heaven & co

1. I'm so glad that I get to be a part of my friend's most important day and that she would choose me to be a part of it. With that said, as part of the wedding party comes responsibilities and I'm glad to say that we've finally accomplished the long awaited bridal shower for Vic. Just a couple more weeks until the big day!

2. I squeezed in 35 hours of observations + two 2-day segments into three weeks. It was insane and I've gotten very little sleep since then, but looking back, I enjoyed each part of it. I'm thankful that my mentor teacher was understanding, real, and caring enough to actually mentor me and guide me in her process from planning to instruction, etc. It's been a joy and yes, I so want to teach first grade!

3. Vic and I purchased tickets to Colorado for Kabao's wedding. So many weddings, y'all. This is seriously what it feels like be in the midst of all the wedding madness. This is big girl stuff! ;)

4. I finished my interview portfolio last month and finally completed the portfolio interview just this morning. I can't tell you how nervous I was, but I know that God knows the outcome of all aspects of my life and He is sovereign 'til the end. It was a nerve-wracking experience, for sure. Next on the list: GACE!

5. After a push, I'm going to take a little break ... but I'm inspired to keep going strong until the end. I'm so close to finishing my junior year and I'm doing so well. I'm finding that each semester, one thing that I learn again and again is how His strength truly is made perfect in my weaknesses. All that to say, none of this has been out of my own endurance. If so, then I would have quit a long time ago. I'm also thankful for Jeffrey + my friends who push me and encourage me to the end. Don't know how I'll go on when senior year comes. ;( ......... :)

6. This is the last full week of classes and then two more class day next week. It's insane to me. I've waited for this ... I really have, but I'm saddened by the thought that so much is going to change. So a part of me celebrates the end of a tough semester, but it also hurts knowing that some of my closest friends will be leaving this place very soon. It also forces me to become more of an adult ... not sure if I'm all ready for that just yet. Haha.

7. My RA term is coming to an end! Wow, it was a neat experience. All so new to every bit of it, but hey, truly thankful for the time I was able to serve these girls whether it was putting in work orders or retrieving toilet paper. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing me opportunities to serve these women.

I can't say this enough. I just love my placement in the current school that I'm at. My mentor teacher is just so kind, understanding, creative and very much like me! I feel like I'm able to get along with her and she's so helpful in wanting to help me plan. Such a wonderful blessing in disguise. She's literally only a year older than me and she's come a long way already.

I get to teach these lovely first graders next week and I'm excited. I love first graders and it's great that I get to be placed with them this semester. :)

I've been meaning to update on my trip to Cleveland, but have not found the time to do it nor the words to put it all together. When I say that there are no words, there truly are no words. 

I can't believe that just two weeks ago, I was in Ohio on my very first mission trip. Many thoughts came to mind as I prepared to go. What will happen? What should I expect? Really, I didn't know. I've got to say, it was tough stepping out of my comfort zone and being intentional with conversations because well, I'm just a go-with-the-flow type of gal. However, in just one week, I was able to learn so much about my team and see different sides of who they are and there's always going to be a special place in mah heart for them.

So yes, we toured the city of Cleveland like typical tourists, taking pictures and all, we were able to catch a Cavs game and experience some time walking the streets and waited for buses and failed miserably at the whole bus ticket thing. We tried a neat place on some East Ave. street and got lost multiple times in a mall with too many entrances. We got to check out the West Side Market ... neat ol' place and purchased yummy macrons as well as beef jerky.

Those were some things we had the chance to do during our free time ... but we also painted walls and helped out at a homeless shelter and got to partake in the creation of flowerbeds (something new, for sure, and it was fun). I'm thankful that we were able to serve the community in this way.

We visited the home of a refugee family and it reminded me of home. It reminded me of my parents and their struggle when they arrived in the states with this big ol' family and they had absolutely nothing. While visiting the refugees, we were able to stay for dinner and have minimal conversation. It was hard to communicate but nothing about that made me feel uncomfortable even when it was difficult to understand each other. Regardless of that barrier, we did share one thing in common, Jesus and that is more than enough. The other day as I was walking through walmart, I found myself thinking of this family and wondering how they were doing ... I know that they're being taken care of!

The entire time I was there, I kept asking myself, "What is it about Cleveland?" Granted, I was there because that was the location I chose to go to, but what was it that made me want to serve more in Cleveland? Why was I so much more willing to give so much of myself in Cleveland ... because Cleveland is no different than where I am right now. Cleveland doesn't look much different that what I see here in my own town and isn't that different. Jesus calls us to share the gospel not just in the places we specifically travel to, but in the very places we live in to people who have yet to hear this Good News.

I was challenged specifically through 1 John 1:1-4.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us - that which we have seen and hear we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing those things so that our joy may be complete.

The blessing that we receive in getting to fellowship with Christ is great, but it should also burn our hearts for those far away who don't get that same experience with the Father.