You Have a Voice

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." - Proverbs 31:8-9

To: those who struggle to speak and overcome. You are my inspiration and heroes.

New Every Morning

I am BLESSED because...
Of God's endless love, grace, and goodness.

I am THANKFUL that...
God captured my heart with His love.
I am married the man of my dreams, my best friend, Parker.
I have the greatest family and friends who make my world a better and brighter place.

My DREAM is to...
Live a life that is full of love for all people.
Always live in joy, peace, and victory {no matter the circumstances}.
Give to others in a way that is meaningful.
Love others more than myself.

A New Spin On New Years

I was telling Parker a few days ago that I really love New Years. To me New Years means new beginnings, fresh starts, time to rethink and recreate my plans and goals for my life now and in the future.

Most Americans love to make New Years resolutions. I use to be a die hard "resolutioner" and my promises of new behaviors almost always were associated with working out or not biting my nails. Parker and I actually just wrote in my journal a few days ago some “resolutions” for this year. Our focus is on a lifestyle change, a change of character, something we all should do aim to do everyday... to be more like Jesus. We are always on the Potter's wheel being broken and reshaped into a more beautiful image of Christ. It's a glorious process to be embraced with an joyful heart.

Resolutions to remember for 2011
~ Eat healthier.
~ Run my first half marathon! 3.20.11
~ Read my bible EVERYDAY.
~ Trust in God for everything daily!
~ Rest in God everyday in every circumstance.
~ Make no excuses for my actions that are immature or selfish.
~ Be at peace in God in the middle of the storms of life.
~ Spend more time with my family.
~ Love unconditionally, forgive like crazy, and have tons GRACE for myself and others around me.
~ Join a married couple community group with my hubby.

Prayer for 2011
God help me to honor you in all these goals this year. I open and welcome your plans for my life. In all things I surrender my life to you and offer it up as a living sacrifice of praise to you. Let it be pleasing!! No matter how I feel I will to pick up my cross and follow after you. Speak to me about your will and let me follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in my daily interactions, conversations, and being. Shine through me brightly! Thank you for giving me the best year of my life last year. I can't wait to see what you have in store this year. <3

Lessons My First Graders Taught Me

{My adorable class on pajama day! They earned this by filling up the marble jar with good behavior moments.}

At the end of this year I will have taught 1st grade consecutively for three years!

It has and hasn't felt like I've been working in the "real world" for 3 years.
In this time period I've moved 3 times, meet tons of new amazing friends, started to truly grow up {yay for wearing big girl pants}, started attending a new church, AND changed my name {my personal favorite}... but wait... I was just wearing that cap and gown. Oh, for the love of the journey!

As you can imagine I've had the honor of teaching some really adorable, hilarious, bright, fantastic 6 and 7 year olds. My students are my absolute heart- the reason I smile at my job more often than not. Truly they are like my own children. They have taught me just as much as I've taught them, they just don't know it! So here {lifting my glass} is to lessons taught to a 20 something first grade teacher by many 6 to 7 years olds. Cheers!

The Art of Asking For Help

Growing up I always felt like I was inferior and this dictated many of my actions. I needed to prove that I was not the lesser being. Admitting that I didn't know how to do something or even that I needed help felt painfully threatening. To me asking for help let others know that I was not equal to them and that they were better than me. I had to prove my worth and I was desperate to do so.

I'd like to tell you that this is how it was during my childhood years and I quickly outgrew this as an adult, but that's not the case. Thinking back to my college days at wonderful Emmanuel I remember so many moments when I didn't want to give anyone reason to think that I was anything but great at ALL things. The sad news is that I didn't view myself as good at really ANYTHING and so I felt the need to appear to be good at EVERYTHING. It wasn't until after college that I invited God to work on this issue for real. I had prayed about it in the past {mostly because I felt guilty and silly} but I hadn't truly surrendered it to him and put my "work boots" on yet.

Now I wear the work boots daily {I'd like to imagine them as pink with white polka dots, thank you very much}. I am learning to be more open about my weaknesses and strengths. I'm also truly forgiving myself and MOVING ON!!!!

The best part of asking for help is what you get... HELP! We weren't meant to walk this life alone and try to piece things to get on our own. I'm so thankful God is gracious with me and loves me when I don't do this well and I pray that he helps me to always walk in his way better each day.

