Arrrrrrg! And other Piratey Things.

Right now I'm supposed to be working on a "Case Study" for my Reading Diagnostics class...In a nut shell, I gave this a kid a reading test, and now I'm supposed to analyze all this data and figure out what his reading levels are, along with some ways to help him move up a level or two so that he may become a stronger reader.

It all sounds fine and dandy but all this clinical speak mumbo jumbo is a language I just don't know how to converse in. ARRG! (The only point in this blog that is anything piratey related. If you wanted more about pirates, google it) ((That was me trying to be witty like the other bloggers I follow...how'd I do?))

I guess I should get back to it...my professor has been kind enough to allow me an extra few days, best I not take too much longer.

But before I go, I'd like to list a few prayer requests...if you think about me from time to time, here are some things I've got going on that I could use some extra guidance/comfort/peace in:

• 1. I'm applying for a "job" that is really exciting and right up my alley, please pray the interview goes well and that I would say and be exactly who God asks me to be. 
• 2. School sucks. My motivation is down to zero and I need some more to finish out this semester.
• 3. Along with motivation, I need some more self-discipline in almost every area of my life.
• 4. Patience. Due to the fact that I'm graduating in December I'm starting to do the "Planning" thing again that usually gets me in trouble because most of the plans are MINE and not all God's...I need some patience to hold still and wait for him to speak so I don't jump before he says to.
• 5. And last but not least....PEACE. Pray that my anxiety is down to a minimum while I run myself ragged the next 6 weeks as the semester is wrapping up...

For all who keep up with me on here, you are appreciated more than bloggy words can say.

Now back to that study I don't understand......
     

I. Love. Volleyball.

The 9 young ladies you see above play for Big Lake Juniors, and for the another consecutive season I get to coach them :) Last year was a year spent on improving the basics and learning how to mesh as a team. This year is about fine tuning those same basic skills to make them even better players. The first tournament is always nerve racking, as a coach you're never sure if you covered enough in practice. The first tournament is about finding a flow, in rotations, positions, and communication on the court. Usually the first game is shaky, as everyone finds their bearings but it was quite the opposite for these ladies in their first game yesterday morning. They took the court like champs who had been preparing for months. They communicated, transitioned, and did all the little things I had  especially gone over in practices. I kept looking back at Kyla and saying "Oh my goodness, they're doing everything we talked about! They were really listening!" 

Volleyball is a sport I've always loved. Growing up next door to the Varsity Coach, I attended a lot of games with his wife, Rachel. Rachel and Todd introduced me to volleyball when I was only 8, I couldn't wait to turn 10 so I could start playing with Big Lake Juniors! I played all the way through high school until an injury took me out. As much as I love playing volleyball, I can say that I probably like coaching more. I get to be a part of the "WOO!" moment when a middle gets their timing right on a block, or when a libero (defensive specialist) digs that hard hit up so that her teammates can play it, or when a setter sets so perfectly that the outside hitter gets a bangin' kill....I get to watch my players grow as athletes as well as young adults. 

My goal in coaching is to transpose that same love of the sport into them. I want to teach them respect, loyalty, confidence, and a good work ethic, so they can share in the satisfaction that comes when you work together  towards a common goal, in this case to win!

This weekend they did just that. They communicated with each other, trusted each other, and played some awesome volleyball :) I was so proud to say that Kyla and I had a little part of that. Side note, my Assistant Coach, Kyla is AWESOME... idk what I'll do when she's coaching her own team next year ;) She knows what I need her to do before I even ask her, I can't say enough how much I appreciate her donating her time to this team and to help me, she's wonderful!!

This weekend was an awesome kick off for this season!

It will only get better, and I know by the end I'll be posting a picture of these girls with medals around their necks!

BLJ All the way! 

2013

It's going to be a big year for this girl! 

2013 is the year I will become a college graduate and will begin teaching instead of studying. 

