Questions Not Usually Asked

I came across these questions on tumblr, and I thought it would be fun to answer them on this blog.

Questions not usually asked

• 1:Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?

Closed - open doors freak me out when I sleep

• 2:Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?
• No, they usually only last one or two hair washes anyway
• 3:Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?
• In at the bottom of the bed, out everywhere else
• 4:Have you ever stolen a street sign before?
• No, I am one of those boring goody two shoe types
• 5:Do you like to use post-it notes?
• I am a teacher, so of course! I use them for a variety of things
• 6:Do you cut out coupons but then never use them?
• No, I don't even bother for that reason
• 7:Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?
• Um....neither, but I guess a bear because I know to roll up in a ball. I have no idea what to do with a swarm of bees.
• 8:Do you have freckles?
• I do indeed, lots of them
• 9:Do you always smile for pictures?
• I try unless it's a silly face picture or something. I don't like pics of me not smiling
• 10:What is your biggest pet peeve?
• Loud eating noises like smacking lips and crunching with your mouth open
• 11:Do you ever count your steps when you walk?
• Not usually
• 14:Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing?
• I do.
• 15:Do you chew your pens and pencils?
• A little bit, but I with all the time spent around young children, I am very picky about putting things in my mouth
• 16:How many people have you slept with this week?
• I am unmarried, so none and it saddens me that this is a question that many people would actually find appropriate. Perhaps this is one of my biggest pet peeves
• 17:What size is your bed?
• double
• 18:What is your Song of the week?
• "I Choose You" -Sara Bairelles 
• 19:Is it okay for guys to wear pink?
• Depends on the guy and the shade and how much pink
• 20:Do you still watch cartoons?
• not really, but I'm not opposed
• 21:Whats your least favorite movie?
• Hmmm - I honestly don't know. I remember being really bored by Vantage Point though
• 22:Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?
• Maybe, but I would probably meet financial needs and give to places I've always wanted to give more too, so who knows what would be left to bury
• 23:What do you drink with dinner?
• Mostly water
• 24:What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
• Ranch, but I do like BBQ and honey mustard too, and I always choose Chic-fil-a sauce if I have it
• 25:What is your favorite food?
• lasagna
• 26:What movies could you watch over and over and still love?
• The Lord of the Rings - they never disappoint
• 28:Were you ever a boy/girl scout?
• No, but 2 of my cousins are Eagle Scouts
• 29:Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
• Never - far be it for our world to appreciate purity
• 30:When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?
• It was a few months ago to my friend, Sarah, but I forgot to send it. I sent her letters last summer though. I love snail mail!
• 31:Can you change the oil on a car?
• No, I have 2 brothers and they do an excellent job
• 32:Ever gotten a speeding ticket?
• Sadly the answer is yes
• 33:Ever ran out of gas?
• No, I am pretty paranoid about that and stay on top of it
• 34:Favorite kind of sandwich?
• any kind of tuna melt
• 35:Best thing to eat for breakfast?
• usually depends on my mood, but I do love cinnamon buns!
• 36:What is your usual bedtime?
• 11:00ish
• 37:Are you lazy?
• I can be
• 38:When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?
• clown, cat, Pilgrim, Peter Rabbit's mother, princess, Minnie Mouse
• 39:What is your Chinese astrological sign?
• no idea
• 40:How many languages can you speak?
