My latest book review for Book Look Bloggers is for the book Loveology by John Mark Comer.
What is the purpose of marriage? Should everyone get married? What does the Bible teach about premarital sex? What does the Bible really teach about homosexuality?
In the book Loveology, John Mark Comer uses the Bible as a context to answer these and many more questions about God, love, sex, and marriage. This book is an excellent resource for anyone who is looking for answers to these questions and to understand what the Bible has to say. There are even chapters in this book, such as the chapter on homosexuality, that I would encourage non-Christians to read so they can understand where Christians are coming from based on the Bibles teachings.
Some of the key points of this book are as follows:
- The Bible teaches that sex is to be shared by a man and a woman in the context of marriage. Any sexual act outside of marriage is considered sin, going against God's will for us. Sex is a bonding of two people at a very deep level, and to have sex outside of the marriage relationship can be very damaging indeed.
- Any sexual act outside of marriage is a sin. This means heterosexual sex and homosexual acts are sinful outside of the context of marriage. Since marriage as God intended is between a man and a woman, that is why homosexual acts are considered sinful. A person can be gay (attracted to people of the same gender as themselves) and still be a follower of Christ if they abstain from engaging in homosexual acts just as a single person can be a Christian living according to the Bible if they abstain from sex until they are married.
- Marriage was created for many reasons that John Mark Comer discusses in this book. One of these main reasons is that of the couple working together to help fulfill God's will for each of them. They have to be on the same wavelength and help each other cultivate their gifts to reach God's will for them.
I wish I understood these teachings more fully before I was in a romantic relationship, but understanding them now helps me to fully grasp how important my marriage is in fulfilling God's will for both myself and my husband as well as for our children. I am going to pass this book on to my husband and suggest that he read it. I also intend on having each of my children read this book when they reach high school age. I think it will give them a much better understanding of why they should wait. Overall, this is a great book. Five stars!
I receive these books free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook Bloggers book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
How Schools are Encouraging Bullying
My daughter has been bullied. She's only in second grade and seven years old, but she's already been bullied. Or maybe teased is a more apt term. Either way, the school she was attending turned a blind eye and even tried to make it seem as if she was having troubles socially, making friends, etc. This rang some bells for me as the same thing happened when I was in school. My parents even took me to a counselor who was teaching me how to make friends. Even at my young age, I quickly learned this was a bunch of hooey. Why was I having trouble making friends? It was simple. I was a nice person and kids were jerks.
They still are today.
I saw this story come across my news feed on Facebook. Basically this child (Grayson) brought a My Little Pony lunch sack to school because he likes the show. He was then teased and even physically bullied. Instead of addressing the bullying and trying to make it stop, the school asked Grayson not to bring the lunch sack to school because it "caused a disruption in the classroom."
This ridiculousness is what makes bullying keep getting worse and worse. What kind of message does this send to kids when they see the school respond in this manner? I'll tell you what it says to me. It says that if you are being an individual, expressing yourself, showing what you like, and some other kids don't like it, that they are in the right. It says that if kids are bullying and teasing you, that you are doing something wrong. You must be doing something wrong. There must be something wrong with you. It also says to the bullies. "Hey, go ahead and bully that kid who is different from you. The school officials will just tell them to stop being different."
This needs to stop. Now. Schools need to realize what they are doing when they make decisions like this. Do they not think these things through first? The best thing to do to get rid of bullies is to let them know that this bullying is not acceptable! How can we do this? Schools need to stop taking the bully's side! They need to realize that when a child is bullied for being different, the issue is not that the child is different. The issue is that the child was bullied. The first step is to let the parents know that the children are bullying so they can take steps to make it stop. We all know that this will not solve the problem in all cases. In fact, some parents may even encourage the bullies. If it doesn't stop the bullying, then the school needs to take further actions such as suspension or expulsion in extreme circumstances. They also need to listen to the victims and their parents and not belittle or discount what they say. My husband reported bullying brought up to him by our daughter and was told that she was "too sensitive". If a victim of bullying says they are being bullied, they are being bullied! No more of this "kids will be kids" stuff. I look at it this way. If I were at a job and I said someone was sexually harassing me, the employee relations department would look into it. Even if it was unfounded, they would still look into it. Shouldn't the schools operate in the same way with bullying? This is a huge issue and it will not be solved overnight, but the schools need to first stop blaming the victim and realize that they can't just turn a blind eye to bullies!
