chilly weather

It has been pretty chilly around these parts for us desert rats. We decided to take a cartrip down to Pinal County, AZ, and we thought it might be good to make sure the kids were warm. Truly, they didn't end up even needing the hats but...

...yeah, we pretty much have the cutest kids on the planet.

picketing

The teacher's union in our district (DVUSD #97) is rallying the teachers to picket for good faith salary bargaining. We will be picketing tonight at the DVUSD Board meeting (I have CCC or I'd be there), and tomorrow morning before school, and again after school, with schools rotating days from then on out until issues are resolved. The district has hidden numbers in the budget for next year, won't reveal them to the IBN team (the bargaining counsel of classified, certified, and district administration), and tells us there is not enough money but for a 1% raise. Other districts, mind you, have a salary schedule (where there is an incremental raise per year of experience and per specified amount of post bacheloriate education) and a percentage pay increase (normally another 1-5%) on top of that. We don't have a salary schedule anymore, and we are being told there isn't enough money but to give us all 1% as an increase. The teachers complained, some voices were heard, and the district upped that to 1.5%. This is still not enough of a raise, since there's no guaranteed salary schedule increase, and it's not ethical to withhold budgeting numbers from good faith negotiations. Not only this, but the state of Arizona overwhelmingly passed a measure a few years back titled Prop 301. Those in AZ at the time of the voting should know of it. Prop 301 was a proposition to give teachers a pay increase based on some performance hoops to jump through, but it was welcomed money as far as teachers were concerned. The only problem is the money first goes to the district to be dispersed from there. The district then gets to decide on how to distribute that amount. Our district has decided to give it's teachers only about 43% of that money (that was my latest update) when other districts are divvying out closer to 85% of that money to teachers. How is this reasonable? Would the general public, who overwhelmingly voted for this money to go to teachers, be satisfied with how DVUSD #97 is mishandling (and then misrepresenting) those monies and numbers? To top this all off (I know, that's a lot already), the district just built for itself a new building at the DO (district office) which cost over a million dollars to construct. We are a top-heavy district in need of some major oversight changes. The monies meant for teachers are being used to construct buildings and hire more administration to a district that says it honors its educators. There is too much money being used in this district for things that don't touch the lives of our students or affect their educational process in any way. Don't we even exist as an educational establishment because we are here to educate the generations to come? Aren't the students why we do what we do in the first place? Sure, those becoming teachers aren't in it for the money, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't be reasonably compensated for the professional duties that we perform. In a profession mostly made up of women, should we pay teachers less because, more than likely in some minds, this is the family's second income? Just because we get holidays and the summer off from school, does that mean that we work any less during those times? Is this going to be the only profession where someone must hold an outside job just to pay the bills for the family? What do you think?

beautiful, yet cursed

As you can seen in the fourth and last picture down, as the sun was setting in the west, there were ominous clouds and even a rainbow arching across the desert sky. How wonderfully enrapturing must nature have been before we tainted it with the curse!

in a new light

These pictures are of the same storm and sunset, just with a bit of different lighting, though.

desert sunset & storm

I took these pictures just north of the Valley of the Sun near Anthem, AZ. It was incredibly gorgeous watching the storm pour down its welcome moisture as the horizon caught fire with the setting of the sun. Breath-taking.

az quarter

Next year, 2008, the AZ State Quarter will be launched. They are polling here in AZ to see which quarter design people prefer. Here are the possible choices:

Which one do you like most? You can rank them here: http://www.azgovernor.gov/azquarter/QPoll.asp

aims math

Waste of time, anyone? Step right this way and take the AIMS test. You have to pass it to graduate, but not really. We can stick all of your grades into this formula we've concocted just to make sure that you graduate and we don't get sued...again. Don't you fret: you don't even have to know anything too deep about algebra or geometry. Most of our questions are simply common sense. If you can use one iota of logic, you'll pass with flying colors. And if you can't, we'll still move you on. Don't worry at all: as long as you can pay attention to a movie for an hour and a half, you'll have just what you need to exceed our expectations. Yes, step right this way for a waste of a day!

