Monday, July 27, 2009

"The Strip," Las Vegas



This past weekend, Adam and I had an opportunity to hit "the strip" in Las Vegas, Nevada. We were graciously hosted by a family friend and her roommate, who took us out to dinner and showed us around to some of the "hot spots."

While Adam was excited to get a chance to play poker at a real poker table (he even won $60), we both enjoyed watching the fountains at the Bellagio, traveling through "Paris," and treating ourselves to the beautiful indoor walkway of the Venetian Casino. Of course, it wouldn't be a trip to Vegas without getting harassed by dozens upon dozens of advertisers for night clubs and "X" rated fun. I couldn't believe the number of cards that littered the ground or the amount of children that were walking around Vegas seeing the giant advertisements of half-naked women! Ah! No wonder the minds of our generation (and younger) are so saturated with sex.

The trip was certainly a taste of a different type of culture. Although "short-lived," I'm not sure we needed too much more time to understand just how different Vegas is from several other US big cities. Fortunately, there's hope, even for "Sin City." Since our trip, Adam and I have researched a church organization, called Strip Church, that's reaching out to people in Vegas in very creative ways. Check out the website if you're curious!

All in all, the trip was certainly a success and so much fun! Some of our pictures from the trip are included below. Stay tuned for an update on our trip to the Grand Canyon from August 2nd-4th!


Our party of four: Adam, myself, and our two wonderful hostesses, Sandy and Amanda. We ate a wonderful "tropical dinner" at Treasure Island. And yes, that's our DESSERT!

The infamous Bellagio! We were so captivated by the light show that we couldn't stop watching after just one song! Truly an amazing sight to see!


EVERYONE's in Vegas! I was so excited to meet Whoopi Golberg! I just loved her in Sister Act. Okay, okay. This is actually a "Wax Whoopi." Close enough though, right?


These tours were given inside the Venetian Casino. Yes, inside. It wasn't surprising considering what the inside of this "mall area" looked like. Talk about stunning and romantic!

On the way to and fro Vegas, we traveled across the Hoover Dam and stopped to take some pictures! I wasn't expecting this sort of beauty!


This picture doesn't even come close to justifying the beauty of this scenery. The water is so blue, and with it surrounded by the mountains, it's just like a postcard. Adam informed me that the water's "blue" is caused by minerals. In fact, the white that is shown on the mountains is calcium build up: the water reaches up to the heights of the white/brown line!


A view of the Hoover Dam. There were so many people parked on the side of the road just to tour and photograph the Dam!

Another view of the Dam. Adam tells me that it's the largest cement structure in the world! I believe it!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

How to Talk to Girls

While in our "pastors' meeting" yesterday, I caught sight of an advertisement in a children's ministry magazine for a book that a NINE YEAR OLD BOY wrote. The title: How to Talk to Girls. Fascinated with the reality that a nine year old boy published a book, I continued to read all about Alec Greven. He published his first book at age eight, has also written a book titled How to Talk to Moms, and has a book about Santa Clause coming out in September! I was ecstatic to discover that one of our pastors actually owned a copy of How to Talk to Girls.

Here are some of my favorite excerpts:
  • A crush is a love disease. It can drive you mad.
  • If you are in elementary school, try to get a girl to like you, not to love you. Wait until middle school to try to get her to love you. Otherwise, you have to hold on to her for a long time and that would be very hard. (Tip: Most boys in elementary school can hold on to a girl for only 30 days.)
  • Some girls are talkative. Some girls are shy. Go for a talkative girl if you are shy. Then you only have to say one sentence, and she will do the rest of the talking.
  • If she doesn't like you, don't worry, it happens.
  • If you do win victory with a girl, don't cheer in front of her.
  • Use caution! When you see a pretty girl, don't let her tractor beam pull you in.
What an incredible way to share with children that they matter! Imagine how nine year old boys (and girls) can be inspired by hearing Alec's story! I definitely think I'll be purchasing this book for my personal collection.




Thursday, July 16, 2009

Teaching Interview Questions


While preparing for some teaching interviews, I ran across a great article that shares "Principals' 30 Favorite Questions for Future Teachers." If any of you are preparing to one day be a teacher (or know of anyone who is preparing) this is a great source to print out and save for future reference!

