I keep coming back to thought that this is 'real life'. I can no longer claim the I'm-in-school stresses or I'm a teenager-with-raging-hormone stresses. Though as a girl, I guess I always have the hormone excuse ;). It is just that though, an excuse. I've come to realize that this is just life. In all its goodness and hardships. However, I praise the Lord that God is always there! He knows exactly what we need, when we need it. He humbles me so that I can bring Him glory!
2013 was a difficult year. I heard that from many. As a second year teacher, I thought I knew what I was doing and was quickly reminded that I have just begun. As my mom often tells me, 'put your big girl pants on'. Well, I've had to do that a lot lately and that's not a bad thing; just have to remind myself of that.
2013 was a lovely year as well. I met my now boyfriend of 10 months (I do believe that may be a record!) and adopted a puppy! I prayed a lot and cried a lot (I'm a girl, I know!). My mom celebrated her 50th birthday and we tried Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving (we decided not to do that again :p ). I got to meet 17 new fourth graders! Participated in two weddings and joined a ladies small group. Survived my first official year of teaching. Spent two weeks in Oregon. How could I forget the beginning of 2014? I moved into my first apartment and was blessed by an incredible friend, roommate, and coworker.
Because I'm sinful and tend to dwell on the difficulties rather than joys, I heard the song, "Cry On My Shoulder" and felt like that summed up the year and that's ok. It's ok to be sad but I always have to remind myself, rather God reminds me, to find the joy in the morning. In the real life, look for the joy. It might look a little different than the fairy tales, don't get me wrong, there's room and time for those too, but it's there!
It's in holding a puppy that you might adopt.
It's in the chapel service when a fourth grader sings his heart out in complete worship and you wonder if his peer will become a pastor some day.
It's in the little girl who reminds her friend that "God is NOT dead and is surely alive" like the song they learned in music class.
It's in the sunshine and the rain.
It's being held and reminded of truth after a bad day.
It's in the one email of twenty that says thank you for what you are doing, God is using you.
It's in the phone call from your brother who lives on the West Coast or the text from your Sister-in-Law.
It's in the silly string fight you have with your boyfriend.
It's in the prayer of a small group of ladies seeking the Lord's counsel.
It's when a coworker asks if you're ok knowing you are on the verge of breaking.
It's when you squeal over the phone over an engagement.
It's watching a groom anticipate holding his bride's hand after her walk down the aisle.
It's watching a bride worship the Lord.
It's when a community reminds a 14 year old that she's in the Lord's hands as she fights cancer.
It's raising exactly the right amount to buy dinner for a suffering family.
It's when a church family tells the cashier to add my lunch to their bill.
It's in eating a bowl of ice cream.
It's "getting coffee" with a friend.
It's over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house you go.
It's completing a corn maze with the youth group.
It's reading a verse of the Bible.
It's real life.
So in place of a recap of 2013, maybe you'd like to look for the joy as well....
Everyone has started resolutions and I do indeed love the new year. I like thinking about a fresh start; it's a symbol of how God always gives fresh starts! Some people don't like the new year because those fresh starts don't seem to last. Let's prove them wrong people! Make something last, make it count! I've got my mental list of things I'd like to work on but in light of all of this, perhaps I should look for joy in the midst of real life! So to start, here's some 'joyful' 2013 memories....
