Birthday and Teacher Appreciation Week 2023

As much as my students spoiled me last year and truly treated me like a queen for both Teacher Appreciation Week and my birthday, I didn't think it could be topped. I currently only have a few students this year, who live on campus during the week, and I don't even have a badge to go enjoy any kind of Teacher Appreciation Deals around town, so I truly had already pushed any thoughts of "being celebrated" out of my mind. I love my job and my students, and this was just another part of it being a totally different kind of teaching experience.

But, oh, was I wrong. I felt celebrated this week in a much more personal and meaningful way than in all my nineteen years of teaching in public school. 

I walked in to my classroom on Monday morning to a pot of flowers and a gift bag full of classroom goodies, including my favorites--a journal and fancy colored pens. I found a very touching card and note of appreciation along with the gift bag from Bob and Lisa, the people who founded and are the directors of New Song Mission. My teammate, Julie, found the same surprise waiting for her on her desk, too. Just a few moments after I walked in, Lisa came downstairs to tell me in person how much she appreciated me and was thankful to God for bringing me to the team. My heart swelled with gratitude for the opportunity to work in such a unique place with such an amazing team.

But that wasn't it. The surprises kept coming all week. On Tuesday morning, the boys walked in to the classroom with sweet notes and treats for both me and my teammate that their houseparents had taken them to purchase for us (and prompted them to make for us). 

An adorable cup/glass mug, a gift card to Dunkin Donuts for coffee, and Hershey's Special Dark, the perfect treat to enjoy after lunch. 

My birthday came next, and I honestly felt very little excitement about my special day this year. My boys and my family are far away and unable to celebrate with me, and I'd already been out two nights in the week after a very full weekend that had me quite "peopled" out. I was tired and didn't want to do anything extra that evening besides go out to eat. 

The boys (my students) had already made comments about bringing me a birthday cake, so I knew they had something planned. I came in that morning to find pretty pink flowers, birthday decorations, and a birthday pin to wear for the day. After lunch, they all arranged the sweetest celebration upstairs in the kitchen to celebrate me on my birthday. It was precious and such a special time to all be together. One of the students asked if they could go around the table and each say what they were thankful for about me. Then all of the adults around the table took time to pray over me. We had cake, ice cream, and presents. One of the houseparents' children (going into first grade) said he wanted to say a poem for me, and he wanted that to be the last gift. So after I opened all the gifts, he spoke a poem over me. It was precious. He almost froze half way through, but then he recovered and finished. :)

My mom happened to send my gift with me when I came home from Texas at the end of April, so I got to start the day opening that gift from her (and sending her a video of me opening it). She called me later in the day as I was on my way to Chili's to have dinner with Mike. 

A nice box with a verse from my mom, along with ornaments on the Names of Jesus. 

Sitting on my desk to greet me on my birthday.

We just "happened" to arrange Furry Friends Day (for Spirit Thursdays) on my birthday, so Boots got to go to school with me for the day!

And my students brought their (stuffed) furry friends to class, as well. 

They really enjoyed having him at school!

A gift from one of the students, who said it was just right for his teacher from Texas, who happens to love pink!

I wore it the rest of the day. 

The sweet gifts they all gave me. A really soft, fuzzy blanket, a pink cup, two small coffee mugs, a collection of teas and honey sticks, handmade wash cloths, and really sweet cards and notes. 

And in keeping with tradition for the Alspaugh's, we had dinner at Chili's. Now that it's all the way across town, I don't get to eat there near as often as I used to when it was just around the corner. 

One of my closest friends sent me a card in the mail, David sent me a sweet message at 12:01 am,  and Juan posted a really nice message to me on Facebook. Plus many, many friends posted messages on my timeline on Facebook. I got a video message early in the morning from my new friend at church, who tonight gave me a really pretty journal with a priceless note written on the first page. It filled my heart and made me want to cry. 

All in all, despite not being able to see my boys, I had a really good birthday this year. 

1,000 Gifts

Years ago I read Ann Voskamp's book, 1,000 Gifts, and I took the challenge. I started my daily gratitude list with the goal of getting to a thousand. Starting every day with gratitude, and then living life with your eyes wide open to finding God's gifts all around you, will change your life. It definitely changed mine. In fact, when I reached a thousand, I kept going. And I don't ever plan to stop. I did stop numbering, but I never stopped looking and recording daily the gifts that God gives me. 

