Incredibly Blessed

Hello Readers!

It feels like forever since I last blogged, but I'm going to take that as a good thing. I've been busy enjoying life and all of the beautiful moments it has to offer. This fall semester has started off with so many unexpected blessings. Wonderful residents, supportive coworkers, caring family and friends, and a sweet young man have made my fall nothing short of fantastic. 

Last night, I had the opportunity to lead a worship and study night for my Christian service sorority, Kappa Phi. Our focus was on Colossians 3:23-24 and how we are expected to serve with a heart for the Lord.

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, KJV)

During one of the activities, I had the ladies jot down their to-do list for the week and consider which items served themselves rather than served others. As I anticipated, most of my own to-do list expectations were quite self-serving. 

This week, I intend to take Colossians 3:23-24 to heart. I added a few acts of kindness to my to-do list and I can't wait to see how God works through these gestures. My hope and prayer would be for my readers to take some time to reflect on how they can apply Colossians 3:23-24 as well. Small acts of great love are a fantastic way to share God's compassion and kindness with others. All it takes is one small gesture to make someone's day!

Thoughts on Late Night Laundry

We all have our dirty laundry. It's the pieces of the past we wish we could forget; it's the parts of our lives we wish we could wash clean.

As I sit and wait on my actual, tangible laundry, my mind has been wandering and reflecting on the figurative laundry of my past. To some, it might not seem all that wild, crazy or bad. But in God's eyes, any actions we have taken that remove us from Him are equally as ugly, dirty, and disappointing. 

Thankfully, we don't have to live with the burden of that load.

Through His grace, we are saved.

Through His patience, we are guided to new paths.

Through His forgiveness, we can move onto better days of wiser decisions.

The past six months of my life have been a tumultuous time of reflection, growth, and perseverance in learning to take these steps of faith into a brighter future. Although I've been a Christian my whole life, I do not believe there has been any portion of that time that was more challenging of my faith. 

The reality check I went through last spring was rough, dirty, and sometimes made me want to cry. But through Christ's love, I got through it. 

Being back at college is showing me exactly how much I've developed as a young woman in these past six months. The pains of the past are lesser and the excitements of the future are greater. My moods are stable and my confidence in who I am in Christ has flourished. 

God gave me exactly the detergent I needed to rinse my past hurts clean. He can do it for you, too. I hope and pray that my late night laundry thoughts are the encouragement you need to allow Christ to clean up your past. There is no need to live folded under the guilt and burdens of the past. 

Through His love, we are cleaned and set free. He pulls us out of darkness and into light.

We see this with Job:

"God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life." Job 33:28

"As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James 5:11

We see this in 1 Peter:

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

We see this in Isaiah:

"'Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'" Isaiah 1:18

These are just a few of many examples of God's remarkable love and forgiveness. Take some time to soak in His goodness, because He truly cares for you!

Saying goodbye to the not-so-sandy days at Seaside

After a beach vacation, the usual reminder of good times comes in the form of specks of sand wedged into the crevices of bags and shoes. 

After working at a place called Seaside, I can't say that I've found any sand. But I certainly have memories! I left my employment in a waterpark gift shop to head back to school for fall. In honor of a request by a co-worker to have an "article written", I decided to write a blog post about my times at Seaside this summer!

So here are my top five summer memories from working at this place:

1) Parking lot tie-dye: Yep, we made tie-dye shirts in the work parking lot. Not something you get to do with most jobs! It was a fun time!

2) IHOP outings: I tried IHOP for the first time, and then for a second time. They were tasty and entertaining nights out with co-workers. I definitely had a side of laughs to go with those pancakes.

3) Laps around the store: We had a lot of rain and cool weather this summer, so my fellow associates and I got quite a bit of exercise. That exercise was walking around the store fixing racks of clothing, sweeping any little piece of debris, and finding all sorts of ways to productively pass the time. And maybe chatting every now and then... :)

4) Bucket hat swag: One awesome perk of working in the waterpark was getting to wear a super-cool bucket hat. Maybe super-cool is an exaggeration, but nevertheless, it was a fun addition to a simple uniform!

5) Finding a boyfriend: Just kidding! Had to throw that in the list because a silly co-worker was bound and determined to set me up with a random park guest. It would have been dreadfully awkward, but the thought of it sure was funny!

Thanks to my co-workers for a great summer job experience. Best wishes for all of your futures!

A Harness Racing Fan is Born

I actually understood a sport.

For those of you who know me well, this is nearly as significant a life event as the fact I was published for the first time this week. I attended the Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop, which encompasses all aspects of reporting on harness racing. Not only did I have to learn to properly watch a race, but also comprehend the ins and outs of the event to share with others through writing.

I feel so blessed to have had the opportunities offered the past four days. I am not a journalism major, yet feel prepared to freelance write for publications in my future, thanks to this workshop. Thanks be to God for the talents he has given me. There is no way I could have done this weekend alone through my own sheer willpower. Glory to Him for the guidance and resources provided to make my first publishing experiences a success! 

