Hey, you Darling Siestas! Just a really quick post this morning. I bet a ton of you are on Spring Break this week. What are you guys doing for it?
The Houston schools are all out this week and we were supposed to have a week off from Bible study but remember that Tuesday night when I told you the whole city shut down over 17 flakes? Well, tonight’s our make-up week so that we can end on schedule. That’s fine with me though. I trust that God is going to bring us a neat group tonight even if it’s a small group.
CJ and AJ and the kids are at a high school camp right now in East Texas where he’s teaching and she’s…well…trying to entertain two small children during the day and trying to get them both to sleep at night in the same small room as their parents. The first night was pretty challenging because Annabeth is old enough to stand up in the pack-n-play and scream bloody murder for her mommy – three feet away from her – to come rescue her. And, about the time she gets quiet, Jackson is big enough to blurt out with things like, “Did Annabeff finally go to sleep?” and rouse her up again. He’s a party animal like his Bibby and LOVES all of them sleeping in the same room.
But, the Jones are troopers and, after all, the week is filled with so many fun things. Amanda is with one of her very best buddies from the Dallas-Fort Worth area where they served for several years. I was so happy for the Jones to move back to Houston but so sad to see AJ leave some of the best friends she’d ever made. For moms, I don’t know if there’s any replacing the friends you had when you all started your families. Several of those friends are still in my life and we talk about those days all the time. I will hear many good Janelle and Ella stories when the Jones get home. Janelle is one of Amanda’s BFFs and her darling Ella was born within the same few days as Jackson and in the same hospital so she is really special to us. She also made us want a little girl the second time around in the worst way.
Melissa is working like a mad woman on her thesis and her other classes this semester so she can be finished with this second Masters in May. I don’t even have to tell you that she’s chasing her tail. She’s coming in town this weekend for a wedding and I have to work over part of it but I’ll still enjoy her like crazy when we get to be together.
Good grief! I’ve got to get off of here. My handout for tonight is not finished. I just wanted to say good morning to you guys and see who was doing something out of the ordinary for Spring Break. Finances are tight this year so many of our Siestas are probably trying to get pretty creative on Stay-cations. Give each other some great ideas!
PS. For those of you who followed the comments to the last post, did you see that the young mom who collapsed into the coma has awakened and talked some? Praise You, Lord! Raise her up a living, breathing, walking, talking MIRACLE!
Phil and Lori 
My family is skiing along with two other families in Angel Fire New Mexico. There are 12 of us total and we arrived last night after a 11 hour drive from west Texas. We are having a blast. We are all church buddies. Two of us are in the middle of Breaking Free and we were sitting at the table late last night with our Bibles and books. We will ski today and tomorrow and head home Thursday. Hope everyone has a great Spring Break!!!
Working. However, in May I will be getting some time off with my sweet husband. No big plans. But that's okay with me. sometimes rest and a good book and good cup of coffee are the perfect get-away. We will just sit on our porch and pretend we have gone some place far-away. 🙂
Blessings to you all
Kim
Hi Mama Beth and Siestas;
We are not going anywhere this year. Our oldest daughter, sophomore in college, is having 2 of her wisdom teeth surgically removed tomorrow. She will be on IV sedation and she does not do well with anesthesia.
Prayers are appreciated.
My husband is on a business trip this week, and I packed up and joined him. A swanky resort type place that's just beautiful. And a place we'd never go except for times like this. I work out of my home office, so the chance to get away for 2 days is refreshing. So thankful for the time of rest!
Our girls' Spring Break is the week after Easter. Speaking of darling baby girls, I'm hoping and praying to get a chance to meet my sweet niece Mia (my baby sister's first baby) down in South Carolina that week. She was born on February 3, and I haven't seen her yet. It's killing me!
We are have a STAY-CATION spring break here in Alabama…..gonna be happy just being at home!
