The Ruckers on a Mission

Seriously Long Time

2012-01-11T20:38:00.000-08:00

I had no idea how long it had been since I have blogged. I have decided that I want to get back to doing this blog as a way to help grow my faith a little better. I feel that if I can get my real feelings out there instead of bottling them up and mulling over them by myself, I will be open to something great happening. The way I figure it, real feelings will equal will truth and growth. A lot of times I keep the real emotions and what is really going through my head to myself and sort of wear a "I am doing good" mask. I feel that I am supposed to keep up the idea of good because I am a Christian and my husband is now working as a minister in a vocational position.

I know that I am supposed to have more faith than what I do, but lately that faith has taken a beating to the point that I am not sure where my level of faith is anymore. It's not like there is a faithometer that exists, but if it did, my readings would be dismal for a few months now.

Going into the vocational ministry was a prayerful consideration from both Casey and me. We spent many months discussing and praying about whether he should quit his full-time job to go work part-time at our church and part-time at some other job. Now, I know that maybe we didn't pray about it as much as we should have together, but it was something that was constantly on my heart and mind. Anything that occupies my heart and mind that much, ends up in conversation with God for the biggest part of my alone time. We really both knew that God has called us to ministry, and felt that this was finally his opportunity to do something that he loves and has a passion for.

It was a great day the day that we said that we were on board for this new journey. I did not realize the journey would be this hard or that my faith would be so tested. To say that things have been hard, would be an understatement, or so I feel. There have been a lot of financial struggles that have been answered or fixed and some that have not. We are still in limbo on a few very important ones. For example, Casey's vehicle is broken down and we have not had the money to fix it. At some point, the fix would have been a radiator for a few hundred dollars, but for whatever reason or the fact that we are not the most responsible people, it did not get fixed. Eventually this caused the problem we have now which is a blown head gasket. This is about a 2000 dollar fix. That is money that we do not have. I will take this time out to say that a very kind and generous person from our church named Will has let Casey borrow his Jeep for many weeks. We are so very thankful for his generosity during this time. For whatever reason, Will does not need his Jeep everyday. I would love to not need a vehicle every day.

Anyways, the broken vehicle is one of a few things that have not gone right for us since going into the vocational ministry. I tell myself that we are just being attacked spiritually. I remind myself of Bible characters such as Job and Joseph. I am certain that they were stronger than I am. My Bible never mentions them sitting in a car, closet, or dark backroom crying their eyes out. Throughout all of this I keep wondering two sides of the same idea: if we are doing what God wants us to do, then why is everything not being taken care of, so are we doing what He wants; or, are we doing something that is so right and on God's path to greatness that the Devil is using everything he has to throw at us...

Now some of my friends that read this may not be on board for all the spiritual warfare stuff. Some of you don't believe it or know about it or are now beginning to think that I am one of those really weird way out there Christians. Trust me, I am not. Spirits are constantly at battle over our souls; look it up.

Tonight, as I am tired already and not had a great day with no answers on some pending problems, I was meet with what seemed to be more bad news. No payday for Casey this Friday from his second job like we were expecting, but instead on Monday. Then to think that Monday will be a bank holiday, we will have no money until Tuesday. We are sitting over here with not much gas in our vehicles and less than zero in our bank account. That's literal, not just figurative language. We have no credit cards to just go get more gas or whatever we need. We cut out credit cards years ago because we are the worst financial couple in the history of bad spending.

So to literally add insult to injury I fell when I was getting into the shower this evening. I do my best thinking in the shower and I can to sort of an epiphany. For whatever reason, I have somehow linked my happiness to how much money is in our account. Other people find their happiness in their weight or in what they look like, but I seem to only be at some peace when there is enough money to go around.

I do not know why I do this, but it seems that this is normally the case. I do want to focus more on what should make me happy and have joy. I want real joy and true happiness. I want to be able to separate in my head the worry about finances from everything else. I don't want that to be what is plaguing my every thought for almost every day. I have tried time and time again to just hand it over to God and have faith that he is going to provide and supply all of our needs only to still lay down at night and wonder where such and such bill will get paid or when it will get paid. I am always strategically thinking about which or what will come out of what pay check and what will be left. I hate all this worry and I hate money even more.

I want to be freed from all of this worry and learn to look around me to be happy and to find my joy in Christ. I assume this will take time and more prayer. It will be my new journey in this new year.