Here are my articles for the Philly Inquirer:

Philadelphia Owner Skips Billy Joel Concert to Run Longshot in Hambletonian

Takter Drives Trixton to Hambletonian Victory

In addition to the writing opportunities, I had what seem to be once in a lifetime experiences. Check out the photos below (photo credits to Lia Eustachewich) to see some highlights!

We toured the NY Daily News and were copy-edited by a staff member.

Tour of the paddock at Yonkers Raceway. We spoke with a veterinarian and met driver Jason Bartlett.

I drove CD's Miss M, then gave her a bath and cleaned the stall at Gaitway Farm. She was such a sweet Trottingbred horse!

I fed Captaintreacherous a carrot. He had a silly personality and would stomp his feet when he wanted more to eat.

I sat in the press box at Citi Field. Great view!

Another awesome view-- sitting in the dugout for the Mets! I even chewed their bubble gum. If I was more athletic, I'd say I felt ready to walk out onto the field and play.

On the day of the Hambletonian (harness racing's most prestigious event), we had a roundtable with professionals in the field.


I had such a memorable experience at this workshop and hope to stay involved in (or at least watch) the field of harness racing. A fan has been born!

Now for a safe flight home with my cousin, Kathy Parker :)

A Miracle, A New Week, A Crazy Life

A Miracle.

That's all you can call it! As my Facebook friends and close family are aware, my grandpa needed all the prayers he could get last Friday. First thing that morning, my grandma found him unresponsive and not wearing his oxygen mask. Soon, emergency medical staff learned he had an incredibly low sugar level and were asking for a copy of his living will. 

I'd rather not share all the details of this stressful time, but I do want to thank everyone for their prayers. My grandpa should not have lived when the episode is examined in a logical sense; nevertheless, God trumps all medical and worldly ways and He gave my grandpa another chance at life! Today, Grandpa left the hospital!

A New Week.

I am so thankful for a fresh start this week. Last week, there were several curveballs thrown my family's way. As I was attempting to get recurring anxiety and depression symptoms in check, we found out my dad will be in need of a new job due to outsourcing. Add Grandpa's situation to the mix and you have the definition of stress! 

God truly placed His healing hands on our trials last week. He provided encouragement through thoughtful gestures from several of my friends. He gave my dad the resources needed to start the job hunt. He ultimately saved my grandpa's life. All in all, those trials have become a huge testimony of God's power, strength, and grace.

A Crazy Life.

When I look back on the past few months, it's easy to say I've had a pretty crazy life. Crazy good. God has done so much work in my heart and mind. In a short amount of time, He turned my struggles into an opportunity to rest in His presence. I am grateful for the new friendships and experiences He has provided. I am also looking forward to where He takes me as I finish summer and enter my third year of college!

God has been teaching me the real-life application of the following scripture:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." -James 1:2-4

I hope to keep this passage in mind as I face future trials. Life can get crazy, but with God by our side it can be crazy good.

Update: 21 Before I'm 21

I've made some progress, with pictures to prove it! Check out all the stuff God has given me the opportunity to do over the past few weeks:

#5- Try at least five new foods, drinks, or restaurants...I tried Gigi's Cupcakes, IHOP, and several different types of authentic Vietnamese food!

#11- Do three crafts off of Pinterest...I'm working on door decorations for my residents next fall. I also made a running tutu. One more craft to go before I can fully check this task off the list!

#13- Make a scrapbook of my college experiences...I modified this idea and made a scrapbook of the travel experiences I've had, several of which were during college. I plan to update it as I go on more adventures!

#19- Do something unusual, spontaneous, or out of my comfort zone!...I started going to a college-age ministry program at a local church, all by myself! I joined a small group for the summer and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I'm so glad I did because I've learned a lot and met some really great people!

#21- Keep up with my Bible-in-a-Year reading plan...I got a few days behind, but I'm caught up now! Currently working on Ezra and 31% complete with the plan. God is teaching me so much discipline through this endeavor.

Not Immune

Completely, utterly surrounded. Fans cheering for God more than for the top-chart singers. People raising their hands in worship. Friendly smiles exchanged among strangers. Tents full of charity efforts.

All of that Christianity enveloped me, yet I still sinned.

Yes, I'm a sinner. And yes, I sinned at a Christian event.

Despite the Christ-focused efforts that might be at our fingertips, a spiritual and holy atmosphere is not enough to make us immune to sin. It creeps under our skin the second we say "yes" to a temptation, whether it be with a quick temper or a lustful glance. In my case, all it took were some unkind and snappy remarks to my family. Jesus was in my heart and I'd said "yes" to Him long ago; nevertheless, I was not and will not be immune to temptations that lead to sin.

This past weekend, I had the chance to check out contemporary Christian music at Spiritsong with some of my family. We just might fall into the category of overenthusiastic fans, considering our homemade signs, glowsticks (not pictured), and TobyMac t-shirts. :)

If we went by that picture, it would be safe to say that every aspect of the experience was centered around enjoying time together and cheering for some great music. However, this photo doesn't tell the full story. 

