I am hoping to get back into the swing of doing an "I'm Grateful for..." post every Friday. I am so incredibly blessed in my life and I think it's so important to always remember that! Plus they're fun.
This week I am so fantastically grateful for my job. I am truly, truly blessed to be in the position that I am. The teaching market is so tough right now and I am incredibly grateful that I got this job. God definitely had a plan for me and wanted me in this job and he made it happen. I am so thankful that God has a plan for my life and that he is guiding me to where he wants me to be!
I am so grateful that I applied for a 1/2 time preschool teaching job in the district I'm working now. I'm grateful that I got called for my very first teaching interview for that job. I am grateful that my friend D drove over here with me the night before, stayed in a hotel and went to the beach with me after the interview. I am grateful that the interview went well and they were impressed with me. I am grateful that I didn't get the job because I didn't have my ZA endorsement.
I am grateful that they passed my name on to a principal with a third grade opening. I am grateful that I got called for an interview for that job as well. I am grateful that I was pulled out of the pile because of my previous interview. I am grateful that I traveled back over here for a second interview. I am grateful my second interview went well.
I am grateful for the craziness that ensued when they tried to contact my reference who was just arriving home from Alaska. I am grateful that they offered me the position. I am grateful that I accepted.
I am so grateful for this amazing journey the last month and a half has been! I am grateful for my co-workers who have been so incredibly supportive and helpful during my first few weeks. I am grateful for my students and the smiles and notes they give me. I am grateful every time I want to complain, I am grateful for every paper I correct, every student I ask to stop talking, for every smile, every tear (mine and theirs :), every Band-Aid I hand out, I am grateful for every bulletin board I put up, every poster I tape and re-tape a million times, because I am so so grateful for this opportunity.
But most of all I am grateful for God's plan for my life.
About Me
- Jillibean
- I am a twenty-something second year teacher living in the midwest. I am a Christian woman and proud of it! I am the middle child of three girls. I am the proud aunt of the very beautiful Lil E and Lil C!! I love TV, movies, reading, and baseball. I am in my second year of teaching , but my first year teaching kindergarten. It has been quite the journey!
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
23 September 2011
13 March 2011
Goal 2, Check, Goal 3, Check
As I mentioned here I am working my way through a list of at least 10 goals for the year 2011. Recently (well one of them not so recently...) I completed two more of my goals!
Goal #2- Complete an online teaching application by the end of February. I actually did complete this goal with a few days to spare. It was a very long process of filling in pages and pages of info, uploading resumes, cover letters, scanning my transcripts, scanning my transcripts again in black and white, looking up addresses and phone numbers for references, etc.
But it felt so good to have done! It felt even better to find out that the same company does applications for lots of counties and districts in the state. So when I started the subsequent applications it imported most all of my info from the first application. Now I've done the application for four districts/counties and have started a fifth! I am praying that if it's part of God's plan, these apps will help me get a job come fall!!
Goal #3- Finish the book The Me I Want to Be, by John Ortberg.
I was fortunate to hear John Ortberg speak at Big Sis and BIL's church last winter. I was very interested in learning more, so I bought his book shortly after I heard him speak. I started the book last summer. It was a great book, very inspiring and with lots of good food for thought. However, it is a meaty book, there's lots to think about and absorb and reflect on. Not exactly a lay on the beach/deck, easy summer read. So about halfway through I put it down.
But I've really wanted to finish it. I decided to start over and read it for 10-15 minutes every night before I went to bed. This gave me time to think and reflect without other things going on around me. I kept plugging away and a few weeks ago I finished.
It is a great book, which I really recommend. It is all about becoming the person you want to be, not the person others want you to be, and growing beyond the person you are now. I loved the section that talks about finding the flow of the Spirit in everything that you do and doing everything for God and that things that we would think of as un-spiritual, like listening to music or watching sports can be spiritual if we invite the Spirit into that part of our lives. It also talks about having your work honor God and making relationships a priority in your life. I also liked when he talked about finding the best way for you to spend time with God and that for everyone it's different. Not everyone becomes closest to God through reading the Bible or journaling or singing, we all have to find what works best for us. It is very inspiring and challenges you a lot. I'm probably not describing it very well at all, but it is a great, spiritual read. You can go here for more info.
