My Weekend in Photos

Ten days until Alison gets married! Let the official countdown begin :o)
Alantic City was a FUN time and a picture is worth a thousand words (and memories). 

being thankful

The month of May has finally dawned, and the countdown to summer break officially begins. I find myself looking at calendar jam packed with commitments and plans and due dates. I know for sure that this month will be nothing short of busy and challenging. As my life would have it, I hit a rough patch this week emotionally. And living in an apartment by yourself, with no one to talk to, leaves you to do one of two things. I either sit on the couch and watch TV/surf the Internet mindlessly for hours or I sit on the couch and think. This week, I sat. And I thought. And I sat and thought some more. And I am perfectly content with admitting that that is one of the worst things I could do. Idle time is certainly the devil's play thing.

I have spent more time this week over analyzing all of the things that are not right with my life ... then counting the blessings of all the good things God has done for me. Reading through a few of my fellow blogger friend's posts led me to this conclusion: when I take to my blog this month ... I need to count my blessings. When I wake up in the morning, I need to count my blessings. When I go to sleep at night, I need to count my blessings. I want to turn around my perspective and my mindset. There is so much going for me right now ... and I need to acknowledge and celebrate it.

So I am starting today. As I sit here <naturally listening to sevendust on repeat> I realize I am thankful for:

• surviving the week with no money. 
• yet I had food on the table and gas in my car tank.
• sessions with my two boys ... they are great young men.
• my students - teaching each and every one of them brings me great joy!
• being named team leader of our special education team for the 2014-2015 school year.
• the start of my last eight week graduate course for the year.
• my cohort is fantastic and I can tell I am going to learn/grow a lot this course. 
• a mother who consistently listens without judging and gives without asking for anything in return. 

Here's to challenging myself to see the good in every day, everyday for the month of May. 

exactly what I needed to hear ... exactly at this moment

"The defining times in life are those that test your character, push you to the end of you rope. Those moments that will either make or break us, build us up or tear us down. The choice is yours. Stop dwelling on the past and live in the here and now.
I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it."
-Let It Go.

Happy Easter

I forget where I read this ... or who wrote it. 

But I stumbled across this in my draft emails tonight and I thought it was an excellent reminder of why we should be grateful for every moment, good or bad in our lives, and why we should trust that God's plan is far greater than any plan we could ever have for ourselves.

I am glad to see 2013 go, but I am so thankful for God’s faithfulness and provision every day of that year. I learned so much. I didn’t always like God’s plan for teaching me His truths, and honestly, I often failed to understand why things had to happen the way they did. But I can also say with assurance that God was with me every step of the way – and His presence was more than enough to get me through it all. 

Still, I am excited about a fresh start, a brand new set of days overflowing with new dreams and unmarked possibilities, but I also know this year is crammed full of the unknown as well as a giant or two. 

I am not a fan of giants, and if I am brutally honest, I have to admit that the unknown fashions a pocket of fear in my heart where questions and doubts thrive. I don’t know whattomorrow holds but I do know that I have to face that fear and refuse to let it take up residence in my heart and mind. 

The good news is what lies ahead is no surprise to God. In fact, He has already been where you and I are going. That reason alone empowers us to face every tomorrow with hope, knowing that whatever touches us passes through His hands, with His permission. 

It is not God’s plan for us to dwell in fear or for fear to rule our lives. He has already set in motion the defeat and fall of every giant we will ever face. Our responsibility is to step through our fear, facing every giant in God’s power and with His promises. The Holy Spirit will guide the path of His truth to its destined mark, taking down the giants lurking in the shadows of every tomorrow. 

He is the same yesterday, today and forever! The days ahead are saturated with the memory of Goliath’s fall when one very unlikely shepherd boy chose to put his trust in Almighty God, the Giant Killer. We can make that same choice.

Happy Resurrection Sunday! I hope you had a blessed Easter with your family! 

Spring Break in Pictures!

I've had the absolute best spring break! So grateful for time to spend outdoors and to catch up with my oldest and dearest friends! I am feeling restored and pumped for the summer!