things that are making me happy right now:
- i am currently in nazareth, pennsylvania with my brother michael and my sister in law thea. momma muck is here, along with thea's mom and dad (oma and opa). they are a wonderful family and i am so blessed to have them in my life.
- wednesday night i fly out to chicago to see my brother receive his doctorate degree. i am so proud.
- there are only 33 days of school left... 32 for me :)
- the yankees lost today
- even though i have a countdown going for the end of school, i love my job and the kids i get to see every day.
- i am currently drinking a margarita.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
precious Kate McRae
i spoke a bit about Kate McRae last night, and today I saw a video of her posted and wanted to share.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
1st Corinthians 14:33
this past week was an exhausting one. there is SO much going on at school, i don't know where to begin. i'm caught in the middle in a variety of ways... and the Lord is really using this situation to grow and stretch me.
i've found great solace in going to visit the 6 kids in the autism room. while some people (and sadly, even their parents) write these kids off as nothing more than a nuisance, i see their progress and potential. they completely brighten my day. i've been staying at school later to get planning done and going to visit them during my prep period during the day.
i follow quite a few blogs - some here on my blog roll and a few on my phone. many of them are heartbreaking stories that i read in order to keep those families in my prayers. i'm to the point where i feel like i know these people. one girl in particular - kate mcrae. this little girl was diagnosed with a brain tumor back at the end of june. her family was getting ready to go to the water park in arizona, and her mom noticed a tremble in her hand a few days prior that wasn't going away. little kate was admitted THAT day and has only left the hospital a handful of times since then. she's currently on a study for a type of brain cancer that has a very high relapse rate. i check on this little girl every day, and have even commented on her blog that i hope to meet a CANCER FREE kate one day when i visit my sister in arizona. i encourage you to visit kate's blog and to pray for her complete healing: www.prayforkate.com
i think satan has a knack for getting in my mind and letting me think it's ok to have a pity party instead of thanking God in my every day life for the things He HAS provided.
this past christmas i bought a calendar with daily bible verses. this past friday was a day that i knew was going to be chaotic at school. like i said, there's a lot going on that can really get me down if i let it. what was friday's verse? "for God is NOT a God of disorder, but of peace." - 1st Corinthians 14:33
as much as satan can get in my head when i'm not consciously trying to see the positive, God is there in every day circumstances - the good and the bad. what a comfort! i love when God sends me words of encouragement right when i need it....
i've found great solace in going to visit the 6 kids in the autism room. while some people (and sadly, even their parents) write these kids off as nothing more than a nuisance, i see their progress and potential. they completely brighten my day. i've been staying at school later to get planning done and going to visit them during my prep period during the day.
i follow quite a few blogs - some here on my blog roll and a few on my phone. many of them are heartbreaking stories that i read in order to keep those families in my prayers. i'm to the point where i feel like i know these people. one girl in particular - kate mcrae. this little girl was diagnosed with a brain tumor back at the end of june. her family was getting ready to go to the water park in arizona, and her mom noticed a tremble in her hand a few days prior that wasn't going away. little kate was admitted THAT day and has only left the hospital a handful of times since then. she's currently on a study for a type of brain cancer that has a very high relapse rate. i check on this little girl every day, and have even commented on her blog that i hope to meet a CANCER FREE kate one day when i visit my sister in arizona. i encourage you to visit kate's blog and to pray for her complete healing: www.prayforkate.com
i think satan has a knack for getting in my mind and letting me think it's ok to have a pity party instead of thanking God in my every day life for the things He HAS provided.
this past christmas i bought a calendar with daily bible verses. this past friday was a day that i knew was going to be chaotic at school. like i said, there's a lot going on that can really get me down if i let it. what was friday's verse? "for God is NOT a God of disorder, but of peace." - 1st Corinthians 14:33
as much as satan can get in my head when i'm not consciously trying to see the positive, God is there in every day circumstances - the good and the bad. what a comfort! i love when God sends me words of encouragement right when i need it....
