Currently...

LISTENING ... During my commute to work, I listen to KLove. My family listened to KLove when I was younger, but to be honest, we grew tired of it and we felt like the music repeated too often. Well, now I'm 22 and the music still repeats too often. :) But I can't bring myself to turn the channel. Because (when I allow it) the music/conversation on KLove focuses my heart and my mind in a positive direction before I walk in the door or face my first student. Hard to beat that!
EATING ... I'm obsessed with the Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream that Adam bought me when I was sick! If we keep ice cream in our freezer, it's usually the chreap stuff, but not this time. Not for the sick kid 0:) I'm also eating oatmeal a lot. I've never liked oatmeal before, but apparently my taste buds have changed!
DRINKING ... Lots and lots of water. I try to drink a lot of water at school because it is so easy to lose my voice when I'm talking or yel-- **cough** raising my voice during 85% of my work day. Of course, I have to be careful because a teacher can't exactly get to the little ladies' room at the drop of a hat... sigh.
WEARING ... Work clothes... Like a big kid. It's weird. And I've realized that I own a lot of black... and gray. Too much black and gray! So next time I go shopping, I'm thinking colors!!
FEELING ... Stuffy :) I'm still getting over this sinus infection (or whatever it is) that has made itself a home in my sinus cavities. Whoever you are, you are NOT welcome! I'm also feeling sarcastic. I'm not necessarily in a sarcastic mood, but I'm beginning to realize how sarcastic I can be with my students. I'm trying to find a balance.
WEATHER(-ING?) ... It's cold outside! And we're supposed to get lots of rain this weekend.
WANTING ... Warmer work clothes and someone to write my lesson plans this weekend :)
NEEDING ... Very little. God has blessed us abundantly. I have a to-do list that I "need" to work on; does that count?
THINKING ... I'm thinking through my Unglued moments... I just started Lysa Terkeurst's study, "Unglued." I've learned a lot about myself already. Change is hard. It's rarely something we jump into head first without any reservation or hesitation... But I'm trying. I believe God is chiseling me into a person more like His Son. And as Lysa would say, I'm making "imperfect progress" every day.
ENJOYING ... This stage in life. Someone quote me to myself every day, okay? Haha. I find myself often thinking about what comes next or "Why in the world am I here?"/"Where am I supposed to be headed?" There are always things to miss from the past or things to look forward to in the future, but when all is said and done, I do love this stage. I love coming home to my husband and having "couch time" every afternoon. I love feeling fresh and passionate about my career (most days ;)). I love having alone time. I love the freedom that Adam and I have right now. So, yes, currently I am enjoying this stage in life.

***This journaling idea was a Pinterest-find :) http://pinterest.com/pin/25895766576993097/

Batter Up! Applesauce Pancakes.

Adam and I typically have a very lazy Saturday morning! Sometimes he goes to play racquetball with a friend or we're out of town, but other than that we sleep in, read, watch tv, take a nap, etc. We love it! Every once in awhile, I like to make us pancakes for breakfast. When I do, I've always followed the recipe on the side of the Bisquick box. I thought that's the way we usually made them when I was growing up. And maybe we did, but I remembered them tasting better! Haha. So I wanted to try a new pancake recipe.

Pinterest to the rescue! I used the "Explore" tab and searched for pancake recipes. I might have included Bisquick in my search as well because I wasn't really interested in a full out baking experience. I'm not very brave in the kitchen and my counter space is extremely limited! This recipe is called "Mom's Applesauce Pancakes" and the Pinterest link takes you to allrecipes.com. I adjusted the servings for 2 people, but the recipe is easily doubled or quadrupled. Also, the original recipe called for lemon juice, but I left it out because I didn't have any on hand. They're delicious! Enjoy!!

1 cup Bisquick

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 egg

1/2 cup applesauce (I used original)

1/4 cup milk

Mix together Bisquick and ground cinnamon. Make a well in the center (I've never understood this in recipes. I understand how to do it and I faithfully follow my recipes :), but I don't understand the point. Do you know, Rachel?). In the well, add your egg, applesauce, and milk. Stir until well blended. (At this point, your mouth should be watering because the applesauce and cinnamon smells AMAZING!!) Heat your griddle over the stove and then pancake away! Adam and I enjoyed them with peanut butter and syrup.

