His Purpose, Not My Plans

So I’m supposed to be doing an intro to theatre writing assignment right now. But I can’t focus, I really can’t and so I’m going to write a blog post instead. I have always struggled with control. I like being in charge. I have a type-A personality and I like to be the leader, always. Ask any of my friends, they know. Why am I like this? No clue. Maybe it’s because when I lost my mom at the age of ten I had to learn how to take care of myself. Not because daddy didn’t help or anything. Oh he is absolutely amazing. I can’t begin to write of how much he does for me and Austin. But, he can’t be mom to a teenage girl. And I have been so blessed with many, many relatives and sweet friends who are older who help me. I love them. I also love doing things by myself. I rarely ask for help with things. I know that sometimes I need to but I don’t always want to.  L et’s take shopping for clothes. My mom naturally picked out the majority of my clothes until she passed away because I was, li...

So it's the 18th of September, and I'm comfortably sitting on my nice new SWING eating ice-cream on the back porch of the beach house. It's a mini-vacay. And I am so blissfully happy. I could cry. I don't know if anyone understands my obsession with the beach. With salt air. With the ocean. It makes me happy. It completely fills my heart and it clears my head. I love it. And so I take any chance I can to get down here. I think maybe it's awe. Of this great huge powerful body of water that could easily take me away.. but it doesn't it stays on its rthyms. It's tides. That are determined by the moon. Which all takes place because our God is incredible. I think thats what it is. I just love it so much. It also has a lot to do with the fact that I have always considered the beach my other home, and I have grown up just as much here as Florence, in my opinion at least. But enough rambling. I have pictures!!! I love pictures.   SO first, last Wednesday...

I probably won't do this every week, but I wanted to give an update to anyone who cares about how the first week of EFM went. Let me start out by saying CHAOS. It is crazy, it is chaotic, and it is AMAZING. I got there way earlier than usual, around 4. I put together a bulletin board, made some copies, and wrote some things on *OUR* board. I don't know if you understand the meanings behind the *OUR*. The first meaning is that our board as in, OUR room, as in WE DON'T HAVE TO SHARE. I have been teaching at EFM for 3 solid years, this is my fourth, and I have never had my own room. While there used to be a school, it was closed for some different reasons last May, and so now I have my own classroom to use as I want. Before I would have to bring everything I'd need for my lesson every week, I couldn't write on the boards for fear of erasing something the teachers had written, and I had to make sure the room was perfectly neat and like we had never been there when we l...

So, now as it's 11:45 at night, I am WIDE awake and excited because TOMORRROOOWWW I get to be reunited with my favorite kiddos in the whole world and I cannot wait. Come, well, probably 4:00 in the afternoon tomorrow, I will be at East Florence Mission getting ready for them to come running (and slowly walking/skipping/hopping/whatever kids do) through the doors. I am finishing up review questions for after the lesson, making sure we have enough sheets for hopefully enough kids, and overall just getting excited. I have been praying for the past 2 months that this would be a great year at EFM. I am praying that God will open the minds and hearts of some of these kids who have been here for a long time.. but who I don't think know Jesus. I am praying for me, the little white girl who they all love and are secretly scared of, to make a difference in their lives this year. I am yearning to be a light in some of their very dark worlds. I don't know how exactly to d...

A lot has happened in the past week!! Last Thursday night we had our second home football game, and  while a little more interesting than the first, it was a lot of fun! The theme for this week was "Fun in the Sun" since we played Myrtle Beach, and even though we lost, I enjoyed wearing Mattie's sarong (S/O to Mattie for the purple sarong) and my lei. Me and my SWO (aka Abbey) at the game Friday, I had lunch with Taiter at Victors which was SUPER yummy. Also on Friday, I got to finish my EFM classroom (pics later this week) and hang with my sweet friend Abbey (aka my Secret Weapons Officer) who helped me out and is the BEST. We take selflies together.  Saturday the family headed up to USC to see the Gamecock's play and I am happy to announce that we have ended our losing streak. Hahah, no but really, thank goodness. As far as next week goes,  I am not taking anything for granted, but I have confidence!! Sunday was full of church and naps, and that is ho...

One of my favorite things in this world is football. I guess it's a by-product of living in a house with two boys for most of my life, but it's in my blood and I love it. I understand it too. And while I LOVE a good USC game, there's something about those West Florence games that I love too.   Before the first game, there is the annual first pep rally. And this year, as seniors, meant the tradition of button downs and ties/ bow ties. I don't know exactly when this tradition started, but it's always been what the seniors wore for as long as I can remember. Even though the freshman (VIA MY BROTHER) won the game (although I still don't understand how) the seniors did still manage to win the spirit stick. I mean when you start chanting "SENIORS SENIORS SENIORS" how can you lose? Button downs and cheerleaders My student section partner since the beginning Two of my fav cheerleaders So after a nice lunch at Grouchos with some sweet friends, ...