Today is Thanksgiving Day, and I had a fabulous time at my brother and sister-in-law's house. I am blessed in the area of family, as I have one that loves unconditionally. Therefore, there is no drama, but simply the enjoyment of each other's company. It's always great, and I never take it for granted because I know that not everyone has the kind of family that I do. I sit and wait for a spouse this side of Heaven, and I'm fine with it because I know that my family is amazing on all sorts of levels that I won't share with you now. Trust me though, I am blessed.
In my pondering of thankfulness tonight, I have pondered the past couple weeks I've had here at the "Resort." I don't really have a resort, I have a three bedroom town-home. *grin* This house has been more than I ever imagined when I was sitting in the last chapter of my life. For some of you that are new to my world, this post won't make complete sense to you. Honestly, that's fine. You'll get the gist of it. *grin*
While Karen is gone now, to be with family and friends south of here, she was here for a little over two weeks. I'll be honest, I prayed before she came, as I had a previous friendship that ended due to things that happened while we were housemates, and I didn't want a repeat of that. God answered that prayer on so many levels that I didn't expect. *grin* I love it when He does that! *grin*
Karen has always been a good friend of mine. While she's a little older than I am, she is wise in the Lord and also in relationships and other random things that I didn't know about. *grin* I didn't expect a repeat of the last chapter of my life, I just wasn't sure what it was going to look like having her here.
As it turned out, the routine was AMAZING. She was able to study and pray while I was at work. When I came home, we would talk, laugh, and just have fun. Sometimes we watched movies, and other times we just talked. My favorite thing that we did was laugh. We also ministered one night to a friend of mine, which was an amazing night as well.
Perhaps the thing that impacted me the most was the moment we realized we were close enough that we didn't need "thought bubbles" between us. In other words, Karen was a safe friend that I could share with, even though we didn't agree on everything. That was HUGE for me. The filter could be turned off when I was around Karen. The more I pondered that, the more awesome that was to me because I don't think I have that with anyone else besides the Lord. In the last chapter of my life...well...I will simply state that the past two weeks were amazingly cool in comparison to where I was at before now. *grin* It's human nature to compare experiences, I get that. However, I know that part of why Karen was here was to be used by Him to show me so many things.
I am so very thankful for Karen and her heart for the Lord. I'm a different person tonight than I was before she was here. He used her in ways she will never know or realize, and I think that's cool. That's the point of life this side of Heaven, to gain new perspectives, and learn through new experiences. I'm not sure if Karen will be back before she leaves for other countries or not, but I will say, in two weeks my life has changed for the better.
THANK YOU, LORD, FOR KAREN.
I'm also thankful for Lemans Lane. It's always good to be reminded that when one chapter of a life is character-building, it will end and something better is on the other side. The next chapter always holds wisdom gained from the one before.
*grin*
LIFE.
IS.
AWESOME.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Love the Skin You're In
Wow! It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving Break is upon us! I'm LOVING this school year, as my students are the highlight of my day, everyday. Each of them brings their own little spark to my life, and I can't imagine my life without each one of them.
That being said, I am in need of some relaxation. The weirdest part of that statement is that I have several reports to write and perfect, however, that can (somewhat) be done on my own timeline. Time to balance work and fun for the next several days is exactly what I need. Words cannot express how excited I am for this break. *grin*
So, the first thing I want to do is write a blog post about something that has been rolling around in my head for about a month. I don't believe that I've hit a final thought on it, but I do feel it's time to share my thoughts. I'm hoping it will inspire you as I ponder it with God. *grin*
I watch people all the time.
No matter where I am, I enjoy watching people.
Sometimes I silently pray for them, and sometimes I silently ask the Lord for downloads about that person. Sometimes it happens, and sometimes it doesn't, and I'm fine with that.
Ultimately, what I'm looking for are people that love the skin they are in.
The place I truly see this the most is out at camp. The campers that the Lord has given lives of challenge like themselves more than any other individuals I've met.
That being said, God uses me to encourage people to love the skin they are in. We are each given one life this side of Heaven, and I think it's a waste of time to hate what God has given us to live in.
I love who God made me to be. I'm not perfect, but I am perfect in who He made me to be. I trip and fall, but I also get back up. I refuse to allow myself to stay down when I fall. I also know God is using me in the lives of my students. Within that, I know that having a limp and CP is just fine because He knew I could walk out life this side of Heaven with it. I truly believe He gives special people special challenges. *grin* I'm determined to carry myself in such a way that people don't pity me, but accept me as a person, not as LESS of a person. *grin*
So do you love the skin you're in? If not, what's holding you back?
God put you in the skin you're in.
While you didn't choose it, He knew it was perfect just for you.
Every little detail within you, from your physical appearance to your personality, to your strengths and challenges, He put them within you.
