{I'm Back...}

Geez. It’s been so long since I last updated this blog. Much has changed in my life since…ummm, June.

After moving multiple times this summer, I am finally “at home” living with my cousin, her husband, and their adorable baby girl. It has been great and I am so thankful for their hospitality and generosity. I have my own little pink room (which will one day be Annie’s) and bathroom. Since my cousin is more like a sister, and I’ve known her hubby since freshman year at Auburn, it has been easy and fun living with them. I love getting to see them in the role of parents and learning from their example. You can see their adorable family blog and pictures here: http://abbasgirlandthefamily.blogspot.com/

The school year is back in full swing. I am in a 2^nd grade classroom this year, co-teaching with a wonderful teacher/mentor. We have 24 little darlings that occasionally make me want to pull my hair out. They are a talkative bunch! Very talkative. Trying to get them to listen, learn, read, follow directions, etc. is more difficult than pulling teeth. Literally! Some of the students have allowed me to try pulling their teeth. January is calling my name because our class will split and we will each only have 12 students. Yayyy! We have made the official decision of who gets whom, so for the next couple of months I can mentally prepare for the challenges that will certainly come my way. Just to clarify, I love teaching. I love children. I especially love these children!! They are fun, energetic, hilarious, kind-hearted, and pretty darn cute! This year, however, has been difficult. This group of kids has been far more difficult than I imagined. I thought moving from 4-year-olds to 7 & 8-year-olds would mean more independence and maturity. Not really the case. I daily question whether or not I am in the right career. Luckily, God (in His amazing plan) brought me to the teaching profession and Cornerstone in a way that I cannot question. He prepared my path in a way that makes it impossible to question the fact that I am where He wants me to be. So…I am enjoying (sometimes complaining about) the fun and busy time of preparing my classroom and getting ready to take on the responsibility of educating 12 young children. Pray for them and pray for me!

More updates to come...maybe. Check back soon.

Mastering the Art of Free Time

I had high hopes for the summer. I thought I would have so much free time and finish everything on my list. I thought I would use a lot of my time to make things and get a head start on Christmas gift making (I’m on a tight budget and “gifts” is a killer!). I know it’s still early, but so far I feel like I’ve had little free time. UNTIL…

I’ve actually had a little bit over the last week and a half! While last week was partly spent preparing for a weekend trip and the gifts it included (2 Father’s Day and 2 birthdays), this week is being spent relaxing! I am still working three days a week, but that leaves two week days for errand running, exercising, cooking, crafting, puzzle-smithing, or just vegging out. I’ve experimented with a few recipes…some successful and others not at all. I also got to make my grandmother’s birthday gift, which I think turned out pretty well considering it was my first try using a grapevine wreath AND incorporating cotton bolls. If you’re wondering why I put bolls of cotton in a wreath, I have two very good reasons. One: my dad used to be a cotton farmer, so the plant is special to my family, and two: I LOVE cotton. I love the memories of trumping cotton as a kid, the feel of cotton (esp in the form of a comfy tee), the look of cotton growing in a field, Cotton commercials, cotton used in floral arrangements, and what cotton represents (a simple natural resource, grown in the USA, used to make clothes for people all over the world). Anyway, I think it turned out pretty…

I like the simplicity of the colors and incorporating different fabrics, like burlap. So, what do ya think? Honestly. I’ve considered making these to sell, but I want to know if people would actually buy them…or even want them! I’d love your feedback.

Also, I'm thinking of trying my hand at embroidery. Let me know if you have any advice, warnings, or resources to begin.

Thanks all! Have a great weekend!!

-Stephanie

{Catching Up}

I have been a horrible blogger lately and done a poor job documenting my life! This is my attempt to catch up.

Here are a few pictures to catch you up on the end of school at Cornerstone...

Field Day

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Sean and Joshua, K4 Celebration

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End of the year class party at Railroad Park

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And some pictures of my trip to Florence to visit my dad…

Dad’s Garden

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Lunch on the Tennessee River

{Summer Job}

I thought working half-days at a local church pre-school would be a fun, relaxing way to earn money over the summer. Wrong. Two-year-olds are a handful! I won’t go in to all the details, but I will just say my first day included cleaning “#2” off hands, floors, and other surfaces. This coming from a child whose father said, “We’ve been working on potty training. She seems to have it, but I put a pull-up on her just to be safe.” This same parent wrote on the information sheet that he would love for her to learn potty training this summer. I’m not sure I get paid enough to handle that responsibility. Not at all. No, sir. Not gonna happen! I love all kids, but I don’t like this one very much. Awful, I know. Just being honest.

