The Journey Chronicles

School has begun...

2011-10-16T22:51:00.000-05:00

...and I love it! As most of you know, I started teaching 3rd grade in August. It was definitely a God-appointed position for me and I know that only God could have orchestrated such an amazing series of events to lead me to that job. I'm so grateful for the team of teachers I work with and many of my colleagues and definitely my boss who has supported me and taken care of me since I moved back to the area. They say your first year of teaching is hard...and I'm starting to fully understand what they meant. I thought having so much experience under my belt would help me but there is sooo much more. The experience I have has been vital to my survival and my avoidance of tears each night. Sometimes its so overwhelming because I have such a great responsibility and it feels daunting when some of your kids are facing much larger emotional giants at home. Students anywhere come in with a variety of giants from home but when you are responsible for 19 of these little lives, it can be saddening. The over-compassionate side of me can't let go of the thought of what they are dealing with at home and how difficult it must be. Every day, I want to do sooo much more than I'm doing but I just can't emotionally or physically do it. That's just the beginning...then there is all the paperwork I must keep track of for me and the kids and all the things I need to do to prepare things for the kids...aaahhhh! There is definitely a reason that teacher's get breaks and have summers off! I'm finally feeling like I'm getting a rhythm and first quarter is almost over.

I would appreciate prayers for continued stamina and wisdom to work smarter...not harder.

Thank God for an amazing job that is where He has me!!!!

Remembering 9/11...10 years later

2011-09-11T22:14:00.003-05:00

None of us will ever forget where we were or what we were doing when we heard about The World Trade Centers and the other events on 9/11.

Our school had late arrival that day and I actually had been sleeping when the towers were hit. I didn't know anything had happened until I arrived at the bus stop and my neighbor seemed very contemplative but was usually a bubbly person. I asked her what was wrong out of genuine concern and she said planes hit the World Trade Center. In my ignorance, I had no idea what it was. That changed very quickly. I was a sophomore in high school and knew that sometimes my stepmom traveled to NYC and worked for the FBI and NHMEC so I didn't know where she was and her family lived there too. I knew they were living in DC at the time so I was more concerned about the Pentagon site and wondering if it affected other buildings in the area. Throughout the day, the new televisions in our hallways were continually playing images of the plane crash site, the planes hitting the buildings and my heart sank. I remember nothing other than shock throughout the day and I learned the most important lesson that no education could ever teach me, what was really important in life: faith, family, and friends.

I visited the site a couple years later on my mission trip to NYC. I still could not comprehend the gravity of visiting there and feel as though I want to go back now that I'm older...and hopefully wiser.

I pray that as today marks a decade since our world changed forever, we would not only remember and pray for those directly affected by this tragedy but that we would ask ourselves: how did this change me and what is really important in my life?

9/11: We'll always remember, never forget and continually pray.

Miracle of Life

2011-09-10T19:03:00.002-05:00

Started a month and a half ago:

Right now, I am watching a 5 day old baby. Recently, I have really been thinking about the unknown nature of our lives and how much time we have on this earth. It started with a comment/sermon that I recently heard. The comment that really made an impression on me was my pastor did not want to stand at God's throne saying, "but I thought I had so much more time." the rewality is we do not know exactly how much time we really do have. We need to make the most of our time as best we can.

This summer I have been not the best steward of my time and I now have a ton of regret about how I have spent a good portion of my summer. It hit me yesterday as I realized I spent a good portion of the afternoon clearing out my email inbox and not enjoying the best weather we've had in weeks.

Today:

Needless to say, I am always amazed at God's creation and the miracle of newborn life!!!!!!!!

Since I wrote the first part, I have really been a lot better about using my time a little more wisely...not that I've had a lot of "free time" to manage but when I do, I've been better. It's a work in progress and I do not want to leave this Earth tomorrow and say, "wait...I didn't get to finish..." Life is meant to be lived to it's fullest. God has a purpose for each and every one of us. Are you living God's purpose for your life? Each new life has a purpose too!

Living and Loving Intentionally

2011-09-10T18:54:00.000-05:00

As you listen to the thoughts in your head, are you listening to fear or listening for God's still, small voice? Oftentimes we find ourselves thinking we are hearing God but oftentimes Satan disguises his voice in our fears. We believe the fear comes from within and we use any number of justifications to say it's all a fear because of _____________ (you fill in the blank). Our lives are often so busy we forget to listen for God's voice and assume we can hear it among the busyness and loud nature of our everyday lives. Unfortunately we forget about listening even when the person is right in front of us much less hearing God's voice and we can't even see Him. It requires intentionality. Relationships require intentionality. LOVE requires intentionality. We hear that quality over quantity is the best thing. Why then do we sell ourselves, our friends, our lives short when we don't take the time to dig deep and share ourselves with others and really grasp when others' share the depths of their hearts too? There are many reasons. First, we don't listen because we are far too distracted by the multitude of media and things going on around us. Just last night, while spending time with some of my favorite people, I found myself distracted and texting another good friend that was hundreds of miles away. Too worried about the emotions I was feeling adn talking them through with this friend...I almost missed some opportunities to talk to people I love and one of them, I don't get to talk to often.

Over the years, it always struck me how people would form and keep long-lasting relationships. I felt like even though I tried to keep in contact with people, they wouldn't return the gesture. In the last couple of years, I've found myself lonely and struggling at times because I felt like even the people I loved and the friends around me were so far away. Trying to figure out why these relationships were working and I wasn't developing new ones was beyond my thoughts. I wanted to have those deep last relationships that would traverse thick and thin. Even relationships with family members. Why did I always feel a strain when I know the other person didn't feel it? I felt it because I knew I wasn't upholding my end of the bargain. I was letting them do all the work. I was wrapped up in my own little world and rarely came out to see that there were others around me. In the last year, I had a friend who, even though he moved TOO far away, would call, text, email, FB chat me and always thought of me. Why would he do that? Why would he even care? I'd only known him 8 months before he left. His wife was the one I knew growing up. It's because he cared, it's because we were friends, it's because he realized the importance of loving his friends and being intentional and how it would keep our friendship alive. So, I started thinking, what would my relationships be like if I started doing that. In our media filled world, what if I took the time to call a friend on my way home from work? What if I called my sister, just to talk? What if I actually remembered to call my dad so he wouldn't worry that I'd dropped off the face of the planet? (You know how dads are...) What if I reached out to a new friend at church because I saw they were lonely? What if I invited someone to hang out with my friends and I? So that's what I did. I've found myself, despite fear of inquiring minds thinking things aren't as they are or fear of rejection. This was after much prayer and time spent with the Lord dealing with relationship issues. I'm excited to see where God takes me now. I know that He's preparing me for great things even in the darkest of moments. Are you living intentionally...loving intentionally lives?

The other thing I've always struggled with is my consistency in my daily devotions. Well, you guessed it, intentionality is required. Throughout this process, it's caused me to learn self-discipline and self-control. I think I've always had it but it's pushing me farther, it's causing me to want to be in the Word. God keeps allowing my circumstances to be such that I have no other choice but to draw near to Him. The reason I learned to love and life intentionally is because God intentionally loved my friend and he, in turn, loved the people in his life intentionally and I was fortunate to be one of those people. God taught me what it meant to live and love intentionally through one of His own children. I'm grateful everyday for this friend and the way he's walked life with me and even when I seemed like a knuckle-head, he stuck in it...he loved intentionally.

PADS: Putting myself in their "shoes"

2011-09-10T17:58:00.000-05:00

Today I had the opportunity to support PADS of DuPage County. They hosted their annual PADS 5K in downtown Wheaton. It's one I've done every year since I started running again in 2009 thanks to the Schuberts and Antho. (For that story, read here or ask me...that's probably easier.) Earlier this week, I biked 5 miles or so with my brother and got up the next morning to walk/run 10 miles (really had only planned to do 3 but we were just enjoying the day). That is a lot of mileage so I took it easy this week and didn't really train because I knew I had the race this morning. I had many moments of pain throughout the week but it seem to pretty much subside and I was able to do my normal daily activities. This morning, when I woke up, my leg was killing me. All week, it had been feeling good in the morning because it had a chance to rest and repair itself overnight. I, being as strong-willed and stubborn as I can be sometimes, decided that 1) I'd already paid for it and 2)..most of all...I felt like I needed to push through it. These people have pain, physical and emotional, 365 days a year 24/7. They don't have a support system like I've been blessed with and they usually don't have access to good health care to help repair an injury they may sustain on the streets or wherever they are living. Needless to say, my pride...yep...I have it too...said you have to finish this or you are just giving up and giving in. As I began the race, I knew it would feel like the longest 5K I'd ever run...just 100 yards in, I was ready to quit. I kept going. I pushed through and 'ran' the first 2 miles, including the gigantic hill over the tracks in downtown Wheaton...you locals know what I'm talking about. As soon as I passed the 2 mile marker and was at 27 minutes or so, I started feeling a lot of pain so I gave in and walked...more like limped...the guys on the bikes even stopped to make sure I was ok..."Did I really look that bad?" I thought to myself. Surely not...so I was limping...who cares?!?! Clearly they were concerned. my last 1.2 miles was spent walking, running and toughing it out. As soon as I crossed the finish line, I did not want to walk one more step. I pushed through to get some food...since I was starving...and some water.

I'm going in Monday to get it looked at and we'll see what they say. Could be bad news. Today, I've barely been able to walk and stairs just about kill me...glad Monday is not tomorrow or I'd be taking a day off from work I'm pretty sure. I'm praying for a speedy recovery but today I learned a lesson...there's always someone who has worse circumstances...and this was for them. Well worth it.

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-05T21:12:00.001-05:00

This weekend was a great weekend and not just because it was a 3-day weekend, although that helped it's rating. Friday night, I knew that if I didn't dig in, I would be sitting here tonight...right about now, going...I don't wanna grade all those papers tonight so I just sat down with my fun pens, my water, a little HGTV in the background and got to work. I was able to grade all but one stack of large packets...tomorrow night's project. I need to record the scores but that's easy. That started my weekend off great! [You are probably thinking..."She's nuts...who wants to grade on Friday night?"] If I had been in your place, I might have said the same but feeling so productive and knowing it freed me up mentally and physically for the weekend was indescribable made it the best thing to do. I love my job and since grading is my least favorite part...I just gotta do it.

On Saturday, I was able to just sleep in and have a lazy day. I got to talk on the phone with a friend for about an hour and then went with a bunch of friends from my "old church" to see Lincoln Brewster lead worship at Willow Creek. It was a really fun night and I love getting to worship with thousands of people...just makes the hairs stand up on my arms! God does amazing things...ALL THE TIME! You just have to look for it. I had a friend comment on one of my FB posts and said, "Danielle, you just find joy in the little things, don't you?" Yes, I do. It's what life is made of. If we expect God to only do big things, we are going to be sorely disappointly because He works in the little things...and in the big things.

Sunday was a great time of leading worship with and for my FCCC peeps. After church I got to eat lunch on the go, in the car, with my one of my best friends...Katie and her two girls...sometimes easier to talk that way. Much needed girl time for sure! I used the afternoon to take a little snooze with the cool breeze blowing in the window. My brother, Austin, and I then met up and were able to take a long bike ride around Herrick Lake. I was able to shoot this amazing picture there with my new phone!

Then I went to my family's house and ate dinner then topped my day off with my sister sleeping over!

Today, I dragged my sister out of bed early...like 8:30am...which for me is now "late" and her it's still "early". I knew once I got her going, we'd be fine. We set out to Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve for a short walk/run. Well, that's where the short part ended. We decided to head out on the trail and once we got going, we'd gone so far, we decided to finish the 9.6 mile loop...which including our little detours took us to the 10 mile mark. We didn't run the whole thing but we sure did some serious walking/running. It was a great time where we both had our MP3 players and were enjoying the scenery. Next time, we probably won't do the whole trail but we know how it goes so we know what to expect and where to turn around! Then we grabbed Qdoba...last day for double points and came home. We were pooped to say the least. So this afternoon, I finally gave into another wonderful nap in the breeze. After I got up, my friend had posted that she had peaches and wanted some things to make with them...I had already had a craving for peach cobbler earlier in the week so I went ahead and found a recipe using ingredients I had on hand and made it...turned out quite yummy...you just have to ask my mom and my grandma...although my mom and I had eaten almost 1/2 the pan by the time grandma got any! :)

It was a great weekend to de-stress and get moving...the fall-like weather certainly helped a ton too! :)

Eve of my 2nd week

2011-08-28T20:47:00.000-05:00

Tonight, as I officially joined the ranks of the Sunday-night-teachers'-preparation crowd, I couldn't help but be thankful. I had a momentary thought of, "Oh the days as an aide..." but then I remembered my lack of excitement for work (some days) and the dread of the non-teaching position and was past that really quickly. I also remembered that I'm getting paid (better than my long term sub job days) to do this and God found the absolutely, positively best niche for me where I'm at. I LOVE my team, I enjoy the rest of the staff, my boss is awesome and my kids are unique and special and I love them each for a different reason. This is such a different environment than I was in before. It's amazing how fewer "procedures" are required of the staff here. They, I mean WE, can actually focus on our jobs, not a whole bunch of other 'stuff'...ya'll know what I'm talking about!
Reflections on my first week (you're getting bullets or this would be 100 pages):
-I'm starting to become a morning person...sorta...don't get too excited Antho ;)
-I love the room decorating...when I have more time.
-I don't have to be so OCD about things...especially when in a time crunch like being hired less than 5 days before school starts.
-Creativity can wait until I have a couple weeks under my belt.
-I am overwhelmed by the amount of stuff you have to learn when moving to a new district from another...I guess I forgot from my internship days.
-My kids are diverse...and so unique.
-On Wednesday, I got my first, "Miss Krieg is the best teacher!" comment.
-I'm glad school starts at 9:15am so I don't have to get up dreadfully early!
-I don't mind the drive...although I think I can only do it a year---max!
-There's so much to learn and remember.
-I've learned all the kids' names....slowly learning all the staffs' names.
-I've had so many staff members welcome me and provide encouragement and assistance in my mad-scramble.
-I'll get in a routine, I'll give my best this year and re-evaluate come next year...hoping I don't have to wait the summer to find out if I have a job in the fall...what will I do with my extra emotional energy over the summer...lol!!!!!
-GOD HAS ME IN THE BEST PLACE and I'm excited to see if this is my teaching home for many years to come!!!!!

The New Teaching Journey Begins

2011-08-18T22:55:00.002-05:00

Well, I officially signed my first teaching contract today! I'm going to be teaching 3rd grade and my students start Tuesday which is why this will be the shortest post I've ever written. I'll post pictures and more later! :)

HUG a friend, L-O-V-E a friend

2011-08-08T13:23:00.001-05:00

Did you know that humans need at least 10 human touches a day? Do you ever feel like you could just use a hug? Do you have that one person that gives the best hugs ever? Or two, maybe three?

Over the past week or so, I've been craving a hug. It's not that I've not had any because I've certainly had my fair share of hugs that have melted my heart. It's just that sometimes we have a friend (and if you have more than one..lucky you!) that give us hugs that melt away anything going on and we just want to rest in that person's arms. I have a friend that I get to see very rarely but gives some of the best hugs I've ever had in my life--my nieces are trying to give this person a run for their money I must say. I've been craving that hug for some time now and can't wait until I get the next one!

I have had some great hugs from students this weekend and those are always very special. My nieces BOTH squeezed the heck outta my neck this weekend and it just sent a chill down my back because they give all their love! What would the world look like if everyone loved with everything they have?

Go hug a friend....you never know, it may mean the world to them but seem to insignificant to you!

