His Mercies are New Every Morning

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:1

I have been so blessed by rest, community, and time with the Lord this week. As I am seeking the Lord, he continues to teach me, grow me, and astound me. One very real blessing is my Monday night bible study that my sister in law Holly is leading.

Last week, surrounded by a group of women, many shared that they felt their time with the Lord was lacking. For myself, I shared that this lead to feeling of guilt and shame that the Lord was not a priority. This led to a discussion about how the Lord is a "functional parent", in other words He knows how to reach us according to the specific way He designed our personalities and the way we think and feel. We were assigned a homework assignment: How does God best communicate with you?

After thinking about the times that I feel God speaking, I came to realize that while my journaling and quiet time WERE important ways that God communicates with me, I also felt like God speaks to me through other people. I am definitely an extrovert and so talking and speaking with other people about my emotions and thoughts are so important for me. I realized that God uses other people to speak to me and He does this often. I also feel like the outward way I express what God is speaking to me is through writing (and talking it out with other people).

All this to say, if you feel guilty about not having quiet times with the Lord, don't allow the enemy to use that. Seek time with the Lord, and be thankful when you have it, but realize that God uses many avenues to speak to his children, just like an earthly parent would. This was such a huge realization for me. I love the time I get to sit with God, but I don't need it to be quiet. I like to talk out loud to other people what I am learning, or talk with God out loud about it and this is OKAY. My quiet time does not need to be literally quiet. God reaches us in so many ways.

In other life updates, I got to take a trip to see my family and my best friend Mandy get married. This was such an encouraging time.

Mandy on her wedding day! :)

Also Tony and I have been working with our dog Sage with separation anxiety and I am learning a lot through the process. Funny to see fears of being alone in a dog kind of teach a lesson to me.

Sage whose nicknames so far are: Sagey Girl, Sageicle

Teaching has been BUSY, but I am enjoying my students so much. Teaching is definitely a passion and I am beyond thankful to wake up every morning and go to a job that I feel totally aligns with my calling. I try to take time to thank God for this every morning. I am learning a lot in teaching about letting control of my expectations and allowing God to do his work in my students and myself during the day. Through his grace, I am growing and (hopefully) getting better as a teacher each day.

House progress is slow going but home finally feels like home. I no longer picture our apartment when I think of home (this happened for awhile). I am getting excited about decorating our guest bedroom and we are looking into adding a wood stove (gotta be toasty and warm for the winter).

I am looking forward to the holiday season! Tony and I are staying in Alaska this year for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our first snowfall came yesterday- Hello, winter!

Thanking God for his steadfast love and mercies that I know are new EVERY morning.

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Fitness Friday: Weeks 39- 42 and Heart Updates

I picked up a pen and my journal tonight and felt my heart was full and needed to just write and write. Feeling the need for expression tonight.

Scattered thoughts which make up my heart:

- WE GOT A DOG!! A sweet sweet german shepherd husky mix girl. Tony and I have always always wanted a dog (I have been bugging Tony about this since we got married) but we did not feel good about having a dog in our one bedroom apartment and keeping a dog cooped up all day. A coworker of Tony needed a place for his dog as he couldn't care for her anymore... and so we got Sage! She is a doll. We love her. She is snuggly and affectionate but also has lots of energy and LOVES going on walks. We are thankful for the motivation to go walking!! 

Sweet Sage girl.

- Fitness Update: I have been on nice long hour to hour and a half walks with Sage (went on two this last week). BUT, school is still so demanding for me and I am staying late working on lesson plans, and devoting a lot of time to focusing on this first year of teaching. I am learning to work on fixing this and spending time with my hubby and making time for rest, realizing I have to have that balance. When I made my goals for fitness this year, I had no idea about how demanding teaching would be. I want to honor my goals and am thinking of continuing them for next year (2014). But for now, I want to make the goal that I am walking or jogging with Sage at least 3 times a week. I think that is a goal I can keep and is realistic for my time of life right now. 

