My Rock

Today I asked myself this question: What do you do when you have a car, but no gas in it, nor money to put gas in it with (other playing outside with your adorable pups)?

The answer I gave myself: Work on materials for my future classroom!

There have been so many set-backs and change-ups here that was so frustrating to me at first, but now I see it all as a part of the process.  I have been trying to find the balance between staying active and enjoying peaceful, quiet moments.  It seems this has always been a struggle for me, and twenty-six and a half years later... it's starting to click much more.

So, no, I do not officially have a classroom as of yet... but I believe I will quite soon-ish. :) And no, it will not be within my own home.  Although, that "classroom" is still taking over one of our spare bedrooms.  I just don't have it in me to take everything down, and there's really no point.  Plus, I wasn't even finished! Here is what I had so far when I thought I was going to have an in-home preschool, and then found out it was way too overwhelming, pricey, and invasive as it would have had to be in our living room rather than this cutesy little room.

(Please don't mind all the scrapbooking materials cluttering the floor...)
And I'm kindaaa glad I didn't spend any more time decorating that bare wall! The blocks/fold-up block table, farm set, and kitchenette were all things I got nice and cheap from Camp Pendleton Yardsales.  Gotta love a bargain.

 Trying to stay semi-organized here.

My very own make-shift Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom tree (I know, it's not a palm tree, but it works.)

Close up of one of my projects I've been working on.  For each letter, you attach/draw objects that start with that letter sound.  Thank you to a chicka-boom website I found on Pinterest!

I just couldn't wait to have the kiddos do this project, but I figure with my actual pre-k class I will post one letter up each week or so.  That way we can discuss the letter sounds and then they will make their own collage for each letter, and then maybe we will turn them into their very own ABC booklets.


Well, since I had to make room in my little classroom, guess where my desk ended up?  That's right...

The HALLWAY!  I actually like it out here though, as long as I have a fan nearby cuz it gets hottt. I'm excited to work on more of the items on my To-Do list as far as preparing for my future Pre-K classroom... such as putting together a Line-Up Chant book, making signs for centers to hang from the ceiling, and making a "What we did today" board as a replacement for calendar time.  I figure the more I do now, the more I will be prepared when they offer me the job.  Is it obvious how hopeful I am here?! 

Another idea I found on Pinterest is for my furry babies! They always find random clothes to curl up in as a bed, so instead I used one of their blankets they weren't using too much, and turned it into a bed using an extra pillow case.  Neither one of them seemed to like it the first day or so, but when my poor little Brewer got a cyst and had to wear a T-Shirt so he wouldn't infect it any more, he was all bummed out.... and we found him laying on the bed I made.  Now they both use it all the time! 

 My hubby has been grilling out tons lately because it still doesn't feel like fall here in sunny Cali.. which is a little disappointing.  So to make it more fall-like, I have my pumpkin spice Scentsy burning almost constantly, fall decorations (fake pumpkins and about 4 scarecrows), and CAKE POPS! K I cheated they are actually cookie pops, but with fall-ish sprinkles.  We devour these things like crazy that I haven't had enough to share with friends yet.  As long as the hubs is happy!

When I look back to even a few months ago, I realize that our security was in the money and "prosperity" in our lives.  We thought we were right on track... and maybe we were in the eyes of our culture.  But when we were hit with financial insecurity, especially with me out of a job, it just seemed like it was one thing after another.  I broke down, and we both just felt helpless and out of control.  We hit rock bottom... and there was our rock: Our God.  Maybe He allowed this to happen to us to open our eyes that our security was not being placed in Him, but in our money, making money our god.  We are still in debt, I am still waiting on hearing about whether or not I have a job, and we are okay.

In fact, I can't believe I'm saying this but both Chris and I agree that what we thought was hell, had actually brought us even closer.  We are clinging to Christ and he is providing for us, some way, some how.  I mean, how else would we have been able to search our pantry and fridge to find hardly anything but: corn, spinach leaves, tomatoe, bbq sauce, craft singles, and home made pizza dough... and make a pizza out of it?!?! I think our Kitchen Scraps Pizza was the first moment when we looked at
each other in this situation and actually laughed at it.

He wrote to me: "Girl, you're amazing just the way you are!"

Life has been crazy, but then again, is it ever normal?

"And which of you by being overly anxious and troubled with cares can add a cubit to his stature or a moment [unit] of time to his age?" Luke 12:25

"Today, refuse to worry, be anxious, or allow fear to operate in your life.  Declare your trust in God in every situation." Joyce Meyers