Life Update

Two major things took place in May and while I'm late posting about them on here, hopefully you've already heard the news since I've been so excited!

First, Jason and I graduated from William Carey! We completed their Educational Leadership program and received our Specialist degrees. While it was a lot of work, it was fun getting to do it with my favorite person by my side. What a special experience for us and then even more so, getting to graduate side by side! It was so special and we are thankful for all of the kind congratulatory words. 

In addition to graduating, I was nominated and received the honor of being selected as certified staff of the month for the district for the month of May. It was the sweetest way to wrap up year 10 and my transition into my new position within the district. 

This has been the busiest spring semester but, there have been some really sweet moments here of late. Receiving this honor ended up causing a lot of reflecting for me as this year came to an end. 

As stated above, after 10 years in my classroom, I am moving into a new position next year. I will be the Behavior Specialist/Behavior Support Teacher for Pre-K through 8th grade. I am incredibly excited for what is to come and looking forward to stepping in to this new role! 

Even with the excitement, this still feels bittersweet! I’ve been reminiscing with Jason on all the things as we are nearing the end of the school year. While I’m still going to be in Pearl, Northside has been the best gift over the years. I met my husband here, I have made life long friends, I’ve furthered my education, completed my National Boards, and so much more. The Lord has used so many people and experiences to shape me through this building on Harle Street. 

And my sweet students. I’ve had many students walk into my classroom doors throughout my time at Northside and I can tell you something special about each one of them. They have made a lasting impression on me and I know I learned just as much from them as they did from me. They have shaped me and changed me in so many ways and I am thankful for each and every one of them! They are the best part of my job 💚

My Mom always reminds me to think about what The Lord has taught you through situations. This is one of the big ones. A decade of my life has been shaped and marked by things that have happened at Northside. The Lord has been so, so good and I am thankful for His faithfulness and provision through working in a place and with people and am children who I love so much!

We were all asked to attend the board meeting for recognition which was so fun to experience together!

I spent the last week of school writing little notes to a few people who made a lasting impact on me during my time at Northside and one of the things that I was reminded of was my very first day on the job. Our principal started our first staff meeting by reminding us "we work unto God and not unto man" (Colossians 3:23). I knew on my first day that Northside was special but, I could have never comprehended the depths of how it would impact me in my adult life. I am blessed to have had a job I love so, so incredibly much and I am forever thankful. 

packed up this room for the last time after 10 years--so, so bittersweet. 

Our last, last day together at Northside. 

If you know me at all, you know how much I love this place and have enjoyed my 10 years teaching here. While I’m staying in the Pearl District, I’ll miss working alongside my favorite person 

1 Year Better

 

Today marks 1 year. 

It’s funny to look back on my childhood and realize that it started much earlier than I thought. I have described myself as a “scaredy cat” as a child to many people. I didn’t like to spend the night out places, I didn’t like to do anything I didn’t understand, I was always nervous on the first days of school, I wanted to know how things worked and felt uneasy when they couldn’t be explained. I feel like I had a wonderful childhood and the most loving family. This was something that was simply there. There was not a rhyme or reason to it or any sort of big event that I can look back on and say, “Ah, that’s where this all started”. 

Things leveled out once I was middle school aged. I would spend the night places, try things I wasn’t sure I was going to be good at, and lived, what I would call, a normal life. Extracurriculars, church events, family time, and a lot of times with friends. But even still, there were seeds that would come up. If my parents didn’t answer the phone when I called I would immediately worry something was wrong, if I saw something frightening on the news I wouldn’t be able to get it out of my mind. Events and thoughts like that swarmed my mind all of my teenage and young adult life. 

We know that with each stage of life, there are situations and circumstances that you will likely experience. Think about learning to drive, going on first dates, making decisions about where to go to college, your first fender bender, friendship changes, all things that could cause nerves and anxiety. I had times with high anxiousness throughout high school and college but nothing that became all-consuming and I certainly wasn’t labeling it anxiety at that time. 

