Five Minute Friday: Fight

Joining up with Lisa-Jo Baker and a slew of amazing writers for Five Minute Friday.  We write for five minutes on a given prompt.  This week's prompt:  Fight.
Go.
Ah, the start of the new year.  A time of hope, promise, possibilities.  A time to look at things from a new perspective, see things with "fresh eyes."
So why am I fighting myself on this?
I am struggling with heading back to work after an almost 2-week break.  It's similar to how I felt at the beginning of the year.
For the most part, I enjoy my job.  It challenges me.  It frustrates me.  It energizes me.
We've gone through a lot of changes with procedures since the beginning of the year, so it has been somewhat overwhelming at times.  Yet, there's been a sense of unity as we've all traipsed through it all together.  THAT has been nice.
Part of my job involves working with middle school students with a program called 8 to Great.  This is the highlight of my day.  I love this program, and I love seeing how students grasp these concepts and are so eager to apply the power of this program to their lives.
So why am I fighting going back?
Perhaps it's a feeling of isolation I feel at times.  Which is ironic, I only have about 35 minutes all day long when I am not surrounded by others.  But that feeling of unity I mentioned earlier?  I don't always feel that.
Perhaps it's a sense of limitation.  There are so many areas I would like to explore: blogging, independent business, volunteer, speaker.  With my job, I feel like I'm limited in how and when I can pursue these things.  Not to mention quilting, papercrafting, crocheting!
Yet, I know I'm blessed and incredibly fortunate to have my job.  And as I said earlier, I do enjoy the challenges it presents, and I enjoy working with the students.
So while I struggle to stay out of my own way and not fight myself so much, my OneWord comes back to me: OPEN.  I need to remember to stay open to how I can best serve others through my job, and remain open to possibilities of pursuing my other interests and opportunities as well.
STOP.

2014: On being OPEN

There have been many posts the past few days about starting a new year, resolutions, promises, goals.....you name it.
I am choosing to focus on one word: OPEN.  (See other ideas at oneword365.)
I want to be open to whatever this new year brings.  Open to wherever it is God leads my heart.  Open to the needs of others.  Open to new adventures, activities, events.
If I truly live with this one word guiding my heart, my decisions this year, I can imagine it will be a year of many new possibilities, in all aspects of my life: with my personal choices, professionally, with my friendships, with my independent business, in our marriage.  This makes me excited.......and a little hesitant.
Because being open to what God will have me do often calls for following obediently....in complete faith and trust....and I don't always like that.  I like having some type of control.  Even if it's imaginary in the sense that I actually do have control.
Because I don't.  None of us do.  Sure, we can make our own decisions and choices, but it's only through the free will that is given us by our Creator.  And He knows what our choices will be, even before we know what our options are.
So, I hope you'll check back every so often to see how I'm doing living this life of being open.  I can't wait to share my incredible, blessed, OPEN life with you in 2014!

Thanksgiving 2013

Throughout November, people have been posting and sharing things for which they are grateful.  I do this with 2 different online/email groups, but we do 3 things each day for which we are grateful.  Finding their emails in my Inbox every morning is such a blessing, especially on the days when I am grumbling around, or have not yet done my gratitudes for the day.  

As I'm sitting in my living room this morning, I started to think through all the things for which I'm grateful.  I decided to see if I can do an A-Z list.  So - here goes.  

I am grateful today for:

A: Abundance.  I don't take lightly the fact that at any given time, I have more than enough of whatever I need.  I have been blessed. 

B: Bread.  I don't mean this in the literal sense (although who am I to pass up a good dinner roll?!), but the fact that I am able to nourish my body in a healthy way is another example of the abundance in my life.  

C: Coffee.  Seriously.  It's a treat I get to enjoy every day. 

D:  Dave.  I had always heard how your spouse completes you.  I never fully understood that, until I married Dave.  I love this man more than I ever imagined I could love another human. 

E:  Energy.  Sometimes I joke about how exhausting it is being me.  I am grateful for the energy and spirit I am given to complete the tasks that are in front of me.  

