Day 87...Grateful for Another's Gratitude...

So yesterday I helped out our librarian assistant with something on the computer. It took me all of 10 minutes to finish it.

When I walked into school today, each person I walked past told me that the librarians were looking for me. Well...on a testing day that is just one baby step above the counselors looking for me...there is NO TELLING what you might get assigned to do! :)

However, the lady that I helped had gone and gotten me some beautiful tulip, a card, and a B&N gift card. I couldn't believe it and thought it was so sweet. I kind of forgot about it while I was upstairs during our hours of testing...but when I walked back into my classroom they just put a smile on my face. So today...I'm grateful for another's gratitude!

Day 86...Grateful for Some Endings...

I have really enjoyed helping to coach club volleyball this year. I have learned A LOT and I've made some money as well!

But tonight (Wednesday) I am grateful for our last practice to be over. We have one more tournament this weekend...and unless we do extremely well (which out of the teams that will be at the tournament, it isn't likely)...we are finished after Sunday!

Sometimes...I'm grateful for sweet endings!

Day 85...Grateful to Pass...

I had a meeting Monday morning with one of my curriculum coordinators. He told me that I had to take this "Pre-Assessment" for a new class...but that was just so that I could attend the two week training this summer in Tyler. I had to pass it wit a 75%...I could take as long as I wanted and as many times as I needed...but the sooner I passed, the sooner I could register and get the summer session I needed.

So today...as I was sitting in the hall during TAKS testing...I used a school laptop, and finished the assessment...and passed with an 80%. I will admit that I ran into our math department's office to ask one of my favorite teachers for some reminders with the math questions.

Anyway...glad to have that over...and grateful to have passed!

Day 84...Grateful for the End of the Day...

I am just glad to be home and about to head to bed. Today was busy and long...I'm ready to go to bed and start again tomorrow. :-)

Day 83...Grateful for a Healthy Fear...

So just before I left to drive back to Plano, (that is after I waited out a storm that went through Russellville), my dad looked at my tires and told me that I needed four new ones. That the tread on mine are bad and that's when a car is likely to hydroplane. Then my mom noticed a nail in one of the tires. And then I took off.

As soon as I hit the interstate, it started raining. And soon after I hit a few pretty strong storms. But...knowing that my tires weren't the best, I was scared...but I had a healthy fear. I kept my hands at 10-and-2...I didn't drive any faster than I felt comfortable...and I just prayed. Here are a few pictures of the sky...kind of crazy how dark and scary the sky was at one point...and then it cleared off and was sunny and calm...and then back to scary again.

It really looked worse in person...

Kind of blurry...but thought I looked a little like the Wizard of Oz with the farm house and storm behind it. Thankfully no one was taken up in a tornado!

And then it was bright and clear again. So strange...

Days 81 and 82...Grateful for Days Full of Family...

Friday, I got to sleep in!
Then the day full of family began!
Lunch with my cousin Tonia.
Shopping with Mom.
Dinner and play time with Mom, Dad, Robin, Jake, and of course Caleb.
My cousin's son, Drake's baseball game...where he hit a three run home run! And my Uncle John, Aunt Karla, and cousin Justin joined Dad and I.

Saturday morning Easter Egg Hunt with the family...Caleb did pretty well.
Visit with Papa and Granny Joy.
Pedicure with Mom and Robin.
My cousin's daughter, Alex's softball game with Dad.
Movie with my Aunt and sister.

Great two days of family!

Day 80...Grateful for My Cheat Day...

Because we were off for Good Friday, we had our Biggest Loser weigh-in on Thursday morning. Well, also because of the holiday, I drove home to Arkansas on Thursday night. So...my cheat dinner (which turned into the whole weekend), but I drove through Chicken Express....yum!

Nothing healthy about it...but it sure did taste good!

Day 79...Grateful for a Night at the Ballpark...

(I'm way behind...so these will be short)

Wednesday night I got to use one of my tickets that I bought as a small part of a huge package that my friends and I split. It was such a great night...a little cold...but great!

View from our seats...and my friends Rachel and Chris have tickets just a few rows ahead of us. It'll be a fun season!

Day 78...Grateful...

Grateful for this morning's reading...

Psalm 30

"I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me. 

You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health.
 You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

 Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name.
 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime!
   Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

 When I was prosperous, I said, “Nothing can stop me now!”
 Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. 

Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

 I cried out to you, O Lord. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
 “What will you gain if I die, if I sink into the grave? 

Can my dust praise you? Can it tell of your faithfulness?
 Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me. Help me, O Lord.”

 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
      You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.  

O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!"

Day 77...Grateful for Some Calm...

