Live, Laugh, Love

Peace

staciu — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 03:29:41 +0000

Last night I went to AIA bible study with Sarah (my amazing best friend.) It had been awhile ( as in 2 years) that I had been there and to be honest I kind of went in with an attitude of “well, I’m here….”

The verse we focused on was :

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

We talked about PEACE. One thing that I found SO interesting that when God references peace in the bible, he uses the word confidence. I never really had thought of those two words together. In order to feel peace in our lives, we need to be CONFIDENT in our walk with God, our decisions and our actions. God desires and commands us to feel peaceful in our lives.

We talked about how we were exhibiting peace in our lives, what blocked peace in our lives and what we can do to develop a more peaceful attitude. Sit down and answer those three questions. For me, it was a LOT easier to think of things that BLOCK peace.

One thing that tends to block peace for me is worry. When I worry and stress about the future, relationships and daily life it is hard to feel at peace. When I give EVERYTHING (not just the things I want to) to God, my heart, mind and body all feel at peace.

Today I went to Yoga. I would say that yoga is a great time for me to relax, pray and be in the moment. Being in the moment is a struggle for me. I tend to worry about whats next TOO MUCH and not enough on the beauty God has given me in that very moment.

As i continue to reflect on this very important aspect of my life, I pray that God can really show me the peace He desires for me to experience. I pray that I can look around and see the beauty in the small things in life and know that my God is greater and bigger than ANY worry or issue I may have.

When do you feel most at peace?

Sweet Summertime

staciu — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:00:18 +0000

Wow! I am not a 1st year teacher anymore! How time flies!

Saying goodbye to my amazing kids and parents was SO hard, but I am excited to say that all of my kids are moving on to 2nd grade. I will miss them but I cannot wait to see them excel in 2nd! I am excited for a new group and I know I will fall in love with them just like I did this group.

Summer has been fabulous so far. I am very blessed and I have 2 summer jobs. One is working at Express the clothing store and the other is teaching a math camp for a company called Mathnasium. Both are wonderful jobs-one is working with my love of clothes and the other is working with my love of kids!

Right now is a huge transition in my life. I am hopefully closing on my own house here pretty soon! SUPER exciting! Hopefully everything works out for it to close!

I have found a wonderful new church and I am starting to build relationships there! God has really changed my attitude and perspective on life-and it has been evident that things seem to work WAY smoother when I look to Him.

These are some things I’ve learned the past few weeks:

-Standing up for yourself is okay, even if its to someone really important.

-Being transparent is a great thing…even if it doesnt put me in the best light all the time.

-I need “Staci time”…and if I don’t get it, i struggle.

-God has continued to be faithful in my life and I need to constantly remind myself He is ALWAYS there.

-I NEED to go out with my friends….every time I do I always come home with a big smile!

So yes-there’s an update. I’m going to try to be better at this thing…but it seems like I always say that….

I’m Almost Done With my 1st year…

staciu — Mon, 10 May 2010 04:45:32 +0000

Wow! What an amazing thing! I am almost done with my first year teaching. I could not have asked for a better place to be in. I am madly in love with every one of my 1st graders and it has such an honor to see them move on to 2nd grade!

I started my first year of teaching with 34 first graders. Imagine that surprise on your first day of teaching ever! I didn’t even have enough desks for all of them! Sarah and I spent 3 months literally just laughing at the fact that we both had 34 kids. It was like herding cattle almost! They finally hired a wonderful teacher (Mary) to help split up our classes. That day was sad, but also a blessing.

This year at school has been full of MANY laughs. My kids never fail to make me smile. On this Mothers Day I am SO blessed with 25 wonderful kids who I get from 7:30-2 everyday. Each one of them have a special place in my heart and it will be sad to see them go!

I am excited that I “survived” my first year. It wasn’t all easy, but I learned so much and am looking forward to a new group of kids next year I can fall in love with!

Life has been crazy/wonderful! I am ALMOST the owner of a house! I am so excited and I am finally beginning to feel a little grown up. Only a LITTLE though! God has blessed me with wonderful parents, wonderful friends and a JOB.

Here’s to summer…

Where I’m At.

staciu — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:52:38 +0000

Wow! It’s been a long time. God has put so many amazing people and opportunities in my life.

