Encouragement for a Weary Soul

This song has really inspired me through what has been an extremely difficult past few weeks. As most of you know, I'm an Elementary Education major at NC State. I never realized what a difficult major Elementary Ed was until I was smack dab in the middle of it. And don't get me wrong- I'll argue till the Lord calls me home that being a teacher is one of the most amazing jobs that I could be privileged to have. I have the best pay days when a kid really gets it for the first time or gives me a hug. However, the joy I have for teaching is sometimes difficult to maintain. I appreciate my own elmentary school teachers more than ever before. The long hours and work they put in for my classmates and for me constantly astounds me as I look back. I really feel that very few people understand that teaching is an art which requires constant critical analysis. Teachers are always fighting to be better- analyzing every lesson, every comment, every classroom management strategy, every child's learning style. We're always trying to reach out to one more, make that one change that will make the difference for the one child who is struggling. We spend gruling hours long after students go home perfecting lessons and reflecting on the day to make the next one better. There is a ton of paperwork and documentation that happens for students who are academically gifted or need extra help. Even our classroom set-up is designed with the children and best classroom management strategies in mind. Everything is planned out to the infinite degree for the student and what is best for them. Amongst that we have the struggles of stress just like everyone else who works an 8-5 job. There are people to work with whom we are different from. We have to work together and communicate, become a team, if for nothing else then for the sake of being the best we can be for our students. We deal with conflict and hurt when students struggle. Most of us take our jobs very seriously and very personally. I'm not even a real teacher just yet and these are all things that I know. The past few weeks I've had more late nights than ever before in my life. I've had more stress than I've ever been able to take before. I've been pushed to the edge and almost lost my balance several times. Still the goal is worth fighting for. And my fight is producing character and values that will help make me the best teacher that I can be. I heard this song on the radio today and it described the way I felt so well. Many of you know that college has been a challenge for me that I did not anticipate. I've fought this battle the past year to stay with it and keep going despite obstacles and 'mountains' that I thought I could never overcome. Still, the Lord has called me to this profession and He is giving me many rich experiences and just enough beautiful moments to keep me going when the going gets tough. Through all the sweat, late nights, tears, struggles, and the work, I'm sure of only a few things: 1) This is all worth it because God has given me a purpose in teaching. 2) This is a season and it will pass as long as I continue to persevere. 3) This is all about my 'climb'. It's not about what is behind or what is ahead but about right now and what I'm doing to continue in my pursuit of Godly joy-filled purpose. I absolutely adore and love my students- all of them- every single one. I do not know them yet. I have not ever seen their face or heard their name but I'm absolutely smitten by them. They are amazing- bright- talented. I'm determined to always see the best in each of them and not let anything get in the way of that. I'm also committed to do all that I can to help them excel, succeed, & both love and navagate life. May God give me the strength, courage, and grace to continue to pursue my purpose with a firey passion and may each of you remember that it is all about your 'climb'. Continue to fight the good fight and keep the faith! And by all means come to my graduation next year! :) Here are the lyrics to my new favorite song: 'THE CLIMB' by Miley Cyrus I can almost see it That dream I'm dreaming but, there's a voice inside my head saying, "You'll never reach it," Every step I'm taking, every move I make feels, lost with no direction My faith is shaking, but I.. I gotta keep trying, gotta keep my head held high There's always gonna be another mountain I'm always gonna wanna make it move Always gonna be an uphill battle, Sometimes I'm gonna have to loose Ain't about how fast I get there, Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb The struggles I'm facing, The chances I'm taking Sometimes they might knock me down but, No I'm not breaking I may not know it, But these are the moments that I'm gonna remember most, yeah Just gotta keep going And I, I gotta be strong Just keep pushing on There's always gonna be another mountain I'm always gonna wanna make it move Always gonna be an uphill battle, Sometimes I'm gonna have to loose Ain't about how fast I get there, Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb There's always gonna be another mountain I'm always gonna wanna make it move Always gonna be an uphill battle, Sometimes you gonna have to loose Ain't about how fast I get there, Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb Yeah, keep on moving Keep climbin Keep the faith, baby It's all about, It's all about The climb Keep the faith Keep your faith Whoa, oh, oh

An Elementary Ed Project I Did

This is a voicethread that I did about a piece of my family history for my Elementary Education class. This tells about my great great grandfather's (Jay Pennell's) farm that the built in Taylorsville, NC. I really enjoyed the project and the chance to record my grandfather talking about some of his experiences on the farm in another time from the one we live in today. Hope you enjoy it!

A Typical Day in the Life of Olivia....