I always contributed it to my personality. I am a feeler. I am sympathetic and empathetic. I consider these traits gifts from The Lord because it makes me soften towards people and helps me with connection and understanding. There are times though, where it becomes overwhelming and I feel things to the point that they impact my thoughts and my subconscious without even realizing it. When something happens, I usually think about how it makes other people feel before I consider how it makes me feel. 

Fast forward to adulthood and there was a timeframe where it seemed like one thing after another, after another, after another started to happen. If you know me, then you know about (what I call) our “puppy woes” that happened a few years ago. Since then, I have decided those events are what made my anxiety reach its peak. A few years later, there was a medical emergency that happened with a friend that was incredibly frightening, a school incident that was difficult to navigate, and then the pandemic started. To say everything felt overwhelming is an understatement. 

It was only after all of these things happened that I even started to consider seeing my doctor to talk about getting on medication. I had come to the conclusion that this was something that I had and something that I felt internally and deeply. Looking back, I was finally putting a name to something that has been present since childhood.

I would talk with my Mom about it a good bit and it was hard to explain that I was not dwelling on these situations but that I would subconsciously think about them. I would wake up in the middle of the night and my first thought out of sleep was about something that was bothersome to me. It is an overwhelming feeling when you realize how little control you have over it when you’re literally asleep and these thoughts wake you out of sleep. 

I didn’t realize how much my anxiety was impacting me until it wasn’t. 

It took me two years of talking to family, talking to friends, researching, and trying other natural remedies before I decided to talk to my doctor about it. And this is the point of my post. It wasn’t shame that kept me from going because I felt like I was open when talking about my feelings and struggles. I saw nothing wrong with seeing a doctor to get on medication. I didn’t think I would be any “less” if I did that. I honestly don’t know what kept me from seeing her for so long. Maybe I thought that with time it would go away like it had in the past. I’m not sure and that’s something that I will reflect on and think about. But what I do know is that it’s okay. 

It’s okay that it took me a while. 

It’s okay that I had questions. 

It’s okay that I have those feelings of anxiety because to me, they are linked to my empathy and that’s something that is good—it’s something that makes me who I am. 

But, it’s also okay that I needed help. 

It’s okay that a medication makes my mind feel at ease and brings balance. 

It’s okay that I didn’t know to what degree my anxiety was impacting me until I felt what it was like for it not to be ever present. 

My hope is that this serves as an encouragement to you. Especially if you’re reading this and thinking it sounds all too familiar. I just wanted to share that a year later, I feel better. 

Merry COVID Christmas

Well, it's safe to say this Christmas break was one like no other as Jason and I both had COVID the first part of the week--and yes, this included Christmas Eve, Day, and a few following. It was a HUGE BUMMER but, our family and friends made it bearable and in some ways, it still felt like Christmas--even without being able to partake in our favorite things!

We had family members and friends dropping off food and treats left and right. 

Unfortunately, we both lost our smell and taste but, we were nourished and well taken care of! 

It's coming back, slowly but surely. 

As different as this Christmas holiday was, I want to remember it. 

I want to remember how we had to take it slow, had to rely on others, and were able to literally spend every second of it together. It was sweet, in it's own COVID way and I know I will never forget it. 

I think this was my first Christmas Eve Communion Service to ever miss (in person) and while it was sad--if it wasn't for quarantine in March, we would not have had this live stream service and so for that, I am thankful that we were still able to "be there" through streaming. 

Christmas Eve is when all of my family gets together and opens presents. So, we FaceTimed and got to see everyone open their gifts and they watched us open ours (that our family had so graciously dropped off earlier that day). 

As we've gotten older, our stockings are our surprise from my parents on Christmas morning. We never know what's going to be in there and it's always so much fun opening those and going through them together. Since we were quarantined this year, Mom boxed up our stockings and delivered them to the front door with a strict note to not open them until Christmas morning. It was a gesture that most definitely made it feel more like Christmas! We FaceTimed her and Dad while we went through them before the craziness of their day started. It was simple & sweet and very much appreciated. 