Speak out! If your child is bullied and the school tries to dismiss it, stand up for your kid! I know that most parents would do this without even being told, but this story is just all the more reason to do so! Don't let the schools bully you when your kid is bullied!
They still are today.
I saw this story come across my news feed on Facebook. Basically this child (Grayson) brought a My Little Pony lunch sack to school because he likes the show. He was then teased and even physically bullied. Instead of addressing the bullying and trying to make it stop, the school asked Grayson not to bring the lunch sack to school because it "caused a disruption in the classroom."
This ridiculousness is what makes bullying keep getting worse and worse. What kind of message does this send to kids when they see the school respond in this manner? I'll tell you what it says to me. It says that if you are being an individual, expressing yourself, showing what you like, and some other kids don't like it, that they are in the right. It says that if kids are bullying and teasing you, that you are doing something wrong. You must be doing something wrong. There must be something wrong with you. It also says to the bullies. "Hey, go ahead and bully that kid who is different from you. The school officials will just tell them to stop being different."
This needs to stop. Now. Schools need to realize what they are doing when they make decisions like this. Do they not think these things through first? The best thing to do to get rid of bullies is to let them know that this bullying is not acceptable! How can we do this? Schools need to stop taking the bully's side! They need to realize that when a child is bullied for being different, the issue is not that the child is different. The issue is that the child was bullied. The first step is to let the parents know that the children are bullying so they can take steps to make it stop. We all know that this will not solve the problem in all cases. In fact, some parents may even encourage the bullies. If it doesn't stop the bullying, then the school needs to take further actions such as suspension or expulsion in extreme circumstances. They also need to listen to the victims and their parents and not belittle or discount what they say. My husband reported bullying brought up to him by our daughter and was told that she was "too sensitive". If a victim of bullying says they are being bullied, they are being bullied! No more of this "kids will be kids" stuff. I look at it this way. If I were at a job and I said someone was sexually harassing me, the employee relations department would look into it. Even if it was unfounded, they would still look into it. Shouldn't the schools operate in the same way with bullying? This is a huge issue and it will not be solved overnight, but the schools need to first stop blaming the victim and realize that they can't just turn a blind eye to bullies!
Speak out! If your child is bullied and the school tries to dismiss it, stand up for your kid! I know that most parents would do this without even being told, but this story is just all the more reason to do so! Don't let the schools bully you when your kid is bullied!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Lessons I've Learned From My Newborn
We teach our children, but they teach us too! I've had three newborns, but I learn something new every time! Here are some of the most important lessons I have learned from having a newborn.
Patience - The first three months are the hardest. Patience for me mostly deals with sleep. My babies do not want to go right back to sleep after breast feeding. Most sessions last about an hour between the feeding and falling asleep again. I have learned to be patient and realize that sleep will come. If I try to force it, he does not sleep as well or for as long, and neither do I. I keep telling myself it will get better because I know it will!
Sometimes, it's nice just to be held. - My first child was pretty laid back (once we got her tummy troubles straightened out). She was happy being held, happy sitting in a bouncer seat. She was just an all around happy baby. Baby T (now 15 months old) was a little more needy, but even he would sit in a bouncer seat or a swing sometimes without complaint. Little K is another story. He wants to be held All. The. Time. Put him down in a bouncer seat or a swing and within five minutes he will be screaming like someone has wounded him to his very core. So, I hold him. I baby wear as much as I can so I can get things done.
Growth spurts, though highly annoying, are important! - Those dreaded words – growth spurt. These past couple of nights have looked like this – baby eats at 7 pm, goes to sleep at 9 pm. I am ready to go to bed at 9:30 pm. He decides right then to wake up and eat. He eats FOR AN HOUR. He finally goes back to sleep at 10:45 pm. He wakes up at 2 am. Then again at 4. Then again at 6. In between these feedings I get an hour of sleep. Man, am I tired.