I'm well on my way to completing my list of goals and it feels wonderful to check them off the list!
Goal #2- Complete an online teaching application by the end of February. I actually did complete this goal with a few days to spare. It was a very long process of filling in pages and pages of info, uploading resumes, cover letters, scanning my transcripts, scanning my transcripts again in black and white, looking up addresses and phone numbers for references, etc.
But it felt so good to have done! It felt even better to find out that the same company does applications for lots of counties and districts in the state. So when I started the subsequent applications it imported most all of my info from the first application. Now I've done the application for four districts/counties and have started a fifth! I am praying that if it's part of God's plan, these apps will help me get a job come fall!!
Goal #3- Finish the book The Me I Want to Be, by John Ortberg.
I was fortunate to hear John Ortberg speak at Big Sis and BIL's church last winter. I was very interested in learning more, so I bought his book shortly after I heard him speak. I started the book last summer. It was a great book, very inspiring and with lots of good food for thought. However, it is a meaty book, there's lots to think about and absorb and reflect on. Not exactly a lay on the beach/deck, easy summer read. So about halfway through I put it down.
But I've really wanted to finish it. I decided to start over and read it for 10-15 minutes every night before I went to bed. This gave me time to think and reflect without other things going on around me. I kept plugging away and a few weeks ago I finished.
It is a great book, which I really recommend. It is all about becoming the person you want to be, not the person others want you to be, and growing beyond the person you are now. I loved the section that talks about finding the flow of the Spirit in everything that you do and doing everything for God and that things that we would think of as un-spiritual, like listening to music or watching sports can be spiritual if we invite the Spirit into that part of our lives. It also talks about having your work honor God and making relationships a priority in your life. I also liked when he talked about finding the best way for you to spend time with God and that for everyone it's different. Not everyone becomes closest to God through reading the Bible or journaling or singing, we all have to find what works best for us. It is very inspiring and challenges you a lot. I'm probably not describing it very well at all, but it is a great, spiritual read. You can go here for more info.
I'm well on my way to completing my list of goals and it feels wonderful to check them off the list!
09 March 2011
Rejoicing comes in the morning
The night before my trip to Europe I was kind of freaking out. I was nervous about traveling without anyone that I really knew. I was nervous about being away from my parents for longer than I ever had before. I was nervous about being homesick. I was very, very worried and basically bawling my eyes out.
Before I went to bed, I read my Bible, as I do every night. At the time I was working my way through Psalms and I was reading 1-3 chapters every night. That night I was on Psalm 30. I was crying as I read the words of Psalm 30:5, "Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."
It was amazing. I felt God with me in that moment. I knew that he had planned things out so that I read that verse, just when I needed it that night. This knowledge gave me strength. God gave me that verse to comfort me and that reminded me of his omnipresence in my life and reminded me that he would always be there for me, even when I was far from family and friends.
The words of the verse also brought me immense comfort. They were just the words I needed- You might be sad now, but happiness will come later. You might be crying and homesick tonight, but once you're in Europe you will experience great joy. These were the exact words I needed, they gave me hope and let me see that there would be happiness and joy and wonderful experiences once I got to Europe and got over being sad about my family.
After I read that verse, I wiped my eyes, wrote it on an index card and didn't cry another tear until I hugged Momma good-bye at the airport. (God also gave me a wonderful comfort in the lovely Anne who I barely knew, but who put her arm around me and let me hang out with her family after Momma had to leave. I repaid the favor when her family left :)
Once we got to our hostel we had been traveling for about 24 hours and we were exhausted. We were annoyed because we didn't have storage in our rooms like we were supposed to, we were annoyed because our towels were small and our rooms were tiny, etc, etc. My roomies and I were getting upset and homesick and wanting to leave before our adventures even started. I pulled out my index card and read it to my roomies. I set the card out where we could all see it that night. I reminded them that while things might seem bad that night when we were jet-lagged and exhausted, they would get better and we would have wonderful adventures together, once morning broke.
