Lessons from Women of Faith-Day #1

Women of Faith.  Wow.  Have you attended? Many of you reading this blog haven't had the opportunity to attend a Women of Faith Conference.  Well, buckle your seat belt because I'm going to give you a fast and furious overview of the lessons learned last weekend in Kansas City.  There are too many wonderful lessons that it would be selfish of me to NOT share my learning with all of you!  This post is chalk full of links to the speakers, blog posts, and even YouTube videos, so make sure to take advantage of the random bunny trails links provided.

Friday, August 22nd

Gateway Worship started the evening with praise songs.  I love watching worship groups who have a spiritual gift for music.  It goes beyond having a good voice.  You can just see God shining through each member!  If you haven't heard any of their music, check out my favorite song of theirs--"Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King."  Even though they didn't sing it this weekend, you still need to check it out!

Anita Renfroe filled the Sprint Center with laughter through her witty jokes and HILARIOUS songs!  Many people cried from laughing so hard at her tongue-in-cheek advice about leggings to all women in a song called "Those Ain't Pants."  Sadly I can't find this gem on YouTube, but I found a highlights reel.  If you need a good laugh, Anita is your go-to gal!  She once told her friend, "Laughter is the bridge that leads people to Jesus."

Scottish powerhouse Sheila Walsh started her teaching by sharing a story about picking up pieces of broken glass as a child.  Her grandma shared a lesson that we should all hear when she told Sheila, "Sometimes broken things, when they're brought together, make something beautiful."

Sheila's message was inspired by a couple of scriptures.  The first is Psalm 86:11:
Teach me your way, Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.
Psalm 86:11 NIV

The next scripture Shelia read comes from the book of Matthew.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

While I've heard that scripture many times, listening to Shelia share the it from The Message brought things to a whole new level for me.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

Sheila's message was for us to participate as we ask God to give us an undivided heart.  We can't just sit back and ask God to do all of the work.  One thing she said really made me think: "Imagine all the baggage you've been carrying around inside of you suddenly became visible.  Would you like what you see?  Would you want to carry that home {to Heaven} with you?  As she unpacked some of her baggage on the stage, noted the difference between guilt and shame.  Guilt tells me I've DONE something wrong; shame tells me I AM something wrong.  With the recent news of Robin Williams' death, Sheila shared that her dad committed suicide.  She couldn't figure out why Robin Williams' suicide hit her so hard until one day God brought it to light for her.  She told us, "I bought into the lie by the enemy that I was going to do what my dad did."  All these years she was walking around with what she thought was shame about her father's death, but she realized it was fear she was carrying with her--fear that she would end up like her father.  Sheila held on to God's promise of resisting the devil, which is found in the Bible.
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 
James 4:7-8 NIV

Sheila pointed out that our fight with the enemy IS real and cannot be taken lightly as she noted, "This is not a playground.  We're in a battle!"  This is why it's so important to cling to the truths in the Bible and put on the full armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-18). If you're struggling with storms in your life, Sheila's book "The Storm Inside" looks like a FABULOUS resource!

After Sheila's deep message, Natalie Grant took the stage.  Oh my word, talk about being blessed with a set of pipes!  She belted out familiar tunes like "Your Great Name" and her Grammy nominated song "Hurricane," and I sang along like I was blessed with Natalie Grant's amazing voice.  It's socially acceptable to sing at the top of your lungs 1)When you're in the shower 2)When you're around a group of elementary school students who don't care how you sound, or 3)When the music at a concert is so loud that it drowns out your lackluster performance.  Thanks to the crew working at Women of Faith for ensuring that no one around me heard me sing out to God!

While the songs I knew were fun to sing, it was the story behind one song that REALLY got my attention.  Natalie talked about her nephew who came to know the Lord when he was six years old.  Sadly he got addicted to drugs and turned from God.  Natalie wrote the song "Burn Bright" for this precious nephew.  As I listened to her sing, my tears flowed freely as I saw her emotions and her passion for this nephew shine.  While I don't know how it feels to be a mama yet, God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams with 9 nieces and 2 nephews.  It's not a blessing I take lightly.  These 11cuties are the closest I've ever been to becoming a mom, and many times I feel like a mom as I share in their joys and their sorrows.  Every woman--especially mamas and aunts out there--needs to listen to this song.  Warning: By the end of it, you'll be in UGLY tears.  Not only will you have the big crocodile tears, but you will also have the snot flowing uncontrollably.  Arm yourself with an arsenal of Kleenex before hitting the play button.  You can thank me later!

What a whirlwind night packed with laughter, praise and worship, and an awesome reminder of the might God we serve!  Stay tuned for my recap of Day #2 at Women of Faith!

Looking for Love In All the Wrong Places

Valentine's Day.  A day for LOVE.  To celebrate that special someone in your life...

Card created by JulieAnnArt on ETSY.

BAH HUMBUG!!!  For many, February 14th is anything but special.  Single Awareness Day is a term I stole from a friend several years ago, and it's a phrase that many know very well.  It's the day that I used to dread.  While the rest of the world was out celebrating their meaningful relationships, I sat at home drowning my sorrows in a pint of gooey chocolate ice cream.  I found a card on Etsy that seems to echo my sentiments.  "Happy Singles Awareness Day.  Have fun watching 'The Notebook' with your cat."  Click here to see this fabulous card in all its glory.

Single Awareness Day was the perfect time for me to sit down each year and make a mental list of all the reasons I was still  single.  Ok, I know what you're thinking.  This is one of those sad blog posts that's going to plunge into the depths of despair in about 30 seconds.  Don't reach for the Ben & Jerry's yet...it gets better.

For so many years, I thought the only thing missing in my life was a husband.  There was this void in my heart that I KNEW would be filled as soon as Prince Charming came riding up on his white horse.  What I soon came to realize was that it was a relationship with the Lord that my life was missing.  After becoming a Christian in 2012, my outlook on life changed.  I believed I was still single because God wasn't ready for me to be married.  He needed to do some work in my spiritual life first.  THEN He would send me a husband.