• uno
• 41:Do you have any magazine subscriptions?
• Nope
• 42:Which are better legos or lincoln logs?
• Lincoln Logs
• 43:Are you stubborn?
• depends - I am usually pretty easy going and go with the flow 
• 44:Who is better...Leno or Letterman?
• Leno
• 45:Ever watch soap operas?
• Isn't everything on tv a soap opera
• 46:Are you afraid of heights?
• heck yes
• 47:Do you sing in the car?
• it is the best place to do
• 48:Do you sing in the shower?
• of course, the acoustics are amazing
• 49:Do you dance in the car?
• I have been known to bust a few moves there, yes
• 50:Ever used a gun?
• BB gun - yes
• 51:Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?
• back in October or November or whenever it was picture day at school
• 52:Do you think musicals are cheesy?
• No, I like many of them
• 53:Is Christmas stressful?
• It can be when I worry about schedules and forget what Christmas is about
• 54:Ever eat a pierogi?
• College did allow me such an experiment
• 55:Favorite type of fruit pie?
• Pretty much
• 56:Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?
• artist, dolphin trainer, vet, horse instructor/ camp owner, teacher 
• 57:Do you believe in ghosts?
• Nope
• 58:Ever have a Deja-vu feeling?
• Quite often actually
• 59:Take a vitamin daily?
• Nope
• 60:Wear slippers?
• sometimes
• 61:Wear a bath robe?
• every once and a while
• 62:What do you wear to bed?
• pj pants and old t-shirt
• 63:First concert?
• High Valley and Jeff & Sheri Easter
• 64:Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?
• Target is my favorite, but I go to Wal Mart for the price
• 65:Nike or Adidas?
• Adidas, but my brother works for Nike so I'm slowly switching loyalties 
• 66:Cheetos Or Fritos?
• Cheetos
• 67:Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?
• Peanuts
• 68:Ever hear of the group Tres Bien?
• No, I haven't
• 69:Ever take dance lessons?
• Yes- colonial and swing
• 70:Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?
• not anything specific though I have thought of different things over the year
• 71:Can you curl your tongue?
• yes
• 72:Ever won a spelling bee?
• I don't think I ever participated in one
• 73:Have you ever cried because you were so happy?
• I sure have
• 74:Own any record albums?
• Nope
• 75:Own a record player?
• No, but I always enjoyed listening to my grandmother's record player
• 76:Regularly burn incense?
• No
• 77:Ever been in love?
• No
• 78:Who would you like to see in concert?
• Mumford & Sons
• 79:What was the last concert you saw?
• Fall Fest 2012 - Josh Turner and Gloriana
• 80:Hot tea or cold tea?
• I like both - so it really depends on the mood
• 81:Tea or coffee?
• Tea all the way
• 82:Sugar or snickerdoodles?
• sugar
• 83:Can you swim well?
• well enough - I do consider myself to be a fish
• 84:Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?
• above water, yes - below water, no
• 85:Are you patient?
• I'm getting better - my traffic ticket did help with that
• 86:DJ or band, at a wedding?
• DJ
• 87:Ever won a contest?
• Yes, I have
• 88:Ever have plastic surgery?
• nope
• 89:Which are better black or green olives?
• Neither - olives are disgusting
• 90:Can you knit or crochet?
• I used to crochet, but I have recently started to loom knit
• 91:Best room for a fireplace?
• living room/family room
• 92:Do you want to get married?
• yes
• 93:If married, how long have you been married?
• still single
• 95:Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way?
• I can't say that I do, though I may try it on my brothers if I'm upset enough
• 96:Do you have kids?
• I don't, but I do have lots of students
• 97:Do you want kids?
• I do!
• 98:Whats your favorite color?
• purple
• 99:Do you miss anyone right now?
• Yes, several friends scattered around the country