The Last Few Weeks Before D-Day

2010-11-08T19:09:00.000-08:00

It is now November and finally cool enough where I am not so hot anymore. The people in my house were getting a little fed up with being cold all the time just so that I wasn't so hot...but oh well, they had to deal for the time being. Baby Rucker #2 will be here in somewhere around 3 weeks. Zoey Hope Rucker is sue December 1st. I go tomorrow for another ultrasound to see how big she might already be. I am feeling pretty huge, but I have only gained about 6 pounds for this entire pregnancy. I guess she is taking up room that was already there, and that is totally fine! For Halloween Aimee was a great little fairy...

I am a little scared about being out for weeks at a time and leaving my students to someone else. I am not sure how well they will do without me there everyday nagging them to do what they are supposed to do. I guess that is where their own responsibility will come into play. I will see who is responsible and who is not at all... I had a great shower a few weeks ago given by some great friends! The cake was great and the presents for Zoey were awesome and VERY helpful.

The week before the shower, Casey lost his job at Game Stop. Something dumb that happened and they had to let him go because of certain policies. He has been in the process of finding something else. He just needs to be where God wants him to be, and then he will be happy. It is a little scary no knowing when or where he will have a job again especially going into maternity leave where I will start to lose money after a certain amount of days off. As I sit here, my feet are swelling thanks to Zoey, and my food is not settling. It will be another night of Tums. Our old computer room is now officially Zoey's room. It is repainted and has her stuff in it now. Our room addition in the garage has really come a long way in a matter of just a few weeks, which is very comforting to a person like me. I was getting really anxious there for a while. It was all very overwhelming to think about. Now it is just a few more things to finish it off, and put stuff in there. Now comes the hard part of lesson plans and grading with a newborn from my house. It will all work out and we will survive. I still have to find somewhere for little Zoey to go once I go back to work on January 17th. I am just not too excited about having to leave her. It's just what has to happen now. I have to work. The holidays are right around the corner and this year will be very different. Casey and I are used to being the parents of one little person. We only have to think about her gifts and such, and from now on, there will be more to think about. I never thought we would be a family of 4. We were a small little group of 3 for so long, life will be so different from now on, and not in a bad way. One more little girlie to love along with bows, barbie, babies, tea parties, and....the list goes on and on...

Summer Time is the best time...

2010-07-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

To get things done. We have started changing part of our garage to make it into an office. It is unfortunately a slow process, and I am not very helpful. My mom and Casey have made good progress. There is a floor in there now, and soon there will be a wall. Eventually it will be to a point where I can actually help do things in there because it does not require lifting heavy things. Texturing the walls and painting are all things I can do. I am anxious to get to that stage.

Casey and I got to go to camp with our youth this year to Orange Beach, AL. It was a great time, but the beach water was unfortunately somewhat gross. The sand was beautiful and everything was very clean on land. The water was a disappointment for me.

The "camp" experience for me and our students was great however! I think they all learned a great deal about their

relationships with Jesus and what He has called them all to do and be. There were a lot of questions asked and I think they all learned a ton!

Before the week of camp, I spent a week in Austin doing some stuff for TAKS test. My mom and Aimee came with me so that I wasn't all alone the whole week. They had a lot of fun roaming downtown Austin while I was in meetings all day. I was jealous of all the things they went to do without me. Aimee took my camera and did a good job at taking pictures of their adventures. There are quite a few of the state capitol building and some other random pictures of a squirrel.

The day we all left for Austin was my first ultrasound for baby #2. Aimee was so excited when the ultrasound tech said that baby #2 is a GIRL...poor Casey will be outnumbered 3 to 1.

I was excited to try to get to use some of the stuff I still have from Aimee...we will see since the two of them are born in opposite seasons... So baby girl is due December 1 and she still needs a name. We keep floating back and forth between a few different ones that I will not say, but we cannot make a final decision. I don't remember it being this hard to pick a name when we were expecting Aimee. Aimee is super excited to be a big sister. She has helped me pick out some stuff at Target and Babies R Us. I had no idea how much stuff is out there now for babies. And how much of it is not really needed. So baby girl now has some clothes and toys and books sitting in the corner of what will be her room. We are not sure what will happen when I have to go back to work after she is here, but I guess time will tell. I do not like the idea of a day care center. I really want to find someone that will watch her at their house or something. Ideally, that would be the best. Maybe we could win the lottery or something and I can just stay home...LOL.