Below are also some common questions that I've been asked while interviewing. Good luck!
  • I noticed you student taught at _________________. Tell me about your experience. What were your strengths and what were your weaknesses during this experience?

  • Describe a reading lesson from start to finish.

  • Tell me about some of your extra-circulars in high school and college.

  • We've been brainstorming ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. How experienced are you with a smart board?How experienced are you with a smart board?What are some of your ideas?

  • How do you measure a student's success?

  • What are some of your ideas concerning how to encourage parent involvement in a students' education?

  • It seems like you have a lot of strengths. What is an area that you are looking to improve? How do you plan to do so?

  • Do you have any questions for us?

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

True Beauty


I recently finished John and Stasi Eldredge's book Captivating. The book focuses on women's desires to be romanced, to be needed, and to be beautiful. It is quite an interesting read. I aim to soon read Wild at Heart.

The following are two descriptions of "beautiful women" that were contrasted in the book. The descriptions reminded me of the pressure women feel to "be [physically] beautiful" in this world, while ironically, attaining or "striving" (as Stasi Eldredge describes) for such beauty is exhausting.

Janet is twenty-one. She was on the dance team in high school. Small and petite with a fabulous figure. Unlike so many women in that world of competitive beauty, she escaped an eating disorder. But she runs between five and ten miles a day. She watches what she eats. She's able to wear the cutest clothes. And yet...when you're with her, your heart does not rest. Her beauty impresses, but it does not invite. The reason is simple: She is striving. She is a perfectionist (an extra two pounds is a crisis; a pimple is a disaster). Her beauty feels tenuous, shaky. It is not flowing from her heart. It's almost as if it's forced, from the outside, through discipline and fear.

June is one of the most beautiful women we have ever met. We encountered her a few years ago while doing a retreat on the coast of North Carolina. Her hair was long, swept up loosely and held by decorative combs. She wore unique, dangly earrings and pretty flowering skirts. Her eyes sparkled when she laughed, which he did often, and her smile lit up the room, She was clearly in love with her husband, her face adoring as she gazed at him. June was at rest with herself, at home in who she was. Talking with her, just being with her, made us feel more at rest with ourselves as well. Her spacious, beautiful soul invited others to come, to be, to taste and see that the Lord is good, whatever was happening in your life. She wept at the retreat. She laughed at the retreat. She was gloriously alive and in love, both with her husband and with the God of the Universe. And June was about seventy-five years old.


While reading, I found myself identifying too much with Janet while I long to make an impression like June's. I run (and feel bad when I don't). I watch what I eat. I have "perfectionist" traits. Yet, I love to smile. I love to laugh. I love to believe that my presence is inviting and alive. Why are both beauties so desirable?

As this has been a matter that I've been praying over for quite some time (wanting to "love myself" for who I've been created to be), I've believe I've finally begun to experience just the tip of the iceberg of God's unique love for me. I find myself praying to be a June more and a Janet less, and I don't plan on taking 75 years to live and share it with others.



True beauty, Eldredge writes, is one in which, "A woman invites us to know God. To experience through her that God is merciful. That he is tender and kind. That God longs for us-to be known by us and to know us. She invites us to experience that God is good, deep, lovely, alluring. Captivating."

I can feel beautiful because God created me beautifully. My beauty (my confidence, my love, my caring) invites others to know God. Let's face it, confidence is, after all, attractive!

What a unique way to view beauty! Beauty as a...way to witness for God.

Now that's a beauty to believe in and desire!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Decision Time


I knew this time would come around. I didn't realize that it would happen sooner than later.

Decision time: Public school teaching vs. Ministry

Realistically, this has been a decision that I've struggled with for a long time. Ever since I was five years old, I pretended to teach my stuffed animals via spelling book packets and a small chalkboard attached to one of my bedroom walls. I wanted to be a teacher. When I was 18, however, after making the decision to get baptized and beginning on my journey with Christ, I fascinated over teaching students with a different, eternal curriculum in mind.

Since then, I've struggled for a long time trying to decide into which field I fee "called." I remember graduating from high school, traveling to a high school Christian conference in Tennessee (CIY) in which I made a commitment to "enter into the ministry" and coming home perplexed because I was not going to a "Bible college" that August. How was I to fulfill my "ministry calling" if I didn't attend a Bible college? That summer, I remember spending hours on the computer researching Christian colleges with youth ministry and children's ministry majors, finally giving up my search a few days before heading to Albright College to pursue "secular degrees" in elementary education and psychology.