Last summer I read a book that transformed my thoughts about love like no other.  A dear friend let me borrow her copy of A Confident Heart  by Renee Swope.  As Renee painted a picture of God's love for me, I realized that telling myself I needed the love of a husband to complete me was all wrong.  What I really  needed was to fully realize God's love for me.  I know some of you want to shake your head and roll your eyes a little.  But, this is something I had never been told.  I was journeying into uncharted waters with this whole notion of love.  "If you've ever doubted God's personal pursuit of you, let this truth sink in, my friend: wherever you are, He wants to meet you there.  He is waiting for you to stop, come up close, and turn your heart to listen to His.  You'd don't have to pretend things are fine when they aren't.  He knows what is going on in your thoughts.  Nothing could keep Him from wanting to be with you" (p. 37).

Once I understood God's love for me, my next step was to better understand my relationship with the Lord.  "We don't just know about  our God; our God wants us to know  Him.  We were created for that kind of relationship.  He wants us to find lasting soul-security in knowing we are valued and pursued by the One who knows and loves us--the One who created our inmost being and wove us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13).  Have you let the gospel of God's grace move from your head to your heart, so that you know without a doubt you are known intimately and loved completely by God?" (p. 41)  These words prompted me to dive into God's Word and REALLY understand Him.  Daily I prayed for God to help me to learn a little more about Him and to love Him a little more. 

Although I understood God's love for me, something still seemed "off" in my heart.  I was still struggling to figure why I wanted more--even though I didn't know what I wanted more of. Then I read it.  "Until our hearts find complete security and significance in God's unconditional love, we will never be satisfied" (p. 52).  That sounds simple, right?  Well, I couldn't just trust some book to tell me God loves me.  I had to dig into God's Word even more. 

I can honestly tell you I was still a little doubtful.  While my heart

was filled with His love, would God's love be enough to fill every  empty place in my heart?  Or, would that only happen when Prince Charming showed up?  Well, Renee had the same doubts, and reassured me by saying, "You see, God put a longing for unfailing love in our hearts because He knew it would lead us back to Him.  Only God's unfailing love will fill and fulfill the desires of our hearts.  It is the deepest thirst of our souls.  Until God's love is enough, nothing else will be" (p. 55).  Oh.  THAT'S why God didn't send Prince Charming my way.  He knew that longing would lead me to Him.

I figured it was just me--that God needed to change my heart before I was ready for a husband.  But, a few chats with my spiritual mama helped me understand that God wasn't just preparing me for Prince Charming.  He was also preparing Prince Charming's heart at well.  This dear friend also told me I should start praying for my future husband now--not praying that God would bring him my way, but praying for Prince Charming's protection, his health, his integrity, and most importantly, his walk with God.  Wow.

Navigating through A Confident Heart  wasn't easy.  It forced me to peel back the layers I placed around my heart.  Those layers held onto anger, bitterness, and many scars from my past.  Once I learned to get rid of all that junk in my heart, my relationship with the Lord soared to new heights.  I also studied the Bible with my mentor, and the more I learned about God, the more I wanted to KEEP learning about Him.  I had this hunger and thirst that could only be satisfied by reading God's Word and through prayer.  "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God.  He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat" (Matthew 5:16 MSG).  Yep, that pretty much explains my relationship with the Lord!

I've accepted the fact that I'm almost 34 years old and still single.  God has proven over and over that His timing is perfect, and my faith tells me He'll bring Prince Charming at just the right time.  While the days leading up to February 14th no longer require a vat of chocolate, I still wonder if this is the year I'll meet my future husband.  Yesterday as I was reading my Bible, and ended up in 1 Corinthians 7.  Check this out:

"I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.  But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—and his interests are divided." (1 Corinthians 7:32-34)

The Lord definitely got my attention with this.  Then I read the footnotes for these verses.  "Some single people feel tremendous pressure to be married.  They think their lives can be complete only with a spouse.  But Paul underlines one advantage of being single--the potential of a greater focus on Christ and his work.  If you are unmarried, use your special opportunity to serve Christ wholeheartedly."

Don't you just love those moments when the Holy Spirit leads you to exactly the right place in the Bible?  I call those winks and hugs from God.  That was His gentle reminder to me that it's ok for me to be single still because it is His will for me right now. He has work for me to do, and I look forward to discovering how He will use me to build His Kingdom!

My prayer for those of you reading this post is that you too will truly understand how much God loves you.  If you are walking with the Lord but doubt that His love could ever be enough for you, I encourage you to find a mentor, a pastor, or even ask me to help you work through those layers you have around your heart.  If you haven't accepted Christ as your savior, I pray that you will find someone you trust to talk to more about what this means.  I promise it's the most important decision you will ever make, and your life will change for the better!

Want to read a little more?  Click here to read Renee Swope's blog post called "Letting God Fill My Empty Places."  Lysa TerKeurst offers "5 Ways to Survive Love Season" here.  While the author or "Single and Not Waiting" is 10 years younger than me, she speaks truths that are sure to spark a few "AMEN!!!" comments from people.  Click here for that blog post.

"Playing" Church

About 16 months ago, I decided I wanted to go to church.  At the time, I had no clue what prompted the idea.  But, I followed my heart and stepped inside the doors of Junction City Church of the Nazarene (JCNaz) one Sunday morning--even though I was scared to death.  I remember thinking how I had to pretend to have my life together because no one else in the congregation seemed even remotely broken like me.  I was exhausted from trying to put on a happy face and "play" church  However, I loved the people, the music, and the sermon, so I went back again the following Sunday.

My fears of being in church quickly dissipated as week after week Pastor Jim shared the message that God and members of the church accept us right where we are.  Something in my heart started to change as I realized maybe there was hope for me.  I might belong in church after all!

Eventually a sermon by our youth pastor and conversations with a dear friend prompted me to confess my sins and ask Jesus to come into my heart.  God brought amazing mentors to disciple and help me grow in my walk with the Lord.  Never once did I feel like I wasn't good enough for church.  It wasn't just Pastor Jim telling us that the church accepts us; it was church members actually putting those words into practice.

