February Fun Numero Tres

To Some it's coincidence. To me, God orchestrated. 

It's been cool to see, to say the least. I feel like I always have a plan for how things should or could go. 

God always has a different plan. For that I am sure.. and grateful. I will spare you all the details, but let me give you a couple big ones. 

My career: 

I went to college to be an elementary school teacher. I quickly realized that wasn't right for me and switched to middle school ed. I was very happy there for most of my schooling. However, during student teaching I began to doubt teaching. I filled out the REAP application online and received a couple bites from school districts. After three interviews I got a job in one particular school district and began my career as an 8th grade english teacher. 

WORST YEAR EVER! seriously it was hard. I cried, I was tired, I flat out hated my job. I had problems with coworkers, kids, administration, you name it. After a conversation with my principal I turned in my letter of resignation before Spring Break... and sobbed. I had NO idea what I would do with my life. I kept coaching because that is what I loved. I didn't love teaching and was now on a search for a job. Two years later: I am happier than I have ever been. Had I had a good first year teaching I would probably still be there and I would be missing out on the greatest job ever. 

My current place of residence: 

I was supposed to move to Colorado in July. The apartment was set. Moving truck was ready. I only stayed for a job that was offered at the last minute. There have been many things to stay for besides just my sweet job. My dad had open heart surgery two weeks after I was going to move. I couldn't imagine being two states away for that. My sister got married, my other sister had a baby, my brother will be getting married, and another sister is having a baby. This would have been a horrible time to be two states away. That's all I really wanted, but I am glad I didn't get it. 

All this to say that half my faith and belief are based on the fact that I know God has orchestrated my life. It's not all about good things happening for me. It's about the "Lord knowing the plans he has for me to prosper and not to harm, to give a hope and a future". 

The road has not been easy, but the destination is worth it. I believe I am still going down that road, but I am thankful for the many amazing and gratifying rest stops I have seen along the road. 

Nothing Like a Dad!

Let me set the stage for this story with a few points of interest: 

1. I love field hockey. When it's nice out I go watch games even if I only know a couple girls playing. Tuesday I watched MICDS beat Lafayette, so today I went to watch the next round when MICDS would play undefeated Ursuline. 

2. I love people watching. My favorite people to watch interact are parents and children. I think it's the greatest or saddest depending on the circumstances. I especially love to watch dads in action. 

3. I used the wrong hair product this morning... so I had to wear a hat UNDER my helmet as I rode my bike to the game. If not I would have looked a mess when I took my helmet off. 

4. There was one black girl between the last four teams I've seen play... this is an important fact. 

Here's the story: The other day during the MICDS/Lafayette game there was a day cheering the whole time. He was yelling, "Go Janelle! Nice job, baby!"  over and over again. I looked up to see a black man and then made the connection... the MICDS goalie was his daughter. When MICDS won the game he cheered ecstatically... so proud of his girl. 

Fast forward... 

Game start 3:15

Ursuline scored two goals in the first fifteen minutes of the half. The MICDS goalie had a save on a penalty stroke. However, when MICDS called a time out the goalie, Janelle, was replaced. Not but a few minutes later I looked over to see the black man from the day before walking up. He had his camera bag in his hand and was looking frantically around the field. Then, his eyes stopped at his daughter, helmet off, on the sidelines. He hurried up to one of the mom's and heard "the story". To which I heard him say, "That's bullshit". 

I continued to watch this dad throughout the game. Most of the time he was just staring at Janelle on the sidelines. His camera never left the bag. My heart just kept breaking more and more. I kept thinking... "I can't believe I am a coach...I would be the one making the decision to pull that goalie". Sometimes it's hard for me to watch sports games for this reason... I hate to be the coach causing that disappointment. Janelle cheered for her team all game. At halftime she wasn't put in and I saw the disappointment grow in her father's face. With ten minutes left in the game MICDS called a time out. Janelle's dad watched anxiously as the team gathered, and then stared disappointedly when they went back to the field... Janelle still on the sidelines. I looked up MICDS's roster on my phone and found that Janelle was a senior and the other GK was a junior. This was her very last field hockey game. 

