Entrusted

So my classroom did NOT look like that picture below. I had 22 the first day, and we did have overflow but they went with our reading intervention teachers the first days. So that was a relief to us. My class is REALLY good. It gets loud and its taking a while to learn to walk in a line...but everything I tell them to do is always followed by a "Yes ma'am" and even sometimes an "I'm sorry." even when I didn't ask them to apologize. They are very sweet. I am excited about this school year. It's like a fresh start! Last year I was not myself. I was going through some depression and it really brought out the worst in me. I wasn't as effective as I wanted to be...as a teacher, as a mother, as a wife, as anything. I have hope that this year will be a year that I make a positive difference in other people's lives. But I know I can't do that unless I rely on God's strength. There is so much going in our schedule....we are already exhausted! And it would be easy to become so tired and bitter and whiny that I could become ineffective. I refuse for that to happen this year.

So the new youth ministry job is going well so far. The youth have really impressed me. There have been times where when Jeff and I are preparing a lesson for them and I think, "This is going to be way over their heads...they won't understand or care." But they understand a lot more that I think they do. Their responses to questions or discussions have really surprised me!

Our goal for these youth is for them to find their identity in Christ....not in other things. They try to find it in popularity, fashion, extra-curricular activities, boyfriends or girlfriends, in other's approval, etc. You guys know! We were once teenagers and know what it is like. But Jeff and I really think that most other issues that students have would be "dealt with" easier if their self worth was dependant on what Christ has done for them. Pray for us as we try to instill that in them.

On another note....My Colin is growing up! He is so smart and is walking a little more. Pray for us as parents and for him. The more he grows up the more he is going to be aware of and learn about this world. That scares me some. We want him to be in this world, but not of this world. It's scary to think of all the sinful things of this world that he could easily get wrapped up in. I don't even like to think about that. I am afraid that Jeff and I will not be able to do enough to teach him who God is and when he eventually accepts Christ as his savior...I am afraid that we won't be able to teach him how to be holy as He is holy. I know it probably be fine, but it is such a huge and burdening responsibility...especially when it is your child.

I am just overwhelmed at the amount of people the Lord has entrusted to me and Jeff to guide. My son, my 22 kindergartners, and the teenagers of our community and church. Wow. I am just afraid that everything we do will not be enough to teach them and show them.

Upcoming Stuff

Our life is really about to get crazy!! We have some fun stuff coming up that I am excited (and nervous) about. I'm trying to engrain all of these upcoming events into my head so I won't forget. So typing it out might help.

Monday Aug.25 - First Day of School
Wednesday Aug 27 - Back to School Party for Youth (and Sharla/Granny's BDay)
Saturday Aug 30 - First Elysian Fields football game in Gladewater
Monday Sept 1 - Labor Day (a day off!)
Thursday Sept 4 - doctor's appointment/day off (and my dad's bday)
Tuesday Sept 16 - Open House
Sept 19 and 20 - Disciple Now
Sept 24 - See You At The Pole Rally

Hope you all have a great week!

Happenings

Well.....we are officially "on staff" which is kind of weird. We did our first "official" event on Wednesday night. It was pretty fun! We had 30 youth there and we had to go find more chairs. We definitely are not going to fit in our little youth room if we keep going like that! Jeff really wants to make it to where youth will come in and feel comfortable rather than them coming in and sitting quietly and awkwardly. He did a good job of that. He had music videos playing on the tv and he was pegging youth with wiffle balls as they entered the room. They even started playing wiffle ball using a couch cushion as the bat! It was pretty funny. Anyway, his lesson did not go as well as he wanted, but we definitely learned what we could do better next time and even have a few ideas that we are excited to implement. We have a few events coming up pretty soon that you could be in prayer for. On Sept 19th..ish we are having a community Disciple Now. Actually I think that is our only event now that I think about it. hehe. But please be in prayer as we are looking for "curriculum" and also for our first youth council meeting....that it would be a productive and purpose driven time.

