I promised myself when I got a big-girl job I would do many many things to avoid major meltdown due to the craziness and busy busy busyness that come with being away from the house all day. This summer I will be doing many many things in preparation for the fall, all in the name of decluttering, healthifying downsizing, and simplifying so that we (I) can have more time to spend doing things we want to do, and less time doing things we don't.
I. Getting rid of clothes we never wear, don't fit into, and don't want/need anymore. If you know either Nick or I at all, you know we love to be involved in our community (school, church, etc.) which has landed us with more t-shirts than probably most families have total. It is ridiculous! The worst part is, we keep trying to downsize, but the t-shirts just keep coming! I am thinking about keeping approximately 10 t-shirts (which is a serious cut, trust me) per person, and getting rid of or donating the others. No more "this t-shirt means so much to me and I have had it since my junior year of high school and it is really soft and and and!" Nope. We can take a picture in the shirt and that can serve to hold its memory in our hearts forever. We just don't need so many! Not only will we actually be able to fit all of our clothes in the drawers we have for them, but I won't be doing 47,083 loads of laundry all the time! Because we will only have a few t-shirts to wear, we will have to wash them more often. Thus the clothes will be washed and we will not end up with a giant mountain of laundry sitting in the hallway because we have 14,000 other shirts we might as well just wear instead of washing the one we actually want to wear! And, should our t-shirts start to fade, stink, or wear out? With just 10, we can retire that one, and get a new one! (Or wait three weeks and there will be another event and we'll get a free one from something!)
We also have wayyyy too many other clothes we never wear and will never wear again! When we seriously evaluate our stuff this summer, we can get rid of the clothes we don't like or even really want, and, yet again, actually have space for the ones we do! This will allow both Nick and i to know if we really do "need" something new or different. As well as with fewer clothes to choose from, just like with the t-shirts, I will be forced to keep up with the laundry because, duh, we have to wear clothes everyday and cannot leave naked!
I think this is a HUGE way I can stay sane and happy next fall, knowing that I am not coming home to mountainous piles of dirty clothes, having to search through the other mountain of clean clothes to find something to wear each morning, and actually having a spot to put the clothes after they are clean! I am seriously so excited.
2. MENU-PLANNING. Dun dun dunnnnnn... I know I have made weary attempts at this before, but I know that in order to avoid coming home tired and without any ideas of what to make for supper and turning to expensive, super delicious but ohsobadforme restaurant food every other night, I have to do this. I need to do this. In the process, I know we will consistently eat way healthier and save some money in the process. I love having a plan and knowing what we will eat that night, as well as having the supplies at the beginning of the week so I am not running to the store every single stinking day to pick up a couple things for the last-minute meal I decided I could throw together for supper. This will also please Nick a hundred times over because we wont be eating the same (ish) chicken meal every other night! [Forgive me, but I seriously L O V E chicken! Thank you, MCC Campus Center!]
With the stress and fast-pace I will more than likely be running at most of the time, as well as with being gone most of the day, I want to be able to really enjoy the time I have in the evening to be with the ones I care about and taking advantage of the rest and peace that come with having a plan. This summer we will start practicing eating off a plan and shopping with a week's meals in mind. I also want to try some freezer-cooking and start using my crock-pot a little more often. [I know with summer comes spontaneous BBQs and lots of nights out of town, but that is why this is practice time, we will do the best we can and be flexible when it doesn't work out just as planned!]
3. A place for everything and everything in its place. Now, most of you know me in real life and probably have even been over to my lovely apartment...which is typically cluttered and semi-messy, and I spend the first three minutes of our time together frantically apologizing as I rush around trying to pick up and hide all my mess. I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE! I go to friends' homes and it seems as if everything truly does have a place and it is clean and decorated and I need (want) that in my home. So this summer we will not only get rid of (does anyone see a pattern here? We have too much stuff!) the stuff we have laying around, the stuff we are not using, the stuff we do not really need, etc. but we will also find a place for everything. I am the Q U E E N of piles. I love to pile! Making a pile is simply a way to make the clutter look less like clutter (and it is an even better way to lose the cable bill...and your Christmas money from Grandpa...and the list you made...and so on and so on...) catchin my drift yet? I simply must do these things in order to remain even halfway sane next year! I need my home to be my solace, my place of peace, and I cannot find peace in all the clutter! [In case anyone is wondering, I am most definitely the one who is more messy and cluttered, not Nick. Ok just had to say that in case he reads it.]
