Free, Indeed.

"He that the Son hath set free, he is free, indeed! No more chains of slavery! Truth has triumphed, with liberty. He that the Son hath set free, he is free, indeed." 

I've had that song stuck in my head for over a week now. It's based off of John 8:36. God gave me a true blessing last Sunday night; I followed a commandment, and He followed His promise.

About 2 1/2 years ago, a girl whom I considered as one of my best friends and a confidante, stopped speaking to me. It also happened to be the night that my brother and now sister-in-law announced their engagement. I had known that this girl had had a crush on my brother when they were younger, but she was dating someone else, and had been for almost 2 years, so I assumed she was over it. Well, apparently not. 

She began totally ignoring me, and did whatever she could to avoid me, for example: when the usher would pass out hymnals, instead of handing them to me to pass the rest of the way down the pew, she would drop them on the pew in front of us. Looking back, it seems so small, but it was a bunch of little things like that that kept adding up. She was giving my mother the same treatment, and so my mother asked what was wrong. She never could give a straight answer, and then kept on ignoring us, and began running us down to others (Thank the Lord for all of those that stuck by us during that time).

I went through a lot during that Spring, medically, and emotionally. I ended up having a breakdown; I wouldn't eat, couldn't sleep, and just cried for 3 days. A lot of it stemmed from this girl's behavior. I didn't know what I had done to cause it, and I felt like I was on my way to hell, because I felt that if I was doing right, this wouldn't be happening. My mom took me to our assistant pastor and his wife, and they helped me realize that I couldn't control other people's feelings, and just because they felt animosity toward me, didn't mean that something was wrong with me, but possibly with that other person. As long as I prayed about it, and acted like a Christian toward her, I was fine. That wonderful lady gave me a book, and I learned a lot about peace during the next few weeks, and actually that trial inspired me to look for peace always, and to help others find peace. That's when I discovered John 14: 27.

She got engaged to the guy she was dating on the same day as my brother's wedding. She married him a year and a half ago, and moved to a different state, which was a big relief for me. When she would come to visit, however, I felt like I couldn't even go on the same side of the church as her, and if she was at a church function, she would go out of her way to be chilly and cold. I would always ask how she was, and usually was ignored or given a terse "Fine." 

Last Sunday night was a turning point. She was in town, and we were having some awesome church. I went up to the front, behind where she was praying with several of our mutual friends. I felt like I couldn't join them. I remembered God's Words about praying for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you (Matthew 5:44), and so I started doing just that. Not long after I began praying for her, the girl came up and grabbed me, and hugged me. We both cried, and I felt a huge, heavy burden, that I had been carrying for so long that I hadn't realized it was that enormous, lift from my shoulders.

I was free. Free, indeed.

Graduation.

On May 12, 2012, I "officially" graduated with my Associate of Arts in Teaching degree. I had finally accomplished something. Something to celebrate. I was "Emily [insert middle, last names], Magna Cum Laude."

 And it felt good. Really good.

Pinnacle.

Today, I was the proud recipient of the Excellence in Teacher Education award. I was really honored that I was the one chosen; the news truly surprised me. There are a lot of wonderful ladies in the education program that would have been deserving of this award, but somehow, I was chosen.

 My instructor, Ms. L, told me one day after class. I was honestly a quite a bit stunned. I never expected to receive this award. I got the award for Excellence in Speech last year, and that shocked me down to my socks as well. 

This was even bigger, though, because it was in my field of study. Ms. L also told me that my name came up several times in their discussion. I was floored. When stuff like this happens, I have a hard time talking. Believe it or not, when it comes to vocalizing my emotions...I really have a hard time doing it! (Ironic, seeing as I have an award for Speech under my belt). I do not, however, have a difficult time writing about them. All I could say was, "Wow, oh my word." She asked me about myself for a bio that they read onstage, and I couldn't even think of anything to tell her for that. I'm so grateful to her, and my other education instructor, Mrs. A, for thinking of me.

I can't help but think about how blessed I am. God has been so good to me; He is always amazing me.

Dexcom "Etch-a-Sketch"

I've seen a lot of talk on Twitter lately about the Etch-a-Sketch nature of different Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor graphs. Kim and Kerri have both blogged about it. This week, I've seen two pretty clear pictures.
I've seen:
a mountain range:

and, a W:

This week, I've also had my first 3 hour flatline (mostly), which occurred in the middle of the night. That was pretty cool. It was almost six hours long, and I should have taken a picture of it, but I didn't. Alas.

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Imperfect Poetry a la Dexcom

Dexcom

It's high;
It's low.

Mountain peaks;
Angry 'M's.
I feel weak,
Will this end?

A gentle slope;
A gaping drop.
I want to hope,
Will it stop?

A straight line;
I am calm.

Diabetes and the New Job: Imperfect Poetry Edition

Diabetes and The New Job get along pretty well for the most part. 

Except for the whole going-low-during-duty-once-a-day thing.

During cafeteria duty,

Or bus duty.

At no specific point in time

Around noon,

Or 3.

Diabetes can't agree with me.

It never comes when it's convenient.

I guess that's asking too much.

There so much more I want to see, 

but Diabetes won't agree with me.

I wish it would.

I wish it could.

I love my new job. That is all.

Except, y'all know me. I have to say everything in approximately 3 paragraphs longer than necessary.

Anyway, I got the job at the school!! I started last Tuesday, and it's going way better than I expected. For example, first thing in the morning, I have library duty. Library duty. How awesome is that?? The first time I went in there, I immediately inhaled that wonderful scent of old and new books. In my book (pun intended), libraries are little havens filled with wonderful things just waiting to be imagined. I also get to help with Reading Camp on Tuesday-Thursday.

Second, I really enjoy the kids there. The first graders that I work with are adorable, and one of them told me when I had her the first time I helped her, "You know, I think I could do this every day."
I enjoy the other grades as well, but especially fourth grade. I'm a reading instructional aide, so I go into the Language Arts rooms (I do "push-ins"). I love being in the classroom and helping them "get" something. I enjoy the things that they are doing, and it's challenging, because if I've forgotten something, I have re-learn it very quickly. I just feel very comfortable in there for some reason, even though I'm not very familiar with the teacher and her style/philosophy.

I have cafeteria duty as well, but it really gives me an opportunity to get to know the kids better, so I don't mind.

And last, but irrefutably not the least, on Fridays I get to be in the library all day. A librarian from the middle school or high school has been coming to help, and will until the end of the year. Since this school cannot hire a librarian yet, they want me to do it next year, so the librarians are training me in all of the computer stuff. I'm sure that they will also come in from time to time to make sure everything is ship-shape, too. I love getting to help the students select books, which can be difficult when you have to make sure that, not only will they like it, but that it is also the correct AR level. Last Friday absolutely flew by.

Anyway, I love my new job.

Monday is my last day at the old job.

That is all.