Time for a Bernard update....many NEW and EXCITING things going on in our lives... :)
I had my 24th birthday on February 22, and it was a week long celebration, which I was fine with. We got to spend time with both sides of our family. I felt very loved that's for sure. Julie made me a quilt, which you can see I love. :)
My new quilt, made by Jason's mom.
Kinsey, Me and Mom at Mo's
I also got to go on the woman's retreat this year with Salem Heights church. There were over 250 women on the retreat, which was amazing. This year was especially fun since my sister was able to come. I also stayed in a room with four other girls, and we had an adjoining room that had another four. :) It was so refreshing to get to spend the weekend learning about forgiveness, healing and resting in God's plan. That is something that I need to remember constantly.
Me, Kinsey, Jincy, Stephanie, Natalie, Michelle and Caley
Me and Elle
Shopping!!!
God's amazing creation.
Next...Jason has a full-time teaching job to the end of the school year!! He is teaching special education at Waldo Middle School. It is the job that he was a long term substitute teacher in since the middle of January, and it finally became a full-time teaching job. :) Although Salem-Keizer can't hire permanent teachers until this summer...what with so many budget cuts...we are hoping this could open up doors for him next year! :) Here he is in his classroom...and the bulletin board that he and I made last week to track his student's progress. :) I am so proud of him!
Mr. Bernard's classroom.
Iditarod behavior tracking board...I was pretty impressed.
Auntie and Uncle and our little niece!
And....Jason and I can now also be called an UNCLE and AUNT! Bryan (Jason's brother) and Charissa had their first baby girl, Cayden Elizabeth Ann Bernard. :) She is VERY loved that is for sure, and such a sweet little baby. I am SO thankful that we didn't choose to move far away...this is exactly what we didn't want to miss. :)
Sweet baby girl!
Little angel that we WILL spoil ;)
Next...we are looking forward to our spring vacation to MAUI!!! We leave this coming Friday to drive up to Seattle and fly out from there! Update and many pictures from that trip to come soon. :)
That statement was the teaching point of the middle school winter retreat this last weekend at Camp Tapawingo. It was an amazing weekend filled with laughter, games, staying up late and learning from God's word. It was refreshing to spend time with so many mid-high girls....I don't remember laughing that much in a long time. :)
We drove up to the camp Friday afternoon, and got right to having some fun. We played a Mission Impossible game the first night...where Ashley Higgins and I got a little loopy hiding from the students in the dark by the fire pit...some dancing around the fire was in order. :) One of our girls, Emily, came bursting out of the bushes at one point and...well the picture of both her legs tells the story better than I could...I do recall "someone" telling her shorts may not be the best choice for night games... :)
Emily's Hurt Legs
Saturday was filled up with teaching times, hiking down to the river and many games of dodge-ball (Ga-Ga ball). It was so much fun to watch Jason connecting with the guys in his small group. He had some guys following him around the whole time. :) I think a couple of them are a little addicted to disc golf now too. :) The conversations and the friendships that were created this weekend were so neat to participate in and watch grow. God was doing some powerful things through these students.
Me and Sara
Sophie, Ashleigh, Sara and Emily
In the afternoon on Saturday Jason organized a game of human clue where the leaders dressed up as different characters and the students had to figure out who did the crime, where and with what. It was so much fun! Jason and I were teachers...a stretch I know ;) We made the kids do jumping jacks (P.E.) and read (first grade) in order to ask their questions. Turns out...Jason and I were the criminals! :)
Human Clue: The "Teachers"
JUMP!
Savannah and Me
I loved getting to spend time getting to know my girls. Middle school is such an interesting time in a girls life. They are struggling to figure out who they really are, and where they fit in. I am so thankful that God meets each of them exactly where they are, and that He loves them where they are at. Each of them holds a special place in my heart...I pray that we would all place God as our one purpose...what an amazing weekend!
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this [trial], that it should leave me.
But, he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness,
so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with
weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I thank the Lord that I can rest in His grace and His plan, and that when I go through trails, and the people around me go through hardships that He is in control.I will be honest and admit that I do struggle with wondering why God does not take certain afflictions and hurt away, but I also know that He works ALL things through for His glory and for His plan. I know that I may never know the full extent for why He allows specific trials to cross my path, but I am resting in the fact that when I am walking through those trials, I am not walking in them alone.
Jesus overcame the ultimate trail, when He was crucified on the cross for me; a fact that is so easy to ignore and forget. He overcame the grave and rose, so that I would not have to have sorrow and pain, but that I could come to Him and allow Him to fill my heart and heal me. He is the rock that I can stand upon; a rock that is stronger than a job, stronger than relationships, stronger than me.
That section of verses really impacted me...to feel strong in weakness....when I am feeling weak the last thing that I am feeling is strong, and yet I realize that when I am feeling so weak, it is when I need Him and seek Him the most. It is so "easy" to think that I have it all in 'control,' and that I can make it on my own, but the truth is God is waiting for me to turn to Him and lean on His power, grace and love.
From now on I choose to let His strength get me through, not my own, "For when I am weak, then I am STRONG."
