God-ordained...

So... I promised you "the story"

1. I had heard of "D. Butts" through my sweet friend, Laura. He's like a brother to her, and she spoke VERY highly of him. I met him BRIEFLY at a conference, but wouldn't have been able to pick him out in a crowd.

2. Officially met Dustin on New Year's Eve at Camp Buckner Reunion. We enjoyed a 2 hour conversation in the Faith Hall kitchen. Encouraging, fun, drank lots of DP, talked with Joey, etc. I learned that he was headed out to Southern in a few days. We had a long conversation about teaching, the IMB, doctrine, and we laughed and talked and laughed and talked. I admired him, respected him, but didn't think much of it, because he was going to Southern and I was still pretty guarded and a little overwhelmed at the time because I was about to start a new job. For all I knew, I would never see this super guy again.

3. So, time tick-tocked by and I got settled into my very sanctifying new job as a 5th grade teacher. It was hard. My friend Laura encouraged me by sending me to our friend Eron's website where he discussed why Christians should not hate their jobs. I printed it and referred to it OFTEN. One day, I was looking at this much-needed post... again and I looked at his links. Saw my pal Blake had a blog and checked it out. Looked at his links. One caught my eye. The Once Dead Poet? What? Interesting... so I hit the link and found Dustin's (I don't call him D. Butts) website. I decided to shoot him an e-mail (but I did not initiate, for the record) to see if he ever ran into my friend Kevin and see how he was doing at Big Al's school.

4. So, on February 11, Dustin awakes to find a "random" e-mail in his inbox.

to be continued...

the ring =)

Details pending...

I can't wait. Must. Tell. Blogworld. :P

I got engaged!

Details will come, but for all of the girls out there - YES, he surprised me (hard to do in our situation, but he shocked me), YES, the ring is beautiful, YES, it was incredible, YES, Jamie's being such a girl...

Dustin and I will hopefully get this God-ordained crazy-fast courtship typed into some kind of informative blog entry so you can get the scoop...

For those of you who didn't even know I was in a relationship (Dustin who?), we have a lot to catch up on. :P Just trust me; you'll love him. Know that Dustin is amazing and has been above reproach.

Okay, gotta jet. Save the date, will ya? I know it's a busy time of year, but we hope you can make it. I'll be the gal in white with crocodile tears of joy. :P

Where: First Baptist, Gatesville, TX
When: July 22nd, 4:00PM
Why: God-ordained!

If you haven't sent me your addresses, do that soon! :P

I can't wait to get to school today. Almost summer, get to wear jeans and I'm engaged to this amazing guy (my co-teachers and kiddos at school are going to flip)- there are so many things to be excited about, I don't even know where to start. Hehe. Praise the Lord with me.

Joey - call me, even from Spain. Thanks for your e-mail. :P Will you be a bridesmaid?!?!

A few shout-outs

Happy Birthday (one day late) to my friends Sarah Bebee and (a week or so late) Jennifer Dower!

Congrats to Slade Cozart and Laura Tunnell. They just got engaged. Check their blogs! We are excited and praying! I will never ever say that it was crazy timing. =) We're just dying for you guys to come visit again!

To my pal, Chad Gerlt, who had a big interview today. We're praying!

A shout-out to Rebekah... I still owe you a phone call. :P

Michael Stone landed a great job. Woo-hoo!

Camp Buckner friends- the counselors are coming. =)

Arlington friends, the ODP has finally arrived. Yea!

My dad got a new job - praise the Lord!

Blake and Alicia are getting married!

The Peeks are posting!

Sarah D. has sweet Mikayla Grace.

Baby Jake and Baby L are coming!

My students are quiet and my report cards are finished!

I even had Panda Express for lunch.

However.. I realize that these fun circumstances (whether huge and important or small and somewhat trivial) should not be the basis of my joy. The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever and we serve a God who rules and reigns. It is interesting to look back at times where I was in the "depths of despair" and enter such joyous seasons now, but to know that the same God rules and reigns through either season. The Lord gives and takes away. We must recognize both as from his hand. He not ONLY takes away, but also gives. May joy in Christ spring from your heart, whether from the valley of despair or from the heights of joy and blessing. There is always joy to be had for the believer.

