Our go-to source.

Where do you go first in time of need?
Do you call your friend, your mom, husband, boyfriend, etc?
Do you try to make sense of what is happening?
Seek to understand?
Take action?

My first instinct is of course to understand what is going on and figure out how I can take control of the situation.
We want to have that sense of control...
We want to be able to "do it on our own"
What should our attitude be?
Why do we try to do what WE can do before going to the Lord?
Why is he not our very first go to source of strength, comfort, wisdom, and advice?

This was the main idea of the sermon at Shandon Baptist on Sunday.
In this phase of life I am in right now with the challenges it has presented me, this was EXACTLY what I needed, thank you Jesus, but so convicting at the same time.

I can't tell you how many times I've cried
how many times I have just about lost it
how many times I have just been beyond flustered
how many times I have wished I wasn't a grown-up
AND
who did I go to first
my mom!

Don't get my wrong
my mom has a heart for the Lord, is the best example and role model I could have
is a woman of wisdom and discernment
gives truthful, real, and loving advice

I am so beyond thankful for her but she is not the one that can give me strength in my weakness
She can't "fix" my problems for me
She can't impress upon me what I should do and
She can't give me peace that passes understanding

I, like so many of us, need to make our FIRST go to source the Lord
Our first instinct ALL the time should be prayer
and then seek those loving people that the Lord has placed in your life for understanding, action and wisdom!

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."   

It's been awhile...

It's been awhile since I've done a lot of things
Like update my blog.
Life has been pretty hectic
pretty challenging, extremely overwhelming
very stressful and quite the roller coaster ride...

BUT
through all of this I really have learned a lot
I have been tested a whole lot
I have really struggled to trust and surrender
and I have really had to rely on the Lord for my strength

I am so weak at this point, however
I am confident that the Lord's overwhelming power and strength
is made PERFECT in my abundant weakness.

Why has it been so overwhelming...
let me give you the abbreviated version of my life as of the last few weeks

Living: I am loving life in my house in Columbia! It is so precious and it just says "welcome home." We have actually named it "The Doll House," cute right?! I could not be more thankful for my sweet roommate Sarah Beth. Although we do not see each other that often, because we are both busy first year teachers, we are able to encourage and support one another well! 


Grad School: Phew, were classes overwhelming this past week but I really think I am going to enjoy school. I know it will be challenging and that I will have to practice time management like no other but it's possible. So thankful I have my great friend Courtney to go through this journey with me! Let me tell you a little story: Tuesday was a particularly rough day for me and when I went to class on Tuesday my teacher was such an answer to prayer, just what I needed that day. Isn't it cool how the Lord does that?! She loves Jesus, she is HYSTERICAL, and she was so inspiring. She so wonderfully reminded me that we are at a phase of life that we are swimming up stream and there will be time to rest but what is at the end is worth the swim. 


East Point Academy: WOW, has work been quite interesting. First let me tell you that I am 500% positive I have the most precious children EVER! Really, they are so stinkin' cute-not an exaggeration. I have taken on a lot more responsibility than intended but I know the Lord would not give me anything I cannot handle. So I will learn to get in the swing of things and will try to do it all with a smile on my face because I am working for the Lord not men! (Colossians 3:23) 


Life: Overall life is a journey right now. A ride of ups and downs but I am thankful for this time the Lord is breaking me down in order to build me up and make me into the woman he has called me to be. This weekend my dear best friend Kristin came down for the weekend to visit. I cannot tell you what that did for me...just to have her HERE! We didn't do much of anything but her just being here did wonders for me! I am so thankful for her friendship! 


Still working on getting in the swing of the things and this new phase of life and I will do my best to keep you updated as often as possible :)

Philippians 4:13 "I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength!" AMEN

Almost there...

This will be a picture post...the classroom is pretty much done! 

Little things to tweak of course, but we are ALMOST THERE!!! :) 

 Welcome to Kindergarten :) 

 Back: Math manipulatives and puzzles center

Two small tables-art and playdough

 That little corner will be the library-just need some fun cozy pillows and bookcases would be nice :) 

 Teacher desk and housekeeping center

 Housekeeping center 

Housekeeping/ Dress-Up :) 

Grateful.

