Refining Times

Our beautiful Creator...

2009-03-29T10:23:00.000-07:00

Praise be to our Father, the creator of beauty!

Un poco de todo...

2009-03-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

It's been entirely too long since I last updated my blog. I do often look at it... thinking that I should write something. I guess if I posted little updated more frequently it wouldn't seem like such an overwhelming task! :-)

I've noticed that it's also difficult to keep up with pictures as I use my laptop, my parents' computer, and the computer at school... rather than having everything in one place like I did in Honduras.

(This is a picture from my first Christmas in Honduras... not related to anything in this blog entry... but it brings a smile to my face! :-))

It's hard to believe that it's already mid March... where did the time go?! I feel like we JUST celebrated Christmas!

Recent happenings:
*I've continued to enjoy getting to know people in my life group (Bible study) and church. It's helped me to feel so much more connected.

*Youth group has been a tremendous blessing, as well. I feel as though I'm getting to know the other leaders and some of the girls that are in my small group. Unfortunately, I've yet to have the same group of girls. I'd love to see some consistency within our group!

*School has been a lot of fun. I really enjoy my teammates and students. I'm enjoying 5th grade much more than I ever thought I would. It's so encouraging to feel like I'm growing as a teacher as the year progresses!

*I'm training for a half marathon.... and have recently increased my miles. It's fun to feel like I'm enjoying running again and also that my endurance is increasing. I think that the May race will probably be a run/walk combo.... and I'm okay with that!

*I've recently met two new friends that have both been huge blessings in my life! Both girls are in my life group and it's been neat to get to know them. One of them is actually running the half marathon with me! :-)

Upcoming happenings:

I'm going to Guatemala over Spring break (in about 2 weeks) and I'm REALLY looking forward to this! I'm excited to get back in Central America, to use my Spanish, to have some quality time with precious friends, and to just get away and travel for a bit!

*I'm running the mini marathon (mentioned above) in early May.

*I'm looking forward to continuing to get plugged into my church and with the youth group. I feel like the Lord is teaching me a lot about what relational prayer looks like (as opposed to just bringing a list before Him) right now and I'm excited about this!

Recent happenings

2009-01-24T13:46:00.000-08:00

*HOORAY! I finished my last graduate assignment a few hours ago which means that I unofficially have my master's degree in education! (I'll say it's official once I receive my transcript and degree!)

*I recently finished my first attempt at knitting a hat.... it turned out well... just very small - VeRy small! :-)

*I made bread for the first time, a few days ago; yum! I found a recipe on a really cute site that I was browsing and decided to give it a try. We all enjoyed it with butter and jam!

*We've had snow on the ground all this week. I was leaving for school a few mornings ago and was given the most beautiful present! It was still partially dark but the sun was getting ready to rise. This meant that the sky was orange and pink. The moon was a small sliver and was still visible! And - the trees and snow on the ground were sparkling - really and truly - from the night's frost! What a great giver of gifts our Father is!

*Lastly, I'm going to start helping out with the youth group at my church tomorrow evening. It's been incredible to see how this has come together. I had hoped to get involved with the youth group after finishing my master's degree.... but had not yet started to pursue anything. A couple of people in my life group (small group Bible study) talked to and to the youth director and church.... and the next thing I knew I was being asked to get plugged in.... hooray! The Lord's timing is PeRfEcT as I JUST finished my studies. I feel that I'll be able to fully invest in whichever teens the Lord brings before me! I'm SOOO looking forward to this great opportunity!

B-R-R-R-R-R-R!!!!

2009-01-15T14:51:00.000-08:00

So... here's what this week has looked like:

Monday - normal day
Tuesday - 2 hour delay
Wednesday - 2 hour early release
Thursday - called a 2 hour delay the night before... cancelled school Thurs. morning
Friday - cancelled... and this was decided the night before....

