Mrs. Frerich, The Tall Math Teacher

Yeah! Technology at the ranchito has changed drastically! I bought a laptop and last week the Dell guy came to our house and installed wireless internet! My life will never be the same. No more waiting 20 minutes for a page to appear on the screen! It all happens so fast, and I feel a little spoiled! :)

For over a month, we did not have internet service out here, that's why blogs have not been written. Well, and to be perfectly honest, there hasn't been much time. You know the routine: everyone's getting adjusted to the new school thing, extra-curricular activities, etc... Also, I accepted a 4 week substitute position. I'm teaching jr. high math! (Insert scream!) At first I didn't really understand why God was nudging me to fill-in (long-term) in the math department, since I'm an english minor and received a BA instead of a BS. I purposely wanted a BA so I would only have to take one math class in college. My oldest daughter does extremely well in math and is very logical. I think she learned through osmosis. Let me explain: When I was pregnant with her, I was taking 18 hrs. in college. The only class that I struggled with was college algebra. As I would do my homework, on the couch, my expanded belly was a perfect "table" for my algebra book. That's where the "osmosis" part comes in! Now, I'm teaching her AP math class! I think the thing that stresses me out more than anything is all my over-achieving friends' kids are in that class!

My sister laughs at me because I told my 6th period class that I would be available at 7:30 in the mornings if they needed help with anything. I don't know what I get myself into sometimes! Doing my best at things tends to consume me at times! One thing I have learned is, if I have the answer key I can figure out and explain anything!

At first, I thought there was this "behind the scenes" reason why God always opened up long-term math jobs for me. Well, I'm starting to believe He has me here for a logical reason...to learn math! He's also been convicting me of saying that I'm not good at math! Ouch! That phrase has always slipped out so easily from my mouth! What kind of example am I setting for my girls when I'm always saying I'm not good in math! I wouldn't want them saying that about themselves, so why should I say it about me!

I'm finding out that I'm not as bad as I thought I was in this subject, but I still have to do some homework before I teach the lesson. All in all, I'm enjoying being in the junior high building. They are a good group of kids and it's fun encouraging them. Another reason why I like the junior high kids is they know how to correctly use their adjectives. They say: "Wow Miss, you're so tall!" I prefer that to what the little elementary kids say. They look at me and say, "You're soooo big!" "Tall" is just a much nicer description! I'm 5'10 but I usually wear wedges or heels, so I look much taller.

Having to teach only 4 classes a day isn't too bad either! :) Hats off to all you teachers out there! It's not as easy as some people think! Until next time..

Home Alone

I'm experiencing something new today. My family left this morning to go camping at the beach, and I stayed home. This is extremely against my nature in many forms. First of all, I can't recollect a single time when all of them have been away from me at the same time for a few days. Secondly, since my middle name is GO, you'd think I'd be on this adventure with them. There are a couple of reasons why I decided to stay home this weekend. Believe me, it was a hard choice to make. I was going to go and then I wasn't...I was going to go and then I wasn't... And then I finally came to this conclusion:

1. When I go to the beach I like staying in a hotel or condo. I would prefer camping by a river or in the mountains.
2. The list of Mark's male family members kept growing and growing while the female persuasion dwindled down to nothing!
3. All the talk about fishing, all hours of the day, had my head spinning!
4. I thought it would be great for Mark and the girls to spend a weekend away together (A dad-daughter get-a-way). I feel for certain that this weekend will be etched in their minds forever and will be talked about for years to come! He's the best vacation dad and I know they will have a wonderful time together.

You may be wondering why I had to put any thought into this decision. Well, like I said, I'm always up for a new adventure and the thought of me being left behind was a little weird. But, the main reason why I wasn't sure if I should stay home was the fact that I wouldn't be in charge of my girls' safety. Don't get me wrong, Mark takes good care of his girls, but come on, all mom's usually think they watch over their children better than anyone else. I'm usually the mom who is watching out for my girls and 6 other kids while their parents are sitting next to me. Giving up this control was a little hard for me, but I knew I needed to do it. I felt like this weekend would be a great experience for them. And besides, God is ultimately in control of my children, so I'm pretty sure He can handle the job much better than I could!

