From Coaches to Friends to Family

"Friends are the family you get to choose." 

-Jess Scott

God gave us family and God gave us friends. Your family should also be your friends, right? Well, I think that some friends (the right friends) should also be your family. And that is the case with my friends, I mean family, the Jones. First of all, they are THE BEST PEOPLE I KNOW  and I don't know why God blessed ME with them, or why He gave them to me, but He did. He knew I needed people like them in my life and that I would need family like them. 6 years later I am still blown away, every day, that God would give me a blessing as precious and huge as the Jones. And that is because He loves me and wants to give me good, good things. But anyways, family is typically thought of as people who are tied together by blood or marriage; and that's right. But family can also be individuals who make your life better, challenge you, sacrifice for you, love, trust you, and have your best interest at heart. That's why I call the Jones family and why they call me family. 

 I didn't think (For a while) that they liked me THAT much. I thought they liked me but not like one of the favorites or anything like that. Haha i'm oblivious though so that explains it probably.The first time they said I was like family to them I kinda thought, "Aww that's so sweet. I'm honored."But I also thought part of them was saying that, but meaning that they felt close to me and love me.. more than some other friends. And that's definitely true, but only a portion of why I"m family to them. As I spent more time with them, I realized what they meant and that they truly view me as family. When I became Aunt Karel when Kimbrel was born, I couldn't think of anything else I wanted to be. It was the most humbling, beautiful, and special name or title anyone has ever given me. Aunt Karel meant I was more than just a friend or babysitter or mentor. More than "Miss Karel". I was Aunt Karel. It still makes me smile big and she's almost 2!! Being an aunt to Gary and Sarah's baby meant I was special and with that, kinda given more responsibility to do my part in raising her, encouraging her, loving her, and setting a good example for her. As Aunt Karel I hope and pray that Kimbrel will see Jesus in me. That she will see me and be excited and runnnnn towards me and jump up in my arms. That she will, one day, understand that I love Jesus, but only because He loved me first. I pray that she will be encouraged by how I react when I'm sad, upset, or angry. I pray that she will see goodness and light in me, and that she will be drawn to the good instead of the bad. I pray that she will grow up to love Jesus like her mama, daddy, and rest of her family do. I pray that she will have a desire to serve others, share God's love and promises with others, and minister to others by her life. There has been a precious and special place in my heart for Kimbrel since the first second I held her. She has truly changed my life and the way I look at life. She has taught me a new level of love and thankfulness. And I know God will use her to do great and mighty things in this world. As Aunt Karel, I cannot wait to see the plans He has in store for little Kimbrel Lynn Jones. OH and now I get to be Aunt Karel for the second time!!! Party hard, party hard!! Baby Jones #2 will be here in July (2015) and I cannot wait!! 

Ain't they cute?? I blend in well with the dark, curly hair :D

Here come Jones Baby #2!! Kimbrel is a big sister!! 

God sent Sarah from Kansas to Montgomery then to Eastwood, and sent Gary (on top of having a career) to Eastwood, where we were in need of coaches. This is where I met them. And PRAISE THE LORD for that. Even though I was an annoying 8th grader who missed easy layups and whose ears stuck out, they still showed me love and encouragement. That is why I began to love them and truly look up to them. I had times where players from the other teams would ask me if they were my parents or if Sarah was my sister. I would laugh and say no, but it made me really happy when people asked. because I knew I loved them and being family would make me love them even more!! But, through the years. God has blessed our friendship and turned us into family.  It brings me so much joy and happiness to go on family outings with them. meet their family members, and be treated like I am part of their family. There isn't a thing I have done to deserve them or their patience, love, and generosity, but I am grateful for them on a daily basis. They have shown me how to love all people, even the ones who are difficult. They have taught me how to use God's word to make it through hard times and how to still trust him and thank him during good times. They have shown me how to be hospitable and generous. They have shown me patience. SO. Much. Patience. I didn't know that two people could be so patient but thank goodness they are.They have never left my side and have walked me through things that I could not have walked through alone. And I cannot put them into words because there are not words good enough to do so. I don't even know how to tell them thank you sometimes so i just have to say, "Thank you for loving me and accepting me and being my friends." Words fall so short when it comes to thanking them and thanking God for them. One day when I have kiddos of my own, they will hear sooo much about the Jones and to my kids, they will be Uncle Gary and Aunt Sarah. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT YO!! All this to say, I have friends who have become family and for that, I owe God a hundred thousand thank you's because He has blessed me with more than I ever could have asked for. 

