A Teacher's Desk on Valentine's Day

Happy late Valentine's Day!
How did you celebrate???

I am beyond blessed to have 13 Valentines, 2 extra special Valentine's and many more Valentine's!

My two extra special Valentine's, also known as mom and dad, sent me a singing gram to the song "God gave me you!" and boy did I tear up, at the first line of the song....click here to listen! Now this music video was originally written for a couple but I think it works for a family too!! A fourth grader with a beautiful voice shared this lovely song!

My 13 students truly made the day special! It was full of gifts, precious notes, singing grams, bingo, laughter, excitement, and of course lots of candy and chocolate!

One of my kids won bingo and yelled so loud you woulda thought he just won a million dollars! It's the simple things in life!!

Photo Credit: this was one of my student's desks! We had a great day!


I praise the Lord for making my day so special! He truly does LOVE His children!! This was definitely a Valentine's to remember!

Wish I could post pictures

Whew! What a week/weekend! God has been so good to me and I am lovin' opportunities to serve and live life with others!

I am learning that sometimes, when God takes away people in your life and ties your hands in the sense that no matter how hard you try you know and realize that waiting and trusting God is your only option, new joys arise in the waiting.....

This week was a roller coaster! We had our first field trip (I'm a newbie teacher.) to EdVenture and it was great! The kids didn't want to leave! We learned about 'Magnificent Magnets' and exploring the life-sized Eddie was probably the highlight of our trip! What great memories!

Fun Friday was full of pizza and of course fun in the indoor playground and some visitors/shadows to the school!

Friday night my sweet friends, the Eastman's, stopped by for a visit! They have recently been in Africa for some missionary training. They will be home for 6 months. On the way to visit family they stopped by and we enjoyed dinner at Groucho's and Scrabble! I don't get too many visitors right now in good ol' Columbia so it was a special treat!

After they headed out, Aubrey and I headed over to the new NCA campus to help paint a playroom! Orange and black reminded me of a tiger!

Ran home and wrapped up some baby gifts for Mrs. Longpre and precious Ashleigh who is on the way!

Picked up pizza on the way home and ended the night with some Firefly and an early bedtime (I'm still workin' on staying up late ;) )

Superbowl Sunday fun tonight and throw in some grading papers...I still need to make that Roller Coaster display, hmmmm..... and

I do believe that's wrap!

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.-Colossians 3:17 (it's become our class verse I think!)

Can't get enough

Sang this at church today and I just can't get enough of it!

"I've found a love greater than life itself. I've found a hope stronger and nothing compares I once was lost now I'm alive in you!"

Summertime in January

Summertime in January! I'm pretty sure half of Columbia had the same idea....the beach is just calling my name! I settled for a run through the park. — at West Columbia Riverwalk.

Airports and Starbucks

So I have been blessed to have my fair share of airpots and starbucks!

I love to fly and well starbucks is usually just a give-in when you do so....on my way home from MS I got a hot chocolate and it was delightful! I have come to realize that just plain old hot chocolate is probably one of their best drinks (or one of my favorites there) but GASP! low and behold I tried a Peppermint Mocha the other day (in SC, not an airport) and dare I say, I liked it! I almost went out the other day to get one!! I claim the fact that it was so much peppermint and whipped cream that it wasn't much coffee but I still tasted the coffee!! I was a little worried but it was good!

Christmas! and more!

I guess I was behind in my postings! We have enjoyed skyping with my brother and his lovely wife in Portland, Oregon! They just got a new house so we like to help out from far away!... we also like to have fun with google plus

We also like to celebrate Christmas beyond the 25th! Josh and Allie sent me awesome magnets for school-they are matrishka dolls (I know I can use them to help teach fraction), mustaches-you know we are up on the crazes, and some nice pretty birds! Mom got lots of gluten free things and Dad got an awesome Timbers poster and a poster handmade by Josh!! He's great if you need some cool posters or photography!

I was also super excited about my gift from my uncle! Sue Thomas FBI on dvd!! Great show from Pax in the 90's finally came available on Amazon!

We also of course had to celebrate daddy!! It was his birthday!!! He's a Christmas baby and just the best!

December 25-Happiest birthday to my daddies! To my Father in Heaven, thank you for loving me always, despite my flaws and the fact that I'm from an 'Island of Misfits'. To my daddy here, Mike Schreck thanks for the memories, I love you! I am beyond blessed to call you Dad!

Kimber and Thomas Callen

My friends got married!!

December 22, 2012 my two good friends tied the knot!