4. In order to maintain the amount of energy I will need, as well keep my positive attitude and happiness at the optimum level, I WILL workout either before or after school in the fall. The habit begins this summer, though. I recognize the importance of working out not only for my physical appearance's sake, but even more so for my emotional health. I will need a place to blow off steam, and I will need a place to find the extra energy (because realistically, working out and being active actually gives me more energy), and I will need a place to maintain my rockin' bod! ;) Meh meh mehhhh... But seriously, I struggle so much with my body image (duh, what girl doesn't), and do not want that to be something I let take hold of me! I feel so much better about myself and simply better in general when I am living healthy, and in order to stay afloat despite busyness at school and life, I will be active. [I mean, we do have that gym membership...and the gym is literally on my way to and from work...so it will be mainly a mental battle for me. Prayers appreciated!]
5. And very most importantly, I am seriously committed to remaining in the Word and in prayer with our Father. I will have more time this summer, and sometimes that is good for me, but often it makes it even harder to be intentional with my time with the Lord. I know, as I am sure most of you do, that every single thing in my life is better when I am seeking His purpose with all of myself. That will be the number one most important thing to help me healthify and maintain balance and sanity in the fall.
In conclusion, much prayer, encouragement, and accountability is appreciated! I will try to stay consistent with my blog, which we all know may or may not actually happen... oops... but most of you I see or communicate with on at least a semi-regular basis (and if not already, shoot, let's start communicatin!), so if you would be willing, help me! :)
For the sake of my marriage, my emotional and physical health, my students and colleagues, and my family and friends, I commit to doing these things to the best of my ability.
5.05.2011
amen amen amen!
"And we know that in all things God works to the good of those who love Him according to His purpose."
That unfortunately does not say "...works to the good of those who love Him according to her five year plan..." or "...works to the good of those who love Him according to what she thinks is the best idea..." or "...works to the good of those who love Him according to her purpose." He works to our good according to HIS purpose. His purpose, to reconcile the world back to Him. It doesn't matter what I do or where I go, all that matters is that my purpose is His purpose.
All that being said, my prayers for employment are being answered and I am excited to begin my first teaching position [I GOT A JOB!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!] and a new ministry as a seventh grade language arts teacher at a middle school outside of Manhattan. I cannot express the plethora of confusing feelings rushing through me, as I am far beyond excited, scared out of my mind, and ready to begin this adventure.
I am so blessed to have found a job now instead of in July or August, as we all know I am not the fastest lesson planner, and will have ample time to plan creative and innovative lessons and units for my students to learn all about English! Oh my gosh I am so excited! I cannot believe I have a "real" grown-up job and am going to have a classroom and students and a hallway and teacher ID and a desk and the list could go on and on! I definitely did not even expect myself to be so excited when this happened! For so many months I worried I would never get back my passion and drive that I started out with, especially this winter as I doubted whether I could even do it at all... but I am confident that my God, my friends, my family, my amazing husband, the teachers at my new school, and my passion and commitment for changing lives I WILL succeed and survive the craziness of my first year of teaching!
Soooo if anyone has a bookshelf or file cabinet that they need to get rid of...or adolescent novels... I'll gladly take them off your hands! I am SO EXCITED to start finding things to decorate my classroom with!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay yay yay!!!!
Oh and craft fairs this summer are a MUST! MBF and Sari pleeeeease can you come home in July for the Affair of the Heart?????
Equally as exciting is the phone call I received last night from a friend telling me she has an interview next week! God is faithful to provide for our every need! Amen amen amen!
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."
"...and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
That unfortunately does not say "...works to the good of those who love Him according to her five year plan..." or "...works to the good of those who love Him according to what she thinks is the best idea..." or "...works to the good of those who love Him according to her purpose." He works to our good according to HIS purpose. His purpose, to reconcile the world back to Him. It doesn't matter what I do or where I go, all that matters is that my purpose is His purpose.
