2016 Goals.

January 1st, 2016. The first day of a new year. Maybe it's because I'm a teacher or because I've always loved school, but this first day of the year on the calendar doesn't feel as much like the first day of the year as the first day of school does. I will still go back to the same job with the same kids and be counting down the days until June. 

Regardless, I do like the time of the year to reflect and look forward. This past year was the best of my life. Most importantly, I got married. Along with that I had so many fun events with my friends (bridal shower, bachelorette party, trips to Pullman) and generally good things happening in many areas of my life. I feel blessed to have had such a great year. It makes me a little nervous about if 2016 will be able to live up to it, but I will do everything I can to enjoy every minute and find the best in each day. 

Here are some goals I have for this year:

1. Buy a house! 

We have been living in an apartment for two and a half years and I am ready for more space. We started looking at houses more seriously in the past few weeks and we are going be getting pre-approved soon then looking for a realtor. If anyone has a great house buying tips, feel free to share. :) 

2. Spend less time on social media and more time present with my husband and others in my life. 

I spend a lot of time on my computer and phone, especially after school and in the evenings. It's hard because I do enjoy it and think of it as my time to unwind but I also feel like it's way too much. I need to put it away and focus on my husband and us spending time together. Even if we are just watching tv together I would rather be focused on that together instead of texting or scrolling through twitter at the same time. 

3. Get back to the gym 3 times a week and run at least one 5k. 

I am the epitome of a yo-yo dieter and gym goer. I was working out twice a day in the summer and on a super strict diet to lose weight for my wedding. I didn't have a lot to lose, but I made it to my goal weight and was the smallest I have ever been in my adult life. I loved how I looked for the summer and all of the events that took place surrounding my wedding. I don't need to go on as crazy of a diet, but I know how good I feel when I am working out so I need to get back to that. 

4. Spend more time in the word, journaling, and in prayer. 

I have a one year bible that I started last year and didn't make it all of the way through last year. I want to try to finish that this year. I have also been given quite a few Christian books, both novels and other studies, that I want to start getting through. I should be spending time doing this as opposed to being on social media, so those two goals will go hand in hand. I am also leading a high school small group and I know that will help me grow and I look forward to growing through that as well. 

5. Read at least one book a month 

I enjoy reading and I don't make enough time for it. I want to be more intentional with my time and that includes reading which is both enjoyable and relaxing for me. I am in a book club where we read one book a month so that should make this goal easy, but I still wanted to include it. 

What are some of your goals for 2016? 

*All images from Pintrest 

Five on Friday: October Favorites!

I am so excited about this month! There are so many fun things going on that I have to look forward to. 

1. Halloween fun with friends! 

One of my friends asked if we can go to the corn maze and have a Halloween-y party and of course I agreed! I am not a huge fan of scary things, but as long as we go to the corn maze during the day time I am totally down. Plus, who doesn't like a reason to get together with friends?

2. WSU Homecoming!

My husband and I are heading back to our college town for the homecoming football game in the middle of the month. Both of my roomates are also going with their respective significant others, as well as a few other friends. Even though we graduated 3 years ago it feels like no time has passed and I am looking forward to the hitting our favorite places in town and cheering on out team. 

3. FFA National Convention

As part of my job I am an advisor for our school's FFA chapter and I have the privilege of taking 13 students to Louisville for the National Convention. They are all competing while we are there so that is stressful, but also so rewarding. 

4. Growing in Faith

I am in a bible study group and we just had our third meeting and I am really enjoying it. I was in a small group before through my church, but this is a little more challenging and I like being with a new group of women. I also am meeting with my Pastor next week to talk about being a leader for a teen group which is both intimidating and exciting. I'm just praying for guidance and that if it is meant to be, I will be a good fit for those girls. 

5. Wedding Planning.

If you've been reading my blog you know that my wedding has already passed, but I am a bridesmaid in 3 weddings over the next year so there is still plenty of planning to be done. One of my friends has her first dress shopping appointment this month and I can't wait for that and all of the other fun things that will be coming up.

Linking up with Amanda!

Five on Friday: First Semester Complete!

