Chats with Casey

Singing in LA!

2011-05-22T20:15:00.001-07:00

Get Me Through December...

2010-12-05T21:26:00.000-08:00

How pale is the sky that brings forth the rain
As the changing of seasons prepares me again
For the long bitter nights and the wild winter's day
My heart has grown cold my love stored away
My heart has grown cold my love stored away

I've been to the mountain left my tracks in the snow
Where souls have been lost and the walking wounded go
I've taken the pain no girl should endure
Faith can move mountains of that I am sure
But faith can move mountains of that I am sure

Just get me through December
A promise I'll remember
Get me through December
So I can start again

No divine purpose brings freedom from sin
And peace is a gift that must come from within
I've looked for the love that will bring me to rest
Feeding this hunger beating strong in my chest
Feeding this hunger beating strong in my chest

Get me through December
A promise I'll remember
Get me through December
So I can start again

This song speaks right to my heart and pretty much sums up where I am right now.

Dolly Parton and Sweet Tea!

2010-07-31T13:58:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I have spent my entire summer in Pigeon Forge, TN being a leader for a Christian program called Discipleship Focus. DFocus is a program near in dear to my heart. I was a student in the program here in TN in 2005 and a student once again in 2006 in Branson. I've always wanted to come back to TN to do leadership and this summer gave me that sweet opportunity. I'm going to share with you some of my favorite parts of this summer and what God has been doing in my life.

The summer has been excellent. I came away from a school year that was so BUSY. I see now that I was TOO busy and never made time for myself, and ultimately God. This has been a sweet time for me to reconnect with the Lord and just to allow myself to heal from the hardships of this world. Being a leader, I had the choice to work at Dollywood or to not work at all and I chose not to work. I'm so glad I didn't work because it allowed my schedule to be open, flexible and free for the first time in a LONG time.

So what have I been doing? Well, as a leader I am in charge of leading a small group of seven girls and then meeting with each of those girls one-on-one each week. I have absolutely LOVED being a small group leader. It also helps that my group is AWESOME and that I LOVE each of the girls. We have had so much fun together. We laugh, we eat, we share, and then laugh some more! It has been so good for me! I honestly think I came into the summer with no expectations for my own personal growth. I guess I just thought I would guide these girls and encourage them and that's where it would stop. Not so!! I think I have learned more about myself and my relationship with God as I have been leading these girls than I ever thought possible!! My time with Him here has been so good and my desire to be in His Word has been rekindled, which is such a blessing.

Another responsibility I have had this summer has been leading worship. Now, I've been involved with Harvest's worship team for several years but I've never been the leader! There is so much work that goes into it! Choosing music, rehearsing, powerpoints, etc! While challenging, it has also been really cool because I have finally learned how to play djembe and sing at the same time and it has made me want to learn to play guitar better. Which leads me to my next topic of the summer...

My new GUITAR!! I bought a guitar a few weeks ago and I have LOVED it so much! I have practiced almost every day and even have some really good callouses! It was my goal by the end of the summer to put together a song for Talent Night and I did! I sang the song Arlington by the Wailing Jennys with my sister Victoria and a girl in my small group. And I played guitar at the same time! For those of you who know my previous guitar experience, it was very limited! I only knew about 6 chords and could only play Jolene by Dolly Parton. I'm excited about continuing my new found desire to play guitar! Maybe I'll even be a rock star someday...

One of my other favorite parts of this summer was getting to be around the Fullers again! I fell in love with Dennis and Shanna Fuller along with their children when I was down here in 2005. I've always wanted to come back to Tennessee to be around them again. I've loved our great conversations, laughing, and eating great meals together.

One of my other favorite parts of the summer was getting to know my roommates: Ashley Sue Bell and Heather Campbell. I had met Ashley several times and knew of her, but I'd never done the program with her. Heather is a high school teacher from Phoenix, and we actually shared a room. I have loved LAUGHING with these girls!!

For the first time in my Dfocus experience, I had a visitor! Miss Victoria Billington, my sister! She flew in for a week and we had a BLAST! We did some pretty adventurous things: Zip Lining, White Water Rafting, rock hopping in the mountains, and walking through rivers. We went to Dollywood 3 times, saw Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, saw two movies, ate lots of good food, and learned a song for Talent Night! It was a BUSY week but one of my favorites!! It was just so good to share why I love this program so much with someone so dear to me.

Top Ten Things I Will Miss About Tennessee:

10. The mountains! These are my favorite mountains in the whole country because they are so GREEN!

9. Dennis and Shanna Fuller: 13 hours away is just TOO far!

8. The Tin Roof Cafe: This little cafe serves only fresh panini sandwiches and the best fruit tea.

7. The free perks of having a Dollywood ID: This little plastic card gets me free into just about ANYWHERE.

6. Living a more simplified life: Living in an apartment with only a fraction of my belongings has shown me that I don't need so much STUFF in my life and that I don't have to DO so much STUFF. I wish I had a yard back home or a garage so I could have a GARAGE or YARD sale!!

5. Mellow Mushroom Pizza: Oh my!! The best pizza I think I've EVER had!! and they only have them here in the south! :*(

4. Pigeon Forge Library: All summer I have been going to the library and have read so many adolescent fiction books. I wanted to read the books that 5th graders are reading so I can be on top of my game. I've also studied a lot about John Adams and Helen Keller!

3. The expectation of vulnerability that comes with living in such a tight community: Everyone here is so open about the hardships and blessings of life. It has been refreshing!

2. Dolly Parton and Sweet Tea!: Need I say more??

1. The people I have met here this summer: I really hope to stay in touch with so many people from this program. I have been truly blessed to meet them and love that I have been honored to see them grow so much.

This is getting long but I just have to add this as well...

Top Ten Reasons I Am Excited About Going Home:

10. Sleeping in my own bed and having my own shower...

9. The ability to go outside my condo and walk 100 feet to the swimming pool

8. Grilling!! I have missed grilling steaks, chicken, burgers, brats, etc.

7. A more structured time to work out and having the facilities to do so: Walking/running in 100 degree weather is not my favorite. I'm excited to work out on the ellipticals at school and playing tennis with friends.

6. My Harvest community: I have missed my Church!!

5. My small group: I have missed Kate, Allison, Kristen, and Ann Victoria a lot this summer. There is something about having an encouraging group of girls who just know you so well!

4. Simplifying my life: I want to get rid of a lot of the STUFF I was referring to earlier and really think about the motivations for why I do so much...why I'm so BUSY!

3. Starting the school year with a posititive attitude: I really want to go into this year depending on God and try to be an encouragement to those around me.

2. My friends: I have missed many fun moments with them this summer and I can't wait to see them all, catch up, eat good food, and LAUGH.

1. My family! : I have missed 4 family birthdays (including my own!), Father's Day, Madelyn WALKING, 4th of July and SO much more!! I haven't even seen Grant since his wedding day! Crazy! Being away makes me appreciate my family and I can't wait to see their faces!

I know this is long and if you made it to the end, congrats!! I'll be home late on the 8th and will enjoy my last week of vacation before school starts!!

Catching Up

2010-02-24T20:07:00.000-08:00

Hello to those who are reading! I can't believe it is almost the end of February! Where is this school year going??! Crazy!
Well, many of you have been asking how my weight loss challenge has been going. I really appreciate those of you who have asked me, because that is one of the things that has kept me going: the encouragement and accountability of friends.
This Monday I weighed in and lost an additional 2 pounds. I have now lost 12.2 pounds. It doesn't really sound like that much, but it is a big deal for me! I have never stayed with any diet/work out regime for longer than a month and I have now been going strong for 7 weeks. I now have 87.8 pounds to lose! I'll do it one pound at a time if I have to!

As many of you know, it is now my favorite season of the year: Lent. Well, for Lent this year I am giving up two things: School lunches and weighing myself in between Mondays. The first one is a challenge because it means that I have to make time for me to make my lunch each morning. The latter one is a real challenge because I have no idea how I am doing during the week. I think it's been really good for me in the long run. It has made me aware of what I'm eating and makes me aware of how my body feels each day, especially since I can't check my progress on the scale each day.

Thanks for all of you who are sticking with me through this journey. I think it will turn out to be one of the most challenging things I've ever done in my life...yet one of the most rewarding.

