some confusion. God is leading me. hoping for His direction soon.

content outline

lesson plans are interesting. the content outline is kind of intense. who knew there was so much prep time...how illuminating. so, anyone want to know about plate tectonics? I'm gonna have a week's worth of lessons out of this semester. and they're on plate tectonics. I'm glad I like plate tectonics...granted, I did pick the topic, but still. it's not so bad, I guess, but the first draft is due Wednesday at 4:30 (?). plus my backward design unit plan. I have to write understand, know, and do statements. understand statements are actually pretty hard to write...they have to be just vague enough but have to have some details about applicability. so you come up with the lesson goals before writing the lesson...too bad I didn't do that. I wonder how that's going to work out. anywho. I should get back to work...

today was pretty great. I loved hanging out with the freshmen and (some) sophomores while waiting for the vans to arrive. there are so many people coming out! Aletheia was awesome this morning! Chelsea wrote an amazing song that we got to sing - it was beautiful. and I got to hang out with friends for awhile after church. went to lunch with a few pretty spectacular people. for about 2 and half hours...hahaha. then, of course, I had to work on homework...yippee...hahaha. yep, it was pretty thrilling. then, a Target run with my roomie. played some games, watch a movie, more homework, more distractions.

you know, distractions are such a big part of today's society. I allow myself to get distracted way too often. it's actually really annoying, because I realize that I should be doing something else (like right now) but I decide that this is better. simply because I like it. I should be working on more homework now. I also have had to put away laundry for the last 4 days, I think. I'm hoping I either do that tonight (as another form of procrastination) or tomorrow, simply because it needs to be done.

what's your biggest form of distraction?

normally, you wouldn't think crying is good. but it can definitely be good for you. it gives an outlet for the pain you're feeling. it connects you to how you're really doing. it facilitates the action of crying out to God. the reasons aren't usually good, but things can get better because of it.

now, the kind of crying that is actually fun...that's the happy crying. personally, I can get teary-eyed during inspirational movies. underdog stories. happy endings. books where something works out in the end. oh, the best are the true stories, like Chicken Soup for the Soul, where that really awesome or happy thing happens and you have the extra special feeling of knowing it's true, too!

so let it out, cry sometime. God is there and that's really all you could ask for. granted, friends will usually be there, too, but God is always available and always cares!

Tuesday and some random thoughts

Class this morning was pretty cool. It was my strange class, but my professor was talking about Richard Dawkins (look him up if you don't know anything about him - he is crazy) and he was saying that he really doesn't like him. We were talking about fundamentalism so my professor doesn't like him because he's a fundamentalist. The thing is, fundamentalists are said to have a belief system that sticks to basic principles because they are AFRAID of something! So my thought was...Richard Dawkins is a fundamentalist atheist because he's afraid of God! That might not be what he says, but he does claim at some point to be a fundamentalist so he's basically admitting to it indirectly! Hahaha.

I have class now. But I had to write this before I forgot.

the weekend.

this weekend was pretty awesome! I went home and got a chance to catch up on all the sleep I missed this last week...less than 5 hours of sleep 2 nights in a row is no fun....PLUS I just generally hung out (meaning, I didn't do anything of importance but that was just fine for me) and spent time with my mom and dad and puppy dog Molly. I went to my church at home...Hope...this morning and got to see some of my friends that I met over the summer. and the worship band, though slower and not as loud as Aletheia, was still rockin' it out. and the question of the week was about eternity and what that would be like. the pastor's information on the subject should have laid those hearts to rest. I mean, we know, according to the Bible, that heaven is WAY better than it is here...I can't even begin to imagine. well, now that I'm back at school, I should work on the last of my homework for the week.

my new class assignment.

So, my class...the most I don't even know how to describe it class I have ever had: history and philosophy of the geosciences. What is a myth? apparently, it's deep and intense. who knew? the things these people came up with...explanations for the seasons that involve goddesses dying and being stuck on spikes then, get this, being RESCUED by the other gods and goddesses. she's apparently just fine besides being evil, of course. and there is more to the story...look up Anat. so weird...

then, in paleo...learning about different kinds of coral and how their spicules are shaped...actually, those are the sponges aren't they...we talked about sponges and coral yesterday...oh, and jellyfish, which are apparently in the same phylum as coral...coral are at the juvenile stage...the polyp stage....for most of their lives while jellyfish are in the adult stage for most of their lives....I didn't know corals could be like jellyfish???

anywho...on to more pleasant things...like the first Aletheia Midday!!! and the first Aletheia Wednesday!!!! very exciting! Matt Light did an awesome job talking about the first part of John 3, Cam did great leading worship...despite being sick - poor Cam...there was just some amazing stuff...the place wasn't packed like a Sunday, but it was packed for a Wednesday - especially the first one of the semester!! so, I had a great time...still get nervous every time I do the powerpoint...and I get to make it for Wednesdays this year...but it worked out just fine! :)

I have loads of homework to do. am I doing it? obviously not. I'm thinking about it, though. that's something, right? sure it is.

and here's a poem I wrote a couple of weeks ago. it really says how I was feeling then and what I'm feeling right now.