two weeks in review

It's been a while since I have written anything on here. Adam told me to write again and I said I would if he made a decision about dinner and my parents coming over here. He did so I am keeping up my end of the bargain. So a lot of things have happened since I wrote last, but it kind of feels redundant to talk about them because Adam already has...but he said I should do it anyway because I am different than he is so I will do it anyway. It seems like a really long time ago but High School winter camp was 2 weeks ago. Camp was really awesome this year, God answered prayer in a big way (He is a big God, right?). We have been praying for a while that God would change lives and save people at this camp, and He did! We had 15 students baptized when we came home on Sunday night. Some of them were saved at camp and some of hem rededicated their lives. It was such a great thing to come home and not be done. It was the first time that we have done a session on Sunday evening with the whole church. I really think it was good for the students and the parents, so everyone was on the same page and conversations could stem from the shared experience. It was a very good weekend, it was fun too. The dumb games and the hoedown. One of my girls had a cold while at camp an she decided that it would be nice thing to share it with me so I got it when we go home. Wow, it seems like a long time ago...moving on...So valentines day was this month. I got some flowers for me from Adam, they were very nice (thanks babe). And he gave me a very nice card and a sucker (thanks to one of his students, it was good too). Valentines day is nice but its really not that big of a deal. Its not like I don't know Adam loves me, he doesn't have o get me extra things on specific day to tell me that. I think that its just a scam from retailers to get people to spend more money. Ok, that was way too much time on that subject. So the family all came into town on Wednesday of last week. Beth, Joe, and Jon stayed with us and Vaughn and Kathy stayed at Irene's. It was a nice weekend with them here. Thursday night was here with Kathy's family, it was fun, always entertaining. Friday was pretty much all day wedding stuff. I took Charles and Allison's wedding that night, and was doing prep and pictures the majority of the day. It wore me out but I was really glad that I was able to do the wedding. I think the pictures turned out well, I hope the newlyweds agree, but if they don't they actually get a chance to retake their wedding pictures in May. Saturday was a fun day at the park. We took a large group photo of everyone while the out of towners were in town. Then we played games and hung out the rest of the evening. Sunday was church and Grandma Van's 100 birthday get together. We were late or both of the above events. We were going to go to HS group on Sunday morning but we didn't make it out of bed in time so we just went for second hour service. And we went home to let Aidan (and me) take a quick nap before Grandma's. We didn't quite make it in time for that either...which was kind of sad because they were going to have Adam do the opening prayer or lead some of the singing. Oh well, not a big deal. Grandma Van's party was really nice. She is pretty amazing, and hat is reflected in all the people that she has touched over her century of being alive. It was really nice to hear the stories that were remembered, and sing together thinking of all the she is going to join soon. It was kind of sad too, I am never too sure why believers cry at things like this but we do. I just pray that the nonbelievers that were there were touched by the love of Christ and the witness of Grandma Van. Monday was the trip of a lifetime to he Grand Canyon. It was the longest trip to the canyon I have ever made. It was cold, there was snow, there were cars and there was lots of parking. I think that's a pretty good summary of the day. I am not really sure how God intended to show His glory through that day but I am sure that he did somehow...I will get back to you on that one. On Tuesday I made a run to the airport and had a few other things hat needed to be done. Tuesday night was when everything caught u to me, I was (still am) sick through all of this. I don't think that all of the running around helped, but that ok, that's what the weekend was all about. So Tuesday night was the first night I didn't have something going on and I was very tired. I am still trying to heal from this cold...wouldn't you think that 2 weeks would be enough to feel better-good grief. And now Aidan is sick too. He made it for so long but then he got the flu. He had a fever and no appetite and threw up...a lot. I don't do so well with puke, it usually makes me puke too, but I made it through without throwing up. Aidan is now doing better but not 100%. He is such a good kid, he has only been kind of whiny and slightly more cuddly since he has been sick. I had a tea party this morning, but no one showed up except for my mom. That's ok I guess, I had some outside orders before the party and hope to get some more tomorrow. I felt kind of bad but Kelsey said she didn't care and got to do everything anyway to help train a new person. i guess that's all to talk about for now...I am going to have to write more often if I don't want this to take so long every time...

stormy az sky

On the evening that my family is coming in from AL, the AZ sky wanted to give them a little welcome with tons of rain. Here are a few pictures of the rainbow that came before the storm hit our place.

bethany's goodbye

Below is the post that my sister, Bethany, left on her blog about our Great Grandma Mildred Marcetta (Charles) Van Liew. Here is the link to the original post on Beth's blog: Great Grandma Van.

Last week we were informed that my Great Grandmother was very possibly on deaths door. Our family members were encouraged to say their good-byes. Since she is in Phoenix, my good-bye had to be done over the phone. I have never enjoyed talking on the phone about important things, I would much rather be face to face or write it all down. So, Joseph and I prayed and I made the phone call. I told her I loved her and that I was so thankful for the godly heritage she has passed down. That was about all I could get out and I was very disappointed. So I determined to write her a letter, whether or not she lived to receive it, I would feel better about writing all the things about her that were so important to me. This is what I said...

Dearest Grandma Van, I am so very thankful that God chose to give me a great grandmother like you. Mom and I were talking about you the other night and I realized it was you who first introduced me to sharing my faith. When we lived in Grandpa George's old green house down the street from you when I was in fifth grade, I went to Backyard Bible Clubs with you and Mrs. Singer. Thank you for watering that desire in my heart. The desire to see the lost come to know Christ is still very strong in my life and in the life of my husband, Joseph as well. So I really meant it when I said I am thankful for the godly heritage you have given your children and their children and their children, so we can in turn pass it on to our children.

