A Dream Come True

  As this year draws to an end, I can't help but reflect on what God has done in my life. A main highlight would be my college graduation. It was only through His grace and mercy that I was able to complete four years of education. The road was not always easy, but His grace is all sufficient. I am thankful for my time at Appalachian Bible College, but what a blessing to be done!
   Growing up I have always enjoyed being around children. I was that child who always asked to hold babies, and I love entertaining the younger ones in whatever circles I hung out in. Baby sitting was my favorite job in secondary school. I looked forward to the time when I could serve in the church nursery, and I always tried to visit my mom's kindergarten class when I could. I knew for a long time I wanted to work with children when I grew up. Even when I went through my horse crazy stage my dream was to work at a horse camp or give horse back riding lessons. Eventually I felt the call to be a teacher, and my years at college confirmed my passion and calling for this ministry.
   The odd thing about college was how isolated I felt from my calling. I had observations to go to, but that just meant I sat and watched the children. We had a little interaction, but it was in and out. I did have opportunity to serve at my church in various children's ministries for which I am grateful. My 2 years in Cubbies are part of the confirmation in my heart that teaching is what God called me to do. I had a few other opportunities to serve, but with all the back and forth between home and college never really let me get settled in one place. I always felt like something was missing, but I could never put my finger on it.
     Now that I am home, I think I figured out what that was. I was just looking for consistency and chance to put my calling to use. These days I teach pre-kindergarten, help in an elementary after school program,  teach a toddler Sunday School class, serve in the baby nursery and help with children's ministries at church. This has been consistent since graduation and has been over the course of what would have been a semester at college.
     Some days I must admit is can be a little overwhelming. On Wednesdays I go form preschool to after school to church, and kids can be exhausting as parents would know much better than me. However all the variety provides a great blessing in some many ways. I am thankful for all of these opportunities the Lord has blessed me with even when it is difficult. My dream has always been to work with children and now I get to experience it every day.
    Thank you Lord for an amazing year and the chance to serve in the fields I love!

My Hero, Mentor, Inspiration (aka Mom)

 Today my heart breaks for the families in Connecticut who have lost so much. It is another reminder of our human depravity and our desperate need for Christ. My prayer would be that many would come to know Christ as their Savior and the hope and peace which only He can bring through this tragedy. In these dark times may He be glorified.

   Though I do have hope in Christ my Savior, my heart still aches. When I first heard that 18 kindergartners lost their lives in such a horrific way, I couldn't help but think of the 27 little lives I interact with everyday. I actually have more students in my care, but my pre-kindergartners are so close in age. I must admit I feel angry to think of anyone harming children of this age. Harming children in any way is enough to make me angry, but this is so close to home.

      Not only did these children loose their lives, but their teacher did as well. Yes, I do teach pre-kindergarten, but I am only there because of my mother. My mama is a kindergarten teachers, so to think of her being there breaks my heart even more. I have always had a love of children, and I have always wanted to spend  my life working with them.

      However, I must say it was the influence of my mother that led me to be a teacher. After going through college and now teaching in a classroom of my own, I believe this is exactly where the Lord wants me. My mama always included me in classroom preparation  I remember helping her set up her room each year even when I was in elementary school. Many of her bulletin board objects were colored with my help, and I have done much prep work on craft projects. When I was praying about career choices, I wasn't convinced that I wanted to be a teacher. I was afraid I was doing it just because my mom was one and perhaps it was expected of me.

      Now I would not have it any other way. My mom has always said she could not imagine being anything else besides a teacher, and I know just what she means. Now looking back I believe that her love and enthusiasm for the ministry God have her inspired me to take part. She was always encouraging and helpful to me in college, but always encourages my own work and ideas. She has also been a wonderful consultant in my new role as a pre-kindergarten teacher and second grade tutor. I greatly value her input and seek her advice daily.

        The Bible tells us that all things work together for good. I know the Lord placed me in my family for many reasons, and I am so thankful to be blessed with my mother. She has been a great help to my journey of becoming a teacher and starting my own teaching ministry. Many others have been a huge blessing in this venture, but my mama has a special place in my heart.

        In the days to come I will be keeping these families from Connecticut in prayer. I can't begin to imagine the pain they must feel right now. At the same time, I am going to be thanking the Lord for my own 4&5 year olds in my classroom and also for the best kindergarten teacher I have the honor to call Mom.

Baltimore Harbor Trip

Sometimes during my senior year of college (and it may very well be a year ago and this time) I thought I needed a trip to the Baltimore Harbor. It is one of those places that people ask me if I have been to, and though I have, it is not as often as you may think considering the amount of times I travel to the Baltimore area in a year's time. My cousin Kati graduated from college last December, so I thought this would serve as a nice gift to ourselves after 4 (and 4.5 for her) years of hard work. We both graduated in elementary education, so I smiled when Kati suggested we explore the Maryland Science Center while we were there. I began to get excited for this trip, but then life happened, you know....student teaching, the actual graduation, job hunting, buying a car, new jobs, etc. Summer came and went and though we discussed it all summer long, it just never happened.

Maryland Science Center at Baltimore Harbor

   The great thing about this year is I am home, so anything that did not happen this summer is eligible for fall activity. Kati and I finally picked a date, so I took my first road trip to Maryland all by myself and we hit the harbor. We ended up spending most of our day at the Science center. It was so much fun! We also enjoyed lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and walked through Barnes & Noble. It was a bit chilly, but the day was lovely otherwise. Here are some pictures from our experience.