"The First Year Of Marriage"

I was out with pink eye today (new teachers' bodies have to adjust to so many germs) so I went to the doctor, tried to get some stuff done.. and took a nap, and then another one later. Good going, Jamie. Now, I can't sleep. :P

Reminds me of my time to Spain. When my family lived in Spain, I had a hard time adjusting to the major time change and my family slept about twice as much as college Jamie did, so I would read. Sermons, articles, books, whatnot. Usually, I learned a lot and the reading would eventually make me tired.

Tonight, I stumbled across a good post on marriage. Since I have friends who are newlyweds, friends returning from honeymoons, friends engaged, friends in courtships, single friends who desire to grow in their understanding of marriage, and happily-married-for-years friends, I think this may encourage many people. Sometimes, the really doctrinally-rich stuff hits us and sometimes, it's these personal testimonies of REAL people.

Enjoy. Thoughts?

The First Year Of Marriage

The Infamous Peeks :)

Those of you who know anything about me know that I don't have brothers. Sigh. ALWAYS wanted a brother, no offense to my 2 fun younger sisters. Think I'd be a little more athletic and not as sensitive if I also had a brother and just thought it'd be cool. Hehe. However, the Lord brought these two, godly, goofy, frugal-like-me, tall, 6'4" twin guys into my life who have filled the "like a brother role" (Davy, you fall in this category too) since 10th grade! Most of my friends have heard me mention them at least a time or two. :) They are dear friends and brothers in the faith. We have some funny memories and good times as we went through some fun, sanctifying, challenging, great years together. And Kevin married sweet Becky so she became one of my fun Peek friends too!

Anyway, they posted today! Everyone go and shower it with comments so they'll be motivated to post more often. Also, Michael Stone has a great post today as well. Check it! Way to Blog, Peeks! I hope to see you soon!!! Christopher, when are you going to get a blog, brother?


I will be catching you up soon, but right now - things are just crazy. 4 weddings in a row coming up and about 8 days of school left! A few other little things (ha!) going on around here too, but maybe I can catch you up soon and very soon.

Peace out.
One of my kids noted how I said "peace out" to them the other day instead of goodbye. Good grief, I must be the most unprofessional teacher ever! :P I don't even remember saying that. :)

Wow, my kids have been really wild lately. All of 5th grade has! So say a prayer for sanity and endurance to finish well and have Fruit of the Spirit!

Ms. Moore's Morning Prompts... GO!

Okay, so I think of these loaded morning prompts and want to write them. However, I figure busy people who are casually checking Blogs at work or who have little kiddos needing their attention or who are working hard at their computer jobs would probably not be able to sit and answer questions about missions, the state of the American church, and other random things that roll around in my head.

So... today you have two pretty basic prompts to choose from. Or you could always choose both. I enjoy reading your comments.

Describe the best teacher you ever had.

Or discuss the following quote:
"Yet, through this rough and thorny maze, I follow hard on thee, my God: Thy hand, unseen, upholds my ways; I safely tread where thou hast trod" - Montgomery

Happy Friday!!


"Praise the God who saves, Praise the God who bled, Praise the God who was nailed to the tree, and bore our sins on his head..." (Caedmon's)

On the news front...

Ms. Moore's 24 (some have preferred to pronounce it "Ms. Mo's twenty-foe" in a fun, ghetto voice) won the 5th grade tug-o-war today. We creamed Ms. Braun's Bulldogs and then slowly, but surely tugged our way to victory against Ms. Ho's Soldiers. Even with a somewhat wimpy name, we took 1st place. I guess the kids' muscles work as well as their mouths. :) We had a blast today! They would circle around me and talk to me and get all excited. Stephan won 1st place in jump rope. Flying Fabian (remember?) won the shoe kick! Nick bought me a Dr. Pepper. Rachelle got 2nd in the 50 yd. dash. It was good times. We laughed, cheered, and they could wiggle all they wanted and I didn't make anyone lose recess. (Except the student ((we'll call him Bob)) who took his snowcone into the classroom after repeated warnings to leave it outside!))

