{Peace.Love.Music}

I am one of those people who always make New Year’s resolutions and rarely keep them. For some reason, year after year, I continue to make them…I’m just a list maker, I guess. This year one of my goals is to go to more concerts (they are not all so frivolous and self-centered) because I absolutely love live music, but I never want to spend the money. This year I decided to suck it up and spend money on experiences rather than things. My first concert of the year was about a week ago with my roommate (I guess I can call her that since her belongings still live with me). We saw Brad Paisley with Darius Rucker and Jerrod Niemann. They put on such a great show! Obviously, the headliner was Brad, but my favorite was Darius for sure! He sang a few of his Hootie songs and closed his set with "Purple Rain". It was IN-credible!

Kait and I at the concert.

A few days later my friend called me and said she was too sick to go to a concert and asked if I wanted her ticket. I didn’t know the artist, but I thought it might be fun. I am now one of Ben Rector’s biggest fans! His music is so much fun to listen to!!! He’s been my running companion for the past week while I’m training for a half marathon…more to come on that later though. So anyway, check out Ben Rector if you have time. You will love his music (if you are female). Also, check out the guy who opened for him, Steve Moakler. You will love him too (again, if you are female). Next up is Matt White…if it’s not sold out yet. I’m so glad Workplay didn’t go under. This is going to be a great spring for music AND I get to stick to at least one of my resolutions. Yay!

{Thank You}

Thank you all so much for the words of encouragement. Several of you have commented through the blog, facebook, email, or phone call and I want you to know how much I appreciate it. Seriously. Sometimes I wonder if anyone even reads my blog so your comments, prayers, and offers to let me live with you(!!!) are awesome!! You are the best family and friends! Even though it was a minor disappointment in the grand scheme of life, I believe I learned a valuable lesson. In my experience I always see the good come out of a “bad” (or so it seems) situation too late…or after the good has actually occurred. This time I made a point to name the good things that can come from having to student teach and decided to make the best of it. I am now genuinely excited about the next year and look forward to all that I am going to learn spiritually, professionally, and personally. I have taken an active role in organizing my student teaching placement and have spoken to my professors who are willing to help me. I want to student teach in a Birmingham city school but, as you could probably guess, am fearful of being placed under a “what not to do” teacher. I want this experience to be full of growth and “what to do” experiences. I know that God will be faithful. I know He will use my experience (no matter how it turns out) to His glory and benefit. I am so excited about the months to come…whatever happens. I am not clinging to these plans because I know that, they too, could change. I am, however, looking at the future with rose-colored glasses and am deciding to focus on the good. It may not seem ideal, but I don’t want to pretend to know what’s best for me. I will leave that responsibility in the hands of someone far more discerning.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts”, says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

Isaiah 55:8 NLT

What's Next?

I have so much other stuff I should be doing right now, but sometimes (for me, at least) I need to write how I feel in order to concentrate on a task. I have been going crazy the last several days. I’m an emotional wreck, actually, and sick to boot. I found out this week that my hopes of teaching in the school I currently work is pretty unlikely since I won’t be a certified teacher until December. This news made me begin to question everything I’ve been doing and the choices I made last September. If God didn’t want to keep me at Cornerstone then why did He give me this opportunity? I’m so frustrated. Part of me wants to question whether I made the right decision in taking the job and postponing my graduation. I’m trying to remind myself of how sure I felt last year, and even though I know deep down I made the right choice, it’s just…well, frustrating! No other word quite fits. I am reminding myself of how much I love my job, the kids I teach, and the people I work with. I learned more from this job in a week than I did in all of my education classes. It has also been a huge validation for me that I do feel called to teach in an urban setting. I’m not sure I would love my own children any more than I love these kids. With all of these pros I still feel very discouraged as I now try to “re-plan” the next year of my life. If I student teach in the fall, rather than get a job, how will I support myself? I can budget all I want, not shop, eat ramen noodles, and never do anything fun, but some costs are just necessary (i.e. food, gasoline, health insurance… starbucks). Seriously though, it was just a huge disappointment. I’ll get over it. I know God has a plan…it’s just hard to see it right now. “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.” Psalm 13:5,6

Happy 50th Birthday, Mom!!