Kati tackled the arc challenge fairly well

Hoisting myself up

Lying on a bed of nails which is not as painful as lying on 1

A great last stop for 2 bookworm teachers such as ourselves

We're freezing cold here, but it was a fun day!

I am so thankful to be blessed with a cousin close in age. I have many dear friends, but Kati is certainly my longest dear friend. We obviously have known each other all of our lives, and we also have quite a bit in common. I'm really glad this trip worked out for us because it was a super fun day. I stood amazed at all of God's wonderful works of Creation on display at this museum. The planetarium there wasn't the greatest, but seeing the galaxies and hearing about them always blows my mind. Hopefully I won't wait so long to visit the Harbor again!

Hindsight

Lately the phrase "Hindsight is 20/20" has been on my mind especially in this season of Thanksgiving. Looking back on this past year has been a blessing. The Lord has guided each step to get me where I am now, and I am so grateful for His guidance.
Many days I still struggle with whether I am making the right decisions. Being home this year has brought much pleasure as I can participate in family activities, get around freely on my own and can work paying jobs. However there are still challenges I face each and every day. Lately I've noticed that whenever I begin to doubt the Lord does something to show me I am right where I belong.
I really do love being a teacher. I never expected to have 40+ students in my first year of teaching, and though some are harder to love than others, I truly to love each and every one and am thankful for them. Each child is teaching me something different, and I know the Lord has them in my classroom for a reason. I can also see the hand of God in my life as past experiences have provided me the patience and wisdom I need to work with some of my children.
I always said I wanted to work with kids when I grow up. The Lord brought me there, and I feel so blessed that my desires were a part of His will for my life. Looking forward to new opportunities on the horizon and watching my kids learn and grow through the rest of this school year.

Experiences

This week I....
1. Baked cookies with PreK class 1 because we are learning about Creation and the letter C
2. Baked cupcakes with PreK class2 for the same reasons stated above
3. Went to the zoo as part of my job requirement because it was a field trip, and well I am the teacher
4. Did a spur of the moment trip to Kitchen Kettle Village with my brother because....well I can
5. Made arrangements for a trip to Baltimore Harbor with my cousin that we were going to take in the summer but never got around to it
.....all because the Lord has blessed me with some wonderful opportunities and jobs after helping me through college. I do miss those days, but I am thankful for His guidance and these new adventures. This week also presented several challenges mostly through my teacher point of view, but these experiences are molding me to become the teacher He wants me to be.
     Mostly though, I just want to be the woman He has for me. Hoping for a better week with a little less craziness and some fun with the cousin at the Harbor. Either way, He is faithful and my heart is happy.

The Birthday Boy...er Guy

This guy turned 20 today. When I turned 20 it really wasn't a big deal. Actually I was told I was a nothing, lol. I was no longer a teenager, but I wasn't the legal legal adult age either. However, with Matt here it's different. None of my siblings are teenagers any longer.

    Sometimes it gets on my nerves when people go on and on about their age. Matthew certainly has not made a big deal about it, and I realize we all have to grow up sometimes. However, I am loving the fact that we are growing up. This past weekend was a great example.

       My parents were blessed to have a chance to get away for the weekend. They had a great time while my brothers and I stayed home. I really wasn't concerned about where my next meal was coming from or whether the laundry would get done. I did think about all the times when we were younger and I would baby sit referee fighting matches between my brothers. There was none of that this week though. Instead Matthew made breakfast for us, I made dinner, Jonathan did the laundry and absolutely no screaming matches took place. I think we are growing up. (About time right ;-))

       Matthew is also in his first year at college, commuting 35 minutes everyday to reach his dream of becoming a mechanical engineer.  Jon & I are also working 2 jobs each in fields that we love. Our new found independence and doing what we love have brought us together. We have 3 distinct personalities, but we seem to work well together. I have always looked forward to the time when your siblings become more of your friends rather than someone to annoy.

       All this mushy gushiness which will probably make both boys puke to say have the happiest of birthdays Matthew Benj. You are loved!