A plus side to this whole experience has been the confirmation of what my calling and passion is. I truly love and prefer teaching children with different backgrounds than myself. I miss students asking to “use it” and telling me someone “wasted their milk.” This summer job might not be enjoyable and something I look forward to, like Cornerstone, BUT it has me ready to begin the next school year! And I learned a valuable lesson: don’t get a summer job that includes working with kids. Next summer I may be working at Jack’s (the only fast food restaurant I can think of that children don’t really frequent), but I will make a point to separate myself from little people (except Annie, of course). Sometime you just need a break from kids. Apparently even your own since these parents can’t possibly achieve much in the 4 hours we have them, besides regaining their sanity. Anyway, enough from me. It’s gonna be a good summer, regardless of my day job.

{It's been too long}

I know, I know. Two weeks!!!! Ridiculous. In my defense it has been a crazy, hectic two weeks. Last week was the last week of school, which included lots of tiring days of crazy children, field day (exhausting!!), and cleaning the classroom. On top of that I was packing my apartment to move out by the end of the month…and I have accumulated many things in my 26 years. While it was super busy, it was also two of the best weeks of my life! God keeps amazing me with His blessings and provision. He always seems to provide in an unexpected way that I’m not praying about or even considering an option. With that said…

I got a job at Cornerstone!!!!!! Woot, woot!!! My plan for next school year was a huge question mark that was causing a little stress and A LOT of dependence on God. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a dozen times…we serve a powerful, good, perfect, and gracious God. I knew that whatever my future held would be sweet, but this was out of my scope of imagination. Which, I’ve learned, is usually how He works.

Other than that I’ve been packing, moving, and trying to fit my belongings in storage and a friends room. I feel like I’m living out of a cardboard box (okay, maybe I’m exaggerating) so give me a little slack this summer with cards, gift-wrapping, etc. I’m trying to make do.

Wedding season is in full force, so I’ve enjoyed saving money in my food and entertainment budget! Seeing friends join together in life has been pretty cool too, I guess. (kidding). It’s been great!! It has been another way to see God exalted and hear of the great love He has for His church.

I start my summer job tomorrow, which I am not exactly looking forward to. Not that I think it’s going to be a bad gig, I just don’t feel like I’ve had enough of a break. I’m teaching pre-school from 8:30-1:30 everyday. Not a bad schedule, and maybe the structure will give me diligence to spend my free time on worthy things rather than wasteful ones. We’ll see.

Again, my apologies for the long break in writing. It’s been frustrating that I haven’t found time to sit down and type, but hopefully this summer will allow me lots of free time to do the things I love best. I hope you are having a great summer (so, it’s technically spring but whatev) and finding ways to stay cool in this scorching heat!!!

Rebecca Black - Friday (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Woke up with this song in my head. Geez...it's gonna be a l.o.n.g. day.

{The Character of Our Creator}

I am a slightly inconsistent person. What I mean by that is I start many things and finish only some. I don’t really like this about my personality and often attempt to better myself in this regard. The best example I can think of is a gift I began for a friend for Christmas of 2009 that I have yet to complete! Sheesh! One of my goals for the summer is to finish the bag (right, Honey!?).

Another area I am inconsistent in is my quiet time/Bible study. I never can find a study I enjoy doing on my own so end up playing Bible roulette with no consistent theme or study. It’s a little frustrating. Well, about a month ago I came across a devotional guide given to me in 2008 that I never began. I decided to give it a shot. While it’s only been three weeks, I’m still going strong…which is kinda a big deal for me. Week one began with the creation story and at first I almost skipped it, thinking I knew the story well enough and had nothing else to learn from it. But, I decided if I’m gonna begin a new study, I’m gonna do it right. I started in Genesis 1, but decided to do the scripture reading from my new ESV Bible instead of the NIV I’ve always used. Well, as usual, God used an old passage to speak truth to me in a new way. The verses read:

“To the woman he said,

 "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
 in pain you shall bring forth children.
 Your desire shall be for your husband,
 and he shall rule over you." And to Adam he said,
 "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
 and have eaten of the tree
 of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,'
 cursed is the ground because of you;
 in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
 and you shall eat the plants of the field.
 By the sweat of your face
 you shall eat bread,
 till you return to the ground,
 for out of it you were taken;
 for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.” Genesis 3:16-20 ESV

Adam and Eve did wrong. They sinned against God and were given consequences for their sin. What I never noticed before was the last verse I included, “And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.” He blessed them! In the midst of their sin, He didn’t withhold His provision and love. That’s not to say they did not experience the consequences of sin, but at the same moment they were allowed to experience His blessings. How completely opposite is this from the way we discipline?! In my experience “blessing” is definitely withheld if expected behavior is not achieved. Not that I think we should reward bad behavior. I do think, however, there is something to be learned about the character of our Creator in these verses. It has taken me weeks to put this in writing because I am still mulling over it in my head. One thing I have most definitely figured out is that He is good all the time. There will be consequences for my sin, but His love for me does not change. He does not punish me as the world punishes me. I do not have to be perfect to experience His blessings and presence in my life.

