Oh.My.Soul!

Oh my soul is right! I have just returned from a most amazing experience that I hope to dwell in and think upon in the weeks to come! I went to my very first Beth Moore Conference. Well...kind of. It was a Simulcast. But...I felt like I was there, with her and the praise team, in Wisconsin. A.MAZ.ING!

First and foremost it was amazing due to the fact that we serve an amazing God! (Amazing doesn't do Him justice!) All that Beth brought before the women at the conference was nothing new...it is His Word, that has always been, but she brought it at JUST the right time, in JUST the right words and my oh my, did I need to hear it!

The entire 3 session weekend was based on Psalm 37:4. The same verse that growing up, I would quote over and over. "Delight thyself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Easy enough right?!?! Her explanation of the desires of our heart and our hearts desire were so great. I won't try to repeat what she said, but I will say this. You have GOT to get your hands on her lessons on this verse. Somehow, some way, you HAVE TO!

She had 7 points taken from Psalm 37:1-9 that I will copy for you in hopes of striking your interest button just enough so you will figure out a way to hear these lessons!

1. Nothing dictates our lives like our desires.
*At the end of the day, we do what we want to!
2. Beneath the desires of our heart, is the heart of our desires.
*Look for what is present in the absence!
3. Delighting in God adapts our desires into inevitabilities.
4. Nothing external can steal our right to delight.
5. To make room for delight we have to commit.
6. Nothing is passive about potentially waiting for desire to turn into delight.
7. Till faith becomes sight, TRUST GOD and DO GOOD.

I hope this blesses somebody, somewhere!

Until next time,
Sam

Waiting for my nails to dry...

I painted my nails tonight. One good way for them to dry and still be prodctive is to type. So...here I am!

Friday was the first day of school, and in a mere 8 hours, I will wake up to start day 2. The first day whizzed by in a blur! I met all of my students, explained my expectations and accomplished all that I set out to for a first day.

I believe I have the best 6th grade class out of the three that are there, but you know...that's my opinion!

At lunch, I was TOTALLY out of my element since last year we did not eat in that cafeteria. I was paying attention to the kids, the soda machines that they were using that they weren't supposed to be using and trying to get them to the right tables. All of a sudden the principal walked up to me and told me I had just caused quite a "ruckus"! I had NO idea what she was talking about. She went on to explain that the Kindergarten teacher had to physically restrain 4 of her students from running accross the cafeteria to me. 4 of my former little ones saw me and just HAD to give me a hug. Bless their hearts. They didn't get to, which I totally understand, but it made me smile. I did wave at them from accross the tables and it absolutely made my day!

Do you know that I got to leave the school at 3:45? Do you know that is my regular departure time? Do you know that I do not step foot on that playground? Can I get an amen??

Saturday I drove up to Tifton to go to the revival at my In-laws church. Eddie Middleton, a former NewSong member, was the singer/preacher. He was amazing and it was just the kick in the pants I needed to start the school year off! This upcoming Friday and Saturday I am attending a Beth Moore Simulcast at a church in Thomasville. I am REALLY excited about this. It is the closest I could get to seeing her live...maybe one day!

Alrighty...nails are dry...time for bed!

Until next time,
Sam

Status

My Facebook Status today said: "Samantha T is feeling more encouraged than ever. Our God is SO faithful!"

Here are a few reasons for my encouragement:

* I am REALLY teaching 6th grade now! It seems to good to be true...but it is! I met a bunch of my students yesterday and I am officially ready for the first day of school tomorrow!

* Since I teach in a Christian School, the obvious reason we do what we do is to share the Love of Jesus with our students and families. I have always known this, but this year, the spirit of the faculty and staff is so where it is supposed to be! My prayer is that it stays that way...even through the valleys!

* I had a parent volunteer to be my home room coordinator. She is on the ball! I already received an email from her asking me all my favorites! YAY!

* We officially paid off Clint's surgery from last September! Our goal was a year, and thank you Jesus, we took care of it 3 weeks ahead of time!

* I found the CUTEST black shoes today for $7!

* I am going to Revival at my In-Laws church on Saturday and am excited about that!

I know there are many many more...but for now...this is where I am!

Until next time,
Sam

Unbelieveable!

