Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone!
God Bless!

Blast from the past

My mom and I when I was a baby.
I love being able to use a scanner!

Christmas Banquet 2005

Seniors 2006

Me and my girls

Go Wings!

Abby, Nicole, Jael

Student Teachers Unite!

Back- Nicole, Carol, Andrea, Jael
Front- Amy, Renee

WE MADE IT!!!!!

Reflections

I have really enjoyed being home. I needed that refreshing, seeing the folks that have helped me grow spiritually and who have spent so much time praying for me. I know people have put in hours on me. Quite possibly people I do not even know. I am very grateful. Yet, I feel as if I have fallen so short of the mark of service for God. I am nothing good. I am dirty, rotten, no good, sinful flesh. I have failed so many times. Psalm 34:19 say "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." I am thankful that the Lord already knows that I will fail, that I have and will sin, that He forgives and will guide me in His way if I let Him.
This evenings service was what was needed by many, especially me. Mr. Johnson spoke on how (generally) Christians do not thank God for all of HIs goodness. I am afraid that I fall into this category. I am very ashamed of this. God has given me SO much, but I, unfortunately, take much of it for granted. Psalm 107:8 says "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men." The trials are for testing and purification. I know this, but I don't. I often question and doubt God on what He is doing in my life. It is something I need to work on.
I want to do the right thing, the Lord's will for my life. I do desire that. I also know that I have much to work on. I know this can't happen over night, but that it is a process, even a work in progress. The Lord knows my heart.
I am reminded of the song "Count Your Blessings." They are too numerable, but here are some":
Jesus Christ dying on the cross
The blood of calvary
redemption
forgiveness
the virgin birth
the Holy Bible (KJV)
WBC
FBC
Mom
Dad
Nessa
AJ
Logan
Laura
Lucas
My education
college staff
my pastor
the many folks who have and are praying for me
my extended family
all the friends I have made
justification
saving grace
Christ's humility
Christ's compassion
being an American
my salvation

This is not a complete list because "daily he loadeth us with benefits."
The Lord has been so good to me. How have I been to Him?

MERRY CHRISTmas everyone! I hope you and yours had a great one!

MERRY CHRISTmas everyone! I hope you and yours had a great one!

My CHRISTmas was a bit different this year. I made it home on CHRISTmas Eve morning in time to go bus visiting with my church. I took my brother along as well. Quite a few kids said that they were going to go to church, which was such a blessing since it was going to be CHRISTmas morning. I also told my brother that I was going to be cutting his later that day because he looked very shaggy. After visiting, I did cut his hair. And he looks much better!
Then I took my brother CHRISTmas shopping since he had not been able to go out before then. I helped him find some stuff for Mom and Dad and showed him exactly what he could get me. We were going to stop at the local Red Apple to eat, but it was closed. I did not want fast food. So, on our way back home, we stopped at Subway (his treat). Then AJ and I went to the CHRISTmas Eve service at church.

We usually visit a family friend on CHRISTmas Eve, but we didn't this year.So, I stopped and visited her after the evening service on Sunday.

On CHRISTmas morning, we all went to church! That was my top CHRISTmas wish, to have my whole family attend church on CHRISTmas morning. What a blessing it was!

After church, we waited for my uncle to get to our house (he's mentally handicapped and lives in a group home). Then we opened our gifts. We all got some good stuff. My mom told me that Dad was tickled to get me a car emergency kit. I've been wanting one of those! It has one of those battery starters that comes in so handy since I often have problems with my battery charging right, although, its been better since Dad got me a bigger battery.

I made my first baby hat last night with this "Knifty Knitter" thing. I am working on number two right now!

All in all, I had a great CHRISTmas. How was yours?

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year! God Bless!

Changes

I got the job!!!!!! I start on the 3rd. God blesses when you do the right thing!

Up and coming...

