Day 12: Joy is ... a Choice

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

About 30 minutes ago I was reminded of a bit of scripture that I really started to understand. (50 points to whoever can guess where the scripture came from before the end of this post.) I was first introduced to this particular group of scripture a few months ago in the women's Bible study I attend with Granny Eyre once a week. Today it really hit home for me. Life is full of choices and I fully believe life is what you make it. And no one said it better than Miley Cyrus herself. So for you listening pleasure I am including a link to hear her tell you about it. Here You Go. Okay now to chase this rabbit back. If life is full of choices that means I am allowed to choose, right? So I can choose joy. This is new to me though. Since I was a child I've always felt like I don't get to choose anything. Choosing is for people who deserve it but not for me, no way no how could I ever deserve the freedom to choose, especially something like joy. Joy, I thought was for people who did no wrong, people who were worth something, people who had their lives together and not broken. But I was wrong. To finally tie this back to my original quote, which in case you are still wondering comes from Philippians 4:11-13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. This means I can choose and that includes joy. I am also to be content in all life's situations that I go through. In each situation because of Christ I can choose between joy and sadness (I am not saying that sadness isn't sometimes a good choice but this post is about joy.) Joy is for everyone no matter what, but it also a choice. So if you are feeling down and out choose joy because life is what you make it so let's make it right. I do realize though that is easier said than done. Joy is a choice and you and I are able to make that choice.

Today's picture comes from my journal, the first page with my notes that brought on the inspiration for this post.

Fun tidbit, this post took my a whole hour to write therefore it is now a new day day 13 to be exact. I will be making another post later on for that picture though.  I just hope this post makes some sort of sense and helps you see joy from my perspective. Goodnight. Captain Something Fun signing off.

Life is a Vapor

Life is scary. Life is uncertain. But life is awesome!

This past Sunday I went to church with my beau. We have been going to church together for about a year I guess, alternating. My church one week, his church the next week, and so on. It's different doing things this way, but neither one of us have felt the conviction to convert, so we're still doing it this way. But that's a different blog post subject entirely.

The sermon last Sunday was about how life is vapor and I have been thinking about it off and on all week. There were multiple lessons within his message, one being that life is short. With each year of getting older, time seems to pass more and more quickly. I have noticed this in my life...take this for example: it has been 5 years since each of the Twenty-Somethings have graduated from high school. Wow! As he mentioned on Sunday, our time to leave this Earth could come at any moment. And although we can't (and shouldn't) walk around thinking about when our time will come, we should keep it in mind so that we don't waste our life/time on things that don't matter. His second point tied in nicely with his first: when we think about eternity, our life here really is a vapor! It's merely a splash in the ocean. Really think about that for a second.

It particularly hit hard when a colleague of my Mom's found out her father has invasive lung cancer. It has spread throughout his body, including to his brain. He only found out a week or two ago and now he may only have days to live. I can't fathom the of idea of this happening to me or someone I love. It breaks my heart for their family. It seems I know of several people who have died recently or found out recently that they have cancer. That awful C word. I don't mean to be a downer, but this has been weighing on my mind today. This is just one way our lives are unexpected and scary. But...there is hope!

Back to the sermon...the pastor talked about how we must live life as if there is no tomorrow, because tomorrow isn't guaranteed. I am challenging you to live so that you treasure each moment. I am challenging you to be productive in each aspect of your life. I am challenging myself to be kinder, more thankful, more prayerful and more patient. Remember that today is a gift and we must live knowing that this life is short and eternity is long. We must make the most of our time here on Earth and suffer, love, laugh, share, and look forward to the awesome joy that is to come in the next life.

Those are my deep thoughts this week..what are yours?
The Farmer's Daughter 

That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! 
(Psalm 30:12)

Goodbyes

As graduation is slowing creeping up and real life is starting to hit I am hit with a sudden wave of goodbyes. I dislike goodbyes though, they seem too permanent. I like to think of a better way to depart from a person would be to say see you later alligator, after while crocodile. You know like children do. This way it leaves things open to possibilities and potential. Today I had to say goodbye to the CDL. I almost cried which is very unusual for me. I am sure going to miss those wonderful children a whole lot. Not to mention the other teachers and my fellow labor students, it was just an all around good work environment. This weekend is going to be full of goodbyes, some more permanent than others but that is okay. I keep thinking about that verse in Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Even though God was talking to the Israelite people, I think this verse is still applicable to His children today. No matter what lies ahead of me God will always be with me so as Paul says, " I will press on and keep fighting the good fight until that day comes when I am called home" (that is Amanda paraphrasation for you there). It has not really hit me yet that I am graduating from college in less than 48 hours. Maybe by the time Sunday rolls around it will, but there are still lots of goodbyes to be said, moving to be done, and lives to be lead. It has been a busy week and it's going to be an even busier weekend.
In other news as some of you may remember from last year, there have been goodwill bins placed in many of the dorms on campus. So this afternoon/evening I have been dorm hoping. I have to say that I have seen and found some pretty interesting things. I also gained a few extra things along the way like a huge duffle bag, a new backpack, and a trash  bag full of clothes. This should be an interesting addition to my current wardrobe.
In other other news I have unofficially but officially yet, gotten a duplex apartment with a trust worthy acquaintance It is exciting and will be officially moving in on the 15th. So yall should be on the lookout for me, for a bed and dresser?
I have been looking forward to this summer and what this next chapter in my life has in store. I am quiet excited to see what God has planned for me. My new job at the daycare starts on Monday so that will be fun I do believe. Also am thinking we should all meet up sometime soon I miss seeing you all. Sometimes I wish life would slow down a little bit and maybe even have a rewind button so to go back when we were all in one place and didn't have to travel very far to see one another.
I am getting sleepy so I should stop while I am ahead. But I'm sure I'll be making another post soon about graduating and starting my new job so be on the lookout. Captain Something Fun signing off.