- Along with the discipline of fitness, getting in the word has also not been on the priority list where I would like it to be. I decided tonight to change up my quiet time process. I was trying to read a Beth Moore devo and then a chapter or two and then answer some questions in a 365 book that Tony bought me last Christmas. But, I have felt tonight that I want to change my focus and stop to take a second and do something different to kind of jump start my time in the word. I am going to read the chapter of Isaiah. I have already felt so much truth from the word from Isaiah!

- To note: the "fatherless" and the "widow" have already been mentioned twice in Isaiah! And it is only the first chapter. I fall in the category of the fatherless at least in regards to an earthly father so I am always drawn to scripture that shares God's heart for the fatherless and the widow, who is my incredible mother. Looking forward to continuing to read. 

- "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are WILLING and OBEDIENT, you shall eat the good of the land." Isaiah 1: 16-19

- I want a heart of willingness and obedience. This is my prayer and desire. 

- How THANKFUL I am for Christ on the cross and my savior who allows me to be seen as righteous because of his sacrifice before God

- I want to write and read more and feel like this is a piece of my life that has been missing lately. Writing is a good way of expression for me. 

PRAISES to God:

- Went to a women's only "Huddle" bible study last Monday and LOVED it. So thankful for that group of women and how I feel God moving. Love that my sister in law Holly is leading it! What a wise woman.

- Finished one "Quarter" of teaching!! I have parent teacher conferences next week so prayer is needed for that. Much thanks!

- Tony and I our loving our new house :)

- I am going to Texas next Friday to see my best friend Mandy get married and see my family!

Those are my heart and thoughts lately. 

Glad for the time to write and think. 

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Life as a Homeowner

We have been getting all moved in the past week and trying to get comfy and enjoy our new home :) 

Part of the process is also moving out and cleaning our old apartment which took lots of time. 

I am enjoying our new place but I think it is taking it a bit for all of the space and empty rooms to fill up with comfort and a home feel for me. We are getting there. 

I feel so blessed and am praising God for the opportunity to be able to buy a home. God is so so good. 

More updates to come as our house becomes a home!

Here is a tour:

Living room

Sunroom

Shed

Downstairs bathroom

Master bedroom

Laundry room upstairs

Upstairs bathroom

Tony's "Man cave"/ Office/ Second Guest room we are hoping to put a futon in!

Upstairs

Kitchen/ Living area downstairs

Kitchen :)

Come visit us in Alaska!! We have rooms ready for you!

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House News + Teaching Stuff

News on our house: we are closing tomorrow!! Amazing. It has been so surreal to go through the process of looking into buying a house and then actually being able to buy one! Looking at houses I was never really sure when a certain house would work out, and I am just super excited that the Lord was able to lead us toward this house! I love it, and I can't wait. Praise to God, the giver of good gifts :)

Our house has 3 bedrooms upstairs, downstairs it has a kitchen, living area, and sunroom! We are excited about the yard and possible future dog :) The house has 1.5 bath and is laminate flooring with new windows and paint! Pictures to come!!

In other updates, teaching has been quite the adventure. Every single day I thank God for being able to have a job in which I feel is my calling and I feel so lucky to have a job that I love going to every day. I know that the Lord has gifted me and placed the calling on my life to minister and love on middle school kids, and I know that God is going to provide ministry opportunities because He already has!

Some things I am learning about teaching 1) it is physically exhausting (standing all day + talking + being trying to be excited and energetic about what you are teaching), 2) it takes PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE (I have students who ask me questions I have already explained several times, students who are disrespectful, etc, etc) 3) it is AMAZINGLY REWARDING. I love seeing my students learn, grow, and get excited about what I am teaching. Most of all, and so much more than seeing them learn science, I love that I work at a school where praying, sharing scripture, and encouraging my students in the Lord is something that is expected. It has been such a joy to see my students grow in the Lord, to encourage me with their stories, honesty, and questions. I have already learned so much from my students. Something I love about middle school kids: they ask challenging questions, they are still interested in what you have to say (for the most part), and they are able to grasp complex concepts and are teachable. 

Here are a few pictures from my teaching adventure:

This is Miss Frizzle, our class hamster. In sad news, after 4 weeks in our class, she died :( :( 

My students are still recovering, but I am hoping to purchase a new hamster this week!! RIP Miss Frizzle.