This week has been wild. You would think that after a 3 day weekend I would be refreshed but due to several things I am straight up exhausted. Thank goodness for another 3 day weekend this week where I Can hopefully recover some of my sanity. Here are 5 things from this week!

1. The semester is ending! I'm halfway through the year! But I am also being bombarded with kids trying to raise their grades when they've done nothing all semester.

2. I got to babysit my 'kids' on Tuesday night. I nanny-ed for them when I was in high school and always visited them on breaks. I've known them since the middle was two weeks old and met the youngest on the day she was born. Now they are 6,7,and 8. They are my flower girls. :) We had a dance party to Taylor Swift and read lots of stories. I love them so much.

3. I went to bible study for the first time in a couple of months and it was so wonderful. I forget how much I need Jesus and how much these people fill me up. Good times.

4. I ordered my first Jamberry nails and I can't wait to put them on next week. A few teachers at my school sell them and they look like fun. I got this cool chevron pattern.

5. Me and C are going on a date night tonight and I can't wait! I think we are going to see American Sniper and I know I will probably cry a lot but I just hope it doesn't end in a super sad way. After wards we are getting cold stone which is so unhealthy but one of my favorites.

Happy Friday!

Linking up!

share the good news

This week at bible study we are talking about Evangelism and we had some really intense conversations. I still consider myself kind of a 'baby Christian' because I am still learning and haven't been involved in the church for very long. I find these talks so interesting because I am thinking about things I never thought about before.

When talking about evangelism our pastor made a point that we are pro at evangelizing, when there is a new starbucks, we all talk about it...when there is a new iphone, the same. We are forgetting the greatest news of all, Jesus died for us and we can all have eternal life! Why are we not shouting this from the rooftops? I'm guilty of this, I use my blog to talk about my faith but ask me how often I talk about it with friends who are non-believers and I probably couldn't tell you the last time I did. I am so thankful for my small group and friends from church who help me grow but I wish I could do that for other people.

I want to become more intentional. I want to spread the good news and find ways to show God's love.

How do you share the good news?

changing my heart.

Sorry for being gone for so long, the month leading up to school has proved to be pure craziness and I'm sure it will only get crazier as the school year approaches. We don't start school until after labor day so I still have a couple weeks before I finally get to meet all of my kiddos. I cannot wait!

I went on a camping trip this weekend and I was sleeping in a tent on my own. I am not a camper by any means and I am also scared of the dark, this meant that it was a pretty scary time. I found myself awake in the middle of the night freaking out because I thought I heard noises outside and instead of just crying or trying to sleep I started praying. I asked the Lord to keep me safe and he calmed my nerves and helped me get back to sleep. I love being able to turn myself over to the Lord and know that he controls my life. He has it all planned out for me and he will keep me safe.

I have been meeting with my small group for a few months now and I am loving the relationships that we are forming. I'm so thankful to have a group that is helping me to grow in my relationship with the Lord as well as providing me with friendships.

I know that I keep saying it but I will have some classroom pictures soon! I want to wait until everything is perfect though I'm sure that will never happen.

Happy Wedesday!

an open door.

Today in my Bible reading I was in the book of Esther. I was eager to begin this book because I know that there are a lot of great devotional that go along with it so I figured that it must be a good one! I simply read the scripture myself and didn't use a devotional, but I look forward to revisiting it and diving into it deeper in the future.

After my reading I thought about some of the messages that I got from the scripture and the one that stuck out at me the most was how thankful I am that God always allows us to speak to him. Unlike the King who doesn't allow visitors, he is always welcoming us and our problems. No matter what is going on in my life I know that I can turn to the Lord for guidance. He is willing to take some of my burden so that I do not have to carry it alone. Esther was brave and she was willing to face her king for her people, despite the chances of her being punished for her actions. While we can all learn something from her bravery and dedication to her people, I am thankful that we have a King who is always approaching and begging to be in our lives. What a wonderful King.

-J

Jeremiah 2:32

"Does a young woman forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number."

Today in my reading I came across this passage and it really spoke to me. As a young woman I had the thought, jewelry is important! The analogy spoke to me and made me realize how many days have passed that I have forgotten about God. 