Gratefully Yours

Oh me, oh my, how I LOVE Thanksgiving!

When my mind first drifts to thoughts about America's favorite food holiday my mouth starts to water as I imagine Parker's deep fried turkey, pumpkin pie (my favorite treat this week for some reason- Publix has some very yummy pumpkin pie on sale for $2.99!) along with the other yum yums at family gatherings.

Of course seeing family and catching up on some much needed hang out time is a priority above the treats we'll eat, but this season is also a fun one to share with my first graders.

Oh how they love to hear the story of the Mayflower coming to America. I have a funny book of Thanksgiving jokes that I read to them each year that would make your sides hurt from laughing so much! Oh and this year was even extra special because we had what we named a "Progressive Thanksgiving Feast" in first grade where we talked about how certain foods were prepared "then" and how we prepare them "now". It was all in an effort to create a sort of thankful attitude for the many conveniences we have now in this day and time. At the end of that eventful week, however, I told my kids that the only thing that truly mattered, the only thing that we should really spend our time on during the Thanksgiving season is thanking others and telling them why we are thankful for them (I wanted to say GOD too but it is a public school).

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season- which naturally is my and most people's favorite time of year (well with the exception of summer break- as a teacher that is definitely tied for first place)! I love that already in Target I hear Christmas music. It puts an extra skip into my shopping feet. Starbucks happily participates in the joyous celebration of the season with their ever enticing delicious mix of espresso and frappuccino holiday style drinks which I never successfully turn down.

Inhale, exhale...ahhhh... it's here again! Happy dance! The time of year when the world stops to love and laugh and recognize the important things. Simple lesson. Love and be grateful. Here's my prayer~ this Thanksgiving I may embody this: God, may I focus on what is truly important.

We have so many distractions in my life- little thoughts that want to steal our time and joy. We get to choose how I spend my time. I love God I'll spend my time honoring him by loving him and loving others around me.

So in celebration of Thanksgiving this week I'd like to name my blessings- count them one-by-one. My heart attitude this week, and for always I pray, will be one focused on gratitude for all the blessings I've been given and loving others around me in the way Christ has loved me.

"Count Your Blessings- Name Them One By One"
1. My God, my Heavenly Father, My Redeemer, My First True Love, My Healer: the one who rose me from the grave I created for myself, redeemed me, captured my heart, and gave me purpose and love. I live my life for Him.

2. My sweet, wonderful, and loving husband Parker Bailey. My life has changed in every wonderful way since I started dating him in May 2009. God has answered all my prayers for a life mate through him and I'm forever grateful that I get to spend my life with this amazing person.

3. My family: each person in it. I have a family of unique and fantastic individuals! They are beautiful in ways that I rarely see. I love them more than words and their friendship in my life makes every day brighter. We are such a cohesive unit!

4. My amazing friends: I have girlfriends and some guy friends who have stuck it out with me through dark places, the highest of mountains, and boring plateaus. :) These are the folks that see me for who I really am and can laugh at my goofiness and flaws and forgive my shortcomings and mistakes. You are like a fresh breathe of grace in my life.

5. My job- Even though my future plans are to work in a different position than first grade teacher I appreciate the gift that God has given me in this current situation. I don't feel that way everyday, but goodness it's true! When I break it down here's what I get to do everyday: I teach sweet 1st grade minds, hearts, and souls the information they need for their lives. I play mom, doctor, counselor, babysitter, mentor, instructor, interventionist, and disciplinarian. Kind of amazing!

6. My abilities and gifts that God has given to me.

Newlywed Summer Bliss

Summertime is here and I'm blessed enough to have nearly 7 weeks of freedom to be with my handsome husband, relax, and complete some summer projects... life is good!

I looooveeee playing housewife for the summer. <3 I'm learning to cook more and more, decorating our little abode, finding fun new little places to shop for goodies for our home (such as auctions and garage sales), but most importantly getting to spend valuable time with people that I love so dearly and could never be with enough (Parker, especially, and all my friends and family).


Also, since I'm married to the one of the greatest movie buffs I know, I'm spending a lot of time this summer watching movies/series I've wanted to see for a while.

My heart will be full throughout my life for various reasons, but not many will touch this moment in time in our lives. Nothing compares to being a newlywed. <3