Adventures in Babysitting and other news :)

so to continue from my last blog. I babysat this weekend. My friends Donny and Leanne have two kids Ethan is 3 and Cadence is 8 months old. They are 2 of my favorite kiddies on the planet, and since you all know I work with kids alot, thats really saying something :) Ethan and Cadee are my psuedo niece and nephew. I had a great time with them this weekend, MOST of the time. Friday night, Cadee was sick and I had my first experience of projectile vomit ALL OVER. I felt so bad for her, she calmed down and then went to sleep for the night. After this sad event, Ethan wanted some pizza and a movie. So of course, Aunt Becky gave in and we order pizza and we watched some Noggin, which is a kids tv channel. All kids shows, ALL the time. Dora, Deigo, some new show thats like Dora only the girl is japanese. So Ethan ate, and then fell asleep while we were watching TV. Saturday morning came too soon though. Since Cadee had fallen asleep early, of course, as any MOM would know, she then woke up early, well Im the AUNT not the MOM, and so it was not the easiest thing in the world to wake up at 5:45 am on a Saturday :( but for Cadee I did.

Well, Saturday was a stressful and event filled day. Cadee was still very sick and so it made for a hard day. I made healthy meals though and thought I was doing pretty good. Ethan, Uncle Bryan and I had Wheat and Strawberry Pancakes for breakfast, Im on the fast and tried to stick to it with our meals this weekend. Then we had Macaroni and Cheese and Peas for Lunch, which was a little away from the fast, but the day was so hectic and I had no choice. and then for supper we had grilled cheese and tomato soup while we watched Alvin and The Chipmunks. We went to the park before supper...and met up with some of my kids from the church. Allie, Annie, Abbie, and Andie. and Alex and Kenian. It was fun for all the kids.

I am not going to lie, by the end of the night, when Donny and Leanne got back, I was exhausted. Taking care of 2 kids was SUPER stressful!! I love Ethan and Cadee, but I dont think Im ready for the full time job of being a mom. and since mr. right hasnt come in to my life yet, I dont think there is any risk of that happening :) But I did learn that being a mom is seriously a full time job. Its a 24/7 responsibility, and Im so thankful I had a mom who took her job so seriously. So I know its not mothers day, but go out and thank your moms today for all that they have done for your, their job is NOT an easy one at all :) FULL of rewards and I know they wouldnt trade it, but its definetly not easy.

In other news, so for the past few weeks at church, we have been figuring out ministry, what needs to change that sort of thing. I was asked that in August, when the 5th graders move up to 6th grade, that I would start a Middle School Sunday School class. I have to be honest and tell you that when I started in Youth Ministry and all of my years in it, my heart has always been with Highschoolers, I never did much with Jr. High, I didnt really want to. But lately, God has been softening my heart for this ministry. So...today I was doing Childrens Church with the kids and Allie and Annie (Shiana- my nickname for her is Annie), came up to me while the other kids were coloring and said, "Becky, we dont really like Childrens Church anymore, its too little kiddie for us, we were wondering if you could start doing something with us, during kids church time." I had already been thinking about it, but as we sat there and talking, I suddenly realized that these girls need this. These girls, look up to me, which is a huge responsibility in and of itself, but they need someone to step up. They sat and said, we want to do this and we like to do this and they just kept talking about all these amazing ides of stuff they would want to do, and something sparked, they said, "Becky, we need to be bringing more people to church, and if there was something at church, that we knew they would like to come to, we would totally bring our friends". First of all, I was blown away. These girls are like 11 years old and already they have this heart to reach out to their friends. But secondly, I was sad, they feel like they cant bring friends to church because there is not a ministry there for them. Well that HAS to change. We as a church have got to reach out and step up and make ministry where it needs to be.

So after church I found Pastor Dave. I told him of all that the girls had talked about. I found their moms and told them about all that we had talked about and they all said, we agree Becky, lets start it as soon as possible. So, I am going to be working with Middle Schoolers for a while now. It will stretch me and make me grow and I hope that as I grow, the girls will grow too. This is so exciting and I hope and pray that our ministry will continue to grow as God leads and lays it on the hearts of those in the body of Christ.