F:  Faith.  Knowing I have everything I need in Christ is beyond incredible for me to imagine. 

G:  Godchildren.  I've not been blessed with my own children, but having been asked to help with the spiritual rearing of Lauren, Lucas, Anslei, and Laura Mae (and being a confirmation sponsor for Vanessa) has been a humbling, incredible blessing.  

H: Home.  We are blessed with a wonderfully safe, secure home.  I love that Dave opened his heart and home to me when we got married, and that we can share our home with our friends and families.  

I: In-Laws.  My brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws mean so much to me.  I am grateful for what each of them brings to our family.  

J:  Jesus.  Need I say more?!

K: Krance family.  Just typing that brings tears to my eyes.  I love my family.  

L: Life.  Too many loved ones have endured "close calls" with health this year, and their experiences have helped me treasure each day even more. 

M: Music.  Ahhh.  

N: Network of friends who support me.  Whether from a professional perspective, heart-to-heart friends, or more casual acquaintances, I am grateful for the incredible people with whom I surround myself. 

O: Opportunities.  I have been given great opportunities to grow as an individual, but also to encourage others, which is my greatest joy.  

P: Purpose.  My purpose in this world is to help others know Christ.  I am grateful for the guidance and opportunities He provides me to do this.  I fail miserably at times, but that makes me more grateful for His mercy and grace.  

Q: Quilts.  I love making quilts or afgans to share with others.  The warmth and security they provide is almost like an invisible hug from me to them. 

R: Running.  I don't do it nearly enough, but I am grateful for my health and strength, and the ability to run. 

S: Sunrises.  They just remind me of God's presence, and the possibilities that come with each new day.  

T: Teaching.  It is my job, but it is my passion.  Whether teaching young people, or other adults.  

U: Understanding.  Grateful for my mental capacity to understand , and grateful for being understood.  

V: Vastness of the world.  The beauty I observe, whether here at home, at the beach, at the mountains, all bring my heart and focus back to the wonder of creation and what God has done.  

W: Wendt family.  OK, a new round of tears for me.  How this family has welcomed me into their lives is beyond what I thought any family could.  I love them.  

X: X-periences.  (So I cheated a little......) We have had some awesome experiences this year, which I cherish.  

Y: Young people.  They drive me wacko once in a while, but I see such hope and promise in them. 

Z: Zucchini.  I like zucchini, but what zucchini makes me think of are people sharing what they have been given.  I am grateful for what others share.  

That's my list.  What would you include in your list? 

I have so very many things to be grateful for this year.  

Including zucchini.   

Five Minute Friday: True

Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker and Five Minute Friday, where we write for five(ish) minutes on a one-word prompt.  This week's word:  True.

We had our fall concert last night at school.  I'm fortunate that Dave and I had dinner before the concert together, and he stayed for the concert.  I don't take this for granted, the fact that he stayed for the concert.  Not having any relatives in the program, or even any real connection to the school or community (other than me teaching), it'd be easy for him to bow out.
And I'd be ok with that.
But the fact is, he was there.
That's one huge indicator of true love, in my book.
A funny thing happened after the concert, though.  I had opened up my room so students could claim their belongings, and was standing at the door as they went in and out of the room.  Dave was standing next to me, and was ready to go, so he leaned over and gave me a kiss as he was leaving.  One of the students walked by and made a funny comment about PDA.  We all laughed about it, and Dave leaned over for one more kiss from me before he walked away.  Another group of students saw and, oh my goodness, the squeals that came from them.  So darling.
As I reflected on this as I was driving home, and as I was finishing up the day, I realized the incredibly humbling way God is answering my prayers.  My most constant prayer is to make a difference for Him.  That's all I ask.  I realize as I am in situations every day where Christ's presence in me is making a difference for some of the young people.  As they see me interact with other teachers. As they see me handle challenging situations.  As they see me with my husband.
Do I always succeed?
Oh my.......I wonder when "grace" will be our Five Minute Friday prompt........
Heavens, no, I don't always succeed.  I fail miserably.  But I am so, so, so very thankful for God's true grace and mercy and unending love.  I am thankful for these reminders to keep me humble and always searching for His guidance in my life.
Love.  Grace.  Mercy.  Love.
These things I know are true.

