Busy, Busy Friday!

Happy Friday everyone! Even though I am off work today and school doesn't start until next week, it is definitely not a lazy Friday! I am a leader at CSF (Christian Student Fellowship) at my school and we help put on a week full of events call Kweek for all the new freshies! :) So as a leader, we are required to help with a ton of events through the next two weeks (this year its two weeks long because of where Labor day lands compared to the first day of school). 

Today I have been helping clean the building and later tonight we are having "The Luau Party" to start off Kweek! There will be tons of food and a ton of people! Over the next two weeks I will be helping with other parties and events, and then on September 6th we host The Worlds Largest Water Balloon Fight!! Here is the video from last year! Its pretty crazy, but awesome to be apart of!! 

Next Wednesday classes start, but I don't start until Thursday! I seriously can't believe that the school year is about to start and summer is over! I have so much going on this semester, but I am so excited for all of it!! 

I hope all of you are doing well and if you're in school, are having a great first few days/weeks!! I probably won't be posting much until Kweek is over, but I will definitely be back with some posts when I can!! 

^^ This verse is something I really need to memorize and put into my life everyday! God has my life in control, and I need to trust Him!

Danielle

Favorites Friday!

So I know that I haven't done a Favorites Friday in a while, but I just didn't have anything different that I had been liking. Well now I do! :)

{1} Bagels! Haha, I know its crazy but I have been having them at least 3 times a week. My favorite combo is blueberry bagel with blueberry cream cheese {you may think it sounds good or gross, but I sure do love them!}

{2} Grapes! Haha, my favorites is quite random this week. But they are just such a refreshing snack, and they are healthy! I have been eating them like they are going out of style.

{3} She Reads Truth Devotional! I know that this was in my last favorites, but I am really liking it! I finally finished Women in the Bible Part 1 and have started on Part 2. I have really felt encouraged by these women in the bible, and it's a great way to start my day!

{4} Kentucky Sunsets! Seriously I don't know how much better it could get. God has truly blessed us lately with some wonderful sunsets. 

 

{5} Hart of Dixie! Since my roommate and I don't have cable, we have been taking advantage of Netflix. We have started many shows, and one of our favorites is Hart of Dixie. It seriously is soo good, you should look it up! 

What have been your favorites lately?? I know that my favorites this week are COMPLETELY random, but hey... they are my favorites! Haha. I hope you have had a great week & have a great weekend!

Danielle

A New Adventure.

Today I started a new job. Along with a lot of other people, it was my first day of school, but not as student or the teacher. I began a new journey as an after school program teacher. I couldn't be more excited to actually get to be in a school everyday no matter what I am doing, and after today I know that I am absolutely meant to be there. 

I woke up excited and nervous today! I had no idea what to expect, and everyone that has worked there before and knew the kids I would be getting kept saying they were "bad". I didn't exactly know what kind of "bad" they were talking about, so I was only nervous because I didn't know what I would be getting into. When I got to the school and saw the kids coming down into the cafeteria to their 2nd grade table, I at first thought "alright, can I leave now?!" but I quickly realized how these kids needed me. Most of them come from a background of very little discipline, so they haven't really been taught to know what is right and what is wrong; when they can talk and when they can't, how they should listen to their teachers, how to properly sit in a chair and not rock it back and forth, how to not yell across the room, etc. Even though these are all things that every teacher wants their students to be able to do, I realized today that it is more than just those silly little things that these kids need. I can't wait to see exactly where God wants me or how he wants me to help these children, but I do know that I am perfectly fine with saying "sit down" or "quiet in the hall" a thousand times... it's for the children, right?!  Teaching children is crazy and stressful, but it is such a blessing. Even though I am not technically a teacher to them, I felt as though I am teaching them. 

"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you now that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." -James 3:1

I seriously fell in love with my job today. Even though it was only the first day, I felt as though I was meant to be there. I am so grateful for this opportunity I've been given to be in a school and be around students on a daily basis. Today made me realize how much I really do want to be a teacher, {every time I passed a classroom I just wanted to go in & see how they had their room set up & just admire it}. I know that this school year will be difficult and there will probably be days where I don't want to work or I am sick of the kids, but I do know that I am needed there for THEM. A lot of teachers don't realize that sometimes all their students need is discipline and someone that cares for them. Before today I would have hated the thought of having to discipline, but I've learned that even though you are disciplining, it doesn't mean that you do not care. Everyone needs discipline in their lives and it isn't always bad.  Teaching is also loving on students who need it, almost like being a second mom to them. A lot of times, the students learn a whole lot more than just numbers and letters, they learn manners and about life. I can't wait to become a teacher and change a students life. I can't wait to have a classroom to myself of however many little faces to love on and educate. 

I ended my day with my roommate out in the country. In Kentucky we have some of the prettiest country roads and scenery that I have ever seen. It seriously makes me feel so blessed & grateful for where I live. God has made us such a beautiful world! Here are some pictures of my night. Hope y'all had a great night!

Danielle

Exciting News!!

Over the past year I have really felt a tug at my heart to go on a mission trip. I had gotten information on a few mission trips in the past, but I just never ended up going on them. I had realized that it just didn't feel right with where that trip was going. Well I had a friend in my bible study this past school year who had gone on a trip to Haiti with our church. She came back, I saw the pictures & heard the stories, and my heart started to feel a pull to go to Haiti. I knew that the doubt I was having was from Satan, but I applied anyways for the trip! Well I found out yesterday that I WILL BE GOING!! I am so exited and can't wait to see what The Lord does to my heart through this whole process. The trip is in October and is 10 days long. I'm thankful that this semester of classes has easily allowed me to go because I only have 4 classes (one online) and they are only 3 days a week. 

