Snapshots

Snapshots of my week:

This book cover...

...because the Librarian suggested this YAL novel.  And it is written in verse!  I love novels written in verse.

This house for sale...

...because Karl and I were dream-house hunting.  This one has a library.

 This coffee mug...

...because it is just now Fall.  And I'm ready for the Christmas season.

 These salads...

...because Mackenzie and I made these salads with cranberries for lunch.  We put in our Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing in empty, clean shampoo travel bottles.

 These cookbooks...

...because in preparation for Fall, we are searching for crock-pot recipes so we can "fix-it and forget-it."

Snapshots

Snapshots of my week:

This coffee...

...because Kenz and I "splurged" to buy ground Starbucks coffee this week.

This quote...

...because it is an excellent reminder for anyone, especially me this week.

These ceramic materials...

...because I think it would be so much fun to learn how to throw pottery.  I enjoyed watching the students.

This ID...

...because now I am officially a recognized staff member of Lincoln High School.

This purse...

...because Fall is coming, and I am excited to bring it out again this season.

Answered Prayer

Sometimes it is so easy to be distressed and upset that when a prayer is answered in a positive manner, my first instinct is to simply be relieved.  A weight lifts from my shoulders, and I look forward to going through the door God has opened for me.  However, since my own prayer has been answered, I have realized that I should also be thankful! Funny that I sat in this chair last week and blogged about my frustration with substituting.  Then I proceeded to cry heavily into Karl's shoulder while lamenting my lack of Englishy-ness.  Now I am sitting in this chair, once again planning to be an Americorps member who is to work specifically with English students-- not gym, French, algebra, or biology.  English.

And I am thankful.  Not just grateful for a job, but truly thankful that God saw fit for me to work with the material that I love.  I am sure there will be trials and frustrations (how can there not be any when one works with teenagers?), but there will also be those instances when I get to see an "ah-ha!" moment flit across a student's face. I live for those moments.  And I work hard to see those moments. I just thank God that I'll get my chance to be a part of those moments.

Snapshots

I am absolutely enamored by my friend Kate's "My Week in Images" posts.  I love to see what she is finding beauty in as a newly-married, out-of-college professional and friend.  I thought I would take this moment to thank her for her inspiration, as I would also like to show people snippets of my life through a blog post in images.

 

Snapshots of my week:

 

This lunch...

 

...because nothing makes a Monday morning better like a Panera bagel and Raspberry Lemonade yogurt.

This outfit...

...because I love the red blazer paired with gold pearl studs.

These bills...

...because they have been paid. Thank God.

This planner and card...

...not because they are important, but written on the card are the order numbers for wedding bands that Karl and I have chosen for one another.

 

 

 This shirt...

 

...because "once a tiger, always a tiger" means that I will be sitting on the Tigers' side against Ellwood.

Thanks again to Kate for her inspiration for both the post and formatting.

CENGA

This is not where I thought that I was going to be. I was getting a college education. I was going to be a fantastic teacher--all my observers told me so.  I was going to come out of school and go into a full-time job at a school that was perfect for me.

Reality check. I am a substitute. Prone to go where the yellow slip takes me, whether that be French class, special education, History, or gym.  Why did I learn words/phrases like "differentiated learning" or "standardized" or "objective"? I spent hours creating fake lesson plans and then spent even more time creating real ones.  Now every day is a new study hall.  A full day telling students that they can talk quietly or work on other homework.

I am lucky to have a job in a school.  I am lucky to be getting paid for work in my field. I just find it hard to believe that this is God's big plan for me sometimes. When I heard the new term for our generation, College Educated, Not Going Anywhere (CENGA), I had to smirk.  With many of my friends unemployed or working in an entirely different field than what they went to school for, this term seems to be true. 

But we are going somewhere.  Whether these jobs are speed bumps or stepping stones in our lives, they will lead to where God wants us.  So I guess we are going somewhere.  Even if it is not where we planned.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11