Lead me to the cross!

 "We make time for what we truly value. We build habits and routines around the things that really matter to us. This is an important principle to understand as we seek to build our lives around the gospel. DO YOU WANT A CROSS CENTERED LIFE? A cross centered life is made up of cross centered days." 

-C.J. Mahaney 

Hustle and Bustle...

  I read a devotional today that really hit home for me! We fill up our lives with all the things that we HAVE TO do, yet in the hustle and bustle of life, we do not leave room for the things that create real, pure, SIMPLE joy! I make time to fix my coffee in the morning (for those of you who do not know me...it is a serious addiction :), to go to school every day, to spend an abundant amount of time doing work for school (life of an OCD perfectionist-oops), to watch that TV show that I absolutely cannot miss, laundry, cook, etc! For each one of us, the "have to's'' are different but for each one of us, they fill our days! 

  What about the things that make me ME, that sweeten my life, that put a smile on my face, and that create in me a rich lifestyle. How often do I leave my cup of "have to's" to full to fit  in those things! One of my absolute favorite things to do is giggle! I cannot tell you the last time that I just sat with my friends and really, i mean REALLY, enjoyed them! Didn't worry about what I had to do next, what needed to be done instead of what I was doing and really just laughing and loving them! I love to read and I do make time for that, but most of the time, I am thinking--I should really be doing this instead of reading. We need these things that we really enjoy to recharge ourselves and give us a new kind of energy! Time with Jesus-goodness if that is not convicting to me...it is so often that spending time in the Word is the very first thing I give up in my day! My source of true joy, light, life, and energy is going to come from that sweet time spent with the Savior. I am blessed beyond belief but more often than not I am in a selfish mindset thinking of what I NEED rather than thinking of what I can do, through the gifts the Lord has blessed me with, to make some one else's day! And doing it selflessly...I am reminded of a verse in Philippians 2 that says "Do NOTHING out of selfish ambition..." Everything that I do, every day should be done not for my will, nor for my own glory but for the glory of the Lord! Surrendering myself to God's will instead of going my own way! 

  All these things that get I give up are things that I have to really be intentionally about making the action happen? Leaving room in my life for the things that will give me abundant energy, life, love, and joy! Will you be intentional in what you fill your day with? 

Philippians 2:13 "For it is God who works in YOU to will and to act in order to fulfill HIS good purpose!"

Gold Teeth :)

  Part of my student teaching semester is creating and teaching a unit for a subject or a theme. I chose to teach dental health and I taught my first lesson in the unit today! With it being my first week back after being so sick I am still a little low on energy and am trying to play catch up! Of course it would happen that this week my supervisor needed to come observe my lesson! So, being a little OCD, I was just ready for her to come and be caught up so she came today! My lesson went really well and was SUCH an improvement from the last one she watched which is always a good thing!

  Today we learned about keeping our teeth clean and healthy. We were doing a chart about the children already know about teeth and one little boy was just so excited to tell me what he knew about teeth...if only I would have known before what would come out of his mouth. With the most serious face he said you get them gold teeth without brushing them! I just could not help but laugh because that is of course probably what he has seen! Just put a smile on my face!

 I have found myself, over the past several weeks just so at peace with what I am doing! I was talking with my friend Molly this morning about how much more relaxed this semester has been compared to last! When teaching lessons last semester, they were so incredibly structured and I was always so much more nervous, whereas this semester, it has become much more natural. I have even found myself become much more relaxed...I am one who likes things done a certain way and with a structure to follow, but that is just not completely possible in our little kindergarten class. I have already learned so much about myself this semester and am continually learning so much! More dental health on the way...maybe even some gold teeth. :)

Molly and I are in this student teaching adventure together! Would not be able to make it through each day without this precious friend! :)

Welcome to Teaching...

    For the past 5 days I have been home sick with the Flu, yuck! My sweet parents came to get me on Monday night and let me tell you, I felt rotten! The flu will certainly knock you out for days and I am still feeling pretty weak and tired! As I was covering all my bases for being out of school, some of my supervisors first words were "welcome to teaching..." So there it is, the life of a teacher hanging out with 25 incredibly precious, fun, sweet, but germy children!

   During the week, while I was out, I found myself somewhat frustrated because I was missing out on SO much, I mean one week of Kindergarten is a WHOLE lot. I was supposed to do a lesson for my teacher to observe, that did not happen, I was supposed to have my unit plan somewhat underway, it is not, and I should have my lesson somewhat planned for my supervisor to come to next week....don't worry not even close to being thought of! Yes I could get crackin' on some of these things but I have been out for a week, I don't know what they covered and what we will cover. If you remember, my teacher doesn't write lesson plans or anything of the sort so I don't have that to fall back on so really I need her council in order to get anything done ;) So it looks like all of that will be on hold until Monday!

  Parts of me would love to just do what I want to do, but I have to continually remind myself that it is HER classroom, she is a fabulous teacher, knows what she wants them to do/learn, because most importantly she is getting those little ones ready for 1st grade! So not only am I having to learn to surrender to the Lord but also surrendering to my own will! I can get so bogged down in "what is" right now when I do not look at the whole perspective that this is just a page in my grand story the Lord has written for my life! I read a devotion the other day that was just so perfect! This little excerpt is really full of truth that speaks right to me...

