I decided to take some time to write. It's been a very long time since I've been able to just sit down and do this, but I'm taking the time to do it. I wish it hasn't been as long as it has been. I'm sure you all have had great changes within the time: it seems that everyone is popping out babies or getting married up there! I try to keep up with it a bit on Facebook, but would really love to hear what is new with all of you!
Life as a teacher in a classroom all on my own is proving to be a challenge. My class is amazing, though. I love them, though I am pretty sure that I fail to show that a good chunk of the time. There is absolutely NO time, however, to yourself when you are a teacher. I eat lunch standing up, I spend my nights writing lesson plans and tracking data that my students have produced through assessments based on standards they need to know. I develop systems that make my classroom run more smoothly. And then I redevelop those when the 1st set fails. I work at least 10-14 hour days. To say the least, it is a lifestyle...not a job.
Marriage is wonderful. We had a rough go of it for the first few months, but we seem to be hitting a stride now that we are almost 6 months in that is comfortable, yet still challenging. It's amazing to think of where we were and where we now are and I can't imagine what our relationship will be like in 25 years, God willing. :)
We were able to take a trip recently to Savannah, GA to see the lovely Delaina Paasch (some of you know her from Madison) become Delaina Hooks. It was an 11 hour drive there and back that we had to make in a 3 day weekend, which made it not quite a vacation, but the drive time left me with ample enough time to reflect and think on the things I have not been able to think on often. All through northeaster Florida and into the coastal areas of Georgia, there are reforestation projects happening. I love reforestation; not just because it's good for our environment, but because of the aesthetic beauty of the young wildwoods. As in any forest, the chaos of the trees sporadically placed is reminiscent of the beauty and power of our God. But when reforestation is looked at from multiple angles, a pattern emerges. The trees are actually planted in rows...and there is comfort in the order of the rows of trees that were planted with a purpose. Stepping back from that thought, really, all trees are planted in their place with a purpose. Nothing goes unseen by the omniscient God we serve.
It is in those forests that I so long to wander through again that I see the good and perfect plans of God. And I am comforted by the seeming disorder.
In other news, please be praying for us. We have decided to hold off on continuing with the implementation of our nonprofit for at least a year. We feel it is the wise decision for now, as we feel like we need to reassess the development process of the neighborhood. It's not like we can just plant a church, like you can in so many places. We have to invest in our neighbors more than we have and God is really challenging us right now to strive to know Him more, to know each other more and to know our neighbors more.
I am nervous to get out there and unsure of what is going to happen now.
But I guess I just need to get back to those thickets and trees...
I love you all and miss you very much. I hope you are doing well and that I will hear from you soon.
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