The 2014 Liebster Award

So the other day I noticed that my friend, Sarai, posted on Facebook that she had been nominated for the 2014 Liebster Award in regards to her blog. I remember thinking I have absolutely no idea what that is, but that sounds really neat. If you have spent any time at all on Sarai's blog, you know that she is a beautiful and insightful writer. Her love for the Lord pours out through her eloquent words as it relates to her various life experiences. In my mind, no matter what the award was, she deserved it.

Upon further investigation I discovered it is a pay it forward type award. Bloggers nominate other bloggers for the award. So here I am with a nomination of my own from the lovely Sarai of Sarah's Saga herself. Sarai has been a friend of mine for close to a decade now. However, we have become extremely close over my college years. Whether we are stressing out about college and life on fangirling over our favorite British actors and BBC shows, we have a wonderful time. This girl loves the Lord with her whole heart, and she has been a constant encouragement in my life. So thank you, Sarai, for this chance!

Here are the rules of the Liebster Blog Award!

• Post the award on your blog.
• Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog.
• Write 11 random facts about yourself.
• Answer 11 questions posted by your presenter.
• Nominate 5-11 bloggers who you feel deserve this award (and have a smaller following).
• Ask your nominees to answer 11 questions.

Here are my 11 Random Facts About Myself:

1. I don't like when people ask me what my favorite______ is. My mood determines what my favorite whatever is, so my answers change all the time. I can be very indecisive because of this.
2. I have ridden an elephant before.
3. If I could be a high school teacher, I would want to teach history/social studies. I love history!
4. After living in West Virginia for 4 years, I say Ap-puh-latch-in not A-pa-lai-shin. I was won over when someone from down south gave me the Lancaster vs Lan-caster argument and told me if he had to learn how to say Lancaster right, I had to learn how to say Appalachian .
5. I always thought I would go to Clearwater Christian College or Marantha Baptist Bible College, but when senior year came around I ended up applying to and getting accepted by 2 schools - Asbury College and Appalachian Bible College (my mom's and my dad's colleges respectively). For you advertisers out there - alumni mail does indeed work!
6. I am not a fan of heights. If it is old and creaky and high off the ground, my legs turn into jello.
7. I love goats. I think they are the cutest creatures in all of God's Creation!
8. I really miss the loft I lived in when I did my student teaching. It was awesome!
9. I miss doing old school research reports where you go to the library and read a ton of books about a person or event from history. I still do research online, but it is not the same as my elementary research reports. I love those assignments, and the one thing I miss about not graduating from CBCS was getting to do a Civil War report.
10. I always have to cut my finger nails short. I hate the way nails feel on certain textures.
11. If I ever teach overseas, Romania is at the top of my list. 

Sarai's 11 Questions for Me:

1. What is your definition of a perfect day? A perfect day would be sunny and moderately warm so it could be mostly spent outside. The best days are those spent doing something exciting with close friends and/or family. I can't narrow it down to one particular event, but those are usually my best days.
2. What would you consider the main inspiration behind your blog? I just love hearing people's life stories from those who enjoy writing. I started my blog mostly to have a quick link list to my favorite blogs. Depending on what I am reading and what it going on with me, I am at times inspired to attempt writing something of my own. I wish I was better at it though.
3. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Goodness - what age? I started off wanting to be an artist (hahahahahaha), then a teacher, then a dolphin trainer, then a teacher, then a vet, then a teacher, then a horse camp owner, then a teacher - you can see what God was trying to tell me. :) Honestly, I just wanted to work with children, and really I would love to be a wife and mother if the Lord ever allows. 
4. If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet? Well as I said, I love history, so this is hard. I have a lot of heroes. Dolly Madison ranks up there, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the people who began the Robin Hood and Prince Arthur legends, David from the Bible, and so many others. It is hard to choose. Actually meeting the judges from the book of Judges would be awesome too.
5. What’s your favorite joke? I don't know if I have a favorite, but one I can think of is Knock, knock - who's there - Goliath - Goliath Who? - Goliath down you looketh tired.
6. What’s the best decision you ever made? Going to Appalachian Bible College - and actually I am hoping my decision for next year could trump that. Time will tell....
7. If you knew you would die tomorrow, how would you live your last day? I honestly don't know what I would do, but I am sure it would involve being close to my family and dearest friends.
8. What’s one of your favorite questions for people to ask you to get a conversation going? Well I love to talk about my class, so any question regarding my job. I also enjoy talking about my family. When I was in college, I loved to talk about home sweet home.
9. What is the strangest experience you've ever had? I have been contacted by the police twice in the year. The first time was because my cell phone number was similar to someone who was being stalked. I guess I answered my phone one time when the stalker called me (no one responded when I answered), so the officer was trying to see if I had talked to the person. The second time was because my car was picked up on a security cam at a shopping center the day of an apparent robbery. I suppose those were some strange incidents.
10. What have you learned today? You have not lived until you party like a preschooler!
11. Who in your life has influenced you the most? How did they do it? I'd say my mom by her constant wisdom and guidance, and her freakish ability to always be right! I mean I know she technically is not perfect, but when it comes to the important stuff trust me - she is ALWAYS right.

