A New Chapter In Life, A New Beginning

Hello! It has been quite a while! Well I've been a little bit busy! Between my new job which I've now had for 8 months! Woo hoo! Getting into an even more deep relationship, getting married :) And on top of that, a new member to the Perez family is on the way, not to mention the baby bump I have, etc. 

Well hello!

First of all! I've missed writing my blog! But I've been busy adjusting to major life changes! I am writing your from our awesome apartment in Chicago! Which I love! We have many projects to do! But step by step we are getting there!

God has blessed us in the beginning of our new marriage! Yes, I am now Heather Cheryl Perez! Which is super cool because it means beautiful flower bursting forth.  So I will take that!  Plus my husband is super awesome and I love him so much!

We are always learning something new!  For example my husband is a better cook than I am! I will admit it.  He could be a chef one day who knows.

God has been teaching me humility and how to love through all the seasons and to always be praying, seeking God's direction, and making sure you don't deal with everything on your own. 

My job has been going well! Caseworking away! I do childcare assistance application/redetermination processing.  Just the other day I had a girl try to get her children's father to get paid to watch his own kids, but no worries I saw the names and made sure that didn't happen because we don't pay just anyone.  Plus you get to watch your own kids for free and it's not even watching cause they should be a major part in your life anyways. 

Alvaro & I are doing great! Working hard! Getting prepared for November! The Thanksgiving/Christmas we'll never forget! Our little baby girl Ellie is coming around then sometime, whenever she chooses to come!  It is so magnificent seeing the ultra sound.  From a tiny little peanut size organism moving in the first few months to a huge living being with eyes, feelings, kicking, and getting annoyed by us looking at her too much.  God's way of making things is so much cooler than any inventor could ever think of.  I am ecstatic to be a mom, and hope to be a great one, not perfect, but am going to try the best I can with my husband to be who God wants us to be as parents!


Every season is so unique! Different, but the beautiful thing is you gain insight, wisdom, and understanding the more you go through each one!  This season after a few years of many battles, some won, some lost, I have found myself to be blessed, blessed beyond belief with the man of my dreams, a new home, a new family, and a soon to be child.  I am so excited for everything God has in store for Alvaro & I, the Perez family!  I can't wait to see how God uses us in the future!

I know one thing is each day we will be growing in marriage, in love, in love and patience with our little Ellie! 

But the good thing is we're never alone! God is a wonderful listener as well as instructor with His word to show us and guide us along the path! 

I hope you have a blessed week :)

Setting a New Standard

Ah! Happy Saturday! Yesterday was almost 60, today is back to 40, but life is still good!

Well update life is going well! I love my job as a caseworker helping families and single parents with child care assistance, so far I have helped 209 people as walk in appointments since February, approved at least 40 cases, and enjoyed every step.  The hard thing is there is not always good news to tell to our clients, because sometimes paperwork falls behind and people have to wait. 

Patience. We all know what that is, but do we like it no.  If I didn't get paid every 2 weeks would I want to work, probably not.  Six Flags, waiting in line, people waste money on a Flash Pass to skip the line, why impatience.  Life is full of waiting.  Waiting for the light to change, waiting for a relationship to change, waiting for someone to realize something, there are so many moments we have to wait.

But yet we struggle, why because sometimes, especially now a days, if that sand clock or the internet goes slow or the page doesn't load in our time preference, we GET ANXIOUS, annoyed, or we just give up and get off the computer. 

I have that issue at my work currently, it's a big thing in our office to yell out in the cubicles, are you getting the clock, is your clock spinning, it's misleading because this little clock spins and spins but nothing happens.  Oh isn't that like life. We want answers now, not later, not in 5 minutes.  WE HATE WAITING.

But waiting is sometimes where we make the greatest memories and learn the most.  When you are in school for years and years, suffering, homework, we make friends, we laugh, we bond together, we live in community. Graduating from school and going to college waiting for the colleges to accept you, it humbles you because you don't know what is going to happen and you have to wait, until you get that envelope and you read the letter inside and it's a risk cause it can be great news or terrible news.   But that builds character.  When you graduate college and are job searching (holla) and you get these retail, entry level, daycare, whatever your circumstance is, when we finally break into something somewhat in the arena you studied for, YOU LOVE IT because you struggled to find something and the rough jobs really make you enjoy the good ones when they come.

Ok this may sound like a super positive person trying to make impossibly annoying situations positive, which is true, but also we need to gain character, insight, be humble, and also be patient.

