the last days of 2011

Monday - Missions on my mind...
the year-end conferences... reaching up and reaching out according to His will.

Tuesday - Thankful for...
answered prayers this year... constant comfort and provision when I least expected it.

Wednesday - Waiting...
PATIENCE, JOY, and contentment in the present.

Thursday - Take time to...
prepare for next semester.

Friday - Future plans...
what's next?

Saturday - Scripture focus...
a passion for the Word.

Sunday - Season to celebrate...
time that I do have for myself.

(fall semester) favorites!

most common sayings:
"it is what it is" / "now i know" / "don't shout 'Miss Davis', raise your hand"

least favorite sayings:
"put it on your Christmas list" / "ask for it for Christmas" / "shhhhh"

church experience: John Partington @ Riverside - "The Importance of Centrality"

treat: hot chocolate

restaurant: avanti's

study place: Normal Public Library

vacation: 2 days with this girl

inspiring moment: All Campus Worship; gaining the respect of 23 3rd graders; Los Pinguos

way to spend alone time: reading

way to give: being a part of Operation Christmas Child

verse: Jeremiah 29:11; the whole of Psalm 103

message: "seek & find" - Andrew Whalen

song: "10,000 Reasons" - Matt Redman

fruit: apple

find/win: an xbox 360 + kinect!

book: Unspoken: Bathsheba by Francine Rivers

new thing: doing Christmas differently

craft: ones i'm making for christmas... which can't be made public knowledge yet ;)

movie: the Help

show: parenthood

drink: hot chocolate

website: brainpop.com

snack: peanut butter ritz sandwich crackers

adventure: chicago

day trip: Tanner's

first: teaching a seminar at Cornerstone's fall retreat; photographing a wedding; taking dance lessons at homegroup (waltz, swing, 2-step)

book of the Bible: the psalms

breakfast: waffles with peanut butter

new hobby: sunrise yoga

cookie: chocolate chip

accomplishment: running the Pumpkin Festival Run (2 miles) in 25 minutes

financial investment: rain boots and a raincoat

reminded: we are His sheep and He is our shepherd... He will provide and He will guide.

focused prayer: wk1

if there's one thing i know about myself is that i do well with plans. a to-do list is a form of a plan and this past semester mr.to-do and i became quite the best of friends. we worked hourly together and planned for each following day. it's how we worked - that to-do and i. another thing that i know about myself is that i do well when i have a focus. i can whip out lessons like it's nobody's business, when there is a focus. evidence of this = the semi-procrastination/semi-works-well-under-pressure situation i found myself in about 10 days ago when i needed to plan, create, and present a social studies unit in a matter of 20 hours. it got done, for the most part... and we'll leave it at that.

so knowing these 2 things about myself - this is where i am now: below are focuses that i found for myself for each day, a few weeks ago, and i prayed briefly about each. this coming week, i will be praying more. i was inspired by one of my friends who prays specifically for each of her children on a particular day of the week... it seems effective as it has become a routine for her. i think having prayer focuses become a routine of mine would be very beneficial, because prayer is an area that i struggle with being consistent with. so, if you're reading this, i would ask that you would join me in prayer for at least one of these areas. i hope to update with prayer focuses weekly, sometimes they may change and sometimes they may stay the same... we'll see!



Monday - Missions on my mind...
i was a part of one mission by giving my hair away. some days, i miss that long hair but then i remember that being a part of something bigger than myself at times comes with sacrifices.

pray for: Molly in Honduras... Laura in Italy... Alicia at IHOP... Cornerstone at ISU...
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Tuesday - Thankful for...
relationships that continue to encourage and bless me. (i.e. Dakins & Kenyan)

pray for: strength & refreshment to the people; blessings over the ministries they lead.
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Wednesday - Waiting...
for the PB to my J, the cheese to my mac, the best friend i'll marry.

pray for: patience; strength and discipline to prepare now, for then.
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Thursday - Take time to...
become more passionate about the things i love.

pray for: the resources to discover more in a way in which i understand.
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Friday - Future plans...
what's next after i graduate? teach at Sheridan? teach somewhere else?

pray for: discernment; to seek first the kingdom of God; opportunities.
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Saturday - Scripture focus...
be in the Word more instead of simply reading stories incorporating scripture.

pray for: priorities in the right order; more of a desire to be in the Word daily.
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Sunday - Season to celebrate...
forever friends.

pray for: growing in this community we have; each of us to follow the Lord's leading.
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*prayer provides a way of exchange between God and ourselves. to sit in his presence and to present these matters of the heart and mind before him can result in change, provision, and can give us more reason to praise His holy name.

from tears to joy in 16 weeks

These past 4 months have been, in some ways, rather life-changing. In one area in particular, there is evidence of growth in relationships, matured behavior, and an increase of knowledge as I carry down on this road of transitioning from pre-service teacher to full-time teacher. Details of the evidence of these aforementioned points are described below.

Going into this semester, I was beyond excited. I was excited to meet the students that I would spend this year with, I was excited to meet and get to know the teacher who would mentor me through what would be my first unofficial year of teaching, and I anticipated learning the ins and outs of a school environment from a teacher’s perspective. I observed and participated, this semester, in the field of teaching for about 24 hours each week. I co-led discussions, taught lessons, led small groups and large groups in discussion, facilitated whole class instruction, prepared materials, attended parent-teacher conferences, attended an IEP triennial meeting, attended professional development meetings, participated in event planning, and began professional and personal relationships with quite a few of the staff members at Sheridan Elementary.

In August, I entered this school as a student. A student who was willing to learn, feeling optimistic, and excited for the months that lay ahead. I met 21 students and a teacher in her last year of teaching. But, unexpectedly and yet fortunately, I began to face trials and had to overcome obstacles to get to where I am now. At times, I felt very bitter, discouraged and on the verge of quitting the program. But, I never did. I persevered, with the help of great and heartfelt encouragement from a variety of sources and made use of the determination that I knew existed within me. At times, it is hard to admit that you face these sorts of trials - ones that bring you to tears and make you wonder why you would be at such a place - but it’s when you can stand on the other side of the trial feeling accomplished and refreshed, feeling that the struggle was somehow worth the outcome of it all.

One thing that I was reminded of throughout this semester was that every day is a new day. Earlier this semester, I would teach lessons and feel as if I held absolutely no authority over the students. They took the control away from me and I feel that I let them do so because I didn’t know how to be forceful and kind at the same time, in their eyes. Some days I would feel extremely discouraged and lost because of such situations, but I took away from each of my experiences something to grow me. I didn’t want to lose the students’ affection and I didn’t want them to not like me, and so because of that, I feared being authoritative. Yet, through much “practice”, I have learned how to be in control and even quoting my clinical supervisor, I have been “in the zone”. Oh, to be there is amazing - to develop and maintain control during instruction is amazing! And wonderfully yet surprisingly to me, the students still love me. One of the most common requests asked of me, that I can recall in this moment, from our class of now 22 students is, “Can I have a hug?” Surely, yes, absolutely - I am more than willing to oblige! For the most part, respect is given to me as I give it to both my students and my CT. Reaching this point certainly did not come easy or did it happen overnight, but by grace given and being able to offer consistent, bold, and sure love, it happened. I have grown a lot this past semester and I am grateful for where I stand today.