So far we've eaten out, had spend-the-night company, and watched lots of re-run movies. It's just Tuesday so there's lots of week to have fun. Hoping it's a slooooow week!
Here's a tip for Amanda that I've used many times when trying to get toddlers to sleep in a pack-n-play in the same room:
Using a sheet or blanket you can partition off the pack-n-play by draping the sheet over a curtain rod, closet door, desk, chairs, etc. If the child can't see Mommy 3 feet away she's less likely to call for her (at least in my experience.) It makes a mini-bedroom for the toddler.
Hope that helps!
Laura
I consider my Spring Break to have started the minute I left work on Friday – therefore I began it with you in Toronto !! Fantastic 🙂 Today I will tackle all my windows !!
I'm still in college, so this was my second to last Spring Break as a college student. (Since I'm going into Elementary Ed, I know that this isn't my second to last Spring Break ever though!) =) I road-tripped home (1000 miles away from my college) and got to spend the week with my family. From the house, we all road-tripped out to the Grand Canyon. One of my favorite Spring Break's too date! Oh my word, is it beautiful!!
Mara P.
Our little 8 year old is hanging out with dad, working with cattle. He is having 2 friends spend the night tonight then we are going to Goliad, TX where my husband will be judging the rodeo there. So, i guess we are stay cation too and making the best of it!
My spring break trip came in January! Best "spring" break ever getting to come to Houston! I so appreciate my hubby and kids for giving up their spring break trip to allow me to do that.
Looking forward to a week of togetherness at home. My hubby teaches and this year he has the same break as the kids! We are so blessed.
Love and prayers to all.
Kelli
Planting a vegetable garden. This is a big deal as we have no idea what we are doing!
Forever His,
Lawan
Phil 4:8
staying at home but working in my roses and getting their beds "spiffed" up. Also, working in the yard, getting my front porch all ready for some quality time in the swing, AND painting my kitchen and breakfast nook…..I was inspired to make the change when we were previously talking about being movers or non-movers. 🙂 This season is my most favorite time of the year so I'm thrilled to be busy at getting everything ready.
Blessings to all,
Ginger
Wetumpka
Our kids are out of the house, but we still do spring break around here because my husband is an instructor at the local community college. Our spring break is a little work sandwiched between spending time with our kids, and it's always a good break when we get to see them. Looks like they still rule spring break! 🙂
I just came home from my Spring Break with our new grandbaby! We were blessed to be with our son & DIL when she was born and I stayed an extra week to help her teach her new mommy and daddy how to help her! Teaching wasn't necessary tho–I've never been more proud of my son and his God-given heart for this little princess! He had 'swaddling' down with the first try!! He jumped right in and changed her first dirty diaper. I'm still grinning!
See you tonight at Bible Study-can't wait!
Our spring break was last week, and my husband and I pulled our camper 100 miles west of us to Lake Conroe for 5 days of reading, studying SLI and learning lines for a community play I am in. Also shopping for mother-of-the-groom dress for son's wedding. Had a nice, restful time and hope all the rest of you will do the same this week.
Kerry
Nederland, Texas
YMCA! It's fun to stay at the Y M C Aaaa.
I work at a University and the students are on Spring Break this week. While they're gone, we're getting quite a bit done on campus!
Staff get Friday off so I'm headed to NC for the weekend to do some photo shoots for a few families. It's going to be a good week!
Beth, I am doing the revised Breaking Free study with friends and it's just the most powerful Bible study I have ever participated in. God's word is alive and jumping off the page for me in a way it never has done before. I'm so grateful that he used you to deliver such a powerful message to us!
Spring Break for our kids is not for another two weeks…. We had hoped we would be able to go to the beach for a couple of days, but hubby and I looked at finances last night and decided that we can't swing that right now. We'll take a couple of days off work and do some fun things around town, but will also do some gardening and spring cleaning. Riveting, I know – LOL!!! Oh, and our kids have a ping pong table stored in the garage that they have been pestering hubby to move into playroom on the third floor of the house. That sounds like quite an adventurous task to tackle over spring break!
