Back-2-School

This summer has been great, but way too short! I bought a house in the spring so I spent a lot of the summer fixing up the house and getting settled. This summer I continued working full time with the Youth for Christ ministry (www.yfc.org) and I returned to be the pool manager at Fort Wayne Country Club for a 4th summer. This has kept me busy!




A few of the highlights of the summer were when my sister and her husband came to spend two weeks with our family. We had a blast (it wasn't long enough!). My best friend also got married! It was exciting to be part of the wedding celebration.


Then, I spent a week with a couple hundred middle school students at a church camp I grew up at called Camp Adventure (http://beacamper.com/). Aside from all that I filled up any free time I had with the lake, concerts, a few trips to Chicago, quality time with family and friends, and attending a lot of weddings.





As kids prepare to go back to school this fall, big news, I am too! I'm going to transition back to teaching. I had a great opportunity to take a 5th grade teaching position at Lafayette Meadows Elementary School (http://www.sacs.k12.in.us/se3bin/clientschool.cgi?schoolname=school151). It's been a difficult decision because I have enjoyed my time with the Youth For Christ ministry, but I'm excited to see what God has for store for me with the 5th graders at LME! During the time of transition at YFC, I'm going to continue to run the Campus Life ministry in the middle schools until they are able to find someone to fill my position. Please keep in your prayers that God will provide someone with a passion to build relationships and share Christ with the Summit and Woodside Middle School students.

As I reflect on my previous blogs and the past few years I'm amazed by the things God has done and how blessed I am. It's been a journey filled with joys and sorrow. Things have not always turned out the way I envisioned them, or the way I planned them to be. This verse speaks to me because I am reminded by it daily:
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." - Proverbs 16:9



Several times I have tried to write my story and plan my own course. Then I get upset when things don't go according to my way. Gods word reminds me that the Lord will continue to lead me and guide me everyday of my life.

New Year, New Opportunities!

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It's March already, which means we survived the first few months of the new year!

I've had a great start to the year! I finished my 1st grade temporary teaching position on January 19th. Then, I celebrated by taking a trip to visit my sister in Colorado! We had a blast! In the short time I was out there we took a trip to the mountains to go skiing, we went hiking (the weather was incredible), went snowboarding (this has become my new favorite sport) and we took a day trip to visit the city of Boulder. IT was a week full of fun, laughing, and lots of activity! I loved spending time with my sister and brother-in-law. I wish they lived closer!



God continues to open doors for employment in the new year! Feb 1st I officially started my new position as the Youth For Christ (www.yfc.org) leader at Summit and Woodside Middle School! YFC is an organization that reaches young people everywhere, working together with the local church and other like-minded partners to raise up lifelong followers of Jesus who lead by their godliness in lifestyle, devotion to the Word of God and prayer, passion for sharing the love of Christ and commitment to social involvement. I'm excited to be a part of this ministry. Please pray for me as I start to build relationships and share Christ with the middle school students at Summit and Woodside! We had 150 students at our kick-off March 1st and have been strong with numbers since! Pray for the wonderful group of volunteers I have helping in this ministry as well. Currently this as a part time 15-20hr a week job until April 1st. Then, beginning April first I will be empoyed with YFC full time!


In addition to working with the YFC ministry, I am also teaching again! Busy, busy, busy! I had about 2 1/2 weeks off, then back for another temporary teaching position at the same school I was previously working at (Lafayette Meadows Elementary). This time instead of teaching 1st grade I am teaching 2nd grade! I'm enjoying being in the classroom and spending time with the 2nd graders. They always keep me on my toes!

While trying to balance these two positions, I somehow got talked into coaching the long distance track at Woodside Middle School! Due to my teaching contract, being an elementary school teacher, I can't make the practice times, so the other two coaches are filling in for me until I finish my teaching position in April.

I love the start of spring, the warm weather and time spent outside is much needed after being cooped up all winter! I can't to start making some trips up to the lake!

I've also been aggressively on the house hunt lately. I'd like to purchase something soon in order to take advantage of the wonderful tax credit that is being given away!! Please pray for me as I wrestle with this big decision and seek God's guidance with the direction and duration of my time at YFC, various opportunities to teach, and decisions on if I will establish myself here or relocate to a different city, state, or country!!