I haven’t blogged in likeeee a year or something. woops.

Since I have nothing else to do I figured I would :)

The last year of life has gone by so incredibly fast. I am now a certified teacher, what?! I have learned so much about myself, teaching and God this last year. I’m slowly learning how to truly trust God with my future and my life.  It’s so easy to talk about truly trusting God, but it’s a lot harder to put into action. I’m learning that I can’t do anything on my own, I need God to lead me and direct my paths and carry me when I’m weak. God is so good.

Now i’m on the job hunt.  I’ve applied probably like 35+ places? and have heard from no one. bummer.  Still trusting God with this though, that he has me here, waiting for a job. I know God makes all things beautiful in His timing. And I am so excited to see how God is going to work in my life this summer and into next year.

K. things i’m excited about:

-having a garage sale with Bobbie. holla

-Alicia and Devin’s wedding <3

-Running a half marathon (eeek) & spending time with the fam in Ludington

-Going to Africa for 2 weeks to spread the love of my savior

-4th of Julyyyy & fireworks. I was on a plane to Africa for the 4th last year.

-Other things :)

I suppose that’s all for now.

quote from my devo:

“How comforting to know that our Creator, the one on whom we depend to sustain our lives, is unchanging! Though we ourselves are fickle, changeable and most of all neglectful of our relationship with him, he will never change in his love for us.  Though we age and become feeble, God’s power never fades.  Turn to the unchanging one with all your needs.”

AMEN to that.

natieize:

Haven’t blogged in a while, but I thought I would just make a list of some things i’ve been doing.  Nothing too exciting or anything, but usually the little things in life make me really happy :)

-I’ve been helping set up the 4th grade classroom! (bulletin boards, copying, putting up posters, etc.) and it is finally complete!

-We had an open house..only 4 of our students came haha, but one girl came back to tell us bye and give us a hug, SO SWEET.

-We had professional development all day yesterday and at one point the teachers were having a whole discussion about how to use the bathroom, real entertaining.

-My teacher brought in these new cinamon pretzels for us, so delicious.

-The other interns at my school are super nice :) And I haven’t met anyone at bennett woods who isn’t nice. This should be a great year.

-I’ve been able to hang out with Bobbie (future sis-in-law) a few times, super fun.

-I had subway for the first time today since i’ve been home from Africa, YUM.

-God is good; “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” -John 15:2

I suppose that’s my life in a nutshell right now?

I get to be Jessie’s date for her bro’s wedding tomorrow, yeee!

OH! and I got to see my bff Jill and her hubby Steve last weekend! So so good to see them and catch up! :)

“Americans look good”

This was a conversation that one of my friends heard in her 3rd grade class here in South Africa…

“Miss, I like your eyes…I like your hair”

Then the student whispered to her friend “Americans look good”

haha I just think this is really funny.

Anyways, We are leaving South Africa in 2 days! I have no idea where the past 6 weeks went, it went by so fast! It has been the most amazing experience of my life.  I have done so many adventureous things and i have seriously loved every minute of it.  I’ve made some sweet friends here that I hope to keep in touch with.  Not only has this trip given me confidence about teaching, but I think it’s also given me confidence about myself.  coming into the trip, I was super nervous that people wouldn’t like me.  so I told myself I would just try to be myself and show my loud, outgoing personality.  From the beginning that was my goal, to not be shy around these 15 new people.  And I think I reached my goal :) I have been myself around everyone, and it has been so much fun!! This has just shown me that when you’re yourself and don’t hide anything, it feels good! I haven’t had to worry what people are thinking of me, i’ve just been able to be confident in who God made me to be :) Thank you Lord! There is soo much to say about this trip, I feel like I can’t even write anything rigth now because I don’t know where to start! I’m sure once i’m home i’ll be able to process it a little more.  My host family was amazing, the school was tough but such a good learning experience, and the “tourist” stuff we did was AMAZING.  Overall, I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better group and trip.

I love South Africaaaa :) Thank you God for all the blessings you have given me. I seriously can’t thank God enough.

I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do.

— Kutless

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. - Romans 12:12

so i’ve been teaching at belvue primary school here in south africa.  it’s been really great and i’ve been learning so much! The schools are a lot different than in the united states for sure.  i’ve been in a first grade room all week with a teacher.  yesterday, the teacher wasn’t there, and since SA doesn’t have a subbing system, i was left to take charge of the class.  it was chaos to say the least. the students weren’t listening to me and i felt like all i was doing was yelling, i felt like a horrible teacher.  my professor and leader of the trip (corvell) came to visit us at school yesterday and when i saw him i just broke down crying.  i felt like i had no control of the students and i was so tired of yelling.  he assured me that i was not a bad teacher, but that schools here are different and discipline is much different. so today i came back to school, this time prepared with lesson plans, stickers and pencils for the kids.  another girl on the trip, michelle, helped me today so i wasn’t alone. it was SO much better today! michelle taught kindergarten last year so she had a lot of tricks up her sleeve to help me :) the kids loved the michigan lesson and were super excited to get stickers and pencils.  i read a lot of stories to them, we did math and writing and did some michigan activities.  i felt so much better at the end of the day today.  two kids wrote me notes and they were so cute.  they all hug me everyday when they leave and they call me “miss”.  yesterday for sure made me stronger and more confident in my teaching. if i can handle 45 crazy first graders here, i think i can handle anything now. i’m so thankful for this opportunity to be here and learn so much about teaching.

that’s my teaching update for now :)