I wonder how many people today are in the same spot where I was not that long ago.  Do they think they can't accept Christ as their savior until they get their life straightened out?  Are they afraid if they come to church then they won't be as "good" as others in the church?  If so, it's up to us as Christians to change that stigma and bring in those people who need the congregation to love on them.  I've hear a couple wise people say that church is a hospital for the sick.  How can we help people get over their fear?  The solution is simple--don't be afraid to be vulnerable and let people see your imperfections.  Admit your flaws.  Share your testimony and open up to people.  God used people to share their imperfections with me and also stories about how God helped them through the struggles in their life.  I never would have asked questions or grown nearly as much if I wouldn't have connected with people who let me know it's OK to be me.  I don't have to be perfect.  A couple dear friends told me that God will use the hurts in my life to help disciple others who have pains that are similar to the ones I experienced.  I can't wait for God to bring these people into my life!!

This week I found the perfect expression to drive home my point:

I challenge all of you to find a broken soul, let her (or him) see your imperfections, and invite her to church.  If she sees that God loves you in spite of your shortcomings, she will hopefully feel comfortable enough NOT to have to "play" church.  God bless you as you witness to others!

Proud Parent of Flower Babies!!!

2 years ago, I was blessed to have my Grandma come help me plant flowers outside my apartment. Ok, who am I kidding...Gma did all the planting while I provided moral support. Here's Gma (or Sarge as my fam so fondly calls her) in 2011 showing me how to water my flowers. The other 2 pics with her are my Shasta Daisies after Gma first planted them (top) and then when they bloomed the first year (bottom).

I wanted a K-State flower garden, so Gma helped me pick out cute purple and white flowers at Wally World. I soon found out they weren't ALL purple and white, but I was still one proud flower mama. 

Fast forward 2 years to 2013. Besides my Shasta Daisies, the only other plants that bloomed this year were a couple tulips. This could be because of the fact that I never watered my flowers last year and hadn't watered them this year until 2 days ago. My flower bed was a hot mess. 

Here's the "before" pics I took on Saturday. To the left of the daisies are my lilies that aren't in bad shape. In the yellow pot is Tropicana Light, an orange tree the parentals bought for me. She was a good tree until last summer when I forgot to water her. I couldn't keep Tropicana Light alive, yet somehow a maple tree (right side of the above pic collage) decided to start growing between my daisies and lilies. Go figure. The other potted plants belong to my roomie but they were all dead. 

Inspired by a friend who helped me repot Sophie, an indoor plant that I had also neglected (notice a pattern here?!?) and my daisies that were blooming, I decided to give my flower bed some MUCH needed TLC. First I weeded as much as possible. Next I removed the crazy tree. Ok, I got it started, but my roomie had to use her Superwoman strength to pull out the roots. I also said farewell to Tropicana Light. Possibly inspired by my work, my roomie planted new babies in her pots. Finally, I gave my girls a good drink and put down new mulch. Look at the updated flower bed!!

I thought my daisies could use another friend, so I purchased my very first Hibiscus. Mama had beautiful Hibiscus plants at home, and growing up we nicknamed them her "biscuit" plants. Meet Grace, my Hibiscus. 

I decided Grace is the perfect name for this beauty. I got her on clearance for less than $3 but didn't know she'd be that price until I checked out at Water's yesterday. The tag said $12.99, so paying less than $3 was serendipity! If she doesn't make it, I'm not out a lot of money. She will definitely need prayers and lots of love to survive. Stay tuned for updates on Grace and all the flower babies. 

I love looking back at those pictures from 2011, especially the ones of my daisies. I was SO EXCITED when I had 9 bloom. Look at them today!!  Such happy flowers that are full of life and lots of happiness!!

I know God hasn't brought Prince Charming into my life because he was waiting for me to confess my sins and ask Jesus into my heart. He wanted someone who would be equally yoked. Maybe He was also waiting for me to grow up a little. Well, now that I own an apron, have learned to love ironing, and jazzed up my flower bed, maybe the good Lord will decide this domestic diva is ready for Prince Charming to come riding up on his white horse!!!

By the way, if you want to read another blog post about my Gma and those baby daisies, click here.

A Birthday Unlike Any Other

There was a time in my life where I dreaded birthdays.  Don't get me wrong--I love cards via "real" mail, cupcakes with sprinkles, and birthday wishes from 450+ friends on Facebook.  But, with all the joy that came with each passing birthday was the reminder that I was one year older and STILL single.

Now that my 33rd birthday is just a few hours away, I am actually excited.  Like REALLY excited.  "What's changed?" you ask.  Did I finally find my Prince Charming and start a meaningful relationship that will soon include wedded bliss?  Nope, not at all.  I've started a meaningful relationship with someone even more important: the Lord!

Now that I have God at the center of my life, I no longer cringe when someone mentions getting older.  I know He has glorious plans for me, and those plans include sending Prince Charming at just the right time.  While I used to worry with each passing year that my biological clock was ticking, I no longer pay attention to the statistics the come with "older" women having children.  If it's in God's plan, I will defy all those statistics and have kids because I know children are truly a gift from above.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!  Tomorrow I will shout that from the rooftops!  I look at it as one more day God put me on this earth to make a difference in the lives of others.  I will pray as I do each morning that He will send me people who need to see His glory or experience His love.  Each day holds the same suspense as opening presents because I have no idea what exciting plans God has in store for me.  Isn't that one of the greatest joys in life?

Tomorrow I will bust out the sprinkles, light the candles (scratch that--I don't want to start any fires), and get ready to celebrate another wonderful year in this world.  32 was by far the BEST year ever, and I know 33 will be even better!  Have a blessed week!

One of the many highlights of the last year includes being baptized on October 21, 2012!

Stop Killing the Love Of Twitter!

Have you caught the Twitter craze yet? Crazy question, right? Some of you are thinking, "Um, HELLO! What social media rock have you been hiding under for the past few years?!?" Ease up for a minute because I know plenty of people who refuse to jump into Twitter. Don't bother giving them a life jacket because they don't need it. Then there are others who take off their flip flops and dip their feet into the Twitter ocean, but quickly turn around and head back to the safety of the beach where they are comfortable. 

What's stopping these people from one of the greatest social media tools out there?!? THE RULES!!! It's people like me who hand people a list of hyperlinks for getting the most out of Twitter. Geesh! It seems like EVERYONE has some rule you should follow on Twitter, and the amount of rules is crazy. Some of the most ridiculous ones I used to believe (which gives me the right to make fun of them now) include:

*Be original. Don't just retweet what everyone else says. 

