1. There is a very big uncertainty about my job right now. If you know me well, or maybe even if you don't know too well, you know how much I talk about my job. To say I love my job might be the understatement of the century. I have wanted to be a teacehrs since I was 5...literally. I am in love with job. I am in love with my kids. I am in love with teaching. I am in love with developing relationships with them and getting to know them and hopefully show them Jesus. I am in love with encouraging them and seeing them grow. I am even in love with being at a school that has babies that are on the lower end of the economic scale. I love how I have grown from teaching. I love how Cheerleading (even though it has been a bit of a thorn in my side the past year or so) has allowed the Lord to grow me in ways I have needed to really grow in. All that said- there is a major budget cut going on in education right now. I must be honest and say I did not know that it would be as bad as it is right now. Nor did I realize how much impact it would have on my job. However, our superintendent came out with a new video speaking to all the AISD employees telling us that we are in a very bad spot due to a deficit we already had and now additional cuts from the state. We are losing a lot, including UTA stadium and many jobs and dissolving of many programs. One of the next proposed cuts are firing of 775 Probationary teachers. I fall under this category because I am in year 3 of my teaching. You are in probationary for years 1-3. This is scary. If they go through with this it will save them A LOT of money, but you will also be losing a lot of teachers that have a passion for teaching. (And I realize I may just seem to be saying this because I am in this category, but some of the best teachers I know with awesome ideas and drives and passions are in this category). They have also told us that if we do keep our jobs we will gain another section for teaching as well as lose a conference period every other day. This may not seem like a lot, but especially for those of us that may have to keep extracurriculars it will be a lot of extra work. Which in the grand scheme of having a job, I guess that really doesn't matter. All this to say...I feel as though I am in another time of uncertainty. Who knows what will happen. Maybe they will find another way to save money, but either way someone is going to lose a job. There is anxiousness all around me in the faces of my co-workers. I love the family that has been developed at my school and it is scary to think that that will change. BUT here is the thing the Lord is yet again pounding into my head- He has different plans for me than I might have for myself. And what i have to do and continue to do is Trust Him and wait. ACTUALLY TRUST HIM. I am venturing to say I think I am getting there. I have a crazy peace..and even though I get that stupid anxiousness of "Ash what if you write this and then lose your job the next day...what are you going to say then?" I have to say that the Lord is going to take care of me. I mean, He has, He will. He will find some way for me to make money. To have a ministry. He knows my heart...he knows my desires, and most of all His plan is way better than my own. And hopefully, I am still teaching next year. Hopefully at the school I am teaching at. The unknown is scary, especially because I truly truly love teaching so much! I am not just saying it...it brings my heart joy. But, the Lord knows that right? Right.
SOOOO, with that being said, I would like to list some things I am thankful for. Not in any particular order, what I am blessed to say I have and thankful for!!
1. Jesus!!!! This is obvious and my relationship is SUPER important and has been invaluable (obviously). I just love Him so much!!
2. My job. I love teaching. I love my babies. I love my girls. I love getting to be creative and dorky and the kids laughing at my jokes, when let's face it...I am not too funny. ;)
3. The relationships I have right now and the relationships that are developing. I love how the Lord works things out and brings new people in your life as well as the old to show you how GOOD and GRACIOUS He is. That is the best.
4. The new found patience the Lord is giving me. Who knows why he is being that gracious, but OH MY WORD, is it new and something that I am SO excited about!
5. School supplies. Yes, I said it... I love me some markers, post-it notes, highlighters and other various organizational tools.
6. Uggs- I probably post this everytime, but I mean it is SO cold outside. If you have Uggs you understand. If you don'...I am sorry. ;)
7. My planner and how it keeps me organized.
8. My Iphone
9. My church and the people in it.
10. A solid group of people that are around me. I know that I mentioned the whole relationships thing above, but the Lord truly has blessed me with the people that I get to call friends and family members in my life. I cannot even imagine doing life without them.
There is way more, but that is all I have for right now. ;) Here are some other updates before I go-
1. Recent Picture of Nennie-Bug
2. I had the opportunity to speak in the Blush Conference here recently. Please check them out and the website out if you have never heard of it!!! The Lord is going to do and is doing some mighty things through this ministry!!!
3. My long-time bestie from Junior High and High School got engaged!!!! Congrats to my little muffin! ;)
5. I heard a sermon recently about singleness, dating and marriage. One of the things that Adam talked about was how to wait in the Lord in your singleness or dating life...and that is preparing to be a wife by serving the Lord. I read this verse and it has just really caught me with how much there is to being a wife. I am not any where close to being a wife to anyone, but I think that this was a wise thought in the sense of preparing yourself to be a Godly woman, thus a Godly wife.
You can find his sermons (WHICH I TOTALLY RECOMMEND!!!) at www.redrevolution.com
Proverbs 31:10-31
10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Lastly, this is more of request, but would you please pray for AISD? I don't know what to say to pray for exactly, but maybe just for the decisions that the higher ups have to make. And peace for everyone involved and with whatever happens. Love you guys so much! Thanks for reading my blog!!!!