“The Lord is merciful and gracious,
 slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
 He will not always chide, 
nor will he keep his anger forever.
 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
 nor repay us according to our iniquities.
 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
 so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
 as far as the east is from the west,
 so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
 As a father shows compassion to his children, 
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
 For he knows our frame; 
he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:8-14

{Happy Blogiversary}

It’s been one year since I started this blog. You can read my initial post and reasons for starting the blog if you click on the following link: http://a-life-with-purpose.blogspot.com/2010/05/im-blogger.html

It’s incredible to look back on the year and see all the wonderful and unexpected things that happened. I originally thought I would be graduating this month, but since I got the job at Cornerstone I had to change my class schedule and push back my graduation…something I was more than willing to do! Even though I have questioned that decision once or twice, I know God led me to Cornerstone. No matter what may or may not happen in the coming months regarding my student-teaching requirement I am confident in His plan for me. Other than that, I have found and joined a church, learned so much about myself, gotten to know the character of my Creator a little more, and learned to rely more fully on His perfect, yet perplexing, ways. Hopefully my 27^th year of life will be as challenging, fulfilling, and joyful as the last.

{New Design}

Yes, you’ve got the right blog, but as you can see it looks a little different. Hopefully this will be the last time in a long time I change my blog design. It’s kinda addicting though! I am not a computer aficionado AT ALL, but I love trying to figure out html coding in order to get a cuter, more personalized blog. I chose something pretty neutral in color so that maybe I won’t get sick of this design. PLUS, I love white, gray, beige, lace, and anything else “girly-romantic”. Anyway, my next goal is to figure out how to get a cute font for the word headings on my blog. Somehow I have to have another website ‘host’ the font and coding, blah, blah, blah. I don’t have the patience for that now, but hopefully soon it will have a font other than courier. I also went back to my old header wording. Tomorrow is my one-year blogiversary so I wanted to go back to the original title and subtitle. :) If you know how to do the font change I would love to hear from ya! Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

{A Great Night}

No Monday Must-Have this week (or last for that matter), but I did promise a friend a special post. I mentioned that Friday night a friend of mine got married. Well, the wedding was beautiful. The decorations, the bride, the weather, the location…all wonderful! But, the most wonderful part of the evening was being able to reflect on God’s goodness. I was surrounded by the first group of friends I met after moving to Birmingham. They helped me get past a really hard time in my life and I grew so much in my faith with them and partly because of them. That group has changed and evolved so much over the last several years, but it’s still great when we can all gather together. Many of these people have gotten married and had children…it’s crazy to think how quickly God can work. Others, including myself, have found God’s calling for our professional lives and are truly enjoying a job that doesn’t feel like work. It brings me so much joy to see people I love happy. God is so good! Looking back over the last several years I am reminded again of His provision, grace, and faithfulness. We serve a mighty God, for whom nothing is impossible!!

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, 
for his compassions never fail. 
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22, 23

Here is a picture taken at the wedding of two of my favorite dudes. This is for you, Josh… :)

{YES (wo)MAN}

This past week has been so incredible!! I’ve gotten to meet new people, catch up with friends I haven’t seen in a while, and actually enjoy some free time. Since I have been saying “no” for the past several months to everything asked of me, I decided to say “yes” for a week. I’ve never actually seen the entire film Yes Man, but the gist of the movie seems to be that he needs to start taking risks and saying yes when people ask him to do something. I never thought a Jim Carrey movie would inspire me in life…but maybe it did. I didn’t tell anyone I was doing this that way I couldn’t be taken advantage of, and luckily no one asked me to do anything outlandish. It was an incredibly fun week for the mere fact that UAB was not involved!! Here’s what I did (not including working and basic boring errand running and the like):

Monday: Had “family dinner” and conversation with friends and met lots of new folks as well.

Tuesday: Got to help provide and eat dinner at the YWCA, meet new people, and pray with a family I’d just met. A-mazing!

Wednesday: Went running for the first time in a long time at the T Shak, got free food, then had some overdue quality time with a friend.

Thursday: Went to hear Matt Wertz and Ben Rector at a local venue then went to Waffle House after. It was an awesome night of music, friends and laughing till my stomach was cramping. BTW…since when does Waffle House accept anything but cash?!?

Friday: I went to the wedding of one of the first friends I had in Birmingham. It was great to reconnect with friends I hadn’t seen in a while! More to come on this later…it gets it’s own posting.

I’m definitely gonna try to say “yes” a little more often! I may not have gotten much sleep, but I definitely had a blast. If you are like me and say “no” a little too much you should follow in Jim Carrey’s steps too. No doubt you will have more fun!!!