Since we got our DVR, I have been even more addicted to the food channel than ever before! I have been taping DVRing pretty much every show that is a new episode. The other day, I watched my favorite Southern Belle, Paula Deen, make the most scrumtious looking Spice Cake I have EVER seen. So....today I decided to try my hand at it! She made it look so easy, and it SO was! She made it look delicious...AND IT WAS! I wish my vocabulary could precisely describe how truly wonderful it is. Oh my!

Here is the recipe, let me know if you try it!

Paula's Spicy Cinnamon Cake

1 (18 ounce) package spice cake mix
1 (3 1/2 ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 corn oil ( I did buy the corn oil, but I bet it would work with another type)
5 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans (I love them, but you can leave out)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch tube/bundt pan.
2. Combine cake mix, instant pudding, sour cream, eggs, and corn oil and beat together well.
3. In a separate bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, and pecans.
4. Pour half of the batter into prepared pan and sprinkle with sugar mixture, reserving a little to sprinkle on top.
5. Pour the rest of the batter into pan and sprinkle with the rest of the sugar mixture.
6 Bake 1 hour. Let cool and remove from pan.

For Real?

I am amazed, shocked, pleased and just plain in awe!

Today was my first day back at work...inservice...blech! However, with my new resolve to be Mrs. Positive (even more than I already am), I was really excited! And, much to my surprise, it was great! Great? Yes...great!

In the past I have been used to meetings where teachers were spoon fed every little detail. To the point of administrators actually reading the handbook to us...yeah..for real! Not this year, it has been short. sweet. and to the point. Not that we don't get what we need by any means, but they trust that we are able to read the 100+ page faculty manual all by ourselves.

One of the issues I have stuggled with since I was in high school was the ability people have to ask the dumbest questions at the worst times in these types of meetings. NOT ONCE today did I experience that. I left the meetings with a smile on my face every time!

My classroom is DONE! It is the first day of inservice and my classroom is DONE! Unbelieveable! I have NEVER experienced that...granted this is only my 6th year teaching....but usually I am a stressed/panic mess! I even had a chance to do my lesson plans for the first day of school!

I am working with two wonderful teachers. Ms. Y and Mr. K. They are both old enough to be my parents and they are established in life as well as happy in life. They both have grown children and there is ZERO drama. It is amazing to me! I am thrilled to be working with them and can't wait to learn all I can from them!

Right now, it is 9:40 on a Friday night. Clint is working SO HARD getting a "preview" (magazine thing) ready for football season. I didn't see him yesterday or today. I am going to try REALLY hard to wait up for him tonight. I have folded laundry all around me and am waiting for the last load to dry. I usually do my laundry on Saturdays, but what I do today, I wont have to do tomorrow! I am watching the little league baseball team from my hometown, Warner Robins, GA, play in the World Series on ESPN and sipping on my Diet Coke from Whataburger (don't hate me Karen). I just checked my sister's (Dani) blog that she has updated...first time in a YEAR...and am reminded once again how truly blessed I am.

I will close for now.

Until next time,
Sam

Remember

4 more sleeps.

That is all.

Until what you ask? Until inservice begins and my life as a summer bum is officially over. No time to panic now, just stating the facts!

Remember this girl?


She is the one on the left. Her name is Ashlynn and she was by far one of my favorite 4K girls of the past year! I LOVE that little girl! Anyway, before I have an emotional meltdown, I must continue! Back in April, we were learning about plants. So, I pulled one of my old 4th grade projects from the back of my mind and did it in 4K. Yep...we planted lima beans in a plastic cup. The kids loved it and enjoyed being able to check on it daily.

I got an email from Ashlynn's mom today. It simply stated that Ashlynn told her that she HAD to show Mrs. Thompson the picture of her lima bean plant. Apparently she had taken the plant to her grandma's house and convinced them they HAD to plant it in the yard. The thing is now 4 1/2 feet tall and they have harvested it twice now! I just smiled! So precious!



The only thing better than this would have been a picture of sweet Ashlynn standing with her plant!

Alrighty...nothing more to post other than the fact that I saw the movie Julie and Julia today. It was fantastic!

Love to you all!
Until next time,
Sam

Joshua 1:9
...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

This was the verse that I clung to a year ago. I am sitting here with a lovely cup of hazelnut coffee, still in my pj's, and listening to the humm of the AC. I just did my morning devotions and ran accross this verse. It brought me RIGHT back to a year ago.