Week 5 of Weightloss Challenge

2010-02-08T13:03:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have noticed that I didn't write on my blog last week to update the world of my weightloss attempts. The reason I didn't write is because I had a bad week last week...as far as weightloss goes. I didn't lose any weight, in fact I gained back 1.8 pounds.
I was really discouraged when I discovered that I was moving in the wrong direction. And frankly, too embarassed and ashamed to share that I didn't lose anything. I'm learning a lot in this process.

Last week I learned 3 things:

I'm learning that losing this much weight is not going to be an easy process. It is a daily challenge to keep track of everything that goes in my mouth, exercising, and making good food choices.
I have learned that this process can NOT be done without my dependence on the Lord. So many times I try to go about my life on my own strength...and let's just be honest. I don't have the strength to do this alone.
Last but not least, I have learned that if I really want the accountability of my friends and family, I need to be real and honest with them...even if it means me saying that I GAINED weight instead of LOST weight. I had a good chat with my dear friend Emily and she really made me realize that it's okay to have a discouraging week, as long as I don't dwell on it.

That being said, I had a MUCH better week. I worked out at least 4 times and made pretty good food choices. I'm trying to drink lots of water and be aware of when my body is saying it is full. I could have given up last week, but I have decided to embark on this challenge 110% and refuse to give up. I may have bad weeks, but I am NOT going to let it get me down.

This week I lost 4.2 pounds which means I met my first goal of 10 pounds! I have lost a total of 10.6 pounds and have 89.4lbs to lose to meet my 100lb goal.

Thanks for so much encouragement from all of you and your support. I couldn't do it without you. Stayed tuned till next week. I WILL post, whether I lose OR gain. That's a promise.

I do have readers!

2010-01-25T19:58:00.000-08:00

Well, it seems that there ARE still people that read my blog. That being said, I thought I would let you know how my Monday weigh-in went today. This is my 3rd weigh-in. I lost 2.2 pounds this week! That brings me to a total of 8.2 pounds which is only 1.8 pounds from my first goal. Only 91.2 pounds to go! I suppose I shouldn't say "only." Ninety-one pounds is A LOT...but it sounds better than saying 100!
Thank you for your encouraging words and for your prayers. I sure need them! I am confident I can get through this but I know it will be through the help and accountablility of my friends. I think if I achieve my goal, it will be the single-most important thing I could ever have done for myself...my health, my back, my faith, and my confidence as a woman.
I am going to try to update this blog each week...at least on Mondays to document my progress. Stay tuned! Love to all who are reading this!

Major Goal of the Year

2010-01-24T20:48:00.000-08:00

(Copied from my other blog: http://www.translucentponderings.wordpress.com)

So, I’m not really sure if anyone reads this anymore. Let’s be honest…despite my best efforts and good intentions, I am a HORRIBLE blogger! But I am writing this blog despite the fact that probably no one will ever see it but myself.
This is my year to lost weight. Matter of fact.
I’m not just trying to lose a few pounds.
I
want
to
lose
100
pounds.
100!
It is my goal to lose all of this in
one year.
How am I doing this? Simple: Keeping track of my calorie intake using http://www.livestrong.com . I am adding more exercise to my life and trying to drink a lot of water and take a daily vitamin. I am not taking any type of dieting pill or other dieting substance. I want to lose weight completely naturally.

I’ve tried to lose weight before, but I usually give up after about 2 weeks. One of the things that is different about this effort, is that I am telling people about it. Trying to lose weight has been something I’ve been embarassed about in the past. I’ve always felt ashamed talking about my weight. Well, you know what? It is this feeling of shame that has kept me from achieving my goals. This year is different. I have told all of my closest friends about my year long goal. I need the accountability because it is so easy for me to quit and give up.
I am losing weight because I want to be healthy. I have constant back pain and my knees hurt on a daily basis. I am not even 27 years old. I want to lose this weight for ME, no one else.
If you are reading this, please pray that I can remain strong. I realize that I will only be able to obtain these goals through Christ, who strengthens me. I need reminders of his love and desire for me to be healthy.

Tomorrow is my Week 3 Weigh In. The first week I lost 4lbs, the second week I lost 2. The goal of the challenge is to lose 10lbs within 4 weeks. We’ll see how I do in the morning!

Gratitude and the Pursuit of Happiness

2009-11-03T06:44:00.000-08:00

Being the month of Thanksgiving, I always try to make November a month to reflect on all the areas in my life that I should be grateful for. In my class of 5th graders, I have them each create a Gratitude Journal. Each day they are supposed to come up with 3 non-materialistic things to be thankful for.

I am encouraged when I read their ponderings: "I am thankful for the crunch of the leaves on a cool autumn day." "I am thankful for the sound of chirping birds when I wake up." "I am thankful for teachers who grow my brain." I even had a little boy who was "thankful for the sound of persimmons falling from the trees." What I love about Gratitude Journals is that no matter how bad of day you're having, there are still things to be thankful for.

I was first introduced to the idea of Gratitude Journals when I was a Junior in High School. My English teacher, Mrs. Logan had our whole class keep these journals. At first I rolled my eyes because it seemed like such a childish task. What I soon realized, was that there are so many little things to be grateful for: finding a really cool pen in the hall, hearing babies laugh, Jesus clouds shooting from the sky, and so many more.

This morning I was listening to Woody and Janet on 105.9 and I learned that this week is Pursuit of Happiness Week. He gave a list of ten things you can do to make your life more joyful and ways you can be more happy. Of course I know the root of authentic joy is none other than Jesus Christ, but I was interested to hear how to obtain joy through secular means. I really like this list. Look it over and see if there are any ways you can become a more joyful person.

10 Ways to Be a More Joyful Person
1. Plant and nurture something.
2. Reflect and be thankful about 5 things daily.
3. Talk for an hour with a loved one at least once a week.
4. Call a friend you haven't talked to for a while and set up a time to meet.
5. Do a random act of kindness for someone every day.
6. Exercise at least 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes.
7. Give yourself a treat everyday and savor/enjoy it.
8. Laugh everyday!
9. Say hello to a stranger every day.
10. Spread kindness.

Hope you have a great day. Enjoy the beautiful sunshine and think of all the many blessings in your own life!

After a brief hiatus...

2009-11-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

Wow! It has been a LONG time since I wrote on this blog. It has been almost a year since I have written anything meaningful. For those of you who are still interested in what I have to say, welcome back to my thoughts. I'm really hoping that blogging will be a priority for me in this upcoming season of life. I look forward to it.

So where have I been for over a year? I have been working diligently on my Masters in Educational Technology from Mizzou. I started last August and I officially finished yesterday!! I got notice that my portfolio passed final review last night. I tell you what, I can tell an instant difference in my life already! I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It's not so much that I let my Master's effect my social or personal life, it's just that there was always this shadow hanging over me and this gnawing guilt that I should be doing homework. I am so thankful that I no longer feel that guilt. I'd like to think I have so much more free time ahead of me, but so far it's looking like I'm going to be as busy as ever...maybe just without the guilt. Either way, I'm so glad to be done!! I officially graduate on December 18. Am I walking? Heck yes, I am!

Vote for Susan!

2009-04-17T14:26:00.001-07:00

BELIEVE IN THE RUN

Sponsored by Visit NIKE USA

I AM SECOND

2008-12-08T21:20:00.000-08:00

"I am Second is a movement where significance in life is a shared value among people of all kinds. Actors. Musicians. Business leaders. Your next-door neighbor. People just like you. Their authentic stories here on iamsecond provide insight into dealing with typical struggles of everyday living. You’ll meet people who overcame destructive lifestyles. Plus you’ll discover those who’ve tried to go it alone and have failed, yet still found a life full of hope, peace, and fulfillment.
We believe there is a reason why you are here. We all have needs and could use some help. Here you’ll find issues relevant to you as well as answers to challenging life questions. I am Second is designed to help people discover their purpose in life. Have you discovered yours? Visit the full site."
--I Am Second Blog

For those of you who haven't checked out Iamsecond.com, please do!! The videos are short, well made, and really inspire and encourage you. Check out Brian "Head" Welch's (former lead singer of Korn) testimony and how Jason Castro keeps the Lord in the center of his life. The website just launched on December 2, and is already turning heads. Check it out!!

Experiencing the Advent Season

2008-12-07T18:59:00.000-08:00

The last several years I've really struggled during Christmas time. I'm not sure why. I think I let the old traditions become mundane to me and that I was never truly experiencing Christmas with the same zest that I once had. It even came to the point where I didn't even want to listen to Christmas music...at all. For those of you who know me, this is a big deal. I was the strange girl in high school who broke out the Christmas tape in the middle of July just because I couldn't WAIT for Christmas to come.

