one afternoon at the dentist office ...

whew! what a busy couple weeks it's been! i need ... spring break ... desperately. for lent i decided that i needed to slow down ... take time to breathe ... and to just be still. like psalm 46:10 says so simply "be still and know that i am god."

then i decided that maybe i could "be still" but that i would need to learn to say no sometimes. (i wish i could say NO to work deadlines!) it seems like once i made this commitment to "be still" that life got crazy busy. there's days when i put my shoes on at 6:30 AM and head to work ... and wear them until 10:oo PM or later because i have not had the time to stop and take them OFF ... horrible i know. i'm tired ... overwhelmed ... you name it. this is my prayer ...

"come to me ... all who are weary and burdened and i will give you rest." matthew 11:28

and ...

" ... but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles ... they will run and not grow weary ... they will walk and not be faint." isaiah 40: 31

please pray with me and for me.

now to the list ... my 25 things to do while 25 list! this excites me because i have REAL updates to make!

update #1: number 16: watch a sunrise.

about a month ago i chaperoned a youth retreat to the beach. i asked one of my best friends (who was also chaperoning!) to wake up super early with me and watch the sunrise ... and since she's my BFF of course she said yes ... thanks amber! so after being up way too late with some super youth we woke early the next morning and walked out on the beach to watch the sunrise. it was beautiful ... peaceful ... and the perfect way to start that day.

straight out of bed ... ready to enjoy the sunrise! :)

beautiful sunrise on panama city beach ... home.

update #2: number 8: read 5 books!

well i have not read 5 yet but i did read 1/5 ... and it was SO good! i started it when i went on my trip to philly. i literally read the book the whole 2 hour flight to philly and back home! then decided i had to finish it late one friday night ... there i was laying in bed ... reading ... sobbing (sad/happy tears from the book!) ... all while listening to ben (the rat!) in the attic (obviously this was prior to his capture!) ... but i finished the book that night and have since recommended it to everyone! want to know what i read ...

i highly recommend this book!

i'm now open to more book suggestions so please feel free to leave some recommendations. :)

update #3: number 5: run a 5K in under 25:00!

well i really didn't know if i'd be able to pull it off but seems i did! i ran in the strides for scholars 5K this past saturday and coming around the last corner i looked to the finish line and saw 23 something on the clock and took off! my official time was 24:19 and i placed first in my age group! last year my kids all signed a cherry street shirt and gave it to me for teacher appreciation day ... i decided i'd wear it and run for me! now there's some motivation!

brittany and i at the 5K!

so that's my update ... today i was at the dentist for a teeth cleaning and it was the first time ever that i appreciated the dentist office and their dental chair and their dental instruments (we all know the dentist is not exactly your favorite place!) it was the first time i feel in two days that i've been able to just sit/lay and not have to speak ... basically to relax ... at the dentist of all places. then a song came on and the lyrics really hit me.

"bring your love to life inside of me. why don't you break my heart til it moves my hands and feet. for the hopeless and the broken ... for the ones that don't know that you love them ... bring your love to life inside of me."

i feel like i've been so bogged down by what i need to get done and how i can just simply make it until spring break that i've overlooked my purpose. i've been busy moving my hands and feet to meet deadlines and to make sure my kids have learned the next important math concept but i haven't done these things in a way that people/kids will see his love inside and through me. i've been so tired ... overwhelmed ... that i'm broken and truly need him to bring his "love to life inside of me." now ... this is my prayer.