Change, change and more change

I think that the title of today's blog post is literally the story of my life for the year 2010. It's funny how we get so "used to" life. We wake up at the same time every morning, walk through the doorway of the same job every day, come home, eat, sleep and wake up to do it all over again the next morning. This every day monotony is what I like to call the personal comfort zone. Predictable, secure and comfortable.....yes. However, if one little teenie, tiny normality is removed from the daily monotony, then life just isn't right because it puts us outside of our comfort zone. As I rewind all the way back to December 2009, I think back to the good old days when life was simply predictable and what I would like to call secure. Nonetheless, I knew that once January 1, 2010 rolled around that my life would be different because I would be leaving behind a paycheck, a workplace in which I had worked for nearly six years, and some of my nearest and dearest of friends.

Well, January came quicker than I imagined and I found myself traveling nearly fifty miles a day to make a difference in the lives of twenty-one second grade students at John B. Dey Elementary School. Who would have ever thought that I would have become so attached to the kiddos at John B. Dey in a mere eight weeks? From Ancient Egypt to poetry, the children and I worked very hard every day and explored many new and exciting things. Was it worth it? Absolutely....every minute of it! But just when I started to get "used to" that daily routine, it was time for me to say good-bye and move on to a group of twenty-three fourth grade students at Cedar Road Elementary.

March and April were filled with new and exciting challenges as I had to mentally shift gears and up my anty to teach "big, bad" fourth graders instead of "little, lovable" second graders. Oh how kiddos change in just a few short years. Second graders are so loving and affectionate; they want to please you and are still so moldable. Fourth graders on the other hand are independent, have their own unique personality, are comical, show very little emotion or "love" toward their teacher, and can be relatively hard on themselves given the right situation. I must admit that going into it, I was kind of scared that these particular fourth grade students would be smarter than me and outsmart me in numerous situations, especially given the fact that they were identified gifted. However, this was not the case. Did they keep me on my toes.....MOST DEFINITELY! Nonetheless, they also humored me, made me laugh until I cried, inspired me, made me work hard and think smarter. Most importantly, on numerous occassions, I was awestruck by their God-given talents and knowledge that simply re-inforced why I am what I am--a teacher! They were such precious kiddos, and I am honored to have been able to make a difference in their lives!

Then May rolls around. In the blink of an eye........I attended one of my very best friend's wedding in Florida; I graduated from Regent University with a group of fabulous girlfriends who I greatly miss seeing every Thurday night; I was re-united with one of the coolest kids in the entire world (only until I have a child of my own and then he will be the second coolest kid in the world); I am now saying good-bye to another one of my best friends who is moving to Hawaii. Oh how life changes......just like that.....in the blink of an eye.

June has been so much fun! I am thoroughly enjoying being able to spend an ample amount of time with my mom, family and friends. Not only that, but I spent a week hanging out with one of the coolest kiddos in the world....Benjamin! I cannot even begin to tell you how thankful I am to be able to make all sorts of new memories, which will simply leave a favorable and lasting impression on this season of my life. Not to mention.....I am also going to Seattle to see my other half and enjoy a mini-vacation (all thanks to my father-in-law)! Thank you God for this time of my life.....thank you for providing for my family.......and thank you for preparing the way for me to enter into the next chapter of my life!

In closing, I know that when I look back on this particular season of my life, I will simply realize that it made be a better, stronger person. Probably the coolest thing about it all is the fact that even though many different aspects of my life are constantly changing, I serve a God who never ever changes; He is the same yesterday, today and forever! I also know that all of this change is necessary......necessary so that I may be able to move onto the next chapter of my life! I am so excited and cannot wait to see where God leads me next!