Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. Friday.
Then Saturday.
Whoa baby! It came so quickly!
The past couple weeks have seriously been a whirlwind. I can't really tell if I'm happy or sad. It goes back and forth, ya know? I'm done with pretty much everything, and it's surreal.
I had my last house church on Wednesday. My, my, how the Lord has blessed me through that group of people! It was such a sweet night of prayer, encouragement and fellowship. Jay made it very special for Maryssa, Micah, Caleb and I. I am privileged to have been welcomed in by them, since they were the original group. Maryssa has challenged me so incredibly much! She's going across the world to start her teaching career. She has a boldness for Christ and a passion for missions that I deeply admire and wish I had. We've gotten much closer and I am thankful. Micah and Caleb have impressed me a great deal. It's so awesome to see two guys who are dedicated to participating, leading, and pursuing Christ. These young men of Christ aren't just all talk. I am so excited to see how God uses them! Jay also had us sit next to each other and let people in the group wash our feet. It was humbling, yet one of the most meaningful things. It seemed really backwards that some of my freshmen from last year were washing my feet. They are my little babies! Anyways...after a time of eating pizza, watching arm wrestling, talking, crying, and praying, the night was over. The last one.
I had my last Elliv on Saturday. It was VERY good and exceeded my expectations. The Lord has really, really gifted people on this campus. He's just cool like that. Instead of going all-out with costumes like every other year, Hannah, Karl, Em and I decided to go normal instead. This was the first year I didn't have paint on me! After Elliv, we went and saw a movie. It was a chill night, but a good one, for sure.
Then on Sunday I had my last service at Apex. I was NOT looking forward to that. AT ALL. Apex has been what I look forward to every weekend. It's where I go to receive fellowship, refreshment, and to have the truth of the Word spoken into my mind and heart. Rob and Jason have seriously challenged me and pushed me. They have spoken about the hard things that aren't always fun to hear. They don't care if we feel uncomfortable or convicted. They care about the TRUTH of God's Word and the GOSPEL, and that's what matters. After the service, Rob started walking toward me and I lost it before he even gave me a hug. The joy and love of the Lord POUR out of that man. I know he's not perfect, but he runs after Jesus with all his heart and leads humbly. I appreciate him more than I can say and more than he knows.
Yes, I am done teaching, as well. Wow, just typing that sentence brought tears to my eyes. While I'm done with teaching, I'm still at school, acting as an aide to Mrs. Meriweather and observing teachers in other grades. I'm not gonna lie. Sitting back and watching someone else teach the class that has been mine for the last 4 months killed me. I hated it, honestly. I felt like I was doing nothing. My heart is kinda...broken. Actually, not kinda broken. It just is. Yet at the same time, I love seeing Mrs. Meriweather so happy! I can tell that she is so ready to have her class back, especially since she's retiring after this year. With that in mind, I happily give the class back to her! My heart is rather conflicted. I have just grown to love, LOVE my students so deeply. I would do anything for them.
Well, Hannah and I decided we are going to watch an episode of the Cosby Show (yes...I love it and have the first 4 seasons on DVD.) tonight, so I'll continue this another day this week. I have a lot more time on my hands now ;)
Monday, April 27, 2015
Saturday, April 11, 2015
The Sprint to the Finish
I suppose I am officially an unfaithful blogger. I was doing pretty well for a while, but after spring break, all went downhill! Well, here I am now. Let me fill you in on what's happened since my birthday, which seems like quite a long time ago now!