Looking Back on La Paz

2011-07-19T08:45:00.000-05:00

This morning I awoke and found that students from GEBC serving in La Paz had updated the blog and pictures had been posted. As I read the students words, I couldn't help but remember my time as I entered a world unknown to me last summer as I, along with many others, led a group of students into the unknown of La Paz and have a yearning in my heart that makes me wish I was there with them...even if it's hotter than it is here right now. My adventure last year was like none I'd ever experienced. You can read about it here. (It's long...) Something welled up inside of me as I browsed the pictures, saw my sister, many students that went with me last year, places I knew, and some of the amazing fellow leaders that I worked with. My heart loved La Paz differently than it's loved other places. I look back on the different mission trips I've experienced both as a student and a leader...each one was so unique and even when I was in the same place more than once, it certainly wasn't the same. There will probably never be a time when I know exactly why La Paz was so different but some of the reasons are irrefutable:

It was my first time leading a trip outside the US.
It was only my second time leading a trip but I wasn't the main leader in charge, see here for a taste of that experience.
My sister and I were there together although I was not in her room and I worked most closely with other girls.
God taught me a lot about patience with one of my best friends and how to love him despite my utter frustration with him at times.
God began a restoration of that same friendship and allowed us to have some very special moments that I'll never forget and always cherish in my heart.
Although I had very little, some might say practically no(ne), Spanish speaking skills, I was able to grow more in one week than I had in my one semester in college (a whole other story you can ask about later).
God changed my heart and I'm confident that God has a plan far greater than any I could ever imagine for myself.

As I impatiently await the arrival of my sister and the other students to come home, I have to remember that God has them there for a reason. Just as he had me not help lead this trip for a reason, and I think I'm starting to see why.

All Things Fitness in Chicago

2011-07-13T15:15:00.000-05:00

In my last blog post, I ranted and raved about the amazing opportunities for fitness in DC. Although I still really think that trail has a leg up on Chicago, and it's -land, I have to recant and give Chicago the credit it deserves. I've been more observant and tuned into fitness opportunities as I've driven and visited so many different places in Chicago and the 'burbs since my trip. [Side note: I drove into downtown Chicago on my own for the first time last week. I normally take the train or graciously let someone else drive.] While taking a day trip for my sister's birthday last week, I realized there is plenty to do along the lakefront of Lake Michigan...it is just a matter of how much I'm willing to pay to do so. To go jet-skiing for 30 minutes, it's $75...not in my budget...that's basically half my gas allowance each month. The beaches are great as long as you get there early to avoid the masses and you also won't have to walk miles away either. I have yet to bike or run along Lake Shore Drive...but it's in the plans for the near future. My brother and I have gone out to Geneva twice in the last year to ride bikes along the Fox River. I found out this time, that is goes much further than I realized and that you can rent paddle boats too.

So although I love DC, Chicago and the 'burbs have some neat things to do if you just look for them. I've compiled a list of just some of the wonderful things you can do fitness-wise in the area:

1. Bike/Walk/Run along the Fox River
2. Rent jet skis and other water equipment along the lakefront
3. Enjoy the splendor of the Western Trail or the Prairie Path
4. Bike/Walk/Run along Lake Shore Drive
5. Swim in Lake Michigan

Go find your fitness area...and if you find some neat places...let me know.

HAPPY FITNESS HUNTING!

The 2nd Fittest City in America

2011-06-29T08:44:00.002-05:00

I recently came across an article talking about America's fittest cities. This past weekend I had the pleasure of visiting #2 on the list....Washington D.C. Fortunately this is where my dad and stepmom have chosen to "retire" and they have "officially" moved for the last time...we'll see how long that lasts...yes Dad...I know you will be reading this! ;) Anyways, I have determined that it truly is an inspiring place to be even though I don't think I'll be moving there anytime soon, if ever. Along the Potomac River near George Washington Parkway, from basically downtown DC to Mount Vernon and possibly beyond, there is a fitness path. For those of you in the Western Suburbs, this is no prairie path or western trail. It is paved with strength training stops along the way and there are always, and I mean ALWAYS, people at every level running, walking, biking, etc...down this trail. There are drink stops and you can pretty much see the river along a majority of the path. Just driving past it a good number of times was inspiring much less seeing the fact that the people on the trail ranged from fit to, well, unfit. There are plenty of places to walk...all through downtown DC would be plenty. If you've visited, you know what I mean. Then you have the trail and you have the water sports along the river and nearby. Now I know that we have Navy Pier here in Chicago but that requires a much more significant drive than does this wonderful trail. It is literally across the street from thousands of homes over its 14+ mile length.

One time I visited, my dad and I paddled around between the Washington Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. Here is a picture from that event circa 2008 or so:

This time we went canoeing...we don't have a picture because let's just say that three people in a canoe is far too many...at least when they are all adults. We did do plenty of other things like walking around downtown, eating out at restaurants...since the kitchen in their newly renovated home is not in complete working order quite yet. One of our frequent stops was breakfast at Breugger's Bagels...

They used to have some here in the western suburbs but I am not sure many exist with the proliferation of Einstein's and Panera as well as the few remaining Great American Bagels.

Anyways, gettting away always provides a fresh and new perspective on life and this trip could not have come at a better time as I had really been struggling through some things since my job ended earlier this month. I can't believe that July is almost here and I will certainly be better at posting in the coming weeks and months.

Hope you are able to get away and get a new and fresh perspective and can come back and be absolutely inspired to do what you need to do and want to do.

Happy End of June and "official" beginning to summer (a few days late)!

One week into Summer and I'm LOVING it already!

2011-06-17T19:54:00.000-05:00

Summer may seem like it's the same each year but for me it's filled with uncertainty, sometimes pain and loneliness and sometimes it's entirely too busy that I seem to miss the "enjoyment of the season" altogether. This year is different. Fortunately, I've been blessed by the long term position that I took in March and therefore do not have to work full time this summer to pay the bills. In fact, if I stay on budget each month, I technically don't have to work at all. However, I want to do some special things and they require just a little money so I'm still doing some work here and there, I'm fortunate to not feel the stress I've felt for as many summers as I have before.

It's only been one week of summer break and I've been in heaven. Last Friday was my last day, then I planned, shopped and crafted until my sister's graduation party on Sunday. After that, my summer truly began (even though it was fun...I felt like I was still on a spinning wheel). Monday and Tuesday mornings, I leisurely awoke and made my way to the deck where I soaked up the sun, did a little planning, read some magazines and drank iced tea! Now I could certainly get used to that... I also took on a last minute long weekend "sitting job"...the kids are going into 7th grade and one will be a freshman...let's just say its really fun to do extended times when they are older than toddlers! My sister has jumped in to tag team with me since I've had some other things planned. Today I hit up the beach with my two dear friends Jaimie and Katie and the three little peanuts between them, Maddie, Haley, and Brooke! We had quite the adventure and look forward to many summer adventures together! We ventured to downtown Chicago in the van...all 6 girls and made our way to North Ave. Beach. Let's just say, I'm so glad I'm not in high school anymore! :) Tonight I am participating in an adult sleepover (girls only of course) and I am really excited!

I'll share more soon and hopefully get pictures from Katie to post of our day at the beach!

Summer Break is here!

2011-06-13T21:37:00.001-05:00

In case you have not seen me lately, I'm officially on summer break and free to relax and enjoy!

The past 3 months have been a whirlwind and I feel like I had to let most things fall by the wayside to keep afloat at work. Over the coming months, I'm looking foward to getting things in order around the house, posting some under utilized things around the house on Craigslist, having a garage sale, using Rosetta Stone to work on my Espagnol and building up my photography skills and business.

If you are around or come into town...let me know! I'd love to see you and hang out! :)

Missing the blog world...indeed I am!

2011-05-16T17:34:00.000-05:00

Well, my last post was just days before I took a new job and my life went from 180 to 360...0 to 60 doesn't work in my case! LOL! Anyways, I unexpectedly took over a maternity leave in my building. Fortunate for me and the lovely lady is that I was her long term sub two years ago for baby #1. This made the transition...if we had one...easier for both of us. I knew her style, I knew her classroom, I just didn't know her kids. Well, that changed very quickly. Within a week, I had two parent conferences and a host of other meetings! I also found out that same week that my friend (and worship leader at FCCC) was leaving and then at the end of the week that my principal (boss and friend) would be leaving my building at the end of the school year. Needless to say I had a very rough Friday (right before Spring Break--my saving grace in all of this) because I was (A) exhausted beyond belief (B) started the day with a very DIFFICULT/ROUGH parent conference (C) found out about my principal after school and the topping on the cake (D) Fridays are my long day with very few breaks already (we even had a staff meeting during lunch).

That's about all I have time for now but I thought I'd post so you didn't think I'd disappeared into oblivion! :)

Where are the 'dents' in your life?

2011-03-12T10:51:00.000-06:00

(Let me start by saying that even admitting this happened in public is difficult because as many of you know, I pride--see below-- myself on being a good driver.)

A couple weeks ago, I was having lunch with a friend and was leaving the restaurant. Well, this parking lot has these measly 'posts' that I don't really think serve a particular purpose other than being in the way. Anyways, I was backing out trying not to hit the car that was next to me, since they parked too close, and as I turned my head to look back, I heard the most awful sound...ccrrruuunnnccchhhh. OH NO! I was looking back at this point and could not see a thing...that is because this fine little pole, had found itself hiding behind the one corner I could not see between where the side window ended and the back windshield began. Needless to say I have a nice indent on the rear bumper on the passenger side. I went a couple days later to get some estimates since it happened after all the places had closed on a Saturday afternoon. At any other point in my life thus far, I think I would have just melted in shame and balled my eyes out to the point that I was dehydrated but because of all the work God's been doing in my life, I chose to look at the positive side: no one was hurt, no other cars or people were involved, and it really won't matter once I finally am able to get it fixed.

Furthermore, I found myself really examining my pride. I realized that there are quite a few things that I take pride in...ones that don't affect others but rather my own self-confidence and self-concept. Actually, this extends to most things in my life. Those things that I do that are a reflection of myself such as driving, how I decorate and keep my room/office/spaces, my musical/photography/teaching skills, and just about everything else, are the things I put my 'pride' in because I lack self-confidence. This pride is also an extension of the high expectation (my half Type A personality appears here) I have for myself. I don't want to be thought of as a careless driver because I certainly am not, I don't want people to think that I'm not as musical as I portray, I don't want people to know that I'm scared, lonely, and would much rather become a hermit at times. All of these things go against what God wants for me. Satan is trying to attack through these because he knows how much I'm pleasing God with my life...or at least how I'm intentionally desiring and trying to please God with my life and choices.

DE-RAIL with me for a minute: As I write, this song is playing on the radio:

It's What Love Really Means by JJ Heller

I will love you for you

Not for what you have done

Or what you will become

I will love you for you

I will give you the love

the love that you never knew...

These lyrics hang in the air as I am trying to write this because I know that God will love me no matter what I do or who I am as long as I'm in relationship with Him and striving to be closer to Him each day.

BACK ON TRACK: Last weekend, I attended a retreat that was truly life-changing. The theme for the weekend was grace...something I often struggle with. I always thought I understood the concept of grace in my head but believing it in my heart was something I now realize I never did. Growing up, I always tried (and still do) to be a people pleaser so when I would make mistakes, I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders and would always get REALLY down on myself and certainly never extend grace to myself. I felt like I let my parents, or those that were affected, down and couldn't understand why they would still love me and show me grace. I NEVER knew and still struggle with accepting grace in my life...the same with LOVE and FORGIVENESS. Therefore, why would I believe that God could put aside my sin and truly love me when I've let Him down so badly with my sin? This weekend, I felt like I started to understand and accept all of this. One of the most profound things I realized is that I often let the sin in my life paralyze me from allowing God's love and grace penetrate my heart and the remnants of unforgiveness in my life stem from not being able to forgive myself first and extend grace to myself. If I can give these to myself, how can I extend them to others freely?

I think that I already extend grace and love and forgiveness to people at a level beyond my own capacity but truly as evidence of God's work in my life. For example, I have a friend that struggles with his own past sin and felt I couldn't possible love, extend grace to and forgive him despite his sin. But for me, I was able to put all of that aside and love him for who he was with all of his dents and I think it was the first time I've been able to do that without holding on to the little pieces of hurt in our relationship...I was able to truly LOVE him. I could identify with him because our self-concepts were similar, before this weekend of life-change that I was able to experience. He felt that his past sin would keep him from having the good things that God was giving to him and that he wasn't good enough for what God was blessing him with. Unfortunately, I think that we all allow our sin to keep us from experiencing the blessings that God has planned for us.

This song played on my way home from the retreat and I couldn't ask for a better prayer as I left this weekend:

I see each of these things as 'dents' in our lives. Things that keep us from becoming the 'vehicle' God created us to be. We beat ourselves up for each of these dents and until we do the work required...getting estimates and truly letting go and allowing God to "fix" our dents, we won't be able to be the person God created us to be. Where are the 'dents' in your life? Where do you need to give up control?

Cooking from the Pantry: Day #3

2011-02-24T22:13:00.001-06:00

Totally a cereal and leftovers kinda day but figured I should still post.

Breakfast: Life cereal while driving...
Lunch: leftovers from last night (l-p chicken, rice, and peas)
Dinner: Life cereal for a "snack" then leftover l-p chicken and peas....

So boring I didn't even take a picture! LOL!

Just wait...tomorrow I will be not in charge of my own dinner so we'll see what I eat then!

Cooking from the Pantry: Day #2

2011-02-23T21:36:00.001-06:00

Here's the breakdown of day #2:

Breakfast: a banana
Lunch: 1 piece leftover pizza, leftover potatoes from Day #1, a banana, and a protein bar
Dinner: I made lemon-pepper chicken, peas and had left over rice and rolls from Day #1

Here's what I did:

1. Put chicken tenders in glass baking dish, poured on lemon juice to taste (had to borrow some from grandma but normally I have it on hand...not sure what happened to mine), and sprinkled with pepper to taste. Covered dish with foil.

2. Baked chicken in oven at 350* for 30 minutes.

3. About 5 minutes before chicken finished, I took a bag of frozen peas and followed directions on bag.

4. Reheated rolls (in microwave but will definitely do the toaster over next time) and leftover rice mix.

**Luckily for me, when the pot holder slipped--while I was checking the chicken--down to the bottom of the stove and almost started a fire, I was able to get it and not burn myself OR start the house on fire...every good cook has some mishap, right??**

Cooking from the Pantry: Introduction and Day #1

2011-02-22T22:15:00.001-06:00

So, there is a statistic that if you get creative and use a lot of the ingredients that are hiding in your pantry, you could save 25% on your groceries for that month or however long depending on the amount of food stashed away. Obviously you may have to replace certain things like milk or eggs but other than that, you should be good to go.

I've done this one time before but now I've got more interesting staples other than pasta, tomato sauce, frozen chicken, veggies, and a few other regular shelf-space takers!

I just decided tonight to do this so my earlier meals today were a little more simple.
Breakfast: Life cereal
Lunch: leftover pasta in tomato sauce
Dinner: I decided to make something a little more exciting...at least I don't normally cook for myself like this. It included baked buffalo chicken strips, potatoes, some chicken-flavored rice/vermecelli, and crescent rolls.

So this is what I did:

1. Marinaded chicken tenders in buffalo sauce (the longer you marinate, the more flavorful they are) in baking dish (8x8 or 9x13). Covered dish with aluminum foil.

2. Cooked chicken at 350* for about 25 minutes.

3. Washed and cut up potatoes, put on cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkled with italian seasoning and put in oven at *375 for about 20-25 minutes...could have been a little less and still yummy. (I used both our normal oven and our toaster oven so I could cook simultaneously.)

4. I had the rice leftover but I would start cooking it about 15 min before everything else was done.

5. I put the crescent rolls in the oven just after the chicken was done since it finished a little before the potatoes.

5. I put a serving on my plate and sprinkled parmesan cheese on the potatoes and shredded cheese on the chicken tenders.

Discovering I'm a "Turtle"...Are you a "turtle" too?

2011-02-12T21:24:00.000-06:00

The turtle/tortoise is known for its hard shell that allows the turtle to retreat upon the threat of any type of danger. These creatures are slow and steady but always "win the race". The one in the photo is somewhat special to me. This was 'aquired' through a pool struggle in La Paz, Mexico with my students last summer (2010). Needless to say, I was going to use it to play a prank on the guys with my girls as they did to us with it but it just never happened...but I'm HAPPY about that because it brings back many awesome memories.

