My Shaklee Journey

My Shaklee Journey actually began back in September when I attended a conference about Shaklee. I was ASTOUNDED at all the information I was learning and I was plotting how I could fit this into my teaching and newly wed life. I was all about sharing Shaklee in the beginning, then the responsibilities, stresses, and busy-ness of school took over shortly after that. So, for the last 9 months, I have been using Shaklee 180 smoothees, taking their vitamins (THE BEST!) and using various products. I recently bought Shaklee Energy Chews and used one today right after I got home from school. It was a just right boost to get myself to the gym after a long day at school.

My "WHY?" for Shaklee is two fold:

1. I want to be healthier and help others be healthier, and...
2. I have dreams of getting out of debt and having more financial freedom

Shaklee is going help me achieve both of those goals. I already feel a difference in my body since starting Shaklee, now it's time to start feeling a difference in my wallet. Who doesn't want debt knocked out and more financial freedom???

So, here is where my journey begins...again. On this blog, I will be tracking my progress, sharing my story and inviting you to come along on this journey to a better health.

Here is where I am starting:

This is the heaviest I have been in, well, ever. By posting this, I am committing to putting myself out there, to show others that Shaklee works. Dedication pays off. The reward is worth it. Join me in your Shaklee journey. Tell your own story. Make a difference in your life and the life of others.

*Stephanie*

The Story- Stephanie's Perspective

Back to the beginning:

I was driving from my friend's house on January 2nd (this year) after spending a wonderful New Year's with her and others. While on the way home I was plagued with thoughts and questions about why I am still single. I was finally getting to a place of contentment in my job, and at church, but this one area of my life had always been a struggle. So on this particular hour long drive, I was praying about this "issue" of singleness. And then and there, I realized that being single was not something to "deal with" or a compromised way of living life, but it was exactly where God wanted me for that particular time. Being single allowed me time to grow in my relationship with God and invest in other things like my job, friends and church. And I was completely at peace and full of contentment with everything about being single and was actually looking forward to seeing what God had in store in this life of singleness.

Two days later, my friend had sent me a message saying she had sent my bio to someone she knew and hope I didn't mind too much. She then proceeded to tell me a few things about him (although he got way more information about me!) So, that very night, I was introduced to Steven, through Facebook chat. We talked for hours.Then, we continued conversations over the next few weeks. In the back of my head, I really wasn't sure about it all, especially since he lived in North Carolina. I was waiting for the conversation that inevitably happens: "You're a great person, but I just don't think this is going to work." That conversation never happened.

First Date:

Next thing I know, he is calling my dad and planning to come to Ohio for a visit. He came the weekend of my birthday. He took me to The Melting Pot. We were there for 4 hours. Any fears I may have had left over about this relationship not working melted (yup...it's a pun). So, on my birthday in February, we officially started dating. He came to visit me a couple more times and soon it was very clear where this was going. We made the decision for me to move to North Carolina. So, I quit my job, a week later I had an interview for another job in NC, and the next day they hired me.

And here we are:

Last night, Steven surprised me with a little date since we didn't have church, I didn't think too much of it. He made reservations but he didn't tell me where we were going. I really had not idea that last night was going to be The Night. Then we pulled into the parking lot of The Melting Pot and all I could do was smile. If nothing else, it was going to be a special date just because it was where we had our first date. So, we got in, and sat down in a nice private booth, gave our order and chatted for a while. After our server got our cheese fondue ready, I was ready to eat! So I started getting my bread ready, and Steven hadn't even touched his utensils. So, I put mine down and wondered what was going on. From there a lot of it was a blur, because he said something close to "I can't wait. I thought since we had our first date at The Melting Pot, that this would be the perfect place to propose. I knew I wanted to marry you..." (And he pulled out the ring and everything else became a blur) It was perfect. The ring is perfect. He is perfect for me!

I love him and I'm so excited to share life with him, it is going to be so much fun! :-)

 

A New Classroom

As the new school year approaches, I have finally been able to meet the majority of the Kindergarten teaching team and I've been able to get into my classroom. Now that I've done these two things, I feel WAY more confident about teaching Kindergarten. The team I'm teaching with is pretty amazing. They are so helpful and friendly and willing. The administration at this school is amazing. They are all so excited about teaching, about their school and about this coming school year. It makes me so excited to leave a family of educators in Ohio and come to another family of educators in North Carolina. God is so good to me!

Here are just a few pictures of my classroom. Pardon the mess...I took these pictures before I've been able to organize and straighten up and decorate. Here's to a great new year!

There's a bathroom back there!

Desks are moved to create whole group area

This has since been organized :-)

A New Adventure

The adventures of a whole new life started a week ago today. I enjoyed my last (for a while) Starbuck's with my sister and niece and they sent me off with love and prayers. While I was sad to leave, I was so excited for what I was driving to, 7 hours south. Now, a week later, my excitement for being here has grown. While I miss familiarity so much, exploring a new town, in a new state, with mostly new people has actually been a lot of fun.

I am a creature of habit and thrive on consistency. I typically don't enjoy a lot of change. In the past, major life changes have proven to be very difficult and created major obstacles in my life. This change, though life altering, has been nothing but a blessing. God has allowed me to go through many challenges and changes, mostly in the last 10 years, to bring me to a point of contentment, joy, and peace about whatever comes my way. I am confident that there will continue to be changes and challenges in my life, but as I am learning, these challenges shape me to be more like Christ. The best part, now, is that there is someone that God has brought into my life to share in these joys, challenges, and adventures. I am so blessed.