Three Times Blessed

 {Nov. 24. 2014}

Photocreds to Alea Bostic // http://aleabostic.wix.com/leemariephotography

As thanksgiving approaches each year, I am always more aware of the things and people i have been blessed with, the lessons I've learned, my relationship with the Lord, and the wonderful life that I have. Like most families, I don't always get along with my siblings. And at times, I feel like we argue more then we get along. However, I cannot imagine life without my big sister (Hope), little brother (Allan), and little sister (Joy). We argue, disagree, make fun of each other, and sometimes get physical haha, but at the end of the day, no matter how mean they were to me or how much we bickered, I wouldn't trade them for anything or anyone else. With them, we have gone through the trial of losing our mom to cancer when Hope was 13, I was 11, Allan was 9, and Joy was 7. Because of that and the way our mom and dad raised us, we drew closer to each other. We learned to encourage more and let the little things go. We have learned how short life can be and how important it is to build relationships with family and friends. These three brown eyed, brunette, sarcastic, and hilarious people make my life complete. I wouldn't say that to them cause we don't do cheesy, ooey gooey feelings often. But each of them contribute to our family. I have 3 forever friends in them, who see my absolute WORST sides, but forgive me and love me still. And I do the same. There is a special bond between siblings and I thank the Lord for the ones he gave to me. Sometimes they are the ones who rat you out when you do something wrong, but sometimes (and more so the case with us), they are ones who help you fix it or distract the parents from finding out. It's a blessing and a curse sometimes :) We may disagree on big things and little things, which is okay. However, we still have to respect each other and try to see their side and accept them for who they are. Love them even if you don't "get" them. These are the people who have known you the longest and have gone through things with you and understand the hard times and good. They are there to laugh on car rides or cry at funerals. Either way, siblings are a gift from God and a treasure. Keep that treasure, don't give them away or push them away at the moments when they don't shine or sparkle like they used to. Give second, third, one billionth chances to them. Keep them and fight for them. They are in your life because God knows you need them. 

 

                  

Allan (17): Allan is the only boy (bless him) and my little, but not so little brother. Through the years, I have seen him grow  from a little goofy boy to a strong, protective, wise, young man. Him and I butt heads SO MUCH but it is because we both takes things seriously, care deeply,  and want to make sure we are living the right way. We don't agree on things alot, but we move past it. He brings the most laughs into our family and has always been that way. He is very protective of me, Hope, and Joy, even if we don't want him to be. He also is very wise, even at a young age. He has been through things in life that have caused him to mature and gain wisdom. I love him and am proud to be his big sister. Whatever girl marries him, will be a lucky, blessed, and forever happy with him. He is special and a role model to boys, young men, and older men by the way he lives his life, loves the Lord, and serves others. He is a stud but also a servant. I"m thankful God has blessed our family with him. 

Hope (21): Hope is my big sister and the oldest of the 4. She is very different from me but we still have common ground. She is independent, charismatic, passionate, outgoing, and strong willed. She has a special and sometimes more difficult role as the oldest because the rest of us are watching her. We watch what she does, how she reacts to things, the choices she makes, the friends she chooses, and the way she presents herself to the world. From watching her grow up, I have learned what things about her I want to do the same, and some things I definitely don't want to do haha. She has been the best sister I could have picked and our personalities go together perfectly. (God knew what he was doing). She has been my best friend and an irreplaceable friend who has helped me when i was in pain, laughed with me when I was being weird (or HILARIOUS cause I am). and she has taught me so much about Christ, life, and college. I am thankful God gave me a big sister to look up to and that she was Hope. 

