Personality

Miss K and I share an interest, or rather obessession with personality tests because we love understanding who we are and figuring out other people.
I decided to add this short quiz and hope you all will try it too!

Your Personality Cluster is Introverted Intuition

You are: Multilayered and complex Inspired and driven to achieve your goals A visionary with a complete life plan Intuitive enough to understand difficult problems, ideas, and people

What's Your Personality Cluster?

Want to learn more about yourself? Try these ones too:

Temperament test
Myers-Briggs
Personal DNA
5 Love Languages

My results:
Mostly Melancholy and some Phlegmatic
ISFJ
My #1 Love Language is Words of Affirmation, followed by Quality Time and Physical Touch.

I always find these quizes so interesting because they are usually so correct in defining me. I love to know how we all function and interact based upon our personalities. What do you all think of the results?

Cupcakes

On Sunday I made cupcakes for several of my students who were so helpful during our sewing unit. I told them that I would be selecting my star helpers when the unit was over and they would receive a gift. My helpers learned quickly how to use the machine and were so gracious in helping their slower classmates. I wanted to find a spectacular red velvet cupcake recipe and make everything from scratch but #1. What time did I possibly have to do that? #2. Did I really have the money to spend on extra ingredients and possibly kitchen utensils? #3. Do middle schoolers really care if they are from the box or from scratch? No, no, and no. So I bought a store brand devil's food cake mix and store brand cream cheese frosting. Talk about delicious! I made roughly 23 cupcakes and could not resist trying them...I was hoping I could give them all away but as they sat on the kitchen counter in my classroom, they called my name and I devoured 2 of them. Dang it. The overeating urge is still there from Thanksgiving! In the end, my students really enjoyed them and it encouraged the other students to work hard at being my helper.
If you have any great cupcake recipes, please let me know!

Giving Thanks

This past Thanksgiving has gotten me into a thankful mood, especially since my attitude was pretty negative towards school this first part of the semester. I feel that God is teaching me so much about focusing on what He has provided for me and what His Will is right now, rather than focusing on what I do not have or what is going to happen in the future. There are many blessings He has given me but when times are tough, I can act like a toddler who has gotten their toys taken away! I would like to list the things I am thankful for:
1. A Christian family. I am thankful that my whole family knows the Lord and encourage each other in our walks. We spent our holiday in Lake Charles, LA cooking, eating, watching movies, laying around, and laughing.
2. My church. I am so thankful for a pastor who is warm and relational. I can see his heart every time he preaches. I am also thankful for our singles pastor and the teacher of my Bible study class. These men are so committed to sharing the Word of God and connecting to singles.
3. My job. There are so many people struggling to get jobs or have reason as to why they cannot have a job. I am thankful the Lord has given me an able, willing body and mind to apply to teaching. I complain about the things I wish I had but really, He has provided me with an excellent income. I just have to be a good steward!
4. My students. I love to watch them learn! They are teaching me about patience and how to talk to others with respect. I also really enjoy getting involved in their little worlds. They love to tell me about their lives and I love to ask the questions! I keep imagining what they will be like in high school and college. All grown up and stuff.
5. Friends. This is the first time in a long time I have had some solid Christian friendships. It has taken a while to build them because God wanted me to make Him my best friend first before He could bless me with others. These friends have been such an encouragement to me! They have laughed with me, cried with me, prayed for me, listened to me and been supportive of me. I always look forward to the quality time we will have.
6. My walk with the Lord. Wow! What would I do with Christ? I do not want to go back to that place! I am so thankful for His Word and how I always learn something new when I open it up. He is so faithful to carry me through the storms, build my character, and forgive me again and again. I am learning to trust Him with all my desires and make His desires mine. He continues to teach me new things, day by day. Even though being a first year teacher is incredibly challenging, I am glad for the hard times because now I am more dependent on Him.
7. My country. Even though there things I may take issue with as far as the government goes, I would not live anywhere else. We have freedom to worship here and proclaim that He is Lord. We have freedom of speech. Women have freedom to be a part of society and contribute our gifts. The government does not control every aspect of our lives and we can have a say in that.
8. My state. I know, I know, we Texans are so proud to be from Texas but it is true. I love that we are the biggest state! I love the Southern hospitality of Houstonians, the great BBQ, the Fall and Spring weather, the conservatism, low cost of living, and endless options for everything! It would be hard to live somewhere else.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.."
Hebrews 12:28

