the blackout

It was 3:35pm yesterday afternoon and I was guiding some parent helpers around to show them where everything is in my room when they come in and volunteer.  We made our way to the copy room, and the copy machine (both) were off.  We thought it kind of strange since they were both plugged in.  As we left the copy room we noticed the entire building had lost power at my school.

Phone calls were made and is turned out that the entire county of San Diego had lost power as well as parts of Mexico and Arizona.  Isn't that crazy?!?!?

It is crazy to think how much we depend on electricity until you no longer have it.  Streets were a disaster, freeways were at a dead stop, hospitals were packed, and alarms were sounding.  I made my way to a friends' house since I barely had any gas and did not want to sit in traffic for hours trying to get home.  

Amidst all of the chaos there was a beautiful feel outside.  People were outside!  Kids were playing, parents were chatting, doors were open, bonfires were blazing, and candles were lit. 

The power was out until around 1am at our place.  Since we didn't have light we decided to act like we were camping and cook with headlamps and flashlights!  

I had intended on spending the evening frantically putting together a newsletter for my class, writing out lesson plans, prepping materials for tomorrow, and beginning a paper.  School was cancelled for today.  My computer was completely dead.  Everything I had planned to do did not happen.  My anxiety kicked in a bit and then I looked around to see how beautiful it was to be with friends, enjoy each other's company, and live life unplugged.  

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Since school was cancelled I got to sleep in a bit, snuggle with the husband, rearrange some items in the kitchen I had been wanting to, and begin cleaning the house.  There is no stress, no anxiety, no fear.  It is crazy to see what you expected take a dramatic turn and find the beauty that lies within.  

It was most definitely a blessing in disguise.  

 

SSF: the good and the bad

I am officially one week down in my September Spending Freeze!  To be quite honest, it has not been as hard as I expected it to be.  Don't get me wrong, there are most definitely some weak moments I have in my mind.  It is when I push through these weaknesses that I remind myself "I can do this" and feel very confidant.  

Some tricks that have helped me are:

1) Just Press Delete- The number of e-mails I get in a day from Groupon, Living Social Deals, Daily Deals, ANY deals is ridiculous.  Add on to that adds from JoAnn's and Micheals (oh do I ever have a weakness for craft stores) and my inbox is flooded by 10am with anything and everything to spend money on.  This week I have learned to just press delete.  Don't open.  Don't read the title.  Just delete!

2) Make Lunch Fun- Now that work is in full swing, packing lunches is a necessity.  I have been on the look out for a cute lunch box for work but every time I saw one, I decided it wasn't worth the money.  Well, good ol' Wal Mart came in handy this past weekend when I found this little cutie for only $7!!!  

My apologies that it isn't the best picture, the week has been a little crazy.  

Now that I have a cute lunch box, I am more motivated to put great food in it for the day!

3) Get Out and About- Since we can't spend money on entertainment, eating out, coffee, etc. we decided to spend my last day of summer hiking!  We are spoiled to live in such a beautiful place, and this hike is my absolute favorite.  

The other thing we have enjoyed doing is going to the nearby park late at night and swing.  Last weekend I was cooped up inside all day, the husband wasn't at work, and I couldn't go out because I knew the temptation to shop and spend would be too much.  By the time D got home from work, I was going stir crazy!  So, we piled into the car and headed to the park and acted like 5 year olds at 10pm at night.  It feels so good to just act young and careless sometimes!

Now, there have been some definite temptations this week.  

These include:

late night cravings for frozen yogurt

my energy level plummeting on my way to class and my body begging for coffee

getting home at 7:30pm wanting nothing to do with cooking dinner

nail polish at Target

seeing my favorite breakfast spot and dying for their scrumptious pancakes

forgetting to pack snacks on a day I was out running errands for hours, popcorn at Target never smelled so good

spotting the cutest shoes on a co-worker and counting down in my head how much longer I have to wait until I can think about buying them

I pulled through and the temptations did not win!  I did, however, use one of my exceptions.  While at Target getting last minute (absolutely needed) items for my classroom I spotted IT...the dress...my back to school dress...on the clearance rack....for $7!!!!!!!!!   At least I didn't break the bank with this little exception!

back to school prayer {encouraged}

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Today's the day!

All of the sleeping in, spending my days however my heart desired, blogging like crazy, crafting, and everything else that has consumed my time for the past two months has finally come to an end. 

Today is the day that work will take over, school will take over the rest, and life will be in full swing.

I have anxiously awaited this day.  You would think that since it is my third year as a teacher it would get easier over time.  It doesn't.  I still get the first day jitters.  I pray that I have planned enough, thought of everything my little kinders need to know, and am 110% prepared.  

Today is also the day that I have been praying about for other reasons.  Last year was my first year as a teacher and grad student.  To say that it was hard was an understatement as I struggled to find time to do everything and be myself in the midst of it all.  Also, this summer was one of the best because the husband and I spent SO much time with each other.  So, today is not only the day that I go back to work, it is also the day I have to say good-bye to waking up next to my husband, spending week days with him, and enjoying so many bike rides together.

Because he doesn't have weekends off, we truly have to make the most out of the time we have with each other.  

And, I'm anxious and being anxious.  As I was sitting in church this verse popped up:

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God"

Philippians 4:6

I kept reading and the next verse reads:

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  

Philippians 4:7

I get anxious very easily over far too many things.  When I was in an amazing bible study last year, I had inspiring women to keep me accountable, pray over me, and keep me in the Word.  Now that each of us has moved and began new seasons, I don't have that security.  When I read these verses I am reminded that God is in control (Amen!), to pray about each and every thing that consumes me day, know that His peace will surpass all of my understanding, and let my anxiety go so that I can enjoy God's peace He has for my life. 

I pray that I will lift my anxiety up to God, I pray that I will remember that He is in control, I pray that God would lead me in my job, I pray that my students will see my love for them, I pray that God shows me how blessed I am for the little times I get with D, and I pray that I would seek His blessings each and everyday of this school year.