Though I'm definitely not that extreme this year, I'm definitely enjoying the Christmas season. I have a roommate this year, and we already put up the Christmas tree in my condo. Last year I did no such thing because I was alone and by myself. I've been listening to Christmas music on Pandora (the Peaceful Holidays station is my new favorite).

I think one of the biggest changes for me this year is my new outlook on the Advent season and the true meaning of the holiday.

This year I feel excitement for this season where we get to celebrate Christ coming to this earth. Not only do we get to celebrate that Jesus CAME to us, we get to wait with joyful anticipation for his coming AGAIN. For the first time during this holiday season, my hope and joy is focused on the right place. I feel like this new joy instilled in me is lifting weight from my shoulders, that a new light is shining in my heart. I'm excited to spend the rest of this month celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

This weekend, I went to a worship service and saw this video for the first time. I have now seen it twice and keep thinking about it. If you struggle with finding a balance between materialism, commercialism, and the TRUE reason for the season, this video is for you. Watch it and enjoy!

The Vacant House

2008-10-23T21:25:00.001-07:00

The house had been vacant for months. As I drove by it everyday, I couldn't help but notice it's creepyness as it sat in a heap of aloneness. There was a mattress on the driveway and the biggest spider web and spider stretched across the open garage. I looked at that house every day. I wondered about it...How does a house just end up empty with nothing but a mattress in the front yard? I couldn't drive by that house without feeling strangely scared and uneasy. I just didn't like the feel of it.

One day I noticed a difference in the house. The spider web disappeared and soon enough the mattress disappeared too. Gradually I stopped getting the spooks as I drove by that old house. I began seeing a family. Two little boys who rode their tricycle in the driveway and a woman who worked hard to get the weeds from the front yard. I saw the man of the house taking many smoke breaks, in fact everytime I drove by. The vacant house had become a home, and I felt peace about that old house...Until tonight.

As I drove home, a police car whizzed by me with deafening sirens and I pitied the person he was after. As I drove down the road that leads me home I saw the bright lights and knew it had stopped at the house I had grown strangely fond of. What was going on that needed a police officer's attention? I'll never know, though I'll never forget what I saw. As I drove by the cop was jumping out of his car. That woman, who spent many hours in that same yard was standing with her two little boys at the bottome of her driveway. The smallest boy, only a toddler was wearing her sweatshirt. The older boy, porbably around 7 was only wearing his underwear. What happened in that house tonight that resulted in the woman rushing her half dressed children to the road? And where was the dad? Did he do something to those boys? I couldn't help but stare as I drove by, looking at that boy with no clothes on in 50 degree weather. My mind rushes through all the possibilities of what may have happened. I lift my prayers tonight to that family, to those children, that mother, and the house that I have ultimately cared for.

Times by Tenth Avenue North

2008-10-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

This is a song by the band Tenth Avenue North. I love the words. If you haven't listened to it before, check it out! It touches my heart.

I know I need You
I need to love You
I love to see You, but it's been so long
I long to feel You
I feel this need for You
And I need to hear You, is that so wrong?

Now You pull me near You
When we're close, I fear You
Still I'm afraid to tell You, all that I've done
Are You done forgiving?
Oh can You look past my pretending?
Lord, I'm so tired of defending, what I've become
What have I become?

I hear You say,
"My love is over. It's underneath.
It's inside. It's in between.
The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel.
The times that you question, 'Is this for real? '
The times you're broken.
The times that you mend.
The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend.
Well, My love is over, it's underneath.
It's inside, it's in between.
These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks.
The times that you feel like you're falling from grace.
The times you're hurting.
The times that you heal.
The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.
The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.
I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.
I'm there through your heartache.
I'm there in the storm.
My love I will keep you, by My pow'r alone.
I don't care where you fall, where you have been.
I'll never forsake you, My love never ends.
It never ends."

and ACTION!!

2008-07-29T08:32:00.001-07:00

My word!! I have spent the last five days trying to get this computer to work! I've tried everything: prayed about it, clicked every button possible, spoke to a Dell woman for two hours and 45 minutes and cussed ($%@!*#). Nothing helped. So today I was planning on taking my dear laptop to the school to get fixed but thought I would try ONE more time at Panera...and wallah!! It's working. I just don't get it. I came here on Saturday...and nothing. It was so frustrating because everything worked EXCEPT the internet...you know, my favorite part.
Well, whatever the problem was, I hope it's fixed and never happens again. Stay tuned to some fun blogs about my birthday celebration with Erin and my trip to see Janelle in Kansas City!

I've been tagged!

2008-07-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged!
Good ole' Cindy Matzat tagged me and now I must share some random things to the world!

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Random things most people may not know about Cassandra Dawn Chambers:

1. I almost burned up in a house fire when I was six months old.
2. I love listening to opera, watching opera, and SINGING opera!!
3. My dream job would be to sing in a professional choir or vocal group...preferrably a black spiritual choir.
4. I model my singing voice after Rosemary Clooney and my mother.
5. I once wanted to go to culinary arts school and have a cooking show called Cooking with Casey...and totally practice sometimes when I'm alone!!
6. I sometimes hold a phone to my ear when I'm singing in the car so that the Branson traffic won't think I'm crazy!

Hmmm..... now to tag some others:

Carissa Lilly

Kate Fried

Shauna Caldwell

Erica Smith

Kristin Hanley

Abby Kuiper

Wing Night!

2008-07-20T22:14:00.000-07:00

What do half priced wings, The Soup, and old TBN Christian movies all have in common??
You guessed it!! Fun hangout time with Drea Smith and Marcia Emsheimer!
The three of us have quite a little thing going. We take advantage of the Sunday special at Applebees and enjoy some delicious half-priced wings. Since we like to watch somebody make fun of all the bad stuff on TV, we watch The Soup on E! (if you haven't seen it...check it out!) Usually if we have time, we like to flip through the channels to TBN to see what they're playing. The last time we did this, they were showing a movie from the sixties or seventies called Barrabbas. These old movies are so funny to watch because they are poorly made and usually have pretty awful acting skills. This week didn't disappoint. TBN was showing a movie about David. We had some great laughs. Here are some pictures from our Wing Night. This week was extra special because Jana Sharp joined us! Enjoy!

Learning me some Character in St. Louis!

2008-07-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went to a Character Education Conference in St. Louis. People travelled from all over the US to listen to great keynote speakers such as Hal Urban and Eric Liu. Overall, I feel more motivated and inspired as a teacher and can't wait to try some things I learned in the classroom. I got to go up there with 6th grade teacher, Kristi Lamb. Before the trip we didn't really know eachother at all. I enjoyed getting to spend time with Kristi...we definitely made some fun memories.

Since our hotel was only a block from Busch Stadium and the Arch, we decided that when in Rome do as the Romans do...and we began our quest to go find some tickets for the big Cardinals game. I had never been to Major League baseball game so I was pretty excited about the idea. I even had Cardinals t-shirt in my car (pretty sure I can find ANYthing in that thing!) Well, for any of those who have ever been to a major league anything, you know about the somewhat scary people that stand there on the corners of every street, wearing the signs that say "I need tickets." Since we were with our new vice-principal, Mr. Beckwith, we let him help us get tickets from one of these guys. Of course me being the naive Bransonian asked to have our picture with them. Here's our picture with our ticket boys!

Of course our tickets were in the nosebleeds, but that didn't stop us from having a good time!

AND would it really be a good game without a foam finger??!

I randomly bumped into Elisha Stenzel at the conference, so she came to the game with us! The game was awesome and went into record books because all four runs of the Cardinals were Home Runs!! It was amazing. They won 4-3 against the Padres.

Overall, I had a really good time. These last two pictures are me exposing Kristi to the amazingness and slight danger of hanging out of the car to catch beautiful Jesus clouds (one of my favorite things EVER!) Nothing like making memories with new people!

A Break from Daycare!

2008-07-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

For some reason, when I find myself with an empty chunk of time during the day, I always think it's fun to go steal my neice Isabella from daycare to just play with her. She's five and this is her last summer before kindergarten. I have childhood memories that take me back to when I was two years old. I suppose everytime I go pick up Isabella, I hope I'm adding to her database of fond memories...and I just love her. For those of you that have never met Bella, she is pure sunshine!! She is a ray of light in a dark room. She is somewhat simple, meaning she assumes the world is good and that everyone is here to be friends with eachother. She notices things that most people never would...the sparkles on the sidewalk, the clock hanging on the wall in an obscure shop, and she can spot a pack of gum in any room, purse, or pocket. She's one of my favorite people...ever. When Jesus speaks of the "little children" and their innocence...he's referring to kids just like Bella.

