enjoy the struggle.

enjoy the struggle.

words that have so much meaning in my life.

i had a teacher in high school that said this all the time.  she died while running a marathon a few years after i graduated.  she had a heart condition that she didn't know about. 

well, lately these words that she whole heartily believed in have been ringing true in my life.  i have been facing struggles in my life.  we all have struggles.  i can either let me bring me down, or enjoy the struggle.  of course i would rather just skip over the struggle. i mean, who wouldn't? but i am choosing to endure and enjoy the struggles i am facing.  because God has put me in them for a reason. and in the end, these struggles will strengthen me.

on a side note, i took a picture of a family Bible at my Grandma's house while there for thanksgiving.  it was her grandfathers. as you can see, it is falling apart. literally falling apart at the seams. but i think a Bible that is falling apart is a sign that it was used. a lot. i love this.

via.

love & blessings. 

rachel

discouraged

do you ever have days when you feel discouraged?

well that has been me. for the last several days.

i am on the edge of reaching 100 verses for Bible memorization (this week marks 99). which means..duh duh duh. i have to say all 100 to receive my medal.  

i have not been practicing all my verses all along which i should be doing, which is no ones fault but my own. 

but regardless, i am nervous as all get out. 

what if i mess up?

what if i completely forget a verse?

what will people think of me?

i know that i shouldn't have these thoughts. but i can't seem to get them out of my head lately.  

next sunday we are all getting together to practice our verses. and for those of us who are at 100 and are ready (there are about 5 of us that are at 100), we will say them for our "test".   maybe that is why i am so freaked out is because we are "testing" for our medal.

i  never thought i would be able to retain all these verses.  that's why i was hesitant to start this group.  but i know i am there for a reason. and i should remember my favorite verse. [the one i will recite on stage in front of the whole congregation]. 

be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

[Philippians 4:6-7]

i have had a rough few days at work lately.  it is days like today that make me question if i am cut out to teach preschool.  after the last few days, my LEAST favorite words are: NO and STOP.  i have heard these two words so much out of the mouths of my precious 3 and  4 year olds that i could go months without hearing them again.

so may i ask that you pray for my sanity at work and my patience  with practicing my verses. 

on a better note, i got to see this girl for the first time in several years. she is my bestest most favorite friend (long story). we have known each other for 25+years. 

typical of our friendship.

love & blessings.

rachel

Memories

it's amazing how memories can come flooding back to you when something tragic happens.
no one is happy when someone close to them passes away.
i certainly was not when my best friends [since 2 years old] dad passed away last week.
it was sudden and unexpected.   but never the less, heartbreaking.  
even now, one week later,  tears stream down my face as my heart hurts for my friend. 
i could not imagine [even at 27] loosing either parent so unexpectedly at such a young age [he was only 54]. 
one thing that i can take away from this is that life is precious. we are not promised tomorrow, so take time to enjoy this life that you are given.  does that mean act stupidly and don't care what will happen to you? absolutely not, that would be stupid. yes, i said that.
do not abuse this life you are given - it is a precious gift from God. 
take time to enjoy the little things.
life isn't easy. it has ups and downs. but one of my favorite sayings, from a high school teacher who had a huge impact on my life and passed away a few years after i graduated is, "enjoy the struggle."


so i leave you with this, enjoy the struggle in every aspect of your life.  no one wants to face a struggle, but in the end it will all be worth it. 

my papa, me, greg & pammy.
Circa 2002ish.


love & blessings.
rachel 

summer lovin'.

summer is here which means:

cuddling with  my pup.

weddings.

4 of july.

vacation. 

time with family.

hot  [very]  weather.

pool.

pool parties. 

time with friends.

pool party.

