eachnewday's Xanga

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 21:30:05 GMT

Wonderful, wonderful Christmas. Had five days at my parent's house. So nice to be with all of them even just for a short time. Nice to just do life with them again. Got insomnia on Christmas Eve again. As always. Woke up at 4, then at 5, then at 6 and at 7 I heard my parents and decided it was safe to wake everyone else up then. My family went nuts with gifts and my parents totally lost it. They bought me the big gift I asked for - a laptop. Still can't believe it. They are way too good to me. Nice to remember that all the people of the Christmas story were regular people. Two easy days at work last week - only five kids each day. Nice. This week is moving week. Long day yesterday getting everything into the new classrooms. Tomorrow will be longer. I'm missing my kids like crazy. My family came and stayed with me last weekend. So wonderful to have them here. I miss being near them so much. They came to my church. I love sharing that place with people I love. It was nice to be back there. I only missed one Sunday, but it felt like longer. I miss Life Group. Still another week before I get to see them. I love the holidays. I love being with my family. I will be glad when I'm back into my normal routine again, though. Ready for His unorthodox blessing. It "produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:18:52 GMT

Been in the house for over three months now. It's decorated for Christmas and it is a home. I have another new home also. Firewheel Bible Fellowship. Loving it. Can't imagine missing a single Sunday. Meeting some of my new family. Jeremy, Jodi, Keadan, Jeff. Good people with good hearts. Getting ready for a big adventure down the road. The Lord is preparing our hearts for that. It's coming soon and I'm excited and I'm scared. I still get scared about money, about making ends meet. It's a neverending lesson in trust. I love my kids at work. They teach me every day. Relearning lessons in love and discipline. Learning to be gentle and kind. These are difficult lessons to learn. Despite the money shortage, I wouldn't give this up. Wonderful people I work with. I am humbled every day by three year olds. And they make my joy overflow. I miss my family more every day. I miss being near them. What will I do in a year when they are even farther? Do they know the extent of my overflowing love for them? Very blessed to be theirs. Very blessed indeed. I have a house. For free. And I have a playful cat. I have more best friends than a broken girl deserves. I have a car. It runs. My cabinets are overstocked with food. I know love. I sleep in a warm bed every night. I wear clothes every day. And they're cute. For the most part. I love books. And I have lots of them. I am broken. And I am overcome by grace. By His scandalous, unorthodox love. Blessed indeed.

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:57:39 GMT

I have to say, I'm very content right now. I'm at my parent's house and nothing special is happening, just life as it goes in the Hastings house. We're about to go meet my sister for dinner after she gets off work and so as we wait, my mother does her motherly thing making sure we have everything for tomorrow, going over recipes and figuring how early she needs to get up to put the turkey in; and my father watching the Mavs game and carrying on a conversation with the commentators as though they can hear him with the occasional "Yeah Dirk!" outburst; and I think of Gretchen almost to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to see Zack and how happy it will make them to be together for Thanksgiving; and I'm just happy to be alive.

Friday, November 02, 2007

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:21:55 GMT

It's official. I am now a partner of Firewheel Bible Fellowship!! I'm so excited! This church has been such a blessing to me already and I'm only just getting started. God has been so gracious in allowing Erin and I to find such a wonderful church so quickly. I have not felt the this type of family since Nexus and I can't wait to get more involved. We also just joined a life group and will attend our first group next week. I'm really excited about that, too.

Work is still great. One of my kids left today for a month long vacation in India to visit his grandparents, so our count is officially down to 15 three-year olds and let me tell ya, I am uber excited because one less kid can make a huge difference in the whole day. Oh, and for those of you who enjoyed the penis story, here's a face to put with it. Adorable and out of control.

God is still good, what more can I ask for?

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:35:59 GMT

So, my new job... wonderful. About to finish my fourth week and it's just gotten better and better. The kids are almost out of the "testing" phase and hopefully I have showed them that I love them dearly, but they can't get away with anything when I'm around. I love working with kids cause they really do say the darndest things. Por ejemplo...

Some of the dolls we have in our home center are, for some reason, very anatomically correct. Not necessarily detailed, but there are still things there. And so, yesterday, one of my boys - three years old, tiny little kid but has the most energy you'll ever see - picks up one of the dolls and says very loudly, with a parent in the room - "Look, a penis!!"

Oh my, I wanted to laugh so badly, but I wasnt sure what the parent would think, so I just took the doll and said it was going to go away for awhile. Haha... oh kids, I just love 'em.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:59:50 GMT

So I went to this wedding and at the front of the church, there were three banners hanging. You'd expect them to maybe have a Scripture on them or maybe a name of God. Nope, just three words, one on each:

Believe

Belong

Become

I had to do a double take to make sure Howard Payne hadn't transformed into a church and planted itself in Arlington. It almost felt like home. Haha.

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 11:32:45 GMT

I wish I had something profound or wise or even witty to put in this post, but really I don't... I'm out, I think those kinds of posts ended with my college career... sad.

But my update -

I got a job! It's a church's daycare/preschool in Dallas - Christ Lutheran Church Child Development Center - fancy, huh? I'm really, really excited about this job. When I interviewed, I had so much fun talking with the director and really enjoyed hearing her vision for the place. I felt so comfortable there and was really hoping that they would offer me a position... and they did! I start Monday and I'll be an Assistant Teacher in the 3's class. It pays well, it's full time and I get benefits after three months. Now the difficult part will be breaking it to Sylvan that they only have me for a couple more weeks. Should be fun...

Erin and I are visiting a new church tomorrow and we're really excited about it - Firewheel Fellowship. From their website, they appear to be very similar to Nexus in beliefs and setup and such. I have high hopes..

Not much else happening... we have a spirited friend in our chimney, it chirps and twirps, continuously reminding us that it's stuck there, we haven't decided how exactly we're going to take care of it. Funny thing is, Maggie is not bothered by it in the least. She stalks hangers, but a bird continuously chirping in the chimney doesn't even turn her head. Strange cat.

I've rediscovered my love for Rebecca St. James - "you then me then you then me"

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:23:48 GMT

God has truly been faithful. I let myself get worked up and frustrated about how things were going to work once Saunrda was gone and my human self started doubting. But I have learned to take each day one at a time, relying on his mercies that are new every morning. Tomorrow is my last full-time day and let me tell ya, I am ready for it. I'm gonna have to really make a jump on the job search though. Part-time-ness at Sylvan will sustain me for a little while but not forever. Moving into the house this weekend; very excited about that. School starts in a couple weeks, a little scared about that. But once again, always at the front of my mind - He never fails.

"when all around my soul gives way, He is all my hope and stay" ~ Caedmon's Call

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:23:17 GMT

So, the life-sucking job saga continues and it gets more dramatic and ridiculous. Long story short, I gave my two weeks today. I won't be completely gone from the center - I graciously told them I would stay around part-time and help out as needed here and there. Not sure if that was a good idea for my sanity, but definitely a good idea for my checkbook. We will see what happens after August 15. I've applied to sub in Garland and Mesquite school districts. I may get some other random part-time something to fill in the blanks. I registered for classes yesterday - only six hours to start, just ease my way back in. And all in all, I'm hoping just for time to relax and destress.

I'm through with playing by
The rules of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes
And leap...

As someone told me lately
Everyone deserves the chance to fly
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who ground me
Take a message back from me!

Tell them how I am defying gravity
I'm flying high, defying gravity

Monday, July 30, 2007

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:25:33 GMT

My boss basically gave me an ultimatum today. Now I have some decisions to make. Lord, I'm crying out to you. I need You!