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
when a crappy night turns amazing
wow. that's pretty much all i have to say.
emily gironimi and becky plungis are two of the most amazing women of God i know. it's kind of odd for me to say that, because they are both considerably younger than me... but i am SO thankful that God has placed them both in my life.
sunday. valentine's day. i had forgotten until a youth leader said "happy valentine's day!" to me at the breakfast table at snow camp up in new hampshire. i was glad i was going to be away and on the road for the majority of the day, and i wouldn't be able to get caught up in the "woe is me" aspect of this stupid commercial holiday.
side note: i always wonder if i would feel differently about this holiday if i had someone to celebrate it with. that's right. 31 years of life and 31 years of never having anyone to dote on during this so called day of love. meh.
i digress.
i knew on sunday that i had a package coming my way, but had no idea what it was or why it was coming. well, today was the day!! and i was blown away by the package i received! i was out with a co worker when i came home to an email that didn't make me feel so great. then i remembered seeing THE package my parents had placed in front of my bedroom door.
as i was opening the package i was thinking "WHO DOES THIS?!?!"... who is really this thoughtful?? i've always considered myself a thoughtful person, but this was something i would never have thought of. sending someone a box of love on a day that they would rather skip over altogether.
so... attached is the picture of my package. my favorite part? hard to choose. the dvd of 27 dresses? never seen it. so that's exciting. brownies to bake?! they'll have to wait until after easter but it'll get done. i think my favorite part was the Bible verses written by hand. that's the part that made me cry. amazing reminders of my heavenly father who loves me to no end. i didn't only feel loved by 2 amazing women of God, but by my God.
thank you, girls :)
emily gironimi and becky plungis are two of the most amazing women of God i know. it's kind of odd for me to say that, because they are both considerably younger than me... but i am SO thankful that God has placed them both in my life.
sunday. valentine's day. i had forgotten until a youth leader said "happy valentine's day!" to me at the breakfast table at snow camp up in new hampshire. i was glad i was going to be away and on the road for the majority of the day, and i wouldn't be able to get caught up in the "woe is me" aspect of this stupid commercial holiday.
side note: i always wonder if i would feel differently about this holiday if i had someone to celebrate it with. that's right. 31 years of life and 31 years of never having anyone to dote on during this so called day of love. meh.
i digress.
i knew on sunday that i had a package coming my way, but had no idea what it was or why it was coming. well, today was the day!! and i was blown away by the package i received! i was out with a co worker when i came home to an email that didn't make me feel so great. then i remembered seeing THE package my parents had placed in front of my bedroom door.
as i was opening the package i was thinking "WHO DOES THIS?!?!"... who is really this thoughtful?? i've always considered myself a thoughtful person, but this was something i would never have thought of. sending someone a box of love on a day that they would rather skip over altogether.
so... attached is the picture of my package. my favorite part? hard to choose. the dvd of 27 dresses? never seen it. so that's exciting. brownies to bake?! they'll have to wait until after easter but it'll get done. i think my favorite part was the Bible verses written by hand. that's the part that made me cry. amazing reminders of my heavenly father who loves me to no end. i didn't only feel loved by 2 amazing women of God, but by my God.
thank you, girls :)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
fat tuesday
it's fat tuesday! craziness! here's the "do it for Jesus" list for 2010:
no candy, except for the sugar free sour "mints" i have.
no coffee from dunkin donuts... this is going to be tough. i've been drinking it almost daily for the past week and a half.
no cookies, cake, or any baked good that is remotely tempting.
no potato chips or cheese puffs.
i think that's it? i feel like my list that i jotted down last night was longer. why don't i check my list, you ask? because it is in my purse which is locked in my car which is in the garage. i think it is still snowing out and i don't want to get it. that's why.
no candy, except for the sugar free sour "mints" i have.
no coffee from dunkin donuts... this is going to be tough. i've been drinking it almost daily for the past week and a half.