He's growing, I know. That's why he wants to eat so often. Growing is a good thing. It's important. But I sure am tired.
Breast feeding is hard, but it's worth it! - Breast feeding puts a lot on a mom. You are the only one to get up with the baby all hours of the night because you have what he needs. When baby goes through growth spurts, you feel like he's attached to you 24/7. But it's all worth it. Baby is healthier! You lose weight! What's not to love? (Read my post on my Love/Hate Relationship with Breastfeeding for more.)
Babies grow up, so enjoy it! - A few people have told me to enjoy baby being this little because it won't last forever. That's what I usually tell myself to get through those long sleepless nights. It's not usually in a positive regard. But then I look back to when my other children were babies. I remember as they hit each milestone and how exciting it was to see that first smile or to hear that first laugh. How nice it was to have a little one to snuggle with that wasn't pulling my hair or climbing on me or getting in to everything he could find. Babies do grow up. It's not all roses with newborns. There are some difficult moments. Revise that. There are MANY difficult moments. But there are also many rewarding and precious moments as well.
Enjoy your newborn. He won't be new forever.
Monday, February 24, 2014
My Favorite Childrens Programs
As a mother of a seven year old, a toddler and a two month old, it can sometimes be difficult to get things done without one or the other demanding my attention. I try not to be one of those moms who parks her kids in front of the TV, but every once in a while a distraction is needed. Here are my favorite children's programs for my kids.
Wild Kratts – PBS
Wild Kratts focuses on the Kratt brothers, who go on adventures to explore the “creature powers” of many different animals. Each episode starts out with the Kratt brothers introducing a particular animal. It then changes into a cartoon where the Kratts go on crazy adventures and make creature suits so they can use the powers of those particular creatures and experience their world. My seven year old loves this show.
Image credit www.animationmagazine.net
Sesame Street - PBS
Who doesn't love Sesame Street? I remember watching this show as a child. My daughter watched it when she was little. She loved Elmo! I don't think my son has really identified his favorite character yet. My favorite part of this show recently is the celebrity appearances. Athletes, actors, singers, you name it, they are on Sesame Street. My husband said that he thinks you know you've made it when they ask you to be on Sesame Street.
Here are some of my favorites:
Bruno Mars – Don't Give Up
Will.i.am – What I Am
Jim Parsons – Arachnid
And, my daughter's favorite – Pentatonix Counts (& Sings) To Five
Peg + Cat - PBS
Peg and her amazing cat solve problems and teach kids about math concepts. It's a great show full of music and humor. Peg and her cat sure get in some silly situations! My favorite part? When Raomne steps in to help, he always ends with “I do what I can!”
Image credit www.iptv.org
I am all about PBS! What are some of your favorite kids' shows?
Wild Kratts – PBS
Wild Kratts focuses on the Kratt brothers, who go on adventures to explore the “creature powers” of many different animals. Each episode starts out with the Kratt brothers introducing a particular animal. It then changes into a cartoon where the Kratts go on crazy adventures and make creature suits so they can use the powers of those particular creatures and experience their world. My seven year old loves this show.
Sesame Street - PBS
Who doesn't love Sesame Street? I remember watching this show as a child. My daughter watched it when she was little. She loved Elmo! I don't think my son has really identified his favorite character yet. My favorite part of this show recently is the celebrity appearances. Athletes, actors, singers, you name it, they are on Sesame Street. My husband said that he thinks you know you've made it when they ask you to be on Sesame Street.
Here are some of my favorites:
Bruno Mars – Don't Give Up
Will.i.am – What I Am
Jim Parsons – Arachnid
And, my daughter's favorite – Pentatonix Counts (& Sings) To Five
Peg + Cat - PBS
Peg and her amazing cat solve problems and teach kids about math concepts. It's a great show full of music and humor. Peg and her cat sure get in some silly situations! My favorite part? When Raomne steps in to help, he always ends with “I do what I can!”
I am all about PBS! What are some of your favorite kids' shows?