 And there you have it. My 11 questions and 11 facts. Sadly, I don't know anyone to nominate for a Liebster award. However, if you would like to, I will leave 11 questions that anyone can answer in the comment section, and feel free to leave 11 random facts about yourself as well.

1. Whether you love what you do or not  - what dream job or career would you have if you had to change jobs?
2. What do you consider to be the perfect pet?
3. What is your favorite movie and why?
4. If you were shipwrecked on a deserted island, who would you want to be there with you?
5. What is a favorite song of yours and why? (Noticed I said A favorite, see my random fact #1 ;-))
6. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
7. What would be your dream vacation?
8. What is a fond childhood memory you have?
9. What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
10. What is the coolest historical landmark you have seen?
11. When you are feeling down or depressed, what thing can always brighten your mood no matter what?

My Favorite Literary Character

I probably should have written this post back in the summer, because I will probably be foggy on details now, but I would like to share with you all my favorite literary character. As background, a little over a decade ago, the people around me started discussing this thing called Lord of the Rings. I thought it sounded like the dumbest thing I had ever heard of, but one day my brother brought home the movies and suddenly I was hooked. Yes, I did the bad thing and fell in love with the movies before I read the book. I did a skim reading of the books one winter around that time, but it wasn't until this summer when I carefully read them through.

I must say since I watched the movies first, details to blend together, and I am guilty of picking and choosing what changes I like best. Originally the love story between Aragorn and Arwen hooked me as crazy as that may sound. I still like these characters a lot, but further reading into the story I quickly realized the small part their loved played into this excellent trilogy. I could tell you all the characters I like and why for there are very few I dislike apart from the villains, but my very favorite would have to be Faramir.

From the first time I saw "The Return of the King" my heart broke for him when his father admitted Faramir would have died in his father's place. Then Faramir goes out on a suicide mission to prove his loyalty and earn his father's love only to be placed on a burning pyre alive. I suppose it was a pity I felt, but the more I actually read of the story, the more I began to admire this character that Tolkien created.

When Faramir was a very young boy his mother passed away and his father drifted away in grief. It was during this time that Faramir became close with his older brother Boromir despite the fact that his father favored Boromir. Tolkien points out that no matter what favoritism was shown, Faramir still loved and admired his brother. No jealousy ever separated the brothers. Despite Faramir's love for his brother, he still did what he could to make his father proud. This affected his choice in holding Frodo and Sam prisoner when the ring came to his possesion. Yet in the end, Faramir chose the right choice over pleasing his father knowing there would be harsh consequences. His father did indeed verbally abuse him for his choice and comparing him to Boromir. The sad truth is that Boromir met his fate in his lust of the ring. Denethor, as Faramir' father was named, had no desire to return the ruling on Gondor back to the rightful king, but Faramir did so with pleasure after only ruling for a brief spell. After almost dying in a suicide mission to earn his father's love and healing from this wounds and the pyre, Faramir met and fell in love with the lady Eowyn of Rohan. When expressing his feelings, he was bold but not assuming.

From everything I read (and have seen) about Faramir (and I know I am forgetting some things right now), he is selfless. In today's world, we all seem to have this feeling of entitlement. We want what we want when we want it, and many times we ruin relationships with others to meet our own needs first. Faramir was never shown as perfect. He toyed with pleasing his father above all else even if it was the wrong thing, but he still made the right choice in the end. He had a kind spirit and a good heart. In a deleted scene, Pippin tells Faramir that he has "strength of a different kind." He may not have been the warrior that his older brother was, but Faramir took wise council from others and learned from it. His actions led to a part in saving Middle Earth from destruction.

