Principal Diem!

We have some GREAT NEWS to share with the world- Chris has recently accepted a new position as principal of Salado Junior High School!  He will begin sometime in July and will be running his very own campus.  He is so excited and we can't wait for the new adventure to begin.

The best part of this story is that this job found HIM, rather than the other way around.  It is such confirmation that the Lord opens and closes doors!!!!!!

This evening, we went to the Salado ISD School Board meeting, and Chris was introduced to the board members and some parents and even some of his new staff that came specifically to meet him.  He signed his contract and is SO READY to start working!


Congrats, Chris!  I am so proud of you and your passion for teenagers.

Happy 1st Birthday, Cohen!

Oh, what a difference a day makes.

In one day, our lives CHANGED.  As in, they would never be the same.  EVER.

Sweet boy, TODAY IS YOUR DAY.  You made us parents, and we are forever blessed.  Every moment of your birthday is so easy to relive, as if it happened yesterday, instead of 365 ago.  Every moment of fear, elation, nervousness, and PURE JOY at your arrival is real and fresh.  Every picture in my mind's eye is of your perfect tiny body, your daddy's toes, and your momma's red eyebrows.

We are better people because of you.  We are better parents because we get to be yours.  We have learned more in this year than we have our whole lives.  We have loved more in this year than we have our whole lives.  We have cried more in this year than we have our whole lives.  Even though our tears could fill an ocean, we don't cry for you... we cry for us.  We miss you so much it hurts, but we know where you are.

We are SO BLESSED to know that you are MORE of our future than you ever were of our past.  We know that you spent 53 minutes with us on earth, we will spend many years missing you, but we will spend FOREVER with you.

You have impacted an innumerable about of lives in your short one.  Marriages are stronger, families are more connected, people have come to know Jesus, and you have been a part of Christ's purpose on this earth.  We hope more than anything that when people hear your story, they see Christ's fingerprints all over it.

We say you were so young, we say you came too early, but we KNOW, sweet boy.  You came EXACTLY when you were supposed to, you went EXACTLY when you were supposed to, and you fulfilled Christ's purpose for your life in EXACTLY the way He called you to.

Today, we celebrate.  We celebrate the precious life that you are.  We celebrate Christ the Redeemer, who brings everyone to Him.  We celebrate the gift that you have been and we celebrate the JOY you have brought to our lives.

We love you with our whole hearts, and sometimes so much that it hurts.  Heaven is a little closer on days such as these, and we hope your window is open wide.  Cohen, pray for us!

Community.

The Lord has really been working in my heart and in my life the last year or so about the way I live my life.  He has made it so abundantly clear to me that we were not made to live alone or isolated- but that we are called to live in community.

I have read the book of Hebrews countless times- I think it speaks volumes about the lives we lead and the testimony we are called to share.  But sitting at church this last week, my eyes kept being pushed back to Hebrews 10.

"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.  Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." -Heb. 10:23-25

I say it often, and it sounds weird, but I LOVE my people.  They aren't MY people, as in they belong to me, but they are MY people, as in the people who I see and/or talk to on a constant basis that pour into my life.  Last night at our small group, I sat quietly from my perch (which I rarely do, usually I'm visiting) and I just watched.  It was seriously incredible.  I watched as some of the people dearest to me just LOVED each other... and how well they do it.  Serious conversastions, hysterical laughter, tears over pain, illness, deployment, loss, change... they were all there somewhere.  I can't help but he so incredibly grateful that I have been given this community.

Another community that has been incredible is the blog community... and I know that sounds bizarre, but I have "met" some of the most incredible people through blogging, and usually there is a distant mutual friend with a blog that links through, and sometimes, its things like this.  Recently, I linked up with Kelly's Korner and I am overwhelmed by the community found from women who are kindred. 

Today, I feel blessed.  Overwhelmed.  Overjoyed.  Hopeful. 

Thank you God, for all your gifts.  Especially the ones in the form of people.

On Gilmore Girls and life.

Raise your hand if you miss Gilmore Girls.

Keep your hand up if you miss it so much that you quote it often, just to make sure it feels like it's still around.

GUILTY.

My mom does NOT like the show.  She thinks that they talk too fast and that her brain can't keep up.  I happen to think that the creators were brilliant and I loved every minute I spent in Stars Hollow.

Do you remember the episode about Luke's "dark day?"  In the storyline, it happened to be the day that his dad passed away and each year, on that day, he sort of disappeared from the world.  But the next day, he'd be back and raring to go, busy with the usual tick of his life.

I feel like that sometimes.  But mine don't happen once a year, they happen far more often.  The problem (or good thing, however you want to view it) is that I don't get the option of disappearing.

I told Chris that, just for today, I wish I had a job that I sat in a cubicle in front of a computer and I didn't have to talk to anybody.  And oh, how I wish I did.

But teenagers don't work like that.  They see you.  They analyze you.  They are way more intuative than I give them credit for.  I've heard "Mrs. Diem, you doing okay today?" about thirty times in 5 class periods and somehow, it is comforting.

The "dark days" happen.  I've sort of begun to see them as a normal part of life right now.  I never know when they'll come, there's no pattern to them, and I never know how long they'll last.  I still function, I still work, I still have joy.... but it's all dark in those little spaces between them.

Maybe someday it'll stop.  Maybe it never will.  I'm okay with that.

Quote of the weekend

Last night, Chris and I were watching Big Bang Theory and I looked over at him.  The following scene ensues.


Me:  "Hey Chris, what was your favorite moment of the weekend?  I feel like this was such a great weekend."