Classroom construction is underway

Major progress has been made

BUT...had I not had the support I had, I would still be standing like a deer in headlights wondering, where do I EVEN begin? 

Let me tell you that I had a CREW with me

Yes I plan to have one with me tomorrow until we get this thing done 

AND I can already tell, it is just going to be so darn cute! 

I am so beyond blessed

I am so grateful for my friends and family that have been so willing

supportive, gracious, encouraging, and loving

I am a little overwhelmed and stressed...make that A LOT 

But with every little piece I am really starting to feel good about my classroom

So with a happy grateful heart...here it is...Day 2! :) 

 Looking in from the front door :) 

 That cozy little corner back there: the library

Small group area where the whiteboard is

Housekeeping and teacher desk :) 

From the back: 

Left: art center

Blue table: blocks/legos 

You see that cute giving tree over there..THANKS court! 

I'll continue to take more pictures as it comes along! :) Looking forward to this fun Kindergarten journey! 

Here goes nothing...

Today I got to see my classroom for the first time
It was full of mixed emotions but...
the one that trumps them all is EXCITEMENT!

I am just boiling over with how thrilling this is going to be!
Yes it is overwhelming,
Yes I am pretty sure that I have enough stress to account for me and maybe 12 other people, yes I am a little concerned that I do not have all that I need

BUT...

I know that it will come together
I have A TON of people that have been so generous and willing to help
I am so looking forward to getting in on Friday to hit the ground running
A precious, bright, vibrant, stimulating, stinkin' precious classroom here we come...
Here goes nothing :)

Here is my classroom: (I'll be sure to put up step-by-step pictures along the way) 

Huge space to work with, yes! :) Let the fun begin! 

Am I ready for this?!

Have you ever felt just quite inadequate?
You may be taking something on you aren't sure you are ready for?
You feel in over your head...

Let me tell you friends, I am in over my head here!
I found out that, yes my title is "co-teacher" but my responsibility is basically "real teacher"
That is fine it just causes an itty bitty bit of stress
For all parties involved (except for Dad who is happy to rock with chocolate chip cookies as mom and I stress :)

A little overwhelming'ness' never hurt anyone
It will get done and I am very confident of that
It is just deciding where to start that's the hard part

First order of business, make a PRECIOUS classroom
That takes floor plans, center placement, center materials, cute decorations, etc, etc, etc
Thankfully, I have lots of family and friends that are so supportive
willing to be beyond helpful, stick around with me as I stress,
and spend many hours with me in Columbia!

What have I learned from this?
Although I may feel inadequate, like I am not prepared for this job AT ALL
There has already been a perfect plan set in place for "such a time as this" (Esther 4:14)
And the Lord wants to use this time to make me more like Him.
The Lord has equipped with all I need to do this job and Lord willing, do it passionately all for his glory!

So when you are feeling stressed, inadequate and in WAY over your head
Be confident in the fact that you have been WELL prepared
The Lord will not give you what you cannot handle
He will use everything in your life to draw us nearer to the heart of Jesus!

Just a few more pictures from the weekend: Enjoy :) 

My Last "Hoorah"

Last weekend was full of laughter, fun, friendship, love and the sweet sweet sweet marriage of two very special people!
Last weekend was kind of my last hoorah before the gears start clicking (which they did, this morning...)

Let me tell you a little bit about last weekend:

I was so blessed to be a part of the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Kaleb Ross. Now it just sounds funny to call Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn Ross instead of Kaitlyn Costanzo! These two beautiful people really portray such a godly selfless relationship. They compliment one another so well, they make each other laugh, and they love to love the Lord both together and apart! What an example they set for all of us and what a wonderful worship and celebration time it was!

I was also oh so blessed to spend the weekend with my friends. Have I mentioned how much I love my friends...they are so great. I got to see friends that I hadn't seen in a long time and just have some sweet reunion time!

We danced..who doesn't love to dance! I certainly do-I can't say I do it that well but I certainly have fun-what do you have to lose, right? We did a choreographed wedding party dance-cheesy right?! It made us laugh and it was just too much fun!

All in all I couldn't have asked for a better last weekend to be one last hoorah before I buckle down, get to work, and start in the learning process and roller coaster ride of being a big girl :)

By the way can you believe it is August! Where did summer go?! Happy August! :)