Every day we rise, we have another day to enjoy God and all of his gifts. All the varieties of animals, birds, plants, flowers, songs, Scriptures, and people that he puts in our lives. Another day to enjoy a hope, a dream, or a memory. A feeling of success. To taste delicious foods and thank God for our sense of taste and the variety of flavors available to us. Here are just a few things we can always find to be thankful for: 

Gifts from God that we can always be thankful for:

• Relationships

• Food

• Health or healing

• Employment

• Home

• Education

• Achievements/breakthroughs

• Reliable utilities (power, heat, lights, clean water)

• Natural beauty

• Spiritual gifts or growth

• God’s strength, peace, or provision

• My 5 senses

• Opportunities or experiences

• Technology

• Good surprises

• Talents/skills

So around late January or early February, I decided to challenge my new students to create a new list of 1,000 gifts with me. These are nine and eleven-year-olds. The task seemed a little daunting to them, but I told them that between all of us, I believed we could do it.

Today they reached 1,000. I was so proud of them. And you know what? We just kept on going. I typed them all out for them so they can take their list home with them for the summer, and I hope that the daily practice instilled a habit in them of always looking for signs of God's love for us, signs that I reminded them today just point to HIM. Signs that remind them how much God does to show us that He loves us because He wants a relationship with us.

A Thousand Hallelujah's

(A song that complements their accomplishment well)

I'm missing a pic of the 700's here. 

A little too quick for comfort

I'm not sure when the stirring in my heart started. Perhaps when we moved Juan David into college. Or maybe the year we moved David onto that same beautiful campus. The beauty inspired me and got me thinking about studying again myself. By the time David finished his freshman year, I made a declaration to my family: When David graduates, it's my turn. My personality has always lended toward the counseling field, and my love of teaching women's Bible studies solidified it for me. I wanted to pursue a degree in Biblical counseling. 

I had it all planned out. Get David through college. Get the house paid off within a year or two after that. Pursue a Master's Degree in Biblical counseling. Retire from teaching and see where God takes my counseling ministry. 

God must have looked at me and chuckled to himself because, as always, His plans didn't look like mine. You'd think I'd learn by now that when I think I have something figured out, I should brace myself for that unexpected curve ball. 

And here I am. Sitting on a ten acre plot of land, in Indiana, with a new mortgage that will stretch a few extra years beyond my "plan", with a son still in college back in Texas, lots of medical bills, a house in the middle of renovation, and working in full-time ministry as a teacher (with Biblical discipleship as the main goal.) And yet, God opened an opportunity for me to join a Biblical counseling team at my church and start the certification process that will have me certified as a Biblical counselor right as David should be graduating a year from now. And I can put every bit I learn to use in my job every single day as I'm learning. 

A reminder that He puts the desires in our hearts because He already has a plan. 

When I recently found out that my new church had a Biblical counseling team and ministry that I could be involved in, they casually mentioned that maybe I could go to an upcoming conference (Called to Counsel) with them at the end of April. The only catch was that it was going to be in Fort Worth, Texas, so I'd have to pay for airfare. (The person telling me about it had no clue that my son went to school 30 minutes from the conference location.) At first, I jumped at the chance, (and I had the full support of my boss because it goes hand in hand with my job), but then the cost started to overwhelm me, and I almost backed out. But when the lady in charge of the counseling ministry offered to let me room with her, I knew this was something God was pushing me to do. So I looked carefully at the schedule and booked tickets that would also allow me to briefly visit with my family. 

David agreed to pick me up at the airport for the first day and then to pick me up after the conference ended on the third day to take me to see Juan and to stay the night with my parents. David still goes to LakePointe Church every Saturday, so he mentioned that we could go together. I love that he still goes and I really looked forward to going with him. After seeing how much our LakePointe family showed up and supported us through his biking accident, we both saw just how integral it is to be engaged with a church family and we both have a deep gratitude for those relationships. I hoped I'd get to see and hug a few of those friends if we happened to see them at church. 

I didn't tell anyone else I would even be in town because I'd barely have time to go out to eat with Juan and his girlfriend (I intentionally planned time with just them so that it would be quality time), make it to church with David, and have any time left with my parents. I had hoped to swing by and see one friend to say hi and give her a hug, but I would have to leave that up to God to work out. I felt bad that I couldn't see my brother and his family at all in this short visit. 