I will leave you with this video of one of my favorite songs, I Will Rise, by Chris Tomlin:
I am officially a teacher at Claggett Creek Middle School! The position that I got in November was extended until the end of the year. I have been hired as an employee of the district, which is great because hopefully that will mean that I will have a position in the coming school year. I just had my last day as a barista at Starbucks last Saturday. It was a bittersweet thing leaving, but it was something that I am grateful to close as a chapter in my life. It was a great job, and I learned a lot, but making coffee doesn't fulfill me like impacting and changing lives like teaching does. As of right now though, I am so thankful for the job that I was given, and look forward to the coming year with the students that I have in my classroom.
Christmas Morning 2010
Jason just started his master's in special education at Portland State University. He is taking two classes for the next two terms (one in Portland, one online). This summer he will be going to school closer to full-time up in Portland, then it is just two more terms and he will have his endorsement. I am so proud of him for going back and re-starting and re-focusing on something that he may have never seen coming. I am so thankful for his hard work, and the desire that he has to take care of his family. I know that if he becomes a special ed teacher, or a regular classroom teacher, he will make a huge positive impact on the kids that will be lucky enough to have a him as their teacher.
Other than my new job, and Jason going back to school we have been staying busy. We got to spend a lot of time with friends and family, and with the new direction in both our lives it looks like we will get to do that more often now.
Thanksgiving was so much fun this year. I know that we always have had lots to be thankful for, but this year I was feeling extra thankful. Here are some of the things:
First SNOW of the season!
Family and Friends
Contentment
Teaching jobs (both temporary and subbing)
Jason's acceptance into PSU's special education program
This last year has been one where we learned a lot and grew as a couple. Although nothing is ever for sure, and jobs as we have realized are fleeting, I am so thankful for the family and friends that God knew we would need to help get us though.
Christmas is here :)
We got to spend thanksgiving with both our families again this year, but it didn't feel as stressful as in years past. We spent the early afternoon with my mom's side at my aunt and uncle's house. It was so good to catch up and spend time with a group of people that make me laugh so much. Kinsey and her roommate (Maddie) came down as well...always love the times I get to spend with Kinz :)
Sister shot: Aunt Pat, Aunt Susie, Mom and Aunt Pat
Roomies: Kinsey and Maddie
Me and my Dad
Then we went to Jason's side of the family Christmas at his parent's house. Thankfully this year we didn't have to eat to meals...we have done that the last two years....I think my stomach thanked me at the end of the day :) We played games and relaxed as the turkey took effect.
Sisters
Nial and Kinsey
We got to go to the Singing Christmas Tree up in Portland again this year. :) Even though it is almost the same each year, I still love it, and it seems to help the Christmas season start off right. Then we went to the Spaghetti Factory (yum!). It was a much needed and amazing break.
As of right now I have three more weeks of work at Claggett. The principal told me over conferences that she doesn't expect the past teacher to come back...I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but it has been amazing to have my own group of students and get to watch them learn and grow. We will see what happens, but for now I am thankful for what I have.
Spending some time with the person I am so thankful for.
Catch a ride on the Christmas Train!
The Girls
Jason found out right after Thanksgiving that he was officially accepted at Portland State for the special education program. He will start this coming January, and be completed the following March as far as we understand. He will be taking classes once a week either in Portland or online up until the summer. When summer comes he will once again be a full-time student...not sure he is super excited about that :) He is excited to start the program and feel like he is heading somewhere...although it is a path we did not foresee, I know he is going to do amazing.
I have a new job! I was officially hired last week, and today was my third day of teaching at Claggett Creek Middle School in Keizer. I am so thankful for this opportunity, and although the last week has been crazy busy, and everyday comes with new challenges, I am so thankful. I am hired at this point up to winter break, with the possibility that the job could be extended to the end of the school year. Only time will tell, but for right now, I am a TEACHER :).
Here is a picture of the school...if you look to the third story on the top far right side, that is my classroom. :) I have been working during my prep and before and after-school getting the classroom to feel like my own. The teacher that was in there left a little over a month ago, so the room was in chaos to say the least. I was told to box up and remove anything that I wanted, and to think of the room as my own...so I have been, which I love :) I redid the bulletin boards today (I put some pictures of my classroom below), and plan on organizing some more. The learning curve has been pretty steep...conferences are in less than two weeks, so I have been attempting to get some grades for the students...it's a lot of work, but it is so comforting to know that I will be there tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after...
Board all about me :)
Room 300
Jason is also getting started on his new journey...this Wednesday he has his interview at Portland State University for the Special Education program. If he gets in, he will start classes in January, and will complete the program the following summer. It is a program designed for teachers that are working already to add the endorsement. When he is done with the program he will only need a few more credit hours to complete his master's.
So excited to get out on the ice!
Serious.
Jason and I have also been busy helping out with the middle school youth group at our church this year. We are working with students that go to Judson and Walker. I am diffidently getting my fill of middle school :) We call the small groups D-Teams ) devotional teams. My D-Team got to go to the pumpkin patch together. They crack me up, and have such amazing hearts that desire to please and serve. We also went "Broom-Balling" with the mid-high up in Portland on the ice! That was a lot of fun...I was shocked that I didn't fall the whole time :)
Not serious.
Judson/Walker D-Team
Cuddle time :)
Needless to say, we are so thankful for where we are, and are looking forward to what is going to come in the future. :)