Thursday, February 13, 2014
The Perks and Pitfalls of Being a Stay-At-Home Mom
The Perks and Pitfalls of Being a Stay-At-Home Mom
I've done this before...sort of...
I've been on maternity leave twice, but it wasn't the same. I knew I was going to go back to work outside of the home eventually.
I was also out of a job for about 6 months around the time my daughter was 18 months old. That wasn't the same either. I was looking for a job and fully intended on going back to work outside the home soon.
This time, it's different. We have been blessed and I am able to stay at home with my two sons while my husband works outside the home. In the six weeks since I had my son and the couple of weeks since my husband has been working, I've learned that there are perks and pitfalls to being a Stay-At-Home Mom.
Perk: I get to spend a lot of time with my sons! It's great to watch them grow and take care of them.
Pitfall: They demand a lot of attention. I get very little “me” time. I'm lucky if I get a shower while my husband's not home. (I got one today! Yes!) Sometimes I'm able to sneak in a nap while they are napping, but that means that I don't get things done around the house. I also get very little time with adults.
Perk: I get to breast feed my son. No pumping!
Pitfall: Since I breast feed my son, I get up with him all night. No rest for the weary.
Perk: I get to sit around in my pajamas all day.
Pitfall: This makes me feel like a slob. I have no excuse really to put on regular clothes. Sometimes, I even forget to brush my teeth in the morning.
Perk: I will have more time to work on my classes for my Master's degree.
Pitfall: Working on my classes will take away another sliver of my “me” time.
So, as you can see, there are pros and cons to being a stay-at-home mom. It's an adjustment period for me. I've worked outside the home since I was 16 years old, with only a 6 month break when I lost my job and was looking for a new one. That's 16 years of working outside the home. I've only been a stay-at-home mom for about 2 and a half weeks. One thing's for sure. I can't wait for Spring! I need to get out of this house every once in a while!
I've done this before...sort of...
I've been on maternity leave twice, but it wasn't the same. I knew I was going to go back to work outside of the home eventually.
I was also out of a job for about 6 months around the time my daughter was 18 months old. That wasn't the same either. I was looking for a job and fully intended on going back to work outside the home soon.
This time, it's different. We have been blessed and I am able to stay at home with my two sons while my husband works outside the home. In the six weeks since I had my son and the couple of weeks since my husband has been working, I've learned that there are perks and pitfalls to being a Stay-At-Home Mom.
Perk: I get to spend a lot of time with my sons! It's great to watch them grow and take care of them.
Pitfall: They demand a lot of attention. I get very little “me” time. I'm lucky if I get a shower while my husband's not home. (I got one today! Yes!) Sometimes I'm able to sneak in a nap while they are napping, but that means that I don't get things done around the house. I also get very little time with adults.
Perk: I get to breast feed my son. No pumping!
Pitfall: Since I breast feed my son, I get up with him all night. No rest for the weary.
Perk: I get to sit around in my pajamas all day.
Pitfall: This makes me feel like a slob. I have no excuse really to put on regular clothes. Sometimes, I even forget to brush my teeth in the morning.
Perk: I will have more time to work on my classes for my Master's degree.
Pitfall: Working on my classes will take away another sliver of my “me” time.
So, as you can see, there are pros and cons to being a stay-at-home mom. It's an adjustment period for me. I've worked outside the home since I was 16 years old, with only a 6 month break when I lost my job and was looking for a new one. That's 16 years of working outside the home. I've only been a stay-at-home mom for about 2 and a half weeks. One thing's for sure. I can't wait for Spring! I need to get out of this house every once in a while!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
What's my excuse?
Over the past couple of weeks, the internet has been a-buzz with the picture of the fit, buff mom with her three little ones and the caption "What's Your Excuse?" Some moms were offended by the insinuation that if you didn't look like this woman, perfect, that you needed an excuse or were making excuses. Some were offended because they knew that getting their bodies to look that good when having children would involve spending a lot less time with their children. I was not offended. In fact, I thought of all the excuses that I make. I sit around when I could be exercising, and I don't have to go to the gym to do it. One of my favorite Facebooking mommies, Crazy Mommy Keeping it Sane, was inspired to ask her readers to post their "excuse" pictures. So many of these moms looked really good for having children, but they looked no where near as fit as the mommy in the original picture. They knew they weren't perfect, but they exercised (and some didn't except for chasing their children!) to maintain or to lose weight and get healthier. This was even more inspiration for me.
