Christmas via Bozeman

Some of my favorite pictures on my camera from the past week...

Christmas 2011 was a sweet and smashing success.

Candlelight Carols 2011

Firm Voice

Considering this is my first time as a professional teacher I feel as if I learn something new everyday about myself, teaching, my kids...it's a lot of learning.

Today I learned the power of my firm voice.

In my three short months as a pre-school teacher I have found with in me a voice I've only ever heard once or twice in my life.

It is this deep, firm, low, eye-contact accompanied voice that is very serious and tinted with anger.

Yes, anger.

I'm telling you, it's a whole new voice.

It is not a voice I ever used in my customer service years at Starbucks.

Nor did I this voice in my years as an administrative assistant.

...I did use it once or twice as a sister...

But never in the workplace, until now.

I talked to a friend at work about it.  There is a part of me that is not comfortable with being angry and using such a firm voice.  She encouraged me and said some of it is a strength rising up from inside that the Lord is loosening.

I like it.   It reminds me that I'm the one in charge.

It reminds me that I am the teacher.

Which reminds me that I'm the one to care for, love and teach these kids.  And sometimes that requires me doing things I'm not always "comfortable" doing, like using my firm voice.

There have been so many times the past three months I think "I DON"T WANT TO" in regards to some of my responsibilities.  It's in these moments humility and grace come hand in hand and teach me that it's not my job to make my life easier but to respect and honor God in the place He's put me.  Which right now is working with these awesome kids.

Sweet.

Power and the Glory

I realize I've been gone for awhile.

I had no idea how long I'd been gone until I logged on yesterday and began to read all my friends blogs.  I think it's been 29 days.  Which means yes, I've not been on all month.

With that aside, I've been thinking a lot this past week about the power and glory of God.

I've been working my way through Hebrews in the New Testament and was struck with the pictures it paints in chapter 12 about the power of God.

I thought "Man, I wish I could see the power and glory of God in my life"

And then this happened...

my handsome nephew was born on November 16th.  Over Thanksgiving I was able to hold him...

his beautiful big sister

and his handsome (even when pouty) big brother.

During the trip I was also able to see my other nephew born a mere 5 days later on November 21st after 35 hours of labor.  Not suprisingly, the little man had "transitional issues" and was kept in the hospital for another 5 days.

It was special to get to see him go from being in a hospital in cords to being in my arms at his house with no medical experts...just me, my sister and brother-in-law.

Baby safe at home with dad, mom & dog.

Now, I'm yet to be a full biblical research on the power and glory of God.

But in the past week of my life I've seen His power and glory in some very personal ways.

Happy Reformation Day

In honor of Reformation Day all the kids in my class dressed up in costumes, we walked the halls of our school and asked for candy and ending the day with a party in the gym.  

Isn't that what today is about?

:)  

Chicago Weekend

As one who claims to love living in the city my transition to living back in Chicago has not come with out bumps.  There are days I longer for the quiet and ease of the suburbs.  Target is more accessible in the suburbs, as is quiet streets for early morning runs.

This weekend I have felt like a Chicagoan, and enjoyed it.  I began with a Saturday morning run through neighborhoods filled with old houses.  After the run I picked up a coffee at a local (non Starbucks) place as well as a Chicago Arts paper (with dreams of maybe going to play...but in reality just loving feeling in the know).  With my hair wet from my shower, hot Thai coffee in hand and a paper tucked under my arm I walked into my Saturday morning CPR training ready to save lives.  :)

Saturday night consisted of an unofficial Roomie Date night.  I'd like to say we had a lovely evening.  We went to a local BBQ place for dinner.  Not knowing what we were getting into, we pub on our cute earrings and jeans and headed to eat.  

The experience ended up being very casual and delicious!  But since we were still dressed up we decided to end the evening with dessert at yet another Chicago landmark....

Margie's Candies.  I'd never heard of it, but the shop has been around FOREVER! OK, over 75 years.  It was such a trip.  They are known for their ice cream.  I tried my first cheesecake ice cream...delicious!

And this morning as I was walking home from church at the Abbey Pub, I felt like this weekend was complete and full of Chicago city moments.

Wordless Wednesday: "This week we will be studying the Statue of Liberty..."

"Maybe we should...."

Sometimes I remind myself of my dad.

Today after making this delicious meal for lunch (thank you for the recipe, mom!)...

Chicken & Spinach Quinoa Delight
(I just made the delight part up now)
It tasted like chicken noodle soup in solid form.  Is that weird?

...I made a casual comment to my roommate how pie sounded good.  I possibly even said "Maybe we should make a pie"

But I didn't mean we should actually make a pie!

