so THATS why i feel sick....

So I was out sick Friday, and am here but not feeling real well today. My students are convinced I have the swine flu. Now you would think that this would make them paranoid and what not, but they think it's awesome. To quote one of my students, "Dude Miss, how cool would it be if you were one of the 20 confirmed cases! And we know you!" Me-oh-my.

So this past weekend I got to go home and meet my beautiful new nephew- Joshua James Holt. I started calling him "JJ" but my sister (his mother) said that was "gay-gay" but, in the defense of anyone named JJ, know that I personally think that name is charming. However, to appease my sister.... Gator it is. (For those of you who don't know, when my sister found out she was expecting, Isaiah on his own started calling the baby Alligator. It stuck.) He is sooo precious. I'm glad I got to see him while he is still at the "all I do is eat, poop, and sleep" stage. In a month when I go home again he will look so different. I loved snuggling with him. It amazes me that someone can hold something so beautiful and fragile and still not believe in God.

It was very refreshing being home, I just wish I could have stayed longer. I always have such mixed emotions about home. My heart longs to be home, but at the same time I am so happy with life here. I really am torn between two wonderful places.

Things at school are crazy right now. We have the dreaded TAKS tests this week. After that, only FIVE MORE WEEKS OF SCHOOL!!!! Holla! The month of May is going to be super busy.
-May 15th I am taking the day off for a friends graduation here in Houston. The graduation is at 9 am so I get the whole day!! Hooray!!
-May 21-25 I'm going with the debate team to..... NEW YORK!!!!!! I'm so excited. NYC has been one of my "must sees" for so many years. Hooray for marking places of my list!
-May 29 I am taking that day off for my dear sweet small groups HS graduation back home! Can't believe my girls (who were in 7th grade when I started working with them) are all graduating and moving off to college! Makes me feel old! It will be nice to be home again for a few days so soon!

Now, for the latest breaking news. I'M GOING BACK TO PANAMA THIS SUMMER!!!!!!!! I know. You are probably just as excited as I am :) God is so faithful. Through out all my different plans and what not for this summer, my hearts desire has consistently been to go and visit my friends in Panama. However, with it not being a mission trip, I just could not finance it. Flights are just too much these days. Last week, I was sitting at my desk and the Lord laid it on my heart to call my mom and express to her how badly I wanted to go back to Panama. When I called her she said, "Hannah. Dad has TONS of frequent flier points. I'm sure he would love to help!" And she was right. With in 24 hours I had booked my FREE flight to Panama. I leave July 15 for 10 wonderful days in my beloved Panama. I'll be staying with Aylen's family while I'm there. It is going to be so different this time because it's not a mission trip, and I'll once again be back in a Spanish speaking home! I get to see all my wonderful friends, and there is a chance that I might get to go to Costa Rica for a few days while I'm there to visit some missionaries that used to live in Panama and help them with a camp they are putting on. GOD IS SO GOOD!

I feel like that phrase, "God is so good" has been a constant phrase for me in the last few weeks. Well, last few months actually. I'm sure if you read my blogs faithfully you see that. It's a lot to convey all at once. Take me out to coffee and I'd be blessed to share with you.

I'm reading Crazy Love again. That book blesses me. My small group is beginning to study Romans. I am looking forward to this. I feel like it is a very applicable book of the Bible for me right now. You can look forward to blogs on my reflections of what I'm learning :)

With that said, the bell is about to ring and in will walk my wonderful 7th period.

Holla!

Whew! What a whirlwind these past few weeks have been. Work is keeping me busy, but I'm not complaining. My students are currently delivering their "How-to" speeches and it has been fun! I've learned how to make tortillas, how to care for an iguana (which was brought to class), how to "be fly," how to do the Hannah Montana dance, and more! My students are enjoying this assignment which always makes class fun. Only 2 more speeches for them!

I leave Thursday after class with the debate team for a quick trip to Austin to be recognized in the House, watch some historic debate in action, meet with the debate coach from UT, and take a quick tour of Austin. At the end of May I will be leaving with the team again to New York for a week to debate. They have worked hard for this opportunity and I am so happy for them! They have worked hard. Yesterday I was asked to be the head coach for next year. I'm praying through it as it is a big commitment, and one I hadn't planned on.

I'm almost all moved into my new house! I still have about a car load and a half left at my apartment, but I have a few more weeks to get out. I'm loving living with Tara and Theresa. They are truly a blessing.

God has really been teaching me lately what it means to be "in His will." I find great comfort in knowing that I can not do it on my own. He is my Provider.

I had a car accident a few weeks ago, I'm hoping to get my car back this week. Hooray for drivers with good insurance!

Only 7 weeks of work left then SUUUUUMMMMMEEEEER! Hooray for being a teacher! Best job EVER!

my prayer

Revelation- Third Day

My life has led me down the road that’s so uncertain
Now I am left alone and I am broken
Trying to find my way
Trying to find the faith that’s gone
This time I know that you are holding all the answers
I’m tired of losing hope and taking chances
On roads that never seem
To be the ones that bring me home

Give me a revelation
Show me what to do
‘Cause I’ve been trying to find my wayI haven’t got a clue
Tell me should I stay here
Or do I need to move
Give me a revelation
I’ve got nothing without you
I’ve got nothing without you

My life has led me down this path that’s ever winding
Through every twist and turn, I’m always finding
That I am lost again
Tell me when this road will ever end
I don’t know where I can turn
Tell me, when will I learn
Won’t you show me where I need to go
Let me follow your lead
I know that it’s the only way that I can get back home

God is faithful.

This past weekend I attended a retreat with the college + ministry at my church. The theme was REFRESH which was absolutely what happened. Spring Break was a whirlwind (a very enjoyable whirlwind) and the retreat was the perfect ending to the week. We spent some time reflecting on the times in our life when we truly saw God's blessings as He lead us through trying times.

I'm by nature a worrier. Towards the end of college I became consumed with worry. What was next? I had gotten into several grad schools but really wanted to teach. Who was going to hire a fresh graduate with no teaching experience? I spent the whole summer applying to schools, but had zero luck.

Now, about 9 months later I can look back and see that the job I have now is indeed the answer to my many prayers, but the coolest part of it is how I can look back to the summer after I graduated from high school and see the chain of events that led me to this place. It would take a long time to tell you the whole story and all the people involved but I can see the direct path, those connected dots, that led me right here to Houston.

Part of me wishes I had known about this plan so that I wouldn't have wasted so much time worrying about it, but I have grown SO much because of this experience. God is good. He is faithful. He knows my future. Not only do I have a cool story of God's faithfulness, but this experience has radically changed my relationship with Him.

so much to say

I'm trying to think of all that's happened since I last updated... I'll try my best...

Things at school have seemed to slow down a little bit, but it seems like everything else has picked up. Only one more week until Spring Break!!

So last week was quite traumatic. I administered my first official ELA TAKS test. Now, here's the thing you need to know about the TAKS test. Students must pass every TAKS test in order to graduate, which means my job (and the jobs of all teachers) depend on these results. It's a very secure test, and we have to go through all this training and paper work just to stand on our feet all day and monitor the test. The actual test day wasn't so bad, but I sure hope the 11th graders did good. If they get an over all 95% then I get a bonus in November :)

But it wasn't just the TAKS that made my week traumatic. Last Thursday, a fight broke out in my class. Now I don't mean a petty argument, I mean a full-out fist fight. Now it certainly was over something silly and was a fight between friends, but regardless, my heart was racing and I was pretty upset with these boys. I spent a long time talking with the police and AP's afterwards. At least it got me out of class.....

This week we are focusing on teen deaths related to drunk driving. Today was really cool. They brought out two cars on the street in front of the school that had been wrecked, and simulated an accident. The police, EMT, corner, etc. all came. It was very moving and way to realistic. The actors had blood all over them, they even took someone on a CareFlight. The students really seemed to be moved by it. Every 15 mins over the loud speaker we hear 10 seconds of a heart beat to symbolize another life lost to drunk driving, and "The Grim Reaper" has been paying classes a visit and removing someone from the room to also symbolize the deaths. Someone then reads an obituary for the student. Tomorrow, the parents of the students who were "killed" will be on campus for a mock memorial service, but there will also be a family here who really did lose a child to drunk driving. What a powerful statement.

I have a few workshops to attend this week, one is on the choking game which has become quite popular on campuses. My school had a student die just before January from this game. Her parents will be present at the workshop.

Spring Break is almost here! Daniel and I will be meeting up in Austin with my parents, Leah, Sarah, Isaiah, and Melody. I am VERY excited. It's been way too long since I have seen family. WAY TOO LONG!

I'm attempting to finish The Host, but I'm having a hard time getting into it... maybe over Spring Break...

I feel like God is trying to prepare my heart for something. Just the things I've been learning in my quiet times, at church, and in small groups kind of all point towards that. It never ceases to amaze me how those different settings can all be "unintentionally" teaching me the same thing. I love being apart of HIStory.

finally

I know. I've very over due. So I'm going to copy my old roommate, Katie, and do this blog the way we used to... informative lists. Awesome.

This past weekend was Journey (Disciple Now). I had 11th grade girls and it was awesome! God moved in mighty ways.

I keep fooling my self into thinking that life will soon slow down. I think it helps me for the time being.

Daniel and I just celebrated 4 months. :)

The weather has flirted around the upper 60's for too long. I'm ready for beach weather.

This semester feels soooo different then last semester. I am really enjoying my job and my students. Not that I didn't last semester, just more so this semester.

I had my first (and hopefully last) MRI this past week. It was unpleasant.

On the medical note, I broke my toe.

3 more weeks to Spring Break! Me and Daniel are meeting up with my family in Austin. Can't wait!!

Sarah is about a month and a half away from having little Joshua. I'm looking forward to holding him.

Last week I got asked to write 4 letters of recommendation for my students. They must like me.

I realized this weekend that I truly enjoy working in the ministry. I help out with the junior high on Sundays right now, and will soon be leading a small group for the college ministry. This weekend though made me want to work in some way with the high school too, but I guess I have to limit myself before I make too many commitments.

In my small group we have been doing the Experiencing God study. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a new and refreshing devotional. It has dramatically changed the way I view and approach my relationship with God.

Daniel and I have been memorizing Romans 8. Here's what I got so far. I'm sure I'm missing some words....

Therefore there is now no condemnation for anyone who is in Christ Jesus for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as an offering, He condemned sin in the flesh so that the requirement of the law might be fullfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For a mind set on the flesh leads to death, but a mind set on the Spirit leads to life and peace, because a mind set on the flesh is hostile towards God for it does not subject itself to the Law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh can not please God.


...I need to get some work done :(

DEBATE IS OVER!

Dear Mom,
I told you I would update my blog today, but the day got away from me and I no longer feel like sitting down and catching the world wide web up on my life. Perhaps I will tomorrow. Until then, please accept this short and inadequate blog and know that a much overdue one is on the way. Love, Your favorite daughter.