There have been so many things to share over the past month but everytime I sit down to write about them, I fall asleep. Literally. There have been days when I would come home from school, sit down to read a book or check email and I crash, only to wake up hours later wondering what happened and where the time went. I'm really starting to feel the pressure as I wrap up the school year (2.5 more days!), direct VBS at church (starts in 10 days and I still need about 10 more drama team members!!), host a jewelry party next Friday (6:30, everyone should come), pack up my apartment (moving out June 26), oh, and finish raising support (still stuck at 30%) and move to Germany on August 1. The crazy thing is, I KNOW there is so much to accomplish and take care of and wrap up and do in such a short amount of time, and I KNOW it will take lots of work and energy and determination and a boatload of faith, but I have peace. It's the strangest feeling; almost ominous, yet comforting. I have the peace that can only come from God, when you know you are walking in step with the Spirit and you're right in the center of His will. Lately I've had a lot of people encourage me in my decision to pursue missions work, and I've also had a surprising number of people try to deter me. Some have told me that I'm never going to raise enough money in this economy, others tell me I'm a fool for giving up a paycheck, and still others have told me that I'm not needed "over there", but that I'm more needed here. All of them have made valid points, and I appreciate their input...but my reply is this: where are you placing your trust? In earthly things like the economy and paychecks and stock markets and the government? Or in God, the maker of Heaven and Earth and ultimate determining factor? Yes, I may end up making a total fool out of myself. Or, God might just surprise everyone and keep the promises He's made to me. Either way, I'm content in knowing that God has already mapped out every step I will take and has promised to never leave my side. Put simply, I'm believing God. I've started wearing two rings, one says Faith and one says Hope. They come from one my favorite verses, Hebrews 11:1 : Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Now, more than ever, I am clinging to that verse day in and day out. Say what you will, but you can never take away my faith or my hope in my God.
Ironically (does God do irony?) I've been doing Beth Moore's "Believing God" Bible study with the ladies at church and so I think now is the appropriate time to share with you our Pledge of Faith.
God is who He says He is.
God can do what He says He can do.
I am who God says I am.
I can do all things through Christ.
God's Word is alive and active in me.
I'm believing God!
Now that I've got all that off my chest, here are some pics and updates from the last month or so at school. The full album can be viewed on facebook by clicking here.
Third and fourth graders dipped their own candles during our study of pioneer Indiana. They doubled as gifts for our Mother's Tea.
Our all-school field trip to the Indianapolis Zoo was a blast.
My fifth and sixth grade social studies class held a European Union fair for parents and other students. Each student ran a booth about an EU country, prepared a cultural dish, and shared information about his country.
Third and fourth graders had their own special day as we spent Pioneer Day in the kitchen and enjoyed cornbread from scratch, hand-churned butter, baked apples, hasty pudding, mulled apple cider, fresh squeezed orange juice, and orange peel candy. It was a blast and they did well with their cooking!!
I went to Chicago for Memorial Day weekend and spent one day at the Lincoln Park Zoo with Cassie! We had a great time enjoying the weather and animals.
I also had dinner at Third Coast and caught up with my dear friend Melissa. It has been way too long since we spent any time together and it was so great to see her again.
I cleaned out my closet so I could start packing, and have determined that I have WAY too many flip-flops. Yes, I own all of these. Not for much longer though; I finally invested in a pair of Chacos, which should be arriving any day now, and I will be trading in all of these flip flops (except for one or two nicer pairs) for the Chacos. It's definitelty a fair trade.
No, a boy did not give me these flowers. I was in Wal-Mart the other day and spotted hot pink gerbera daisies - you don't come across those every day! Not to mention the fact that here was two of my favorite things, hot pink and gerbera daisies, combined! Bunches of five blooms were marked $5, so I decided to splurge a little and buy myself some flowers for the kitchen table. When I got home I glanced at my receipt and saw that they rang up for only $1! So the very next day I went back and bought four more bunches, then took them all to school and put them on my desk. I don't know anything about flowers but I think 25 daisies for $5 is a steal, and now I have a little bit of sunshine in my classroom for the last few days of school.
Third and fourth graders had their own special day as we spent Pioneer Day in the kitchen and enjoyed cornbread from scratch, hand-churned butter, baked apples, hasty pudding, mulled apple cider, fresh squeezed orange juice, and orange peel candy. It was a blast and they did well with their cooking!!
