Playing House

Remember when you played "house" as a little girl? Setting up everything just right ... picking the mommy and the kid ... going on trips and telling each other what to do and where to put things? (That's how it went with my sister!) Well David and I have been in our house for almost a year now and have had a blast 'playing' for real! He's loving the yard work - which looks amazing - and I'm loving the decorating. We are getting settled and loving our time together. It's truly amazing to live with your best friend (even if he is a boy!). We learn more and more about each other daily ... most importantly communication.


Communication is a theme in my life lately... It seems that the 'issues' I've had with others recently all boil down to communication.


First we've learned to listen to each other! (Don't get me wrong though ... we're still learning) In his famous prayer, St. Francis of Assisi asked God to help him to “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” I think this idea of listening is at the root of good communication. Actually, the book of Proverbs offers advice (and it's been around a longer than St. Francis and his prayer :) ) In Proverbs 18:13 it says, “He who answers before listening – that is his folly and his shame.” Earlier in this same chapter you can read this written by Solomon: “A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions” (18:2). David and I have learned to slow down and listen to each other. At school, I've learned to listen to my co-workers needs. With my family, I've learned to listen to their point of view ...


The next thing we've learned about communication is being nice about it ... sounds simple, but not really. I think that closely tied in with the skill of listening is the ability to express yourself in a non-offensive and affirming manner. After all, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18). We may grown up learning to say, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” but it’s just not true. Words can hurt. Words can cut. In fact I learned today during my quiet time that at the root of our word sarcasm (in the greek) it means to cut flesh. Anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of sarcastic speech knows that it's almost just as bad. David and I have learned that if we feel strongly about something, it's not worth it to just throw our defenses up and be hurtful to the other person. We've learned to calmly discuss things - granted we aren't anywhere near perfect yet, but at least we know what we should do. This works for me at school - when I get a strong opinion about one of my students, it does no good to be rude to the parent. It also works with family ... you can do a lot of damage with hurtful words. James puts it this way, "“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires” James 1:19-20. Like momma used to say, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." And I like to add (because that's just me) ... "but don't stay silent forever, talk it out!"


Last we've learned to communicate with God. I want to just say "duh!" right now to myself, but let me explain. When I started spending a lot of time with David (and vice-versa) we started to depend on each other. We felt God leading us to marriage and so we followed. We knew this is what God wanted in our lives and it was just easy to settle in that. That's a good thing, but that's not the end. Our pursuit of God was not over when he lead us together ... it had just really started. Now we can seek him together. Now we can serve him together. Now we have a "live-in" accountability partner, prayer partner, and supporter. God desires for us to communicate with him ... a lot ... separately and together. We've learned to pray for each other and how to pray together. When we communicate with him, he communicates back and it's amazing.


Through this communication, we've seen some exciting things: adesire to commit to a new part of our church - Life Park, a deisre to serve the youth at our church together, and a perfect house - that's another long story for another day. We've also seen some hard answers - no kids yet - it's not an unanswered prayer, it's just a "not yet" answer. And through that we've realized that he wanted us to learn to communicate before the next steps in our life. We aren't perfect communicators with each other, our jobs, or our families yet, but we're working on it. We accept the challenge to get better at it. We hope the people in our life will understand when we mess up and forgive.


How about you?

http://brandicyrus.tumblr.com/post/444962980/to-love-and-to-lose




Just a link to another blog that I liked ... hope you do too.

lions and tigers and babies ... oh my!

This weekend was wonderful!The weather was beautiful ... especially for the Cooper River Bridge Run and the Flowertown Festival! I had a ball at the festival with my mother-in-law ... first time I'd ever been and I loved it! Sunday was a family baby shower for my sweet cousin Julie. She is due in about 4-5 weeks and looks amazing! Jenny, another cousin, had her precious baby Kate at the shower. She's walking and talking and oh so cute! The games (which my sisters and I were in charge of) went over well and the food was wonderful ... as usual! Laurie, another cousin, announced at the end of the shower that she is pregnant and due in November. I also found out, through Facebook stalking (who doesn't do that?) that two friends from high school are expecting, one for the second time.


I say all this to ask a question ... have you ever felt genuinely happy for someone about something and at the very same time felt anger or saddness about that same something in your own life? 


