YOU ARE KIND. YOU ARE COOL. YOU ARE AWESOME.

I wrote this yesterday, but I was too tired to edit/post! Please enjoy!

ATTN: Tired Teachers (Click for a MUST Read!)

Today seemed like a good day to revive my blog because today I was a mean teacher.

I made my kids write a paragraph about their behavior and choices, had them sit with their heads down in silence, and took away recess. I was a very mean teacher, according to my kids. But the truth is I was a very embarrassed, disappointed, and tired teacher.

We have 11 days of school left (& I would really like to finish the Civil War unit!), but the kids behaved like it was the 11^TH day of summer.

Who can blame them, we are all tired.

Today was the final day of state tests. After 2 hours of testing, I took my materials to the book room for the last time this year – we made it! Took a quick stop by the bathroom, only to return to my room to be told by the volunteer that my class was the worst class they had supervised over the past 2 days …

The worst class …

Immediately, I felt embarrassed and disappointed … because my kids - whom I love and care for deeply ... who wear my name around school - behaved poorly!

At the end of the day a student put a note on my desk. I sat down to read the note after school once all was calm and what I read brought me to tears.

To The Worst Teacher Ever ...

Ok, ok – she didn’t actually say that, but that is what I fully expected.

(I have written it just as she did, errors and all!)

Dear, Miss. Williams,

I am vary sorry for you Miss. Williams for all the kids that where being bad. You are a very nice techer. I know that you are very dissipointit in the kids that where being bad. I know that you where trying not to take points away and I tryed to be good all day for you. You are being the best teacher I have ever had. I am glad you are my teacher. You are very nice, kind, cool, and awesome. You are the best techer in the hole wide world. I don’t know what I could doun with out you for the hole year. I hope that you have a good summer when school gets out. You can be mean when you don’t want to but you are nice when we are good. You try not to be mean. You have to do what you have to do. I can’t tell you how to do your job. I hope you feel awesome when you get this letter.                                                        

Love, K

I felt her love throughout the note, but I also felt she understood my disappointment and frustration. Despite my terrible, no good, very bad, had to be the mean teacher day … she got it.

It was just the encouragement I needed. YOU ARE KIND. YOU ARE COOL. YOU ARE AWESOME!

“He has made everything beautiful in its time …” Ecclesiastes 3:11

UPDATE: I received this cute bracelet from a student today! 

top 25 of the last 3 months

hello readers/followers (all 2 of you!) it’s me, jess, I’m back to update you all on the past 3 months of my life. I seriously meant to update sooner, but each time I sat down to write I was overwhelmed with the task because there was too much to say/share. which now I think “did I really think more time would help cure this problem?” … let more time pass, have more to share … and now I have 3 months that I need to update you all on (all 2 of you!) so here it is …

twenty-five seems to be the number of the year and since I’m only twenty-five for two more weeks, why not share just twenty-five short stories (HA!) about the last 3 months.

1. let me pick up where I left off … back in july, I attended oakwood camp with my youth group. I enjoyed this camp so much as a kid, and I enjoy it just as much if not more as an “adult” … from the worship to the dance party, God was at work! I was able to pray with and pray over some sweet youth as well as serve communion, it was such a special time.

 

2. two days after camp, mom came to town, I repacked my suitcase, and we were on our way to charleston to find a place for me to live. we made a detour on the way to pick up my sweet cousin! this was my 1^ST, I repeat, FIRST experience with charleston in probably 14 + years. after 2 very OVERWHELMING days on the apartment hunt I settled on a place a little outside downtown to call home for the first year!

3. while in charleston, at the time I may not have had a place to live yet, but we knew where we would eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the day. food is a priority for me, and I’ve never had better food in my life!

 

4. on the way home from charleston we dropped my cousin off in augusta, georgia, where mom and I decided to try to cross number 23: go golfing! off my list. we just knew maybe they would have a pro shop or a little putt putt place, but NO! this place was a secured compound … seriously, it’s just a golf course.