My indecisiveness didn't end then. (I wish!) I struggled for over a year trying to decide whether I wanted to transfer to Eastern University to pursue youth ministry, in which a mentor couple of Adam and myself suggested to stay at Albright, receive my education degree, and then, after I graduated, if I was feeling called, to pursue seminary and ministry afterwards.

The couple insisted that during these next four years, I take full advantage of my perfect opportunity to pursue college experiences, while likewise, still being able to stay fairly connected with ministry through attending and volunteering at Christ's Church of the Valley.

And, did I ever take advantage of all those opportunities!

Since then, at CCV, I've volunteered in the children's ministry as a "lead teacher" (one who teachers large group lessons from stage) for grades 2nd-5th, I've volunteered in student ministries as an "Impact Coach" for middle school students, and I've served in summer camps to reach out to new children and students. During summers, I've traveled with CIY's "Know Sweat" team to complete service projects with middle and high school students across the Midwest, and even accepted a summer children/youth internship at CCV (PA) where my ministry responsibilities (speaking, events, volunteer coordination, etc.) truly began to ripen.

Opportunities, too, to explore public school teaching have arose over the years, and I hadn't forgotten to explore those as well. Studying education in school, I volunteered at countless tutoring sessions at local elementary schools, working for four years at an after-school program in Reading. I've completed practicum sessions for nearly every grade K-6, including a full semester of "student teaching," a teaching internship in and of itself.

And where has all this experience and learning brought me, four years passed?

...at a crossroad. A decision to make: Public school teaching or Ministry?

I've graduated from Albright. I have my degrees in both elementary education and psychology. I find myself in yet another ministry internship at a mega church in Peoria, AZ this summer (this time strictly for children's ministry), and there are offers on the table.

You see, earlier this week, I was elated to discover that I received a job offer at Northwest Elementary, the first school that I student taught at during my "Practicum Semester" at Albright. When leaving the elementary school (my placement was in a 5th grade classroom), the principal said to me, "You'll be hearing from me." Not wanting to set myself up for disappointment, I didn't think too much of it, especially because I've accepted that my plans for the next year (until Adam and I marry and we settle somewhere) are a huge question mark with a giant sticker that says TRUST GOD at the bottom. A few days ago, the principal called me herself! She offered a fourth grade position and wanted to know when I can "conference call" to interview with the board.

Amazing! Thank you, Lord. (As August quickly inches closer, I've been really praying about "future-job-stuff.")

Interestingly, that same day, I sat down with my summer internship supervisor as he invited me to consider pursuing a year-long internship in the later childhood department at CCV (AZ). He described some of the benefits of a year-long internship and shared his insight for future job possibilities (not promised, of course). Knowing my plans with Adam, he offered his prayers for the decisions that lie ahead.

Money. Marriage. Jobs. Moving. Decisions.

While trying to discipline myself to "give it [my decisions] to God in prayer," I often think about the conversations that I've shared with people concerning the differences and similarities between teaching in public school and in a "church setting." I often argue that my passion to teach in public school allows all children, especially those who don't go to church, to be loved, encouraged, and taught by someone whose heart belongs to Jesus.

Yet, as wonderfully evangelistic as this motivation is, I can't help ignore my still existing, prominently strong fascination with "ministry." There's no doubt that I'm most passionate about speaking to children and students, and dare I say, I'm good at it. I've taken a serious interest in studying speakers' techniques and advice, and upon each opportunity, seek to improve what I hold true as a God-given gift. In fact, I find it incredible that at this Arizona internship alone I have been encouraged by countless adults, teenagers, and children with my gift of speaking. I have kids rushing the stage to give me high-fives after I'm speaking. I over-hear 2nd-6th grade boys reenacting the stories that I tell on stage. Boys! I've offered speaking and group-management advice to high school leaders, and they've loved it and passed it along to their friends. Staff members in the children's department have joked about "bringing me on staff" or have initiated conversation about considering future possibilities within the field. Usually, I find myself storing these memories in my heart, then brushing them off as, " these people are just saying nice things!"

I'm beginning to really be convinced though, that it's all to bizarre to not involve God.

Decision time. All prayers are so deeply appreciated!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Kids Say the Darnest Things!


One of my favorite things about children's ministry is listening to kids' responses to questions.