{A Good Feeling}

I didn’t think I would ever finish…and I have!! I took my last final exam. {sigh}. What a great feeling!! Now all I lack is my internship and I will graduate with a master’s degree in elementary education. I’m looking forward to December 17, 2011. Now instead of writing reflection papers, tutoring papers and endless lesson plans I can catch up on reading!! Under “currently reading” I have two books that I have been trying to get through for literally 3 months!! Ridiculous! What’s on my reading list, you ask? Here it is…

• Radical by David Platt
• So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore
• Leaving by Karen Kingsbury
• Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Any more suggestions??

I also plan to start crafting again! Yay! I extended my use of felt rosettes from wreaths to gift-wrapping decoration AND learned how to make fabric flowers too (see pics below). It’s so easy and offers more possibilities since there are endless fabric options.

Felt Flowers hot-glued to packages

Fabric Flower…not sure what for yet

I also got lots of random sweaters and tops from my mom when she cleaned out her closet and plan to make something cute! Stay tuned…

{Storms in Alabama}

Yesterday morning I awoke around 5:15 to the sound of tornado sirens. I lay in bed for a while trying to figure out what the sound was. When the second siren sounded (that’s a tongue twister!) I finally got out of bed and checked my computer for a weather alert. I had about 30 minutes till the storm was supposed to reach me so I decided to hop in the shower. When I got out I checked the weather again…still nothing seemed alarming. Birmingham had been experiencing this kind of weather weekly for a month now. A few minutes later the wind was howling and rain was coming down. The lights flickered a bit then went completely out. I stayed in my bathroom (being the most interior room in my apartment) and used the light from my phone to put some makeup on and get ready for work. Several minutes later, when it seemed everything had passed, I left for work with wet hair, wrinkled clothes, and no caffeine. For the sake of my co-workers and students I tried to find out a Starbucks. Tried the one in Cahaba Heights…road was blocked. I drove towards the school and stopped at the Starbucks in Crestwood before going to school. Everything seemed fine! Little did I know a “straight line wind gust” swept through Cahaba Heights and my neighborhood earlier that morning.

School let out early and not wanting to go home I went to my friend’s house who lives in Cahaba Heights. After a few failed attempts I finally figured out a route that would get me into the neighborhood. The damage and debris was incredible…like nothing I’d ever witnessed. My words can’t do justice to the destruction in the area and unfortunately I didn’t take pictures of it. My friend’s house had no damage to the structure but there were several trees down in the yard, one of which fell only feet from her window.

Despite the awful weather my friends and I actually had a fun day. Since the power was out we hung out on the front porch, swinging, talking, laughing…enjoying no time constraints or schedules. We got hungry so decided to venture out and see what was opened. We first went to Publix (that was operating on back-up power) and picked up some Blue Moon, chips, salsa and m&m’s. We finally found Baha Burger at the Colonnade to be open so picked up some burgers and went back to get ready for the next storm coming. We made a pallet of blankets, used a large bucket for a drink table, a Coleman lantern for light, and played Catch Phrase (my fave!) in the basement. It was a blast!! Then we topped of the night with a little puzzle-smithing…a word we created to describe the art of working a puzzle.

Camping out in the basement

Rachel, Taylor, Wesley, Heather, Eric

Puzzle-smithing

Me, Heather, Rachel

Then today I saw all the devastation the storm caused all across the south. It’s depressing! It’s eerie. It makes me feel guilty for having electricity and all the amenities it provides. It made me think though…I feel guilty today for people down the street, but what about every day for people everywhere!?! This is nothing compared to the hardships people face everyday, all over the world and even right here in Birmingham. I don’t have any answers or enlightening ideas, but it humbled me a bit.

{Little Things That Make Me Happy in a Big Way}

{::} The smell of jasmine, honeysuckle, and fresh-cut grass

{::} Climbing in a bed with fresh, clean sheets

{::} My students telling me they love me

{::} Seeing an elderly couple walking and holding hands

{::} Getting good old-fashioned snail mail

{::} A clean and neat house

{::} When people wave a “thank you” for letting them merge

{::} Dancing

{::} Finding a new favorite song

{::} Wild flowers growing along the road

{::} Long talks with good friends

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." -Robert Brault

I would love to hear some of the little things that make you happy...

{Monday Must-Haves}

Today’s Must-Have is something I both love and hate. My workout routine was always walk 30 minutes and run intermittently throughout. Then I started running more. THEN…I started doing 30-Day Shred by Jillian Michaels (I actually have another name for her, but it’s not too nice so I won’t share that). I’m addicted! Not to the workout necessarily, but to the results I’ve seen. It’s only a twenty-minute workout, but it incorporates weights, cardio and abs. I never realized how beneficial it could be to include weights in my workout routine. I always thought it would make me bulk up…but nope! It has slimmed me and I haven’t even changed what I eat, although I have tried to incorporate a little more protein in my diet since I don’t eat much meat. The video only cost about $10 at target and you will need some hand weights (which you can also get at target). Some people do 8 pounds, but I’m a weakling so I stick with 5’s. Also, if you decide to get it, don’t feel like you have to stick firmly to each video in its entirety. Try each one and see which moves you like. I like to do Level 2 but switch up the last round of weights since one of the moves isn’t comfortable for me. Okay, enough of that. I sound like I should be on an infomercial. Just get it. Try it. You’ll love it.