 

5. sometime around the first of august, yes it took about two months, I decided to try to water ski AGAIN, this time I just wanted to stand up the first time and make it around the lake and that’s exactly what I did! woo hoo! water ski champ …

6. before I knew it, it was time to pack up my house and prepare for the move! over the second weekend in august, my brother, grandmother, and best friend loaded the uhaul and moved my stuff (too much stuff!) to charleston! we had such a fun weekend and of course enjoyed delicious food!

 

7. august 20^TH was a rainy day, but it was also the first day of school in bay county, which was a bit of a downer for me. I really missed the excitement of a new school year, with new students, and new ideas and plans! and then mrs. rine (the new cherry street principal) called!

8. the very next day I set up a temporary room and prepared to welcome 11 – 3^RD Graders as their temporary “LONG TERM” sub until it was time for me to move to charleston! it was a dream come true! I was excited to have more time with people I love at a place I love! however, I found 3^RD Grade to be totally different from 5^TH, I think I expected a little too much and had to be reminded constantly about snack time. to me … there’s NO SNACK TIME in 3^RD Grade! I loved these kids and I’m thankful I had to opportunity to teach them!

 

9. I spent my last month in panama city on an air mattress in an empty home and in the spare bedrooms of sweet friends! thank you to all who housed me and fed me!

 

10. I also continued to train for my ½ marathon with my run club. we would run from the cove all the way to beck avenue, then continue on to 98 to the hathaway, over the hathaway to the k-mart, and back to pick up extra miles. it made panama city really small! the most I did was run 10 miles and walk the last 2 miles for a total of 12 miles before I moved. the last month before the race I had to train solo. NO FUN!

11. at the end of august, some sweet friends hosted a WONDERFUL MOVING PARTY! I was very thankful that they opened their home to me and all my friends! it was nice to have the people I love all under one roof!

12. on top of the party I spent any time I could with friends, from dinners, to ice cream, to starbucks, whatever, whenever! yes, my schedule was packed, I ate terrible, and was totally exhausted, but I wanted to soak up all the time I could with these people.

 

13. my parents came to visit over labor day! this would be the last time I saw them before the move, so it was a very special time!

14. somewhere in the middle of the sub job, dinners with friends, lake days with family, 8+ mile runs, I found and applied to a nanny job online. I interviewed via skype with the family and was offered the job a couple days later! it was such a relief to know that I would make the move to charleston with a job already lined up! GOD IS FAITHFUL!

15. also somewhere in there between 1 – 14, I found out I would be able to start school in january!! I was awarded an assistantship and pretty much an abatement (in-state tuition!) too!

16. I spent a 4-day weekend  in little rock with my Grandma and brother before I moved! It was the annual Tullen Air Force Base Reunion (in Austria, my Grandpa was stationed there!)and it was another wonderful trip! We explored whatever little rock had to offer and were even able to enjoy SEC FOOTBALL! we could not pass up an opportunity to see Arkansas Vs. ULM in little rock, so we scalped some tickets and took Grandma to her first COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME in years! It turned out to be quite the event as you know, ULM upset Arkansas!

 

17. I arrived home from Little Rock Tuesday, had dinner with my run club, slumber partied with my BFF, and moved to Charleston the very next day! It was a crazy, whirlwind 24 HOURS!

18. I made it to charleston around 10 PM and needed sleep BAD! however, I started work the next day at 8 AM. I met the boys (18 Months & 3 Years!) and spent 2 full days with them! I then slept for 12+ Hours …

19. I have now worked for the sweet Bailey family for over a month and really enjoy it! They have three kids: John Swinton (18 Months), James (3 Years), and Betsy (6 Years?) … I mainly just watch the two boys, but love when Betsy’s around! The family treated me to dinner at the Carolina Yacht Club my first weekend here and we quickly fell into a routine of school pick-up, lunch, naps, and play time! The family lives downtown near the Citadel and across from an AMAZING park! I love to take the boys to the park to play, walk around, and feed the ducks! It’s also pretty cool to be that close to the Citadel, to watch the cadets run by, and hear the bells and cannons! We’ve also been to the SC Aquarium, the Low Country Children’s Museum (Awesome!), and spend plenty of time at their church playground downtown!