I wanted you to know that Jonathan David has been dedicated to the Lord and we pray first for his salvation and second that he will be a godly man of integrity who does great things for the Lord. Selfishly, I wish that I could introduce you to Jonathan in February, but the better thing is to go to meet the Lord. What a glorious homecoming that will be! A long life, well lived! The Lord God will definitely say to you, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Your life has produced many ripples, like a rock thrown into water, you may never know how many other lives your 100 years of service have touched, but I am eternally grateful that I am counted among those lives. The godly counsel and wisdom you have gained you never kept to yourself and I thank God, that He prompted you to share it with others.

I love you so very much; I pray that it was evident in my life. Philippians 1:3 "I thank my God (and will continue to for all my days) upon every remembrance of you."

I sent it out the very next day and God has chosen to sustain her life thus far. So I know she will be able to read the words of my heart. I still have mixed feelings wanting to see her and wanting her to go ahead and be with the Lord. I am glad I don't have that decision to make, it is so good to be able to put all our trust in the Lord.

python boy...umm man

"Pythonboy" is Daniel Pruitt. We had an hour long conversation today as the GOB met on the phone across the country. The Group Of Brothers disbanded after Hector Cruz got married back in the days of GMTC. Chad Kitchens, Daniel, and I were still holding strong, but then I got married, too. Chad got married this last year, and that still leaves Daniel unpaired. And he's secure with where the Lord has him. So, we're trying to bring in a new era of the GOB, where marriage does not matter. Dan is in the Chaplain platoon at basic training in South Carolina (where I was born, by the way). I didn't know this, but Chaplains are actually considered officers. Daniel has a Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) from the seminary that he attended the last couple of years - I only have my bachelors (I've been married 4 years, though!). The Lord has decisively taken us different routes in life, but He uses different parts of the Body to do different tasks and to reach different people. I'd never be able to reach those soldiers in Iraq, and Dan wouldn't be able to reach the high school students I teach at DVHS in Glendale, AZ. The phone conversation was a great time to reacquaint ourselves with the other brother. I've missed Dan, but it is good to know that the Lord is working strongly in his life and is/will be using him to further the Kingdom and to glorify His name alone. "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name!"

fourth anniversary

Amy and I have now been married for a glorious four years. How lucky am I? Go ahead, tell me. Amy's gorgeous, she's able to stay home and take care of Aidan, Aidan's now 9 months old and loves to clap, Kate is maturing in the womb and will make her debut in another 5 1/2 months: life is good. Some fun to talk about regarding the day Amy and I spent together. We've made it a tradition to head up to Flagstaff for our anniversary, ever since our second anniversary. (We honeymooned there, just so you know.) We hit Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks, then headed out of town up the 17. There was a winter storm warning in effect until noon, according to the 511 service that I called. As we found out on our way up the hill, it was snowing very heavily within 30 miles of Flagstaff even at 2:00 pm. It was snowing so hard that the visibility was down to under half a mile at best. We got ourselves behind an SUV from Oregon and followed them all the way up the hill. They obviously knew how to drive in those conditions, and not many others did, as we passed many Arizona plates on the way up. As we would change lanes, the ice that was building up where no tires had been traveling made it to where we seemed to slide a little. The Lord kept us safe the whole way up, and it was a fun drive, praise Him. I truly enjoyed myself on that drive. Before the snow and the bad weather, just as we were coming down the large mountain that leads to Camp Verde, I was caught by DPS driving 76 in a 65 mph area. The road sign changed to 75 just tens of yards away from where the officer was camping out to catch speeders. I did get pulled over. We pulled off the road in Camp Verde (which we were going to anyway because it was time for lunch). The officer was the nicest man in a uniform that I've ever met. He told me how fast I was going, asked me where we were headed (I told him "Flagstaff, for our anniversary"), and he told me that he wouldn't ruin our anniversary by giving me a ticket. I wasn't afraid at all, and I didn't even have anxiety, and he just let us off. I couldn't believe it. We then went to the A&W/KFC, ate lunch, then headed back up the hill to follow the Oregon SUV. We made it up to the Barnes & Noble (as we do each time that we go) in order to get our regular journal purchase. We got a lot of board books (which were on major sale) for Aidan, and even got a stuffed animal dragon, too. We got some other books, too, like Eragon and a guide to poker (since I'm starting up a regular game, hopefully). I also got to buy a couple journals for me to take sermon notes in. My parents gave us money for our anniversary, so we used that for the purchase. We then went around NAU's campus and took some pictures of the winter weather on the trees and overall campus. It was gorgeous up there. We had a nice time up there in Flagstaff, even though we didn't go up past Flagstaff to take pictures in the aspens which we normally take (because of the weather and safety). We headed back down the hill earlier than any other year, but it was a good idea. The roads didn't get any better with the weather continuing to snow and rain, depending on the elevation. Again, the conditions made it hard to see, and the Arizona plates really didn't know what to do with the snowy conditions, but we were still able to enjoy the road home. It was solid rain or snow the whole way down the mountain: almost 150 miles worth of solid clouds without a break. We got back into town, we to Cucina Tagliani, ordered to go, went to Walmart, went back to pick up the food, headed home, and enjoyed our dinner while watching the Suns battle the Mavericks for a little while. We had left Aidan with the Ogles (my parents-in-law) for the day, very generous of them, and so we went to pick him up when we finished with dinner. The Ogles told us that Aidan was good and slept all of his normal naps. That was great to hear. We told him about what I've told you, and then we headed home. That was our fourth anniversary.