I officially graduated the U of A and I have begun “adult hood.” I was SO fortunate to get a job as a first grade teacher. I honestly couldn’t ask for a better situation. I was talking with my friend Kristi(who also got a job in the same district) and we were talking about how we NEVER thought we’d end up in Sahuarita, Arizona. We then talked about how God opened every door we needed open for us. HE put us there, and it is cool being able to TRUST that He put us there for a reason. “My God is a God who provides.” This is SO evident for me.

I also moved into a condo with a friend Sarah. We didn’t know eachother too well when deciding to move in, but again, God opened the door to an affordable, safe place where we have a roof over our head and we can get through our first year of teaching together. Praise God.

I have learned more about myself this past summer then I have in awhile. God has really showed me that HE is in control, and as much I like to pretend I am in control, I’M not. The more I give EVERYTHING in my life to Him, the more evident His faithfulness is to me. He has taught me to be humble and to truly ask myself the motives behind things i do or say. Although there are things I get frustrated about, I realize how blessed I am to have a great family, great friends, a great church, a job, and the many little joys I see each day.

Something I do a lot of is drive. This is a meaningful time for me. It is a way I can talk to God, through music or my words. I look forward to this time each day to really enjoy the beauty God has surrounded me with. I still am in awe of His beautiful creation. The sunsets themselves remind me of how Beautiful God is.

The other night Joey and I were driving back from Scottsdale. On our drive home we saw TWO shooting stars. It felt like a signal to God reminding me “hi Staci, I’m still here, and always will be.” It was a cool moment for me.

I am in my “new teacher” orientation this week and it all seems so surreal. I feel “grown up” and excited to teach, yet at the same time terrified. I am reminding myself each day to trust that God is with me and will guide me. I am having faith in all that I have learned and practiced and can’t wait to transfer it into “Miss Ulibarri’s Super Star Students classroom.”

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2.

Shine like the Stars

staciu — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:32:36 +0000

Today in church the sermon was awesome. We have been going through Phillippians. The verse we have been focusing on is Phillippians 1:9 ” So this is my prayer, that your love may flourish and that you will not only love much but you will love well.” This verse has been my prayer lately. I feel like in general it is very easy to love people. I truly believe that everyone has a story. No matter what they may look like, act like or “seem” like…they have a story. Truly living to be like Jesus Christ and seeking Him for guidence and strength is learning to love well.

Today’s sermon was focused on Phill. 2:15 ” Live in such a way as to shine forth in darkness like stars.” What a cool verse. Jack (the preacher) compared this to a latin( maybe greek?) don’t quote me on that, word that is “gongsymos.” That word(gongsymos) means to complain and grumble. We don’t want to be “that person” who always seems to grumble and complain and not open their eyes to the word around them. We want to “consider others better than ourselves (phil. 2:3-4.) Doesn’t sound to hard, huh? As Jack compared it, look at our world. It is one big CUSTOMIZED world. We can literally get anything custom made. This world tends to be ALL about ourselves. From making sure WE have food on the table to making sure WE have the right hair and clothes. God wants our vision to be bigger than that. He wants us to look into the eyes of the brokenhearted, to the ones who NEED us.

Of all people I am great a wearing a mask. It’s so easy to walk around smiling all the time when at times there’s a deep hurt. I think because I tend to do this, I sometimes am drawn to people for the simple fact I want to see behind the mask. It is truly my prayer that I can focus on other people and put THEM before myself. As Jack put it, we want to have a “life of noticing.” We want to be aware of the people around us. It’s almost a first grade topic. A lesson I am teaching tomorrow is on details and describing words. Instead of describing something very plain, it is important to look at the details of it. That is what God desires our hearts to do for people. To truly look beyond ourselves and into the hearts of others.

Wow, this post went a little longer than I thought. I guess this series of sermons called “Is it in you” has really touched me. If you dont go to my church (Casas) you can get the podcast on Itunes…search “Casas Church.” There are a ton of amazing sermons. A lot of times I find myself in church thinking “He HAD to have written this for me!” Crazy how God works, huh?