20. I’ve tried several churches, joined a bible study, and enjoyed dinners with new and old friends. One place I love to eat is Moe’s Tavern! I was introduced to this place by my cousin’s friend who lives here and writes for the city paper. On Tuesdays at 7 PM, Moe’s has HALF PRICE BURGERS! NOTHING beats a $3 BURGER! I wish I could say I’ve met SO many new people, but I haven’t really had time with work and travel, but with bible study and such I’m sure I will in no time. I also ran with a run club last Wednesday which was cool and plan to try a new church downtown tomorrow with a GAP Sunday School class (Graduates & Professionals!) On another note, I’ve been able to reconnect with an Auburn friend who just so happened to move to charleston too!

21. Mom came to visit the first weekend in October and we traveled to BEAUTIFUL LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY to celebrate my dear friend Taylor and her fiancé Chad’s special day! It was a cool Fall weekend, that almost felt more like winter at times! We enjoyed a day at Keeneland where Mom and I bet on several horse races … SUCH A FUN time! Taylor and Chad were married at Talon Winery and the weather could not have been more PERFECT … maybe a little warmer, but whatever! Taylor did a WONDERFUL job with the décor and the details and looked absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I was honored and blessed to be her bridesmaid and share in her joy at this special time!

 

 

 

22. While Mom was in charleston, she hooked me up! She turned my everyday apartment into a home! It’s crazy how a new coverlet and sheets can made an old bed feel new! And it’s crazy how Mom’s touch and love can make my little 700 SQ. FT. apartment feel like a cozy home! Mom truly know best! SO THANKFUL for AMAZING parents that have been SO supportive and helpful with my mid-life transition!

23. I had my first bout with homesickness when Mom left, but THANK GOODNESS I was able to look forward to a weekend at “home” in panama city with my friends! In three short days I was back on the road. I spent time with people that I love, had dinner with my sweet Grandma’s at Grady’s, carved pumpkins with my best friend, enjoyed more meals with friends, and was able to cross number 1 off my list …

 

24. I RAN A HALF MARATHON!!! Never did I really think this would happen. I added it to my twenty five while twenty five list last year because I knew it would be the only way I would actually do it. Call me crazy (I think I’m still on a RUNNER’S HIGH!) but I was able to cross number 1: run a ½ marathon off my list and would do another one in a heartbeat! I ran the entire time and finished in 2 Hours and 10 Minutes! I could not have done it without my friend and run club leader, Barbara! It’s funny because in 2009 I was just Barb’s nanny, and today she’s one of my best friends. It was WONDERFUL to have my other run club buds there Leigh & Ken, and my second Mom, Ms. Leslie, and Jenny there at the start line and on the course every couple miles to cheer us on! This made a HUGE difference! I felt really good the entire race and felt GREAT when I finished! It was GREAT to see Amber, Whitney, my Aunt Sue, and Grandma Eva and everyone else there at the finish line! I’m SO HAPPY they were all there to share this experience and like Amber said “mentally run the race with” me! Already ready for the next!

 

25. I have 14 days to finish the list because in 14 days I turn 26 and this crazy year will be behind me, but I can’t even start to describe how I feel … I experienced SO much in just this one year!! I hope I have a few more updates in me before my birthday! I doubt I’ll be able to complete the entire list, but this time last year I had no intentions to move, so I think the move to charleston can make up for those I miss! I will, however, be able to cross off one more MAJOR list item before this year comes to an end and that is number 2: VISIT CHICAGO because I will spend my actual birthday and 4 WONDERFUL days in CHICAGO in just 12 short days!

please keep me and my life in charleston in your prayers! that I may have opportunities to meet new friends, and continue to GROW in my faith and relationship with Christ!

I hope I hit most important life details, it’s a crazy life, but it’s a GOOD ONE!