Just two weeks ago, I was leading a small group for 2nd and 3rd graders, and just after talking about John 3:16, I asked if there were any questions. One girl raised her hand and asked, "Is Santa real?"

Below are a few answers to kids' responses that Jeri (the other children's intern) and I organized for a recent website update. Whereas I marvel at the complexity of some answers (these students are all in 6th grade), I can't help smile at the innocence and simplicity in others. I hope that you enjoy reading them as much as I did!

How has God changed your life?

  • God has changed my life. I got bit by a pit bull (Personally, I think this was the devil's work) But God saved me to where I only got 2 stitches on my face and about 3-4 cuts instead of ripping off my cheek.

  • I am not proud of a lot of the things I have done but God has helped me get over and helped clear all of my sins. If it wasn't for God I don't know if I would be here right now. If

  • I wasn't close to God I wouldn't have gotten this far in my life. God has saved me!

  • God has changed my life by giving me Melody, my 8 year old sister. I would have been a pretty boring kid if it weren't for God. He has brightened my life.

How have you seen God change someone else's life?

  • I have seen God change my dad's life so we can be a family now.

  • God changed my mom's life. She was smoking 3 packs a day.

  • Like I had a bully, he was mean to me. I told my teacher I needed to go to the bathroom. She said yes. When I was in the bathroom I didn't have to go but I prayed for him. When it was lunch he started to be nice and played basketball with me. To me that was kind of weird!

  • God changed my dad when God spoke to me and my mom. We kept on seeing scriptures on adoption. But when we told my dad he was very against it. So every night me and my mom prayed. One day my dad came home from work and filled out all the papers for the adoption.

What's the difference between someone who knows God and someone who doesn't know God?

  • The difference of someone knowing God and someone who doesn't know God is that if you know the Lord your life is complete. You know how to live your life and you know who loves you most. If you don't know God, your life is a whole question. Who created you? Who made this land? Who loves you most of all? You don't know how to take control. That's the difference!
  • People who don't know God have a hole in their heart. They don't have a meaning or purpose in life. They feel empty and end up doing wrong things to cover it up. People who do know God know why they were put in this world. They feel like their lives are important for God's work. They love life and they love Christ.
  • The difference is that non-believers cuss and they don't go to Heaven, and that is why He has us take them to church.

I wonder, what would your answers be to these three questions? Would they be as entertaining as a 6th grader's?

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Animal Lover

For the past few days, my host family here in Peoria, AZ has been on vacation visiting family in Texas and New Mexico. While they've been gone, they've asked me to take care of their pets (2 dogs, 1 rabbit, and 1 bird), in addition to maintaining the house in a few minor ways (watering the plants, collecting the mail, etc.). While I was extremely excited for their return on Tuesday (it's scary to stay in a big house by yourself in a state thousands of miles from "home"), I realize that I've learned a lot by spending these few days "living on my own." Not that I haven't lived on my own before...well, sort of. For my last two years at college, I lived in an apartment. Although, then, I lived with three of my friends, minimal responsibilities, and definitely no pets.

I am definitely not an animal lover.

Don't get me wrong, I grew up with pets. Cats, dogs, cat-fish, tadpole, we had many. Ever since I was old enough to understand the time, commitment, and MONEY that owning a pet requires however, I've very strongly expressed my desire to NOT have pets "when I grow up." House-sitting and having the responsibility for the food and care of a few animals independently, especially dogs, has absolutely reinforced my distaste for owning animals. I simply don't have the patience. I know that my lifestyle will be one (it already is) in which it's not a priority of mine to carve out the time for pets (to play with them, give them attention, etc.). While my host family isn't here to entertain the dogs, each day when I return home from work, I'm greeted by two excited dogs with toys in mouths ready to chase Frisbees, to eat snacks, and to be loved. (Or so we assume.) Frustrated because they always seem to block the doorway so perfectly, I yell to them, "I just don't love you as much as your family does!"

Sunday night, rushing out the door from these two [dogs] once again, I attended the High School Service here at CCV, in which a message was delivered by one of the staff about being "made" by God. He boldly shared that God has created us so that he can love us. We are the only creations that he has crafted that can feel and return love. He said, "...not the mountains, not the sea, not the animals. You may love your dog, but your dog doesn't love you. He only follows you around because he wants food. God created you because He loves you and you can love Him back."