The rest of our summer will be spent getting ready to go back to school. Aimee is getting on up there as a big 3rd grader. We will get to see who her teacher will be in the next few weeks. She is also being placed in the GT class for the next year which will give her a chance to be challenged more. She is excited about that. She thinks that she will get to make a project of the solar system at some point and that one thing is what she wants to do most...I am not sure why.

In the fall, Casey and I will be moving from being with the youth to a new formed college group at our church. We were asked to lead it and we are really excited about being around some older students and digging into Bible study deeper. It will be great! The students should be really great too because this will be new for them too and they are excited to have somewhere to go. We don't want to lose them just because they graduated.

All in all, we love summertime around here, and hate to see it go away.

Crazy times

2010-04-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

I have decided I am not good at this blogging thing. I am so behind. Always. We have had an interesting Spring, so far.
Aimee joined softball for the first time. We have practices and games all the time, it seems. She had really improved. Is it bad for me to be happy that there are only two games left for this season? I am very tired. I am ready to stay at home for once. She thinks that she wants to play next year, so we will see when that time comes around again. She really has fun playing, although she is not the best. She is the cutest one on the team.

Aimee at bat.

I am busy finishing up everything for prom. I was placed prom coordinator for our school this year. I do not envy anyone who has ever had to do something like this. There are so many things to think about. It is worse than a wedding reception, I believe. This Saturday is out prom, so everything should be great after that. There is also only about 5 weeks of school left until summer. I cannot wait. I need the rest.
Casey has started a new job with Game Stop. It was a good opportunity for him to be a little more helpful with us here at home, and a great way to get away from Giglio. I think he was fearing downsizing. He is just in his training right now, but soon will be in his own store managing some people. He seems to like it. It seems like a good fit as long as games do not start traveling home with him instead of paychecks.
We will soon have to do some changing around the house. My summer will be occupied with organizing and throwing away. If you haven't heard, baby Rucker # 2 will be here in December. She/he will need a room, the computer will have to move. We are thinking about closing in part of our garage to make a small office. We will see what the budget allows for. We are not the best financial decision makers, so we really rely on God a lot to help us. Prayer is also a necessity.
I think that is about all I can say for now. I am feeling hungry and tired again. No surprise there...I always feel like that lately.
Til next time...

A New Year, a lot of new things

2010-01-24T15:35:00.000-08:00

I noticed on someone else's blog that it has been 4 months since we have last posted anything. That is really sad. I thought I might want to post all the happenings.
Casey and I just got back from a weekend with the student leaders of our church at Aquire the Fire. The students had a great time and it was fun to spend time with all of them. I was super excited to see Lecrae in concert. It was a blast! Aimee had fun at my parent's house while we were in Houston.
I am now about 5 weeks from the day I had the best surgery ever. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but it was good. I am feeling back to normal and do not have anymore sitches or tape or icky things like that. The worst part for me was not being able to shower. I had to bathe and I hate baths! Why do I want to sit and stew in my own dirt...ok TMI. School is now in the second semester and we are getting started with thinking more about the TAKS test. I really don't like this time of year around the TAKS test. I think that these standardized tests are one of many things wrong with our educational system...I could give some state people a piece of my mind some time. Oh well, have to go with it.
Casey is still at Giglio selling Red Bull. Nothing new or exciting to report there. He has recently been co-interim worship leader at our church. I think this has been a great time for him. He really loves being a worship leader and I know that at some point he will get to do it all the time.
Aimee did a great job at Christmas in our program at church. She had a main role and a solo. She was a great performer. She really loves singing. She is in her room singing right now as I write (type) this. Last week we got a new report from school further proving that she is a genius. They took a test called "Star Reading." This report from the test says that Aimee "grade equivalent" score is 5.2. I will quote the paper for what this means," Her test performance is therefore comparable to that of an average fifth grader after the second month of the school year. She also achieved a national Percentile Rank of 98. This score is in the above-average range and means that Aimee scored greater than 98% of students nationally in the same grade." The report goes on to tell me of all the skills that she is probably learning using her reading skills. Her "zone of proximal development" for independent reading is book level 3.5 to 5.5. Apparently this level will challenge her with frustration. Her school is on a 9 week grading period, so her second report card this year looks really good. Math-97, PE, Computer, Art/Music, Reading, and Science all 100, Language Arts and Social Studies both 99. As long as we keep this up, we will have a valedictorian on our hands! It will be great fun! She also has decided that she wants to play softball too. We will have to go sign up next Saturday. We will see if she is any good at it...could be fun.
I guess that is all for now. Back to the grind stone to grade some papers. Make some dinner...

