Making a Difference

I am going to be teaching high school math this fall! I am excited and nervous. I want to be an exceptional teacher. I guess that will take some time and experience. I have been blessed with the examples of many wonderful teachers that inspired me to learn how to learn. Thank you all of my past teachers. I hope I can make you proud with the way I teach. This will be a big adventure and I'm so glad God will be by my side to help me succeed.
  
1. "Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." John C. Maxwell
2. "Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own." Nikos Kazantzakis
3. "Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theatre." Gail Goldwin
4."It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."
 Albert Einstein
5. "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." Benjamin Franklin
6. "A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank...but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child." Forest Witcraft

7. "The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth."  Dan Rather
8. "Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions."
9. "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." 
Henry Brooks Adams
10. The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the wish to teach himself.  Edward Bulwer-Lytton

A Day in NYC

Today I woke up to a call from my uncle asking if I wanted to hang out. So, of course, I said yeah. So four of us headed up to NYC.

I didn't know we were going there, so it was a nice surprise. We took the ferry over, passing the Statue of Liberty on the way. We took a long walk to find some shops where I ended up getting an NYC t-shirt and some sweet action sunglasses. On the way to the shops, we stopped at a little bakery which was really good, but the cashier didn't have change for a $20 which was odd, so we ended up getting 2 things for 2 bucks. We looked around for a while and shopped and then started to get hungry at dinner time. So we searched for an Italian restaurant called Vincent's. All over the walls there were pictures of famous people eating there. People like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Paulie from Goodfellas  were featured on the walls. The food was amazing. I got chicken franches, which I get almost anytime I go to an authentic Italian place.

I was starting to not feel so hot because I had an ear infection, so we stopped to get Advil which saved the rest of the night! We took a taxi to see Harry Potter at an 8 story Imax theater; it was pretty awesome. I think it was the best of the movies.

After that, we took the taxi to the ferry where we headed back home. Btw I saw a rat running down the sidewalk near the ferry station... not cool at all. It was an adventurous day... lots of fun to be had in the city! Thanks UJ! 

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed.
The die has been cast.
I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made.
I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ. I have Holy Spirit Power
I won't look back, let up, slow down,
 back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,
and my future is secure.

I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking,
small planning, smooth knees, colourless dreams,
tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving,
and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position,
 promotions, plaudits or popularity.
I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized,
praised, regarded or rewarded.
I now live by faith, lean on His presence,
love with patience, live by prayer and labour with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven,
 my road is narrow, my way is rough,
my companions are few, my Guide is reliable,
and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought,
compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back,
deterred, diluted or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,
 hesitate in the presence of adversity,
negotiate at the table of the enemy,
 ponder at the pool of
popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, or slow up until
I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and
spoken up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I must go till' He comes, give till' I drop,
preach till' all know and work till' He stops me.
And when He comes for His own,
He will have no problem recognizing me.
My banner is clear:
I am part of the 'Fellowship of the Unashamed.

An Inspiring Day

Yesterday was an amazing day for me. Sunday's are always good days, but especially yesterday. I had the opportunity to teach the children at church. The lesson was about the little children coming to Jesus... one of my favorite images of Christ. We began by singing the "Joy" song, then had the lesson, then played musical chairs as I played the guitar, and finally, we ended by playing dodge ball and kick ball! We had such a great time!

Youth group is every Sunday night, and it is always great, but I was especially encouraged yesterday. We started by playing a really fun group pictionary game.Then the teaching was on I Corinthians 6: 9-11. In these verses, after listing a bunch of really vulgar sins, verse 11 says, "And such were some of you, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." This is one of my favorite verses because it reminds me of what I am without Christ and how crucial Christ is in my life. Then we had a time where anyone could share what God was teaching them, or something they were impressed with recently. The main idea of what people were sharing was how they were challenged everyday to be more passionate in their lives, to be in love with God and the people around them, and to be willing to "not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ" and to share his love with everyone around them. I would love to be that kind of person... "Lord, help me to be that kind of Christian." After youth group a few of us went to the beach to relax for a few minutes... it turned into a time of worship in singing and prayer. God really used that time to get my focus on him and solidify my desire to change. I want to be everything God wants me to be!