This year I want to document the stresses and victories, so that on 12/13/13 I can look back and appreciate all that my God has helped me accomplish. I'm only 3 weeks in and already feeling the pressure, but I think about how fast 2012 flew by and I'm reminded that there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Since graduating high school I've looked forward to the day THIS year that I would walk across the stage again, but with a degree instead of a diploma. 

As excited as I am to graduate, I can't help but get nervous about teaching full time by myself, without a teacher to "shadow"....All I can picture is  me standing in the middle of the room with kids running wildly shooting glue across the room, hanging from the ceiling, or finger painting the walls! Thoughts cross my mind like "How will I know what to teach them? Will I be able to reach each kid? Will they respond to me? Will they feel encouraged or will they feel frustrated? What if I absolutely bomb?!" It's laughable really, that I'm nervous about things that aren't even happening yet. What's that passage in Matthew about worrying not adding any time to your life? haha, as much as these worries consume my mind, God consistently reminds me that this is his plan and I need not worry because he's a pretty smart dude! :) As long as my center focus is pleasing him and loving people, the rest will fall right into place.

I'm so excited for things to come!

Originally I planned on blogging weekly to document this year....as much as I would love to do that, and I am going to try, it's more realistic to say that I will blog bi-weekly or monthly....

Soooo if you're a regular to my blog, I'm excited that you'll be along for the ride! And I ask that you just pray for me as this year unfolds, and I will pray for you!

2013 is going to be awesome! I can feel it in my bones! :)

Almost 4 years later...

Today I found a copy of the speech I gave at my high school graduation...I had never watched it, after the fact. To be honest I couldn't even remember what I talked about....Hearing my words was weird, and as I listened I felt like I was watching a different person. So much time has passed. I moved to Gainesville for a year, moved back home, and now I'm finishing up my last year of college...I'm so different from the person I was on that stage three and a half years ago. I had no idea what the big guy upstairs  had in mind, or where I would be sitting at this point in my life. But listening to it made me smile, and some of the words really hit home...

"Now comes the next step

Where we enter that long awkward stage of life between high school and retirement.

A time where so many decisions will have to be made, our heads will spin out of pure confusion.

These decisions will direct our life's path, and ultimately determine our future.

Whether you decide to attend college, join the armed forces, or enter the work force, every decision you make from here on out will be YOURS.

Integrity, is a firm adherence to a code or standard of values.

It is a word not understood by many for it's respect has been lost over the years.

In a world where acceptance is desired more than individualism we stand the risk of losing ourselves and our values.

Remember that you have a choice.

It's a freedom this country offers, one that cannot be taken away.

Your life is your choice.

Do with it something that will not only better yourself, but better your community and the world you live in."

Choices. My life. My choice. 

My choices haven't always been the greatest or the best these last few years....but regardless, my Savior has used them for good. Moving to Gainesville wasn't the best choice, but I sure learned a lot. Changing my major to Education was a needed choice, and more and more I know it's what I'm meant to do. Coming home was a hard choice, but it was the best one. Coaching volleyball was a GREAT choice, and I've loved every minute of it. So many choices, so many consequences, but always one Savior with one plan to use me to further his kingdom.

Life is a funny thing. It never happens the way you think it will, or the way you planned it. 

And I'm glad it doesn't :)

Thinking that it's been almost 4 years since I walked that stage and said those words, blows my mind, and though tough at times, I wouldn't change anything that's happened since then.

As hard as it was to learn that I can't make plans, because I'm not the big guy upstairs....I'm glad that I finally get it. I now look forward to the surprises he has for me and the fun it's going to be to enjoy them!

God is good. All the time, no matter our choices, therefore, life is good as well. :)

I am...

Today in class we each wrote an "I am..." poem, thought I'd share mine :]

I am forever changing.

I think too much.

I believe that my ways aren't always the best ways.

I want to be purposeful.

I am anxious.

I need constant guidance.

I feel nervous yet excited for the future.

I hope for simple pleasures.

I am ready for the next step to wherever.

I dream of being a woman like my mother, a powerful woman of God.

I love 'my' people, so much.

I am growing.