My mother celebrated her 50^th birthday today!! I can’t believe she’s that old (just kidding, Mom)! To commemorate the event we had a surprise party for her last Saturday in Fairhope. My dad and grandparents took her shopping all day then to an early dinner. Local and out-of-town friends and family began showing up at 6:00 and my mom walked through the door right on schedule at 6:30. She had a look of shock on her face, and her hands were full of the things she had bought shopping that day. Needless to say…she was surprised! Mission accomplished! Guests enjoyed desserts of all varieties, including her favorite, a carrot cake from Edgars Bakery. Below are photos from the celebration. Unfortunately, I didn’t snap one of her opening her favorite gift from my dad…the Waterford Crystal Auburn National Championship Football. I guess you could say she’s kind of a fan. I love you, Mom!!

{Oh, and I made most of the decorations, so I included pictures of those too with a brief description of how I made them.}

The dining room turned party central

Yummy Carrot Cake from Edgar’s Bakery . Peanut butter cookies made by my sweet cousin . Centerpieces made of crepe paper twirled into rosettes then hot glued to a styrofoam ball, then set on top of glass canisters filled with jelly beans . “happy birthday” banner made of twine, burlap, felt, and clothespins.

Close up of the banner

Pennants made of cardboard and scrapbook paper, tied to a stick with twine and placed in a hurricane vase filled with jelly beans. “Happy Birthday” sign painted on scrap wood from a bulletin board I made a few weeks ago, with ribbon added to distract from the horrible paint job.

Me and the birthday girl!

I hope it was a great birthday and a great surprise, Mom! I can't think of a better person to celebrate. Hopefully we'll be celebrating your birthday in 50 more years!! I love you!

Sunday Hymn

I LOVE old hymns. I especially love when they have been revamped with a more contemporary sound. That was not the case this morning, but while sitting in church I scanned the hymnal for song lyrics that stuck out to me. This is what I found:

Open my eyes, that I may see

Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;


Place in my hands the wonderful key


That shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee,


Ready my God, Thy will to see,


Open my eyes, illumine me,


Spirit divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear


Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;


And while the wave notes fall on my ear,


Everything false will disappear.

Open my mouth, and let me bear,


Gladly the warm truth everywhere;


Open my heart and let me prepare


Love with Thy children thus to share.

-Open My Eyes That I May See, Clara Scott

I would love to own an old Methodist Hymnal, so if you know of someone that has one lying around…let me know! I plan on hitting up the local thrift stores. They always have stuff like that when I’m not looking for it, so maybe they still do. I hope you enjoy these words as much as I do. I love to think that no matter how long ago words were written (1895), the human heart has not changed. We still have the same prayers and desires because our God is still the same. He is unchanging, unwavering. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Kids Say the Darndest Things: Part 1

When I started my job at Cornerstone I said I was going to start a notebook of all the crazy things kids say. Guess what…I haven’t started it. Imagine that! Luckily I do remember a few comments from the last couple of weeks. Maybe they’re only funny to me because I know the personality of the child who said it, but maybe you’ll laugh as hard as I did (inside, of course). So here is the first edition of “Kids Say the Darndest Things!”

>I was bending over talking to a little girl and my hair was falling in my face. Obviously she starts playing with it and asks, “Ms. Pruitt, where did you get your hair?”

>A girl came and told me she couldn’t get toilet paper in the bathroom. I came to help her and it was, in fact, hard to pull out, so I finally got a handful and handed it to her and she said, “I’ve got to booboo. I’m gonna need more than that.” I almost doubled over in laughter at her bluntness!

>This is more of an action than a comment but still very funny. The kids were all lining up to leave Spanish class (their number is called in Spanish) and one of the quietest girly-girls in our class stands up, puts two fingers from each hand to her mouth and kisses them, then throws deuces. Then politely walks to line up, of course.

I still love my job and look forward to seeing my class every morning. It has its challenges, but it is experiences like these that make each day fun, eventful, and meaningful. So much has happened in the last six months, some good and some difficult changes, but I love where God has placed me and is using me. I’m excited to see what the next six months hold and know that wherever or whatever it is, it will all be in God’s hands and perfect plan.