{10 Things You May Not Know About Me}

1) I wanted to go to the University of Texas but knew out-of-state tuition wouldn’t be an option.

2) I love the NBA and look forward to the playoffs every year because I know there will ALWAYS be a game on.

3) I love to craft.

4) I’ve never had chicken pox.

5) I turn the light switch on and off 10 times before entering a room (okay, just kidding about this one).

6) I backpacked Europe for one month in college with only four outfits and two pairs of shoes.

7) I want to own chickens one day so I can have fresh eggs every morning (with peanut butter, of course).

8) I procrastinate…bad. I should be writing a paper right now.

9) I want a tattoo but am too scared I will regret it.

10) My favorite “dessert” is rice crispy treats, and I actually prefer the store bought kind over homemade.

{Random Thoughts}

{*} God you are good! “And though it’s pouring down,
 I see You through the clouds,
 Shining on my face.”

{*} One more week, one more week, one more week….

{*} I look like a cat…really?? Thanks Destiny.

{*} Jefferson County Department of Transportation: You will be getting a bill from me, which will include tire alignment and a new transmission since mine fell out when I hit a pothole on 1^st Ave N.

{*} I love hearing “teacher, teacher” in Walmart and turning around to see a Cornerstone student.

{*} I love my job and the people I work with.

{*} One.day.at.a.time.

{*} Night classes: I loathe you.

Okay, enough of my random thoughts from a busy day. I should be typing a paper!

{Monday Must-Haves}

As I was visiting family in Charlotte a couple of years ago, my life was forever changed (I’m being a bit facetious). My aunt, Regina, and cousin, Rebecca, introduced me to a little shop called L’Occitane. My skin, hair, and olfaction haven’t been the same since. They make the most incredible skin and hair care products that make everything softer, prettier, healthier, and smell sooooo good. Well, I began buying several of their products and I really could tell a difference between these and the “cheap stuff” I was previously using. I was hooked. Then…I went from part-time work to full-time teaching and took a pay cut (yes, you read that right!). Paying $20 for face wash seemed frivolous and I thought I could make due without. I spent two weeks washing my face with whatever I could find, bar soap, shampoo, etc. I paid for it. When my face began breaking out so did my pocketbook. I bought my beloved face wash and I don’t feel bad about it one bit. It’s awesome and that’s why it’s today’s “Must-Have.”

{My Race}

A week ago I ran in my second half-marathon…which, should really be considered my first since it is the first one I actually trained for. It was so much fun!! The days leading up to it were spent wondering why in the heck I actually signed up (and PAID!!) to put myself through this. The Friday before Sunday’s race the “lovely” southern humidity decided to join us. 89% to be exact. I checked the weather on my phone the second I finished the race because I knew it had to be something ridiculous. Other than that, the race was great. I was feeling wonderful until I got to mile 9. At that point I had to really push myself to continue running. I wanted nothing more than to walk to the finish line, but I knew I would regret that decision, so I pushed on, allowing myself to walk for 30 seconds every time I passed a mile marker. Of course, when I got to mile 12, I didn’t want to walk! I think that was probably my fastest mile because I just wanted to finish…sit down…not feel nauseated. It probably doesn’t sound like it, but it really was a great race that left me wanting to do more! I had no injuries, and left the race feeling pretty good, other than being dehydrated, of course. It was a great experience and I’m excited about training for a full marathon…although I may wait a while.

My friend, Tomi, and I after the race

p.s. My finish time was 2:06:37...not my goal, but not too bad.

{Monday Must-Haves}

My teacher tote. I don’t know what I would do without it! It is a great bag for carrying heavy and large items, and it even has pockets around the inside for organization. It’s sturdy. It’s well made. It’s cute. It’s perfect really. Lands End and LL Bean make them, but only Lands End has the inside pockets (that was the case when I got mine, at least). They also come in a variety of sizes, colors, and fabrics.

I will post soon about my run…still recovering though.