In my bible there was a devotional about this verse and it talked about using the morning to praise God and thank him for all that he has done for me. I found this interesting since when my alarm appears on my phone it says 'Thank God for today.' I try to start my day centered on God and maintain that as much as possible throughout the day. Instead of trying to take specific time to pray I also say little prayers all throughout the day. For example, today in the lunch room there was a teacher talking about her husband with leukemia. It was impossible for me to simply listen but instead I instantly prayed for her and her husband. I find that if I take a minute to thank God for my blessings in the moment I am so much more aware of Him all around me. 

I love that my faith is growing. I know I still have a long way to go but it makes me feel so much fuller. I am also thankful for the people in my life who I have to talk about my faith with. Those relationships are growing and pushing me to grow as a person. God is great. 

Song in my head

I am a music lover. I was in band for 11 years (5th grade straight through college) and even was in a band service fraternity. So, it would be an understatement to say that music had an influence in my life. As a result I feel like I have a constant soundtrack in my head that is impossible to turn off. There are always lyrics scrolling through my mind and I find myself singing to myself when I think none of my students are paying attention. I try to be careful with the type of music that I listen to because I want the thoughts that are in my head to be ones that are positive and upbeat. 

'Christ is risen from the dead

Trampling over death by death

Come awake, come awake!

Come and rise up from the grave!'

A couple months ago I challenged myself to try and listen to only Christian music for a month. I didn't really keep track of it but I left my radio tuned to the local Christian station and put my favorite Christian cd (Tricia Brock) in my car. I found that I loved the music and it put me in such a great mood on my way to work! I love being able to praise the Lord every morning and thank him for giving me another day on this great Earth. No matter my mood, there is a song that fits, and I love that. 

I lean not on my understanding, my life is in the hands of the Maker of Heaven 

I give it all to you, Lord, trusting that you'll make something beautiful out of me

I will climb this mountain with my hands wide open.

There is nothing I hold onto.  Nothing I hold onto.  Nothing I hold onto.

This is my favorite song lately and I have had it on repeat since I discovered it. It speaks to me because right now I am trying to figure out some important things in my life and I want to give it all to the Lord. When I feel overwhelmed or worried about something I remember that the Lord is doing something beautiful with me and I need to open my hand and be ready for whatever comes my way. I find so much comfort in knowing that I am not necessarily in control of my destiny, and knowing that someone who loves me more than I could ever know, is. 

What songs are always running in your head?

-J 

His Plan.

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

How do you know that you are following the plans of the Lord? Recently I have received some news that had been the answer to my prayers. I was overjoyed and full of happiness, thanking God immensely for what he had done in my life. Shortly thereafter, I realized that there were some complications to this news and it wouldn't be as easy and full of joy as I thought.

Initially, I cried. I wondered, why is this so hard, how come I am forced to make this decision? That night happened to be the night for my small group bible study. As we were reading we came across the story of Jereboam and how the Lord told him exactly what to do, and he did the opposite. We started talking about our lives and if we are following the plan that God has laid out for us. It made me stop and think, I know that God has made this happen for a reason and now I need to trust in the rest of his plan. I can't be thankful for one part but then weeping about not knowing the rest. God is all knowing and I need to trust in that and believe that he will make the future fall into place. I am turning my heart to the Lord and really going to pray hard this week. I'm praying for clarity, patience, and an open heart to accept what he has waiting or me. 

What are you praying for this week? 

Inspiration.

I've been thinking about making a blog for a long time and I wasn't sure when I was going to do it. Finally I thought, there is no time like the present, so here it is.

When it came to thinking of a name I decided that I would pick a lyric from a song that I liked since music is such a great way to express yourself. I found a song that I have been listening to and googled the lyrics. As I read through it I picked the line that I thought really expresses me. I am looking for joy in all areas of my life and trying to focus on joy. This title reminds me that even though not all of the times in life are perfect, no matter what in the morning there is always joy.

You stay the same through the ages

Your love never changes

There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage

I don't have to be afraid

Because I know that You love me

Your love never fails

I have so much to be thankful for and I never want to forget that. His love never fails.

- J