             

  

 

                 

Joy (15): The baby!! Oh goodness. Joy is the youngest and usually the most annoying (sorry Joy). But she is still loved and adored. When Joy was born, she had holes in her lungs, was rushed to the ICU, then flown by helicopter form Montgomery to Jackson Hospital in Bham. The doctors told my family that they were not sure she would make it to the hospital because her health was in critical condition. That's something I cannot imagine going through as a mom, but my mom and dad prayed without ceasing and trusted God with Joy's life. And God saved her- he healed her and gave her life. She spent several more weeks in the hospital but finally came home. We were THRILLED to meet our new baby sister. All that to say, Joy was a miracle baby and reminder of God's providence, control, and power. JOy is full of life, love, and joy. So her name fits her perfectly :) She brings loudness, jokes (some stupid but some good), and reminds us to breathe and enjoy life. She is a blessing tome and i love having a little sister i can give advice to, encourage, teach, and influence. She is strong and a fighter, which she has been since day 1. I know she will do great things and I am excited to be here to see it! 

                   

           

   

Lessons For My Little Ones

"In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,

 even as we put our hope in you." 

{Psalm 33:21-22}

1. Love Others

Whether someone is easy to love or hard to love, love them. Be kind, be generous, and be encouraging. Love goes a long way and you won’t regret showing someone love. Do it when its convenient, do it when it’s not. Just love people.

2. Build Friendships

 Friends are the family you get to pick. So pick wisely. Find people who encourage you and find the best in you. But make sure they will also bruise you with the truth. Choose friends who won’t let you fall down without being there to pick you up. Friendship is one of the most valuable things God gives us so cherish your friends and never give up on them.

3. BeYOUtiful

Be yourself. You are beautiful no matter what anyone else says. There is no perfect person who is the perfect example of beauty. You may have a pretty face or great body, but beauty is more than that. Beauty comes from being confident, radiating joy that comes from Jesus, and by the way you live your life. Part of it is also how you view yourself, so view yourself as a daughter of the King. He (The King of all Kings) and Creator of THE WORLD says you are beautiful and there is no flaw in you (Song of Solomon 4:7). Girls may say you’re fat, or your hair is stringy, or you stomach isn’t flat enough. Who cares? God made you the way you are He is satisfied and pleased by you. When he created you, he said you were good and he made you exactly how he wants you--not how the world wants you. So, if you don’t believe me, believe God when he says you are beautiful.

4. Bad Day, Not a Bad Life

You are going to have bad days and you’re going to have bad weeks. That is life and every single person experiences those kinds of days. Just remember though, a bad day DOES NOT mean you have a bad life. Do not let a bad yesterday distract you from today. Jesus already has taken care of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Trust that he will guide you and bring you out of the bad and into the good. On the bad days, seek Jesus more and the world less. That usually is where the problem lies ;)

5. Guard Your Heart

OH man. I know you will hear this so many times but it is one of the most important things to do. As girls, we fall for so much when it comes to boys, love, and our happily ever after. When you find a man who you think could be “the one”, be careful. Do not let his promises about the future blind you. Until he can and will put a ring on your finger and ask your daddy’s permission to marry you, don’t let him lead you down that path. Boys will say things-some will truly mean them and some will not. Sweet talkin is what I call it. I fell for this and it will break your heart if the relationship ends. Find a man who will not only guard your purity and your physical body, but also your emotions. Don’t let him cross lines or make promises he can’t keep. Be wise and take it slow. Trust him, but not all at once. Let him prove that he is guarding you completely; not just the parts he wants to. You’ll meet your prince charming one day and God is preparing him for you RIGHT NOW!! How exciting. So be patient and wise. He is coming.

6. Do What You Love

If you art, sports, school, outdoors, indoors, baking, or whatever it is, do it. Don’t worry about what others will think about it. Do not let the opinions of others determine what you love. Don’t let them discourage you. Those are the people who you do not need in your life anyways. Don’t let someone tell you, you can’t do something. Whether it’s a hobby, a sport, or the job you want to do when you grow up. God will lead in the direction he KNOWS is best for. If you have a relationships with him, you will not fail. Do not let the devil and the world tell you otherwise.

7. Work Hard

I have seen the consequences of not doing my best and slacking off. Not doing an assignment or studying enough isn’t worth getting some extra time to hang out with friends. If you make a habit of doing the minimum or being lazy, you will have a very hard time breaking that when you’re older. So, whether you are doing homework, at basketball practice, or doing chores, do it to the best of your ability and in the future, you will see the rewards of it.