I think sometimes at school I feel that I need to be able to do everything that is asked of me. Now..most of the time I can or I will figure out a way to get it done. Today though I was super overwhelmed. I have a lot of stuff I'm keeping up with at school and just trying to get them marked off the list one at a time.

I had a request made today that the front office needed to be done today...but I really did not have any way to correct it. I reached out to who all I could and was not receiving any help. When I realized why they needed it changed today, I really started feeling like I needed to figure out how to fix it.

And then my principal walked by. I replayed everything to her and asked her what I should do. She assured me that it wasn't for me to fix and that she didn't expect me to take care of it (no matter how much I wanted to help). At that very moment...her "calm" was exactly what I needed.

Days 74, 75, and 76...

So this was a crazy weekend of volleyball...so I got behind and I'm going to combine all three days together in one post.

Day 74, Friday...
So for the personal day that I took for Friday (so I could go to volleyball)...it wasn't much of a personal day...I still had to go up to school for a bit. I weighed in for our Biggest Loser competition (which I am currently winning) and lost another 2 pounds (11.5 to date). But the gratitude came at the end of the day. We finished our pool play at the tournament at about 8:30. A couple of the mom's wanted to go to dinner with the girls to try to get some team bonding going (the girls had not played well and needed something positive). So...I went to dinner with two moms and their daughters. It was a great time and I'm thankful for the fun time to get to sit and visit with a couple of families that I really didn't know at all.

Day 75, Saturday...
Grateful for a productive morning (that WORE ME OUT!!!). I completed our Boot Camp SUV push (4 of us pushing one SUV for a mile..almost all up hill). I got my haircut by my favorite hairstylist who went into work Saturday just for me. And that was all done by 10:00. It was a great morning! And finished the day with volleyball.

Day 76, Sunday...
Grateful for a night of down time. So...I splurged with my volleyball money this week and ordered myself a Kindle. I love it. I've been reading random things...and downloaded a free game. And I just love it. So...I got home from volleyball, ate a late lunch, read a little, slept a little, grocery shopping...and then home to watch Amazing Race and then read until I fall asleep (which won't take long).

Where I got to spend the crazy weekend...and it doesn't even start to resemble the craziness that was the Dallas Convention Center all weekend! :)

Man...that's a weekend!

Day 73...Grateful for a New Principle...

So Perspectives class tonight was amazing. I loved the speaker...and as I continue to process all that she shared I'll share more...but for tonight, I'm grateful for a new principle.

She shared a story of speaking at a young ladies' conference in India. They were praying for each girl individually...and she said that about 4 or 5 girls down the line, she felt the Holy Spirit telling her to look at the girl...really look at the girl. She was overcome by how beautiful she was, and how the love she was feeling toward the girl was how the Lord feels about each of us.

Then this principle was revealed to her. Each time Jesus worked, He did three things...
 (1) He looked at them
 (2) He was filled with compassion
 (3) He acted

And if we are to follow Jesus and copy His ministry...we need to look, be filled with compassion, and then act.

Grateful for one of the many lessons from tonight.

Day 72 (yesterday)...Grateful for Exhaustion...

I think the Lord brings us to a point where we have to depend on Him. I feel like I keep writing about being tired...but I am...but I think He is keeping me here so I have to depend on Him. I don't know how things will get done on time...but I know they will!

I thought being able to check off the Student Council elections and having that off my plate would make things bearable...well....

Then came a baby shower for a friend at school and his new baby....and making sure people know to come up...decorating...well....

Now it is the awards ceremony for our end of the year deal at school....certificates to print (not in my room so it's after school printing)...power point to create...and a program to design...hmm...

And then there is the fact that I am still teaching classes...not to mention the thoughts of next year and logistics of that.

Gonna just stick to this....

"Be watchful and stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 

Let all that you do be done in love."  

~1 Corinthians 13:13-14

Well...minus the "men" part...

Day 71...Grateful for Energy....

I was exhausted today...boot camp started early and volleyball practice ended late...but my prayer today during my quiet time was..."Lord, I pray for just enough energy to make it through the day."

As soon as school was over and I was ready to leave, my feet started hurting and I started getting tired. So I got home and ate dinner and laid down for about 30 minutes. Which was the perfect amount of time for me to get a couple of errands done and then head to volleyball. Just as practice was supposed to be over...my feet started hurting. Perfect timing.

Just enough energy for the day.
Now...it's time for bed.

Day 70...Grateful for a Quick Day...

So they day started normal...I had a lot to do other than just teach my classes...but before I could blink twice it was 6th period, my conference period...and that meant just one more class...and 4:15 was just around the corner.

And today...a quick day is just what I needed.
So I'm grateful for a quick day today!

Day 69...Grateful for the Sabbath...

