Keep Calm and Teach On

     I know, I know. Probably one of the most overused or emphasized statements that has been circling the "quote" world lately. But, it just seems so appropriate right now. This week, school started back--for teachers that is. It has been a time of seeing co-workers I have not seen over the summer, clean out the mess from last year, and take in the joys of a new year. This week has been insanely busy for us. We have added several special ed classes, hired several new teachers (two being in my grade level), and implementing new technology and curriculum. And just--wrapping my mind around the fact that I have to get actually dressed before 11 AM now.

     Luckily, I decided to keep my current classroom décor/theme for this school year...again. Which, really, I don't have a "theme." It's just...colors. Bright colors. With lights. And polka dots. And fabric. My poor ADHD kids.

     I am really looking forward to a new year. A new group of students. New curriculum. A new classroom set up. New co-workers. I am loving it! Tomorrow I meet my students-which typically ends up in a whirlwind of mess of papers, tons of questions, lots of smiling and sore feet. But, it's that jumpstart. I am excited to see old students and families. Which by the way, my first class will be freshman in high school. It completely blows my mind. I was hanging old class pictures by my door the other day, and I cannot believe how young they were! And how fresh faced and young I looked! Six years of teaching can age a person. I can't imagine what I am going to look like in 20 more years. Hello water, sunshine, and lots of protein!

     With each school year, I set new goals for myself. Personal goals and professional goals. Last year was a rough start because I was going through a lot in my personal life. I had to really learn how to balance out emotions. So at that point, it was just survival for the first few months. This year though I have nothing weighing be back or holding me down. I can really throw myself into my work, kids, and preparation. I sometimes complain about busting my tail, pulling 10 hour days at school, and then the load I have to bring home. But, the satisfaction and joy that comes from it--the success--knowing that I gave it every bit of ounce of energy, tried my best, refused to settle and refused to let my students settle and pushed my whole class to the max--the results are always worth it. Most of the time I walk out of my classroom, wanting to fist pump or just let loose. Then, of course, there are those times where I walk out with my tail between my legs, feeling defeated and just crawl into a hot bath and come up with a whole new game plan. A true teacher doesn't get defeated. He or she doesn't give up. They accept it as a challenge, tackle it, and keep right on pressing through the chaos. I am so flippin pumped! And you know me--I love a good challenge.

   So with that in mind, please remember all teachers not just this week, or next week then the students come, but...

   Remember them on that rainy day in October when they are stuck having indoor recess for the fourth day in a row.

    Remember that teacher that day before Christmas break--knowing he or she is so looking forward to the break but will be secretly missing and worrying about his/her students for the next two weeks.

    Remember that teacher on teacher work days. Yes, it's a day off from the classroom chaos but it is typically filled with parent teacher conferences, professional developments and spent just getting the classroom is some sort of order.

    Remember that teacher during flu season. At the point, she has probably had to deal with four or five students that have thrown up in the classroom in the middle of a lesson, with addition to catching up absent students on missing assignments. Not to mention, fighting the flu herself and having to stay healthy and of sane mind, convincing herself that she may have a 101.3 fever, she can still teach that lesson on the three types of rocks. At this point, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to send in an extra box of tissue, hand soap, and Clorox wipes.

    Remember that teacher when a student is moved unexpectedly due to a bad home life. When he/she has to worry if that student is getting told at night that they are loved, important, and will do great things one day.

    Remember that teacher when it's January, and 40 degrees outside but with the wind it feels 32 degrees. She plays chicken with herself or other teachers to see how long they can make it outside, just to let the kids get their energy out. (We usually don't make it past 10 minutes, max.)

   Remember that teacher when a student still says, "I don't get it." And knowing she has taught three different ways on how to subtract across zeros with a four digit number, over and over and over. Or, how to explain reading fractions on a number line and why it is such an imperative skill to know (still haven't came up with a decent reason, six years later)! Let's not even get into teaching past, present, and future tense verbs with irregular endings. Need I say more?

    Remember that teacher when she finds out that three of her students have lice...for the third time for that school year (been there, done that, and got the flippin' tshirt last year...three times).

    Remember that teacher when a student throws a tantrum because him/her did not get their way. When a student throws a punch at another kid. When a student bursts into tears as soon as they walk in the door because they didn't get enough to eat at breakfast or their mom yelled at them as they were getting out of the car. When a parent refuses to accept responsibility and it leaves you wondering who is the parents and who is the child.

    Remember that teacher when it's testing time, as he/she crams for the state test all a while pumping the students up, feeding them an extra snack, and praying that everything they have worked toward and done over the year will truly show.

    Remember that teacher at the end of the year--as she finishing up permanent records, finalizing grades, cleaning out her room, and pretty much babysitting the last two-three weeks of school. And, as she says goodbye to her little gems, wishing them a great summer--all while knowing she only has two months to refuel and do it all over again.

