Survival.

I feel like I'm already in survival mode... and it's just the beginning!!

We'll start with a graduate school update... I have almost completed my first full week (I have a 2 hour meeting in the morning) and it has been crazy... we were thrown some assignments at the last minute, and there is still not a lot of detail for other things.  In short, things are not organized well enough for how fast time is moving! I'm trying to be like a duck: calm and collected on the outside, and paddling like crazy under the water! A few of my feathers are becoming ruffled, but hopefully the weekend will give me enough time to breath and get them back in place :-)

I have started my placement for the "observation" course.  I am one week in to 3 weeks at a local middle school where I spend two full days a week in the classroom. (did you catch all that?)  I have already learned a ton!! The initial revelations were that I do not yet have my "teacher legs", and making it through undergrad without liking coffee was nothing... I might have to develop a taste for it if I'm going to be up at 545 every morning!
I walked in the first day and the teacher introduced herself and informed me the only reason I would have her as a host teacher was to see what not to do! At first this had me nervous, but I quickly realized she said that because she's not the most orthodox teacher, and she thinks she doesn't do what all the grad school books tell you to do.  I have actually seen a lot of the methods I've learned in school being implemented and her ways of implementation seem to be working.  A lot of what she would consider "wrong" about what she does involves her interaction with her authority.  She is the one who will speak up in the faculty meetings and such, but that's not what I'm there to observe.  My favorite part of her classroom is the respect.  She is loved by all her students, but can be stern and has complete control of the classroom.  That is something I want in my classroom, and it's a very good thing for me to see how she handles the affection and interests of her students balanced with her functional use of discipline.
I did become nervous before starting that I would end up wanting to teach middle school, but, for now, I'm maintaining that's a beast I don't want to fight.  We'll see once I'm in the high school!

Some of my good friends from MC (small group) at church are in the process of adopting (you should check out their blog) and they are having a yard sale to raise money this weekend! If you're in the Macon Area you should come by Normandy Road on Saturday morning and see what wonders you can find!
I've been doing (very little compared to everyone else) what I can to help them get ready, and I'm hoping and praying for good weather on Saturday!

I'm also working on creating some income so I can pay rent! I have to take a math test at Sylvan Learning Center next week to see if I can start tutoring for them... and I'm looking into any flexible (typically nanny or tutoring) job that comes along... say a prayer if you will that God will continue to provide!! I know He has guided my steps thus far, but it is easy to try to follow my own path rather than His :-/  We were talking in MC this week about Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
In his heart a man plans his course,
 but the Lord determines his steps.  
I'm convinced the Lord has the steps of my life thus far laid out, and He's not going to stop now!! I do however have to remind myself as things get stressful that He is determining my steps, not paving a smooth road...