Note: This made 5 pancakes and I make mine about 1.5 - 2 inches in diameter. But like I said, the recipe is easily doubled.

What's in store for 2013?

When someone reaches a milestone in their lives, others congratulate them and quickly ask "What's next?!" Welcome to our lives! Adam has 14 hours of classes between himself and a Bachelor's degree. I am so proud of him and I can't wait to stand for him at graduation in May! But after May? Well... Your guess is as good as ours!

Our desire is for Adam to attend seminary. He has applied or is in the process of applying to seven different schools. They are as close as Dallas, TX and as far away as Philadelphia, PA. Can you imagine me in Philadelphia?! Every time the temperature drops below 40 degrees, Adam questions the chances of my surviving "up North." Nevertheless, he's applying and we are excited for whatever this move will entail! Will we move in May? We don't know yet. The possibility is still open that we might stay in Arkadelphia for an extra year before making this move. If we decide to go this year, we would most likely move at the beginning of June.

What else is in store for 2013? On Monday, I will go back to work... I'll have 116 pairs of eyes anxiously awaiting their first math problem of the New Year :) Okay, maybe not anxiously, but we have a lot to do! My 7th and 8th grade kids will have state testing in April and my Algebra 1 students will take their EOC (End of Course) assessment on May 7-8 (Happy Birthday to me! - Maybe not so much). So this semester will be a lot of learning and adjusting for me once again.

I know the semester will be busy! One of my goals is to better balance my work and home life. I hope to be less emotionally drained at the end of each week. **fingers crossed**

To finish this post, I'll share my New Year's Resolutions! I'm not usually a fan of New Year's resolutions because I get so frustrated if I don't live up to them... But I feel like these are attainable and important goals. So here we go!

1. Find a hobby.
2. Read 1 book per month.
3. Complete a "one line a day" journal. I've bought a calendar specifically for this purpose and it's going well so far!
4. Consistently memorize scripture. I'm doing this through the Siesta Scripture Memory Team on Beth Moore's blog. My first memory verses are Isaiah 26:3-4, "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

Thank you, Jesus, for another new year. May we trust You in whatever is to come and use every moment for Your glory!

Happy New Years!

I stole this questionnaire from another blog... You can view the original here. Adam and I answered these questions over dinner this evening and these are our answers. Enjoy! And feel free to share your own answers.

A LOOK BACK AT 2012:
My favorite vacation was.... A & R - our honeymoon!
I liked listening to... A - The Civil Wars / R - KLOVE
I liked hanging out with... A - Rebecca on forever long car trips / R - Adam {Aren't we sweet?! Haha.}
My greatest accomplishment was... A - my grades / R - becoming a wife and receiving Teacher of the     Month
I learned how to... A - make my own breakfast / R - play Call of Duty
I made some extra money by... A - running sound for weddings / R - substitute teaching (during the Summer)
My favorite TV show was... A - Mad Men / R - Once Upon a Time
My favorite place to eat was... A - Wendy's / R - ??
My favorite color was... A & R - purple
My favorite treat was... A - oreo balls or Frozen River Stone / R - Frozen River Stone or oatmeal

A LOOK AHEAD TO 2013:
I want to learn how to... A - grill / R - balance work and home
I want to be better at... A - having a consistent quiet time / R - praying
I want to go to... A - ?? / R - Chattanooga (Shout out to my favorite Schelbs!)
My favorite subject in school will be... A - Greek or Theology / R - teaching
I want to try... A - a new food / R - ??
I will spend most of my time... A - thinking and reflecting / R - working
My goal is to... A - be consistent with a reading plan through his birthday (8/3) / R - keep up with the Scripture Memory Team through Beth Moore's blog; you can find out more here.

I'm thankful for all that God brought for 2012 and I look forward to 2013. Happy New Years!

