In kindergarten, one of the things that we do everyday is calendar and weather. We talk about the seasons and some of the signs of spring. The kids are getting really good at telling me why it is spring. "Mrs. D. it is spring out because it is raining a lot...I can hear the baby birds sing...the sun shines right through my window early in the morning...there are flowers popping up in our garden...I can run on the green grass."

Talking about spring everyday has my mind thinking a lot about new life. Tonight as I work around the house, my thoughts have gone to two precious people that were born recently. Both are small, new, and fragile. They have lots of machines hooked up to their tiny bodies, running tests and such to see what the next day may hold.

I've been reminded that even though life, for young or old, may seem uncertain and at times confusing, God is Sovereign and in control of all things. God not only thinks good things about us, His plans for us our good too!

From Psalm 139:13-15

For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

ABCs About Me

A is for Age ~ 23
B is for Beverage ~ Cinnamon Dolce Lattes from Starbucks.
C is for Career ~ Kindergarten Teacher
D is for Dad's Name ~ Haakon Christian (Chris)
E is for Extracurricular Activity ~ Volleyball, golf lessons with Marco, taking pictures, scrapbooking, walking
F is for Favourite Song(s) of the Moment ~ I've been trying to focus my days by listening to worship music while I'm in the car.
G is for a Good Time ~ Getting together with friends
H is for Hometown ~ Born in Hay River, NWT
I is for Instrument you play ~ Flute
J is for Juice You Like ~ Orange, Grapefruit, Cranberry Juices
K is for Kids ~ While on a missions trip, I was called a "kid magnet". Teaching kids is my passion and I hope one day we can have kids of our own.
Living Arrangement ~ The top-floor of the Flatiron Building in Lacombe
M is for Mom's Name ~ Judith Marie (Judy)
N is for Name of Best Friend ~ Lately I have been really encouraged by my friend Carolyn. I have many wonderful friends.
O is for Overnight Hospital Stays ~ Just once when I was young. I have been very blessed with good health.
P is for Pets ~ Salt-water Aquarium Fish
Q is for Quote You Like ~ My bulletin board has a few quotes on teaching and this is one I come back to: "There is no job easier than teaching if you don't care--and no job harder if you do."
R is for Relationship that Lasted the Longest ~ Marco and I have been married for nine months this weekend :)
S is for Siblings ~ Erika & Nathan
T is for Trip you were last on ~ Fairmont, BC for our Honeymoon
U is for U2 song you love ~ I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
V is for Vegetable you Love ~ Too hard to choose only one
W is for Wine you like ~ Zinfindel
X is for X-Rays you've had ~ My teeth
Y for Yummy Food you make ~ Chinese Stir-fry
Z is for Zodiac Sign ~ Like someone blogged "I believe in the Creator of the stars…not the stars themselves "

It 's been awhile...

...but we are doing well! Sorry for the lack of blogging for all you faithful bloggers. I decided that tonight I would dust off the keys and do a little blogging before another day of not blogging turns into a week which turns into a month or two :).

Life has been steady and busy ever since I accepted the teaching postion at Iron Ridge Elementary School. I ended up starting at the beginning of March, one week earlier then expected, and the last month has blown by. Even though I teach part-time, my days are filled preparing lessons and units, coming up with new ideas to make the classroom more my own, getting to know the staff and the 21 kids I teach, and doing assessments for report cards :).

On Wednesday, Marco and I started taking golf lessons at one of the high schools in Red Deer. Marco is looking forward to when the courses open this spring and he can take me out for our first round of golf together. I have never golfed before so I was very nervous walking into the gym. I was thankful when I saw the curtains hanging to divide the gym into little driving ranges. I could swing and miss and not worry about how blotchy I went. This week I learned some of the basics: how to hold a club, stand, and swing.

What does our weekend hold? I'll probably put in a few hours at the school on Saturday while Marco does a few things at Hertz. Saturday night, we are getting together with the young couples from church for a games night and potluck. It will be good to get to know people a bit better and have FUN! I hear the weather is supposed to be gorgeous. I hope you are able to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and time you spend with family and friends!

Here is an email I sent to family and friends this week that I thought I would share here too :)!

Well, the last few days have felt like a whirlwind of excitement and nervous anticipation. Last Friday (February 3rd) I had an interview at Iron Ridge Elementary School in Blackfalds, AB for a part-time position teaching kindergarten. The interview went very well! I understood all the questions and felt I was able to answer them confidently. The principals were impressed that I supported my answers with lots of examples from my practicum and substitute teaching. At the end of the interview, they explained that they had narrowed it down to myself and one other candidate. Before they could make the final decision they need to see me teach.

I was back at the school on Monday afternoon (February 6th) subbing in the kindergarten room and so I prepared to teach a Math lesson. That day I could see God working in so many ways--their were only 17 kids instead of 23, some of the kids had colds and so instead of "acting out" listened very well, the kids weren't distracted by the principal being there, and instead of scrambling my words when I know I someone is watching me teach, I was able to speak clearly. My hands and voice didn't even shake!

Wednesday (February 8th) I got a phone call at 8 am. I recognized the number from the school and knew it was the principal. She offered me the position and wanted to know if I would accept it. My hands and voice were shaking at this point. I asked if I could have one more day to think about it (a.k.a. phone Marco and let him know about the offer). After talking with Marco that morning we knew it was God directing our steps. I phoned the principal back at 10:30 am and accepted the position. It isn't official yet but I like saying that I am a soon-to-be-part-time-kindergarten-teacher :)!

Right now, I am so thankful for God's blessings! He is faithful!

Love,
Kristin