Last Year + New Year = New Goals

This year my little family of 3 + 2 dogs are at the my dad's who lives at the beach to celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve. As I folding a load of laundry I thought to myself what are my goals for the new year? So now is as good of time as any to reflect and share what I would like to do in the new year.

First I want to share a verse from Leviticus. Leviticus 20:7-8 NLT "So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy." Guess you know one goal for me! I want to put God's decrees into practice so that I may be holy. 


Another big goal is to fix our credit scores so we can buy a house! This means really really getting on a budget and sticking to it. Yuck! This is going to be hard with my new love of Pintrest.com and wanting to create new things for my classroom. 


I want to take Monday nights to teach a Bible story to Lilibug and then reflect and reread the story all week. I would like to begin scripture memory with her as well.

I want to also be better at keeping my house clean. I started in August taking 20 minutes after I said I was going to bed to pick up and do the dishes, but that ended quickly in October. I want to make sure that when I do a load of laundry I hang up clothes that don't need to dry to long and to fold my clothes right away. 

Last I want to better my time management with everything. 

That's it for me. Hoping I'll stick with these. 

HaPpY nEw YeAr!

John 8: 31-47

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." -John 8:36

This was a post on Facebook today who read it on Joyce Meyer Ministries. As I read it I immediately wanted to read it in context. 

John 8: 31-47 NIV 

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”   ³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” ³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. ³⁸ I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” ³⁹ “Abraham is our father,” they answered.  “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰ As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” ⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. ⁴³ Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵ Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! ⁴⁶ Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? ⁴⁷ Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Wow is all I can say!  Let's look at the last part: "the reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." That really gets me thinking to today's time and why so many find it hard to believe in the unknown of God. They don't really "hear" what is being told to them. (Wonder if it all of us who say one thing and act a different way?) Makes me want to take back all the times I tried to argue God with someone. I bet both of us were not really hearing. 

In this scripture Jesus is talking to Jews who are trying to find a way to bust Jesus. Here Jesus is not speaking in parables, but being honest with them and asking them why they don't understand him. They also did not understand the concept of being a slave to their sins. As I continue to reread these verses I  see how Jesus is trying to reach them using their lineage to show them how they claim one thing, but act on another. There is so much here that I truly cannot follow it all. I am going to have to take more time, but again wow. 

I do want to go back to the concept of being a slave to sin. How true do we humans fall into traps and become a slave to a sin. That's how the devil does it sometimes. He takes something we do or like that may not even be a sin and uses it to get us off our path a little bit. Think about it this way I love playing games on the computer sometimes I will spend all day on the computer ignoring necessary things that need to be done or skipping time with God. See how something can be turned into an idol. 

To read on in scripture the Jews go on to accuse Jesus  ⁴⁸ The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” Really they called him a Samaritan? I encourage you to study these scriptures for yourself. 

Today I was on facebook and in a little post I found God speaking to me! 

                                                                               Let His word speak to you today!

Merry Christmas-A summary from my house to yours

As I reflect on this holiday season I am over joyed with all the love, laughter, and good times I got to enjoy this year. To be honest I really wanted to skip Christmas this year. I was in the spirit of Jesus' birth, but the idea of traveling, getting schedules down pat, and making sure everyone was going to be happy just wasn't for me this year. Thankfully I was not able to let the season pass me by. For the first time in 3 years I put a tree. Lili enjoyed helping me and loved when I made the lights appear. (Now the fun part of taking it down!) Justin and I did most of our shopping in one trip way in late November. To bad we waited to wrap the presents. I enjoyed creating my students homemade gifts. We started off Christmas break with some easy going days. We had our first annual Christmas party and boat parade where we decorated a homemade boats and they floated around a pool.
I took Lili up to Atlanta on Wed. to spend extra time with her Grandma and Grandpa Carl. She had a blast. We went up on Friday for our annul  Stocking Stuffers. Lots of fun was had by all. Christmas Eve was easy going with my mom and step dad, my brother's family and my family. We enjoyed gift opening and watching the children. It really is all about the kiddos. Christmas day we drove back home to enjoy Christmas with Justin's family. I love that the extended family is so close. While I had some sad moments -we miss you Mema - it was a great time. We then went to Justin's parents to celebrate Christmas with his parents and brother's family. We let the girls open their gifts and enjoyed seeing what they got. We got home to discover more gifts under our tree for Lili bug. While we tried to encourage the concept that Santa is a tradition for some, my lovely 3 year old held on to the idea. We did sing happy birthday to Jesus and talked about the Christmas story with her.