I was so grateful that God had given me that verse so that I could share it with my roomies. I'm not sure that they were all very spiritual people, but they could see the truth in the statement regardless. It truly brought us peace that night.
It was one of those awesome moments that I always hear people talk about, when God teaches them lessons they need through the verse they read. I had never experienced it before this. It gave me such peace and assurance in God's plan for my life.
Before I went to bed, I read my Bible, as I do every night. At the time I was working my way through Psalms and I was reading 1-3 chapters every night. That night I was on Psalm 30. I was crying as I read the words of Psalm 30:5, "Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."
It was amazing. I felt God with me in that moment. I knew that he had planned things out so that I read that verse, just when I needed it that night. This knowledge gave me strength. God gave me that verse to comfort me and that reminded me of his omnipresence in my life and reminded me that he would always be there for me, even when I was far from family and friends.
The words of the verse also brought me immense comfort. They were just the words I needed- You might be sad now, but happiness will come later. You might be crying and homesick tonight, but once you're in Europe you will experience great joy. These were the exact words I needed, they gave me hope and let me see that there would be happiness and joy and wonderful experiences once I got to Europe and got over being sad about my family.
After I read that verse, I wiped my eyes, wrote it on an index card and didn't cry another tear until I hugged Momma good-bye at the airport. (God also gave me a wonderful comfort in the lovely Anne who I barely knew, but who put her arm around me and let me hang out with her family after Momma had to leave. I repaid the favor when her family left :)
Once we got to our hostel we had been traveling for about 24 hours and we were exhausted. We were annoyed because we didn't have storage in our rooms like we were supposed to, we were annoyed because our towels were small and our rooms were tiny, etc, etc. My roomies and I were getting upset and homesick and wanting to leave before our adventures even started. I pulled out my index card and read it to my roomies. I set the card out where we could all see it that night. I reminded them that while things might seem bad that night when we were jet-lagged and exhausted, they would get better and we would have wonderful adventures together, once morning broke.
I was so grateful that God had given me that verse so that I could share it with my roomies. I'm not sure that they were all very spiritual people, but they could see the truth in the statement regardless. It truly brought us peace that night.
It was one of those awesome moments that I always hear people talk about, when God teaches them lessons they need through the verse they read. I had never experienced it before this. It gave me such peace and assurance in God's plan for my life.
07 March 2011
Paris part deux
Welcome my friends to Paris!
Here have a flower on me
Forget where you're from
You're in France, children, come
I'll show you that French joie de vivre
Paris holds the key to your heart
and all of Paris plays a part
Just stroll two by two
Down what we call la rue
Ooh la la....
Ooh la la....
Paris holds the key to l'amour
And not even Freud knows the cure
There is love in the air at the Follies Bergere.
The French have it down to an art,
Paris holds the key to your heart.
When you're feeling blue come to Le Moulin.
When your heart says don't, the French say do.
When you think you can't, you'll find you can can.
Everyone can can can, you can can too!
Paris holds the key to her past.
Yes, Princess, I found You at last.
No more pretend, you'll be gone at the end.
Paris holds the key to your heart.
You'll be "tres jolie" and so smart!
Come dance through the night.
And forget all your woes.
The city of light where a rose is a rose.
And one never knows what will start,
Paris holds the key to her heart!
The second half of our second day in Paris we visited Notre Dame. If you ever go there, please go to the side of the church and get in line for the gargoyle tour, you will not regret it. It costs like ten euros (the inside of the cathedral is free), but it is soooooooooo worth it. The view of the city is beautiful and you can literally touch the gargoyles! Fabulous.
Then we walked through the church, just as Mass was getting ready to start, so we decided to stay for Mass. It was incredible. I got a copy of the bulleting which had the readings in English and French. So I read that over in both languages to get an idea of what they would be about and then could follow them pretty well when they were read in French. It was an amazing experience!!
Sunday we hit the Louvre. Of course we saw our girl Mona and the Venus de Milo, which were wonderful. I really wanted to see Gnome with Snail after I saw it in the brochure, but it was kind of disappointing (it was my catboat...) Then we checked out a few shops and headed to the train station. Paris holds the key to my heart!!!