Not even a few hours before this picture was taken, I let some anxiety get the best of me and took it out on my family. I was grumpy, made remarks that were inconsiderate, and was intolerant of anything that did not fit into my mold of what was right or wrong. They were incredibly supportive and the environment was as positive as can be, yet my urge to have a bad attitude towards my family members came to fruition. 

Thankfully, I came to realize my mistake and apologized. We enjoyed the rest of our time together and I feel that the concert revived my inner fire for following Christ.  

My hope would be that we take this example and apply it to other parts of our lives. No matter where we are, we cannot assume temptations will not get the best of us or that we no longer need to make a conscious effort to make godly choices. Whether we be walking through the doors of a church, serving in the mission field, spending time with other Christians, or having a presence in some sort of religiously-affiliated place, we must remember that we are not immune to sin. 

Christ must be on our mind and in our hearts at all times. Even when we are in places that seem to pour out His goodness, we must remember that we are still in need of His love, grace, and forgiveness. No environment can make us the "perfect" Christian and that is not a concept of which to be ashamed. We are all in need of the perfect sacrifice, Jesus, to account for our imperfect selves! 

Have a good night, dearest readers, and remember how much He loves you!

Just a Little Dream Come True

As I reflect on the past few months, I sit in awe of God's grace and power. Throughout my time as a Christian teenager, I had always thought it would be cool to be in a small group. Not just any small group-- one in which the people were genuine, honest, and supportive of each other. The sad part of this desire, however, was that I never really expected it to come to fruition. I had never seen an opportunity where I had enough courage to pursue joining a group, enough availability in my schedule to physically make it happen, or enough proof that a group would be a good fit. I had not found my niche in the church-world and was left with a mindset of "if it happens, great; if not, oh well." 

But God did not let me stop there! He gave me not one, but three small groups! Between my lifegroup at school, my Christian service sorority, and my recently-joined summer small group, I think God has made a point that He gives us desires with the intent to fulfill them, as long as they are honorable in His eyes. 

"Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." -Joshua 21:45

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching." -Hebrews 10:23-25

Scripture tells us this truth, but sometimes it takes some poking, prodding, and leading from the Holy Spirit to allow that truth to clearly show up in our lives. I feel so blessed and thankful that God gave me these opportunities to have fellowship with other Christians. Additionally, I am excited to see how He is using these groups to strengthen and deepen my maturity in my faith. 

God gives us life to the full when we live it for and with Him. I pray that you see His blessings in your life and allow Him to form a relationship with you! 

Rain or shine, God will provide!

Whether it be money or free time, I know God will provide through the wacky weather we've had this summer!

I was in a funk for the past few days, but thanks to my wonderful mother's words of truth, I am out of it now! After four days straight of no work, I was feeling really anxious and worried about the size of my upcoming paycheck. I was initially thrilled to have easily found a job for this summer. However, those initial feelings of excitement turned into confusion quite quickly! What did God have in mind by making it pour buckets of rain just one week into the job? The weather shut down opportunities to work in the local waterpark for multiple days in a row. Would this become a trend for the rest of the summer? 

I panicked and started searching for second jobs, different workplaces, online/at-home jobs, and even different positions within my current workplace. I tried anything and everything I could to fight back against the rain's attempt to keep me out of work. Thank goodness Mom stepped in at that point to set me straight! She reminded me that all would work out fine in the end. Mom eased my fears of not being financially stable and provided hope for better weather and time to pick up additional shifts the rest of the summer. 

I now realize the rain may not have been what I had envisioned, but it is exactly what God had in mind. Although He wasn't going to make it rain money, He certainly provided just what I needed to grow as a friend and a member of my family. I had the time to text and spend time with friends with which I had lost touch, the opportunity to play a long game of Monopoly after an evening at the pool with my sister, and enough of a break in the rain to go on a leisurely walk with my mom. 

Those experiences mean more than the dollar bills I could have earned in that time. God truly has a plan and knows what is best for us. He might not be providing the money I expected, but I know He will take care of me.

Scripture reminds us that we can always trust in God's timing and plan. 

"The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest." -Psalm 85:12

"He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." -Deuteronomy 32:4

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." -Psalm 55:22

I might not be seeing money now, but I am going to choose to rejoice in what I am being given in this time! God is going to care for us and bring glory to His kingdom in whatever way He chooses. We might not always understand, but we can trust that He will provide!

Summer Adventures: Cupcakes, Booktalks, and Horse Racing

Hey Readers!

Hope your day was just as exciting as mine. I'd like to think today kicked off what will officially be a summer of adventures!

My best friend and I started fulfilling the items on our bucket list with stop #1 at Gigi's Cupcakes. Take a look at these beauties! So much icing!

On the way, we also began discussing  our summer read, Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I feel so blessed to have this sister in Christ with which to discuss God's amazing love and how to pursue a deeper relationship with Him. I am sure snippets of what I am learning through these booktalks will seep into my writing over the next few weeks.

