Father's Day

http://animoto.com/play/NSW0hDIDUGLFbBaDCN1vjg

I hear people say they have the best dads, but I gotta say....I got 'em all beat. I really do have the best. He is the most loving, caring and self sacrificing man I know. What man would drive 4 hours to watch his daughter conduct a 2 minute band piece at her senior concert just to turn around and drive 4 hours back? What dad shows up at midnight (from 4 hours away) to help you paint your new house and move in to it the next day? What Dad shows up on New Years Day because he knows that his daughter is having a rough time and simply needed a hug? What dad is always there with open arms (and wallet when necessary) when any of his girls need it? I have seen my dad go without just to help his kids and grandkids to have a better life. What man gives to missions sacrificially both in time, body and finances giving of himself in both Mexico and with women in prison in West Virginia? What man drives the bus every week without fail to pick up kids to take them to church? What man loves his wife with all of his heart and has been married to her for 41 years always doing his best (and she as well) to have a happy marriage? What man has loved all 3 daughters through heart breaks and not killed jerks he really wanted to? :o) What man loves his grandcats and granddogs just as much? ;o)

My dad has believed in me when I didnt believe in myself. He has encouraged me to follow my dreams. He has encouraged me to pursue my missions dreams even when it meant going to a country he fought a horrrible war in. He has gone to every concert he possibly could that I've ever had from 6th grade until now...even when it meant missing work or driving to Springfield. He took me to church every week as a child even when I didnt want to go. Every Sunday as a child we would eat at Long John Silvers and every Wednesday night we had malts from Baskin Robbins. He lives a life that I can model. No, he's not perfect...he has his weaknesses and has made his mistakes, but he learns from those and encourages his family to learn from them also.

So as you can see, my dad is the best. Hands down....


Happy Father's Day Daddy! I love you!

Summer time!

It's SUMMER! I've not had the opportunity to NOT WORK since high school (a LONG time ago!). I saw myself sleeping in and staying up late but let me tell ya...that's not been the case! I spent the week after school with my family in Sikeston. It was one of the best trips home I've had. I spent a great week with my whole family. No sleeping in with a wired 3 year old waking me up! Loved it! I made a HUGE decision to get my first (and ONLY) tattoo! Thanks to my nephew Corey who did it for me.

There's a story of a man walking along the beach covered in starfish. He picks one up at a time and throws it in the ocean. Someone says to him why are you doing this, there are so many you can't save them all. He picks up a starfish and throws it back in the ocean and says "But I saved this one." A few years ago I worked at a camp for abused kids and foster kids. That was their philosophy. We can't save them all, but we can save one. I have adopted that philosophy in my life working with kids in teaching, babysitting and children's ministry. I have always said if I ever got a tattoo, it would be a starfish...and that is what I got. Let me tell you...IT HURT!!! (and still hurts!) but I am happy with it. I had such a great time with my family. I am so blessed to have such a close knit family! Every time I leave them my heart is stretched from one side of the state to the other.

My friend and I got season passes for White Water and Silver Dollar City....so we've been going as much as possible. That's been a lot of fun.

I am going to visit my bestest friend Christina in a little over a week. I can't wait. God has blessed me with her and she is amazing. We have been through so much together and when we see each other about once a year it's as if no time has passed.

Ireland is rapidly approaching! I'll be flying out on July 1st. I'm still short on funds so praying that the last $300 comes in very soon. I have a crazy flight itinerary also. I'm flying from STL to La Guardia in NYC and hten have to get a bus and fly out of JFK in NYC. Should be...exciting! I am working on organzing a tea for girls age 12-15 while in Ireland. I will be speaking on purity and modesty. I have to say I freaked out at first but now that I am getting things organized and brainstorming...I am pumped! I've also had the opportunity to get to know a couple of my teammates through Facebook since they are in other parts of the US. I'm getting very excited! It's the first time I've travelled with adults and not college students....I'm looking forward to it!

