hope

As i've mentioned before- our pastor is leading a series at church called "Our Hope in Difficult Times". It's been an awesome time for the congregation to hear it, with the economy and everything else that's gone on in 2009. Here are a few gems I like that I wrote down from the service this past Sunday. I hope you can find some encouragement, as I did.


(All of these points come from Luke 12:22-34...English Standard Version (ESV))


1. God will provide the necessities of life.
"Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!" Luke 12:24


2. Worry is only an indication of our selfish nature.
"And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to the span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest" Luke 12:25-26


3. When you worry, you offend God with disbelief.
"But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown in the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!" Luke 12:28


4. It is dishonoring God to be anxious.
"And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to the span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest" Luke 12:25-26


5. Our value is in who we belong to and not in ourselves.
"Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you." Luke 12:31


6. He is my Heavenly Father and that is enough.
"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful --Hebrews 10:23

Let's just put a few things out there:

I am not a fan of Dirty Dancing. I think it's weird that a character's name was Baby and I don't care about putting her in a corner, one way or the other. While I am sad for the family of Mr. Swayze and hope he knew the Lord, I think its a little overboard that the national news chose to spend 3 full minutes covering him the night of his death.

I think it's sad that people my age (and older) still watch the VMA's. I admit, I like to listen to the radio, and I keep up with the names of artists and such- but award shows, especially anything MTV would produce? No thanks. I'm a grown up. I'm sorry that Kanye West was a rude drunk, but life happens- and I don't think it merited national news coverage.

I have metioned this previously, but I do not watch "Glee". I live high school musical drama every day- no need to fill my nights with hollywood's latest manifestation.

Okay- now that the negative is over, let's move on. I am loving grad school this semester. I love being back in classes and remembering how to use my brain again! I fear that given the opportunity- I could be one of those people who is in school forever....maybe even getting my Ed.S certification one day??

My school is participating in a new trend called Curriculum Mapping, which I actually am beginning to like as well. Instead of "lesson plans", you actually map out what you DID (post not pre) during a month- it's neat and I like it. And I'm apparently running out of adjectives that are not monosyllabic.

Since I just bashed some TV I'll let you know what I am excited about on the small screen:

Now that's Must see TV!

flu blues

it was only a matter of time...

H1N1 found its way from my classroom to my body. After a few hrs at the doctor's office yesterday- my fears were confirmed. I never run a fever, and that was my first sign. Thankfully, my tummy has not been involved, and my major complaints are a runny nose, body aches and a fever that hasn't gone away. Tamiflu is a great drug- but it was a bit misleading. I woke up this morning (after taking my first dose before bed last night) and felt pretty good- so good that i decided i could and should put a load of laundry in the washer. After about 4 steps with an arm full of laundry my head was spinning and the whole lethargy thing really set in. Since then, i've done alot of napping and just laying still.

Maybe i'll feel more like finishing this tomorrow....

Excuses, excuses...

I could compose a whole, well-thought out bullet point list to detail just exactly where i've been and what i've been doing that is SO important that I have neglected my blog.....but I'm sure you can probably surmise. Work, School, Sleep- REPEAT! Seriously- if you've seen my life, please let me know (and tell it to wait for me).

Instead of excuses, here's a bullet point of some random observations over the last few weeks.

• How about that Auburn offense? I think there were more points scored in the first game vs. LA Tech than all last season combined. Keep it up, Tigers!
• The one item I simply despise purchasing: Gas. Why can't cars just run on love and diet coke (kinda like me!)
• I could probably go to bed at 8pm each night. Some nights, I do.
• My back hurts.

How informative am I? I don't know when my blog mojo will reappear- but until then.....

y'all.

I'm seriously tired today! Mondays really take it out of me. Pay no mind to the fact that it's only 10:17 a.m.-- my day is almost half over!

School has started back with a vengence. This sentence really captures where my brain and body have been the last 2 weeks. For real.

I start back to grad school for the semester a week from tomorrow. I am excited. I will be the teacher during the day and the student two nights a week. I think I can do it...

Anecdote from class:

During the first day, I always get my students to fill out a little "about me" form. One of my junior high kids had a creative spelling on her answer for "Where is your favorite place in the world?" Answer? Gratin Beach.

Grayton. Yes. Gratin' sounds painful!

I will rise

http://www.hunterstreet.org/media/sermons/hope_in_difficult_times/video-hope_in_difficult_times-08-16-09.php

Click this link, pause it and let the video load- skip to the 52:00 minute mark, watch, and be blessed (not that the previous 51 minutes weren't uplifting...watch them too if you want :))

More blogging to come...this whole going back to work thing is really throwing me for a loop!