I am having a very difficult time with the whole "pregnancy" thing in my life and honestly I just don't know if it's in the cards for me. That makes me cry every time I think about it. I've always loved children ... being around them, caring for them, teaching them. So, why wouldn't God let me have them? I know that's a little presumptuous to say, considering all of the medical procedures haven't been exhausted yet, but the thought is still in the back of my mind ... daily.  I know that my timing is never perfect and I know that his timing is. I know that there are reasons to hardships in life that I might not ever fully understand. I know that God's plan for my life is much better than anything I could want. Right now I'm struggling with "knowing" these things and "feeling in my heart" the trust and faith that God to provide them, or even something better in his time. I feel like all my life all I've ever wanted was to be a teacher and a wife and a mother.  It's scary to think that the mother part might not happen.


On the other side of things, I have wonderful support. My husband is amazing about the whole situation. My cousins were very understanding when I explained everything to them this weekend. My church family prays for me. I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz ... when she's trying to get through the scary woods. She faces her fears (the woods) with support (the scarecrow and the tin man). She meets obstacles (the lion) that turn out not so bad and she gets through.

Sooo ... get ready for fun baby shower games!!! I've had fun with my sisters planning baby shower stuff for my cousin. She is having a baby girl pretty soon and we always get to do something as a family ... aunts and cousins! I love that about our family! My sisters and I have the best of both worlds because we are right in the middle ... my daddy's side and my mom's side (for the most part) all know each other and celebrate together. It's truly a blessing and I hope that it never changes.

Cowboys ...

Tonight was the annual Flowertown Elementary School Cowboy Campout. It was complete with cattle roping, line dancing, wood branding, stick horse riding, a chili cook-off, and a Best Dressed Cowboy and Cowgirl competition. Despite the soggy weather there was a large turn out! David and I chose not to campout this year ... GREAT decision! Why? It's raining now, those poor families! Anyway, our PE teacher, Steve Riccardi, is a real life cowboy. Truly ... he dresses like one, goes to "Shoot Outs" and hangs out with others just like him. He gets all his Cowboy and Cowgirl buddies together for a big campout every year at our school. The kids LOVE it. It's very laid back and fun for them. It reminds me of watching Little House on the Prairie with my grandmother and westerns with my daddy. Sometimes I wish I lived in that simpler time ... without the stresses of the world ... without the busy schedules and hectic days ... when you went to bed because it was dark and didn't go to school in August. But then I think ... I LOVE TEACHING. Teachers back then weren't allowed to marry. There were a lot of restrictions really ... yuck! So, I'm thankful for my job and for the time period in which I practice it. It does no good to want something that's impossible. You're probably thinking ... duh?! As I type this I'm thinking the same thing ... so why do I wish for things to be different sometimes? The only reason I can come up with is that I'm looking for an easier road. But really, I think the road I'm on is easy, in it's own way, I've just got to see it, let go and let God, slow down and feel Him, and trust he is in control! (told you this was hard for me ...)

All Of It

I'm so glad that I decided to start blogging ... it's nice to get your thoughts out there ... to clear your mind a little. It really doesn't matter to me if people read or not, but, on the off chance that there are people who care about my ordinary life ... I hope to inspire or challenge or both. All I can offer are lessons I've learned and things that are revealed to me and hopefully they can apply to others.


Soooo, I went back to work today after being out for two days and found out


that
...
they lived.


I often take pride in my job. Probably too much pride. I know how to do what I do, however, I was reminded today about humility. "I" didn't put myself where I am today. "I" didn't give myself the ability to achieve what I've achieved. "I" sometimes take that for granted ... it's like the "They NEED me" attitude. It's a lie! They don't NEED me. "I" didn't do any of it. God did. He put me where I am. He helped me with all of my accomplishments. It was Him! So of course they survived while I was out ... God is in control.


I hope you are letting God control your life ... ALL of it. (I'm still working on that too ...)

Fresh Air

What are the odds that I'm sick on one of the first wonderful days? I've been down for the count with strep throat ... second time this year! The doctors at Nason Medical laughed at me when I told them I know it's strep because this is the second time this year. He wanted to test me for the flu and something else (medicine head made me forget!) but I said there was no need ... that's when the laughter came. He pushed, so I agreed to amuse him. I was right! I wonder if there is such thing as Chronic Strep Throat ... if so, I have it! Last year I had this once and the year before that, twice. Anyway, that's enough whining!


