Spring!

How does this season make you feel?

Although I love fall, I don't have time to enjoy it because it is such a busy time of year (in this season of life). I get back to school, and from there on out, the days fly. Then there's winter. The days are short, and nights are long and dark. Most nights you can't sit by the fire like you see in picture books. Instead, you are out and about, or doing school work.

But when Spring comes around, the days become longer, the snow melts, and the weather becomes warmer. With school you come to think: there's a light at the end of this tunnel! You slowly count down the weeks until the last day of school. I like school, I really do, but I get exhausted. Maybe that's why I got so excited to see the first signs of Spring.

For this Spring I have 3 goals:

1. Finish student teaching successfully

2. Graduate.

3. Figure out what I am going to do this summer, because what I do this summer will affect what I do in the fall.

Hope your goals are more exciting than mine!

Blessings,

Memories from a 3rd Grade Classroom

Tomorrow is my last day at my first student teaching placement. 

These are some things I don't want to forget.

"Who is she? She's doing a great job."

"How old are you?" The kids would ask. "20." Wide-eyes "You are so young!"

Random hugs from students during the day.

"Miss. L, I have to tell you something." 
"Ok, you can tell me" 
"...."
"I can't hear you. Whisper louder."
"Miss. L, I said I want to marry you."

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"You seem to have a natural ability working with these kids, like it's second nature to you."

"You go to church?"
"Yes."
 So you don't eat meat on Fridays?"
"No, I do...."

"What kind of music do you listen to?"
"Christian."
What is your favorite band?"
"Casting Crowns. You can youtube them."

"I love you Miss. L"

"Miss. L, you are going to make a great teacher." (Kids/teachers would say this at such random times, and it always made me smile and encouraged me).

"I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay with us."

"R thinks you're cute. He told me."

"Do you have to leave?"

Do you still wonder why I love teaching and loving kids?

Atypical Tuesday Night

Today after student teaching, then work, and tutoring I did something I have not been able to do in a long time. I went over to friend's house and we had a relaxing Tuesday evening.

Tuesdays are my long days-they always have been since I started college. I got out of tutoring an hour earl, just as my cousin texted me to see if I wanted to spend the evening at a friend's house. 90% of the time my answer would be no because I always seem to have things planned, or be busy, etc. Today I was actually able to go and we had such a good time.

 We enjoyed out cheesecakes and talked-I think I did most of the talking. No, I'm sure I did most of the talking. 

We watched a "Christian" movie called Unconditional. I dislike most movies, but this was worth watching. It was beautiful and based on a true story. I do recommend it.

 Finally, Monday evening I found out I passed my NYS teacher certification exams. Another reason to celebrate with a relaxing evening. Honestly, I never thought God would be so gracious to me. I had already taken two exams (there's 4 total). This time I took the two remaining exams. One I had hopes I'd pass. The other one, I honestly took, just to "see how it is." I had no intentions of passing. I prepared myself mentally for taking it 3 or 4 times, because so many I've talked to have had to do that. But, once again God had mercy on me. I am so thankful. If I look tired in this picture, it's because I am! I have been trying to get most of my reflections done this last week, before moving onto my next student teaching placement.

Blessings,

 

Victor's 10th Birthday

On March 11th my brother Victor turned 10 years old. We celebrated on Saturday since the kids HAVE TO have a party. It's easy for me to believe he's 10 because he acts his age, and is soo smart.

Victor is such an independent boy. He was #7 and was the baby of the family for over 4 years, but he has always been so independent and smart! I remember when we were sending him off to kindergarten, he came in for testing. The teacher did not have a red crayon she she pointed to a orange-red crayon and said this is red. His reply was, "no that is not red, it is orange." My mom said it was so funny and he made all of them laugh.

 This is from the party we had Saturday. Another thing about Victor is when we tell him it is bedtime he knows the routine and does it. It took his older sister Lena such a long time to be able to understand what that meant. Same thing in the morning. My mom struggles to get Lena out of bed, and get her things for the day, while on the other hand Victor wakes up and does the morning routine-no problems. He is basically what you would call-an easy child. 

 For everyone's birthday my mom and I like to make a cake that they want. For instance, Leah wanted a butterfly cake for her birthday so we did that. Over the years we've made pool cakes, cookie cakes, turtle cakes, etc. This year Victor had a cookie cake, but I also made this Strawberry Jello cake from Natashaskitchen.com. Everyone (my aunts) loved it. I thought it was alright. That's another thing, it's not only Victor's friends that come, but their mothers as well. It becomes a social event.

