to do list

a girl's gotta do:

Last night I talked to a good friend about a new thought pertaining to an old problem. WHAT DO I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE?! (I ask myself this question about 10x/day.) I used to make fun of mi esposo because he always asked this question for himself and I just couldn't understand why it was such a big deal. "Do whatever makes you happy!" was my ignorant reply. I didn't get why he couldn't just make up his mind and go with it. Now, sitting in a puddle of mud, I'm wondering the same thing. Where does happiness come from? Money? Things? People? Approval? What is it I really want? Happiness=the Lord. Remember that old tune? I want to be eternally grateful and I want to show everyone that I feel it. I don't like sitting here acting like life is exactly what I want it to be. I want to make changes -- and I want to know how to make those changes. But I want to be happy doing it. I want God to make the change within me daily. Not just when I'm playing in a pig-pen of muck.


ask & it shall be given:

Sometimes we wonder why we are where we are. I feel like each time I have a moment like that it's God telling me he's in control. Hindsight is always 20.20, right? Why can't we just keep our eyes on the prize? Sin has its way of creeping into the highlight of our day and tormenting it to no end! How do we keep our focus on HIS purpose for our lives? It's buried treasure. Once you find it, it's simple. The hunt is what's so challenging. In the bible I have found so many times the encouragement I need at the exact time I'm needing it. For instance, problems at home, work, play? Psalms 91 reminds me that God's always there! Even when it feels like he's far away.
Ok so maybe that's an easy one. Dig deeper then! Maybe you'll finally find what you've been looking for.

challenge:

Pray for God to reveal something to you in a way you wouldn't normally consider. Can you find the answer when confiding in a true friend? Could you have been looking right at the answer the whole time and not realized it?

Things I want to do include the following:

• teach Emma her abc's (recognition of letters and sounds)
• run a 1/2 marathon
• figure out what I want to do for my career
• lower my cholesterol
• read more inspirational literature
• record a song
• keep up on my blog
• renew my teaching licenses
• spend more time with my family & friends
• relearn my bible stories so I can teach my kids

Reminder for next blog title: Bully me not.

workhard.playmom.

Blog it:
Is this going to be interesting to anyone besides me? Who knows? I just wanted to write some of the thoughts that fly in and out of my head during the day. Sometimes it will be boring. Sometimes it will be sad or downright pathetic. But really, I just want it to be funny and sarcastic!

Super Sub:
So today I'm teaching 5th grade. I was told these kids were crazy and "bad" so last night I didn't sleep well. The storm really helped. So far, I really like them! Honestly, they're easier than the class I had the last few days.

Thank goodness:
I think subbing is overrated and underrated. As a sub you get to choose where you work (most of the time). I personally enjoy going home and not taking work with me. My kids benefit from this -- most days. There are days when I feel like it's definitely NOT an appreciated career. When I think about it, who's job really IS appreciated? So, in honor of the national month of "Thanks" I'd like to say, thank you for the job you do. I know I'm thankful to at least have a job.

Things I'm thankful for:
Kids, Hubba
Family
Friends (*who are also neighbors)
The Jeep (*yes, I'm thankful for it)
Heat
Fall air
Work (Jake's busy, I'm busy!)
School kids who care about their subs
School kids who don't care about their subs.... I guess.
The Kardashians. What I mean is, I'm thankful they're them and I'm me.

Love one another:
There's a kid in my class today who's so much like my little baby brother it's crazy! He does have a tendency to get into trouble. Poor kid. He was upset today when I decided to give him a turn with the "reading pillow" and he put his head on his desk angrily. After the kids were quiet, I walked over to him and asked if he'd like a turn another day. He said yes. I asked if he wanted to give the pillow to anyone in the class and who would he like to "gift" it to. He said a girl's name and she's a sweet, quiet girl in the class. I told him how nice he was to offer it to her and how generous it was of him to give her a turn. I asked if he wanted to press the "start" button on the timer for silent reading time. He said yes.

Pay it forward:
Yesterday there was a kid who couldn't check out a book from the school library because he had lost his book. He was working to pay it off. I asked him how he was going to pay the remaining $14. He said he and his brother were going door to door asking if they could rake leaves for money. No one wanted help. I made a deal with him. He promised to keep reading books and keep doing his best in school. I'll be keeping tabs on him this year to make sure he is holding up his end of our bargain. I paid the fee with money we got in the mail to take a survey. It felt really good. Part of me didn't want to tell anyone about it because I didn't want them to think I was braggin. I'm not braggin. :) I just want you to know how great it was to see his face when I told him he didn't have to worry. It was paid. I hear stories like this all the time and have never really been at a place where I could make my own story. I want to do that again!

Quick:
Thank Jesus for all your many blessings. Lay your burdens down at the cross. He did it for you. He paid the ultimate price. Give him your fears, your concerns -- he will give you rest, he will give you peace.