Why not? There are plenty of people in the world who are smarter and funnier than me. If I learn from or laugh at their Tweets, why not share that wisdom and humor with others?? Why reinvent the wheel? Retweet away, my friends!

*Decide who you want to be on Twitter.

This one makes me giggle. Um, don't I want to be ME?!? So many people today think we should separate our personal and professional lives--and pick one of those lives to portray on Twitter. Am I starting to sound like a cat food commercial? Get it?? Cats have 9 lives and I'm talking about establishing which "life" you want to lead on Twitter...oy. That joke was a lot funnier when I first started typing it. 

And...focus!!!

Why do I need to establish a profile that only relates to one aspect of my life? I really can't do that. As an educator, I believe student learning should extend beyond the typical school day. Aren't I being a hypocrite if I say my personal life and professional life are two separate things? My professional life certainly doesn't end at 3:30 every day. And I carry my faith and Wildcat pride--two major aspects of my personal life--with me every day to work. So, scroll through my Tweets and you'll find great tips for implementing technology in the classroom, powerful words from Max Lucado and Joyce Meyer, links to news articles and blogs about a variety of education-related topics, and thoughts about and by my beloved Wildcats. I don't actively seek followers. I'm not some high-profile user with over a million followers. I'm just Jenn, and the beauty of throwing out those rules is that you get variety when you read my Tweets. 

Disclaimer: If you're a business on Twitter trying to market a product and connect with clients, scratch everything I've said up to this point. But if you're just an average Joe wanting to jump into the world of Twitter, don't let people scare you off with all these so-called rules you should follow on Twitter. Just throw on that life jacket, plug your nose, and dive into the wonderful world of Twitter--you'll be glad you joined the fun!

There's an app for that!

Yes folks, there's even an app for blogging from your phone!! I'm sure the Blogger app has been out for awhile, but I'm just catching on to the craze!! This means my randomness at can be shared with ease. Yeeesssss!! So, what do you do when it's almost midnight and you can't sleep? You got it--WRITE!!

Random factoid: 94 days until KSU football season kicks off!! Tonight I made a fun collage in all my excitement. Yep, I've joined the collage madness finally--although you definitely WON'T find me on Instagram. Too many kinks in their privacy system for my liking...Anyway, check out this beauty:

Yah buddy. Look at me go! By the way, I borrowed the "Family" sign in the middle of the collage from KSU on Facebook. Go Cats! If I knew how to insert a hyperlink from the Blogger app, I'd totally add a hyperlink to KSU on Facebook. 

Maybe before I write a ginormous blog entry I better post this and make sure it works. More excitement still to come...

#blessings

Have you ever had one of those "wham bam, thank you mam" moments that hit you out of nowhere while listening to a song?  That happened to me yesterday when the song "Blessings" by Laura Story was blaring on my Spotify app.  I've heard that song plenty of times, but for some reason it hit me in a different way.  THAT's the Holy Spirit at work in me!

The first part of the chorus really made me think.  How many times in my life would I consider raindrops to be blessings?  I can definitely relate to healing coming through tears--I've shed plenty of those in my lifetime!  Then the next sentence resonated in me.  How many nights have I tossed and turned worried about something?  Too many to count!  But, now that I have God in my life, I've realized how much calmer I am once I take those worries to Him.

So there I was singing my heart out to Laura's song, and I had to pause and think about the chorus.  Then I hit play again and listened a little more closely to the rest of the lyrics.  Once again, the very last verse of the song spoke to my heart.

I recently experienced a trial in life.  Well, compared to what some people have to deal with, it's merely a hangnail.  But to me it was a HUGE trial.  I had my path in life planned, prayed about it, thought I was on the same page with God, and then He quickly steered me in a different direction.  I even let the devil jump in my head and fill my thoughts with bitterness toward God.  After 2 days--thanks to the love, support, prayers, and wise words from a few friends--God's voice was able to drown out the devil's voice.  I was reminded to TRUST God's plan for me.  That's an easier pill to swallow when I'm not wallowing away in my misery calm and thinking rationally.  One of my dear friends told me that God may have been saving me from heartache.  Definitely a mercy in disguise--only I was to stubborn to realize it at the time.

This song has got me thinking about what I consider to be blessings.  I also realized I don't thank God nearly enough for all the blessings in my life.  I'm quick to turn to him when things aren't going my way, yet not so fast to thank him.  With fierce determination, I'm making it my goal to stop and thank God for even the smallest blessings.

If you haven't heard Laura Story's song "Blessings," check it out below.


I also found her story behind the song on YouTube.  Powerful!


What about you?  Have YOU thanked God for all the blessings in YOUR life today?  If not, take a moment to do that now!

Random sidebar: I didn't copy these pictures from anyone.  I saved clip art, uploaded it to Pixlr express, and added the words.  So, if you want to swipe the pics, feel free to steal them!  I'm happy to share!

Boo KU!

This blog post is sure to send a few tempers flaring.  While some may view this as a bitter rampage in light of K-State's heartbreaking loss in the NCAA tourney today, I assure you that couldn't be further from the truth.  I'm here to set the record straight and explain to the rest of the world why you won't find myself or a majority of the other KSU fans rooting for KU in the NCAA tournament.

Some KU fans say that we have to root for teams from Kansas.  Support our home state AND the Big 12.  Pretty sure the Big 12 is doing fine without me rooting for KU.  Other KU fans claim to have cheered for K-State.  Great.  I sure didn't ask for your support, and I bet Bruce Webber wasn't out there pleading with KU fans to support his boys.  So, if you're a KU fan (or a fan of any other team for that matter) but were cheering for KSU, don't expect us to pat you on the back and tell you what a great person you are.

You see, at Kansas State we are deeply committed to our university and our teams, win or lose.  It's in our blood.  Sure it's a lot more fun winning, but every team has its share of highs and lows.  When our team loses, we pick ourselves up and keep moving forward.  We're family, and we support each other no matter what.  I was reminded of this when I looked at the cover of the 2013 season ticket catalog on Tuesday. 


Check out the entire KSU football catalog by going to http://issuu.com/k-statesports/docs/footballticketcatalog-2013/1?mode=embed&viewMode=presentation.

The pride the Wildcat Nation has in our teams is indescribable.  It's all about family.  That's why we love Saturdays at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.  While we may not spend the day with our blood relatives, we're connected with 50,000+ other family members who bleed purple just like us.