Showers of Blessings

My cup truly runs over with joy these days. Life has thrown some curve balls, but God has been so good to me. I love being a teacher, and I am so thankful for this phase of life. Doubts swarmed my mind near the end of my college career, but now that I teach everyday, I am at peace with the Lord's calling in my life.
  Pre-K may not have been specifically what I studied for, but I love it all the same. So far we have enjoyed a Teddy Bear Picnic, writing our letters in shaving cream and play dough, various crafts, fun songs and poems, sensory table experiences and much more. I am excited about opening up some pumpkins this week and learning about fire safety. Teaching preschool has opened up creativity I never knew I had. My director and fellow teachers have been wonderful as I learn the ropes so to speak. I look forward to learning and experiencing much more over the school year. Lately my kiddos have gotten into the "I love you, Miss Lake." Many of them love to come up and hug me at random times too. Melts my heart every time! So blessed to have such an awesome job! It doesn't even feel like work.
       Though I miss my coworkers at K-Mart, I can't say I am sorry I traded it in for tutoring. This is another experience I am learning a great deal from. I am thankful to have opportunity teaching on an elementary level. I have only been at it for 2 weeks, but I know I will learn much from this experience as well. I also feel blessed to get a taste of both private and public education. I now have a total of 37 students in my care (both schools/ 3 classes combined). A bit overwhelming to think of the influence I have, but a blessing to have such a responsibility from the Lord. My prayer is that I would be a good example to the children, teach them well and all would see the love of Christ through me.
      In other news, I am blessed to be living at home. I also am grateful for my own car. It is crazy to think I can just take off whenever I need too. My car did have it's first tune up this week since I needed it. The bill was a tad large for my liking, but some of the problems were due to a lack of judgment on my part. So thankful that the problems were not worse and most importantly, my car still runs. I am also thankful for a great mechanic. My family has always appreciated his work, and he had encouraging things to say about Freya. ;-) Being at home also allows me so many opportunities I have missed over the college years. I finally returned to the fairs I have been missing. Last weekend was my family's annual trip to Hershey Park in October - a tradition begun my sophomore year of college (possibly freshman, anyway, you get the point.) I had so much fun! Since my schools had off for Columbus Day, I got to go on one of my mom's field trips. I could go on forever about all the blessings happening right now. God is so good, and I think this time of year just has me happy in general. Beautiful weather, changing leaves, chai tea, pumpkin spice - the atmosphere and smell of autumn - what a wonderful time of year! The showers of blessings keep coming and my heart is happy!

Purpose

Well life just threw a curve ball. I thought I had my life figured out for the time being. Teach at pre-school, work at K-Mart, do whatever else I can on days off. It sounded lovely, but as soon as I began teaching I fell in love. I mean I really really love being a teacher. It has been a great experience so far, and I love my students and coworkers. The problem is, I loved it so much that motivation to get myself to K-Mart was becoming a problem. However, it was where God had me, so I was determined to make the best of it.
   The problem was I did not have enough time to be the kind of teacher I wanted to be. Some nights I worked until 10, then I was exhausted the next day. It also limited the time I had to work on my lessons, and I was experiencing little family time for support. Mind you, it wasn't horrible or anything. Many people deal with much much worse. I still began thinking about other avenues to travel. My heart's desire was to just be a teacher, and I am not ready to give up my Pre-K class. The only other option was to find another part time teaching related job.
    A couple months ago, I was approached about applying to work at Sylvan Learning Centers. I pushed it to the back of my mind because I was overwhelmed with so many other new changes in life. I didn't want to consider another one. Well as I would weighing my current options, I remembered this suggestion. Literally on a whim very late last Friday night, I applied to the center. Mind you, the website said no available positions. This was my version of "Let's see what happens in a few months."
     Haha, that was a funny thought looking back. You see, to make a long story short, I was hired 3 days later. I have already given notice to K-Mart, and I start on Monday. In 3 days, God allowed me to become just a teacher as my occupation. I still have some struggles to work through, but God is so good.
     It leads me to wonder why He provided the job at K-Mart for such a short time if this was His plan. I was reminded what my host mom in the family I stayed with last spring said. "God never wastes an experience, there is a purpose even if we don't see it." I may not have quoted her exactly right, but that was the jist. I believe this to be true. I was able to meet some people which I believe will help me in this experience. I also hope by remaining in contact, I can be a light for Christ to my new friends. I also earned some extra money in the meantime to get on top of my bills. These last 3 months have not been wasted experience at all.
     Well here I am taking a crazy turn in life, but I am so excited! I look forward to all the ways God will change my life as I embark on my career as an educator. Right now I get the best of all worlds, different aged students, private school, public school, etc. Can't beat that!

Life After Graduation

It is crazy to think that this momentous day in my life happened over 3 months ago. Actually if we are being technical  we are getting rather close to the 5 month mark. Honestly, I believe I have accepted that I am a college graduate, and I really am happy to be one. I still wish I could be teaching full time, but I am in a good place right now. I look forward to seeing what God is going to do in my life. So far, it has been an amazing ride!

   With that being said, it is a tad strange to still be at home. Now that my mom has gone back to her teaching job and the weather is changing, I know school has begun. Some days I think I should be headed to class or attending my church down in West Virginia, but alas, here at home sweet home I remain. Some days it seems strange to be home in the middle of the day with my brothers (when Matt doesn't have class) while our mom is the one at school. I'm getting used to it though. I love the fact that I own a car now, and I always have the option of going places on the weekend. I might be a little busier than I would like to be right now, but overall it is a great thing.

Here is a list of things that I am excited about after missing the last 4 years:

1. Fair Season!!!!!! I am so pumped about this. I have not been to a community fair since fall of 2007. I cannot wait for the taste of funnel cakes, face paint, arena lights, farm smells and the chill of fall in the air. I am looking forward to seeing another local rodeo, and hopefully I will still know some people participating so I can cheer them on. Not only will I make my return to the West Lampeter Fair, but I will also be representing my preschool at the Solanco Fair. It starts this week and it is going to be awesome. I believe I might have a chance to visit some fairs I have never been to before. I might as well make up for lost time.

2. Kids4Truth: My church started a children's program while I was gone. I enjoyed participating in the AWANA Cubbie program for 2 awesome years, and let me say I miss that group like crazy. However, I am looking forward to a ministry opportunity to teach 1st and 2nd graders as I learn about this program. I know many in my church have prayed for me faithfully, so I am looking forward to these opportunities to serve in my home church.