Love and hugs,
♥ ♥ Adrienne ♥ ♥
Well, my spring break is not until Good Friday and then runs that week after Easter. I am a special ed. teacher and I am looking forward to REST! Watched you on video last night (revised breaking free) and you talked about rest and how we need to trade our yokes for Jesus's yoke. The message just really, really spoke to me about the importance of rest. So, besides resting here at home I'll for sure be taking a day trip to the coast to spend time with Jesus. This area is much, much, much needed. Feeling a little fried right now. Hoping that a little "retreat" with Him will help.
I forgot to say that I think Sarah (Mercy4Drew) and I are going to start a Bible Study together in the next few weeks – after Spring Break – and I am SO looking forward to that…
Adrienne
We are going back to Illinois to surprise my momma for her retirement party. She's totally not expecting it…so that look on her face will be priceless:)
Then a few weeks later our family is going to Maui. It's been a dream of mine my whole life. I am so excited to share this with my little girls. They've done nothing but talk about it for months:) YIPPEE!!!
Since my girls are raised and have fled the nest, I am spending Spring Break praying for the youngest one as she is on vacation with 20 kids in California! I'm also enjoying the extra time to soak up all I'm learning in Breaking Free (week 9) and chapter 9 of So Long Insecurities. Is it a a coincidence that the peak lessons of both of those came on the same week? NO! I am praising the Lord that He privileged me to be working through those at the same exact time and that I have this week off to really work through them to shake off insecurity and break free forever! Isn't He amazing? 🙂
Spring Break for my family is nutso this year. My oldest 2 had theirs last week. My youngest 3 will have theirs next week. And dare I say so will their mother who is taking a college Stats class. Oh, and dad will have vacation next week as well. The older boys and I got out and did some nature walks, shopping (but you know with teen boys that didn't take long!), and eating out at a new place. It was slow paced but fun. Next week my plan is to take the young ones to the zoo in Memphis. My professor just announced we'd have our next test the Monday AFTER Spring Break. Now what was he thinking?!!!? SO. Given that this one class is putting my 40+ brain to task, I will also have to study. And, oh yeah, I will have to pull at least one 12 hour shift at the hospital. Then also, DH will be pouring concrete for a large addition we are somehow trying to afford, I mean get done! lol! (I will be grateful when this season is over.)
That's my crazy Spring Break in a nutshell.
Here's my memory verse for the 15th of this month, thought someone else might benefit from this Word today as well. With it, I'll sign off. Blessings!
"Those who respect the Lord will have security, and their children will be protected." Proverbs 14:26 NCV
We came to my parents home on Cedar Creek Lake. The boys will camp outside in the camper while my daughter's Sunday School class joins us tomorrow for a Retreat. I get to lead Bible Study for 9th grade girls! It's going to be a great week!
Spring break in the northeast isn't until April. I'll be taking the kids out for a day trip or two. Maybe an overnight up to Boston since it's just a 2 hour drive.
Spring Break here comes later but I am leaving Thursday to go on a mission trip with my church to Nome, Alaska. We will be helping Brenda Crim, a missionary with the North American Mission Board, at the finish line of the Iditarod. I cannot wait although I am worried about tolerating the cold. Current temperature there is 4 degrees which is up from the -28 on Sunday!
That is awesome news about Laurie!! PTL!!
Yay Melissa, almost done!
I need to get my back end in gear and get a bunch of work done so I can graduate with my MATS in May.
I've just been such a slacker during this season of cleansing and healing.
Michele
Liverpool, NY
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I am continuing the time honored tradition of using this time to deep clean the house. My men children and I spent four hours yesterday washing the walls in their room and the baseboards, as well as going through clothes and toys. Today we tackle the living room and bathrooms. The goal…make them appreciate school:) Or so my mom says when she revealed to us that was the motive behind it for all those years. Sneaky mama…sneaky mama.