{Race}

It’s 4:30 in the morning and I can’t sleep, which is not like me at all. I usually fall asleep the second my head hits the pillow and wouldn’t wake up for an earthquake (seriously, I slept through a small one years ago). Unfortunately, this sleepless night is caused by allergy/decongestant medicine. I have a horrible reaction to pseudoephedrine every single time I take it…yet I persist in taking it. Apparently it is the only effective drug of its kind (if you have recommendations for others, I would LOVE to hear it!). Moving on…

I am leaving for Pensacola after school gets out today to run in the Gulf Coast Half Marathon, and I couldn’t be more nervous. I have run in a half marathon race before, but I did not train, set goals, or enjoy the race. One of my goals before I turn 30 is to run a marathon, so I figured I better keep at this whole running thing. This time around I actually trained. I pushed myself in my long runs, knowing it would benefit me in the actual race. For the last two weeks, however, I have not been running as often as I should due to weather and sinus congestion (hence my consumption of evil meds). I am worried it is going to effect my finishing time. It’s a silly thing to care about, but I worked so hard to prepare for this and I don’t want to fail. My time goal is 2 hours and due to lack of technological equipment, I don’t know how feasible this is for me. Eek. I have my ipod playlist ready to go with music cues at 30-minute increments so I can gauge my progress. I should probably invest in one of those handy wristwatch things…or figure out the “i map my run” app on my phone.

I WILL be updating my blog about the run. Maybe if I have to post my finish time to the World Wide Web it will give me more incentive to move my feet. Maybe. Hopefully.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and gets to enjoy the fantastic weather we are having! I love days (and nights!) like these!

{Monday Must-Haves}

This week’s must-have is last week’s purchase…the new iPhone 4. I’m not sure what I did before it! It has helped me navigate my way around town, track my runs, get weather, sports, or news updates, and take way better pictures than my actual camera. It is definitely the best purchase I’ve made in a while. If it is time for you to get a new phone, I recommend you take the plunge. You won’t regret it. I’m currently in the process of choosing a name for it (ridiculous? Maybe.), so if you have any suggestions let me hear ‘em. Right now I’m toying with “Boo,” since that is what I’ve always wanted to name a dog. Since I can’t have an actual pet, I’ll just treat my phone as such. Although, I’m sure I could find an app along those lines.

{My Wonderful Weekend}

What a glorious weekend!!! After a week of rain and dreary days it was exactly what I needed. I enjoyed good alone time catching up from a busy week and preparing for the next. While my mom, aunts, and cousin got to enjoy a weekend at the beach, I stayed in the ‘ham and got a little sun of my own. Saturday morning I got up early and went to one my student’s T-ball games…

Then spent the afternoon helping paint faces at my church’s spring festival. It was such a great day! I wish I had a picture of it, but the only one I took turned out really dark. Let’s just say some of those girls had some dang cute cupcakes, butterflies, and flowers painted on them.

Sunday was a great day spent with my dad. We just spent the day running errands around town, hanging out, and going to church. As you can see, he found a really cute hat at Mountain High…

I hope your weekend was grand!

{Prayer}

{sigh} It’s been a long, crazy, busy, fun, educational, and exciting week.

To make a really long story short(er), I will just hit the high points. As you probably know, I am a K4 assistant at a school from 7:30-3:30 everyday. What you may not know is that I am also in graduate school for elementary education and have class Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights from 5:30-8. I am training for a half-marathon so I try to run in between work and school OR run any errands that need to be done. I began going to a small group with my church on Thursday nights, so that means my weekends are filled with catching up on things from the week. I’m busy…and I love it.

This week has seemed really busy because I’ve had so much on my mind. I met with the woman responsible for student teaching placements this week and was led to believe I may be placed at Phillips Academy. Of course, ideally, I would love Cornerstone to offer me a job and I would fulfill my student teaching requirement while actually being a teacher in my own classroom. If that doesn’t happen (and it probably won’t), I would love to be placed in a Birmingham city school with a successful teacher. It is going to be a difficult semester financially, so I am preparing to make the best of it. I do not get paid for my student teaching, still have to pay tuition, and am discouraged from having a side job (which I plan to do anyway). Then on Wednesday it really hit me…not only am I leaving Cornerstone, but I’m leaving these kids that (as strange as it sounds) have become a part of my life. I LOVE going to work every morning and seeing those children. Truly. Sometimes they make me want to pull my hair out or scream at the top of my lungs…but I still love them so much. I better get used to the fact that I have to say goodbye to children after a year. I suppose it’s just a part of teaching.

Anyway, I say all this to ask for prayers. My life is a big “?” after May. Right now, nothing is certain. I am trusting God will reveal it to me in His perfect timing and am using this as an opportunity to grow in faith. Please pray that I am being diligent in seeking out opportunities rather than idly waiting, but that I am not trying to control things and do them by my own power or means. Thank you all. Much love.

p.s. Coming soon: pictures of my latest crafting endeavors that are for sale. That’s right, you can own a Stephanie Pruitt original...and help out a broke college student.