Moving on and other things...

2009-09-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

So, after that last post, a lot of things changed. I got my job back at West Hardin. Apparently on another regular scheduled board meeting, some community members showed up and they were mad as heck. The school also had a lawyer present. Well, long story short, they went into what we like to call closed section(I think you can figure that out) and came out with the decision that, "the board's actions from August 9th concerning the pre-k teacher, the elementary teacher, the art teacher, and the high school English teacher have been suspended." According to some people I have talked to, the "reduction in force" is about a 4 month process...just because you never know what can happen and people can end up in court hearings...and seeing as how they let the four of us go 2 weeks before school starts, they were advised that absorbing the cost of the deficiet would be better than going to court...so I guess there was some wrong doing in that part. Anyways, I got my job back the Wednesday before school started and I have been busy ever since...obviously. I am excited to be there. I have small classes which is great and I really like the people I work with. It is so weird to try to understand why God does what he does, but I do my best to follow His lead. As soon as I came back, I was informed that I would be attending a ELA TAKS R&E Item Review in Austin for 2 days. It was a really great experience. I went there this past Wednesday night and came home on Friday afternoon. I had a chance to see Adrienne, Danielle and baby, and Steffany. I really enjoyed being there in Austin-except for all the UT stuff everywhere- and was glad to be a part of what I had to do. I was not really sure what I was in for when I agreed to go. First of all, the initials-ELA, English/Language Arts- TAKS, test- R&E, Revising and Editing. The ELA TAKS test has three parts to it, a reading, a writing, and a revising and editting. I was randomly selected to be a part of this review committee that is made up of about 15-20 teachers from all over Texas. They try to get someone from all different areas. Anyways, we basically are sitting there all day reading the questions that the state has come up with for our students and checking the validity of them. We have to go through and either agree or make changes so that we all agree. It was a great time and the company that does this committee pays for everything. I have some expense reports to fill out now. I really enjoyed being there and I would love to serve on another committee like this again...I hope that they call me. Tomorrow is labor day and we will be having some lunch over at the Bean's. We haven't seen them since school started so it will be a great day. I need to grade papers now so I will go. On a last note, I was also somewhat approved for my surgery. I hope to have it done during the Christmas break. It will cost me about 1000 dollars total, so I think that is something we can save for...I really want to do this. It has been a dream of mine for a long time...Being praying for us to save the money we need for me to do this operation.

Being Anxious

2009-08-11T14:40:00.000-07:00

So the last couple of days have entirely sucked. There is no other words to describe it. I got a call Sunday night around 10pm from the principal at West Hardin. He told me that they had to have another emergency board meeting to discuss the budget for the year. During this meeting it became clear to them that they would have to let go of a few more teachers and some programs. Unfortunately, I was one of the teachers they had to let go. I guess because I am new, and there is someone else there that is certified to teach English also, is why I was chosen to be cut. I had just finished decorating my room and setting up for school to start in 2 weeks. I was pretty much finished with all of that on Sunday afternoon only to get the worst call ever. On July 21st, the board voted me in unanimously, and then out again on August 9th. Wow...so I was officially employed there for 3 weeks? Now, I do not have a job lined out for next year, and I am not sure what else to do. I have looked around for other open positions only to find one open one at Ozen. That's it. Only one possibility...I hate this feeling of not knowing what to do when all our bills are due in September. Luckily, I am still paid from LCM this month, but after that...what? I only wish there was something that they could have said or done before now. What changed in 3 weeks time? I don't understand how 3 weeks ago they were willing to pay me or did they assume I would work for free...? Needless to say, I am very bummed out these days, and I have no idea how to make it better. I enjoy teaching high school English and I was really looking forward to being at a small school with small classes. I felt like this year would be a very productive one, and now, I don't know what will happen. I feel very sickly. My cry for help would be that anyone that reads this will keep their ears open for something that I can do...

