Friday, September 20

Green

Well, I am part of a green nation again. Funny how all the districts I have worked in have been green, although different colors of green. So far, this has been a lot of hard work, especially on the "off" hours, but I do enjoy it. I love my kiddos and my team. God really does ordain the people that we meet. I could not have picked a better team to work with. They are so helpful with everything that has been going on. I do have to say that I look forward to getting some more sleep in the near future though. Sleep and I have not been the greatest buds lately because there is always so much to be done. I will be glad when all the extra cutting, laminating, printing, etc will be over. That should be sometime next year because the first year you always have to build up your resources.

I have had some of the best help though. My friends have been very helpful moving my stuff in, setting stuff up, and getting stuff done. I could not even begin to describe all that they have done and the gratitude that I have for them. There is just nothing like some great selfless friends, especially since my family is so far away and can't really help out.

Speaking of family, I am so looking forward to my niece being born and going home for Christmas, along with my cousin coming to visit... and for my birthday at that. Road trip with my cousin/bff is the best thing ever! I cannot wait. I am not ready for the drive in that car, but I am ready for the scenery and fun. I miss road trips and have been itching for the long drive through the mountain range of the east coast... and to see my beaches again. Actually, this trip is really motivating when I have time to think about it. Lol.

I'm also super excited about tomorrow because it's Mom's birthday and I've done something to surprise her. I'm awful with keeping my excitement about surprises like this. It's taken everything in me to not call her and tell her about it or anything for that matter. I'm hoping that she gets it and enjoys it. Then I will go back to calling her about/for everything, haha. Without having a spouse to come home and talk to, I call Mom and tell her everything instead.

Well, I'm off to continue working on cutting lamination so that I can go print, cut, laminate, and cut some more.

Sunday, August 11

New changes and new beginnings

Once again, it has taken me forever to get on here and write. I'm not sure why I get so unmotivated to write on here, except maybe media and other distractions in general. Things have been such a whirlwind. I have learned so much in such a short time. Let's recap the summer:

I have become a piano player, although beginner skills at the moment. I have goals of what I want to play, but am content with taking things one step at a time. I have gained an appreciation for the instrument and become picky with the brands I play. :) I actually accomplished more than I thought I could. I was able to play "body rhythmics" with all the notes and the chords at the speed the kids were singing and doing them. The second time I impressed myself was being able to play the chapel songs while singing and leading them as the kids sang with me. I sweat bullets, but I was able to get through it and do it! If I can do all that in a summer, I cannot imagine how much dedicated practice time will get me.

I learned office work and filing, along with scheduling. I was able to increase my people skills and compromising skills. It was a lot of work. I know that I don't want to be a principal or director of a school in the future, but wouldn't mind helping or heading up some other form of admin. I have a greater appreciation for those that work in school offices/admin.

I became better at accepting compliments. If you know me, then you know this is one of the hardest things for me to do. Ask me to brag about myself and you get lots of "ummm"s. Ask me to take a compliment without running from it, it's big. I worked with people who were not shy about telling me what a great job I was doing or that I was the best they had worked with. They willingly showed appreciation and gratitude. It was one of the hardest things I had to learn to take and listen to. It has changed me into a more confident person, but oh so emotionally rough for someone like me.

I learned how to receive instead of always give. Not being able to give to others when they need it or when something comes up has been difficult with the giving heart that I have. Actually, I have been on the receiving end of many other "givers". I am learning that no matter how independent I am, everyone needs a little help sometimes.

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Perhaps I am being so contemplative because I learned that no matter how long ago someone has left this earth, there are still things that make your heart ache for them. Emotions and I are not particularly friends, but every once in a while they show up and surprise me. Today has been one of those days. Besides Friday having been my last day of work at a place I have grown to love, I heard "Blessed Assurance" in my grandpa's voice. It was a congregational sing-a-long at the church talent show. I could hear his voice in that song, not to mention imagining my whole family singing it together in our beautiful harmonies.

The whole weekend has been emotional. Like I said, I had to say goodbye to people and children that I have worked with all year. It's such a wonderful place to work and I've built friendships with so many. They helped me through some tough stuff this past year, not to mention truly feeling missed when I left. Then I saw my best friend, who I hadn't seen in almost a year, on Saturday. Catching up and just spending time with him was great. I'd forgotten how much talking together and just hanging out makes me feel better. Then today, I went to the talent show supporting one of the families I have gotten to know better because of working at that school. And now, Monday I start a brand new job with a brand new age level with a brand new method. I'm going to be a first year teacher for the 4th time (technically).

All these changes are great and exciting, yet bittersweet all at the same time. My emotions are a little wild this weekend, but I am hoping they will go back to being at bay again for a little while. Maybe as this new journey progressing, I will be more inclined to write here than I have been before...