Life is too short to sit there and list out your weaknesses.
Sit and ponder the AMAZING things He put within you.
If you run out of that list quickly, text me or message me. I will tell you what good is in you, because I'm always looking at your strengths instead of your weaknesses. Life's too short to focus on what you don't like or cannot do.
Focus on the GOOD He put in you.
You'll be amazed at what YOU will find. *grin*
*grin*
LIFE.
IS.
AWESOME.
That being said, I am in need of some relaxation. The weirdest part of that statement is that I have several reports to write and perfect, however, that can (somewhat) be done on my own timeline. Time to balance work and fun for the next several days is exactly what I need. Words cannot express how excited I am for this break. *grin*
So, the first thing I want to do is write a blog post about something that has been rolling around in my head for about a month. I don't believe that I've hit a final thought on it, but I do feel it's time to share my thoughts. I'm hoping it will inspire you as I ponder it with God. *grin*
I watch people all the time.
No matter where I am, I enjoy watching people.
Sometimes I silently pray for them, and sometimes I silently ask the Lord for downloads about that person. Sometimes it happens, and sometimes it doesn't, and I'm fine with that.
Ultimately, what I'm looking for are people that love the skin they are in.
The place I truly see this the most is out at camp. The campers that the Lord has given lives of challenge like themselves more than any other individuals I've met.
That being said, God uses me to encourage people to love the skin they are in. We are each given one life this side of Heaven, and I think it's a waste of time to hate what God has given us to live in.
I love who God made me to be. I'm not perfect, but I am perfect in who He made me to be. I trip and fall, but I also get back up. I refuse to allow myself to stay down when I fall. I also know God is using me in the lives of my students. Within that, I know that having a limp and CP is just fine because He knew I could walk out life this side of Heaven with it. I truly believe He gives special people special challenges. *grin* I'm determined to carry myself in such a way that people don't pity me, but accept me as a person, not as LESS of a person. *grin*
So do you love the skin you're in? If not, what's holding you back?
God put you in the skin you're in.
While you didn't choose it, He knew it was perfect just for you.
Every little detail within you, from your physical appearance to your personality, to your strengths and challenges, He put them within you.
Life is too short to sit there and list out your weaknesses.
Sit and ponder the AMAZING things He put within you.
If you run out of that list quickly, text me or message me. I will tell you what good is in you, because I'm always looking at your strengths instead of your weaknesses. Life's too short to focus on what you don't like or cannot do.
Focus on the GOOD He put in you.
You'll be amazed at what YOU will find. *grin*
*grin*
LIFE.
IS.
AWESOME.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
November Highlights (Well, so far.) *grin*
I have been hard at work today, all day, and I have hit that moment of, "it's time to stop and relax."
Honestly, I could easily curl up and sleep, but I don't want to be wide awake at 5am, so I'm hanging in there until 9:30. *grin* After all, sleep is a beautiful thing. *grin*
In the meantime, I wanted to share some highlights from this month. I know, I know, it's only halfway over, but seriously, life has been BUSY. And, it's been GOOD.
I started the month off with serving at Barnabas last weekend. I was in an amazing cabin, and it was probably the most diverse group of girls I've ever been in. We had two siblings, a few with autism, a few with various other conditions, and it was AMAZING. I was in the same cabin with Kali, who is precious to me. I feel as if I'm an adopted Mom to her, and she is PRECIOUS.
Weekends at Barnabas are amazing because I feel like I'm just hanging out with family when I'm there. The acceptance and love there is beyond words, and we truly love one another like family. I am blessed to be a part of that family. *grin*
Included in my cabin was Martha Grace. Martha Grace is a famous camper who everyone loves. While I really didn't get to spend tons of time around her, as I was bonding with another camper, I loved it when Martha Grace was nearby. She reminds me of pure happiness and joy. I love that.
I spent most of my time with a camper named Destiny. Destiny doesn't talk, but she's very special to me, even though her connections with people aren't like ours. I have had Destiny in my cabin several times, and she taught me so much! She couldn't talk, but she could communicate, and there was a lot of wisdom in that. I LOVED IT!!!
On the drive back, I picked up Karen, who has been here all week. I have enjoyed having her here. She's been at a conference this weekend, while I've done schoolwork. She's a joy to be around, and one evening we ministered to a friend of mine, which was fun too. Over the past several years, Karen has been out of this country more than she's been in this country, so it's been GREAT to have her here. While I'm not sure how long she's here, I plan to enjoy it while I can. *grin*
Finally, teaching has been full of a lot laughter lately. This has felt like a different sort of year, but I am enjoying it. My students each bring something unique to my classroom, and I enjoy it!