This last week, I found myself with such a chunk of time and had a grand idea! I could steal Isabella from daycare AND introduce her to Kenzi, my dear friend Erin's little girl. I had to go get both girls from daycare and we decided to go where every kid wants to eat: McDonalds! Kenzi is three and is also a sweetheart. The two girls hit it off from the get go.

People at McDonalds got a kick from these two cuties and their attempts at eating Happy Meals and ice cream. Bella drug her whole braid in her ice cream and it didn't even phase her! Let's just say our table was an absolute MESS when we left that poor fast food joint...but we all made some fun memories!

Fun at Brandy's

2008-07-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I was sitting at home and just had absolutely no plans. I was just sitting there, knowing there were about a hundred things I SHOULD be doing. Have you ever experienced this? I had already spent all day by myself and just wasn't in the mood to be alone. I called a few people, but everyone had plans...
So I called my awesome sister Brandy, who invited me over to play games with her husband Matt and friend Sharla.

Brandy was watching my beautiful nephew Jacob so I got to play with him and let him sleep all over me. He is SUCH a doll!

Though it was approaching midnight, Brandy was still in the process of making homeade bread! It was delicious right out of the oven at one in the morning!

I enjoyed playing games with Brandy (on the right) and her friend, Sharla. It's good to have family around me. I can always count on them when life brings me to the bumps in the road where I just don't want to be alone.

Reaping the Benefits!!!

2008-07-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

The day has finally come!! After taking care of my many potted plants on my patio, I finally have ripe tomatoes and I'm so EXCITED!!

These are my first two! We ended up eating them a few days later. I almost felt guilty since I've watched them grow from so tiny. Alas...I'll get over it!

Marcia and I have enjoyed watering these little guys! I'm just so excited I got to play a part in God's creation! Yay for patio gardening!

eMINTS Week!!

2008-07-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

How summer flies!! Earlier this month, I spent four days with a bunch of lovely ladies, learning all about the amazingness of technology in the classroom. We worked super hard and there was not a day my head didn't hurt when I left Cindy's house!

On the last day we decided to enjoy our favorite pastime: EATING!! Cindy decorated the table beautifully and we all brought our favorite foods and recipes to share.

Pretty much my favorite part of the whole meal was that we were going to be featured on Cindy's blog, What's for Dinner? Each week Cindy posts her menu for the week, the recipes, AND beautiful pictures of the food! It's pretty cool. To see the pictures and recipes from our fun meal, check out her blog. My food was the spinach artichoke dinner!

A few thoughts before sleep

2008-07-01T22:07:00.000-07:00

We attracted a lot of attention we traveled because we were poor and Jewish and my mother was handicapped. I was real conscious of that. Being Jewish and having a handicapped mother. I was ashamed of my mother, but see, love didn't come natural to me until I was a Christian.

I've recently started reading this book called The Color of Water by James McBride. It is just as the cover of the book says: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother. Throughout the book, the author reflects on his own childhood; about his mom and his memories of not understanding why his mother was a different color. The rest of the book is in the voice of the mother, from an interview with her son many years later.

I was reading today at the Imax, and these few sentences really stuck out to me. These are the words of the mother, recalling her own childhood as a poor Jewish immigrant during the Great Depression. I'm not really sure why these words hit me so strongly. I think a lot of it has to do with my own recent study of the Fruits of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal 5:22-23).
It is becoming more apparent to me lately that we can't show ANY of these fruits to people without the Spirit of Jesus Christ IN us. These qualities and attributes don't even come naturally to man without the help of God.

These words also remind me that it is only IN CHRIST that we are saved. The woman never felt that love came naturally to her UNTIL she became a Christian. Even as a believer in the Jewish faith, she wasn't able to show love to her own mother. Only in Christ was she able to truly love and feel compassion for her mother.

Glad I got that off my chest...now I can sleep.

Scrabble Bliss!

2008-07-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

Tonight I had the special opportunity to hang out with two of my favorite people: Emily AND Jennifer Freeman!! Being especially fond of words, we decided long ago that a game of Scrabble was in order. Playing with Jennifer is a real treat. She cares nothing about points, but only about getting the words properly spread out over the board. Rules bend and pretty dang near break off with the necessity to place great words on the board. We had words such as quince, swiveled, and piqued. It was definitely a good time. Emily won, I was second, and Jennifer was a close third.

Another great part of the evening was Jennifer's invitation to cut her beautiful flowers from her garden so she could share the art of arranging flowers with us. Emily's is the huge bouquet...mine was rather small in comparison. :)

I loved hanging out with these girls. It is so good for me to be around people who love and challenge me.

Randomocity #1: Counterfeit Money

2008-06-19T21:38:00.000-07:00

I know this is a random topic, but it really got me thinking today. I am working at the Imax this summer. You know, selling tickets, doing concessions, ushering, and whatever else they tell me to do. It's not my favorite thing in the world, but it's helping to pay the bills.

ANYWHO... When selling tickets we are required to check out all the 50 and 100 dollar bills to make sure they are not counterfeit. You know the routine...the clerk takes your money, pulls out the black magic marker and draws a line on the bill. If it is yellow, it's genuine....but if it's black...it's definitely counterfeit.

And that leads to my pondering question of the day: What happens as a ticket worker if one of my customer has a "black" bill? Do I call the police? Do I refuse the bill given to me by an 83 year old man wearing a visor? Do I have the right to tear up the money in a thousand pieces and throw it in the customers face? I know that marking the big bills is standard routine but nobody has ever (in any job) told me what happens if the dreaded line turns black. Am I the only one who thinks about such things? And these questions lead me to an even bigger question: What would happen if I was the customer and I was the one with the "black" bill?? I don't think you could ever come back from that!! What if they ripped it up in front of your face and all of a sudden you were out $100? What if they called the police on you? How do you explain that you might be able to teach twenty-five fifth graders how to reduce fractions but NEVER in a million years come up with the brains to create fake money?? Would the police come search your house, your car, under your bed?? Could I lose my job? These are serious questions. My mind is whirling with all the humiliating possibilities that could happen from such an event. I suppose what I have learned from this new irrational fear of mine is that I should never ask for or accept bills larger than $20 increments, whether it's from a bank or at Country Mart, stocking up on the extremely reduced prices of Blue Bunny ice cream.

Hello...Is anybody still here???

2008-06-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

Alas!! I have returned! After over six months of absence and feeling like I was betraying a good old friend, I have persuaded myself that this blogging thing is good for me. It's good for my mood, my stress level, and my soul. It's funny to me...blogging, that is. Sometimes I don't ever feel like I have anything worth saying unless I have a picture to go with it. I like it when a blog tells a story and has illustrations to go with it. I also feel like I'm never able to blog unless I can make an amazing plug about what God is doing in my life. Granted, God is always doing something in my life...sometimes the message just remains hidden. The more I read my friends' blogs, the more I enjoy the blogs about everyday nonsense. You don't always have to have a deep message, pictures, or even a point at all. This is my new mission in blogging. If I have strange thoughts that make no sense, I am going to share my weirdness with the world! So look out world and meet the new and improved Chats with Casey....complete with not always having pictures, a point, and guaranteed to shout out pure randomness!!

Belated Blog of Adventures in Greece and Bulgaria: Part I

2007-12-30T21:17:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, I got the amazing opportunity in July to go on a mission/music trip to Bulgaria and Greece. I travelled with a group called Messiah Project and basically did mission work through the arts. There was a choir of about 9 singers, a professional ballet company out of Houston called Excelsior Ballet, a professional piano player (Larry Dalton) and a Bulgarian Orchestra. We toured these two countries for two weeks. I want to tell many stories of this trip but I'm sure it will be broken down into many blog postings, seeing that there are just too many to tell in one. I hope you enjoy reading about my adventures into a foreign land!

Segment I: Sofia, Bulgaria

Of all the places I've ever travelled, Sofia stands out as one of the strangest. It was my first time to visit a former communist country. I think I was surprised at how Second-World this country of Bulgaria was. Most of the buildings were run down and there was grafitti/vandalism EVERYWHERE!

There doesn't seem to be much order of the state considering that cars park all over the side walk! It's ridiculous! People park absolutely anywhere that is convenient for them. Despite the strangeness of this country, I truly enjoyed our stay there.