Since we couldn't see anyone, we were sent ALL THE CUTE PICTURES of everyone from their Christmas mornings. 

Bennett, stealing the show with that smile!

Blair said that his new sippy cup was his favorite gift--ha!

Then, later that day, we zoomed with our extended family that we usually travel to see during the holidays. 

It felt the same as we were all talking over one another and spent a good bit of the time laughing and smiling. 

We ended the day snuggled up on the couch,  FaceTiming with Jason's parents since our trip to go and see them was also delayed for the time being. 

All of that being said, know that Jason and I are on the mend and are looking forward to spending the last week of our Christmas break out of quarantine!

I'll end by sharing this excerpt from the Advent book I read this year. The book was so, so good--it was, "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" and I highly, highly recommend it. 

This one was from an entry written by Joni Eareckson Tada:

“On this side of eternity, Christmas is still a promise. Yes, the Savior has come, and with Him peace on earth, but the story is not finished. Yes, there is peace in our hearts, but we long for peace in our world. ⁣

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Every Christmas is still “a turning of the page” until Jesus returns. Every December 25 marks another year that draws us closer to the fulfillment of the ages, that’s draws us closer to home. ⁣

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When we realize that Jesus is the answer to our deepest longing, even Christmas longings, each Advent brings us closer to His glorious return to earth. When we see Him as He is, King of kings and Lord of lords, that will be “Christmas” indeed! ⁣

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Christmas is an invitation to a celebration yet to happen. If you’ve got a Christmas longing, you’re about to be satisfied, too. Just hold on and say with me...Maranatha! Come Lord!” ⁣

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Joni Eareckson Tada

Like I said, it was a Christmas like no other but, one thing is sure--the truth and meaning of Christmas, Jesus becoming a baby and coming to save us all from our sins, doesn't change...even when you have COVID and Praise God for that!

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Promise Keeper

I was walking to the office this morning with my mask on, without my usual “errand buddy” to limit the amount of people in the halls, and it was pouring down rain just seconds before. ⁣⁣⁣

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My teacher friends understand when I say this—it hits you at different times—how different this year is. Eating lunches in our classrooms, wearing face shields and masks, not getting to see our students smiling faces, having to plan virtual lessons, zones at recess—we’re working through a loss, honestly. ⁣⁣⁣

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This first week with kiddos has been incredibly different than years past but, it has been sweet. Even amongst the changes, there are threads of familiarity throughout the day and we press on & continue to invest in, love, care for & teach these children. ⁣⁣⁣

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You see, all of these changes and all of the unknowns, while difficult to navigate, haven’t changed our spirits. While today was dreary, The Lord so gently reminded me of His promises when I saw this rainbow. It reminded me of how as far back as when the first rainbow ever appeared (and even before), that He’s continued to be The Promise Keeper, The Protector, The Provider, and The Rock of Salvation for His children & that hasn’t changed just because the first week of school has. ⁣⁣

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This year, I’m choosing to look for the rainbows and clinging to His promises—and you know what, it could be the best year, yet. ⁣

"48 Days" COVID-19 School Ending

There's so much that I want to remember about this time. 

I keep asking myself, "how could I ever forget when... (insert unusual thing that's happened as a result of coronavirus)" 

But, I know there will come a time when (Lord willing) this will all be a faint memory for us all.

I've taken a 7 pictures just like this over the span of my teaching career. 

I've finished up 7 school years in "typical" fashion and been more than excited to begin my summer vacation. But, this one sat differently as I thought about wrapping up this...unique school year.