School time once again....

Classroom tour time!

Welcome to the Choir Room :)

I admit it- my sense of humor is so unrefined, I laugh at my own bulletin board!

the entire masterpiece! don't look at that background too long, you might pass out.

My GORGEOUS new smartboard. with my itunes. and my "i'm at school" john mayer list.

View from the door

No idea why this is so dark....

Come back soon! Well, before August 18, because after that date it will be kinda jammed with adolescent musicians. Now, back to 3 more days of inservice....

Down Home and Bargains

The last time we met, I was leaving for a short sabbatical to my parents house. It was great! I helped mom in her classroom, got to relax a bit, and saw two old friends from HS over a great Mexican lunch! I should have thought to have my camera then.

I did have some mexican with my Mom one day in Dothan....La Parilla is a GREAT restaurant....these are the best chips I've ever eaten!

She did not really want her picture taken, but she'd just had a haircut so I figured to seize the moment :)

Just wanted to share a little ghetto slice of Southeast Alabama living with you all :)

I have found some GREAT bargains here at home the last week or so. Let me fill you in!

How much do I love monograms? Well, at Monograms Plus in Vestavia, they had a 75% off table....that was full of N's! All N's and Q's, actually. I got the clipboard and coozie above for $3.00 a piece. REALLY! That cutesy stuff is usually SO expensive. I was elated. And felt somehow much more southern....

I got this Auburn Car Flag at Wal-Mart in Alabaster.....on sale for $.80! These things are usually $10 or MORE so I was very proud. Wish the colors were reversed -- i'm more of a "orange is our secondary color" fan. Not that you would know that from my next picture....

This leather Nine West bag doesn't photograph well, but it was a steal at only $4.00! I hit Kohl's during tax-free weekend last Friday and only spent $18 bucks total (including this purse)...4 shirts and a purse for under $20?? Yes, please!

Way Back Whensday

For 3 summers during my undergraduate years at college (2003, 2004, 2005), I worked in South Dakota. How does a girl from Alabama get hooked up with a job 1600 miles from home? Well, after staying home the summer after my freshman year, working at a daycare where I got pink eye, and wanting to do something unique, I went to http://coolworks.com. I didn't really want to work in a national park, per se, because the pay there isn't anything to write home about....but I did end up finding the place I would call home for 9 months out of my life....WALL DRUG STORE! Thousands of tourists every day came to our store, which is on the lonely road to Mt. Rushmore in Western SD. I got to live there for very cheap, with lots of fun college girls my age, meet fellow employees from around the country, earn some money, and basically have the time of my life.

Let's take a peek back in time!

The family came out to visit me the 2nd summer I worked! Mt. Rushmore was about an hour away, so we took a trip! (I have probably been to the "Mt." 10 times!)

Homeade signs are every where in the store

This was my job for three summers....MAKING FUDGE! Usually, we had to wear a gingham shirt/jean skirt duo uniform, but this was my last day so I got to wear regular clothes. Can't you tell I was a good candy maker?

The scenery was amazing...I lived a mile from Badlands National Park

But there were crazy grasslands all around, too.

The little town of Wall (pop. 400) was pretty at night.

I made this and taped it to the counter in my store...people kept asking!!! (Not about the last one;))

This is actually along the side of I-90 near Rapid City...Wall Drug is famous for it's roadside signs that lure people in for free ice water, and in this picture, the country store (where I worked and made fudge!)

The place has a great history and is very quirky...if you've never heard of it, you should really check it out. You won't be disappointed!

http://walldrug.com

Vacay

Hi all :) Tomorrow morning, I am off for a little mini vacation down at my parents house until the end of the week. I am really looking forward to it!

FYI- I used the Purex "washing" sheets- and they are really something! I've never felt my clothes so soft....and the scent is really light and clean smelling...I haven't broken out in hives yet- so I guess the hypoallergenic claim is true! YAY!

Keith and I got to eat lunch with a "long lost friend" yesterday...we don't get to see Miranda much anymore since she goes to a different church now, but she had recently returned from a mission trip out west (originally, I was supposed to accompany her-but that trip got put on hold so I could start grad school...) and we were eager to hear her stories. Sounds like she had a great time and that many seeds were planted- she even went white water rafting! I miss being out west during the summers...dry heat is SO much better than this muggy stuff down here :)

Anyway- today will be spent getting clothes clean, packing, and enjoying some time around the house. I wish I had more exciting things to tell you, but c'est la vie.

Until then....