I remember one time I had a Preschool Offer, a Business Offer, and there was money involved, but there was not going to be that much meaningful experience involved so I didn't take it.  I felt peace, later I wish I would have taken it in Chicago, but I have learned so much and also who you talk to, you should run to God with big decisions because everyone has their own perspective on a situation but you truly are the one who will know and be at peace with the right decision. 

Now the job I have I love, I love the people, my boss, what I do, and it's not easy, but I can tell you after a few years of retail work, preschool, that my own cubicle with adults, casework (part Social Work) I LOVE IT and don't feel tired afterwards and sometimes I'm like do I need a break, I sit in an office chair and type (I have 80 WPM btw). 

Relationships also, friendships, parents, significant other, they all have seasons.  Each one has it's own time clock, some come and go, some stay, some you have to stop the clock because they are trying to mess up your time clock and you have to set those boundaries.

I have set boundaries in my life to have a drama free, relaxed, enjoyable life, and no it's not always perfect, daily I have to work on things, and sometimes the people I set boundaries with try to mess with my clock but I am strong with God by my side, I can keep running my own race.

It's not easy to lose people or to have people gossip about you, or have annoying dramatic people at every turn.  But I can tell you something.  I have let go, I can't control it, or what people say, but I have my own life peaceful, and so when someone tries to tear it down, they can't because I know who I am in God, I have support, I also have a reasonable person in my life who helps me deal with these things as they come :)

I'm far from perfect, I have made mistakes.  But I grow from them, gain insight in the learning process and appreciate the lessons I have learned.  I forgive myself, I forgive others, God forgives me.  And I have learned that healing, personally I'd like to move fast and keep going and rush it, but healing takes time, patience, space, and just letting go of control.  Be at peace, and know God has things in His mind for you and that it will all work together for the good if you love Him. 

I love God, I love my life, I love my man, I love my job, I love my friends and family, and I have come to a great spot at newly 24 year old life, that I feel stable, at peace, and happy and joyful with the decisions I have made in my life.  We improve generation to generation, but God's grace covers us, and His grace when you have really experienced it, is like nothing you could ever understand. 

I saw the Jesus movie recently and I laughed as the Disciples stories were told and how "GOOD AWKWARD" Jesus was.  And that is what we are, none of us are perfect, we've all struggled and God has a plan through the craziness of our sin, our parents sin, our families sin, and for us to set a new path, and getting better day by day.  He has a plan, it's glorious, beautiful and He loves you for who you are, not who you were as a baby, who you will be, He wants you just right where you are at, not perfect, but beautifully flawed.  :)

What joy and hope we should have in Him, for He knows it all, and accepts us, and we aren't on a scale, but we are all covered by His grace if we accept it fully for what it is and love Him with our hearts and minds :)

Have a good weekend :)

- Heather Cheryl

Life Is An Adventure, Enjoy The Ride!

Hello everyone! Well I am at a totally different place in life it seems.

About a month, almost 2 months ago, I began my new job.  I have my own cubicle! I work in an office!

Finally I landed a job in a social services agency! I am so happy! God has really blessed me! I am getting to know some new people, but really the best part is I actually enjoy the job I am at, helping people, and also doing case work! There is some math involved, but it's math I actually understand how to do ;)

I have 2 pictures up as of now, and still have a lot of decorating to do! One step at a time! But my first adult job, benefits, full time, vacation time, it's pretty exciting! 

I am enjoying the challenge of learning a lot of new things, as well as receptionist work, office work, filing, documentation, case work, and many other things!

I also just celebrated a year with my wonderful boyfriend which has been such a blessing and addition to my life. God is so good and has blessed me with a wonderful man and we have learned so much in a year, but I can tell you, our love grows daily and God has really blessed us with each other <3

Lately I have had friends, but it's way different from when you are younger. Friends are hard to find, and the ones you already have are solid, but they are spread across the country. But God is my best friend and has helped me through the transition :)

It is true that quality over quantity now resonates in my mind.  I love getting to know new people, but I also know I want quality friends :)

I have been learning also that I am unique, each person has their own different style, flavor, whatever you would like to call your character/personality.  Just like me and my man are different but we compliment each other and challenge each other in great ways to grow.  As the Bible says spur one another on.

I have had time to spend in Chicago, with my man, as well as explore different places on my own, stay in a Dunkin Donuts and observe a very interesting mix of a population, compared to a Starbucks, also different laundromats, and how I feel when I feel like out of place, which hasn't happened very much in my life.