THROWBACK! Me and my family - I think this was taken about 12 years ago, well before kids. I'm the one in the middle in the grey sweater and glasses.
I am pregnant right now and I have problems with my feet, so it's hard for me to get a lot of exercise. I still try to play with my children, go for walks when it's nice out, etc. I know that I need to get more in shape for myself and my children. I was thinking...what is an excuse anyway? I always think of excuses as lies. Like saying your dog ate your homework because you didn't get it done or calling in sick to work when you were really just out partying too hard the night before. Maybe that's why moms were offended when they were being told that they were making their children an excuse.
So, I consulted dictionary.com and looked up the meaning of the word "excuse".
an explanation offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or for release from an obligation, promise, etc.
In this definition, our children would be excuses for our flabby bellies. I can see that...
The one I always think about is:
a pretext or subterfuge
What's a subterfuge? According to dictionary.com it is an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc.
Do you see why some might be offended, being told they are lying or trying to evade something and using their children to do so?
So instead of being offended, I came up with reasons why I should get in shape!
Let's replace our "excuses" whether they are legitimate or lies, with reasons that we should be in shape! I may never look like that woman in the photo, but I don't expect to (besides, she was probably air brushed anyway!)
Pregnant with baby boy #1 who is about to turn 1 year old next week. At my heaviest, about 225 lbs.
I am going to turn my excuses into reasons!
Excuse 1 - I have problems with my feet! I have bone spurs and they are very uncomfortable.
Why is this a reason? The more weight I lose, the better they feel. I am not afraid to talk about the numbers on the scale so I will say that I weighed 225 lbs when I gave birth to my son. I am only 5'3", so that is a lot of stress and pressure on my feet. By the time he was 4 months old, I had lost 40 pounds and my feet barely hurt at all. I have gained some of that back since I am pregnant again, but the knowledge of how much the weight loss helps is a reason for me to work on my weight loss after my next child is born.
Excuse 2 - I am so busy with my Master's degree work.
Why is this a reason? I recently read an article in Prevention magazine where Dr. Travis Stork said that one of his mentors once told him that he should never ask a patient to do something that he wouldn't do himself. I know that exercising makes me feel better, happier, less lethargic. When I am counseling, I know that I should not tell my clients to exercise so that they will feel better if I'm not doing it myself!
Excuse 3 - I have two kids (and a third on the way).
Why is this a reason? Simply put, I am going to have a 2 year old and a 10 month old at the same time down the line. First, I'm going to have a newborn and a 14 month old at the same time. I need to be able to keep up with them! I want to be able to play with them and have enough energy to get through the day. Also, I need to make sure to eat healthy and take care of myself while I am pregnant and breastfeeding.
In Feb. 2013, after I had lost 40 lbs and before I got pregnant with baby boy #2. I weighed about 185 here. Excuse the dirty mirror!
So, instead of being offended by this picture, let's all take the opportunity to think of our excuses and how they can also be reasons for us to get in shape. It's not just about how we look, it's about how we feel!
I am pregnant right now and I have problems with my feet, so it's hard for me to get a lot of exercise. I still try to play with my children, go for walks when it's nice out, etc. I know that I need to get more in shape for myself and my children. I was thinking...what is an excuse anyway? I always think of excuses as lies. Like saying your dog ate your homework because you didn't get it done or calling in sick to work when you were really just out partying too hard the night before. Maybe that's why moms were offended when they were being told that they were making their children an excuse.
So, I consulted dictionary.com and looked up the meaning of the word "excuse".
an explanation offered as a reason for being excused; a plea offered in extenuation of a fault or for release from an obligation, promise, etc.
In this definition, our children would be excuses for our flabby bellies. I can see that...
The one I always think about is:
a pretext or subterfuge
What's a subterfuge? According to dictionary.com it is an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc.
