Puppy Love

Meet my family’s cutest new addition, Dolly.

She is a full blooded boxer and is the absolute sweetest puppy.

That’s all I have to share this Monday morning…

a favorite song.

Good morning, sweet friends! I don’t have much to say today so I thought I would share with you one of my favorite songs. I could listen to this over and over again. I can’t wait to dance with my future hubby to this in our kitchen one day…

Wishing you a lovely Thursday!

Oh, Preschool.

You know you’re a preschool teacher when…

…it’s completely normal to wear monkey ears to work.

…you can change pull-ups like a pro.

…you can open half a dozen snacks at a time (applesauce, yogurts, bananas, etc.).

…you love outside time as much as your kids do.

…you can’t pass by the Target dollar spot without buying goodies for your kids.

…you know pretty much the exact time that each child will be picked up.

…you’re constantly pointing out shapes, colors, and numbers.

…you think Velcro shoes are one of the best inventions ever.

…you know bubbles, play-doh, and finger painting are the bees knees.

…you’re always modeling the correct way to share toys.

…you love seeing your kids actively thinking and problem solving.

At the early learning center where I work, our classes are the names of animals (i.e. blue dolphins, green frogs, dinosaurs, etc.) I’m the afternoon teacher for the brown monkeys’ class and that’s why I’m wearing monkey ears. My kids LOVED when I walked in wearing them!

Home is my favorite.

On Saturday afternoon, I spontaneously decided to go home for the night. Since I only live 45 minutes away from school it’s easy to just throw together an overnight bag and hop in the car. Although I love being at school, I equally love being at home. I spent time hanging out with my parents…they truly are my favorites.

Have I mentioned before that my drive home is my favorite?

When I pulled up I saw my dad wearing this…definitely an interesting outfit choice. Only my father. :)

Also, I cherish getting to talk to my mom. She offers wisdom and advice while constantly pointing me back to Christ. She continually encourages me and challenges me to turn to the scriptures. Anyway, I was pretty bummed about a mistake I made last week…well, I was actually pretty bummed about last week in general. So as we were talking, she shared with me different mistakes that she has made throughout her 30 years of teaching and how you ALWAYS learn from them. I treasured hearing her stories and even laughed out loud at a few. I came away reminded that we all make mistakes but there is always a valuable lesson to be learned from them. I’m so thankful for the support my parents provide and the cozy home I can retreat away to when needed.

P.S. Are any of you Downton Abbey fans? Please oh please tell me you watched the season finale last night!? I. was. devastated. If you watched, I’d love to know your thoughts!

Friday’s Letters

{After a l-o-n-g week, I’m pressing on…source unknown}

Dear readers,

I’m sorry my posts have been incredibly sparse recently. This week was so so challenging and I hope to be around more often in the blog world next week!

Dear Friday,

Oh goodness. Thank you for showing up…you’re fully embraced and welcomed. I don’t have many school assignments this weekend to do which makes you even better.

Dear preschoolers,

You’re oh so funny and sweet, but you tested every ounce of my patience this week. Let’s start fresh next week, okay?

Dear mom,

You’re the best. Seriously. You’re my biggest encourager and are always there for me. Even when I called you yesterday feeling so overwhelmed and like the absolute worst teacher.

Dear Bryan and Katie Torwalt,

You’re music draws me in and calms my anxious heart. Thank you for such truth in your lyrics that always turns my gaze toward Christ.

Dear Target,

You’re a weakness of mine. I go in with three items on my “to buy” list and always come out spending at least $25. This usually happens without fail.

Dear readers (again),

May your weekend bring lots of coziness and rest. I hope you’re able to spend sweet time with friends and/or family!

Little Joys

After a long week, I decided to go home for the weekend. As soon as all of my kids were picked up on Friday I hopped in my car to head home. I only live 45 minutes away from my small college town and it truly is one of my favorite drives. I drove into the sunset on winding roads (love it!). I spent the weekend just hanging out with my parents and enjoying every second of it.

Conversation. Delicious dinners. Catching up on Downton Abbey. Wal-Mart trip. Starbucks. Laughter. Sunshiny afternoons. Four wheeler rides.

Saturday afternoon four wheeler rides.

Adventuring.

If only more Wal-Mart parking lots had mountain views…

While I was home, I also received some great behavior management tips from my mom (she just retired from 30 years of teaching). I work at the early learning center on my campus and I’m currently the afternoon teacher for the 2 1/2 – 3 year old class. Although most of my kids are already 3! Anyway, they’re a really fun but challenging age group. Last week was a particularly difficult week and my mom offered valuable advice that I’m excited to implement.

I’ve started to write down the funny things these kids say and do that make me smile and I wanted to share them with you all! Their funniness and sweetness far outweighs the stressful moments and I want to be sure to remember that…

While we were on the playground one of the other teachers asked one of my boys how old he was. He looked up at her before responding very seriously, “I’m just small.”

During free play in the classroom, one of my boys was just randomly singing "I Will Wait" by Mumford & Sons. That definitely made me smile because most preschoolers don’t sing that!

Another little girl stared randomly singing “Gangnam Style” while we were putting a puzzle together. I thought that was too cute!

