Busy, busy, busy

So wow, have I been a busy bee!
(which is kinda why I haven't posted anything in a while)

I have felt so overwhelmed with homework and my TE100 class and now work. I don't know how I find the time, energy or strength to do it all. That's because it's not from my strength.

So my TE100 class is required before entering into the education program. It requires 80 hours of field observation in a classroom and you also have to so field observation reports every 8-12 hours. Yeah, it's a a lot of work. So my once free Fridays are now filled with observing an elementary classroom. Don't get me wrong, I love observing the class. Kids are wonderful to be around. It's just a lot of work and time. And I used to do homework on Fridays. Now I do my homework on Saturdays, and Sundays because I can't seem to complete it all in one day.

I also just started working at a daycare. I am super excited to work there, but I wasn't sure about it at first (it's kinda a long story, perhaps I will explain in a later blog). Now I am excited and it is again great to work with kids. They are so awesome. Any who, now work takes up more time.

I also feel like I always have homework due, and my schedule makes it so I am unable to do any homework during the week, except for on Monday and a little bit on Tuesday. So I have to do it all on the weekend. This leaves very little room for fun.

Now it probably seems like I have no life and I am about to break into a million little pieces because I am stressed and have no time for anything, well I did feel that way a week or two ago. I felt so defeated and stressed and sad, and just plain awful. I wanted to cry all the time and not do anything because I was so sick of homework. I just had this defeated feeling and I didn't know what to do. Well that's because all I needed to do was nothing, nothing but let go and let God.

I needed to accept that I could not handle this on my own and let God take control. He is the one who knows what is best for me. I need to let him handle my schedule and time management. Leaning on his strength to get me through each day. This is a daily battle for me, especially with this crazy schedule of mine. I haven't been this busy since swim season in high school. I know God will take care of me, but only if I allow him to.

 I have been reading the book Multiply by Francis Chan and I read something in there that made me go wow. " Paul reminds us that the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus Christ from the dead is working through us (Eph. 1:15-23; Rom. 8:11)" I have read those verses multiple times, but I did not notice what it was saying. Yes I know the Holy Spirit lives in side of us, but I did not connect that it is the same spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Woah. Woah, woah, woah. When I let that sink into my brain and heart I feel unstoppable. The Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is living inside of me! I can do anything! When I focus on letting God be where my strength comes from I have no fear and no need to stress, because I know and trust that He can do anything. And that He works for my good.

Romans 8:28 (I really like this verse)

Well that is it for today folks. I hope that you have a wonderful week and that God blesses you. Remember that Jesus loves you! 1 John 3:16

New Adventures

Here I am a third year at college ready to embark on a new adventure! I am actually really excited for this year. There seems like there will be a lot of fun happening and a lot of growing.

I am sad to leave the daycare I was working at. I really enjoyed working with the kids there and the women that worked there are wonderful. They made me feel so special on my last day. They brought in cookies for me with a card and a gift card to Target. I will definitely miss working there.

But I know God has a beautiful plan for my life and I am excited to see what this next chapter will bring!

Forgetful Miss Kayla

So today I was very, very forgetful. I forgot to take out the trash when I left work, so I had to turn around to go take it out. The I realized that I put thee wrong time in, so then I had to set a reminder to change it. Then I left my water bottle at work. I also forgot to bring my water bottle to work yesterday. The point of this is that I have realized that I have been very forgetful lately. I think it might be stress or excitement or a combo.

You see next week I move into my dorm and school starts, that also means that next week is my last week of work. And I really like where I work. Also it means that I need to pack all my stuff and figure out what I am bringing to college and what is going into storage. And I also need to find a job when I get to school.

But it's not all stress and to do list's. I am very excited to see all my lovely friends when I return and get four classes closer to my degree.  It's just  a lot to take in one go. I think I am the type of person who needs lots of breaks and a schedule that gives time for moments of relaxation. I like having a busy schedule but if it is too full then I will be way to stressed. I feel I might be approaching that point. I am hoping it will calm down when I get to school, but that's not likely. Gah. school stuff can be stressful.

Does anyone else feel this way?

Hey I made a list or two!

So I made a list of things I don't like about living by myself. Here it is:

Downfalls of being a young women living alone:

-Easy to get bored when alone.
- No one to play board games or card games with when you do get bored.
-You have to cook when you get hungry, even though you don't feel like it because there is no one else there to do it.
- When you do feel like cooking there is no one to cook with to make it fun.
-Also no one to bake with.
-There is no one there to try the new recipe you found.
-When you cook too much food there is no one there to help you finish it.
-No one is there to kill the scary bugs that appear in the bathroom and you have no idea what it is, but it is scary and you don't want to be near it.
-No one is there to trace pictures on your back or rub your back when you can't fall asleep.
- No one there to comfort you when you have a nightmare.
-Every noise makes your mind wander to the worst possible scenario (burglars, ghosts, scary people) (which can also make it difficult to sleep).
-No one there to ask if the outfit you are wearing looks good enough for the public eye.
- No one to come home to tell about your day, or hear about theirs.
-No one there to make sure you don't sleep in too late.
-No one there to make sure you get to work on time.
-No one there to immediately express each crazy thought that appears in your head.
-No one there to look at you like you are crazy after you express that crazy thought you were thinking.
-No one to build a fort with (because building a fort is no fun when done alone).
-No one to have a pillow fight with.
-No one to annoy by throwing pieces of paper at them.
-No random dance parties (it's not a party when it's just you).