no cookies, cake, or any baked good that is remotely tempting.
no potato chips or cheese puffs.
i think that's it? i feel like my list that i jotted down last night was longer. why don't i check my list, you ask? because it is in my purse which is locked in my car which is in the garage. i think it is still snowing out and i don't want to get it. that's why.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
sensational seven (what?!) for 1.30.10
when i had what we thought was an ulcer, my doctor put me on anti-anxiety medicine, thinking less stress would help my stomach to make less acid... making my attacks less frequent. of course come to find out, it wasn't an ulcer... it was my gallbladder... but i'm still on the medicine.
for the past 2 weeks, for one reason or another, i had a hard time remembering to take my medicine. my mood was up and down (mostly down), which S U C K E D big time.
anyways, my new weekly post is going to be to find something positive that happened each day.
Sunday: church is always uplifting. the praise and worship portion of the service is always my favorite. i LOVE being a part of the praise team, but sometimes being in front of people makes me unable of uninhibited worship. i digress. another great thing from sunday was amanda and adah were visiting, so we all went out to lunch after church. it was just like old times. that night we made a video of random things and were just plain silly. so much fun.
Monday - i was supposed to spend the day with the dishes and the momma to be... but i woke up feeling awful. i went to the doctor, and then got my wisdom teeth looked at. i went home to bed and my dad was kind enough to pick up my 3 medications my doctor prescribed. he had sent them to target electronically. isn't technology amazing?! i also got to say goodbye to amanda and adah via skype. not to sensational... but it means they're closer to moving back! (WHUT WHUT!)
Tuesday - i spent tuesday home from school, too. i actually felt worse tuesday than monday. i got a few text messages from co workers asking if i was ok. it made me feel loved and missed. it was nice!
Wednesday - home again. when i emailed my sub plans to my department head, he emailed me back asking if i was ok. i guess they know i'm not out often, and never for more than a day here or a day there. when i wasn't there for 3 days, he was worried. even though he's my "boss" (i have so many!) it was nice that he thought enough to write.
Thursday - home a g a i n. poppa muck emailed me and asked if i wanted to go to an EB management dinner where the guest speaker would be a survivor of the miracle on the hudson. Dave Sanderson will speak in february. pretty exciting! oh AND thursday was my niece briana's birthday. 8 years old!
Friday - home yet again! i got an email from a coworker who is going to have a yoga class at school every friday from 3-4pm. i'm pretty excited!!!
Saturday - "my" pharmacist at target is the best!! he walked around target for 10 minutes during his lunch break to find me. turns out i had another prescription at the pharmacy, and he wanted to find me before i left. good guy :) oh AND i lost almost 3 pounds this week. i know it's mostly because i was sick and barely eating... but my 2 week total is 5.6 pounds. WOO HOO!
so, my first post was kind of lame... but i'm really going to try to write down (at least) one thing per day that is positive. like my blog title says... i'm going to try to SEE THE POSITIVE!!
for the past 2 weeks, for one reason or another, i had a hard time remembering to take my medicine. my mood was up and down (mostly down), which S U C K E D big time.
anyways, my new weekly post is going to be to find something positive that happened each day.
Sunday: church is always uplifting. the praise and worship portion of the service is always my favorite. i LOVE being a part of the praise team, but sometimes being in front of people makes me unable of uninhibited worship. i digress. another great thing from sunday was amanda and adah were visiting, so we all went out to lunch after church. it was just like old times. that night we made a video of random things and were just plain silly. so much fun.
Monday - i was supposed to spend the day with the dishes and the momma to be... but i woke up feeling awful. i went to the doctor, and then got my wisdom teeth looked at. i went home to bed and my dad was kind enough to pick up my 3 medications my doctor prescribed. he had sent them to target electronically. isn't technology amazing?! i also got to say goodbye to amanda and adah via skype. not to sensational... but it means they're closer to moving back! (WHUT WHUT!)
