What next?

This time of year is always an interesting one for teachers. It is the time when forms are sent out for you to decide if you will stay at your school or if you are going to pursue other options.

If you're me, these forms mean that you reevaluate all the decision you have made in your life thus far and freak out about life in general. I tend to over think things sometimes.

When I was first looking for jobs and deciding what I wanted to do after I graduated college, I was going crazy trying to figure out what I wanted to do/what God wanted me to do. God's will for my life. Yikes. It was a scary time! I wanted God to send me a letter telling me what to do. Or drop a neon sign in front of my face. Either one would have worked! But that's not how our Lord works.

As is quite obvious, I ended up coming to Pittsburgh! Totally not on my radar, but totally in God's will for me. But each spring that comes and with each intent form that is put in my school mailbox, my minds starts chugging away.

Should I stay here? Is there somewhere I am needed more? Does God want me to go teach in another country? What if I make the wrong choice? How do I know what God wants me to do?? What if I screw it all up?

You see, when you live far away from family and friends, you get lots of people asking you questions when you're coming back home. Or when you will move by them. All which are so sweet and flattering! But also extremely confusing. Is this God giving me hints that I should move this place or that?

My mind has been working in overdrive the past few weeks with all these thoughts and then I got to church last week, grabbed an outline for our Sunday school class, sat down, and looked at topic for that day's lesson. "The Will of God."

Ha! I nearly let out a squeal of excitement as a excitedly grabbed out my purple note taking pen. Yes, I have a note taking pen and, yes, I am slightly OCD. I am ok with it.

My pastor, Pastor Ray Heiple, did an amazing job laying out the different types of God's will there are and what it means throughout scripture as well as what it means for us. Pastor Heiple told me exactly what God's will for me was. Was it to stay in Pittsburgh for 3 more years? Was it to leave all my possessions and back pack across Europe? Was it to move back with my parents and become a bum??

Live for God.

It was that simple. None of the bother with the details and petty worries that cycle through my human brain. To quote the Westminster catechism, "man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever." It is amazing how simple the answer is and how complicated I make it. My calling in life is to live for God, to honor Him with what I do and how I live. I can do that anywhere! God will work His will for my life no matter where my physical body is.

As far as missing God's will, it isn't possible! God's will isn't some magical quest that I am waiting to be called upon to do, nor is it a flight that I just missed because I decided to leave 30 minutes later for the airport. God is working His will for me right now! There is a purpose to all that has happened in my life so far and all that is yet to come. I feel comforted knowing that the details will work out, as long as I continue to live to glorify and honor Christ.

Where I'll be in the coming years, I do not know. But I hope and pray that wherever I am and whatever I am doing, I will be serving the Lord and working to glorify Him through it all.

My Pittsburgh Peeps

Last year, when Julia (my previous roommate and dear friend) told me that she was taking a job in Chicago, it was a bit rough for me. By "a bit rough" I mean hysterical crying in my childhood bedroom. I also realize that I am once again referencing me crying. That doesn't happen thaaaat often. I am emotionally stable, everyone.

Anywho, I don't deal with changes well. Big changes anyway. I had moved out to Pittsburgh knowing no one but my cousin Ryan and Julia, who were moving there with me. The 3 of us were the small town kids moving to the big city! We had a lot of big moments together, especially Julia and I since we lived together. We lived out on our own, really and truly, for the first time. She was my comfy and familiar in a place that was full of new. We did everything together and it was an awesome 2 years.

And next thing I know she was moving and getting married. Something I couldn't do with her. A weird feeling after two years of togetherness.

Needless to say, I was nervous about living in Pittsburgh without Julia. Who would I be friends with? Would my roommates even like me? Would I spend my nights sitting bored in the corner of my room?

I made an agreement with myself when I moved back to PA after a summer in Wisconsin that I would agree to everything I could the first couple of months so I could get out and meet people and do things! I mean, I knew people but I didn't have my comfort bubble.  I also prayed a whoooole bunch, knowing God wanted me here and to help me through the transition.

Well, as usual, God answered in a great way. The new teacher my school hired for this last school year is the same age as I am and we clicked immediately. Not to mention that the rest of my coworkers are fabulous people, people I consider friends first and coworkers second. Through church I have met a bunch of new and fantastic people who have also been wonderful and amazing and every other glowing adjective under the sun. And there are still tons of amazing people from the east side of the city from when Julia and I lived there. All in all, things worked out better than I could have hoped and no, I have not been sitting alone in a corner of my room!

Except now. Which is by choice. And because my car is broken down again. But let's not get into that!

So I want to say thank you to all my dear friends here in Pittsburgh. Living away from family and old friends is hard sometimes, but you have become my adopted family. You encourage me, love me, make me laugh, have me over, and even take care of me when things go wrong. I cannot imagine life without you all! Pittsburgh was never ever a thought in my head 3 years ago, but the Lord sure knew I needed all of you great people in my life. I may never be able to convey just how much you all mean to me and how much you have helped me grow into a somewhat mature and functioning adult. I really and truly love you so very much.

Also, I may or may not be tearing up...so much for the not crying often part...


*Pictures of a few of the many wonderful people I know

 

My Boys

Since I am a teacher and I've been back to blogging for a bit now, I guess it's about time I tell you about life in 2nd grade!

We're over half way through the year...crazy! How is it that life goes by so darn fast as adults?? Another topic for another day. Anywho, we have been cruising along, my boys and I. Yes, my class of all boys has made for a very interesting year! I have had boys each year I've taught, but never an entire class of them. Also, these boys are as boy as you can get. We have been working hard and having a fun year together! They have also been teaching me quite a lot.

Here is a bit of what I have learned spending my weekdays with my 2nd grade kiddos:

1. Boys have energy. A very different energy than girls. It's a--pound my lego creation into the ground then run around the room yelling and flailing arms around--energy. Not that that has ever happened in my classroom...

2.  Boys like doing boy things and to me, that's great! Today's society is so against boys being boys. How many stories have you read about innocent kids being suspended because of their rough playing? Ugh. Lots of boys like to play in dirt, fight the bad guys, and run around because God created them that way. I look for ways to make things educationally messy or energetic because I know these boys need and love that. I gave them a half hour of extra recess Friday...they seriously thought I was a superhero :)

3. Boys can have just as/more tender of a heart than a little girl. My boys have said some pretty darn sweet things to me throughout the year. And they are such gentleman! They hold the door open for me and try to be polite as possible. They also come to me with tears in their eyes when their feelings have been hurt. There is no doubting the love bursting from these boys.

4. Boys in adult like clothing just kiiiilllll me! Soooooo cute! I freaked out on them at the Christmas concert when they all came in ties. One of them was wearing  a bow tie. A BOW TIE! ON AN 8 YEAR OLD! And their giggles. It just tugs on your heart strings!

All in all, the year has been going really well. They challenge me in a whole new way, which, I am learning, is every class, every year. Teachers are always working on adapting, changing, and learning. Keeps it interesting, ya know! I'll finish my post with two delightful 2nd grade quotes. These boys say the funniest things...feeling blessed to be their teacher this year!

Me: How are the cookies?
Student 1: Good!
Student 2: Mine tastes flat.

You can't get old until you get married.