Summer time...continues

2009-07-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

I have to say that I love the fact I am off for almost 3 months. It is such a slow time to do anything we want. We mostly stay home, though. It saves money. I have had a chance to find a new job. Next year, I will be teaching 9th and 11th grades English at West Hardin. West Hardin is in Saratoga which is about 15 minutes from the house off of 105. It will be a lot closer then LCM. I am anticipating this year to be really different as far as feeling connected to a community and the students lives. I did not really get a chance to watch any of my students last year in their extracurricular activities because I live so far away from them. This year will be easier to watch them do those things. I think it is important to show my support for those activities, and this year, it will be easier to do that.
Casey has been searching for churches that may need him. There are a few churches that have his resume'. One that I think would be really cool, is in Florida near West Palm Beach. I think it would be awesome to pack up and move off. Especially if it is somewhere near a beach. I would love that! I know that I would love anywhere we are supposed to be serving. It would be awesome for Casey to finally be doing something that he actually loves and wants to do. He has always had "jobs" because it is supposed to support his family, but not a single one of them are soul satisfying. Just continue to pray that we will be placed where God wants us. I know that he will open the doors for where we are to go.
Aimee is excited to be going back to Sour Lake Elementary. We need to go there today to turn in her shot record. She just recently had to have the chicken pox booster, so that has to go on record. Her friend, Tyler, is excited to know that Aimee is coming back to his school. Tyler is a boy that she has been friends with since Pre-k. In Pre-k, Tyler told his mother of his love for Aimee and how cute she is. He is still determined to marry Aimee one day. If we were of the time to arrange marriage, I would probably pick this little boy. I guess they are not that little anymore. Anyways, they are good friends, and Aimee is excited to be back around the people that know her best. She is going to be tested for Gifted and Talented. If you know anything about Aimee, then you know that this will be a blessing for her and us. You also know that GT is where she should be. I am not just saying that because I am her mother and I am a bit biased. It is true. It has been true since she was 2 years old and could carry on a conversation with you. She loves reading and learning new things. She is bored with the mundane and everyday. I think this is why her head is so big. She needs the room. Anyways, she will also be in jazz and ballet class next year. We are excited for her to do something with all this dancing energy she has. She is really excited too. Be on the look out for recitals and other events to watch her at.
This summer has been a great, relaxing one. I got the chance to go to Tennessee with our youth for student life camp. It was great to be there. Gatlinburg is beautiful. Here are a couple of pictures that do not do it justice. Being there is a greater experience. We got to see Steve Fee, Leeland, David Crowder Band, and Louie Giglio was the speaker. It has been a while since I heard Louie speak, and he has only gotten better with age. He spoke many words of truth to our students that they needed to hear. We all needed to hear, for that matter. It is not always comfortable to listen to how horrible of sinners we are, but it is great to hear about Christ's love for us despite all that we do and mess up.
We had a great July 4th spending time with some friends on the 3rd and then celebrating Aidan's 3rd birthday on that Saturday.
Aimee and Emma had a good time at Mr. Shawn and Mrs. Sarah's house swimming together. Our new nephew, Logan, is growing and he is such a cutie! The rest of the summer will be filled with getting ready for the school year. I have not been doing what I need to see about surgery. I wish I would have figured it out before now, but we will see what happens. My birthday is the next thing to look forward to along with Katelyn getting here!! We are excited for Carrie and Justin. They will be great parents, and Katelyn will be the best dressed little girl in Beaumont. We can wait to meet her! Along with everyone else we know. Time to get out there in the heat and get things done. We are off to the library to return some books and get new ones. Plus the school. It is a hot, hot summer day, and I love it!

Time is ticking away....

