So this blog has been one I have procrastinated on writing. I'm not that great at writing about myself, but here it goes:
The basics:
I'm 26 years old. I graduated with my bachelor's from Oral Roberts University in Elementary Education and Teaching English as a Second Language. I recently completed my Master's at the University of Oklahoma in Education Administration, Curriculum, and Supervision.
I'm the oldest of 6 kids; roughly translated that means growing up with awesome craziness at all times. I have the most amazingly family in the entire world (not that I'm biased or anything 
). Not only are my siblings my family, they are my best friends. I have also been blessed with parents who exemplify Christ's love. My family has been so supportive of this journey and I am so grateful for them.
I am a third grade teacher. I absolutely love teaching and have been blessed with such an incredible school family. Again, I am not biased, but I teach with one of the most amazing groups of people and I have some pretty wonderful kids as well. Leaving for this year is definitely bitter-sweet. I'm so excited for the opportunity and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is where God is calling me for this year, but I am already missing setting up my classroom, buying glue sticks, and getting my new class list.
My Walk with Christ:
I grew up in a Christ-centered home. My dad worked in the ministry, which caused us to move around a lot. As a result I got a taste of behind the scenes ministry…not always a pretty sight! Thankfully, my dad who is a minister himself, was the same in our home as he was behind the pulpit. Seeing he and my mom serve God with their entire beings was vital for me to see ministry the way God designed it…worshipping God, loving people, and living life!
I gave my life to the Lord at the age of 2. I know that seems extremely young, but I remember the day sitting on the stairs at my grandma's apartment when I stopped my mom from putting away clothes and I asked her to help me ask Jesus in my heart. I would love to say from that point on I had a perfect relationship with God, but that isn't reality. I didn't have a major falling away and coming back to Jesus experience, either. What I do have, however, is a life filled with times of seeking God with all of my heart with Jesus at the center of everything I do and times of neglect where I rely on my own strength and ambitions.
A huge turning point for me was my junior year of high school. I had recently returned to a Christian school where I was so excited to go back to chapel and have Bible class with teachers who prayed with us. What I encountered instead was a lot of hypocrisy; people whose hands were raised in chapel, but were not glorifying God on the weekends. Instead of seeking out people who truly desired to follow God, I became cynical and didn't want to appear the same as those who worshipped God for appearance sake, so I stopped raising my hands and worshipping in chapel and my heart began to harden a bit. Thankfully God didn't let me get away with that for long and I remember feeling like He was telling me that I was being just as hypocritical for wanting to worship Him, but not just because I didn't want to be seen in the same light as those other "hypocrites." That began a renewed fire in my heart to seek and serve God regardless of those around me.
I have seen the goodness of God countless times in my life and I look forward to sharing more of those stories as you follow me on the next amazing adventure that God has set out for me.