Here have a flower on me
Forget where you're from
You're in France, children, come
I'll show you that French joie de vivre
Paris holds the key to your heart
and all of Paris plays a part
Just stroll two by two
Down what we call la rue
Ooh la la....
Ooh la la....
Paris holds the key to l'amour
And not even Freud knows the cure
There is love in the air at the Follies Bergere.
The French have it down to an art,
Paris holds the key to your heart.
When you're feeling blue come to Le Moulin.
When your heart says don't, the French say do.
When you think you can't, you'll find you can can.
Everyone can can can, you can can too!
Paris holds the key to her past.
Yes, Princess, I found You at last.
No more pretend, you'll be gone at the end.
Paris holds the key to your heart.
You'll be "tres jolie" and so smart!
Come dance through the night.
And forget all your woes.
The city of light where a rose is a rose.
And one never knows what will start,
Paris holds the key to her heart!
The second half of our second day in Paris we visited Notre Dame. If you ever go there, please go to the side of the church and get in line for the gargoyle tour, you will not regret it. It costs like ten euros (the inside of the cathedral is free), but it is soooooooooo worth it. The view of the city is beautiful and you can literally touch the gargoyles! Fabulous.
Then we walked through the church, just as Mass was getting ready to start, so we decided to stay for Mass. It was incredible. I got a copy of the bulleting which had the readings in English and French. So I read that over in both languages to get an idea of what they would be about and then could follow them pretty well when they were read in French. It was an amazing experience!!
Sunday we hit the Louvre. Of course we saw our girl Mona and the Venus de Milo, which were wonderful. I really wanted to see Gnome with Snail after I saw it in the brochure, but it was kind of disappointing (it was my catboat...) Then we checked out a few shops and headed to the train station. Paris holds the key to my heart!!!
14 February 2011
L-O-V-E
Busy Bee Lauren is doing a post today featuring many of her followers and people they love. It inspired me to do a post about the many different people that I love.
I love my sisters so much!!!!! They are the best friends a girl could ask for!!!
I love my parents more than words can say. They are absolutely the best parents in the world; I am soooooooo blessed to have them in my life.
I love my girlfriends so very much! They are such great friends and have brought so much joy and laughs and support to my life!
I love my beautiful niece Lil E!!! I'm so grateful for her!
I love my Tigers!! Maggs and Inge are my top two Tiger loves :)
I love my big ol' extended family, including my wonderful cousins!
I love all of these wonderful books and the book boyfriends they contain :)
I hope that you can spend the day with those that you love!!!!!!
I love my sisters so much!!!!! They are the best friends a girl could ask for!!!
I love my parents more than words can say. They are absolutely the best parents in the world; I am soooooooo blessed to have them in my life.
I love my girlfriends so very much! They are such great friends and have brought so much joy and laughs and support to my life!
I love my beautiful niece Lil E!!! I'm so grateful for her!
I love my Tigers!! Maggs and Inge are my top two Tiger loves :)
I love my big ol' extended family, including my wonderful cousins!
I love all of these wonderful books and the book boyfriends they contain :)I hope that you can spend the day with those that you love!!!!!!
11 February 2011
I am Grateful For...
I am Grateful for... God's Plan.
Over the past couple of weeks, I've had the opportunity to interview for two long-term subbing positions in the district I'm currently working in. Both of them would be great opportunities, in grades where I have experience and at new schools I haven't worked in.
I interviewed at one first and it went really well.
Before I heard back from them, I had the other interview. They seemed very interested, but didn't want to step on the toes of the other school, but they wanted me to keep them up-to-date on what was happening with the first job.
Last time I was all confusedy. I didn't know what to do. There was one spot that I would slightly prefer and I wasn't sure how to handle the two competing jobs. I prayed that God would show me where he wanted me to be and that His will would be done, not mine.
Today I found out that I didn't get the job that I interviewed for first. At first I was pretty disappointed, but I tried to remind myself that God had a plan for me. I was getting kind of upset that I didn't get this job that I really wanted, when it hit me. I was one of those people.