Well, school starts on Monday and I am really excited. I meet my kids and their parents tomorrow night. The only bad thing, is that we are going to have BAD overflow issues this year. You see, another school started a dual-language Kindergarten program which means their "overflow" kids come to us. The max I can have is 22, but I might have more for the first week or so until they find places for them. It's going to be a mess! My classroom might look like this on the first day of school....

....except they probably won't be sitting that well behaved.

We are....

the new youth ministers of Crossroads Baptist Church!

School is starting! UPDATED!

School starts in a little over a week. I feel so much more prepared this year than I did last year. Last year I was starting a new school, new grade level, in a new town, with a new 5 week old baby. Let's just say I was far from prepared. But I am ready this year. I know the ropes and know what to expect and had more time to get ready. I don't usually get into "themes" for classrooms, but my team...actually our whole hall way....is doing a western theme. It's been fun getting ready. So here are a few pics....

my door. I will write the student's names on the little bandanas. I have 22 of them this year!!!

my classroom. my mom made the curtains and Jeff cleaned my windows for the first time in probably 50 years. It was really gross.

my reading center and "All About Me" board

this is "my corner." This is where I keep all my 'stuff' and where I pull small groups of kiddos to work on stuff with.

I got a little too happy with the glue gun. Practically EVERYTHING in my room is held up by hot glue. That stuff is amazing!

This is my pathetic little home center. You see someone basically stole my home center. Well I had already bought all the toys for it (dishes, baby doll, etc.). So I thought, "By gosh we are still having a home center!" So that desk is the kitchen table and that little shelf is the stove and counter top. Hey...you work with what ya got!

I'm quite proud of my little stove!

My calendar and such. I'm quite obsessed with pocket charts. I can think of a million uses for them!

Well I lost a home center but gained this really cool easel. A teacher left and I inherited this. It has really cool organizational tub thingy's and a book rack on the back. It's quite multi-purpose.

This is my color change system for discipline. Buffalo bucks is my reward system. I give them bucks for good behavior. Once they get 10 'bucks' they can buy a reward (something from my treasure box or a pickle...which is quite popular) On the rest of the doors is my word wall and the kids put their backpacks behind the doors. I put the rulers through the handles to train my kids to shut the dang doors! (That is just a small pet peave of mine)


This is my boy's bathroom. I try to keep that door closed as much as possible because it smells horrendous in there. I guess little boys can't aim very well at this age...I don't know. See the little green boot? One side is green and says 'go' and the other side is red and says 'stop.' This is to tell them if it is occupied or not. I had to start doing that last year because I did not realize that kindergartener's lives would fall apart if someone walked in on them. I literally had another teacher walk into my room to see if everything was okay because when of my girl's screamed like she was being murdered when another girl accidentally walked in on her. They are crazy...

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UPDATE!!!! ok so after looking at my classroom and these pictures a million times....we just now noticed the funniest thing! If you look at the picture of "my corner" you will see that in the upper right hand corner of the pic are some alphabet letters on the wall. O and P are backwards!!! I have never laughed so hard in my life when I noticed that....especially cause Jeff is the one who put it up! It's even worse that I didn't catch until now. HAHAHA!

Walking!

Colin has started walking a little! I am so excited. He is so cute because he will walk by holding our hands and then when we let go, he will throw his hands up in the air to show us he can stand on his own. But then he starts giggling so much (because I am screaming out of excitement at him) that he falls over. But the few times that he hasn't fallen over he has taken like 3 or 4 steps at a time! I will try to get a video of it soon and post it. Sorry...just had to share.

Thank you Thank you

Wow!!!! Taylor gave me the "Smile Award" yesterday. I am honored. There are so many people I want to thank, first my producers and my fans.....just kidding. But seriously, even though it is just one of those silly blog awards, Taylor's words on why she picked me mean the world to me. Thanks Tay!