Laundry room woes

One of the downsides to living in an apartment complex in the Galleria is that most of the buildings were built in the 1970's. For some reason they thought it would be a good idea not to include washer and dryer connections. Therefore they created rooms that house 4-6 washers and dryers you have to put money in to use them.
The last apartment I lived in was so old, my dad used to live there with his brother in high school! When we moved into this all bills paid apartment, my roommate and I were given special permission from one of the property leasing agents, "Ruthy," to use this "secret" washer and dryer in an old storage room right outside our door. We were not supposed to be using it so we had to be quiet about it. Ruthy lived below us and had met my roommmate through some mutual friends a while back. The stipulations: We always had to call her to get a maintance person to unlock the door and we had to share it with Ruthy, her hot-tempered husband, and random items and trash left in the room. Almost every time I started a wash of clothes, invariably a maintanence person would lock the door and I would have to call again. Sometimes there would be laundry left in the dryer by this couple and I would place it nicely back on top of the closed washer. One early morning I was leaving for a fitness boot camp around 6am, I was barked at by the Ruthy's husband. He accused me of throwing their clean clothes on the ground. I told him I was not doing that but he persisted to yell at me! I followed up with a comment about how he always parallel parks behind my car in the morning before he leaves for work and how I did not appreciate it. He went inside his apartment before I could finish and slammed the door.
As soon as the office was open, I called his wife and told her how inappropriate his actions were and that I was not going to use their "secret" laundry room anymore. She gave me a small "I'm sorry" but that was it. I lived out my lease in fear that her husband would find some other reason to come after me. On top of the apt complex being ghetto, I had to deal with this hot head.
Back to present day.On Sunday, I went to the laundry room at my complex to wash my clothes as normal. As I was walking over to the room, it looked like I had the place to myself. Except when I entered the room I was startled to see this guy who was casually sitting indian style on top of the washers reading a book like he was hanging out at a bookstore. He looked up at me and I gave him a half smile. I began putting my clothes in the 2 washers farthest away from this guy and tried to go as fast as I could to get away from this akwardness. Here I am throwing in my dirty clothes while he reads his little novel. I pray that he does not look up and watch me put my clothes in! I start to leave and he looks up and says excitedly, "Have a nice day!"
I returned with a thank you and a smile, thinking to myself, what a weirdo! So about 30 minutes later I come back and think that he must be gone by now. Nope. He is still reading his book! Come on, there has to be somewhere else you can read that!Mind you, he is about 30-35, wearing glasses and looks kind of nerdy. He looks up again and I don't say anything to him. I hurredly throw my clothes in to the dryer and off I go. Phew!
Of course the whole while, there is no other person in there to break up the akwardness. Just me and the bookworm.
Dear Weird Guy,
You know it would be a better idea if you just read your book at home instead of sitting on top of the washers baring your hairy legs because it really makes people feel uncomfortable!
Signed,
Disgruntled Clothes Washer

Gossip Girls

While my 7th period class was sewing their pin cushions today, I allowed a few of them to sit with their friends so they could work and talk. A table of my 3 most talkative, outspoken, back-talking girls were gossiping about almost every person at the school.
"He's soo ugly! Why did you go out with him?"
"No he's not. I think he is sooo FINE!"
"She is one of those girls who _______ !"
"I hate her!"
"She is so ugly!"
"Oh my gosh, can you believe that?"
"So at the party this past weekend, guess what so and so did?
I can't even repeat what else they said because it would not be appropriate.
Between comments like these they were laughing histerically and making fun of people who were not even there to defend themselves.
As I was listening to their conversation, I said:
"Y'all make me so glad I am not in junior high anymore! Y'all are so mean!"
My most mouthy girl in the class retorts:
"I bet you didn't even have any friends in school! No would want to be friends with you!"
"Vanessa (that is what I will call her, it seems fitting), you are about to become best friends with the Assistant Principals and they will be your only friends at school!"
Don't you just love middle schoolers??

Thankful

As some of you already know, my car broke down on the feeder of I 10 West on the way to school this morning. I had to wait an hour for the wrecker and basically miss this day of school. I did not have much prepared for the day that a sub would be able to do. I took my seating charts home specifically to get them ready just in case I ever had a sub. Miss Kinison had even told me a few weeks ago that I should have things ready if I ever woke up sick one day. Well I took my time doing that and here I am, sitting at home, waiting for my car to be ready. They did already inform me that I would have to pay over $800 for the repairs (mostly labor). Dang it. I have been saving money to pay down my credit card debt, I have been budgeting my money, I have been tithing consistently for once, and basically trying to be a good steward. Why is this happening now? I was for a moment frustrated with God. You know how it goes. We always ask why me Lord? But this time I am changing my attitude. I have come up with some reasons to be thankful:
1. I did not stall on I 10 and cause an accident.
2. I actually own a car.
3. I have friends who love me and responded right away to my text messages with help and prayer.
4. I have not had time to do some laundry, cleaning, and other misc. things. It just so happens that I live accross the street from a small shopping center that houses my dry cleaners, in which I got to take my clothes, a convenience store, where I bought dryer sheets, and an Argentian deli, in which I got a sandwhich.
5. I had time to update my blogs.
6. I was able to email Miss K the seating charts and instructions for the sub for the rest of the day.
7. I have the money to pay for this as it was sitting aside to pay my credit card bill.
8. Rest in the Lord.

I am reminded of the ever so popular Scripture:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you now that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.
James 1:3,4

I am currently enjoying Jesus Paid it All by Kristian Standfill off the Passion: Everything Glorious CD check it out.

Too much visual

Adolescence is such an awkward time for middle schoolers. They put way too much value into what others think about them and they start wearing clothes they would not normally wear. They also act in ways their parents would be appalled at! Some of the boys in particular have a hard time figuring out how to socialize with the girls and just how to be mature.
A few weeks ago one of the assistant principal's announced to the student body that any boy caught wearing baggy pants or shorts worn below the buttocks would be given Saturday detention. It is about time, I thought to myself!
Well I had 3 boys in my Advisory class decide they would be funny and pulled their shorts way up over their waist and stood up so the whole class could see them. You can only imagine what that looked like! The girls were disgusted and demanded they pull their shorts back down. That was a visual I could have lived without!