8. Share Jesus with the World

Your whole life you have and will hear about Jesus and his love and grace he has given to you. Don’t keep that to yourself. IF someone tells you good news you are going to want to tell everyone, right? The Gospel/Gods love story about you is the same. Tell people about him because there are people who need it more than you know. There are people in your school, your neighborhood, you city who need to hear it. There are people in countries you don’t even know exist who need to hear it. They need the hope of someone greater than themselves who loves them and guides them. Don’t be selfish with the gospel and don’t be scared. Go boldly, go quickly, and go without hesitation. Help be Jesus’ hands and feet and walk the streets of Africa, Alabama, or wherever God takes you.

9. Ask for Help

There’s nobody who has all the answers in this world, so you won’t be the only one who needs help and advice sometimes. If you need advice or encouragement,: ask someone. Ask me or a friend or your family. You weren’t made to go through alone and have all the -answers. God will show you answers through his word and also through the lives and wisdom of those around you. Take advantage of the people who love you by asking for their )help. We all need help from time to time and in my life, I have been blessed with many people who will come to my aid. I pray that you will have the same blessing.

10. There’s No Such Thing As Perfect

That includes you. Yep, I just told you that you aren’t perfect. It’s okay though because I’m not either and neither is anyone else that you’ll meet. Being imperfect means that you will make mistakes; some big and some small. You will have failures. You will sin. You will hurt others and be hurt. So do not beat yourself up every time you mess up or something doesn’t go “according to plan.” The fact that you are not perfect shows your need of someone who is perfect- Jesus. He will never fail you, hurt you, leave you, or turn his back on you. His perfect love casts out all of your fears and makes you able to face the world. Do not strive for merely perfection- strive to be like Jesus. By doing this, everything else will fall into place. The world’s definition of perfection is not lasting and shallow- but striving for Christ-likeness is eternally rewarding.

All of these bits of advice are here to help you make it through the things that you will experience in life. Hopefully they will help make it a little easier. I want you to know that I have gone through the same things that you will and pray that you will come out of them better and stronger than I did. But ultimately, I want you to know that God is on your side and he has let me experience these things because he needed me to see that I am not enough. I cannot satisfy him on my own and I cannot bring him glory through my life, on my own- I need, you need, we all need Jesus. I am confident that he will show himself to you and that you will trust and love him more than you do any human being, because in Christ, we find hope and we find life.   

Disney Isn’t the Only Author of Fairytales

                                            

       So before I start, here is a fun fact about Karel: My all-time favorite Disney princess in Rapunzel. So obviously, my favorite Disney movie is Tangled. I know the words to every song, I can quote the movie almost line by line, and I even buy myself Tangled things (even though Im 19). All that to say, the reason this movie is my favorite is because the story, or even better said, this fairytale, is relatable to my life. No, Disney didn’t write my life or base Tangled off of mine, but they still relate. Rapunzel feels trapped in a place she doesn’t belong. There is a world out there that Rapunzel dreams of exploring and although that journey may be difficult and full of both failures and successes, she doesn’t give up. She longs for something that she can’t get on her own and realizes she needs help from someone who loves her, can protect her, and knows more than she does. She finds this hero and leader in Flynn Rider, who comes into her life right when she needs him to. Although she was hesitant to trust Flynn at first, she soon realized that he was what she needed and from then on out, he proves that he was one who would save her and love her forever. Rapunzel had a goal and the reward at the end of her race makes the long journey to the finish line completely worth it. At the end of her race, she came face to face with her mother and father. She was accepted, cherished, and welcomed with the warm embrace of the ones she longed to meet. And at that point, she was finally home. At her real home, with the people who loved her the most.

       I am in the same situation Rapunzel was in. I am in a place that is not my home. I am not in a place (yet) where sadness is absent, pain is gone, and happiness is unending. The journey of my life is getting there. Getting to that place of perfection where my Father will greet me with a warm embrace and I will finally be home, where I belong, with the One who loves me most. And once again like Rapunzel, I cannot reach the finish line on my own. I am not strong enough or wise enough to take on the dangerous woods, soldiers, and darkness alone. Rapunzel was given her hero and “savior”, Flynn Rider at the exact moment she needed him. The same happened for me, but I was given Jesus. He came into my life when I needed him and despite my lack of trust and faith in his abilities and plan, he never left my side. He guided me through the woods, past the soldiers, and into the light like only he can. There have been many many trials I have gone through during my journey, but I have never faced any of them alone. Flynn was there to stay by Rapunzel’s side, and Jesus is here to stay by mine.

