Hogs!

Ryan & Emil and Ben & Lisa had their babies. Eli And I believe Ryan JUST had Miss Morgen Joan. :) Still jealous.

Ben & Summer's Greatest Hit

So I was driving home from dropping hubby off at school sometime last week and "Would you go with me" by Josh Turner came on la radio. And with all the love that is in the air, I got to thinking about how special a song it was for those of you enamorados (in love). This was my thought process: "I love this song, Josh Turner's band has a banjo. Ben has a banjo. This is Ben and Summer's song." If you don't know to what I refer, take a listen: JT. I think I bought the CD that evening.

I feel I need to address all this talk of ooshy gooshy "nonsense," as it were. When those of you who criticize such nonsense fall for the one with whom you will spend the rest of your life, then and only then will we have the right to say, "Told you so." Desiree, the criticism you're being given is just being measured back to you. :) Josh you're next, buddy.

español en acción

You would think that if one needed a teacher, they would have been hired by now. But, as is so along every avenue of life, unexpected things come up. And good for me, because if those unexpectedes did not occur, I would still be without a job prospect. However, not only did Bentonville High all of a sudden come up short a Spanish teacher, so did Woodland Junior High in Fayetteville. Spanish of all things.

Now...the difference between the two positions is that one is long-term subbing (BHS), the other is a full-time contracted position (Woodland); insecure v. secure; no benefits v. benefits. However, the pay is no different. I will literally make just as much subbing as I would with a contract.

This seems like a no-brainer, and I should pursue the contract position. Right, but this summer Woodland literally told me that I was not good enough for them. My undergraduate GPA wasn't high enough. Since when do public schools not hire because of grade points? Apparently, there is a lot of pressure from parents to hire the person who looks the best on paper. Woodland is in Fayetteville (the county seat -lawyers, judges- and bedroom -Tyson & Wal-Mart big wigs and full-time moms with Masters- community of NWA) and is on the east side. To give a little perspective, the free and reduced lunch pop. is 13%. Where Mark teaches in Springdale (3 miles north), the free and reduced lunch pop. is 65%. Can you believe the divides?

...Anyway, we'll see how things turn out @ Woodland. But if that does not pan out, I will be long-term subbing at Bentonville. And we're right on the cusp of basketball season...so exciting!

On that note, one of my kids from Har-Ber High, Nate Rakestraw, is signing his contract with the Razorbacks on Wednesday! So be on the lookout for him - he'll be a Razorback next Fall! :)

que lindo

Ha. Said the lady who might just have a job. Muah.

Mark and I just got back from the Feast of Tabernacles, see Leviticus 23, Zechariah 14 and John 7. TEJAS! Mira: http://www.newktennis.com/outback_adventurecamp.html That is a link to the place where we did a high ropes course. The first obstacle we had to climb to the top of a 35 ft. telephone pole, stand on top, the dive for a "ring." Insanity. As my adrenaline started to make me sweat and shake it me and Mark's turn to do the "Commitment Bridge," which is a 2 person challenge. You both climb up about 25 ft. and then hold each other up as you scoot across ropes that get further and further apart. I flipped out. I was shaking and mumbling inconceivables like, "I am so scared" five thousand times in a row. Poor hubby. I did not do so hot. I decided to sit the next two out: a zip line and a thinger called "The Screamer." So fun.

Obviously, the ropes course was one of the most memorable times spent. We went with Michelle Bryce - she's so awesome - Jon Davis and his ladyfriend Sonya, his ladyfriend's friend Sarah, and then Summer and Ben. They got their rings while we were there. Get it?

Of course, we did the Riverwalk - always a good time, especially since we went with my fam. We went up to San Marcos, though I don't know why. Outlet malls can be so good, but SM is so bad. Bad sizes, horrible selection and I am conviced that most of the merchandise is (are?) knockoffs.

Check out the condos We had such a gorgeous place. My mom & dad & sister shared a 2-bedroom with us. The hot tub had a waterfall and gnarly jets and the pool was saltwater. Suh-weet.

The messages & the conversations were to die for. I found out what a mucous plug is. Yeah, that makes me want to have kids. That and the plethora of other information I received from Ashley, Erin, Krista & Heather. Gracias, amigas casadas. ;)

We'll see if this thing at BHS works out... No expectations til I've signed the contract.