At school, we did our Cowboy Unit the week and a half before spring break. It was so fun! I had been looking forward to that for a while. We read stories about cowboys, learned about what their job was, what they ate, what they wore, where they lived, etc. Then on the Friday before spring break, second grade had a Cowboy DAY. We all dressed up like cowboys and got to have a cowboy lunch, complete with hot dogs, baked beans, chips, fruit & veggies, and trail mix. It was so fun and the kiddos looked really cute. Another fun thing about that day was that Hannah got to come in and visit our class! When she walked in, the kids just stared and one finally said, "WOW. She IS tall!" They loved having her there, and so did I! We helped serve lunch, hung out with the kiddos, Hannah read a story to them, and I gave them a time to ask her anything they wanted. On top of our cowboy day, they kiddos had their good behavior reward party we have at the end of each month. This month, the reward was dancing with the Wii. It was SO FUN. Han and I got to dance with all the kids and be goofy. Needless to say, not a whole lot of teaching went on that day. We took our spelling test and completed our Cowboy Fact Book; I tried my best to be productive! I learned over and over again that days rarely go like you plan them out. Such is the life of a teacher, I suppose ;)
THEN, FINALLY, SPRING BREAK. Whenever teachers told us that they needed the breaks more than students, I laughed to myself and never really got why they said that. HA! I finally get it. I was looking forward to break so very much. On Friday after school, Han and I went to Applebee's and had a date. Then I left early Saturday morning to meet Mom, Aunt Holly and Bam in Ft. Wayne to look for dresses for different occasions. My main goal was to find a dress for JS, which I did. Sunday I went to church. When I go to my church at home, it's like taking a big gulp of water after getting back from a run. I always feel refreshed, encouraged, and rejuvenated. I can't explain how much I love it. It's family. It's where I heard the Truth (with a capital T). Over the next couple days, I got to hang out and do a whole lot of nothing, except for hanging out with Emily, Lexi and my family! On Thursday, we left for Indy. I gave my resume' to 3 public schools down there and shopped with Mama. For dinner we met the whole Bigler bunch (including Lauren, Nick's FIANCE'). This, of course, means that I got to see Millie. Also at dinner, Lauren asked Brinnie and I to be bridesmaids. Um...YES. :) It was so sweet and I absolutely cannot wait for Lauren to be a Bigler. Nick has been blessed with a wonderful woman to spend the rest of his life with! She's pretty blessed, too ;). Oh, and yes, Millie will be their flower girl!
Friday night we spent just hanging out. Nick was home for Easter, and the four of us played Sequence (one of my favorite games). Saturday the boys golfed, Mom ran errands, and I worked out and baked at home. Saturday night, I went to Jason and Jake's new house and watched March Madness with a bunch of teenagers. It was really fun!
Sunday was Easter. Oh, how I love Easter! My Savior is so powerful. DEFEAT SIN? Check. CONQUER HELL AND DEATH? Check. MAKE A WAY FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE TO BE SAVED? Check. My mind can't comprehend. My heart is overwhelmed by those truths. WHAT A SAVIOR.
After church, we did our usual Bigler Easter Lunch at Bent Oak. Even Grandma and Grandpa came (Grandma has dementia/Alzheimer's, and Grandpa has Parkinson's and is really struggling physically)! Then we took off for Markle (my sister-in-law's hometown near Ft. Wayne). We had an Easter egg hunt with Millie and everyone and had probably the best carrot cake I've ever had, thanks for Brin's mom! Then it was time to come back to school :/ I'm so close to being done...it was hard to come back.
I literally have 20 days until I graduate. 20 PEOPLE! I only have 2 more weeks of teaching. The last week, I'm observing other teachers, sitting in on IEP meetings, and acting more as an aide. Holy Toledo, my college days are almost over. I feel so many different things. Mostly excitement is what I'm feeling now, though. I'm ready for a new phase. I'm ready to have a real teaching job. I'm ready to be ROOTED somewhere. The college life is sort of nomadic. I can't wait to be involved and committed to a church, to settle down somewhere, and start my new phase. Yet at the same time, leaving Cedarville means saying bye to my precious second graders, Mrs. Meriweather, Mrs. Carter, my professors, Mrs. Clark (my mentor here at CU), HANNAH, KARLEE, LAURA, EMILY, ALANNA, etc. Yikes. I may be excited now, but come 3 weeks, I'm going to be an emotional wreck.
What does my future hold? "What are your plans for after graduation?" I've been getting that one a lot. My answer? I have no idea. However, I am not panicked. I'm not really even nervous. The Lord has NEVER given me to doubt or not trust Him. He always provides! His ways are perfect! Why should I be afraid? Therefore, I'm not. Now, I haven't always been able to say that over the past couple years. The Lord has graciously gotten me to this point. I couldn't have done that on my own. He's so good :)
I DO know that JS is tonight. If there's one thing I love, it's getting dressed up and going out with my friends :D. I love gettin' dolled up and spending fun time with my friends. It should be a great time!
I promise to do a better job of posting during my last few weeks--my sprint to the finish.
