It is finished!!

Today has been an exciting yet suprisingly emotional day, for several reasons. First, the excitement comes from the completion of my national board teaching portfolio. Fifty-five typed pages of technical writing about the what, how, and why I do things when I teach. Student work samples, documentation of my accomplishments over the past five years, and the greatest professional development I've ever embarked upon. It truly has been a journey. Although not quite finished, still an assessment to take, I had a sense of accomplishment when I mailed it off today. Of course I think I checked that box five times and had two other people make sure that everything was there. A years worth of hard work. I remember looking at the 200+ page manual when I decided to begin this crazy journey and thinking to myself... what have you gotten yourself into now. The devil was at work hard in my life trying to tell me that i would fail, there is no use trying to finish this, that it was just going to be too much work for me to handle on top of a full time job and having a two year old. The fall began at church with every verse, and sermon surrounding how if we trust in God there is not fear in His love, and no fear in our life. I will admit there were times during this year when I was close to God and many times when I let the busyness of life get in between my relationship with Him. As I was thinking today, I got emotional and began to realize how there have been so many times in my life when my relationship and proximity to God has not been as close as it needed to be, but He was still working in my life without me realizing it at the time. One thing that came to mind today was the first Sunday School lesson my husband ever taught to our singles class before we were married. The title of the lesson was "God is in the Details." Although he was nervous and this was a very short lesson I still remember some of the things he taught that day. This lesson related to my life over the past year. God truly was in the details of every single aspect of my life, from the colleagues I went through this process with, to the pieces of documentation I needed that magically appeared as I was searching for something, to the students that God placed into my classroom this year. I went into school a little frustrated having to three preps this year, Biology, Earth science, and Anatomy to prepare for. I asked God one day, "How am I going to handle this and complete this national board process?" That's when I realized I can't do this, only God could. The greatest lesson I've learned throughout this is that God is constantly at work in my life, even when I can't feel Him or don't understand, or realize what HE is doing. He really is working through all of those day to day details, as mundane as they may be for my good and to accomplish His purpose. You just do your part, pray, and let God take care of the rest. Regardless of the outcome, I know that God was working in my life and for that I am grateful. Praise be to Him for giving me the strength to persevere through this year. I CAN do ALL things through CHRIST whom GIVES ME STRENGTH!!!

The Greatest Act of Love

My heart is jumping with excitement about the new addition to our extended family. Sean Joseph Fleming was adopted recently by my brother and his wife. For two days things were in limbo as they awaited the birth mothers final decision. As I prayed, I couldn't help but to think how hard this decision was for the birth mother. As a mother now, I know that the memory of seeing that sweet baby for the first time is forever etched in your memory and will always be in your heart. I can't imagine having to make that decision. The young mother first made the right decision, and chose life. Second, she sacrificed her feelings for the well-being and future of someone so precious to her. Then, I think about my brother and Helen. To go through everything they did, the waiting, the financial burden adoption is today, the life change, to love someone like they are your own, and this is why I believe adoption is one of the greatest acts of love.