Big Decision - Input requested

I have had the pure pleasure to support Shep and Andrea as Shep has ran for the State House. I can't imagine a better man for the job. Unfortunately, because of school, I haven't had much time to lend my support, but now that school is almost finished for the summer I hope that I can help out more.

Now for the big decision. After fall, assuming that I pass everything, I will have 11 classes to finish and my two internships in order to graduate. What I need to figure out, is how do I want to do them. I'm taking 4 classes in the spring, I have to remain a full-time student, so that leaves 7. Option #1: I can do 1 in a mini-semester, 3 in the summer, 1 in the second mini-semester and one with each internship and still graduate when I planned. However I'm afraid that type of schedule will kill me (I already have a friend who keeps telling me that I'm killing myself with stress as it is)!!! There is one class that I HAVE to take in a mini-semester, so I know that I will be doing at least one mini-semester. Option #2: is just to move the second mini-semester to the first mini-semester or summer 1 the following year and I will still graduate by the end of May or June to be able to apply for jobs. Option #3: is to say heck with trying to rush through it all, give myself a break and take 4 classes in the spring, 3 over the summer (including the mini-semester, 4 in fall, 1st internship in Spring 2012, take summer 2012 off (I won't know what to do with myself - maybe I can find a job, even if it is temp work) and then graduate Fall of 2012. That might make it harder to find a job, but I could do long term subbing or work at a place like Silvan Learning Centers. In and all input would be appreciated. I really leaning toward option 2, it seems like that will give me the best chance to get a job and not kill myself while doing it.

Hopefully after Monday I can get back to updating on a somewhat normal basis.

Steph

One Year Ago

Anniversaries are big to me. Some I celebrate, some are hard, and some have so many mixed emotion attached to them that I couldn't even begin to describe them. This anniversary falls into the last group. One year ago I started down the road to get my second BS in Secondary Mathematics Education. This has been more challenging then I ever thought it would be, but I'm also more convinced than ever that this is what I'm SUPPOSE to do.

Powerful Weekend

This weekend was wonderful and powerful. I have been struggling a lot lately. I have started Beth Moore's book "So Long Insecurities" and it is wonderful but it has brought out into the light a lot of things that need to be dealt with. Right now everything is so very raw and I feel like I have been beaten up.

Saturday I attended the Ladies Conference and it was a wonderful morning. God used this experience to step all over my toes. The conference dealt with a lot of the issues that I have been struggling with. I was glad that I was in the sound booth running slides that morning, because I spent most of the conference in tears and if I could have I would have run out of the room. I have never been very comfortable crying or really showing any emotion in public other than a smile....yea I know that is one of the things that I'm working on.

Sunday was such a sweet day of worship with my church family. Great services in the morning. Kidz Choir was wonderful. It is such a blessing getting to hear kids worship. We finished off the day with a powerful worship service in the evening.

Growing isn't for wimps

I have been reminded once again to never pray and ask to God to grow you in a certain area unless you are ready to really work on that area. God is faithful to answer our prayers and he is faithful to complete the work that He has started in us!!! It is true that great blessings come from being obedient, however at times to get there is also times of discouragement and trials.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1: 2-4

I'm freaking out a little about this coming semester!!! I have taken a really challenging load, and just as classes are starting Grandma gets sick. Thankfully she seems to be doing better. It just seems that whenever I start to pursue what I feel that I called to something gets in the way to make it even harder. Maybe that is a good thing though!!!

Trying to see the joy and not worry!!!

Perseverance

A blog that I read on a regular basis challenged people to come up with one word to be their word of the year!!! I decided on the word PERSEVERANCE!! I have this bad habit of wanting to quit whenever I think that I might fail at something. I have stated before that I often set unreasonable expectations for myself, and want everything to be perfect. So when things get tough, instead of risking failing and not being good enough, I quit.

Romans 5: 3-4 says " We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop perseverance. And perseverance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. "

I did a search for the word the perseverance in the bible and it is found in 21 verses and is talking about us, as followers, every time. The word perfect appears in 43 verses, but not one time was it used in reference to us!!! If we could be perfect then we wouldn't need a Savior.

So this year my word is perseverance!!! It means taking risk and from time to time failing, but pressing though.