Blessings,

Perfect Teacher

I used to be the perfect teacher. Until I found myself responsible for teaching a classroom full of students for a few weeks. I found myself always being anxious. At first all went well. Then I started teaching each week with the thought in mind that this week too shall pass. I could not wait for the weeks to be over. I had no desire to hang out, socialize, or relax. I was so anxious about everything going well at school. I started depending on myself and not seeking the Lord for strength.

Anxiety. I have never experienced such anxiety in my life. I am a person who worries a lot. But this was different. The past three weeks I could not eat during the school day. I ate an orange, or a yogurt because I knew I needed to. My hands would shake during the day, my mind never stopped thinking, and I constantly felt pressured. It all started with what I thought was an extremely bad lesson. My initial thoughts: how am I ever going to improve?? From there on out, I did not give myself a break. There were days I thought I should quite. I remember coming home one day and my mom telling me literally to relax, to go lay down and stop aimlessly pacing around the house.

I knew these thoughts and feelings were not from the Lord. I prayed. I prayed that God would give me wisdom and guide me and give me strength. He has. Last week was my "solo" week. It's basically teaching by yourself, without the teacher in the room. At the end of the week the teacher told me, "You did a great job." Those words made me sigh a sigh of relief. She has never said anything positive or negative about my teaching so I never knew what she was thinking. After my first few lessons we discussed what went well and what I should work on, but I already knew what I did and didn't do well so I would tell her and there was not much more to say.

Finally, God comforted me and sent people that would encourage me. I would literally hear teachers telling my teacher that I was doing a great job. I know that God did that for me. I am not writing this in a prideful manner-no not at all, but I am writing this to say that God cares so deeply for us and knows our needs. He knew I needed words of affirmation.

Today at lunch time I finally felt hungry. I thought all over again about how I would not want to do anything else. I know God used this experience to draw me closer to Him and show me that yes I can do this because God works all things together for good for those who trust God. It is so hard to place everything into God's hands sometimes, but once you do, God takes care of it all.

I am now just observing other classrooms and helping in the class since I completed my solo week and this placement is coming to a close. As I've said, now I see how God has worked all things together for good. 

 

Blessings,

Purposeful Friendship

I have never been one to seek out friendships or make them happen. I do not look to have a lot of friends. There are few people that I call friends.  There are a lot of people that I love and could be friends with but life gets busy and even if we wanted to spend time together, our circumstances prevent it from happening. So, when we see each other we talk and have a good time, then go our separate ways. That's life, and that's ok! 

 Some friendships in my life lasted a season, some lasted years, some will be renewed later in life, and some I assume will last a lifetime. I know that this is part of the Lord's plan. He knows when to bring people into our lives, and for how long. I don't have a lot of friends but I am beyond content with the friendships I have. God has really blessed me.  These two girls in the picture have served as such a blessing to me. Maybe one day I will write more on them because it will be worth remembering how the Lord has brought them into my life.

Having great friends means you better be a great friend. So, I don't know how my friends are still my friends. I love honesty-friends that tell you how it is even if it's a little painful to hear. I love generosity. I love friends that care. Most of all, I love friends who love the Lord. I love that with many of my friends I can talk to them about the Lord, ask for prayer, or advice for making a Christ-like decision.  I have a few friendships that the Lord has put me in, for a different purpose-to pray for them, and be like Jesus, so that they one day walk with the Lord.

I pray that God blesses me with friends that I can be a blessing to, and friends that draw me closer to Jesus. To me, the quality of a friendship matters 100x's more than the length of time a friendship lasts.

Blessings 

What Princesses Do

"This is what Princesses do" said Leah, when I asked why she was taking care of her babies in a Princess dress. She had a few days last week where she wore her Princess outfit all day. 

Leah always wants to sleep with me now. When my mom wants to take her away she never wants to go.

Everyday when I come home she runs to the door hugs me and says how much she's missed me. This past month she has started loving me so much-complete opposite of the last 3 years of her life! (PS-I think Andrew colored her doll's "hair").

 Nick decided to join the fun. I don't know what happened to the rule of "no playing in Lesya's room" but it is happening again.
Leah also says she wants to go to school now. She always used to say that she is going to stay home with mommy, but not anymore. She is such a character.

Blessings,