I was so blessed to be able to share in this special time. Nothing like it! I loved all the girl talk and catching up with old friends. I didn't give a toast but left my sentiments in a note....we've cried and laughed a lot and I will forever be thankful for their friendship! I loved cheering Kimber on at soccer in the cold and Thomas' epic stories. The two of them gave us a lot of college memories! I still remember Kimber bringing in an interesting looking skittle cake and Kim saying, we need to get to know that girl!

I have been praying for this couple for quite some time and will continue to do so! God has great plans for them!

 Congrats Kimber and Thomas! We love you!

Here it is!

So I was replanting our class bean and apple plants..in the winter!! I couldn't believe I was gardening in the winter. Our class bean plants had grown quite a bit and I knew that over break if no one cared for them, they'd die! I gave a last ditch effort to see if any of my kids would take it home but alas no green thumbed families volunteered. So I packed them in the car along with all kinds of other things I had to take home over the break and headed home. I stuck them in the garage and the next day went to MS for a wedding (more on that later!). Bad decision. The garage location, not the wedding. I came home and my mom had to break the news that well...the bean plant wasn't fairing so well. So dad dug out some pots under the house and I re-potted them hoping things would get better. As I walked down the stairs from their new, indoor home, I was thinking about how it's tough for a plant to grow in the winter. You have storms, cold, people trappling on you, knocking you over, etc. Without the right light, water, and care, the plants won't survive.

Sounds like us.

Life is hard. When the hard times come, the winter, the freezing, the storms, the trampling, it's hard to keep our heads up. Especially when we don't get the right care, our hopes are shot.

I've been learning that the water and light I need, well that's the Word of God-every day!

When those storms come, and we are growing against the odds, well that's because we can "be confident that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion!"

I am so thankful for all the promises and words of encouragement that are found in the Word! I challenge you to discover some this week and share them in the comments!

As always, God is good all the time, all the time God is good!

Long Time No Post

Once again I feel like it's been ages since I've posted! To those of you who read, I'm sorry!

We finished up 2012 with a bangin' Christmas party. Ok it was really just my kids and I eating a lot of icing as we decorated Christmas cookies but they had a good time! The Christmas program went really well and it was a joy choreographing my first dance for the fourth grade girls! Mom, dad and I made our very own ribbons! We used red satin ribbon, dowels, adhesive picture hooks, and a round hook! Got the idea from the web and it was so great!

Lovely Christmas Eve and Christmas day with my parents! We went to a Christmas Eve service at First Baptist Church in Lexington. It was a kids service full of glow-sticks and stuffed animals. The message was great too! God accepts us with our flaws and all. A message I've heard quite a lot recently; hope it encourages you too! Came home to meatballs, potatoish skins, and delicious green beans! oh and cookies of course! Christmas day we had presents and a standing rib roast! What a treat! We are so truly blessed, praise the Lord!

Today we are headed to IKEA in Charlotte I believe. I'm catching up on grading and some other odds and ends, so thankful for breaks!

I thought of something I wanted to post about as I re-potted our class green bean and apple plant. That will have to wait for another day as my daddy is ready to go and well I have a few things to do. Happy New Year!

I DEFINITELY think they can dance!

Mom and I got to have a girls' night out and see So You Think You Can Dance-live tour! I was so impressed! It was really neat how they integrated technology and transitioned from one number to the next! They made dancing look so easy but I know it wasn't!! Solid dancing for about 2 hours and it was quite warm in the Township! They must have been exhausted!! Needless to say, it was a great show!!

Love this song!

We've been singing this song at church and boy is it my prayer these days!

It's been a little while and I have proof..

What happens when you cross a 22 year old girl, a skeleton lizard, and a hose? No I did not spray myself in the face because of the lizard, I was just silly enough to set the house down nozzle up and boy did I get a mouth full. I'm sure if the neighbors were watching they got a kick out of it! 

Needless to say, it's been a little while since I've cleaned the inside and outside of my car. I have the proof.....

Yes, I found a lizard skeleton when I was cleaning!! I'm also afraid I will forever have Princess Leia's short hair in my car. I dog-sat for a friend over the summer and well hadn't exactly cleaned the car after she went back home. She's a cutie and sweetie!

I spent Sunday afternoon cleaning my car. There are two things in life that as hard as I try I just don't think I do a very good job at them: 1. cleaning showers 2. cleaning cars

I have been cleaning cars since elementary school? I always had to clean the vinyl so when we finally got an Xterra that had a lot less vinyl you can understand my excitement!

