Reflections of 2014

2014 described in one word: newfangled... Yes this is a real word! It is defined in the dictionary as: different from what one is use to; objectively new! And full of brand news it was!! January was about the only month that was the same as before :) as I took my last J-Term as a college student... But I also knew I needed a job! I needed somewhere to live and stay! So January ended and February popped right up! And as God sooo faithfully and perfectly does provided a wonderful job as an after school teacher in a new program in Mount Gilead!   So from February to May I had the wonderful opportunity to be a first grade teacher to the sweetest 13 1st grade boys & girls, as their reading and math skills grew and we decorated our classroom with the theme of Rupunzel we had a blast together and I grew as a beginning teacher... It was wonderful and my heart was so in love and content with where The Lord had placed me! Also from February to May I lived with my best friend  which proved to be one of the best and toughest experiences of my life! But I wouldn't trade it for the world! It is every girls dream to live with their best friend! And I truly can say I am beyond thankful for all the memories we created together, that will forever be a treasure in my heart! From our nightly prayer time, to her epic redemption in skipbo to take back the thrown of skipbo champion, to all the dinners we made or frosted flakes me ate, to the cupcakes I spilled on her feet, to all the movies we watched or should I say all the movies we looked for... For hours, to learning How to fish tail braid, to having our own family of mice that wanted to share our living space and food as well, to all the conversations we had and shared as we grew in The Lord as sisters, as kindred spirits as best friends with very different personalities.... Because of it I learned better How to communicate then ever before,  to receiving a wonderful spiritual gift! Oh the list could go on!!!we got to live in our very first apartment, thanks to the blessing of one of our previous bosses to the way others blessed us with useful gifts for our home!! We learned a lot and I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to live with Tish, living on our own.. I def had to grow up a lot and that I did! In those months we also saw The Lord provide for so many finical needs.. All in His timing and way and God blessed us with wonderful summer jobs!! So for the last 2 weeks of June and the month of July our after school program turned into a summer program... That was the most amazing and fun teaching job a girl could ask for! We got to spend Monday thru Thursday with the kiddos, from 9 to 3 learning a lot but lots of hands on outdoor learning opportunities as well complete with all day long Wednesday field trips and to top it all off my 13 kiddos were tiny weenies just 4&5 and as precious as can be! I don't think I have ever enjoyed a summer job more... It was spiracular! Also flash back to may... I had a job interview for a job in Mount Gilead... As an intervention specialist for the 2014/2015 school year! Interview went well! Now flash forward to a week later... Monday June 2nd I get an email from a school in Mauritius Africa... Telling me I have the job as their intervention special if I would like to take it.... Oh my goodness I am over the moon... This is my dream job... The job and place I would love to be!!! The. The very next day I get a call from the the Job I interviewed for the week prior for the intervention specialist in mount Gilead, except it is in Marion... Thinking oh it can't be that far away from mount Gilead... So there I was left with the choice of two very different jobs in two very different places.... Africa or Marion! How was it that I was to decide... Between to stay or too go? I thought... Wouldn't it be so much easier if one place told me no and the other place told me yes? But you know what?? Looking back at it now... I am so thankful and glad that I did have to decide... Because it caused me to seek the voice and direction of The Lord! It caused me to slow down & to really seek  His direction!! For I wanted nothing more than to walk in obedience... And so... After much prayer and council from a very special lady in my life... God made it clear that I was to stay for such a time as this! That I had some more growing and learning to do as a teacher... So August began a whole new venture and season of Life!! I got plugged into a brand new Church that I Love and that I am growing and being challenged in my walk and I Look forward to continually growing in!! God provided the most wonderful place to live... After a summer of turmoil and the worry and wonder of where it was that I was to live... What the enemy meant for harm... The Lord so perfectly orchestrated a home of peace that was so close to school where I would be teaching and some new wonderful friends that would love me with the Love of Christ and allow me to be a part of their family! So began my first month as a first year full time teacher! It was tough... I remember asking God at the very beginning of August..."Why did you ask me to stay?" And He so perfectly and clearly said as the beautiful sun was setting, "Just Wait" so that is what I am doing... Through all the hard and wonderful moments of teaching 9 kiddos with Autism and working with a staff of 7 others adults... It's hard often! But through the growing and stretching of being a 1st year teacher, I am learning daily How to depend on The Lord! How to pray for each of my 9 kiddos and 7 staff members... This is sure different than what I thought I would be doing... But from August to December thus far... It's been full of brand news! The kids are growing in their academics and improving in their behavior... May be slow at times... But every bit forward is a milestone and celebration!! I have learned patience and grace in a whole new light!! We have had wonderful class parties, my very first  picture day as a teacher and my very first teacher badge, have written my first IEP and held my first IEP meeting and first set of patent teacher conferences! So many firsts... But also right alongside a wonderful support system that is above and have been such a wonderful help! I have also had the amazing privilege amongst all the brand news of these past few months to have a familiar and constant, as Tish is only an hour away at college giving us the opportunity to share many of our weekends together between August and December.. So precious treasured moments, moments of journeying together and watching one another grow in our faith leaps and bounds, encouraging and loving on one another, praying and interceding for one another as prayer warriors and sisters in the faith!!
  I also have had the Wonderful opportunity of making a new friend! Melody... Who has allowed now to move in with her and her wonderful mom Amber! Melody has shared her entire upstairs with me! Has made me feel so welcomed and loved!! I treasure our Wednesday night drives to and from Church and our to and from to Bible study trips on Thursdays! I love that we get to share life! It's like having a sister... I love it & I am so thankful!! It is such a blessing to have a friend that loves Jesus sooo much that she radiates Christ and wants His best for those around her! I love that we can talk about life and boys and about all that Christ is doing in our lives, and pray with and for each other!

This year has been amazing ! A year of growth! Lots of brand news!! But a God who is ever so faithful and constant! I am so thankful for such an amazing Savior that has a perfect plan for our lives!!