All that being said, my prayers for employment are being answered and I am excited to begin my first teaching position [I GOT A JOB!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!] and a new ministry as a seventh grade language arts teacher at a middle school outside of Manhattan. I cannot express the plethora of confusing feelings rushing through me, as I am far beyond excited, scared out of my mind, and ready to begin this adventure.
I am so blessed to have found a job now instead of in July or August, as we all know I am not the fastest lesson planner, and will have ample time to plan creative and innovative lessons and units for my students to learn all about English! Oh my gosh I am so excited! I cannot believe I have a "real" grown-up job and am going to have a classroom and students and a hallway and teacher ID and a desk and the list could go on and on! I definitely did not even expect myself to be so excited when this happened! For so many months I worried I would never get back my passion and drive that I started out with, especially this winter as I doubted whether I could even do it at all... but I am confident that my God, my friends, my family, my amazing husband, the teachers at my new school, and my passion and commitment for changing lives I WILL succeed and survive the craziness of my first year of teaching!
Soooo if anyone has a bookshelf or file cabinet that they need to get rid of...or adolescent novels... I'll gladly take them off your hands! I am SO EXCITED to start finding things to decorate my classroom with!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay yay yay!!!!
Oh and craft fairs this summer are a MUST! MBF and Sari pleeeeease can you come home in July for the Affair of the Heart?????
Equally as exciting is the phone call I received last night from a friend telling me she has an interview next week! God is faithful to provide for our every need! Amen amen amen!
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."
"...and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
5.02.2011
happenings of recent:
So yesterday morning I completed my first ever half-marathon race. Can you say OMG?! If you were to ask any of my fellow cross-country team members in high school which of us would still be running, I would have been the last person on the list for sure! Much less to be running such insane-o long distances! Just ask my old pal Erica and she'll tell you I was a hundred percent the most un-dedicated, un-motivated runner out there, and was most definitely only still on the team after Week 1 of our first year because I made friends out there, not in the least because I enjoyed the running. I have since semi-changed my mind, and only of recent have I begun to relish the peace and exhilaration that can come from a really good run! I am not fast, nor am I any good, but I did run all the way through the 11th mile yesterday without having to walk AT ALL!!!!!! [worth mentioning that prior to yesterday's race, the max amount I ran without stopping to walk was approximately 2 miles...yah, I'm pretty stoked about this!] And if I do another one, I plan to stop zero times, because after the initial walk, it was like my brain lost all motivation to tell my legs they could finish those last couple miles without walking some more! So I ran 2 hours and 2 minutes with no walking, and then walked-ran off and on for the last 31 minutes of the race. I am still seriously so pumped about doing it. However, it is definitely also worth mentioning that I have never been this sore in my entire life. Minus maybe, the ol' "incident" with the bike my fourth year of college, but the jury's still out on that one. Mentally though, I am pumped!
We are doing a sprint triathlon on July 24th (just days after good ol' Allison and Ben tie the knot in Wichita), and I am considering running another 1/2 marathon in Omaha on the 25th of September. We shall see I guess!! I love the feeling after a race of such accomplishment and pride, the challenge of preparing, and most of all the sweet t-shirt that comes with completing the event. :) But seriously, as much as I whine and complain about training, it was (and always is) SO worth it!!!
In other news, I have been applying for teaching jobs left and right. I am anxiously and prayerfully awaiting what comes next! Excited for the completion of another semester, excited for new beginnings, and excited for a summer of friends, fun, and abundant sunshine and love.
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28
We are doing a sprint triathlon on July 24th (just days after good ol' Allison and Ben tie the knot in Wichita), and I am considering running another 1/2 marathon in Omaha on the 25th of September. We shall see I guess!! I love the feeling after a race of such accomplishment and pride, the challenge of preparing, and most of all the sweet t-shirt that comes with completing the event. :) But seriously, as much as I whine and complain about training, it was (and always is) SO worth it!!!
In other news, I have been applying for teaching jobs left and right. I am anxiously and prayerfully awaiting what comes next! Excited for the completion of another semester, excited for new beginnings, and excited for a summer of friends, fun, and abundant sunshine and love.
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28
4.28.2011
say.love
[oops for the last depressing post.]