When I get back from Ireland, I'm hopefully taking a trip to Illinois to visit friends up that way. Then....Aug 1 I start back to work. When I look at my calendar...summer is already almost over. I have a lot to do before school starts in preparation for school so I have to squeeze that in. I could get used to not working and just travelling! I need a job like Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel!

In my spare time...I'm also CLEANING! I also want to refinish my dressers..but not sure I'm going to be squeeze that in this summer. I've never done that and I'm not sure I'm ready to undertake that project. ha :o)

Well...that's it! Until next time...

Chug Chug Chug

I cannot believe that we only have 9 1/2 (school) days left! This year has flown by. I was advised to journal my first year as I went but I just haven't been able to find time and now that it's nearly over, I can't even begin to remember everything. It has been a year of growing, stretching, blood, sweat and tears. WHile there are days that I thought "what in the world...." I am so thankful and blessed for this year. I am VERY excited for this summer and the adventures that I am going to be taking apart of and I am even more eager to begin next year, from scratch...fresh...new...and from the very beginning!

I am still raising money for my trip. My time restrictions have limited my fund raising efforts. To date I have $600 and I need about $2000. Every time I pray and ask God if He is wanting me to go and it's His will, a donation comes in as affirmation. I am excited for what God is going to do in me and through me this summer both here in Nixa, MO and in Ireland!

I have been working 12-14 hours a day for the last week and it look slike the next week will be similar. I'm tired and ready for summer...

G'night!

Donation information

If you are interested in receiving a paper or digital copy of my support letter, please shoot me an email at missmarti79@gmail.com Payments can be mailed to: Europe's Children 2012 S Stewart Springfield, MO 65804 For more information on the organization I am going with, you can go to europeschildren.org Please mark Marti Netteler on the memo line of your check or include it with your check so the funds are sure to go to me. :o) All donations are tax deductible.

After a war with my printer that lasted a couple of weeks...I have been victorious and am currently in the process of printing support letters for my trip to Ireland!!! It's about TIME!!! Time is going entirely too fast and I have entirely too much to do! Coming soon to a mailbox near you.... a letter pleading for financial assistance! ha :o) I LOATHE raising money but it's a necessary evil in the world of missions. Money makes the world go 'round! I still can't believe summer is coming so quickly! I am going to miss my students so much but I am so excited for a respite! I never realized how much needed the summer was to a teacher! I m still tossing around the idea of some sort of part time job. It would be best and help get the money I need for this trip. I've got some potential opportunities headed my way...we'll see what happens! In the mean time, I am staying busy with school. It's crazy how quickly you can get behind on things. My house is a disaster, I've got dust bunnies breeding faster than real bunnies, I've got papers piled up that need to be graded, I have a dirty bathroom, a litter box that needs to be cleaned out desperately and the never ending mountain of laundry that I am bound and determined to someday conquer. I have NO CLUE how people with families are able to keep up with laundry when I as a single person cannot! Oh...and I also have a jungle in my front and back yard! ACK!!! Yesterday I went to a ball game with a couple of friends. It was my first ball game of the season and a nice relaxing time. Enjoyed the game then dinner at Springfield Brew Co (yummy!). It was a nice respite in a busy season. I anticipate many Springfield Cardinals games in my near future. If you dont eat at the stadium and park where you have pay (which is pretty easy) you can get away with spending $6-$9 for a great day of baseball. Well that's all the updating I have at this time...nothing major but I am trying to get in the blogging habit! Have a great week friends!

So much going on!

