New posts!!

This blog is so sadly neglected.
I just put up a series of new posts at allenfamilylsu.blogspot.com
Probably going to get rid of this blog and just keep that one now...

Thankful Thursday

It's been a while since I've blogged.

So I figure, why not post two times in one day. If you didn't listen to the song in the post below, you should. Because it's beautiful.

So now I'll go with Things I'm Thankful For.... You know, since it's Thursday. And Thankful Thursday is a catchy post title.

Trent
Parker
My extended family
God's faithfulness
My job
Good friends
Family photos... especially my mustard.seed ones
Good coworkers
Cooler weather! Finally!
High school football (yes, I did just say that)
My students
Sushi
Candy corn
my Paula Deen Creme Brulee candle

What a Savior - Laura Story

We've started singing this song at church recently, and I LOVE IT!

Home Away from Home

Back to school! This means I spend almost more of my waking hours in S210 than at home!! After a LONG summer full of construction on our campus, we were finally able to get back in the building a week before the start of school and get things set back up. BIG, BIG, HUGE thanks to my mom for helping me in my room, and my dad and mother-in-law who did their share of Parker-watching to make this happen. I did a complete "makeover" in my classroom.... which looked amazing before I put anything on the walls simply because they replaced my 1970's orange carpet with glorious white tile!

Here are a few shots:

The Alma Mater banner

Powercat

I'm (eventually) going to have all of my students write/draw/color their name on a 3x5 card, and hang the cards up with this banner

The blank panel now says "We are CENTRAL" in big block letters. I need to take a new pic.

View of the room from the door

Student computers (only one works, by the way!)

Spirit Ribbon Banners- a tradition I started my first year at Central, and the kids LOVE it.

My desk from the back of the room

My cute name sign-- one of my summer art projects

I started these two boards last year- pics of and from my students, going all the way back to my first year at ZHS! :)

Desk- it is a HUGE mess now, haha

View of the room from my desk

The only "change" other than the one maroon panel is a big banner on the back wall that says "We were born to succeed, not to fail." (H.D. Thoreau)

So far, it is a GREAT school year. My new kids are awesome; my new co-teacher is working out beautifully; I have a great schedule. All in all, life at CHS is good!! :)

(Check out our Allen Family Blog for pics of Princess P's CHS spirit.)

Vacation?

So I decided to deactivate my facebook for a while. This is a huge deal for me because, quite honestly, I am way too "addicted" to facebook!

I just needed a break. Now that I'm back in school, I find myself using facebook as an excuse to not do schoolwork. It also walks a fine line of distracting me from time I could/should be spending with Parker and Trent. So... I'm on facebook vacation. Not sure how long. Hopefully my break there will help out my blogging frequency. I need to get back in to writing something other than a status anyway!!

So here's to one less distraction in life.... Let's see how long it lasts!

Starry Night

We heard this song while we were out on the boat on False River last weekend, and I think we've listened to it about 87 times since then! I love what it says...

Starry Night- Chris August

From the Birds that Sing, In the Tallest Trees.
To the Human Life, of you and me.
From the Desert Sands, to the place we stand.
He is God of All, He is Everything.

I'm giving my life to the only one who makes the Moon reflect the sun.
Every Starry Night, that was His design.
I'm giving my life to the only son, who was and is and yet to come
Let the praises ring, 'cause he is everything
'Cause he is everything

From the Autumn Leaves, that will ride the breeze
To the Faith it takes, to pray and sing
From the Painted sky, to my plank filled eye
He is God of all, He is everything

I'm giving my life to the only one who makes the Moon reflect the sun
On that Starry Night, He changed my life.
I'm giving it all to the only son who gave me hope when I had none.
So let the praises ring,
Ohhhh Let the Praises Ring

I'm giving my life to the only one who makes the Moon reflect the sun.
Every Starry Night, that was His design.
I'm giving my life to the only son, who was and is and yet to come
Let the Angels sing, that he is Heavenly

So let the Praises ring
'Cause he everything

So Long, Insecurity?

One of my favorite things about the summer is the fact that I get to attend our church's Stay-At-Home-Moms Bible study. The women who meet each week are as diverse as can be, and each one has a beautiful testimony of the Lord's faithfulness, unique gifts and talents they use in ministry, and not to mention, pretty cute kids! This summer's study is a journey through Beth Moore's So Long, Insecurity.

Let me start by telling you that the title of the book alone evoked much fear and hesitation in my heart at the beginning of the summer. The fact of the matter is-- I have insecurities. Some of them are extremely silly and could be considered "unfounded"... others come from very real hurts and struggles in my past. I was scared to even do this study because I often find myself "insufficient" in the Lord. Like, I don't read my Bible enough; I don't pray enough; I don't go out doing street evangelism or go on mission trips enough....

While this book has been challenging and eye opening, the Lord has really used this time to affirm in me that He has NOT given me a spirit of fear... He HAS given me everything I need for life and godliness... He rejoices over me with singing...

The lesson may be difficult, but His truths have been SO CLEAR. I am by no means at all "there" in being totally secure... but I am wholeheartedly embracing the Lord's truth in my life, and that has been so freeing. I cannot wait to see what He has in store for my heart and the women walking through this with me.

But as with anything in life, it seems that as the Lord does a great work in my heart.... the Enemy tests my faith. It has been wonderful to see God's hand at work in these trials and tests.... but whoever out there is praying for patience for me... you can stop now! Ha!