I am seriously so happy with my life right now. For the past few months the Word of God and everything about having faith has come alive to me. It's like I am a brand new Christian and it is all new and special and I am seriously moved to tears at church like, every week now. I am such a sap! But very seriously, I serve a LIVING GOD, as in He is Alive and Real and at very consistent work in me, and I have never believed those things as much as I do right now. My God loves with a real, unconditional, as in without conditions or boundaries, as in, there is nothing I can do to stop the love, as in OMG what??! It is so real! "My God is not dead, He is alive, He's living on the inside..." For too long, the tings I have heard in church, read in my Bible, and simply truths I have clung to, have not been alive and real to me, but seriously those things really happened in real life, and made such an impact then that they are STILL changing lives and turning hearts today! God is timeless, His truth is forever, and His love is so big! It's just so mind-blowing!
I have been reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and have been seriously convicted to let my love be evident to all who come in contact with me, and to be a person whose life is solely defined by the love I have for God and the love I have for others. The greatest commandments EVER said to love God and love your neighbor. Very simply put, if I am loving God and loving the people around me, am I not following His greatest command? If my mindset is to show love , will not my giving increase, as I desire to show love in that way? Will not the words I say be clean, because I want to honor God by showing His love that way? Will not my attitude be different than others, because I want to show His love by looking and acting like Jesus did when he was here? Will not my everything reflect the love of Christ if I seek wholeheartedly to be like Him? It's so simple, yet insanely difficult at the same time. I feel so compelled to thank Him for mercy, grace, the gift of His only Son, and a burden to share His love with other people. Very seriously praying that my everyday be used to glorify Him and make His name great, that I might be a part of adding to the Kingdom, that I might be used as His hands and feet, as His ambassador to the world, that I might actually live out the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” -Matt 28:18-20
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Phil 4:4-6
“...Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee..."-Luke 24:5-6
I am seriously so happy with my life right now. For the past few months the Word of God and everything about having faith has come alive to me. It's like I am a brand new Christian and it is all new and special and I am seriously moved to tears at church like, every week now. I am such a sap! But very seriously, I serve a LIVING GOD, as in He is Alive and Real and at very consistent work in me, and I have never believed those things as much as I do right now. My God loves with a real, unconditional, as in without conditions or boundaries, as in, there is nothing I can do to stop the love, as in OMG what??! It is so real! "My God is not dead, He is alive, He's living on the inside..." For too long, the tings I have heard in church, read in my Bible, and simply truths I have clung to, have not been alive and real to me, but seriously those things really happened in real life, and made such an impact then that they are STILL changing lives and turning hearts today! God is timeless, His truth is forever, and His love is so big! It's just so mind-blowing!
I have been reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and have been seriously convicted to let my love be evident to all who come in contact with me, and to be a person whose life is solely defined by the love I have for God and the love I have for others. The greatest commandments EVER said to love God and love your neighbor. Very simply put, if I am loving God and loving the people around me, am I not following His greatest command? If my mindset is to show love , will not my giving increase, as I desire to show love in that way? Will not the words I say be clean, because I want to honor God by showing His love that way? Will not my attitude be different than others, because I want to show His love by looking and acting like Jesus did when he was here? Will not my everything reflect the love of Christ if I seek wholeheartedly to be like Him? It's so simple, yet insanely difficult at the same time. I feel so compelled to thank Him for mercy, grace, the gift of His only Son, and a burden to share His love with other people. Very seriously praying that my everyday be used to glorify Him and make His name great, that I might be a part of adding to the Kingdom, that I might be used as His hands and feet, as His ambassador to the world, that I might actually live out the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” -Matt 28:18-20
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Phil 4:4-6
“...Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee..."-Luke 24:5-6
4.12.2011
every party has a pooper that's why they invited me...
