with grace in your heart, and flowers in your hair

What is it about sitting in a coffee shop that inspires me to blog?

It does help that this woman who works here keeps bringing me drinks to try.

I literally have four cups sitting by my laptop, at this moment.

I think she feels sorry for me because I'm spending my Friday night alone in a coffee shop.

I would tell her that I'm actually in introvert heaven right now,

but then the drinks might stop coming....

So, I've been pretty awful at blogging lately, huh?

I've sat down and tried to blog so many times, 

but I just haven't been able to put my thoughts and experiences into words.

I can say this:

My life is changing, and it's changing quickly and daily.

The things I'm learning, the things I'm seeing with my own eyes...

they are far too deep and surreal for me to express in a blog.

But that's not to say that I don't want to share what I'm learning.

I'm actually overflowing with things to share with anyone who will listen.

It just might have to happen the old fashioned way.

Some days I can see myself living in Redding for the next several years, 

and some days I spend hours on my laptop

with flights open in one tab, and my bank account open on another,

trying to figure out a way to get home.

More than ever, my heart is completely unsure of what it wants.

And for the very first time in my life, 

I have no idea where I'll be sitting this time, next year.

I do know this, though....

This girl got a job this week at

OLD NAVY!!!!!

I have never been so excited about having a job,

and I've definitely never looked forward to going to work like I do, now.

It is seriously the best work environment I have ever been in.

Honestly, who doesn't love working in a place surrounded by adorable clothes?

And those baby clothes...mmmm. Warms my little heart right up.

I guess this may be worth noting, too:

I'll be going on a trip with students from BSSM to Israel in March!

When I found out I got accepted for this trip, I just cried like a baby.

If only I could express to you how honored I feel to get to bring Love to God's chosen people.

Maybe I need almost $4000 to be able to go,

and maybe I have no idea how I'm going to get that much money,

but I do know that I've been called and chosen.

So, I'm going.

You know that awkward feeling of being the only person in a coffee shop on a Friday night?

The place has cleared out while I've been writing this.

I guess it's a good thing the woman working here feels sorry for me...

xoxo

Graduation

That's right, folks. I graduated!!!

Endings and New Beginnings

It's finally here...the end of my undergrad college career...

and I could not be a happier girl!

I'm just so ready for something new.

New friends, new opportunities, BETHEL!!! ah.

I have to admit, I am really sad for this semester to be over, though.

I had the absolute best student teaching experience ever!!!

The entire 16 weeks were full of adorable kiddos, 

lots and lots of laughs,

and the best cooperating teacher I could ever imagine having!

Here are some highlights from my student teaching:

I feel so blessed to have had such a wonderful experience!

This semester was truly the best semester I've had during college,

and I am going to miss Knoles Elementary so much!!!

So, what's next for me?

I'll be moving to Redding, CA in September

to attend Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry.

And after that?

........

You'll just have to wait and see.

=)

twenty.eleven.

So, I definitely win the slacker blogger award - it's true.

desculpa.

Sorry to say...nothing really exciting has happened....

I mean...I only started my last semester of college,

and started student teaching,

and semi survived the holidays,

and planned the rest of my life.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[STUDENT TEACHING]

So far, student teaching has been absolutely wonderful.

I have an awesome mentor teacher, 

my kiddos couldn't be more adorable,

we have  a few hot pink walls in our classroom,

and I get to bring a lunch box to school again.

What more could I ask for?

Ok, so maybe I don't like waking up at the crack of dawn,

and driving to school in the dark in 4 degree weather,

or planning my outfit options the night before,

or actually packing the lunch box,

or having recess duty in the snow....

but the kids make up for all of that.

a.) they are so cute in their mismatched outfits and light-up shoes.

b.) they say the funniest things.

c.) they can't get my name right. i'm either "miss lame" or "miss lime".

d.) i get 500 compliments on my outfit everyday. no matter what.

e.) they think i'm the smartest person in the world, because I can add without using my fingers.

I'm trying not to have favorites...

but today, one of my favorites said,

"miss lamey...um....i love you like i love my family, and my wii, and vegetables! and guess what?? most kids don't even like vegetables!"

I will leave my update at this, for now.

But I am sure there will be many more stories, to come!

jottings.

Random fact about me:

You can always tell what kind of day i'm having by how my room looks.

Typically, I'm what you might call a neat freak.

This week?

Let me put it this way:

I'm finally beginning to feel the stress of having 8 classes.

and practicum.

and a life.

But, I wouldn't change a thing.

Other news from my cozy corner of 928:

I got my student teaching placement!

Yes, student teaching is a GO.

1st grade, here I come!

and

If you see or hear a car drive by blasting

That's Not My Name

or

Marchin' On

It's probably me.

And if you need some Jesus in your day, listen to this:

meet casey.

I'd like to introduce my best friend, Casey Jeanne.

We met freshman year.

We became friends by sharing cereal in disney princess tupperware during class.

We failed microbiology together.

and anatomy & physiology lab.

She walked me to class everyday when I tore my meniscus.

and when I did it again, the next year.

and when I broke my foot, last semester.

She called an ambulance when I passed out in cline library,

and made me laugh while I was being poked and proded.

We've stayed up for days in a row to finish huge projects,

taken road trips just to try new churches,

and lost a tire off my car going 80 mph on the freeway.

We've laughed until we've cried,

and cried until we've laughed.

She even laughs when my jokes aren't funny. or appropriate.

She's literally seen me at my worst moments,

through boy break-ups, friend break-ups, blonde hair, brown hair...

She went with me to meet Charles Stanley

to get a book signed for my grandma

instead of going to see Ke$ha.

If that's not love, I'm not sure what is...

Bottom line:

she's one amazing girl.

She's radically in love with Jesus.

She's most definitely a wild one.

She's taught me how to trust.

She's taught me what it means to be loved unconditionally.

She's the friend I've been praying for God to give me, since junior high.

I couldn't ask for a better sister, friend, or roommate.

freedom.

I can't stop thinking about how wonderful my life has been, lately.

It is such an exciting thing to find out what you were made for, why you're on this earth.

There is something about being a senior that changes you.

It happened to me in high school, and it's happening again, now.

Suddenly, you don't care what others think of you.

You don't care so much about your reputation, or being liked.

This boldness and courage comes over you,

and you feel free to just be you.