This is for you, Jenn

I know, I know. It's been a while. Sorry!

I am super busy right now, trying to get into the swing of things. So, I've slacked off of blogging. But I'm back!

Student teaching is wonderful. I've been in the classroom since Tuesday, and I have already learned all of my homeroom students' names. I just have the other 2 fifth grade homerooms to go... Anyway, I love teaching and being around students. I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed me with the ability and opportunity to do something that I love! The only bad part so far has been getting up at 5:30 when my body was used to getting up at 6:15ish. But, it's totally worth it when we get to send the kids out the door at 2:30!!

Switching topics here, I have a busy weekend ahead: Mom is flying in tomorrow night. Family pictures are on Saturday (oh, joy), and then there's Monday. No school. No plans. No alarm clock. Praise the Lord!

Sorry this has been boring. I'll try to jazz the next one up a bit more so that I can seem more interesting and entertaining.

The Church's One Foundation

We sang a song Sunday morning from the good old Baptist Hymnal that I have never heard before. And I was floored.

"The Church's One Foundation"

The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord
she is his new creation by water and the Word.
From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride
with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.

Elect from every nation, yet one o'er all the earth
her charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth
one holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.

Though with a scornful wonder we see her sore oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up, "How long?"
And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.

Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation of peace forevermore
till, with the vision glorious, her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we
like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.

-Samuel J. Stone, 1839-1900

Girls' Ministry

I have felt for some time now that God has called me to disciple girls/young women, and I am seeking out ways to be obedient to that calling. I bought a couple new books (!) at Lifeway last week, and I started reading Girls' Ministry Handbook: Starting and Growing a Girls' Ministry in Your Church (Jimmie L. Davis) today at work. It is wonderful, encouraging, inspiring, and gut-wrenching all at the same time. Below are a few of the frightening statistics that the book mentions:

-One million teens in the U.S. will become pregnant in the next 12 months.
-Eating disorders are now the third most common chronic illness in adolescent girls.
-One in three girls has had sex by age 16; two out of three girls has had sex by age 18.
-Almost 35% of girls in high school have felt sad or hopeless almost every day for at least two weeks.
-Almost 40% of date rape victims are between the ages of 14 and 17.
-About 1 out of 10 young people self-mutilate.
-A 2006 status report from Georgetown University's Center of Alcohol Marketing and Youth "noted an increase in binge drinking among girls, who are more likely to consume hard liquor than their beer-inclined male counterparts."

Wow. That makes my burden much heavier. I am so thankful that God protected me from being a part of any of those statistics. I am also thankful for the wonderful godly women He used in my life along the way: Jenn, Julie, Chris, Christy, Anna, and many others.... thank you!

God is so good. Please be in prayer for me as I seek obedience in this.

Random

Today I am filled with random thoughts. Macie came to visit me at work today, and she was so good! The ladies in the office wanted to see her before I leave the office for good. (Countdown: 6 days/maybe 5... it just depends.) We are having Macie spayed on Tuesday, and I have been trying to prepare her for the surgery, but so far she doesn't seem to care. I do.

Justin and I are thinking about having a D-Now weekend at church sometime this fall. We have never organized/participated in a D-Now event. Any suggestions?

They will revoke my citizenship

I haven't watched the Olympics. At all. I love summer Olympics (mainly just gymnastics and swimming), but I have been too busy/lazy to watch any of the events. I am not worthy to be called an American, I know.

I was just thinking about how much has changed since the last summer Olympics, and I got a good laugh out of a few things that came to mind. :) Four years ago:

1. I didn't even know that Justin existed. Now, I am happily married to him.
2. I was getting ready to start college. At Transy. Now, I am getting ready to be a college graduate. From EKU.
3. I secretly hoped that my future success included fame... maybe a dance career, maybe a singing career---I am not good enough at either to be famous, but I still had hope. Now, I know that my future success lies in the classroom, and I am okay with that. At least I am kind of famous at Wal-Mart when I see one of my students.... "Mrs. Padgett!" :)
4. No one knew that Lance Bass (NSYNC) was gay. Some may have suspected it, but no one knew for sure.
5. There was no such thing as an i-Pod!! Can you believe it?!
6. "Toxic" was Britney Spears' big hit... and, she had no babies. Nor had she been divorced twice. Once was enough for her. I do still love to crank up "Toxic" in my car, though. :)


Oh, what a difference a few years makes. I wonder how much will have changed by the next summer Olympics.

Graduate Education and Research...

I only have to answer the phones at work for 9 more days! I only have to be at work for 9 more days! Then, it's HELLO STUDENT TEACHING!! :)

King's Island was good. I wish that we had gotten to spend more time there, and I wish that Face Off was working because it's my favorite. Nevertheless, I had fun. And it was good to be with old friends that we don't get to see often enough. I love those people, and I miss them terribly. I need to do something about that.

For now, I will leave you with a picture of Macie at 8 weeks. She is precious! I will try to upload a more recent picture soon.

Here we go again

I'm sure that nearly everyone has heard by now that alcohol claimed another life. But it wasn't just another life: it was the life of a classmate. Daniel makes the third member of my graduating class to pass away. And we are just 22 years old. This is a scary trend that needs to come to an end. I know that God has a purpose and a plan in the midst of all of this, but His plan is a bit unclear right now.

Let me take a minute to get on my soapbox. I HATE alcohol. Outside of the obvious things like its horrible smell, I can't stand how a stupid substance like alcohol can control and ruin a person's life. I don't ever want to hear about another person dying with the cause of death linked to alcohol. It is ridiculous. You don't have to drink. No alcohol = no deaths caused by alcohol. It is really that simple. And I don't even want to get started on the subject of underage drinking. Just let me say this: if you are under 21, it is illegal for you to drink. Period. And, if I find out about someone underage drinking and I know the location, don't put it past me to call the police and have them come bust that person/entire "party". It is dangerous and stupid. Ok, I've preached enough. At least for today. I'm sure that there will be more to come on this subject, though.

On a much lighter note, here are some things I am looking forward to/excited about:
-Kings Island TOMORROW :)
-Angela D & Chris' wedding Saturday :)
-School is starting soon, which means I will officially be a student teacher :)
-Graduation is in 4.5 months :) :) :)
-Mom is coming for a visit Labor Day weekend :)
-Justin got his promotion (Assistant Manager @ Valvoline) :)