All Things New

So I'm a terrible blogger. Honestly I just haven't really felt like I could focus. Last week we had family come and visit. It was a great time! I loved watching Jacob interact with the kids. It was fun to spend time with the family. We spent the one day at the beach. *Insert one of the most awful sunburns here* My legs were ON FIRE and not because I worked out! I now have a very "interesting" tan starting to form. I don't think there's any way to "even" out this tan. lol We took the kids to the Rainforest Cafe. They really enjoyed it. Of course we did too! It's neat to experience life through the eyes of kids. We took them to Moody Gardens. We toured the aquarium and the rainforest. I LOVE the aquarium! It's my favorite. We also got to watch a Great White Shark 3D movie. It felt like Shark Week all over again. lol

This past weekend was restful. We got to spend some time winding down. We had a surprise visit from Sandi and her husband. It was so good to see them! Church was great on Sunday. We made some pepper jelly Sunday afternoon. All in all it was a pretty good weekend.

Yesterday was my first new teacher orientation. I spent about 5 hours in training. We got our id badges. I need to find me a fancy new lanyard for my badge. lol We got our tablets that we use in the classroom. I'll be learning a Dell tablet. Thankfully it's Windows 10, so I have some experience with it. It will definitely be a change from being so iPad based. That's what makes me a diverse tech teacher right?

As with everything else that's new, I'll have to learn a new platform for our webpages. The district I'm in doesn't use Blackboard. They use It's Learning, so that will be a new challenge. Also I'll have to learn more about OneNote and how to incorporate that into my classroom more. I'm exited because my district is a 1:1 and so we will have technology available. It's funny how different things feel as you are learning a new place, new rules, new procedures, etc... It's not bad to challenge and grow ourselves, but it new and scary at the same time. 

My sinuses are killing me.... Ok not really, but it sure feels like they are kicking my butt! I went to the doctor again yesterday. He gave me an antibiotic and I'm praying it kicks this sinus junk. I'm tired of coughing... It's been going on for a long time. 

On a good note, I'm making new friends. I am really excited about that. I don't want to replace my other friends, but in a city where you don't know anyone is lonely. Community is so important and I'm so glad that God is putting people in my path. I'm thankful for my new developing friendships. Also for the most part my new school is similar to my previous school. I'm thankful that it's not completely different and I hope that I'll be able to find myself in this new family. 

My husband will laugh at me when he reads this part. So lately laundry has been the thorn in my side. It is NEVERENDING! As soon as the basket gets empty, it slowly starts to fill up again. I know... I know... try having kids and their laundry, etc... I don't know why the laundry chore has been driving me bonkers lately. I mean it's not hard, it's just always there.... looming... from the laundry basket.... calling to you that the chore is still not complete. Yesterday I was really frustrated about it, but today I'm trying to find the humor in it. I'm pretty sure that the Lord is working on me in regards to counting it all joy (Brother Don would be proud)! This first year of marriage has been a difficult one. It is hard to try to find out your purpose or role in the home. I know for me it's been a roller coaster. I feel like I put so much stock in allowing my job to define me as a person, that I didn't really see who the Lord defined me as. Can I say how convicting and difficult that is?! I spent the first part of this year really trying to figure out what's my job. When I was faced with having to resign my teaching job and seek a new job, I struggled. I was heartbroken. How was I going to contribute to the family? What if I wasn't bringing in money? Didn't that make me less of a person? The answer is no! I have found that as a wife, my priorities have changed. While I don't LOVE doing chores and keeping up the home, I know it's an important role for me to fulfill. It makes a happy home for my husband. His job is to provide and my job is to manage. Once we had our respective roles, things just started falling into place. My job isn't to provide the money for our family. It doesn't hurt when I'm bringing some in and contributing to the bills, it's not my main role. My role is to take care of what my husband is providing and that includes our home. It even includes the dreaded laundry. lol! I have found that my husband comes home happy when the home is in order. I don't always have it together. There are some days he comes home and I haven't even touched the stuff that needed to be done. He's told me countless times that it means a great deal to him that I'm trying and making the effort. My heart has been changing so much in the last year. God has REALLY been doing a work in giving me clear direction on what a wife looks like and what her role is. I've gained a new respect for all the homemakers out there! Taking care of a home is a full time job! Paying bills, running errands, cleaning the home, taking care of the kids, taking care of the spouse, cooking meals, etc... All of that is so important and boy it seems to never end. I've also learned that managing the home doesn't mean I have to do it all. That last line has been so vital in my discovery. While my job is to manage, it isn't to do it all. Sometimes that means I have to ask my husband to come along side me and help or take care of tasks I simply can't get done. It really does give me some relief to know that I don't have to do it all by myself. 

I laugh sometimes when I reflect because I would like to think by 35 I'd have a clue about life. Often times I think God gets the laugh because He has yet another area of my life to work on. I know it's a lifelong journey. I'm thankful that He's taking the time to change my heart and show me what my real purpose is and who I am in Him. I'm so thankful that He has brought me to this place in life where I can look back and see that all the growing pains of the last year were worth it. He is the God of the mountains just like He's the God of the valleys. That promise is so near and dear to my heart. 

Well I think I got a bit more deep than I anticipated. However I promised that I would share my journey and transition. Blogging is good for me. It gives me a place to put down my thoughts. I think when I look back I'll be so glad to see how God will grow me. I remember the words to Hillsong's Oceans really penetrating my heart on this journey. I remember crying them out to the Lord. I guess He was listening! 

"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

[6x]
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

Oh, Jesus, you're my God!

I will call upon Your name"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"

You call me out upon the waters

The great unknown where feet may fail

And there I find You in the mystery

In oceans deep

My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name

And keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise

My soul will rest in Your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters

Your sovereign hand

Will be my guide

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me

You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name

And keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise

My soul will rest in Your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

[6x]

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior

Oh, Jesus, you're my God!

I will call upon Your name

Keep my eyes above the waves

My soul will rest in Your embrace

I am Yours and You are mine
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine