Where God Leads

God has such an interesting way of teaching me lessons, all the time. I have finally gotten my car inspected, registered, and have two Texas plates (still need to figure out how to attach the front one but have not gotten the chance to ask yet) and hope to get my drivers license soon. The main reason why I do not have my drivers license is because I got completely and utterly LOST on my way to the public safety office I think is what they call it.

How was I supposed to know that when mapquest told me to take highway 183 it was the same as 121 and highway 820 kind of turned into. The directions were WAY easier on paper! That is the last time I get all independent and think I can travel some place in Texas without ask a local first. The ladies at work were so sympathetic and helpful when I got back from my wasted 2.5 hour break. It was only supposed to take me about 20-25 min to get there with traffic. And yes, I did finally find the place but who knows how I finally got there. God took care of me, even when I had not a clue where I was, where I had been, and where I was going. I have always wanted to be good with directions but it is really time that I stop thinking that and face reality:)

Starting last night I am taking a hiatus from my aunt and uncle's house to live at a friend's house. Her and her wonderful husband and sons are on vacation and I am loving the solitude and time with their lab, who reminds me a lot of my Aspen. This week alone came at just the right time. I have been needing some time all to myself to seek God and just have uninterrupted me time. This includes a longer drive to and from work and a house to myself. Believe it or not I am right in between being an extrovert and an introvert. In fact, sometimes I think people are offended by my spending a lot of time by myself but there are times when I really need it.

One of the big groups I have been attending at church sprouted a women's smaller group. We have met several times and the other women in the group are great. The purpose of the group is to work through stuff in our lives by great devotions, group time, and supporting each other. I am so thankful for this group and for God leading me there the first week I moved here. God is growing me and stretching me in so many ways.

Last Sunday was an exciting day. I was baptized by full immersion. Never thought I would become a Southern Baptist but I will be joining Harvest soon. So many people in my church family have mentioned standing up with me on Sunday as I have seen them this week. (When someone is baptized in the baptistery above the choir loft everyone who is a part of this person's life stands up in the audience during the baptism. The funny thing is there is a huge spot light on the person being baptized and the pastor baptizing them (my Adult Bible Fellowship teacher was the pastor who baptized me). So as I looked out on the huge sanctuary all I saw was darkness and a bunch of figures standing in the front row. Beyond that it was impossible to tell).

Work continues to keep me busy. I work anywhere from 35-40 hours a week. Everyday is different but I always end up in the infant room for the last 3-4 hours. It is good to hear my boss tell me how much she trusts me and is thankful she can put me in any classroom and know I will be able to handle it. The class I was in the most this week was the Early Preschool Room, three-year-olds. One of the boys in the classroom can be a bit of a handful but not as bad as others. I have had the opportunity to talk with him one-on-one and connect a little more with him than other children though.

One of the things I like about this little guy is every once in awhile he will play with my hair while I read books. Who doesn't love having their hair played with? I always have mine in a ponytail because I know the younger kids love to pull hair. So anyway, I walked in the classroom one day this week and the first thing my buddy said was "Miss Marie I like your hair". It put a smile on my face because I had left my hair down and just pulled part of it back, very different from usual. Then later that day he played with my hair while I read books. I think he is going to be a stylist someday.

Another cute thing about the children at school is they all have different ways of trying to pronounce my name. Here are a few I can remember right now: Arie, Missery (Miss Marie), Re, Miss Mary. The other teachers always seem confused when the girl who calls me Miss Mary says my name. I explain to them I have tried to teach her how to say it correctly but it always comes out the same way. They then try to help her pronounce it and get the same results.

Even though I was trying not to apply for a job in child care again because I knew the pay was low I know God led me to this job for a reason...

God has led me to a job I enjoy, is hard work, and fulfilling. However, I am never going to make it on my current income. Please pray God will lead me to the right job at the right time. My hope is to finally rent a place on my own. At this point that is not even close to being an option and I do not know if that is God's plan for me.

Cowboy Baby

I figured y'all deserved an update on the real reason I moved to Texas (yeah right, we all know God led me here for some amazing things to happen, which have not yet happened). I have met several cowboys and lots of just guys here in Texas. However, the cowboys are all married, I think they all marry young, and the other guys are younger than me or just not the right one. That's it. Nothing else to report on that issue. The search continues...

p.s. I am getting baptised at church tomorrow, full immersion, and I am super excited! Then I will become a member of Harvest (a Southern Baptist church:).

Western Michigan Accent

I was pegged by my accent the other day at work. Besides getting a lot more used to the Texan accent I have forgotten that I have one too. One of the parents at work was telling me something and I said "gotcha" without even thinking about it. Immediately she asked me where I was from with my accent and "gotcha". I laughed and told her Michigan. Then the next day I was asking a fellow teacher where the baby's pipe was. She made me repeat the word and still looked very confused. I said "pacifier, nuky, pacy, pipe". She thought I was crazy for calling it a pipe and finally understood. Now that I think about it pipe is a very weird name for a pacifier.


I finally got my car in for inspection and it passed. Next I have to find the place where I will register my car. Mapquest says it is only a 20min drive but I know it will be more than with traffic and it is in an area I have not gone yet.

Today I found out I will have to move by June so my search begins again. You would think I would be good at searching for a place to live since I have lived in five places since college but it is never easy. Especially the trying to find a roommate part because I cannot afford to live alone. Prayers on this matter would be greatly appreciated!

I miss you all and wish you could be enjoying the nice weather and green trees with me.

Strength

That is what God has been teaching me this past week. I have leaned solely on him because now of mine is left. I have always been one of those people who "if it can happen to someone then it happens to me". The two things I have always struggled with: finances and health. When I think, great now I can pay off some more bills and start saving, I end up owing even more for something or an added expense pops up. I never sick per say but I always am battling my allergies and sinuses. Just when I have my allergies better under control I get a sinus infection that makes me sleep all week, except for when I am at work. Well, that is how my past week was wasted and it ended with another unexpected financial thing. God has allowed me to lean on his strength this week and helped me make it work each day. I know he will bless me soon for fighting Satan's numerous attacks.

One a more positive note I will be starting a women's study (on Thursdays) with two or three other women from my church. I have been waiting to be apart of a group like this since I started at Harvest. Monday nights I am apart of a great group of believers who struggles with some of the same things I do. Wednesday nights I go to a bible study which is currently all about parables. Fridays I will once again be able to connect with the group of people my age (go figure that the first meeting after over a month off and I am too tired/sick to attend). Sundays I am in an Adult Bible Fellowship group learning more about the book of Daniel before Sunday service. By surrounding myself with these various unique groups of people I am hoping to grow more in God with other believers and not just learn about Him and meet new people.

Being in active relation with other believers is so important to me and who I am. I am even lucky enough to have a woman at work who I work with for at least several hours everyday to talk about faith with. Yes, we do talk to the babies also but if they are falling asleep in our laps or drinking a bottle it is good to talk faith with the other caregiver in the room:)

I hope God is doing a good work in all of you also. Please e-mail me, text me, facebook me, or something. I miss hearing from all of you. God Bless!!!

Growing

The past year has been very difficult at times. I have had many not so great experiences and have learned amazing lessons from them. The best part of the past year is how much I have grown as a person. I really finally feel like I am becoming the person I want to be. Moving every year or two has made it hard to settle down and work on just being me. But God has been working on me with how I relate to others and how I see the world around me. Friends have told me I have changed since they first met me and I know I am a different person from the one I was in high school or even college. Being in a whole different state without any close friends nearbye has made me realize who I really am. Meeting a ton of new people for the first time could make a person want to start fresh as someone new. Staying true to who I am and continually improving myself has made me see life in a new light. We never really stop growing. God is always working in us and through us. Has God been doing major work in your life?

I am an auntie again!!!

My second niece, Macy Edelle, was born at 11:06am on March 11. She is 7lbs 11oz and 20.5 inches long. She has a full head of brown hair and has the same cute little nose as her sister Aylah. You can see pictures of Macy by visiting the Life in Jersey blog that I follow. Yesterday I got to hear Macy makes some noise while talking to Andrea on the phone, I love it! Both Andrea and Macy are doing great and Aylah loves to hold her little sister. It is such a blessing to have two beautiful nieces. I hope to see them both in August when they visit Michigan.

As far as work goes, I love working in the infant room, no surprise there:) Some of the rules are a little different, such as washing the babies hands and my hands before each change (as well as washing both after which was the rule in MI). Thank goodness for Curel hand lotion! There are a total of 9 babies and I love them all, a couple are just more challenging than others;) I have also helped out in the Early Preschool (3's) and Preschool (4's) classrooms. Just this past week I was in the Toddler Room (2-2.5 yr olds) several times and once in the 2's room. The infant room is still my favorite. I have not quite gotten used to having up to 11 two-year-olds all to myself or 9 one-year-olds.

On Friday I took care of two sick kiddos. One in the infant room and one in the 2's room (with a temp of 103!). I am chewing on Cold-Eeze gum balls and making sure I take my multi-vitamin this weekend. I hope to not get sick within the first month of working in child care, that is what usually happens as you build up your immune system.

The women I work with are great. Especially the three in the infant room, they are all Christians and it is great to chat about our faith while feeding babies. While talking with my boss and a couple of teachers from the older rooms my boss asked if I went to church, they all do, when I told her which church I attend she said "Oh, so you are a Jesus Freak too". Yup! I am:)

I continue to meet new people at church and found a women who really wants to be my friend. She explained to me something I had started to notice. People in Texas are nice and friendly but it is really hard to get past the surface. This woman moved to Texas with her husband and sons two years agob so she remembers what it is like being new to Texas.

Next week I will start the process of becoming an actual Texan. Oh yea I am so excited, not! I have to have my car inspected, change my car insurance, get new license plates, and get a new drivers license. And before all that I have to get a new windshield because the tiny chip I got on the drive down here has started cracking in two different directions like crazy (I did not realize I had the chip until the crack was several inches long.) So I will be praying for my car to pass inspection without any major repairs and that I will not have any hassles going to the several different locations to get my license and plates.

I never thought I would leave MI let alone become a resident of the state with the most pride. God bless Texas!

First Couple of Days on the Job

I have been working at La Petite Academy for two days now and have yet to be a caregiver in a classroom. Why you ask? Because they definitely do a thurough job of training their staff. I am trying to be patient and just soak everything in. I do not even know which classroom I will end up in. My ultimate goal though is to apply for an assistant director position (which is what I did originally but did not know the academy or licensing rules of TX yet).

Some of the licensing rules are very different from the Michigan rules. A teacher is allowed to have a ton more kids in their room in TX compared to MI. One reason why this still works out okay is because the teachers have ways to keep better track of their children and are given more resources to use in the classroom to keep the children busy.

Overall I am happy to have a job and that I am working for a great lady who runs her academy very well. She told me as I was leaving tonight that I will be in a classroom for at least a little while tomorrow for sure. I am getting fingerprinted in the morning so that makes me legal to be in the classroom with the kids as a caregiver. And besides that there will be several teachers out tomorrow. I am looking forward to getting to know some of the kids more.

I will be sure to keep you updated. Right now it has just been paperwork, reading, and more reading:)