Sitting in a Barber Shop I overheard people discussing their many felonies, their juvenile record, expunge records like it is everyday talk.  I have seen people who I can say hi to, as well as had people I feel extremely uncomfortable and had to keep my guard up.

But one thing I know, is I like adventure, I do not want to stay in the comfort zone, I like to step out, and I don't freak out, I remain calm even in chaos.  Not saying that I'm not nervous, cause when someone talks about battery charges, looks at me with bad intentions, or has a mental illness and starts sputtering off random things and some are derogatory comments (bad) to you and the people you are with, it's hard not to freak out.

But there's something I love, the mystery about other people's stories.  Everyone has a reason for being where they are at, whether choice, life circumstances, parents, friends, family, etc.  We all have a unique story that is a beautiful painting, we don't know the ending, but we trust in God to guide us each step as we go on the adventure.

God has put a unique purpose on your life, whether it's one time, or your entire life until you die, for a season, who knows, the biggest thing is to follow God and trust in His timing and His will.

My dream is to help others.  God has answered that call in many different ways, some expected and desired, some I had no idea I would end up being a part of.  But I can tell you, I love each thing God has placed on my path.

He has the most perfect plan, and He loves to surprise us, it's called trust.

I always had dreamed of working, not for money, but to help people, sure yes I earn money, but my job is fulfilling, because I get to help directly meet a need for people who really need help.

So here I am, only the beginning.  I also had dreamed to have a wonderful mexican man in my life, and always made jokes about it, and one Christmas, God totally set it up, no one else, not me, not him, only God could have figured out these things.

A year later I can tell you, I'm so blessed by the mystery, the risk, each step, not knowing, because it makes it so rich in value.

You never know where God is going to take you, so just hold on, and He's going to give you the journey of your life.

I miss my dear best friends, but I can tell you something, they are in my heart, and when I see them, I know we can catch up where we left off, and enjoy time together.

Things in life, are not easy, some things are honestly some of the hardest trials and challenges of your life, but God refines you in these moments, and He does not let go of you, He holds you, carries you through and gives you a whole new hope, and joy, that you would have never won without those hard moments and trials.

One thing I know is I am thankful for all the chapters! So far, I mean I am only 23, going to be 24, have my first adult job, the love of my life, and discovering and growing in all of these things.  God will grant you your heart's desires, all you have to do is ask, wait, pursue, and just bask in the joy of the Lord, and the perfect mystery of His perfect plan.

Life is an adventure, you don't know when something might happen, just know this, keep a positive attitude, share life with others, put God first, love others, help others, hold on even in the hardest most crappiest moments of life where you are barely hanging on, be peaceful, be still, journal, and cry out to God, He never leaves you, and He will protect you.

I love God, I love life, I love what is happening in this life, and I love the mystery, adventure, joy, and peace I sense, even with not knowing everything all at once!

Plus now I have an awesome man in my life, best friend to share it with, God really knew what He was doing last Christmas, and it has been the best surprise ever, and something I would never trade for anything. :)

Enjoy the mystery, and trust in God's plan for your life, He will do amazing things you have never even imagined in your mind, our minds and thoughts are so small compared to His thoughts.

Love ya'll and God Bless You :) 

 

God's Timing, Not Our Own

Hello! Just so you guys know there is about 17 days 13 hours 55 minutes and 8 seconds left until Christmas, not that I have an app counting down the days till'
Christmas or anything! 

Well anyways snow, friends, family, cheer, glad tidings, the Lord is good.  

Not only that but it's going to be my boyfriend and I's one year anniversary (exciting). 

I recently was so surprised and shocked by God. I have almost been at a non profit PreK for about a year in February but have looking for social work positions throughout that time. It has not been an easy battle but just keeping courage and keep on trying. 

Well my mom ran into a lady I had interviewed with the following year,  who worked in Human Resources, and my mom connected the dots and asked if she knew me, she remembered me. Which led to her saying tell her to give me a call if she needs something better, receptionist job, which then led to me interviewing with a lady, her finding out I qualified for a different job that paid more and involved working with people, the state, and child care assistance applications. I got excited. I landed that job that same day. Oh man. It was insane out of the blue.