3. Owning a Car: It took a long time to buy a car. It has added expenses, so it isn't all sunshine and roses. However, it provides a little more independence, and I am enjoying the opportunity to work even if my situation doesn't always feel ideal. It is all blessings from God.

4. Living with my mom: Let me be clear - I seek independence, and I hope that I can move out on my own sooner rather than later. However, living close  with my mom has provided a blessing. She has many old resources that I can use in my preschool classroom. I am also enjoying looking at her projects and hearing the daily stories I missed when I was at college. Family time in general has been awesome.

5. My own classroom: Student teaching was probably one of the best times of my life. Though I loved it, I have found running my own classroom is awesome. I don't have to worry about grading deadlines, filling all my requirements for my student teaching notebook, not stepping on the toes of a host teacher or wondering if I should use my ideas. I just run with what I come with and what works best with my students. It's awesome!

6. Family & Friends: This year I get to join my family's annual trip to Hershey Park, I attend C4 with my friends, and some other things I enjoy to do with my friends that got put on the back burner while I was a college student.

There are several other things I could say about this phase of life. Again, I am busy with both jobs, there are financial responsibilities, so I really am getting a dose of reality. Still, I am enjoying reliving some of these long lost experiences and making new memories. I am also getting better about trying new things and becoming a little more outgoing. Another exciting happening in life is losing 27.5 lbs and dropping a pant size. Now that I am not on a meal plan, it is easier to stick to a diet. Life is good...

Lessons Learned...err Learning

I cannot tell you the amount of times I have heard people say that nothing in their studies truly prepared them for how life actually is in their real life profession. I think I now have a better idea of what they mean. My years at ABC have provided me with excellent tools to use in my new adventure as a PreK teacher, but I know I still have much to learn outside of the classroom.
This first week I have learned......
1. Know your dismissal procedure before the first day of school dismissal ;-)
2. Time really does fly when you're having fun
3. Chocolate cupcakes and glitter are really messy
4. With younger students you should probably teach them how to cut and paste before you have them do an activity which requires cutting and pasting
5. Preschoolers need an activity to go along with the power point presentation you thought was awesome

As I said still much to learn, but it has been a great growing experience. I really just needed this week to begin working out the kinks, and I believe each week will run a little smoother. Flexibility is key, and that was a lesson I learned at ABC. PreK is certainly different from 5th grade, but I think I am just enjoying the experience of being THE teacher and learning how to go with the flow. The great thing about preschool is the flexibility it allows to go with what the children respond to and need rather than glued to a specific curriculum. So here's to week 2 and the rest of the year. Most of all, here's to living and learning and doing better.

"Good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better is best."

Stretch

Wow! These last few weeks have been cra-raze-zie! I have gone through many ups and downs struggling with uncertainty of whether I am where God wants me. Despite the bad days, my heavenly Father really does know best and continues to guide me through each step of the way.
   First of all, I have a part time at my local K-Mart. This really isn't what I pictured myself doing with a 4 year college degree, but it provides for some of my financial needs. The job is not extremely stressful though I do have the bad days where I feel like I could quit. The truth is, this job was a gift from the Lord. I have many opportunities to work with the lost, and I pray that they see Christ in me. I do not know how long I will be there, but I am thankful for work and opportunities to be a light in a dark place. I was also able to find some exciting tools for my other job.
      My other job is a Pre-K (4&5yrs) at a nursery school around my area. The director is new to the school this year, so I won't start until next week. With a slower start, I have felt stressed out over the things I don't know. Lately I feel unqualified to be a teacher. However, after a successful open house today, I feel like the Lord restored my confidence. The director is so supportive, and today she reassured of me of my ideas. I know I have lots of growing to do, but it seems like we are all of to a good start. Looking forward to more stretching in this new experience.
       I am also looking forward opportunities to serve in my church. I am serving as a 1st and 2nd grade teacher in our Wednesday night children's program. It just feels strange to know that I would be at college, but alas, I am here at home doing all sorts of new things. The Lord even provided a vehicle to help me get around. So much new and sometimes overwhelming, but honestly I would not trade a thing. Well if I could teach full time and not work at K-Mart, I wouldn't complain, but even so, God is good. Here's to more stretching.

A Matter of Faith

This summer has been challenging for me. I graduated from college looking forward to a new chapter in life. at first, I really did have some plans, but right before I marched down that aisle for my diploma, my plans began to fall through. Though I was disappointed at first, I knew deep down inside that the Lord would take care of me. I began the summer catching up with friends, pleasure reading, and looking forward to new opportunities in life.

However, my joy started to disappear as the doors to employment began to close one by one. At times I was discouraged, and I just was not happy with the way things were going. Each time I started feeling low, the Lord gave me a verse, an encouragement or some ray of hope to keep me going. Knowing the Lord was in control kept me going.
Next thing I knew, I had not one, not two, but 4 job offers. Now I experienced new stress. Which job or jobs should I choose? Did I make the right choice? Am I a fool to give this up? The questions swarmed in my head, but the answer was becoming more clear. I soon began working part time at K-Mart with a position in a preschool for the fall. Life was good, and I knew the Lord had answer my prayers for work. It was what I had been expecting, but I knew if the Lord provided the positions, I was certain to enjoy a new adventure.
Well life just never gets easier. I have really enjoyed my job at K-Mart, but I have been concerned about schedule conflicts. Without going into too much detail, I was really trying to trust the Lord and not stress about the unknown. I figured if the Lord gave me the jobs, He would take care of the details. However, knowing and believing are two different things. I kept praying about the situation, and already the Lord seems to have taken care of the details. Once again I am anticipating a brand new exciting chapter of life.
One thing this summer has taught me is that I can never give up my faith. God takes care of me each and every day. New problems and trials in life will appear, but the Lord will be right by my side to help take care of the little details. Hopefully I will remember this life lessons and save myself hours of worthless worry.