Yup... it's cold here! The thermometer says -5 degrees F.... and that's without the wind chill. It's supposed to be -35 tomorrow with the wind chill. YES... that's 35 DEGREES BELOW ZERO... I don't know that I've ever seen such a temperature!

Good-bye to polka dots!

2008-12-19T12:28:00.001-08:00

After many attempts at trying to get rid of the polka dots.... I was finally successful! Adios polka dots.... hello cute new blog background! :-)

Ice storm!

2008-12-19T12:28:00.000-08:00

So this morning I woke up to find out that school had been cancelled. It was supposed to have been our last day of classes before Christmas break... Merry (early) Christmas to me! :-) Luckily I had given my gifts to my kiddos yesterday... and had wished them a very Merry Christmas just in case we got the ice the weather people were calling for. Turns out.... we did! Here are a few pictures that I just took. (Oh - and on a comical note - a friend and I signed up to run a 5k this evening... yup, it sounded much better two months ago! Not only is it snowy, icy, and cold out... but the lady in charge of the race told me, two days ago, that the race would be held "no matter what"..... So Amy and I will be leaving in about an hour and a half.... to drive 30 minutes away... to slip and slide our way through the "Dashing Through the Snow 5k"! Ha, ha! It should be a good adventure, if nothing else. I'm thinking that we'll at least go there... pick up our shirts... try to run if it's not too slippery.... and then see what happens!)

So... pictures of the ice storm... isn't the Lord's creation beautiful?!

More fun at school!

2008-12-19T12:25:00.001-08:00

We were studying kinetic and potential energy... so we brought in toys ("science tools" :-)) to help us learn! (The students also had character presentations... which is why you might see some mustaches and costumes!)

Fun at school!

2008-12-19T11:42:00.000-08:00

Fun with indoor recess!
More fun with indoor recess!

Playing chess! Doing a puzzle!

December

2008-12-09T16:27:00.000-08:00

So I've been pretty terrible about updating my blog. I often look at it (either with good intentions of posting... or with hopes that someone else will have posted for me... not sure which!).

Here's a little bit of what's been going on in my life as of late...

It's hard for me to believe that I've been back in the States for nearly 6 months already. I would have to say that I feel I'm still adjusting. The Lord has provided a job (teaching 5th grade) that I'm really enjoying, a place to stay (with my parents for now), and a church. These things are certainly helping to make the adjustment a bit easier.

I've enjoyed a number of fun wintery things over the last few weeks - like snow, decorating the house for Christmas, baking fun treats, and Adopting a Family (through my church). I'm looking forward to being able to deliver gifts (with my small group) to the family that we've adopted!

I am about 6 weeks from finishing my master's program (and am very much anticipating the end!!) and am looking forward to being able to get more involved with other things once my grad. school program is finished. I'm hoping to get plugged into a Spanish-speaking church and am also hoping to get connected with a youth group.

One thing that I've really been missing is being surrounded by like-minded people from the beginning of the day (with staff devotions) to the close of the day (with numerous after school and evening small groups and Bible studies).

Hopefully this gives you a little bit of an update as to what's going on in my life...

Blog layout help?

2008-11-02T13:02:00.000-08:00

So I found this fun new background.... but how do I change the middle section (where the entries actually are) to match? Help!

Signs of F-A-L-L

2008-10-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I'm really enjoying about being in the States again is FALL! Having been away from the changing of the seasons for a few years, I'm anticipating this welcome change, all the more!

Just a few things I've been able to observe:
*cooler temps
*frost on the roof this morning (SOOOO not Fall :-/)
*apple cider
*apple crisp
*Fall festivals
*pumpkin pie
*scented candles
*football game
*crunching on fallen leaves in the woods while jogging
*falling leaves
*a few colored leaves
*fields of pumpkins
*mums
*planning fall science activities

... and on I could go... I'll try to add some pics, soon!

Intentional

2008-10-04T06:56:00.000-07:00

I've returned to my blog numerous times over the past few weeks, often intending to write... but never knowing quite how to get what I want to say on "paper".