I meant, it would be a good idea if I had the energy and desire to get up after eating such a delicious meal to make dessert!

But we are new roommates.  So she did not know that.

Next thing I knew we (yes both of us) were in the kitchen cutting apples and mixing a crumbly crust.

Before I knew it we had created this...

and after an hour in the oven it transformed into this...

and for dramatic effect here it is in a close-up...

and it was delicious!

According to my mother, my dad will say something like "Maybe we should..."

i.e. "Maybe we should move the family to Chicago and I'll become a full-time student"...but he doesn't actually mean he wants to do it right then.  It's just an idea.  He's just thinking out loud.

I'm glad there's a mom to become the feet (or the yellow light...or the red light) to some of my dad's "Maybe we should...."'s

Just like today I was glad I had a roommate who made my "Maybe we should..." a reality.

It was all worth the delay in my Sunday nap.

Taken Thursday: SSHS Ten Years Later

I tried to think of a clever alliteration for Thursday since I missed "Wordless Wednesday".

So, in lieu of it being Thursday, I feel as if I can use words. :)

Below is one of the very few pictures I took at my ten year reunion.

While uploading the picture to this blog I realized I've known all of the people in this picture for approximately twenty years. 20. Two decades...

Amazing!

What a timeless gift friendship is.

My favorite part of our ten year High School reunion was the laughter.

We laughed A LOT! 

We laughed so much my sweet, pregnant friend's water broke hours after leaving the party.

True story.

 

Oh how I wish you could be a fly on the wall of my classroom...

As you watch from the wall you may think,  "Oh, my!  I never knew Bethany could loose her temper!  I thought she was always kind and loving with only cozy comfort spilling from her heart"

It is true - I can be kind and loving.  And I often am in the classroom.  But please.  I am writing this blog fresh after coming off of a day where the "time-out" chair was the busiest spot in the house. 

With that said, I love my job.  I do.  I love that it pushes me to grow-up in really important ways. 

Such as learning to love a child by being firm instead of always being soft. 
or
Don't take a child's tantrum personal, just because they cry when I put them in time out does not mean they hate me.  And even if they do hate me for the moment, I am learning they will always come give me a hug when they leave at the end of the day.
and
I'm learning how to be a leader of other adults who are both older and younger than I.  The value of encouragement is priceless.  The necessity of being firm at times (there's that word again).  Clear communication takes time...and grace is a must! 
and
PRAY!  Prayer makes walking in the Spirit much more personal.  I can tell the days where I've spent time in prayer and others are praying for me, and the days where I am not quite as "prayed up".  The battles are always bigger with out prayer. 

Looking back on this scattered post, I can see me trying to say...sometimes I don't like my job.  Some days I want to quit.  I get frustrated with something about everyday.  But in my weakness I can see the strength of the Lord maturing and humbling me.  It's a beautiful feeling to be in the Potter's hands, even when He is firm.  I see the grace of the Lord being poured out over my life; and I praise Him for what He is doing!

And finally...in honor of the name of my blog: below is the book I have been poring over the past couple weeks.

Love,
Miss Bethany

btw.  I have parent-teacher conferences next week...what?!  :) 

   

baghhhhh!  I know, I know... I've been neglecting my blog.  I tried to sum up the strength to write, just to settle back down into my bed and fall asleep.

Tonight is the first night I can honestly say I feel like I have the energy and desire to write.

The job has been more responsibility than I first presumed.  Which therefore means I've felt like I've been behind since I started.  I'm beginning to catch up.  :)

Highlights:

1. Cute kids in my face all day long - seriously.  They are so hilarious!
2. Getting to mold and shape the future of America....ok...so I don't feel like I'm doing this yet.  But I've read teachers books since beginning this job and that's what they tell me I'm doing. 
3. Getting to grow in many areas I never knew I had such as; developing creative lessons every day!
4. My commute (thanks to my new move) is seriously only 1.5 minutes.  Today I ran home from work during my break and tweaked my outfit.
5. The people I work with continually caring for me, giving me grace and helping me grow!  I am SO thankful for the team of teachers I work with, and even the other staff at Lydia.  It's been a beautiful community to be apart of.  

That's all for now.  Because I know I'm not suppose to post pictures of the kids due to legal purposes...here's a vague picture of us at the firehouse.  

Love!

A New Season

As the leaves are changing colors, I can't help but get excited for the lovely season of fall!  I've pulled out my favorite boots, dug out my fleece and found my favorite hoodie.  Bring it on. 

With the change of season comes many changes in my personal life.  I'm tooo excited to tell you about.

