Joy in the Journey

Yesterday the world said goodbye to actor/comedian Robin Williams. He was beloved and renowned for his work in film, television, and stand-up comedy. He appeared in a number of my own personal favorite films and his presence in popular culture will be immensely missed. There is speculation that his death was at his own hand and that he suffered from depression. It's hard to believe that a man who spent his life and career bringing laughter and joy to the lives of millions of people was fighting such a dark battle. But, then again, we only know what we see on TV. In the wake of this unspeakable tragedy social media has exploded with articles, statuses, and tweets on the subject. Whether they've posted about his iconic characters or information pertaining to depression, he's been everywhere. In Christian circles, the conversation turns to whether or not he knew the Lord, of which we can only speculate. Whatever way you slice it, this man's death cannot be called any...

I have never been so exhausted in my life. I am mentally, physically, and emotionally worn out. I'm in a place right now where I can actually feel the spiritual warfare going on around me. Whoever said that following Jesus would fill your life with sunshine, rainbows, and lollipops straight up lied. This is not something that is news to me. I've never bought into "the Prosperity Gospel".  Scripture clearly indicates that we have an adversary and that we are to be on the lookout. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  1 Peter 5:8 And here lately, I'm really feeling like the prey. My quiet time lately has been all about trusting the Lord in all of my trials. God is holy and sovereign and does all things well. I have to believe that to get through the day sometimes. I have to believe that He's working and moving in the most incredible way or else the adversary would not be fig...

It has been freezing and snowing nonstop for days now! Between being out for Christmas break, the snow and cold, and having strep throat I have personally not been on my normal routine for over a month now and it's driving me a little insane! We've been on a two-hour delay at work all week and my poor kiddos haven't been on their routines either. Anyone who's spent a good amount of time with children under the age of 5 can tell you that those kids need  routine and structure. What happens when they don't get it? They go a little crazy. And it's okay. One of the best parts about my job is the unpredictability of it all. I love those moments in the classroom where things aren't exactly going according to plan. They make for the best teachable moments. So with all this snow and cold I decided to venture away from our friendship theme for the day and go back to a few weeks ago when we talked about snow. The bin for our discovery table is removable so I too...