While their dad wasn't in earshot, I gave them a quick lists of do's and don'ts.
Do put lots of sunblock on everyday and reapply.
Don't walk anywhere without your dad.
Don't walk too far out in the water.
Do go to the restroom and take a shower in the camper not in the public restrooms!

All this was followed by, "We know mouuum."

Before loading up at 6 a.m., I told each one of them I loved them and gave them a hug and kiss. If I would have let myself, I probably would have cried like a baby. I could see in their eyes that they were ready for this adventure with their dad, but were a little sad that I was staying behind. All of our eyes kind of misted up, we hugged one last time, and they said, "Bye mom, I love you" until I was out of earshot. I watched their truck until I could not see it anymore and then went inside and cried a little. Then I pulled myself together, reminding myself that it was my decision to stay home. The first thing I did was go to the sun room, sit down and pray for their safety and protection and I prayed that they'd have a wonderful time. After spending a little quiet time with God, I watched 2 episodes of Joyce Meyer and then decided to write this blog. No, I'm not just going to veg out all day. I'm going to clean house and then do laundry. Don't worry though, I won't be working the whole time they are gone. My mom and I have plans. Yep, we're going to San Antonio tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it. Well, I guess I better wrap it up and get to work, so I can play tomorrow!

Our Anniversary Date

Two days ago was our 14th wedding anniversary! Mark had to work on Wednesday, so we celebrated last night. Living where we do, there's not a whole lot of options in the entertainment department. Invariably, there hasn't been a good movie at the theater the last couple of years around our anniversary either! Oh well, I guess it means Mark has to hear me yack more!

All day, yesterday, I was secretly pumped up about our date. I had been wanting to get away with him, all by myself, for the past few days. Well, around 4:45 he asked me if the vet had called and asked if the sheep was ready to be picked up. I told him I hadn't heard from the vet's office all day, so he called the office. Dr. Martin told him the sheep was ready to be picked up. Mark looked at me and said, "How quick can you get ready?" I said, "Aah, come on, I don't want to be dragging around a sheep and a trailer with us all evening." Besides, I had a whole lot of primping to do! It was going to take me a while to get ready. He kindly said he'd pick up the lamb and for me to be ready when he got back. Whew! That was a close one. I thought for a second I was going to have to compete with a sheep on our date. I put my broom down (I'd been cleaning out a bedroom all day), and hopped in the shower. Calgon take me away...

Since it was our anniversary, I thought I'd spice things up a bit and where a dress and heels. This may not have been the greatest choice of clothing, but I'll get to that later. When he walked in and saw me in a dress, he said, "I don't want to have to get dressed up." I told him he didn't have to. After 14 years of marriage, I know him pretty well. I had already ironed a pair of shorts (camo) and a shirt for him. All he had to do was put on his baseball cap and slip his flip-flops on. He likes to be casual. I can count the number of times I've seen him wear a tie, on one hand! That's o.k., I like the sporty look! So off we went, me looking like I should be going to a wedding and Mark looking like he should be going to a Ranger's game!

We decided to eat at Cripple Creek, a great restaurant outside of town. He ordered a steak and I had the grilled salmon. It was really good. We had a great meal and pleasant conversation. I hate to see couples eating by themselves and rarely talking. So, I always step up to the plate and keep the conversation going so we won't look like one of those "boring" couples who've been married for over 10 years! I know he probably appreciates me for this! ha!

After we ate, he asked if I wanted to drive out to the lake. I said, "Sure," thinking it was kind of a romantic gesture. So off we went. On our way to the lake he said he wanted to find the cliffs that he used to jump off of when he was in high school (romantic gesture just flew out the window). After about 20 minutes, we found the right road. (This is when the sporty look came in handy for Mark). We couldn't just drive up to the cliffs, we had to walk to them! We hopped out of the truck and made our way down a rocky path with cactus on both sides of us. Mark trailed on about 20 feet in front of me like nothing, and then there was me trying to walk down a rocky path in heels, while holding my dress down (it was really windy) and trying to keep my hair out of my eyes (and yes, I had spent 30 minutes fixing my hair before our date)! I swear, the only time he walks fast is when I'm wearing heels! We finally made it to the edge of the cliffs and it was beautiful! The sun was setting in the distance behind an old railroad bridge. Aah! The romantic moment I had been waiting for. Don't get me wrong, we didn't gaze into each other's eyes and whisper sweet nothings to one another or anything like that. We just enjoyed each other's company and watched the sunset in the distance. It's the little things in life like this that make me happy. I seriously don't need wine and roses, I would much prefer quality time together, even if it means walking through a stickery path , in high heels, to reminisce about days gone by.