Yesterday, I guess I glanced at the turtle or just thought about it for some reason and I thought about how it can be a similie for people (or at least myself) sometimes. We have a hard shell. We're tough and independent. We're small. We're aware of threats and dangers around us. We EASILY retreat when there is danger or threats to who we are. We don't open up easily. We are often afraid of opening up to those around us because we don't know if we will be good enough. We don't know if they'll accept us. We don't know if we're willing to open our hearts to get hurt by letting others inside of us. However, its when we do open ourselves up to others that we become more confident, we are less afraid of what others will think. I think it's important to remember that our confidence should be in Christ and His work in our lives. He's the one that made our hearts to be shared and made our lives to be shared with one another! He's redeemed us, we're not perfect, we never will be and as much as we try to put on a 'shell' for others to see as our true beauty, there's so much more underneath it and that's where the true beauty lies in each of us. There is a song called Behind The Scenes by Francesca Battistelli that talks about this. The chorus says:

Things aren't always as they seem
You're only seeing part of me
There's more than you could ever know
Behind the scenes
I'm incomplete and I'm undone
But I suppose like everyone
There's so much more that's going on
Behind the scenes

I think that is true at some level for each of us. We all have things that people can't imagine would be true about us. Just recently, I had someone I am developing a friendship with say they never would imagine that I, of all people, would struggle with depression. She struggles with depression and as I was sharing about what God was doing in my life, I shared that I struggled with it. She said she never would've imagined me saying that. It proved to me right there that we all have things that people don't know about us. Even those people that know us to the depths of our core, or at least we think they do, often don't know some things. I think that it takes a while for us to want to 'come out of our shell' and share our hearts and lives with people. Have you ever had those people that you meet and you feel like you've known forever and you could spend hours upon hours upon hours talking to? Do you feel like these are the people that God uses to help you 'come out of your shell'? I DO! I have been fortunate to have a few of those people in my life. One of those people I met about 2.5 years ago. We met through mutual friends and have been great friends ever since. I remember we started emailing back and forth almost daily (he lived in MN at the time) about our lives and what was happening then or some of the things we'd been through in our lives. Then we would talk on the phone often and we talked with tremendous ease and just enjoyed getting to know each other. The more I learned to trust him, the more I shared. He never judged, he never thought I was a 'crazy person'...okay, well, maybe he did but he didn't make me feel ashamed about those things that made me 'crazy'. He taught me to open my heart again after the previous few years where I had been hurt VERY badly by those who said they were my friends or even those who said they loved me and had put up lots of walls. He taught me that even though there was a chance he would hurt me at some point in time, he cared about me and loved me as a friend despite what I considered to be my immaturity, etc... He gave me a glimpse of God's love...although its something I didn't realize until long after our friendship developed and strengthened. To this day, he continues to support me, encourage me, be my 'cheerleader', be my shoulder to lean on or cry on, my friend that is there NO MATTER what happens! This friend has taught me a lot about what it means to love and to be loved. He has allowed me to open up and share with the world who I am because he cared enough to love me and support me when I felt unlovable and invisible. He believed in me...and still does. Rarely was, or is there, a conversation where he doesn't remind me that I'm important and that I can do whatever I want. He's excited for me when I tell him about new endeavors or what I want to do some day. It doesn't matter to him that I have issues...if we're honest...we ALL do. It doesn't matter to him if I break down in tears over the smallest thing. It doesn't matter to him if I look like a bum. He is there regardless. I'm so grateful to have him in my life each day.

There is another person I have only known for about 1.5 years but he is such a driving force in pushing me towards God. He's always pointing our conversation back to God and how my relationship with God is impacted by whatever we are talking about. He pulls things out of me that very few people do. He pushes me. He CHALLENGES me. I've not had many friends like him. He really shares the truth with love when he sees things going on in my life that I may not recognize or understand because I'm not on the outside. He shares his struggles and excitement with me. His example has really helped me to learn what 'coming out of my shell' looks like. I would say that he has challenged me so much and that my recent growth is largely, if not mostly, due to his proding and encouragement. He cares no matter what.

The other two people I have that are 'those people' that cause me to 'come out of my shell' are my two accountability partners. Although we formed this group in the fall of 2010 out of a desire to have community and wanting to be challenged to grow in our faith and our quiet times with the Lord. These women have been there through some mountains and very deep valleys in the past 7 months or so. They have challenged me to grow as a person, they have been there when I'm feeling completely out of my mind, they have been there when I'm just sobbing my eyes out and they've also been there to encourage me as I've stepped out in faith to start the photography endeavor. These women have helped me learn what it means to be a friend, a sister, a wife and a mother...through their wonderful examples. The three of us are at different stages in life but we are connected through our common bond of Christ and the wonderful friendship we've developed because of God bringing us together.

I always need to remember that I'm beautiful and that no matter what any one else thinks...God created me to be beautiful in His sight and that will never change. Mercy Me has a wonderful song that reminds me of this very important characteristic of Christ. It's You're Beautiful.

Please remember that you are beautiful and that God made you to be who you are, He put you where you are and He's growing you each day...you just have to be open and willing to allow him to do the work in your heart. I love you!

Valentine's Day Crafts and Ideas

2011-02-09T21:35:00.001-06:00

Valentine's Day is just around the corner...literally and you may not want to spend a whole lot on this 'holiday', see my post here and you'll know how I feel about this 'holiday'. Sometimes, though, you may want to do just a little something special...here are some ideas that cost very little but mean the world to those who recieve them.

1. Make a card: All you need is some red, white or pink paper and a fun pen or marker. (The Dollar Store has many craft supplies...super cheap! Otherwise, hit up another local craft store or big-box store like WalMart.) Obviously, you can embellish this to your heart's desire but what is important is that you took the time to make it and what you write inside that REALLY matters most. Oftentimes, we don't say what we want to say to the ones we love and, in many cases, its too late when you finally 'get around' to it. This is your time to do it whether you do it throughout the year or not. Don't wait...we're not guaranteed tomorrow and sometimes God takes people from us (whether its a move, death or something else) before we 'get around' to showing we care.

2. If you don't think you can make a card but don't want to spend a lot, go to the Dollar Store...they have a whole section and cards are only $0.50 each or you can go to Hallmark, the grocery, Walgreens/CVS, WalMart or wherever you would like but I personally like the Dollar Store because they have decent cards, with decent messages and you can add more if you'd like.

3. Make a "Top Ten Reasons I Love You" list. Type it up or write in fun handwriting/lettering and put in a frame. The Dollar Store has frames so take your pick of what size you'd like (4x6 or 5x7 for a desk; 8x10 for hanging up somewhere or putting on a ledge/mantle) and so do many other stores.

4. Make a puzzle. Take a piece of cardboard or cardstock and write a special message on it. Then decorate. When finished, cut out the shapes with an Xacto knife in funky shapes...maybe even try your hand at some hearts in there somewhere.

5. Go do something you both enjoy together. Maybe you just want to go to the gym and go for a good run or if you are in a MUCH warmer climate than Chicago during V-Day, go for a run on beach, ride bikes or just lay on the beach! :)

For those who want to kick it up a knotch:

6. Get a cheap basket (Dollar Store/elsewhere) and fill it with some of their favorite things. For example, if I were getting a basket, I'd love some Reese's, some apple cider, a Valentine's mug, a good book/magazine, a coupon for: a pizza & movie night at home/a walk at sunset, a massage from the giver of the basket or other little things. It can be as cheap and small as you want or as extravagant as you want to make it. Make it yourself and put thought into it and you will be good to go no matter what size it is.

7. Plan a "surprise night". You will make an invitation for your special someone and invite them to a "special night". [Be sure to clue them in when it comes to the attire required.] Perhaps you want to plan a night in with their favorite pizza or meal (You can tell I love pizza!). You could set the table with a table cloth, candles, your 'finest' dishes (even if you just want to go with paper ones), a flower, music, and a card or note filled with a message about your love/desire to care for them followed by a movie and popcorn. --OR-- You can take them out to a special restaurant and order a special dessert or have dessert back at your house and something else special waiting.

Whatever you choose to do, show ALL those you love that you care! Think ahead...even if it is just the day before and remember...little things can sometimes mean the world so nothing is too little! :)

More on DOING LIFE NOW...don't wait...

2011-02-09T21:06:00.001-06:00

I got this in an email from my dad. It speaks to what many of us struggle with but rarely do anything about. I am actually in the midst of doing some "SIMPLIFYING" in my life too...it's amazing how much more relaxed I feel.

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched ' Jeopardy ' on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said , 'How about going to lunch in a half hour?' She would gas up and stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches.. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now....go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to...not something on your SHOULD DO list.. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask 'How are you?' Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say 'Hi'?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

‘Life may not be the party we hoped for... but while we are here we might as well dance!’ Yeah!!!!!!!!

Before today ends, do something you will remember and if you were to die to tonight, you'd be happy you did it...it can be reading a book or magazine for 30 min., taking a hot shower, or calling someone to just say "hi" and "I love you".

And remember, this is the ONLY you that God gave you so honor Him and treat it well!

Being a Good Steward with EVERYTHING!

2011-02-03T15:12:00.001-06:00

***WARNING: long and challenging post...get comfy and read on!***

I think so often, we forget that even in our hardest times, we are truly blessed. We have a roof over our head, we have food, more than one meal a day, we have clothes to wear, friends and family who love us--even when it feels like they don't sometimes, and GOD on OUR side! Although I often see people, myself included, taking everything for granted and not using their resources wisely--whether it's finances, time or talents to help others, share God with others and even at the most basic level, improve our own lives so we can better share the love and gospel of Jesus.

[I was thinking about posting on this topic for a while but was encouraged even more after watching an encounter with the man at the gym who dropped $20 to workout for the day at 4pm in the afternoon while staying at a hotel with a workout facility and a pool just across the street.-Another version of my thought process at the end of the finances section. Be sure to read for a GOOD laugh!]

Finances:

Finances/money is a sore subject for many people. When it comes to finances, we are always wanting more money than what we have. We say, "if only I had a little more money...I could send it to that missionary or I could support that student's endeavors". The reality is that many of us make enough money to cover our needs and oftentimes, our wants. Over the past month (and for the rest of the year), I have created a budget using a worksheet that I found here. I also listed out renewals and expenses (with approx. $$$ amounts) by month such as professional organizations, warranties, automobile routine expenses (oil changes, etc...), license/license plate renewals, dentist, etc...There are many more templates that may fit your life better than the one I use (find them here). I only used credit and debit cards (would not suggest if you don't keep a check on it every couple of days) for purchases so I could see where my money was going and if I spent any cash--it was from gift money. I put all of my paycheck $$$ in my checking account and balanced my checkbook a couple times throughout the month. Any money made babysitting or housesitting/dogsitting was cashed and put in a separate envelope. The envelope is currently full of my 'extra' cash. I haven't quite decided what I'm going to do with it yet although I have some ideas, I know that I want to use it to further the Kingdom and impact the lives of others. I also plan to use some of it throughout the year to plan for the future... One thing I've also learned is that even as careful as I tend to be with my finances, I can still do everything I need and want to do without spending my extra income. Another thing this helps to do is curve impulse buying. As I am contemplating a "FUN" purchase, I ask myself if it is worth breaking my budget and if it's something that I feel is worth spending my HARD-EARNED cash on.

A couple things to help ensure success (or at least baby steps to it) on this financial journey:

~Write down every $1 spent (even that $ for vending machines or gifts)--I used my planner/calendar. I also noted any 'extra' money I earned.

~Keep ALL receipts in ONE place. I have a little rectangular bin (used normally for small plants) that I bought at the $ store. It sits on my desk yet is stylish.

~Be aware of how much you've used of your gas, food, entertainment/hobbie budgets...those are the three that will kill any budget.

~On the first day of the next month, enter all income and money spent into the worksheet.

~For your birthday month and December, budget a reasonable amount for your own "birthday and Christmas gifts". My birthday and Christmas happen to be in the same month so I use all the 'extra cash' I earn in the last half of November and in December (often less than other months) and use it to spend time with friends, buy myself little 'gifts' or for whatever came about that I wanted to spend it on. (I still have a good majority of it and am deciding between a few options of what to do with it.)

~Budget in fun money: I knew that every Sunday I would be having Qdoba since I didn't want to cook after a long morning at church (I counted it as part of my grocery budget) and some money for crafts, etc...
~Use coupons and LOOK at the sales ads (mainly for groceries but also for many other stores such as Michael's and Jo-Ann's for my crafty friends and teachers you can get discounts at LOTS of places so always ask if there is a teacher discount)...you'd be amazed at what 15 minutes of coupon clipping, looking at ads and making a list can do BEFORE you go to the store and how much you save AT the store! When possible, buy the cheapest brand...sometimes they are better than the "NAME BRANDS".

For Christmas of 2010, I used a binder and ALL cash system. For any presents or for supplies to make presents (since I like to be crafty like that), I only used cash. I listed out WHO I needed to buy for, HOW MUCH I expected to spend, and any IDEAS I had on presents for each of those people and their approximate costs. [Also, in my family, sometimes we pick out a gift for ourselves or or pick up a gift for someone else that someone else is paying for and so I take note of that money spent and set a date for that money to be repaid.] I house sat for a family for a week and cashed the check, put all the cash in an envelope and used only that money for Christmas presents. It was $400--You could do the same or save a certain $ amount each money as a part of your budget or find some other way to save up. Now, I know that may seem like a lot for some of you and very little for others. So many times I was tempted to get this "cool" thing for someone but then I thought about my budget and what that person meant to me. It was wise for me to make something for that person that would show I cared but not break the bank. I work with a lot of people and I wanted to show them I cared so for each of them, I bought a $1 mug at WalMart, used remnant fabrics squares to sew a coaster (about $1), and threw in a packet of hot chocolate or apple cider for each person (10-25 cents each), and then used paper lunch bags stamped with snowflakes as my wrapping with a little ribbon and a handmade tag to wrap it (about $1 with all the supplies needed). So for about $3.25 each, I was able to show many people that I cared without breaking the bank. I ended up with lots of supplies/tools for future projects so it will be even more economical in the long run. In the end, I only spent $350 of my cash, I still wanted to use the remaining $50 to bless someone. I immediately thought of a couple ideas and just the right timing. February is actually going to be when I will bless this person with the extra $50. I didn't feel the timing was right at the start of the new year but now I know it's right. This binder and process of using cash helps avoid the stress of paying all those bills in January into February and perhaps throughout the WHOLE following year! Talk about a NEW YEAR feeling!

I know that this is not an automatic process for some, it will make others break habits that were formed long ago, and it will take time to learn and improve. I know that this month I blew my grocery budget but I bought many staples in large quantities that will carry me through February and March so I won't spend as much during those months and actually come in under budget. Find some friends, that are trustworthy to keep you accountable and to help you along the way. DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP if you mess up...that is the quickest way to sabotage this new 'habit'.

(My sassy and slightly judgemental side--yes, I have one--comes out in this version of the man at the gym. OOPS!)
Last week as I was renewing my membership at the gym, a man walked in and asked how much it would be for a one day pass to workout. He was staying at the hotel across the street...one I was pretty sure had a workout facility and after looking it up online...it does..a nice one to boot!!!! So the girl at the desk proceeded to tell him it would be $20 for today only...it was already almost 4pm. He said, "Ok, I'll probably come twice anyways." In my mind I'm thinking, "WHOA! Hold the phone here man! You are about to spend $20 to work out when you are staying in a hotel where there is a workout facility (at no extra charge to you) and pool? AND...you are coming twice in the next 8 hours????" Furthermore, "You are going to pay $10 to workout each time? Shoot...take the stairs to your hotel room after you use the free weights and cardio equipment in the hotel and maybe swim a few laps while you are at it!" I just couldn't get past the fact that he was dropping $20 like that...and I'm pretty sure the girl at the desk was just as surprised as I was by the way she told him it would expire at midnight!