2009-04-23T17:23:00.000-07:00

We are coming upon the end of the school year very quickly. I am excited to be finished with this first year. I have enjoyed my juniors and seniors. I went to PROM on Saturday night. I got to see a lot of my kids all dressed up and dancing...wow, the dancing was interesting. The "stanky leg" was something that I had not seen in this capacity ever...there were so many of them doing it!! Yikes.
On another note... Casey is inching toward his goal of working as a minister. If everything goes well and it is in God's plan, he may be on staff at our current church-Praise Christian Center. That would be most excellent for him and all of us really. His Giglio job is getting to be a major hassle and more annoying everyday. I believe that there is not any "world" job that will keep his attention and his satisfaction because it is not where he is supposed to be nor what he is supposed to be doing. That being said, just pray that God will open doors that are supposed to be open.
Aimee is counting down the days to her birthday on her white board in her room. I do believe that we are now down to 24 days until her 7th birthday. That's right everyone, she will be 7 in a matter of a few weeks. She lost two teeth in one week about 2 weeks ago. Her total lost teeth is now up to 7 or 8...I am confused now that I think about it. She has got those two big front teeth that she will eventually grow in to, but for now they are funny and a little awkward. I love it!
I went to the doctor to complain again today. I am hoping that I have enough documented problems with my back, neck, and etc... to have surgery this summer. That would be awesome to be smaller in the bust when school starts back. I think I will look completely different and will feel a lot better about myself and just feel physically better everyday. I really want it to work out for this summer. I am tired and hurting most of the time. Girls only think they want bigger boobs...it is a hassle. Ok...so that was a bit of straight up honesty for you...moving on...
We are going to Plano this weekend for Cody and Summer's wedding. I am very excited to get away and also very excited for Cody. I have known Cody since high school, and he has always been a nice guy. I have always thought he needed a very cool, sweet, nice girl and he found her. I am very happy for them. It should be a fun and busy weekend.
The kids are nervous about next week's TAKS testing. I can't blame them. I would be nervous too because the TAKS test sucks!!
It is time to cook now. Casey will be home finally and Aimee has homework. Ah...the cycle continues.

It's been a while...

2009-03-27T21:42:00.000-07:00

So I was reading other people's posts and noticed that it has been a while since I have posted anything. I guess that is because I feel that we are not all that interesting. Everyone around us is a little more interesting.
I am very excited that there is only 2 more months left before school is out for the summer. These seniors and juniors are driving me crazy ever since they got back from Spring Break. It's like they think they are finished. They get to stop working. On another job note, there is a position opening at my school for the journalism teacher. This is right up my alley. I would love to have that job. It is English and Journalism. I could be great at this job. I would very much enjoy that.
Casey has decided to get his resume' out there for churches to look at. He seems to be ready to move to a job like youth or music minister. We will see where God takes us. Ideally he could take us to Oahu, Hawaii...That is just me dreaming.
We have been working on a financial education thing at my mom's church. It seems to be going well. I think that we have learned a lot about God's will for us, and not just our money. We are almost finished with the program. We have about 3 weeks left in the lessons. I can see some improvement in our finances, but it is a slow process. The goal is to remain diligent. I think when we first started the process I expected it to go faster or something like that, but it is a slow going think. Little by little we will get to where we need to be. We have to work on our self-control and remember that everything we have belongs to God. And it is because of him that we have what we have.
On a related note, a guy at our church gave Casey a guitar. Last year, Casey's guitar that he loved was stolen out of his truck. It was a nice guitar and somewhat expensive. It was not something that we could immediately replace. Casey was really upset and put out. He uses it on a weekly basis if not more than that. It is part of him and a part of what he is known for. Casey got a different less expensive guitar some time after that and was somewhat satisfied. Last week, a guy at our church just came up to him and told him that he felt like God wanted him to give him his guitar, and he just turned it over to Casey. We were amazed and Casey is very thankful. It is so neat to see God work like that. It is a very nice guitar that was just given to him.
It will be neat to see what will happen next.
Aimee will be 7 soon. Everyone we know is having babies and we have a KID. It seems like it was not that long ago that she was a baby. It was almost 7 years ago now. Time goes by fast. She is very smart and cool. She is becoming more sassy everyday and very independent. She has always been independent, but now she is just her own little person that does her own thing. She thinks that Casey and I are weird. I guess soon we will have ourselves a teenager....yikes.
Well, that is all for tonight. Good Night and Good Luck.

Adopting new family members...