 

sweet carolin-a! the holy city ...

grab something to eat and get comfortable  it's a long one and you must read all the way to the bottom to learn of my exciting new news!

before i start i'll be referencing some blogs i read while on my summer adventure. to avoid any blog copyright problems i've posted the links below. please check them out. their pretty inspiring and he may or may not be my future husband. just sayin. HA!

jake dudley's blog: from my guts

jake dudley's blog: courage

"take that trip. discover your faith. meet new people and listen to their story." - jake dudley

i "tweeted" this quote back on june 17TH in the middle of my summer adventure right before my second week at camp. i felt as if this quote was the theme of my "trip" and if you read my last post about my first week of camp i hope i was able to put my heart and emotion into words that made sense. sometimes when i start to write i get wordy and start to ramble and maybe talk in circles. hopefully that was not the case with my last post. my heart was so full i could barely contain my emotion. i was on "that trip" ... discovering my "faith" ... meeting "new people" ... and listening "to their story" ... and what a trip it was.


the second week at camp was pretty much just as amazing as the first week! i had a cabin full of 8 and 9 year olds who were excited to be at camp (any camp for that matter!) for their very first time! during this week my girls chose to be called "god's girls" and came up with a pretty catchy cheer. "we are his children. we are his girls. that's why we are the god's girls!" simple i know ... but they were just too cute proclaiming whose they were! speaking of these little ones please check out just how precious they are!

precious.

precious.

precious even though z was camera shy!

now i know you're thinking ... little ones ... but they were the youngest ones at the camp ... therefore ... they were my little ones.

both weeks at camp were equally amazing but different! with junior high lights out literally just meant the lights were off but we can continue to talk and giggle ... who cares if it's midnight! with the little ones most girls were asleep by official lights out time ... heaven for a tired counselor. the little ones also had to be reminder of things ... remember to brush your teeth ... remember to use the restroom before worship ... remember you bible ... remember your journal ... oh your tummy hurts ... have you used the restroom today ... let's go try that!

my prayer for these sweet girls is that they experienced god's love in a mighty way from us tucking them into bed to our constant reminders. i pray that as they grow in their faith that they would continue to reflect god's love and acceptance to all they come in contact with ... whether at school or home ... where ever they may be. 

"and we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the spirit." 2  Corinthians 3:18

as the girls counselor i had the privilege of being pie-ed in the face on the first night of messy games! it was part of a relay race which ended with me ... a camper ... and a pie ... in the face. we completed many team competitions throughout the week which resulted in a second place finish for the god's girls! there was one competition where we just fell apart and that was the ironman race! a 17 leg relay around the entire camp property! we finished last of all the girl's teams and even the god's girls showed some bad sportsmanship. they were hot and tired which is no excuse but to these little ones we had reached loser status. it was nothing showers ... dinner ... evening worship ... and smores couldn't fix! and like i said early we ended up in 2ND place ... only 10 points behind 1ST. i was a proud cabin mommy!

during this week i taught the art speciality class. we did some color mixing ... weaving ... stamping ... all things i learned in my elementary art class at auburn! for free time i worked the slip and slide most days with a few days of hiking. most of my cabin girls loved the slip and slide so it was more time i was able to spend with them!

i call this my camp counselor game face! also ... my sweet girls enjoying the slip and slide ... and sweet little g showing her god's girl pride!

yes i'm sitting down on the job ... i was nice to just sit there with the hose on the slide and watch the kids fly down the tarp! jayla was like the slip and slide queen!

one thing i did not mention in my last post was the chinese lanterns. on the last night of camp the campers have the opportunity to write prayers on chinese lanterns. once students have had this chance we take all the lanterns into the field and since we're in the middle of nowhere kentucky ...  it's dark ... like really DARK! we light the lanterns on fire and away they go symbolizing us giving things up to god. it's an incredible experience and something very beautiful to witness! we accidentally caught one lantern on fire ... but thanks to a camper's water bottle we were able to extinguish the flame. thank goodness god hears our prayers without us having to light lanterns!



this first picture is of some sweet girls writing on their lantern ... then the lighting of the lanterns ... and lastly the beautiful scene!

my entire experience with barefoot republic camp was unforgettable and beyond amazing. i hope and pray i'm able to volunteer time there every summer. i believe i may join the  "run barefoot" running club that runs to raise scholarship money for kids to attend the camp.

the whole experience was a trip i won't ever forget ... my faith grew ... i met so many new people that will forever be in my heart ... i heard their stories and i will continue to lift them up in prayer as their story continues.

