Graduation party

Here are pics of me with the kids, and a picture of me with my favorite parapro! She will never know how many times she was my sanity this year! :D

First kids, first classroom

Here are pics of the kids in the classroom. I had to clean the room out today because I got a second grade teaching job for next year at Goodyear! Today was favorite hat day, so there are some pics of them with hats on. :D

Harmony Kids Pre-K Graduation Day

Here are a few photos from our Pre-K graduation. It was such a wonderful, emotional day. The kids did a WONDERFUL job. :D I was very proud of them. I am really going to miss my "very first kids". It was emotional saying goodbye to them and cleaning out my classroom. I am looking forward to the summer to refuel spiritually and get some sleep! Enjoy the photos and happy summer vaca everybody!

May-Bring me anything that brings you glory

I don't know if this is just me, but many times when I think life is so tough, I look around me and see that I don't have it so bad. Unsaved people wander through life with no hope, nothing to trust in, nothing to hold on to. But no matter what comes my way, I have a hope and a future in Jesus Christ, His word tells me that. I see people getting so caught up in what they find to be a worthy cause or "soap box", so to speak-but if Jesus isn't the basis for everything you do, you're standing on sinking sand. There is not a thing in this world that will hold you through the good, bad, and ugly-but the Lord. If you're searching for something, look no further. He is the answer to any and all questions.
Lately I have been taking a hard look at my life and realizing that everything that happens to us is not someone else's fault. No, we cannot choose our circumstances most of the time, but we can choose our attitude toward that circumstance. And in a lot of respects, my attitude stunk. The Lord is so wonderful in how He shows us those things, while still holding our hand and letting us know that all is not lost, that He still has a plan for our lives. While I cannot be 100% transparent and share the details of these circumstances, I can share with you that none of us has "made it" yet. I think sometimes the teenagers Daniel and I work with think that Ms. Jennifer has it all together and never gets anything wrong. But let me encourage you in this-we are all striving to be like Jesus every day. It doesn't come easy, your flesh fights you every step of the way. But I would rather struggle each day to become more like Him, than to sit back and relax and never accomplish anything for God's kingdom. I feel it more every day that God has miraculous plans for our ministry, and I cannot wait to see what He will do next. So, Jesus bring the rain. Bring me anything that brings You glory.

February-Awaken my heart

I don't even know where to start. There has been SO much going on. Things kinda took off when John Richeson was here. The results of all that happened in that week will be shown for years to come. Our youth group received fire and confirmation of God's plan for us...so did the church. We went to the Radiant Conference in Ludowici the weekend after that, and it was completely wonderful.We are now doing fundraisers to get ready for Sonfest next month. We are very excited for that..I know it's going to change our teenagers' lives, the way it always did when I was young.
My classroom at Harmony is coming along, I am very proud of our progress. I cannot believe I am finally teaching. I know it's my calling, but lately God has been speaking to me about different plans He has for me. Yes, His plan is for me to teach, but I truly believe He is going to do a lot through my teaching, and I feel that I have another purpose besides that one. It's hard to explain, you'd just have to be me for a day or two, but I know He is preparing me for something. The way that He has anointed/promoted me at work, the doors that continue to open for ministry for Daniel and I. I am just so excited to see what God has planned next.
I feel alive in a way that I haven't felt in a long time. I feel inspired, excited, driven, loved, full, happy. The amount of love that has exploded in my life just brings tears to my eyes. God is teaching me how to love people in a way so deep that the love I have given in the past seems pale and shallow. He is teaching me how to mourn for people's souls, to intercede for their safety and salvation, to love people who would seem "unlovable". As I type this, my eyes are full of tears because I know I didn't do ANY of this on my own, it's a gifting God has placed in me. I needed this love so that I could fulfill my purpose in the tasks He has given me. I just feel so grateful that He thought enough of me to give me this gift of love to give to others. I am so happy to have a place in His kingdom work.
Chris and Andrea are now full time with us at Ministry Center, and I could not be happier. They have become our best friends and we love them SO much. We have a lock-in and a yard sale this weekend, I am very excited for that-it's always great fun when the Homesick crazies get together...lol. We had a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Valentine's Day last night and Sanctified did some dramas-I am so proud of our drama team, they truly bring joy to others through what they do.
And...Daniel and I will be moving out on our own soon! I am SOOOOOOOOO excited about that. God has blessed us financially lately, and now we are going to get to reap the rewards of that blessing by buying a beautiful mobile home. We could not be happier!
Please keep us in prayer that God will sustain us through all that we have going on right now. He is doing a wonderful job of keeping us energized and full of joy to do all that needs to be done and we praise Him for it!

He's my friend

The next few blogs are old ones from Myspace, just to catch myself up on posting on here. Ya'll-I just gotta praise the Lord for what He's done for me. My first day as a Pre-K teacher was Friday. I worked in my classroom all day, we aren't open yet because my school is officially a daycare-with one Pre-K class. I have a fabulous parapro who has already been a GREAT help, both of my administrators are Christians, and my classroom is beautiful!! It's big, newly painted, has huge windows, full of donated supplies and beautiful newly painted furniture. I cannot believe what the Lord has done. I was so upset when I didn't get those jobs I applied for in December. I could NOT understand what God was doing *but so often when we don't understand things, He is getting ready to move*. I was heartbroken and my self-esteem was low from all the rejections. Then, out of nowhere-this job appeared. They only did one other interview before calling me and saying they would love to have me as their Pre-K teacher. God is so wonderful. I was fully prepared to have to sub until next school year. Instead, I will be a teacher in my very own classroom! I still can't believe it.
The other part about this that makes me ready to BUST-Daniel and I can now start planning to move into our own place. We have been researching apartments and looking for furniture. We are hoping to move the first weekend in March. Thank you, Jesus for all you've done-and for being my friend now and when I was hurting.