Time: “They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself” ~Andy Warhol

Using our time wisely is a chronic problem for most people. We say, "I didn't have enough time" or "I don't have enough time" or "When do you want me to that TOO?" To be successful in time management and effective use of time it takes LOTS of planning, effort and discipline. I am,, by nature, a planner and am fairly organized but I STILL have trouble using my time wisely...common intruders on my time management: Facebook, email, blogging--lol, SLEEP, stress, other people's "emergencies", emotional turmoil, YouTube, looking for things that I forgot to put back in their home, trying to multi-task when I shouldn't, sorting through things I don't really need, catching up from poor time usage and so much more...

Some tips to help become a succesful time manager and user:
~Spend time with God in whatever way fits your lifestyle and schedule. (I'm guessing if you take any of these tips, you will find more available time for this.)
~Create daily/weekly/monthly routines for personal health and rejuvenation as well as responsbilities around the house (a couple things or a room each day plus a 15 min. 'sweep' before bed)
~Set a time or a couple of times to pay bills and make important phone calls.
~Make lists for long- and short-term projects. (I'm and AVID list maker...because otherwise I forget everything!)
~Pick up the kitchen and bathroom before bed.
~For larger projects, choose a day or chunk of time in which to accomplish them (or specific chunks to do along the way) and the date by which you would like to accomplish them. You may also have to complete certain things before the larger project can be completed so be sure those are done ahead of your final large project. Use a reasonable timeline or you will sabotage yourself!
~If you live with others, work as a TEAM for larger, more menacing projects and DELEGATE tasks for those everyday things that others can assist you with and watch your TO-DO list shrink! :)
~If you live alone, invite friends/family over, CRANK the tunes and tackle all your projects together (don't forget to laugh). Then at the end of the day or chunk of time, order pizza and and watch a movie together! [**Be sure to offer the same favor to those same friends...otherwise you will be 'using' them! This is VITAL!]
~Find someone to keep you accountable and ask how you are doing with the routines and the goals for completing both small and large projects.
~Don't play catch up unless its completely necessary...do what you can NOW! Sometimes we put things off that end up causing us extra stress when if we did it when we thought of it, we wouldn't have to worry. I learned this the hard way!
~SIMPLIFY your life...this will be a whole other post but basically take stock of where your time is going and if it isn't necessary while you try to get life together, get rid of it and only add it back in, IF and WHEN you feel like you have time or can do it without compromising what other things God has for you!
~Reward yourself when you complete tasks that require extra effort...just don't spend lots of your $$$ or eat a gallon of ice cream because then you'll have more problems on your hands! ;)

The effects of poor time management and usage often affect not only you but those around you. For example, if you promise your kids in January that you will create them a kids' only space in the basement where they can hang out with their friends by the end of the school year (late May/early June) and the next January rolls around and there is no space, your children will soon lose faith that you will actually do it. [Disclaimer: If financial or other emergencies occur, you need to explain that to them and ask for an 'extension'...kinda like kids want to do with teachers when they fail to complete that big research paper they have known about ALL semester!!! :)]If chores or responsibilities are not delegated or clearly assigned, it can cause hard feelings between those living under the same roof or even within the family. If you are having issues regarding the clarity of assigned responsibilities, have a talk...don't let it fester or things just get WORSE!

If you live with someone with a very different about of available "free work time" than yourself, such as a stay-at-home mom, the disabled, or the elderly, find ways to divide responsibilities amongst each member of the home but be respectful of their time too if you are seeking assistance. Don't assume they have the time but rather ask if they have time to help you with this or that. The dividing of responsibilities may allow them to have more time to help you. Finally, if you wish to delegate tasks to others under the same roof, give them tasks where they feel successful and not ones where you have a VERY SPECIFIC way you would like it done...this just causes more pain! This will probably eventually be its own post but for now, you get what I'm trying to say.

You will find more time to spend: glorifying God, growing in your knowledge of Him, serving in the church and pointing others towards Him when you learn to manage and use your time more wisely!

“Time is the cruelest teacher; first she gives the test, then teaches the lesson.” ~Unknown

Talents:

We need to use our talents to glorify God and his Kingdom! He didn't give them to use or allow us to learn them to gratify ourselves or to gain fame, He wants them to be used to further His Kingdom and change the lives of others. It's also a way we can show others a glimpse of God's love through ourselves. We need to approach anything we do with our talents as a way to glorify God and give Him thanks and praise before we even begin. There is a couple who runs a photography business who attend my church and as I was learning and tagging along on a shoot with them, the wife told me that one of the most important things they do as they head to a shoot is to pray over their equipment, the people that are photographing and the whole shoot as well as thank God for the opportunity to capture the lives of the people they shoot. So many things can go wrong and they leave all of that in God's hands...equipment can fail, kids can be squirly, adults can be anxious and controlling and a whole host of other things.

You don't have to be a photographer, a musician or artist, you can be an encourager, a host, a friend or family member, a servant, an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on and many other things that don't require any specific "skill set". No need to go learn something new..unless you want to and God leads you there! :)

Give God the glory for your talents and use them to glorify Him and point others towards Christ and the Cross and the fruits of your servant-like heart will be fruitfully multiplied!

Let's use our resources wisely for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom here on earth one step and one day at a time!

To God be the Glory forever and ever. Amen!

Make it new...AND...make the most of it!

2011-02-03T12:08:00.000-06:00

Borrowed from: timesync.gmu.edu

Over the past month or so as I've reflected on the notion of New Years' Resolutions and then read articles on how--by now--most of those have been broken, it really struck me and made me wonder why we only do this with a new YEAR. What about each new HOUR, DAY, WEEK or MONTH? Why do they not have the same power to affect change and desire to start new in our lives? I know that making each hour new may be more than we can handle right off the bat but why can't we start with a new MONTH and then eventually take it to a new HOUR? Or maybe its the opposite for you, maybe starting with the HOUR is best then slowly moving towards each MONTH? It all depends on where you are in life and how you feel...challenge yourself starting NOW! :)
In January, I was in a place where I just didn't feel the normal "newness" of the new year. I always love that feeling of a new, blank calendar and a new year to get things done but didn't feel that this year. It felt like 2010 was dragging itself and I into 2011. God was working in me and I knew that there was not going to be my normal, and much anticipated, "NEW YEAR feeling". That's when this whole idea of making each hour, day, week, month a NEW one. On January 12th, I felt like I was starting the something 'new'. God used a friend to bring me to my knees at the throne of God and strip away everything else until the only thing I had left was God! I knew that this was just the beginning of something new with God. It was a time for me to focus on God, delve deeper into my relationship with God, RELY SOLELY on God and seek HIS perfect plan for my life because I felt completely lost and empty. That's when I knew that God was asking me to do something for HIM, not for myself or this friend. Then on January 15th, God used ANOTHER friend to reinforce this. I was sharing how I was feeling inside with this friend and he spoke the hard truth with more love than most people can. It was all his opinion but I know that God was speaking through him that day and the couple conversations that followed as I figured out what all of this meant in my life.

For me January was a month where I've already have made a lot of mistakes and had to fall in repentance before God. And although I wish I had not made certain mistakes, there are things that are working in my life because I have God on my side and he is changing me 'from the inside out'--this song is sooo true. The other thing I always have to remind myself is that I AM A SINNER! God is not expecting me to be perfect. When I do sin and do make mistakes, He wants me to LEARN from them and that is certainly what I've done this month. It's been a culmination of many months where I've "tried" to learn from my mistakes...I guess God knew I needed a little more help TRULY learning these things. He used 2 ordinary (very special to me) people to help change my life and point me towards Himself.

That's why I really liked the idea of taking one word and focusing on what that word means and how God uses it in your life. Pray and think about what that word might be. For me the word is "wait"...waiting on God, learning to wait patiently in all things, learning to wait on others... There are so many things I'm waiting for and I know that in His perfect timing, I will get the desires of my heart and if I don't, God has a greater plan that I could ever have for myself. I'm excited to see what God does in 2011...I have a feeling it's going to be one of the most life-changing years EVER! :)

In my opinion, one of the most poignant Psalms is 118:24..."This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Let's rejoice in this NEW HOUR, DAY, WEEK or MONTH! Make it new! Share it with others so they can encourage you in your journey!

Learning to wait...

2011-01-05T21:19:00.002-06:00

The other day, I heard on KLUV (then a friend mentioned it on FB too), they were talking about praying/thinking about a word that describes your coming year. It could be something you want to learn, something you want to be, or some other word that describes where you are in life.

I knew after praying with a dear friend the other day that mine was definitely 'wait'. I thought about 'here' based on a blog post this same friend posted on her wall and who prayed with me on Sunday. I knew as soon as she said it, that it was not a word that was going to go far from me this year nor would it be a theme that lasted only for the week.

Our society has taught us that we can have just about everything when we want it. We have fast food restaurants, we have drive-thru pharmacies, and we have express shipping. We can go to the local courthouse and get married or elope at some exotic spot without thought of dealing with all the details of planning a wedding.

Its when we are in difficult situations that we are least likely to want to wait. We don't like the pain, we don't like the unknown, nor do we like the unsettled feeling we have. I don't think Paul wanted to wait in jail nor do I think he wanted to be there. My guess is that the word "wait" was not something he wanted to hear. He wanted to be out there preaching the Good News alongside others. He wanted to help change lives for Christ.

Right now I'm waiting for a lot. I'm waiting for a classroom of children to teach. I'm waiting for my future husband. I'm waiting until I can have my own place. I'm waiting to be financially independent from my loved ones. I'm waiting to travel. I'm waiting for many other things too. Do I enjoy waiting when I feel these are the desires that God has placed in my heart? Certainly not. Is it easy to feel "chained" by my waiting? Nope. But I do have hope from God's word: "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." -Psalm 27:14 and "I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope." -Psalm 130:5

What are you waiting for? Do you believe that God will carry out His plan for your good? Are you willing to wait for God's perfect plan and timing in your life? Are you doing what God has for you RIGHT NOW?

Are you willing to wait?

December 2010

2011-01-05T19:20:00.000-06:00

December was definitely a busy month for me. It was not as busy as I thought but I still found plenty of things to do with my time. In early December, I had my 3 photo shoots which were all learning experiences. It was fantastic to learn and get to actually take pictures of my friends!

Then the next weekend, I had my 26th birthday. I spent some time just relaxing and then on my birthday, my two good friends Jaimie and Katie took me out to dinner at Olive Garden. We were supposed to go to the one close to their houses but as Jaimie arrived to put in our name, it was surrounded by fire trucks and the power was out! So we thought about what we could do and because I had my heart set on Olive Garden, we trucked all the way back to the one in DG near my house. It was a wonderful evening of just talking and enjoying serious girl time. As if the OG being surrounded by fire trucks and not having power wasn't crazy enough, on our way home, the roads were covered in ICE! It was a very slick and tricky ride home to say the least. I'm so grateful for these two women and the impact they've made on my life.

The next week was filled with making Christmas gifts, thinking about Christmas gifts and keeping up with all the Christmas going-ons at work. Needless to say the week was a little crazy. We had our staff work party on the last day and it was lots of fun.

Finally, I had the last two weeks off of work. I did a lot of sleeping and just relaxing as I tried to recover from the craziness that is the 3-week sprint from Thanksgiving to Christmas break at work. I spent a lot of time with my college girls, high school girls and my good friends. On Christmas Eve, I ate dinner at my parents with my grandma and then my siblings and I went out to sled and slide on the ice near their house. We left the house at about 11pm and had so much fun. It was light outside from the lights bouncing off the snow. I will try to post some pictures soon. (Honestly, at the moment, I'm too lazy to get up and get the camera for the SD card.) It was a memorable night that I will never forget!

I spent Christmas at my parents. I slept over Christmas Eve, then Christmas night. I loved spending time in my pj's on Christmas. In the past, I had always gone over to my aunt's house to spend a little Christmas with my aunt and cousin (and all the other family that used to come together). It was the year to switch everything up now that life has changed. I loved spending time with the siblings even though we had a few moments where we got at each other because we were all sooo tired from staying up so late! Both nights, I was up til at least 1am!

During the last week of my break, I spent a lot of time with friends and relaxing once again. I loved sleeping in and just doing things to catch up on life.

All in all, break was truly an escape. I spent a lot of time thinking about life and spending time EXPERIENCING life as it came to me.

Hope you all had a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Shoots for Christmas Cards

2011-01-05T18:35:00.001-06:00

In early December, I had 3 photo shoots for close friends that wanted family Christmas card pictures. For 2 of them, I had the families at my home and I set up shop here. I don't know why I didn't take a picture of the set up but I moved the couch in our living room, and hung a thick black piece of material I had laying around up as a backdrop. I had some books, strings of beads, and blankets to use for the shoots. I had two little girls (my "nieces") over first. I seitched back and forth between the girls as mom changed their outfits and as they needed breaks in between shots. I came up with some really cute pictures of the girls which I will soon post here. I realized just how much of a workout a shoot can be. I was standing above the girls, laying down on the ground and just about everywhere in between. Then I had my friend Jaimie, her husband and sweet little girl, Brooke, here. I took pictures of the whole family, each of them with Brooke and some just of Brooke. They also turned out well especially the ones we ventured outdoors to get in the VERY first snow of the season...they were so neat! You will also see some of their pics up here very soon. Both of these shoots were back to back and I even got a couple shots of all 3 girls together. It was a very fun but also exhausting day to say the least. Then later in the week, I took pictures of a family I've known for a long time. They were fun to work with and I did it at their house which taught me a lot too!

I know that I have a lot to learn yet and am so grateful for my friends that have helped me to get to where I am today. You can check out Robb's work here and the Maas' here. I definitely learned a lot and am excited to get some more shoots set up for the coming months! :)

Photography and so much more...

2010-11-28T20:22:00.001-06:00

In the almost two months since I last posted, "The Journey" has continued. I have continued to work through the difficult situation that I have previously written about in my posts. God has been doing a lot of work in my heart and in my life. I continue to deal with the emotions and the changes that have occured because of everything but I have found some purpose in it already and am praying that I'll find more. God used a really neat opportunity the other day for me to share basically straight from His Word and point others towards Him and His Will rather than the desires of this world. I had prayed for this opportunity and God provided...in His Timing...not my own.

On to other things...

I have ventured out into a world unknown, well sorta, to me called photography. I have always loved the intrigue and mystery and simplistic beauty of photos. I took a class in high school but we developed in a dark room and the process seemed too daunting for me at that point in my life. With the innovations of DSLR's and so much more, I'm in a new world. I just got a new lense this week and am looking forward to using it in the coming weeks. I have had some friends ask me to do their Christmas photos, etc... I am so thankful for their patience and encouragement as I learn and grow as a "photographer". (I don't like labeling myself a ___________ until I feel confident or actually hold that position--like teacher-- but I've realized that I have to go ahead and say it!) I have a blog devoted solely to photography so you can check it out here if you would like.

Over the last week, I've witnessed some really great things. We had 8 planned and 2 "unplanned" baptisms at our new church. It was encouraging to see that what God has sent us to do is REALLY happening! Then yesterday, I got to witness two very good friends say "I do" to each other FOREVER! It was truly a special celebration of love and God's work in two people's lives. Today, a good friend had her baby shower. Her and her husband moved away this summer to follow a calling God had placed on his heart and its been hard to lose such good friends but God is using them where they are at.

I'm 'ready' to go back to work tomorrow after 9 days off....only for the routine though. I guess payday being Tuesday helps too!

Finding HOPE

2010-10-01T07:47:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading a good friend's blog. The last year has been a very difficult and then exciting journey for her and her husband. Her latest post shares her hope in even her deepest time of sorrow for them. Its such an encouragement to see how God has worked in their lives over the past year and drawn them closer to Him. As many of you know, I've recently gone through a difficult situation where God left me completely dependent on Him to be my Healer and Strength. There has been a passage that has stuck out to me through the time I've been struggling and its Romans 12. Verse 12 says "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer". God has been using this as a wonderful reminder that even in the midst of something painful and watching those hurt me continue on, I need to love them and be praying for them and to have HOPE! This I must always remember: "God sent His Son to the cross to bear His wrath for sinners like you and me." - C.J. Mahaney in Living the Cross Centered Life

DA BEARS are 3-0!!!!!!