       Even though Rapunzel has a happy ending, that doesn’t mean there weren’t difficulties, trials, and stumbling blocks along the way. Rapunzel could have given up when the King’s guards chased them, when Gothel found her, when Flynn was captured, or later when Gothel almost killed Flynn. But she chose to fight against the evil and fight for what was good. When the man she loved was dying in her arms it would have been easy for her to give up and pity herself but no, she kept fighting. She told Gothel, “No, I will not stop! For every minute for the rest of my life, I will fight. And I will never stop fighting until I get away from you! But if you let me save him I will go with you. Just let me heal him and you and I can be together I promise just like what you want just let me heal him.” Gothel was taken back by this but still wouldn’t give in. Rapunzel was willing to sacrifice her freedom to save the man she loved, which is one of the most courageous things she could have done. Finally, when Gothel thought she had won, Flynn was healed and Gothel was defeated. Rapunzel was free and she and Flynn could continue their journey together, to reunite her with her real family and her real home. At this point in the movie, it is shown that love conquers all and is the greatest power of all.

               Once again, like Rapunzel, Jesus made the greatest sacrifice so we could live and be free. He did this knowing that he would be tortured and that God would turn his face away from him. Jesus did this selflessly and without delay. Why? Because he loves us. It is amazing the things that love can overcome which is why Jesus says, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13). There are obstacles that we will face in life where we have to sacrifice for someone, and when you do, it always makes you stronger and teaches you to love deeper.

       Now, we can’t talk about Tangled without bringing up Pascal and Maximus, Flynn and Rapunzel’s faithful friends. Friends who happen to be a lizard and royal horse. But what Disney princess doesn’t have animals as her friends? Anyways, Rapunzel has friends who keep her encouraged, happy, and cheerful. They are there for her to talk to when she’s happy, sad, or confused. They support her and never leave her side. There are times Pascal is scared and suspicious of Flynn and the places they go on their adventures, but he still supports Rapunzel and makes sure she is safe. Maximus is the same- he makes sure Rapunzel is safe and stays loyal to her, no matter what happens. True friends are a huge part of why Rapunzel did not give up and how she made it through the good times and not so good times. This is something that is completely true in real life. It’s not just princesses and fictional characters who have loyal and caring friends. Without people (or animals) there to push you along when you get weak and cheer you on when you cross the finish line, it would be much harder to press on. God has blessed me with Maximus and Pascals and they have all helped me to make it through the dark and lonely times when I thought I couldn’t go on any longer. Friends are a necessity in life because they pick you up when you fall and give you hope when you’ve given up on yourself.

       Now for some not so happy parts about Tangled. One lesson Rapunzel learns is that bad choices lead to consequences. She chose to go behind her step mother’s back, disobey her rules, and do what she wanted to do. She rebelled because she thought her way was better than her mother’s. Even if Rapunzel was right, she still disrespected her mother which led to consequences. Flynn got captured, the crown was stolen, and Rapunzel was taken back home. At this point, Rapunzel felt guilty and remorse for what she had done, so she apologized to her mother, even though she still thought her mother was doing wrong by keeping her locked up. Even though Rapunzel did wrong by disobeying her mother, she did end up asking for forgiveness. As a result, Mother Gothel shows her forgiveness and accepts her apology. Rapunzel’s apology was sincere and true- she knew she was wrong to lie to her mother so she apologized because of it. On the other hand, the step mother’s forgiveness was selfish. She only wanted Rapunzel to stay in the castle because she wanted the benefits of having her there: The magic hair. The love that Mother Gothel had for Rapunzel was a love that existed only for personal gain. If Rapunzel didn’t have something Gothel wanted and needed, she could care less what happened to her. This is something we face in life day to day. We will hurt people and sin against them. When we do that, we are called to apologize and beg for their forgiveness like Rapunzel did. Not only does this help to repair the relationship that was broken because of sin, but it also is pleasing to God. On the other hand, when someone asks for you forgiveness, make sure your apology is genuine and that you truly mean it when you say, “I forgive you.” If you don’t do this, it can lead to bitterness and anger that can last a life time.  Jesus has shown us the ultimate example of forgiveness- he has forgiven our past, present, AND future sins! All of them. His blood that was poured out was to save us and forgive us. There is nothing we have done or can do that will change that. He has forgiven us completely, genuinely, and eternally. He is the light and life in the world that defeats darkness and death. And taking it back to Disney, Rapunzel’s light and kindness contrasts with Gothel’s darkness and selfishness.