FMF: Grace

Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday.  This week's prompt:  GRACE.

GO.
How do you write about something so intangible yet so crucial in our lives as "grace"?
I've been using up much of my 5 minutes pondering.....what IS grace?
I know what grace is....when I taught religion, I helped my students understand that it is free, undeserved help from God.
It's the allowance God gives us in our weak, human state.
It's the allowance we extend to others because we can relate to where they are, what's going on.  It's not making excuses for another, but extending to them the care, concern, help we would hope to receive in a similar situation.
Free, undeserved help from God.  I'm sure there's a more theological definition of it.  But when I pray for grace, when I pray to be graceful (filled with grace), when I pray to be able to share grace with others, I am grateful for this gift God so freely gives.
I needed this moment of grace in an otherwise busy, frazzled week.  These moments to stop and reflect and rejoice in what God always provides.
STOP

Five Minute Friday: Together

Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker and others for Five Minute Friday.
Today's prompt: Together.
Five minutes starts............
NOW!

I have been looking forward to today for several weeks.
Why, you ask?
Well, for one thing, we don't have school.  It's a much-welcome day for fall break, for students AND teachers.  And as much as the kids always like having a day off, the longer I'm in teaching, I think these days off are as much (if not more!) for the teachers as for the kids.
But, also, I get to be together with some friends.
Several weeks ago when a friend came over to visit, we talked about trying to find a time to get together to do some papercrafting, either scrapbooking or card-making.  She had been talking with a mutual friend of ours, Christina, who lives a short distance away.  We checked calendars, Jenny did some emails and phone calls, and voila!  We were set for today and tomorrow.
I can't tell you how excited I am to just be together with these two ladies.
They're staying here at our home, and that adds to my excitement.  I love having guests, whether it's for a few minutes, or several hours.  Fresh towels are in their bathroom downstairs, bedding is freshly washed, pillows are plumped.
The rest of the house?  It's presentable.  And you know what?  For once, I'm completely OK with that.  Because I know they're not coming over to inspect the house, to tsk-tsk about crumbs on the floor (which there are), the layer of dust that's covering most of the furniture (which it is, but, hey, we live in the country and it's harvest season!), or the laundry that will continue to be done in the utility room while we work in the basement.
We need this time together.  To share life, to laugh, to chat, to reflect, to ponder, to pray, possibly to cry, definitely to eat chocolate, to drink sangria.....to just.be.together.
Oh, yes, and we'll hopefully get some cards made too.

STOP!

Five Minute Friday: WRITE

Partnering up with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday, where we write, unedited, for five minutes on a given prompt.  This week: WRITE. 
Ready? Go!

Do I think of myself as a writer?
No.
Do I think of myself as a blogger?
Not really.  Other than the fact that I claim a spot on Blogger.
But do I feel comfortable expressing my thoughts and sharing my heart through writing?
Oh, heavens yes.
I can be a talker.  Just ask my husband.  Or any of my sisters.  Or my friends.  Or my students.  I am a teacher, so by nature, I am a talker.
I'm also a speaker.  Give me a podium and a room of 100 people, and watch me shine.
But do I feel comfortable walking into a party where I only know the host?  Especially if I'm by myself?
Oh, heavens no.
I'm glad to have an outlet where I am able to write.  Whether people read my writing or not is....well, I'd like to say it's irrelevant.  But the truth?  I want people to read what I'm writing.  I want people to relate to what I'm saying. I want to feel like I belong, like what I'm thinking and feeling isn't unique just to me.
I'm grateful that I can write.
And if you're reading this, I'm grateful, oh so grateful, to you!!
STOP.
(With a few seconds to spare!)