and then there was proof...

In the background... sometimes that's where the great things happen. Where they aren't noticed. Where they aren't readily praised. Where they aren't unnecessarily examined. Where they can be properly thought through. The background is where this story started, but not where it's going to stay.

This one guy had been in the background, behind the scenes, in my life. He was a friend, he was a smiling face, but that was all. He just sat and watched me while I paraded around trying to figure my life out. I put myself in the spotlight while he waited in the shadows. He waited for the timing to be right. Timing that wasn't in his terms. Timing that was in His terms, whether this guy knew it or not. I was busy trying to teach and coach and figure my life out while he watched me teach and coach and tried to figure out if he wanted a part of my busy life.

I was busy collecting friends and living the high life, or whatever you call teaching at a Christian school whilst running around like a chicken with its head cut off, and he was working. Becoming. Learning. Collecting skills and character qualities to be a godly man.

Then there was an accident, yet a moment in time that God knew we needed.

After that, the background wasn't really an option. He was on my radar, and I was... uhh... more than just on his radar.

Occasional texting turned into tennis.

Tennis turned into unintentional dates.

Unintentional dates turned into intentional dates.

Intentional dates turned into sporting events.

Sporting events turned into trips to the lake.

Trips to the lake turned into trips to my house.

Trips to my house turned into a family that was readily accepting and thrilled that this guy was so... me.
He smooths out my rough spots.

He eats and likes my food.

He laughs at my jokes. 

He buys me the most thoughtful things (like an automatic car starter).

He treats me with respect and dignity and he treats my family the same way.

 He puts my needs above his.

And he proves his trustworthiness and patience. 

I needed time to prioritize and clear my head while Christ used that time to redeem my past. I wanted pure motives and I needed time to make sure that's exactly what I had. I needed someone willing to wait for me. And that is EXACTLY who I spent time waiting for. :)

Isaiah and I spent time gaining wisdom from the friends who know us both. Praying and talking through our thoughts, dreams, and concerns. We spent time with each others' families and got to know them as well. After a few months of limbo, we made it "official" without making it "facebook official" (which is actually still okay in 2013). And 135 days later, we're still enjoying each other. :)

As someone without an M-R-S, I've gotten the question for years, "When are you going to get married?" I still don't know the answer, but I get to spend my days patiently waiting for an ever-faithful God. He's blessed me quite a bit up 'til now, and I'm excited to see His blessings down the road. For now, I'm gonna enjoy the blessings of a boyfriend who reminds me to love and trust my Jesus.

Amanda Joy Photography

 

life is daily. how should that impact my teaching?

As I think about my job and my class, I wonder what my second graders will remember about me, their classmates, and their time in my classroom. I'm reminded daily of the impact I have on their young lives. I want these children to know that they are loved. They have a teacher who would bend over backwards to help them succeed. But do they know that? How can I show them?

I'm learning that life is daily. It sounds obvious, but some days, that fact is a blessing. Some days, the dailiness of life is a curse. But each day, I am allowed to and required to...

serve my students.

love them.

guide them.

give them opportunities to become who they are designed to be.

give them various chances to find what they enjoy.

answer their unceasing, unrelenting questions.

point them to the Comforter when they are upset.

calm their fears when they are anxious.

encourage them to do their best.

pray with them.

pray over them.

show them what it means to focus on others.

give them time and prodding to reach out to others.

laugh at their jokes.

redirect their wandering minds and hearts.

be an example of focus on the important things.

encourage them to be organized so they can be productive.

smile at them for no reason.

and show them that they are cherished.

Fellow teachers, I hope this can be a practical encouragement as you impact the kids in your class. :)

 

Do it anyway.

I don't often (and maybe I really should) pass on words written by others, but today, I stumbled across this entry by Mother Teresa. Full of wisdom and full of grace.

Do It Anyway

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.



Such a poignant reminder to live for the perfect One who made me, not the imperfect others along life's path.

 

Make a difference Monday: Valentine's Day!!!