4th of july.weddings.

visiting with friends from arizona. 

testimony.

so. a few weeks ago i linked up with leigh ann on her post writing a bit about my walk with God. 

this week at Bible study, we were supposed to write my testimony to read to the class. [the book we were reading was done and we had a few weeks before a new class is being offered. so our senior pastor came and spoke to our class about witnessing] writing my testimony was a different experience.  it was hard, scary and eye opening all at the same time.  my pastor set up these sort of guide lines for us to use as a guide when writing it.  i was so worried that i was not writing it correctly. that when i read it in class my pastor would look at me and say "um, did you even read the guidelines while writing your testimony?" [as a disclaimer, he would never do that.] 

anywho. i finally finished it & read it to my class a few days later.  of course after other people read theirs, i had the thought of "oh, that would have been something i could have said in mine."  but then i snapped out of that. this is my testimony. not anyone else's. it's mine. 

it was very rewarding to write my testimony.  i feel like witnessing is something that i need to improve on a bit.  but that is constantly happening.  i'm learning more as a Christian and am feeling more confident to share  my faith.  

here is the last paragraph of my testimony.  

In high school, I had a teacher that always said “enjoy the struggle.”  That has always had profound meaning in my life.  Being a Christian does not mean that you do not face struggles.  But being a Christian means that you have a God who truly loves and cares about every aspect of your life.  And knowing that I have God on my side, gives me comfort and peace to be able to enjoy the struggle.  

enjoy the struggle.

rachel. 

plans.

i love my church.  

for several reasons. but one being that my pastor gives great sermons.

this past weekend was mothers day.

so his sermon was entitled: "what a wife wishes a husband knew about women." 

he linked passages in the Bible and referenced  the "5 Love Languages"

wow.   

being a single person right now, this was very powerful.  he talked about  how we have to show "I Love you" through the 5 love languages:

1. through words of affirmation.

2. through quality time.

3. through giving gifts.

4. through physical display.

5. through acts of service.

after he was done going through the 5 languages, he told the women to find out which love language theirs was & to tell their mate.  {or if you are single, figure it out to tell your future husband}

there are so many times that i feel like i am being attacked by satan that i am not good enough. not pretty enough. i'm not going to get married. etc. etc.  sometimes it is easier said than done to "put those thoughts out of your head."  i know God has a perfect plan for my life, but sometimes it is hard to see that.  i am not a very patient person, so waiting to see what God has in store for me is a struggle sometimes. 
i was reminded of this verse by someone who is going through a very hard time.  
For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 
jeremiah 29:11

my God will give me peace. love. direction. strength. encouragement. hope. support. answered prayer. and so many other things.
i am thankful for this. and need to remember all this. but there are days i have my "debbie downer" moments.  [not that today is one of those days. in fact after yesterday's sermon i feel pretty good.]

love & blessings.
rachel.

LIY/june 1989 giveaway.

erin at living in yellow, is featuring a giveaway over on her blog. 

 june 1989  has beautiful bracelets.  i would love several different colors. like, for reals. they are beautiful. 

i'm dog-sitting my adorable neph-paw tonight.  he is one spoiled pooch. but adorable.

happy saturday.

a change.

hi. my name is Rachel.  this is my journey about how i became a Christian.  it is a personal story, and a tad long.  but it has shaped me into the person i have become.  

i accepted Christ into my life later in life.  i always believed in God growing up. going to church with my grandparents, but not on a regular basis with my parents and sister.  

during college, i worked for a school district where i opened up a school building when someone rented it.  my boss asked me if i wanted to open up the building every saturday for a church.  i was a broke college student, so i agreed.  i opened the building for about 4 years on saturday nights and when the woman who opened the building on sundays had a massive heart attack and was unable to open on sundays.  so i was now there on saturday nights when they set up and sunday mornings.  

so i was there. a lot. when church was going on i would sit in a classroom doing homework/studying.  people would ask me to come into church, but i never did. one day a new family starting coming to set up on saturday nights. the room that i sat in happened to be the room where they had to come in and get the water for the coffee pots.  so when this new family starting coming to set up the coffee, they would come in and talk to me.  they were so nice [now we are close friends] and would ask me to come into church but not be pushy about it.  they asked for about a year. 

then the pastor's {my pastor now} mother passed away and i went to the funeral service.  i had been opening up the building for a long time and got to know him.  so i went with several people i knew [ the family who always talked to me being one of them] to the funeral.  at the end of the service he gave an invitation to ask Jesus into your life.  i said that prayer inside but never looked up at the pastor.  i was scared.  on the way home i said that prayer again, and again.  

