Stinky Feet, Short Term Memory Loss and The Day It Happened

I've been sitting here watching a video on facebook. It is an amazing video and I praise God for that woman's life and how she is honoring Him with it. But that's not really my point.

I'm sitting here and I get a whiff of something. It's not a good whiff. It stinks. And apparently it's my feet. I don't normally have stinky feet, so this is a surprising discovery. As I've been thinking back to what could have caused this foul anomalie, I retrace my day to the dog park. And the mud. And coercing Bo to vacate a deep puddle before reclining in it. Maybe it's the mud. I guess it could just be my feet and that I wore closed toed shoes all day, but I'm going to go with the mud. I didn't smell them when I changed into my flops to go to the dog park. Maybe it's my flops. I am currently debating whether to sniff my floppy footwear... but I think I'm going to pass and depend on my original hypothesis rather than collecting conclusive data.

You may be quite stumped/perplexed/regretful that I have shared this information with you, but there is a reason. You see, I think of wonderful, intelligent, inspirational, creative topics throughout my day that I should blog about. And then I get here. And I stare at my screen, willing it pop out a post-it note of my mental meanderings from the day. But it doesn't. And so I sit here thinking back in my day, striving for just one of the brilliant things I had to say earlier. As you can see, brilliant wasn't quite there.

Another road block that I hit is that my entire day has to do with stories about children. Generally there is no problem with that, except that my stories are about children who for one reason or another have a connection with the Special Education Department. Which brings in some confidentiality commitments and concerns being that I live in a small town and people know who I work with. So, many times I have a great story I'd love to share, but I just don't feel I should put it out there... just in case.*

It happened today! Yes, it was wonderful, blissful even! I was giddy all morning. Today is the first day since I've been pregnant that I have not been utterly exhausted and/or feeling sick!!! It's been fantastic! I was cheery. I haven't been able to describe myself that way in a long time!

So here's to a fantastic day of energy, short term memory loss and stinky feet! (the stinky feet will soon be taken care of)

*I feel it is fair warning to alert you here that once I have my baby in April, with no confidentiality concerns, there may be multiple posts/day. After such a long time of sporatic posting I don't want this to damage your health.

2 weeks left of "freedom"

The countdown is on - 2 weeks until school begins. I remember counting down to summer like it was last week. I'm excited to go back to school. This used to be my favorite time of year! School supply shopping was/is like a holiday for me. Even though I'm no longer a student I try to go to Office Max and peruse the isles looking at what I would buy if I was a student. Sometimes I buy some new awesome pens or pencils. Or a new notebook. Remember when Trapper Keepers were the coolest? Or Lisa Frank folders, pens, and such? Oh those were the days! I remember the first time I was supposed to buy a Ti-81 calculator... it was like a mini-computer! And we could play games on it! (oh how those games would be mocked by today's technological advancements).

Aw yes, back to school. Even though I am no longer a student I look forward to going back and seeing the kiddos. Marveling at how much they've grown in a summer and (hopefully) matured. Meeting the new 4th graders and seeing the excitement they have to be there. (An excitement that is lost somewhere between 6th and 12th grade).

I'm sure that by the time another May comes around I will be in full summer countdown mode again, but for now I'm looking forward to the school year. Every now and then I play with the idea of going back to school to get my teaching degree. That time has come again also. Initially, that's what I majored in at college (first 2 out of 5 majors I tried). The only reason I didn't pursue it was because of the stories I heard about student teaching experiences. Looking back, that was a fairly foolish reason to not pursue it, but hindsight is 20/20.

So with these last two week of so called "freedom" (for me it is 2 weeks of not getting a steady paycheck, and a little too much time on my hands), I'm thinking of the kids who are getting new backpacks, the coolest pencil holders, awesome erasers and crazy pens and pencils. And I'm a little jealous.

Morning Thoughts

As I sit here waiting for Photoshop to stop being mad at me, I figured I may as well be productive in other ways... such as my blog.

Today's struggle is discouragement. I am extremely discouraged this morning about my vocation. During the school year I am a para-educator at an elementary school, I have a photography business, and am a certified strength and conditioning specialist. I love all my jobs in some ways and am frustrated with all my jobs in other ways. I have decided to not describe my frustrations to keep myself from whining, but I will say that I feel torn and burdened to my core.

I was reading some passages in Ezekiel and Isaiah today about visions of Heaven. I can't believe that even after reading about such amazing glimpses of the Glory of God I am still discouraged. That almost discourages me even more! But I know that God has a perfect plan for me. I just need to be patient (not my strong suit) and wait for His guidance. In the meantime, I'm trying to sort out my options and make wise decisions. Which is difficult considering I have no idea what to do!

So I'm going to post verses that remind me of God's faithfulness.

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."

2 Corinthians 1:3

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Praise God!