Every married couple has their highs and lows, and we are no exception, but I can honestly say that every year with Mark gets better and better! That's so exciting to me! He's a great guy whom I love dearly. I can't wait to see what God has in store for our lives and our marriage.

There's A Shark In The Tank

I know that God uses trials and tribulations to test us and make us stronger, but sometimes it's just not fun to go through them. I was praying about a situation and needing encouragement from God when I glanced at my bookshelf and noticed an old book that was practically saying, "Hey, open me up and read me!" So, I grabbed the book off the shelf and it fell open to chapter 23, entitled "The Purpose of Trials!" I'm going to share a few things from the book that I was needing to be reminded of:

"God has a divine purpose for every challenge that comes into our lives. He doesn't send the problems, but sometimes He allows us to go through them. Why is that? The Bible says temptations, trials, and difficulties must come, because if we are to strengthen our spiritual muscles and grow stronger, we must have adversities to overcome and attacks to resist. Moreover, it's in the tough times of life that we find out what we're really made of. (YIKES!) The pressure exposes things that we need to deal with -- things such as wrong attitudes, wrong motives, areas where we're compromising. As odd as this may seem, the trials can be beneficial. If you will learn to cooperate with God and be quick to change and correct the areas that He brings to light, then you'll pass that test and you will be promoted to a new level.

Often times we're tested in the areas where we are the weakest. I've discovered in the struggles of life that God is more interested in changing me than He is in changing my circumstances.

God will use people in your life. Your own husband or wife, your in-laws, or your own children may be the unwitting mirrors that God uses to reveal areas where you need to change.

There might be a person that irritates you to no end, and you may wonder why you have to be around him/her day in and day out. You might even wonder, "When is God going to change him/her?" Have you considered that God may wanting to change you? God may have purposely arranged for you to be in close proximity to that person who grates against you. He may be trying to teach you how to love your enemies. Or, He may be trying to toughen you up a little and teach you to have some endurance, to not to run from everything that is hard, uncomfortable, or inconvenient. (OUCH!) We must recognize the refining purpose of trials. We can't run from everything that's hard in our lives!

Recognize that God wants to do a work in you. He's molding you and refining you. But you're so busy trying to evade the difficulty, the work is not being done. You're so focused on all the circumstances and all the people around you that you haven't taken time to look deep inside and deal with the issues God is bringing to light. He will put people and circumstances in your path that grate on you like sandpaper, but He will use them to rub off your rough edges. You may not always like it; you may want to run from it, you may even resist it, but God is going to keep bringing up the issue, again and again, until you pass the test.

The following is a great analogy:

Many years ago, fishing for codfish up in the Northeast had become a lucrative commercial business. The fishing industry recognized that a great market for codfish existed all over America, but they had a major problem in the distribution. At first, they simply froze the fish, as they did all their other products, and shipped it out all across the country. But for some reason, after the codfish was frozen, it lost its taste. So the owners decided to ship the fish in huge tanks filled with fresh seawater. They thought for sure that would solve the problem and keep the fish fresh. But to their dismay, this process only made matters worse. Because the fish were inactive in the tank, they became soft and mushy, and once again they lost their taste. One day, somebody decided to put some catfish in the tank with the codfish. Catfish are a natural enemy of codfish, so as the tank traveled across the country, the codfish had to stay alert and active and be on the lookout for the catfish. Amazingly, when the tank arrived at its destination, the codfish were as fresh and tasty as they were in the Northeast.

Like that catfish, perhaps your adversity was dropped in your path for a purpose. Perhaps it was put there to challenge you, to strengthen you, to sharpen you, to keep you fresh, to keep you alive and active and growing. Granted, at times, it feels as though you have a great white shark in the tank rather than a catfish, but the adversity you are facing could very well be something that God is using to push you and challenge you to be your best. The trial is a test of your faith, character, and endurance. Don't give up. Don't quit. Don't whine and complain, saying, "God, why is all this happening to me?"