       As cliché as Disney movie and fairytales are, they portray truth. The truth that goodness always conquers evil and that the light will always consume the darkness. The story of Rapunzel shows the need of someone greater than yourself to save you, the importance of friends, perseverance, and forgiveness. These are all things that we, as real people, who live real lives, in real cities face, and will continue to face our whole lives. Disney may have created and written this fairytale, but God has written mine and yours. And as great as Disney is, my God is better and the fairytale he has written for me is far greater than any story you can read in a book. It may not be as magical, colorful, and entertaining as Tangled, but it is your story and God has written it perfectly for you. But, you can still thank Disney for teaching you such great lessons through a fun and exciting fairytale. I bet you didn’t think Tangled was so deep and relatable did you? You’re welcome ;)

God is Good

"For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."

{Psalm 100.5}

 The Bible tells us numerous times that God is good and that if we trust in Him, everything, even the hard and bad things, will turn out good. He turns ugliness to beauty, hate to love, and bad to good. And that makes sense because God IS good. He is characterized by goodness. Now, that's a fact that seems obvious and simple. But, what does "good" really mean? What do we mean by "God is good?" It sounds just like the t-shirts that say "Life is good" with a cute lil flower or puppy with a bone on front of the shirt. God is more than just our simple, somewhat common and shallow definition of good. 

The true meaning of that word is someone or something that is superior, sturdy, and strong. Is God superior? Yes. Sturdy? Yep. Strong? Oh yeah. I could just stop there but there is so much more to God's goodness than just that. His character, love, grace, mercy, and promises prove that He is indeed, good. Let me show you- Ephesians 2:4-5 tells us...

 "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together in Christ-by grace you have been saved."

Just this one verse shows us God's character and how he loved us no matter what. He forgave us for every single thing we have done and will do, forever. He turned his back on his Son who was bearing our sin and shame, because he loves us. He gave us the promise and gift of forgiveness and eternity in paradise with Him. He is good because he gives us the love, grace, mercy, and promises that we do not deserve. He allows us to have a relationship with Him, even though we are so undeserving. He is superior to us and on our own, we are not worthy of his presence, love, and forgiveness. However, because of his character and goodness, he makes it possible for us to draw near to him and know him. By knowing God, we are made more like him. We may think we are "good" people and by today's definition of good, yes we are. But, without a relationship with God that is wrapped in love, forgiveness, second chances, mercy, and obedience, we have no hope of becoming like Him. That is why we should be thankful every day for the relationship we have with Him. Because guess what? So many people don't have that gift. And they are missing out on the greatest treasure there is. If we do have that relationship we better cherish it, but also share it with the world. Let others see the goodness of God. Don't keep something so bright, beautiful, and precious to yourself. 

In my life, I have seen God's goodness on display time and time again. I have seen how  sturdy of a place it is to rest in the palm of God's hand. He has been my refuge and my place of safety and comfort. He cannot be shaken. The storms of life cannot tear him down. The schemes of the devil cannot bring him down. He is sturdy and he is greater than all things.Why? Because he is the creator of all things. Knowing that God is more powerful, sturdy, and greater than anything the world can throw my way, brings me great comfort. I am able to rest in the arms of the Creator of the universe. The arms of the one who took my sins away. The arms of the One who chose me. The one who loves me and never leaves me. What greater place of shelter is there than in the arms of Jesus? 

I have also experienced the wonder of God's strength. A place of strength is a place that has been fortified and protects against attack of all kinds. My God is a strong God who protects me and all of his children against attack. He is on our side. He is on my side every day of my life. But how can he be on my side if he lets bad things happen to me? Well, it turns out the bad things he sends our way are out of love. Trials aren't a lack of God's love and goodness; God sends trials our way because of our own lack of faith and trust in Him. He sends hardships and struggles our way to real us back in when we have drifted away. And that is love. He won't let us run away if he isn't going to chase after us. For me, running away has always ended us bringing me closer to my savior. At times we think God isn't enough, he isn't the answer, or isn't what we need. But we are so dang wrong. In him, we find joy, peace, protection, comfort, and love. Because he is strong, we become strong. And when we become strong, we can defeat the devil. We can lift God higher and shower him with praise and glory. 