{Monday Must-Haves}

I love my Camelbak. I take it with me everywhere!! It is so handy with its attachment capabilities on the top. It is spill-proof, easy to drink from, and you don’t have to turn it up to drink! And let’s face it, it’s just fun to drink out of. I drink so much more water than I used to. My old Camelbak didn’t have the handy straw and bite valve, so I had to unscrew the top every time I wanted a drink. Needless to say, this one is much more convenient. Also, I have a tendency to crunch ice (which people find irritating) so now I don’t have the temptation to do that. Just another added utility I guess. AND they just came out with a new one that has a built in filtration system! So, you can filtrate your tap water on the go. Pretty nifty…although I don’t mind drinking tap water so it’s not worth the added cost. Anyway, I got one for my mom for Christmas and she loves it too! They’re great and make a good gift for under $15.

{Childlike Faith}

As you probably know, I am a K4 teacher’s assistant at Cornerstone School. I have the privilege of spending my days with 18 incredible children and one amazing teacher, who I learn from daily. I also have the honor of teaching them about the Bible. This week, as I was briefly telling them about the season of Lent (to set the stage for the fast approaching Easter holiday), I realized a couple of things. First, I realized how numb I have become to the stories and miracles of Jesus’ life. Second, I had a strong desire to have them understand these are not just “stories.”

It is a blessing to grow up in a Christian family, but it can also be a curse if we become so familiar with the Bible that we see it as fiction…rather than actual events that occurred. It’s hard for me, as an adult, to put myself in another’s shoes to understand customs and culture from another time, and studies show that level of thinking isn’t attained in most children until the age of 9 or 10. This caused me to question if my teaching them these stories would do more harm than good, as if I am desensitizing them to the life of Jesus. THEN I was reminded that it isn’t logical anyway. It’s not easy to believe these stories. They’re incredible miracles that require faith to believe. And who better to have faith than these children? When I told them we celebrate Easter because Jesus died and then became alive again, you should have seen the look on their faces! It was one of shock, amazement, and probably a little confusion…but not disbelief. They believed it! No questions asked…literally. Teaching children these stories has been an incredible inspiration and faith builder for me. We are called to have faith like these children. Mark 10:15 actually says, “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I like to over-think things. However, faith is not about having all the facts and making sense of things in your head. It’s about simply believing that Jesus is who He said He was. I believe He was…and is. So, when I begin to question everything, I just need to stop and rest in that truth.

{Monday Must-Haves}

I am starting a new thing, and I’m calling it “Monday Must-Haves”. Every Monday I will share something I am passionate about and that makes life easier or more enjoyable for me. Maybe you will find new ideas for you, or maybe you can just share in my appreciation for these items.

* * * * * * * * * *

First up (drum roll, please) is my main man, Tony. Tony Chachere’s that is. I LOVE him…I mean, it. Tonys can be used on just about anything!! Pizza, eggs, soup, pasta, vegetables, sandwiches, chicken, fish. I could go on and on. My favorite thing to do is to slice sweet potatoes, place on baking sheet covered with parchment paper, sprinkle a little Tonys and garlic salt, and bake on 400 for about 12-15 minutes. It’s cheap, quick, easy clean up, and SOOO good!

Tonys should be a staple in every kitchen. It’s about $1.50 at Wal-Mart for a container large enough to last years. You don’t have an excuse NOT to own it. I actually bought a friend some as a St. Patrick’s Day present because she didn’t have any. I guess you could say I’m a fan. Anyway, buy it. You won’t be sorry. And no, I am not getting paid by the makers to write this…although I think I should as much as I endorse it.

{Waiting for Superman}

I just watched the documentary “Waiting for Superman”, which is about the education system in America. It is such an emotional, disheartening, motivating, depressing, and inspiring film. After watching it I felt helpless to do anything about it, but motivated to try…and furious at our messed up politics. At least some states have charter schools! Alabama doesn’t even that option. Thank God for schools like Cornerstone (and I’m not just saying that because I work there). I applaud people, like Geoffrey Canada, who have the time, energy, influence, and know-how to create schools like he did. I wish there were a million more like him.

I have seen (somewhat) the disadvantage students have in lower-income families/areas, which is why I have such a desire to teach those kids. The film, however, neglected one very important aspect of why so many students are unsuccessful, which is a lack of support from home. The parents/guardians of the children who are accepted into charter schools, private schools, etc., care enough to apply! So many parents don’t even care enough to take their kids to school regularly! How do we reach those kids?? How do we change their future?? They are the ones who really suffer in the long run. They are probably the ones who drop out or end up in jail. Obviously, this is not research based…it’s simply my opinion based on my limited experience. But it does make sense. Teachers are important, don’t me wrong, but they are not the only important factor in determining a child’s success in life. Children have a number of teachers over the years, and they will not all be “teacher of the year” material, but parents have the ability to supplement their child’s learning. There are innumerable studies that have been done to prove children from stable and involved families have a higher rate of success. Just pick a book by James Dobson and you will have all the statistics you need. I realize money, divorce and other aspects play into this, but simply taking interest in a child’s life is monumental.