When I was living in Honduras, I was intentional about carving out times (somewhat consistently) to spend with the Lord. I was purposeful about looking for ways in which I saw the Lord working in my life. A good friend of mine calls these moments "faith builders".

Now that I've been back in the States for a few months, I've found that there are so many more distractions that 'vie' for my attention. More often than not, I seem to give in to / or focus on these other things that aren't bad things... but just not God's best for me. Simple put, I often find it very challenging to carve out quality time to spend with the Lord.

All of this being said, I recently started a Bible study that will meet one day a week. It is Beth Moore's "Stepping Up - a Journey through the Psalms of Ascent". I really enjoy the depth that Beth puts into her studies. After watching a video and meeting with a small group of ladies, there are 5 lessons of 'homework' to complete. I've started this week's work - and it's GREAT 'stuff'.

Here are a few quotes/ ideas from the first week's video:

*Beth suggested that we get on our faces before even starting our daily study - and wait to hear from God! Her response to the question, "How long should I be on my face?" - "Long enough! I'll stay here til' I hear God speak!" (This is as a posture of humility before God.)

*When asked if it had been a good day, Beth responded, "if I've heard God speak through His word, then yes!" She was reflecting on how, more than anything, she wants to be more head over heels in love with Jesus today than yesterday!

*Beth was commenting on being nervous before starting the evening talk - and said she was praying that she would be released from the pride that was overtaking her - pride that she would say something wrong, etc... A friend told her, "You're not good enough to mess God up!!!"

*The study focuses on 15 psalms - psalms 120-134... and focuses on journeying "up" - from wherever you are... realizing that by God's grace we don't have to stay "down" - or in strongholds.

Poverty and heartache...

2008-09-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

Though it would seem, based on the title of this entry, that these two things go together... they actually are about completely separate events tonight.

Poverty

I found a book, this past weekend, entitled "Hope Lives: A Journey of Restoration" by Amber Van Schooneveld. I HIGHLY recommend it. This book is actually a manageable 5 week devotional. Allow me to share a few things that have jumped out at me thus far. Some of this is disheartening and yet, it's true 'stuff'. My hope, in sharing this, is that your heart might be stirred to pray, to read, to act, to ask, to share... (The book is about poverty and is divided into the following sections: The poverty of the heart, God is not silent, Understanding Poverty, Prayer, and Be the Change. It not only offers awful statistics as a means of educating but also offers practical ways to get involved and help to make a difference.)

*It's tough to watch the news as there is an unending amount of stories about AIDS, war, poverty, etc... "Overwhelmed and paralyzed. Overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems. Paralyzed by not knowing what to do. And yet, I serve a God of hope. A God of love. A God of healing. Where do I, where does this God of hope, fit into this confounding world around me?... Our God of hope is on the move to bring restoration to me and to you and to this world full of hurt."

*"You can't comfort the afflicted without afflicting the comfortable."

*"There are 1.2 billion people in the world living in extreme poverty on less than a dollar a day. ... There are nearly 30,000 children under the age of 5 dying each day of hunger and preventable diseases. ... I know that each of the nearly 30,000 children is a story of a treasure. A diamond God created to catch and reflect his light just so, but now kicked in the dirt, muddied, unrecognized, and abandoned."

*"The stories I see on TV stay in that little box - they don't invade my world. My section of the world is living through unprecedented prosperity, safety, and opportunity. ... I was always well-fed; it was always an expectation that I would go to college, get a good job with health benefits, buy a house. Far from the despair reigning in certain pockets of the world, my industrialized world and I are thriving. ... I drive down the street and I see huge hospitals and hulking high schools ... My church buddies and I are thriving, too - we have our many church meetings, our building campaigns, and our community outreaches playing Frisbee in the park with Starbucks afterward. Put simply, we are prospering. ... I still can't help but wonder, as I sip Starbucks on an easy Sunday afternoon: Is this pleasing God? Is this his version of what his world should look like?"