We stayed in a nice hotel right on the city square. I shared a room with Megan and Tierra, two high schoolers from Branson. I truly enjoyed getting to know their sweet hearts. One of the perks of rooming with these two girls was jumping on the beds. Even more fun were the attempts to capture these moments on camera!

Another amazing thing about rooming with these girls was teaching them some old bluegrass songs in the middle of the night that my mom taught me when I was a little girl. Because we usually didn't start singing till after midnight, we always had someone knocking at the door or banging on the wall. It just made the memories that much more precious.

For most meals we walked a few blocks to a huge building that was kind of a mall but mostly a food court. It was all Bulgarian fast food. We ate a lot of gyros and had some amazing pizza covered in feta cheese. It was wonderful. Not so wonderful was the room temperature skewer of pork that I took a big bite of! What was I thinking...there wasn't even an oven visible at the stand.

Another amazing thing about Bulgaria was the ice cream! I love European ice cream, but I think Bulgaria wins as far as presentation and taste. AMAZING!!

This timershot is in honor of Kate...you inspired me and then all the girls were so excited with timershots, they were basically the RAGE of the whole trip! Everyone was doing them everywhere. See Kate...you have great influence over the entire WORLD!

Well, this wraps up Segment I of the Way-Belated Blog of my trip to Europe! Stay tuned for Roman Ampitheater visits and Senior picture post!

Climbing Out of a Rut...

2007-11-11T16:48:00.000-08:00

I feel like I've been in sort of a rut the past three or four months. My life has changed in huge ways and I think that under lots of different types of stress, I sort of went into a bit of depression. I don't think I recognized it as such until this weekend when I had some time to think about my life. As I sat at my kitchen table last night, and poured my cries out to God in my journal, I realized I didn't even have words to express everything I feel. I mentioned a lot of this to my closest friends over the past few months...that I felt like my life was lacking something. That I no longer felt any strong passion towards any one thing...even God. For some reason, though I heard His voice prompting me to talk to him...I wouldn't. I would ignore him. I couldn't even muster up the motivation to care about sin or what I was doing to my relationship with the Lord. I honestly didn't really care. It's as if the person I know God created me to be, a person with a huge passion for life and people, and creativity...was stifled and shoved into a little tiny box and thrusted into the back of my heart. I became numb...to everything.

As hard as that is for me to write, it was the truth. So now what? you may be asking yourself. I'll tell you what. Something amazing about this God of ours is that he doesn't let you just sit there for long by yourself in a rut. No...over the past three or four months, even in my darkest moments, the Lord has been there, pursuing me and continuing to love me despite my downfalls. Every once in a while He gives me a sweet glimpse into the life I desire and reassures my doubting heart that all will be okay.

Yesterday, I took a nap. I'm not usually one to take naps because I always think I'm too busy. But I laid down and slept solidly for over 5 hours. I honestly think sleep is one of the things I needed more than anything. I woke up and yesterday feeling better emotionally than I had in a long time.

Today I woke up and was excited about life. I realized that my life is not going to end just because I only have six dollars in the bank. I feel like there is this rejuvanated spirit in my heart. I realized today that it is a real desire for me to start exercising and be healthy. I realized that I want to blog...and SHOULD blog. I have stifled so much creativity in me these past few months that my right side of my brain has probably shut down!

I want to paint and write letters to friends and I want to drink more hot tea and I want to cook a lot and sing loudly and put my laundry away and laugh and have a special time for just the Lord and me. I want all these things, I desire these things, and now I thank the Lord for allowing these things to become a reality.

Many Apologies!

2007-07-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention that I have taken an incredibly LONG time to post on my blog. I was once told by a wise blogger that you never want to post daily because that gets annoying but that you should always post every three to four days. If you wait any longer than that...well, people just lose interest. This is a formal letter of apology to all of those readers who have hung in there and checked my blog consistently. There is no excuse for my action and therefore would understand if none of you ever spoke to me on this crazy cyber world ever again.
Much regret,
Cassandra Dawn Chambers

Road Trip 2007!!

2007-06-18T22:40:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I just got back from an amazing road trip with my dear friend Emily. We travelled all the way through Tennessee and across North Carolina to the ocean. It was a blast and will always be remembered as one of my favorite vacations...ever.

Before I show you some pictures, let me recap some of my favorite memories:

When Emily realized that she forgot her sunglasses and was forced to buy an expensive pair in a gas station in the middle of nowhere, only to find the glasses covered with a thick film of dust and grime.

I am truly like a fun grandma and bought Emily and I a fun backseat traveller book with entertaining activities like camp songs, string games, palm reading, and even a scavenger hunt to find all the liscense plates of North America. Out of 50 states, we found 42!! We even found a Canadian liscense plate! This game entertained us the ENTIRE trip!

In the car, we ate a bunch of snack foods, but I'll never forget the huge quantity we ate of string cheese!

It was amazing to see Emily get to know my favorite people in Tennessee, Dennis and Shanna Fuller. They are the ones in charge of Discipleship Focus in Pigeon Forge.

REAL sweet tea in the South!!
We went on an amazing hike in the mountains and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the cool air. After being on trail for a while and griping at the occasional piece of trash on the trail (enough to take the trash with us), I accidentally lost both of my toxic-fish-killing batteries out of my camera into the river, never to be seen again. I'm such a hypocrite!

Because we stayed on a Marine base, our car had to be searched every day by beautiful Marines carrying big guns. (I'm pretty sure I was convinced that I wanted to marry one!)

While frolicking in the ocean, Emily noticed a school of stingrays swimming towards us. There were probably six or seven of them. While Emily walked towards the shore very calmly, I ran screaming out that water as fast as my body could carry me!

Peeing simultaneously with Emily in the Atlantic Ocean. She was right, it definitely is more fun to do it at the same time as someone else.

On the drive back, we discovered the amazingness of watching DVDs while driving. Not something I'd recommend for careless drivers, but it did make time fly our last 12 hours.

Everytime Emily drove, she almost always had to drive through a major city and was always being rained upon. Everytime I drove, the rain stopped and the sun came out.

Here are some pictures that highlight the trip:

This is Emily and I in the car at 6:30AM on our way out of town. Don't we look like little kids?

Here's the skyline of Nashville, Tennessee. I like the Motorola building on the left...it looks like something from Batman or something.
This is me in serious distress that I can't, for the life of me, get my flipping sunglasses off my head! This is Emily rubbing in the fact that she CAN take off her sunglasses...what a brat. No wonder we were confused at this stoplight in Pigeon Forge....there are at least 15 lights!! This is Emily and I taking advantage of timer shots at the Potter's House, a darling little cafe in Pigeon Forge. They make there own flour, bread, and plates!!

This is me on the peak of a very tall mountain...or a very big rock.

Here are some views of the scenery in the Great Smoky Mountains.

We hiked up the mountain and found a barn, a springhouse, a cabin, and even a double seater outhouse!!

After our beautiful hike up in the Smoky Mountains, Emily and I travelled back down to civilization to explore the amazingness of Dollywood!!

After our fun in Tennessee, we loaded up our car once again and headed for the coast of North Carolina, where Emily's brother is in the Marines.

For the full story of the second leg of the journey, I'm going to direct you to my dear friend Emily's blog. She tells the story so well, and it might be excited to hear about the adventure from her perspective. Don't be frightened.... just click here.

However, I will show you some fun pictures...

This is us at the beach we were at. As you can see, it was beautiful and not really crowded at all.

While at the ocean, we ate at this fun little bar called Buddy's and enjoyed some fried sea food and mojitos while gazing at the beautiful view of the ocean.

Here are some pictures of Pete, Emily's brother, and her beautiful neice Evangeleene. She was darling and had the coolest baby hair ever!!

Well this about wraps up the coolest road trip of 2007. Like I mentioned before, you really need to check out Emily's blog if you want to read the fun details...try it. It'll be fun!

First week of SUMMER!!!

2007-06-07T21:37:00.000-07:00

So, exactly a week ago today we finished school! I shed my last tears and sent my soon-to-be 6th graders out the door.

This week I jumped right into preparing for next year. I had training all week for a technology program called eMINTS4all. I'm slowly discovering that I have a little geekyness in my system and that there is SO much out there I don't know about in the techy world.

This week, I have discovered what an aggregator is, learned about the constructivist theory, why Madeline Hunter's teaching method is on its way to the garbage and what an avatar is. Never heard of any of these terms? Neither had I!