Monday, November 26

I think I failed the challenge...

Days 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

3 Gifts of Family:
1) I am thankful to have such a large family on both sides of my family.
2) I am grateful to have had time (and still have time) to spend with my grandparents.
3) I am thankful for the friendship that keeps my family together, not just blood.

A Gift Grateful:
1) I am grateful for the gift of love that God gave when He sent His Son to die for us.

3 Gifts Only in Christ:
1) I am thankful for the grace that allows us to come to Christ as we are.
2) I am thankful for the pain and suffering He went through to cleanse me of my sins.
3) I am thankful for the free gift of His forgiveness.

3 Gifts Humble:
1) I am thankful for the examples of humbleness that I have seen from those around me. It has taught me to be a better person.
2) I am thankful that Christ showed us the perfect example of how to be humble and live life to the fullest.
3) I am thankful to be learning the gift of humbleness as life goes on.

3 Gifts Ugly-Beautiful:
1) I am so glad that makeup can take me from not so nice in the morning to much better when I'm done.
2) I am thankful for Christmas trees, although I think they look ugly before decorating, after they look great!
3) I am thankful for the ugly bare trees in winter that look beautiful when covered with snow.

3 Gifts Preparing:
1) I am thankful that I get to prepare for Christmas. It is my favorite time of year.
2) I am thankful for whatever God is preparing me for with these experiences.
3) I am thankful for how He prepared me for the things I am facing now in my life.

Tuesday, November 20

I've been and still am sick..

Been a bit sick, but here it goes anyway. If it sounds weird, we can blame it on my dehydration!

Days 17, 18, 19, 20

3  Gifts of Laughter:
1) My brother gave me this "button" for Christmas one year. If you hit it, it goes on this whole rampage about pushing the "button". It's quite funny and gets me and my guests every time.
2) The laughter of children brings me such joy. The best is the little babies that I work with. I get to do "round and round the garden" with them and hear them giggle to no end. Sometimes I don't even have to tickle them before they giggle because they know what is about to happen.
3) The joy that laughter brings is unsurpassed. God truly made laughter to help heal the soul. In many difficult emotional situations, I have received the gift of laughter that changed my outlook and emotional state.

A Gift Made, Shared, Passed On:
1) I am thankful for the graduation quilt that was made for me that I am using right now. I have used that quilt all through college and since moving to Texas.
2) I am so thankful that Liz decided to share her family and home with me. I don't know how I would have made it through college or moving to Texas without her and her family. They are so very dear to me.
3) I am thankful for the legacy and lineage left to me by those who have passed on. I would not be who I am or where I am today without them.

3 Gifts of Autumn:
1) The cooler weather, although Texas cannot seem to make up its mind. It does make me miss autumn back home.
2) The harvest of yummy fruits and vegetables, along with the seasonal ones.
3) The changing of the leaves that reminds me how God planned for his creation to be beautiful in every season.

3 Gifts of Tradition:
1) The tradition of our Thanksgiving "services" that my grandparents held. It was and is such a special time to reflect on God while reading his word and singing praises to him.
2) The advent wreath, which again I learned from the tradition of my grandparents. I even remember making them at Grandpa's church one year. It was always my favorite part of Christmas time!
3) Giving to others... My parents (for many years) have made us go under the tree and find a present for someone else in the room. We were required to find a gift for someone else and hand it to them. After everyone had received one, we would watch and wait as each person opened there gifts, instead of just tearing into all the ones intended for us.

Friday, November 16

Opps... I'm lazy

Days 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

3 Gifts at Noon:
1) I am thankful for the children I work with at noon. There are different kids on certain days, but I love each and everyone of them. They each changed my life in some way or another during this journey.
2) Noon usually symbolizes lunch time, so I am thankful for my lunch breaks where I get to just breath and relax. I love the kids, but we all need a little break to regroup ourselves.
3) Noon makes me appreciate the invention of clocks. I am so glad clocks were invented instead of the sundials that used to tell time.

3 Gifts Behind a Door:
1) On my nativity calendar, behind every door on the calendar is a scripture verse or a name of God. It is a wonderful part of my celebration of the birth of Christ.
2) When I open my door to my apartment, it makes me thankful to have the apartment that I do. Even though there are so many problems with it, I am grateful to have this large size apartment with my own washer and dryer.
3) I am so glad that I have so many doors (to closet space) in my apartment where I can store all my teacher stuff and Christmas decorations.

3 Gifts Silent:
1) I am thankful for that still silence that comes with a fresh snowfall. There is nothing more special than the still silence. I sometimes imagine that is what is was like the night that Christ was born.
2) I am thankful for the silence of naptime. It gives you time to prep things for the afternoon and to see the kids so peaceful and innocent. There is just something beautiful about a child quietly sleeping.
3) I am thankful for the silence of text messages. Text messages have saved me from awkward small talk or awkward silences on phone calls. Before texting, there would be awkward phone calls to gather information, either that or I would just not obtain the info.