Some "After" shots of the classroom! Lots of lime green, purple, and black/ white :)

Front of my class!

This is one of the best labs we have done this year- it is basically a science lab where you look at the densities of different liquids, and pour them into a graduated cylinder based on the most to least dense liquid. 

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/density-tower-magic-with-science

Link to the explanation of the science experiment!

Also, another super fun science experiment we have done that I have loved is the edible cell lab. It is basically where you create a cell out of edible items so the students can eat it! 

I used: graham crackers for plant cells and cookies for animal cells. But this picture below has a graham cracker for a plant cell, vanilla wafer for nucleus, green m&ms for chloroplasts, and licorice for the cell wall. 

Hope you're having a great week! Thanks for checking into my world for a bit :)

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House Fun

So, buying a house is VERY involved. We found a place we really liked (3 bedroom townhouse, yard, sunroom, garage) and made an offer, which was accepted, but now, we found out it may need a new roof which we weren't anticipating with our offer. 

So, we wait. And, we pray. And see what the Lord has. We are trying to make wise financial decisions and are not yet sure if this is the right move. But, I trust the Lord. And have had so much fun walking with Tony during this time. 

But, a girl can dream about her future home right? 

I took my favorite Pinterest ideas to get myself excited about the future :)

Love these colors + the collage of pictures

Right now, our bedroom duvet is gold and I have some reds + browns. I like the idea of taking away the brown and adding more white plus the pretty gold frames.

Don't know why, but I love collages of pictures and quotes. I particularly like the framed word.

Loved this idea for a cute guest bedroom or office.

I have a lot of reds and golds in my living room + kitchen and was looking for ways to jazz it up. I like the pillows here.

Love the pillows here and the headboard.

Found these pillows on Etsy I thought were very similar: 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/119320556/moroccan-quatrefoil-pillow-black-and?ref=sr_gallery_22&ga_search_query=moroccan+pillow&ga_ref=related&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_view_type=gallery

I am excitedly waiting what the Lord has in mind. Even if I have to wait to use my ideas :)

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Sweet Momma Time

So, in case the WONDERFUL surprise of my sister, Joe, and cutie baby nephew Brannon wasn't enough, my beautiful MOM surprised me in Alaska :) :)

JOY, JOY, JOY. My heart is so happy when with family.

Over labor day weekend, I was camping with Tony's family at Eklutna Lake, and my mom just strutted out walking by! Took me a second glance until I realized it was my sweet mom!!

Tony was in California over the weekend for a softball tournament, so my Mom and I got to spend some time camping with the Luikens, then spending the rest of the weekend together. We went biking, made salmon, snuggled up and watched movies, and mostly just had good mother daughter time together. 

I also got to show her the house that Tony and I made an offer on and we went furniture shopping which was fun! I miss my Mom. It is hard being away from her. But the sweet joy when I see her is indescribable. Love this incredible woman of God who has such a servant hearted personality and loves to give and give. 

First pic together

Luiken Camping Time.

We hiked independence mine, even in the rain!

Beautiful Alaska Fall.

Enjoying the colors of autumn.

Mom hugs.

Got to show my mom my classroom!! What a wonderful experience. She also helped me grade some papers :)

Love Alaskan Fall colors.

Of course, my mom had to try out my new bike!

We took a trip to the Alaska State Fair! Got to see some giant pumpkins.

We made some cookies and cream ice cream together with my ice cream maker attachment! 

Love my Mom.

We enjoyed our last day by the ocean! :) Love you momma.

Proverbs 31:26-31 "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many woman do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive , and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

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Fitness Friday: Weeks 34-38

So, in the sake of honesty. I will let you know that working out has NOT been a priority for me. Teaching has been super consuming of my time! Also, Tony and I are working on some budgety things and realizing that our gym, the Alaska Club, may be too expensive. Right now, I would like to work on focusing on working out at the Alaska Club until the end of September and then looking into new gyms.

Hopefully, this will be a boost in my motivation! Will keep you updated on my fitness journey. Pin It