2008-11-29T20:02:00.000-08:00

Before you freak out, we got a cat. Today we ventured out to the Humane Society of SETX to just look around and see how Aimee would be with some cats. We got there to see them and there are lots of them there. We played with quite a few. The last one that Casey played with, Kibby, was really great. She is a kitten that is 7 weeks old and is very comfortable with Casey and loving. She is not too hyper and very cute. She laid on Casey for a long time...So we stared the adoption process and paid the money. She has an appointment on Wednesday December 10th to get "fixed" and shots. After that, she will be able to come to her new home. I wish I would have remembered to take a picture of her to share. Soon she will be here. She will be older by then. We then went to Petco and got all kinds of coupons for adopting an animal. We then got her some food, bowls, collar with a bell, and a litter box. (we had a coupon for all of those things) The food was free...wow. Anyways, I have added yet another card to my collection of places. Like Kroger Plus Cards...you earn points and stuff there too. Kroger, Best Buy, Children's Place, Petco, Randall's, Hallmark...I am not sure how many I have anymore...wow. Ok...so I will soon post some pictures of Kibby on here. Aimee is very excited to have a cat.

I guess I could have said...

2008-11-24T18:09:00.000-08:00

I should have talked about seeing Hillsong United, our Hurricane experience, our Halloween stuff and my new tattoo...

At the end of August, Casey and I got the chance to go to the Hillsong United conference in Houston. We enjoyed hearing new songs and worshipping. We also learned alot about leadership, songwriting, youth and a great amount of other things. We very much enjoyed being there with other adults and youth from our church. It was a nice calm before the "storm(s)."

Hurrication-(n.) hurricane evacuation and a vacation all rolled into one

This occurred twice this year. The first time we went to Austin to stay with my friend and her husband, Danielle and Kevin, but they have a dog that got big in the last year, so Aimee was scared the whole time. (She is very afraid of dogs for some reason.) We left there to go to San Antonio, stopping along the way to shop with Casey's Aunt Michelle, Uncle Mickey, Carrie, Justin, Cody and Julia. We did not buy anything at this outrageously huge outlet mall...area...place. We went on to San Antonio to our hotel. We got cleaned up and went to have dinner downtown on the Riverwalk.

It costs $7.75 to ride the boat ride down there now...we did not do this...Later that night, my parents arrived with my sister and her children. The next day, we all went to Fiesta Texas on some free passes from Casey's past youth pastor, Jim Williams. It was very great to get in for free there. We rode some rides together and caught a show. Casey won some prizes for Aimee-like she needs more stuffed animals- and we had some funnel cake.

These are some different photos from that day. If you didn't already figure that out.

Once we returned home from this, we had to leave again for Ike. This time, we went to Tyler with some friends of ours, Mark and Amanda Adair. Tyler was different because there was so much for us to see there. We got there on a Friday afternoon. We all ate some lunch with Amanda's sister, Elizabeth who Aimee took a liking to even though she is in college. Then, Elizabeth went to her job at Mark's family's putt-putt golf course. The boys took Aimee to play there while Amanda and I visted her old school in New London. The school was built in the 1930's after an explosion took the lives of about 300 students and teachers in the other building. There was a gas leak in the basement floor of the school, when the shop teacher plugged in a sander or saw or something. The roof lifted off the concrete building and came crashing back down. The people of the area come out like crazy. Cleared the entire site in 13 or 17 hours through the night and in the rain with their bare hands, if necessary. It was one of the biggest disasters in Texas history. It was overshadowed by the explosion of the Hindenburg a month later which killed less people. It is because of that school's townspeople that they put that smell in natural gas, so that we know when there is a gas leak. The townspeople lobbied the Texas legislature for something to be done, so that other school children are not killed. It was neat to go to the museum and walk around the school grounds. You can find pieces of old tile and rubble that is now coming to the surface because they buried it where it was to rebuild. You can read more about it by googling New London School Disaster. It just shows us how different we are nowadays. We all would have waited for someone else like the government to help us rebuild or something...these people got up and did what they had to do for their children and their community. There was not a whole family in that town that did not lose at least one person in this disaster. Mind-blowing. There is also a letter from Adolf Hitler on the museum wall sending his condelances for the tragic events. It is written very well, and quotes many Bible scriptures. At that time, the world did not know him to be evil. He seemed like a good leader. Oh, how history sometimes repeats itself. In English, we like to call this literary element foreshadowing. I realize that this does not seem to be fun, but I enjoy this sort of stuff...
We then spent the next few days doing all sorts of things. We went to the Tyler Rose Museum and garden. It houses all the Rose Queen stuff and then the beautiful garden out back. The boys did not go with us to this. Aimee loved all the dresses and stuff...

We also visited the zoo.

