Good in the World

Today was a very emotional day in many ways. We had our annual back-to-school convocation this morning that was preceded with a wonderful catered breakfast. I was pumped, well as pumped as you can be for school to start and having to get up early again. (If you don't want the details of my day, skip to the last paragraph)

Then I got one of the worst texts I've gotten in a LONG time. "Heather is in labor. Pray for my girls." Heather is a really good friend of mine, one of my best friends, and she was only 23 weeks along in her (pretty perfect) pregnancy. You always think you're going to be strong in moments like these but...Immediately the very crowded high school lunch room seemed a million miles away. My hands started shaking, and almost instantly I started crying. I don't cry. All my co-workers gathered around me and one of them offered to pray. When they say there's no prayer in public school anymore, they lie, cause this morning there was tons of praying going on! 

I debated leaving the convocation right then to go be with my friend, but for some reason God told me to stay. The speaker of the day was Scott Burrows (I HIGHLY encourage you to look him up), a quadriplegic who gave a WONDERFUL speech about vision, mindset, and grit. It was empowering! The best way to start the year. And to be honest I was only have listening, only half "there" so it was probably even better than what I experienced. Toward the end of his speech, Scott STOOD UP and walked around the stage defining all odds and proving that if we have the vision, mindset, and grit, we can do anything! I cried.

After the convocation I was going to leave and head to the hospital but again God told me to stay. During our meeting at our own campus I was reminded again and again how we are a family and we were put together for a reason. Our principal made a point to remind us of how important we are as educators and how worthy we are and how much we matter because we were created BY GOD with a purpose. Yes, our principal talks about GOD IN SCHOOL! I cried.

I did end up leaving later in the day, because I needed to see my friend! I needed to hug her, not for her, but for me. She's doing great and her baby is doing good too considering the circumstances. She came into this world fighting and I am confident that she will continue fighting. She's strong. Her parents are strong. Her family is strong. When you're surrounded by strength, you in turn are strong.

Norah Hope- 1lb 4oz- 17 weeks premature 

Surrounded by her mommy and daddy's hands.

I said ALLLLL that to say this.... Don't give up hope! There's a lot of bad things in this world. Bad things happen all the time. Things that we don't expect wether it be a baby coming 17 weeks early or becoming a quadriplegic instantly in a car wreck. Life is what you make of it. Surround yourself with people who will lift you up and hold you when you're not strong enough to stand on your own. But also remember to be that for others when they need it too! There's still good in this world. On this very emotional day, when I wasn't strong enough to hold back the tears, I was SURROUNDED by people who were holding me up. I'm blessed enough to have TWO groups of sweat sisters (who I haven't known long), my AMAZING co-workers, a really close group of girlfriends, a wonderful husband, an encouraging mom, and even people who literally stopped everything they were doing and prayed with me (out loud in front of everybody) and it wasn't even FOR ME, but they cared about what I care about. I realize not everyone has that, and I am counting every single blessing tonight. 

Life is short. Bad things happen. BUT there's still good in this world! 

Let Go

I've been wanting to get the words "let it go" tattooed on the inside of my wrist for a few years now to remind me to relax a little and stop letting worry rule my thoughts. Then that darn Frozen movie came out! You win Elsa. 

For the past year or so I've been in and out of a funk with my life. I feel like I'm right on the edge of something great in every aspect, but still just on the edge. And in one particular aspect I feel like I'm barely hanging on, but not on the side that's going to launch me into greatness, I'm barely hanging on to the edge that ends in doom and despair. The edge you can never come back from.

Then this song came on the radio and every single word spoke to me....

Hold it all together

Everybody needs you strong

But life hits you out of nowhere

And barely leaves you holding on

And when you're tired of fighting

Chained by your control

There's freedom in surrender

Lay it down and let it go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away

You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held

Your worlds not falling apart, its falling into place

I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held

Just be held, just be held

If your eyes are on the storm

You'll wonder if I love you still

But if your eyes are on the cross

You'll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted

In time, you'll understand

I'm painting beauty with the ashes

Your life is in My hands

Lift your hands, lift your eyes

In the storm is where you'll find Me

And where you are, I'll hold your heart

I'll hold your heart

Come to Me, find your rest

In the arms of the God who wont let go

Casting crowns- 

"Just be held"