"Today, I’m considering my life as a grand story. Good will triumph. The victory will be sweeter because of the struggle. Today is not the story. It’s just page 452. So I will press on, trusting in a loving and creative Author to bring about resolution. You see, I already know the ending – she lives happily ever after."

-Proverbs 31 Ministries

Break and Surrender

Proverbs 1:23 "Come and listen to my counsel. I will share my heart with you and make you wise." 

   What a week it has been! A long one that is for sure but it has certainly been a fun one! One more day until the weekend! :) I am enjoying my time at school and am actually finding myself ready to go back the next morning--what an answer to prayer! Thanks for all your prayers, support and encouragement! 

   On Tuesday I was reading Proverbs 1, for the first day of February, and verse 23 really stood out to me! I could not quite figure out why so my prayer was just for illumination over  the verse and for the Lord to speak to me! A lot of times I have a real hard time deciphering between my thoughts and the Lord's but the recurring part that continually stood out to me was "I will share my heart with you..." I have worked so hard at 'guarding and protecting my heart,' which I think is a good thing but there are always extremes to the "rules!" Out of fear of being hurt, I have built up walls around my heart that I have a hard time willingly surrendering all of my heart to our sweet savior, when in reality sharing ALL of my heart with him will only bring me unfathomable joy! 

  So as I was reading this verse the Lord was so clearly saying "Kendall, I am absolutely willing to put EVERYTHING at risk in order to share my heart with you and yet you will not do the same?" He wants to share his heart with ME, he wants me to know him, inside and out, and he wants me to see in every nook, cranny, and crevice of his heart! WOW--how cool is that the Lord not only really wants me to know him but he really wants to know me! That takes breaking down the walls of my heart and allowing it to be molded and shaped through the most perfect relationship I will ever have. That is my hope, prayer, and challenge...breaking and surrendering the walls of my heart to the Lord! Allowing Him to climb over the walls of my heart and bring me joy, peace, and love will create in me a heart willing to be captivated by Jesus! 

Encouragement

Romans 1:12 "When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours!" 

   I am so beyond blessed for the amazing people I have in my life. This weekend and today I was overwhelmed with an abundance of encouragement. For starters, the weekend. I have the BEST, i really mean it BEST parents in the world. I know everyone says that but I really mean it and will happily lay out every reason why! :) It was saturday and when I got out of the shower I had a message from my dad saying that he and mom were thinking of coming to Greenville just to see Shelby and I! I wish I could put into words how excited I was! What spontaneous fun parents I have! :) It was just what I needed at the PERFECT time! Sometimes absolutely nothing will do but your parents/family and that is what I got! God is sovereign is all I gotta say! (Ain't it so Daddy :) We enjoyed a nice dinner and dessert, beautiful weather and most of all just enjoyed being with one another!

  Today, as you know, was my first official lesson, which turned into more of my first day of teaching. My teacher was out so I kind of took the reigns which was good for me and really helped me pinpoint areas I need to work on and where I can continually grow. Needless to say, I am quite tired and it will be nice to have Ms. Pruitt back tomorrow!  Anyhoo, I was a little nervous about my lesson (my supervisor came) and so I sat down to look over my lesson plan and I had a note from my precious roommate Kristin. For those of you that do not know Kristin, she is my best friend and I just love her to pieces. She has such a compassionate heart and a loving spirit. She will be the best nurse ever! (shhh don't tell the others :) She encouraged me with a bible verse and a little note that really just gave me a peace before I taught my lesson! I also had text messages and tweets (boo-boo) that were so encouraging! I taught my lesson and it went well, my supervisor liked it, thank goodness, but I definitely did struggle with the management/discipline. That will come with time but its something I will be continually  looking for what works and what does not as well as growing as a teacher. 

     Not fifteen minutes after I was home, I got a text message from Mrs. Leigh! Ahh I just look up to her so much and just love her family! She is a family friend from home and I babysit for them! She was a fabulous teacher (still is as she stays home with her children) and from the beginning has been willing to help, offered lots of helpful advice, as well as many many encouraging words! I am thankful for their family and what they mean to me!

 Are they NOT the cutest children you EVER did see?!? :) 

  All that being said, I am so beyond blessed with AMAZING friends and family! Such an answer to prayer that I have friendships that are in Christ and encourage me to surrender and seek him in all that I do!  

Finally...PICTURES!

   Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 

    It feel so so good to be FRIDAY! I tell you what, all day (and all week) with five year olds will wear you out :) This week has been a fun one and I am really feeling comfortable and enjoying my time here! We have been discussing animals that hibernate and their habitats this week so the kiddos made some animals out of clay and painted them, made their habitats and we had hibernation day! Too fun!

Here are a few pictures of the classroom: (use your imagination for set-up :) 

We have such a nice big classroom with lots of space! Notice the bulletin board in the background, with the snowman, that is the one that my teacher just whipped out in no time and hand painted it all! Well the snowballs are the children's writings about snow but everything else she did! A little envious of her talent I must admit...

  Thanks for all your support and prayers. The Lord has really done wonderful things this week and has taught me a lot about surrendering to his plans, humility, and flexibility! I teach my first 'real' lesson on Monday morning and my supervisor is coming so prayers are much appreciated! 

Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."