Difficult

WOW! Okay, I have to give props to all you bloggers out there who are so committed to posting on a regular basis. It is tough!

My life has been a complete whirlwind since I last posted in... August....

I have 23 first graders who are growing and flourishing. I just love the Spring semester. It's when so many of them start to take off and soar. It is exciting and so fun to watch them grow and learn and discover new things right along with them. There is so much to learn from young children, I wish more people took the time to listen to them and learn from them or right along side them.

I also am going to be an Aunt in MAY!!! :) I cannot wait to be called Aunt Katie... of course that may be a ways down the line, considering an infant cannot call you by name. :) I just love shopping for a little girl! Bows, glitter, ruffles, glam, oh my! I just got Cammie a boppy from Pottery Barn. Do any of you mommies have one? I hope it is useful and she loves it! Plus my new addiction is baby clothes shopping. I stumbled upon this really great website (Zulily) today that has name brand clothes at discounted prices. It is AMAZING and they have some of the most adorable clothes! :)

Hadley Kate, my little name sake, I cannot wait to meet you! You are so blessed to have my sister, Cammie, as your mommy! :) You will get to eat lots of treats having her for your mommy that's for sure. God has truly blessed our lives by bringing you into this world. It is amazing how many people love and adore you and you are not even here yet. I hope and pray that you always feel God's love enveloping you and that you come to know him as your Lord and Savior. It is truly amazing the things God can and will accomplish in your life if you just allow Him to work.

I have started budgeting. Lets just say that is going to be my "B" word, or just a dreaded "B" word you can take your pick. I have been using iBank for a while, but just created a budget that I am determined to stick to this year. When creating your budget there is the option for the envelope system, which I know Dave Ramsey loves! I think I am going to sign up to take his Financial Peace class at my church First Baptist Tulsa. I really need to start saving my money and not spending so much of it. Plus with the new tax increase my paycheck just got a bit smaller. Sad day. :(

I am so blessed and so wonderful and my goal is to make blogging a bit more of a priority. It really helps me to see how much I have to be grateful for in this crazy world. God has truly blessed my life and continues to wow and amaze me daily.

The First of Many

So, I have decided to begin a journey of blogging. I am not really sure what this is all about so, I will need you to bare with me. 

I have just come off a solid two weeks of work work and more work. I have been up in my new classroom unpacking 50 boxes and finding a home for all of my things, (I still haven't completely finished this project but I am almost there. Once complete I promise to post pictures!) cutting out lamination, making labels for absolutely EVERYTHING (cabinets,drawers, items in the classroom, containers holding things, etc), sending papers off to the copy shop, and getting lesson plans together.

My Amazing baby sister (well she isn't really a baby) cutting out 31 feet of lamination for me with her friend. I am giving them service hours for their SENIOR year of school! (She is growing up very quickly!!)

 I also am working on getting things together for Meet the Teacher which is Monday and Tuesday for 4 hours both nights! I am going to be exhausted after 8 hours of meeting parents, students and their siblings/other family members. It is always a fun time to meet the little cuties but 8 hours might have me rolling on the ground and crying!I can put up a mean tantrum...I've learned from the best--1st graders! (I know I'm dramatic. I much more dramatic with my words than in actual reality. That's a good thing right?)  With that off my chest, school starts on Thursday and I am going to have a classroom of 22 students: 11 boys, 11 girls. Even numbers of boys and girls makes me very happy! I have been told this bunch may present new challenges for me. I am always up for a challenge. My last two years of teaching have been nothing but one bullet shot of a challenge after another.

I know God never gives us more than we can handle. I often times forget that detail but he never fails to remind me. I had a friend recently remind me of Romans 8: 31-32 which states: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" It reminded me that God loves us tremendously, he walks by us no matter the time in our life or the trials we face. He is our deliver and continually bestows blessings on us all. Sometimes, it is the blessings that are not so obvious--the ones we don't see as blessings--that are truly the ultimate blessings. Hidden blessings often have the greatest rewards and bring us closer to the Lord. 

I made this cute memory verse so that I can practice my memorization of Romans 8:31-32. 

Click on the picture to download your copy.

In my bible study, we have been studying the life of Paul, specifically through his writing in Philippians. He has such contentment and peace through all the ups and downs in his life. It is inspiring. Especially since my trials do not even come close to the trials and persecutions of Paul.

Having family and friends who care about you, pray for you, and love on you during all your good times and difficult times is one of my favorite blessings from God. I am just amazed at how He reveals His love and mercy to me daily and the joy He brings to my life. 

I cannot believe my third year of teaching is right around the corner. Let the countdown begin!