The Lord is good to them that wait on Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. ~Lamentations 3:25

Healthy Competition: The Greatest Challenge

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
                                                                                                                         ~James 1:17

Perhaps you may recognize this guy. Most people probably recognize him now as the greatest Olympian ever. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian with 22 medals (18 of which being gold) certainly has put forth a lot of hard work into his sport. Back in Beijing '08, I cheered him on as he won the most golds ever. This year, I was not as excited for him to meet all of his goals. Why?

This guy right here, Ryan Lochte. I must admit, I followed my cousin's lead of fandom for this amazing athlete. I wanted to cheer for the underdog, because I realized that Michael Phelp's head seemed to be getting a little big in different swims I've seen over the past 4 years. It was looks of "WHAT?!" if he didn't place first.

The London Olympics have shown me other things I am not sure I like seeing. First of all I saw this:

I am sure it is disappointing to so close and yet so far from a gold medal, but seriously, how many people would love to win a silver? We all make mistakes, and I am sorry that Mackayla's happened when it mattered. However, this is not an attitude I would want to display to the world.

Being a sore loser is bad, but so is being a sore winner:

The look of this is what I expected is boastful. This girl's actions all week seem to have been horrifying as she threw fits like a toddler when she lost. How sad for the greatest athletes in the world to act like this.

 I love the Olympics, and I support Team USA. I believe that their accomplishments are the result of hard work. I can't imagine the disappointment when you work so hard for something  yet miss your goals. However it comes down to the fact that our gifts come from the Lord. All athletes in the Olympics trained for gold, they qualified for gold, and when it comes down to it, there can only be one winner. I can be competitive in certain situations, but I pray that my competitive spirit is one that brings honor and glory to God. Just like this girl:

Or like the girl who said coming 4th in the Olympics is not a bad thing:

How often do Christians destroy their testimony by letting the spirit of competition flatten their testimony? It is so ugly the way we let sports, games, tests or whatever drive us to act like we are the center of the universe. Watching the different attitudes of Olympians have made me more mindful of this. I am not saying that all of these athletes are Christians necessarily, but either way sportmanship speaks volumes. I root for the underdog who displays gratefulness to be where they are. Those who just expect greatness and tolerate nothing else do not deserve the glory in my opinion.

After all....."every good gift comes from above...." What does man really deserve?

Family Vacation 2012

Some of my fondest childhood memories are those spent at the Outer Banks or Ocean City, MD with my family. For me a family vacation is not just my immediate family, but aunts, uncles and cousins too. I love being with my family, and when you add the beach, it truly is paradise. This year we did something a little different when my immediate family joined our aunt's family in Florida. It truly was a blessed time. Here are some highlights of the trip.

  Well after the long 18 hour or so car drive, we finely reached our destination. We spent the first day taking it easy to catch up on sleep after driving through the night. Monday was the first day we ventured to do anything exciting. We all headed to Gatorama which serves as a wildlife preserve of sorts for thousands of alligators and crocodiles.

     There we witnessed the feeding of the crocs and gators. I would not want to have this lady's job, and the sign didn't really help my nerves. However, it was amazing to learn about God's creatures. We got to see them leap for their meat, and one even broke a board on the boardwalk. Let me tell you how comforting that was.

    The most exciting part of the whole experience was holding a baby alligator. The guide muzzled the mouth, so all I needed to look out for was the tail. This little guy had a soft underbelly and a pretty rock hard top. His feet felt strange. I always enjoy getting to take part in these random experiences.

   Later in the week, we ventured to Mayakka State Park. I saw 2 alligators out in the wild which was pretty neat. I saw a deer standing out in the swamp too. The wildlife in Florida is amazing! During the course of the week I saw all kinds of birds with beaks made for spearing fish, wild boars, armadillos, and a racoon that joined us for lunch one day. The squirrels seemed a little too friendly at times as they had no fear when it came to human contact. I was also close to several ravens which was exciting. They had bobcats and a cougar at Gatorama which were neat to see.

   Another amazing experience was kayaking. We traveled through mangroves. The point of the trip was to see manatees and dolphins. Though we did chase down some dolphins, we did not see any manatees on the trip. That was okay because we saw one at the beach. We also saw a turtle while kayaking too. So much fun!

  There were so many moments of this vacation I loved. I could say a lot more about it, but most of you who read this probably saw my pictures on facebook already. Another special time was a heart to heart with my daddy. At this point in life, we both stay pretty busy. It was such an encouraging time as he related to different things I am going through. Honestly this summer I have relished in the wisdom of my parents, aunts and best friends. The Lord is so good to me, and I am thankful for the encouragement He gives when things get hard. I don't know how many family vacations like this we have left, but I soaked it all up. What a great week!

Is There Anything Too Hard for Me?