I will be the first to admit I am a highly social creature and love to throw, host, and attend a party. [see: party- three or more people hanging out with food and laughing] I love to be loud, eat, laugh, be around people, and have fun. This fact could be highly disputed among some [mainly my husband and friends that still like to stay up past 10:00pm doing anything more than laying on the couch at home with the intentions of "accidentally" falling asleep with the puppy cuddled up next to you.] I get up early. I have to project energy the entire day, be excited, get other people interested in what I am doing, all day, every day. I also have to be "on" with a smile and positivity all the time. Mind you, these tasks are exhausting. Being mentally engaged a good percentage of the day, coupled with early hours and not enough gym time or the right foods to give me the energy I need, is physically draining. That being said, I am a total flake when it comes to committing to hanging out in the evenings. I don't like to make plans, because I know I will probably be tired and not really want to do anything. Now, I don't mind if people come to my house, I will even most likely have some sort of food to give you, but at some point in the last five years it is I who has become the homebody. I used to flourish in the go go go, in the sleepless nights, in the late hours of the day, but those days, er, pardon me, those nights are few and far between anymore.
I feel like am already a 40 year old woman, and I'm barely in my mid-twenties! College me, you have only been gone a few months, and already grown-up, adult me is boring and tired! UGH. But the conundrum lies in that if I go to bed/stay home cuddled in my sweatpants and big comfy chair (aka fall asleep before 10:00), I miss out on the things at which my social life could flourish, time with those I care the most about. But on the other hand, if I go, partake in social times with my amigos, go to bed at any time past8:30 10:00, I am miserably sleepy all day the next day and then grumpy in the evening! Bah!
The worst part about it, at least to me, is that I see no solution at any point in the even not-so-near future. Sure, some of my friends will perhaps get jobs at which they are forced to arrive pre-8:00am, as I will for the rest of time... but but but, oh so many will not get up early, work alllll day, work more afterschool work, and then come home only to be exhaustedly dreading doing it all again the next day. And I have talked to to other teachers, I know this never gets much better! WHAT was I thinking?! When did my sleep become so necessary? When did I turn into this old grandma?!
:( :( :( :( :(
I love what I do, and what I will do in my own classroom, but I love my friends, and my life outside of the school too! Why oh why can I still not have my cake and eat it too!? When will the grass actually be greener?? Why am I still so unsatisfied with things?! Ugh.
I feel like am already a 40 year old woman, and I'm barely in my mid-twenties! College me, you have only been gone a few months, and already grown-up, adult me is boring and tired! UGH. But the conundrum lies in that if I go to bed/stay home cuddled in my sweatpants and big comfy chair (aka fall asleep before 10:00), I miss out on the things at which my social life could flourish, time with those I care the most about. But on the other hand, if I go, partake in social times with my amigos, go to bed at any time past
The worst part about it, at least to me, is that I see no solution at any point in the even not-so-near future. Sure, some of my friends will perhaps get jobs at which they are forced to arrive pre-8:00am, as I will for the rest of time... but but but, oh so many will not get up early, work alllll day, work more after
:( :( :( :( :(
I love what I do, and what I will do in my own classroom, but I love my friends, and my life outside of the school too! Why oh why can I still not have my cake and eat it too!? When will the grass actually be greener?? Why am I still so unsatisfied with things?! Ugh.
4.10.2011
listening to sad songs when you're sad is just plain dumb.
It's that time of year again. Spring is bursting with promise of a beautiful tomorrow, babies are coming, brides are planning, and soon-to-be graduates are eagerly anticipating tomorrow.
I should be thrilled, filled with joy, exuberant, but instead I am just so sad. I don't think I have ever been so sad for the end of the year to come. I mean don't get me wrong, I am so excited for all my friends to be finishing and moving and growing up and so on, but I am honestly heartbroken that so many friends are leaving. This has never been so hard for me but this year I am just so sad. One of the hard parts of living in a college town, working at a college, being super involved with college students, is this inevitable end that must come. It is weird, because I have had friends leave before, and I left so many of my friends at home to come here, but this year I just can't seem to shake this sadness that so many will be moving on from here. So many friends so dear to my heart, leaving. My sweet, baby sister, leaving.
And like I said, don't get me wrong, I am thrilled for the exciting times to come for them, for the new, for the potential, for the opportunity to be used by God is a new place, to start new chapters, to invest in new people, but so much of me is just so so sad.
I am sitting here, crying my sad little eyes out, listening to my go-to sad song, wishing time would just stop so I could take in this last month and a half with full embrace, re-live all the memories, and just go back and do it all again.
Here's a photo reel of some of the people I'm going to miss...