2010-09-29T21:35:00.001-05:00

On Monday night, my BEARS went 3-0 much to the shagrin of my dearest friends who are Vikings and Giants fans! I spent it with Katie, Haley and Maddie and converted Haley to 50% Bears fan and the other half as a Giants fan! She didn't want to eat her dinner or go to bed because she was having "cozies" with Auntie D on the couch cheering on Da Bears....she didn't even like the commercials...she kept saying "come, come, come" (meaning come back on game!). It was a FUN night and Katie made us dinner!!!!!!!!!! :) YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rest and rexlaxation...

2010-09-29T21:30:00.001-05:00

This last weekend, I jetted off after work on Friday to the DC area to visit my dad and stepmom! It was a good flight Friday evening and I was mesmerized by the sun setting with the moon in the sky and the way it hit the clouds being so far up in the air...you'd think I'd never been on a plane but it was truly a neat experience! I just wished my camera hadn't been buried in my bag! On Saturday, I was treated to a "spa morning" where I received a facial...always an interesting experience..and then a 30 minutes massage...always an AMAZING thing!!!!!!!!!! I walked out and probably looked drunk because I was soooo relaxed and could barely remember how to put one foot in front of the other!!!!!!!! Then we went to see the play Chess in a swanky little modern theater. Then we went to a fun restaurant for dinner! I had the coolest plate I think I've ever eaten out of. It was one of those deep bowl-plates and the "bowl" part was in the shape of a star! Sweet! Then we relaxed at home for the rest of the evening. The next day, we went for bagels, took a little walk in Old Town, ran to the pet store and then went home and watched a lot of FOOTBALL!!!!!! It was so nice to just relax...and dose off every now and then. We had dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in the world KING STREET BLUES!!!!!!! Finally, it was time to hop back on a plan to head home...although it was a turbulent flight...I made it home safe and then reality set in...the next day I had to go back to work! I got to bed and was well rested and felt really good at work the next day!

An Update

2010-09-15T07:46:00.000-05:00

In some of my posts last week and weeks prior, I mentioned that I was really struggling to feel like anything was going my way. I am glad to say that God is providing restoration where it is needed and peace where it is needed. He is also teaching me a great deal of patience in dealing with life right now. There is a lot going on still but I know that God is with me every step of the way. I have grown closer to God through all of this and its where I intend to stay. I know that there will be times of great struggle but I also know that Christ will pick me up and there will only be one set of footprints in the sand...when I need it most! Thank you for your prayers and support!

Choose

2010-09-13T07:40:00.000-05:00

My mom passed this on from a friend...thought you all might want to read it. What's your choice?

Read this

LET IT REALLY SINK IN...... THEN CHOOSE...

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, 'If I were any better, I would be twins!'

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, 'I don't get it!'

'You can't be a positive person all of the time.

How do you do it?'

He replied, 'Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or... you can choose to be in a bad mood.

I choose to be in a good mood.'
Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or... I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

'Yeah, right, it's not that easy,' I protested.

'Yes, it is,' he said. 'Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life.'

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, 'If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?'

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

'The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,' he replied. 'Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or... I could choose to die. I chose to live.'

'Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?' I asked.

He continued, '... the paramedics were great.

They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action.'

'What did you do?' I asked.

'Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,' said John. 'She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity''

Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'
He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude....I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.' Matthew 6:34.
After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Settling in...

2010-09-12T21:34:00.000-05:00

...I am finally, starting, to settle in for the new school year. As my schedule is 'finalized' (never really final for an instructional assistant), I am starting to see what might be challenges and what I can do to help improve the school environment. We are experiencing a lot of change as we have added new staff to the building and will be welcoming our new secretary tomorrow. I am enjoying working with the 1st graders since its the only grade I'm certified for that I haven't had much experience with in the actual school setting...plenty of first graders in my babysitting world! :) I am also supervising lunch for some fourth graders that I have had for the last two years in the classroom. Its definitely a challenge but I know their "shenanigans" and can easily detect any mischief! :)

...I am starting to somewhat, sorta, feel settled at FCCC! Its been a great journey but it has not been without its challenges. In late January, I officially left the church I had called HOME for 16 years! This was definitely a challenge because this is where I was fed spiritually and gained strength and support during difficult times in life as I grew to be who I am today. There are many people there that made a significant impact on my life and I'm grateful for EACH and EVERY single person! I think one of the most difficult parts was leaving the students of GEBC. They had taught me a lot about love, ministry and myself! I hadn't planned to dive into youth ministry...in fact, hadn't even really thought about it, when I moved back and asked Dave if he needed chaperones for a trip (that I knew would be fun but thought I might find a new passion--which I did!) and he needed one so I hopped in a van with a bunch of students I had never met....and I've never been the same. God used these students in my life to teach me more than I ever imagined they could. I know the impact leaders made in my life and I'm daily grateful for the opportunity to TRY and do the same for them. I have left, with much love shown to me by those students...and lots of sadness....to come a minister to the students at FCCC. I'm excited and nervous as we are "starting from scratch". God's going to use me in spite of my inadequacies and I'm excited to see what He does. I've been fortunate enough that Christina has had the faith and patience with me as I have learned to play guitar in front of the congregation. Before a friend of mine left, I would play with him but now that he's gone, I've been "thrown in the deep end" and have been swimming upstream as I attempt to learn and grow as a guitarist. It would have been so easy to say, "no" but I knew that God was opening a door I had never planned but had always dreamed about! The journey continues and I'm waiting to see what God has next!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

KICK-OFF Launch of FCCC

2010-09-12T21:17:00.001-05:00

WOW! That's all I could say after kick-off launch Sunday at FCCC 2 weeks ago already! God brought a lot of new people to our church and we also had a lot of family and friends that joined us. It was a special day as we started a new part of the journey called "church planting". (I've also been able to explain what church planting is and about FCCC to many new families that have interviewed me for babysitting recently!) Each week we've had tons of new visitors..I barely recgonize half of the congregation. I'm fortunate enough to be on stage so I get to see everyone and how each week, there are fewer and fewer empty chairs. God is doing amazing things and I'm excited to see how the next couple of months go. I can't imagine all that God will be doing in the church! Tonight will be my first night with the youth of FCCC! I'm excited and nervous. I know that my SUMMIT family will always be in my heart and I'm grateful for them and the amazing love and support they have shown me as I have been led by God on this new journey.

A little about how I started this journey for those that don't know:
Three years ago, I had a decision to make as I finished college/my Masters program. I could either stay in Nashville and most likely have a job or move home to watch my brothers and sister grow up through the end of high school and have to find a job. I am very close to my siblings and really felt as though that is really where God was calling me. As I came home, I decided to join in with the youth at my home church GEBC. I found a new passion for high school students and ended up staying with the ministry for 2 years until just recently leaving to pursue the youth of FCCC. I remember hearing about the church plant when I would come home to visit and decided to check out one of the meetings. As the discussion grew and we finally had decided on a location, it was clear to me that God was calling me there...as it was going to be planted in the town I was living in at the time...and still am!!!! I continued attending the meetings and just felt like it was part of God's plan for me. I can see part of why God has called me here but I know there is much more to be seen!

The Skit Guys

2010-08-27T22:24:00.000-05:00

Tonight was our launch weekend kick-off event! We hosted The Skit Guys, find out more here. We had probably 200+ people which was awesome! I couldn't stop laughing most of the night. It was cool to see how they were able to touch on some significant issues, some that I have even been facing recently, and bring them forth in the light and speak truth through the comedy. I know that God was moving in that place tonight. I'm very excited to see what God does on Sunday as we officially LAUNCH Four Corners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1st day of School 2010-2011 and GOD

2010-08-26T22:04:00.000-05:00

As I waited for the students to arrive today, I was excited about who was coming, wondering what would happen, who I would see from previous years and how the day would go. When I started to write this, it struck me that God must feel the same thing as He waits for us to come to Him every single day. He waits expectantly, hoping that we will come to Him with a smile on our face and an open heart to what He wants to share. I often find myself going to God saying, I pray for so-n-so or for this situation or please give me ______________ (insert character trait, etc...) or God, WHY???? I pray that as I grow in Him that I would be letting Him speak to me more. I hear Him better than I ever have before but I long to hear and know Him better still.

Looking ahead in the school year, I'm sensing great things happening and praying for opportunities to share my faith with my students (within my legal bounds...gggrrrr), parents and colleagues.

An Exciting Week Ahead

2010-08-22T22:00:00.000-05:00

This week is going to be full of new and exciting things. I am starting my job as an instructional assistant again at the same school and am grateful to have a job. Still praying about the classroom!

It's also a big week because we will officially launch our church....We will start the weekend on Friday night with a comedy group, The Skit Guys! Then on Sunday we will have our launch service and a picnic to celebrate! I can't wait to see what God does. I have a feeling it is more than any of us can even imagine!

http://www.fourcornerscommunity.org/

Thirsting for Him

2010-08-22T21:59:00.000-05:00

As of my last post, I was in a really difficult place and was having a hard time seeing what God was doing. On Wednesday, God provided an opportunity for reconciliation. I am so thankful for the way He orchestrated it. It provided relief and I was so excited I could barely speak! I have seen just in the last few days how God is using this as a life-changing experience for me. It has drawn me much closer to Him and I have a thirst for His Word and seeking Him!!!!! One of the things that has really stood out to me and I keep hearing God say to me is, "I am more than enough for you...I'm all you want, I'm all you need..." The words of the song Draw Me Close have been playing in my head since I started singing it with students on our campout on Friday night.... click here to here/see this amazing song and its lyrics. As I link it here, I am listening to it and its giving me goosebumps, I can't even explain the comfort and hope that this song has brought me over the past 48 hours! I'm excited about what God is doing in my life, in my heart and in my relationships with those friends closest to me. We also sang a song in church this morning and the words continue to linger in my heart. It is called Healer by Hillsong:

You're my Healer

You hold my every moment

You calm my raging seas

You walk with me through fire

And heal all my disease

I trust in You

I believe You're my Healer

I believe You are all I need

I believe You're my Portion

I believe You're more than enough for me

Jesus You're all I need

My Healer, You're my Healer

Nothing is impossible for You

You hold my world in Your hands

Although I felt like my world was falling apart just a few days ago...God has started putting it back together piece-by-piece in His PERFECT timing according to His PERFECT plan which is greater than any plan I could have for myself. Last week, I couldn't have imagined the immense peace and desire for God that I would have at this very moment. I would be lying if I still didn't have lingering pain from the experience but I see God using it in my life and for that, I couldn't be more thankful. I'm looking forward to what God has in store and am grateful for the people he has brought alongside me to continue along my journey!!

My verse for today that I am clinging to...

2010-08-18T14:53:00.000-05:00

‎"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith deveops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything..." ~James 1:2-4

I am definitely in the midst of a very trying time in life where just about everything in life seems up in the air. I'm grateful for my wonderful friends and church family that have been supporting me and continue to support me. I am looking forward to the day when I can look back and say "WOW God! Thanks for doing that even though it was NOT FUN at the time!" I know God has a purpose but finding it right now is like trying to find a needle in a haystack!

Mixed Emotions

2010-07-30T22:34:00.000-05:00

As I sit here tonight, I look back at my week and all the emotions that have flooded my mind throughout just the last 5 days. I've experienced joy, pain, sadness, sorrow, disappointment, anger, delight, embarrassment, courage, feelings of being overwhelmed, fear, excitement, gratefulness, peace, compassion, frustration, irritability, euphoria and many more I can't even think of right now. There have been moments of each of these, one sometimes followed immediately by another, some lasting for much longer. Sometimes I wonder why God allows me to feel all of these things so close together. I know that He has a greater purpose than what I can see from down here and I'm so grateful!!!

The ache that doesn't want to go away....

2010-07-15T21:19:00.000-05:00

Recently, I've really felt God pushing me in new directions and making me think about a lot of different things...most of them scare me and excite me at the same time. My heart feels torn in too many directions and trying to narrow and focus it is easier said than done. I think I want to be doing about 8 things at one time and I'm not sure I have the energy to do all of them simultaneously. Many of them are ministry related in some fashion and others are hobbies that I want to pursue deeper and then there is the ever-nagging ache to be in the classroom and teaching!!!!!!! I have to remember that God has a plan much better for myself than I can ever have but I know that I need to make the most of every day. We never know what tomorrow holds or if we will even have one, so we have to live each day as though it's our last just like Tim McGraw's song Live Like You Were Dying:

He said: "I was in my early forties,

"With a lot of life before me,
"An' a moment came that stopped me on a dime.
"I spent most of the next days,
"Looking at the x-rays,
"An' talking 'bout the options an' talkin’ ‘bout sweet time."
I asked him when it sank in,
That this might really be the real end?
How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?
Man whatcha do?
An' he said: "I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
"To live like you were dyin'."

He said "I was finally the husband,
"That most the time I wasn’t.
"An' I became a friend a friend would like to have.
"And all of a sudden goin' fishin’,
"Wasn’t such an imposition,
"And I went three times that year I lost my Dad.
"Well, I finally read the Good Book,
"And I took a good long hard look,
"At what I'd do if I could do it all again,
"And then:

"I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,'
"To live like you were dyin'."

Like tomorrow was a gift,
And you got eternity,
To think about what you’d do with it.
An' what did you do with it?
An' what can I do with it?
An' what would I do with it?

"Sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
"And then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I watched Blue Eagle as it was flyin'."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,

"To live like you were dyin'."
"To live like you were dyin'."
"To live like you were dyin'."
"To live like you were dyin'."
"To live like you were dyin'."

Please continue to pray for discernment and courage to step out in faith where I feel God leads me!

La Paz, Mexico Missions Trip with SUMMIT 2010

2010-07-12T15:11:00.001-05:00

I realized I had not blogged in a long time and that I did not post regarding my SUMMIT Missions Trip to La Paz with the students from GEBC. God used the trip to bond people together through ministry opportunities to both the communities and local missionaries.

On our first day, we arrived at Casa Buena, our residence for the week. It is a beautiful bed and breakfast tucked away in a little neighborhood just off the bay. Although we were in the middle of the city, we felt as though we were in an oasis where GORGEOUS flowers were blooming bright pink while climbing the trellaces around the walkways. The pool was a welcome sight for those hot afternoons!

On Sunday, we attended church at La Paz de Christo where we listened to a Father's Day sermon completely in Spanish. Although I did not know very much spanish, I was able to get bits and pieces and recognized some of the words on the slides. The message blessed me in more ways than I can explain and despite the language barrier and many distractions, I was ministered to by the message. Then we went up to "the ranch" where the Gatto family lives and is building their ministry. We were able to see many sites where we would be spending the rest of the week, saw beautiful reminders of God's amazing creation as the sun set, and Peter Gatto shared his testimony and his prayer for us for the week we were there. I know that many of the students were ministered to during the testimony and it set a positive tone for the week.Mama Jane and I got to go shopping with Peter and get our groceries...basically almost everything for the week!

Monday was our first work day. Each site had an intern heading up the projects. Everyone was choosing/being chosen (if they were up for whatever) and so the last team ended up being the horse corral team. I was fortunate enough to be a part of this team for the week and it was led by two of our very own "homegrown young men" Zach Ursiny and Graham Rouse. Although I knew both the families very well, I was able to grow much closer to both of these guys and see where their hearts were and how God had been using them on the ranch. My team was able to start digging large holes to put posts into for the corral. We kept hitting HUGE, HUGE, HUGE rocks but kept plugging away and getting things done. That evening we had our first VBS of the week...we had 8 kids! Disappointing, yes, but God used those kids to help us grow in our faith that God would bring more children the next evening.