Instead, stand strong and fight the good fight of faith. God is giving you an opportunity for promotion. It is the struggle that gives us strength. Without opposition or resistance, there is no potential for progress. Without the resistance of air, an eagle can't soar. Without the resistance of water, a ship can't float!

Certainly, none of us enjoy going through struggles, but you have to understand that your struggle may be an opportunity for advancement and promotion. The very thing that you are fighting against so tenaciously may be the springboard that catapults you to a new level of excellence. Your challenges may become your greatest assets!" -- YOUR BEST LIFE NOW

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." -- 1 Peter 4:12

Hide-N-Seek

We just got back from playing a game of night-time hide-n-seek on the 4 wheelers. The girls had their cousin over tonight so we each grabbed a partner and hopped on a 4-wheeler.

Mark's rules: 1.We have to stay in the House Pasture.
2. We can't go past the 2nd tank.
3. Once your spotted you can't take off.

You won't find me breaking the first two rules. We venture too far from the house as it is! Man, my girls are brave! I guess hiding in the bushes, at night, in the middle of a pasture, is fun to them! I was riding with Kater-Bug tonight. I told her to look for her dad and Libby up on the hill where all the old trucks were. She hesitated and then took off. When we got up there she got a little nervous and didn't want to proceed. I tried to put up a tough girl front and said, "Oh, come on, there's nothing to be scared of!" But, inwardly I was thinking how much that old junkyard reminded me of a cemetery! I told her to "dale gas"; we got out of there in a flash. I like wide-open spaces.

Seeing as Mark has lived on this ranch all of his life, he knows where the good hiding spots are. It usually takes a little longer for us to find him! He was actually good tonight and didn't try to scare me.

Why is it if you're playing hide-n-seek at night you always have to pee? Even if you just went before you started playing the game.

Another version of hide-n-seek we play is inside with all of the lights off. My favorite hiding place is the bathtub. The girls are too scared to pull the shower curtain back, so they don't look there! Ssshhh! Don't tell anyone! ;) You'd think, since Mark is the biggest guy in the house, he would be easier to spot but he's usually the last one to be found! Games like hide-n-seek are not just for kids. Add a twist to it and you'll find yourself having fun too!!

Rhinestone Cowgirl

Most of the time I can put up a pretty good front when I'm at a rodeo with my girls. Just because my girls are exceptional riders, I wear cowboy boots and can pull a horse trailer to these dusty events does not mean that I know a thing about horses! Although, I am learning a little more every year. For instance, when Mana was 5 she really wanted to ride her horse but Mark was not home. I always wanted their dad to be around when they rode. Well, she kept after me so I said, "Alright, go find that horse book you got for your birthday. I think it has instructions on how to saddle a horse." At the time, I told her not to tell anyone that I had to read a book to learn how to saddle a horse! Well, we got Baby saddled and the rest is history... Now, all 4 of us go to rodeos together, even when Mark has to work. O.k., o.k., I can't take too much credit. My girls round-up their horses, catch them, put them in the trailer, saddle them, and take good care of them at the rodeo. My job is to iron their clothes, do the little one's hair, and drive them to the rodeo (again, just if Mark's working).