Then I had another connection who helped me get my resume into a company and had an interview with them for a full time social work position, which led to me scoring a group interview and both have salary, benefits, vacation, a real job. So here I stand one offer in my hand, waiting to hear back about the group interview position, so I had no jobs and in the matter of a week or a few days I have two positions that are both great positions, with great people, and I would be growing and learning new things! On Monday I should be finding out and making my decision, exciting :) 

Now I have until Wednesday at my current job. I am getting sentimental, I have been with some of these kids for a year, and I'm going to miss them. These kids bless me, and my heart, and I have realized that they have helped me through this journey of life the last year. 

As I go, I'm leaving behind little lives I have impacted, families, and children I have grown to really invest in, and am going to miss it. Along with the massive shopping carts at Sam's Club, cooking them real good food :) teaching them, sharing life with them, hearing them say EWWWW MISS HEATHER'S BOYFRIEND. These kids are darling. 

I just have to say, I am so excited to be venturing on this journey with God and to be leaving the past in the past and journey into the bright future.  God has the best timing and thoughts in His head. I just have to rejoice, celebrate, and say really God knows best <3 His timing is the bestest :) 

God bless,

Heather Cheryl Craig 

Finding Joy In Every Season!

Life is one journey, the thing is what will you choose to do with it?


Life begins, you are young, you have your whole life in front of you. You graduate high school, next is the 18, independence, etc. College? Work? Marriage? Kids? Who knows what your plan will look like. God does.


We all have our own ideas of how life is supposed to be, and how it will turn out. I remember back in college thinking, I am going to be married by my senior year, and life will be just beginning, I will have my dream job, and I will be safe and sound.


I had the other days where I decided I might be single the rest of my life, and I accept that. My friends have one by one, gotten married, some have had kids! Some have jobs, some don't. Some went for Masters Degrees. Some have stayed in the home state of Illinois, Round Lake, others have relocated, others have traveled around the world, or are in the midst of discovering their career and how that will turn out.


What did you choose?

Daily we have choices. We have what actions we will take, who we hang out with, who we marry, we also have a choice to surrender all these things before the Lord instead of carrying this weight in our own hands.

Sometimes our families have plans for us, we have plans, our significant other has plans or what they think is correct, but sometimes God has an amazing plan that is way different than anyone could ever imagine or picture for their image of what they see in us.


Trusting in the Lord will help with all of this, along with having people in your life who trust in the Lord first before any human beings. People will fail you, organizations will fail you, but God is faithful, a wise professor Dr. Watson once said. It's so true.


I at points in my walk have strived for perfection, to be perfect, needless to say I fail. I don't know everything nor will I ever, hence why I trust in God. But that does not mean I'm going to act stupid. I know what is right and wrong, it's simple, it's in my Bible.


Recently Miley Cyrus has been quite the spectacle. I heard her song We Can't Stop, later hearing the video was terrible. My sister showed me it this summer, and she recorded my reaction. I was shocked, not like surprised, but stunned. Our world is going crazy, yes only God can judge us, but knowing that shouldn't we be getting ready now.

I fail, in areas, but I tell you one thing, to ask for forgiveness, step up, and keep moving, and living the life God has instructed us to live is so important. We need light in this world, because the light is alive, but we have yet to let it shine, change the light bulb and outshine this darkness.


In my challenges I have dealt with feeling like a failure, I was the go getter, passionate, and still am, but once my dream job didn't turn up, I was single, back in my hometown. I thought to myself, God, where is my door? What did I do?


Well needless to say, God wanted a light back here. I struggled, I hated it at points, I wanted to live my city lifestyle, have friends, help the homeless, and start fresh, and have distance from my family.

Needless to say I end up in the COU-BURBS (Country & Suburbs Combo), I live with my mom, I worked at my summer job, then Seasonal Target,unemployment, then I got a job at a PreK. Now I am a lunch lady/after school worker.

Needless to say my ideas were thrown out the window. I told God HOW MANY PEOPLE have the passion to work with homeless men? Here I am! LOL!


A little bit after my struggle I was starting to pick myself back up, my positive upbeat self was revived and God was renewing my strength. On top of all this there was a lot of family drama with money, relationships, and just immaturity and dysfunction. But this was my chance and I broke out of my family's ways. Which meant at points walking a lonely road, but I was never alone I had God by my side each step.


 

And then next came a beautiful thing, my first serious relationship with a man named Alvaro who loves God with all his heart. This is a beautiful thing, God has blessed, as well as the first man I have been able to trust fully. A healthy relationship, a refreshing start and someone to love and to grow with. He is the Mexican man I always dreamed of, and he cooks :) But I am in the process of learning don't worry!