This was not the ending we had hoped for as we packed up our classroom this year. ⁣

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It felt detached and empty. ⁣

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If I’m being honest, this was the most difficult & strange school year I’ve had thus far in my career (before COVID-19 was even present) and as I navigated those days, the words of my sweet Mom came to the forefront of my mind, “What is The Lord trying to teach you through this?” I know that this year especially, there’s so, so much to unpack as I think about answering that question. ⁣

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We haven’t spent the full day with our students (in person) since March 6th, our Superhero Celebration, the day before Spring Break. I was exhausted that day as “special” days don’t always turn out well for my kiddos that thrive on routine and predictability. Although it was fun day, I’m sad that that’s how their physical school year ended—without anyone knowing that would be it. ⁣

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48 school days that we missed getting our morning hugs, completing our centers, working together in circle time, unwinding during sensory time, and telling them we love them as they headed home for the day. ⁣

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There was so much more to come!⁣

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I’m thankful that “distance learning” gave me the opportunity to learn new skills and deepen my relationship with my students and their parents as we navigated this together. But, at the end of the day, nothing compares to face to face instruction and interaction. ⁣

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Coming into a classroom that was completely empty for such a long time felt...wrong almost. THIS classroom is full of life, it is always loud (even when it shouldn’t be 😜), it’s full of various modes of learning, it’s full of unique kiddos, it’s full of working minds, and it’s always full of love & respect for each individual that I’m blessed to call mine. ⁣

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All of that being said, I have a lot to unpack as I ponder Mama Carol’s question that always comes to mind. Usually, I’m ready for summer. This summer, I’m walking away from this empty classroom already counting down the days until that room is full again 💙

A few little things that I wanted to make sure I documented to remember during the school closure:

Making pictures like this to send to our students so they would know we were thinking about them.

Having Jake Johnson, aka Peter Parker from "Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse" offer to send voice memos to our classes--amazing!

Mailing letters of encouragement to each of my students at their homes as they navigate distance learning and working from home with their parents rather than at school. 

Receiving sweet pieces of mail back from them in return. 

Having virtual Awards Day for each of the schools. 

And sending our students off to begin their summer vacation through hosting a drive through "Supplies and Goodbyes" where they could drive around the school, stop by and see their teachers, receive any supplies, awards, and happies and give one last "air hug" or "air five" before ending the school year. 

Quarantine Pt. 2

Here we are, quarantine post part 2. 

It's been 54 days since Part 1 and honestly, not that much has changed. 

We have been sheltering in place other than grocery shopping, working from home, going on walks, and I've been watching Big Brother starting all the way back to season 1 and boy, has it changed. Season 1 is 77 episodes, just in case you were wondering. Like, what?! 77 episodes. 

Needless to say, I have plenty to watch. 

A few things I want to remember from the last 54 days:

 Getting video footage and pictures of this little thing holding a LIZARD!

That is one thing I will not be sharing in with her seeing as how when I see a lizard I run the opposite way. 

Jason's delicious lemon pound cake that was shared with the family for Easter.

 The first time I've ever spent Easter apart from both my family & my church family. 

Something that was circulating the internet was the saying: "Churches are empty this Easter but, so was the tomb" which I thought was such a neat connection. 

This has served as such a tangible experience bringing about the truth that what happens in the world doesn't change what we know to be true about God and what He has done for us. 

 These two cuties in their Easter-themed attire.

And these two cuties taking an Easter selfie while wishing we could all be celebrating together. 

Oh, and more lemon desserts. 

Whoops! 

Papa Steve's belated birthday gift turned out better than I could have imagined! 

Contact Rafael for your own caricature here. He was so incredibly nice and easy to work with.

Our first family get together since quarantine started and it was to celebrated Dad's belated birthday combined with an early Mother's Day celebration. 

It was SO nice to get together with family and feel...normal. 

 We've gone on many, many walks and have seen some of the most beautiful skies. 

 And, I started keeping this little cutie. We've been hanging out for going on 5 weeks now and he's such a little cutie and growing so much. I feel like he changes every time I come over! 

The main thing I wanted to circle back to was how I ended my last quarantine post. 