New Room, Same Brown Walls

So I officially moved into my final dorm room yesterday. Cathy helped a lot which was great. Something that came to mind though as I was trying to sort through things was,  how come all dorm rooms here are the same ugly brownish color? I think dorm rooms should be happy colorful places so I've added some special touches to my room. You can admire my beautiful organization as you look through the pictures I am attaching.
I am looking forward to this last semester at school.  Only 17 weeks until I graduate! I think it will be a good semester,  sad though because all of you have already left me behind but good times shall come.  Well I better get back to writing my term paper.  Until next time captain something fun signing off.

Recapitulate.

It appears to be my turn to make a blog post since everyone has made one since I made my last post. Honestly, there haven't been many exciting adventures in my life minus the ones I've had with ya'll since my last post. I go to school, come back to campus in order to plan/grade for the next day, and then try to get some sort of sleep. It's a schedule that's wearing on me and making me reconsider my plan to teach in a public school. More on that later once I've figured out my life. Right now, I just wanna recap some of the small milestones in my life.

Today my car stopped functioning...again. Poor Roxie is back in the shop. I went to start it this morning to drive to our book/Bible study for the girls of BCM. It didn't even turn over. After much deliberation, prayer, and searching for a four leaf clover, I got it started...with a little help from some friends. Julie and her husband came back for the second time and were able to get it jumped enough to drive it to the mechanic's house. When we got to the mechanic's house, we were standing behind the car discussing details when we noticed that the brake lights were still on even though the keys were in my hand. Hmm...that's a problem. So right now my car is sitting at a mechanic's house and it seems the problem is a faulty switch causing the brake lights to remain on and drain my battery. Here's to hoping Roxie gets better soon and that the hospital bill is not too much.

My emotions are up and down about my time at the school. It's difficult to motivate myself to get up and go some mornings but some days I am super enthusiastic. The day always leaves me feeling drained. It takes me a couple of hours to recuperate each day and then it's time to go to sleep. The days that I really enjoy my time at school though make it all worth it. It's those moments when a student acknowledges me in the hallway or shows that he really learned something. Sometimes the lessons aren't exciting and I feel that my teaching is lackluster but a student says something that just makes me smile. Then the reflections and grading and regulations and hoops and stuff seems just a bit smaller.

Earlier this week in a teacher's meeting I heard about a new law passed in Kentucky that irks me. Apparently now in the state of Kentucky students can choose to take a path that allows them to graduate early even if they have not met the school's graduation requirements. As long as a student has passed all four end-of-course exams and met benchmark on all areas of the ACT, the student can graduate. These exams happen around sophomore year and the ACT can be taken anytime. This means that a student could effectively skip the last two years of high school, receive a diploma, and be accepted at any state school in Kentucky. For some students, this could be just the out they need. For some students though this could be devastating. They could take this path and then find they are not ready for college or a job. How can a 15 year old make this kind of life choice? It amazes me that the state would pass this law when they are so focused right now on making teachers better with PGES.

Now it's 10:30 which is when my body starts getting tired these days (the name Granny Eyre wasn't arbitrarily chosen). I'll sign off now.

Fun fact: The word capitulate means to surrender and give in. The word recapitulate does not mean to re-surrender. Know the word "recap" that we hear so often at ball games? Yep. You got it. That comes from recapitulate.

Granny Eyre

Finally!

Today was a very exciting day for me in more ways than one. But the best thing that happened was this morning. In my line of work it is really easy to become attached to the little children I work with on a daily basis. So when a toddler just happens to hit a big milestone in their short live I get really excited. I need to back up a few months to the month of February. I had been working in the 1 year old classroom for about a month when a new little friend transitioned over to my room. (Transitioned means he had the cognitive and physical developments appropriate for him to be able to move up, i.e. he could crawl well, and eat table food among other things.) When the new friend arrived he was not yet one years old so he still had to sleep in a crib unlike his other one year old friends. Also among the group of then seven friends only four of them could walk so the new comer was not alone. A month later on his birthday however my new friend was still not walking and all my other little friends were leaving him in the dust so to speak. These past few months have been somewhat of a struggle trying to get the little guy to just take some steps. He has definitely become comfortable pulling himself up and standing there still but he would not walk. I was personally beginning to get worried that the teenie little babies from the smaller room were going to catch up with my little friend on the walking. Today however my worries vanished. I came into visit my little friends in their classroom and the little boy I've been talking about he walked to me! Exciting! Oh my goodness! And then to make the moment even better, one of the little girls who is about a month older than he goes up to him and holds his hand as they start walking. It was so sweet. I just wanted to grab them both up and give them hugs but I didn't. I did hear though from the teacher grapevine that they were able to catch the little guy on video walking and they were able to show his daddy, who was very excited!

In other exciting news I am finally finished with my summer class!! Now just six more credits and I can graduate. It is a strange feeling though. I thought I would feel better when this class got over but yet I still find myself sitting here wondering what in the world I am suppose to be doing. Maybe this will get easier as the summer goes on.
Signing off for now,
Captain Something Fun