My husband and I are both just out of college and don't have any kids yet so spring break doesn't come around here. Hopefully sometime in the next few years we will be able to afford to take a trip away to somewhere warm. We do have friends coming to visit us on their spring break and we are all going to the Creation Museum in Kentucky. Should be fun!
One of the benefits of being away at college is that your parents expect you to make the trip home for Spring Break… so that's kind of a vacation in itself. It has been a blessing to spend some time back at my home church, and of course, getting to enjoy time with my parents. And let's not forget about a few quiet mornings which give me time to catch up on my SLI reading!
Praying everyone finds rest somewhere this week!
Stephanie
Staying home to save money…although I will need therapy after a week home with 4 kids…I hear that is expensive:)
Things we are doing:
game/movie night
going 2 the movies
taking long walks 2 the park
make your own pizza night
campout night in the playroom/tents and all
wine tasting night( kidding )
Good luck y'all!
Allison Lee
Spring break for us here in Nixa, Mo is next week.
I will be taking 3 days off to spend with Austin, my 12 year old. We will paint his room, Colts blue… and just have fun together. Play basketball in the driveway, eat out for lunch (a rarity for us).. .and sleep in!
Just slowing down our life and enjoying what God has blessed us with and our family…
Everyone else… have a GREAT time whenever your spring break occurs!
Hi Sweet Seista Mama
I don't have kids but I can't wait for some warm weather and I just celebrated my birthday last Wednesday. So I am staying home I am currently unemployed for a while now so I will clean house and windows and probably wash my nasty muddy car. Will spend sometime working on the new version of breaking free I done the first lesson and oh my between that and SLI talk about eye opener WOW. Well sweet seista mama glad your home and glad Melissa will be there this weekend .
Thanks for all you do for us out here in seistaville and glad we are all family.
Have a good day
Love Carol
Lord we pray for all who are traveling with little ones and ones that are traveling by themselves and all other families that you would be with them and protect them. Ones that will be staying at home help us spend time with you oh Lord and to soak up Your Love and Your Presence.
Thank you Jesus Amen
Carol
We thought we were getting a break and spring was around the bend, but alas! More snow here! Since we had a very long break from our school routine for this move, we're plugging away- it keeps us busy while we wait for our own things to arrive. I'm anxious,though, for things to warm up- we live very close to the Botanical Gardens and when the cherry trees bloom, you get the most beautiful view of them, the river, and the monastery.
My oldest daughter is home on spring break this week from college. My other 3 daughters have school this week so we are having a "stay-cation" here. But we are doing a lot of baking, talking and some "chick-flicking". My daughte brought her bff home with her and they are visiting the zoo today and throwing in some shopping at the Mall.
Usually we load up the pop-up camper at spring break and head for the mountains. We bring a stack of books, and yes… the portable DVD player. How else can I catch up on the movies I've missed?
I love it. Got my coffee maker, microwave, gas stove, and lap top. You know… really roughing it. All in the great outdoors. All for $25 a day.
Bless you all,
Heidi
Well, I'm in Australia so it's not spring…it's fall. I'm at school at Hillsong and we are in the midst of Colour Conference. First one was last weekend and the next starts on Thursday! God is moving in the lives of thousands of women. It's so cool to be a part of it all. However, the enemy is using a nasty sickness to try and keep me uninvolved – so prayers for healing would be appreciated!
Our break here in TN is not until the week after Easter. It seems so far away from a "traditional" spring break, but with all the days we've been out with snow it all makes up for it. We are hoping to visit a dear aunt and uncle and shop in Pigeon Forge!
Well we don't all get off for Spring Break in Houston, but that's ok, this awesome weather is blessing enough.
Oh and Melissa is in my prayers. I know all about Grad school and chasing your tail. Kudos for her and going for her second one!