Please pray for me as I prepare for this trip! It is my first mission trip, and it will be a completely different culture than I have ever seen. But I'm excited! And I'm loving these verses right now..

"And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisionment and afflictions await me." -Acts 20:22-24

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." -Matthew 24:14

Danielle

Five Wonderful Years!

Hello! Today I bring to you the cheesy side of me, and I am not one to be this way but it is VERY important to me. Today is my boyfriend and I's five year anniversary! I seriously have been giddy about it since the clock struck 12 this morning. It really is such a huge accomplishment for me, its not that I'm trying to win a reward for the longest dating relationship, but I truly NEVER thought I would have been able to date someone for five years {THATS SO LONG!}. But I can honestly say that they have been the best five years of my life thus far. 

From about 7th grade until the day I "met" him I had dated guys and just being the girl I am thought that they could be the one. But when I look back at those relationships today, I just realize how they were preparing me for this wonderful guy that I would meet. In my past relationships I did not have God centered in them, nor even brought up in them. And I realize now that that is the greatest thing you need to survive any relationship. God seriously has brought him and I through it all! This past year has seriously been my favorite year. We have both just enjoyed each other, we were both baptized last year {2012} and I think that that is what has made this last year such a good one! We have centered our relationship around God and it has made a tremendous difference. I seriously am so blessed beyond belief to be able to call him mine and to get to spend time with him and share my life with him. He really is my best friend, and he has been there for me through it all! Since I have given my heart to Christ, I have everyday been thankful for {even more than before} the person that God has given me to spend my life with. I can confidentially say that I do want to be with him forever, and I cannot see my life without him. {Yes the "M" word has been brought up plenty of times}.

I will not post these type of things very often, but I just get soo happy and excited when August 6th roles around each year. I had to share my excitement somewhere, haha! Please don't hesitate to comment with any questions you may have regarding relationships, I am by means no expert but I can always help give advice and would love to hear about all your y'alls relationships!

Thanks ladies for listening to this mushy gushy stuff!

Danielle

Its August?!

I seriously cannot believe it is already August! Where has the summer gone?! And where has the year gone?! Time has been flying by lately {I mean christmas is already in 5 months! Can you believe it?!} But its really making me thankful for the little moments as well as the big moments. I have a lot thats going to be happening in those 5 months and I am really excited/nervous for them. 

First of all, my JUNIOR YEAR OF COLLEGE starts in three weeks. Since when was I a junior?! This coming semester I will just be taking four classes that are just kind of filling up my semester so that I am a full time student. In the elementary ed program at my school, you have to apply to get into the Teacher Education Program, and you also have to take the Praxis {passing math, reading, and writing}, well I easily passed math and writing but I had a much harder time passing reading {and I was only ONE point away...}. I started the whole praxis testing last November and finally passed in June! Needless to say I was very much relieved and thankful that that whole process was over! So because I kept having to retake the reading section of the Praxis, I missed the deadline for turning in my TEP {teacher education program} application. Which meant I had two drop two classes so that I would have some classes to take in the fall semester {I was actually on track to graduate a semester early}. I will be applying for the program in September, having an interview, and then hopefully I will get accepted into the program & I can continue the path of being an Elementary teacher. 

I will also hopefully be going on my very first mission trip in October. This will be helping at an orphanage and a school/church that my church has planted in another country. Please be praying for me as I hopefully am able to go on the trip and for our group. I have literally no idea what to expect, but I am so excited to see what God whats me to do down there! 

In just TWO days {August 6} it will be my 5th year anniversary dating my amazing boyfriend! I seriously cannot believe it has been that long. We have really grown together and learned so much together. I am so thankful that I have had him as my best friend by my side through everything, and I cannot wait to see where God continues to take us in our relationship. {Don't worry, I will post soon a post about us! I think its a pretty good story!}

I think those three things are really the major things that will be happening in the next few months. I will definitely share more with you all that happens. I am so grateful and blessed to have been given these opportunities in life and can't wait to see what God has planned for me in the future. I have grown to love the Lord so much in the past year and have learned so much from His word and other people. Please pray for me as I endure this semester and these huge events in my life that can truly change me as a person! 

Have a great week girls!

Danielle

A beautiful reminder.

Good morning ladies! I have been starting off my mornings reading the She Reads Truth: Women in the Bible devotional! And let me tell you, it is a wonderful way to start the day! On top of that, I have learned SO MUCH! I've heard of some of the stories that are in Genesis but have never really paid much attention or understood them... well now I am! 

Today I did Day 11: Leah- From Unloved to Loved. It was great! {Side note: I find it absolutely crazy how much wives in the Old Testament let their husbands sleep with their servants so that they can have children! Haha} But I really enjoyed today's reading, and I encourage everyone to read it! We all have our days where we don't feel adequate enough to be loved by others... maybe we don't seem smart enough or pretty enough. But let me tell you- God loves us for what we are! He wants us to realize that he made us all beautiful in His eyes; and he wants us to desire His admiring glances above ANYONE else! HE IS OUR PRINCE CHARMING LADIES!! We have already found him! Isn't that an amazing feel?! I sure think that is! 

If you haven't read any of the Women in the Bible devotional, I really encourage you to! You can find it on the SheReadsTruth blog or even on the YouVersion bible app! 

Have a wonderful day ladies! :)

Danielle