Major Life Changes

And here I thought I would be more consistent about blogging. Guess I was WRONG!! However, I have several pieces of news that I would love to share with y'all!!

First off... Africa is happening in 30 DAYS!! I can't believe it. I have been supported beyond belief and I am so blessed by the wonderful, GENEROUS, people in my life. Some of you have expressed concerns about my going to Kenya with all of the issues going on over there right now. I just want to assure you that we will not encounter any issues while over there. We are 9 1/2 hours away from where all the chaos is happening. We also have so many people from Kenya over there who will be with us all the time. With that being said, I cannot wait to share this experience with you!!

Second... I am moving schools and starting August 2015 I will be teaching Kindergarten at Ladera Elementary in Farmington, NM. I am beyond excited to teach at this awesome school. It is one of the best schools in Farmington and they have chosen me to join their team. I have loved teaching second grade at Blanco, but this is a great opportunity for me in my career. I ALSO will get to be teaching at the same school as my "best-friend sister twin" from here in Blanco. Many of you have heard of Ms. Crabtree and we will both be making the move to Ladera so we are excited.

And last, but DEFINITELY not least... I have recently started dating a guy from Farmington. His name is Wayne and we met at church. He is one of the most genuine and honest people I know and God has truly blessed me by bringing him into my life. And I will leave you with a sweet story... Last Wednesday, a delivery showed up for me at the school. There was a vase with a beautiful flower arrangement and a small wrapped box. I opened up the box and inside was a gorgeous necklace. Everyone at work wanted to know what the occasion was and I was able to tell them... no occasion at all. They were "JUST BECAUSE."

All in all, this move has been one of the best things that has happened to me and I'm so excited to see where this journey will take me.

Hey Y'all! I'm Back!

The last half of December and ALL of January has been completely crazy and it's only going to get crazier, but I don't want to keep people in the dark. 

I went home for Christmas and it was so great to spend 2 weeks with my family and close friends in Raton. I had been missing everyone terribly. One huge blessing that I received while back at home was that half of my upcoming trip to Africa was funded. It was such a huge blessing and so awesome. I currently need to raise about $1700 more for the trip and for my shots, but I know that God will provide a way. I am in the process of sending out donation letters so if you are able to support me finacially that would be awesome, but I welcome prayer support as well. It will be a very awesome, yet draining experience: physically and emotionally. Our team has met twice already and we are well underway with learning about what we will be doing with our time there. Want more details? Just ask!! 

On top of this trip, we are winding down the school days. Only 76ish more left. But who's counting?! Haha. My first year has been awesome and I have been so blessed in that aspect of my life as well. My coworkers are awesome and my students are making gains.

Lastly, I am honored to participate in three weddings in a matter of 4 months. I will be a bridesmaid for a sweet friend of mine in Missouri in March, the maid of honor for my baby sister in June, and then a bridemaid again for a friend who I consider a sister in July. As you can see the next few moths will be insanse, but insanely awesome!!

Thankful

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I am still thankful. Over the past year, I began a journey of counting my gifts. I started a study with a couple of friends and we were challenged to write down 1,000 gifts. Let me tell you, IT'S NOT EASY!! While I'm always thankful it has been hard to consistently write down gifts. I have gone months without writing a thing and then I'll write for days. Currently I am at 225. I have a long way to go! But I love this time of year and we have so much to be thankful for so I thought I would share some of mine with you...

226: family- I spent Thanksgiving in my new home with my mom and dad. It was wonderful! I'm also thankful that I will be spending Christmas in Raton with my sister and Joey.

227: Africa- as most of you know, I have an incredible opportunity to go on a mission trip to Africa in June. We had our first meeting today and I'm beyond excited!!

228: new friends- I have made several teacher friends and we are beginning to do more outside of school and enjoy our time away from kids

229: old friends- I miss every single one of you!! I was fortunate enough to catch up with several friends on the phone this week and I look forward to seeing more of you in person when I'm home for Christmas break.

230: Marlene Pittman- a special shoutout to a very special lady! She volunteered to sell some of my crafts at a craft fair in Maxwell to help me raise money for my trip. She is a true blessing! I will never stop thanking you!!

As time flies by, we don't stop often enough to think about the little things that bring us joy. It could be as simple as smile or a cup of coffee. It could be as big as undeserving grace and sacrifice. Maybe you want to embark on the journey of being thankful... If so I highly suggest the book study "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. It may be easy for you or you could be like me and it may take your entire life. But whatever you do, BE AWARE of the gifts you've been given. 

I'd love to hear from you... What are the gifts you're thankful for?

You Are My Hero

For Veteran's Day, I had the bright idea to write letters to Veterans. However, it wasn't just any Veteran, it was my soon to be brother-in-law, Joey, who is in the Air Force in Clovis. We started off by watching a short video on the history of the day and then I showed my students these pictures and "introduced" them to Joey.

They loved this picture and wanted to write a letter to the boy in the picture too. (Joey's nephew)

Doesn't this look an old timey war photo?

Then, we brainstormed what we wanted to write to Joey. They came up with 4 different questions to choose from and then a closing statement. They were so cute!!