Well, as you can see it is very late and I have finally finished my homework for the night which I have been working on for entirely too long. In a way it is such a blessing that Bible Study did not happen tonight and yet I missed it so very much. Lately my schedule seems to be more overwhelming than I can take and busier than ever before. I don't even have children yet and I think this is bad!? I pray for grace when that time comes. Perhaps God is stretching me this semester in preparation. I seem to get absolutely no more than five to sic hours of sleep a night. Thank God for the blessing of make-up. It daily makes me at least appear as if I have it all together by covering up the dark spots that are starting to come in under my eyes! I'm so thankful for whatever person decided to invent foundation that I could almost write them a thank-you note if I knew who to send it to. I am doing my best to persevere and trust that the Lord knows what he is doing. He's probably just trying to help me graduate on time which will be such a blessing. I'm so ready but the push to get to May 2010 seems like a heavy push. Thankfully the Lord is faithful to help me in my pushing. I encourage all of you suffering from tired minds, baggy eyes, weary souls, drained bodies to continue to push on in the faith. Christ promises to bear our burdens with us and never leave us alone. He always knows what is best and is always in perfect sovereign control over all of our circumstances. It gives me comfort to know that I can still rejoice in Jesus when the homework keeps me up until this hour of the night. Still I am weary and weak but I try to remember that in every area I am weak, the Lord is so much stronger than I am and that is cause to praise Him for who he is. So, here is what the Lord is helping me carry typically...... Monday: Up @ 7 (trying to be up by 7 to start doing some morning bible study) 1st class: 8:15-11:00 break for lunch and hopefully some bible study if there is no leftover homework 2nd class: 12:25-2:55 3:00 Gym for hopefully at least an hour to an hour and half 4:30 leave campus 4:45-5:00ish home straighten up fix dinner eat dinner try and connect with my husband organize for the next day homework bible study when homework doesn't keep me up too late The week continues with this general pattern. I desperately wish I was repeating my spring break from last year! But it's okay because God is sovereign and in control. He is sovereign and in control....sovereign and in control.....maybe if I tell myself enough it will finally seek 100% into my brain and heart!!!! I need much grace from the Lord!

Encouragement

I find myself in need of some ways that I could encourage someone. So, everyone who reads this please post something that you have done that really encouraged someone else you know or perhaps something that someone did for you which really encouraged you when you needed it most. No idea is too simple or too complex. I'm trying to generate an encouragement list I can use to encourage when people need encouraging. However, I know different people need different kinds of encouragement so the best way for me to get different ideas about different kinds of encouragement is for me to ask lots of people. Please post!!!! :) Thank you friends!

NC State Says Goodbye to a Dear Sister in Christ

NC State lost one of our best assets last Saturday when Women's Basketball Coach Kay Yow passed away from a long battle with breat cancer. She was without doubt one of the most amazing coaches I have ever seen in action. I have been even more amazed in the past week as I have listened to all the stories about her. She was not only a great coach but a very faithful sister in Christ who lived to glorify him in all that she did. It is difficult to not watch videos about her and become inspired, motivated, and simply touched by her life and the way that she lived it. However, the most touching thing I have ever seen and heard about Coach Yow came from her own lips this week after her death. Thursday night at Campus Crusade, we were told about a video Coach Yow had made for her own funeral. We were asked to pray that people would come to know the Lord through this video because Coach Yow had been a faithful believer in Christ. As I watched her funeral yesterday on Live Television and listened to what she had to say I was touched and moved to tears. In her video she presents her testimony and tells about the gospel. I was amazed at her boldness to make this 20 minute video for her funeral. I was even more thankful and amazed that we live in a country that can put this video on live TV and also on the internet! We are so blessed. As I continued to watch and listen, I found myself on my knees praying for the lost and crying asking God to save those who did not know him. I felt a fire for God burning inside of this amazing young lady in the way that she spoke and it is contagious. I encourage each of you to watch this video by Kay Yow and send it to your friends and family, especially if they are lost. Pray that God will continue to use this to save souls and bring people to know Him. We will miss Kay Yow deeply at NC State but she will be remembered and thought of every time we step into Reynolds Colesium or walk past it. We will miss you Kay Yow! Thank you for your faithful service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in your time here on this earth! May we all persevere in faith as you did in your life! Watch Kay Yow's Video here: http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/4439265/

Rascal Flatts Countdown

Kimberly and Steven's Big Day Is Here

Today Blake and I will be involved in wedding festivities at Providence all day for our dear friends Kimberly Abbott and Steven Bockmann. They have become amazing friends for us and it has been a joy to wait for this day in excitement with them! We are so happy for both of them! I really enjoy weddings because they are so sweet and encouraging. I particularly enjoy christian weddings like Steven and Kimberly's because they remind me that I still have the wedding of Christ and the church to look forward to. It gives me fresh perspective on marriage that is often very much appreciated and needed. I'm reminded to think about my vows and what is important in marriage as I seek to give support and advice to my friends. So today I'll be watching Kimberly and Steven unite until the day they go to meet Jesus! They are so sweet and wonderful and I'm so excited for them both! Kim and Steven this post is for you! Always remember to keep Christ first in your marriage and you'll be amazed at what he will do! Love you guys!