about a month or so later, the church had their very first saturday night service.  and that happened to be the first service i attended.  everyone was shocked. i sat in the front row with several people i knew.  it is amazing the overwhelming feeling of love i felt from everyone when they saw me in the service.  i had been around the church for years now and they finally got me into the church. [ha]

it was one of the best decisions i have made.  my life is different. i have changed.  do i still make mistakes? absolutely. am i perfect? no way. but do i love my God who gave everything to his children? 100 percent.  

i have learned so much about myself over the last few years.  i have changed. my story has changed. some people around me question that change and don't understand the whole church/God thing. but i am trying to help their story change too.  

i am linking up with leigh on her post:  i am second 

inspiration.

inspiration at it's finest.

my Pastor showed this video today.  

wow. i have been watching videos of him on youtube for the last hour or so.  you can see some of his speeches he has given and they are just amazing.  

so many times in life, we take things for granted.  he was born without arms and legs, but he is living his life for Christ.  he has taken the life he was given and turned it into something so, so  powerful.  

watch the video.  it will change you and warm your heart.  then go on youtube and watch some more videos of his speeches.  they are truly amazing.  

spring.

life has been busy.

i have had parent/teacher conferences.

[starting] home visits for all my four year olds.

stressed out trying to figure out my living situation. [stupid rent increase. ugh.] -> packing & moving to a new apartment. gross. i hate moving.

memorizing Bible verses. [i'm at 62 verses this week.]

practicing all above verses for our fellowship next week.

stuffing over 1,500 Easter eggs for the egg hunt at church tomorrow.

working out/eating healthy.  trying to start that again and find the motivation to do so.

attempting to read the Bible in a year.

learning a lot of information in Bible study & trying to apply that to my life. 

blah. blah. blah.  life is busy.  

i want to find an outlet to express stuff that is going on in my life so i am going to try and do that here.  so it may be a little personal, but i need to get stuff out of this head of mine.  more on that on a later date.

off to go finish cleaning and then head to church.  happy saturday. 

let's remember what Easter is about.  Christ has Risen.  

new phone = cooler pictures. + a few other thoughts.

well i finally moved into the current times... i got rid of my blackberry (finally) and got the new iphone 4s. so far, so good :) i just figured out how to take all my photos from instagram and put them on here. 

my favorite shoes on one of my favorite kids. i love these yellow converse allstars.  if they have these when i have kids, my kids will totally be wearing them :) 

cool shirts that i bought for my nephew's first birthday. 

what i spent my saturday morning trying to do...finish my scholastic order. only for the website to kick me out when i was almost done. grr.

breakfast of champs. startbucks & goldfish while trying to do my scholastic order.

so i have till 2016 to get 18 credit hours towards my masters degree to get my professional teaching certificate.  to break that down...when you graduate from college with a teaching certificate (in michigan) you get what is called a "provisional certificate." you have 6 years to get 18 credit hours towards either a masters degree or another bachelors degree.  when you get the 18 hours completed, you get your professional certificate.  so tonight i started looking at different universities and their graduate programs.  i am a little overwhelmed. i don't know where to go. or what to get my masters in. i'm freaked out about the amount of money it is going to cost me to get my masters. the time commitment it requires.  etc. etc.  

in the midst of all this, one of my Bible memorization verses just popped into my head.

be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your in minds in Christ Jesus.

[Philippians 4:6-7]

i just need to relax and pray about all my worries and anxiety about this next chapter in my life.  prayer really does change things. plain & simple. 

friday letters.

i found this one recently and thought it was cute.. (granted i am a day late but oh well.)

dear friday,

thank goodness you are here. seriously.  this has been one of the longest weeks ever. but this picture does put a smile on my face.  i helped "write" a spiderman book with one of my four year old boys today.  notice that spiderman's arms are coming out of his head.  it's things like this that make me love my job. 

"spiderman is fighting with the monsters." 

"he catches the green goblin with a spider web."  

dear four year old student in my class,

no, i do not have gray hair.  

no, i am not old.  i do not consider 26 to be old. thank you very much.

no, i do not drive slow.  i do not get to school till 9:00 and it was not my time to be there. so stop calling me pokey-poke.

