Honeymoon!

I could not find the video on youtube, but here is a link to the place we are staying at on our honeymoon. I am very excited. We are staying a week at Dreams Tulum.

http://www.dreamsresorts.com/dre_fla/brand_fla.html

Packing

I am so tired of packing right now. I really do not enjoy the whole moving process. It is tiresome putting things in boxes when they are only going to be unpacked again soon. Although it is exhausting and definitely not fun, it does force me to get rid of some of the things that tend to pile up. I am a saver so I have so much stuff that I really do not need. I am trying to organize now so that it will save me some time when I unpack later.


Today Justin, his family, and his brother's fiance's family are working on our house. I feel completely blessed and blown away at all the help that we have received during this whole process of renovating an older home. I wish I could be there helping them, but I am doing what I need to do here. It is crazy to think that 3 weeks from today I will be getting married....and even sooner than that I will be moving my things into my first house. Very exciting!

Girls Night Out!

Wednesday night we went out for Jillian's birthday. It was exactly what I needed that night. We had such a great time going to Wasabi, shopping, and ending the evening with ice-cream. It was a great night and I am going to miss all these ladies.

I cannot believe that we only have less than two weeks left at JBC! So far I am enjoying this class. There are times when it is extremely frustrating, but I am learning a lot about taking pictures. I am no expert, but I think I will be a better photographer and a little more MAC competent after these two weeks.

This is really funny. This poor kid faints at the National Spelling Bee. The pressure is too much, but then he comes back and spells the word correctly :)

I had my interview today! I believe it went pretty well. It was a little intimidating because I interviewed for the 4 principals for this district at the same time. However, now I feel prepared for any interview. If I can survive sitting in front of 4 principals at the same time, I can surely survive any other interviews with only 1 principal. I feel a huge sense of relief.

First Interview

I have my first job interview this Wednesday afternoon. I am excited and nervous and ready to have one under my belt. When I first heard the news that they scheduled me for an interview I was so happy. In this particular school district you interview in front of all four principals at once. They complete all the interviews in one day. However, I recently found out that they already filled two of the positions I would have like to have. I believe they filled them with certified substitute teachers or others from "within". I am not sure what God's plan is for me or what the purpose of this interview will be, but I need to pray and trust in him. I have so many questions and worries right now. I am overwhelmed and tired. I pray that God puts me where he can use me the most, but even as I pray that it worries me. Sometimes it just so hard to trust when you feel blind. Why do I find it so hard sometimes to trust in the one who has never failed me...not once.

Last Day!

Today is essentially the last day of school for our kids. Tomorrow is a half day, but many of them will not be there since their report cards go home today and they are already counted present. I am a bundle of mixed emotions. I am sad, anxious, excited, sad, and so on. It is amazing how fast this school year has flown by and I am so proud of all that they have accomplished. Everybody has made improvement in some form and they are not the same as when they began the school year. I will miss those kids terribly, as well as my mentor. It has been an incredible journey and learning experience. There were times, though, where I never thought I'd see the end...and now here I stand. Ready.


My prayer is for my students. I hope they leave this year knowing that I love them and being encouraged to learn and love learning.

What a bitter sweet day this will be.

I cannot wait to marry this man next month! This is one of our engagement pictures. One of his friends is a photographer and she is also doing our wedding pictures.

I am so thankful for these girls. This video was taken during Passion '06. It was a great experience, even though we were all grammed in one small hotel room.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

I am thankful for the friends and Godly women God has placed in my life to help me get through.

Future Home

I am in Indiana for the weekend. Tomorrow Justin's mom and aunts are throwing me a bridal shower. I am very excited.

Tomorrow morning, before the shower, Justin and I plan on working on the house for a little while. We bought a home built in 1908 and have basically gutted the whole thing. I think it is going to look absolutely amazing when it is finished.

"How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! We blossom like a flower and then quickly wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear." Job 14:1-2

I read these words from job yesterday and it was a good reminder of how short life is. So often I get caught up with the every day tasks and to-do lists that I forget my purpose. I begin to think that those things are what life is about...which is definitely and thankfully not true.

I don't always take the time I should to stop and enjoy the wonders of God, like the rainbow in this picture. This was taken during the Junior Retreat when we drove through Cade's Cove. We saw so many rainbows and it was absolutely beautiful.

I don't want to forget the good things in this life. It is too short to let it pass away like that. I also do not want to be wishing days away....but I am definitely ready to be finished with school and getting married!

Beach Time

I went to Daytona today and it was great. Time by the pool and the ocean was absolutely amazing and very needed. Praise God for the beach.

Home Sweet Home

I arrived home today and it is so great to be here. I am really trying to treasure my time here because I know there is not much time left since I am getting married next month and moving to Indiana. I love my family so much and I am so blessed to be able to be here. I cannot wait for what the weekend holds.

First Post

I had a difficult time deciding what I would do for my blog. I wanted it to be more than just the random ramblings of me. I chose the title "Life Springs New" because I love the idea of new life and the fact that God has amazing plans for us. He is continually making all things new.

Here is a passage of scripture to encourage you today:

"But forget all that--it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway though the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT)

Almost two years ago God gave my little sister Mei-Leigh a change for new life and a new begning. July 28, 2005 my parents brought her back from China and she has been a joy ever since.