 


I have dear friends that know me, and support me through the craziness of life. And I treasure them!


But one thing I have learned through all the craziness is to be joyful in all seasons.

When I was single and I was in several weddings, or my friends having kids, or my friends getting a job. I didn't compare, I didn't say oh man, my life sucks. I rejoiced with my friends in their times of joy. Why would I suck the fun out of a joyful season. So many people miss out because they think of themselves. In the midst of huge trials all at once I clung to God and trusted He would pull me out in the end and do something wonderful :)


Here I am now, healing has begun with my family. I have a wonderful boyfriend and we're about to celebrate a year pretty soon. I have a full time job, and I get to impact and share the love of Jesus with hurting kids from broken families.


So hold on, through every season, joy will come out when you least expect it. He's got something in store, quite the story, one you could never imagine.


So whatever season you are in, celebrate with others, pray and surrender to God your concerns or worries, trust in Him to pull you to a better place, or find the peace at your current spot and maybe that's what He wants from you.

Next of all my biggest learning experience through all of this is BE PATIENT. I am not patient, I am a rapid girl, bold, ready to go do some daring things. But God wants us to wait for His time, not our own time. He'll show you, step by step.


Trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding... 

 

The Lord Will Fight For You, You Need Only To Be Still

Ah, how that scripture speaks to me, deep in my heart.  Exodus. Wise words. Sometimes we feel as if we need to fix something, change it, but is that the case?  Sometimes when we put our tweaks to fixing things what happens? It crashes and burns.  Patience, trust, humbleness to watch the Lord deliver your life, really is a beautiful thing.  To what the world teaches of course it is the opposite, fix it now, don't wait, you only live once. The truth is some of the best things come from waiting, trusting God, and surrendering things.

I have dealt with many things in my own life, one day I will be writing a book, on family and how to deal with unhealthy relationships.  Since I was young, I have seen one very close to my heart, and I had to give it to God. I tried to deal with it for years, but God finally gave me directions to break that unhealthy relationship from my life.  To help me to stay on the straight path that God wants me to use my passion to pursue.

So here I am! Free of a lot of family bondage, things that were impacting my life. My life almost seems boring at points without the drama.  I can tell you, great things have come of it.  I have a healthy relationship with my boyfriend going on 8 months next Tuesday.  I have great friendships all over the place.  I have a calm life :) My best friend God is helping me through it all.

I have found in God, that yes, I am not perfect.  But man, His grace, is more evident in my life now than it has ever been.  I have had to experience grief, loss, mourning over the last 2 years of many different things.  But I have had to be still, and know that God will fight on my behalf.  Surrender is hard, but God's plan is going to make a lot more sense than mine would.

Some of the hardest pain I have dealt with in my life, has produced the strongest joy I have ever sensed in my life.  Sometimes God's takes us through the valley, to produce strength, perseverance, humility, and in the end, He's got something special to reward you with :)

I am listening to How Great is Our God right now and just am overwhelmed by all the beautiful things happening in life.  I have a job that I enjoy, I have an impact on the next generations, I am working at a Christian school.  I have beautiful deep friendships to challenge me to grow.  I have an awesome new best friend, Alvaro, my honorable boyfriend, who challenges me to grow, who is there for me, who loves Jesus, and loves me as well.  I have a beautiful life, I have a car, I have a family who loves me, and I have protection all around me.  Nothing is impossible.  Trials come, there may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning :)

The battle is still being fought, I see the mess, but I have done what needed to be done, now I watch God complete His plan through this mystery.

Freedom, true freedom is here.  When I have no control, and I leave God to do what I think may be my responsibility.  Surrender, passionate surrender.

FREEDOM! I'm running after the call, God, you are in control :)

Positivity, Joy, Social Work, Helping Others, Homelessness, Social Problems, Relationships, Pursuing the love of God all the days of my life <3

Healing Takes Time, God Will Hold You Through It All :)

Mhmmm! God is good, can I get a Holla!

Who has trials in this life? Everybody? Christians? Non Christians? We are all struggling, the difference is WE HAVE THE POWER OF THE REDEEMER. Who can take anything and turn it into the good, the good to become better, NO ONE is perfect, and rules get broken, but there are rules for a great purpose.  To be better, and TO PROTECT US.

The truth is, wait we don't want to offend anyone. JUST KIDDING. Have you ever paused when someone asked your opinion, well let's stop pausing, ask God to give us the words to speak and ACTUALLY SPEAK UP.