I will be going to the class party in just a bit. Actually, I want to go in the classroom while the kids are at chapel and get things on their desks. I know I am going to cry! After spending 4 months getting to know these kids, I am done. There have been some srtuggles and disappointments, but overall, it has been a really good semester.
It's kind of interesting to note that when I began college, I started as a missions major. I knew I wouldn't have to teach if I did that. Funny thing is, I had wanted to be a teacher for a long time (well, an elementary music teacher, to be exact). Then, at the end of my freshman year, I switched my major to El. Ed. Everything was going fine until the day I actually had to teach! I was so scared! Now, I am going to miss it so much! These kids grow on you. I have gotten little notes, cards, presents, apples, and art projects from my 3rd and 4th graders. On their last composition chapter, I cried while reading through them, not because they were moving (compare/contrast cats and dogs), but because I was going to miss them so much and miss reading their papers and teaching them. You get to see their personality came out when they write.
Well, I have half an hour before the party starts and I need to run back to the dorm and get their goody bags that I made up for them and to get the other teachers' gifts and some snack stuff.
*sigh*

Student teaching

I am done and I will miss it. It's hard to think I have done it for 4 months and now it is over. I went to my advisory teacher's house last night for dinner and to make peanut butter play-dough for the class party tomorrow. The food was great and the preparation was fun.
I am going to go to the class party. Those kids are so precious to me.

Where I came from 2

Well, I only got up to elementary school in the family section. Now to continue.
I think life with my immediate family will always be the same, unless the Lord does a great and mighty work (and ALL things are possible with God). Screaming, yelling, anger, discontentment, verbal abuse... The list can go on and on.
I want to have a family much different than my own. I want a family that knows what love is, and it is not material possessions. I have so much junk, here and at home. Why? Beats me. I think my dad thinks that possessions are a sign of love or something. It's not. Spending quality time with each other is a better indication of love for others, but that does not mean in front of the TV, computer, or stupid game systems.
Don't get me wrong, I fall prey to these things too.
I do desire to live a life that is pleasing to God. One that makes a difference in peoples' lives. One that's worth living.
In middle school, I struggled with who I was. I got saved at 12, but I sure didn't live like it. I think being saved kept me from going off the deep end. Most of my friends were the Goths of the school and I often dressed as they did. I didn't do it to be rebellious or to stand out from the crowd, I did it to fit into the crowd. I never fully fell into all that. A staff member recently said that they couldn't understand why a teen would want to do dress gothic. I don't know about most of the exteme ones, but many do it to fit in with the others they associate with. Just as the "popular" kids do with the name brand clothes.
Then came a time in my life that turned everything upsidedown. My mom had bouts of sickness and was hospitalized. I thnk it was the second round that almost killed her. She was in a coma-like state 10 days. They wouldn't let me see her. Iwas so upset about that at the time. I think I am glad now that they didn't let me see her. Then, after she was home and getting better, she became pregnant with triplets. WHOA! What a schocker! None of us could believe it at all. They were born 3 months early and weighed: Logan- 1 lb 13 oz, Laura- 1 lb 12 oz, and Lucas- 1 lb 6 oz. They lived 10 days, 15 days,and 2 months 27 days, respectively. That was shattering. I was in the depths of despair. Then, God became real to me. It was still a struggle, though.
High school came and went. I was involved choir at both schools I went to. The second high school is where I started to stray, going along with religious friends, but not Godly friends. I went to church all during this time to my church (Sun morn and eve) but I started going to a Methodist church for youth group. They meant well, but the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. There was no separation, but there was plenty of fun. We were challenged to live a good life, but I dare not say a Godly life because this church used a perverted version of the Bible, let guys and girls touch, and girls wore pants, and all looked worldly. That's how many of churches nowadays get their teens: they let them do whatever they want. Praise God that I have a chuch at home and at college that calls for Biblical standards!
When I graduated high school, I then started looking for a college to attend. The one I am at now did not make my personal "I'll look into it" list. All I gave it was a passing thought. My pastor recconmmeded it to me. I decided to follow his advice. I am glad that I did, now, although there have been plenty of struggles that followed.
I think my entries became disjointed due to the fact that they are written over a couple of months aprt. Oh well.