So there it is. Now the day after Christmas we begin the clean up, looking over everything we got, and reflecting on the holiday. For us we will wait to clean up. We are headed to see my dad tomorrow in FL. Hoping for some nice weather to enjoy the sounds of the waves while I read and Lili plays in the sand. I hope to be able to relax and take time for myself before coming home to the day to day grind. Lili will think it's Christmas all over again! We are taking all of her My Little Pony sets with us, but the bulk of her new things will still be new when we get back.

I praise God for allowing me to spend time with family this Christmas. I am blessed way beyond human words and understanding with the love and gifts I received. I pray you had a great Christmas and were able to share it with the ones you love.

Random things from me to you

God is on the move in my life! Daily He speaks to me in many ways. Today He gave me a vision of scrolls with their seals being broken. I still need to contemplate what God is showing me in this. I do not know if this is for everyone or just me. I was listening to a song about getting ready for Jesus to come back. It was People Get Ready by Misty Edwards you can listen to it here: http://youtu.be/iPfa0xpyF3U. I was really asking and praying about what do we need to do to get ready for Jesus to come back. This is  my topic of research for the next couple of days. Anyway God also spoke to me tonight when I went to get set up to work on school things. Low and behold the disk I need was not put in the case nor left in my computer like usual. God must not want me to work on school things. God is giving me dreams and feelings that fit my needs or the needs of people around me. It is amazing to see how God is using me and speaking to me. I started this blog to help me be reminded to seek Him in all the little things and truly I don't have to seek Him because He is seeking me. How wonderful!

God is also using Lili to speak to others He has given her so much joy for Him and His spirit and giving it to others. I'm so use to hear saying Amen when someone says in Jesus' name. She loves singing praise songs and always brings a smile to my face when I am down. It is a struggle daily with her and I. We go head to head on so many things, but at random times she'll look at me and tell me she loves me and misses me. How cool is that. I often ask myself are we doing a good job? Are we really instilling good morals and goals in her? Truly are we? Justin and I joke and make up the most silliest songs about such random things. Any suggestions on a good parenting book for raising a Godly child please let me know.

Our family has been a part of a wonderful home church led by the preacher who was in charge of our campus ministry in college. God has brought it on our group to get bigger and has given us a vision to grow into more. What a task! Justin and I are not sure what God has in store for us, but we do know that we came back to Macon for more than to be closer to family. Justin and I are going to work with the youth of our church starting in January. I've been doing Sunday School and praying that Justin will take over and lead a Sunday morning study on the spiritual disciplines in the new year. I pray God's will over all the changes and decisions being made.

Hoping your holidays are not rushed and filled with the Holy Spirit finding you in the little things!

Who am I?

It's a late night for me. I'm babysitting for my cousin. It's been a trying couple of days,weeks, months I don't know how to pin it down. God is truly speaking in so many ways. Tonight I am a little down and questioning a lot of things and as I was just spacing out I heard "who am I?" in my spirit. Who I am? I am a child of God's who is asked to do nothing on my own accord. Daily I face struggles, but I do not face them alone. I have God right beside me carrying the load.
Many times I let my anger get the best of me and I speak out of turn and I speak my mind without filters, but who I am to get upset? It is not my place. I'm not to seek revenge, I'm not to speak ill of others, I'm not to show my butt to anyone but God, I'm not to take on the world and not ask for help, I'm not to expect others to read my mind, I could go on. God is showing me so much that is IN ME! It's time for me to take a long look at things that are not right in myself and make a conscious change. 
God why do I let my flesh get the better of me? Why do I take things way to personally? Why do I feel the need to let everyone know when I feel like I have been done wrong? Why can't I just let You, God handle it like I know you will in Your time? It seems to be so easy to jump in on the gossip or to tell others what has happened to me, but so hard to be the positive one speaking good and reminding others of the good that has come. I want so much to bring joy into a conversation. I want so much to stop the negative in it's tracks and not agree with others and add to it. I don't want to walk away I want to speak up and bring God into the room.
I am so thankful for where God has me. He knows me, knows what I need, and even though I truly don't see why I have to "suffer" with some things I know there is a reason for it all. As I sit here wondering "who I am" I know I am a child of God.

Inspired

Philippians 4: 4-9

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

Yes it is time to rejoice. God wants nothing more than you to be happy and to rejoice. Yes in Him, but also in life. When you rejoice you are praising Him. You are showing Him thanks. He loves to see you happy and rejoicing! Yep He truly does. 

