a scattering

Here is a little update since I am not so good at keeping my blog updated. Life has been crazy busy as usual. Between teaching, coaching and maintaining any kind of relationship outside of school, I have been completely overwhelmed at times with all that is on my plate. God has been showing me a lot of things recently. One, not to focus on my circumstances. When life seems to be overwhelming and I feel like giving up, God is always there. It's so easy to get caught up emotionally in all that is seemingly wrong in life, when I feel like there is no time to refocus. The only reason I feel like there is no time, is because I do not make the time.

Second, is learning to obey and respect those God has placed over me, when I feel like they single me out or "have it out to get you". God has people in my life where they need to be to teach me what I need to learn, I just have to trust that God knows in spite of how I feel towards them.

Life just keeps coming at me, but God knows what he is doing. He brings friends in to encourage you and His word to rebuke and exhort you. I just got to keep plodding along the path and look towards the goal, rather than the here and now.

I wanted to thank my friends for putting up with me these past couple weeks. I also wanted to thank Derek for being such a wonderful boyfriend in directing my focus back to where it needed to be!

On a lighter note, here are some pics!

This is a pic of Derek and Nathan eating ice cream at Coldstone for Luke Forman's Birthday!Look we match! Gray hoodies, and black shirts. . . we are also wearing blue jeans, but that didn't make the pic!

Derek needed assistance to reach the water fountain!Last, but not least, here is a picture of our "family". Derek and I decided we are going to adopt little "Ray-Ray" when we get married and move to Hawaii!

Christmas and New Years

It's been quite some time since I have been able to post anything here on my blog. So I decided to put off grading and post a little something.

I spent Christmas down in Florida with Derek's family where I met his family for the first time. We had a grand old time, and I enjoyed my first 83 degree Christmas! It definitely did not feel like Christmas, but it was enjoyable to see palm trees lit up with Christmas lights.

The picture to the right is on new years day about 5sh in the morning. . . we all stayed up til around 8 am playing games and cooking/eating breakfast at Jaimer's apartment. We brought in the new year down in Philadelphia watching the fireworks and Penns Landing. . . the first time I have ever done that, even though I've lived in this area my whole life!

While I was in Florida, I went with Derek and his family to Tarpon Springs, which is a little greek community on the bay. The picture to the left is Derek lifting a stingray out of the water at the aquarium in that town. . . which he got in trouble for because a little kid told on him. The picture to the right is of Derek "leap-frogging" over his brother Aaron. His dad is in the background with a concerned expression on his face.

Here is a pic of Derek's siblings and myself at the aquarium in front of the petting tank. From left to right: Aaron, Derek, me, Rachel, and Miriam.

The rest of the pictures are of Derek and myself at various places around the Tampa area. I really did enjoy meeting his family and having the time away from school.