Like that story where the guy is sitting on his house, which is all flooded and he prays to God to save him. When boats and helicopters come past he says he's fine, God will save him. Well, he ends up dying. When he meets God he asks why God didn't save him. God says, "I sent a boat and a helicopter."
It hit me that I had prayed and asked God to show me which position I was supposed to be in and that His will was done, yet when that happened I was disappointed. God had answered my prayer and shown me that the first job wasn't where He wanted me to be. God closed a door because I asked him to give me guidance and vision on where He wanted my life to go. I realized that I should have been praising him for answering my prayer, not reaching out for comfort. I trust that God has a plan for my life and that I am living it. I'm hoping that I'll hear back from the other school soon, but I know that God has a plan and that's the one I want to follow!
Over the past couple of weeks, I've had the opportunity to interview for two long-term subbing positions in the district I'm currently working in. Both of them would be great opportunities, in grades where I have experience and at new schools I haven't worked in.
I interviewed at one first and it went really well.
Before I heard back from them, I had the other interview. They seemed very interested, but didn't want to step on the toes of the other school, but they wanted me to keep them up-to-date on what was happening with the first job.
Last time I was all confusedy. I didn't know what to do. There was one spot that I would slightly prefer and I wasn't sure how to handle the two competing jobs. I prayed that God would show me where he wanted me to be and that His will would be done, not mine.
Today I found out that I didn't get the job that I interviewed for first. At first I was pretty disappointed, but I tried to remind myself that God had a plan for me. I was getting kind of upset that I didn't get this job that I really wanted, when it hit me. I was one of those people.
Like that story where the guy is sitting on his house, which is all flooded and he prays to God to save him. When boats and helicopters come past he says he's fine, God will save him. Well, he ends up dying. When he meets God he asks why God didn't save him. God says, "I sent a boat and a helicopter."
It hit me that I had prayed and asked God to show me which position I was supposed to be in and that His will was done, yet when that happened I was disappointed. God had answered my prayer and shown me that the first job wasn't where He wanted me to be. God closed a door because I asked him to give me guidance and vision on where He wanted my life to go. I realized that I should have been praising him for answering my prayer, not reaching out for comfort. I trust that God has a plan for my life and that I am living it. I'm hoping that I'll hear back from the other school soon, but I know that God has a plan and that's the one I want to follow!
08 January 2011
The Chronic- What? -cles of Narnia!
For our annual New Year's Girls Movie Day while Daddy Watches Football, this year we chose to see The Dawn Treader, the third movie in the Chronicles of Narnia. We, three girls, had all seen the previous two and loved them, but Momma hadn't seen either. She was fine with us just telling her about them, but I wanted her to see them first. (Plus I wanted to see them again, so I remembered everything.)
So, the night of Dec. 30th we all watched The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Love this movie! Lil Sis and I originally saw it in theaters with our friends Lauren and Katlyn who just happen to be sisters as well. We had such fun, goofy time. We went to Pizza Hut afterwards and could not stop giggling :)
Also I love James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus. The best!
And I love the names the kids are crowned with at the end. High Queen Susan of the Southern Sea and all that. Good times.
We were all off doing different things New Year's Eve, so we couldn't watch Prince Caspian then. After a long search for Prince Caspian at the local video store (I searched under practically every category in the Ps (children, family, Disney, New Releases... nothing) until finally I realized that since Eclipse was under the Ts for the Twilight Saga: Eclipse that Prince Caspian was probably in the Cs for the Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
Momma and I somehow managed to squeeze in a viewing of Prince Caspian just before we left for the 5:45 showing of the Dawn Treader.
I love this movie too. Prince Caspian is the bombdotcom. Love his accent, such a cutie!
Yes please!
I love going to the movies, the popcorn, the ICEES, the huge screen. Good times. I really liked Dawn Treader.
The kid who played Eustace was so good at being annoying. The special effects were good. I would have liked more of the older kids, but I know that is following the books, so I can't complain. And of course I like me some Prince Caspian.
There was this five-ish year old boy sitting on the other side of Momma who kept asking his mom questions throughout the movie. Lil Sis and I thought he was adorable (the first time a faun came on scream, he said, "Mr. Tumnus!) and he knew a lot of the characters for being five. But Momma was really annoyed by him because I guess his Mom kept answering his questions and threatening to make him leave and stuff, that we couldn't hear... oops.