Where I came from

Most people have no idea who I am. They only think they know. I guess that is partly my fault, though. I don't make it a point to air my life in front of everyone I meet.
I grew up in a home that was constantly on the move... from dwelling to dwelling, that is. There have been at least ten moves my family has made in the last 22 years. Well, what I can remember, anyways. We have lived in a pop-up camper at the fairgrounds to a pretty nice house (where they are at now). But I'm not a nomadic person. I went to 3 elementary school, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools. The only thing good about it was that it was between only 2 school districts.
Family life...
That'll be a long one and I only have ten minutes to do this until I have to go back and teach art.
We were/are poor in the financial aspects, but pretty spoiled in the possession aspects. I don't know too many other kids who had their own go-carts, mopeds, mini-bikes, and the list goes on and on. Possessions are not what life is about. They do not buy love. I had ALOT of stuff, but not much of a family.
Alcohol and abuse were witnessed in my family. What scars I have, what skeletons are hiding in my closet. Those are things I don't share with others. Most people I know have no idea. Such naivete. Most of the people I know have not seen their dad throw a table at their mom. Most have not been scared to death of getting into an accident because of riding in a vehicle of which a person was under the influence. Most have not stayed at more than one safe-house in their life or been afraid of being taken away from the family they do know (by the social services). I have been to see school counselors while elementary school.
So much is involved in my life.
Where I am at NOW
Bible college
adult life
moving on

I'll have to finish later...gotta go...

Letting off some steam...

I want to post a "real" entry, but there's not enough time to do that right now.
For me, things are going pretty well. The candy sale is over and I will be getting back on my normal schedule of things (with teaching, that is). Empowered Youth is coming up quick and now I have to find the time to do my White Glove duties. I think I can get it done on Wednesday. I have three bulletin boards due Monday as well as a motivational idea.
Have you ever dealt with someone who asks for your advice and when you give it to them, they go to someone else because they didn't like what you said? I'm tired of dealing with people like that. Some of the people I go to school with have changed so much. I don't talk to those I used to. I don't want to. Too many have gotten to that "me first" stage in their adult life and they are driving me nuts! There was one girl I was getting to be better friends with, but now that she is student teaching, the friendship is gone. She has become a snot to me. So, now, I don't even bother trying to sit by her or even talk to her anymore. Is that wrong of me? I just don't want to deal with it any more.
I can't wait to be done with school. I'm tired of being the student. Only 49 days to go...
There is another person I deal quite often who wants to have ongoing pity parties and "woe is me". She didn't like what I told her. Oh well. Granted, she has had a lot of stuff go on in her life the last couple of months, but doesn't everybod else?