“So this is my prayer, that your love may flourish and that you will not only love much, but love well.” Phil 1:9

A 4 day week felt like 10.

staciu — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 01:38:20 +0000

This has been SUCH a long week! I thought that it would be a short school week because we didn’t even have school on Monday, however, I WAS WRONG! I am not sure what it was, but it just felt long. At least I know I’m not alone in this feeling because my teacher (and surrounding teachers) felt the same way! Oh well..next week is a new one! Hopefully the weather goes back normal because this makes first graders crazyyy!

Overall my week was okay. I LOVE my kids and think they are still so sweet, even when they push my buttons! I am taking over more and more and it is really exciting/tiring. I have my first observation on Monday (from my advisor lady) and I am a little nervous for it, but at the same time excited. There are a couple kids in my class I wish I could take home with me. Sometimes it’s hard to send them home because you don’t really know what goes on at home. As Mrs. Mack says…these are kids who love to feel loved at school, and it’s our job to give it to them! I cant tell you how true this is!

I’m feeling a little on the sick side of things, but praying its just like a 3 day thing. Tomorrow I take my certification test from 8-5 and its pretty much the last thing I feel like doing. Prayers for that would be GREAt because my study motivation has been at a 0. oops.

Well, again a decently short update but hopefully I’ll write something more profound later.

GOD IS GOOD!

With Love,

Staci

An Update

staciu — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:43:14 +0000

I am on my way to an audition so this will be pretty short for the time being! This update is in honor of Raleigh who requested it !

I am horrible at updating! I LOVE reading everyone else’s but updating my own always takes some effort for me!

The big news of my life? I finished Marathon #2! I ran it through Team in Training. I raised $2500 for Leaukemia and Lymphoma cancer. I cant tell you how cool it was to run this for such a great cause. I had members on my team who have had cancer and survived, as well as almost everyone who has been affected by it in some way. When I was getting tired I couldn’t help but think of who I was running it for. Although I didn’t run the time I wanted I still finished in 4:05 and was happy with that.

Right now I am student teaching in 1st grade and I am exhausted to say the least. I LOVE it and God has truely blessed me with an amazing teacher. She is such an amazing woman who has a story and has been through a lot. There is nothing like a sweet child looking me in the eyes and saying “I love you.” If it were up to me I would take them home with me…especially in some cases wher eyou know home may not be the safest place.

I am so blessed and am truly trying to Thank God each day. My faith is strong and God is what keeps me going.

I will try to update later.but here’s the verse I memorized this week from church…
“So this is my prayer that your love may flourish and that you will not only love much but you will love well.” Phil 1:9

The weekend.

staciu — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:07:12 +0000

Hello! I hope everyones weekend was great! I can’t believe that it is already Sunday!!! This has been such a fun-fall-like weekend! The weather has been absolutely BEAUTIFUL! It’s such a great PREVIEW for “fall!” ( we are supposed to get to 90 degrees again by Friday.)

This weekend has been fun, and very random! Friday night Joey took me to Nightfall. Basically, it’s in “Old Tucson” and it’s a huge haunted kind of place. Here’s the thing…I don’t like scary things. SO, of course the first thing we go into is a haunted house. I am basically a huge target because I am so scared. It really scared me because people follow you and literally just scream at you. Needless to say, I started crying at the end because I just really didn’t like it!

On Sat. we had a fun day. I got up and ran with Team In Training. 8 miles! Yay! It was a great great (Fast) run! Then, Lauren and I decided to go to the mall. On our way home we were thinking about something “creative” to make for dinner. I came up with “homemade pizza.” SO- we went to Trador Joes and got dough, sauce, cheese and pepporonis. At the store we saw pumpkins so we got one! We came home and started carving our pumpkin whom we named Spice. Lauren had NEVER carved a pumpkin! It was really fun teaching her how. After carving, cleaning him out and taking loads of pictures we started our pizza. It took WAY longer to bake than the package said, but it still ended up being great!! We then went to Kon Tiki which is a tropical kind of bar. It wasnt really as cool as I thought, but it was fun to go with a group of friends!

So today, Sunday, I am exhausted yet very encouraged. We sang at church today (choir) and it was amazing. A lot of people came to Christ and it was something AMAZING to witness. I have really come to realize that music is my way of worshiping God. The words of songs and singing to God really have a way in my heart. It’s such an amazing feeling when even though I am standing among hundreds of people, I can still feel like it’s just God and I in the room. Wow, what an awesome thing.