The Bible says:

 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—  rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. (1 Peter 3:3-4 NKJV)

Faramir could have let his self worth come from what his family thought of him. He could have competed with his brother to be the best soldier. He could have fought to keep his stewardship of the throne or been arrogant with Eowyn. Yet he did none of this. He maintained a gentle spirit and did his duty for the people of his land. What a better place the world might be if we stopped focusing on what we think we should have and started putting others first.

                                          

Reasons I'm Thankful to be a Teacher

I thought I would take a moment and blow the dust off of this blog. I have many excuses reasons for my silence of late. First of all, I have a new blog documenting my teaching adventures. Currently I am working on a Thanksgiving post from the pre-k front. So there. In my defense, I haven't completely neglected blogging. God has truly been working in my heart these last few months, but the battles feel more personal. I do share with close friends and family, but I don't feel like everything needs shared on the world wide web. With that said - I have finally found some inspiration in an area I enjoy sharing about - teaching!

This post seems appropriate considering November is the month for Thanksgiving. Of course I should be grateful everyday, but lately the blessing of being a teacher hit me like a ton of bricks. Granted, some days are really tough! Sometimes I'm struggling with personal issues, and 10 children need my help with their homework. Other days that cold virus they gave me feels like death in my dramatic mind. Then the week comes when all students declare a free from all the rules we've learned all year. The list of challenges can seem overwhelming, but I would not trade it for anything in the world. Here are some reasons I am thankful that God called me into teaching (in no particular order):

   

1. 
   
2. Laughter - They say laughter is the best medicine. These kids keep me smiling day in and day out. Even on days when their behavior could send me over the edge, they at least have style in delivery. I really have to check myself to be sure I am not reinforcing negative behavior, because some days it is so hard not to laugh. From answers to questions, reactions to the opposite gender, stories from home and sometimes just plain old innocence - these kids keep a constant smile on my face. If you're friends with me on Facebook, you may have some idea of what I am talking about.
3. Challenges - What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Parts of my 2 jobs in education settings make me feel inadequate. Some days I almost find myself questioning why God placed me there, yet I feel so blessed that He did. Both worlds have taught me so much, and God has given me such a compassion for people I never would have thought about working with before. I can see a great change in my approach to teaching the 2nd time through than the first. I believe this to be a good sign as I should always be growing and changing for the better in whatever I do. I also continue to see I have so much to learn, but the Lord has been my guide through every step of the way, and I know He will continue to do so.
4. Working with Kids - All my life I have always wanted to work with kids. Ever since I was a child myself, I've enjoyed holding babies and playing with the younger crowd. As much as I would love to be a wife and mother - that isn't in the cards for me right now. God has bigger and better plans than I could imagine for myself. As I pray and try to seek His direction in what all that may entail, He has me in a wonderful set up right now. It hit me driving home one day that I am daily exposed to 100+ kids daily. That's a huge responsibility when it comes to making a difference. These aren't just kids I am passing on the street. These are children under my care, my teaching and if nothing else - my example. That thought can be overwhelming, but for someone who wanted to work with children - the Lord sure did bless me. Not only do I have my own students, but I have been able to visit with my mom's class as well as teaching Sunday School and serving in the church nursery. It may not be mothering, but it's a joy to serve in this capacity.
5. Enjoying the Small Things - Now that I am a teacher, I realized I lost the wonder of childhood somewhere along the way. Obviously this comes with growing up, but teaching has brought some of the wonder back. Lately my computer backgrounds have something to do with the theme I'm teaching - apples, pumpkins, leaves, holidays, etc. Recently driving through the countryside and seeing the various pumpkin stands brings a smile to my face. I have a hard time going into a store and staying away from the holiday aisles to see what could be used for a learning center. I spend my weekends dying noodles and making play dough. I do it for the kids, but I cannot deny that I have a ton of fun preparing these lessons for them. I wouldn't call myself a total Pinterest addict, but I do enjoy searching for adorable things to do with my kids. I love decorating the classroom which spreads into decorating my house. I enjoy baking, crafting and many other things simply because it brings joy to my students.
6. Camaraderie - Friendships are something to be cherished. The Lord blessed me with many wonderful friends throughout the year. However, there is an extra special connection with my teaching friends. Those friends all teach different age groups and subjects, but I like to say we all have the same stories with differing levels of cuteness. It's wonderful to share student teaching experiences, field experiences, college courses, and now that some of us are into our careers, we can share about the struggles and victories each day. I love all my friends dearly, teachers or not, but I am thankful for that special connection that being a teacher brings.
7. Stories - One of these days I will be off on my own, but for now I am living with the parents. It really is awesome with my mom being a kindergarten teacher. Awesome for us anyway. The men in our house would probably disagree. My youngest brother has a death glare that could kill when we get started, but it is so awesome to come home and share about our day. Pre-K and K are fun ages, and we always have something fun to share. I also cherish the advice my mom gives when I come home with a problem. Her wisdom from all her years of experience is a wonderful treasure.
8. The Bible - I have the blessing of teaching a Bible lesson at the preschool. Some of the children are not always exposed to the love of Christ. It's such a blessing to share with them. I love to see how fast they absorb the lessons and see it in use in their daily life. Hearing these precious children sing praises to God melts my heart every time. I look forward to sharing the true meaning of Christmas with them in the weeks to come. Learning about both thanks and giving is already proving a blessing.

