1 week down.. many more to go...

Finished the 1st week of work. It was a great week, but of course I always look forward to the weekends. :)

Mitch has been here this weekend. Tyler and him worked in our yard yesterday. Our yard has been in need of a mowing for a week now. (it's been raining a lot here-grass grows fast) Our mower and weed-eater needed to be serviced so they also did that too. So that to say our yard is looking good.. thanks to Mitch and Tyler.

We grilled steaks last night and they were awesome! Tyler and Mitch grilled them perfectly. Then we went to the movies and saw Babylon A.D. It was interesting, but kinda strange. I liked it.

I have to work tomorrow unlike the rest of the world, but it will be ok. I am looking forward to a 3-day weekend in Oct.


We are about to take our Sunday afternoon nap. Church was good this morning and Leal's Mexican food was yummy for lunch. until next time...

I LOVE TO TEACH!

Ok, so I just finished my 1st first day of school (since last year I came in two weeks into the school year and did not get the nerve-wrecking experience of a first day of school) But this year was my lucky year...and the first day I was actually dreading all last week, but the Lord taught me a lot in the mist of it. I remembered today after all my students had stormed out of my classroom at 3:50 pm what my mom told me last year at the beginning of my teaching adventure. She said, "Haley, with teaching, you just have to jump right in there and do what you know to do and when you're in front of that room facing those small faces, it will just come to you and you'll naturally do it" She is so right (of course). With her 15 plus years of experience she has so much wisdom and encouragement to give me so often. I told her recently that I do not think I would have made it through last year without her constant support, encouragement, and words of wisdom. She is the best mother in the world. Her and my mother-in-law are. I am so thankful I have two of the most wonderful and godly women as my dearest friends.

The first day of school went very well I think. The Lord got me through it, I had no doubt He would. I give Him all the praise for strengthening me. I think I am going to have a really neat group of students this year. They have the best names! I have a Pedro, Yiecel, Enrrique, Angelita, Astrid, Xavier, Anabel, two Gabriella's, Osvaldo, Noel (a boy), Orlando, Alexsia, Brenda...etc... They seem to be real sweet kids and smart too! I am excited to get to watch them grow, learn, and improve. It's so neat to see them at the beginning of the year and then see them at the end.

Please pray for me as I dive into this adventure and pray that the Lord gives me the grace to teach my best, and see each child through His eyes with love.

Tyler's nose

Well it has been 1 week since Tyler had his nose surgery. He caught a head cold this week and so he hasn't been able to breathe out of his nose very good due to that, so we haven't seen much of any difference yet than before. We are praying that it's just because it's still a little swollen and because of the cold and that he will soon benefit from having the surgery. Everyone we've talked to that has had the same surgery has said it has helped them so much. Hopefully Tyler will be able to say the same soon. He is doing well though and his nose seems to be healing ok.

He is now wrapped up in watching these videos on this small group, church wide, bible study called "The Truth Project". He will have to teach it to the youth small groups. So far he has been pleased with it and it shows a lot of some guys he respects (R.C. Sproul, Ravi Zacharias) The study is mainly suppose to help believers obtain a christian worldview centered on THE truth. Please pray for him and that this study will affect students and that they will come and be interested in it and many will be discipled through it.

Classroom complete!

Finally my classroom is complete and ready for students to enter and learn. I have worked pretty hard in preparing for this year. My hope is that these new students of mine will catch the passion to learn this year and work hard for me and for themselves. I am still praying so much for this year. It's my first "first day of school" since last year I came in 2 weeks into the year and just took over what another girl had already started. It will be interesting to see how it goes. Please pray it will be organized and fun, not chaotic and boring. I have 21 students this year, compared to my 17 last year. My room as you can see is quite small, so we will be scrunched in there pretty good. I am hoping that although I have a lot of kids I will still be able to connect with each of them and get to know them. Time is limited on chit chat it seemed last year, and with even more kids it will be even more hard to take the time to just talk with them.
My mission is to fix my eyes on Jesus each day and I pray the Lord gives me the grace to pray without ceasing and not go through my days ignoring His presence and help. My sweet friend, Meg, encouraged me with this verse recently:
"The Lord is my Helper, whom shall I be afraid? What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6
What can little 3rd graders do to me? Why should I fear? The Lord always sees me through. He did last year! And I trust He will again. And I know he uses my job to push me closer to Him and force me to call out to Him and cling to His strength.

