Waiting

A Weekend with the Girls!

It's been almost a week and half since returning from a girl's weekend in Rockwall/Greenville, and I wanted to be sure and share some of our pictures with you!

It's tradition that whenever we are together we take "foot" pictures for Liz. She has an amazing collection of her feet and various parts of the world, so we couldn't resist taking one of all of us.

In order, it's Erin, Jen, Me, Liz, and then little Audrey Claire with the Pink Crocs and then Ben even made it in the picture! We were visiting Jen and her new baby girl - Abby Jane. It was wonderful getting to seeing all the girls again!

You can't really tell from this picture, but we are in a movie theater. "He's Just Not That Into You" opened that weekend, so we couldn't resist seeing it all together. I just have to laugh at this picture though - Liz's legs are so short! :)

I couldn't miss a moment to see Mrs.Hyatt again - Liz's mom. We had lunch at TaMolly's after church Sunday - such great memories there!

Proud Daddy - Ben and Abby Jane

Audrey is a girl after my own heart - all animals have to be in "order!" She would not allow you to mess it up!

Audrey loved her sticker book!

I actually made it into another picture! Hooray! I had fun with Audrey - she is precious! It's crazy how fast she's growing up. Aunt Addie will be back soon Audrey!

The girls - Liz, Me, Audrey, Jen, Abby, Erin
My trip there and back went well. I picked up Erin at Pineywoods, so I was thankful to have someone with me at least half of the long journey! Girls, you are true treasures to me and I can't wait to get together again soon.
How about another 1/2 Marathon?! :)

Another Post - Love is in the Air

So I just had to share with my fellow readers some exciting news just learned today! Not only is my Moscow roomie from my 1st year engaged and getting married in August, but I found out that my Moscow roomie from my 2nd year got engaged last night as well! Hooray! Random, but so wonderful! Congratulations girls! I am so happy for you!

Your thoughts?

A second blog entry in less than 24 hours - quite shocking, I know! As I sit here at my desk, gazing at the beautiful flowers outside and avoiding everything that I need to be doing, I am thinking about the words of some friends. Words that were spoken to me and haven't left my thoughts.

You see, I have a great group of friends who tend to be quite honest with me at times. Their honesty can sometimes be disheartening, but I know it's all out of love - at least I'm hoping it is. :) Last weekend I was able to spend some time with a few girls that know me way too well. One of them I have known since Junior High and all of the others have known me for at least ten years now. Wow - time has sure flown by. I try my best to keep up with each of them regulary - whether that is through phone calls (unless your Liz) or facebook, or weekend visits. I love them dearly and can't imagine not having them to talk to. It's those friends that when you haven't seen each other in months, you pick up right where you left off.

These girls have each been a blessing to me. They've been with me through my struggles of a life gone sideways in college - through moves from one country to the next - through my extreme sarcastic years - and through those times when I just needed to vent and have someone listen. We each live our own, very different lives, but I have each of them to thank for bringing me back to reality - when I only see things from my side and never picture what someone else is thinking. I miss those girls tremendously, but it's times like these, when I need complete honesty, when we actually find time for each other that I feel God's hand in our friendships.

Last weekend I needed to talk with 'my girls.' They were there to listen, to point out that I'm not crazy and I just overthink too many things! I fear I jump to conclusions way too fast and I get frustrated that God can't show me the answer immediately. They were there to calm me down and they helped me realize that everything is going to be okay. Memories of our years together quickly flood back followed by laughter and tears. Yes, I know - laughing so hard I was crying!

What I found to be interesting though, was that they each pointed out that they were amazed at the honesty I put up on my blog. They couldn't believe that I would allow people to get to know me, and my thoughts, through the internet - of all places! So I have begun questioning myself - and this whole "blog." I was surprised by their reactions mainly due to the fact that my personal journal houses most of the thoughts I only care for God to know about! I guess I thought I was using this portal to show a little bit about how God has been working in my life, as well as some of the many adventures I have been on. I, at one point in my life, was considered to be shy and silent. I still revert to silence when something is bothering me, or I'm upset, but I find it freeing to be able to express myself now. For so many years I held so much in, and at a crucial time in my life I had to learn to let it go! So what I am asking is what do you think, as my "blog" reader? Do I share too many personal thoughts? Privacy is important, but have I gone too far?

My girls have really made me contemplate what I write...please let me know what you think.

Valentine's Day...Expectations

So I sit here tonight, 10:45pm, wondering why I'm going to bed so early. In actuality, I'm not going to bed, just sitting in bed, thinking about they day and all that went on. Valentine's Day can come with expectations - expectations of being with the people you love, or with that special "someone." This year was a bit different. I've never been in a "relationship" with anyone on this day, so I didn't have high hopes of any romance. I found myself enjoying the day shopping with Jordan and having dinner with some friends. We've talked, and laughed, and came back to our house for games, but there is still a part of me that longs for that day when I have someone special in my life - to celebrate with. Until then, I have to keep in mind the plan God has for me.
Tonight a dear friend gave me something that I will truly cherish. Every time I look at it, I am reminded that God is in control - his timing is perfect.