I love watching these movies and looking for the Christian influence and symbolism. I wrote a paper in college about the Christian perspectives in The L, The W, and the W and it is really interesting to me. Very good stuff.
Check out this video from SNL about the Chronicles of Narnia, which inspired this blog's title
So, the night of Dec. 30th we all watched The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Love this movie! Lil Sis and I originally saw it in theaters with our friends Lauren and Katlyn who just happen to be sisters as well. We had such fun, goofy time. We went to Pizza Hut afterwards and could not stop giggling :)
Also I love James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus. The best!
And I love the names the kids are crowned with at the end. High Queen Susan of the Southern Sea and all that. Good times.
We were all off doing different things New Year's Eve, so we couldn't watch Prince Caspian then. After a long search for Prince Caspian at the local video store (I searched under practically every category in the Ps (children, family, Disney, New Releases... nothing) until finally I realized that since Eclipse was under the Ts for the Twilight Saga: Eclipse that Prince Caspian was probably in the Cs for the Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
Momma and I somehow managed to squeeze in a viewing of Prince Caspian just before we left for the 5:45 showing of the Dawn Treader.
I love this movie too. Prince Caspian is the bombdotcom. Love his accent, such a cutie!
Yes please!I love going to the movies, the popcorn, the ICEES, the huge screen. Good times. I really liked Dawn Treader.
The kid who played Eustace was so good at being annoying. The special effects were good. I would have liked more of the older kids, but I know that is following the books, so I can't complain. And of course I like me some Prince Caspian.
There was this five-ish year old boy sitting on the other side of Momma who kept asking his mom questions throughout the movie. Lil Sis and I thought he was adorable (the first time a faun came on scream, he said, "Mr. Tumnus!) and he knew a lot of the characters for being five. But Momma was really annoyed by him because I guess his Mom kept answering his questions and threatening to make him leave and stuff, that we couldn't hear... oops.
I love watching these movies and looking for the Christian influence and symbolism. I wrote a paper in college about the Christian perspectives in The L, The W, and the W and it is really interesting to me. Very good stuff.
Check out this video from SNL about the Chronicles of Narnia, which inspired this blog's title
27 October 2010
Girlfriends are the Best!
Last night I got some much needed girl time with one of my best girlfriends! It was very much needed and so very refreshing!!!
I hung out with my very dear friend Holly.
We've been friends since the second grade and I don't know what I would do with out her!!! She is my go-to when I need advice. I trust her advice 100% :)
Last night it was so great to just relax and talk and vent and gab. No pressure, no worries, just fun girl talk! I have such fabulous girlfriends, God has given me some amazing women of God, who are fun and funny and who I get along with so well.
I love that we can pick up where we left off after not seeing each other for months. It's like no time has passed, which is such a gift after going to college three hours apart for four years. Now we're back living at home about ten minutes apart and we still only see each other maybe once a month.
We also spent some time looking through our sixth grade yearbook. So much fun! We laughed at how dorky and gawky our middle school crushes looked and speculated what our classmates are up to now. Lots of laughing and good-hearted mocking ensued :)
I am so blessed to have Holly in my life!!!!
I hung out with my very dear friend Holly.
We've been friends since the second grade and I don't know what I would do with out her!!! She is my go-to when I need advice. I trust her advice 100% :) Last night it was so great to just relax and talk and vent and gab. No pressure, no worries, just fun girl talk! I have such fabulous girlfriends, God has given me some amazing women of God, who are fun and funny and who I get along with so well.
I love that we can pick up where we left off after not seeing each other for months. It's like no time has passed, which is such a gift after going to college three hours apart for four years. Now we're back living at home about ten minutes apart and we still only see each other maybe once a month.
We also spent some time looking through our sixth grade yearbook. So much fun! We laughed at how dorky and gawky our middle school crushes looked and speculated what our classmates are up to now. Lots of laughing and good-hearted mocking ensued :)
I am so blessed to have Holly in my life!!!!
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