At school, we did our Cowboy Unit the week and a half before spring break. It was so fun! I had been looking forward to that for a while. We read stories about cowboys, learned about what their job was, what they ate, what they wore, where they lived, etc. Then on the Friday before spring break, second grade had a Cowboy DAY. We all dressed up like cowboys and got to have a cowboy lunch, complete with hot dogs, baked beans, chips, fruit & veggies, and trail mix. It was so fun and the kiddos looked really cute. Another fun thing about that day was that Hannah got to come in and visit our class! When she walked in, the kids just stared and one finally said, "WOW. She IS tall!" They loved having her there, and so did I! We helped serve lunch, hung out with the kiddos, Hannah read a story to them, and I gave them a time to ask her anything they wanted. On top of our cowboy day, they kiddos had their good behavior reward party we have at the end of each month. This month, the reward was dancing with the Wii. It was SO FUN. Han and I got to dance with all the kids and be goofy. Needless to say, not a whole lot of teaching went on that day. We took our spelling test and completed our Cowboy Fact Book; I tried my best to be productive! I learned over and over again that days rarely go like you plan them out. Such is the life of a teacher, I suppose ;)
THEN, FINALLY, SPRING BREAK. Whenever teachers told us that they needed the breaks more than students, I laughed to myself and never really got why they said that. HA! I finally get it. I was looking forward to break so very much. On Friday after school, Han and I went to Applebee's and had a date. Then I left early Saturday morning to meet Mom, Aunt Holly and Bam in Ft. Wayne to look for dresses for different occasions. My main goal was to find a dress for JS, which I did. Sunday I went to church. When I go to my church at home, it's like taking a big gulp of water after getting back from a run. I always feel refreshed, encouraged, and rejuvenated. I can't explain how much I love it. It's family. It's where I heard the Truth (with a capital T). Over the next couple days, I got to hang out and do a whole lot of nothing, except for hanging out with Emily, Lexi and my family! On Thursday, we left for Indy. I gave my resume' to 3 public schools down there and shopped with Mama. For dinner we met the whole Bigler bunch (including Lauren, Nick's FIANCE'). This, of course, means that I got to see Millie. Also at dinner, Lauren asked Brinnie and I to be bridesmaids. Um...YES. :) It was so sweet and I absolutely cannot wait for Lauren to be a Bigler. Nick has been blessed with a wonderful woman to spend the rest of his life with! She's pretty blessed, too ;). Oh, and yes, Millie will be their flower girl!
Friday night we spent just hanging out. Nick was home for Easter, and the four of us played Sequence (one of my favorite games). Saturday the boys golfed, Mom ran errands, and I worked out and baked at home. Saturday night, I went to Jason and Jake's new house and watched March Madness with a bunch of teenagers. It was really fun!
Sunday was Easter. Oh, how I love Easter! My Savior is so powerful. DEFEAT SIN? Check. CONQUER HELL AND DEATH? Check. MAKE A WAY FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE TO BE SAVED? Check. My mind can't comprehend. My heart is overwhelmed by those truths. WHAT A SAVIOR.
After church, we did our usual Bigler Easter Lunch at Bent Oak. Even Grandma and Grandpa came (Grandma has dementia/Alzheimer's, and Grandpa has Parkinson's and is really struggling physically)! Then we took off for Markle (my sister-in-law's hometown near Ft. Wayne). We had an Easter egg hunt with Millie and everyone and had probably the best carrot cake I've ever had, thanks for Brin's mom! Then it was time to come back to school :/ I'm so close to being done...it was hard to come back.
I literally have 20 days until I graduate. 20 PEOPLE! I only have 2 more weeks of teaching. The last week, I'm observing other teachers, sitting in on IEP meetings, and acting more as an aide. Holy Toledo, my college days are almost over. I feel so many different things. Mostly excitement is what I'm feeling now, though. I'm ready for a new phase. I'm ready to have a real teaching job. I'm ready to be ROOTED somewhere. The college life is sort of nomadic. I can't wait to be involved and committed to a church, to settle down somewhere, and start my new phase. Yet at the same time, leaving Cedarville means saying bye to my precious second graders, Mrs. Meriweather, Mrs. Carter, my professors, Mrs. Clark (my mentor here at CU), HANNAH, KARLEE, LAURA, EMILY, ALANNA, etc. Yikes. I may be excited now, but come 3 weeks, I'm going to be an emotional wreck.
What does my future hold? "What are your plans for after graduation?" I've been getting that one a lot. My answer? I have no idea. However, I am not panicked. I'm not really even nervous. The Lord has NEVER given me to doubt or not trust Him. He always provides! His ways are perfect! Why should I be afraid? Therefore, I'm not. Now, I haven't always been able to say that over the past couple years. The Lord has graciously gotten me to this point. I couldn't have done that on my own. He's so good :)
I DO know that JS is tonight. If there's one thing I love, it's getting dressed up and going out with my friends :D. I love gettin' dolled up and spending fun time with my friends. It should be a great time!
I promise to do a better job of posting during my last few weeks--my sprint to the finish.
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