However, I learned my lesson. Always, always, ALWAYS wear sunscreen to field day. In Texas. In May. Duh, Ms. Moore.

Ms. Moore is going to sleep early.

Good night!

Thy Mercy

While grading papers tonight, I am listening to some old Caedmon's Call. I am so blessed tonight (and so many times past) to the lyrics of Thy Mercy. It also fits well with this morning's sermon as the pastor's sermon included some discussion on "the covenant love of Thy crucified Son." May the mercy of God (see Friday's post's comments for definitions of mercy) be the joy of your heart and the boast of your tongue. Alleluia!


Thy mercy my God is the theme of my song
The joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue
Thy free grace alone from the first to the last
Hath won my affection and bound my soul fast

Without Thy sweet mercy i could not live here
Sin would reduce me to utter despair
But through Thy free goodness my spirits revive
And He who first made me still keeps me alive

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart
Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart
Dissolved by Thy goodness i fall to the ground
And weep for the praise of the mercy i've found

Great Father of mercy, Thy goodness i own
And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son
All praise to the Spirit whose whisper divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine!
All praise to the Spirit whose whispter divine
Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine!
Alleluia!

Charity's Wedding

We had such a great weekend! My dear friend Charity got hitched! The other girl with us is Kari and I'm in her wedding in June. We all played Volleyball together back in the day. There were 8 bridesmaids, 400 something people, a few tears, and the sermon was really good! I even survived the toast. That's about all I have for now. Later.

Friday Prompt

I couldn't think of a good Cinco De Mayo prompt today. I'm trying to attack a to-do list and Blogging is never high up there. So, real quick.

I think I'll just re-visit a subject I used to discuss often with an old friend of mine. I'm wondering if anyone will actually reply.

What is the difference between grace and mercy?

To anyone in the area, I finally found a good Breakfast Burrito place (in honor of the holiday, ha). I thought it was pretty yummy.

Back to work. But not work involving lots of kiddos. What a quiet room. How peaceful.

Say a prayer for Charity and Aaron's wedding weekend. :)

Until next time.

(Rebekah, sorry I still haven't called)

Cast your vote

So, "Moore's 24" (the vote is currently between that and Moore's Hard Core's?!? for Field Day team names, cast your vote, new suggestions are welcome) are quietly working away on their health tests. We've been studying hard about legal and illegal drugs now that TAKS is over. We're also reading through a new novel. I've been enjoying the change and the kid's have too. There's a lot going on around Ashworth. Cinco de Mayo tomorrow=no school. Who knew? :P Then, 13 and a half days left for the kids and 15 more for me. I see the light at the end of the tunnell. Truly, I'm grateful for this stretching experience, and I'll miss these squirmy darlings, but I am getting really pumped about the break.

What else is going on in my world? My dear friend, Charity Ramer becomes Mrs. Clayton this upcoming Saturday. I'm thrilled to have the honor to stand by her side, but I'm nervous I'll ruin the pictures with my tears AND I'm giving a toast and I'm super shy. :) She's been a great friend since we met in choir in 9th grade. I feel old.

I'm reading through Joshua. I have a hard time truckin' through some parts of the Old Testament. Maybe it's just me, but it is truly encouraging to really study and dig into passages and see the amazing power of God and see His faithfulness to His people through history.

I'm working up a good prompt for tomorrow. Stay tuned.

A shout-out to all of my friends (both in undergraduate work and graduate school) who are studying hard for finals, writing papers, etc. Hang in there! Try not to get too overwhelmed and discouraged. Keep working hard with excellence. Finish well. That's what I'm preaching to myself anyhow. Same to busy mom's trying so hard to raise and discipline their children in the way of the Lord. Press on! To celebrate, I think Jay G. Scott will have another funny coming your way!

"Upheld by His righteous, omnipotent hand"
Miss Moore :)

Psalm 40:16-17
Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, "The Lord be magnified!" But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.

For the ladies...

I love this author. I read one of her books (kind of cheesy title/look, but great book).

Check out this link: http://solofemininity.blogs.com/

That's all I have time for today, folks.

Romans 7:4 - a verse to think upon today. I won't put a link to it, because A. I'm at work and I don't know how... and B. You should go look at up. :)

Jamie