At the blow of the whistle Ursuline (3-0) went crazy. Despite the fact that I was freezing, I couldn't pull myself from the field. I stared as Janelle ran and congratulated the other goalie on her game. I watched as Janelle's dad, proudly wearing the MICDS Field Hockey hat with her number, crossed the field and pulled her into his arms. I thanked God I was wearing a hat so no one could see the tears streaming down my face... I mean I didn't even know these people. At that point I turned away and left the field. When I looked back they were still hugging. I got on my bike and sped home, tears still streaming down my face. I just listened to worship music amazed at how great is a dad's (heavenly and earthly) love. 

Jehovah Jireh

Summer 2007 I went to Zambia, Africa to work with orphans. "Jehovah Jireh" was part of one of the worship songs we sang often. Since many of the songs were in nyanja I simply sang the words without checking the meaning. 

Fast forward a year: I am now in a women's bible study at church. Last week the Beth Moore book talked about some of the names of God. One of the names discussed was Jehovah Jireh- God the provider. It was amazingly encouraging to me. How precious that those children who had nothing could belt out the lyrics, shouting, "Jehovah Jireh" with complete confidence and faith. Even a year later I am being taught by those kids. 

Over the past year it has been confirmed that one of my passions is orphaned children. I have always had a passion for different cultures and now I can see the desire to combine both children and different cultures to pursue international missions. I recently found a very expensive mission trip that involves five different continents.... all working with children. I am committing myself to working hard to raising the money to go on this trip. Game on... no starbucks, drinking, eating out, random trips... ect. Lets see how I can do! Perhaps I should say, let's see how much faith I have in what God can do. 

Below are pictures that motivate me to save for my next trip abroad!

Who am I to presume...

Sometimes I try to presume what is best for me in certain situations. I give God a timeline and when, in fact, He doesn't react as I suspect He should I decide what my road map should be. So often I want to be in control, but every time I find out that I, in fact, am not. 

I'm sure this isn't the most profound thing anyone has ever heard. I would imagine we all see this momentarily, daily, weekly, yearly. God gives us all those "Aha!" moments when we see what He was doing all along. I say all this because there are often times when I feel exceptionally blessed. I tell my close friends how "spoiled" I am, not to sound cocky, but to simply point out how immeasureable my God's love is for me. The most recent situation that causes me to be blown away is my current job. Three years ago I was in college regretting that I hadn't forked out the extra dough to play a college sport. You see, when I was going off to college I simply couldn't fathom turning down a full academic scholarship to pay $23,000 at another school just so I could play field hockey. So, as I began to regret this decision during my junior year of college I made a simple change to my facebook account... (as we all know, whatever is on facebook is absolute truth!) For about six months all my about me said was, " I want to go back in time and be a college athlete". You see, I thought I had missed it. I was getting into watching sports and longing for the days of being apart of a team and playing. 

Blessing Number One: When I came home from college I got offered a job as the head varsity lacrosse coach at Kirkwood. I coached there for three years and LOVED it. I promise you it is what kept me going during those early days back in the STL after college. 

Blessing Number Two: Just as God ran out of His time limit to give me a new focus for my life I decided to move to Colorado. I won't say this was the worst decision of my life, just the decision I thought best for the time. Right before I moved God shows up yet again with a different plan. I was offered head coach at Missouri Baptist University. Although every adventurous bone in my body wanted to flee to Rocky Mountain High I accepted the gift I was being offered and cancelled my lease in Fort Collins. 

Blessing Number Three: Last night was my first game as a collegiate coach. I was VERY apprehensive about it. The last coach didn't recruit much, so I was left with a team of 10 players. I recruited an old Young Life girl to be my goalie which brought the grand total to 11...little problem: it takes 12 girls to field a team. SO I played with them. I was NOT super excited about it because I just wanted to coach. However, after a goal I was running back to the center circle and had an epiphany. I just sort of stopped and thought, "God, you are funny!"... Flashback to my facebook about me in 2005. "I want to go back in time and be a college athlete". Go back in time? Ha... God is thinking, "That won't be necessary". 

It hasn't all been roses, but I will say I am amazed on a daily basis by how spoiled I am in how God blesses me. Who am I to presume I know what the plan should be?