I asked the question or more so, made the statement:

"Think about what God is trying to teach me and show me during this time, make the best of it."

and what has continually come to the forefront of my mind has been this word: rest. 

It's come up in my daily Bible reading, in my leisure reading ("Even Better Than Eden" by Nancy Guthrie), and in many conversations I've had with people about being quarantined and how we have basically been forced to slow day and take life one day at a time--moment by moment. It's something that has more so, become the norm and it has actually been neat seeing how it's being woven into our lives through a very unexpected, sometimes scary, and very unknown circumstance. 

I wanted to end by sharing a few excerpts from "Even Better Than Eden" from the chapter, "The Story of the Sabbath" because I felt like these words were ringing so, so incredibly true during this quarantine time and it helped me to refocus my thoughts and see this all in a different light. 

"The weekly Sabbath was intended to jog Israel's collective memory concerning God's sufficiency and supply in the past and his promise concerning the future. They were to remember his work of creation as well as his work of redemption."

"Sabbath keeping would set God's people apart as being so well taken care of by their God that they could take a day to rest. It would set them apart as a people who had something to look forward to: unending, all-encompassing rest in the presence of the one true God."

"In this way, they would be reminded of the better land God was preparing and the provision God was making for their rest. In this way, they would be regularly reminded that God would be faithful to preserve their inheritance, not merely in the Promised Land of Canaan, but in the ultimate promised land of the new heaven and the new earth, where they would experience ultimate and unending rest."

"Jesus made clear that the rest of God is not apprehended through our work but, through His. Our work now is to put our faith and trust in His work."

"Of course the greatest work Christ accomplished happened as he hung on a Roman cross. It didn't look very fruitful; it didn't look like he was subduing the earth; it didn't look like he was exercising dominion. It looked like his efforts were pointlesss, like he was being subdued, like the offspring of the Serpant had won. The One who had promised rest experienced on the cross, the greatest restlessness even known to man, the restlessness that you and I deserve to endure forever. There on the cross He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It was the sixth day of the week when Christ cried to from the cross, "it is finished". The work was done. On the cross, Jesus accomplished his most fruitful work, the salvation of all who believe; he subdued the earth so that it shook in response. By cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands, nailing it to the cross, Jesus exercised dominion. Jesus was put into the tomb, and then there was a day of rest, a Sabbath. "Having worked himself to death, Jesus rested from his labors". Then came the first day of the week, the first day of the new creation, the day Jesus rose from the dead."

"We gather on The Lord's Day to remember creation and redemption as well as to anticipate the new creation. We are reminded that we are not yet at home with the Father; we're not yet walking with Him in the new garden where we will see him face-to-face. We experience a measure of rest as we are joined to Christ in His death and resurrection  but we know there is a better, fuller, final rest in our future. The reality of a greater rest to which this day is just a pointer, a reminder, an opportunity for reorientation."

I am choosing to rest in the certainty that God is faithful and that He has a purpose in this "quarantine life" that we're all navigating and I am choosing to stand firm on the foundation of knowing and believing that He loves me and He cares for me (and for you) and that we are promised rest from this weary world. 

Catch Up & Quarantine Pt. 1

It's time to play a little quarantine catch up since...well, we can't really go anywhere! 

So many fun things happened over the last month and even now, during our social distancing, isolation, quarantine, we have been trying to make the best of it so, here goes!

Sweet day-time snuggles with James. This little fella is growing like a weed and I can't wait until I can see him, snuggle with him again!

We celebrated Mom's birthday at the end of February.
One of the easiest people to celebrate.

Baby Showers for long time friends and two sweet little baby girls
(one that's been born since the shower and one that's coming soon!)

A Bridal/Wedding Shower for Katie and Harris at the church.
I had so much fun being a part of the hosting and celebrating for this soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs.

Annnnnd, my best friend had her second child, Ivy Lynne!
This sweet little bundle of love came into the world fast and furious (and on International Women's Day--what a day for a little girl to come along!) and she is just the snuggliest, cuddliest, little love.