Last week: Monday, I left school feeling under the weather, so it didn't happen Monday. Tuesday, I had EVERY intention of leaving the notes between cereal boxes at the grocery store. But a few incidents on Tuesday left me a little extra distracted. So it took me until Wednesday to complete mine, but better late than never! :)

This week: Give a Valentine to someone you weren't already planning on giving one to, like someone who is widowed or single. It won't take you long, but for someone who isn't expecting a Valentine, it might just make their day. Or week. Or year. :) [Going above and beyond: flowers, handwritten notes, homemade cookies...] I have a little plan for giving out Valentines tonight. I'm not sure how it's all going to work out, but I'm really excited for the possibility. Can YOU handle the suspense??? ;)

But what about YOU!?! I would LOVE to hear about who is taking the challenge with me? Leave me a comment about what you've done to make a difference! :)

Make a difference Monday: week two

Report from last week: I wrote my note on a post-it note right before I left school and I tucked it in my wallet so it would be fairly easily accessible when I ran my errands that afternoon. :) I got to Target and kept thinking of a place to drop it. I decided that I would wait to the checkout line in hopes that no one was behind me. It worked out perfectly. I dropped it in the lane as Ii was loading my items onto the conveyor belt. As I was leaving, the cashier was meandering around back towards where I dropped it, so I smiled and picked up my pace. :) It felt good to know that no one (except you) knew the "good thing" I had done that hopefully left a smile on someone's face and pointed them to the true Source of love.

Week two's challenge: Write three (or more) notes of encouragement and leave them one of two places: tucked conspicuously between books at your local bookstore, or on windshield wipers in a parking lot. The choice is up to you! OR... you could do both. :)

If you happen to miss it today, go ahead and do it another day! Blessings know no boundary of time. :) Be a blessing to someone EVERYDAY!

I can't wait to hear about both challenges, last week's and this week's!

memories are made...

when an unexpected event makes your weekend. :)
when someone shares pictures of your surprise sweet sixteen. :)
when a car breaks down in the "freezing" cold. :)
when roommates become "housemates." :)
when siblings become friends. :)
when "home" becomes a term used for several places. :)
when you realize that every day is remarkably wonderful. :)
when you have too many incredible friends to count. :)
when you look back on life and witness God's grace. :)
when late nights turn into really late nights. :)
when you're normally in bed by 10 and someone makes you more than willing to stay up til 3. :)
when you see how ridiculous you looked in high school... and you aren't embarrassed. :)
when you spend your days with children. :)
when you see the colors in a world that everyone is trying to make black, white, and grey. :)
when old friends are reacquainted. :)
when new friends are made. :)
when new steps are made after something "crippling" happens. :)

for so many reasons, my heart is filled with memories today. :)
Makes for a pretty good Monday, if I do say so myself. ;)

day 47: my greatest portuguese accomplishment yet...

today was another day of testing. :) you know you're teaching in another country when you get these questions during any given day of standardized testing:

1. miss roberts, what is meaning of “foot” (referring to measurement)
2. what is memorial day?
3. They're not sure which is their first name and which is their last.

Those are a few things that keep me smiling and wondering how these kids survive these tests. But they make it, and several ask me if that's all they can do all day! Maybe they just hate my teaching... ;)

tonight, krisanna and I realized that we are really good at cooking in bulk. We made pasta dinner tonight with the intentions of saving some for lunch tomorrow. What we didn't anticipate was stuffing ourselves, then having leftovers enough for.... five or six lunches... for both of us... we have pasta coming out our ears! ;)

then, since this week is testing, we rewarded ourselves with a night on the town. We finished up our lesson plans and headed to the metro station and went to the mall. :) my FAVORITE form of exercise! SHOPPING! We've mastered the metro system, and charted out all the good malls along the way. We had a BLAST just being girls tonight, and just being americans. We can sit and giggle as much as we please... and no one can say a word (that we can understand anyway!) we've really enjoyed just spending time together. :) and making memories together. And learning about the culture together. :)

and lastly, today's INSANELY AWESOMELY FANTASTICALLY EXCITING accomplishment... my class was working on some hink pinks and the clue was “a light red beverage.” one girl asked what a beverage was... and since the answer was “pink drink” I didn't want to give it away... I thought for a second and then realized... hey! I know the word for beverage in portuguese! I trotted up to the board and wrote it down! She understood right away and I realized I had accomplished something small in her eyes, yet monumental in mine. I have learned to communicate BILINGUALLY!!! :) (somewhat...)

and that concludes a day in the life...