The craziest thing about my cool techy class was that we were introduced to Second Life, a highly geeky virtual world where people create a dual personality and communicate with SL's other 7,000,000 inhabitants. If you don't believe me, check out SecondLife.com.

Tonight I coached my first softball game! To those who haven't heard, I'm the new assistant softball coach at Branson...pretty exciting! I felt really nervous in the games because...well, I haven't played in 7 years and I forgot some of the rules of the game and all the lingo. It'll take me a while, but I'll get it.

Being a new techy geek is definitely going to benefit me during softball, because Coach Arnold has already put me in charge of updating the website and keeping all the stats on a PalmPilot. We'll see how that goes...

Well, this about wraps up my first week of summer. I like to think that NEXT week is my real first week of summer. I'm going on a crazy road trip with Emily to Pigeon Forge and then the beach!!! More to come later!

Stressful Happiness!!

2007-05-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, the school year is FINALLY coming to a close. It has probably been one of the hardest nine months of my life but extremely rewarding at the same time. Well, as of right now, there are 4 1/2 days left!! Yes, I am rejoicing but at the same time I feel very overwelmed by everything that goes into closing down a year: inventories, grades, grading, sorting, organizing, assemblies, parties...you get the point. Before I take these next few moments to sort through all the crap on my desk, I thought I'd show you a picture of my desk area so you can see why maybe I'm overwelmed...or why I should be more organized next year!

BFF: Butt Fire Fighters!!

2007-05-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

This is a strange random story, but it really happened. I swear.

Last week, Erica and I were going to Subway to grab a bite to eat before a school function. Well, I turned the wrong way for some reason and so I knew I needed to turn around. Well, as I was about to turn around, we notice smoke billowing on the side of one of the office buildings. We drive closer and we realize that the cigarette butt disposal container is smoking. Erica quickly jumps out of the car and begins throwing mulch on the smoky butt container. Well, the container quickly becomes engulfed in flames!! Erica runs inside and I jump out of the car and keep kicking dirt at the flames to smother them. A woman comes running out with Erica to put out the flames with the fire extinguisher.

We finally put the fire out and in the mean time, the container was completely melted at the bottom. It was gross!! Here are some "after" pictures. Notice (this is hilarious) that the brand of the butt container is called SafeSmoker. Ha!!

Door stops

2007-05-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

Since I am the new teacher this year and because there was no room in the 5th grade hall, I've spent my whole year down in the 6th grade hall. It has had its pluses and minuses. When I came to my classroom the first time, I noticed the door stop, or the splinter that went by the title of door stop. Well, over the year, it has been a running joke about my door stop and the kids always promise to get me a new one and I always reply that I don't believe them anymore because they've promised all year.

All this to say that my kid Matthew actually MADE me a door stop!! I was so excited...especially cause he shined it up and buffed it so nicely that it barely holds up the door, it just makes it slide.

Here's a picture of my collection of door stops...the splinter and the gift.

(Belated) Symphonic Adventures

2007-05-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I decided to be the brave teacher and take some of my kids on an outing! I thought, since I enjoy the Springfield Symphony, that I would take some of my students to expose them to the wonderful music of John Williams. I could only take four due to my jeep not being a bus and I chose the students through an essay contest. Part of the adventure was dressing up and getting to go to CiCi's Pizza! Here are some fun photos of me and my kids.

Here we are before the big adventure! I absolutely loved how dressed up the kids were, especially my Aaron. He's been one of my hardest kids this year, and I was tickled pink to see that his dad the tattoo artist took him shopping to get a whole new outfit!

...fun car shots...

Part of the excitement of the evening was going to CiCi's Pizza. Here's a timer shot...the sun was pretty bright!!

The actual concert took place at Juanita K. Hammon's Hall in Springfield. Here's what it looks like on the outside.

Here's a fountain shot...

One of the highlights for the kids (and myself) was that there were about 20 different people with authentic costumes from the movie. Of course we stayed after to take fun picures. I love the one with Aaron looking up at Darth Vader and the one of me and my white boyfriend.

This one's my boyfriend...or so I like to think...

Cinco de Mayo Extravaganza!!

2007-05-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

I have been given the great responsiblity of creating a blog documenting the adventures of three girls enjoying Art Fest in Springfield and celebrating Cinco de Mayo. I'm feeling a lot of pressure, considering that Kate is letting ME do the blogging instead of her...well, here we go!

Kate, Emily, and I started out our adventure driving straight up 65 to the happy land of adventure. Here's some fun car shots:

Emily was into her cool "rock star" look and Kate was showing her excited face at discovering that I remembered to bring my camera.

Our first stop was Los Portales, a Mexican restaurant in Springfield. We enjoyed the celebratory balloons and the authentic Mariachi singer singing to a track. He was a lot of fun.
After we finished eating, we thought we would take advantage of some fun murals on the side of the restaurant. Nothing like some good timer shots!

For this cool shot, we actually had the camera on the ground. Just so you know, the car on the left belongs to the mariachi singer.

Taking advantage of cool sun placement...

Kate breathing in the freshness of the traditional Mexican wall plant.

Once again, the view from the Mariachi singer's car...

Another fun shot from the view of another car. Notice how my finger is in the Mexican's ear...nice. It was funny...everytime we finished using a car as a camera prop, the owner of the vehicle always came out. In fact, when we were using the mariachi singer's car, he was actually in it! Cool illusion, huh?

After our fun picture taking at the Mexican restaurant, we headed in a spiral direction towards downtown. We arrived at Jordan Valley Park a bit early, so we took advantage of some good cement seats in the front row. While waiting for the show to start we enjoyed watching the little kids run around in the fountain and play with bubbles...and of course took more pictures of ourselves. Now our attempts to look like a rock star...Kate totally pulls this off...

My friend Caleb, who sang with the symphony, got in on the rock star action, too. Emily always looks like a rock star...even when not trying.

Now I'm a different story. I just can't seem to pull off the looking thoughtful/rock star look. After about 20 awkward attempts, I settled with this one.

Another cute one...look at my cute dimple!

Aren't we just darling?!

No, our night was not just filled with pictures...we got to enjoy a FABULOUS free concert given by the Springfield Symphony. They played lots of fun marches and great movie music.

I would have to say, it was so far my most favorite and memorable Cinco de Mayo!

Thanksgiving List

2007-05-03T14:20:00.000-07:00

My class just finished the wonderful book, Out of the Dust. This is a novel written in poetic verse. One of the chapters near the end of the book is just a list of things the girl in the book was thankful for. So today I made my kids do one of these lists for themselves. I wrote one too:

Thanksgiving List

Warm sunshine on my face, the symbolism
of trees,
babies laughter, friends who ask me hard questions,
Jesus,
driving in the car with my hand out the window
singing my heart out,
ice cream, foam soap, laughing till it hurts.
Brokenness.
My students for showing me how to
love selflessly and showing me what kind of
teacher I want to be.
Air conditioning, holding hands, sweet tea,
my bed, journaling, the smell of grass,
music,
laughing till it hurts, fresh dew on summer grass,
Isabella’s joyfulness,
Jesus clouds with rays of light stretching from their fingers,
letters from kindred spirits, friend dates,
rolling green hills in these Ozark Mountains,
amazing conversations when you should be in bed,
companionable silence, rich harmonies of choral music,
Mom singing,
friends who really want to know my heart,
reminiscing with sisters and Grant,
teacher friends,
lingering hugs, the crunch of fallen leaves,
knowing glances,
waking up to the sunrise, not being able to put a book down
spectacular green of spring, starry nights and sunsets,
long conversations with Mom while drinking iced tea,
being able to pee after holding it forever,
money to bless people with, teasing friends, sleepovers,
family bluegrass jam sessions, people who accept me with
scrunchies and all,
and the promise of a new beginning.

Pink Eye and Apologies

2007-03-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Just like a little child, I have recently come down with a nasty case of pink and had to be out of school for the past two days. I was scared to death to leave my kids with a sub because...well, behaving well is just not their forte. However, the first day I was shocked to discover that my kids did awesome and that they were extremely well-behaved. Well, I was excited and wrote a note to my kids that if they were good on the second day, I'd do something really special for them. Sadly, I came yesterday and it turns out that my kids were AWFUL!! I'm not very happy with them, and I told them so. I made them each write me a letter explaining why they weren't good on the second day and what they could do better the next time. I will share with you a few responses that made me laugh. I will keep the spelling like theirs so you can see the originality in the letters.

We weren't the best class, but she wasn't a cherry either. And that's what I truley think.