We had our book fair last week, and I worked on Thursday night. To be honest, I love to work the book fair. Oh, and I got a free book for working the fair. *grin*
Perhaps the neatest thing to happen in my classroom this year, is that we have a new class pet! We have a red and blue fish named CHIEF BUBBLES SPRINGER. *grin* Yes, the kids named it. The first Chief died within 24 hours, and the current Chief has a 30 day return policy. So far so good! Honestly, if I had known what kind of response I was going to get from the kids, I would have approved a pet before now. One of the parents of one of my students donated a small tank, and all the supplies to go with it, including the fish! I'll keep ya posted on Chief in the days and weeks to come. *grin*
For now, I'm going to read a bit. I will sleep shortly. Sleep is a beautiful thing. *grin*
Honestly, I could easily curl up and sleep, but I don't want to be wide awake at 5am, so I'm hanging in there until 9:30. *grin* After all, sleep is a beautiful thing. *grin*
In the meantime, I wanted to share some highlights from this month. I know, I know, it's only halfway over, but seriously, life has been BUSY. And, it's been GOOD.
I started the month off with serving at Barnabas last weekend. I was in an amazing cabin, and it was probably the most diverse group of girls I've ever been in. We had two siblings, a few with autism, a few with various other conditions, and it was AMAZING. I was in the same cabin with Kali, who is precious to me. I feel as if I'm an adopted Mom to her, and she is PRECIOUS.
Weekends at Barnabas are amazing because I feel like I'm just hanging out with family when I'm there. The acceptance and love there is beyond words, and we truly love one another like family. I am blessed to be a part of that family. *grin*
Included in my cabin was Martha Grace. Martha Grace is a famous camper who everyone loves. While I really didn't get to spend tons of time around her, as I was bonding with another camper, I loved it when Martha Grace was nearby. She reminds me of pure happiness and joy. I love that.
I spent most of my time with a camper named Destiny. Destiny doesn't talk, but she's very special to me, even though her connections with people aren't like ours. I have had Destiny in my cabin several times, and she taught me so much! She couldn't talk, but she could communicate, and there was a lot of wisdom in that. I LOVED IT!!!
On the drive back, I picked up Karen, who has been here all week. I have enjoyed having her here. She's been at a conference this weekend, while I've done schoolwork. She's a joy to be around, and one evening we ministered to a friend of mine, which was fun too. Over the past several years, Karen has been out of this country more than she's been in this country, so it's been GREAT to have her here. While I'm not sure how long she's here, I plan to enjoy it while I can. *grin*
Finally, teaching has been full of a lot laughter lately. This has felt like a different sort of year, but I am enjoying it. My students each bring something unique to my classroom, and I enjoy it!
We had our book fair last week, and I worked on Thursday night. To be honest, I love to work the book fair. Oh, and I got a free book for working the fair. *grin*
Perhaps the neatest thing to happen in my classroom this year, is that we have a new class pet! We have a red and blue fish named CHIEF BUBBLES SPRINGER. *grin* Yes, the kids named it. The first Chief died within 24 hours, and the current Chief has a 30 day return policy. So far so good! Honestly, if I had known what kind of response I was going to get from the kids, I would have approved a pet before now. One of the parents of one of my students donated a small tank, and all the supplies to go with it, including the fish! I'll keep ya posted on Chief in the days and weeks to come. *grin*
For now, I'm going to read a bit. I will sleep shortly. Sleep is a beautiful thing. *grin*
Saturday, November 01, 2014
World Series 2014
This past week was crazy-busy, so I wanted to take a moment and write about something that will be a memorable experience in years to come. Not necessarily for me, personally, it's not like I'm a professional baseball player, but from the perspective of a fan living in Kansas City.
Before I get into that though, I want to share another memorable experience with you...I lived in Lawrence in 1988 when KU won the basketball championship. I remember how the entire community came together to cheer on the team. My Dad even came and took me out of school, when I was in the 8th grade, to take me to the pep rally that was held for the players. My brother's school walked to it from where they were located. It was a very memorable experience. Partly because my Dad didn't just show up to take me out of school for something like that on any other occasion and because it was the first time I really recall experiencing something as big as a team winning like that where a community came together. It was incredible.
I used to love baseball. I grew up watching the game on TV. I loved the Atlanta Braves, as I watched TBS regularly. Dale Murphy was my favorite player, number 3 (still my favorite number), and I loved it. I even got to meet him at a Braves versus Astros game. (Astros won. Bummer.) Then the players went on strike and I lost respect for the players. (I'll save my soapbox post for another day about ballplayers versus school teachers, and the pay difference between the two.) I haven't honestly watched a baseball game since then. That all changed in early October when the Royals were playing for a Wild Card spot in the World Series.