once i left camp i drove down to chattanooga, tennessee where my friend taylor marie was moving into her new apartment! she and her sweet fiance treated me to a lovely dinner and we stayed up way too late catching up and assembling furniture! even though it was a quick visit i loved every minute of it! i can't wait to share in her special day in october! from chattanooga it was time to head back  north toward kentucky to meet my youth group! FAMILIAR FACES! i was reunited with my two best friends in knoxville ... amber jumped in the car with me and we caught up for missed time (not lost time!)

we arrived in frakes, kentucky at henderson settlement later that day and prepared to serve the sweet family's whose house we would be insulating and siding over the next week. i think i talked non-stop for the next three days ... camp stories ... god stories ... camp cheers. by wednesday i believe amber and jenny were exhausted by just hearing me talk! i enjoyed the week with them and getting to catch up and just talk and share. we were like my junior high girls ... the lights went out and we were up for at least another house talking and laughing! despite the heat we completed our task and we're able to provide mrs. patty and her husband with insulation and new siding! it was a pleasure serving this sweet family and community!

check out facebook for pictures!

i don't want to keep you reading much longer because i know by now you just may be falling asleep at the computer. sorry! however i have some HUGE news i'd like to share ...

"do it. take the chance. play your hand. make a move. quit your job. go back to school." - jake dudley

well let's say ... i did it. i'm taking a chance. i'm playing my hand. i'm making a move. (literally!) ... deep breath ... i quit my job (yes you read that correctly.) and i'm going back to school!

so here it is again. i quit the job i LOVE ... i quit the job with co-workers i LOVE ... i quit my job at a school i LOVE ... and have decided go back to school! as crazy as this sounds and much as i hate to leave my sweet cherry street family and the students i love ... i have decided to pack up my classroom ... pack up my life in panama city ... and move to CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA! i was accepted to the teaching, learning, and advocacy program at the college of charleston! if someone were to write a master's program just for me this would be it which is why i have decided to continue my story ... my journey in charleston! it was a hard decision for sure like i said before i LOVED everything about my job ... i LOVE panama city ... but i know there's so much more out there for me to experience and now just seemed to make sense and to be the perfect time. am i sad? yes. am i nervous? yes. do i know anyone in charleston? NO! am i excited? extremely!

"do something that scares the hell out of you. have the guts to stand toe-to-toe with a terrifying opportunity and never allow fear to be an option. have the courage to get out of your comfort zone."

so that's my news! please continue to pray as i prepare for this new journey! this verse speaks my heart.

"i'm thanking you, god, from a full heart, I'm writing the book on your wonders. i'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; i'm singing your song, high god." psalm 9:1-8

please stay tuned on this new chapter in my life! i leave for church camp monday to spend some time with my favorite youth and will head to charleston the following week to find a place to live! just FYI ... i won't be moving until the end of august!

"follow jesus with everything you have within you and always always always choose faith." - jake dudley







overjoyed.

as a kid we were always on the road whether it were on our way to gymnastics meets or on vacation our perferred mode of transportation was the car. (especially since i was scared to death of flying!) we even took the train (amtrak) on several trips to new york. i liked being grounded and by that i mean literally on the ground. no airplanes for me ... until about 3 years ago when i took a trip to new york city with some friends where the deal was made that i HAD to fly. with the help of some relaxing pills (HA!) i survived the flight and believe it or not fell in love with flying! maybe "in love" is not the correct term maybe i should use obsessed or addicted ... maybe that's not the words i'm looking for either but you get the point. by conquering my fear of flying a whole new world was opened to me. not only did i enjoy flying but traveling and getting out and seeing/experiencing the world! so i haven't exactly ventured out too far but i'm still a traveling fool. going here or there whenever possible to do this or to do that.

when i started to plan this 3 week summer adventure that i'm currently on i wasn't exactly sure how much i would enjoy being on the road for hours at a time. just me the music and henry the navigator. (my gps!) but this adventure has turned out to be the greatest thing i've experienced and quite some time. it's another chapter in my story. i went to auburn then on to athens (which was a little out of the way but it's a road trip so why not!) and then on to kentucky. (about an hour north of nashville) now that the first week of camp is in the books i have travled to nashville to stay with one of my small group graduates. ashley if you're reading this thanks for opening up your home to me and allowing me to wash my stinky clothes!