God really blessed my time at the conference and really whet my appetite to dive into the Biblical counseling ministry and the certification process. I love that there's a team and that they've all gone through the same certification so I can lean on their support, experience, and encouragement. I love that I found more of my "people" here in Columbus, and it was such a strange feeling to be in Texas with them. My roommate and I really connected in a deep way, and I am so thankful for that new friendship and ministry partner. I look forward to learning so much from her, as I already have in just a few days. 

After the conference ended on Saturday, David picked me up in Fort Worth and drove me to drop my things off at my parents' house, then took me to meet Juan and his girlfriend for a midafternoon lunch at 3:00. When we got done eating together, we walked to a coffee shop and sat outside and talked for another hour. at 5:30, Juan and his girlfriend left and David and I headed to church. Oh, how I loved being back. It will always feel like home there, especially when David is there with me. I wasn't expecting to see my friend, Martha, who David and I stayed with after his accident, because she was supposed to be out of town, but she ended up being there. :) I also saw other Life Group friends for a few minutes, and I even got to see my old coworker from Bullock Elementary who taught in bilingual ed. with me for 19 years. Such a gift to see those friends ever so briefly and to snap a picture with them. After church, we stopped by to see my closest friend, Amy, and then we made it to my parents' house at 8:30. We were able to sit and talk for the next two hours until we all got too tired. I got up at six to shower and had breakfast with my mom. Then due to an unexpected mishap with my ride to the airport, my brother came to my rescue and got me to the airport--which was actually a very meaningful time to me that "wasn't in the plan". 

Yeah, I'll admit, that's a lot of fit into a day, and it all feels like a blur right now. But I'm thankful for a few new pictures to let me know it all really did happen. At the same time, I found myself in tears once I got to the airport because the time was just too short. 

 

My faithful chauffer arrived

And we enjoyed a lovely breakfast and coffee time together at a restaurant called Brewed. Good conversation with my favorite company. 

Arriving at the conference

My roommate for the weekend and a new relationship that I am very thankful for. 

She and I connected really well and understood each other very well. She runs the Biblical Counseling ministry at Terrace Lake right now.

Dinner at Spring Creek BBQ with my new Indiana friends. 

(Now that sure did feel strange.)

A sign I found in the bathroom that made me feel right at home. 

(Look at the second book for the book study. I said, "Hey, I know her!")

Enjoying a beautiful Texas morning before Day 2 of the conference (and a little peace and quiet in a very busy hotel, filled with lots of visiting sports teams)

Julie Lowe, 

the speaker I was most interested in due to her experience with counseling children 

(and her book, Building Bridges, about counseling children)

A panel of the four speakers from the specific track I went to

Shauna and Michael VanDyke, Julie Lowe, and John Henderson (who wrote the manual I'll be going through for my counseling certification)

A very brief time with my parents, which I so wish could have lasted a little bit longer

30 quick minutes and a hug with my bestie, whom I miss dearly

A God-ordained run-in with a friend I taught with for 19 years, who "just happened" to cross my path as I was leaving church (I even prayed that God would let me see her while there!)

Another friend from both Life Group and ReEngage that I crossed paths with on my way out

A quick 5 minutes to say hi to my old Life Group, so thankful that Warren and Martha were NOT out of town as they had planned

A church that will always feel like home, especially when I got to attend with my son, at his request. Going to church meant less time to see family, but being there with David just filled my heart.

Baptism week

Josh Howerton and a powerful sermon on the reality of Hell and the eternal separation from God

Chris Kuti leading worship

An updated pic with my boys

Dinner and coffee/drinks with my boys and meeting Juan's new girlfriend, Loren, for the first time. (BTW, I really like her.)

Smile, Dad! I'm taking a picture!

So happy to see my mom. I hate that I couldn't get there earlier or stretch the time any longer.

The Dallas skyline

It was nice, Dallas. I miss all the people and the weather, but definitely not all the highways and traffic. The quiet country roads in Columbus are growing on me. 

Falling into place

We've been here for about nine months now. Nine long, fast months. Hard, challenging, inspiring, and exciting months. Nine of the most unexpected months that I still can't believe I'm living when I really think about it. Not a single bit of my life now was on my radar or something I ever envisioned on my timeline. But, alas, here I am, living it. And I'll have to say that a lot of the pieces are beginning to fall into place. 