This is what the Lord said to Abraham when He questions God's plan for His life. God told Abraham his seed would be as much as the stars in the sky, but Abraham got impatient as he and his wife grew older. In my own human mind, I feel like I would be questioning God's plan if I were Abraham or Sarah. Yet God said, "Is there anything to hard for me?" Of course not. We all know the story of Isaac, then Jacob and how the line continued right into the birth of our Savior.
Sadly, man just never seems to learn total faith in God. Sarah tried to help God out by providing Hagar to bear Ishmael with Abraham. This plan backfired since it was not God's fan. As silly as it sounds not to have total trust in God, I must say I have been feeling like Abraham lately.
This summer I have yet to find a job. I graduated 2 months ago, and all opportunities seemed bleak. There seemed to be job offers enough, but I never seemed to fit the job qualifications. I kept telling myself that God had something better, and my mom told me the same. However, as time passed, I began to feel like a bum. People constantly ask what I am doing with myself, but of course my answer is the same. Basically nothing. I was beginning to give up on the job hunt all together, just waiting for something to come along.
To add insult to injury, I was beginning to see other dreams pass before my eyes. No job, means no car since I have no income to support myself. Student loans draw nearer, and I have other dreams that began to seem like a bleak reality. A few nights ago, I reached my breaking point and had a good cry. I have discovered writing my feelings out helps me rationalize better. As I wrote, I felt the need to pray to my Father. I asked Him what was the point of 4 years of studying elementary education when I couldn't even get a minimum wage part time job much less a teaching job. As I poured out my heart and looked at my written feelings, I realized I had not been truly giving my burden to the Lord who promised to care for me.

Is there anything too hard for me?

I started a new day feeling refreshed and filled of hope. I reset my dreams and expectations to be within the will of the Lord and waiting for His timing. I also discovered new job opportunities I didn't realize existed. To make along story short, in half a week, I have a job offer, a job interview today and one tomorrow. One of these opportunities is a teaching opportunity as well. Now instead of wishing I had a job, I now wish I knew which one to pick. I don't know what God has for me, but I do know it will be awesome whatever it is. No, Lord, there is nothing to hard for you.

To Him be all the glory and praise!

Swaying to the Rhythm of Life

   I can hardly believe that I am nearing the 2 month mark since my college graduation. One of the reason it is hard to believe attributes to the fact I am still job hunting. The Lord is teaching me an awful lot about patience this summer. Recently I have found more peace. I am so thankful for my support system He has surrounded me with. From family, friends and my church family, I have been adjusting to the present. For a while I wanted to be in control, but I am working at surrendering my will. Through this, I am back to anticipating the unknown as well as enjoying the rest for the time being. Once the Lord does make the way clear, I am sure I will not have many quiet moments like these left. I recently found out about a teaching opportunity for which I have applied. I am praying to see if this little surprise offer will  pan out. If not, I will just keep trusting and searching.
    I recently discovered how blessed I am. On the way home from an outing with friends, I saw a young man on a street corner asking for food and work. Sometimes I am skeptical of beggars on the street, but at the same time, I know many are truly in need. Perhaps I have to wait for a job, but I am far from needy. I have  already mentioned my incredible support system. I am also able to visit with friends, attend Bible studies and church, and I already have made many fun summer memories. This is even with cutting back on money spending adventures. I have not struggled with where my next meal is coming from or where I will sleep at night.
   Shame on me for complaining because I truly am blessed. I am trying to take each day as it comes and seize each opportunity. I am also trying my hand at things that I never thought I would do. I have been trying to be more outgoing in groups of people I do not know well yet. I even went to a swing dancing club to learn how. I know a lot more exciting opportunities will come my way if I only open my heart to what God has for me. He has always been faithful to me and never led me astray once. So cheers to whatever is next as I sway to the rhythm of life!

Growing Beautifully

I was trying to decide what I wanted to write about. I have a lot on my mind, but nothing particularly inspiring came to mind. Then I remembered the title I came up with for my blog. Invitation to grow beautifully....this is what God has invited me to do.
Lately, my family and the neighbors around have been planting flowers for the summer. It sure is a messy task. Wheelbarrows and tools are scattered over the yard. Hands and feed are covered in mud and dirt. Weeds have been pulled, but after it is all said and done, beautiful plants begin to grow. The care does not stop there though. Each night, my mom must go out and water the plants. Weeds will still continue to grow, so we will continue to pull weeds. Next summer, the whole process will begin again. I guess life is a little like this.
I have graduated from college, and after some messy reworking, I have been planted back here at home. Right now the weeds of doubt and uncertainty are beginning to grow. I feel left behind in some areas of life and depressed that I am still job hunting. The weeds of depression, self-pity, self-reliance, and discontentment threaten to choke the beautiful flower God wants me to be.
However, it does not have to be that way. Each day I am showered with encouragement from family and friends who let me know I am loved and supported. The warm light of God's love reassures me that I am never alone. All of this uncertainty for the future is scary, but at the end of the day, God is in control. I still do not know what is next for me, but I can still grow beautifully. It may be messy, but what an awesome adventure it is. I have already made many memories I shall treasure forever this summer. I do not need to wallow in self doubt and pity. Rather I will drink in the waters of encouragement and soak up the light of love from my Heavenly Father.