*"What if all this time I've been polising myself up to exhibit spiritual excellence - ... - when what God really wanted was something wholly different? Not to stay home perfecting myself, but to go out into the world. To transform it through action, in service and in love. ... the conviction doesn't go away."

This is all from Day 1 of the devotional... I have so much more to share ... but in hopes that some of you will actually read all of this, I'll give you a rest! :-) May these quotes stir your heart...

Heartache

I just talked to a precious friend in Honduras. She and her family are very special to me, as I was able to spend a fair bit of time with them this past year... and came to know, love, and appreciate them so very much! We tried to get together once a month... and now, having been back in "school mode" for a month... I'm really missing my monthly visits. Apparently, so are her sweet kiddos.

Her oldest is 4 and has an incredible memory! My friend has shared sweet little stories of his great memory over the past few weeks. Well, tonight I guess he asked about me and his mom told him that I had gone "bye bye on a plane". He started crying. Oh, that made my heart just ache. Bless his little heart.

Just when I feel as though I'm "transitioning" okay.... this describes my feelings and emotions right now, though. I feel as though I'm on a roller coaster... some days are great... some days are difficult... sometimes I smile as I think about precious memories from my life in Honduras... sometimes I cry as I think about precious memories. I think that all of this is normal as I continue to wade through this time of readjustment (starting over).

Documenting Fall...

2008-09-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

Grrr... I just lost my blog entry :-(

Here's the short version... take 2!

I've had so much practice with documenting everything at school lately... student behaviors, meetings, lesson ideas, etc... that I thought I'd give it a go with this new season that we're about to enter! :-)

FALL is my absolute favorite time of year! Having been away from it for 3 years, I'm ecstatic that I'm seeing evidences of this wonderful season! I bought a fun autumn-scented candle yesterday, some yummy squash, and a gorgeous yellow mum! I can't wait for more leaves to change colors... and then drop!

You can see a few pictures that I just took, above!

A bit o' this and a bit o' that...

2008-08-31T13:56:00.000-07:00

I'm taking advantage of the long weekend (and the fact that I'm home, sick) to catch up on a number of things... including BLOGGING!

I've now been back in the States for over 2 months - and am continuing to go through a period of adjustment. In trying to figure out how to put it all on paper, I thought I'd try this....:

Things I'm enjoying about being in Indiana:
*crisp, cool (Fall-like) mornings and evenings
*driving
*running, outside, with a friend or on my own
*a new church
*a new job, full of both challenging and exciting aspects
*Wal-Mart

Things I'm missing in Honduras:
*good friends that know me well
*always having someone around to hang out with
*hiking the mountain
*my 7th, 8th, and 9th graders
*speaking Spanish
*feeling like I know what I'm doing in terms of my profession

Recent faith builders (times where I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that the Lord is in control!)
*several timely phone calls with friends!
*running into or seeing former students (that are now sophomores!)
*beginning to jog again!
*having a professor (for one of my grad. school courses) that also just moved back to the States
*receiving encouraging updates from friends still in Honduras
*receiving emails from former students in Honduras!
*sat down beside someone that I didn't know, at church, only to find out that she had just been to Honduras, on a missions trip... and that she knew the area in which I lived!!

Areas where I'm struggling:
*setting aside time to spend with the Lord, on a daily basis
*wading through the tough and lonely times
*thinking about what the Lord has in store for my future - be it next year or several years from now
*to be content in the here and now

School has started. We have finished our 2nd week - which is hard to believe! I'm really enjoying the kids (which is why I teach!) and know that the "newness" will eventually pass. I will get used to things. Meanwhile, I'm trying to rest in the fact that God is in control. He's got all of the things about which I worry under control. He knows what next year looks like - and in this I can find comfort!

(I need to do a better job of taking pictures. I'll try to post some soon!)

Ready or not...