All the letters

A close up of one

The cutest thing by far was that most of the girls closed their letter with "I love you Joey!" Talk about melting your heart!

Then we sent a class picture to him as well. (Just don't look to close, because I didn't blur their sweet faces. Maybe cross your eyes while looking at it!! LOL!!)

The class

And lastly, one sweet little girl came up to me the next day and said she had something else to mail to Joey and that she would bring it the next day. I was expecting a picture that she drew. SORTA!! It was a hand-drawn flag taped onto a yard stick. I didn't have the heart to tell her it wouldn't fit in the envelope. So, I sent this picture and that will be his Christmas Present. Haha!

The Flag

So, I couldn't say it any better. Thank you Joey for all you do, but especially for loving my baby sister! Welcome to our family!!

The Hardest Part of Being a Teacher

So, this week was rough with some definite highlights... I came home every night emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted. I've decided that one of the worst things about being a teacher is seeing the lives these kids have. It hurts to know that someone so little leads such a rough life. And while it's hard, I couldn't imagine doing anything different. Here are some of the struggles this week...

A little girl brings in the art project she made for me. It is all these circles cut out of really cute paper and glued onto a piece of cardboard. I thank her for it and set it aside. Later, as I'm cleaning my area up, I pick up the project and notice that it isn't any piece of cardboard. It is a Budweiser box. I know people drink all the time, and maybe her mom or dad only has one a night, but how sad is it that this little girl has to put her art project on a beer box? Instead of buying beer, maybe you could buy your child some real art supplies.

Another little boy comes into class on Thursday morning and just starts bawling. I ask him what's wrong and he tells me that his dad is telling him that his mom is a bad mom and that he is going to take him away from his mom. He explains that his dad is never around and he doesn't want to leave his mom. He just kept saying over and over that he didn't want to leave his mom and live with his dad. Parents, please leave your kids out of your marital or ex-marital drama. They don't understand and you are destroying them!!

Lastly, but definitely not least... A lot of kids call me mom and then correct themselves. (Normal... I used to do it.) What is not normal is when you have a student call you mom and not correct himself. I am his mom. He doesn't have one because his mom decided that drugs were more important than him or his older brother. His dad is doing the best he can as a single dad and I give him a lot of credit. But kids need moms and I am the closest thing this kid has to a mom. Talk about a heart breaker!!


Next time you hear someone talk about how easy it is being a teacher, you direct them to me. I will tell them just how "easy" it is. This job is not for everybody, but I know that God called me to this profession for a reason. So I will gladly accept the art projects on beer cases, be the shoulder to cry on, and be mom to 19 2nd graders.

With Love to Africa

Time just flies buy. Even when I try to slow down and make a point to do certain things, the time is just gone. However, I have found time to still be crafty and I finally set up my Etsy Store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/withlovetoafrica) and Facebook page (https://www.etsy.com/shop/withlovetoafrica) to sell my crafts. The purpose behind this is to raise money for my mission trip to Africa this coming summer. I have a variety of things to sell and with the upcoming Christmas season, I hope you will keep me in mind when buying gifts for friends and family.

On to other things... I have had quite a few people ask me why in the world I would want to go to Africa with the Ebola stuff going on? Am I scared? Why would I want to put myself in danger? While these are all very good questions, there is one simple answer. I am being called to go. How can I say no to God when he has put this on my heart for years?  Sure, it is a little nerve wracking to go to a country on the other side of the world, where a disease seems to be taking over, but I know that I have someone AWESOME looking out for me. A book I have been reading puts it perfectly... "The Jesus of the Bible is a radical man with a radical message, changing people's lives in a radical way. In the Scriptures Jesus isn't safe." (Jefferson Bethke) Jesus isn't safe. He never let a situation or disease stop him from changing people's lives, so why should I? Another great point from this author... "We've lost the real Jesus--or at least exchanged him for a newer, safer, sanitized, ineffectual one. We've created a Christian subculture that comes with its own set of customs, rules, rituals, paradigms, and products that are nowhere near the rugged, revolutionary faith of biblical Christianity." (Jefferson Bethke) I'm going to Africa because I don't want a safe, sanitized, ineffectual Jesus! I want a Jesus who gets in there with the people and gets dirty. Are we not called to be like Him?

I'm not kidding! This book has already been eye-opening and I'm only two chapters in!! The book is called Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke. Jefferson is a 20 something guy who is passionate about his relationship with Jesus and got started by his spoken word poems on Youtube. The poem that was the inspiration for this book is "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus." CHECK IT OUT BELOW!!

Everybody Needs A Guinea Pig

This is my daily routine...

"Boys! You are supposed to be buddy reading! Stop talking and read." 

"Boys! Why are you rolling around on the floor? READ!!" 

"Boys..." "Boys!" "BOYS READ!" 

"No, you two can't be partners because you just goof off and you misbehave together."

Today was a different story. I just needed to get some assessments done and so asked these two if they could buddy read and do it right. "Sure Ms. Mayes!" So... I gave in and agreeded. They even choose a spot where I could keep an eye on them. So, for making a good choice I decided to let them try to read to Claire. And guess what?! It worked!! It was magical. I never take pictures in the classroom, but couldn't pass up this sweet awesome opportunity! Check it out!