Time Capsule

       This last semester at college was a pretty amazing experience, and I know I will never forget the incredible student teaching experience as I long as I live. However, I did go through some personal experiences during this time that provided bumps in the road. I have come to realize that life is unpredictable, but whether it be a smooth, bumpy or combination of the two kind of ride....life is beautiful.
        I celebrated my birthday in March and 2 days later, my grandfather died. My family has been expecting it for some time, but I still grieved nonetheless. My parents had come to see me the weekend before, and brought home many of my things. About 2 weeks later, my wonderful cousin came and got me so I could be home for the funeral. At this point, I brought home more things. I was only home for about a day. Here I stood in my bedroom full of the few things I brought home and knowing I had a lot more coming back.
      I returned to school and finished up my semester. (Graduation was a blast by the way!) Anyway, I almost felt nauseated about all I was bringing home to fit in my room. I knew I had a major clean up project ahead of me. I dove right in and began filling up boxes for Goodwill and trash bags for the trash. I can only pray this experience has forever cured me of my hoarding problem I obviously suffered from when I was younger. Now I have a decently organized room that has been rearranged for the first time ever. I love it!
       Many of the things I came across brought back all sorts of memories. Happy, sad, painful, exciting and everything in between. One particular find was a journal. I was flipping through the pages of poems, song lyrics and other random things I had written in it. Then I found this journal entry I wrote about the last five years of my life. At that time I had been reflecting on the journey God brought me through after my first school closed. For a long time it haunted my thoughts. I believe this entry began the time when I started letting go of the past, and just started being thankful for the present and looking forward to the future. The most ironic thing about this entry was that it was written almost exactly 5 years ago from this date. I soon found myself writing about the past 5 years, so who knows, maybe this will become a tradition. Anyway, though many things have changed, I am so thankful for all the blessings God has given me. He is my constant in this ever changing world.
     I don't know what is next for me, but I am so excited about the possibilities. I kept of few reminders of the past, but I am still thankful for the present and so looking forward to the future. Life just keeps getting better with the hand of God leading me.

And Thus It Was....

       "And thus it was: the fourth age of Middle-Earth began; and the Fellowship of the Ring, though eternally bound by friendship and love, was ended."
                                                           ~Frodo Baggins
      Granted, I may not living in the fourth age of Middle-Earth, and I am certainly not bound to the fellowship of the ring, but a new journey of life is beginning, and the love I have gained for my students will be eternal. Sadly though, it has ended.
       I began this adventure sometime back in January, and I was a mess. My good friend, Sarah, was making a major life change of her own by going away to college. We were both quite nervous about these changes, but Sarah said, "Just think of it as our own adventures." For medieval legend loving girls like ourselves, this thought gave me some motivation to enjoy this phase.
     I soon found myself in a new place to live faced with 50 eyes ready for learning. The new adventure began, but I absolutely loved it. You can see from previous posts that I was quite content where I was. I taught 5th grade, and they never really seemed lovey dovey. I was okay with that though and just worked hard to be a good teacher. Yesterday was my last day, and my heart aches for leaving them behind. The notes they wrote me allowed me to see what they all thought of me. I never knew I could enjoy this adventure so much, but I did. I was more excited to find out that my students loved it as much as I did. I still have much to learn to be a good teacher, but the short time I experienced was awesome.
   I pray that I will remember how I felt through this experience the next time a grand adventure comes along. I do not know what it is next in life for me, but I crave the mystery. I feel like a brand new adventure is right around the corner. I can't help but think that it too will be thrilling.
   Today, I am still a little sad because the last adventure is over, but may it be said....
  "And thus it was: the post college life of Meghan began; and the 5th grade student teaching experience though eternally bound by friendship and love, was ended."
   (Corny, I know, but true just the same. ;))
   

Independent Yet Not Alone

It has been some time since I posted last. I wouldn't say I have been too busy to post, but I just have not been inspired to write about the wonderful things happening in my life. Student teaching continues to be a blessing and one of the best experiences of my life. I love my students and will miss them dearly when I leave next month. However, I am starting to itch for the next chapter of life. God has been so good to me, and I look forward to what He is in store for me next.
While student teaching has been quite an adventure, I have been thinking a lot about the way God knows just what I need when I need it. The day I was given my student teaching assignment was exciting to me. The Lord not only provided a position, but He placed me where I would have a proper living arrangement as well as transportation. I have already blogged about loving my independence. It truly is a joy to cook for myself, keep the place clean, and just go about my business in my own little loft. Lately I have been alone more often in the loft, but it allows me to get several things on the to do list done. I have even had days when I could shopping by myself and just take care of my needs. All of this has taught me a lot about myself and I am so thankful for the experience.
It is true that independence is wonderful, but I am by no means a loner. God knows just when to put the people I need into my life. This past weekend is a perfect example. I did not have the best day at school on Friday, so my only saving grace was knowing my parents were arriving for a visit. This past weekend with them has been much needed and so refreshing. At first, I wanted them to come over spring break, but it worked out better for them to come for my birthday weekend. I am glad God knows what I need instead of giving me what I want. I have also been experiencing some family health crises of sorts. It kills me not to be there with my family when these things happen, but thanks to technology, I can stay informed and still be an encouragement to my loved ones.
The network of people I have been surrounded by have been so vital to my enjoyment here. The support of my church family down here, fellow teachers and host family provide me encouragement. Some days are rough, but with so many people in my corner, I rarely feel like I have a bad day. I also enjoy talking to good friends back at home or at school who encourage me and I them. God has brought me so many blessings simply by where He has placed me. I just feel like I needed to share that. Independence is a wonderful thing, but without the body of Christ, there would be little joy in life!