It's also a matter of class.  Look at Coach Snyder.  He's the epitome of class.  I don't just say that because I'm a Snyder Super Fan.  He's earned that reputation on his own.  The way his young men carry themselves and represent the team is partly due to Bill's leadership and the example he sets for them.  He wants them to succeed in life on and off the football field.  The same is true of all our coaches.  They represent the university with the highest standards.  I can't say the same is true of other teams.  Look at the allegations of scandals throughout the NCAA.  Remember the great ticket scandal down the road just a few years ago?  If not, check out this article.  Another article suggests the possibility of police officers being involved in the scandal.

In no way am I writing this to bash the Jayhawks.  I know my beloved Wildcats are far from perfect.  But the level of integrity is just different.  That became VERY clear for me when KU beat Iowa State back in February in one of the most controversial games of the year.  I watched Coach Self stand on the sideline not even 2 feet from Jeff Withey when Withey committed a foul.  After the whistle blew and Withey left the court, Self should have patted his player on the back and congratulated him for a game well played.  Instead, he motioned for Withey to get back on the court, and then the refs called the foul on another KU player.  Here coach had the chance to step in and do what was right--tell the ref that yes Withey did commit the foul.  Instead, he encouraged Withey to get back on the court and keep playing.  It was as if the rules didn't apply to Self and his star player.  What kind of example did he set for his players, fans, and the rest of the world watching that game?  It certainly isn't an example I would be proud to follow!  If you were hiding under a rock that week and missed the buzz, check out this article from the KC Star.

There was one point in my life when I was heavily influenced by peer pressure and actually bought a KU shirt on clearance for $4 (kids department at Alco before they went out of business in JC).  I even cheered for the Hawks to win the NCAA tourney that year in what can only be described as a temporary moment of insanity lapse in judgement. 

I have and always will be a Wildcat.  I join the other alum from around the nation in supporting my team because it's in our blood.  We poured our time, money, and energy into our education at Kansas State University, and couldn't be more proud.  It appears that the loudest KU fans scrutinizing KSU fans for not rooting for them didn't even attend KU.  They don't truly understand that faithfulness to their alumni.  You can't tell me T. Boone Pickens has ever rooted for OU, because he has that OSU pride rooted deeply in him as a graduate of OSU.  Case closed.  While I will wish KU well in the tourney, you definitely won't find this girl rooting for them to win!

Wal-Mart, Trusting God, & Bill Snyder

I'm not a patient person.  I'm the girl who flips the lever on the toaster to make it come up instead of waiting for the toast to pop up on its own.  I rarely EVER leave water in a tea pot long enough to actually hear the pot whistle.  So, guess how much I enjoy waiting in line at Wal-Mart?!?  You got it.  I'd rather make a trip to the dentist than stand in line at Wally World.  It seems like everyone is in line at the same time as me, and somehow they only have half the cash registers open whenever I'm there.  Surely this has happened to you.  Anyway, I recently had the stress joy of waiting in line once again at Wal-Mart.  I knew it was getting bad when I caught myself doing the "impatient bounce."  Yep, I kind of bounce up and down on my toes when it's really hard to wait.  With at least 5 people still ahead of me in line, the bouncing became more frequent.  So, I closed my eyes and prayed.  The bouncing stopped, I was calm, and was in good spirits by the time I finally reached the front of the line.  Crisis averted, thanks to a quick chat with God!  You better believe I'll be praying in line more often!

When I selected my second Bible verse to study in depth, I had no idea just how much I would need the verse in my life last week.  I hit my stress limit by the end of the day Tuesday.  I prayed and asked God to help me with one particular situation.  The next day I realized He answered my prayer.  But, instead of embracing His answer Tuesday evening, I pushed it to the side without really thinking.  Thankfully God placed some angels in my life to help me with the situation.  This experience taught me to TRUST the Lord and stop trying to ignore His voice.  I'm glad He didn't give up on me, despite my wavering trust.  God really will answer your prayers.  Just simmer down and listen to what He tells you!  Oh, don't worry about Copyright on this one.  I uploaded the hearts pic from Microsoft Office and added the words in Pixlr Express.  Feel free to swipe it and use it in your own life!

This week's verse is one I found it on Pinterest a couple months ago, but repinned it without really thinking about its meaning.  Yep, if it's sparkly or pretty, I'm going to read it.  That doesn't mean I read it carefully!  However, I went back and looked it up in my Bible.  When I read the notes in the margin for this verse, here's what they said:
How can we control the thoughts that come uninvited into our minds?  Thoughts of temptation or discouragement can come unannounced.  But we can discipline ourselves, making conscious choices to contemplate good things.  Reading uplifting Bible verses and meditating on them, making a mental checklist of God's attributes, counting our blessings--these types of things can get our thoughts on the right track.  
Yep, this verse is perfect for me!  It took me awhile to track down the original person who created the picture for this verse, but I finally found it.  Head to the Family Bees blog to download a printable PDF of this verse!

Last weekend I had K-Love playing on my car radio as I was driving home from school.  This amazing song came on, and the words spoke to me because they totally describe my life!  I pulled out my phone and frantically opened my Shazam app so I could learn the name of the song.  I narrowly missed side swiping a car, but it was worth it because I got Shazam opened in time.  Turns out the song is called "When Mercy Found Me" by the Rhett Walker band.  Check it out!


The last time readers tuned in, my beloved Wildcats were getting ready to face Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl.  Although the outcome of the game wasn't favorable for anyone who bleeds purple, I'm still a proud Wildcat!  When I was cruising the K-State Sports website looking for next year's schedule, I came across this gem.  It's an article about my favorite Wildcat, Bill Snyder.  I love how Bill credits his infamous 16 Goals to lessons his mother taught him growing up.  What an inspiring story that everyone should read.  And, in case you are wondering, I found next year's football schedule.  Good news, sports fans.  Only 230 days until kickoff on August 31st!  Yes, there's even an app for THAT!  iPhone enthusiasts, check out DaysUntil.  It's a freebie!  I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Bill.  I took the photo at Fan Appreciation Day, so feel free to swipe it.  I'm always willing to share with fellow Wildcats!

Have a blessed week!  