God is doing some AMAZING things in me as I do this fast, and I am so excited, I think I may extend it for a week!! I am just excited and amazed at all he is doing and cant wait to see him continue to work. God is good, all the time and I praise him for that!

this CRAZYweek!!

Okay....so this week, I started the Daniel Fast. You can read more about the details of it if you google Daniel Fast. Basically it is a 21 day fast. You can eat fruits, veggies, and nuts. And whole wheat as well such as whole wheat pasta and that sort of thing. Each person can make it best suited to their health and needs. for example, because I have a thyroid disorder, my body needs the nutrients of me drinking at least one glass of milk a day, this is also weird since Im lactose intolerant, but hey, they make lactose free milk now, so it all evens out....yeah, as you can see its a little difficult for me, because I have a few weirdnesses with my body :) On the fast, you are not supposed to have any milk or egg products at all. I make sure that I have at least one dairy a day, so that my muscles will stay strong with my thyroid disorder. Other than that, its just a really basic fast.
I decided to do it for 2 reasons. One, is that I am praying through some things right now and really want the Lords direction. The other is that it is just healthy. Daniel lived this way as a lifestyle, not just a fast. And I want to be living more healthy, exercising more, eating the right things, eating more organically, and this is a great way to help me in that as well. I am baby sitting right now and baby Cadee needs food, this is all for now, more later, when she is not so fussy :)

life in MY neck of the woods :)

so life is my neck of the woods right now, is both new, challenging and exciting. Im just so excited about the ways that God has been speaking to me and the things he has been sharing with me. I LOVE the fact that I work at a job right now where I actually get to take a break throughout the day. I get to leave the center for 30 whole minutes!! its amazing, in comparison to the 0 minutes I was getting at SIEDA :) so during these breaks, I have been going to get some food and then coming back and sitting in my car to read a book, do some homework, whatever I want to do. And its been sooo nice. I have been getting in some time with God each day, which is something, to be honest, that I had been lacking in ALOT. But now, I get to spend more time with him. QUALITY time. and he has been speaking to me and meeting me. I feel like over the past week, I have had a "church service" in that 2004 chevy cavalier, almost every day. and I have been trying this new thing too. Each morning before I go in to work and each time I am getting ready to go back in after my break, I pray that God will use me to bless my coworkers today. That somehow, they will see "Jesus" in me and that they will be blessed by the fact that I am working there.

This being said...there have been some frustrations of the week as well. How many of you over the past 5 years could say that you have worked in at least 4 daycares or preschools during that time? I can :) Because its something that I can do well and I have experience at it :) but if you have worked in a daycare, then you know what it can be like sometimes :) mostly, you are working with a lot of other women. Its usually a HIGH STRESS day and when its over, you are ready to leave. Somedays, you swear that you will NEVER have kids of your own and IF by some miracle, you do change your mind and decide to have kids, you KNOW that they will never be as hard to deal with as some of those children can be at times.

I love taking care of kids, it is something that I have just always enjoyed. Even when I was a kid myself, I was the "helper" in the classroom, showing kids where their lockers were or where to sit in the room. I love helping people. BUT....I HATE the drama!!! as I sat in the previous paragraph, most of the time, you work with ALL women, and being a woman myself, I know how much drama we can cause when we all get together. Now, at this daycare, there is actually a Male director and a Male Assistant Director as well. But...we still have drama!!! I just wish sometimes that "we could all just get along". I mean, we are there for the kids and yet I dont know how many times I have watched a child lying in their bed crying while 2 coworkers "discuss" whos turn it is to go on a break. or "how mad they are that "she" didnt do this right". Having 2 males there is nice for me, because I know there are at least 2 others who wont get caught in the drama. Now, I cant be totally sure that they NEVER will, but they are guys, so the chances are not as likely. Its just hard sometimes to keep a good attitude when you are around so many "negative nancys". THUS, the prayers every morning before work and every time I come in after my break. I dont want be a part of the gossip. I dont want anyone to be hurt by what I say or afraid to come and talk to me. I want them to see Christs love in ALL that I do.