We got to feed some birds there. One landed on my arm and it tickled. It was fun. I find it weird that Aimee will feed a bird and let them fly all around her, but she will not play with a dog. Weird. We also helped Elizabeth with free lunch at the BSM at Tyler Junior College on a Wednesday. Casey played some songs there. It was just like old times. After Tyler, we met up with the Beans and Murphys in Grand Prairie. We did some shopping and Ice Skating. I am terrible at it. We then came home. After we got home, we were here for about 45 minutes, our electricity came on. Aimee was tired of being in the dark so she asked her Daddy to pray about the lights and so he did. As soon as he said Amen, the lights came on...!!! It was so cool for Aimee. She ran around the house saying, thank you God, thank you God!!! It was very neat.

We had no damage to our house. Just a very messy back yard with downed trees and limbs.

We finally got back on track and had a good Halloween where Aimee was a pumpkin from The Pumpkin Patch Parable. She was very cute.

Sometime before Halloween, I got a new tattoo. It is a icthus on my left arm. I now have two. Such a rebel.
I think I will post this one before the one I just wrote...

Blogging

2008-11-24T17:12:00.000-08:00

I guess I will blog this week since we are out of school all week. It is a nice feeling. Aimee and I spent the entire day with my mom and aunts shopping around Beaumont. We hope to take another trip to Katy Mills before the holiday season is over. Thanksgiving is very soon, and I have to say, I love Thanksgiving. You get to eat great food and there are no presents expected from anyone.
I have finally made it through 2 six weeks grading periods at my new job as English teacher for LC-M High School. I have to say, on this note, I am worried about the future of America. If our future is based solely on what I see everyday, we are in trouble. I teach Juniors and Seniors in high school that use profanity in formal papers that they turn in to me. Not to mention, some of them may not even know what profanity is-or at least a good definition of the word. They use slang in all of it and even some text message language. I had to teach them what plagiarism was the very first day so that they would understand what not to do. They had no clue. I am sure that someone has told them this along the way; they are just so clueless that this was new information to them. Next year, they will respond the same way to the same news. I could go on, but that would bore or scare you, too. I have enough stories in my short few months to have a lifetime of entertainment. All I can say is-WOW.
Casey has his new job going well at Red-Bull. I have tasted the new all-natural Red Bull Cola. It is not an energy drink. It is a cola that is made from all natural ingredients. It is actually pretty good. I don't think that it will replace your favorite drink of choice, though (Dr. Pepper). It was good. A little more pricey, but natural stuff usually is.
January 1, 2009 will mark the first anniversary for Casey and I, this time around. It has been a different year from what it used to be. I guess we are older-well we are age-wise, older, but also maybe a little more mature. Maybe? Some things never change with personalities, but some things do. We are finally getting into some sort of regular groove or pattern around here.
On December 7, 2008, Aimee will perform in a Christmas program at Crestwood Baptist Church in Lumberton. It will be at night. I think 6:30. She has a solo in it. It will be awesome to see her in it. Everyone is invited to see her. I will send out another form of an invite to it as a reminder. It will be awesome. They may have an appearance on the 5 o'clock news on channel 12, due to contections that I have.
Looking over this, it is a bit boring, so I will end it now. This is why I don't blog. We are not that interesting. Have fun to all that read this...

This is the first blog for us

2008-08-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

So here are the other Rucker family. Finally joining the blogspot family. I saw that our other family was here, so why don't we join in too. It's not like we get to see each other very often. Aimee sees everyone the most because they are so nice to watch her when we have stuff to do. I have spent the last week at LCM High School doing a load of new teacher orientation "stuff." I am pleased to have a job, and to know what a lot of people think about LCM. Everyone seems really nice over there. I will get tired of the drive everyday, but who knows what will happen in the future. It will be a good experience. I think it will be nice to be somewhere new to start as my first year. The students at H-J already knew me as an aide. It might have been hard to make the transition and earn the respect I need. Casey helped me arrange my classroom yesterday, and I am very thankful. He is a lot taller than I am, so he can reach things that I cannot. I was glad for his help. As soon as I decide that I am happy with the way it looks, I will post some pictures so that everyone can see my great room. I will be teaching English 3 and 4. Juniors and Seniors. I am happy about that also. I really enjoy Juniors. We will get to read things like The Great Gatsby and 1984. As you can tell, I am very excited about this. We are also relieved that I got a job. It is always nice to more than double your salary. I am going to end this now. I will update again soon!! Have a great August-before-school!!