Monday, March 26, 2012

Sweet Chaos!

Whew!! Getting ready to move has been madness! I am trying to work, get stuff done, see people and tie loss ends. This weekend I went on my birthday adventure and saw a ton of friends along the way! It was the best whirlwind of a weekend I've had in a long time! Friday morning was off to an interesting start at 4:30am when my car was acting funny. Got it taken care of then headed to Amber's place. We jumped in the car and drove for 4 hours to get to Madera while stopping at Apple Annies for breakfast along the way. We hung out with Amy (Amber's sister) for a while. I then left Amber and headed to Reedley to see Virginia! We chatted for a few hours at her adorable home! After we bid adue (sp?) it came time for tea and dinner with Karl at this amazing tea house and then Meditterainian place in the tower district. We walked back to the cars so I could jet off to ground school at the Fresno Airport. When ground school ended it was to Karl's place I went. We sat and chatted for a few hours and then headed to bed to then get up at 6am for my 7am flight! I then FLEW AN AIRPLANE!!!! IT WAS AWESSSSSOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Then Mariah saw I was in Fresno (the wonders of facebook!) and called me. So we went to coffee and had a looovely chat! She took me back to Karl's where I grabbed my stuff and headed to Madera to get Amber. We called Amber's parent's who said we could come up and visit them, so we did! Her mom (Brenda) and dad graciously hosted us for a fun evening together and a lovely morning the next day. Amber showed me around beautiful Valley Springs this morning. Most of her Family came over after that. We hung out until about 2:30 then headed home. The drive was crazy rainy but we laughed and chatted the whole way home. I am now sitting in bed and reflecting on all the lovely people God has placed in my life who I love so much!!! I am one blessed girl!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Joy

What is joy?
Well, according to webster joy is: 1 a : the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : delight b : the expression or exhibition of such emotion : gaiety 2 : a state of happiness or felicity : bliss 3 : a source or cause of delight
So does one have to be happy in order to have joy? Can joy only be caused by circumstances? I don't think the Webster definition is the full definition. I think joy comes from the Lord and so no matter what the circumstances around us are we can seek joy in the Lord and find it. These are just some thoughts I was having about the new title of my blog. This journey may not always cause me to have joy but I can find the joy along the way as long as I am seeking the Lord's face. At least that is my opinion. What are your thoughts on the word joy?
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Bargain crazy!

My mom and my sister generously gave me an early birthday present of a shopping spree! So I packed up my total amount of money, my coupon and off to old navy (and forever 21 for 4 things) I went! Over a period of three days I spent $170 and got 4 dresses, 1 pair of capris, 1 skirt, 1 pair of pj shorts, 10 shirts, 3 belts, 1 necklace, 1 cardigan and 1 head band! I feel sooooo accomplished and excited! Thanks again mom and twinner!


Friday, March 2, 2012

Musing again

So I was reading (well technically listening to a man with a lovely voice on my phone app read it) this passage the other day and have really been mulling it over for the last few days. Numbers 22: 22-35
22 But God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.” 31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse[b] before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.” 35 And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.
How many times is it in our nature to get angry because something is not going our way? Man, I can't even count the times that I've acted like Balaam and was FURIOUS because something wasn't going my way! He was seriously beating his donkey while the donkey was protecting him! He didn't know that of course but if he would have taken the time to observe the situation and seek the Lord's counsel he probably would have stayed more calm about it all. I get so flustered and frustrated because nothing is going the way I want, when GOD ALMIGHTY is putting road blocks in my way to protect me. Do I take the time to seek HIM and see why those road blocks are there? Nope! I get angry and want to beat down whatever is in my way! This is not a new concept to me but it is always a humbling lesson to learn. Be patient, Seek the Lord's will and not my own and trust that if things aren't happening the way I want them to then there IS A REASON but I don't need to know what it is! I love it when an old story gains new understanding!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

More Change

I've been sitting here musing about my day and decide to write down some thoughts.... Change is weird. It's good sometimes and not good others. At least it feels that way. A big change occurred at work today. Today was the day Miss Katie had to leave our class and venture out into the none classroom world. We were assigned a long term sub for the rest of the school year. It was just like any other day of having a sub but to know Katie is not coming back to be the head teacher in our room for the rest of the year is a strange and sad thought. I enjoy my job and I have very much enjoyed learning from the pro that Katie is! Needless to say as much as I like our sub (who i actually have been working with for the last four years as an aide), the kids and my job as a whole, it is making me look forward more and more to spring break when I can pat all my kiddos on the head and say goodbye one last time. This is a season of change for a lot of people. I enjoy change but change is change none the less. Change brings many emotions, sleepless nights and hope for the future! It's going to be weird being a "normal" person with a "normal" job. There was only one other time in my life that I just had ONE full time job to tend to and that was a short lived time for several reasons. All that to say, I'm tired, excited, worried, hopeful, sad, but most of all blessed. Today was not so much a joyful day but a day of being reminded that things don't always go our way but they always go God's way.