Last year at this time:
*I was getting ready to start a new job, in a new city, with new people.
*That job was unlike anything I had ever done in the past.
*I lived 45 minutes from my job and had no idea what it was going to be like to make that drive every day.
*I had NO FRIENDS, which was a constant reminder of everything I had left behind to come here.
*I now had an amazing husband who worked crazy hours and I thought I was going to lose my mind with all of my alone time. I KNEW it was about to get worse as I started working. I was terrified.
*I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders as gas prices went up, food prices went up and we were meshing the finances and bills from two people who had lived the single life for quite a while.
*Did I mention I had no friends? That was hard on me, but harder on my husband. He and I would have so many heart to hearts about it, which would turn to guilt on my part. I was discouraged.

Well the year went on and many changes took place in my life. I have NEVER regretted marrying Clint, leaving my job in Nashville, moving to Thomasville and working in Tallahassee...NEVER! But that is not to say it wasn't hard. That is not to say there weren't times of weeping and sadness. That is not to say it was an easy road. But you know, now that I look back at a year ago, I am so thankful. I am so thankful that I serve the God of Love that Promised to take care of me. He promised to "be with me wherever I go." I KNEW that and I FELT that as I made it through the first year. I listened to Christian music everywhere I went and it soothed my heart. It brought me to tears a lot of times, but it was such a blessing.

I was driving home last night from a post VBS meeting at Cracker Barrel in Tallahassee, and I was thinking. I do that a lot! I was thinking about this year in review idea and how marvelous it is to have made it. How wonderful it is to have survived and come out better on the other side. I wrote the then....here is the now.

Now:
*That new job, in a new city has made me a better teacher. Period. There is no way around that. Initially I saw it as passing time until something better came along, but my oh my was I wrong. It was exactly what I needed to view teaching as something totally different than I had before. I have learned to slow down and stop and smell the roses of my work day. Yeah, some of them might smell bad, but I am stopping and smelling.
*The 45 minute drive is still a bummer and will hopefully change by this time next year. (All depends on Clint getting a job in tallahassee) But that 45 minute drive has done wonders for me. There is no rushing around in the morning...I have to be organized and all planned out. I have come to have a stronger love for coffee. I have learned to eat a granola bar while driving...with NO crumbs. (I did try a bagel once...NOT a good experience) I have improved my singing...(well, not really) but I do sing alot, alot of good stuff that refreshes my soul. But best of all, My Jesus and I have amazing conversation during that 45 minute drive...seriously!
*I have friends. Not a ton. Not like my other friends. But still, I have friends. Some of them could be my mother. Some of them could be my sister. Most of them have children. I have friends! That makes my heart smile!
*I still have an amazing husband that gets me! He still has that crazy work schedule, but we deal with it. We have learned not to take the hour a day that we see each other for granted. He listens to all of my silly stories from the day. I listen to all of his sports stuff. He doesn't get upset if things aren't done around the house. He knows I will get to them. He is my best friend, my love and my biggest fan! In the last year, my love for him has grown bigger and better than I ever thought it could!
*Money worked itself out! It always does when God has it! He provided everything we needed and then some! I have a second job working at the church as the Children's coordinator now and my life has taken a whole new route I never thought it would take! I am so thankful for opportunities...although new...although a little scary...they are there and ready to be taken!

Ahhh....that felt good! I am so glad I did that. Now when I start with the feeling sorry for myself days, I can look back at this and remind myself how incredibly blessed I am.

One more thing...my family has been amazing through the entire first year adjustment. I am living 41/2 hours closer to them than I ever did in my single years. NOT ONCE have they asked...why don't you come, we never see you or anything of the like. They say over and over...we take what we can get! We are happy to see you when you can. AND..the best one...We are proud of you! I love my family!

Alrighty...off to wake my husband...its almost lunch time...that man can sleep! Oh yeah...and we got DVR yesterday! SO FUN!

Until next time,
Sam

Just in time...

Ahhhh....summer....IT CAME AND WENT! I was reading through my blog the other day and could almost taste my excitement as I read about the summer I so longed to have. That summer came...and that summer, for me, will end in 8 short days. Friday the 14th I go back for Inservice followed by the first 4 days of the next week, which includes open house and school officially starts Friday the 21st.

