HOPE

I walked into devotions Tuesday morning, my mind heavy with a seemingly hopeless situation. Little did I know that I would be sitting at Jesus' feet as He reminded me that with Him, there is always hope. I'm always amazed when God speaks directly to the need of my heart. Sometimes, I forget that He sees the beginning from the end, that He knows me more intimately than anyone else.

"O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain it." Psalm 139:1-6 NASB

Susan shared so beautifully how hope is like an action verb and faith the noun. Our faith is grounded in who God is; our hope is that joyful expectancy that He will be true to His character. Faith is like the roots of a plant while hope is the stem through which the faith flows. She gave the following acronym:

   H - Holding

   O - On

   P- Praying

   E- Expectantly

She then showed us the video of a song by Gungor "Beautiful Things." I've heard the song before, but I heard it in a new way that morning, and it has been in my mind the last few days. Yes - I don't understand everything in my life right now. At times, I feel rather hopeless as if I've done all I can do, but then God reminds me of what He can and is doing. And He makes things new. My hope is in Him.

Jesus, keep making me new.

Teacher (Tē’chƏr) n.

1. person who makes all other occupations possible

2. touches lives forever

3. makes the world a better place

4. puts the stars within our reach

*From "The Lakeside Collection" Christmas 2011 catalog. 

Script from a mug.

Reflection on Day 25, Wednesday, September 28, 2011

I copied what I typed in my journal today because today was just too fun. :) And, no, my journals are not usually this long!

Today was just simply a lovely day. :) Actually, the last two days have been lovely. So many awesome things happened that I think I’ll recount them.

• Today was “See You at the Pole” day. It was just so awesome seeing all the grades holding hands in big circles and hearing voices, adults and children, praying to God. Teaching school in a Christian school is such an amazing opportunity. Wow! 
• Upon returning to the classroom, P’s mom came in with two big boxes of doughnuts and cartons of orange juice…and she had some zebra iced ones. So GOOD! 
•  Then we had a fire drill where D and A were fighting over who would be the last student to leave the classroom. Silly kids – don’t they realize that the building could be burning down?! ;) 
•  After the fire drill, Mrs. Tate, the assistant principal, read the kiddos her favorite children’s book called Stephanie’s Ponytail. She was just lovely with the kids. And it never ceases to amaze me of the power of a great book! 
•  After that I began my science lesson which literally lasted about all day! Some days are just like that! We finished up our big book on the life cycle of monarch butterflies. Then we began working on our butterfly books answering “before/after” questions, number life cycle pictures, and writing about the chrysalis stage. After lunch, we were finishing up the book when dear L was ever so patiently yet urgently raising/waving her hand. When I called on her, she excitedly said that some of our butterflies had come out of their chrysalis!! (I knew that actually, but was waiting until a little later on in the lesson to show them, but I’m learning that you have to take the “teaching” moment when it comes!) :) So, we observed and marveled over the new butterflies! We observed them at different times throughout the afternoon. Let’s see, we also had another whole group time where J shared with us some more info about butterflies that he had read in a book. It was so awesome seeing him sitting in the rocking chair sharing about the cool things he had learned yet knowing that he is one of the lowest readers in the class. Wow, all I’m saying, is watch out world, because when reading clicks with Joshua, there will be no stopping him! After observing butterflies (some more) the kiddos wrote about it in their Butterfly Journal. It has been SO fun seeing the cycle happen in “real life!” Oh – Ms. Preston also finished reading Charlie the Caterpillar to the kids. See? Today was practically all science! 
•  We finished the day with some math – working with counters, crayons, and five frames. How fun. :)

So that was my day. Ms. Preston even squeezed in a “life-talk” about their futures, college, and praying about what God wants them to be when they grow up. She is so cool. She told me today, “I think we should knock down that wall and we could team teach next year.” :) She builds me up so much. I think, maybe, I can do this teaching thing. :)

Being a Student Teacher:

• means that your brain NEVER stops thinking...about everything!
• means using A LOT of paper...for everything!
• means talking about your daily classroom happenings...to everyone!