I visited a different church tonight...just knowing I need a change, but not sure what the Lord is wanting from me...so I just went down there by myself tonight. Ironically, I saw a girl that used to go to Prestonwood and sat with her.

The sermon was great...but reflecting on the weekend and today and what I'm grateful for...something he said just kind of stuck.

The word "Sabbath" means...Cease. Stop. Rest.
I'm grateful for the Sabbath that I was able to experience today...a much needed Sabbath!

Day 68...Grateful for God's Reminders...

Today was a good day of reminders from the Lord...

• Reminders of his financial blessings on my life and how I need to glorify Him in how I spend or save my money.

• Reminders that he provides the sun that I like to lay in by the pool (which was wonderful today...still not hot...but great to see the sun).

• Reminders that we are called to obey Him...but our obedience isn't from our actions, but rather from our heart.

• Reminders that people are put in our lives for a reason...and we should cherish and work at those friendships.

Grateful for His reminders today...

Day 67...Grateful for my Counselor...

(Friday)
No...I'm not seeing a counselor. Our school counselor. She is the best!
So, since I was the "pinch hitter" for testing Thursday, I got to have a special job on Friday. I just had to deliver all of our subs to their posts at the start of the test, check back with her at 10:30, and then at 11:30, be ready to take the few kids that weren't finished with their tests.

So...for the most part...I had the morning to get work done! AMAZING!!!!

So...today...I'm grateful for my counselor!

Day 66...Gateful for "coincidences"...

This morning, before I got to school, I had looked at Facebook on my phone. One of my friends had posted one of my favorite verses as her status.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

I italicized favorite because, although the verse is great and always a perfect reminder...it's usually a reminder to me that I'm trying to do things on my own...or...I am making plans that aren't necessarily what the Lord wants me to do...or...I am making plans and then upset when the don't work, without ever really looking to the Lord for direction. So...I love the verse...but there is always a lesson behind it.

Today was no different. I haven't been keeping up on my reading for Perspectives, and I'd gotten a few days behind on my daily Bible reading. At school we were testing all morning, and my assignment was to sit at a corner of two hallways to "monitor" students walking to and from. Uh huh...that was my plan.

When I walked in the building, one of the teachers on hall duty told me that I had just been paged over the intercom and I needed to go to the counselors' office. So, I walked in, and was told I was getting to give the test all morning. That meant no reading. Hmmm.....

Thankfully before I reacted or said anything, the verse that was on my friend's status came to mind. 

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

Did I mention I was REALLY excited to spend the morning reading...the Lord obviously had other plans. Even though I know there aren't any coincidences...really just divine interventions...I'm thankful for this one. :) 

Oh...and I went to the store after school to pick up some veggies to saute with some chicken for dinner...and I found these! Made me smile!

Veggie ka-bobs...I didn't have to cut anything up! :)

Day 65...Grateful for Timely Words from God...

From my reading today....

 Psalm 63 

"O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you.

   My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you
   in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.
 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!
 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.

 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.
 Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
 I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.

 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. 

They will go down into the depths of the earth.
 They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals.
 But the king will rejoice in God. All who trust in him will praise him,
      while liars will be silenced.

 Psalm 63

Day 64...Grateful for a Breakthrough...

I saw a breakthrough today (Monday)...
We had conversation in my department at work...we talked about kids...we talked about classes...we talked. Praise the Lord. It was only for the last passing period of the day...but it was a breakthrough.

Day 63...Grateful for the Ultimate Healer...

The Ultimate Healer is obviously our Lord. I have a student at school (student this year, volleyball athlete last year) this year who was just diagnosed with leukemia. Her mother said that only 1% of kids have this kind of leukemia and that 99% of her blood is cancerous. So...she is starting treatment with a pill that will start to kill off the bad blood cells...and will have to have blood transfusions over the next few months to replace that blood. Well...that's how I understood it in my non-medical-thinking mind.

I know that God can heal her.
I know that God has placed Kara in my life for a reason.
I know that God will heal her.

Please pray with me for Kara...she's just a joy to know.

This was after one of our volleyball tournaments last year. And best of all...she's a Razorback fan and plans to attend the University! Woo Pig Sooie!

Day 62...Grateful for the Weekend...

Even though the weekend was packed and actually had to do some school work both Saturday and Sunday...I am grateful to have two days away from school. Tomorrow...here we go again!

Thank you Lord!

Day 61...Grateful for Family...

So my cousin got married today and the whole family was there...except for me...long story why not. But my uncle sent me pictures...and just seeing them smiling made me smile. I'm grateful for each of you!

Day 60...Grateful for Relaxing Tonight...

Here is where I will be spending this evening with a great friend...at a cheap price thanks to Groupon! Grateful!