Highs and Lows

The last few weeks have held several highs and lows for me. 

I want to take some time to personally reflect and share what those moments have been. It sure has seemed like a whirlwind these past few weeks between the changes, milestone moments, little annoyances, and more. 

While the terms "highs and lows" may make complete sense to me, I realize it may be a new term for others so please let me explain. 

Celebrating her 21st ❤

Highs and lows are typically when a person defines moments that they experienced joy and/or a moment that was not to joy-filled. A low moment can be a moment of frustration, confusion, sadness, or any other comparable feeling. 

As I was growing up, my youth group often discussed our highs and lows for the week. It was a great way to connect with the people around me about how they were feeling and how their week went. Doing this exercise also allowed me to reflect on where I was at. I could pray about the things that upset me and generally reflect on how I was doing. If I shared more lows then I knew I wasn't taking all of my cares to God in prayer. If I shared more highs then I remembered to thank God for the many blessing and tread lightly when the "high" wore off or the devil tried to attack. 

These last few weeks have been a mixture of highs and lows! 

At the end of January, I officially finished my student teaching and began working as a long-term substitute at the same school. The transition was very smooth. I spent a few days observing in different rooms and then each teacher was granted a "day off" in which I subbed from kindergarten up to eighth grade! Now I am filling the maternity leave for the kindergarten aide and am loving it. 

     Lows

• My health insurance had to be updated and then lost eligibility since my income was too high 
• The inconsistency of being in a new classroom every day where I had to learn new routines and new faces. Oh, the attitude from middle schoolers! 😄
• Having to do my taxes 
• Having to go to the DMV and wait for an hour to get a Wisconsin license 
• Mourning the fact that I am/will be living in Milwaukee when I didn't think I would ever really leave Michigan and then being incredibly homesick for a few days
• Genuinely and sincerely missing my friends from college

     Highs

• Got engagement pictures taken!
• Meal prepped a ton and stayed under budget! Started a nutritional shake too! 
• Made official dates to start looking at wedding dresses ❤ This also means family and my MOH are coming! 
• Receiving my tax refund
• Finding a much better health insurance option that had less annoying problems! 
• Having a girl's weekend with one of my friend's and her cousin! 
• Meeting a hundred new students and loving every single one of them. Continuing to experience the school community with school events and amazing Chapel services. 
• Calling and having super long conversations with family and friends because I was homesick 
• Attending my first Spartan basketball game in Lansing...and we won! 
• Got a library card and checked out my first books since my residency was established
• The sun finally came out and I could enjoy walks outside in the fresh air

This has been a really big month. Graduation and finishing student teaching, but then it became a month of figuring out a job along with other adult responsibilities! Sure things like taxes I've dealt with before but there were a lot of other things including a different classroom that I was a substitute in every day that led to me feeling anxious. There were things I had to figure out and calls I had to make constantly to figure out my health insurance and establish my residency before heading to the DMV. 

It was a crazy month and I felt overwhelmed quite a bit. Fortunately, I was often reminded to turn my thoughts to God. I started a prayer journal and talked with friends, family, and colleagues to vent about my worries. I could ask for guidance and strength to push through the things that were stressing me out and then praise God for the countless blessings He has given me. When I look back at it now, yes I was stressed out and anxious. I also learned so much from all of those things that did make me anxious and became stronger in my faith for it. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!