First of all...I wish I was a high tech blogger and could figure out how to do all the cool fancy stuff I see on other blogs. My blog feels so naked! If anyone is a blogging guru and could help me dress things up a bit, I'd appreciate that! WOW...SIX MONTHS have passed since my last blog. Blogging is kind of like writing in a diary. I just dont do it enough. Plus I don't think my audience is very large...so thanks to the 3 people who read this! :) There is only one word to sum up the last 6 months of my life: CRAZY! There have been definite ups and downs. Teaching in some ways is way more than I bargained for but it's also way more than I could have dreamed. Even on the days when I think WHY IN THE WORLD did I choose to do this, I am still at peace and know this is what God has called me to do! The doors He opened to get me there...wow...I am still in awe! I have always wanted to be able to have time to give to missions. I want to travel to other countries and places within the US and give my talents to help others. While I do not feel a call to full time missions, my heart is definitely in short term. One thing that has always been an obstacle is time off. I can only take so much time off of work to give. When I went in to teaching, I decided I would dedicate a portion of my summer to missions as long as I was able. At this time in my life, I am young, single and able to do that now with the 2 months I have off from teaching. I am so blessed to have that time! And trust me...it's MUCH needed! My dream was to return to Cambodia. I wanted to go so badly. I left a piece of my heart there and I can't even hear the name of hte country without feeling a tinge of love and devotion to that region. Unfortunately, that door closed this summer for me. I was and still am disapointed, but when God closes a door, he opens another one. This summer I will be going to Newbridge, Ireland. I can't imagine two more extreme locations! I will be working with a church there doing VBS. The details are still in the works, but it will be a busy and exciting time working with around 100 kids a day! You sold me at "kids!" So I'm back to blogging! I started this blog to blog about Cambodia two years ago and now I will be updating it to blog about my trip to Ireland. Stay tuned!

What a week...

My life was changed instantaneously. Last Thursday I received a call from a friend letting me know Nixa had posted a job opening. I called immediately. After being given the standard "update you app online" I thought, well...bummer, too late for that. Around 3:30, I received a call from Nixa asking me to come in immediately for a video interview. I went straight there with no time to prepare in anyway. Friday morning I got to work at 8 and at 8:15 I got a call for a 2nd interview with the principal this time. I went straight there. After I left, I just had that "God feeling" that my life was about to turn upside down. All weekend I had a strange peace about it. Monday morning I got the call that changed my life! In less than a week I have said goodbye to my wonderful kindergartners at Westport. I fell in love with those kids and that school so quickly! It was hard to say goodbye. I said goodbye to my job at GPH of 8 1/2 years. That was my family and I'm still struggling with that goodbye. Friday night I got the keys to my classroom and I've pretty much been living here ever since.

The teacher last year retired and left everything here totally unorganized. The teacher that was here didnt go through that stuff and then left everything for me. I have gone through MOST of the classroom and I know what I have and where everything is. I have cleaned everything and organized like a madwoman. I could NOT have done all of this without the help of some wonderful people. They did all the little things I could not have done. They are SUCH a blessing!

I've been so overwhelmed and driven to get everything done this weekend. This morning I opted to skip out on church, go enjoy a nice homecooked breakfast at a restaurant in Nixa and just try to relax and get stuff done today. I had some people make some comments over my outside wall my roommate wonderfully decorated. I can take criticism generally, but in my state of emotionally well being and trying so hard, I got a little teary eyed. A friend on Facebook reminded me that all of those things don't really matter. What matters is the lives of the kids I am going to impact. I know the first few weeks are going to be rough as they transition and I'm not going to sleep and there will probably be more tears....but it's the END RESULT that matters. On my way to school this morning, it hit me. THIS IS IT. THIS is what I've been waiting my whole 30 years for.

I was suddenly overwhelmed with God's goodness and mercy. I began to cry as I realized this. This is what i have prayed for and longed for for so long and now it's here! I cannot believe it! tomorrow 25 2nd graders will be under my care for 7 more months. I am honored and overwhelmed that God called ME to do this!

And when I look at the hand of God and how He has moved and orchestrated all of the details...I am just simply overwhelmed. All of the tears and frustrations that I experienced in August....they were ALL worth it. I knew there was a greater purpose, but to see it come about (so quickly) is just incredible. I am humbled. God is so amazing and I am thankful to be His daughter!