It is great to know things, it really is, but real faith thrives on the Spirit guiding us, to do crazy things, THAT ARE OUT OF THE NORM. In the world but not of it.  This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.  That means, standing up, even when IT'S GONNA MAKE YOU THE OUTCAST.

No one is perfect that is true, but if you let God redeem you, wash away your sins, you will have a testimony, a testimony that people can see.

Do not murder.

Do not commit adultery.

Do not lie.

Do not covet.

Oh and other ones too ;)

I believe, we have a job, to inform people about these truths <3

Lying is wrong, I've done that.  Homosexuality is wrong.  Cheating on your wife or husband is wrong.  Guess what. God forgives you, and can change you from the inside out <3

I've seen many examples in my life, as you have seen in yours, personal examples, little things we hide, family secrets, etc.  it's time to rise up from the ashes, and take the power from the devil away,  God can take your shame away, and redeem you and help you to live free.

Oh it's not easy, what it takes, surrender, daily being in relationship with God?  What is that? Praying, directly communicating with the person who has your plans all mapped out for YOU! Reading that word, what words? The Bible, The Holy Bible, go to biblegateway.com, get an app on your phone, if you got time to read twilight or self help or fantasy books, you got time to read the Bible.

It may be an old book like referenced in many songs today, but I will tell you, it is real, it has taken me, from a broken home, divorces, cheaters, drugs, alcohol, many things, addictions, sin, all of it, but here I am. I love God, I surrender to Him daily, let Him redeem me, and surrender Him my plans.  I am not perfect, I have sinned, as have we all.

One day in the kindergarten class, I was talking about lying and actually shared what I have lied about, and it was funny to talk about it, but it helped me realize, I have this great big God who washes them away in an ocean, and if I keep pressing forward, He erases it all.  He wants purity, holy, people, to lead the next generations.  Not perfectionists, but a willing people group ready to be used by God in our weakness to be perfected by His strength.

I will tell you, you will have to do HARD THINGS to get God's plan in your life.  It's taken distancing family relationships for me, setting strong boundaries, not having friends, cutting out the things that make life busy (I am a doer so it's hard not to try and do everything).

Sometimes hard things cause you to question your character and who God has made you into.  IT TAKES reminding yourself who you are in Christ.  I'm Heather Cheryl Craig, I am positive, I love God, I want to help broken people, I love Social Work, I love singing, I love photography, I love my sisters, I love my boyfriend Alvaro, I love my family, I love my friends.  It takes knowing yourself to really remember and remind yourself of this daily :)

Life gets hard, it is not perfect.  But if you keep in that daily connection with God :) You can get through it :)

It takes time, it takes change, it takes trust, it takes faith.  It's not a one step thing.  It's a lifetime of many things.  It takes trusting God at all moments, when you are frustrated beyond belief, or think your plans are ruined.  God has a awesome plan in store for you, one you can never imagine! It is going to take work, determination, love, patience, what love truly is, God loves you, the question is can you love God the same way, and love other people, and that's the journey, really understanding the true love.  Not what the world labels as love, fun.

This world is falling, seen the music videos now, Blurred Lines, We can't stop.  Let's wake up.  It's time to relabel, reclaim love, and declare what God created, not what the world tries to label and cheapen :)

Mhmmm :) God is good, trust in Him, He will make a way <3

Life's Happenings, Love Blooming, Changes, and An Ever Constant God :)

Well hello there! Life has been a roller coaster!  A beautiful ride I might say!  I am currently working as an Assistant Kindergarten Teacher at a Summer Camp, I am running a Small Group for Teenagers at my church!

I am currently all the time in the church, the school I work at is a private Christian school, my small group is in a church, so I am pretty much in the church world most of the time.  I can tell you one of two things, I want to be working in the world :) I love going to church and being involved, but my career/calling is definitely not that.  I long to be helping people in the world, social services, human resources, whatever it may be.  So I am hot on the job hunt, figuring life out, and just trusting God in every moment.

This week I will be financing my first car, I've been shopping around for quite awhile, and plan to buy a used car this week! Here's to adulthood!