When I reflect on all that God has done in the last 7 months, I am speechless. The best I can say is, "My cup runneth over..." God is so good.

Me? Blog? Maybe once a year...

Well, to the two people who read this, this is for you.

I hardly remember that I have this blog up and then I occasionally look through my Facebook page and realize that this blog is linked up on there and I should probably write something. I usually have absolutely nothing profound or amazing to say, just ramblings and thoughts from me.

As I was reading Psalm 89 this morning, I felt rushed, tired and desired more than anything else to go back to bed. Some days, I think it is best for all humanity (or 26 second graders) if I just stayed in bed. However, my students rely on me to be consistent, and so consistent I am and I show up to work. Anyway, I digress, back to Psalm 89. As I was reading this morning, verses 8-9 really stuck out to me.

"O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them."

These last few years have been full of changes. Now, as I sit here, feeling like I'm just starting to get used to life where I am, there are more changes on the horizon. Great changes, don't get me wrong. Changes that I'm very excited about, but it is change nonetheless. God just seems to work that way in my life. So this morning, my heart felt like the raging waves of the sea, and God made it very clear that he will still them.

 "Be still and know I AM God" 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses understanding will guard your heart..."

God is sovereign. God is in control. Life changes, but nothing takes God by surprise. And for that, I am so thankful. So, here's to change and getting used to a new normal, again.

 

31...

This morning I woke up and read Romans 3. It was a good chapter to read before going back to school this week. It reminded me that we are all sinful people and I can't expect perfection in myself or those around me. It was so good for me to be reminded of this. Romans 3:22b-25a  "For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith."

I'm so thankful for justification and forgiveness. It sure makes living this life better. So, looking at my class, I will begin with my first students. I will refer to her as "I". She is a second grade student that is full of energy and life. She always has a smile on her face, unless of course she is frustrated by math or involved in some sort of drama at recess. She makes me laugh with her little comments during class. I'm glad that she is in my class. Without the dynamic of this giant personality in my class, my class wouldn't be as enjoyable or smiley :-)

31 days and counting...

The Beginning of the End

Tomorrow I go back to school to finish out my first year of teaching my own classroom. It is a bitter sweet feeling to be sure. I never in my life imagined that my first year of teaching would be filled with so much emotion. I have never been more stressed, more joyful, more discouraged, or more blessed than during this school year. I must say, it has been quite the roller coaster. There are many in my life that can attest to this.

Starting this school year I felt pretty confident in my ability to teach. That confidence was soon squashed when I met the parents...haha...school hadn't even started yet and I was already questioning my ability to succeed during this school year. The beginning of the year was so hard. Teaching a split level class as a first year teacher isn't something I would hope for anyone. First year teaching has enough stress on its own, let alone having to worry about two grade levels. That's state standards for two grades that I am accountable for. Granted, as time went on, my co-teacher took over one grade level LA and Math, so that was a load off my shoulders. Also, as a new teacher, Ohio requires a mentorship program to be completed in order to receive a new teaching license. That has been an added burden, a necessary burden, but somewhat of a burden nonetheless. I'll get into that more later.

By the time Christmas came around, I was really discouraged. I was trying to figure out what in the world I was doing. I didn't get answers, but went back to school in January and the whole cycle of progress with students to frustration to discouragement to near depression started all over again. This cycle has repeated several times since January. Right now, I'm at the discouragement stage. Even though I have enjoyed spring break and have taken the time to really rest and take a real break from school, I still feel discouraged and am dreading (just a little) going back tomorrow. I don't know what challenge is going to enter my room. I have 21 students, each student with their own stories, their own hurts, their own struggles and their own unique and amazing personalities. They are full of amazing potential. I let my frustration and discouragement cloud my vision to see their potential. I usually focus on what frustrates me the most about each individual student and let that fester in my mind and my heart. This almost always starts me on a path of impatience, joylessness, frustration, and a teaching style that is not good.

The Teacher Mentorship program requires me to meet with a mentor teacher once a week to discuss goals, frustrations, joys, and anything else that needs to be discussed. However, with this, there is a whole lot of paper work to do that the state requires. I am required to observe two teachers, be observed on several occasions, discuss these observations, and write a lot of stuff down. This doesn't sound like much, but when you consider all the other stuff I am required to do for school, it adds up. It gets a bit frustrating and challenging.

I think I feel most frustrated because I haven't mastered teaching. I love challenges, I live for challenges. But when I can't conquer something, and conquer it quickly and accurately, I get incredibly discouraged and down. When it comes to teaching this year, I feel completely clueless and nearly useless. I often wonder if I'm making any difference or if my students are learning anything! I have thought about changing careers on several occasions this school year. Needless to say, I couldn't let myself do that because I haven't mastered teaching, and honestly, I don't think I ever will. There is always a new technique to use, always something new to do as a teacher. But eventually, it has to get easier. I'm convinced.


So here is my challenge for myself for the next 10-12 school days. I will focus on 1-2 students and their positive qualities and share about that on here. Obviously, I cannot name the student or post pictures, but I can focus on them and what makes them unique, special and full of potential. Maybe this task will change my mindset and my heart about my class and teaching in general. Keep me accountable!

32 days and counting...