God is so awesome. I wanted to follow up with some news. I know I've been sharing a lot about teaching and I this past week I put into practice something I learned better yet realized I wasn't doing correctly. I want to set up work stations or tasks for my students to do independently and have tried to do in the past, but it never really worked. Well it didn't work because I did not teach the children how to complete the tasks instead I thought they could do it without me. This week I made a clothespin ABC matching activity and showed the students exactly what to do step by step letting them practice and help me complete the task. I then explained how to raise their hand and show me before taking off the clothespins. We practiced this several times each. We also practiced getting the named activity and taking it to their work station and working quietly on the tasks. I had a picture for the activity and gave it to the student who went and got the task (some needed help) and began working. Again we practiced a lot.Then I put it to the test and had set up stations for the kiddos putting one working on the matching task independently. The other kids were split between me and my paraprofessional. We rotated students and the ones who worked independently didn't even need to ask for help. 

I plan on continuing this with many more tasks. I have made a couple of neat ones that I found on Pinterenest and plan on making many more. The trick is to "teach" it first and then let them be independent. Only 5 years into Special Education and I got one thing down pat. 

Thanks for following me in this journey. God is truly showing Himself to me in the little things and I am happy to be able to rejoice in this discovery. 

You never know

God is in the little things. Today a student whom isn't mine, but helps out with my kiddos in the mornings is moving away. He is a kid who at times just gets under my skin. Very silly and wanting to help so much. I often get frustrated with him for not helping, but playing and want to just send him back to his class. He is currently in foster care and is going to live with his aunt and uncle. I could tell today that he is nervous about moving away and told him it will be great and he will be back with family. His response sent me into tears. He said they aren't adopting me, just taking me in and they could get rid of me at any time. Made me wish I could go back and give him more attention, more praise, and let him do more. You never know. God opened my eyes a lot this week with me and who I am, my work life, and my family life. I am thankful that I can continue to grow and be more to myself, my family, and in my work life. Truly you never know.

Ramblings of a Special Education Teacher! Praising God.

I am a beginner teacher. I have been teaching for 5 years and am working in special education. My undergrad was in teaching grades pre-k to 5th, but God had a different plan for me and I ended up teaching special ed while getting my masters in it with a focus on severe to profound. I worked 3 years to get my masters all the while trying my best to figure out how I was to reach each blessed little child God put in front of me to teach. It was easy to plan lesson from a core content (reading, math, science social studies) mind set, but trying to figure in all the varying needs like sensory issues, fine motor issues, gross motor issues, language issues, social skills, and so much more was truly a day by day if not minute by minute. I am known for changing up my room at least once every 2 months (for the first couple of years once a week) to find the best set up for my students. I can and will continue to teach while a student is laying in their desk with their head upside down on the ground and others making noises. I often cry on Friday when I go back over my lesson plan and realize we didn't get to half of the great things I wanted to because I had to help clean up a blow out, or my students just couldn't keep up with me that day, or they didn't master the skills needed to go on. I have taught the letter Kk to death and a student with the letter K at the beginning of her name still can not tell you that she has written a K on her paper. I plan and think about ways to enhance my teaching and activities for hours upon hours. I love creating new things and ways to help my students make gains. I often start a project and stop and ask "what was I thinking?" I get frustrated when I think my directions were clear and the child just stares at me or wonders around trying to do what I asked even though she has no idea what I asked. I try so hard to find ways for my non-verbal kiddos to communicate. Sometimes I think I hear mumbled words in the "noises" my kiddos make. I see the joy in a child when you hug and appreciate them.

Anyway these ramblings are getting to a point I promise. See I have been doing this for 5 years now and today I saw how God has molded me, allowed me to fail, allowed me to be cut down when I started to brag, and is always shown me how much He loves me. I have had such big dreams and hopes for each school year and assumed it would just come to be, but I now realize that I am still learning. I am thankful to the students who had me for a teacher while I was learning how to be a teacher. They allowed me to make mistakes and still loved me. I am sorry I didn't know what I know now, but also know I will always be sorry if I dwell on that. God has a perfect plan and He put in to play the exact kids I would have while He was molding me. The kids who He knew I could reach and make gains with. I often hear of how past students are doing and feel that sense of why could that teacher get him to do that and I couldn't, but God stops me and reminds me it's because that how God has designed it. Yes this is not the best of news for some. Sometimes we have to realize that why things are happening are for a reason and they will not hurt us. For example: Your child got the brand new teacher this year and your child isn't making as many gains as you hoped. Instead of blaming the new teacher thank God for choosing your child to help make that teacher a better teacher.

