changes...

Too many changes at once has me feeling lost. Most of them are changes that can't even be expressed. Who would understand? Where are those people that promised to always be there when I needed them most? I feel like I am being deserted again and again. It's all the small things that amount to big things, combined with the stresses of life.
Someone once said that "change is a good thing" but I think that's just what people say to make themselves feel better without having to deal with the change that is happening. Oh well- here goes another post into oblivion. Hello oblivion.

Near-death experience...

Today was a stressful day in the middle of a stressful week. So a natural way to wind down at the end of the day is to watch fish. (It's been proven to lower blood pressure) The tank was in DESPERATE need of cleaning, so I took it upon myself to do this before going home. That's when the near-death experience occurred...

for my African Dwarf frog Ferdinand.He decided to jump out the net (in transit to his now clean tank) and onto the floor. It took me at least a good 1-1 1/2 minutes to get him back in the tank.
I was sure he was going die from this experience, but thankfully he seems to be okay. I guess he wasn't ready to go into the light just yet. THAT would make my class even more stressful!

In a mood...

Nothing Gold Can Stay- by Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leafs a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

A Crazed Girl by William Butler Yeats

That crazed girl improvising her music.
Her poetry, dancing upon the shore,
Her soul in division from itself
Climbing, falling She knew not where,
Hiding amid the cargo of a steamship,
Her knee-cap broken, that girl I declare
A beautiful lofty thing, or a thing
Heroically lost, heroically found.

No matter what disaster occurred
She stood in desperate music wound,
Wound, wound, and she made in her triumph
Where the bales and the baskets lay
No common intelligible sound
But sang, 'O sea-starved, hungry sea.'

Yes on Prop 8

Proposition 8 is an important measure coming up on this November ballot. It will defend the traditional definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman. It is more than just a religious movement. The implications that this proposition would have on our society if it fails would be numerous. Churches and pastors could lose their tax exemption if they refuse to marry same-sex couples, children would be taught about gay and lesbian relationships in school without their parent's having the ability or right to protest, and society would be one step away from legalizing a person's right to marry their dog or cat! It is a downward spiral that would ultimately lead to the demise of our civilization. Please take time to think about this proposition, then take the opportunity to vote yes on prop 8 when November comes around.

For more information on this important proposition, go to: http://www.protectmarriage.com/

To donate to this cause so that others can be made aware, please click the link below:
https://www.causes.com/fb/donations/new?cause_id=108612&fundraiser_id=951878&m=ccb734d7

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

1. Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

2. Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
O while Thou dost smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me,
Show Thy face and all is bright.

3. Man may trouble and distress me,
’Twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me;
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

4. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,
Come disaster, scorn and pain
In Thy service, pain is pleasure,
With Thy favor, loss is gain
I have called Thee Abba Father,
I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.

5. Soul, then know thy full salvation
Rise o’er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father’s smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee,
Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

6. Haste thee on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.
Heaven’s eternal days before thee,
God’s own hand shall guide us there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Special new students...

A few weeks into the school year I decided that something was missing. Almost all the other teachers had something that I didn't. Now call me crazy, but I guess having 9 boys and 2 girls wasn't enough. I added three more members to our 1st grade class: a red Beta which the students named Fuzzle Christian (don't ask me why) and two African dwarf frogs named Ferdinand and Isabella. (Obviously I named them not the students)
They are getting along fairly well in their new habitat and have even survived a few weekends and Awana nights. Not only do the kids enjoy watching them swim around, but it's a stress reliever for me after a long day.
I'm proud to say these are my first real pets, so hopefully they will be around for a long time!

God answers prayers!

After more than a year of prayerfully asking God for a teaching job, He has finally given me my request. Last week I received an unexpected call from a school that I had applied to a few months ago. At that time they had been offering a teaching job in lower elementary that I thought would be a great opportunity. Unfortunately, the job was ultimately filled by someone else. I was not expecting to hear from them again, especially so soon. But God knows best!
The call I got last week was to again offer me a job. And unlike last time, this call meant it wasn't between me and someone else... it was mine! I will be a 1st grade teacher at Calvary Chapel Elementary which is located 5 minutes or less (depending on traffic lights) from where I am living. Can I just say that even though we sometimes think God isn't listening to our prayers, He still does. It's not that He isn't listening or doesn't want what is best for us when He doesn't give us what we ask for, but that His plan is so much better than we could ever imagine!

Tribute to a hero on his birthday

Today is the birthday of a very important person in my life... my dad. He has been there for me for the last 24 years. Although I will not be able to celebrate with him on this day, I want to send out a tribute to him. Thanks Dad, for everything you've done for me and continue to do. :)

Makes great crepes
Yearns to make Corona a better place because he's there


Sneaks cheetos when mom's not looking (not knowing she does it too)
Uber excited to be one of 150 invited to the war college!
Preaches the Gospel to himself and others daily through his life
Everyone knows I'm his favorite
Rides an awesome scooter


Dedicated to his family
Always there to offer help when I need him
Daily starbucks addict

These are the days...

The last two weeks have been an interesting time in my life. Several things have happened, some good and some not so great, that have caused me to reflect on who I am.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 0208: Some girl-friends and I took a (very long) road trip to Arizona to spend the week at a friend's parents' house. We mostly just hung out by the pool and got tan (or burnt rather) and took it easy. There were outings to Elephant Bar and to try and find a Blockbuster, a dance party, and skinny dipping. The difference from last time? We didn't try to feed the dog beer (we knew from experience it wouldn't work so why waste good beer?)





THE LAST DAYS: Last week also marked my last day of work. It was a time of mixed feelings. I will miss my kids (some more than others) and will miss the regular income I have finally become accustomed to. However, not having to drive into Riverside and sometimes Banning four times a week will NOT be missed! To commemorate the last day in both the elementary school and middle school where I tutored, we had a party, played games, and pigged out on pizza and nachos. The little kids were especially fun because they were affectionate and wanted one last day to play freeze tag and duck duck goose with the tutors. Who knows if I will see any of those kids again, or if I even made enough impact for them to remember me five years from now. One can only hope...



RETURN TO NARNIA: Luke and I made a trip to Narnia via El Capitan Theater last weekend. We bought the VIP tickets... definitely worth the cash!! For $10 more than the general admission you get to pick your seats (instead of first-come-first-serve) you don't have to stand in the crazy long line that winds around the side of the theater, and you get complimentary popcorn and soda! We were in the 5th row from the front in the middle of the orchestra section. It was, in a word, AMAZING! The movie was great, there is a lot of symbolism to look for, especially when one knows that C.S. Lewis was a Christian and his books were meant to be Christian allegory. After the movie you can visit the downstairs gallery which displays set props and costumes used in the making of the film. It was very fun. I would highly recommend seeing this movie, even if you can't afford to get VIP tickets to El Capitan. It's more than worth $9 at a regular theater.

News Flash

I have finally discovered the true identity of Superman. He was last seen running into a telephone booth in Downtown Disney to make one of his notorious quick changes. Then it was off to save humanity.
Thanks Superman! You're secret is safe with me!

HELP ME SUPERMAN!!!!!

It's a bird...

It's a plane...

It's....

Superman to the rescue!

My hero :)