Will You?

Little did I know that the summer of 2012 would set in motion forces which would dramatically change Laura Harpole's life. Her summer travels were extra tempestuous as she juggled team members, ministry, and a boyfriend. When she returned and we related all the happenings of our summer, there was very little mention of Rodney King except . . . for that fact that she mentioned why couldn't she like someone like Rodney who was genuinely good and Godly but she wasn't interested in him in the least. I didn't think too much of it except . . . that this thought crossed my mind, "I wonder if something might happen between Laura and Rodney."

In October, Rodney declared his interest in Laura which left her in a tailspin. Being wary of Rodney and not sure if he was good enough for Laura, I listened but initially and slightly discouraged Laura from giving Rodney a chance. Laura, on better and wiser council than mine, decided to give Rodney a chance.

One Sunday night in February 2013, Laura and I met to solve the world's problems which involved discussing our lives and all the happenings. Being Laura and I, relationships, which included Rodney, came up in our discussion. After asking her, Laura responded that yes she believed she loved Rodney and she thought she might marry him one day. My perception of Rodney changed that night. The way Laura talked about him, I realized the depth of his care and love for her. I realized how they complemented each other. I realized that Laura had found her husband, and I couldn't have been more excited for them. It would be just a matter of time before it became official.

December 24, 2013: Rodney showed up on Laura's doorstep and proposed. Laura said yes.

I'm thrilled for Laura and Rodney. Looking back, I see God's hand throughout the years in guiding and directing them to one another. Looking forward, I can't wait to see how God will continue to direct and use them for His glory and service. I am honored to share in their special day.

When Will You Find the One?

As I prepped for next weeks lessons this morning and afternoon, I spent some quality time with Netflix watching schlocky romantic comedies which included TiMER. (Schlocky romantic comedies on Netflix are wonderful background noise which motivates me on Saturday when I MUST complete schoolwork. Also having the Food Network on or over-the-top awful action movies on Netflix.) By no means was TiMER a fantastic movie, yet it asked a simple but loaded question. Would you want to know the exact day that you will meet "the one?"

Set in the near future, the movie follows two step-sisters Oona (Emma Caufield) and Steph as they wait to meet "the one." Technology has progressed where you can have a TiMER inserted into your arm which will count down to the day you will meet "the one." When the two meet eyes on the day they are to meet, both of their TiMER's will go off and beep alerting both male and female that they have met "the one." Steph's TiMER says she'll meet "the one" when she's 43. Oona's timer has not started ticking down which means her "one" does not have a timer yet.

Steph chooses to spend her waiting time having one-night-stands while Oona is constantly on the search for men who don't have a timer yet, and then getting them a timer to see if they are soul mates. Throughout the movie Oona is despondent about not having met "the one" as she's turning 30. Oona breaks loose, throws caution to the wind, and decides to start a relationship with a man who is to meet his "one" in four months. Close to the end, Oona's TiMER finally starts counting down and she meets "the one" who is currently semi-dating Steph. In true romantic comedy form, everything ends happily.

The plot aside the movie presents two options for women who are waiting for "the one"--desperately search or sleep around. I'm a woman that society would consider waiting for "the one"*, but I'm not choosing either of those options. In fact, I would like to propose that I'm not waiting. Instead of twiddling my thumbs, I'm living my life to the fullest, following the Lord's leading in my life.

Living my life to the fullest and following the Lord's leading in my life does NOT mean that my life is a bed of roses. As I'm continuing to be honest with myself about myself, it would be a lie if some days I didn't wish to know the day I would meet the man I'm going to marry, if that's God's will for my life. I would be lying if I said I didn't have a desire to one day be married, to be a wife, to raise a family. I would be lying if some days I wasn't frustrated at my relationship status. I'm human, and there are days I struggle with being single. Just like every other man or woman.

I'm choosing to not let those thoughts consume me and turn me into a bitter woman. Too many people around me are bitter at God because there life has not taken the path they desired. That is not for me. I have already been down the path of waiting and twiddling my thumbs. I know how it ate me up inside, how it consumed my thought life, how I would walk in a room and wonder if I would meet "the one", and how selfish I became. That is not for me.

In the end, I will stand before my Savior and give account of what I did for Him. I don't want to say that I was too focused on finding a man to serve Him. My focus is to serve Him as I teach, as I build relationships, as I grow in Christ likeness, and as I live to glorify my Lord and Savior. Right now, He has me serving Him as a single woman, as a teacher, as I build relationships with my coworkers and church family, and as I strengthen my relationship with dear family and friends. So most days, I enjoy the mystery which comes with not knowing what the next day will bring. Besides, in all honesty, I'm too much of a romantic to want my life story spoiled by knowing the whys and wherefores.      

*At work, I was asked if I would marry in August as both new male teachers are marrying this summer, one in June and one in July; therefore, I could round off the summer with a wedding in August. My response was just to laugh. 

January 17, 2013 v. January 17, 2014

I've started my second year of journaling every day in my Jane-a-Day 5-year journal.

I hadn't thought about a year ago until tonight when I started my nightly ritual of writing in my Jane-a-Day.

A year ago, I slept in. Went to MBU for the first time in a week or so. I visited so I could drop off my Wisconsin DPI licensure papers. In the hallway, I ran into some people from who I had to fill in about the Wednesday night car drama. Then the person I was most irritated with regarding the Wednesday night car drama showed up and annoyed me even more. Everyone left and somehow it was him and I. Bad idea. In the next 15 minutes I proceeded to shred my integrity by utterly losing my temper. I have rarely been that angry or made such a fool of myself. I was standing outside of Dr. Brock's office.

I remember leaving and walking up to second floor and regretting every word I said. It didn't take more than a minute for me to realize and be ashamed of my atrocious behavior. I walked out of those back stairs and there was Jessica. I said, "Jessica, I just made a huge mistake." An apology email followed later that afternoon and personal agony over my stupidity. It was an awful day.

Today, I woke up at 5:00. I planned a game, wrote my parent letter, set-up for testing, and discussed students with my coworkers. Then the students arrived. I taught all day which included confiscating sexually drawn pictures from a student, documentation of said pictures, battling my non-compliant students, giving tests, grading tests, explaining chocolate history in the United States, conferencing with individual students, and meeting with small groups. Then the students left. I prepared my white boards for Tuesday, counted my Paws, stacked chairs, discussed the woes of teaching and coaching with coworkers, and finally left school. Next came errands--gas and grocery store. Then final clean-up before the Parentals arrived. Dinner preparation, dinner, and discussion followed with the Parentals. It was a busy, but good day.

I would choose a hundred more days like today than to ever, ever, ever relive January 17, 2013.