the other things that have been going on are the passions and desires that God has made so strong on my heart right now. I want to share more about that in my NEXT blog, but I will just say that he is doing some great things and I am SO EXCITED for that!!!!

well, thats it for now. talk to you all again soon

In Christs Love

Becky

council meeting...new beginnings...and allergies :(

this week, although it has just begun, has been one of ups and downs for me. Well, for those of you who know me, you may already know this, but for those of you who dont, I have a HORRIBLE immune system. I get sick really easily, all due to my underactive thyroid....which thank goodness with medicine, is finally under control now :) but back to my point...so I get sick alot. And for the past year or 2 I have been getting HORRIBLE allergies as well. So this season is no different and thanks to my crappy allergies, I have been not feeling the best for a couple of days now. Good news is, once I start of my wonderful prescription allergy medicine, I should be fine again. Thus, part of my week has been on the down side.
Down side and upside on this next one...we just got home from a 3 HOUR council meeting!!! Now normally, I would be angry and say, there is no way it should be this long, and to be honest, getting home at 10:40, and my whole night being gone, not the best. But its exciting too, because our church is changing. Its moving and people are ready to let God work and that is just so awesome!!! To let him help us reach out to our hurting community, heck, I would sit through a 5 or 6 hour council meeting for that :) God is moving in our church and Im excited about it!!!
As for new beginnings, well, this is just it. God is moving and he wants to use me to be a part of that. So, I have to step up and LET him use me. He has been moving in such amazing ways these past few days, I just cant express how thankful and greatful I am that he is using me and taking care of me. Its incredible!!!!
I know that song is cheesy, but God will Make a Way, where there seems to be no way. At this time 2 weeks ago, I was sitting on this couch knowing that I would have to say goodbye to all my students after an unexpected turn of events at the school. I knew that I had made the right choice in choosing to resign from my position so I could go on and get my masters, but it still was not an easy choice. I didnt know what God had in mind, where he was going to take me, what he was going to do, how he was going to use the conference I would be going to that weekend to bless me. I had questions in my mind that I didnt even BEGIN to know the answers to, but God did and he gave me such a peace in my heart, that I knew great things were going to happen. God has not even begun to use me yet. I heard my favorite song on the radio 2 times yesterday, its an old one...but I LOVE to sing it, because the words are so real to me....here they are for all of you to read.

IF YOU WANT ME TO:

The pathway is broken
and the signs are unclear
and I dont know the reason
why you brought me here
But just because you love me
The way that you do
Im gonna walk through the valley
if you want me to

Cuz Im not who I was
When I took my first step
and im clinging to the promise
YOURE NOT THROUGH WITH ME YET
so if all of these trials
bring me closer to you
then I will go through the fire
if you want me to

So when the whole world turns against me
and im all by myself
and i cant hear you answer
my cries for help
ill remember the suffering
your love put you through
and i will go through the fire
if you want me to.

I am so thankful that God is not through with me yet and whatever comes my way, if it is for his glory and if it will bring me back to him....then I will do it!!!

coffee house, public library and pjs :0)

Okay, so my brother and I, back in October of this year, got our own apartment together. We both wanted so independence and thought that this way, we could split the bills and it would be alot easier on both of our wallets :) As most of you reading this, should know me pretty well, you know that my brother is like my bestfriend. Living with him has been fun most of the time and at times challenging, as you know that sometimes bestfriends fight, and my brother and I have our fair share of them as well :) All that being said, I love our new place. ITS SO BIG!!! We each have our own large rooms and we each have an office space now as well. It is great!! But..with all great things, come trials sometimes as well. Our trial this week has been our internet.

Now, my brother is graphic designer, so at work all day he has access to the internet and can get things done. This girl here, I work at a daycare all day, and I LOVE it it by the way. I feed, hold, and rock the babies all day,its a welcome change from what I had been doing, teaching full time. ANYWAYS....I am also seeking to get my masters in School Counseling and started classes in February for this. So I NEED the internet everyday. Well Thursday night we didnt have it. My neighbor Sarah is also getting her BA online, so we both had homework and no way to hand it in. So we decided to go to the local coffeehouse, Smokey Row. Now, as you also know, my brother used to work there and pretty much everyone there is our close friend, so going there is fun, however, not condusive to getting much studying done. But we managed. I was in my pjs, but it was okay. I kinda liked it :) and since you all know how much I like fashion, its not like everythign didnt match anyways :) Well, we got some stuff done then, but had to go back to the coffeehouse last night as well. Now friday nights are concert nights and last night was one of the worst Id ever heard.

