Biltmore House

Biltmore House
Summer 2009

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Spring Break Part Two

So what if it has taken me two weeks to start Part Two of the Spring Break blog? I've been living and enjoying life. Besides, most of the people who read this pretty much know what is going on in our lives anyhow, right?! Let's face it...I'm not the best blogger!



Here's Matt at the pond shooting turtles! What an adventure! Mr. Steve actually brought down the "big gun" for us! Don't even ask me what kind it is...



All I know is that I shot it, and it scared me to death!!

We caught some more fish....


...went to Gantt Lake and fished on a boat...


...Molly had a photo session...


...and my little sister turned eight years old.



All in all, we had a great Spring Break! Now, the countdown to summer begins!!








Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Dear Spring Break, Why Did You Leave So Soon?

Part One: Spring Break 2011

This picture sums up our time at home! Smiling, fishing, and relaxing with our family made our Spring Break an enjoyable experience this year. Last year we went on a cruise, we're heading west in May, so there was only one place we wanted for this year's time off...HOME!Our first day off was spent with sweet Sophie! She is such a joy to be around!! Matt pushed her around and around the house in her car singing, "Hi boys!! It's Spring Break 2011!!" I just laughed and laughed at the two of them celebrating our time off.
Mollie loved spending time with Matt and Sophie outside! I made sure to keep her on the leash, but she did so well with Soph. Mollie was super excited to be around a child! She would shrink down to the ground and roll onto her belly so they could pet her! Licking is Mollie's specialty, so she made sure to give Sophie some "hand sugar."The next day we went to Destin, FL to shop and visit the beach. We ate lunch at The Crab Trap and were able to sit outside next to the shore. We are so glad to be a bit closer to the beach and family.







The next few days we spent around the farm. As you all know, Matt is always one to stay busy doing something, so I'll share later what all he accomplished during the break...





























Wednesday, March 16, 2011

My Loves!

I love coming home to these two every afternoon! Happy Wednesday to everyone!

Praise God that testing happens next week! I don't think I could handle another week of test preparation. For the last few days I've put my students into leveled groups to review for standardized tests, and for the first time today, my kiddos finally ALL made 100's! I literally mean that every single group answered every single reading question correctly. My "lows," "mediums," and "highs" each read a different passage and answered six to ten reading comprehension/reading vocabulary questions. It is just what I needed today! God is so good! I'm so blessed to be serving God's children. Thank you, Lord, for my job!

On a more serious note, please be in prayer for my brother and sister-in-law, Mark and Whitney. Their sweet angel daughter, Sophie, has been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia in her right lung. Please pray for God's healing touch on Sophie and for peace and comfort for Mark and Whitney. The whole family is extremely concerned for her health, but we trust in the Father to take care of her while we all feel so helpless.

However, I find comfort in James 5:16. It instructs us to "Confess [our] trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that [we] may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. " Join with me in prayer for Sophie. I hope you have an amazing week.

In fervent prayer,
Coty

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Day 2 of C25K!


Although Mollie didn't join me, she totally enjoyed the sunshine this afternoon! When I came home from work, she was stretched out in the sunshine soaking up the warm rays! I had to laugh a little at her simple life. I know it might sound crazy, but she has brought a lot of joy to the Geohagan home!

Ok, so back to C25K. I hate to admit it, but I'm sore! I'm so out of shape that it's pathetic. It's truly amazing how much more energy I have after I exercise! I had no problem cranking out a decent meal for supper, washing the dishes (oh how I miss a dishwasher!!), and getting in a short blog post! Matt joined me for Day 2, and we listened to music as we walked and ran. Of course, he would run circles around me occassionally; however, I reminded him that "slow and steady wins the race!" In the end, he became distracted and stopped to talk to another coach while I continued for two laps around the track at the high school. That's what he gets for bragging about being such an athlete! I couldn't help but smile when he showed me his little blister from today. Aww...poor baby! :)

I've been looking for a Bible verse to recite to myself while I walk/run. I've decided on 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. It reads, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (NIV)

Often times I forget that my body was bought and paid for by the blood of Christ. It is God's design that I honor Him by taking care of this temple that houses a part of Him, the Holy Spirit. Jesus bridges the gap that my sins create daily between me and my Father. Therefore, my prayer is that of thanksgiving for God making a way for me, a sinner undeserving of God's mercy and grace. I also pray that God may stir your heart to draw closer to Him. Join with me in prayer for our nation and each other to surrender our hearts and bodies to things that honor God.

In Him,
Coty

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Where did all the beautiful sunshine and warm weather venture off to? I mistakenly became excited with the few days of decent weather thinking that it might stick around for more than just a day or two. So that leaves Matt and me to sit around the house, watch television, and stare at each other while Mollie jumps from recliner to couch to floor and back to recliner again every time it thunders. Maybe I'll sleep well listening to the rain tonight.