Do you see why some might be offended, being told they are lying or trying to evade something and using their children to do so?
So instead of being offended, I came up with reasons why I should get in shape!
Let's replace our "excuses" whether they are legitimate or lies, with reasons that we should be in shape! I may never look like that woman in the photo, but I don't expect to (besides, she was probably air brushed anyway!)
I am going to turn my excuses into reasons!
Excuse 1 - I have problems with my feet! I have bone spurs and they are very uncomfortable.
Why is this a reason? The more weight I lose, the better they feel. I am not afraid to talk about the numbers on the scale so I will say that I weighed 225 lbs when I gave birth to my son. I am only 5'3", so that is a lot of stress and pressure on my feet. By the time he was 4 months old, I had lost 40 pounds and my feet barely hurt at all. I have gained some of that back since I am pregnant again, but the knowledge of how much the weight loss helps is a reason for me to work on my weight loss after my next child is born.
Excuse 2 - I am so busy with my Master's degree work.
Why is this a reason? I recently read an article in Prevention magazine where Dr. Travis Stork said that one of his mentors once told him that he should never ask a patient to do something that he wouldn't do himself. I know that exercising makes me feel better, happier, less lethargic. When I am counseling, I know that I should not tell my clients to exercise so that they will feel better if I'm not doing it myself!
Excuse 3 - I have two kids (and a third on the way).
Why is this a reason? Simply put, I am going to have a 2 year old and a 10 month old at the same time down the line. First, I'm going to have a newborn and a 14 month old at the same time. I need to be able to keep up with them! I want to be able to play with them and have enough energy to get through the day. Also, I need to make sure to eat healthy and take care of myself while I am pregnant and breastfeeding.
So, instead of being offended by this picture, let's all take the opportunity to think of our excuses and how they can also be reasons for us to get in shape. It's not just about how we look, it's about how we feel!
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Discovering my purpose
Over the several months that I have been writing this blog, I have been asked a few times why I decided to pursue the counseling profession. I thought it was time to share my story with my readers.
I didn't start here. I had always wanted to be a teacher. I had teachers that inspired me as a child, and I thought that was my purpose as well. What I've discovered is that you should use others as an example, but you shouldn't try to be others. You are yourself and only yourself. While I was in college, I discovered that I really enjoyed my Psychology courses. I had to take a lot of them because at the time I was majoring in Special Education. The thought crossed my mind a couple of times that maybe instead of pursuing teaching, I should pursue counseling. I dismissed it. I enjoyed working with children, so I should be a teacher, right? I finished college with my degree in Elementary Education and started looking for a teaching job.
It wasn't easy. I interviewed at job fairs and heard nothing. I applied in every school district and heard nothing. Finally, I applied for a job with Early Head Start. I got the job working in a classroom with infants. Though this wasn't elementary school teaching, I enjoyed it. The people that I worked with were great people for the most part. (There is always a bad apple or two.) I was working there for about six months when I got pregnant with my daughter. I had been working there for almost a year by the time I had to go on maternity leave.
When I came back, things were a little bit different. The teacher that had worked with me before had left, and there was a new teacher. I was a little more stressed because I had to take care of babies all day and then come home and take care of mine, but it was all right. The next year was when everything changed. We had new supervisors who were out to get everyone. Our classrooms didn't have walls (long story) and I had to work with toddlers instead of infants (difficult when you have a toddler at home too). The prior summer, there had been a family gathering and I took my daughter and my boyfriend. One of the supervisors had it in for me from that point forward. I have a strong feeling it was racially driven (she was not happy that I was white and my boyfriend was black), but I didn't know what to do about it. I started to have health issues (bone spurs and other foot problems). Ultimately, that supervisor made up a lie about me. I couldn't disprove it and she said I had to either resign or be fired. I resigned.
I tried to get back into teaching. I substitute taught one time. It just wasn't in me anymore. My spirit had been broken. I wanted to help children, but this was not the way to do it. I didn't feel that I could help children the way I wanted to help them. There was not as much opportunity to concentrate on helping each child individually as I thought there would be. I thought it over for a long time. I prayed a lot. I had a new job (in customer service) for almost two years before I made my decision. I was going back to school for my Masters degree in Clinical Counseling.