Time is up, must retire. peace.

substitutions

i tell you, there is nothing more warming than standing in the doorway of a classroom that is not mine while kids are yelling things like, "Hi, Mrs. Sandor. We miss you." Or, "Hey, Mrs. Sandor. Guess what! I understand Spanish more and more. Thanks for your help." Or, "You're married to Mr. Sandor?! I love him." To that I get to say, "I know. Isn't he great? I love him too."

Unfortunately, I am still without a full-time Spanish teaching position, which is a-okay for right now. Being able to just spend time with kids is so special to me. They don't abuse the fact that I'm a substitute...which, too is rewarding. I have to admit, I don't really understand it when people say, "I could never be a teacher." So hopefully, between substitute teaching and being a tutor, I will keep my resume up-to-date and get a position next year. If not, meh. We'll have kids to spite! :) ...or just because we can. If I love my students so, imagine how much fun it's going to be to have niños of our own. I am jealous of Ryan and Emil!

Abraham, Isaac & Jacob

...and Joseph and Moses and Caleb and Joshua and Saul and David and Solomon. Need I go on?

There has been a lot of captivating conversation among many of females about the quality of men, or apparent lack thereof. What I want to know is what is strength in a man? True men, in my humble opinion, are those who are willing to stand up for who they are and who they will become (note Philippians 3:20-21). This includes their willingness to be bold.

We've heard a lot of messages lately that have focussed very heavily on the idea that God's men make mistakes. We're not talking nicey nice mistakes either. We're talking mistakes that many would divorce over. Seriously. Would I really want to be Sarah or Rebecca when husband tells pagan worshipper number 1, i.e. Abimelech, that I'm his sister? Jerk. Is that trust? Is that what "men of God" do to the women they love? Is that what "men" do to women at all? Is that what God calls strength? Can I even possibly work with that? Many of my friends have proposed: "Can I marry a man like that, one who is so weak? I'd rather not even bother."

Note to self: Sarah nor Rebecca divorced. Rather, they stood by their men.

We're talking Abraham here folks, the father of the faithfu, and Isaac. So what then? Instead of focussing on the weaknesses of men, perhaps it would be beneficial for us to focus on their strengths. "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the FRIEND of God" (James 2:23). I want that. I want the man I love to be a friend of God. I want our faith to be counted as righteousness.

Mark is studying at what point God's noted godly men chose to live according to God's standards. What did Abraham DO that God admired? Why is he called faithful? What did Paul do to become an apostle? What is it that God loves? What is it that women love? What are those positive traits that make men worthwhile?

In every story of every admirable man, biblical or not, is a man who chose right. And chose right consistently. I'm thinking Abe & Isaac and that whole Isaac being a casi-martyr, Paul could have stormed out after he got his sight back, Joshua could have said, "Nah, I think I'll just wait here" (ref. "as for me and my house..."). But they didn't. There was a turning point, a revelation, an incredible amount of faith.

I think many of my guy friends have it. Do the ladies recognize it? Do the men recognize it? Are men respectable who are so bold? Is that what women want?

12 calidades de lideres efectivos

Dr. Winnail gave a talk the final day of camp. The counselors weren't there to hear it, but it was probably be most useful, relevant info all camp. Here's what I got.
Twelve qualities of effective leaders:
1. High ethical standards, above reproach.
2. Easily entreated, sensitive.
3. Wise use of position, no self righteousness, growth under leadership?
4. Ability to effectively communicate; obey, understand, expound.
5. Team builders.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (Eph. 4:11-14)
6. Ability to handle changes; flexible, adaptable, resourceful; make plans, but do not set them in concrete
7. Keep your commitments, Luke 9:62
8. see Joshua chapter 1. "...Be strong and of good courage..." Courage v. Fear.
9. Risk takers. No foolishness. Imagine the sound of WWCG members' sighs after series' upon series' of lukewarm sermons. Give the brethren what they need. Again, fearlessness.
10. Responsible for making decisions.
11. Have a mission that matters, focus on it. Use difficult situations to make the right decisions.
12. Think big. Why are we here? Where are we going? How do we get there? Proverbs 13:20.

fun times.

this is the best picture yet. See everyone's faces? Hilarious. I didn't start it, I promise.

what's in a name?

amanda: present progressive of the verb "amar" in Latin (or Spanish or Italian, possibly even French). That means that if you drop the -ar from "amar" - the infinitive - and add +ando you get the masculine amando. Name your firstborn son that. heh. Thus the feminine form would be amanda, meaning loving.

Even more fun: sandor, i.e. defender of mankind. Common in Eastern Europe as a first name. Alexander is an English derivative. It obviously comes from Alexander the Great. We have successfully ruled out two options for our firstborn's name.