As a believer, God has brought many trials into my life. But never ever has he sent one that could not be overcome. On my own, no i couldn't overcome them. But with God holding me up and fighting with me, I can. His goodness has been shown to me over and over again, and that is proof enough for me that he is real and his love never fails. 

How to Love

"Love God and He will enable you to love others

 even when they disappoint you."

-Francine Rivers 

Loving others is something that we are really good at, at times, but terrible at other times. And that makes sense because we are imperfect people who fail at many things, over and over again. Love is no exception. For me (and i'm pretty sure this is the same for 99.999% of all other people on earth), it's way easier to love people who show you love back. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure I'm not. The people who are kind, encouraging, understanding, uplifting, and generous towards you are the ones who we tend to be able to love back quicker and easier. That makes sense and it's pretty simple that way. I've got friends who are all of those things I have no trouble loving them.

However, there are also those people who are hard to love. I mean like people who are super duper hard to love. They don't encourage you, respect you, or treat you well. There's people you love who will disappoint you. People who will tear you down. Who will betray you. Its sucks but that's life and what happens. And guess what? We are supposed to love those people too. Yep. How fair is that, right? To me, these are the people who need to be loved the most. They need to be shown the love that God has shown us. They need to see what it is like to be loved and they need an example how to love. How to love others. All the time and in any circumstance. No matter what. Love like Jesus loves. Show others the same love God (who is so perfect it's beautiful) has shown to us (who are so imperfect it's ugly). We don't want to love the girl who talked bad about us. The guy who broke our heart. The parent who tears us down. The sibling who makes fun of us. The friend who betrayed us. The teacher who is as mean as an ogre (except not like Shrek cause he's nice). Those things are terrible and in my life, those kinds of people exist and have hurt me and not shown me love. So why show them love back? Well, because Jesus tells us to. And because Jesus DID. Love covers a multitude of sins.

Hold up just a second while I put this in perspective for ya-"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus chose to leave paradise with His Father, and come to earth as a human. He chose to come live among the worst people who would eventually beat him, deny him, mock him, betray him, and kill him. He knew this when he chose to become man. He underwent the worst kind of pain that any man has even known or experienced. He was hurt more than any man has ever been hurt.  Yet, he did it out of love. He knew what man would do; what WE would do, but He loved us anyways. How amazing.

That being said, we have a perfect example of love to follow. We must spend every day of our lives trying to love like Jesus loves. To every person, whether it's easy or hard. This is our call as Christians- to love others. The Bible tells us to in case you don't believe me. "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 john 4:11). Oh, and here it is again- "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (john 13:34-35). If God tells you to love others, do it. Love them. Show them love. You don't have to like make big flashy signs with cute hearts that sing love songs and what not, you just have to show them you care about them. Forgive them. Speak kindly. Say only nice things about them. Show them Jesus. What you do will show them you love them. You can say “I love you”, but if your deeds don’t match up, your words mean nothing. And odds are, they will notice this and it will blow their minds. They will see that there is something different in you. And that difference would be, Jesus.  Live your life and love your fellow men NOT so people see you and lift you up, but so they see Jesus and lift him higher. Let your love bring glory to God and draw others to him as well.

God’s love for us is perfect, and yeah, we can’t love anyone perfectly, but we can try. We can strive to be like Him and in the process, others will Jesus and we will become closer to God. And that’s a win-win situation! God loves us without selfishness, without second thoughts, without procrastination. So should we. Love not for yourself or hope of being loved back by someone, but because they need it and God commands it. Love without thinking, “hmmm maybe not. They did hurt me really badly.” Love no matter what. Don’t wait to show someone love. Do it now and do it intentionally. One act of love can brighten someone’s whole day, or even their life. So love everyone. Because although it may be hard, it is not impossible.

ABC's and 123's

"We didn't go into teaching to get rich, but to enrich other." 

