so much JOY!

...and I have created a monster. I figured out I can change my blog background as much as I WANT to coincide with the upcoming holiday. Christmas is next and that brings me so much JOY because it means MORE family time. I love my family, so this is the perfect blog background. I have also figured out how to create a signature. Oh my goodness!

Speaking of my family...I just got back to Arkansas from the best week of rest and family time. I say family time because my friends are just as important to me as my family and I got a lot of time with EACH. It was a time of renewal, refreshment and so so so perfect. Three weeks until more...BUT I will not wish the time away. When I walked into my apartment last night I was a little giddy because I know that for the next 3 weeks I get to hang out with 15 of my favorite people. They are good for my heart.

My break was so wonderful. Seriously. I can't even put into words how blessed I feel to have spent so much quality time with such wonderful people such as:




MY Garlich boys, and their wonderful parents- Andy and Alli. I love this family. :)




My lovely, Prue.




My wonderful family.




My Momma. So beautiful!


I took more pictures but they haven't found their way into iPhoto yet. Soon!

Here's to:
3 Mondays
Sweet family
Lots of turkey
Fun 4th graders who make me laugh
My Jesus who saves
Kansas City
Arkansas
JOY! ...in YOUR presence their is fullness of JOY! -Psalm 16:11


Enjoy today!

Thanksgiving...

As I go into the last week before a week long break I am scrambling to prep for the week, entering grades, listening to a podcast and sipping on tea. Life is happy.

I am trying SO HARD not to wish this week away. Kansas City is waiting and I CANNOT wait to reconnect with friends I haven't seen since July. BUT I still have a week of life to live here. A week to love on my kiddos. A week to live life with my friends HERE.

We are such fast-paced people that it is hard for us to slow down and enjoy the time we have now. There is always something more fun or more exciting going on TOMORROW and we look to that time, leaving the down time we haven't even lived yet in the dust in anticipation for the fun of tomorrow.

I pray that I won't wish away this week. That I would embrace each day that the Lord has made. That I would find Jesus in the center of each moment. That I would recognize his sovereignty in EACH moment. That I would seek out each unique quality of my 4th graders this week and that I would love them for it...because Jesus does. I pray that I would give the Lord my weak moments. That his strength would shine through them all---and that my students would recognize that their teacher is only strong because Jesus is strong through her.

I have many hopes for this week.

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

I am thankful for my weakness. Because when I admit my weakness, He then can be strong through me.

Enjoy today!

A big CHECK off the list of firsts.

I made it. My first field trip has come and gone and I am here to tell you about it. While I may be being a little dramatic, I did make it through my first field trip with no more than a splinter. That's a good feeling. The first year "firsts" are slowly being checked off my list.

This week I checked off my list:
--Successfully completed Parent/Teacher Conferences with minimal tear shed.
--Went on my first field trip as a teacher.


I would say that is a productive week!



Obviously I cannot check off my list: Got all kids to look at camera and smile.

Baby steps.

I am also learning how much my students love to hunt. With this realization I am learning how little I know about hunting. Little being none. I know zip. BUT I can listen and smile and nod with the best of them.

Thanksgiving is in 2 weeks. Right now I am feeling good. I feel rested and still haven't reached a point where I have felt completely overwhelmed. I don't think I will get there. I am confident in the Lord and Him leading me here, and comforting me while I am here. Plus, I have my lesson plans done for the next 2 weeks so I am happy.

Here's to bonfires and cooler weather--Fall is here!