Thankfully, I had 3-4 days of getting to visit and love on her and her parents some before all the coronavirus craziness came about.

Who ever knew when this all began that schools would suspend, some stores would close, churches would go fully online, restaurants would offer take-out or delivery only, and we'd be searching for toilet paper (of all things) because it keeps selling out. But, it has also been so incredibly neat to see people and communities rising up and encouraging one another and working together (from a distance) to make this an uplifting, bearable, (in a unique way) memorable time.

And now, some quarantine related content and a few of the ways we've been trying to make the best of this situation. These are the good parts that I want to make sure I remember years from now.

Aplos, a restauraunt in Highland Village is offering make your own pizza kits.
It was so much fun and made PLENTY of pizza for us to eat on through out the week (4 pizzas, 6 slices each pizza).

Since our school is currently closed until April 20th, our district has been posting pictures every day of teachers sharing messages with their classes/students. It's been so sweet to see and it's true what they say, we do miss them, love them, and hope to see them soon!

My second favorite book series, The Wingfeather Saga has been read aloud, live, every night at 7 by the author, Andrew Peterson. So stinking cool and something to look forward to every night!

Using my record player and supporting Magnolia Record Club while working from home. 

I've been the one grocery shopping because not only is it coronavirus season but, it's also pollen season so Jason has been staying in and he wanted to see the empty shelves. Thankfully, this has subsided some here recently and I feel like (other than toilet paper and major cleaning supplies) things are coming back in stock and people are able to get what they need. 

Thank goodness for technology to see this little cutie pie 

Lakeland Presbyterian going fully online and still being able to hear Papa Steve preach The Word even though we can't all meet and fellowship together.
But boy, isn't Ann Hatten sweet watching her Grando below.

 We're still able to be outside and bask in all the beautiful things that The Lord has given us.
These flowers, pretty blue skies and all the rain-free days we've been having. It's been so, so nice.

 The bridal shower that was posted above was supposed to have their wedding this past weekend.
The ceremony went on and we were able to watch via live stream and then, participated in my very first drive by "best wishes" for the bride and groom. Such a sweet ceremony! I was so glad we could “be there” with them, to celebrate their big day.

Sending out the most snail mail that I have in quite some time. A few birthday cards, a "thinking of you" card, and little notes of encouragement for each of my students. 

Our neighborhood has stepped it up. 

We have had so many people coming up with fun ideas to keep children entertained and ways to bring a little joy during these uncertain times. 

The biggest thing we've done is ask everyone to put rainbows in their windows--that way when people are out and about, they can look for the rainbows. They have also put hearts on the mailboxes of any healthcare worker that's in the neighborhood. We've been going on walks and it's hard for me to not tear up when I see these symbols of encouragement and community.  

Here's a cool write up and news segment on our neighborhood and the rainbows.

There's also been a group that has faithfully "worshipped from a distance" at 7:00 each night in the culdesac, ending the night with the singing of the doxology and a prayer. So sweet. 

Why the random Spider-Man picture? Well...here it goes.

One of the cooler things that's happened is that Jake Johnson, the actor that voices Peter Parker on "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse"--and plays Nick on "New Girl" posted on his instagram that he was sending out voice memos to people that emailed him and requested one to bring some encouragement to kiddos during this weird time. I emailed him on behalf of my class and lo and behold! I received a voice memo from him yesterday and already sent it out to my class. 

I'm not entirely sure how to upload just an audio but...let's give it a try because it's definitely something I want to remember. 

Update--I was able to record the screen on my phone, so here you go!

It goes without saying that these are times unlike any other. 

The first coronavirus case in Mississippi was reported on March 10th or 11th (I think it was the 11th) and I'm considering my timeline since then. 21 days and the end is not in sight. 

My thoughts are this: Think about what God is trying to teach me and show me during this time, make the best of it and  find some way to make today a good day.