If you haven't been outside today ... GO! Even though I'm sick I took a long stroll with my little Lily for the fresh air. How amazing it was. This morning I was reminded that God promises new mercies for my life with each morning. What an amazing promise ... I wish I could be that way!


Lamentations 3:22-23 - "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."


Today, outside, I could feel Him. I just walked, breathed, and felt God in this world. That's hard to do in a world like we live in, but sometimes, when you slow down, it is still possible. The hard part is the slowing down ... maybe that's why I got sick, to remind me to slow down every once in a while. So I'm going to challenge you ... slow down! Breath God's freshness ... you won't regret it!

I Hope You Don't Mind

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~Dr. Seuss

As a kindergarten teacher, I felt I must start this blog with a children's book author's quote. Only ... I think he is smarter than just that. I think he has a message to all ages! I think his message is to be you ... no matter who that is! So, as I start this blog, I'm going to let you in on me ...


I'm a kindergarten teacher! I LOVE being with children. I have always loved children; be it my little sisters, neighborhood kids that I babysat for, or students in my class. Their pure and innocent outlook in life encourages and reminds me to be open and honest with my family and myself all the time.


I love music! I used to take piano lessons. My family likes to pick on me about "quitting." I did, however, have two consecutive horrible teachers (long story). I learned what I needed to learn and can still read anything you put in front of me. With practice, I can learn it. I like to play for me, though, for the stress relief and the enjoyment of the sound. My husband catches me sometimes ... lost in the music. My radio is set to christian and country and my Ipod is filled with a wide variety of genres ... mostly things that stir my heart and make me think.


I love love! I'm married to the man of my dreams. We fell in love almost at first sight ... and although I was accused of living a 'boring' life ... just settling down near home to have babies ... I couldn't be happier. For the record, the person who accused me of that 'boring life' has decided she is going to do the same thing ... sadly she gave up a lot of her dreams for a boy. And between you and me - if anyone in my family were to break the boundaries that a southern daddy set of not going Up North, it would have been her! None-the-less I still love her, even though she chooses not to see it sometimes. Speaking of her, I love my family. I was born and raised in SC, where family is everything. We all have "that cousin" or "that uncle" or "those in-laws" but when it comes right down to it ... we truly love each other. At least that's the way I've always seen it. My momma knows everything, even if I don't want to admit it and my daddy could move a mountain!


The most important thing I love, is my Lord. His name is Jesus. He was born in a small town (like Lexington, where I was born, used to be) and raised by two young parents (mine were in their 20's) and had siblings (James). I can relate to him because he's walked in my shoes. Here's where my life doesn't measure up, though I sure wish it would ... He started his ministry of telling the whole world who he was and why he was here. He never messed up ... ever(how hard is that!). Then he was killed because of the claims he made, miracles he performed and simply for who he was. He didn't stay dead though (I know, sounds crazy, like a movie or something ... but it's real!) He came back to life after three days of being dead. Check this out ... an angel pushed a boulder away so he could get out of the cave he was buried in, then he went to his family and friends to show them he was alive. Then, the bible says, "He left them and was carried up into Heaven." He literally floated up into the clouds and is in Heaven. He didn't die again to get there like you and I will have to, he just went like he is. I don't know about you but when I heard that story, I thought that's the coolest thing I've ever heard! I don't want to walk around aimlessly, I want to do what he did, be like he was, live like he lived, speak like he spoke, love like he loved, because that's not just a story in a movie or a book. It's real life. It's real to my life. I hope it's real to your life ... if it's not, I'd like to help you change your mind!


So, you might be thinking, how am I going to bring all these things back to Dr. Seuss? I'm not ...


I know that my family will listen, forgive and move on when I mess up. Maybe not in my time, but theirs is perfectly fine. I know that my love and passion for teaching is from God so that's not going anywhere. I'm not really quite sure where music comes in but I know that it will one day. In the meantime ... I'll keep seeking to live like Jesus. He said what he meant and meant what he said, all the time. And he was good, all the time. I only hope the people in my life that matter the most to me, don't mind.