After helping one of my boys zip up his vest, he looked up at me and said, “WOW, I LOOK SUPER COOL!”  Oh goodness…melt my heart.

Two of my girls had a very serious “argument” about how to pronounce my name. One of the girls calls me “Miss SamanSA” so the other girl saw it as her duty to tell her that my name is actually “Miss SamanTHA.” I promise they went back and forth about this for at least three minutes. I thought it was too funny to interrupt!

May your Monday be filled with happiness as a new week starts!

Lately…

Wooh! I’m a little extra busy this week with four exams (and two papers) and a class of three year olds at work that are teaching me more about patience than I ever dreamed possible. But I wanted to share with you a miscellaneous post of sorts about what life has looked like lately…

Oh coffee dates.

Hello new car…you were definitely and completely an unexpected surprise!

Sunshine and walking back from class; I get to walk through the quaintest neighborhood on the way back to my apartment.

New puzzles, bubbles, and finger painting in preschool this week!

My most listened to artists lately depending on the “mood.”

That’s all I have for now, sweet friends! Wishing you all an extra special Wednesday!

Singleness & Struggles

I want to honest and maybe even a little bit vulnerable with you all about last weekend when I watched one of my best friends marry her best friend. That weekend contained so much joy I thought my heart might burst at one point. It was the sweetest thing to see their love for each other. I remember imagining with Janice that God would write our love stories one day when we were in high school. We sat on the floor of her room and surrendered our love stories to Him. We had no idea then the incredible man she would soon meet! Getting to see God orchestrate every detail of their love story has reminded me over and over again of His faithfulness. And His ways are SO much better and SO much higher.

But after I left the reception that Saturday night, I sat alone in my car and cried. Yes, you read that right. After so much joy, I sat there and cried big puppy dog tears. I had just watched Janice and her husband leave for their honeymoon and all I could think about was “when will it be my turn, Lord?” My heart and mind were racing as the tears fell. A few of my other thoughts were similar to these…

“Lord, this waiting is h-a-r-d!”

“Will a man ever look at me like Stuart looks at Janice?”

“Janice is now married and I’ve never even been asked out on a date!”

“Lord, I truly and deeply know that Your plans are the best…help me to cling to that truth right now.”

“Why can’t I just meet him already??”

“I saw Stuart lean over and tell Janice she was beautiful more than once…will a man ever lean over and tell me that?”

I pulled out of the parking lot wiping away the tears and finally said out loud, “I trust You, Lord.”  With everything that is within me, I know that it is worth the wait. I know that this is truth, but the waiting is still hard.

As I was driving I was reminded of this song and immediately pulled it up. I turned it up loud and sang to the ultimate Lover of my soul. The more I sang my gaze was turned back toward Him.

I found this poem a few days ago and was greatly encouraged by it. I’m not sure who wrote it so if you know please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due. May you be encouraged as well…

I cry Lord, am I loved? I feel so alone…

no lover to hold me, to call me his own.

I long to be romanced and helped through my pain.

Where is my sweet family I long to obtain?

You know the desires and aches of my heart,

yet You seem to dismiss them and set me apart.

On days when the burden seems too much to bear,

what a comfort it would be to have a husband there.

Surely if You cherished me the way that you say,

You would provide me my lover, You’d send him my way…

You say precious child, you I’ve loved your whole life.

Why are you idolizing the role of a wife?

I know the desires of your struggling heart,

for I’ve planned them beautifully; they’re not intended to tear us apart.

I am more than you need, the perfect lover of your soul.

I will romance you far greater than a man’s loving hold.

I care about your heart, every tear that you shed.

Rest in me baby girl; you have nothing to dread.

I have plans for your life, far greater than you can hope for or imagine,

quit selling yourself short in your fear of abandon.

I cry Abba, am I enough? Am I beautiful? Am I strong?

Am I successful? Am I wanted?…am I doing everything wrong?

Every place that I look shouts that women must be more.

Must be promiscuous, must be powerful, must be glamorous, must be adored.

I long to be the woman that your Word tells me to be,

a patient servant, who is loving, who is selfless, who is sweet.

Yet the lies of this world seem to fire into my brain;

I do fight to serve you Father, but fall short again and again.

Will I ever measure up? I’m so selfish, I’m so scarred,

Lord I plead with you to help me, come and heal my struggling heart.

You say daughter, you are lovely, In my image were you formed.

Don’t entertain the lies you hear and quit struggling to conform.

I don’t see you for your faults or mistakes that plague your mind,

Through my grace, you’ve been made perfect, all your sin is left behind,

Through my power you are stronger than you hardly even know

I will use you for my glory, just be willing to surrender and go.

You are valued, you’re adored, I have good things planned for you,

Just keep your eyes on me, and I will pull you through.

I wanted to share with you a glimpse into my heart and I how struggle with singleness sometimes. I don’t want you to think that I never have struggles and exude happiness all the time. This season is hard and challenging, but there is so much more good in it. This time is valuable and not to be wasted. I know that the waiting is not in vain and will be OH SO WORTH IT. Someday I’ll look back at this and smile; I’ll want to whisper to my former self “if you could only know what lies ahead.”