Tuesday - i spent tuesday home from school, too. i actually felt worse tuesday than monday. i got a few text messages from co workers asking if i was ok. it made me feel loved and missed. it was nice!
Wednesday - home again. when i emailed my sub plans to my department head, he emailed me back asking if i was ok. i guess they know i'm not out often, and never for more than a day here or a day there. when i wasn't there for 3 days, he was worried. even though he's my "boss" (i have so many!) it was nice that he thought enough to write.
Thursday - home a g a i n. poppa muck emailed me and asked if i wanted to go to an EB management dinner where the guest speaker would be a survivor of the miracle on the hudson. Dave Sanderson will speak in february. pretty exciting! oh AND thursday was my niece briana's birthday. 8 years old!
Friday - home yet again! i got an email from a coworker who is going to have a yoga class at school every friday from 3-4pm. i'm pretty excited!!!
Saturday - "my" pharmacist at target is the best!! he walked around target for 10 minutes during his lunch break to find me. turns out i had another prescription at the pharmacy, and he wanted to find me before i left. good guy :) oh AND i lost almost 3 pounds this week. i know it's mostly because i was sick and barely eating... but my 2 week total is 5.6 pounds. WOO HOO!
so, my first post was kind of lame... but i'm really going to try to write down (at least) one thing per day that is positive. like my blog title says... i'm going to try to SEE THE POSITIVE!!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
[not so] sensational six for 1.16.10
this is more or less a stream of consciousness post (wish i could take credit for that.... but props go to mckmama) .... bear with me.
i can't come up with a sensational six for this week. i've been trying to think of all the good things that happened this week, and all i keep coming back to is this earthquake in haiti.
i feel absolutely helpless, so i cleaned out my closet and brought 3 bags of clothes to a distribution box that will hopefully make its way to people in need.
i just don't understand how i can go on with life here as if there aren't people in absolute turmoil, wondering how and when they will get through the next hour of the day.
what really gets to me is when i think about and see the kids. i've got some haitian kids at school, and i think of them living in those dire conditions and i want to cry. i wish there was more i could do to help.
i've said several times this week that i wish i could drop everything and go down there to help. i see the images on tv and wonder where the heck would you even begin? where do you start? you've got people trapped who are going to die because we can't get to them. you've got injured people who aren't getting the help they need. you're got people who are ok, but are going to die from dehydration because they've gone 3 days without water.
i begin to wonder how this all fits into God's perfect plan. so many people suffering. it's just so hard to fathom.
i came across this verse this week:
"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18
the people of haiti had nothing.... and now they have less than that.
i can't come up with a sensational six for this week. i've been trying to think of all the good things that happened this week, and all i keep coming back to is this earthquake in haiti.
i feel absolutely helpless, so i cleaned out my closet and brought 3 bags of clothes to a distribution box that will hopefully make its way to people in need.
i just don't understand how i can go on with life here as if there aren't people in absolute turmoil, wondering how and when they will get through the next hour of the day.
what really gets to me is when i think about and see the kids. i've got some haitian kids at school, and i think of them living in those dire conditions and i want to cry. i wish there was more i could do to help.
i've said several times this week that i wish i could drop everything and go down there to help. i see the images on tv and wonder where the heck would you even begin? where do you start? you've got people trapped who are going to die because we can't get to them. you've got injured people who aren't getting the help they need. you're got people who are ok, but are going to die from dehydration because they've gone 3 days without water.
i begin to wonder how this all fits into God's perfect plan. so many people suffering. it's just so hard to fathom.
i came across this verse this week:
"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18
the people of haiti had nothing.... and now they have less than that.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
sensational six for 1.9.10
1. had a good first week back to school. despite some of my student's having vacation brain.... it was good to be back and in a routine again.
2. choir practice started up again this week. i forgot how much i enjoyed it.
3. i know rachel mentioned this but... can we talk a little more about AMANDA AND ADAH COMING OUT TO VISIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!