Wow! I feel like I should go for an even 10, but the inspiration is running dry. I could think of many more reasons, if I didn't have to wrap this up right now. Lots of blessings packed in that list, but lots and lots of responsibility. Honestly, I run short many days. I could certainly do a better job, but this is life. Instead of focusing on my failings, I need to pick myself up, look at the blessings, and rely on the Lord to do a better job. I'm still praying about what is next in life, but until then I will be thankful for all that I have.

Grow Up

     

  If you know me well, you may know that I am a fan of BBC. Robin Hood, Merlin, Sherlock, Doctor Who....okay, you all get it - I am a nerd. One of the reasons I became such a fan girl is because of my friends, Sarah and Emily who introduced me to Merlin. The rest sort of followed, but whatever - none of you need to know the entire history of my epic nerdiness. The reason I enjoy these fandoms we share is because of the life lessons we draw from them. Before you freak out, please know that I do not use tv shows to guide my every step. It's just sometimes in our nerdy discussions, we end up rabbit trailing onto some great spiritual truth from something that we have learned. Visit Sarah and you'll see what I mean.

    Ok - so here is what I have been thinking a lot about lately. Above you will see a beautiful lady named Marian. Actually her name is Lucy Griffiths, but let's not kill the moment. Marian is of course the infamous love of Robin Hood's life. Every telling of the legend is different, but BBC presents Marian as a head strong girl quite capable of taking care of herself. She had to because Robin left her alone while he went to fight in the Crusades. Upon his return, he was shocked to find that Marian's father had been overthrown as sheriff and an evil man had taken his place. Robin Hood stated that he would not tolerate this injustice. He gave up all that he had (another lesson for another day) to live as an outlaw in the woods, protecting the people from the corrupted Prince John and the evil sheriff.

    Robin Hood sounds like a great hero, and in fact I think he rather was. The problem was at times he would make rash decisions because things were not fair. He ended up in jams because he wanted his own way. Marian knew how the system worked after all her years spent in Nottingham without King Richard's protection. She knew they could not have their own way all the time. She had found her own way to help others by becoming the Night Watchman. 

  As the Night Watchman, Marian was able to help those in need without openly defying the powers that be. She protected herself and those she helped by keeping her true identity a secret. This way she could serve for a long time to come. There were times when she encouraged Robin to do the same for the complete protection of the people. To do this she would constantly tell him, "Grow up."