Semester 1: Complete

I left my classroom today for 2 weeks... 2 whole weeks! I can hardly believe that a whole semester has passed. The teacher in me has grown so much in such a short time. No longer am I intimidated by closing the door with 20 pairs of eyes staring at me and anticipating a lesson! A little overwhelmed every once in awhile, but no longer intimidated :)

At some point throughout the semester, I stopped saying "I'm teaching this year" and began saying "I am a teacher." This seems to illustrate my growth well. Teaching isn't an easy career and it certainly is not without challenges. There were days when I thought "Why am I doing this?" or "I'm terrible at this; these poor kids!" Haha. I'm sure that those days are not over, but they have become few and far between! I have gained a little more confidence, knowledge, and love with each passing day... Oh the love for these students. I still struggle to build relationships with a few of them, but my heart is full of love and hope for these kids. Adam teases me because I call them "my kids" without even thinking about it. At their ball games, I feel myself tense up when it seems that one of "my kids" has been wronged. When one performs poorly (or successfully!) on a test, my heart feels for them! I so desire their learning and understanding!

I know that I have a long way to go. I know of a few specific things that I want to strive for next semester, such as building stronger relationships with "hard to reach" students, solid introductions and closings to each lesson, and writing better tests. There will always be improvements to be made and I know I will never stop learning!

Here are a few highlights from my semester... (These are just off the top of my head and is, by NO means, comprehensive!)

--Students testing my "coordination." This "test" ended with my eyes closed, bowing the top half of my body back and forth like an idiot ALONE in the front of my classroom :) Never a dull moment!

--Student A: Are you going to have kids with your husband? ... Well you need to hurry up!

--Student B: You're more successful than most 22 year olds.

--So many "aha" moments for my students. These are my favorites!!

--Student C: If I come to the game tonight, could I sit by you? Me: Sure! You can sit right between me and my husband. Student D: Dude, he'll totally beat you up! (No clue why they're intimidated by Adam, but it's pretty funny!)

--Receiving Teacher of the Month for October

--First time a student became confrontational with me... My response? "Do NOT argue with me. It will NOT end well." Stellar performance, truly... Haha.

--After asking the class had asked at least 15 random questions about my life, one student stated,"Mrs. Gosnell, you should just write a book." My life is not THAT interesting, sweetheart, but thank you!

When Christmas Is Hard

All of my classes have taken or will take a test this week as we try to wrap up the semester and get ready for their semester exams. I've included the bonus question, "What is your favorite part about the Christmas season?" on each test. As I've begun grading, I was touched and convicted by several who wrote that "worshiping Jesus" or "celebrating Christ's birth" was their favorite part. Was my heart in a place like that in 7th grade? More importantly, is my heart in the right place now?

I've been so frustrated with the Christmas season this year, to be honest. I wanted to be excited about Adam's and my first Christmas together, but I've been tired and unmotivated. Our tree is up (thank you, Adam!), but I haven't decorated it. I've only bought gifts for 3 people (out of 10ish that I intend to buy for). I'm not counting down the days. I'm nervous about going home because of family stress. Etc, etc, etc... A part of me wishes that we could skip Christmas this year.

But my students reminded me that the decorations, the gifts, even spending time with family is not what Christmas is really about. Christmas is a time to celebrate and to remember the joy of Christ's coming. Jesus left heaven and became a little baby... He left comfort and glory to find cold and rejection... He chose to become flesh... Why? So that He could die. So that He could die and we could become sons and daughters of the King. That's what Christmas is really about. I don't need a tree or gifts to say "Thank you." I don't have to count down, because I can worship every day. I don't even need to worry about the brokenness in my family because the King of the World came and brought healing. He is the reason that Christmas is important.

So when Christmas is hard this year, I'll remember why Christmas is worth it. When Christmas is hard, I'll seek Christ's healing. When Christmas is hard, I'll look away from the presents and decorations and I'll look up.

Happiness Is...

Having read these blogs, The Schelbs and The LPM blog, here is my own list!

Happiness is... couch time with Adam every afternoon.

Happiness is... hearing one of my students exclaim, "I get it now."

Happiness is... leaving work earlier than usual (before 5 p.m.).

Happiness is... spontaneous ice cream dates with Adam.

Happiness is... sweat pants and warm socks.

Happiness is... looking through our wedding pictures over and over.

Happiness is... watching our nephew ride his tricycle around the dining room.


Happiness is... a phone call from my little sister.

Happiness is... reunions with my favorite girls from OBU (Dec. 28, here we come!).

Joy is... grieving but WITH HOPE... knowing my husband's sweet friend is now worshiping at Jesus' feet with no more pain.

Joy is... praying and trusting that "the trials of this life are [His] mercies in disguise."