{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!!!

{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.