2008-08-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

Documenting summer! :-) The top pic is in New York City, on top of the Empire State building, part of a FUN trip with two of my close friends from Honduras (Elizabeth and Hayley). The second pic is in Michigan, with several teachers from my school in Honduras, and a group of amazing high school girls that were at Spring Hill camp! Then a pic of my good friend, Sarah, who was home for a visit! (She came to visit me in Honduras, TWICE!) The last pic shows my newly painted bedroom wall - with some fun art from Honduras!

Schools a'coming! It's hard to believe that it's August already. It's also hard to believe that it's been so long since my last update. I guess it must be time for school to start -we need some routine, again!

The school at which I'll be teaching this year starts school on Friday! I've been in my classroom this past week - cleaning out, organizing, setting up, and trying to decide where to put my own "stuff" - let alone all that was left behind. In between working at school... I've been working on my grad. school courses, attending new teacher orientation meetings, jogging, reading, sorting through 1000 pictures from Honduras, and spending some time with friends. Oh, and taking cake decorating classes with my mom - yup, you read that correctly. Guess who hasn't practiced yet?!

I've been very purposeful about trying not to jump into too many long-term commitments as I know that simply balancing the demands of a new job while still working on grad school will be quite a lot. My natural tendency is to want to fill my time so that I'm not missing Honduras - but I know that this is the better way to handle things.

I've been reading a book lately, by Beth Moore, entitled "Believing God" - and it's about believing God's Word to be true - and showing that in the way we live. It's powerful stuff. I hope to share some quotes from it, as well as some "deeper thoughts" about what I'm learning right now the next time that I write. I wanted to post a simple update, though, for those of you that are checking out my blog which takes the place of my Honduras updates.

My ROCK

2008-07-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

The Lord is my ROCK - a firm place to cling to when times are uncertain, scary, and when fears abound. I love this name of God right now!

I've now been home for two weeks. In some ways it feels as though I just left Honduras and in other ways it feels as though I've been back in the States for a long time.

Here are a few recent blessings/things I've been up to:
*I accepted a 5th grade teaching position at a great elementary school in my hometown!
*I checked out a new church this past Sunday and was INCREDIBLY blessed by the worship, sermon, and people that I met.
*I went to a small group meeting Sunday night through the church that I went to Sun. morning. It was very encouraging.
*Since I will be living with my parents for a while, I decided to paint my bedroom. It looks wonderful, if I do say so myself! :-)
*I've been very comforted by the "little blessings" that I keep seeing each day. It might be hearing an encouraging song on the radio, reading a verse, talking with a friend, getting an email, etc... The timing has been perfect!
*My brother, Bryan, is flying home this week, for the 4th of July holiday weekend. It's been a year since the last time I saw Bry. I'm so looking forward to seeing him!
*I've been taking advantage of the long summer days and great temperatures - enjoying great walks and chats with friends outside!
*I'm traveling to meet up with three close friends from Honduras in July. I'm grateful that I will get to spend time with these lovely ladies!

Packin' up...

2008-06-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

Well... tomorrow's the day. All of the report cards, and cleaning, and saying good-bye, etc... is finished. Yesterday was our last work day at school. (The picture is of my students, at their 6th grade promotion, this past Thursday.)

Today I'm going to a soccer game in which two of my students will be playing... and then out to lunch... and then another good-bye.

After that all that remains will be to finish writing a massive paper for grad. school and to pack. I purposely got up early this morning to try and pack. It's not that I haven't started - there is lots of "stuff" in my suitcases. I've given away loads of other "things". I just know, though, that my suitcases are NOT going to be under the weight allotment. And so, here I sit, not wanting to part with most of what is in these suitcases!

Tomorrow, a van will come to pick seven of us up at 4:30 a.m.. We'll drive the 4-5 hours to San Pedro Sula. We'll check in via the "out the door" lines, pray our luggage isn't too heavy, and then wait for a couple of hours. We'll fly to Houston... then say more good-byes. I'll fly to Chicago, laugh hysterically with my mom, whilst trying to haul my huge, heavy suitcases the 3 miles to where she parked her car. Then we'll drive the 3 (or more - if we get lost!) hours home.