4. we have a youth pastor candidate visiting this weekend, and it was fun to spend some time with the kids from youth group. it's been a long time since i've seen this many kids from the youth group together at once, and for the most part, it was good to see them :)
5. i haven't bought coffee since last year! i thought with school this week i wouldn't have been able to do it, but i'm going strong!
6. i've been sitting here for a good 10 minutes trying to think of a number 6. maybe i'll come back when i think of something sensational!
2. choir practice started up again this week. i forgot how much i enjoyed it.
3. i know rachel mentioned this but... can we talk a little more about AMANDA AND ADAH COMING OUT TO VISIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!
4. we have a youth pastor candidate visiting this weekend, and it was fun to spend some time with the kids from youth group. it's been a long time since i've seen this many kids from the youth group together at once, and for the most part, it was good to see them :)
5. i haven't bought coffee since last year! i thought with school this week i wouldn't have been able to do it, but i'm going strong!
6. i've been sitting here for a good 10 minutes trying to think of a number 6. maybe i'll come back when i think of something sensational!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
2010
so many positive thoughts regarding this new year and new decade. i have a few "resolutions" which are really just changes i want to make in my life. i'm documenting them here so i can check back every few weeks to see how i'm doing:
1. healthiness. obviously nearly 100% of people that make resolutions resolve to lose weight. i'm serious this time because i've got to be. diabetes runs in my family, and i don't want to live life in fear of when it may hit me. i'm going to pay more attention to the CRAP i put in my mouth on a daily basis... hourly if i have to. drink more water. only 1 diet coke a day IF that. limit my empty calories. exercise on a regular basis (4-5 tines a week). i'm going to USE that gym membership instead of just paying for it :) ford the record, i LOATHE the gym. i've always wanted to be a person who LOVES going to the gym and getting a good workout in. fi've finally come to the realization that it can't happen unless i MAKE it happen. duh. seems so simple, but is going to take a lot of dedication, discipline, and accountability from you all :)
2. finances. i am definitely a spender. i pay my monthly bills, and then look at what's left and think "what can i buy that i've been wanting??". not anymore! i need to take financial responsibility if i ever want to get out of my parents house. NEVER did i imagine still being here at 31 years old. in fact, my plan at 18 was to be in a house, married, teaching part time and be done having kids by this point. HA! what a joke. our timing is not His, that is FOR SURE. the plan is this: from now until i get paid again next thursday, i am going to sit down and budget out what i need for bills, give myself a certain amount for spending and the rest goes into savings. the end. and i've been looking at sale flyers and only shopping on clearance racks for a bit now, and i plan on continuing that.
3. be more social - mabe social isn't the right word. i want to walk up to someone new and welcome them to church. i want to share my faith with a stranger. i want to go out to that party even though it feels like it is 30 below zero out. i have been blessed with some incredible people in my life, and i want to spend more time with them. i guess this stems from my gramma dying back in july (can't believe it's been almost 6 months already!). i regret not spending more time with her when she was healthy and even when she was failing in the nursing home. i regret those times i drove by thinking "i really should stop in" and have learned time is precious.
4. reading through the Bible - pastor bruce challenged us this morning to read through the Bible this year. he asked us to take a stand, and at first i was thinking "are you kidding me? if i DON'T stand everyone will look at me. but i don't know if i can do it." enough of that i don't know stuff. i can, and i pray that i keep this atand i took today and promise i made to myself and the Lord.
speaking of... i have 3 days of reading to do.......