I got my own phone plan at Sprint and got the IPhone 5 recently! I love it, I can FaceTime, I can group message!  Here's to adulthood again :)

I also just MOVED for my first time (not including college out of state), our house of 20 years, which means getting rid of almost half my stuff, having my boyfriend push me out of my comfort zone and get rid of a lot more stuff now.  I found I need to get an adult wardrobe, cause right now I am just living in my high school and college days. So that'll be a project as well.  WE just got wireless yesterday, and a signal booster, since we could barely talk or get any cell phone reception the first week of living here! We have a patio, we have a bigger, more open space.  My sister and I are sharing a room (woo woo).  It's definitely weird not living in the place you have known your entire life, but I can say it is for the best, and way better :) God has a plan!

Then on top of that!  I am so very pleased and delighted with joy that I celebrated 6 months with the man I love, Alvaro Perez.  He bought me roses, and gave me cards.  I got him a Starbucks gift card, a journal that we can write our dreams in and dream together!  This night we went to eat at a pretty neat place, La Casa Bonita, Mexican Restaurant, where you sit outside, then we mini golfed, bowled, and played some games!  He gave me a very beautiful heartfelt card that meant a lot to me, and really showed me he really does love and care for me :)

I don't know what will happen next in life, but I can tell you, life is a journey, and I'm on this train, I'm praying every step that God will provide, help me at all times, and I know He will :)

Life is not easy, but with God, His strength, I can do all things :)

Pictures of our new place will be up soon!

God Bless :)

Growing Up

Here I am again, been reflecting for this whole week about growing up, those growing pains.  I am currently drinking a Caramel Latte from Starbucks with  some whip cream and extra caramel.  Life has been a whirlwind, in May marked my one year from college graduation.  Here I am with a full time job at a church, working with kids, which was not my plan at all.   I planned to be helping homeless people, being in Chi-town, having my own apartment, going to a different church, being independent.  Well here I am, I'm not a loser, but I am frustrated, I have had many job interviews, some good, some bad, some interesting.  Only probably 3 out of 10 I actually felt passionate about.  But I went through all, probably could have had 2 or 3.  And here I am, letting it all go to God, He's going to open the right doors at the right time.

I love the kids I work with, and can say I survived the early shift (6AM - 2PM) every Monday through Friday.  I am such a night owl, I learned that much, thank God that this week my boss had a great idea for the summer to switch me to be an assistant for Kind/1st Grade that is from 9AM to 6PM.  I have been working with Preschoolers, and man they took all my energy, all the patience, and a lot of love.  I have loved designing my classroom, having fun with the kids.  I learned I am terrible with Discipline, I'm more the laid back, I have my rules, but I'm not strict, I actually encourage kids to be crazy and free.  I had to do lesson planning with themes, and stations, and man I learned whew, this job is not my calling.  I knew it since the beginning but when you realize you love and have a passion for homeless men more than preschoolers, you know what you want to do.  Imagine this, I did have a lot of temper tantrums, run aways, spitters, whiners, so needless to say I love all these kids, but I just don't have the patience or the energy, teachers, I respect you a lot more now.

I'm still looking for Social Work jobs, networking, resume editing, and figuring out where I can fit in Chicago.  I know that is where I am going, I am just connecting the pieces to get there.  Right now my goal is to finish through August at my current job and hopefully find a Social Work oriented job by then,  or pick my favorite retails store and get a full time job doing retail.  I am also going to work on applying for my Masters' Degree in Social Work, specifically at University of Illinois at Chicago.  I have learned to network in a big city where you have never lived or networked, it is quite the job, so my goal is to move out to a house/studio by September, get a job, and LEARN TO FLY!

All the while I have been volunteering/doing ministry at my home church of 20 years.  Which is also a challenge because it's great to be back, but there's barely any people my age there, and the ones that were, we have changed seasons and are no longer a part of each others lives.  So I've been praying to God to give me direction, where to go, and just trusting Him step by step.

Growing up is fun.  I  am also about to finance my own car, get my own cell phone plan, and jump right into independence.  Woo!  Growing up is something I've learned that to start fully reliant on God in all areas, family, relationships, financial, everything is the best way.   I've had to defer loans, and God has provided at all times.  I was definitely freaked out.  But God always gives you some way to do the right thing and to have peace at all times.  God has also given me amazing friends, in co-workers, in old friends, in college friends that are all around the country, and most of all God is my best friend and through Him I can conquer anything, any weakness, any trial.  It might take time, patience, and being still and waiting, but if you can learn how to do that in the beginning, the better your foundation will be, and the more you will get used to having the peace of God amidst a chaotic and changing world :)

One blessing out of all this mess is I have grown in my persona.  I have seen some really rough parts of myself to work on, I have learned what it means to lose almost everything.  I have really learned what God's purpose  for me is, and that He loves me regardless of anything I do.  I also gained a new best friend, Alvaro Perez, we have been dating for 5 months, and he's been such a blessing to share life with, the ups and downs, grow together, laugh together, cry together, get a little crazy together, and just to have adventures.  I am so thankful to God for all I have.  I don't understand God's timing but I know it's perfect, way better than anything I could have ever planned.