My point is…how do we reach the unreached? How do we truly serve the ones who NEED it?? I definitely don’t know, but I do know where I would start. I would do away with tenure!!! As a teacher, I would rather have the extra incentive to do my job well. As a future parent (one day), I don’t want my child to have a veteran teacher collecting a paycheck who doesn’t do their job. AND as an American citizen, I want our education system to prepare individuals for the responsibilities of life…and truly value the idea of learning!

I will get off my soapbox now. Thanks for listening. If you disagree with what I’ve said, I’m sorry. If you have anything to add, please comment.

{Much Needed Time Off}

Spring break has been amazing thus far! I enjoyed 3 days of bliss on the most beautiful beach (pictured in previous post). The water was turquoise, the sand was silky, and the weather was perfect!! So perfect, that I didn’t even feel myself getting burnt. I’m still hurting three days later (sorry, Mom). I got to sleep in, read, run, eat a lot of yummy food, and just enjoy God’s beautiful creation!

After leaving the beach I got to spend a day hanging out with my cousin, her husband, and the cutest two-week-old I’ve ever seen (pictured below). They are such a precious family!

Annie

I returned to Birmingham and am enjoying a week no responsibilities. Last night was spent hanging out with friends at Jackson’s and tonight will be spent having a girl’s night eating Mexican. Hopefully the rest of the week will be filled with more social gatherings and I can make up for my lack of social life the past couple of months.

I think I’m really going to enjoy the work schedule of a teacher. By the way, I’m looking for a part-time job this summer in Birmingham, so if you know of something let me know! Right now I’m thinking Starbucks might be fun (and allow me to save money since I frequent it almost daily)!

Spring Break!

Just a quick update before I head out of town for Spring Break...

I will be leaving my computer behind with the hope of being able to relax and enjoy a vacation, but I didn’t want to leave my blog with my last update being so melancholy. I am looking forward to three days in the sun with some good books, my ipod, and my best friend. (Maybe I’ll even return with a tan.) So…goodbye Birmingham, with your cold weather, traffic, and busy people and hello 30A, with your sun, sand, and The Red Bar. I’ve missed you!

{Known}

As the dew falls on the blade

You have touched all this fragile frame

And as a mother knows her baby’s face

You know me, You know me

As the summer air within my chest

I have breathed You deep down into my breast

And as You know the hairs upon my head

Every thought and every word I’ve said

Every thought and every word I’ve said

Savior, You have known me as I am

Healer, You have known me as I was

As I will be in the morning, in the evening

You have known me, yeah, You know me

Oh, and as the exhilaration of autumn’s bite

Oh, You have brought these tired bones to brilliant life

And as the swallow knows, she knows the sky

This is how it is with You and I

Oh, this is how it is with You and I

From the fall of my heart to the resurrection of my soul

You know me, God, and You know my ways

In my rising and my sitting down

You see me as I am, oh, see me as I am

And as a lover knows his beloved’s heart

All the shapes and curves of her even in the dark

Oh, You have formed me in my inward parts

And You know me, You know me, yes

Savior, You, You have known me as I am

Oh, healer, You have known me as I was

As I will be in the morning, in the evening

You have known

I know you are probably tired of me posting lyrics to music, but others just seem to be able to verbalize my emotions better than I am able. Sorry. I love this song for many reasons, but I especially love it because it is a reminder to me that God knows me. He made me! He knows what I desire. He knows what I actually need now and what I just think I need, and everything will come to be in His perfect timing. I really just need to rest in that truth.

Perhaps one of my biggest struggles in life is trying to jump ahead to the next step instead of just being content with the here and now. I wish I took after my mother in that aspect. She truly grasps the idea of living in the present. She makes the most of everyday and never wishes her life away. I’m sad to say that sometimes I feel like my life hasn’t started yet because I’m not married or have a career or have children. The list of “nexts” could go on and on. Yes, life may be uncertain. Yes, life may not seem fair. And yes, life may be hard at times, but that’s just life. It’s not made to fulfill me. True fulfillment will only come when I am presented with the true desire of my heart…Heaven and being in the presence of my Creator. I wasn’t made for this life, which means none of it will satisfy. I know these things in my head, but I do wish they would truly resonate with me.

I want to fully trust that God will provide my every need. Why is that I can be so sure of this truth in some aspects of my life but not in others? Perhaps because I have seen Him faithful in those things; however, faith is not seeing but believing He can and will. I know I learned a song about this as a child based on Hebrews 11:1. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.” I am ashamed of what little faith I have as an adult.

That’s enough of my rambling though! Here are some of the scripture verses that give me encouragement:

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

”Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5

and my personal favorite…

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4