And as if that is not enough excitement for one day, I have a cool announcement...summer travel plans have been made!

Only God could have arranged for this travel experience to take place. He provided all of the connections, the resources, and the courage to say "yes" to the opportunity. I'm thrilled to see what I learn and do while in the New Jersey/NYC area for a long weekend in August. I will be attending the Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop, which occurs with the Hambletonian's harness horse racing at the Meadowlands Racetrack. 

A relative who is an editor for a harness racing magazine noticed my interest in writing and made all the connections I need to participate, for free! She has been a huge blessing as my sponsor and I look forward to reporting on the races with her at the Hambletonian. It is crazy to think that my recently begun attempt at blogging could lead to such an amazing opportunity to learn from professional writers and to meet people from different walks of life. The horse racing world is relatively new to me, so I am curious to see what this community of people teaches me. Please pray for God to guide me as I venture through the airport, conduct interviews, and write articles during this experience. I cannot even imagine the doors this experience may open, whether it be through the connections I make or the skills I develop. 

God is so good. I pray that you all have a blessed summer, full of joy in His goodness, mercy, and grace.

Fresh Start for Summer

Hello Readers!

I finally have had a chance to sit back and relax a bit. Oh, how I've missed the blogging world! Here is what started my summer break:

Boxes. Boxes. And yes, more boxes.

Add a few too many flights of stairs, numerous car trips back and forth down the same exact roads, and some added comic relief by my family members. I am now sporting bruises and slightly-toned muscles on all limbs, thanks to all of the packing, lifting, and organizing.

If that description sounds like a move from a four-bedroom house to a two-bedroom apartment, you've hit the jackpot!

My family decided to take the plunge and put the house for sale earlier this spring. After much prayer, discussion, and research, my parents decided the family would be better suited in a different school district. Little did we realize our house would sell in two weeks and an apartment would be the only reasonable option in which to move.

The relatively quick sell, despite some issues surrounding the location of the house, was definitely an answer to prayers. Nevertheless, we were naturally thrown into a pool of stress and uncertainty upon realizing there were no houses to our liking on the market to purchase! Temporary apartment life, here we come!

Despite the cramped quarters and hours of unpacking, I am pleased to say that my family is making the best of it. We are looking forward to embracing all the fresh start has to offer, while still keeping in touch with old friends from our prior home. I am thankful that God has placed this opportunity to enjoy family time this summer without a house's yard work, cleaning, and other responsibilities. My dad just mentioned today how he thinks this apartment lifestyle might be a blessing for the time being, and so far I think he is right! We are looking forward to less work for the parents, more motivation to get along with each other for the kids, and additional amenities to enjoy together, such as the pool and trails.

I pray that you are also embracing the opportunities God has placed into your life this summer. Please pray for guidance as we determine when to pursue finding a new home.

Best wishes for your summer adventures!

21 Things to Do Before I Turn 21

Good Evening!

I've had a lot of "I should do this!" sorts of ideas on my mind lately and decided to post them to keep me accountable. In order to push me to actually make these things happen, I also decided to add a deadline, my milestone of a birthday. I will be turning 21 in less than a year, which should be plenty of time to accomplish the big and random things on the list below! I will keep the blogging world posted on my progress and I'm sure I will have all sorts of fun stories and experiences to share.

Here are the challenges on my to-do list (in no particular order):

1) Start exercising again and run a 5k

2) Read at least three books about my faith

3) Go public and get baptized next fall

4) Complete the Well program at my campus church

5) Try at least five new foods, drinks, or restaurants

6) Make a Kappa Phi shirt for my Build-a-Bear

7) Go on a fun, memorable outing with each of my siblings

8) Plan, lead, and complete a summer Bible study for Kappa Phi

9) Plan and start to lead a school year Bible study for Kappa Phi

10) Finish knitting my second blanket

11) Do three crafts off of Pinterest

12) Travel somewhere, maybe NYC!

13) Make a scrapbook of my college experiences

14) Volunteer somewhere

15) Keep in touch with at least three residents

16) Get coffee, lunch, dinner, or ice cream with two people I've lost touch with

17) Make all of my fall semester door decorations before summer break ends

18) Break a bad habit (maybe my delay in putting laundry away? lol)

19) Do something unusual, spontaneous, or out of my comfort zone!

20) Find and decide on a mission trip (or similar excursion) for next year

21) Keep up with my Bible-in-a-Year reading plan

I look forward to seeing what all God has in store for the next few months! I'm sure this list is just the beginning!

"How worn is your Bible?"

As I glanced at all the mess on my desk tonight, I noticed the worn edges of my Bible. Hmmm. Those are new. 

Now that I think about it, I remember a conversation I had with my women's group leader, close to this time last year. I had nonchalantly mentioned how I liked my Bible to be in top-notch shape and didn't like to see it's beautiful pink exterior show the wear and tear. 

Rather than simply nodding her head and agreeing with that casual statement, the leader looked me directly in the eyes and made a statement that should have sunk in sooner. Something challenging, along the lines of "an unworn Bible typically means it isn't being read". 