Awesome prayer that I heard in a skit and this is the prayer of my heart...

Dear God, Today I am turning everything over to you. I'm not going to hold onto anything anymore. Your word says that you will make me your masterpiece and use me to do great things. I don't see how that's possible, but I want that with all that I am. So please do whatever it takes to make me what you want. I love you, God!

Trip to Oahu, Hawaii

Day 1: Tuesday June 14thLeft Newark, NJ at 1:30 pm
Arrived in Honolulu, Oahu, HI at 6 pm
Justin, Des, Kyle, Vanessa, and Alyssa picked me up and gave me a real flower lei
We went to CocoMoco for dinner- first taste of Island food
I fell asleep at 10 pm HI time... about 4 am NJ time- I was so stinkin' tired
Day 2: Wednesday June 15th
Swap Meet at Aloha Stadium, where we got all of our souvenirs- like a flea market, but nicer
Where I bought all my lei's and shark tooth necklaces
Day 3: Thursday June 16 th
Awesome pineapple burger for lunch and then headed to the North Shore to swim and play football on the beach
Went to Dole Plantation where my team came in last going through the largest maze in the world... it took an hour and 7 min. We also had Dole Whip which was absolutely amazing- fresh pineapple ice cream.
Checked in Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki this night- it was so beautiful...
Went to a diner at about 11 pm at a little diner in Waikiki.
Day 4: Friday June 17th
Wedding Rehearsal in the morning
BBQ near the beach with the families
Went for mani-pedis... so nice!
Face masks!
Day 5: Saturday June 18th
Wedding Day!
Pictures at 8 am
Ceremony 10 am... everything was perfect!
Reception 11 am... good times!
Bride and Groom left at 1 pm
Beach, tennis, and ice cream at Bubbies till late that night
Day 6: Sunday June 19th
Church
Watched 3 movies- Relaxation!
We were so tired : /
Day 7: Monday June 20th
Pearl Harbor :)
International Marketplace...shopping!
Swimming in Waikiki
Day 8: Tuesday June 21st
Trip to Poly Lookout
Went to see the Black Pearl and beautiful resort beaches...
All the foods I tried in Hawaii:
Spam Musubi, Shaved Ice, Garlic Chicken, Chicken Katsu, Saimin, Malasadas, Vietnamese Shrimp Rolls, Korean Steak BBQ, Mango Salad, Lychee drink, Haupia pudding and shaved ice, Horchata shaved ice, LingHi, Dried Cuttle Fish, LocoMoco, Tutti Fruiti, Green Tea Frozen Yogurt, Aloe Water, Fresh Pineapple ice cream

Finishing a Chapter- Graduation

I was able to graduate on May 14 of this year from Northland International University in Dunbar,Wisconsin. It was a long and hard four years of school, but I made it! It was such a weird feeling, part of me was so relieved to be finished and part of me was so sad to be done with this chapter of my life.  It was like all of us seniors were trying to spend every minute with our friends before we had to leave... it was sad, but I have some great memories from that last week of school. Graduation weekend was nice having my family and Kelly there. The days sort of went in slow motion. When Saturday morning came, it was surreal. We were all in our graduation gowns waiting in the hallway for our cue to march into the gym. When they called my name to walk across the stage and accept my diploma, it was a such a good feeling. After graduation was the hardest part... I couldn't stop crying. I was getting ready to leave so many people that I love and care about. Some of my best friends and most caring teachers were among some that I might not see for a long time. That was a hard day. I felt so happy and so sad at the same time. Overall, it was a great last week of school and final days of my college career! I really could not have made it through those years without God by my side and so many supportive and loving friends and family that walked me through the challenging times :)