Now to tell you about Taylor. Taylor is one of my very best friends who has gone through quite a journey. Her story is amazing. (which you can find at a little slice of heaven.) It is full of grief and sorrow, but even more full of God's love and grace and power. You see, Taylor had struggled with infertility issues and when she finally became pregnant was asked to give that baby back to the Lord. Her sweet son, Nathan Taylor, had Trisomy 13 and when he was born he lived just a few short moments before going into the arms of Christ. She has shown unbelievable strength and dedication to God through all of this and more than anything is using her "story" to bring others closer to our God...including me. We have been best friends for quite a while now but her friendship means more to me now than ever! We have some fun memories like dragging Jeff by a rope in a field behind her car, many fun lake trips where bouncy balls hit my teeth, and helping each other hold up our huge wedding dresses on our wedding day when we had to go "potty." The thing that I love best about our friendship now though is how we are teaching eachother and encouraging eachother toward Christlikeness. She has really been a source of strength and comfort for me as I am about to enter the ministry. She is amazing and I love her for considering me a friend.

Now I am supposed to grant this award to 5 blogger friends... I think I only have 5 blogger friends on my list anyway so this should be easy! Hehehe.

These are the rules:
1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator the babblings of mere
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere.
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.

Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times--we are all human)
2. Must love one another
3. Must make mistakes
4. Must learn from others
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world
6. Must love life
7. Must love kids

1. Mary (http://marynorton.blogspot.com)~Mary is one my best friends. She is such an encourager. This may sound kind of selfish, but I love how she always makes me feel like she's my biggest fan! We've been friends for about 4 years now. We have some great memories ranging from going to Broken Bow and playing "panties" to pouring our hearts out to each other while our dorky husbands play video games! And she has 2 really dang cute kids! Her and her husband have played a HUGE role in me and Jeff's life. They have encouraged us to follow God's leading and not the world's. They have shown us what a "John 10:10 life" looks like. We do "life together" and I love that. I am really sad that they live far away from us now, but thank goodness for blogs so I can still "hear" her words. She is really dang smart and I always learn more about God's character just by her character and her words.

2. Jenni (http://jdarst.blogspot.com) I love my Jenni! Jenni is my sister in law (Jeff's sister). She is also one of my best friends! We can't go a week without seeing eachother. We have withdrawals and we just can't function. Jenni energizes me. She is my battery (haha). Even though I sometimes hate it, she makes me branch out by trying on crazy clothes at stores and doing pilates with her. She is a woman who is passionate and loves the Lord. She just got married to Tim (who is a riot to be around by the way) and their "newlywed love" is so pure and sweet. It's cool to see how we have grown to be so close. She started out merely as Jeff's cute little sister and is now my best friend and someone that I look to for an example of godliness. You are great Jenni....even though you had a thumbchunk!

3. Sharon (http://thebaileybeat.blogspot.com) Sharon was like a second momma to me and to many others. She helped out a lot with the youth at my church I grew up in. We had some fun memories at camps and such. I remember getting in a chocolate pudding fight with her at a camp where we were wiping it on each other's faces and everyone was looking at us like we were crazy. I also remember her leading a bible study for the youth in the girl's bathroom on the floor because she needed a room that was pitch dark and that was the only room. She put a sign on the door that said, "Out of order." But some old lady walked in and was probably appalled that the youth (including teenage boys) were hanging out in the girls bathroom. I loved how Sharon could "come down to our level" by playing and joking with us but then could "bring us up a level" through her bible studies and her example.

4. Amanda (http://aspecialblend.blogspot.com) I went to high school with Amanda but didn't really know her then. I just knew who she was. I actually just found her on blogger and facebook probably a couple of months ago. But I can say that I do know her now just by reading her blog. Her blog is amazing and inspiring. She really conveys a love for Christ that is quite contagious. She is very knowledgeable and shows a passion for interpreting scripture. Even though we still don't "know" eachother that well, I am truly blessed by her words and am grateful that I found her.

5. Kate (http://mymessynest.blogspot.com) Kate is another girl I went to high school with that I didn't know all that well. She is actually good friends with Amanda. Kate's blog is the one I go to when I need a good laugh. She is freakin hilarious! It makes me wish I could hang out with her in person! She is also quite inspiring when it comes to domesticity. She writes and posts pictures a lot of room decor, recipes, cleaning tips, etc. It is so great and she is quite talented. So thanks, Kate, for always bringing a smile to my face!

