Back in Business!!!

Well, what can I say?! I survived my very first and hopefully last, hurricane! Here's a quick run-down. I rushed home Thursday after school to get a gameplan together. I was off Friday, so I got up, put gas in the car, bought a few staples, and opened a new checking account...I know, a hurricane was coming, and I did my banking, but I needed to get that taken care of, and Friday was a great time to do it.
Wal-Mart closed at 10 a.m. on Friday, so I knew the storm was supposed to be big. The rest of Friday was pretty relaxing. I watched movies, ate take-out, and just had a great time doing nothing.
I went to bed around 2 a.m., and we lost power around 3:30 a.m. I went home to Copperas Cove on Saturday, and stayed until Monday because I thought I had to go back to work on Wednesday.
Needless to say, I've been off the entire week, and will be off until next Monday! YIPPEEEE!!!! I'm so excited...I get to have Quiet Time at Starbucks tomorrow, one of my favorite things to do. This has been a great time of relaxation, getting NOTHING accomplished because NOTHING has been open until today, and just enjoying life and friends! I hate this was all at the expense of a horrible hurricane that caused so much damage. I'm sad for the millions of people still without power, food, shelter...etc. I ask that you continue to pray for them!
I also went to check on the house yesterday, and can I say not a piece of debris was in the yard! God is so good. Let's keep praying saints until we see this thing through!
I'll write more later, but I gotta go! Love you guys, and I'm so happy to be safe!
~J

My First Hurricane...

Yes folks...this morning I joined the hundreds, maybe even thousands of people in my neighborhood at our local Wal-Mart to purchase gas and a few non-perishables. I pray that Hurricane Ike will have mercy on the people of Houston and the surrounding cities, but I'd like to think that I am prepared as I can be.

I'm thinking that my area will get lots of high winds and rain...I'm hoping we don't lose power...

House News: Unfortunately, I can't really update you all right now, but just know that you really wouldn't BELIEVE that they tried to do if I told you, but God is still God, and He is in control, so things are under His reign...just keep praying, and when I close on this house, you guys will be the first to know!!

I'll write more later...pray for all of us!

Where do I begin...

Well hello blog friends! I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. It literally seems like yesterday that I was writing you all.

I have so much to tell you, I really don't know where to begin. My kids are great...they are so much fun to be around, and a joy to teach. To say it's a difference is an understatment, but I miss UHS SO MUCH! I loved those kids, but I'm sure I will love my FHS kids just as much. I had a meeting with the district GT coordinator, and it was so cathartic for me. I think she could tell that I was completely overwhelmed, so she just let me talk. It is no secret that this is my first year as an AP teacher, and that basically...a huge responsibility, BUT I will make it.

I am still adjusting to Houston. The commute, the commute, the commute, and the traffic. This is by far my biggest challenge. Since I spend a lot of time on the road, I spend so much time talking to God, and reflecting on life. When I originally moved to Houston, my goal was to grow closer to God, take a GOOD long look at my life, and totally re-vamp the things I needed to.

I've been working on this process for a while now, and thanks to one of my mentors, she gave me a Godly approach to help me out. I'd love to share if you're needing a little clarity. What I found is that the dreams that I have for myself have been put on the back burner for the "right now." Now, I'm not talking about the "dream" of paying the bills, or putting food on the table. I'm talking about the deep down little girl dreams that I think about in the quiet times of my days...SOOOO...I made a plan to get back to those dreams. That plan now exists in the form of 3 lists: a frustration list, goal life list, and action item list. These lists have helped me to not settle for the mediocrity of the moment, and rob myself of the greatness for tomorrow. This is the most exciting challenge...I'm determined to not give in to the comfortableness of the moment. I can easily say that I have very little debt, on the brink of owning a home, a great salary, great benefits, blah blah blah and get stuck in the fact that I am comfortable. BUT, while all of these facts are a part of my dream, my dream requires a little more than making a paycheck...do you feel me?! Enough about that...but on a serious note, if you want 'the plan' let me know and I will get it to you.

JUNIOR LEAGUE!!! We started a couple of weeks ago, and WHAT FUN!!! I think I'm one of 3 that don't have kids or a husband yet, but it's still a blast. Oh, and what more can I say, we get margaritas at the meetings! Our Holiday Market is coming up..can't wait to do some damage with the vendors!

THE HOUSE!!! 2 1/2 weeks and counting! Really, I can't wait for this to be over, and for me to sit in my backyard and have quiet time! What a blessing that will be. Oh yeah--shout out to my parents for raising me to not depend on a man to pay my bills, or give me money...thanks to my Daddy for showing me how a man should love and treat a woman, and thanks to my mom for being the example to me. Don't get me wrong, I welcome the day I have a special relationship, but until I say 'I do' he won't need to pay my bills...just my opinion...

I wish I had a pic of something to post...but I don't! Love you guys..thanks for all of your support!