Tea Time

     I hit the snooze button at 4:45am, but still roll out of bed because I am already 30 minutes behind schedule. On the way out the door to my 5:45am athletic conditioning class I loose my phone, my husband wakes up and he can't find it either. Lost cause, but  how will I find the way to the gym without my GPS? (I still get so lost in the south). Somehow I make it to the class just in time to do a work out with people who look like they eat steel for breakfast. Do I really belong? I survive, class ends at 6:40am just enough time to get showered and to school for my 7:30am meeting. Without my GPS, a friend gave me direction on how to get to my school, I some how manage to make it and once there I find my phone under one of my thousands of bags in my car for the day.
     As I am writing this post my heart has started racing to try and keep up with all the events of this Typical Tuesday. Between teaching seven back to back class periods and coaching a girls running program today I wonder how did I survive another Tuesday. With so much going on it is amazing how quickly life speeds up and we try even harder to keep up. I know things will not get easier, if anything they grow exponentially more difficult as I get older. The question then becomes, how am I going to be able to glorify God and still enjoy him in the midst of the crazy? The answer came at Tea Time.
   I have a precious friend who loves to drink tea and at the end of this typical Tuesday she invited me over for a cup. We have about 45 minutes before the next thing. Yet, what a joyful 35 minutes. After leaving her house the answer to my life question of the day came to me. Drink More Tea! Slowing down and enjoying each moment as they come the crazy becomes full of joy. The events won't change, but I can change my mental and spiritual attitude. Therefore I will be able to do my best, enabling me to truly glorify God.
  I can't slow down time or speed it up, but I know the one who holds all things in his hands. Therefore I have no reason to be ruled by the events that come my way each day. Instead I will take time to savor my cup of tea...even with my running shoes on.

What is happening in our little part of the world?

Dear Friends,
     I would like to first apologize for not being faithful to blog. The week of my last post was actually the week that I met my husband. It was a glorious week, we met at a random graduation party in 2011. With one walk and a kiss I was done for. Actually, it was really pathetic, my actions rivaled that of some of the most silliest love sick characters in one of Shakespeare's comedies. Even though I have gained control of my senses, I still love my husband as if we just kissed under stars on that one fateful spring night.
     My husband Andrew (a.k.a tree bear) is finishing his last year and a half in seminary. Everyday I have the joy of being a Middle School Teacher at a delightful Christian School. If the ups/downs of seminary life are not enough to keep our lives interesting then the daily antics of my students are the icing on the cake.
     I can truly say I took teaching for granted previous to my marriage. Now each day I wish I could contain the events that happen in a little box to savor them forever. Alas since that is not possible I just praise God for opportunity to love and laugh with all those I hold dear. I hold each of you dear and pray God will bring you delight each day in those that you love. I will write again soon!

Love,
Jeri Lyn

A Birthday Surprise

I was walking up to my classroom for the last period of the day. I was puzzled because the door was shut and the light was off. I open the door and hear "SURPRISE!" then my students begin to sing Happy Birthday. I start to tear up as I blow out the candles that they put on my Birthday Cake. The candles were a little melted because I was a little delayed getting to the classroom, but all still went well. I opened up the sweet cards from my students and began to tear up again. Then one of my young men promptly gave me a box of Kleenex. I was still in a little shock from the surprise and enjoying every moment. Yet something was not quite right....

After the shock wore off, the smell of smoke just kept lingering a little to much for just candles.

The real surprise came when I asked the students "what happened?" I knew this would not be good. Not until investigating did we discover that the students lit the candles with a lighter that they had acquired from an upper school student (Mistake Number 1). The student who was lighting the candles had issues putting the flame to the candle without burning his fingers. (Mistake Number 2). That student then rolled up a piece of paper and used it as a torch to light the rest of the candles. (Mistake Number 3). He could not get the flame out. So he threw the paper in the trash can. (Mistake Number 4). He then threw a bottle of bubbles on the flame to finally to put it out. (I had given them bubbles that morning to celebrate my Birthday.) One student then promptly opened the window preventing the school fire alarm from going off.

They wanted to surprise me and they definitely did.

Mini-Me

I ran into my mini me the other day at school. During the winter I wore out my Kansas Cowgirl Boots, put my hair in a side braid and would adorn a pretty skirt/dress. Well the other day I opened my door and their stood one of the upper school girls who chose to dress like me for dress like a teacher day. I did not even realize they noticed. I was very flattered and humbled at this evidence which proves that students/children really do observe the most little things about us.

Bringing Down The Great Wall of China

Often times when our lives feel chaotic and out of control the reason is we are trying to control all things. There is a problem with this for Christ is in control of all things. I am thankful he brings us to that point of distress so all we can do is call out to him. Everything came to a head this last Saturday. All my life I have strategically put built the Great wall of China in my heart for protection and safety. Since coming to the South the vastness of my Wall has been revealed to me. Some people would be let in, but just to the inner gate. The walls where just to heavy to keep holding up. After the crashing of the walls I have experienced this peace which surpasses my feeble human understanding. I am thankful that God has died on the cross to claim the walls of my heart and take me as His. This give us the freedom to very simply love as He has loved us. I will fail at this daily, but His grace is my covering. His grace is also my protection.

Update - Fun Things!

This is a list of all the monetary blessings God has given me!

Nana and Papa in S.C - My S.C adoption family. I also have a set of triplets as nieces now!

An upcoming trip to England, Ireland, Scotland (Possibly Still Planning)

Daily Provisions

A job at Summa Joe's a really cool dive downtown that serves all natural food from local farms

Swing Dancing - I stopped for a while but now I am back

Some good friends locally that I can call

People to love - Community of Anderson and Church

YMCA - Friends

Tax Assistance! (Thank you Amy!)

Memories of home that still make me tear up when I think about them.

God's Peace which surpasses all understanding.

"Wine is Constant Proof that God Loves Us"

"Wine is Constant Proof that God Loves Us"

This a little quote on my new S.C family refrigerator. For those of you who do not know things have drastically changed since my last post about moving. The people who I was house sitting for came home and told me they did not want me to leave. They wanted me to stay and become a part of their family. Now, I have my very own Nana and Papa in S.C. The greatest commandment is to love, but when love comes into our lives we are hit like a ton of bricks. For an entire week I was in shock at their willingness to just love me and make me a part of their home. What a delight they have been to my heart!

The little refrigerator quote kept popping into my head during this week. My mind then moved to all the things that God has done to remind me that He loves me. We are not to base our lives off of the circumstances, yet God uses the circumstances to further understand how deeply He loves us. When the Israelites kept screwing up God would then have to constantly remind them of the circumstances he brought them from and all the works of His hand. God never changes and I am so thankful for all the constant proof in my life that He loves me.