 

I've also been living in my childhood home, which we are about to leave to move into an apartment, and soon after I'll be moving out and be out of my mom's roof.  As I've sat here, thought about the memories, life comes and goes fast, it just keeps going.  Things happen. People pass.  Circumstances change.  But one thing I am thankful I've had all my life, is my God, who provides in all times, and He knows exactly what I need at what times.  I've never been left alone.

So if there's anything I could say about growing up, is it's an adventure, it's all about jumping out of the nest, or rocking the boat.  And giving your try at what you think you can give to this world.  It's also about defining your purpose  in this world.  I am blessed to say, regardless of what job I do, regardless of where I live, whatever situations I am in, God wants me to be a light, to have joy at all times, and rest in His peace, that He's got me in the palm of His hands.

My purpose isn't in what I do (Which is funny cause I'm a doer, I like to constantly be actively doing something)  it's how my heart is, if I have God in my life, if I have Him in the center, all other things will be added unto me, a job, what I need, who I need in my life.  God knows everything before we do it, so what do I have to fear,this life itself is unpredictable, things change constantly, but God is the constant :)

The thing is don't waste your life, trust God, love God, Live, Laugh, and Love, and enjoy every moment, cause each one has an experience, wisdom, or a lesson or memory to be made or learned :)

I want to be free to love the Lord, and live with the joy and peace of God all the days of my life <3

God's Vision In My Life

Ah, growing up is such a fun thing.  As I sit here, balancing budgets, bills, dreaming my dreams that are ever so present in my heart, I have learned so much in the last year.  1 year since college graduation.

I have learned to trust God in every part. In my life. My family. My finances. I have surrendered it all to Him, it took me a hard trial, but here today I tell you, I can OVERCOME with God!

I am so happy, overjoyed with life right now. God has renewed my joy!  It took patience, trials, waiting in His presence, trusting Him completely.  I have never been able to trust any person with everything, and here I am completely surrendered to God.  I am so happy!

Here I am running the race, hardcore.  Letting go of all that holds me back from His call.  Nothing matters besides loving others and sharing God's love.  I can stand here and say my whole life is up in His hands.

I am on the quest, the quest of the call of God.  It was a dream, God whispering into my ear in the beginning, learning about my dream in college, and now is time to take action, to be creative and dream big, and pursue your dream hardcore.

My dream you ask. To get married one day of course ;)

JK JK well that is one, but on a more real note it is to love God love people.  You say people always say that.  Mine is a different type.  I want to work with the homeless in social services, to help them see the positive and the strengths through extremely difficult times.

I want to share God's love with them, through loving them exactly the way they are, and  helping pull out strengths in times where these people literally have nothing.  I want to give them a hope, in a world that says things are everything, stuff is changing, costs are going up, but I want to help the people that have nothing, not even a house.  How can I go and buy my nice stuff and not even try and donate, help, or try to understand what homelessness is, because I'll tell you one thing, it's not being lazy.  Some cases, there may be a lack of vision, but I'm telling you, it's circumstance, families, examples, and not having people to help them.  Think about it how far would you have gotten without your families support? Your neighbors? Church family? Without anyone to depend on or cry on their shoulder every now and then? These people are in constant crisis mode and don't have anyone that's a little further than them to reach out and show them a different example.

So here I am, working at a Preschool Full Time, doing a Social Justice Class at my church, waiting for God to open the doors for me to help the homeless full time.

I'm finally at a peace and fully relying on God to open the right door at the right time.

I am about to finance a car, wanting to move out, head closer to Chicago, but what do I have to do, wait patiently for that door to open, and not worry but keep going.  I have a boyfriend who is awesome! I have a family who is awesome! Friends who are awesome!

We need to be thankful for what we do have.  He has a beautiful plan, but we will not know what exactly He has in mind, till' at some points that moment, or He prepares us, but one thing we know is God has the best intentions for us :)

God wants to give us the desires of our hearts, if we trust in Him, obey Him.  He will grant us them.

Trust. Wait. Take Action. Love. Enjoy Where You Are At.