During my time in China I was able to spend a lot of time praying about the future.  There were two things on my heart; working in a daycare or an after school program and staying in Chicago.  I especially couldn't shake the after school program. 

So, once I returned to the States and began looking for a job it was natural for me to contact my friend at a preschool.  She responded that some jobs may be opening up "soon", in the mean time come and volunteer. 

So I did.

For three months.

Three months of "It looks like a job will be opening up soon...I'll know more information in two weeks...At the end of the month...etc."
It was a time where the Lord continually reminded me to "Wait". There were other job opportunities close to family that were VERY tempting. They seemed like a great fit. But I really felt the Lord telling me to stay in Chicago.



This is what I liked about the preschool.  First, it's an old organization (Lydia Home) in the city of Chicago that has a heart for those who are in a hard spot.  There are a lot of people there that are "rough around the edges".  I like that.  I found myself thinking and wondering about some of the kids when I was not volunteering.

Side note...one thing I struggle with in my walk with God is doubt.  I doubt that He will provide.  I doubt that He is enough.  I doubt...so I try to control how I will be provided for.  I try to meet needs on my own.  This time of waiting was one filled with prayers.  Wrestling.  And the Lord stripping me of things I found identity in (job, car, house...).  Throughout this time the Lord was faithfully providing and providing and providing in big and small ways everyday.  My comfort in doubt was being shaken. 

Last Friday when I walked into volunteer at the preschool I was pulled into the directors office.  She asked "How would you like to run our after-school program?  Our current teacher just resigned and we want you to take her spot.  We need you to work in the preschool in the mornings and then take care of the after-schoolers in the afternoon.  What do you think?"

What did I think?! 

I think that God knows abundantly more what I need and provides specifically for each one of us children. 

That's what I think.

After an overwhelming day of seeing the Lord provide I came home that evening and checked my email:  "Bethany, I know you've been staying with us for awhile but due to some legalities you are going to need to find a new place to live by Sept. 30th" (paraphrase)

And the prayers went up as I sat feeling slightly deflated.  

And He answered.

As of yesterday I've been approved to live in a house owned by Lydia.  The house is right next to Lydia.  It's a beautiful house, with three other single girls who love the Lord and also work at Lydia.  Not only do I now have a place to live, but my hour plus commute has just been cut to about two minutes. 

Tears.

I'm humbled.

As I look over the past three months I've seen God do a mighty work in my life.  I'm excited to see what will happen in this new season.  As this new season starts though, I do have a request from you.  Lydia pulls in people from all walks of life.  It is a ministry that serves a very diverse population.  There is a lot of brokenness, sin, and hurt within the people and the children at Lydia.  There is a very heavy spiritual presence about the work that is being done. 

I ask for your prayers.  I want Lydia, and my role as a teacher to be covered in prayer.  There is a lot of darkness.  I pray for light. 

As the Lord has led me through these last three months He continues to bring me back to Psalm 100.  It says "Acknowledge that the Lord is God; He made us and we are His,  His people, the flock He tends". 

This is what I pray for.  The Lord will be acknowledged as God.  I will live in faith, and in the power of the gospel with humility knowing that this work is not of me.

My heart (and eyes) are full as a type this.  I praise the Lord for his goodness!  His steadfast love is eternal, and His faithfulness is for all generations.

I pray that as the Lord brings me to mind, you will lift up what God is doing at Lydia. 

:) I'm So Excited!...

Tonight I'm happy because...

1. I finished Robinson Crusoe today after a month of perserverance.
2. I am at home in Deerfield tonight after a weekend away.
3. Tomorrow I start...my new job.  :)  More to come!!!!

In my mind I'm wearing this shirt to my first official day of work tomorrow...

Wisco. Love.

There are a lot of pictures in this post but after reviewing all the pics from my trip to the farm...I had a hard time making decisions. 

Hence the photo-documentary of my week in Wisco.  

View of the farm from the road.



Photo-shoot set sans persons.

Add caption

Dinner. Fresh from the garden.

What we found on our way home from exploring...

...an overgrown corn silo? Possibly.
 A romantical, adventurous moment? Most definitely.

Leo the frog.
He joins the conversations in the kitchen every evening at dark. 
He also works as pest control when bored with the conversations.
A very helpful frog to have around. 

Attempt at a self-portrait with new friend, Megan.



The proof of my conquered fear of taking down abandoned hornets nests.
Let's count them...1,2,3,4...too many to count!

Evening at the lake.



Cute child #1. 
Also a first time visitor of the farm.



Cute child #2.
Youngest resident of the farm.

 

Cuties #3 & #4.

Superman style. 

Also the farm superheros.



Um...
LOVE these guys!