Working Hard

There are so many things in this life that cause us to be sad, frustrated, angry and sorrowful.  Right now it is especially hard for some of my friends and family in their daily life.  It is always the easier thing to do to remain in the mindset of hopelessness. 

Something I have been working hard at these last few weeks is to keep my mind focused on working for Jesus.  I have found that in some of the most challenging times at work that those were prime opportunities to please God.  When I choose to work for Jesus, it makes my day so much more peaceful and joyful.  Not necessarily easier, but much more rewarding and satisfying.  Choosing to do something for God's glory brings the fruit of the Spirit.  When we let Jesus be our strength, the Holy Spirit works and provides fruit.  Love, joy, peace, patience, self-control, kindness...etc. And when I have the fruit of the Spirit alive in my life, that definitely brings HOPE!

Something else I have been meditating on is truth about God being pleased with me.  When I choose to do the Lord's will (love Him and other's) God is pleased with me.  I have no one else to please.  That's it.  I am justified and sanctified through the blood of Jesus and I am free.  I am freed from the pressures of this world and the law.  Praise the Lord!!

Wake up

Tonite, I was driving home from a friend's house and it hit me that I will have lived in Lafayette for almost 5 months.  

Observations from a T-townian: Lafayette

Lafayette definitely has some very distinct characteristics that I have come to find as re-occuring topics on my brain since arriving here.  

The first obvious characteristic is the taste of the water.  It just tastes like rust.  Bad.  Yucky.  I really haven't heard a straight answer as to why.  I wondered if it was just the water in the home I am staying in, based on the fact that they use well water.  But it is definitely a taste found all over the city.

Second: The smell.  One of my first weekends in Lafayette, I went shopping with Jana.  We were walking through the parking lot of the mall when I smelled something very strange.  It actually smelled good and what I proclaimed to Jana, "It smells like brownies!"  She then responds, "That's the smell that comes from the Purina cat food factories."  

Third: Outdoor freezers.  The weather here is cold enough in the winter, you can just leave your food on your back step.  (Watch out for cats.) But you don't even need two refrigerators!  (It was -19 degrees last nite!)  

Fourth: Pizza restaurant names.  Lafayette has some true, authentic (I think) names for pizza places like: "Bruno's" and "Moncino's" and "Cozzoli's" and "Puccini's".  It is my goal to try most of them.  :)  

Fifth:  The word "color".  I've run across a few people that pronounce the word "color" like "collar".   :)  I love you guys.  

Sixth:  Driving.  Lafayette drivers are so...aggressive!  :)  Well, being from a small city, ahem, where the average speed limit is 30 mph, makes driving here a little more stressful.  Lafayette is only two hours away from Chicago, but people drive like they're in Chicago.  As soon as the light turns green, REV that engine up to 45 mph in 2 seconds flat!  And they do this only to rush ahead to the next red light only 30 feet in front of them.  And they are definitely NOT hesitant to let you know you are going too slow in front of them.  Maybe I just drive slow...

Seventh: Factories and trains.  I had no idea before moving here how much Lafayette is a factory city.  My drive to work is right along some major factories (couldn't tell ya what they are) so it seems as if they are everywhere.  At nite it is actually kind of cool to look at them with all their lights on.  

Eighth: Hospitals.  Lafayette has alot of hospitals!  Clarion Arnett, St. Elizabeth, Home Hospital, Wabash Valley Hospital, etc.

I enjoy hearing about how a city originates.  Here is some Lafayette history in case you enjoy that kind of thing as well:  

The area around what is now Tippecanoe County was inhabited by a tribe of Miami Indians known as the Ouiatenon or Weas. The French government established Fort Ouiatenon in 1717 across the Wabash River and three miles (5 km) south of the location of present-day Lafayette. The fort became the center of trade for fur trappers, merchants and Indians. An annual reenactment and festival known as The Feast of the Hunters' Moon takes place there each fall.

Lafayette was platted by the river trader William Digby, in May 1825. The town was made county seat for the newly formed Tippecanoe County soon after in 1826. Like many small frontier towns, Lafayette was officially named for General Lafayette, a French military hero who fought with and significantly aided the American Army during the American Revolutionary War (September 6, 1757—May 20, 1834).

In its earliest days Lafayette was a shipping center on the Wabash River. The Wabash and Erie Canal in the 1840s further cemented Lafayette's regional prominence, which was also escalated by the arrival of the railroads in the 1850s. The Monon Railroad connected Lafayette with other sections of Indiana.

Lafayette was the site of the first official air mail delivery in the United States, which took place on August 17, 1859, when John Wise piloted a balloon starting on the Lafayette courthouse grounds. Wise hoped to reach New York; however, weather conditions forced the balloon down near Crawfordsville, Indiana, and the mail reached its final destination by train. In 1959, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 7¢ airmail stamp commemorating the centennial of the event.

Modern history owes a fair debt to Robert Kriebel, a reporter since retired from the Lafayette Journal and Courier newspaper. By way of his books and columns the curious are provided a convenient, accessible, and even colorful way to grasp the events around and preceding him. Old Lafayette in two volumes is highly recommended.   (Wikipedia)

FUN Fact: Jeremy Camp is from Lafayette, IN!

How does a cow make milk?

Girl from my class: "Miss Renae?  Do you know how a cow makes milk?"

Me: "Yes."

Girl:  "Well, I know too.  Do you want to know how?"

Me:  No response.

Girl:  "Well, the cow shakes his belly really really fast!!"

Oh my.  I definitely learned something new today!  Ha!  My life this week, has pretty much been my work, (which includes "my kids") and sleep.  On Monday, we welcomed four new students to our existing 21, and moved one to a room down the hall.  Last week with alot of our students on winter break, and my co-coordinating teacher in a different room, we did not have the time to get ready for the new students.  Monday morning (this week), you could say that we were a little stressed!  

This is definitely my first real teaching job mainly because I do lesson planning and have curriculum I am required to follow.  I am a teacher, but yet, most the time I feel like a babysitter.  Working with 3-4 year olds is very trying mainly because they are want to try things on their own, but they still need your assistance.  You have these little people who are bursting with enthusiasm to learn and soak up new things and try new things by themselves, but yet, they need help opening the little package on their juice box with the pointy straw.  

However, I really enjoy this age because of those very things.  Usually by this age, they are potty-trained and are developmentally able to carry on a short conversation with you.  It is mostly one-sided, but that can be very enjoyable and entertaining.  

Most definitely I enjoy "working with" children, but I'm not quite sure about the teaching part.  I will do it, but I don't find this position that satisfying.  If I could work with children as a teacher, I would do it for a morning or afternoon, but not as an all day thing.   (But then you wouldn't get paid for full-time and that is what I need currently.)  So, I am currently on a job search.  I am trying to find something that I hope would be a good fit for me and the gifts that God has given me.  

God has greatly blessed me with my current job working at Burghett's Learning Center.  I am so thankful that He provides what I need.  Especially despite my complaining and lack of trust.  He is faithful and that is just who He is.  

Child-like joy

This was the flower girl for Dan and Robyn's wedding.  :)  Robyn was definitely the queen of the dance floor that nite at the reception, but I think this little gal was the "Dancing princess"!  She was just dancing her heart out and I was able to capture a little snippet from her performance.