Now I am just glad I was blessed to get a small car and not the Xterra I was used to driving because it's a lot easier to clean. I'm really slow when it comes to stuff like this but hey now my car is sparkling! My dad helped me wax the car. He showed me how to do it (which again I learned when I was in elementary school I think) but with all my "See I'm just not very good at this" comments, he helped me finish up!

I can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving! It doesn't really feel like the holidays yet but hopefully soon! I am so very excited because my favorite Portlanders are coming to visit Sunday and Monday!

We have lots of fun together!! I especially loved my summer trip when I got to spend 2 weeks with them in Portland!! Great memories and wonderful times-such a blessing!


I also can't believe I haven't done any school work this weekend! After teaching for 2-3 months I think this is the first weekend I haven't done school work. Don't worry, the weekend isn't over yet and I might cave! I better be careful before I accuse people of being workaholics as I fear I might be one too!!! Our grades were due Friday so after leaving school at about 5:45? due to grades and conferences I figured this would be a good weekend for a break.

I often find myself wanting to clean things out on the weekends! I cleaned the bathroom last weekend, the car this weekend, and I'm itching to organize/clean out my closet. I even tackled my classroom earlier this week. I still have a few things to do but I wanted to make it nice for my students' parents!

Election Day!!

Happy Election Day!!

My first election I had to complete an absentee ballot if I remember correctly. Needless to say, the first time I voted I wasn't in my hometown. This time was different!

So blessed to be able to vote!

A little bit of life

It is 11:04 and I'm still in my PJ's, took me a while to catch up on news (since we don't have tv), facebook (since I live far away from some wonderful friends and well it's facebook and it sucks you in), and email for work. Anyway, this is one reason why I like Saturdays, maybe I will go to the Riverwalk for a run!

Through my catching up on things I found two videos that I just had to share, one is very thought-provoking. I get DaySpring Blessing Devotions and I highly recommend them! This lady was challenged to write down 1,000 gifts or blessings if you will. In light of the elections, Hurricane Sandy, and this crazy difficult world we live in, I thought everyone could use some encouragement and look at the world through someone elses shoes for a change....




This one, well, I just love SC and everything about it, even the fact that sometimes you just have to laugh....



Oh and one more just of kicks! I am so very THANKFUL for my job at NCA....we had an impromptu assembly to send some love to Marcus Lattimore...check it out here

Still Painting

I forgot the last time I posted I changed the layout...so when I opened my blog to post again, I didn't recognize it, how terrible is that! Needless to say, I really like this layout/background!!
Guess what we did last weekend!!!???

Yep, still painting! Mom and dad went out on a date and came back with a present for me-my own painting equipment! I actually ended up not using it as we tried to use the least amount of brushes as possible but now our garage walls are a nice light green (slightly more green than white ;) ) color. Dad is cleaning out the garage this weekend so we can tackle the floor. After the garage I think we have finished the painting!! Well accept for the hallway? I was told? Oh there are always projects :)

School is going well! This is the last nine weeks and the kids are all excited about Halloween/Fall festivities!! The discovered my drawer of candy but thankfully I have a key to keep it locked :p. Working on a fall bulletin board and I forget they take more than a night to do. I also discovered that brown is not a Christmas color. I was trying to get ribbon for the Fall Board and the Walmart I went to didn't carry ribbon. Thinking that I could perhaps find it in the Christmas section (maybe the early bird Christmas bug could be beneficial!) I searched long and hard. Alas, the two kinds of brown I purchased are too fancy so I shall have to return them. Oh well, bulletin board and newbie teacher fail but I think the board will still turn out ok!!

To encourage you this weekend, a message from DaySpring Devotional emails:

"No matter what your circumstances may be, you can find Joy in My presence. On some days Joy is generously strewn along your life-path....other days are overcast and gloomy...yet Joy is still attainable. Search for it as a hidden treasure.

Begin by remembering that i have created this day; it is not a chance occurance. Recall that I am present with you...then, start talking with Me. Awareness of My marvleous Companionship can inufse Joy into the grayest day."-from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

God Knows Just What we Need

Whew! I feel like it's been a while since I've posted. Lots has happened....

We passed our first interims! The kiddos are doing pretty well!! They finally filled up their rock jar for spotting vocabulary words and having good behavior so we will have an ice cream party on Friday! These kids sure keep me busy and laughing that's for sure! We have had lots of activities (I've had to eliminate the word active from our vocabulary game because we use it so much!). We made spiders out of marshmellows and spaghetti, clay bricks, oh and they created their own insects out of playdough! That was a fun one! I even went and saw one of my little guys play baseball. It's his first year and he's learning a lot!