I think I'm a bit obsessed...and I LOVE IT! :D

Happy Fall Friday

Today marks the first day of fall - a wondrous, delightful season. 

I finished my fourth week of student teaching. It's hard to believe that I'm a third of the way finished. I love that there is never a dull day. :) After school, I drove over to work and walked over to my bank to deposit some checks. Some day, I think it would be lovely to live where I could walk to the bank and post office like I do when I go to work. Back at work, my coworker fixed me a delicious caramel macchiatto! I think I need to invest in an espresso machine and bottles of flavoring! I met two friends at a lovely little Mexican restaurant for dinner. It brought back some wonderful memories of my time spent in Mexico. And my taco al pastor was very good. Oh! and we had fresh squeezed orange juice. Yum! We enjoyed perusing Hobby Lobby; I could spend hours in that store! And a trip to Big Lots connected me with some very cute and cheap post-it notes and stationary things. I'm such a teacher. ;) I think I'll finish the evening by lighting my fall candle and reading some of The Hobbit. 

Friends, I hope you have a blessed autumn. :)

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." 

Albert Camus

Contented

A mug of apple cider with a cinnamon stick immerged...

Working on tomorrow's lesson plans...

Reflecting in my journal about the last few days in the classroom...

I really feel like I could be an educator the rest of my life and be perfectly contented.

Today was a FIRST!

Today, I received my first apple from a student!! :) His mom said that he was at Panera Bread, and he wanted to get his two "teashers" apples. So sweet! He brought it all the way up to the front of the classroom as I was starting class. Loved it! Oh, and it was an apple and a yummy muffin. Totally made my day. :)

Peace, Help, Hope

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock." 

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

I'm making the choice to "stay" or "still" my mind on God. I will trust in Him forever. He is the everlasting God: steadfast, strong. I know He has guided my life up to this moment, so I will trust in His guidance for tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. And I want to enjoy this journey - to find joy in the little moments.

"How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God."

Psalm 146:5 NASB 

 

Secret

I found this quote on this blog and wanted to share it.

"Maybe this is the true secret to being fulfilled and content.
Living in the moment with God, defined by His truth
and with no unrealistic expectations for others or things to fill me up.
Not reaching back for what was lost in my yesterdays.
And not reaching for what I hope will be my tomorrow.
But living fully with what is right in front of me.
And truly seeing the gift of this moment."
-Lysa TerKeurst, Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl 

(italics, bold, underlining - mine)

Wow - good stuff, huh?

"Plan B"

"Plan A is always my first choice.

You know, the one where

Everything works out to be

Happily ever after.

But more often than not,

I find myself dealing with 

The upside-down,

Inside-out version

Where nothing goes as it should.

It's at this point that the real test

Of my character comes in...

Do I sink or do I swim?

Do I wallow in self-pity

And play the victim

Or simply shift gears

And make the best of the situation?

The choice is mine. After all...

Life is about

How you handle Plan B.

- Suzy Toronto

I don't think it was mere coincidence that I read this poem on a card that I was filing at work. I thought how true this little poem is. I guess the last few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind - for lack of a better phrase, I've been dealing with "Plan B." Of course, there are questions...confusion...the unknown, but I'm leaning hard on my heavenly Father. I rest in the refuge of His character - the fact that He really is in control of my life. Not just the "big picture" but the daily details. I'm learning to be quiet - not that it's easy, but it's necessary. I'm learning to give God my thoughts, to give Him my worry, my questions, instead of spouting off to any passerby. I'm learning to be thankful for the small and the big - for just about anything really. I've really been given way more than I deserve, and I don't want to forget that. I'm learning that His grace is enough - I can completely rest in God's care for me.

I know this sounds really weird, but part of me is excited to see how God is going to work - in the situation and apart from it. See, that's what is so amazing about my God - He is a "forward-looking" God. He is working out things according to His purpose and His plan. That means that the season I'm going through right now will not be wasted, but He will somehow use it for my good, as long as I allow Him to. And by God's help, He can do with me what He wishes. I'm His.