Week 1

I don't know if I will be able to update every week, but I thought I would at least give one update while I still can. Student teaching has been a wonderful chapter in my life. I honestly feel like this is Life 101 which I must say has been my favorite class in college so far. I always wished my school offered an apartment option like other universities, and this week it hit me that my wish came true.
So about one week ago, my friend, Ashley, and I arrived at my new temporary home. At first the reality hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt anxious and little lonely in a new place. After settling into my loft and talking with my host family, I quickly began to feel right at home. The loft is awesome! I have a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room. I also enjoy being able to pop in on the family when I need to, and Ashley lives nearby. She comes over often, so we can encourage each other. It has also been wonderful catching up with Olivia. She is part of my host family and we used to go to college together.
The school I am teaching at is really nice. The faculty are friendly, and I like my students. I am really looking forward to having the opportunity to teach. Some of the work appears to be overwhelming, but I am taking it a day at a time. My host teacher is helpful, so I think the experience will be a good one.
Honestly my new routine feels more familiar than college ever did. I get up around the same time I did in high school. I make my breakfast and watch the Today show in the morning. I love being able to keep up with the news again. After school, I do my paperwork and eventually make dinner. I usually watch tv and get my lunch ready for the next day. I am trying not to be a tv junkie, but a little familiar noise just makes the place feel more homely. I really feel like an adult now that I make most of my own decisions and live more independently. I am still surrounded by godly people who have helped me feel like I am at home. Among everything, I have learned some about flexibility and the surprises life throws at you, but overall it is awesome.  I am guessing this experience will fly by, but I am enjoying it for the time being. Well back to the Super Bowl. Though I am not exactly happy with the turn out, at least the Steelers did not make it again this year. Also the Ryan Lochte Olympic commercial reminds me that the London 12 is upon us, so what is not to love?

What a Week!

So my week started on Sunday with a very sad loss on behalf of my Baltimore Ravens. Disappointing as it was, the boys had a great season from my perspective. A Super Bowl win would have been awesome, but sorry to all you Steeler fans out there, I was pretty happy about the sweep. Writing this paragraph made me realize I have finally gotten over the loss against the Patriots. After all it is only a game, yaddi yaddi ya. ;-)
  In other news, this was also the week of goodbyes. Goodbye to my second church family, Sunday School class, AWANA Cubbies, professors, roommate, college friends, etc etc. I am also realizing that I only have one more week until it is goodbye for the foreseeable future. However, I realized that goodbye is not always such a bad thing. You see the reason goodbyes hurt so much is that I genuinely love these people around me. What's more, they love me too (well some of them anyway, hehe.) To love and be loved is a wonderful gift, and goodbyes are a reminder of this.
  I really cannot be too down in the dumps. The truth is that my goodbyes are for naught. I am heading into a brand new adventure. Student Teaching! Yes, I am nervous, excited, and a lot of things in between, but I am so ready for this challenge. The Lord has already taught me so much these past three weeks - I can't even imagine what I have to learn and discover these next 3 months.
  So yes, this week had its up and downs, but I am ready to move on. The pain reminds me there is love, and I know the Lord is on my side. Really, what more do I need? So here's to an exciting journey ahead!

According to His Purpose....

 I have been deliberating over whether or not I should post about what a wonderful year 2011 was. For the record, it served as a glorious year. I made it through my junior year of college, made some good friends, my best friend got married, enjoyed a great summer learning new things, and my first semester of senior year turned out great. I really could go on and on about 2011, but looking forward to 2012 is what is on my mind.
    So if anyone does not know, I am back at college for my last semester. The plan is graduate with a bachelors in elementary education. This means student teaching!!!! So originally I was totally excited about this....I mean this is what I have been waiting 4 years for. Don't get me wrong, I am still excited about it, but the reality is sinking in.
    I am going to be teaching 25 5th graders, coming up with the lesson plans, and putting them into action. Obviously I knew this day was coming, but now that it is here, I have become a tad anxious. The last few days of break felt like torture as I contemplated all that could go wrong. My biggest fear is disappointing all those who have invested in my time at college. I want to make them proud, so the pressure is on. I have also been dreading the financial situation as well.
    Today the Lord said, "Meghan, this is ridiculous, you need to stop this worry." I knew it was wrong to stress out like this all along, but we all need a kick in the pants sometimes. First of all, I paid my school bill today, and it went a lot better than I was expecting. I still have to be a good steward of my money, but there is no doubt in my mind I am blessed. Sure I have college debt to pay off after graduation, but it could be so much worse. God is great! As far as school stress goes, God gave me Romans 8:28.
 "And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purposes."
Wow! Here God is already providing my every need. The Lord has helped me through each and every semester. I have a great support system through family, friends, church and school. There is no doubt in my mind that this is my calling. Then why, oh why, should I worry? I may fail at times, and I may have days that are not easy. That does not mean I should walk around with a dark cloud hanging over my head. God has said it will work out for His glory because I have been called according to His purposes.
     This new perspective has cheered my spirits immensely. I am still nervous and have uncertainties, but once again I feel excited to set out on this brand new adventure. So farewell 2011, I shared many sweet memories, but now it is time to say welcome 2012....with the help of the Lord, I am ready for you and all you have to offer!