How did I come to this decision? I prayed, read my Bible, thought about it, wrote about it, took assessments to discover my strengths and personality traits, and finally came to this decision. Ultimately, what brought me to this point was listening to God. Some people say God doesn't speak to us anymore. He spoke to me. It wasn't a booming voice from the clouds. He spoke to me through his spirit and told me this was what he put me here to do. As I've been attending the church that I intend on staying with for years, the church that I finally feel that I can be a part of, I have discovered that God put us all here for a reason. God knew who we were and why we were here before we were even born. If God is telling me this is why I am here, God can't be wrong.
I am getting very close to finishing my degree. I am on course 12 out of 20 courses. I will be delayed a little with the birth of my third child in January, but I will get right back on track again and finish up my courses. I am excited to begin my clinical hours in about a year and learn everything I can to be able to fulfill my purpose.
Thanks for reading!
Risa
I didn't start here. I had always wanted to be a teacher. I had teachers that inspired me as a child, and I thought that was my purpose as well. What I've discovered is that you should use others as an example, but you shouldn't try to be others. You are yourself and only yourself. While I was in college, I discovered that I really enjoyed my Psychology courses. I had to take a lot of them because at the time I was majoring in Special Education. The thought crossed my mind a couple of times that maybe instead of pursuing teaching, I should pursue counseling. I dismissed it. I enjoyed working with children, so I should be a teacher, right? I finished college with my degree in Elementary Education and started looking for a teaching job.
It wasn't easy. I interviewed at job fairs and heard nothing. I applied in every school district and heard nothing. Finally, I applied for a job with Early Head Start. I got the job working in a classroom with infants. Though this wasn't elementary school teaching, I enjoyed it. The people that I worked with were great people for the most part. (There is always a bad apple or two.) I was working there for about six months when I got pregnant with my daughter. I had been working there for almost a year by the time I had to go on maternity leave.
When I came back, things were a little bit different. The teacher that had worked with me before had left, and there was a new teacher. I was a little more stressed because I had to take care of babies all day and then come home and take care of mine, but it was all right. The next year was when everything changed. We had new supervisors who were out to get everyone. Our classrooms didn't have walls (long story) and I had to work with toddlers instead of infants (difficult when you have a toddler at home too). The prior summer, there had been a family gathering and I took my daughter and my boyfriend. One of the supervisors had it in for me from that point forward. I have a strong feeling it was racially driven (she was not happy that I was white and my boyfriend was black), but I didn't know what to do about it. I started to have health issues (bone spurs and other foot problems). Ultimately, that supervisor made up a lie about me. I couldn't disprove it and she said I had to either resign or be fired. I resigned.
I tried to get back into teaching. I substitute taught one time. It just wasn't in me anymore. My spirit had been broken. I wanted to help children, but this was not the way to do it. I didn't feel that I could help children the way I wanted to help them. There was not as much opportunity to concentrate on helping each child individually as I thought there would be. I thought it over for a long time. I prayed a lot. I had a new job (in customer service) for almost two years before I made my decision. I was going back to school for my Masters degree in Clinical Counseling.
How did I come to this decision? I prayed, read my Bible, thought about it, wrote about it, took assessments to discover my strengths and personality traits, and finally came to this decision. Ultimately, what brought me to this point was listening to God. Some people say God doesn't speak to us anymore. He spoke to me. It wasn't a booming voice from the clouds. He spoke to me through his spirit and told me this was what he put me here to do. As I've been attending the church that I intend on staying with for years, the church that I finally feel that I can be a part of, I have discovered that God put us all here for a reason. God knew who we were and why we were here before we were even born. If God is telling me this is why I am here, God can't be wrong.
I am getting very close to finishing my degree. I am on course 12 out of 20 courses. I will be delayed a little with the birth of my third child in January, but I will get right back on track again and finish up my courses. I am excited to begin my clinical hours in about a year and learn everything I can to be able to fulfill my purpose.
Thanks for reading!
Risa
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