Not only is school keeping me busy but I just have to praise the Lord! He knows just what we need! From talking to a substitute to spending time with old friends, He works through His people! I am learning new things every day!

I also started reading "The Red Sea Rules" by Robert Morgan. I didn't even get through the preface and found some nuggets of wisdom that I thought I'd pass along!

"The past may seem implausible and the future impossible, but God works in ways we cannot see. He will make a way of escape for his weary, but waiting, children. (Isa 43:19)"

"The reality of the Red Sea, in a word, is this: God will always make a way for His tired, yet trusting, children, even if He must split the sea to do it."

Also had some great wisdom from a chapel speaker this week: "Who are you pleasing, God are Satan?" and "Have you read your Bible today?" We have been talking a lot at school about the importance of studying, practicing, and reading the Scriptures. Funny, that was in the church sermon last Sunday. No, it's not funny, that would be called the Lord speaking!

My parents are away to celebrate their anniversary! Whew am I blessed to have parents who love the Lord first and value, cherish, and treasure their marriage. I truly believe and can see their love growing for each other every day! As my mom sleepily says goodbye and I love you to dad as he heads off to work, I am encouraged that God can keep marriages alive and thriving!

Well, what are your plans for the weekend? Have any tidbits of wisdom you'd like to share? I'd love to hear! Happy Fall!

I Get so Distracted on Saturdays

I get so distracted on Saturdays but I love them just the same. I got up and starting organizing school binders when I got on facebook and caught up on the connection to my long distance friends!! Saw my family in Portland fixing up their first home and was so ecstatic wishing I could be in two places at once! Thought of my friends in their coming wedding and new careers and once again, wishing I could be in two places at once!

It is now 11:30 and I should finally hop in the shower and get ready for the day!!

Found this website and thought you might appreciate a look at my alma matter college!

Had weird dreams about my HS homecoming when I didn't even go last night. Hope they had good reunions though!

Momma

Celebrating my wonderful Momma's birthday!! We love you and hope you have a wonderful day!!

Thanks for all the memories! We've had a lot of tears and laughter :)

Testify Forever

I so often find myself testifying of God's love and grace and that's the way it should always be!

So much has happened over a period of 4-5 short years. I don't know where God is taking me but I sure am enjoying the journey. It has definitely had it's ups and downs. I have certainly shed my share of tears and then some. I pray for those lives which God has so graciously brought into and out of my life. Though I would treasure that they never leave, I realize sometimes I cannot control that. It breaks my heart but I pray for them daily. Through it all, I can't praise the Lord enough for carrying me through and never leaving me.

I have had so many people praying for me and encouraging me with advice, Scripture, and simply listening and crying with me. For them, I praise the Lord!

Here are some thoughts that I hope encourage you as they have me....

"What happened to you yesterday, however easy or difficult, was used by God to help prepare you for what He has for you today."-DaySpring Devotions

Jeremiah 33:3 " ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ :

My back hurts and as per my usual (if not earlier) time where I seem to get rather sleepy, I can't believe I am still up. I know, 10:00pm is early! but teachers hit the hay early and greet the morning sunrise. I've still got quite a bit of grading to do but I caught up on some administrative details which is important! Well weekends are different but anyhoo....I am blessed and thankful that the "joy of the Lord truly is my strength" and my smile has returned.

To help along your smile here's a wonderful student/teacher quote....

"Miss Schreck, what is your last name?"
My last name? My last name is Miss Schreck.
"Oh, I meant your middle name...."

PS the song "The Proof of Your Love" has been played in our chapel a lot lately....I love the line-"So let my life be the proof, the proof of your love!"

Paint, paint everywhere!

So for the past few months my family has decided to basically repaint our house. Ok, well we repainted all the trim (including teeth crown molding-bleck!) and doors. Yesterday, we tackled the garage ceiling. 22 year old popcorn ceiling doesn't really hold up so well. It also results in more paint on me than the ceiling. Boy did that paint get soaked up in the ceiling! We ended up using 5-6 gallons!! I was dubbed the 'pouncer' because you have to 'pounce' the paint on the sections where the popcorn was coming off. It was more like slop it/dab it on however you'd like to describe it! Anyway, the last time I painted I had paint in my hair for probably 2 months because I failed to wear a hat.

This time I wore a hat and I still had paint everywhere! Oh my I guess I just like the speckles!