Ridiculous

The motto of the Boy Scouts is "Be prepared". I know this because I was one. A Boy Scout, I mean. We can have that conversation later.

So, I'm not sure if this falls under the motto, or if I just have a problem.

This week I have realized I have 4 bags of almonds in the pantry:

A multitude of chaptick:

And a plethora of hand products, most of which I pulled out of my purse the other day. Do you even know what a plethora is? (Name that movie!)

All this to say...these things will be used and will not go to waste, but I'm not sure it's necessary to...you know...have all of the above.

Just trying to do my duty as a Boy Scout, I guess.

Seriously.

A new favorite. Seriously, so good.

All natural with only five ingredients - milk, cream, sugar, eggs, and [insert flavor here]. Still crazy high in fat, but hey...sometimes it's just an ice cream kind of day!

A Bouquet of Freshly Sharpened Pencils

Freshly sharpened pencils. Brand new books. Notebook paper straight out of the package. There’s something about the smell of the start of school that just makes me happy.

Tomorrow I meet my 8^th group of kiddos that I get to spend the next 10 months with. We’ll spend the day getting to know each other, discussing procedures, and learning a bit about what life in 3^rd grade will look like...

I can’t wait.

Tomorrow I’ll greet students that might be feeling anxious, shy, ecstatic, energized, apprehensive, terrified, or giddy. All will be on their best behavior for the first day…maybe for the first three. They’ll sit up straight, raise their hands, and follow directions perfectly. But by next week true colors will begin to shine as they become more comfortable...

I can’t wait.

Tomorrow the tone of the year will be set as the students get a glimpse into the heart of their teacher. Who is this lady that will teach me? Will she be strict? Will she like me? Will she make learning fun?...

I can’t wait.

Tomorrow I’d love your prayers. See, God has given me 23 students this year on purpose. He’s given me a job to do, and I don't take that lightly. And it's only by His grace that I can do it. So please pray.

• Pray that I’ll depend on the Lord for strength, patience, and joy.
• Pray that I’ll love my students well, because God first loved me.
• Pray that I’ll extend grace to these children, since God has shown me amazing grace in His Son.
• Pray that I’ll affirm them in their strengths, help them in their weaknesses, and point them to their Creator who made them uniquely who they are.
• Pray that I won’t fall into complacency or mundane routine, but that each day would be seen as an opportunity to minister to 23 children made in the image of God.
• Pray that even in the times when I’m most exhausted, I'll remember His grace is sufficient for me.
• Pray that my students will see that I don’t have it all together.
• Pray that I’ll point them to Jesus every chance I get.
• Pray that the Lord will work in their hearts, even now softening them toward the truth of the gospel.

Tomorrow is my 8^th first day of school.

I can’t wait to see what God will do. Lord, be glorified in me.

Smile

Mourning Christian, why are you weeping?

Are you mourning over your own sins and failings?

Look to your perfect Lord,

and remember, you are complete in Him. You are in God's sight as perfect as if you had never sinned...you have the righteousness of God...remember, none of your sins can condemn you. Your standing is not in yourself, but in your Lord. So I urge you, take hold of this precious thought - perfection in Christ! Christian, let your heart rejoice, for you are "accepted in the beloved" (Ephesians 1:6) - what do you have to fear?

Keep a smile on your face!

~C. Spurgeon~

So Excited!

A preview of their new album, coming out October 4th (not that I'm a fan or anything...).

....Or, you can get it early here....which is what I did.

Not that I'm a fan or anything. :)

I couldn't figure out how to get the full picture on here - sorry it's cut off! Enjoy!

A New Leaf

My brother has inspired me. Since I got back from Colorado, I have decided to change some eating habits. After a visit to the grocery store, I have begun eating more of these:

Some of these:

And even a bit of these:

I've got fish and chicken in the freezer for when I actually cook something. We'll see how it goes. Already this afternoon I had frozen yogurt (Reese's PB, espresso, and cookies & cream flavored - yum!), but that's healthy, right? It's yogurt!

Obviously I'm not following all the rules, but a girl's got to enjoy some fro-yo during the summer.

If you're someone I chat with often, I'd love for you to ask me how this is going. Trying to be a better steward of the body God's given me...a little more energy wouldn't hurt for the work He's given me!

20 Lessons Learned in Guatemala

1(a). Responding with "si" to every question you don't understand at Wendy's is ineffective. You will end up with a bottled water, when what you really wanted was a chicken nugget meal.

1(b). God humbles us in humorous ways sometimes.

2. Roosters do exist. They crow very loudly in the morning.

3. A genuine hug from a complete stranger has the potential to bring forth tears.

4. A language barrier does, in fact, result in a huge communication problem. It does not, however, prevent the display of Christ's love and His gospel.

5. Cleaning dishes is one of my favorite chores, especially when a handful of teenaged girls works with me - smiling, hugging, giggling, and chattering - repeatedly asking "Como te llamas?" and "Cuantos anos tienes?".

6. Weather conditions change more rapidly in Guatemala than they do in Texas. Who would have thought that possible?

7. I could hold babies all day long (this was not learned...fun fact for free!).

8. There are fascinating people in this world who are brothers and sisters in Christ.

9. I think about myself far too often. FAR too often.

10. Praising God in acapella with complete strangers is a beautiful thing.

11. Guatemala has an equivalent to Costco. It's called Price Smart. We went there, and It. Was. Awesome.

12. God is faithful to strengthen, provide, and bring peace, even in the moments when I feel sick, asking myself "What in the world have I gotten myself into?". Standing in front of 50 strangers - expected to teach them and desiring so badly to share Jesus with them (and having opportunity to do so, praise Him!) - is a scenario I never would have imagined.

13. The money I spent on my North Face rain jacket is money well spent.

14. Translators are a gift.

15. Fundaninos is an incredible place. The people there serve an awesome God, and they love those kids.

16. Being disconnected from the world of technology for 10 days was very good for me.

17. Guatemalan coffee. That's all.

18. There are sad, horrific things going on in this world. My eyes have been opened this week, and my heart is broken.

19. Watching people walk in their gifts while serving the Lord brings joy to my heart.

20. Dios es bueno, todo el tiempo. Todo el tiempo, Dios es bueno.