- Robert John Meehan 

Ever since I was in 7th grade, I've wanted to be a teacher when I grow up. I think it started then because that's around the first time I started to babysit (the Stanley family). Once I began babysitting, I realized how much I loved being around kids. Well, I also loved it because that meant I could color and eat goldfish and drink capri suns but that isn't the point. I quickly realized that this "job" of taking care of and spending time with kids was one that truly brought me joy and happiness. And don't get me wrong, there were times (and still are) when the kids were bad- they were fussing about everything, fighting over toys, and occasionally slapping and pushing each other. These were the not so fun and joyful parts about babysitting. When these incidents occurred, I would have to bring out my "teacher voice" and put kids in time out, get on to them, and talk sternly. 7 years later this still kills me and I hate doing it, but I have to. Thankfully, this taught me how to gain authority and respect from the kids, and I learned what means needed to be taken as far as discipline was concerned. Once again, NOT fun, but necessary.

The Stanleys aka the kids who make me realize I love
working with kids

Precious kiddos :) 

On the other hand, I also have learned so much about how kids learn, understand, and apply everything they see, hear, touch, and are taught. I have loved being able to see how the crafts, games, and activities that I do teach the kids different things. One of my favorite parts of interacting with them is when they get something right for the first time like coloring inside the lines or singing the alphabet all the way through without messing up. It's the little things like this that made me realize that my heart, passion, and life are centered around children. I soon realized that's what I needed to make a career and life out of. And that's what I've been doing for the past 7 years even if I didn't t realize. The most joyful and exciting parts of my days, weeks, and years are spent with children- whether it's babysitting, helping with sunday school and vbs, or spending time in an actual classroom with the students. There's nothing that brings me greater joy.

3 of my first graders I got to work with last semester (Spring 2014)

Sweet 1st graders!

With all that being said, once I had to apply for colleges and choose a major, I had no problem deciding on one: Elementary Education (Early Childhood). Every time I tell someone my major, I say it proudly and with a smile on my face because it's one that I love with all my heart. When I told friends and family my choice in a major, they all said, "oooh that's so perfect for you." Hearing that confirmed that God had led me in the right direction. Aside from all the encouragement, I was also faced with discouragement. I had several family members and class mates question my decision. One said that "the public school classroom is not somewhere I need to be involved. There's too much drama. I need to join admissions. I'll succeed better there and have less stress." And another said (This one makes me cringe), "you're gonna be a teacher? Do you know how much teachers make a year? You need to do something else to make more money." Uhhh no. I had to walk away before I slapped/yelled at that person just by the way. I know that finances and being able to support myself is important, but the amount of money that I'll make doesn't make it or break for me. If I am given the blessing and opportunity to teach precious children, every single day for the rest of my life, I am, without a doubt, going to take it. No matter what. That's how I know I have a passion for it. 

Teaching Sunday School at EPC

To me, teaching is far more than just a job and a way to support myself. It's a life changing opportunity for me to change lives. By being a teacher, and I know this from just observing in a classroom once a week for 5 months, you are impacting and shaping the lives of your students every single day. They don't care what you look like, how many friends you have, what car you drive, or how much money you're making by being there. All they care about is having you there, loving them, and making them feel like they can learn and do anything in the world. They way a kid smiles when they get 1 + 1 right for the first time warms my heart. The way they are so eager and excited to learn the next letter of the alphabet makes me excited. And the way they run up to you for a hug at the beginning and end of the day is a feeling that I can't explain. All they want to know is what your favorite color is, who your favorite disney character is (Repunzel is mine btw), and how many dogs or cats you have. They care about the little things that in the end, are the bigs things. How? Because those little facts about you help them to get to know you and love you. It is so so precious and something that has blessed me and blown me away. Kids are so selfless (99% of the time) and look up to you more than you know. I know I looked up to and was impacted by every single teacher I had from Kindergarten to 12th grade. I hope that one day, I'll be a teacher that my little 5 and 6 year old kindergartners still remember and hug even when they're 14, 15, and 16. To know that my job is helping a child become the man or woman they will grow up to be, is precious to me and an honor. That's why teaching is the job I want and what I want to spend my whole life doing- serving and investing in the little ones to make them feel great and mighty. 

Love love LOVE these 1st graders. They made me realize that in the classroom, is where I belong <3