Almost everyone was acting up and when Mrs. Kennedy would stay to watch the bathrooms I would watch though the window for like 2 seconds before I came in the class and everybody was jumping around, screaming, throughing things, and somebody droped there binder on purpose and Mrs. Kennedy came rushing in the classroom.

Maybe some of the things that caused it is because Mrs. Kennedy is way more strit. When she talked it sounded like she was yelling. Next time, we'll all stop talking, and read a book.

2 boys from our class were being really loud int eh hallway and stacking binders on one boys hands so hard he could not hold the weight.

I think I now wye we had a bad day. It's because we wher mad that you wernt her. We realy wanted you to be back bu you wernt. next tim I think that we should zip are lips when the sud tels us to. I hope you feel better.

Mrs. Kenedy was pretty strickt. Maybe the strickter the worse we get. Also maybe we just missed you so we got bad the second day. I hope you forgive us. I don't like to be hated. Your hopefully Forgiven student, K----

I really think it was the sub's fault because she was too strict and too harsh. Grrrrrr.....

and my advanced writer....

I really don't know why everything collapsed and went haywire yesterday. I'm not going to say that I didn't do anything yesterday, because I was mad that morning, and I told Giovanni to shut up. (again!!) I'm not going to say that it was all the boys who normally cause trouble, some of it was them, but we all play an IMPORTANT part here. All of us did something. Some people might not have the heart enough to tell you the truth. I'm not afraid to admit that. It got on my nerves, too. I won't blame anyone. some people might write down the names of kids who caused the problem. But I won't. It's mean and hurtful. It's basically gossiping. And I don't do that. I'm sorry.

an attempt to be an advanced writer...

She was strickd like a seagull and a fish playing hard to get and the seagull does not win. it's like we all belong in the sea but we feel welcome or not a priciated. Sometimes you will feel lik a jewel off a breclet on the alone floor. 1 piece of cany who's going to eat it you is the kid you like or dislike?!......With all due respect, H--------

Thank goodness it's Friday!!!

Awww...the luxury of Spring Break!

2007-03-16T22:42:00.000-07:00

I must say...I think I'm beginning to love Spring Break more than any other break as a teacher, except for summer, of course. This past week has been wonderful. I feel like I have really spent some good time with old friends which reminds me of how thankful I should be right now on my journey with the Lord. I almost feel like I've been on a spiritual retreat. Let me just tell you what I've been up to since I left the wild side of Nashville.

After Nashville, I drove up to Louisville, Kentucky to stay with my dear friends Laura Wishall and Kathleen Hanley. This portion of my break was very laid back and very relaxing. I spent all morning on Tuesday with the Lord and I feel like I was able to really present a lot of crap that has been going on in my life for the past bit. It was freeing. I feel a little bit more confident in these hard areas than I did before my journey to Louisville.

I spent a lot of time with Laura and Kathleen, which was so encouraging to my heart. I think sometimes I get in these friendship ruts where I feel like I have to work hard at being accepted and loved. It was just SO good to be near friends who I know love me and who love me for just who I am. I wasn't trying to impress or prove myself worthy...I just was. And that was beautiful.

One of my favorite parts of my journey to Louisville was playing with Reas, Kathleen and Ryan's 11month old baby boy. He was so fun and so adorable. I really miss having babies in my life.

Spending time with Kathleen and Laura reminded me of who I really am inside. I've forgotten how much I treasure heart friends, quality time, and making memories. I'm so thankful for fun new memories such as: driving through humongous puddles with Laura, watching Steel Magnollias and bawling like babies, grading papers with great friends, and playing the coupon game with Laura.

On Thursday, I drove all the way home so that I could go to worship practice. Today I spent the day with my mom. I took her to lunch at a tea room, went shopping, and then went with her to the salon to get her nails done. Somehow on the journey from TJ Maxx to Gary's salon, mom talked me into getting not only a pedicure, but waxing my eyebrows as well! It was too fun and so worth it. I definitely have an appointment for next month...Wahoo for being a woman.
Well, that basically wraps up my Spring Break! Tomorrow I plan on spending my Saturday in my classroom, preparing and organizing for my little angels. All after sleeping in, of course!

2007-03-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

Right now I am enjoying the thrills of Spring Break and getting away from my 23 hellions. I am sitting here in Nashville with my friend Casey and I just want to take a moment and share with you what I did last night after driving for 8 hours.

First I met Casey at the Opryland hotel and mall. I spent too much money on some new Shox and a cool hat for my brother from the Gibson store. I also took some amazing pictures of flowers and a fish that looked like it had tumors all over it.

After Opryland, Casey and I ventured to the downtown area. We walked down by all the bars and I felt like a cool city girl. We wanted to go to the hockey game but tickets were $55 and I couldn't justify going after buying Shox.

We ate dinner at the Wildhorse Saloon and then went line dancing. I felt so cool and for the first time regretted not owning cowboy boots. I had tennis shoes on and felt like a FREAK!

After the saloon, Casey and I kept walking around the craziness of downtown Nashville. I enjoyed culture shock when I went into the Coyote Ugly bar. WOH!! I pretty much felt dirty as I watched the girls dancing on the bar. We were only in the bar for about ten minutes, but while we were there, a very drunk man came close to me and tried to grab me. Thank goodness, a huge bouncer was right behind me and saved me from the drunken old man. My favorite part of Coyote Ugly was when the girls on the bar asked for girls in the crowd to come on the bar. It just so happens that there was two lesbian couples in the crowd. I had actually seen them at the Saloon earlier. I remembered seeing them because they were one of those couples that one of them has to LOOK like a man. The girl in the man role had a close shaved mullet and a West Coast Choppers shirt...along with a can of Skoal in the back pocket. Well, when the lady bartenders asked for girls to come up, this Man-Woman got up on the bar. It was so funny seeing her up there because at first glance, you think she's a man. The men all looked very confused...and then disturbed. It was quite the ten minute experience.

After Coyote Ugly, we walked around some more. I saw many homeless people, musicians playing for tips, and a man offering to take a picture with his monkey for $10. What a bargain. I then went into a souvenir shop and saw a Branson scrap book...random.

After downtown, we drove by the Parthenon and Casey showed me Music Row, the area where all the major producing studios are located.

Well, that sums up my Saturday night in Nashville. Today we might go thrift store shopping, tour the Jack Daniels distillery, go watch a bluegrass jam session, and eat mighty fine Mexican food. Wahoo! Yeah for Spring Break!!

Grouchiness, Frustrations...and Insomnia

2007-02-28T21:37:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been up too late and you want nothing more than to be in bed but there are so many thoughts and emotions running through your head that you know it would be pointless to even try to sleep? That seems to be where I am right now. It's almost midnight and I have to get up at five something...yet here I am, pouring my heart out in cyberspace.

I'm frustrated right now because I let myself get caught up in too much and allow myself to become grouchy. Is there ever a good reason to be grouchy? I think it's one thing to be grouchy inside and have a bad attitude, but it's totally another thing when you take all the frustrations and grouchiness and slam it on an unsuspecting victim. I would say in the classroom, this can happen a lot. One student makes a bad choice and everyone suffers. I feel bad for my students who can't read my mood and tell me their pencil broke when I'm about to explode.

I feel the worst about grouchiness when I take it out on my friends and don't allow myself to have a good time in a group setting. I hate it when people have a bad attitude yet I find myself doing the same thing. I was grouchy tonight in my smallgroup and I definitely took it out on certain friends. It's almost as if all my frustrations of the day and disappointments in certain students are stored up in me until just the right moment when I feel I have been wronged. And then...watch out! It all comes spilling towards whoever the unlucky person is.

Tonight in smallgroup, we talked about wisdom...where it comes from and how we can obtain it. I feel like I gain a lot of wisdom through experiences like these where I learn from my mistakes while at the same time learning how to be humble when it comes to apologizing and admitting that I indeed was at fault. Goodnight!