There was a lady playing and a band and they just were horrible. I am not trying to be mean in anyway, and I know that since my brother and I are both musicians, we tend to be critical at times, but this time, it REALLY was bad. So I tried to get this project done, but didnt quite get it completed, and it was also night #2 that I went to the coffee house in my pjs :) This time a bit embarassing, but listen, when you loose your internet at your apartment for 5 days, you have to do what you have to do. So, this morning, I had to sacrifice my usual Saturday morning sleeping in, because I had to wake up to come to the public library to finish my project and send it in. and of course,day #3 of being in my pjs in a public place :) I feel like such a scrub, but hey, its kinda like being in college again :)

I am actually LOVING being in school again and cant wait to do more classes and obtain my masters soon. I will get to work with Middle and Highschoolers everyday. I will have my masters in school counseling, speicalizing in Jr. and Sr. High age. I cant wait!!! And I love all the stuff that I am learning already. It has been amazing and fun!!!

Any of you who knew my in college, knew that socializing was #1 to me, my classes, not so much. You would be shocked at the change in me. I forego hanging out with friends so that I can finish a project or discussion for class. I would rather read a book than watch TV!! I am so disciplined in this and I love it!!!

So that is my life right now. Sometimes I have to be a scrub, sometimes I have to focus on an assignment, but all in all, I LOVE IT!!

Sprite and Banana Nut Cheerios

Okay, so today was my 3rd day at my new job. I love it there. It is so much fun actually. and I didnt realize how much stress I had in my life, until it is gone. I am feeling that working here is allowing me to do better in ministry and helping me to get closer to God and helping me to become a healthier person as well. IT IS AWESOME!!! I am so thankful to God right now.
Before work, I got to sleep in a little bit and leisurely enjoy the morning, as I didnt have to be there until 10 am :) Let me back up a second, last night, my brother and I went grocery shopping for the apartment we rent together. It was the first time in a very long time, so it was a big trip. While we were getting the essential cereal for our house, I found it in the isle, it was like it was glowing, calling my name, Banana Nut Cheerios. I am really into organic and healthy eating right now and they are 100% Natural!!! So this morning as I woke up, I thought about how I would enjoy this cereal and decided to put some in a baggie to take in my car to eat on my break at work. and it was amazing!! I went and got a sprite and enjoyed my snack, it was DELICIOUS!!! One of the best snacks I have had in a long time.
As I sat in my car, I thought about all that the past few weeks had brought me. And I realized that just as I had been missing out on this snack, I, in a sense, was missing out on life. I was so focused on work and always stressing out, I had no time for myself and no time for my savior, AND the worse part is that I didnt even realize it.
Im so thankful that as we are willing to follow God, he brings the right things at the right times for us.
This week has been INCREDIBLE. Im happy, relaxed and enjoying life again!!!!

Many Colored Days...

Okay, so I just started my new job yesterday. I am working at a daycare primarily with the infants right now, but floating wherever they may need me. Now, for those of you who know me, I have worked at MANY daycares and taught at several preschools. Its something I can do, and I dont mind doing, but not something I want to do for the rest of my life. But this job has been so relaxing and rewarding, just because of all the stress that has been lifted off of me. I get to go in, play with the kids, and then come home and work on homework and just relax!! How great is that? Plus, the place is a Christian School. And my boss happens to be a friend of mine from church who gave me the job, pretty much on the spot :) He and I had about an 8 hour interview process on Tuesday, between me going in the rooms and getting to know everyone and our talking. For about 3 hours of our interview time, we talked about ministry and how God could use this building and this daycare to further his kingdom and that we want to be a part of that. How amazing is that??? I think it is very amazing. I cant wait to start doing some of these great ideas and putting them into practice!!

This is a short blog, but I will write more tonight.

God Bless

Becky

The Start of Something New...