I should be thrilled, filled with joy, exuberant, but instead I am just so sad. I don't think I have ever been so sad for the end of the year to come. I mean don't get me wrong, I am so excited for all my friends to be finishing and moving and growing up and so on, but I am honestly heartbroken that so many friends are leaving. This has never been so hard for me but this year I am just so sad. One of the hard parts of living in a college town, working at a college, being super involved with college students, is this inevitable end that must come. It is weird, because I have had friends leave before, and I left so many of my friends at home to come here, but this year I just can't seem to shake this sadness that so many will be moving on from here. So many friends so dear to my heart, leaving. My sweet, baby sister, leaving.
And like I said, don't get me wrong, I am thrilled for the exciting times to come for them, for the new, for the potential, for the opportunity to be used by God is a new place, to start new chapters, to invest in new people, but so much of me is just so so sad.
I am sitting here, crying my sad little eyes out, listening to my go-to sad song, wishing time would just stop so I could take in this last month and a half with full embrace, re-live all the memories, and just go back and do it all again.
Here's a photo reel of some of the people I'm going to miss...
4.08.2011
Ahh Sweet Renewal.
Oh sweet, dear spring. I love the feeling of renewal, and feel like this time of year brings with it so much promise, hope, life. Did I mention that I love spring? Praise the good LORD for warmer weather, sunshine, flowers, green grass, chirping birdies (as long as they steer clear my head, face, and extremities with their, ahem, poop.), sunshine, warmer weather, sunshine, positive attitudes, happiness, and of course, the hint of summer with all that sunshine and warmer weather!!
I'll admit my last post was a little depressing and sad...but who could blame me?? The job situation and outlook is prettttty grim right now. However, I have decided to have a renewed spirit and attitude about it and look to the positive things about my circumstances.
A) Because I currently am without a full-time career, I have freedom to skip work if I [reeeeally] need to, have no "homework" aka the parts of being a teacher that are less than awesome (grading papers, lesson planning, going to meetings) so my evenings are as free as I choose to have them, I can take a class at MCC that I wanted to take, I get to interact with all ages of students and content areas thus exposing me to all kinds of ideas to use in my [hopefully soon-to-be] future classroom AND develop a stronger sense of classroom management AND confidence as an adult/authority figure/teacher AND get my name and face out in lots of different schools in the area! So many good things right there!
B) Well, I ended up making my whole list into one extensive run-on sentence, which, when I re-read later will most likely make little sense butttt whatever.
C) Because every good list needs at least three points. :)
I truly believe God has a purpose for this season of my life. And like the earthly seasons change with time, so do the ones of life, and I must patiently wait on the Lord for the things I desire, which right now, is a full-time teaching job in this area. In my waiting, I must not grow stagnant, I must not look so forward to the future that I miss the life, the opportunity, the chances to be used for His purpose right now, in the present.
"God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my watching
God in my waiting
God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing
Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything
Be my everything..." [Tim Hughes, Everything]
I'll admit my last post was a little depressing and sad...but who could blame me?? The job situation and outlook is prettttty grim right now. However, I have decided to have a renewed spirit and attitude about it and look to the positive things about my circumstances.
A) Because I currently am without a full-time career, I have freedom to skip work if I [reeeeally] need to, have no "homework" aka the parts of being a teacher that are less than awesome (grading papers, lesson planning, going to meetings) so my evenings are as free as I choose to have them, I can take a class at MCC that I wanted to take, I get to interact with all ages of students and content areas thus exposing me to all kinds of ideas to use in my [hopefully soon-to-be] future classroom AND develop a stronger sense of classroom management AND confidence as an adult/authority figure/teacher AND get my name and face out in lots of different schools in the area! So many good things right there!
B) Well, I ended up making my whole list into one extensive run-on sentence, which, when I re-read later will most likely make little sense butttt whatever.
C) Because every good list needs at least three points. :)
I truly believe God has a purpose for this season of my life. And like the earthly seasons change with time, so do the ones of life, and I must patiently wait on the Lord for the things I desire, which right now, is a full-time teaching job in this area. In my waiting, I must not grow stagnant, I must not look so forward to the future that I miss the life, the opportunity, the chances to be used for His purpose right now, in the present.
"God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my watching
God in my waiting
God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing
Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything
Be my everything..." [Tim Hughes, Everything]
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