Two years ago today I arrived at IHOP. I was two hours late and very tired from the road. I met my roommates. Ate good food. And survived my first night on NightWatch. After three months I went home for about 15 months and now I’m back again.

This has been amazing. The last several months have cemented in me that this is my new home. This is where I belong for now. This is my family of sorts. I belong here.

I’ve changed a lot in two years. I’ve grown up, began acting more my age, and took on responsibility for myself.

Yes, it has been good.

God is so faithful. He never fails and he is teaching me that in new ways every single day.

The title sums it up. I’m ready to go home to Kansas City. I’ve felt so out of sorts being back in Louisiana. I’ve felt listless, bored, purposeless. I’ve lost my routine and I splatted off my diet like crazy. I’m ready to get back to KC, hang out with my friends and roomies, get back to work, etc.

I don’t think my next trip back will consist of a whole week of being in Louisiana. 3-4 days is more than enough for me.

Yeah, so I was knocked off the face of the planet by the last week or so of life.

Hayley came in on Tuesday - we stayed up late talking for hours before we collapsed into bed.

Wednesday - Last day of school before Spring Break, cue the drama - all school mass, screwed up fire alarms, multiple building evacuations, a visit from the fire department, stations of the cross, a few Easter parties. After school Hayley and I spent some time in the prayer room, talked and collapsed in bed (or on the futon in her case) at a responsible hour.

Thursday - Shopping for groceries in the morning, lunch party at my house with Hayley and 3 other girls from the mission base, ruining the Friendship Bread starter, starting a new starter, time by myself cleaning and thinking, Crown Center Fritz’s for dinner, shopping all the froo-froo stores, almost killing my knee with all the walking, packing up and getting ready to go south for the holiday.

Friday - We drove south to Dallas. Stopped at the Amish Cheese House - bought all kinds of things except cheese. Ate dinner with Hayley’s family. Slept at Hayley’s amazing blue and gold and spray painted house.

Saturday - Dallas zoo, Cafe Brazil, driving home only to find that college text books were left in my trunk. OOPS!

Sunday - Easter service at church - BEAUTIFUL! Buffalo Wild Wings with some of the singles group. Receiving pity gift of new PJs because I’ve lost so much weight my others are falling off me. Dinner at Mimi’s. Too much food that left me feeling fat.

Today - Slept late. Ate cookies for breakfast. Making mad dash to get things taken care of.

Its been a great week.

It is the end of the work week at school today. Spring Break starts today at 3:15. That means at 4:00 I am on this side of town hanging with Hayley, picking up my mattresses at Nebraska Furniture, and going to Omega group. For the first time since the Omega group started - I don’t have to worry about going home and getting to bed. That means Hayley and I can go to the prayer room tonight and enjoy one of my favorite sets.

Seeing her last night was such a relief. I don’t think I’ve ever been that happy to see someone that I haven’t seen in 3 months. I can’t believe its been three months since she moved back south, but it has. My picking her up at the airport was punctuated with excited squeals and way to many times of hearing “You’re/I’m finally here,” and “Welcome home.”

Of course we promptly proceeded to go to Burger King and get random people laughing at us because of the topics of our conversations. Wouldn’t you laugh if the conversation next to you switched from eschatological implications of a Bible passage to auditioning for community theatre to the weather being “Frank” or “Marie.”

We then drove past the Mission Base, waved hello, and headed to my house. At the house we talked for a bit, flattened out the futon, read our Bibles and discussed what the Lord has been teaching us the last few weeks. We also talked about my new bedroom and the choices that I have made decorating it in the last month. (Thank goodness I’m almost finished with that.) Especially the wall of my artwork - it reminds me to pray as I can only truly draw well when I pray.

It feels so good to have her in town this week.

Well - sorta…

I’m waiting for the student that I privately tutor to come to my classroom. She’s not here yet and that’s unlike her. Her and I have had some “come to Jesus” discussions this week - all about her homework habits.

I’m debating if I should drive back out to the south side of town after work (tutoring?). I have got a few things I can get done at the house before I pick Hayley up for her weekend in KC, but I really don’t feel like using all that gas up. But it would be pointless for me to stay on this side of town with nothing to do.

Well, I’m looking forward to the next few days. Hayley in for a few days, driving south with her and crashing at her place for a night, home with the fam and friends for Easter morning. Yeah, its going to be a good couple weeks.

… I’m probably going to have to take some control.

It has come to my attentions that someone from my past has been looking at my blog. This person does not need to have information about my life right now. I may be putting my blog on password protect very soon.

If you are interested in having the password, please comment on this post. I may send you the password.

This is a decision not made lightly - it has been made with much prayer and with the counsel of those that I trust the most in my life.

I hate that it has come to this.

Yes, its that time of the quarter again… forgive me for my relative silence. I’ve got to make report cards for 352 students. Its a no-fun part of the job, but its worth it.

I also have no roommates to keep me from working - which actually means that I don’t have them there to get me to work - and I’m not getting much done at home. Pray for Leah while she is support raising this week if you get the chance.

Tomorrow will be spent running errands (like starting a new bank account) and making report cards.

Anyone who is up for finishing a piece of furniture with me tonight - come on over. I’ve got food and will feed you.

OK - all for this post. I must go eat lunch and then go teach fourth and fifth grade all afternoon.

Today I almost wept when I saw one of my student’s joy.

G. is an average to above average student, an English language learner, and deals with some self esteem issues.

Today she won first place in a speech contest.

In three weeks she competes out of town.

She doesn’t care about winning next time, she’s just happy she has won this time around - exceeding her family’s expectations and her own.

The next time you feel like GOD can’t use you, just remember —
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
Peter denied Christ
The Disciple fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer AND Lazarus was dead!
Most importantly, JESUS helped them all!
Now! No more excuses!
God can use you to your full potential.
Besides you aren’t the message, just the messenger.
In the Circle of God’s love,
God is waiting to use your full potential.

I’m home from Minnesota. The weekend was amazing. I got to spend time with some of my most favorite girls ever just because Sarah was getting married.

Riding with Micah and Nate was fun - definitely a glimpse in to the minds of boys.

The wedding was beautiful - I cried.

The Mall of America was fun.

Steak dinner was amazing.

Club Three Degrees was a blast.

Leaving was hard.

I’m reminded now, more than ever, how wonderful my friends are.

I thank God for this FITN reunion time.