i head back to kentucky tomorrow for my last week at camp but would like to update everyone on the first week and on what god is doing in my life.

i tried to write this blog last night but after looking over the 500 plus pictures that were posted on the barefoot republic camp facebook page i just couldn't get my words together. and even today i still find it hard to write exactly how i'm feeling. i was talking to my best friend last night and the word i used to describe my emotion right now was overjoyed: extremely joyful; to be filled with joy.

last week i closed my blog with ephesians 6:19 - 20 when paul is asking for prayer and courage to share the gospel even though he's in jail. this was my prayer request last week and it's funny because this was also the verse that my cabin girls and i studied at camp during bible study time. we were discussing what it looks like or what i means to be an ambassador for christ and we used this verse.

when i arrived at barefoot camp last sunday i was anxious and somewhat intimidated almost to the point of questioning myself ... "why did i do this again?" ... i even text a few friends and told them "not quite sure about this whole camp thing yet." however ... all these thoughts and all my fears went out the window when the campers arrived on monday! some campers arrived with their parents but then a huge school bus pulled up filled with junior high kids who were more the ready for camp! chanting ... "JC be 'bout it ... WHAT! i'm goin' to shout it ... WHAT! it's about to get rowdy! it's about to get rowdy!" ... and rowdy it got! i had the priveledge of serving 14 junior high girls as their camp counselor. our cabin was quickly transformed into the temporary home for these girls and we got down to it. they decided on the name diamond angels and quickly came up with a cheer. i had 4 girls from nepal (they had been in the US for maybe a year to two years!) several african american girls and one girl from mexico and some white middle class girls. i say all this because this is barefoot's mission ... to build christ-centered relationships between individuals of ALL backgrounds and for these individuals to come to understand and know that GOD loves EVERYONE and ACCEPTS everyone ... our race ... culture ... or socioeconmic status does not change the truth that he loves us ALL. it was amazing to see friendships form between these sweet girls throughout the week. one friendship that formed that i found special was between the two girls you see below ... k & t.

such sweet girls! t the one rockin' the shades and shower cap has the ability to do whatever she puts her mind too. she's a natural born leader that's for sure! my prayer is that she will continue to be a reflection of who is god is! she'll just need to keep the attitude in check but i know she can do it! k is from nepal. she has a sweet smile and contagious laugh. i loved getting to talk with her and learn more about her story! she also taught me how to speak some nepali? and gave me a "henna" (using marker) of my name in nepali!

we spent the week cheering and chanting. learning more about who god is and what it means to be a reflection of him. we learned about his love and his acceptance. the kids at camp are also able to choose two specialities that they would like to experience while at camp. their choices included things like football, soccer, basketball, skateboarding, horseback riding, hiking, outdoor adventure, water sports, art, photography, filmmaking, musical production, vocal performance, making the band ... i think i probably missed a few. the kids chose two specialities prior to camp and while their at camp they spend about 3 hours a day practicing these specialities. for the most part it's the first time these students experience these activities. they also have the opportunity to try any of these activities out during their freetime. i helped with art this week during speciality time but then also did volleyball and hiking during freetime. at the end of the week the students put on a huge performance to show what they learned. the dance/stomp group performed and the making the band group (which was awesome!) each speciality has a chance to share their skills with the other campers! the picture below is from the day i accompanied the girls on a hike during freetime. all the girls from nepal came on the hike and they were too cute!

the camp is on some property in fountain run, kentucky and it's absolutely beautiful! one this hike we waded in the creek and learned to skip stones. this sweet girl below was also in my cabin.

she would always ask about the time and also would say "ms. jessica i so tired." in her sweet nepali accent!

throughout the week the different cabins complete different team building exercises on the low ropes courses. it's an amazing time for them to strategize and learn to listen to one another and to help one another to succeed! there are also several team competitions that take place. the diamond angels came in a very respectful second place! one game that's played is called "braveheart" it's basically a giant food fight. every kids dream right? i know i was pumped for this game! i had crouch down while my girls protected me from the food! the point of the game is to keep the counselor as clean as possibly! well two minutes into the game the smell of chicken and rice and tomatos was pretty strong! and when the flour hit i was down for! HA! the girls did a pretty good job of protecting me. the pictures i got don't really do it justice. i had chicken and  rice hanging from my hair and the flour was caked on.