C:  "I don't know.  What was yours?"

Me:  "I think I liked our relaxing Sunday morning.  Getting to sit and talk and not rush."

C:  "I liked the breakfast sandwich."

(I had made him a breakfast sandwich on Saturday morning.)

Me:  "Wow.  Nice."


--------------------------------------------
Love that silly guy!

Lenten Blessings

In the denomination I was raised into (and L-O-V-E), I never really considered the concept of Lent.  To be honest, Lent was one of those things the Catholics did.  One of those things that was foreign, unknown, weird even.  One of those things that separated.

I talk about it pretty often on this blog, but being married to Chris challenges me.  It makes me think.  It makes me study.  It makes me read my Bible in a way I've never read it before.  I always read scripture to be encouraged.  Now I read it to STUDY.

Lent of 2010 (my first being married to Chris) was really encouraging to me.  I was attending a seriously awesome church (Catholic) that was both convicting and uplifting.  It was my first time to truly observe Lent (I did a 40 day fast my sophomore year of high school but it was in like October or something).  In my way of "easing" into the concept, instead of fasting away from something, I instead added into my quiet time a few extras that I really wanted to enrich my study.  I found myself, for the first time, ANTICIPATING Easter.  Looking forward to it.

Lent of 2011 was different because I was 5 months pregnant.  We had just found out that Cohen was a boy and so everything seemed pretty fresh and joyful.  Lent didn't seem solemn last year. BUT, after continuing my quiet time additions, I was truly convicted that the world has holidays totally mixed up.  The most important holiday in Christianity is Easter.  Christmas gets WAY more attention, but without Easter, we'd have no hope.

For Christmas this year, Chris gave me an incredibly beautiful Advent/Lenten teaching tool.  It was created by the Voskamp family and is used as a visual to teach families about anticipating.  It looks something like this...



(Picture was taken from her website- this is not my actual wreath)

On the wreath, there is a figure of Christ and the cross for Lent, and a figure of Mary on the donkey for Advent.  If this interests you, you can go to her website and order one.


So, for Lent this year, in the Diem house, Chris and I each have an individual thing we are going to do for these next 40 days.  Together, we are going to be reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan (Chris told me to pick out the book, so hey Chris!  Guess what?!  We're reading Crazy Love!)

My individual thing is called 40 bags in 40 days.  I've been reading the book 7 by Jen Hatmaker over the last few weeks and she has really challenged my beliefs about excess and living the Gospel.  Therefore, I am getting rid of 40 bags of stuff in 40 days.  Now, this will have to be amended because of my work schedule, but it will be 40 bags nonetheless.  My list looks like this:

1.  My clothes
2.  My shoes
3.  Jewelry box
4.  Our linen closet
5.  Nightstand
6.  Under the bathroom sinks
7.  Rest.
8.  Laundry room
9.  Pantry
10.  Refrigerator
11.  Spice Cabinet
12.  Tupperware
13.  Under the kitchen sink
14.  Rest
15.  Kitchen junk drawer
16.  Entryway closet
17.  Guest closet #1
18.  Guest closet #2
19.  Guest linen closet
20.  Under guest bathroom sink
21.  Rest
22.  Make up bag
23.  Car console
24.  Rest of Car
25.  Magazines/books
26.  Cook books/recipes
27.  Desk @ work
28.  Rest
29.  Classroom cabinet
30.  Classroom cabinet
31.  Classroom cabinet (its full of TONS of stuff- most not mine)
32.  Classroom bookshelf
33.  Classroom folders
34.  Computer folder files (personal)
35.  Rest
36.  Computer folder files (work)
37.  Living room ottoman
38.  My dresser drawers
39.  Invite/magazine/envelope drawer
40.  Purses


Every 7 days, I will rest.  Following the ultimate example.

I hope that Lent is for you a time of reflection, growth, and anticipation.

Our Love Story

Today, I'm linking up with From Mrs. To Mama to bring you...

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

Chris and I have been together 3 1/2 years.

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

We met at my brother's high school graduation party.  Chris was one of the teachers at his school and had been invited to the party.  He brought him over to where I was talking to my mentor, Dr. Criswell, and we jumped into conversation.  He ended up at our home the next evening to celebrate my brother's graduation post-ceremony and we've been together ever since.

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

We've been married 2 1/2 years.

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?  If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

We were married at my church in our hometown by my Uncle.  We had over 400 people there.

 

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

He calls me Jess.  I usually call him honey or Chris or, when I'm making fun of him, I call him Tophems.

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

1.  Chris is one of the hardest workers I know.  He is driven and purposeful in everything he does.

2.  He is an incredible father.  He honors our son every day and it makes me so proud to be his wife.

3.  He is hilarious.  We laugh a LOT.   

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

He took me to the foundation slab of the church we would be married in (they were building it at the time) and proposed at the place on the foundation where the altar would be.

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

He is a bottle of wine and a walk kind of guy

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

I am a little bit of each.

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

If we could go anywhere together, we'd go to Vatican City.

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day. 

We had an early Valentines' meal with some wonderful friends this weekend, so we are just having dinner, wine, and watching a movie together tonight.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Chris got me a pendant from James Avery that are two hearts interlocking to create a butterfly.

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love. 

Chris and I have experienced the highest high and the lowest low that you can find as a married couple.  We are firm believers in enjoying the good times and loving hard in the tough.  We also believe in being as mentally committed as you are emotionally committed.

14.  Show us a picture of what love means to you.

Happy Valentines' Day from the Diems!