I look to the heavens
I cannot see God
but He sees me
He is always watching

The comfort of the King
is all encompassing
the blessings He does bring
are more than I'm deserving

I reach out in praise
I do not feel God's touch
but He feels me
my praise is a touch

The comfort of the King
is all encompassing
the blessings He does bring
are more than I'm deserving

I cry out to my God
I do not always hear Him
but He hears me
and He always answers

The comfort of the King
is all encompassing
the blessings He does bring
are more than I'm deserving

and just a few more thoughts:
God really is truly beyond amazing! Just thinking about the support system He has set me up with is so cool. I have loving friends and family who listen to me, teach me, advise me, and just are there for me all the time. I don't deserve all these wonderful people in my life or my awesome God. But He didn't care, or rather, He cared so much about my undeserving state that He formulated a way for me to come to Him despite my unworthiness.
I've really been seeing God in my life so much lately; no matter what has happened, the next instant, I know God is there. There have been clear moments, just seconds after I have an issue or even a cool thing happen, where I am instantly reminded of God's hand in things through a song or a billboard (it has happened) or a friend. It's awesome and amazing.

soooooo tired.......and so glad I don't have class tomorrow. The first Midday and Wednesday Night!!! of the year! so excited...but needing to go to bed. homework that I did today...virtually nonexistent. I feel bad about that. but tomorrow should be better. going to bed now.

Labor Day Puzzler....

So...Labor Day...a federal and state GOVERNMENT holiday....and JMU...a state university...holds classes. I'm not sure what's up with this.....

Other than that, it was a normal Monday. Class from 9:05-3:10 then again from 5:30-7. Then lots of homework...I was going to do more. I only got stuff for two classes done. Still have education homework to do. At least it's not due till next Monday. I wanted to do it today, though. I feel like a slacker. It will get better. As my dad likes to say, "every day in every way, I'm getting better and better." I'm not sure what it's from (or who) but it applies. Life skills (which were discussed in some detail today) are learned throughout our lives as we go through different experiences. This includes homework and work ethic...I actually had those skills at one point...college ruined me! Hahaha. No, it's not as bad as all that, but it's a lot easier to do something else.

Despite the length of the day, I was remarkably awake and alert throughout. (Generally by the middle of the class that ends at 3:10, I am trying not to fall asleep.) God really got me through the day despite a lack of desire to be there (not a good attitude to have, but that's the way it was) and an inadequate amount of food throughout...lunch was next to nonexistent. I wasn't hungry till I got home! Yay! Go me!

About to read some education info and my book on ADHD. It should be good.

Oh, so totally beyond excited to start planning my content outline and model lesson. I'm thinking of volcanoes or the rock cycle for it. Probably volcanoes as that was my first idea. Very fun topic. The V.S.O.L.s are a lot less in-depth than my classes...hmmm...I wonder why that is....

TTFN...ta-ta for now

God bless your week!

the last two weeks....

So the last two weeks have been incredibly busy. But they have been awesome. Although, the "i" on my keyboard has finally given up...here's the story...last year, some books fell off my shelf (I was rearranging and there weren't enough there to stand up straight) right onto my hands and therefore, my computer keyboard. Luckily, my computer was alright, except for one, well two minor details: my "i" key and my "k" key popped off. If you didn't already know this, there are these little button looking things underneath the keys themselves and that's what makes the letter get typed in. You can still hit those, it just takes a little practice...needless to say, I got very good at it! Well, yesterday, the little button thing for my "i" came off, too. Yay. I'm ecstatic. I now have to hit the very middle of the empty space where my key used to be. Makes it difficult to type many words.

Anyways, moving on to other things...I have discovered that 7 and a half hours of class in one day makes for a rather long day, BUT it is so totally doable! My first Monday was pretty rough, but last Monday, I was even able to do homework between and after my classes! God gave me some major endurance! WOW! I couldn't ever have imagined how awesome it felt to realize how productive I had been! Mondays also put an incredibly positive light on the rest of the week: it can only get better from here! :)

I am really looking forward to this Wednesday. It marks the beginning of this semester's Aletheia Midday and Aletheia's Wednesday Night Service. I am so ready for that!

This morning was awesome! So many new people. So many old friends. So much praise. So spectacular is our God.

And that's about all I have. Have a terrific week and God bless!