The car, the "late" night, and the hearing aids

     Ha! That post title sounds like it would make a funny children's book! Kinda wish it were a funny post. But it is more of a vent. I have to admit. This has been a rough week living with my grandma. Monday I was all ready to go to a new Bible study I was joining at church and got home to find out I couldn't use the car, which technically wasn't her fault but frustrating none-of-the-less. Tuesday I was majorly scolded for getting home late and making her worry (...it was 8:00 when I got home). And today I was told that I don't like living here, because I told her I didn't like having to yell at her when she isn't wear her hearing aids. Don't worry, I'm not yelling because I'm mad. Yelling so she could actually hear what I was trying to tell her. Her hearing is really bad. Even with her hearing aids she is in a major habit of saying "what" after you say anything.
     Tuesday was the hardest. I was pretty steamed after our conversation, but I kept my cool and firmly but calmly stood up for myself. So thankful for my Dad and sister who talked me through it afterwards. They helped me focus on the truth and to calm down a little.
     After the comment from her tonight I asked my grandpa if I needed to talk to her about it. He didn't think I needed to and he reminded me that "Grandma is of the old school and she still sees you as a little kid." He told me that was just going to have to get used to her because she isn't going to change. As frustrating as that is to me I do agree. She turns 90 next week and is definitely set in her ways. I told him I understood, but also said that I was still going to stick up for myself if I need to. His response: "good!" Love my grandpa! And my grandma too even if she exasperates me at times.
     In the long run, I know that God is teaching me a lot through this experience. For one thing I'm impressed with myself for actually sticking up for myself. I am so not a confrontational person. I can think of many times when things were said to me that I didn't agree with and I didn't stick up for myself. I say I'm impressed with myself, but I really do know that it is the Lord. Thankful that God gave me the words in the moment and helped me remain calm.

Evidence of Fall

I'm so excited for fall! 

No more nails

Goodbye cute nails! 

Someone lent me an extra guitar and I'm determined to learn!

Fall is coming!

I have to say it! I'm super excited that fall is coming!! I'm seeing hints of it in the trees here in Wisconsin and lots of fall pins on pinterest! Yippee!! I love fall. Happy colors, happy smells, pumpkins, sweaters and scarves. Its just all good in my eyes!
One of my students pointed out the window to the class that one of the trees is starting to change colors. (too bad we were in the middle of discussing something completely different) I love that I can see and feel the change of the season here in Wisconsin. You don't have that feeling as much in California. That was definitely something that made me interested about living here. As hard as it is to be away from my family and friends in CA it is nice to have the little blessings like the changing of seasons.
Thanks Lord for loving me!

Be Still

I have a tendency to worry about things. And since moving in with my grandparents I've seen where that worry comes from. It is definitely in my blood. My grandma is a major worrier. There are things I don't tell her until just before it is going to happen so that she won't spend days worrying about it. In a way I think it has helped me to see the amount of worrying she does. Because of it I think I've started to worry less. Seeing how miserable she can make herself feel makes me realize how much I do not want to live my life like that. 

It is so wonderful to know that I don't have to worry about things. God is on my side. I just need to be still and let Him take care of things. So often I look back at things I've worried about and realized there was nothing I could have done to change the circumstance. 

So let go of the worry and be still. 

In Christ Alone

It it easy to try and find hope through other things. But I have to remember that those other things will fail me at some point. Only in Christ can we have everlasting hope. He will NEVER fail us. 

Cooler weather is here!

Well I was able to take the car this morning and have some much needed Jamie time!! It occurred to me this week that I really do need to schedule in some time I be alone. Thankfully my grandparents let me use the car this morning. So I drove to Marinette in search of a winter coat. It is only the middle of September and already I could tell that the coat I had wasn't going to cut it for much longer. It has been in the 50s and breezy for the last few days. Walking to work has been cold. Doable, but cold. Especially with the thin coat I have. 

My first stop was to McDonalds for some coffee. :) Coffee is the most important part of some "Jamie Time." I knew I wanted to look for a coat at Shopko but I thought I try a thrift store first. I'm so glad I did! Look at what I found for $10!! I love it!! I did end up getting a heavy coat and Shopko as well, but this one is adorable and perfect for church and work. Yay! 

Sunrise

The other day I was randomly thinking about how much I missed seeing the sunrise in Rincon Valley when I got to work. It was always so wonderful. Then this is what I saw when I walked out my door to walk to school! God's creation is so awesome!!z

Necessities!

My best friends at the beginning if the school year! Those and mucinex d. What would I do without them?! Thankfully I think my first cold of the school year is almost gone.

Lamentations 3:23

Had fun with the chalkboard in my bedroom this weekend! 

A little late, but worth it

Well, homesickness finally hit. The week before I started at work was a hard week. I was missing my family and friends a lot and struggling with living with my grandparents. It seemed like my independence had been taken a way to a certain degree. I'm not used to not having my own car and going places when I wanted to. Suddenly I was being told I couldn't go places because I wasn't allowed to have the car. There were about 4 days that were a huge struggle.
But, God knew exactly what I needed. Surprise, surprise. The Thursday of that week I joined my new church family on a camping trip. I was a little nervous about the camping part, because let's be honest I'm not much of a camper. But my mom's cousin invited me to sleep in her camper with her family so I thought I could handle it. It was the weekend I totally needed. I went 4-wheeling, canoeing, played games, fellowshipped, and enjoyed a warm campfire. But I have to say the highlight was the quiet mornings on the dock with my Bible and my coffee. Right away the first morning in my quiet time I was reminded of how God was taking care of me and listening to my cry. Psalm 116 was the next chapter in my Bible reading and it was exactly what I needed to hear.

1I love the Lord, because he has heard

my voice and my pleas for mercy.

2Because he inclined his ear to me,

therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The snares of death encompassed me;

the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;

I suffered distress and anguish.

4Then I called on the name of the Lord:

“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;

our God is merciful.

6The Lord preserves the simple;

when I was brought low, he saved me.

7Return, O my soul, to your rest;

for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8For you have delivered my soul from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling;

9I will walk before the Lord

in the land of the living.

1st Day of School

A couple pics from the 1st day of school! 

Walked to school! It doesn't even take an entire song to play on my itunes for me to get to school. I live really close! 

Oops accidentally cut off the 'f'

I guess thats what happens when you are taking a selfie with a chalkboard! Ha! 

Flowers from my family. :) Such a wonderful surprise! 

The 1st day of school was fantastic!! 

Grace

My Classroom

Well, the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of events. The biggest thing has been school starting. The first week went really well. I'm still getting used to the school and the crazy schedule of teaching a combo class on my own, but it is coming along.
Here are some pics of my classroom. Still not a huge fan of the green room (mainly the green part of it) but I guess I'll just have to live with it. :)

I love this board! 

I love the number line above the whiteboard! I put it up there and use it almost every day. 

Look how clean my desk is!! Wish it stayed like that. :) 

It turns out I'm not using this area exactly as I thought, but it is still useful. My kids are using those desks for "Word Work" in our Daily 5. 

This is my favorite part of the room. But to me that is no surprise since teaching reading is my favorite part of the day. Working on collecting more books.