    Robin and Marian both had to make many tough decisions for England. It meant self sacrifice and giving up things they wanted. When Robin would discourage Marian from making these choices, she always gave the same reply, "Grow up."

     Friends, this is what I must do. "Grow up." I have decided that I too have been holding on too tight to what I decided is right rather than what I know is right. It is time that I give up my selfish dreams and do something that counts. It is time that I stop living for self, and completely and totally surrender myself to God. Honestly, this has been my desire in life, but in growing up, I realize there is yet more I must do. 

     All of the sudden I find myself pursuing goals I used to be afraid of pursuing. I am not yet ready to announce to the world wide web what all this may entail, but if you think about it, please pray. I am on the verge of making a big decision that could change my life forever. That probably sounds a lot more dramatic than it is. Really it is all in God's hands, and I seek His guidance. Let's just say I have a teaching degree and there's a great big wide world out there.

       "Grow up" - "Okay!"

Perspective

    The last weeks have really been a fast pace learning experience. What's new, huh? I guess that is what happens when you are working in a couple different fields at once, not to mention the fact that what I do changes every couple of months. For the last session of the after school program I work for, I was longer tutoring, but strictly assisting with the YMCA.

      I must say I am so grateful the Lord brought about the tutoring job because that is how everything started. I enjoyed being able to solely focus upon a career in teaching and working with children because that is where my heart lies. However, the tutoring was challenging and I admittedly got frustrated quite often. It proved to be a great training in patience and understanding. It took me a very long time to learn these lessons, and I am sure I haven't learned all there is to learn about handling these situations. These last 6 weeks have altered my perspective greatly.

     It hit me that the reason I was struggling with teaching these precious children is I do not share their perspective on life. Going in I realized that they would be coming from completely different backgrounds, but I guess I never stopped to think just how different. Different doesn't have to be a bad thing, but different leads to different feelings, different thoughts, different reactions and the list goes on. The way I was trained on how to deal with things growing up did not match how my students deal with things. Thus the conflict and frustration.

      My desire is to be a good teacher and that means putting the child first. There are times when I just don't know how to react because I want to do what is best for the child. Since I am a human too, I know I have made mistakes when frustration and even anger take hold. Again, the last six weeks is what I needed. Before I was only getting about 2 hours a day with a select amount of the children. Basically the same group of kids all the time. When I began working with the whole program, I was exposed to more of the children for longer amounts of time. This is when things began to click.

       Will I ever get inside their heads and truly understand how they feel about things - no. I did not grow up the same way, BUT from being around them more, I have a better knowledge of where they are coming from. Just imagining myself in their shoes helps the world make a little more sense. I still struggle with my classroom management skills, but it is a work in progress. Being around the kids more led to them knowing me better. This is turn provided more respect from both parties, and things began to change for the better.

        What the last six weeks really taught me is how much I take for granted. I mean, it sounds cliche' and it is. I know I take things for granted, but I just never really thought of how extremely blessed I am. I come from a stable home and a close knit extended family. My family is by no means perfect, but the Lord brought everything together and I always feel supported. Not only is my family together, but we have a nice house, a big yard, a driveway, vehicles for everyone, constant supply of food, a Bible believing church, great friends. My parents have also provided my brothers and I with a Christian education, I was able to complete 4 years at Bible college, and I got 3 education related jobs my first year out of school in this tough economy. I have always been thankful for those things, and some of that is more important than other things on the list, but how often do I really think about all of those things together. Some people do not even have one of the things on that list and some of them might be the kids I go to work with everyday. It makes me feel greedy because there are times when I desire more in life, and yet to some people, I have everything in the world. Reality has slapped me hard these last 6 weeks and I could go on longer. Instead I will end with this, my perspective is changing, and my prayer would be to be more grateful for what the Lord has given me, and be more understanding to those who struggle.