I brushed it off at the time and didn't think much of it. I was attending women's group and church weekly, clearly I was "a good Christian". However, that concept of "how worn is your Bible" is proving to be true in my life as I reflect on the past year. Now, I am truly embracing that wear and tear because it is representative to the change that has been occurring in my life.

I have always been a believer in Christ, but I feel that in the past few months I have come to a new understanding of what it actually means to be a follower of Him. Reading my Bible regularly has been a key step in that direction. Sure, church groups are nice and acts of service are great. I used to enjoy simply perusing devotionals and Christian books, but without the actual Bible, those, along with the religious actions, are not truly effective. Those should be the books and experiences sought to enrich our walk with God, not as the sole provider of a relationship with Christ.

The Bible is a foundation of the Christian faith and I can now say thank you to that leader for her challenging words. Although it did not make sense at the time, it sure does now. I have not made so much growth in my faith and understanding of God since I started reading regularly.

I encourage all of you to pick up your Bible and just start somewhere. I supplement with an iPad app that provides a reading schedule (in less than a year, I should be all the way through it!). Nevertheless, Christ can work through any efforts, order, or structure you place upon your study of His word. Every verse of scripture has something to teach and has the potential to change your life. Give it a chance to wear down your walls and seep into who you are.

The worn edges of my Bible are a reminder of the work Christ has done in my life. I am forever changed by His grace and have the worn edges as a small way to prove it!

Long time, no blog!

Hello Readers! 

It sure has been a while since I've been in the blogging world! That, my friends, is the joy of the end of the semester and the negative aspect of actually getting ahead on homework!

I can't decide on a common theme for tonight's post, so it is going to be tidbits of my life to catch you up on all the amazing things Jesus is doing in my life!

Tidbit #1...For once in my life, I feel like I have conquered procrastination! I can only thank Jesus for the discipline he has provided in the past few weeks. I surely could not have done it alone. Homework done not just hours, but DAYS in advance??? Unheard of in my life, until now! It sure is a good feeling, too!

Tidbit #2...It's funny how life seems to take a turn for the worse, but really it is for the better. The end of this semester has been filled with marvelous, genuine, and Christ-loving people and I am truly blessed to have spent the past few months getting to know them. Crazy to think that if some unhappy times hadn't occurred, I would not have crossed paths with these people. Christ sure does have plans bigger than anything we could have ever made ourselves.

Tidbit #3...My career plans are going through a phase of uncertainty, but that isn't all that unusual! I'm just going to trust God to take me wherever He wants, whether it matches my degree or not. It is surely going to be an adventure no matter which direction I go.

Tidbit #4...I missed blogging! There have been days where I second guess it and wonder if it is even worth the time, but then I realize how much relaxation and peace it brings me. As if that isn't enough, I have also received messages of how much some posts have meant to people. I am humbled to think God could use an amateur writer like me to make someone's day! Let's hope from here forward, I can make some more time to embrace the blogging world again and maybe make a few more days brighter for people. We're all in life together, so I might as well share my successes and failures if it can help others!

Take care and have a great end of the semester, fellow college students!

Lessons Learned from a Kindergartner

Hello Readers!

I spent most of my Wednesday doing what I love most about being an education major-- assisting and observing in a kindergarten classroom! The children are always so gracious in their offerings of hugs, drawings, and giggles. I usually leave feeling really relaxed and at peace that teaching young children is what I want to do with my life. Today, however, left me with a lot more to think about.

Am I actually prepared for the situations my students are going to present? Can I really handle a classroom full of energetic bodies that can't seem to stop bouncing from their seats and sliding down to play under the tables? Do I really have the patience for early childhood students who like to push boundaries and who are not quick to grasp concepts?

I had the opportunity to lead the writing time for a solid 45 minutes. Every time the teacher peeked into the room to get another student for an assessment, she complimented how quiet and focused they were. She saw what I was missing; the majority of the class was being productive and gaining great practice in writing. I was simply distracted by the few students who decided today was the day to test Miss Sara's patience! 

One student in particular made it so easy to become frustrated. The prompt was to write about what was played at recess. The student's dramatic and loud response..."I did nothing at recess!". Eventually, this led to the paper being thrown on the floor and a refusal to do any work. I had to raise my voice with the student, in addition to moving the student to a different table away from the others, plus moving down on the behavior chart. These are not aspects of classroom management I enjoy or am proud of doing, but there was no other option in this case!  

Keep in mind, all during this episode, there were a handful of students tattle-telling on each other for various reasons. There was also a student playing "hide under the table" instead of doing work. Then, a handful of gifted and talented students waved their hands frantically out of boredom because they were finished and wanted the teacher to give them more work to do. As if that wasn't enough, several other hands were held in the air because help was needed sounding out words and thinking of ideas. Good golly, talk about needing an extra set of eyes and hands!

Despite the tears from the student refusing to do work and the chaos that seemed to surround the incident, I managed to pull everyone through the assignment. All of them wrote at least one sentence and illustrated their recess activities. Overall, you could say the lesson was a success!