Collegiate Update: September

What a month this has been! The end of August was Teacher Orientation and that was interesting. We heard about the following topics: Interpersonal Relationships, The Time of Biblical Child-rearing, Forgiveness, “Hear Ye the Rod”, The Truth: Understanding and Application, and Training a Child. The one I enjoyed the most was the one on training a child. Mr. Olson (missionary to Zambia, Africa) went over the preparation, plan, procedure, practice, persuasion, and perseverance of training. It was a very insightful lecture.Then we started to observe the class(es) we would be teaching in a matter of a few weeks. The end of that first observation week brought along the college orientation. There were a number of activities that were offered (last minute shopping trip to WalMart for those last minute items that happened to be left behind or just plain forgotten. I think the next activity was a trip to the park to play some softball. I was not able to attend either of these due to work and that my work partner ended up in the hospital for a week due to a flare-up of a childhood disease. She was in there for almost a week and is doing much better now. The actual day of orientation had two activities to choose from in the afternoon: softball at the park or hiking at the dunes. I chose the latter and had a great time. It was a three-mile hike. Labor Day was the first actual college activity at the Blueberry Festival in Plymouth, IN. It was this day that I ran in the 5K race. Let me just say, I did not run to win anything, but rather, to finish. And finish I did! I was last in my age bracket, but I did finish the race. I can say I was not the last person to finish the 5K, so I wasn’t the very last person! Check out: http://www.doitsports.com/newresults3/gruplus-search.tcl?event_id=11645&sub_event_id=36473&event_name=Blueberry+Stomp&public_name=5K&historic_event_date=2005%2d09%2d05&event_year=2005&chiptime_p=t&chipown_p=t&country_p=f&class_p=t&event_p=t and type either my name or bib# 168.Then I changed and walked around the fair with some friends. Now the teaching adventure begins (and will continue until December 16). The first week wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t the smoothest either. I started teaching 4th grade English and it wasn’t until Friday that I felt I did an OK job. I had a lot of fun that day teaching the kids how to use a thesaurus. I think the kids liked it, too! That’s the best part!Last week was my second week teaching and I took on 4th grade Math (and I still taught English). Last week was rough. Math is not my favorite subject. I ended up with a B- for the week (it was higher than I thought I was going to get). I did do a better job today with it. This week I am taking on Art and Library. I did my sample art project this afternoon and I think the kids will enjoy it. They will be doing leaf rubbings with paper and crayons. I’ve kind of helped with the library responsibilities already, so that won’t be a shock. The academy is getting ready to start their fall Candy Sale. I have been recruited for at least two days. I will only have to teach 3 days a week for 4 weeks and then its back to the regular schedule. I will have to watch the library for one day during the sale as it is a student teacher’s job. There are eight days of the students working on packets during the sale and there are eight student teachers. So that works out well. I’ve got to head off to work and then study my lesson plans, so until the next edition of your favorite email Collegiate Update, I’m signing off!God Bless,Nicole

New Week, New Beginning

This week didn't start well at all...:(
I ended one class early and went late in the other. I don't think I like having to teach two subjects in a row quite yet. This is one big class load.

A bright spot in my day was when the mail arrived. I got a care package from my church and a letter from a church member. That was really nice.

I need to go and prepare for tomorrow...

Week one...end

Today went well... :)

Rounds one and two...

Well, yesterday went ok, I guess. I got a B. I didn't have to teach until 1:35, so I wasn't too nervous at noon. We went over compound sentences.

Today did not go well at all for me. I'm very disappointed in myself. I don't even know all of the material, but I have to teach it. The public school didn't help me very much in the english grammar part of education. :(

The race is on!

I participated in a 5K race a week ago. How did I do? I finished! Check ou this site: http://www.doitsports.com/newresults3/gruplus-search.tcl?event_id=11645&sub_event_id=36473&event_name=Blueberry+Stomp&public_name=5K&historic_event_date=2005%2d09%2d05&event_year=2005&chiptime_p=t&chipown_p=t&country_p=f&class_p=t&event_p=t
and type in either my name or bib # 168. Then you can view my results. I DID NOT enter this race to win anything, but to do it to say "I ran a 5K race at least once in my life."

I start teaching tomorrow. Am I shaking in my boots yet. That would still be a "nope". Maybe at noon tomorrow...

On to interesting kids news:
One of our students has been writing another name on his paper and when he was asked about it, he said his dad changed it a couple of days ago (he didn't, but it is a joke in their house and the boy really believes it!)

Fill in the blank....
There are a couple of boys who do not really like each other in the classroom and one of the papers I graded had a fill in the blank (______ fell into the mud). Can you guess what was inserted in that blank by one of the boys?

This is going to be an interesting year for sure...

College Orientation

I made it through orientation on 4 1/2 hours of sleep. I got up at 5am to run the lake, had my devotions, got ready for the college breakfast, went to breakfast (staff introduce themselves, we ate, then the students introduced themselves), had a split session, chapel, then went over the handbook/ministires/academics/finances. Then had to sit through the Americall presentation. We were then dismissed for lunch at the pavillion. Good cheeseburgers! I left after I ate to check my email, pick up my math papers that need to be graded, and plan on taking a nap before I have to go to work. Busy day.

