Follow God And Do As You Wish

Hi Everyone! Happy Wednesday to you! I hope this week has been treating you well thus far. I've been able to stay productive despite the rain, but yesterday the Lord really put this on my heart to share. I think it's the artsy teacher side of me that compells me to post this today.

I went to a tiny Christian high school in Lodi, CA, and when I was a senior I had no plan. College was just the next step, so I went to the local JC and wandered around until I found something I wanted to do. Thats when I found myself in the local music scene, I went to shows and I made new and very interesting friends. I wasn't declared, but I took tons of music classes because thats what I liked enough to stay in school. They were not easy courses (music theory...am I right), but they came easily to me. Being a Music Major wasnt something that I chose. It was almost like music chose me. Almost like... it was something God wanted me to do.

It's about this time of year when "the top 10 worst college majors" lists come out. Here are the top 5.

1) English/Literature

2) Fine Arts

3) Religious Studies (whoops)

4) Performing Arts (dang it)

5) Education (oh, come on!)

It almost makes me laugh. What makes these majors "the worst" is based soley on income. I have two favorite quotes. One of them has nothing to do with this post, but it's from Abraham Lincoln, and he rocks. The other is from St. Augustine, and is the title of this post. "Follow God and do what you want."  This changed my life a high school student who hated the academic side of school. I didn't want to go to school to just have a job that would put me behind a desk, and everything that entails. (Which is totally ironic as a teacher).

So I didn't! I played music! I played shows! I dropped out of College (don't do that though)! I traveled! I worked in ministry! I got married! Then I went back to school...when I realized that no degree meant working at Victoria's Secret in Stockton CA my whole life... and I majored in Music and Bible and Theology. The two things I love the most, and I am getting to do those things all day everyday, ironically as a high school music and bible teacher. I am not making the "median income" as Mr. Forbes would call it. By all worldy standards I am working way too hard for way too little money. But what is that compared to conversations with students about Christ, after class been let out! What is money compared to that which is eternal. What is money in comparison to the peace of mind that comes from obedience? What is money in comparison to love? 

Jesus told the pharisees on the day of conflict before his crucifixion, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, but give to God what is God's." If what you love is business (and truthfully, if you're a creative mind, a business major can totally allow your creative mind to be free and fulfilled), or engineering, or math/science, then yay you! Give that to the Lord and be awesome! If what you love is painting, or writing, or unerwater basketweaving, then yay to you too! If you are doing what you love in obedience to Christ, money is no object. Make money so you can live (and pay your taxes), But Give the Lord what belongs to Him...everything else. It's all his anyways.

Spring Break Bucket List - Revisited

Welp... Turns out, the weather is going to be very "springy". In fact it's raining! What about my bible-reading-by-the-river plan? Darn! My New Girl DVDs are calling my name so loudly, but no! I refuse to just sit and do nothing! Well, anyways, so I've been forced to take a new look at my bucket list... They're a little less ambitious, but oh well!! Also, with spring break, we've decided to save gas and only use one car...so I can only travel to places that are within walking distance.

1) Clean my house.
2) Go to Berkeley (much more rain friendly than the beach)
3) Participate in one C2C Challenge (if you dont know what that is, look up the Coast 2 Coast Challenge Blog! The girls love Jesus and clothes and artsy stuff in general... what could be more fun!)
4) Paint something everyday
5) Read my Bible Everyday
6) Write one song
7) Drink a ton of coffee.
8) Post three blog posts

So, Thus far I'm on my second blog post for spring break, which means I'm on a roll! I'm really thinking about how to word my next blog post about obedience and peace of mind. It's about this time of year when "worst majors in college in all of American History" lists come out, and guess what, all of my degrees are on that list! It's gonna be a fun post! See you soon! Try to stay dry you crazy california weather wimps.

Good Friday-Death Was Buried In It's Grave

 

Hello There! Happy Good Friday to you. Today is the first day of my spring break, and seriously, I couldn't imagine a better way to spend the first day of my time off, thinking about what Jesus did for me, for all of us, on the cross. Nathan and I are very passionate about making sure people know that Jesus is Lord, and that they know that their guilt from sin and shame can be lifted. This is the song we wrote to express that day when Jesus took our sin on His shoulders and rescued us from what we actually deserve. Thank you Lord, for your salvation.

 

The lion became the lamb, so that you could be with Him in glory one day. Amen and Amen.