3 Gifts Golden:
1) I am thankful for white gold. I am not a yellow gold person, but I think gold jewelry is nice. White gold looks pretty much like silver, which is all I wear.
2) I am thankful for the Golden Rule, even though most kids don't even know about it these days. It was something that was used to help teach me the moral values that I have.
3) I am thankful for the Golden Bell Diner and all my other diner memories. A lot of my late nights and "big event" nights involved going to diners or just hanging out with others there even if I didn't eat anything.

3 Gifts Hard Eucharisteo:
1) Losing my job as a public school teacher (2 times)... it taught me to appreciate the jobs I have and how to live with less money.
2) Moving to a state without family nearby.... it taught me to rely on other people and ask for help when I needed it. It was a very hard lesson to learn.
3) Walking through my depression.... it helped me to reach others that have gone or are going through the same things that I did. God brought people in my life that I could reach with my story.


Sunday, November 11

I'm behind by a few...

Days 8, 9, 10, and 11:

A Gift Sweet, Salty, and Sipped:

1) Peanut Butter Pie... I am glad for my grandfather and grandmother's ability to bake, cook, etc. because I was introduced to so many new foods and desserts as a young child that I looked forward to during visits as I got older. Sweets were kind of banned in my house, so it was always a treat when she would bring over (or we would go over) her homemade sweet tastiness. Peanut butter pie is the one I look forward to the most.

2) McDonald's french fries... These remind me of the trips to McDonald's that my grandparents would always take us on as kids because it was a treat and we could play at the same time. To this day, I still love a good batch of McDonald's fries.

3) Coffee.... I am so grateful for the energy boost that coffee gives me, along with the variety of available flavors. It has gotten me through a lot of different things, projects, and all nighters.

3 Gifts Harvested:

1) The Lord's harvest is the best one that I can think of. It's a joy to watch how God gets a soul and all the hard work of many believers finally comes to the acceptance of salvation. I am also looking forward to the final Harvest when God takes us home.

2) Harvest reminds me of the meaning behind Thanksgiving. The Native Americans shared their harvest with the Pilgrims. Without this crucial event, I would not have the memories that are associated with the holiday of Thanksgiving.

3) I love a fresh Jersey sweet corn-on-the-cob. When that sweet corn is harvested, I am so thankful that I live in Jersey. I used to live for the summer months when Dad would grill or cook the corn on the cob, and only Jersey sweet corn.

3 Gifts Found in Bible Reading:

1) The Psalms are truly my favorite part of Bible reading. It is so easy to relate to and turn into songs. It's a book that includes something for every situation you go through in life. There is nothing I have gone through that the Psalms has not applied to. I am so glad that David wrote them and God gave us such a gift!

2) The ability to hear how much God loves me in His word is amazing to me. Every time you read the Bible, you can see how much He loves His children (or people).

3) The gift salvation which includes grace! The gift of salvation is one of the best parts of reading the Bible. Its one of the greatest gifts that God ever gave us that we can read about. Salvation required God to give so much and we get it as a gift!

3 Gifts of Remembrance:

1) My grandpa's picture from the memorial service. Not only does it have his signature verse, it also reminds me of his favorite song in the process. Every time I heard either of those, I am able to think of him. Also, the verse that he always had us read at Thanksgiving remind me of him too.

2) My bell collection reminds me that my dad thought of me and cared when he was away on travel. He traveled a lot when I was a kid. Those beautiful bells reminded me that he thought of me. Since then, I have gotten bell from new places I have traveled.

3) Communion... remembering the sacrifice that Christ gave for us all. He also said to do this in remembrance of me, so it definitely came into mind when I saw this heading. It is a constant reminder and helps me to remember to keep myself in check.

Wednesday, November 7

Challenge Day 6 and 7

3 Gifts of Government:
1) I am so grateful that I have the ability to express my voice through the freedom of my speech. I can voice whom I want to govern, what I want done, and changes I agree/disagree with.

2) I am glad that my founding fathers chose to set up a checks-and-balances system when forming the government. Without it, our government and country probably would not have made it that far.

3) I am thankful for a country that allows us to have the choice to fight in the military or not. Some countries require able-bodied people to join their military at a certain age. I know that a draft can be called up by the government, but that hasn't been necessary in a while.

3 Gifts From Your Window:
1) I am thankful for my car. My car runs and gets me from place to place. I am glad that I am able to have one and haven't had to get a new one yet.

2) I am thankful to live a safe-ish neighborhood where I do not have to worry about break-ins of my home or car.

3) I am thankful for lights, especially knowing there are still people without power. Also because the complex replaced my outside light and I can see to put my key in the lock again!