Saturday, December 8, 2012

First Grade

I can't believe how quickly my time in first grade went by! I am excited to get back to my third graders, but it was sad leaving yesterday! They made me a sweet, sweet book of letters about how they will miss me. I couldn't read it until I got home for fear of crying in front of the little 7 year olds. I am really enjoying this whole teaching thing (minus all the booger eating and being evaluated [it's so scary!]), which is really encouraging since it is what I have chosen to spend my life doing. I love, love, love it! Being completely exhausted and missing out on everything that happens after 9:30 pm is totally worth it. :)

Just a few first grade quotes:

"But I can't sit criss-cross applesauce or my boots will rub together and my sparkles will fall off!"

Teacher: The pilgrims came over on the Mayflower a long, long time ago so that they could go to church where they wanted to instead of having to follow all the king's rules.
Student A: I have a connection (they're big on making connections to everything)- my grandfather was in the army!
Teacher: Okay, well remember that this was over 300 years ago and it doesn't really have to do with the army...
Student B: Was this around 9/11?
Student C: Wait, were the pilgrims REAL people?

"When I was carving a pumpkin, my fingers were so cold that it felt like I was holding 100 beers... because beers are really cold."

Gah, they never cease to keep me entertained! Really going to miss those sweet faces.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Life according to my (and others') iPhone(s)

photo sesh with the best roomies ever
wearing pajama pants and dress shoes... in public
sweet, sweet babies
sky box with the swankies
College Game Day came to UT (and UT was terrible... again)
Dirty Guvs on top of Cafe 4
circus
twice in one picture
sunsets
pirate roomies- we will do almost anything for free food
beautiful girls that I cannot believe are seniors

tailgating
wish she was always a Red Saile member
lots of sunrises on the way to school
birthday girl
fort-building
it's official
homework in the eno
backpacking vicariously through our neighbors

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Divine Appointment

It seems like I don't have time for anything these day, especially blogging (besides blogging for class...). I am so busy and so overwhelmed all of the time! That being said, when the heck does the working person go to the doctor/dentist/bank/whatever?! I knew that this was a struggle, but I never realized just how much I REALLY don't have time to go to the doctor until I had reason to go. Dad called continuously to see if I had made an appointment yet because I had decided just to put it off since I would probably never have the chance to go anyway. To get him to stop bugging me, I finally made an appointment. My regular doctor doesn't work on Fridays (of course- the only time I could possibly even squeeze in an appointment), so I made an appointment with someone I had never heard of just so I could tell dad I had gone. Then this appointment was so noteworthy, I journaled nearly every detail of it... So now I will copy that here.

9/1/12
Yesterday I went to the doctor for my arm, and the receptionist was one of my younglife girl's moms. I talked to her about younglife for a second and then was taken back to the room. As soon as the doctor (PA) entered the room I recognized her and said, "You're ******'s sister!" I told her that I was previously ******'s younglife leader and she told me that she recognized me as well. We have many mutual friends and have seen each other a few times at high school football games, etc. She began to tell me how her sister had gone to Ghana with her this past summer, and that it seemed to have had quite an impact on her! It was so cool to immediately be talking about Jesus. I asked what they had done in Ghana and she explained to me that she was adopting 2 girls from there. She showed me a picture of them, and they are precious! Since we were talking about Africa, I mentioned that I had been to Zimbabwe and wanted to return.

We both discussed how we would move there in a heartbeat if we could. She asked if it had to be Zim for me, and I told her that I would love to go back there since I had a few connections, but that I knew I could fall in love with pretty much anywhere probably! I explained that I was interning now (unrelated to Africa, but related to the reason that I thought I was seeing her today), but that I would love to teach abroad one day (which had really been put on my heart again during class earlier that day when we shared our cultural autobiographies and a few people had mentioned this). I love, love, love Zimbabwe, but since my interactions there were mainly with older kids, I have often thought that I would want to experience more young African children. The PA asked if I would ever be interested in Ghana (a place that I have considered many times before because once a native from there prayed over our church and spoke of his ministry there, and I also know people who have had life-changing experiences there [Katie Craze]), and I quickly and excitedly told her I definitely would be. She informed me that she was the main sponsor for the school/orphanage of one of her future daughters. She wrote down information for me about the organization, orphanage, and website. She also told me that the principal there is an American woman married to an African man, and that she is great friends with them.

The doctor then told me that she is off on certain days if I ever wanted to talk more about this. Lastly, she asked me if my parents were concerned about the safety of me going to Africa, and for any one who reads this blog, you know that is a huge worry of my mom's. I explained to her that my mom had constant nightmares while I was there. Apparently Ghana is one of the safest places over there! Not that I could convince Mom of this.... but maybe it will help? All of this was such Divine Intervention. I now know why I couldn't get in to see my regular doctor and got scheduled with this one. There was such a bigger reason for my tingling arm. I loved every word that we shared, but what stuck out the most was that THEY NEED AMERICAN TEACHERS at the school of one of her daughters.

It's not every day that you talked to your doctor about Jesus, and it's definitely not every day that you stay for an hour (no tests being done) just talking about ministry, church, and Africa because you know that you are there for a reason.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Competition

If blogging is a competition, Chelcie is dominating me. She has way more posts than I do... and I want to blog so bad. I have so much to say. Unfortunately, I don't have time to think or write. Interning has been great so far! I love my school, my mentors, and my students! However, I am so so exhausted! And... with that being said, I am going to bed! A little after 9. On a Thursday night. This is what my life has come to.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Please join me in praying for Chelcie's sister Addie who is in the hospital with meningitis (click there for Chelcie's post with more details). Their family greatly appreciates your prayers! This little girl is amazing, I have watched her grow up, and we all hate seeing her suffer. Love you, Addie. And Chelcie. And Crawford family.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Fun.