my leg! maybe next week i'll get a better picture!

the picture below is some of my girls post food fight!

we all wore shower caps and googles which is why the faces and the hair is not too bad!

i really enjoyed my time with these girls! it's a time i will never forget! i'm more than thankful to have had the opportunity to meet these girls and spend time with them. from the praise and worship to the games they were amazing! praying with them and over them was a special time for me. and despite the fact that they NEVER went to bed on time i wouldn't have changed a single moment.

my girls ... the diamond angels ... minus 3 who we're probably running around or dancing!

please check out my facebook for more pictures!

like i said earlier i'm in nashville where yesterday i found some random running park on the gps and went for a run for the first time in over a week. i did 3.2 miles and it felt good! woke up a little sore this morning but decided to head to downtown nashville to the parthenon/centennial park where i had another nice run! just doing what i do on my own. this trip has really empowered me and encouraged me. flying (or driving) solo!

my summer adventure has reached the half way point and i could not feel more blessed to have such an opportunity and experience. i'm enjoying just driving down the tennessee/kentucky backroads with my music and gps and can't help but be overjoyed ... humbled ... broken yet alive ... i know my "adventure" is just beginning and i can't help but praise him for all he's done. who knows where this journey might take me but one thing i do know is that i'm never alone and that with christ ... all things are possible and all things work together for the good of those who love him.

" ... faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." hebrews 11: 1

i like to think i'm on a faith journey! trusting. growing. loving. here's to another week at barefoot republic camp! please continue to pray for me and my little campers (who this week will be very little!)

love everyone! 

a list update and the start to my summer adventure

180 days with 60 plus 5TH Graders ... MATH ... happy times ... crazy times ... mad times ... quiet time ... i made it ... to what you ask ... SUMMER! on june 5TH my kids left the nest that was Cherry Street and will move to middle school next year. loved my students and will continue to pray for them as they continue on with their life! i'm so thankful they were part of my journey! by june 6TH i had my room packed up and shut down the MATH champion room. (that unfortunately did not produce as many Math champions as i would have liked.) 



this was my room as i closed up shop for the summer!

now june 6TH was also my last day in panama city before i left on my summer adventure! however before i left town there were many things to do and people to see. one of those people to see was miss raeleigh grace sullivan (& her sweet mommy and daddy!) raeleigh was born on june 5TH and i could not get enough of this precious baby! i absolutely can't wait to see her again when i return home at the end of the month! 

welcome miss raeleigh grace! her daddy (swaddle king) had her snug as a bug in a rug!

such a precious baby! i'll be praying for this little one always!



 now i need to back track just a little because i marked another important thing off my list over memorial day weekend! number 3: learn to water ski! now this was no easy task ... nor was it pain free ... it was very hard and painful and let's just say my body hated me after spending the whole day on the lake! however by the end of the day i was able to say that i had learned to water ski ... even if i only made it 1/4 of the way around the lake! :) we were not able to get good pictures of this however we did capture some pretty amazing video which helped me to cross off another thing on my list. number 25: post a youtube video and get 250 hits!

so please enjoy the link below which will take you to my youtube page where i give you permission to laugh at my attempt to ski!

my skiing adventure!

it seems like i've really been knocking some things off my list lately including ... number 22: go paddleboarding! which should have been more like learn to paddleboard because it was definitely a learning process. in the pictures below you'll see my BFF amber who took part in the day with me! oh and i can't forget the ones who made it happen ... brandon and blake! y'all are awesome! and sorry brandon that you had a "rear" view the entire day! barb (who i run with) and her family even came out for the day to watch and my sweet friend cameron was there to take pictures! thanks to everyone it was a wonderful day on the water! now enjoy the learning process below!

step 1: get on your knees. yes amber is already up and yes brandon is still holding my board. HA!

step 2: one foot up. amber is a pro ... brandon is still there.

step 3: finally up! look a little knee knocked or whatever but i'm up!



brandon was finally able to let go and i was on my own!

and eventually i just decided i perferred to ride on my knees. :)







 i even learned to surf by the end of the day! look at that form! surfing USA!

back to june 6TH and everything i had to do and people i had to see. i spent most of the day packing ... washing clothes ... cleaning house ... packing ... and more packing because on june 7TH i left town for a 23 day summer adventure/journey with stops in auburn and athens and nashville/fountain run and kentucky! packing for 3 weeks was no easy task ... however i think i did pretty good!



