different by design

"get past differing and get on with making a difference in one another's life. God made us different--not to hinder but to help." 
-- From my reading today in Capture His Heart by Lysa TerKeurst.

ouch! I needed this admonishment this morning, but what an amazing way to think about our roles as husbands and wives--to make a [positive] difference in each other's lives.

If you are a wife, you need to read this book.  [It is only about an inch thick, so no excuses!] It is truly changing me and how I interact with Paul.  There are tons of marriage books out there, but, to me, this one is incredible.  It is concise, but it is FULL of God's truth, encouragement, and ideas for practical application.  God is teaching me so much about how to be fulfilled and how to be a blessing to my husband.  I mess up continually, but there is freedom and joy in knowing this: I don't have to [and can't!] do it on my own...the Lord's grace is sufficient...and his Holy Spirit is ever present to help me be what He has called me to be. 

pretties

I love jewelry, but I'm not a big jewelry wearer, or I should say I don't wear much variety--I usually rotate between 3 pairs of earrings (some type of hoop or pearl) and 2 necklaces (usually a diamond cross given to me by my dad when I was in 8th grade or a heart crafted from the diamonds from my mom's wedding set she had with my dad).  I guess I like the fact that these pieces look great with whatever I throw on for the day or if we go out.  For me, simple is good.  Anyway, I recently found this line from a Stay-at-Home Mom, and I absolutely love it!  It's silver, it's got pearls, it's sentimental--what's not to love?! It's all custom, hand-crafted, hand-stamped from sterling silver.

  

I'm reallly wanting a piece...should I start dropping hints? [Actually, I hAte "dropping hints."  Somehow it ruins the gift for me.  I really think Paul should just read my mind...] :)         

bring on the books, sack lunches, & field trips

For those of you who don't already know, I will be returning to school in September at Union University (Germantown campus) to start working on my M.A.Ed. (Master of Arts in Education).  It only took taking a job at a photography studio and quitting after a miserable two weeks; writing gobs of cover letters and filling out gobs of applications for secretarial positions, marketing, nannying, editing, and everything in between; considering law school, traipsing around to every law office within 20 miles of here hoping for a "gopher" position, then shadowing a paralegal to make me realize that the plan I had had since I was five was the right plan: teach.  Not sure why I ever thought I would like to do something else better than teaching, but I'm glad I now have the "exploring other avenues" bug out of my system! Call me idealistic or whatever you will but I am excited about teaching because I feel like it is a job in which I can really make a difference--though it may be a small one--in the world.  Add to that the fact that I have always loved school [I was the kid who, even through college, delighted in organizing my notebooks and having all my homework completed.]  Again, call me what you will.  So needless to say, I am excited about starting back to school both as student and teacher.

I am scheduled to take the Praxis English grades 7-12 Content Knowledge exam on July 24--I've got to start brushing up on my grammar and high school literature! And although I won't yet be certified, I was told to go ahead and apply for positions for this fall, so that's what I'm doing and we're praying someone will be desperate!  The M.A.Ed. program will take me about two years to complete (classes will meet a couple nights a week), will satisfy all the requirements for certification, and will give me a "transitional license" with which I can teach until I finish the degree.

In the mean time, God has been so faithful to meet all of our needs during this last month without me working.  And just this past Sunday, I talked to a couple in our Connecting Point class (aka Sunday School) who owns a franchise of Computer Explorers about the possibility of working for them. [Another couple in our class, who are both teachers, work for them in the summer and suggested I talk with them.]  They are a company who works with schools to provide technology education to kids ages three and up.  I am supposed to meet with her next week and hopefully get started working a camp the week of June 21.  If I am not offered an English teacher position for the fall, then I can most likely continue working for them throughout the school year.  [This is just one of the tangible blessings that is coming out of the relationships we are building with the people in our class.  I'm so thankful the Lord placed us at Central and in that class--He is really growing us through it.]

So, a teacher I will be.  I've got His peace about this [not so new] direction, and I'm excited.