I'm at the point where I can't imagine NOT living this life. I can't imagine not being part of New Song Mission and not working day in and out with Bob, Lisa, Jacob, Nicky, Julie, and Olivia. I can't imagine not teaching Jaylen, Kayden, and Zayden and not having known Jayden and Carter for the short time I had them both in class, as well. I can't imagine not seeing Mike and Matt work together, not growing closer to Chrissy, not being within driving distance of Peggy, and not having the chance I've had recently to get to know Reese in a really special way. 

I can't imagine not becoming a part of the Terrace Lake Church family, not meeting people here that know our people there, not becoming fast friends with Jessica, Hannah, and Renee, not slowly finding my way into the women's ministry, and not quickly joining the Biblical counseling team so I can be a certified Biblical counselor alongside them. 

I can't imagine not living in such a peaceful area with nature surrounding me on all sides, with no sounds on my walks beside the birds singing and the squirrels scampering in the leaves. I can't imagine not living by the nicest of neighbors who all wave from their house up on the hill, cross the street to introduce themselves if they see me out walking, yell up at us from the bottom of our driveway if we're outside for any reason, offer firewood from their property, or just say hi when I walk by if they're out. Neighbors who technically would have been at the other end of the street or even blocks away back in Texas because our houses are that spread apart here, neighbors who own between 5 and 25 acres of land. I can't imagine going back to a longer commute to school filled with traffic and stop lights, school zones, etc. now that I barely feel like I've gotten in the car before I arrive at school after driving along quiet, country roads, barely passing more than a few cars the whole way. I can't imagine going for walks around my neighborhood and riding ten miles a day on my bike in the summer to experience a nature trail when now I live on a two mile nature trail and know we'll eventually cut out our own nature trails right on our own property soon. 

It's been a long road to get here, and I haven't always been patient in the process. I hated the house and the property and couldn't see the value in the location or of the land. I struggled being the new girl who nobody knew on a deep level, who felt like she had to prove herself at her job and who wondered how long she'd have to wait before anyone knew her story, her heart, and her passion to minister to other women. I'm still wondering how long this house is going to take, when I'll have a cozy bathtub to soak my feet in, or when I can actually use my new stove and oven and stop cooking everything two hours too long in a crockpot or meals that can't feed more than two in a tiny toaster oven. New cabinet doors are on the horizon, as well as a new custom-built pantry, but when or how long from now, I do not know. As much as Mike absolutely loves this wide-open project, he's not a linear thinker like I am, and he just kinda "goes with the wind", depending on the day, the amount of help available, and the resources available at the moment. Or how tired he is from whatever job he worked on during the day with Matt. If he's been out in the cold building a deck all day, he's not going to want to do much of anything at home that night. He's always working on something, though. This weekend it was securing firewood to get us through the rest of the cold season and to start preparing for the next. Today it was borrowing his brother's John Deere tractor for the first mow of the spring. Friday we went out of town for the night for our anniversary, and earlier in the week he met up with several guys in his small group from church. When there's unexpected nice weather, he'll go outside to rake through some dirt behind the house and end up in the woods attacking vines that have grown out of control. 

So here are a few highlights of the last few/next few months of this very unexpected life here:

• A field trip to the Children's Museum (March)
• A field trip to a Mexican restaurant/grocery store for a cultural experience
• Lots of cross-cultural treats as we've been virtually traveling to the 21 Spanish-speaking countries of the world for Spanish class
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• At least one more field trip for the year
• Hosting parents in the classroom and on campus for "A Day in the Life of your Child"
• Weekly Together Tuesday gatherings where we all operate as a team in one location with the kids
• Coffee get-togethers at my house (yes, at my very unfinished house)
• Our Community Group piloting a Soul Care Ministry that has helped us make a lot of connections
• Growing deeper connections and friendships with our new discipleship groups
• An invite from new friends for dinner
• An invite to a Colombia mission trip (that I can't go on due to timing)
• An invite to a Biblical Counseling conference with other church staff and lay people in Fort Worth, Texas (meaning I'll have about 8 hours when it's over to spend with my boys and very briefly see my family)
• Starting to share about my books/my story with people at church
• Working on Scripture/encouragement cards for the women's ministry gathering this May

• Getting to run a table for the women's ministry gathering this May
• Near daily nature walks

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• Meeting really nice neighbors
• A sweet friend/coworker's bridal shower and upcoming wedding
• New Song hosting a first ever Foster Parent retreat
• New Song Adventure Camps! (that will likely bring new students for next year, so keep praying for God to bring just the right couple to houseparent girls so we can add some girls to our classroom next year.)