So there may seem to be a lot of downfalls about living by oneself, and maybe more that I didn't list, but there are also some upsides...

Upsides of being a young women living alone:

-You can play music as loud as you like.
-You can play whatever music you like and no one can complain.
-You can say crazy things and no one is there to look at you like you are crazy.
-You don't have to worry too much about how messy the apartment looks because it's just you.
-You can eat ice cream right out of the carton because you don't have to share.
-All the food is yours.
-You can sing as loud as you like with out worrying who is listening and judging your skills.
-You have your own schedule and no one is there to mess it up.
-So much time to read.
-Dinner is whatever you want, no need to worry about other peoples taste buds.
-You can take extremely long showers if you like, no one else is waiting to use the bathroom.

And even though some upsides are really nice, there are still a lot of downsides. And even if I could think of more upsides I would still prefer to have a least one roommate of some sort. I think I miss living with my family or having a roommate like I do at school. It makes me more excited for the Fall semester to start or it makes want to move to Florida to be with my family all the time...The Fall semester is closer.

Changes

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while, life can get pretty busy and pretty crazy really fast. But things have calmed down a bit, still busy, but not too busy not to blog. Woooo!

Something I have noticed is all the changes in my life. And not all the changes are directly changes in my life specifically, but in the lives of those around me. For example my sister graduated high school in May and will be on her way to college in August. Crazy! She is so grown up now! Also my best friend got married a couple weeks ago, which is even crazier. I have known this girl since the first grade and now she will have a different last name. It is sill hard to wrap my head around sometimes.

And all these changes got me thinking about my life and if there has been any big changes in my life lately. I mean I do consider these changes to be a part of my life because it involves the people I love and care about, but I was trying to consider changes that affect specifically me. And here is what I came up with:

-I have been dating my boyfriend for six months last Thursday. (that's half a year! It may not seem like a big deal but it is. It really is. )
-I have been going into my third year of college
-I have had a job at a daycare for a couple months now
-I have a car now
-I got a hair cut

And that's all I could come up with for the time being. And they all seem to be changes that happened a while ago or have been happening. I think it made me realize that changes happen all the time, and there can be lots of little changes that we don't notice. Did you notice that I only put down tangible changes? Or changes that are dealing with situation? My relationship with God is growing everyday and the way I view the world changes with it. These are things that are so easy to miss if we don't pay attention. I'm not saying it's bad if we do and I'm not saying the changes listed are bad, in fact I would say they are positive.I just think it can be easy for someone to look at an others life and just assume they are going no where because they don't have all the same stuff that person has. That's what I almost did.

It's important to look inside oneself and consider the growth that has occurred, not dealing with situation. How mature you are then you were last  year, how much more you know about God, how much your faith has grown, how much knowledge you have gained. Changes are not only physical and it's important to remember that. Focus on growing in the areas that matter most, instead of wondering why this person life seems to be moving faster than yours. I know I need to refocus myself.

Another thing all these changes made me realize is how fast life can move, especially when your not paying attention. So we have to make sure to make the most out of what God has given us today and enjoy it. Making sure not to focus to much on what's going to happen in the future, enjoying each second we have, and not worrying too much about what the future will be. If all you do is worry, you will miss out on all the joys of today. We can trust God will lead us and that he will give us the strength we need to deal with things as they come along. As long as God is leading us, we have nothing to fear.

John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

The sniffles

I might be a little sick, which is no fun.
On Sunday I woke up with a stuffy/runny nose and my throat is a tiny bit sore. It might have been one of the kids at the daycare who got me sick, since there were three kids out from sickness last Friday. Or it could have been pond water, since I went swimming on Saturday. But whatever it is or however I got it, I got it. And now I have to carry tissues with me where ever I go. Boo being sick.

I think I take for granted my health. I think it's something that is easy to do, especially if you are like me and don't get sick very often. I would just like to say that I am very thankful for my health and the ability to breath through my nose (that is very difficult for me to do right now). I know there are probably many things that I take for granted and should remember to be thankful for. Being sick just reminded me of this.