But the story doesn't stop there. The reason today will stick with me wasn't the struggle of classroom management. Those are skills that will be learned with more practice.

The true struggle from today's experience is feeling comfortable with my attitude towards the difficult student. The back story to all of this is that earlier in the day, the student shared with the class frustrations of not spending time with a father figure.

Here I am, losing my patience, with a child who clearly expressed he just needs to feel and experience some unconditional love.  

Do I even have the right mindset to be an effective, loving teacher?

That is a huge question that I can only pray God will answer. Maybe my doubts are unwarranted, maybe I'm jumping to conclusions, and most likely my career choice will work out fine. I'm sticking with my choice for now in hopes that this is the circumstance. 

Nonetheless, I still think it is incredibly important to pray and reflect on having the right mindset in pursuit of any path we intend to take. Skills can be learned, but a mindset is a whole different ordeal. Only Christ can bless us with the perspective we need to see our roles on Earth in the way He sees them. I can try all I want to be a good teacher, but if I am not leaning on Christ to give me the perspective to truly love and help children with patience and compassion, the work is not going to be effective. 

Although teaching may not directly be a religiously-affiliated task, I learned today how important my faith will be in pursuing and maintaining a career as a teacher. In the next few years of preparation, I will be continually praying for God to show His intentions for my career, including the mindset He wants me to have in working with young children.

A Beautiful Exchange + Other Weekend Memories

Happy Easter, Readers!

This weekend has been filled with more memories and emotions than any other Easter I can remember! I stayed at school for the holiday this year, but thankfully I had the opportunity to spend time with my beautiful and fun-loving grandma! 

Grandma was such a good sport about trying new things and going on all sorts of adventures during the weekend. Wrong turns, building water-system repairs and other craziness did not ruin her mood; in fact, I think these goofy experiences made it all the more exciting! The most special part of the weekend, however, was not just shopping and eating out together as I would have expected.

The truly special memories that I will hold close to my heart were from my grandma's willingness to go to church with me and to embrace the emotions this religious weekend can bring. Friday night, we went to a Good Friday service that far surpassed anything I would have expected. Saturday afternoon, we saw the movie Heaven is for Real. Today, we attended a fantastic church service. On top of all that, we recognized the anniversary of my uncle's unexpected passing of April 19, 2006. Talk about a tear-jerking weekend!

The tears, laughs, and smiles of this weekend all related back to the absolutely mind-blowing love of Jesus Christ. The ugliness of Christ's death on Good Friday became the most beautiful exchange imaginable on Resurrection Sunday. As my grandma pointed out, it is unimaginable to think of how the people must have felt to see their son, leader, and friend Jesus die on the cross that night. It truly places our own frustrations and sadness in perspective!

The beauty that comes from this ugliness is that Christ died as the perfect sacrifice in exchange for our sins. I hope and pray that this Easter, you spend some time reflecting on how much unconditional love that represents. Jesus died for you and because of mankind's sin. He rose from the grave, death has lost it's sting. Christ has provided the sacrifice we need in order to spend an eternity with God, all it takes is accepting His ways and choosing to live for His honor! Spread the message with those you love-- there is no other story more worth sharing! 

"Graduation", for now

Good Afternoon and Happy Monday!

I've gone back and forth about sharing an exciting moment from my past few weeks, but today I decided to go with it and write a post!

I hope by sharing openly about mental health I can be a witness to Christ's goodness and can encourage others to pursue emotional and psychological healing through the resources He provides for us. Although it is sometimes taboo in our society to discuss mental illness, I think the only way to make progress in helping people to heal is to be transparent, understanding, and supportive by addressing these issues.

Some of you may not know that last July I was diagnosed with depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Although I've always been a worrier and had anxious tendencies, last summer was the last straw where I realized those tendencies were overtaking my life and ruining relationships with family members. God bless them all for putting up with my snappy outbursts, panic attacks, fatigued and grouchy moods, and tears at every little disagreement!

After diagnosis, I decided there were two main options for dealing with these unpleasant mood swings and my feelings of low self-worth and guilt: ignore the issues or get help. I chose the latter.

However, this choice was not as simple as get some medication and think happy thoughts. In fact, the consequences of the choice to get help sometimes caused more stress than the anxiety itself! I had to make counseling and psychiatrist appointments a priority, decrease my involvement in extracurricular activities, temporarily eliminate caffeine (it can increase anxious feelings), make time to decrease stress through reading and exercise, and increase my time spent processing negative thoughts (therapy can bring up some pretty uncomfortable topics!). 

There were times where I freaked out and thought my life would be forever ruined by anxiety. I thought I wouldn't be able to handle myself, let alone be able to have and support a family of my own someday. Depression can bring some ugly thoughts and can make life seem hopeless.

Through Christ, I saw these hopeless moments turn into new opportunities. On Friday, April 4, He brought some major excitement to my spring and made me realize just how far He pushed me towards being a more relaxed and joyful person-- I graduated from counseling! 