I Rejoice in Your Successes

2007-02-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

So, the past few weeks teaching has been really hard. I've been discouraged and just really doubted my capabilities as a teacher. I've been amazed this year how much what goes on in my classroom affects my real life...spiritually, physically, and emotionally. I have a few boys that are very hard to work with. One is very apathetic, flippant and doesn't care about ANYTHING. I have another kid who tries so hard but when he doesn't understand or succeed at first, he throws a huge fit and cusses up a storm. These two boys have been my challenge for the year. I have 23 other challenging children, but these two boys are the ones who hold my attention and ultimately hold my heart. I've come to realize these past few weeks that when I notice they are doing something good, when they are trying, or when they get above a C on a paper or homework assignment, a breeze of true joy washes over me. For a brief moment, it is all worth the hardships I am facing. It is only a brief moment, but during that moment the phrase "I rejoice in your successes" keeps repeating in my head, over and over. It's crazy, but I really am thrilled when I see Zac care about something or when I see Aaron control his anger. I rejoice! I don't really know where the phrase came from but it resounds in my head everytime I have one of these moments.
Anyway, I've been thinking of this phrase lately and a new idea has jumped into my little brain this week. I always hear this phrase when I'm most discouraged and then something good happens at school. The more I reflect on it, the more it is being revealed to me that this is not my own voice in my head, it's God's. Maybe everytime I'm discouraged God whispers how proud He is of me and how He rejoices in MY successes. It's a crazy cycle! I find joy in my troubled students when they do good...and my Heavenly Father finds joy in me when I do good and when I see the good in even my most troubled students. Thank you Lord for grace and for finding joy in me despite my many faults.

The Beauty around us

2007-02-02T12:57:00.000-08:00

So I'm sitting here trying to think of something to write on my blog and I looked up in great pleasure to see a deer out in the woods behind my house. It is beautiful outside right now, even though it is a very brisk 18 degrees. The snow just looks so perfect on the ground and I love to see the remnants of the snow storm still clinging to the trees. Sometimes my mind gets going so fast all the time that I often miss out on the beauty of moments such as these. There are times that I feel God simply touches my heart and just whispers, "Stop...and look what I have for you. Even as I sit here typing my eyes are opened to the nature outside my window...to the birds playing in the trees and the deer looking for food. It is truly at moments like these when I say to myself and to my heart, "How could you ever doubt His love for you? How could you ever feel so alone? He is all around you...everywhere you look." Thank you, Lord for opening up my eyes.

Woohoo!

2007-02-02T12:54:00.000-08:00

Hot Dog! I figured it out! Now I have a profile picture...I'm no longer blank!

I just want a flipping picture!

2007-02-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to put a picture on my profile but it seems I have to go through a whole string of events to do so. Hold on, let me see if I can do it...

Out with the Old; In with the New: A Tribute to 2006

2007-01-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

I love the beginning of a new year. I love the fresh start. It's like a clean slate with everything. In my world, everything means my classroom, my physical health, my emotional health, and even my spiritual life. As I continue to grow in my walk with the Lord, I am slowly discovering that I can't succeed in any area of my life to my own heart's content unless Christ is at the center. More often than not, I put Jesus in this tiny box. I create a world where God can't do everything and that it is up to me to take control. This is so wrong and so irritating when I realize that I do this.
So here I am. It is January 2nd and after a long talk with the Lord, I have come up with a long list of "resolutions." They are not all "I give up this or that" but more like me trying to become a more positive person. Me making efforts to be selfless and grow deeper in my relationship with the Lord. Me learning what it means to not put God in a little box. Me learning to love my 25 children with the love Christ so graciously pours on me. Me learning to love myself in a way that I improve my lifestyle and get healthy. Me learning to forgive and allow Jesus to completely heal wounds in my heart.

The year 2006 was a big year for me. As I look upon it and reflect, I realize how hard of a year it was. And I realize how much I grew through it. Here is a list of circumstances and events that I learned huge life lessons from:

Student teaching taught me that I didn't really learn much about teaching in college. I learned that it is a completely different world when there are actual children involved.

My broken friendship with who I considered one of my closest friends showed me what true brokenness looks like. I faced issues about myself that I had no idea existed. I learned to face many fears dealing with rejection, boundaries, and issues with my family.

Through this brokenness, I was led into one of the hardest summers I have ever had. I spent the whole summer at Discipleship Focus in Branson and truly learned the depths of my brokenness and I came to know Grace and how Christ uses our brokenness to create a beautiful new creation. I am overwhelmed by how much God showed me and loved on me in the summer. He healed me of so many issues I struggled with in relationships and never let me go. He picked up the broken pieces of my heart and made a beautiful mosaic.

Teaching has been the most humbling experience of my life. Just when I felt like my life was being put together and that maybe I didn't need God as much, He created an environment where I would crumble without Him as the center. Granted, this took a while to figure out. Through teaching, I have seen the nastiness of myself and am currently learning how to love people who are basically considered by the rest of the world as unloveable. It has been a very hard lesson and one that will hopefully continue the rest of my life.

God has shown me huge amounts of Faithfulness this last year through the promise of new friendships and the continued growth of old. When I graduated college in May, I thought that was the end of friendmaking and spiritual growth. I figured all the friends I'd ever need would be from CofO and that I'd only grow as far as I got in college. He has shown me that there is so much more! I have been blessed richly by an amazing church Body at Harvest and by my small group Eikon. He is has even blessed me with an amazing support system of Believers at the school I teach at. I treasure my friendships with those at school who continue to pray for me.

Well, that pretty much wraps it up for the year 2006. Of course I left a lot out but these circumstances and events show me the growth I have experienced the richness of the Lord's faithfulness. I look forward to this new year in my life. I don't know what the Lord has planned for me in the year 2007 but I'm ready to jump in and get started!

A Charlie Brown Christmas

2006-12-22T20:16:00.000-08:00

"There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child." -Erma Bombeck

So it's three days till Christmas, and I'm longing for the excitement I felt as a child. What happened to the great anticipation and counting down the minutes till the happy occasion? Why do I not seem to care anymore? I kinda feel like Charlie Brown in Charlie Brown Christmas. He feels so bogged down by commercialism that he can't get into the spirit. I must say I've felt like this for the past few years. I'm not really sure what happened. I used to be the crazy teenager who listened to Christmas music in July and longed for that winter day in December.

Are we as humans able to create this excitement ourselves or is it instilled in us through a greater source?

Lord, may you bless me with true joy this Christmas. Instill in my heart the true reason why we celebrate this special day. Let me be joyful and share my joy with those in my life. Thank you for your everlasting faithfulness.

Wow...I'm single

2006-12-17T20:17:00.000-08:00

So I just got back from my second weekend in less than twenty-four hours. Two weddings in one weekend! You know, I would say that 98% of the time, I am comfortable with being single in this world. It doesn't usually ever bother me. However, something about going to two weddings in a row by myself made me a little sad and discouraged. And to top it all off, I watched the new Pride and Prejudice today and it just makes me want to find a Mr. Darcy so bad. Or at least a guy who says, "I love you.....most ardently...(British accent of course)."

I guess there are perks to going to two different weddings. 1.) Lots of fun finger foods. 2.) Many samplings of wedding cake and sparkling grape juice. 3.) Fun times with disposable cameras. 4.) You can buy the same gift for both couples...I really did. In fact, I didn't even wrap the last one...I just stuck a bow on the box and wrote FROM CASEY...I'm kinda shady like that. 5.) I decided that a December wedding in the Chapel at CofO is exquisite because of all the free Christmas decorations included. 6.) I got to hear Chaplain Dan preach the same wedding service...twice. Word for word. 7.) I got to catch up with friends from the past...good times.

I guess if I really think about it, I'd much rather have two weddings in one weekend than two funerals. Always a plus to everything!

A Child at Heart

2006-12-14T21:18:00.000-08:00

Ahh....the simpler days of the ball room at Silver Dollar City! How I long for the simplicity of being three!

Constant Refinement

2006-12-14T15:37:00.000-08:00

Two sets of verses God is pouring into my life:

Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashambed because they have nothing bad to say... Titus 2: 6-8

And the Lord's servant must not quarel; intead she must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose her she must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth... II Timothy 2:24-25

It's amazing how much God is teaching me through the trials of teaching 25 ten year olds. I've definitely seen what I hope is my ugliest side...and I don't like it. Praise God for constant refinement and struggles that make me cling to Him.

Candy canes and fifth graders

2006-12-11T08:37:00.000-08:00

What is it with a child's fetish with sucking on a candy cane so that there is a point sharper than a needle? My lovely fifth grade students are just now enjoying the first candy cane of this merry season. I've already threatened taking away recess if they stab eachother. Ahh...sweet candy canes. The DARE officer gave it to them. He gave me a stapler. It almost brought tears to my eyes. Actually, I was excited because last week, at one point, I had not one stapler due to my children relieving their frustration by jamming them to death. One stapler broke completely in half. For some reason I'm attached to it and have not been able to throw it away yet...Maybe in due time.