So....in 2000, I started going to Bible College. I didnt know what God wanted me to do when I started, and to be honest, I didnt care. I was mad at him for calling me to this college in Oskaloosa, Iowa, less than 2 blocks from the house I had grown up in most of my growing up years. But, God called, and I went. Soon after being there, I realized that God had much more of a plan that I ever realized. I loved to sing, I was so mad that I was not only at the college I really didnt want to be at, but they didnt even have a MUSIC program!! What in the world???? Slowly, Gods plan came to fruition. I was given the opportunity to be on Deputation Teams. Every weekend, all summer, and during breaks. I LOVED it!!!! I got to sing all the time AND get paid for it. But then, another passion and desire and more than that, a call, was placed on my life through this. A call to Youth Ministry.
I was counseling at camps and leading youth in worship and leading them into these amazing times with God. I was leading small groups of girls and having a great time, and I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!
Then I came back and knew that youth ministry was my call, so I pursued and finished my BA in Youth Ministries in 2005. It was then that I got confused and didnt know what to do after college or where to go, so I began teaching at daycares and preschools. While, I can do this and am not bad at it, its not what God called me to do.
I realized this a few months ago and then God began to speak. He began to show me that where I was working was not where I should be. It was a corrupt place and many wrong things were going on . I began to pray that he would show me his plan and what he had next. So, that he did.
I really started feeling on my heart the call to pursue my masters degree in couseling and further my education. I started feeling that this is what God wanted me to get back into Youth Ministries as he had called me to so many years ago and that this is how he wanted to do it. So, I found a great online school, so I could keep working and go to school at the same time.
But....the people at the school I was teaching in, did not want me to get my masters. They gave me many ultimatums. 2 of which I prayed through and knew what God was asking of me. They told me that if I wanted to keep working there, I couldnt get my masters and I couldnt go to the youth ministry conference in February. Both of which I knew God was calling me to. So, I resigned, it broke my heart, I couldnt hardly stand saying goodbye to my classroom of kids, but God gave me strength and helped me through. I was at the Youth Ministry conference and knew what God was saying, he was reassuring me and loving on me and showing me that I was answering his call and he would honor that.
When I got home I had a job interview and went in today and got the job!!! I start tomarrow. It is at a christian school and a place that is willing to help fund and work out many ministries. One of which I hope will be Life Hurts, God Heals. An 8 step healing program for middle schoolers, highschoolers, and college age/young adult students. Another of which will be a ministry to moms. So much potential and its all because of the amazing God we serve!!!!
More later as God continues to work!!!

This is my life....well, it was until 3 days ago.. more later :)

Some much to say...so many ears to listen :)

Well, I have really gotten into this whole blogging thing. I have been blogging alot on my facebook, but decided that I would set up a blogging spot of my own.

My life is not all that exciting, most days I go to work, and teach preschoolers, then I go home and put together my lesson plans for the next days class. On Fridays I will occasionally go to a soccer game at Vennard College, where I graduated from in 2005, but still have some great friends there:) or watch movies and hang out with friends.

I have 2 honorary nephews, Ethan is 3 years old. He is very cute and I enjoy spending a great deal of time with him. When he calls me Aunt Becky, it just melts my heart :) He is amazing and very smart. he is the child of my friends Donny and Leanne and they are 2 of the most amazing people I have ever met. I really enjoy them alot.

Gabe is 1 year old. Gabe is my bestfriend Shannons son. He is very cute and I love him. He is not quite old enough to talk yet, so I dont get to have quite the melt my heart moments with him as far as the cute and nice things he will say to me. BUT, I have plenty of other melt my heart moments without verbal communication :)

I have the most amazing mom and dad and Im very greatful for them.
And I have one little brother, well, he is 24 years old, but since I am 26, he is still my LITTLE brother:) and he is one of my best friends too. We are getting ready to move into a GREAT apartment together and I am super psyched about that!!! Independence, friendship with my bro, and getting to live closer to my friends, its going to be AWESOME!!!!

Well, I think thats all I will write for now, That is a little about me, which, if you are reading this, are things you may already know about me:) but none the less. here it is, the beginning to a beautiful friendship in the blogging world :)