I see where I can make improvements and I pray that I do make the necessary changes and not just talk about them like I have done in the past. Amazing how that news flash/light bulb really can hit ya right out of the blue. I have been complaining about things for far to long. Especially since I have the power to change the things I have been whining about! Way to go Carrie-Anne way to go. Thankfully God showed me today what I need to do.

Like I said I am a beginner in the field of education, but I have done all that I could to be the best educator I knew how to be. I will continue to seek new ideas and ways to reach my students. I will rearrange my classroom until I get it perfect for that time. I will make mistakes and I will have successes. I will have God on my side.

So parents of whom I have taught I'm sorry I wasn't the best teacher, but I thank you for helping me to be better. I cannot go back and talk to some whom I would love to talk with to let them know how much they have inspired me. I pray that God has shown them how much I am sorry and how much they have made me who I am.

Today a lady shared about forgiveness and what God says about it. I cannot quote the scripture, but it really hit me. There are some people I cannot go back to and say "I'm sorry," but I want to. God I'm sorry I didn't ask like a lady of God to those people. I'm sorry I let my flesh rule me.

Thank you God for molding me and please continue to work on me! Amen. 

 

Inspiration

So for a couple of weeks I've been really enjoying reading other people's blogs. Thanks to http://pinterest.com. I have especially been looking at teacher blogs. I wish I was as crafty and cutesy as some teachers I have read about. They have the cutest rooms all decked out to the nines and such wonderful ideas. My goal before the end of 2011 is to redefine my classroom into a space that is me! What does this mean??? I need a theme. I've seen frogs, fish, polka dots, pink and brown, you know all the stylish things out there. I also have created a dream board of ideas and things I want to see come to light before 2012. Thanks pinterest.com for being my inspiration to take on more projects and tasks.

Really today my principal talked about why some become teachers giving that old example "for the summers off." Ha that is not why I am a teacher. I am a teacher because it is my make up. God knew before I was even a twinkle in my parents eyes that I was to be a teacher. I fought it too! Trust me I did! How do I know this? I spent the first two days of my Thanksgiving break trying to figure out new ways to teach my kiddos! I am always looking for things that I can use in my classroom when I am out and about and I am constantly reminding myself Lili is only 3 and doesn't have to be drilled on sight words, dot patterns, letters and numbers! Yes I am one of those teachers who is always trying to learn how to reach my students better. Now if I could learn how to manage my time better so I can make and do all that I "WANT" to do that would be great.

Not only did God design me to be a teacher He chose me to teach the special students. You know the one's with the best smile or the one who needs my hands to be his hands. Yep I am a special education teacher. I am blessed to have my life touched by such wonderful children and their families. Now if someone could petition God to give me some skills in the paperwork and organization that would be appreciated. Yep I am constantly checking my calendar only to find I have forgotten to do something. I am always looking for that one piece of paper I know I put in a special place so I could put my hand on it at any given moment. In spite of my shortfalls I am a teacher and I will teach the students placed in my care academics, life skills, and how to be who God made them to be.

I pray everyday that I use my talents and gifts in the classroom the way God wants. I pray that I am able to give 110% so that my students are able to be a part of the school community. I pray that I can work through the child fighting me, screaming and noises, and the snotty noses and that each student goes home with a new skill each day. Thank you God for the many gains the students I have worked with have made. Some are so tiny that when I go and share with others they cannot grasp why I am so excited over a child placing a ball in a toy in the correct place 3 times in a row. Last Sunday our preacher share with us about being thankful and publicly sharing our thanksgivings. Today I want everyone to know I am thankful God made me the way He did and that He cleared the way for me to fulfill His calling on my life.

Please stick with me! I plan on posting pictures of my room then (now) (plain and boring) and now (when I get it done!)

One other blessing from God I would like to share. There is a great program called donorschose.org. This program allows teachers to ask others for donations on projects or items that are needed for our classrooms. I posted a project this year and for over 2 months my project had no one "helping". Now I am getting  wonderful emails saying you have a new donation to your project. I thought for sure that it was not going to be fully funded and put it on the back burner, but God has a different plan. He really is in the little things.

Be sure to check out and help support my Donors Choose project at http://www.donorschoose.org/we-teach/936661.-784392197