*but i do love this love/hate relationship that we have.  you are one of my sweetest girls in my class.

dear back pain,

you can go away any day now.  i'm not sure what made you come back but i don't like it.  

dear school work,

i'm not ready to complete you.  why oh why do i have to volunteer myself to do things? ugh.  i have to cut out lots of letters for posters for our school fundraiser.  i would like to get them done today but realistically i'm not sure if that will happen. this is what my afternoon will look like.  

you can view friday letters here.

happy weekend!

2 thumbs down.

two thumbs down to sickness.  

being a teacher to 16 three & four year old germ infested children gets the best of you at some point in time.  tonight is one of those times. i have spent the evening on the couch [hence the photo booth shot below from my mac] doing a whole lot of nothing.

my throat feels like it is on fire & my head feels like it is going to explode. ick. 

off to load up on nyquil, curl up in bed & watch ncis la before sleeping.  

rock & worship roadshow amazingness.

last night i went to the rock & worship roadshow. it is a Christian concert that featured 7 bands. needless to say, i have a few new favorites. it was AMAZING.

this group is all the way from ireland. cute little accents they have too :) 

meet: rend collective experiment. 

i have heard this one before and like them. he was awesome in concert.

meet: lecrae.

duh. mercyme. who hasn't heard them? i just LOVE this song.

meet: mercyme.

one of my favorites for a few years now. 

meet: tenth avenue north.

and just to leave you with another rend collective experiment.

"oh Your cross changes everything. there my world begins again with You. oh Your cross it's where my hope restarts. A second chance is Heaven's heart." wow. that is powerful.

worth a listen.

he's back boys & girls. 

this guy has some powerful videos. take a look on youtube for his others. [or scroll down and you can see one in another post.]

so press play. it's worth a listen. and really, it's only 4 minutes of your time. you've got 4 minutes. right?

my friend, leigh.

my friend, leigh ann is giving away another cute scarf. handmade with love [i'm sure] by her.  the yellow cowl below is made by her two little hands. check her out here. 

preparing a bunch of food to take over to my friend carolyn's house tonight for dinner. and i get to see this kid tonight too. yay!

he turns one next month. can't believe he is so big already. 

crafty monday.

today i have the day off from school...and i have been quite productive if i do say so myself. i bought my awesome new camera [canon rebel t3] on black friday and it came with a big bulky bag, which has been nice for the time being since it was free with the camera. but it's just too big and bulky to take places.  so i found directions on how to make your own via pinterest. i wanted to make it over Christmas break but ran out of time. 

good bye, old bulky bag.

old purse that i found. had to cut the insert out.

i forgot to take pictures while sewing...you measure the inside of the bag. cut the foam & fabric according to the measurements. sew 3 sides of the fabric and insert the foam and sew up the last side.  i am no master sewer by any means, but it doesn't look horrible. just don't look closely :) 

ta-da! i'm very excited about it....it's not perfect but i like it. off to go see "we bought a zoo." i'm excited! 

welcome to michigan, winter.

we finally have some snow here in michigan. i could take it or leave it. i like to look at it but don't like to drive in it, clear it off my car etc. we have had warmish weather (well 40 is warm for january here) lately and i have been anticipating the snow. 

this morning i spent a while changing the design of my blog. i'm still working on it, but like it so far... i'm not very good at this whole blogging thing, but i'm working on it. so bare with me.

anywho, i sure am thankful for this three day weekend i have ahead of myself. it has been a long week. monday morning started out by having to go to a funeral. my friend's brother in law died last week. funerals are not fun. no one likes the idea of death. but this young (32) man was found dead in his home and his family may have to wait up to seven months for autopsy results. i only met him a few times, but was a nice man. just add their family to your prayers please. 

on monday, i have a fun project planned all thanks to pinterest. pictures to come (if it turns out well that is!)

the video below has been streaming on a lot of my friends facebook all week. and i finally got a chance to sit down and watch it this morning. take a look, it's worth the time. 

i got this beauty in the mail this week! ahh. so excited for my new erin condren planner. i stumbled upon this again, from pinterest. and i LOVE it. 

it has tabs for each month!

week at a glance. 

each day is divided up into 3 parts: morning, afternoon & night.

found a new, yummy recipe to try.

adding sugar free flavoring syrup to my coffee now. it's yummy :) 

new nail polish i picked up last night.