4 bags ... a snack bag ... and lexi (who departed the journey early at grandma's house!)

after a slight delay (left my phone charger and computer at the house) in which i had to turn around i made it to chipley where i had lunch with my grandma shirley and then continued on to my first stop: AUBURN!!

i seriously love this town ... it's the promise land ... the loveliest village on the plains ... there's literally no place like auburn. i was able to spend time with my sweet friend lauren and her husband daniel. i was blessed to be part of their special wedding day a year ago and their friendship means so much to me. can't even put it into words. back in college lauren and i would regularly walk campus and enjoy a LONG dinner at momma g's. (these dinners would typically last anywhere from 2 to 3 hours!) ever since college when i come back to auburn we keep up the routine ... walk campus and dinner which is exactly what we did on my quick stay.

this was taken on our walk. absolutely beautiful!



the next day we enjoyed a morning of chatting and lunch at amsterdam cafe! i was also happy to see that the toomer's trees seem to still be kickin. :) loved my time with lauren and i don't know when i might see her or daniel again but i do know that as they leave on their own journey soon i pray that god protects them ... and works through them ... and loves on them ... and that he would be glorified in all that they do! love to the arthurs!

toomer's oaks!



before i knew it day 1 & 2 of my summer journey were in the book and i was back on the road to my second stop: ATHENS, GA! to see my sweet cousin and her husband!

this is my road trip happy face! just my tunes and me crusin' down the highway!

on my first night in athens we went to dinner at this amazing place called farm 255 i believe. everything's FRESH ... REAL ... and yummy! the weather was amazing ... the company was great ... and the food was in my belly quickly! after dinner we went to this bar called little kings where they had cornhole on the patio! after an intense cornhole game we just spent time catching up until the drag show started and that was our cue to leave. HA! we hit up a couple other places before calling it a night. the atmosphere here is really chill and i think it's safe to say i'll be back visiting athens soon!

today we started with a delicious breakfast at mama's boys followed by a nice afternoon walk through downtown and UGA's campus!



of course we had to stop for a quick picture at the stadium and yes i bought a shirt. WAR EAGLE but i'm truly a college junkie.

before i left on thursday i was slowly packing the car and finishing up things in the house but when it came time to leave i noticed a little surprise in my passenger seat! pretty much every morning i run with some friends and i've recently learned that some refer to us at the 20 something ... the 30 something ... and the 40 something. i've spent the past year running with them ... talking ... sharing highs/lows ... and i don't know if they will even know just how much they mean to me! they encourage ... give advice ... laugh at/with me ... and listen ... they are the best cheerleaders a girl could have on her side! goodness i could just go on and on but basically ... barb and leigh ... if y'all ready this i love y'all! 

so back to the surprise in my seat! barb and leigh have encouraged me to get out ... see the world ... go on crazy adventures and well that's kind of what i'm doing so in my seat i found the book "born to run" and the magazines you see below! reading 5 books is also on my list and leigh recommended this one to me a couple weeks ago. it wasn't until i made it to auburn and was getting ready for bed that i realized that there was a sweet note written inside!





this note was just the encouragement i needed to get me super pumped about the rest of my trip! tomorrow i leave for fountain run, kentucky (an hour north of nashville) where i will spend the next two weeks at a camp called barefoot republic. please check them out at www.barefootrepublic.org or you can "like" them on facebook. they update pictures daily on facebook so next week you can see what i'm up to everyday ... for those of you who would like to know what i'm up to. :)

while at the camp i will lead junior high and 3RD - 5TH Grade girls. and aside from all the FUN i know we will have my prayer is that god moves in an awesome way ... not just in the girls lives or all the campers lives ... but in my life also.

"and don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out." ephesians 6:19 - 20

paul's request is my request! love to all and hopefully i'll be able to update next weekend after week one of camp! my heart is happy and excited and full to the rim!