The next day, my team went back to it again, we changed our positioning just slightly to hopefully avoid some boulders in our way. That, however, did not help at all. At the end of the day, we changed the plan drastically and began digging a whole new set of holes. These came much easier even with a few boulders that we chipped away at until we cracked them into manageable pieces to move. There were times where God had to push me through because I wanted to get really frustrated. I also helped to take down a temporary fence and start nailing in boards with Graham for posts that were already poured and had set. In the evening, we went back for day two of VBS, unsure of how many kids would actually decide to show up. We ended up with about 20 kids which was a huge blessing! Peter and Antho had gone to the nearby 'tienda' to purchase some items and talked to the man running the shop. Just so happens that he also had a hot dog stand nearby. He was so happy to see us at the park putting smiles on the faces of the children of Marcus de Leon. He said the park had been over run and no kids played on it anymore because the drugs and things that would happen at night were so bad. The fence was broken in places and there was trash everywhere we looked.

Wednesday, we kept plugging away and were able to pour for a few posts after we got every hole to the depth and condition we needed them to be in. Once again we had hang-ups and snags along the way. I kept praying that God would give me the patience to endure the heat and the frustrating setbacks we seemed to keep having. During VBS, we had about 25-30 kids and many of the students went around inviting...with little or no spanish language knowledge, inviting families and children to the "hot dog bbq" and family fun night we were holding on Thursday night. It was great to hear the stories of how God used those students and their broken Spanish to bind the people of the community and our students.

Thursday was our last work day and we wanted so badly to finish the projects we had begun and worked at lightning speed...is that possible????...to finish. Some projects were finished...like our corral but some projects were much closer to completion than when we first arrived and that was all we could have asked for. This was our last night of VBS. We fully expected to have about 50 people but we turned the corner to get to the park and much to our surprise there were almost 150 people!!!!!!!! All of these mothers and children and a few fathers had heard what were doing and wanted to see what it was all about. We had also planned to share the gospel and have students and one of the leaders share his testimony with the people that had come. God was able to touch a lot of hearts that night through the testimonies. We had already seen one man give his life to God earlier in the week. That night, we split the children and the adults/teens apart into two groups for the gospel presentation and testimonies. We started and then some of the kids started drifting off to play on the playground instead of listening to what was being shared. I ended up helping to try and round up some of the kids...with my horribly broken Spanish...and one girl clung to me. She would only go where I went so even though I started with the group of adults/teens, I ended up on the rocks with her listening to the gospel. At the end, there was an invitation to accept Christ and as I was sitting there, the little girl bowed her head with me and starting praying as Peter led the prayer to accept Christ. It was truly a surreal moment! Here I was, tired and impatient, sitting on rocks that were killing my legs, with a little mexican girl on my lap, praying alongside her to accept Jesus into her heart. I was so humbled that God would use me and my love of children and my broken spanish for the advancement of His Kingdom. I had been feeling "un-productive" at VBS throughout the week because I was manning the craft table, trying to make sure kids didn't steal anything and this made me understand why I was there. Although I was standing at the craft table, ATTEMPTING to understand these childrens' demands, I was ministering to them all along.

Friday was our FUN DAY!!!!! We went shopping for little souvenirs in the morning and I brought back a wooden whale! What a treasure! Then we went to a beach along the Sea of Cortez for the afternoon. We had fun just playing in the water and trying not to drink the water!

Overall the week was amazing! We had tacos almost EVERY SINGLE night for dinner; we had lovely encounters with very LARGE bugs/spiders/scorpions; we made the Chinese film crew not so happy with our early morning/late night LOUDNESS!!!!; and were totally grateful for this amazing week!

There are lots of pictures on Facebook both on my profile and those of students that went with us! Also, posts by students at our La Paz Blog.

Summer Break thus far...

2010-06-16T21:35:00.000-05:00

So far, I can't complain about summer break. I was sooo productive on Monday that I did some stuff on Tuesday, a little today and will finish packing on Friday for La Paz. I cleared out tons of emails...which feels like I threw away a lot of stuff...very refreshing. I'm watching some friends kids while they are out of town for a couple of days and I've had fun chillin' with them. We've got another day and a half. I'm still looking for a teaching job for next year but am not too worried...God will provide. He's been providing for this summer so far with plenty of work. Enjoying the World Cup when I get to watch it. Also, I just got out last Friday so going on this trip will give me a great start to the rest of the summer.

Please be praying for plenty of rest, good health, the lives of the people we will come in contact with and the amazing work God has planned while we are there! :)

For those sweet moments....

2010-04-19T21:30:00.004-05:00

I am just truly amazed at how God continually brings moments of happiness when I need it most.

Last week, I had a friend that I hadn't talked to in....a long time!!!!!!! We talked for almost half an hour. It was great to catch up and it was great to know that someone was thinking of me.

Then tonight, I was able to talk to a friend that I've had a rocky relationship with over the past 9 months or so. We were able to talk for about 45 minutes and I felt like we had never skipped a beat.

Just little moments of joy when I need it most.

Blessings!

Join the Revolution and help change the world!

2010-04-11T14:45:00.001-05:00

Join the revolution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wisdom Teeth...

2010-04-06T21:26:00.001-05:00

Well, I finally got those crazy wisdom teeth out! I had to get all four out at once and boy did I ever look like a chipmunk with full cheeks! I spared you by not taking a picture and posting it but it was quite funny indeed!

I ended up getting almost two weeks of Spring Break because of it...would have been better if I was more active but sleep and catching up on recorded HGTV didn't hurt my feelings either!

I hope you have gotten the Spring cleaning bug because I sure have and I think my family is ready to kill me...lol!!!

Post more soon!

Update

2010-02-13T10:49:00.002-06:00

I've been really bad at blogging and I'm not sure why but I'm going to try to get better.

Two Sundays ago was our church plant commissioning service at GEBC. I basically balled my eyes out for about 5 hours but its okay, God is taking care of me. It was very hard to leave the place I'd called "home" for 16 years. A place with a lot of memories and trials as I grew into the person I am today.

This last week, we met at 10am and canvassed a nearby neighborhood in pairs and just shared about the church and an event we had coming up. It was nerve-wracking at first but we finally settled in after half a block. We then had church at 4 in the afternoon while we are sharing a building with another small church. It was very odd to have church in the afternoon but definitely a neat experience. I can't wait to see what it's like in the future. If you live in the area and would like to visit, let me know and I'll get you the info! :)

Finally, I am waiting patiently for the openings to be announced for my district for teaching positions next year. I'm excited because there will be 4 in my building alone and hopefully I can stay there! :)

Ok, this is the last thing.....

I am reading the book Boundaries by Dr. Cloud and Townsend and it is PHENOMENAL!!!!!!!

101 Things in 1001 Days

2010-01-26T21:16:00.002-06:00

Check here for an update on my LIST!!!!!!!!!!! :)

101 Things in 1001 Days

New Year, New Life!

2010-01-26T21:05:00.002-06:00

That's my theme for the year! New Year, New Life!

I'm looking ahead to the year. The year consists of new church, new job (in some capacity), new digs...maybe, use of new car, new knowledge about myself, new relationships, if my hair grows enough for LOCKS OF LOVE--a new hair-do, and basically everything NEW!!!!!!! :)

It's going to be a challenging yet great year...I can feel it. I know that's a cheesy cliche but I truly feel that way. I can't even imagine what I will be saying when it is 2011 about the past year! I am excited about some opportunities that God is opening up doors for--at least at the moment!

Merry Christmas to ya'll!

2009-12-24T14:34:00.002-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Our Savior Reigns!

I will be writing more in a few days with my yearly end-of-year letter to ya'll!

2009-12-05T18:21:00.001-06:00

Here is a video that touches each person no matter who they are and is worth the 3 1/2 minutes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw#watch-main-area

Aquaerobics

2009-12-01T21:52:00.004-06:00

Ok, so you may be asking...what the heck is that? Well, it's a class at my gym where you do aerobics in the water (aqua-). I took the class with my mom and grandma tonight. It was an hour long and by far, the most exercise I've done in quite a while. It was totally awesome though. I can tell that I might be SORE tomorrow...I'll have to wait and see.

Horrid day to be a Bears fan!

2009-10-25T20:44:00.003-05:00

What a horrible day to be a Bears fan. I don't think I've ever been as humiliated by my Bears as I was today. Tomorrow is a new day and I can't wait. To all those who make fun of me...you can this time but beware....when your team has an off-day....it's all game! :)

Oh well....at least that's not all I have to hope for my future...I have eternal LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wong/Heavey Wedding

2009-10-20T16:08:00.002-05:00

Okay, so on Sunday I went to a wedding for some really good friends of mine. I loved it! It was one of the first of my friends weddings where I actually knew at least an entire table of people at the reception! We partied and danced til we couldn't anymore. My friend has just a few of the wonderful photos from the wedding on his site.

Go see it:

http://robbdavidson.wordpress.com/

Hope you enjoy it. It's labeled as Wong/Heavey wedding!

Church Plant

2009-10-19T22:28:00.002-05:00

The church plant is full steam as we look forward to our March 7th opening date. We have many of our ministry teams formed or forming as we speak. I am a part of the youth and worship ministries. I'm more and more excited as the day gets closer. We have a name.....Four Corners Community Church. I look forward to sharing more with you as the next few months go by.

Quick Update

2009-09-20T20:51:00.002-05:00

Since I last wrote, I have gotten an aide job with 3rd grade, joined a new church plant womens' small group, am leading a church plant high school girls' small group and my other girls' small group has started. I'm trying to make sure that I am keeping balance. I have also worked out at the gym 5 times in the last two weeks and ran a 5K. Hope all is well with you. I shall be back soon!

Desert Song

2009-08-17T21:35:00.001-05:00

I know that many of you know this song and I wanted you to hear more about it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE33ejdgWIY

Photography

2009-08-07T12:55:00.002-05:00

Just putting up these pictures and taking a picture the other day with my phone makes me really want to pursue photography even more. I've got the equipment and I've got a great teacher...if he agrees to it. Just looking at his site and blog make me love it too!

Check him out:

Website:
http://www.robb-davidson.com/index2.php

Photo Blog:
http://robbdavidson.wordpress.com/

It's a Record!

2009-08-07T11:57:00.004-05:00

I think this is officially the longest it has been since I've updated in a VERY long time. I just don't know where the time went...well, I do but let's not waste our time here!

I wanted to update you to what is going on. Since I last updated:

-Spent a week leading worship and doing drama for Camp Discover at GEBC
-3 birthdays and a holiday during the 4th of July week
-serious relationship ups and downs
-an AMAZING missions trip to Minneapolis with 8 students from GEBC
-tutoring
...and learning to be disciplined and set boundaries.

I am going to post some pictures of a little bit of my summer. I need to figure out how to do more of this:

We packed enough food for 48 children for a year!

A view of the city (taken while driving):

My sister and I at the World Market:

4th of July Party Fun

2009-08-07T11:54:00.002-05:00

My friend Katie and I had a little bit of fun with our homemade shirts:

Crazy girls...at least that's what the guys said!:

Here is the whole group...waiting for the GE fireworks to start:(Front L-->R) Amanda, Katie, me, Christine (and her husband), Matt (host)
(Back L-->R) Derek, C-Train, Matt's friend (name?)

Party Time in Nashville

2009-06-14T22:58:00.002-05:00

A few weekends ago, I went back to Nashville to visit my dear friends there. I had a great time. Friday night I spent with my last roommate and her new husband. We made dinner at home, went and grabbed ice cream and then walked around downtown Nashville. It was so great to be there and it brought back many memories of times out with friends and times when my family visited.

Saturday, my best friend down there and I decided to sleep in then walk a trail for over 5.5 miles! Let's just say more than 5.5 miles in 83*F humid weather is not my favorite thing but we took some crazy pictures as you can see. It was so fun---I forgot it was nasty outside!

I have to go but I will post more later! :)

Each day...

2009-05-16T14:48:00.002-05:00

is a new challenge. I'm never really quite sure what will happen or how I will feel when I go to bed that night. I feel as though the past 4 weeks have been the most up and down I've felt all year since moving back. Each day, I wake up hoping that today will be the day that will be happier than the past few and will catapult me into a new journey where I feel joy and happiness each day but that hasn't been the case. I think I'm having an 'up' day and then something goes fatally wrong and my day comes crashing down on me. I am reading my Bible more, praying more, and just generally trying to be thankful for what I do have and know that God's perfect timing is real and will happen--but I somehow seem to feel as though as quickly as the trying happens, my heart just feels broken and sad. (Sorry about the run-on sentence!)

I found 8 openings online the other night for jobs in DG which I about fainted when I discovered them, but haven't heard anything yet from sending in my applications. I'm still searching and trying to get myself out there but it is just hard.

My sister rocked her pops concert the other night and we had fun singing the last song together during the family choir portion of the show!

My brothers both had soccer games this morning and they both played really well. I am, however, very upset with the ref in the game because my brother was being bullied by a guy on the other team and a couple times, I thought my brother was hurt. The ref barely called anything. I'm not normally one to be hard on the officials of a game because I know they have a tough job. These were blatant hits that would never fly in the pros and would normally have someone red-carded!!!!!!!!! Needless to say, it was a bad day for him and he was upset--which is unlike him too!

I just went to lunch with some friends that I know pretty well and some that I don't know very well but they are also going on the church plant so I'm excited about getting to know them better too. Tonight I'm headed to a BBQ....we'll see how it goes- 'nough said.

Community

2009-05-07T21:52:00.002-05:00

For so long, I've longed for community. It always seems as though when I try to be a "social person" it's ends up being a flop. I often try to get people together and then it feels like no one can come. I just want to get to know people and don't feel as though it works. If I start to feel a part of a community, then it seems to fall apart.

Longing for community...

Continuing down the road...

2009-05-03T20:45:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned in my last post, it has been a tough week. I'm still feeling the distance and although I may have prayed for it in a sense, I didn't really expect for it to manifest itself in this way.

This morning, I ended up team-teaching Sunday Morning Discussion for the high school students. This week's topic was finding God and giving Him glory during the tough times as well as relying on Him. Although I had reminded myself of these very things this week, it was still hard just the same. I am sensing that this week will have its ups and downs as well but I hope to feel at peace and experience the peace that is talked about in Phillipians "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all human understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7).

I would also like for you to enjoy this fine video of my great aunt and her experiences:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhumYGZBXSs

Almost to the top of the mountain and I come falling down again...

2009-04-29T21:51:00.004-05:00

...that is how the last 6 days have felt. I went on our women's retreat and felt like I had opened up and started dealing with some of the "gunk junk" that was building up inside of me. By the end of the weekend, I felt like God had done some great things in me and that hopefully things would start to be a little less draining...I guess I wasn't prepared for what was to come. I came home and was on a 'high' more or less just feeling like I was at peace and God had changed me in many ways...and he did. Then came the realization that I had to deal with all the situations I had spent time fighting with God about and trying to deal with. I feel as though I've lost God already....I'm feeling less at peace and many things have happened that have been different than when I left. 'Friends' aren't repsonding to attempts to communicate with them and they are people that have always been free and open in talking with me and wanting to know how life is going--suddenly, I feel as though they no longer care....about anything including whether I'm alive or not..... As I recounted the strangeness tonight to my mom and then to a friend, I realized just how much was different. I'm not really sure what this all means but if its what I think it is, God is planning something huge and I'm not sure its going to be easy in ANY WAY! Please pray for me as I enter into a very trying time...as if the past year hasn't been enough! I would love to crawl into a corner and not come out for a while...(I know its not good...its just the way I feel right now).

Day by Day

2009-04-23T09:47:00.003-05:00

Each day, I'm amazed at what God has plans to do in my life in the coming months. I know that He has already done so much and yet I feel like there is so much more.

This weekend, I have a wonderful opportunity to go on the Women's Retreat with GEBC. I know that it will be a weekend of inspiration and growing closer with Christ. I also have some fears and hesitant feelings because of some of the people going. I am praying for a peaceful heart to enjoy the weekend and the fellowship I know I will enjoy.

Finally, I'm still really excited about the church plant and can't wait to see what God is going to do through it. I'm nervous and estatic (sp?) each and every day!

Thank you for your support and friendship through this crazy year of transition!!!!!!

Catch up!

2009-04-17T07:50:00.002-05:00

Anyways, this week I started my new job as an RTI tutor at Oak again and have really enjoyed it. My schedule is still being finalized but they've had plenty for me to do while I've been there.