There is something I have noticed when reading my Bible; How often the Bible says to be thankful. There are times where it is just on the end, and it might seem like it has nothing to do with the rest of the verse, but it does. For example:

Colossians 3:15
" Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

Being thankful is extremely important. And I think I need to remember to be thankful, for everything. I should be thankful, not because I have something that someone else lacks, but because it is a blessing from God. And something may be a blessing in disguise, like me being sick. It was a reminder to be thankful. And I am thankful for it, which might seem strange. But God can use anything and make work for our good (Romans 8:28). So he took this sickness and used it to be a reminder for me. God is pretty neat like that, always speaking to me through the most unique and interesting ways.

Now I will leave you with this verse:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Attitude adjustment

So as you know I work at a daycare. I am still new and the kids are still getting used to me, which means they still don't like to listen. Last week I noticed my attitude begin to change from excitement of being there, to being excited that I only had so long until I could leave. And I know that's not the attitude I should be having. I should be having fun with the kids and accepting their good behavior while excepting the responsibility to help correct their bad behavior.

I wanted to change this attitude, so I prayed every morning. At first I prayed that the day would be easier and the kids would listen, but they didn't. Then I noticed, that perhaps that's not the prayer I should be praying. The problem is not with the children, but with how easily frustrated or flustered I am getting. When I changed my prayer to asking God to give me the patience, wisdom, and strength to watch the kids, I began to notice a change in my attitude.

Today was a great day at work. Yes there were times when the kids didn't listen, and no they didn't always stay in the class room when told, and yes there were one or two kids who didn't take a nap. But I enjoyed today. I enjoyed playing with the kids and I liked showing them the correct way to walk slowly to the class room and how to talk with inside voices.

God changed my attitude so that I can love on these kids with the love God has given me. It is wonderful to know that my God has to power to change my mind, heart, and attitude.

Cross walks

One of the things I like about the daycare I work at is that it is close enough for me to walk. I quite enjoy walking. It keeps me active and I get to enjoy Gods beautiful creation a little before and after work. 

The thing I don't like about walking is cross walks. Especially ones at round abouts. 

First, cars don't seem to have as much care for pedestrians as they should. I often feel that drivers are annoyed that I am trying to cross the street. Well excuse me if you have a car that can get you from point A to point B faster and that I don't and that me crossing the street might slow you down by a minute or two. 

Second, I have to watch, not only both sides, but also whether or not a car is going to keep circling or if it is going to drive out where I am trying to cross. And this would be a whole lot easier if drivers would use their turn signals. I know it may seem like a pointless thing to use at a round about, but it make things easier for pedestrians and other drivers trying to turn into or out of the round about. 

I know I J-walk and cross closer to the day care, but I have a few problems with this. One it's against the law. Two, I don't like crossing the street in general, so crossing not at a crosswalk makes me more uncomfortable. And three, I don't want the kids to see me crossing where I am not suppose to and then think it's okay.

So I suppose I will suck it up and cross at the confusing, and sometimes scary, round about crosswalks.

Day four

Today is the fourth day at the daycare and what an interesting four days it has been.

 I began working at a daycare down the street from my apartment on Monday. Now Monday was not that bad. It was mostly the manager showing me around and explaining a few things. Then I helped in the class room. 

The second day was a little confusing and crazy. Someone had driven their car into the front of the daycare that morning. No one was hurt, but it did leave the daycare in a little bit of a pickle. They had to move a bunch of things around and I was jumping back and fourth from class rooms. I am suppose to be with preschool age kids, but that day I was mostly with school age kids. An age I missed terribly on the third day.

The third day was craziness. I finally met the teacher who stays in the preschool room with me, which is good. But I forgot that she leaves at three. So when I brought the kids back inside from playing, it was just me and six riled up preschoolers. I was a little overwhelmed and had no idea what to do to keep them under control. And to top it off they were not getting along. It was one crazy day.  

Sadly when I got home that day I was not feeling good. There wasn't much encouragement from that day and I was feeling doubtful about working there. I was not going to allow that to happen though. I prayed about it, that God would give me wisdom and strength. Then I dove into my Bible for some encouragement. God filled me with his peace and I was not worried any more. 

Today was way less crazy than the other three days. It was a little bit easier for me to get the children to listen and there was less. I think it might take a while for the children to get used to me. Right now I think they are trying to see how much they can get away with when I am around. But soon they will see that they won't get away with anything. I hope it will get easier as it goes along. 

Welcome to my life

Hello there! My name is Kayla and this is my first attempt at blogging. Well see how this goes.

So I suppose this is where you learn a little bit about me. Well you know my name, Kayla. I am majoring in Elementary Education and I just got a job at a daycare. I will be working there for the summer, while I am not at school. I have been working there for three days and it has been pretty interesting. But I enjoy working with kids and I feel it is right up my ally.

I have eight siblings that I will probably blog about from time to time. Four are directly related to me and the other four are step siblings, two from my Mom's marriage, two from my Dad's marriage. I know, it's a little confusing. I would list them, but it might get more confusing.

Well that's a little about me. The goal of this blog is just to share a little bit of my life with the world, or whoever is interested. Stay tuned for adventures and randomness!