As this week approaches I pray for peace. I pray that I can really see where God wants me next and to really just cover me in His love.

Here’s some song lyrics to close…”Came to My Rescue”-Hillsong

Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek Your face
Lord all I am is is Yours

My whole life
I place in Your hands
God of mercy
Humbled I bow down
In your presence at Your throne

I called You answered
And You came to my rescue and I
I wanna be where You are

In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted high

staciu — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:59:02 +0000

The unknown. I have found lately that not knowing the future, or what is next has been really hard for me. I am at a point of transition in my life. Technically yes, I am a college student. However, I am not on campus at all anymore. I am beginnning a new stage in my life. A stage where I am no longer a student or a child, I am an adult. Not that it means my life is ending as we speak, but it means, it’s time for transition.

As I have been talking to friends lately different subjects have come up. Am I going back to Scottsdale? Am I staying in Tucson? Where will I live? What about my boyfriend? What school and district do I want to be in? what grade? Will I get my Masters? So many questions…yet no answers.

Even just typing those questions out blows my mind. I wish that I could just see the map that God has laid out for me. It would be nice to just be like “okay I know my life plan.” Oddly enough, it doesn’t work like that. I am starting to realize God does this for a reason. If i knew everything that was ahead, why would I need to trust God with my life? HE know’s what he’s doing…I don’t. God has a plan.

One of my favorite verses is this, ” Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” Matthew 6:34

I guess what I’m saying is, this is my prayer. Its so easy to wonder what will happen, what your life will look like, and worry about all the things of this world. God has your map and he will guide you the whole way…

Anger

staciu — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:20:12 +0000

Today was one of those days where I wasn’t really sure if church was sounding like a good plan in my agenda for the day. My roommate who I usually go with had soccer, the teacher who I usually sit with wasn’t going, and Andy and Janelle werent going to be there either. This left me with the feeling of, GREAT-I go to church and sit alone…wonderful. However, I think God wanted me there because I went.

Overall I am not a person who enjoy being alone. I have done the whole go to dinner by yourself, go to a movie by youself etc…but I would so much rather be around people. Well, I decided to suck it up and go to church. So there I was, sitting in the third row of church-alone. To be honest, I LOVED it. It was a really free moment to just worship God and not worry about the people around me. Sometimes I feel like I am so focused on what other people think that it makes it hard to truely worship God.

Not only was worship amazing, but the sermon was great. We are doing a series called RSVP. This topic was about anger. Now, overall I would say I am not angry person. In church we learned that there are two types of things people do with their anger… one side of the spectrum is a ventilator, the other side is a stuffer. I am on the stuffer end. I tend to hold things in, be bitter and hold a grudge. Is this seen in my everyday action toward the person? Not always, but I know it gets in the way of things sometimes. I guess what I’m getting at is we all need to give this to God. It is SO easy to just be angry, whether you vent or whether you stuff. God wants to give us his grace and love to help us with this. The biggest thing is we just need to ASK him.

“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother is subject to judgment.”
Matthew 5:22 NIV

Instead of being angry, give it to God. His grace is enough.

As I’m sitting here typing this post, a song came on my I-tunes. It’s by a Christian artist named Jason Ingram. A lot of you have never heard of him I am sure, but he’s awesome. The song is called “My Offering.”

Here are the lyrics: My Offering by Jason Ingram

I lay it all down, my dreams and my crowns, Lord I surrender. I lay it all down, my fear and my doubts Lord I surrender, Lord I surrender

My heart like never before…My heart like never before, Lord I wanna give you everything, I wanna give you everything….This is my offering.

Give me the strength, enough for today, Lord I surrender. Show me your way, Give me the grace, Lord to surrender, Lord I surrender

My heart like never before…My heart like never before, Lord I wanna give you everything, I wanna give you everything….This is my offering.

All I have I bring to You, All I have I bring to You Lord, All I have I bring to You, All I have to bring to You, to You Lord

My heart like never before…My heart like never before, Lord I wanna give you everything, I wanna give you everything. This is my offering.