I also have been watching the Wetherells' since Wednesday and will be here until Sunday. It has been really fun and we've had lots going on so it's normal life for me.

Last night, we had our 3rd church plant meeting and I'm really excited about the opportunity even though I have not made a final decision. I know it will create some change in the way I interact with my family and I will have to be more intentional about coming up here to see them...but I don't think that will be a problem though.

I am still looking for a job for the fall and can't wait to see what God has in store. I'm trying to be patient but I also am tired of feeling like everything is waiting until the last minute to be decided...not by me but by God. Please pray that I can have continued patience and perseverance through this process.

The Power of Love (and God's amazing miracles)

2009-04-16T18:02:00.002-05:00

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby
was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling.

They found out that the new baby was going be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in mommy's tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her.

The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member
of the Panther Creek United Methodist Churchin Morristown , Tennessee

In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor.
Would a C-section be required?

Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born.
But she was in very serious condition.

With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the
infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville ,
Tennessee .

The days inched by.
The little girl got worse.
The pediatrician had to tell the parents there is very little hope..
Be prepared for the worst.

Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a
burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new
baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral.

Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his
sister...I want to sing to her, he kept saying.

Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come
before the week was over.

Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids
are never allowed in Intensive Care.

Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not..

If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive..

She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him
into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket.

The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, 'Get
that kid out of here now. No children are allowed.'

The mother rose up strong in Karen,
and the usually mild-mannered lady
glared steel-eyed right into
the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line.
'He is not leaving until he sings to his sister' she stated.

Then Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside.

He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live.

After a moment, he began to sing.
In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang:

'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
you make me happy when skies are gray.'

Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate
began to calm down and become steady.

'Keep on singing, Michael,' encouraged Karen with tears in
her eyes.

'You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take
my sunshine away..'

As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained
breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr

'Keep on singing, sweetheart.'

'The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held
you in my arms'

Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest,
seemed to sweep over her.

'Keep on singing, Michael.'

Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse.
Karen glowed.

'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't take my
sunshine away.'

The next day...the very next day the little girl was well
enough to go home

Woman's Day Magazine called it

The Miracle of a Brother's Song.

The medical staff just called it a miracle.

Karen called it a miracle of God's love..

NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE

YOU LOVE.

LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

Finding.....strength...

2009-04-11T20:43:00.002-05:00

I had a long discussion this week with a friend who challenges me in my thinking and although I love that, I have to say that it can bring out the worst in me, or maybe its just the insecurities in me that it brings out. In either case, I intend to change the way it can make me feel. I know that part of it comes from different struggles I have encountered in my life. I am praying for strength and challenge but when it comes--it scares me. I'm not sure where my life is headed but I know that God has great plans for me.

Another transition....could it be?

2009-04-09T10:25:00.002-05:00

Well, the pattern continues! I am going to accept a position at my previous school (fall 08) to be an RTI tutor....basically an in-school tutor. The job is only until May 15th but that works for me. I have enjoyed my two weeks off and will feel good having some steady income. I think it will be a good experience and am excited!

Other than that, I've celebrated my "little" brother's 13th birthday this week and have learned a lot about who I am and what I have to look forward to in life.

Have a blessed Easter!

101 Things in 1001 Days

2009-04-02T11:45:00.002-05:00

This is going to be edited so check back soon for any updates!

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Learn More: Here

Start Date: Monday, December 22, 2008
End Date: Monday, September 19, 2011

Watch My Progress
Tasks that are in progress
Tasks that are completed
Tasks that have not been started

Because I Love My Family
1. Spend 5 days with Aleia (1/5)
2. Spend 5 days with Austin (3/5)
3. Spend 5 days with Pierson (1/5)
4. Write a letter to my family about what to should He take me home sooner than I expect
5. Make portraits of all of them and create a gallery for our house.

Because I Love Christ
7. Go on a short term missions trip (I went with Students to Minneapolis!)
8. Write my sponsor child 5 times (0/5)
9. Read all the Psalms
10.Write my own Psalm for the Lord

Fun Things I Want to Do
11. Go to 5 Bears games: 12/22/08 (Coldest in Bears history) (1/5)
12. Sell a piece of my photography
13. Have 10 parties at my house-baking night, movie night, game night, etc... (1/10)
14. Take a 3 dance classes (0/3)

I Want to Make a Difference
15. Serve with organizations like FMSC 10 times (1/10)
16. RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness) (1/100)

Because I should...
17. Learn to drive a stick
18. Find a new dentist
19. Find new health insurance
20. Update my resume

Because I WANT to....
21. Learn the sign language alphabet
22. Learn conversational Spanish
23. Write 3 songs and record them (0/3)
24. Finish at 1 scrapbook
25. Finish my pillows that are half done.
26. Organize the rest of my recipe collection in my self-made recipe book
27. Write a children's book
28. Paint my office
29. Make another scrapbook: "Adventures in Teaching"
30. Spend 25 hours practicing guitar
31. Spend 25 hours practicing piano

Because I want to Change
32. Read 3 leadership books (o/3)
33. Read 10 books (0/10)
34. Listen to John Maxwell's The 360* Leader on CD

Because I Need to...
35. Pay off my students loans
36. Finish my quote/vision board
37. Get one box of give away stuff and take it to Repeat Botique

To Make My Body Feel Better
38. Register and run a 5K or 10K with the Schuberts/Antho (Blackberry Farm 5K Spring Gallop)
39. Use my step at least 200 times (4/200)
40. Take a cardio kickboxing class at COD
41. Walk 100 times during the summer (0/100)
42. Go for 10 bikes rides (2/10)
43. Go rollerblading 10 times (0/10)

Other/The Rest of my 101 things--LOL! :)

44. Get a dresser for all my non-housed clothing
45. Throw a surprise party
46. Set up my keyboard and rearrange my office
47. Re-organize my office closet
48. Re-organize my shelves
49.

I'm having trouble thinking of more...let me know if you have any ideas....LOL!!!!!!!!!! :)

To Infinity....and Beyond!

2009-04-02T11:32:00.004-05:00

(In case you don't know, that title is a line from Toy Story).

I know that this is only my 2nd post in a VERY long time. Things have been very busy. Early last week, I was watching the Johanson kids while working and finishing up my last week. Then I raced through the last couple of days and had a very stressful day on Friday. I was leaving my students, I found out that I didn't get the job I interviewed for on Wednesday and then on my way home....my car almost blew up--but at least it was something that could be fixed. I spent the whole weekend and first part of this week without a car. That's a hard thing for me to do. On Saturday, I ran my 5K and then I threw a surprise 50th for my stepdad and it was a success.

The 5K was a great experience. I had to push myself through it but I RAN the whole thing. I finished in about 33:34 which is good considering I had "trained" twice before the real thing. And my training....the most I ran straight through was 17 minutes the Saturday before!

Then there's my car....well, it's just another bump in the road but its driving again and I'm going to get a couple more things done here soon once I get a little more in order.

Hope all is well! I'm free to do lunch, coffee or whatever you need! Let me know!

The past few weeks

2009-03-21T10:49:00.002-05:00

I know its been a long time since I posted on my dearly beloved blog. I honestly can't tell you where the last few weeks have gone. Last weekend, my sister stayed over for most of the weekend and we just hung out, relaxed, had a nice little spiral mac-n-cheese dinner with applesauce followed by a decadent dessert--orange cinnamon rolls! :) We washed it down with pink lemonade that we found at Wally World! :) (Picture to come!)

This past week, I was totally engrossed in getting my students ready for their Family Celebration program. They did some speaking, singing and reciting of poems. We had completed 5 large projects for the parents to see after the show so it was a lot of preparation. The students did an amazing job and pulled it out with none of the kinks we had in rehearsal. The parents and grandparents and other family members were SOOO AMAZED!!!!!!!!! My class also gave me a dozen beautiful roses. I shall post a picture of them here when I get one made. I will probably do it today but I don't know when I'll be able to post it.

This week is my last week and then I'll be on my way. I'm going to be observed by my principal and I have an interview with my previous boss for another long term position beginning in May.

After all the craziness this week, I'm going to run a 5K on Saturday for the first time in probably a decade! I have only been training since last Monday...oops! I ran/walked for about 35 min last Monday and then today I ran for 17 minutes straight. I wasn't fast but all I WANT out of this race is to finish it. Then each race after that will push me to gain more and more speed and run more "efficiently". Have a blessed week ya'll!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Dancing with the Stars....

2009-03-09T21:18:00.000-05:00

....ok, so I might not be dancing with the stars but I'm going to learn to dance even if I have to do it alone. I plan to take dancing classes and get my 'groove' on. I'm INSPIRED! If you want to join me, let me know and we'll get it in gear for REAL!

Just vote if you would: Julianne and Chuck, Shawn and Mark, and Melissa (recently rejected Bachlorette) and Tony!

Pictures of Me as a wee little one...well, sorta

2009-03-08T18:55:00.005-05:00

Here I was opening some gift....
look closely and you'll see my favorite pair of slippers--EVER!

HERE I AM! Everyone look at me!
Guess I wanted to dance and show off my Garfield pj's!

Makin' a wish....wonder what I wished for?
(I think my grandma told me I was turning 4.)

THIS IS WEIRD!!!!!!!!

2009-03-06T22:10:00.003-06:00

This lady did what?????

GROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://news.aol.com/article/british-tongue-biter/372205

I want to have kids but I would never do that!

Church Plant and more...

2009-03-05T21:15:00.002-06:00

Where to start?

I guess I'll start with the Church Plant since its fresh in my mind from the meeting tonight. My home church here is in the process of planting a church...in the town where I'm currently living--go figure. It opens in 1 year from this Saturday!!!!!! I'm really excited about it and terrified all the same. There is nothing more than another transition and unknown situation I would NOT like at this moment in my life. WHY ME GOD???? Well, I'm not sure He's completely called me to go but I feel like He might be. I told Him I wanted to grow in Him and be more bold with my faith...I think this is what He's giving me! Please pray for the formation of the team, the rising up of a second staff member, and all the other million details that must be figured out!

Then there is work....I have 3 weeks left and I have the exciting job of filling out report cards for this weekend. Then what? Good question! I've been asking myself the same thing. I can't believe that the last 9 weeks have already flown by. I can't believe all that I've done in that time. Please be praying for a new job and one for next year. I don't know what God has in store for me but I hope that I can get settled in here sooner rather than later!

I love my friends!

What a Monday morning for the books!

2009-03-02T11:28:00.003-06:00

Well, needless to say I got here at 7:45 and started getting ready for the day. I got the new month up on the calendar, changed the stations, looked for new poems for our Poem of the Week, went to open my lesson plans and POOF!!! They were overlapped and scrambled on one another. In an attempt to fix the problem, I opened a different copy from an attachment I had sent myself to work on at home...no luck--then it froze Word. I couldn't do anything. I thought I wasn't going to be able to shut down or use the computer until they fixed it...luckily, after much distress and the students arriving, I was able to go into Safari and then restart the computer. But in the chaos, I realized I hadn't copied the lunch attendance forms and didn't have a blank one for today! YIKES! So I had to make a makeshift one until I got a copy from the office. I spent 20 minutes trying to fix my computer and get all settled...not a good start to the week especially when I only have 4 weeks left!!! :(

Then I just opened the kids' folders as lunch started and one of my parents wrote this to me (with the other stuff which I can't post): "We really appreciate all the hard work you've put into the class and our [son]! You've been a pleasant surprise as a long term sub and I know [he] is learning a lot. Thank you so much!" ----That right there, makes it all worth it!!!! :)

Praying for the Future

2009-03-01T16:09:00.002-06:00

I have only 4 weeks left at my current job. This would be a sufficient enough reason for anyone to freak out given the current state of many people's current job situation but its going to be my 4th job transition in 8 months. I, as of now, am not totally freaked out and have a sense of peace in that people have told me they will request me as a sub during the month of April until I can hopefully get in one of the maternity leaves at my previous school. I know I will be fine until the summer, no matter what happens, I will be employed. It's more the summer and beyond that concerns me. Today in Sunday School we talked about how God often closes doors and I'm really hoping that He's not closing this door so quickly. I'm trying to seek His direction for my life but sometimes its hard when so much is at stake. I don't think it's that I'm worried about my current "lifestyle" disappearing but more so my ability to give and care for others. I love taking someone out to coffee or buying them a little trinket to brighten their day. I also sponsor a child through World Vision--a life-changing experience--so check out how you can do it too: HERE. Sponsoring my child would probably be the last thing I would give up if I had to "cut" something from my budget. I can't say that everything else in my life is more important than providing a child half way around the world with the basic necessities that I enjoy every day. No matter how stripped down my lifestyle has to be, it's much more than she'll probably ever know in her lifetime. Who am I hat I deserve all that I have? I'm a sinner that fails and doesn't deserve what I have! I'm praying for the next step in this journey and I hope you will join me too! :)

I survived!

2009-02-28T20:52:00.002-06:00

I made it through my tests today. The first one took me about 4 hours and then I took about 30 minutes to check back through everything. The second one took me about 2 hours and 10 minutes. In TN, we were unable to leave during the tests once we were finished but here they let you go. Instead of staying 'til 7:15, I was able to escape at 4:10! :) I can't say I wasn't exhausted after getting up at 6:10am....earlier than I've gotten up in a LONG, LONG time! :)

What a random week!

2009-02-27T20:01:00.003-06:00

Well, it has been a very interesting week to say the least! Wednesday was Ash Wednesday and beginning of the Lenten season. I went to my first every Ash Wed. service. It was a neat experience and gave me time to be with God. Then a bunch of us hung out afterwards and I didn't get home until MIDNIGHT. That right there is a crazy thing...at least for those of you that know me well...my bedtime is 10pm if not earlier! That was really fun though. Then on Thursday, I was the Schuberts lil' Haley while everyone was out. I had so much fun! We were playing and being silly even in spite of the crazy storm outside. I had gotten a text from a friend when I was leaving school to see if I could meet for dinner at O'Hare and I knew I couldn't because I had to get to Haley. This wasn't just a friend from here, it was my friend in Alaska that I hadn't seen in like 2 years!!!!!!!!!!!! I told him that if they got home and his flight was delayed, I would come visit for a few minutes. Well, they came home and his flight had been delayed until 11:07pm so I drove like crazy around all the flooded portions of town to get there. We got to hang out for like 4o minutes and then he had to get inside and make sure he was at the gate so he wouldn't miss the plane! It was fun to hang out with him and it didn't cost me a flight to Alaska....which he continually reminds me I owe him because I told him I would come visit someday. I got home at like 11:20 or so! I am sooooo tired! Today I took a 3 hour nap when I got home from school!

I got through this week, now I must get through tomorrow. I have to take my certification tests for my IL teaching license. I thought "oh this will be no big deal, just a couple tests that take a couple of hours" because that's how my previous 4 tests were in TN....well, they take approximately 5 hours. My first one starts at 7:15 am (and you need to be there 30 min early) and goes until about 1pm. Then the second one starts at 1:30pm and is expected to last until 7:15 pm! Ok, my idea of a relaxing Saturday is not 12 hours of testing! What in the world are they thinking--I guess they aren't!!!!! :)

Tenderfoot

2009-02-24T21:24:00.002-06:00

My little bro earned his Tenderfoot advancement tonight! I will try to get a picture but I had forgotten my camera! Way to go brother! I'm so proud of you! :)

Highlights from "Ski Your Buns Off 2009"

2009-02-23T10:34:00.003-06:00

My sister and I drove down separately from the rest of the family after school on Friday. That was an adventure...more below!

One of her quotes for the weekend was "You are driving faster than I can run so you are driving too fast." She is in driver's ed and speed is not her friend, so to speak.