"Graduation" might be a stretch as far as terminology goes (I think the technical term is I am "terminated" from the counseling program), but that is what it felt like! Hearing the words "I think you met all of your goals for counseling" was music to my ears. I am continually amazed to have made so much progress in such a short amount of time. Although there were some great counselors, doctors, and family members in the process, I know that the most significant factor in my healing was God's grace. 

The scariest part of anxiety and depression is that there tends to be a recurrence throughout one's life, depending on situational triggers and genetic predispositions. That thought used to really terrify me, but now I am realizing that if God brought me through it once, He can do it again. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to a more joyful life with less anxiety and negativity. Even if there is a recurrence down the road, Christ will provide all of the resources I need to see myself the way He sees me and to cast all of my cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7). 

As for now, I am going to enjoy my "graduation" and embrace the new habits of anxiety-free living. I hope and pray that this post comes as encouragement to anyone dealing with mental health issues. God will and does provide!

Fab 5: A Few Snapshots of My Weekend

Hello Readers!

It's been a while since I've blogged, so I figured it is about time I get you all caught up on the happenings of the past few days! Here are the Fab 5 moments from this past weekend:




1-Sibs-n-Kids Weekend
I had the opportunity to spend some time with family with a visit from my sister, neighbor, and parents. My college was hosting Sibs-n-Kids Weekend, which meant a bunch of fun activities: exotic animal petting, photo booths, inflatables, and more!  




2- Best Friend Photos
I received the photos from when Caitlyn visited! The "Best Friend Photo Shoot" was really enjoyable and Melissa did a great job. Here are a few favorites!

        


3- Productivity
I buckled down on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon and managed to complete two projects! I'm praying my motivation levels stay this high as the semester draws to a close.

4- Baby Time
This morning, I had the opportunity to watch some of the babies at church. Spending time with these little blessings was so enjoyable!

5- Palm Sunday Service
Today was Palm Sunday, which meant the children at church had a blast running around with palm leaves and making paper donkey crafts. Seeing the joy on their faces reminded me of how much of a blessing it is to have Jesus as our Lord and Savior! Palm Sunday is a great time to reflect on where you are in your walk with God and I recommend reading this story in your Bible in preparation for Easter. One aspect in particular that stuck out to me was that Jesus cried after people praised Him by yelling "Hosanna!" and waving the palm branches (Luke 19:41). From the church service, I now realize Jesus was crying due to the lack of genuine commitment from the people praising Him. Christ wants our full commitment to doing His will, on more than just a special occasion like the situation of the crowd in the story of Palm Sunday.

Hope your weekend was filled with joyful moments and some reflection in preparation for Easter!

Alternate Plans

Hello Everyone! Happy Wednesday!

Tonight I just had to sit back and laugh. I took a shower for the sole purpose to shave in preparation for wearing capri-length pants to a group exercise class, got myself mentally pumped and motivated, and then was told by a friend that Zumba class was cancelled tonight. All that prep for nothing!

This scenario reflects a lot of situations that arise in life, in which we have positive intentions only to find that those plans were not aligned with what was actually going to happen. Sometimes the switch is more disappointing or more exciting than my Zumba class falling through, but nevertheless, we have to deal with the situation and move forward with the change in schedule.

I realized just a day or so ago that I had felt it was a wonderful idea to make the "Spread Some Love" Facebook page and put words to action, but even I have fallen off track with following through on that plan! Good intentions, but was it realistic? Probably not! I learned a lesson about myself through that experience-- setting a daily plan for how I can bless people is neither my strength nor is it practical! I'm realizing more and more that God wants me to see ways to help show others His love on sporadic and spontaneous everyday occasions, not through a scheduled-out calendar of Facebook events. 

So after going back and forth over what to do with this ineffective Facebook page, I did some talking to God and self-reflection and decided I would leave it in case someone else finds it to be useful. If it takes off and people want to connect via the page, great! If not, nothing lost and insight gained!

My initial thought was to end this post with the hope that your day is going more as planned than my own, but that might not actually be the best idea with which to leave this subject. Rather, I hope and pray that even if your day is not going as planned, you can trust God has something bigger and better to fill that time!

Waiting Wisely

Good evening, lovely readers!

I've been blessed with some spare time tonight and a title for a post came to me earlier today, so it looks like the perfect time to do some blogging! The idea of "waiting wisely" came to me as I read a few articles earlier in regards to what to do while you are a single Christian. As someone who is trying to purposefully be single until the end of Lent, I've hit a few roadblocks that make it oh-so-tempting to give up on that idea. Satan is really good at what he does, so it is a good thing Christ is a whole lot better at supporting us through those trials!

I had a post not too long ago about the "Forever Alone" lie (The Big Fat Lie aka Forever Alone- click here for a link), but once we realize that we will not be forever alone, what do we do about it? How do we effectively spend our time embracing what Christ has for us in our singleness, rather than wishing for a significant other all-day, everyday?