yo mama

Katherine Ann Van Liew (Bonsack) is my mother. She has been going through a lot of difficulties physically for years. First, she's had to have two back surgeries; both were very invasive and serious. The second surgery, the doctors (in AZ) went in and actually fused together two of her vertebrae, in order to stop the back problems she was having. She was in wrenching pain beforehand, and she was in wrenching pain afterward as she recovered for a long time. Amy (my wonderful wife of four years) and I were able to have my mom live with us for a month or so after the second surgery. It was hard for all of us, but the Lord pulled my mom through and has healed her back now. Second, my mom has had stomach issues for a long time. A couple weeks ago, the doctors (now in AL) decided it was time for my mom's gall bladder to be taken out. So it was. She then had a very hard week, or so, afterward in recovery; but the pain wasn't from recovery: something else was wrong. They found that her bile (liver produced) was somehow leaking where it shouldn't, so they had to go in again to place a stint where the issue was. They went in orthoscopicly (from which she's incurred no problems) and place the stint by her liver. The operation was a success. Starting a week ago, she's felt better than she's felt in a long, long time. She told me that she even got a leaf blower/vac and was enjoying going outside and using it to clean up the yard. She was excited about it even. What joy it brought me to hear my mom talk like that (meaning that she was feeling well enough to enjoy working outside). This past Friday, the doctors went again down her throat to remove the stint, and that was also successful. She was so out of it, though, from her anesthesia, that she called me, had a thirty minute conversation on numerous topics, but didn't even remember calling me the next day. How strange the human mind is (a thought from her). We talked the next day, resaid everything that had been said the day before (but I finished her sentences this time), and I enjoyed every minute of it. What a blessing it is to know that the Lord provides! To God be all the glory for the great things He has done which show off His character for us to see and respond to. That He would even give me a chance to respond! Love you, mom.

arizona

As I continue to think about it, I know my initial reaction of wanting to leave AZ was a wrong one. I was frustrated. I keep coming back to the fact that Christ is supreme, He is sovereign (has total control), and I can find comfort in that truth. I will remain in AZ in order to be the light that I am meant to be. I am meant to reach my community, my world, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am looking forward, with hope (expectant certainty), to what incredible things my incredible God is about to do.

the light shines brighter in the darkness

sad, sad day

As Arizona went to the polls today, they decided some very disappointing things: Janet Napolitano will have another 4 years, Terry Goddard will be the Attorney General, and it looks (at this point) that Prop 107 (marriage between one man and one woman only) will lose. I am saddened. I am upset that this state cannot see the tragedy of keeping Napolitano in office. It boths me even more that we might become the first state to shoot down a proposal to add to our states constitution that prohibits gay marriage. To tell you the truth, I had a thought to move from Arizona when I first heard these results. I am terribly downhearted. Goodnight.

God save AZ.

gubernatorial race

It is time for change in AZ. Janet Napolitano has consistently upheld her own liberal views of government and freedoms and become Arizona's highest vetoing governor. This simply depicts a governor who is detached from the desires of our state and people. The more wholesome and responsible bills that come her way, the more she pulls out her veto stamp and gets to work smashing what has taken our legislative branch weeks in preparation to get just right for our state's benefit. We have a democratic governor and a republican legislature. We are a conservative state which loves limited government and our consitutional freedoms. We need to be consistent in who we choose for governor. The man running in opposition to Janet, a man whose hand I have personally shaken, whose confidence is in the Lord, whose love is for his family and country, is Len Munsil. Desire progress in our state? Vote Len. Want to stop having the worst crime rate in the nation? Vote Len. Want a secure boarder? Vote Len. Want to change our educational system from being ranked dead last in the nation? Vote Len. There has been little accomplished the past four years. It is time for the right man to take the job. Visit Len's webpage at http://www.lenmunsil.com/ for his personally written blog, information about him and his family (consisting of his wife and 8 children), his goals for AZ, and much more. This man has my confidence and my vote. God bless America; God bless Arizona.