And so, here I sit. Having already said so many good-byes, I'm ready to leave - and yet still feeling overwhelmed by a small amount of fear about the unknown. I'm choosing to cling to promises given by the Lord.

Psalm 56:3-4 - "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid..."

Winding down...

2008-06-06T21:45:00.000-07:00

Well ... Thursday was my last day with my students. It was a very pleasant morning! Here's a picture of my crazy kiddos, in our very empty classroom... sigh!

What, you might ask, am I doing now that school is out? Well.... report cards, cleaning and packing up my classroom, packing up my apartment, getting ready for the 6th grade promotion (graduation), spending time with students and friends, writing lots of thank you notes, and on and on the list goes!

It feels a bit surreal that I'm no longer responsible for 25 precious lives. It's definitely a bittersweet feeling. I'm claiming the Lord's peace, though, and choosing to trust Him as I anticipate moving back to the States.

Phillippians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Birthday bash!

2008-06-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of most of the students in my class at the "surprise" birthday party that they planned for me! They brought in lunch: chips, cookies, brownies, candies, rice krispy treats, and soda! :-) They were so sweet to plan a party for me! I felt very much loved. This was the start of a special birthday weekend. More details to come later!

Talking about trust

2008-05-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

Trust seems to be my word lately. The Lord is teaching me so much about the idea of trusting, without reservations, without hesitation, without knowing what's coming next. I'm learning, slowly, to trust, fully, in God simply because HE IS GOD!

Here are a few things that have been particularly encouraging to me, recently:

*Psalm 31: 14, 15a "But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands..."

*Psalm 73:25 "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you."

*A quote by Elizabeth Elliot - "The life of faith is lived one day at a time, and it has to be lived - not always looked forward to as though the 'real living' were around the corner. It is today for which we are responsible, God still owns tomorrow."

*Lyrics from the song entitled "Trust in You" by Jeremy Camp:

When I can't see you - I know you're there. And I can't feel you - I will not fear. I will TRUST in you and I WILL NOT BE AFRAID! When the battle is close at hand, I know you're with me - your help me stand. I will trust in you and I will not be afraid. ...

When the darkness is close at hand and I'm running against the wind - I will trust in you. When I'm standing upon that shore, all the battles have gone before...

We love sushi!

2008-05-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

Two of my coworkers and their lovely family hosted a fabulous sushi-making night last Friday! It was a fun time filled with new experiences, great fellowship, and delicious food! (1) - Several people learning how to make sushi rolls! (2) - One of the first attempts! (3) Me and one of my roommates, Joy, clearly enjoying the sushi party!

Perspectives

2008-04-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

Some of the lovely ladies from my school at a recent retreat!

The INCREDIBLE view of the city that I get to see each time I go up or down the mountain!

The view from the top floor of a neat ministry that I was able to visit recently!

There is strength in trusting

2008-04-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 30:15

"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and TRUST is your STRENGTH."

(Larger, bolded words mine.)

I've been thinking and praying, a lot, on the topic of trust lately. This verse stood out to me while I was reading last night. I love the fact that the Lord will provide strength as we choose to trust Him.

Beautiful thoughts

2008-04-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

"Do I serve the Lord for what He gives me or for who He is?"

"Do I serve the Lord because He answers my prayers or because He's worthy?"

Serve and praise the Lord in good times and bad!

*These were some points brought up at church today. They hit home with me.

**My hope is to use this blog as a journal/place to reflect on life experiences and upcoming transitions. Hopefully some of the things going on in my life will encourage YOU, at times, as well!

Third time's the charm, right?!...

2008-04-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

I've recently looked at so many wonderful blogs - so I thought I'd give this yet another try. Hopefully this one will last longer than my last two blog attempts!