The only fun I've had all summer (okay, that's not true... but it really is one of the few times I have been social since classes started):

We went caving!

And another super fun night was when Dane and I celebrated 8 months- he surprised me by making me dinner and taking me to Max Patch to watch the sunset.






Thank You, Jesus for friends and a boyfriend that love me so well even when I don't deserve it. Thank You for that small glimpse of Your unconditional, everlasting, perfect love. Thank You that no earthly love will ever compare to Your eternal love. Thank You for fun in the midst of a stressful summer. Thank You for chances to relax. Thank You for the beauty of Your creation for us to enjoy.

So close

I'm so close to being done with class and actually having a [little less than] a month to relax, get my [not so] new room all together, finally get some color on my skin (if it's not too hot), spend time with friends (without being extremely stressed out), and prepare for next year (if that's even possible).

Anyway, I feel such a relief that these two classes are coming to an end. I turned in my huge case study, did my presentation, and now just have a unit plan and a few other assignments to work on. If this summer was any indication of how hard/time consuming/exhausting next year is going to be, I will forewarn you to stay away. I apologize to everyone who has been around me this month because I have been crazy trying to balance all of this school work. I've hardly had any time to hang out with friends because I have been constantly doing homework (not exaggerating) and so very stressed out. I know that I have been miserable to be around, and I have probably complained a lot. So thanks for sticking by my side! I needed it. And like I said, if this is what next year is going to be like (which I'm assuming it will just be worse), I will apologize in advance for the monster that I will be.

The one that has been in the misery alongside me.
The one who always puts up with my craziness even when I'm being super irrational (most of the time). And the one that has been in school ALL summer with no break and has not complained once but listened to me complain daily. Oops.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

I am possibly more overwhelmed with school than I have ever been... I guess this is just preparation for next year, which I am so nervous about- more on that later. Earlier this summer I went to the beach with my mom's side of the family (and Nicole). Sadly, Nicole and I had to come back early because I started classes at the end of May, but it was still so nice to be able to spend time with family and relax for a few days before beginning grad school. However, while I was there... my car decided to have some malfunctions. Not surprising, it did have over 182,000 miles on it, so it held up pretty well. This being said though, it had about reached it's last leg. Poor car. I bought some new parts and got them installed, drove home without much trouble, and then it decided to die about 8 times between my house and the next block on the way to class the next morning. I am so thankful that we made it home from the beach safely, but at this point I was freaking out about not making it to my first day of graduate school. Luckily Dane answered his phone after a few attempts at calling him, and he was about to head to campus so he picked me up (so thankful- especially since Dad wasn't answering!).

Anyway, my grandmother had expressed her concern at the beach with how far I would be driving every day next year to my internship in such an old car. At this point, though, as a broke grad student there wasn't much I could do about it. I had my car towed, got more maintenance done... and now the car was beginning to cost me more than it was worth. So Gana (grandmother) kept texting me asking me questions about my car and how much I thought I could trade it in for. My parents weren't of much help, as much as they tried, since none of us know anything about cars! Long story short... well, not that short, I guess (sorry!), Gana called me one day shortly after and asked me to bring my car to the dealership so they could tell us how much it was worth. I warned her that it was dirty, messy, and obviously had hail damage ALL over it... but she said to bring it anyway. We had a deal, and I knew the car wasn't going to be worth much so I was not expecting anything. Lo and behold, somehow things worked out... and I got a new car! I am SO THANKFUL because I really don't think my car would have made it many more miles. Also, I have never had a car that was NEW to me (all family hand me downs) much less NEW to the world! I still get so nervous driving it and am super protective of it! I am not usually one to blog about materialistic things, I hope, but I just wanted to give my sweet, sweet grandmother a shout out (because I know she's one of the few that reads this) for her generosity. I am beyond grateful for this graduation present that is going to be put to so much use and last me for many years!

So, Gana, I cannot begin to thank you enough! I am so excited, and I love my gift! It will definitely be put to LOTS of good use! It was much needed for this upcoming year, and I am forever thankful! I love you!


Sunday, June 17, 2012

More Jesus.

I want more Jesus. In every aspect of my life- in my relationship with Dane, in my relationships with my friends, in my relationships with my family, in school, in my conversations with my CAK friends, in my actions, in my words, in this blog, in my life.

Jesus, I long for more of You. I long to be closer to You, and I long to be more like You. Draw me nearer. Thank You for never letting me go.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

I need to blog...

...but my thoughts are so jumbled and my life consumed by grad school. Ahhhhhhh
Hopefully soon.


Saturday, June 2, 2012

I thought I was going to be better about blogging during the summer than I was in the school year, but that is not proving true thus far. Summer has been so so great though, and May consisted of a whole lot of nothing. Now, however, I have begun graduate school... AHHH. That is SO weird to me, and I am not happy to be back in school... but it won't be too bad. I think I'm going to enjoy my classes. Unfortunately, due to classes, I had to cut my trip to the beach short... but Nicole and I had a great time while we were there. Had some car trouble at the beach, got it "fixed," miraculously made it home, and then it died on my way to class Thursday- I keep saying how ironic it is that my car worked all May when I was doing absolutely nothing productive, and then the day I need it... it quits working. So is life, I guess.

You better believe I have been taking full advantage of my Chick-Fil-A coupons, eating there nearly every day, and wearing the shirt quite often as well. You could say the Red Saile House consists of Chick-Fil-A-aholics. Who can blame us when we have 52 free meals and they practically pay us to eat there?!

Seeing Christine was possibly the best part of the whole trip.
Such a blessing to my life. Love her.
Megabed and Mulan (VHS, giant TV). Yes, please.
I guess this means it's real!