Managed Midterms

Hello and greetings in the name of our Lord.  The last couple weeks have been very busy with a wedding, travels, midterms, and all the other stuff that seems to pile on top.  Last Tuesday I made it to Nebraska safely.  I did pass a wreck going the other direction that had body bags around what little was left of the vehicle.  I looked up the accident report online the next day and saw two kids in their twenties died so that was kind of sad.  However, the Lord blessed my travels.  Wednesday I got to hold one of the most precious babies girls I have ever held.  Bill and Jami, my family that adopted me in Nebraska had a baby girl on the 18th of September, her name is Jordyn Lynn.  She is so adorable and just that amazing stage to hold and snuggle with.  However, I had to cut my snuggle time short because Dillon their two year old son who is my little buddy had to wrestle with me too.  Wednesday night the guys of the wedding went out for a mini bachelor party.  Nothing too crazy but some good stories. Thursday after decorating the reception hall, us guys went golfing.  I played some of the best golf I have played in a long time so that felt good.  Then after rehearsal at the church, we went to the dinner at Valentino's.  It had been quite awhile since I have eaten there, but it was good.  Then the wedding party went bowling together, which was a blast, and a good way to get to know each other a little better.  All of the bridesmaids were from California and all of the groomsmen were from Nebraska so it was a fun mix.  Then the bridesmaids and bride went home because they had to be up early Friday for makeup and hair.  The guys hit a bar or two on the way home and then finally called it a night.  Then Friday was pictures and the wedding.  The wedding was beautiful and everything went very well.  The reception and the rest of the night was a blast.  It was just a really good three days to forget all reality and just enjoy the vacation time of relaxation and laughter with friends.  Then Saturday I drove back to St. Louis and went to bed as soon as I got back because it was kind of late.  

Sunday, all reality of homework and midterms hit and it hit hard.  However, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were four straight days of nothing but class, work, and locking myself in my room to do homework.  It was not much fun but I got everything done, and I feel done well.  I got one back already and got a high B on it so I was happy with that, since it was for my Hebrew class and I am not an expert in Hebrew.  Last night was our first vicarage meeting workshop.  It was long and boring, but pretty important information I guess.  It just stinks because every time vicarage is even mentioned I get more and more excited for call day (which will be Wednesday, May 1st for anyone wondering) and my vicarage.  I then get bummed out because I still have to get through two and a half more quarters before it is here.  The more I talk with my classmates the more we all realize second year is a completely different from first year.  And it's not like its a bad different, just definitely different.  Its hard to explain unless you're here for two years straight. I keep telling myself if I can get through the rest of this quarter I will be fine.  However, I got my classes ready for registration for next quarter and I think next quarter is going to be even harder.  Partially because I am taking more classes and some decently hard ones, but also partially because Christmas break in the middle of the quarter kind of messes with schedules and classes.  But do not get me wrong I will gladly accept any two week break they give me.  I do feel like my head is finally above water again though so I am getting more back to my happy-go-lucky self each day.  

I am also excited because my family will be here in a week from tomorrow.  Now I just have to make sure I use next week wisely to get ahead of homework so I can spend time with them when they are here.

Oh I forgot to mention today was my first day in the sixth grade classroom at Abiding Savior Lutheran School.  I am in Pastor as Educator class, which requires three weeks in the classroom teaching religion class.  I have 23 sixth graders I will be teaching four mornings a week for three weeks.  I am pretty excited about it because I always did enjoy being in the classroom and working with kids.  I think it will be a great experience and a fun time, the only downfall is getting up extra early to be at the school by 8 every morning.  It is about 25 minutes away, but there are four of us at this school so we carpool.  I just observed today, will observe again tomorrow, but start teaching first thing Monday morning.  Since I have had experience in the classroom with sixth graders at Seward, my teacher Mrs. Johnson, told me she is just going to let me do my own thing and help me if I need any tweaking along the way.  So again it is exciting, but it is also one more thing of doing a lesson plan every night for the class each day.    

I have some pretty amazing things I am learning in class right now and I really want to share them with you all.  However, I have been so busy writing papers, reading, and getting ready for tests I have not had the time or desire to type them out for you.  I apologize, but will try to get some good ones in the days to come. My thought for today is pretty short because I have to be at a meeting in twenty minutes.  However, it is one I personally struggled through this week.  No matter how busy life gets, no matter how little sleep we have gotten, no matter how many things just seem like they were put in your life to cause you stress, we must always try to remain positive and remember who we are serving.  There have been a lot of things lately I have found myself complaining about, and I hate being a negative person who finds it easier to complain than to just remember the Lord is with me and I have such a happy blessed life from Him.  While studying the Psalms Dr. Lessing pointed out that so often in the Psalms, especially Psalm 19, we see the voice of creation praising God.  We see the rocks, the sun, the moon, and all of creation have a voice that cannot be silenced. How does creation have a voice that is praising God?  Creation is praising God when it is doing exactly what God made it to do.  The grass that grows, the leaves changing color in the fall, the sun rising every morning, the moon following its phases; these are all ways creation sings it praises to the God who created it.  But Dr. Lessing pointed out that isn't it kind of funny, that humankind, the prize possession of His creation, put above the rest of creation to have dominion over it, is the one creature that complains and whines the most?  The lowly grass that gets walked on praises God daily, and yet we who have a happy healthy life, complain at the smallest things.  We who know what He did for us, His act of salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son, for our sinful lives, whine when we do not get our way in the littlest aspect.  We who have His Spirit with us, living and reigning in our hearts, would rather speak badly about someone, or be upset by things that do not even affect us, instead of just singing His praises for the daily and abundant riches He gives us, His undeserving children.  I will admit, especially this week, I have been very guilty of this.  However, we have so much around us to remind us who we should be praising.  Every time you see the green grass, the trees standing tall, the rain falling, the wind blowing, or even a bug flying around, remember they are serving the only God they know and praise Him by doing what they were created to do.  We need to do the same and really should be setting the example for the rest of creation, not the other way around.  Especially since we have and are able to read and know God's Word telling us exactly what He wants us to be doing.  All Praise Him who forgives our whining, complaining, and unnecessary bad moods, but loves us and continues to bless us as His children, not because of anything we did, but because of what He did for us through our Savior Jesus Christ.  

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Please help us to remember that everything we do is for Your glory.  Everything we have and are blessed with comes from You out of Your free grace and mercy.  Help us to be strong in our faith, positive in our attitudes, and live a life that shows the love You give us no matter what is going on in our lives.  Let all we do and say be for Your glory only.  In Your Son's name we pray.  Amen.