 

Spring Break Bucket List (Budget Edition)

Spring Break is upon VCS! Yay! You can image if this is how the teachers feel, what my kids must be feeling. I feel sorry for both parties. We want break, but I still have stuff to teach! Please! Please stay engaged, students, whom I love and adore! Just a day and a half to go! And while this time is only 6 school days long, I am soooo tempted to just turn on Friends, New Girl, Parks and Rec, you name it, and veg. But no! I will not veg! I'll sleep in for sure, but I wanna be creative and productive, and grow as well. Here's how I plan on spending my spring break, while spending as little money as possible.

1) Write a full song.
2) Finish The Autobiography of Elanor Roosevelt (I do it all for you, Leslie Knope)
3) Post 3 Blog Posts (over the course of the week)
4) Read My Bible Everyday by the river-walk downtown
5) Go to the beach (duh)
6) finish my taxes (so not fun)
7) Coffee with friends. Lots and Lots of coffee.


Also, Easter is upon us, there shall be a separate post on that for sure as well. See you soon!

Above All Else Love: Feature Post - Banner Apparel

Good Friday to you all!! What a crazy week this has been! VCS went through accreditation. It basically means we have to prove that we do all that we say we do. One this I learned through this process: No single person runs the whole show, and ultimately, if it's good, it's God that does it. It's been a long year of paperwork, committee meetings, and in-service days. The process began last spring, intensified through the school year, and is now over. WE did it. VCS is a fantastic place to work, and go to school. Being a teacher is such a labor of love.

Which actually brings me to my next thing, which I am beyond excited about! I have partnered with a great company called Banner Apparel as a brand ambassador! they're stuff caught my eyes a few months ago, and I've just fallen in love with their brand. Everything is based on scripture (which my being a Bible Teacher, you can imagine my delight). Their whole line and purpose for being is to glorify the Lord, and that is something I can totally get behind. Not to mention, this may be the softest tank top ever worn by mankind.

There are so many verses in Scripture that tell us to love above all other things. It's something we so easily let go of in the distractions of life. Even when we're doing something we love. As Christians it's so important that we remember why we love...at all! It's because of Jesus. The response to his love for us poured out on the cross. Our only response, our only WORTHY response is to love Jesus, try to be more like him, by loving those around us. It's not a ladder of love that we climb to Jesus, but the hub from which we operate. Because of Love, I do (enter your thing here). For me it's teaching, music, blogging, get coffee, wash the laundry... Because of the cross, I live, and I love.

Cute and Apropriate: What To Wear On A Field Trip (To Disneyland) As a Teacher

Hi Everyone! I'm taking my students on a field trip to Disneyland in three weeks. It's something I've done every year since I've taught, and its something everyone looks forward to.  I put together a "dress code" presentation for them every year, and this is year is no different. It's pretty important to me to spread the word that you can "flaunt it" without actually flaunting anything! If you're confident, that's the cutest thing you could wear! If I had an unending budget, I think this is what I would wear.

What about you?!

Since this is first and formost a Choral Festival, this is along the lines of what I would wear when we actually go on and perform. My students have dresses and suits that they wear. All-black is concert etiquitte, so I think would world just fine. I really do wish that bag were mine...

Disneyland Bound by rachelparrish featuring leather bags

Santa Cruz, Not Beach Day: Battling Busyness

Hi Everyone! I know what you're thinking: ANOTHER beach trip?! The Answer is a loud and resounding and unapologetic, YES YES YES. Living in Napa, Santa Cruz is way more accessible than it used to be (and it still didn't stop us).  

The fact is, during the week, as a teacher there is no real down time. This sounds like maybe I'm not making an effort, but I can't leave work at work. I think and talk and live about my students. When I get home, I think and talk about school. So, weekend day-trips really do make all the difference for us. It allows us to get away and be a couple and talk about music, and Jesus, and life, and laugh and not wear work clothes or sweats. We get to catch up. If we're not very intentional about this kinda stuff, it's easy to slip away from each other and not even know it. Busyness gets the better of the both of us, and it really gets the better of me. This is how we battle it.

We did, however, venture out of our comfort zone! We went to this little cafe that I don't remember being at the end of Pac-Ave last time we were there. It's Called LuLu Carpenter. Nate isn't a coffee shop person (I know, very sad), so I knew I was taking a risk. It was so worth it. I had one of the best mochas I think I have ever had. The in-house whip cream is the perfect amount of sweetness (which for me isn't very sweet). And Nathan liked it too! It was so wonderful. 

Nate and I are also Boba or Bubble Tea fans. Some people don't like the texture, but I say, if Boba is wrong, then I don't want to be right! Also, How cute is this little cat, and the picture in the back! The shop is so bright and colorful! I just love it!

Northern California people! Do you have a place you love? I want to know! Do you have a coffee shop that you can't live without? Where's "your place"? Where do you go to get away for the day? I would love to hear about your favorite date places :)

See you soon!