God, Goals, & the Cats

Well folks, after not being able to find time a year-long hiatus from blogging, I'm back!!!  Boy howdy, my life has changed for the better since my last post in December of 2011!  Most notably, I started walking with the Lord.  It's a pretty cool story I'll share sometime, but in a nutshell, I wouldn't be where I am today without the wisdom, guidance, love, and support of a few dear friends.  They know who they are.  I'll stop before I get all emotional...

Why start blogging again?  How does God factor into my blogging?  Excellent questions you may be asking yourself.  Or if not, I asked them for you.  Humor me.  When I blogged previously, people told me they enjoyed reading my random thoughts posts.  I LOVE telling a good story, and love sharing it in writing even more! Well, I've recently discovered that my ability to write is a gift from God.  Stop rolling your eyes at the sound of my arrogance.  I realize we're talking about a little blog here, and not a top-selling book on Amazon.  But, the fact that I seem to have somewhat captured even the slightest attention through my writing has only happened by the grace of God.  Isn't He amazing?!?  So, as long as I feel like I'm using this blog to serve others, I'm going to keep on writing.  Lucky you!

Fast forward to the start of a new year.  With any new beginning comes the dreaded resolutions people make, only to break them not long after they've been set.  Well, this girl  has set a few goals that I'm happy to keep.  The biggest goal is to choose one Bible verse per week to commit to memory, pray about, and apply to my daily life.  Each week I'll add a new verse.  But, the best part is that I'm not going to just "drop" the verse once the week is over.  Instead, I'm going to keep applying more verses.  So, by the 6th week of the year, I'll be applying 6 different Bible verses to my life.  It's definitely a lofty goal, but one that will help me grow.  In church every week, Pastor Jim encourages us to be "not just hearers of the word, but doers of the word."  I love that notion.  I even came across it in the Bible (James 1:22).  Anyway, hearing Pastor Jim say that phrase every week also inspired this goal.  I must confess it's not an original Jenn idea.  I modified it from a goal set by a very wise friend who I can only describe as the best thing since hairspray in a can (borrowed that phrase from "The Help").  Once again I digress...here's the verse I chose to start my year off with:

This verse pretty much makes the claim for why I would spend my year really digging into the Bible.  It seems like everytime I open this wonderful book, I find the most incredible nuggets of wisdom tucked inside each page.  I spent 32 years of my life lost without God, but now that He's in my life, everything has changed.  I still have lots to learn, but will definitely use the Bible to direct my path. It's also part of a song that I could listen to over and over again.  Here's a video of Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith singing "Thy Word."



By the way, I know what some of you are thinking.  Where'd she get that picture of the Bible with the verse?!?  I didn't hijack this from Google images.  I MADE IT!!  I got the image of a Bible from Microsoft Clip Art, uploaded it to Pixlr Express, and added the text.  I heart Pixlr Express because it's easy to navigate, has fun fonts, and is free.  If you've never heard of it, check it out here.  I'm warning you, jazzing up your photos is addicting!

I hope to update my blog weekly this year.  If nothing else, I'll share the verse I'm working on for the week, and maybe a few other random ramblings fun thoughts about life!  Speaking of random thoughts, my beloved Wildcats are playing in the Fiesta Bowl tonight and I couldn't be more excited.  I'm living vicariously through all my friends who are in Arizona cheering on the Cats in person.  I'll be watching from the comfort of my own couch, and will make no apologies to my neighbors for any ruckus that comes from my apartment this evening.  I've waited over a month to yell "BILL!!!!!!!" and "ZIMMERMAN!!!!!!!!" while cheering for my team.  This morning I was reading Ephesians and happened to run across a verse that really spoke to me, especially in light of tonight's game against the ducks.  Here's Ephesians 4:29, courtesy of my YouVersion Bible app:

Talk about the Holy Spirit bringing that verse into my life at the perfect time!  Great reminder for me.  I will not say anything bad about Oregon.  I will NOT say anything bad about Oregon...Let's hope the Wildcats can bring home a W for themselves, all the members of the Wildcat Nation, and especially my favorite Wildcat, Bill Snyder!

Have a blessed day!

memorable quotes from The Help

Today I finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  It sparked tons of emotion as I read.  I laughed.  I cried.  I rolled my eyes.  I groaned out loud.  And, when I finally got to the part about the Terrible Awful Thing, I almost gagged--but quickly laughed thinking about how sweet revenge really is.

Here are a few quotes from the book that I highlighted as I was reading (another reason I love my iBooks app):

"Cause that's the way prayer do.  It's like electricity, it keeps things going."  
I couldn't agree more!

"But Miss Celia, the way she stares at me with those big eyes like I'm the best thing since hairspray in the can..."
I always thought "the best thing since sliced bread" was a fun expression but never really got it--I've had sliced bread all my life!  I'm totally stealing "the best thing since hairspray in the can" and using it!!  Love it!

"Ugly live up on the inside.  Ugly be a hurtful, mean person."
I had a 5th grader who once said, "God don't like ugly."  Agreed!

"All my life I'd been told what to believe about politics, coloreds, being a girl.  But with Constantine's thumb pressed in my hand, I realized I actually had a choice in what I could believe."
I have one of those people in my life.  She's had a huge impact on the way I think about the world and the way I think about myself.  She's truly an angel.  I hope everyone has someone like this in their life!

"Every afternoon, I tell her:  You kind, you smart, you important."
Something every one of us should do for kids!

"Saying thank you, when you really mean it, when you remember what someone done for you--it's so good."
What a great reminder for me to thank the people--from the little things people do to the people who have made a difference in my life--and everyone in between!

"That's what I love about Aibileen, she can take the most complicated things in life and wrap them up so small and simple, they'll fit right in your pocket."
Sounds like the description of an amazing teacher!

I LOVE how Aibileen writes her prayers, and my favorite is Show me how to teach Baby Girl to be kind, to love herself; to love others, whil I got time with her..."

If you haven't read The Help, hit up your local library and check it out!  And, if you decide to join a book club, check out this fun Book Club Kit, which includes great recipes and book discussion questions!