I felt like I was thrown back into the world of a sport that I knew as a kid, but haven't watched it since then. I'm not going to say it's my absolute favorite sport now, because KU basketball is still my all-time favorite. It was an experience that I won't forget.
No, I didn't go to any of the games. (Maybe if I win the lottery I will one day go to the World Series.) *grin*
I became a fan of baseball again though. *grin* I found myself talking about the games with my friends and students. I found myself playing the Matthew West song about the Royals in my classroom. I also looked forward to each game that we had in the evenings, and so did my students. I even splurged and bought a KC Royals hoodie for me. (A rarity for me to just spend $55 like that!) While all that was cool, that wasn't the coolest part for me.
The coolest part for me was watching my school building (where I teach) become united in the World Series. Typically we're divided somehow, whether it's Chiefs/Broncos or KU/Missouri, I can't really recall a time when we were all cheering for the same team. That all changed during the World Series. It was amazing how everywhere I looked, there was Royals apparel being worn. We were all cheering for the same team, and I loved that!!! On the final day of the series, they played the Royals song over the speaker at dismissal...what an amazing memory for the students and staff at my school!
Sure, I did have one student cheering for the Giants, and he got his wish. Truthfully, I was okay with the loss, as that one kid was thrilled the next day and he needed that. *grin*
While it was a bummer that we lost, I was glad we made it to the World Series. That hasn't happened in 29 years. It made the whole thing exceptionally fun, as some people even wore shirts that said, "Party like it's 1985." It was very cool.
So, we lost. It's over. Life goes on. *grin*
But, seriously, how often does a team get to the World Series? I'm still a proud Royals Fan, even though we lost!
Guess what?
KU basketball season begins November 3.
I. Can't. Wait.
I am also optimistic that the Royals will make it to the World Series again. I'm praying it won't take 29 years though. The past three weeks were a lot of fun. *grin*
LIFE.
IS.
GOOD....
Before I get into that though, I want to share another memorable experience with you...I lived in Lawrence in 1988 when KU won the basketball championship. I remember how the entire community came together to cheer on the team. My Dad even came and took me out of school, when I was in the 8th grade, to take me to the pep rally that was held for the players. My brother's school walked to it from where they were located. It was a very memorable experience. Partly because my Dad didn't just show up to take me out of school for something like that on any other occasion and because it was the first time I really recall experiencing something as big as a team winning like that where a community came together. It was incredible.
I used to love baseball. I grew up watching the game on TV. I loved the Atlanta Braves, as I watched TBS regularly. Dale Murphy was my favorite player, number 3 (still my favorite number), and I loved it. I even got to meet him at a Braves versus Astros game. (Astros won. Bummer.) Then the players went on strike and I lost respect for the players. (I'll save my soapbox post for another day about ballplayers versus school teachers, and the pay difference between the two.) I haven't honestly watched a baseball game since then. That all changed in early October when the Royals were playing for a Wild Card spot in the World Series.
I felt like I was thrown back into the world of a sport that I knew as a kid, but haven't watched it since then. I'm not going to say it's my absolute favorite sport now, because KU basketball is still my all-time favorite. It was an experience that I won't forget.
No, I didn't go to any of the games. (Maybe if I win the lottery I will one day go to the World Series.) *grin*
I became a fan of baseball again though. *grin* I found myself talking about the games with my friends and students. I found myself playing the Matthew West song about the Royals in my classroom. I also looked forward to each game that we had in the evenings, and so did my students. I even splurged and bought a KC Royals hoodie for me. (A rarity for me to just spend $55 like that!) While all that was cool, that wasn't the coolest part for me.
The coolest part for me was watching my school building (where I teach) become united in the World Series. Typically we're divided somehow, whether it's Chiefs/Broncos or KU/Missouri, I can't really recall a time when we were all cheering for the same team. That all changed during the World Series. It was amazing how everywhere I looked, there was Royals apparel being worn. We were all cheering for the same team, and I loved that!!! On the final day of the series, they played the Royals song over the speaker at dismissal...what an amazing memory for the students and staff at my school!
Sure, I did have one student cheering for the Giants, and he got his wish. Truthfully, I was okay with the loss, as that one kid was thrilled the next day and he needed that. *grin*
While it was a bummer that we lost, I was glad we made it to the World Series. That hasn't happened in 29 years. It made the whole thing exceptionally fun, as some people even wore shirts that said, "Party like it's 1985." It was very cool.
So, we lost. It's over. Life goes on. *grin*
But, seriously, how often does a team get to the World Series? I'm still a proud Royals Fan, even though we lost!
Guess what?
KU basketball season begins November 3.
I. Can't. Wait.
I am also optimistic that the Royals will make it to the World Series again. I'm praying it won't take 29 years though. The past three weeks were a lot of fun. *grin*
LIFE.
IS.
GOOD....
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