Anonymous comments

I did not realize until today that my blog was set up to block any anonymous users to leave comments. Since I know that there are SOOOO many anonymous people reading my blog out there (that was sarcasm in case you didn't know) I just wanted to let all you anon guys know that I fixed it so you can comment now! I know this is probably a waisted post, but you never know who is reading your blogs that might want to comment. Have a blessed day!!

Living and Active

I love the word of God. I never fully understood the meaning of the word of God being "living and active" until now. It is alive and doing transforming work in my life as I know it does in other people's lives as well. My sweet friend, Mary, left a comment on my post about "fears" that I have going into the ministry. It was a much needed reminder...

I remember your genuine faith... This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. ~2 Timothy 1:5-7

I'm excited because I just changed the color of text on my blog for the first time. I just starting noticing that other people were doing that on their blogs and I am excited that I figured out how to do that! Anyway, that was a rabbit trail......

I am reading through 1 John right now, and an amazing scripture that I had never seen before "came to life" for me. It addressed the fears that I have. The fears of failing, messing up, not being able to handle the ministry.

In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. ~ 1 John 4:17-18 (NIV)

ok... a few other translations of this same verse....

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day - our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life - fear of death, fear of judgment - is one not yet fully formed in love. (from The Message)

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in the world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. (from The New Interpreter's Study Bible)

I have this new obsession with looking up as many different translations of a verse as I can. I especially liked The New Interpreter's version. NIB said that love "has been perfected." I just liked hearing the word "perfect" in a verb form. It just reminds me that God's love and the life of love that he gives us is an active thing...just as a verb is.

Anyway, the idea (I say idea...it's not an idea...it's truth) that there is no room in love for fear is a constant reminder that fear DOES NOT come from the Lord. God is love and ONLY love and therefore he has nothing to do with fear. God does not intend for me to fear, because he does not have plans that include failing, but rather plans to prosper (Jer. 29:11). I pray that these scriptures would come even more to life by shaping my life. I pray that I would strive to reach perfection in love. I hope this encourages someone else like it has me. We all have fears. Your fears may be very different from the ones that I am facing right now or have faced before. But God's love is bigger than our fears and his perfect love "casts out fear." I pray that you and I both would know and live out his plans to prosper and not to fear.

Draw Me Nearer

ok, I am not very computer savvy sometimes. I could not find a full length version of this song to link on here. So the only thing I could think to do is to put a link on here of the song on youtube. The video is a little cheesy, so ignore that, but there are some really great scriptures on there. We sang this song at church yesterday, and it has become my prayer (especially the last verse) as we are about to enter the Lord's service. So listen and enjoy.

Draw Me Nearer
by Caedmon's Call

I am thine, oh Lord
I have heard Your voice
And it told Your love to me
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee

Chorus:
Draw me nearer
To the cross where Thou hast died
Draw me nearer
To Your precious bleeding side

There are great depths of love that I cannot know
'Til I cross that narrow sea
And there are heights of joy that I may not reach
Til I rest in peace with Thee

You draw me with Your mercy
You draw me with Your love
You draw me with forgiveness by Your blood
You draw me with compassion
You draw me as a bride
You draw me closer to Your precious side

Consecrate me now to Your service, Lord
By the power of grace divine
Let me soul look up with a steadfast hope
And my will be lost in Thine


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA9V1JzM0p0

hmmmm....

So we are in the ending processes of an interview for a ministry position. More details will come, but please, please keep us in your prayers during this time. It is very surreal for us to finally start what God has called us to do. It is so exciting, but so incredibly scary too. The enemy is trying hard to stop us from furthering God's kingdom. He is trying to place fear in our hearts. Sometimes we have fear because of inexperience and insecurities. I am especially afraid of the time aspect of this all. This will be a BIG responsibility and will take a lot of time. I will still be teaching and Jeff will still be going to school full time. I tend to get panicky and overwhelmed easily by having "too much on my plate." I don't want us to be so busy that we become ineffective. So please pray specifically for those things that we are afraid may stop us from doing what God has called us to do. Love you all and I appreciate your prayers!