What a weekend

It has been very busy. The Lord is preparing me for something. I went through the teacher orientation and on the last day I ended up taking my friend to the ER and she was admitted. She is still in right now. I have spent many hours with her (I even went up there twice yesterday). I am very tired and am going to take a nap.

Last Day of Orientation

Today's meetings were good, but I was rather tired when I got there. My body isn't used to getting fewer hours of sleep yet (not that I got a lot in the first place!). I will comment more on these meetings later when I have my notes on me.

My Collegiate Update: Summer Edition

Phi 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.


Dear family and friends,
Hi! How are you? I’m sure you have been anxiously awaiting the next edition of the Collegiate Update! I am sorry I have been late in this process. I will give you summary of what has been going on this summer.The day after school let out, I had to have an abscessed tooth pulled (it was very painful) and then as soon as I was done there, I went to Missouri for a friend’s graduation open house. I had a great time other than trying to recover. Then I took Systematic Theology I and II during summer school. I passed both! They crammed 1 semester into 1 week and we had a test every day after 4 hours of lecture. I’m glad I’m done! During the second week, my grandpa passed away and I went home for one day of the viewing. Then I went home for a few days after summer school ended. It was nice to be home! I then went to a friend’s wedding in Ohio along with my friend Carol. This trip was a duel purpose for her: the wedding and to visit her boyfriend. We had a good time. We also went to PA for a tent meeting. All summer I have been working, so that’s not much news there. Praying friends, please keep my boss in prayer. He has been suffering from unexplained (as of right now) stokes. He is, at most, in his early 40’s. He was on his family vacation when it happened.We had 3 weeks of revival services, in which, Bro. Kenderdine (missionary to Cambodia) preached. God worked on my heart during those weeks and has been through the services I have attended since then. God is so good!I did get to go home again, but only for three days at the end of July. I was able to help out a little with Neighborhood Bible Time. I have missed helping with that so much, so it was quite a refresher for me. I have been keeping busy during the day by reading many books (19 and counting!). My favorites have been missionary biographies on Darlene Deibler Rose and Adoniram Judson. Good news! I will be DONE with college a semester early! I will be done at Christmas time! Taking 18 credit hours and some summer school has really pushed me ahead. This semester I will be student teaching, taking Life of Christ, Christian Education, and choir. That’s all (but it’s still 18 credit hours). I will be student teaching under a veteran teacher (25+ years) in the 4th grade (math and english) and some 3rd/4th grade (at, library, and history). We have teacher orientation this Monday through Friday and then I start observing the following Monday. The teaching will be shortly after that. I am excited and nervous! I have also been making visuals and planning motivational ideas and bulletin boards in the meantime. Oh, I can’t forget to tell you all of my new challenge: a 5K run. Yep, you read that right! I have been training to run for a 5K race on Labor Day during the Blueberry Festival. Tomorrow morning I will be attempting to run the full 3 miles. All I have done lately is work up to 1 ½ miles (I did run that this morning when I did what they call an “around the world” lap of the campus). So what possessed me to do something like that? My friend Amy and I were talking about it one Sunday afternoon and we thought about doing it. Now we are! AND, my asthma has not been too bad since I started running. Just so you know, I am NOT running this race to win anything. I am just doing to say “I did it”. It’s something I’ve never done before and why not try it?I do hope this long awaited update finds you and your’s happy and healthy. Take care and I will try to get an update out monthly during the next semester. Just don’t hold me to it! Have a great rest of the summer!

God Bless,
Nicole

Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Am I nervous?

Not yet. That's about it. I suppose I will get nervous when I actually have to teach. I have a motivational idea due next week. I think I finally came up with an idea! Happy day!

Teacher Orientation

Today was the first day of orientation. It was interesting. The food was good (well, just about anything is good after eating so much ramen noodles!).
I found the lectures to be very informative.

First post

Just thought I'd add another blog site to the one I already have. I think this one might be interesting to have. I will try to cover my senior year with this one. I will be student teaching, so who knows what will end up here!