This is what it said: "My child, I hear you, and I care. I have great plans for you. I love you more than you can imagine. Trust me. Love God."

Psalm 34:17-18 "The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you." says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

John 15:9 "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love."

I am truly loved, and I know that. I hope you remember it as well. I guess I'm going to bed now - after a very LONG day. The evening ended well, just much shorter than I had anticipated. God must be telling me I need the rest!

Things Kids Say

It has been a good day. I made it to "early morning gym duty" on time and was greeted by the smiling faces of my kids. The gym was freezing this morning, but what a gorgeous day it was! After testing all day yesterday, I decided to opt for a "fun" activity in class. Now, usually if it requires actual thought, my kids don't think it's much fun, but I really thought they would enjoy what I had prepared.

On Monday we read a story about an artist who drew pictures of people from her past and how they were all linked throughout her heritage. The story opened up with a self-portrait depicting various characteristics of the artist, things past, and hopes for her future. So, our project today was to create a self-portrait, incorporating all of these aspects as well. We brain-stormed about our hobbies, favorites of all sorts of things and dreams we hope will come true. They were instructed to make a rough draft and then I was to give them a clean, crisp, white sheet of paper for their final draft. I had been admiring everyone's drawings throughout the day, and when my last class finally came in I decided to create my own. An artist I am not - especially when it comes to people - but I thought I could at least give it a try! (Trying to be a good example for my kids.)

I sat down at my desk, pulled out my pencil and markers and began my self-portrait. I let the kids collaborate and discuss and get opinions from each other, so I didn't think much of my kids asking questions about my picture and wanting to see what I was drawing. We had talked about adding pictures of maybe our future children/husband/wife, whatever the case may be, as well as places we like to travel and so forth. What I wasn't expecting was the question once again about if I was married or not! They know the answer, but I think with two of our teachers at our school getting engaged recently, weddings are in the air, and they just assume everyone has children. They went on to ask why I wasn't married. I was about to come out with a really great response, when another one of my students piped up and explained to the class that Ms.Nauman will only settle for the best and it is okay if she is not married. She went on to explain that I have 59 children, and that I don't need anymore children in my life right now, and when I do meet someone I like that he has to deal with all of them and he better be prepared because they have to approve! LOL! I was laughing so hard! She is truly wise beyond her years!

What came next was even funnier. Another one of my students announced to everyone that she thinks I should just join eHarmony! LOL! I was almost laughing so hard I was crying! These kids! It's days like these, once again, when God is showing me that I am truly in the right place! A new conversation started with tales of bad things happening to people meeting online and so I had to put an end to it. If they only knew the stories I have!

I just thought I would share that tidbit of Ms.Nauman's Classroom Conversations for the day. I love my kids, and I am so glad I was able to laugh at it all! It should be interesting to see the self-portraits they have created - as well as how I finish mine!

Have a blessed day!

Will it ever end?

This week has been absolutely beautiful - so far! The weather was perfect today and my kids continually made me laugh! I have shared with some of you how I have begun praying each morning about my attitude towards school. I guess I could rephrase that - not necessarily my attitude, but my desire to do more. With everything going on in my life, I was finding that I would just get the job done, but never think beyond. I, at one time, was a very creative and energetic teacher, but I felt like I couldn't do it anymore. Since my commitment to prayer every morning began, I have felt overjoyed during the day. I've gotten many comments about how happy I look going down the hallway and how often I make my kids laugh! I take this to be a huge compliment! It is great to see how beginning my day with prayer can change my whole perspective.



Every Monday I meet with a student for a tutoring session, working on his handwriting and spelling, and today was actually the first day that I was actually excited to get to spend some quality time with him! Usually, when that last bell rings I am trying to pack up and get out, but today was different. I felt like he was actually 'getting' what I was teaching him. Who knows if he remembers how o's and r's are connected in cursive, but at least for the time I did spend with him I felt like I was making a difference. It was a difference that I know he will benefit from.



As usual, his ride was late to pick him up, which then made me late to Praise Team practice, so I felt continually rushed! When I did arrive though, one of the guys in our group asked to open up in prayer because he needed to "slow down." It was just what I needed at the perfect moment. I find myself running from one place to the next, always feeling like I can't accomplish the task at hand! Like I said though, the prayer was something I needed to hear and to acknowledge. Practice went well, but at the end, when we normally pray, we were asked to give a personal prayer request. I have to be honest, I always want to know who or what I can pray for, but when it comes to me voicing my requests, well, it just doesn't happen very often! I use my journal to do that, so this was a challenge for me. I know I don't seem very shy, but when it comes to needing prayer myself, it's always easier to write it down than to voice it! I sometimes feel like I am so blessed already - I am the last person that needs someone else praying for them, but then I have to rethink that. I do need prayer, and to have the ability to have someone else pray for me is amazing.



Needless to say, I made it through our 'prayer request' session and did come away feeling blessed. I am continually amazed at seeing God work and how my relationships are growing with those in my church family. The people that surround me now are in my life for a special reason, which I know, and I am so thankful. I pray God is blessing you where you are at this moment. If you need me to pray for you, I'm always here.