Her and I got off at an exit in Madison, WI thinking we would be able to find a Taco Bell and a Wal-Mart. Boy, were we wrong! We searched for over 30 minutes for it. We really wanted Taco Bell otherwise we would have stopped at some other place since every other store and restaurant in history was at that exit! It was very funny! So then we went on to the next exit that said there was a T B and got off. I really had to go to the bathroom so we went in, took care of that, got my sister a drink, and was about to order our food when we realized that it was a T B Express therefore they charged twice as much for food and a bean burrito was $1.69....almost twice as much as here...not happening!!! So we waited and kept driving. As soon as we got back on the interstate, I said, "God, all we need is a Wal-Mart with a Taco Bell in the outlot. Please give us one--that would be really great!" So we kept driving waiting to see a Taco Bell sign. Then 30 minutes later we saw one, and we could see it from the exit and what should it be sitting in front of, but a Wal-Mart....God answered our prayers!!!!!!! I didn't really think we'd find that combination but apparently they exist!

I was able to snowboard really well this weekend and just take my mind off life! It was a lot of fun and I had some good moments with my brothers and sister on the hill! :)

I only have five weeks left at my current job so please be praying for the next step in this specific journey! :)

Girl Scout Cookie Catastrophie and Reaching Beyond Your Comfort Zone

2009-02-19T18:47:00.004-06:00

OK, this is never the news you want to hear:

Dear Neighbor,

I regret to inform you that I will be unable to fill your Girl Scout cookie order that you placed about 1 month ago. The cookie mom lost my order form and therefore I have no record of what anyone ordered. I apologize for the disappointment of not getting your annual Girl Scout cookies and any inconvenience. Hopefully you will place orders next year and this won't happen again.

Sincerely,

Your dear Girl Scout

Luckily, she is a dear little friend of mine and I totally understand. I didn't need the calories anyways...I'll just say it's God's way of telling me that! LOL! :)
____________________________________________________________________

Next, my dad sent me a little Valentine's gift that was so cool! It's a wall tile that says, "If you keep reaching outside your comfort zone, you'll make it!"

Then the little tag on it had this great little reminder:

Comfort Zone

Most of us spend our time
Neatly tucked away,
All safe-and-sound, in our tidy little lives.
It's not that we don't long for a change,
It's just that sometimes we get so busy
And caught up in the thick-of-thin-things,
That we forget how to really live.
Everything in our lives
Begins to take on a shade of gray.

That's when it's time to bust loose,
Abandon all fears and push ourselves
Out of our comfort zones
Into the magical, mystical,
Uncharted territory called
"Possibility."
Oh, sure, it will be hard at first.
You may even get bumped back a few times.
But in the end, it will be worth it.
Because if you keep on reaching,
One of these days you'll make it,
And nothing will ever be the same again!

I shall bid you all farewell. Enjoy your weekend!

Fudge Stripe Cookies and Milk

2009-02-17T20:15:00.003-06:00

Ok, so I've eaten 2 bean burritos, 1 cheese and beef burrito, and now the Fudge Stripe Cookies and milk. I think I've blown the eating healthy for today. OH well! I eat less during the day anyways and I'm fighting a cold! LOL! Good excuse, huh? Anyways, I had very little voice this morning when my students arrived and they were all like "are you ok?". I said yes and told them that I needed a little extra cooperation and listening today. Did I get it? No! LOL! Oh well. I just coughed and they ignored it...I guess they don't understand! I also figured out that I can get help in the classroom with clerical and other little things an hour a week-ish...I haven't used any for 6 weeks since I didn't know and so I think I can take a little extra...especially when they have nothing else to do! It shall be an interesting week for sure! I get to snowboard this weekend...woohoo! :)

Hanging with family!

2009-02-15T21:52:00.003-06:00

Today I got to see my cousin that has been in Korea for the past 8 months. It was great to see him and hang out with that side of the family. I enjoyed the taco eating contest I had with my cousin. He beat me with 8 tacos and I had 7...I can't say it was a good idea in the long run but it was fun nonetheless! I will try to post some pictures tomorrow.

Blessings for a wonderful week! No work tomorrow! WOOHOO!!!!!!

School Valentine's Parties

2009-02-13T21:57:00.003-06:00

WOW! I had a busy yet great day! I really had fun with my class. I got some really sweet Valentine's from my students and felt very loved! I will try to post some pictures of some of the things I got! :)

I came home and slept for many hours, ate, and am about to go back to bed...my eyes are already drooping! :) I shall see ya'll tomorrow!

Have a great long weekend!

One more day...

2009-02-12T22:46:00.003-06:00

...until the 3-day weekend! YEEHAW! I can't wait. Please do not call me tomorrow afternoon because I will probably be passed out in my bed! LOL!

I went to see Danny in the play tonight at GW and it was good. I was tired so I think if I wasn't so tired, it would have made sense...WAY TO GO DANNY!!!!

One day at a time...a good way to live sometimes!

Tomorrow is our class Valentine's Party...oh the days when it was innocent and fun--at least I get to re-live them every year. I have lots of fun planned for the kids and I can't wait. I think it will just be a relaxed day.

My cousin is home...

2009-02-11T21:58:00.002-06:00

My cousin that was serving in the Army is finally home. I will get to see him this weekend and I'm really excited. Its about the only exciting thing I have this weekend since I will be doing nothing but cleaning house, grading and just enjoying my 3-day weekend...oh, the blessings of being a teacher! :) Grandma is gone so I plan to clean until my little heart can't clean anymore. I have the world's largest stack of grading that needs to be done--one of the very FEW cons of teaching! Those are my ambitions for the weekend. I plan to show the ones I love that I love them!!!

I just realized that it is past my bedtime so I will have to write more tomorrow...I spent my lunch online looking at and writing posts. :)

Rainy Day

2009-02-11T11:56:00.002-06:00

It is a rainy day here in Chi-town. I can't believe how much it looks like I should be able to be home and sleeping. :) Today is the day that my grandma left for Israel. I think I could pass out I'm so tired (I was falling asleep while tutoring..with the bobbing head and all yesterday). I had trouble sleeping last night and was up every hour probably from 2am til I got up at 7am. What is wrong with me? Well, I think I just have a lot on my mind and I'm trying to take care of it all but I have to take it one step at a time. I have youth group tonight and I think that is about it. I am on my lunch break and I've been checking my friends' blogs and decided to write a little on mine. I'm sure I'll have more to write soon...in fact, I would love to write a book on my life...maybe I will.

Laters and have a wonderful day! :)

Life is never the way you expect...

2009-02-09T22:12:00.003-06:00

...you'd think by now that I would realize that but there are just times when I'm blown away by how big the world and my life really are. Not that I'm important, by no means is that what I mean, I mean that I live in this little bubble of thinking and it takes a friend to jolt me out of it. I try to be open to what life has for me and be adventurous but one little thing can hit straight at the heart. I was hanging out with some friends that really hit me with the truth in confronting a situation in life head-on. They assured me all would be fine but I'm trusting that it will be. I had asked a friend recently to pray for discernment...well, I think God sent it via people-mail...as in friends (not email). There's a reason for the season I'm in.

Pancakes and Love

2009-02-06T08:01:00.002-06:00

I know that there are many instances where I try to please someone and fail miserably...please forgive me....this story lets me know I'm not alone! :)

PANCAKES AND LOVE

Six year old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents
pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter,
opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on
the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed
in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the
floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten. Brandon was covered
with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good
for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad. He didn't know what to do
next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove, and he didn't
know how the stove worked!

Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push
her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to
clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas
white and sticky. And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big
crocodile tears welled up in Brandon's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was make
them proud. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But
his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up
his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and
sticky in the process.

That's how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it
turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend or we
can't stand our job or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there
in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God
picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets
all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to
"make pancakes," for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right,
and then they'll be glad we tried...

-- Author Unknown

I wish it was the weekend...

2009-02-04T22:20:00.003-06:00

....I am not going to lie! I'm sooo pooped this week! :) In just a week in a half, I will have a day off! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!! :) Pray that I don't fall asleep teaching....LOL!!!!!!!! Just kidding...it's not quite that bad!

25 Things About Me

2009-02-03T21:39:00.001-06:00

1. I work with high school students because I love to be an encouragement to them. I know how much it meant to have devoted leaders when I was in HS and want to be there when they feel like no one else is there! :)

2. I moved back here to start my "adult" life so I could be by my brothers and sister. They mean the world to me! :)

3. I'm on my 3rd job since moving home just 7 months ago and it ends in 2 months. There are opportunities abounding and I'm in an amazing place being an out-of-state transplant and being this embedded in a school district already where people know my name! :) I think the day is coming for my own classroom..... :)

4. I've been blessed with amazing friends back here now where I wasn't sure I was going to have any. I know you are thinking, "Duh Danielle" but I wasn't so convinced...I felt very alone when I moved back! Weird how life changes so quickly! :)

5. I have only dated one person in the last 10 years (and it was only for like a month-so I'm not sure it even counts). I'm not really sure how I feel about that but I do know that God has taught me a lot of things in those 6 years that I would not have learned had I been in a relationship. I love just chillin' with my friends. Someday I know I will have my prince charming and then have my little kiddies that I will love unconditionally! (For now, I'm borrowing my friends' kids as my own....that's where Auntie Danielle comes in!) :)

6. I have a crafting addiction! I love to scrapbook, take pictures, sew, embroider, paint, make cards, woodworking and other crafty projects. I have all sorts of stuff that I want to do yet time becomes a factor. I pray that soon I will be able to enjoy all my hobbies, including all my musical endeavors. :)

7. I am an organizer from the inside out. I'm pretty sure most people think I'm crazy but it helps me in my efforts to do a gazillion things at one time (teacher, sister, daughter, granddaughter, small group leader, worship leader, student worship secretary, youth group volunteer, tutor, servant of Christ, friend, babysitter/nanny, mentor and whatever else I am!). :)

8. I am a Bears (and sometimes other teams) football fanatic! I saw my first live game at Soldier Field during the COLDEST Bears game in history vs. the Green Bay Packers. WE WON! We blocked 2 field goals...normally, you are lucky if you block one! I had such a great time. I got the tickets as a present from a friend and went with another good friend! Thanks to both of you for making it AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

9. I'm going to write a 101 things to do in 1001 days just like Katie....you rock girl! :)

10. I love HGTV! I don't get to watch it often but oh do I ever love it! It's educational in my mind so I somewhat feel justified in sitting down to watch it. I'm learning new things each time I watch it! :)

11. I LOVE SLEEP!!! 'Nough said!!! :)

12. I LOVE KIDS! I want my own...but don't worry....I know there are steps before that can happen! It's hard when your job makes you want kids and you can't have them! LOL! :)

13. I want to be: classy, sophisticated, elegant, kind, gentle, graceful and so much more... :)

14. I would rather have a "chill-stay-at-home-in-our-sweats" date than any fancy, schmancy hooplah!!!!! :)

15. I want to change the world--starting with me! :)

16. I don't like when people are disrespectful!!!! :)

17. I like lots of pizza and I'm pretty sure I could eat it every night!!! :)

18. I have realized that my life is not going to go as planned if I tried to be OOBER-organized so I'm trying to lay low and chill on that one! :)

19. I love to encourage people and be a mood-lifter of sorts! Anything I can do for you? :)

20. I can barely see my home desk right now which is driving me crazy. I try to keep up but I am barely ever here! Oh dear...just livin' life I guess! :)

21. I work for one of my old fourth grade team teachers! :)

22. I'm very contemplative and think about life....a lot!!! I'm pretty sure it could be a full time job for me....(you have to check out my other blog for some of the ooze that comes from my contemplative times)---or just call me! LOL!!!!!!!!! :)

23. I'm not afraid to say what's on my mind...most of the time. I also am very open about my life, struggles and triumphs! :)

24. It has taken me 4 days to come up with this list! :)

25. I love smiles on real people, I love to smile and I love smilies on the computer! (In case you couldn't tell with all the smilies in this post!) :)

Oh my dearest Katie....

2009-01-31T10:12:00.004-06:00

Ok, so my friend Katie has a blog:

http://myfirstyearasawallace.blogspot.com/

This blog has some of the coolest things! She is part of a group called "My Husband Rocks Friday" where she explains and expounds on one reason she loves her husband EVERY single Friday. Now, I can't quite do that yet but hopefully someday I will. Then she has her list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. I need to do that...I know I could! Then she just posted "25 Things about Me". Which I also could do. I will be working on these and hope to have them up on here soon! :)

Just keeping up with her could be my part time job! :) I have enough to do already but I LOVE her soooooooo much, I don't mind! :)

And I think her and I might just be almost twins.....note-her crafting addiction....me too.....

Each Day New

2009-01-25T21:03:00.003-06:00

Each day is becoming more and more new to me. I see things I never saw before, I experience things that I haven't before, and lastly, I learn more than I knew the day before.

Over the past few weeks, as I've started my new job, I have noticed that sometimes, you have to work alone (with God of course) to get things done. I've experienced many new situations and people and so far, it's been good. I have struggled with feeling like I'm sorta creating the classroom on my own yet feeling so different from the other two in my grade. I'm looking for the next step in this journey as a teacher but I am coming up short with no leads thus far. I'm praying that God will provide a job for me even though I know he'll lead me in the right direction.

This past week, I was able to get together with two friends to talk. Sometimes hard talks can be the best because you learn more about yourself and the other person. The times where you can get together and share life with one another and learn from one another is always an exciting time.

This next week, I am going to have parent-teacher conferences. We have choir rehearsal and I will meet with a friend I haven't talked to in what feels like forever.

Dear God, I pray this week will be a great week for Your children to learn and grow in Your Spirit. Amen

The days go by so quickly...

2009-01-20T21:28:00.002-06:00

These days, life is passing me by like I'm on a train in another country. I look out and don't recognize what is around me, I'm going so fast, I don't know what's going on, is this train going a safe speed or is it out of control? I've been going a hundred miles an hour it seems. It is nothing short of a miracle that I'm making it where I'm supposed to be and when I am!

I have really enjoyed being in the classroom. I am full of joy as I am in a place I love to be. I am still adjusting and trying to make everything work so things aren't all settled yet but I have felt tremendous peace even in the midst of feeling completely overwhelmed with school and the rest of life. My students have been, for the most part, patient with me and the parents have been great.

This weekend, I had the glorious privilege of going with the high school students at GEBC to Baraboo, WI for their Winter Retreat! I knew God would do amazing things there and He definitely did! Barriers of great height were broken down. On Saturday, I got to go snowboarding with my new snowboard and then spent 5 hours in the ER with our youth pastor and one of the students from my cabin! I was glad to be there to support them in their time of need....I drove them home to the camp with my snowboard boots...what an adventure that was! Then on Sunday, I was part of an intense Broomball tourney...that we almost won! I was one heck of a defensive player--if I may say so myself. I have more glorious bruises to show for it too! Then, it was all about community and life change that night as our speaker, Johanne (/Joe-haan/), challenged the students, and leaders alike, to be part of life change in our community as a group. It was a really neat experience. I wish I could go again! I had a small moment of wondering whether I should have gone into youth ministry but then I pinched myself and realized, I liked the way things are now with a classroom of little cuties and then hanging with the students outside of that.

I feel so blessed to have friends around me that will support me and encourage me when I need it! It never ceases to amaze me how God brings the right people into my life at just the right time. I was blessed to have dinner with a friend tonight that was really encouraging even in the midst of trial and pain of his own. I am daily reminded that I am not alone, even when it feels that way. I dearly miss Audra and my other great friends in Nashville but I feel as though God has orchestrated my life to be this way and that I will see them soon! :)

WOW!

2009-01-06T21:12:00.003-06:00

Well, yesterday was my first day and it went better than I expected. Today was a little rocky but until we have a calmer week, it will be that way. I am enjoying the break times to get things accomplished and I can't say I miss lunch/recess duty. Well, I'm going to be a little scattered the next few days so please forgive me if I don't write for a while.

Tomorrow is the Big Day....well, one of them at least.

2009-01-04T21:08:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow I start my new job. As I went through the day, I have become more and more nervous but I know everything will work out just fine. If you read this Monday, please say a quick prayer for me.

"Thank you LORD for a new job and new opportunities. I thank you for the opportunity to share what You've been doing in my life today with the high school students of GEBC and I ask that you would bless them and allow me to live my life wholly devoted to You and Your Kingdom. Amen."