    Teachers. You don't have to be an elementary school classroom teacher. You could teach middle school eighth grade science (God bless you, M.A.). You could be the P.E. teacher that taught the kids how to dribble a basketball ball the proper way. You could be the high school AP teacher that is preparing a classroom full of bratty know it all teenagers for the college world.You could be an administrator that has carried not only faculty and staff through another school year, but successfully protected 800 students in your care. You could be a coach, who has a new team, a new position, whom dreams of leading the team to several championships. You could be that parent--that is reviewing multiplication facts, teaching your child how to convert a decimal to a percentage, doing that SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT two days before it's due (did I just give you nightmares? Sorry).

    So, pray for us. Patience. Mercy. Knowledge. Wisdom. Discernment. Safety. Passion. Motivation. Compassion. Discipline. And most of all--love. Because after all, I am just doing what God has called me to do- teach and love. Teach them to love and show them how to love just as Christ as done for us.

"...Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is every useless." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Trust: An Unconditional Love

I'm back! My trip was incredible. Indescribable. Which is why I haven't blogged about it, yet. I have been catching up on my jet lag and spending time today just taking it easy. However, I do promise tomorrow to upload some pictures and post more about it.

Tonight, though, I was thinking about trust. It's a staple in any relationship. Think about it-- every relationship or friendship is built on that. Some people automatically trust. Some do not trust so easily and one has to earn that trust. Often times this comes from being hurt repeatedly in the past, or even just in one instance. And when that trust is lost, it can be so hard to gain back. But I was thinking more tonight about how do you know when to trust people--again. I believe we all deserve second chances, in most cases. But I have such a hard time writing people off immediately. I know people that if you do something that causes them to lose trust in you, then can forget ever entering their world again. And these people are usually more protective of the ones they love, they are strong willed and very outspoken. I also know people that are so open to love, forgiveness, and will always try again. I don't mean people that just constantly keep going back to a bad relationship, but they don't hold grudges. They don't belittle those around them. I admire those people because those tend to be the most tenderhearted ones. But, you know, I'm not one to write people off immediately. I have a hard time walking away from friendships or relationships. It takes me finally having to come to that point on my own to walk away. No one can force me, talk me into it, or lecture me into doing it. I have to find out for my own. Sometimes I'm glad I did not leave the friendship in the dust because God shows me how it was part of his plan the whole time--most of the time it was teaching me a lesson. And other times, it shows me that not everyone is perfect and I have to forgive but move on.

I typically trust friends easily. I have several close friends, each one that I share intimate or important things with. I guess you could say I have a very well rounded group of friends. But in the relationship department-- I struggle with trusting men. The first man I loved, my dad, lost all my trust for a while. I am working on trusting him once again and rebuilding that relationship because I know one day it will bring honor to God. The second man in my life I loved for five years. I was never the jealous type. Never questioned him or had any reason to really question anything. The relationship ended out of no where and my whole world was turned upside down. Ever since then I have had a hard time trusting. What was once a strength of mine has now become a weakness. And I hate it. I know it's the enemy--taking any opportunity for me to doubt any future relationships.

I started reading through the Word to see what exactly God's thoughts were about trust. In John 14:1 Jesus says "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." King David in Psalm 56:4 writes "In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?"  The Bible also states several times to not trust man, but God alone. We shouldn't put all our hope into one person, or one relationship. We are not perfect, so we will all at some point let someone down. Probably daily in some sort of way. That phone call you were supposed to make but you didn't. That task at work you said you would have done, but you never finished it because you got distracted. That promise you made to your child to take them to get ice cream but you got caught up at work. That time with someone special or a friend you were supposed to make happen but you didn't follow through. Or, promising your dog to go for a walk but fell asleep on the couch. Each little thing breaks down that pillar of trust.

So I started thinking, "Ok. So not to trust man. Got it. Trust God. I mean really put faith in Him and his works because in the end, it's all going to come out for the good for me and bring Him glory." It made me think of when I went zip lining on our R&R day in Nicaragua. I was strapped to a cable cord that hung thousands of feet about the ground, in the forests of Nicaragua. I decided to do something different. Well, Michael dared me to zip line backwards, upside down. Being one to not have a man prove that he can do something that I cannot, I accepted the challenge. But right before I was pushed off the platform, I truly had my trust in that cable, in the guide that I was hooked up right, in the other guide at the end of the cable that he would catch me. One snap, or unhook and I was done for in that forest. But I did it. I went and trusted in that cable and tour guides--and it was the best rush of my life. Trusting God is like that. When we really put our faith in God, and anchor that hope in our soul to Him, the ride and rush he will take us on will be breathtaking. You just have to take that step and know that he is going to always keep you sailing through your life.

But, what does this mean about trusting in relationships again? Lately, I have been so prayerful about certain relationships. I know that sounds like I am typically not prayerful with them, but I have really been pouring out some time, thoughts, and prayers. And I am trusting that God is working in them because I have already seen the fruit and his overwhelming response to me through answered prayers or little quips. I know at some point I will have to trust in a relationship again. If you ask any married couple or two people in a relationship what is one building block of foundation on their relationship they are going to say trust and love. And lately God keeps pointing me to the theme of "love" in Ephesians and 1 Corinthians. Tonight, it was 1 Corinthians13:7: Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. How does love trust? We aren't to trust people but to love them. When we give love to one another, we are seeking trust. It may not be a lot of love at first, but with each little service of love, trust is built. When we love we are communicating trust. In time, faith will come in that person. We become hopeful. And love will always out win any given situation. I have always heard my mom says, "Love is a choice." I totally believe that. You choose who you want to love and who you want to be with. You choose how much time, energy, trust, and hope you put into a relationship and into a person. You can choose to love someone so much, just as Christ loved us, that your heart is going to explode. Or, you can hate someone and push them away because that may be easy at the moment, but in the end it is going to suck.