Am I ready? Funny question. Yes. Is that weird? I have always been the one ready to go back. As a student and as a teacher. Don't get me wrong..I love sleeping in, spending the morning with Clint and doing things around the house as I please. But, to me, there is something about a routine and a schedule that I just love. I will be hating these words as my alarm goes of at 5am next Friday...I know I will. I have gone shopping, gotten my yearly calendar and desk calendar. I have gotten 2 new paris of shoes and several new outfits (love Georgia Tax Free weekend). I am ready!

Have I read my Science Book? Nope. I know. Pitiful! It will all come together like it always does, every year! I am not worried!

I found out something yesterday that made me absolutely Praise my Jesus for getting me out of a situation I was in! As you all know, I taught Preschool last year, for one year, and it was not my favorite thing in the world. I found out that THIS year they have switched to YEAR ROUND preschool! I am SO thankful I will not be part of that! I have learned not to say "there is no way" or "never", but I will say, Thank you Jesus that it is not me! Those teachers are really bummed, and I can't say I blame them in the least. There is something to be said about having a job at all, but for it to be completely changed with no warning, has to be hard! Yipes!

As for my church Job, all is well. I have about 10 emails to send this morning and here I am blogging, but I just had to get that out!

Until next time,
Sam

VBS 2009

The Chicken is in the oven, the dryer hasn't buzzed and Clint wont be home for 45 more minutes, so I have a little time to write a new post.

Back in May when I was approached about the possibility of being the "Children's Coordinator" at church, one of my first thoughts was VBS. Thankfully I was instructed that this summer, I would sit back, relax and take it all in, so I could be the ring leader of next year's VBS.

Did I sit back?.....No!
Did I relax?......Nope!
Did I take it all in?....OH YEAH!

This year's theme was Crocodile Dock. The basis of this was teaching the Children not to have fear. I tell ya...I learned a lot and really believe God used the simple lessons for the children in my life as well!

The young man that was the "VBS Director" this year...JP...did a pretty good job! I can tell his niche is decorating and singing/dancing...which is great for me since neither of those three things rank really high on my list of favorites! He is quite young, 20, and has much to learn, but for the most part he did really well.







The first day was hectic. I am just being honest. But really, what first day of anything isn't hectic? I found myself at the registration table dealing with lots and lots of parents and excited kids. We averaged about 210-215 kids. I did a lot of running around and covering up mistakes that were being made. (JP announcing the grand finale was at 7 when it was really at 6:30...that happend for TWO solid days) I also got to run up a little hill about 10 times on Friday due to a frantic phone call from a mother who was about to call the police...totally all her fault, and thankfully everything worked out, but that was a scary 25 minutes. It is interesting how being the "boss" brings SO MUCH MORE responsibility!

Friday night was the Grande Finale. We had about 50 kids make desicions regarding their salvation, which I got to take part in on Thursday and Friday. Let me tell you...I cried everytime I talked about the plan of Salvation with the groups of kids that would come in from counseling. Everytime I explain what Christ did for us, it just grabs me like it was the first time I heard it! I am so thankful that it doesn't get old...that it amazes me everytime I hear it or tell it! Anyway, about 18 of those kids got Baptized on Friday evening. That was the most beautiful thing I have seen in a long time! Each child had to have a parent with them. Every single parent was so proud of their children and there was not a dry eye in the baptismal area. The kids were so happy for themselves and the parents likewise. It really made every pain, every mess up, every cranky moment...worth it!

This post wouldn't be complete without mentioning the teenagers! I spent a lot of time as a teen working at church whether in the nursery, children's church, or VBS. I was always doing something. For a small time, I honestly thought those days were over in the lives of teenagers out there. But...I was so wrong! This VBS would NOT have been possible without a HUGE handful of teenagers that gave up their week...8am to 12pm....and volunteered. I remember one year I did the snack room, one year I did the penny counting....but it wasn't until I was an adult that I actually had my own group of kids...I believe it was for socializing reasons. Not these teenagers...they had kids of all ages and didn't get to just hang with their friends. They were really great!

Alrighty...dryer buzzed...that is my sign to finish this up! I learned alot at this VBS and am already brainstorming the dos and don'ts of next year! Wish me luck!

Until Next Time,
Sam