Enjoying my daughter being home from college for the week! She could've gone to Houston with her roommates, but chose to come home!
Gotta go get my highlights right now!
Spring Break for us is divide and conquer this year. One is on a road trip with her Daddy from LA, ARK, TN and back to TX looking at colleges all week. One is with a friend (at her friend's Grandma's house) in the TN countryside. So… that leaves the youngest and myself dealing with the contractors at our new house all week. However, we will be seeing Papa and Mama tonight after Tues. night Bible study and spending the night with them. How I love spending time at my house I grew up in. And then, some staycation. It's been fun just to hang with the youngest. Usually I'm crazy busy with all of the girls' social calendars and don't have much alone time with her. We have laughed our heads off more than once. So…I'm having a GREAT spring break:o)
I am going to Artfest in Port Townsend, Washington for the first time and I am so excited!
Lori
Helena, MT
I have a 14 year old son to entertain this week. So we'll take off Friday and go to Six Flags! Not sure if we will go in Arlington or go to San Antonio. Which one is better? No matter- for me it is about spending time with my son! (Oh – and my hubby, too!) 😉
Our good friends are headed to Russia for the first round of meet and greets before they adopt. We're all so excited! So…while they're off globe – trotting we get to keep their other 3 kiddos back here in the states for 8 days. Their 3 and our 4 are going to have a blast. Who knows what we'll do but hopefully we can all get outside and enjoy some beautiful weather. All 7 of them are between the ages of 3 and 9. Their mama and I had them "together" much like Amanda and her friend. Lots of memories and many, many more to make. Everyone enjoy your own spring breaks!
Well I homeschool my boys, so I have to decide whether to take a spring break or not. It probably will depend on whether they find out from their friends that everyone else is having a spring break. If we do take a break, we love to hike! There are some great falls in north Georgia!
My two children are not school age, but they do attend our church's Dayschool two days a week and are out for Spring Break along with everyone else! I usually tell people how much day-school allows me to keep my sanity, my kids are 3 years old and 2 years old!! You can only imagine the drama in my home.
I know it is only Tuesday, but so far they have been fabulous! I recently taught my 3 year old daughter that it makes Jesus happy when we are nice to each other, and he is sad when we fight with each other. This morning she said, "Is Jesus happy, cause Lukey(her little brother) and I are being so nice!" AND THEY HAVE BEEN! Thank you Jesus for loving, thoughtful, sharing spirits today!
Help me be creative with my toddlers this week!
Working over Spring Break. (But oh so thankful for a job!) In April, though, my husband has given me the gift of 6 days away by myself at my brother's home in North Carolina (my brother and his wife are in Europe). They generously share their home with us when they're away. I get 6 days of quality time with the Lord, before my husband drives out to pick me up. Oh, I can't wait! I know the first minute I shut the door and know I'm alone with Him, I'll start to cry!! It's been too long since I spent quality Solitude and Silence time with Him — the world is so busy, I can't hear His voice! Solitude and Silence is a lot of work — I pray I can concentrate. Thank you, Lord, for this precious gift!!!
My husband and I aren't going anywhere BUT we are having all of our little Monkeys here for Spring Break in a few weeks. (My Monkeys are 2 nieces and a nephew from my two sisters :0)
My Mom, two sisters and a three year old, a four year old and a seven year old will be travelling from Kentucky to Wisconsin to visit with us. We (and the Monkeys and I am sure the 'Moms') are so excited!!! As to what we will do…we're not sure. The beach? Jelly Belly Factory? Probably just hug alot! :0)
You all have spring break early. Here in Minnesota we don't have spring break until March 26. I guess it doesn't matter…we are not doing anything out of the ordinary this year but we do make extra effort to spend some quality time with our kids. Our house will be a bit cleaner for a week as well 🙂 Maybe we can do at least a day trip that weekend to shake things up a bit!
Blessings to everyone and stay safe!