Ha! All you animal lovers are wasting your time!

Part of me adored the message because I felt validated for my numbness towards animals. Why put effort into loving something that wasn't created to return love? An even bigger part of me marveled at the truth that God's created humans because He desires to love and to be loved. But then I wondered, "So why do I feel so darn guilty when I put up the 'doggy fence' to block the dogs from bothering me, knowing that no one has played with them in days? Are we really the only creations that can love? If animals have the mental capacity to be trained for tricks and tasks, if animals can communicate by means of barks, growls, and rubs, why don't they have the capacity to express love? After all, why do these dogs choose to lay at my feet while reading, eating, or sleeping. Why do they chase me around the pool when I'm holding my breath underwater with a look of fear in their eyes? And why do they have to look so darn cute?

Can animals love?


And I thought people were confusing.
This is why I cannot own pets! There are too many questions that require expert advice and guidance. It's challenging enough trying to understand the mindsets of men and women so that I can better serve them. I've accepted that God is mysterious...

But, pets?


Monday, July 6, 2009

California Adventure


A few posts back, I mentioned that Adam, myself, and some friends would be venturing to the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, because of 4th of July weekend, we weren't able to reserve a camp-site in time (as we were planning to hike down into the canyon and camp out over night). We're still planning on hiking the canyon in a few weeks, but for our 4th of July celebration, we ventured to Huntington Beach in California instead! We both agreed that the trip was too short, but lucky for us, with a few connections in California, we'll be back soon! Adam's already posted about the trip (you can read his blog here), but here are a few more pictures of our first California beach adventure!
We're there! Huntington Beach, CA.
(Less than an hour from Disney Land!)

My FIRST GLANCE at the Pacific Ocean! (Yes, we're still in the car. A picture was definitely necessary!)

The hotel where we stayed. Okay, just kidding. It's a random building across from the beach. It's gorgeous though. You definitely don't see this at the NJ shore!

The beautiful beach! It was breezy, sunny, and 80 degrees. I promise you the sand feels (and looks) different than that on the NJ coast.

Okay, it's obvious that this isn't the beach. We passed these mountains on the way to Huntington, in California! They're GORGEOUS and HUGE..perhaps about 15,000 ft!AND, to make the drive even more interesting...right near the giant mountains were HUNDREDS of WINDMILLS. These power MASSIVE AMOUNTS of energy. It was crazy seeing so many of them along the mountain range!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Text Messaging Prayer Reminders?!

Over the past few months, I've been very particular when telling just anyone that I'll be praying for them whenever they share requests. As I've taken a true look at my prayer life, I've realized that I don't pray nearly half as much for people as I promise!

"Oh, I'm praying for you!" How many times have we all heard that? Has anyone else other than me ever wondered, "Now, do they really mean that? How often are they really praying? How can they remember?"

Unfortunately, I've become just a tad bitter to the idea of "praying for (so many) other people."

Until now.

Can I really get a text-message reminder to...pray?

I received an email today from one of the children's pastors at Christ's Church of the Valley here in Peoria. The emailed explained his similar frustration with not always being able to "keep his word" when promising to pray for others. he included a link to an interesting website that he found to help "organize" his prayers: Echo Prayer Manager.


The site, Echo Prayer Manager, does just that: manages your prayers. Upon signing up, one can "submit" multiple prayer requests and set reminder times (repeated on a weekly basis) so that reminders can be sent via email or text message throughout the day to better help one manage praying for multiple people and/or issues. One can even submit journals, comments, and "answered prayer" notes so that the reminders can change and/or stop.

As creator Ben Rugg describes on Echo Prayer's website, "It's pretty obvious the Bible calls us to pray for each other. James exhorts us to pray in all circumstances, Paul tells us to pray continually, and Jesus is an example even while he's on the cross (see James 5:13-18, 1 Thes 5:17, Luke 23:32-34). Echo is a tool to help you pray more diligently. Pray for your coworkers, your friends, your family, your church, your country, your issues. And thank God continually."

If you're interested, take a look at the website...and sign up! It's neat to think that such a resource exists to strengthen our walk with Christ. Ben Rugg, you have used certainly used your talents to glorify God! As Ruggs write, "Let's change the world. Let's pray for the people around us like we were meant to. And let's show the world that the one true God deserves all the glory."