But, let's be real here for a minute. Some people are hard to love. Lord help us and them. But that's what is so amazing about love. It is unconditional. Colossians 3:12-14: ...clothe yourself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience...and put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. How can we have compassion towards others if we don't love them? How can we be gentle and have patience if we are have such hate in our hearts? I know I have had to call upon God to show me how to love someone when I have completely lost patience with that person. It may not be an instant answered prayer, but something that God slowly shows me how deal or change my heart so that I can be patient. It's a tough prayer that does not need to be taken lightly.

In order for me to truly trust in relationships again, I must trust that God will be my harbor of hope, that he will not lead me astray. That any situation or circumstance I am in is to bring him honor. But I also know I can't truly trust in any relationship until I learn to love unconditionally. I'm not quite sure how to love unconditionally. But I pray that God will show me how. I also pray that God will grant me discernment so that I know when to discern fact from fiction. And that's when I have to be quiet and listen.

Trust. It's something that's earned. It's something that can be easily lost in man. But it comes from an unconditional love from deep within, based on Christ's extravagant love for us. Trust. Will it happen again for me? I like to think so. I have a little bit more hope tonight.

Making the best of each situation

We have landed in ATL airport safely. I mean, a flight from GSP isn't a huge deal. But we just learned that our flight has been delayed an hour which has pushed our layover to a 6 hour layover. 

I'm getting restless. Instead of pouting or being bored...

I figured I should use this time wisely. I was sitting here, thinking about just some random things in general (how I should have washed my hat before I left because it stinks, I would love a Starbucks energy drink about right now, how our team looks like a cluster of smurfs in our blue shirts, and I am so glad I upgraded to a hotspot on my iPhone the other week so I would have Internet access for the next few hours). I thought about a conversation I had with a friend last night. We were talking about life, our future, God's will, and just some other random topics (like just how stinkin CUTE my Josie is). And I was reading in 1 Corinthians 7:17 You must accept whatever situation The Lord has put you in, and continue on as you were when God first called you. We are all put into some crazy situations. Some crazier than others. I have had friends tell me several times that one could not make up the stuff I have been through (they're right. I have yet to see a lifetime movie anywhere CLOSE). The Lord had put us in situations that sometimes we don't understand or really want to be in. And in 1 Corinthians 7, Paul is preaching on being married or single. Now there are some other interesting points in that chapter that was brought to my attention that I had never noticed before (I can't even go there right now)  However, we wonder why God has called certain people to remain single, whether it be for a short period or a long period of time, and why others are married (example, Honey Boo Boo's mom- uh, there IS someone for everyone). But we just have to accept that situation we are in. I think back to my mom when she was first divorced from my dad. She had a hard time accepting that situation. But once she finally accepted what had happened, she was able to truly embrace God's will for her life as a single, hot, red headed loud 55 year old woman. And God has taken her on a journey like no other. Being single can be difficult when all your friends are married and starting their families (hand raised, cough cough). Like, nothing special is happening in your life. My most exciting news for most days is that I put on real clothes, make up, and caught two full hours of Beverly Hills, 90210 and my iPhone didn't die on me. But I think it can be equally difficult for my married friends to see someone who isn't tied down to a spouse or a family and just do whatever they want to do. We don't have anyone to think of except ourself. I think both parties can be equally envious of one another. 

And then Paul tells us to continue on as you were when God first called you. I always think about the first of the school year. I am excited. Pumped. Ready to go. I am motivated. On my mountain top!  My kids are going to be the best class ever!! we are going to kill that state test!! Then comes October, and about that time I am trying not to kill myself. I am counting down the days to Thanksgiving break and Christmas. Those once sweet, shy, polite, motivated students are loud, defiant, and have completely wrecked my classroom. I am REALLY digging deep come March and praying that the good Lord sends an army of angels around me and my students to form a bubble between me and them. Same thing as when we are followers.When we are first called or have a total God moment, you are just in awe of Him. Then the real life sets in- we face temptation, frustrations, struggles, highs and great lows. We sometimes aren't very friendly to our family, friends, and heck- even God. But when we get that low, we have to remember the only way is up. Back up to that mountain top. We have to remember to when were first called, dig deep, find that drive and move on. When we are accepting our situation and moving forward, then God will bless us so much more infinitely more than we could ever imagine. 

But whatever I am now, it is because God poured his special favor on me- and not without results. 1 Corinthians 15:10

Disclaimer: typing a blog on an iPad has got to be the most hand cramping experience. Sorry for any obvious typos or misspellings.