School is going well for both Matt and me. At the middle school we're preparing for the ARMT and SAT 10. I guess since we live in a world full of alphabet soup tests...ACT...AGE...OLSAT...we might as well get used to teaching to the test. All my fellow teachers out there can sympathize with this nonsensical method of educating Alabama's youth; however, we must cooperate with the "powers that be," right?! My kids at school are TOTALLY burned out on reading passages and answering questions. Heck, I'm tired of going over the passages and explaining how to find the answers!!

Here's the highlight of my school day today: "Student A" stole "Student B"'s newest kicks from the locker room and wore them around school all day. "Student C" decided that I was the lucky teacher who needed to take care of the whole situation. Yay for me! Students have become professionals at wasting time and doing everything else in the world except English. In the same breath that I use to complain, I want to express my thankfulness to the Lord for my job and the blessing of His children in my life. I spend half my class time supplying pencils, paper, and kleenex to miniature people whom God created and loves more than I'll ever know. Welcome to my life, and praise God I have a job! Has God not called us to serve? I pray that God will give me a servant's heart. I truly desire to be His "good and faithful servant."

Tomorrow is day 2 of C25K (Couch to 5 K), and I'm hoping that I don't drown in the attempt! I'm hoping I'll enjoy being outside and spending time mellowing out after a day of work. Matt has track practice after school now, so I'm back to having some time to myself. I try to enjoy the time I have alone although I miss him dearly while he's at work. We're both extremely blessed to be working and busy doing the things we love.

I made hot spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips tonight. Here's the recipe I used:

2 boxes of frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed
1 can of artichoke hearts, drained
8 oz of cream cheese
1/2 cup of sour cream
1/2 cup of parmigiano reggiano cheese
1/2 cup of your favortite cheese (I used a cheddar and colby mix)

Mix ingredients and bake at 350 for about 20-30 minutes. Yummm...

Matt and I are still hoping our house in Russellville will sell soon. Please, please pray for us as we have this in the forefront of our minds. I can't begin to explain the peace we have with our decision to move or how God has opened our eyes to His will for our lives; however, our fleshy hearts desire for someone to come along and cherish our home as much as we did. Therefore, let me finish this post with God's direction for our lives. Even if we don't quite know God's plan, we can lean on His Word. Proverbs 3:6 promises us, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Psalm 37:23 tells us, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord...." And Isaiah 30:21 informs us, "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left."

May God bless your week!

Searching His Will,
Coty

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Welcome 2011!



Matt and I had a wonderful holiday season at home in both Andalusia and Florala with a dash of Orlando, FL sprinkled into the mix. We could hardly wait until school let out on Friday, December 18, 2010, but now I wonder where all the time off went! We spent the first half of the break in Orlando with Uncle Danny. We went to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We still had to get our Disney "fix," so we went to all of the Disney resorts and Downtown Disney. I was able to take some great pictures at some of the resorts. I've posted more pictures on my Facebook profile.













We came back home on the 23rd, and if at any point we were in Florala, Matt (I only helped a little bit) picked up pecans, used the chainsaw, cut some firewood for his parents, split firewood, hauled firewood, picked up some more pecans, loaded up firewood in the truck, unloaded firewood off the truck, picked up pecans again, mowed the leaves, took pecans to the pecan house to be sold, fed pecans to Mollie, cracked pecans for me...let's just say, he kept himself extremely busy. It makes me tired just typing it all. He loves spending time on the farm, and I was so glad to see him doing the things he loves.













Mollie also took full advantage of being on the farm during the holidays. I think she ran from the time she was let out the door until we walked back into the house at the end of the day. Every night she would literally "crash" on one of us on the couch. She was an exhausted little dog. Honestly, I really think she loves spending time at Grandma and Grandpa's house in the refreshing, open air!! I know we do as well.



We also spent some time in Andalusia with my family. We played Dirty Santa for the first time this year, and we all had a blast! Granny's gift was stolen several times, which made the game hilarious, and I'm thinking that this tradition may continue in the years to come! Granny and Momma made a wonderful meal, Uncle Danny made some fab desserts (carrot cake, strawberry pies, ambrosia...yummmm), and Tay, Hunter, and I brought some appetizers. Matt and I miss spending time around the table with our families during the year, but spending time with everyone over the holidays brought us a whole lot of joy to end the 2010 year.







We also loved spending some time with Miss Priss! I think she had a great first Christmas! Matt and I really enjoyed watching her smiling face this holiday season!




Soph really is one of the happiest, most beautiful babies I've ever seen! We have such an amazing family and are so blessed to have been able to spend time with them.
In conclusion, my verse for this post comes from Colossians 3:23-24. As many of us start back to our jobs this new year, let us remember what God's Word tells us about what we do with the time we've been given. It reads,"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." I pray that you will serve the Lord "with all your heart" and find yourself closer to his presence this new year.
Seeking His Will,
Coty