Most Annoying People on FB

The Most Annoying People on Facebook award goes to:

The Mysterious Friend
This is the person that posts status updates in "code."  Why does the MF do this?  The only answer I can think of is to get people to ask more questions.  Seriously.  Just tell us what you're really thinking so we can all move on with our lives!  I don't have time to connect the dots.  If you don't want everyone to know what your "the duck flies at midnight" status really means, then don't POST it!!

Random side bar: I'm guilty of posting "The duck flies at midnight" onto my sister's fb wall a few times.  It gives both of us a good laugh and she knows exactly what I mean.  But, I'm not posting it as a status update that leaves everyone else wondering what in the world I'm talking about...

Whiney Mama
We all have one of these friends.  Every other post is about how horrible her kids are with descriptions that make you think little demons are running amuck in her house.  Really?!?  I wonder what Whiney Mama's kids would be like if she devoted the time she spends griping about them on Facebook to reading with them or playing games with them instead...

I'm Gonna Die
Add people who complain about their health to my Most Annoying list.  We're all human, and it's ok to occasionally curse the cold or flu bug on fb.  But the people who have to let us know every time they have a hang nail, runny nose, or are a little tired should really rethink their mindset.  I know people battling cancer who NEVER complain about their health on fb.  Why do other people have to tell us weekly about their latest ailments?!?

Stalkers
I already vented my frustration about fb stalkers last week in this post.

HUH?!?
While not as frequent, I've encountered a few of these folks on fb.  They are the ones who leave a comment on your status update or photo that makes absolutely NO sense to you or anyone else on the planet.  How do you respond to these posts?  Ask them what they're smoking?  Delete their comment?  Shake your head and move on with life?  I don't have the right answer...

Sick and Wrong
These are the people who feel inclined to give you EVERY detail about bodily functions.  Telling me you have the flu gives me a pretty good mind movie about your condition.  I don't need you to discuss your vomit and raging diarrhea in great detail.  Sinus infection?  Yep, I've had one.  But I don't go around posting about the abundance of brownish-yellow thick snot coming out of my nose!  We get it.  We can all empathize with you without having to hear every gory issue you're facing!

My Life Sucks Worse Than Yours!
Had a bad day?  It doesn't matter with this friend around--he will ALWAYS have something worse that happened to him today.  He scrolls through status updates and has a story to top others.  Sometimes I think this crazy cat looks for drama so people will give him the "sucks to be you" pat on the back.  Why can't I just have a bad day without someone trying to one up me?!?

Unicorns and Glitter
Ok, if I'm pointing out people who drive me nuts on fb, I might as well admit my own flaws.  Yes, I fall into the Unicorns and Glitter category--the people who seem to be upbeat in 99% of status updates.  Do you ever just want to hit those people and tell them that no one can be happy all the time?!?  That's how I feel about some people every once in a blue moon.  But, if you look at a majority of my status updates, I'm living in fairy land with some of these perky people and I'm sure others wonder how my life can always be this happy.  My life isn't always this happy.  I just choose to focus on the positives in my status updates.

You know what?  We're probably all guilty of annoying behaviors on fb at least once in our lives.  That's ok.  Just don't be a repeat offender in one of the categories listed above!  In the mean time, I'll do my best to simmer down some of my happy status updates...

Here's another great article by CNN worth reading--The 12 most annoying types of Facebookers.  Do you fall into any of their categories?

Random-Part 1

We've come to the time of year when most people are posting sentimental Christmasy stories or sharing recipes and craft ideas.  Not me.  I jumped on the random train tonight.  So, here are my thoughts about a few random topics.

PSA #4,902: Lurking is ok on Twitter, but it's called stalking on Facebook.  Pretty sure it isn't socially acceptable.  You know those people I'm talking about--the ones that never update their own status, still have the "generic" Facebook icon as their profile pic or have had the same profile pic since joining Facebook, and never comment on anyone else's status.  But, these same people will stop you in Wal-Mart and tell you 64 stories about your status updates the past month.  Can we say creepy?!?

I love people with a sense of humor--especially when they share their thoughts in writing.  Today I found one of the FUNNIEST blog posts I've ever read.  I laughed so hard I cried when reading this one.  Actually I've read it three times, and it gets funnier each time!  Check out "Overachieving Elf on the Shelf Mommies."  Jen (the author of this blog) deserves to win some award.  While her language is a little "colorful" at times, it's worth reading her thoughts.  A few other funny (but sometimes crude) websites to visit include Sh*t Siri Says and Lamebook.  We all could use a few more laughs in our life!

At the beginning of the year I thought Kindergarten teachers were saints.  Spending the afternoon with over 60 sweet Kinder babies the day before Christmas break helped me realize that not only are Kindergarten teachers saints, they also posess a "magic" like none other.  Don't they always have the COOLEST comments?!?  The things they say to their little cherubs just make me smile!  This afternoon we were getting ready to hand out hot cocoa and cookies to our Kinder group.  One teacher was giving directions, and told them, "When you're done, make sure to wipe your face so no one else knows you just had a snack."  If that isn't a genius right there, then I don't know what is! 

I never know how long a blog post can be before it starts dragging on and on.  That's why I decided not to share everything on my mind.  I'll continue with the next random post in the next couple days!

Fun blog backgrounds!!

Ok, maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake.  But, I just figured out how to change my blog background to something fun created by someone else!!  My blog background came from The Cutest Blog on the Block.  Love all of the blog templates and backgrounds offered on this blog!

The best part of using this website is that it gives you step by step directions for applying the new background or template.  Perfect for newbies like me!  Go check out this website for more fun templates!

big butts

During a rare Heidi Klum fashionista moment, I came up with a letter of advice to the pants designers.  I'm sure the world will be begging me to sign up for Project Runway after reading this powerful letter!

Dear pants designers,

I HATE shopping for pants more than going to the dentist because I rarely find pants that fit me right.  It's miserable.  So, here are a few tips as you go forth and make new pants.

• Just because my butt is bigger does NOT mean I'm tall.  Show some love for the short chubby people, will ya?  You might say, "That's what the petite section is for."  Wrong-o.  The petite pants are too short for me.  Go figure.
• Pleats don't look good on everyone.  In fact, they really don't look good on anyone.  Stop making pants with pleats!
• Some people enjoy the crease that's ironed into pants when they first buy them.  I hate it.  In fact, the only time you'll see me with that crease in my pants is when I've bought a new pair of pants.  Usually it takes 2-4 washes before the crease works its way out.  Save yourself some time and save me some grumbling--stop ironing creases into pants before you sell them!
• Belt loops should be required on all pants.  The older generation is constantly complaining about seeing too much crack from younger folks.  Well, some people need to buy a bigger size pants--otherwise they would be too tight in the butt.  Without a belt, if they bend down, we see a full moon.  Belt loops on every pair of pants would definitely help this issue.