Even after doing my research, I still have moments where I wish I could just jump ahead, skip the singleness step, and be in a relationship. I think I'm ready to get back into the world of dating, but the reality is, I'm not. I might think my timing is all fine and dandy; however, Christ will never be delayed or early in His timing, so I really have no business deciding that timing on my own! I am constantly reminding myself that there is a reason I felt the push to challenge myself to this dating detox for Lent and that I should embrace the time to do God's will with no distractions. Nevertheless, easier said than done.

So what can be done? Whether you are purposefully taking a break on pursuing relationships or just haven't met "the one", what can you do with all of this time being single?

Here are a few ideas I brainstormed and/or tried:

1. Read, read, and read some more. I decided this is a great time to start soaking in God's word and began a one-year Bible challenge. While it is just a short bit of time spent each day, I am finding that I am learning so much about who God is and what He has in store for our lives with Him. Word of warning-- your mind may not-so-conveniently try to wander so be prepared to push through the distractions and re-focus!

2. Check out some new volunteer opportunities. I felt God was calling me to get more plugged in at church and took the plunge to start working with children's church every few weeks. Not only is it enjoyable, but also a great way to learn about your spiritual gifts and how to use them.

3. Spend time with new people. As a single person, we are free to do whatever we please, within reason, of course. There is no one tying us down with date nights and other relationship-related time commitments, which makes it the perfect opportunity to experiment with new social circles and to seek out new fellowship opportunities. Who knows, the friendships you make could lead someone to Christ or even strengthen your own faith! Word of caution-- focus on friendship as brothers and sisters in Christ, not on whether or not someone is a potential future mate! If it is meant to turn into more than friendship, let Jesus do the work and follow His guidance. 

4. Pray and journal. Devote a consistent time to prayer and/or writing in a journal everyday. Find a comfy spot where you can unwind and let God have your complete focus. God loves when we spend time with Him in prayer and writing about our thoughts can be an amazing way to watch how He works through our prayer life.

5. Learn to see yourself the way God sees you. Embrace who you are and where you are in life! This might be the most challenging idea of all, at least in my life. Mentally re-playing our mistakes in past relationships, whether it be with friends, a significant other, or family, can become a very detrimental habit and can wear down our image of who we are in Christ. Take this time to refocus on forgiving yourself the way God forgives you, unconditionally as though you are a blank slate. Isaiah 1:18 states, "'Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'" 

I pray that all of the other single ladies and gents out there have found some equally as effective ways to spend their time! Please comment with any ideas, I'd love to hear my readers' suggestions on how to wait wisely.

Take care and goodnight!

A Wonderful Visit with a Lovely Lady!

Good afternoon, readers!

I sadly had to send Caitlyn on her way this morning. She has a busy week ahead of her and we had a very eventful weekend, so say some prayers for her to have energy this week!

Here is a sneak peek into our girl time this weekend. Some stories can't be shared online, of course, because what happens on girls' weekend stays in girls' weekend :) No worries, we didn't experience anything too crazy!

On Friday, we enjoyed some local pizza, tried (but failed) to find a craft to do, and decided to make a last-minute trip to the movie theater to see God's Not Dead. Our take on the movie-- a little too jumpy of a storyline and some room for improvement on the filming, but some great Christian messages not-so-hidden within the characters' experiences!

Saturday did not fail to entertain us! We started our morning bright and early to go to Literacy in the Park, which is a campus program including a children's author visit (Eric Litwin) and literacy activities for children in the community.

Here is a picture of us with Pete the Cat! Hopefully we can entertain our future students with this "celebrity" spotting.

After spending some time around children, we decided to embrace our inner child and get our hands dirty. Spur of the moment trip to Hobby Lobby, it was! We came back armed with crayons, glue, fabric, ribbon, beads, and dowel rods. 

I have a tiny crack of light that always shines through the side of my blinds, so DIY curtains were the perfect solution for residence hall life! Caitlyn was a wonderful crafting partner and helped me get REALLY creative with how to make those curtains happen. No sewing, just a glue gun, ribbons, fabric, and dowel rods supported by Command hooks. Ta-da!

We also made some bracelets we've always eyed on Pinterest. Ta-da #2!

Our day didn't stop there, though! Next up was a Best Friend Photoshoot. It was a blast and Melissa did a fantastic job finding fun poses and locations for the pictures. I'm sure some will be shared with you all once I get them back!

We were very tired and took a snack break for some Pinkberry after the photoshoot. Caitlyn learned she has a new favorite fro-yo topping, strawberries!

After some time just relaxing and watching movies, we went on our last adventure of the night. Caitlyn got to join me in cheering on participants at Ziggython, my school's Dance Marathon event. Dancers stand for 32 hours in support for the kids! Check out this link http://www.bgsudancemarathon.com/ for more information about this great cause!

We slept like babies last night, if you didn't guess! I think I tired out my best friend, but even if I didn't, I know we at least made some really good memories in our eventful day! I treasure time with this wonderful sister in Christ and am already looking forward to the next time I see her.

Hope you all had an adventurous weekend with the special people in your life!