New semester, New anxieties, New perspective.

Today I successfully completed my first week of this semester. Only 15 more to go.....eek! Just saying that brings on the worry of lesson planning, creative writing, and boring book reading....Wonderful. 

When I got home this evening, after eating supper, my brother was asking if I had a book-bag that he could use this year. I honestly feel like he asks me this every year...I don't think he's used his "own" book-bag since elementary school. It took me a minute to rack my brain of what bags I did have, and for a moment thought that his only options would be Vera Bradley or Fossil. Of which neither would have been a problem, if my brother were my sister. :) I then recalled the book-bag I used when I lived in Gainesville. Hunter found it in my closet and brought it to me to clean out. In it I found two things kleenex and my lost Moleskin journal. The Kleenex were clean, and the Moleskin incomplete, as are most of my journals. I may or may not have trouble finishing one journal before starting another...lol. There are at least 4 stacked on my nightstand now...

Anyway, I began paging through the journal and found that my last entry was made almost 2 years ago in September of 2010...mind you the journal was started in January of 2009. . Looking back at prayers and verses that spoke to me at different points in my life, I got uber emotional - duh - I'm a girl. So many entries were just cries out to God, cries for help, guidance, peace, direction, help, guidance, peace, direction, help, guidance, peace, direction... you get the picture. Over and over I asked God to make right decisions apparent, to ease my heavy heart, and to clear my restless mind. As I read, I could feel that same desperation that I was writing out of, and was instantly thankful. When I wrote those entries, when I prayed those prayers, I didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel...I only saw the clutter and the mess I had to get through. But the thing is, I did. And I'm sitting here two years later so different than the person I was when I cried those cries and prayed those prayers. I got through it, and am still mudding through it. But even more so now then I felt then, I know that I will get through. And that two years from now I'll find some unfinished journal and be even more thankful for the God who does it all. And not that everything to "get through" is such a terrible thing, but that regardless of what it is, I am redeemed by the God who hold's my hand through it all. But he doesn't just hold my hand, he whispers direction and sings my praises. My God is so good.

I've learned that looking too far ahead can keep you from seeing what God wants you to learn in the present. All he asks is that we seek him first, serve him first, love him first, and the rest will happen as it should. It feels so good to be DONE trying to plan it all. Things now are not as I would have pictured them to be but I love what they are now, and I'm excited for what they are going to be. 

Yay for new perspectives :)

Also, driving home from class this eve, I listened to this song over and over...and maybe I cried a little....or a lot. Again, I'm a girl, but besides that, Jesus loves me way too much and sometimes I can't help but cry like the baby I am about it!

The Father Gave his only Son just to save us... 

The Earth was shaking in the dark

All creation felt the Father's broken heart

Tears were filling heaven's eyes, the day that true love died

Blood and water hit the ground

Walls we couldn't move came crashing down

We were free and made alive!

The day that true love died 

Call on that name!

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”t)

37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,t neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39




"Overwhelming Victory is ours through Christ, who loved us."


We aren't just victorious in Jesus name, we're overwhelmingly victorious! Instead of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, we run to the top, do a little jig, and then do it again! How awesome is that?! Sometimes I forget the power that backs up the name, Jesus. I forget to call on the God/Man that did/does it all.

I encourage you to call on that powerful name whenever Satan tries to tell you he's greater. Call on that name when you doubt the power of Christ's love.
Call on that name when you don't have anything else to say.
Call on that name and claim that victory!

Call on that name and thank Him for what He did on the cross, what he continues to do in your life, and for what awaits you in Heaven.

Don't forget where your victory is found.
Don't forget where your name is written.
Don't forget Who's you are!

"Neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow" can keep us from God's love.

His plans are good, and in a world that is filled with sin and uncertainty, its easy to carry anxiety and so much worry. It can make its way and entangle every thought and action. Don't let that happen, call on that name!

Call on Jesus!

HE loves you.

Accept him, take him in, seek him out, and call on that name!

He's got you, let him have you.