This is my room. My co-teacher took the pic of me outside my door. The sign on my door my mom got Mrs. Ginger Calhoun to make for me last year. Everyone always asks where I got it and I wish I could get her to make all the teachers I work with one.

Also, my friend Jessica that I carpooled with last year left Bovina and moved to Farwell (a nearby town) to teach. So I have been praying the Lord would bring me a new friend, new teacher that I can really talk to, relate to, and minister to. Well He always answers my prayers!! The new 4th grade teacher is from Clovis and her name is Melissa. She is a believer and is really fun. I have enjoyed getting to know her so far and she is riding with me and 3 other women this year. The Lord blesses me and keeps me. I praise Him for my new friend and for providing me and Tyler jobs that we enjoy and love even if they are stressful at times.

Back to work..a little scared...

I actually feel like I have been working a lot this summer, even though it was my "vacation" time. I loved being off during these past 3 months. It may be one of my favorite things about being a teacher. :) It has been lots of time with Tyler (my fav hobbie) and helping him. I have been on a 10 day mission trip with Tyler and students in the youth group, to church camp for a week, helped plan the Mexico trip before we went, mowed our yard several times, finally finished our scrapbook, and now have taken care of my husband who just had surgery.
BUT, I have also been on a week trip back to east Texas to see my family & niece, gone to Snyder for the 4th with Tyler, and also taken a trip to Cancun with Tyler.
WHAT A SUMMER IT HAS BEEN.
The Lord has taught me so much and I am still contemplating everything.
And now He is sending me back to teach for a 2nd yr. I have been reading another book about fear and anxiety called " Running Scared" by the same guy who wrote "When People Are Big and God is Small". I think sometimes, man I have a lot to be afraid of or worry over! What if I can't get pregnant? What if my new class has really poor behavior ? I have to deal with a new and different set of parents this year, what will they be like? I hope I will teach my new students as well as I did last year, I hope I will teach them better! Will I teach them to have character and not just math? What if I get too tired and stressed this year? What if I do get pregnant and then I'm tired all day at work or throwing up? Will I be able to share the gospel with any of my co-workers this year? What if i don't have the courage to? Lord, I don't want to fail you. I want to take hell and eternity seriously and use this job for your glory and will. Am I ready to be a mother? Are Tyler and I mature enough yet? How long will you make us wait? I am so excited...make me patient Lord.

These are fears I have been recently dealing with. But God is faithful to bear my burdens and carry them for me, all my fears. I remember a time in college when I was dealing with some stuff and my best friend, Melissa, wrote me a note and she said "You are safe in His hands" just thinking about that is such truth to my heart. No matter my fears or worries God has me in His hands!!!! His hands! Whew...that's awesome. And He holds these things and all I have to do is think about Him, pray, and worship him and know He will strengthen me and perservere me and no matter what happens He is still good and will always be good and I will spend eternity with Him..delighting in Him and being fullfilled by Him.
"delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

Tyler recovering

Here he is. He hasn't been in alot of pain, thank goodness for pain med. I was going to buy him some get well balloons, but knew he wouldn't really care for them, but I knew he would be really excited if I bought him a get well book. He's been wanting Tim Keller's "The Reason For God" so I got him that one and as I expected he was extremely excited about it when I showed him in the recovery room at the surgi-center. He has been enjoying it as he's had lots of time to just read and rest. I made him a peach smoothie this morning (that;s the other thing he's holding

Nose surgery success...

Tyler had his deviated sectum fixed today in Lubbock. His mom and dad and younger brother came to support and everything went well. We are home now after being pulled over by a highway patrolmen on the way home telling me I was speeding when I was only going 71. (and yes, I know that is technically speeding). After he saw Tyler laid back in the passenger seat with gauz covering is nose and an ice pack over his eyes and cheeks, he became very gracious and gave me a warning. This, i might add, is the FIRST warning Haley Anne Hicks has ever recieved. I always, always, always get the ticket and never get grace. And the only reason I did this time was because my husband looked like he was in severe pain and the guy knew I was just trying to get him home asap. So anyways...I was thankful he just gave me a warning. I like warnings.

Tyler is doing ok as of right now. He is taking pain med and can basically only breathe through his mouth right now. He is a strong man, dealing with all this. Our saying going into to it was "Think about the results (breathing through BOTH nostrils again) and not the process." I told him his theme song would be "Just Breathe" by Faith Hill. So thats what's going on around here in Clovis, New Mexico. Thanks to you guys who were praying for Tyler. He really appreciates it. Goodnight.