1. healthiness. obviously nearly 100% of people that make resolutions resolve to lose weight. i'm serious this time because i've got to be. diabetes runs in my family, and i don't want to live life in fear of when it may hit me. i'm going to pay more attention to the CRAP i put in my mouth on a daily basis... hourly if i have to. drink more water. only 1 diet coke a day IF that. limit my empty calories. exercise on a regular basis (4-5 tines a week). i'm going to USE that gym membership instead of just paying for it :) ford the record, i LOATHE the gym. i've always wanted to be a person who LOVES going to the gym and getting a good workout in. fi've finally come to the realization that it can't happen unless i MAKE it happen. duh. seems so simple, but is going to take a lot of dedication, discipline, and accountability from you all :)
2. finances. i am definitely a spender. i pay my monthly bills, and then look at what's left and think "what can i buy that i've been wanting??". not anymore! i need to take financial responsibility if i ever want to get out of my parents house. NEVER did i imagine still being here at 31 years old. in fact, my plan at 18 was to be in a house, married, teaching part time and be done having kids by this point. HA! what a joke. our timing is not His, that is FOR SURE. the plan is this: from now until i get paid again next thursday, i am going to sit down and budget out what i need for bills, give myself a certain amount for spending and the rest goes into savings. the end. and i've been looking at sale flyers and only shopping on clearance racks for a bit now, and i plan on continuing that.
3. be more social - mabe social isn't the right word. i want to walk up to someone new and welcome them to church. i want to share my faith with a stranger. i want to go out to that party even though it feels like it is 30 below zero out. i have been blessed with some incredible people in my life, and i want to spend more time with them. i guess this stems from my gramma dying back in july (can't believe it's been almost 6 months already!). i regret not spending more time with her when she was healthy and even when she was failing in the nursing home. i regret those times i drove by thinking "i really should stop in" and have learned time is precious.
4. reading through the Bible - pastor bruce challenged us this morning to read through the Bible this year. he asked us to take a stand, and at first i was thinking "are you kidding me? if i DON'T stand everyone will look at me. but i don't know if i can do it." enough of that i don't know stuff. i can, and i pray that i keep this atand i took today and promise i made to myself and the Lord.
speaking of... i have 3 days of reading to do.......
Saturday, January 2, 2010
sensational six for 1.2.10
holy moses - i haven't done this in what seems like forever.
1. SNOW! so pretty and i love watching it come down while sipping on coffee and watching a stupid lifetime movie, which... incidentally....
2. lifetime movies - amazing. there were 2 different marathons on yesterday, and i spent the majority of the day trying to get rid of my would be sinus infection by laying in bed watching movies.
3. friends - new year's eve was low key and fun! the highlight was definitely when rachel and i got to skype with amanda. it was as close to us all being in the same room as we can get right now!
4. shopping - i am so thankful to have a job that allows me to be able to buy noit only the things i need, but some of the things i want.
5. dunkin donuts french vanilla coffee - it's better when i brew it at home and sooooo delicious. unless we're talking iced coffee... then it has to come from a dunk. haven't mastered that yet.
6. a new year! - i love that this is not only a new year, but a new decade. for some reason, i have so much hope for things to start moving forward in my life this year. i started a post about the year in review and looking ahead to 2010, but i think when i get a chance i'm going to write about the things i'm looking to do in 2010, and some of my resolutions.... so you all can hold me to them!
1. SNOW! so pretty and i love watching it come down while sipping on coffee and watching a stupid lifetime movie, which... incidentally....
2. lifetime movies - amazing. there were 2 different marathons on yesterday, and i spent the majority of the day trying to get rid of my would be sinus infection by laying in bed watching movies.
3. friends - new year's eve was low key and fun! the highlight was definitely when rachel and i got to skype with amanda. it was as close to us all being in the same room as we can get right now!
4. shopping - i am so thankful to have a job that allows me to be able to buy noit only the things i need, but some of the things i want.
5. dunkin donuts french vanilla coffee - it's better when i brew it at home and sooooo delicious. unless we're talking iced coffee... then it has to come from a dunk. haven't mastered that yet.
6. a new year! - i love that this is not only a new year, but a new decade. for some reason, i have so much hope for things to start moving forward in my life this year. i started a post about the year in review and looking ahead to 2010, but i think when i get a chance i'm going to write about the things i'm looking to do in 2010, and some of my resolutions.... so you all can hold me to them!
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