I've learned that it's not a good idea to wear boots to a rodeo. When I wear boots people assume that I know a thing or to about horses. I don't go all out and wear shirts that say, "My True Love Is A Horse," or anything like that. I may wear boots and the occasional cowgirl bling but that doesn't mean I know how to ride that thing (a horse)! Now, that needs to be on a t-shirt: BOOTS AND BLING DON'T MEAN I KNOW HOW TO RIDE THAT THING! Anybody that really knows me knows that I'm a little skittish around horses. Well, the other night when we were at a rodeo a lady comes up to me and asks me if I could hold her daughter's horse because she's at the concession stand. I was thinking, "You've got to be kidding me, can you not see the look of terror in my eyes!" Before I could say, "I'm sorry I can't," the people pleaser inside of me took over and I smiled and said, "Sure." Then it was just me and this 900 pound beast. I was praying that he'd act right and just stay put. Because believe me, if he would have started acting up I would have let go of the reins and ran for cover! He tried to move around on me a little bit, but I tried my own version of being a horse whisperer. It was nothing like you see in the movies, it was more like, "In the name of Jesus, please act right and be still." After about 10 minutes I was getting a little irritated. I knew they weren't making steaks made-to-order in the concession stand, but that chic just kept standing there at the concession stand and there was no line! Finally, my dad walked up to me and said, "Who's horse is that?" I pointed over to the girl in front of the concession stand. I asked dad if he'd hold it and he said he would. Aaahhh! Dad to the rescue. At that moment, my blood pressure went down and my hands quit shaking. After 10 more minutes the girl walked from the concession stand with her goodies in hand. I grabbed the horse from dad, and walked her horse to her. She said, "Oh thanks!" She was probably wondering what a complete stranger was doing holding her horse. I was wondering the same thing! I guess it's back to flip-flops at the rodeos! :)

Counting My Blessings

The Deaf & Blind Triplets

Little Haley

It's 12:30 a.m. and I can't sleep, so instead of tossing and turning, I thought I'd write a blog instead. At this moment, as I'm typing these words, I'm overcome with thankfulness. I just checked on my girls, who are sleeping soundly in their beds, and I thanked Jesus for blessing me with three beautiful, loving, healthy girls. Many parents are not as fortunate to have healthy children and my heart goes out to them. I pray right now God will give them strength to endure!

What brought on this kind of thinking so late at night? I spoke with a grandmother, today, whose grandson was born with several complications. Her strength and her daughter's attitude is amazing. Also, the girls and I watched 2 shows on the Discovery Channel this evening that made all of us count our blessings. The first one was about a little girl named Haley who lives in England. She has a disease known as Progeria. It's when your body ages 8 times faster than it should. She is only 8 years old but her body is like a 70 year old woman. This little girl was amazing. She had such a bubbly personality and had remarkable strength. I loved watching her talk and laugh. Although she didn't look like your average 8 year old, I couldn't help but think that she was adorable. My heart broke for her parents because, of course, they know all the facts about the disease and that the average life-span for a person with Progeria is 13 years old. Doctors are working around the clock to find a cure for this disease, and I pray they will find one soon. Knowing that your child would more than likely not live past 13 would be heart wrenching. I pray that God will give them the grace to endure.

The second show was about triplets who are blind and deaf! I remember watching the Helen Keller movie, last summer, and thinking how lonely and lost she must have felt and how helpless her parents probably felt. But how in the world could one person deal with 3 Helen Keller's! The thought of it boggles my mind. When I watched their mom being interviewed my only thought was, "Wow! What problems do I have?!" This lady is truly remarkable! (You can watch her on YouTube. I just typed in deaf and blind triplets).

It's amazing to me how all of these parents are pushed to the limit each day, (physically and emotionally), yet they continue to laugh and try to endure - no matter the obstacles. God's grace is astounding! It makes me wonder what's so tough about my life?! My day-to-day family foibles pale in comparison. Thank you Lord!

Muddy footprints on a freshly mopped floor, the occasional argument between siblings, spilt milk, misplaced hair brushes, and messy rooms... these are things that are normally thought of as glitches in our day to day lives, but I bet the parents of the triplets would welcome all of these things into their homes with open arms. Muddy footprints mean that my kids get to enjoy dancing in the rain. Arguing shows they can speak and hear! :) Spilt milk means they are trying to be self-sufficient (every one's clumsy now and then)! Misplaced brushes mean they have the capability to find the brush with their own 2 eyes, and messy rooms means they are able to play in their rooms and have fun together!

While watching the show about Haley, Libby looked at me and said, "I bet it's hard for her mom to get mad at her, since she knows she's going to die." As soon as those words left her lips, I thought, "Shouldn't we all think like that?" None of us knows the day or hour our loved ones are going to perish from this earth. We should always keep that in the forefront of our minds. I'm not saying we should let our kids rule the roost, but I know we could probably all show a little more compassion and understanding when our kids do mess up. I know I could! And, we should always try to send our kids out into the world and to bed on a positive note. I know, sometimes it's easier said than done! But, we never know what the day or night may hold...

"Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings."

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus!" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18