I'm sure I'll have more unsolicited advice for you in the coming months.  Thanks for making a few changes.

Your frustrated pal, Jenn

Thankful!!

This month I've participated in the daily "thankful" posts on Facebook.  Trying to decide what I'm thankful for each day hasn't been difficult for me.  However, today I have the opposite problem--I'm thankful for so many reasons.  So, I thought I'd list them for the world to see. 

• Today I'm thankful for Julie and Denine, the FABULOUS library clerks at school.  They always go above and beyond what is expected of them--especially this week during our book fair.  We wouldn't have been able to pull it off without their leadership, ideas, and hard work.  They even packed everything today while I was out of town.  I'm definitely blessed to get to spend every day with them!
• Today I'm thankful for all the people who have impacted me as an educator.  Spending the day at the KTOY Leadership Conference today reminded me how far I've come since my first year of teaching.  I wouldn't be the teacher, leader, or person I am today without the advice, support, and encouragement of some amazing people!
• Today I'm thankful for the people who have never given up on me--even on days when I wanted to give up on myself!  These are the people who get the 4 page emails from me at 2:30am when I have something on my mind and can't sleep.  Thanks, friends!!
• Today I'm thankful that I created my "story" as an educator--and learned how to convey who I am and what I stand for in a CONCISE manner!
• Today I'm thankful for the radio station 97.9 in Wichita.  They're playing non-stop Christmas music already!!
• Today I'm thankful for all those random expressions in life.  The best one I heard this morning was, "God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason!"
• Today I'm thankful for my siblings.  I always walk away from a phone conversation with them even happier than I was before.  They love me despite all my idiosyncrasies, and are always willing to offer their advice--even if it is unsolicited!
• Today I'm thankful for the little things that made me smile--getting a ginormous stack of my own business cards at the conference (total surprise!!), meeting new educators, Tootsie Pops, learning more about my district KTOY partner in crime, great conversations with 2 wise educators, and being able to relax in my sweats and a hoodie.
• Today I'm thankful for YouTube--especially highlights from the movie Elf!  My favorite scene is definitely the one where it's announced that Santa is coming!

These are just a few of the reasons I'm thankful, and I didn't even include things I mentioned the past 17 days in my daily Facebook posts.  Sometimes I think the world would be a better place if we stopped to think about all the joy we have in our lives each day instead of dwelling on the negative.  I hope people count their blessings every day of the year--not just in the month of November!  We should all live with the same mantra as Buddy the Elf: "I just like to smile.  Smiling is my favorite."

(Click here for a link to the website where I borrowed this picture)

Jilly singing

Jillian--unscripted and unrehearsed--singing her version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

Jenna reading

Here's a video of Jenna reading to me on Saturday.  She had never read this story before.  I'm so proud of my girl!!

birthday luncheon!!

Today I was on cloud 9 and felt like a celebrity because I got to be the Special Guest at our birthdays with the principal luncheon.  Since the principal was gone, I got to "fill in" for her.  Talk about a dream come true!!

The set-up alone is enough to make any kid feel special.  We have 2 large tables on the stage for the luncheon, and our crafty Parent Resource Coordinator lines the tables with jumbo cupcake placemats that she designed.  My description doesn't even begin to do the table justice.  All of the students love the special cupcake they get to enjoy after they eat lunch (and I loved it too)!

During morning announcements, students were told that there would be a special guest at the birthday luncheon today.  They were talking about ME!  I was so excited that I could hardly wait for 11:50.  When the time finally rolled around, I was tempted to wear my tiara--but decided this lunch wasn't all about me.  When the Kindergarten classes came in the gym, several kiddos started yelling, "Miss Stuck!!" while pointing and waving.  I just smiled and waved.  5 and 6 year olds make me happy because they LOVE everything about the world!  Each grade level that filed in also waved and smiled.  Yep, I definitely felt like a rock star!  I commented to each birthday group how fun it was to sit on the stage because "you can see everyone in the lunchroom!"  A first grade boy said, "It's like you're up in the castle!"  Later a fifth grade girl said, "It's like being a princess!  You need your tiara on!"

We had lots of fun conversations throughout lunch.  It was hard for me to enforce the whole "you need to concentrate on eating and not talking so much" idea because I couldn't even stop talking!  The best conversations involved Halloween costume ideas, and the kiddos loved describing their costumes.  I then asked what costume they thought I should create, and here are a couple of my favorite requests.  Thank goodness I had a pencil and paper with me to record their thoughts because they are priceless!

2nd grade boy:
"You like glitter right?"  -student
"I love glitter!"  -me
"Well, why don't you be a glitter princess?  You can get a dress and pour glue on it and then sprinkle glitter all over it!"  -student

2nd grade girl:
"How about you dress up as Ms. L" (our principal).  -student
"That would be fun, but what would I wear?"  -me
"I don't know...principal clothes."  -student

"You should dress up as Queen Elizabeth since you're so big!"  -second grade girl
I wasn't quite sure how to take this suggestion...don't think she meant anything mean when she called me big!

Other costume suggestions that made my "super fun" list include The Tooth Fairy, iCarly, Princess Peach, a bag of pretzels, a candy princess, a can of Mt. Dew, and a diamond.  Kids are so darn creative!

Found out I have a LOT in common with a 4th grader and 5th grader toward the end of lunch.  Here's how that convo went:

"Miss Stuck, do you know the best way to eat pizza?  By dipping it in ranch dressing!"  -5th grader
"Ranch makes EVERYTHING taste better."  -4th grade student
"I totally agree with you!"  -me

Every day is filled with lots of moments that bring a smile to my face, but being the special guest at the birthday luncheon is definitely high up on my "must do again" list.  Is it bad for me to hope the principal has to be gone some other month on birthday luncheon day?  Because I would LOVE to fill in again for her!!