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2014 Goals

New Years Resolutions.

I don't usually make New Years Resolutions because I think it's silly to feel like you're forced to make changes in your life only because the calendar is changing. I can make a resolution any time of the year thank you very much.
This year I decided to make a list of 5 goals, some spiritual, some not. These 5 goals are parts of my life that I wanted to be able to look back on in a year and see how it changed, how I made a difference.

My list is essentially this:

1. Find a teaching job or figure out what it is that the Lord sees me doing instead.
2. Volunteer more often, find news ways to be consistently involved in serving others.
3. Be more outwardly loving and encouraging, build others up with my words and actions.
4. Get involved in my church and find my place there again.
5. Develop and deepen my prayer life, remember to bring every daily thing to Him in prayer.

Since moving home after graduation in April, I would say that these 5 areas are the ones that suffered most and impacted my spiritual life and relationships. In this first month of 2014 I have actually already seen a change, more than I thought I would actually accomplish. My spiritual and physical battle of the last few months is for another post but I can say that consciously focusing on these goals and letting go of where I thought I would be at this time in my life has improved my attitude and outlook on my life tremendously. God's plan is much better than mine and as this year unfolds I hope to see monumental changes and exciting things happening. :)

~Brittany

Cabin Fever

Cabin fever has definitely been setting in this month, I can't even believe the amount of snowstorms and cold days we've had that have made leaving the house incredibly difficult. Most days that I'm not nannying have been spent watching a lot of Netflix in my pajamas, because if you're not leaving the house or seeing anyone, who cares?

But finally, this has been a surprisingly exciting week!
Aside from my two days of nannying, I spent the coldest day of the week researching school districts pretty much all over the U.S. but especially in southern states like Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. I've wanted to move down there for awhile and this winter is not helping Michigan's case to make me stay and experience another one. Unfortunately, at least at this time of the school year, postings for full time teachers for next school year are few and far between, especially for Social Studies. I knew it was a popular major for teachers but I did not expect it to be this hard to find a job. But, I am choosing to believe that with prayer and a little hard work, the perfect door will swing wide open!

Too much free time is about to be a thing of the past! I got a chance to talk with the youth leader at my church and it looks like I will be helping out quite a bit with planning the summer youth camp, which I am so excited for. My teacher planning instincts have been dying for a project and I can't think of a better way to use them than to help plan camp! It was the highlight of my summer every year that I was a camper and counselor. I might also get the chance to go on their short term mission trip to West Virginia this summer! So many good things and ways to occupy my copious amounts of free time!

Lastly, one of my best friends moved down into the city of Detroit for an internship with a non-profit and to be more involved with the good things going on in the city. I drove down there to visit yesterday and we ate brunch at a cute little place called Brooklyn St. Local. The food was SO good, but really when is breakfast food ever not good? We decided to go wander around the DIA for a couple hours, I have not been there in years and was surprised by some of the art they actually have, like real Van Gogh original paintings and a section of a cathedral from Europe. How did Detroit get lucky enough to have such priceless items?! We had a little snack in the Kresge Court cafe which was a really cute spot, I would drive down just to sit and study in there, if I had anything to study. And then. The best part of the day. We found Michigan's largest rare and used book store. 4 floors. Never-ending shelves. SO good. I could have spent all day in there I'm pretty sure just looking for buried treasures. I did a buy a couple of things; pretty hardcover copies of Charlotte Bronte's Villette and Dickens' Oliver Twist, and I found a copy of the Seaside Library journal from 1882, my inner history nerd got just a little excited. Old bookstores have the best smell, they should make a candle out of it, I would definitely buy it. If you are ever in Detroit, you need to look up the John K. King bookstore on Lafayette, it is worth your time for sure.

Kresge Court

In true Michigan style it looks like another big snowstorm is headed our way tomorrow so the cabin fever will probably be back with a vengeance for a couple days. I'll just have to find some new Netflix series to check out! :)

~ Brittany
*Edit: I had my books mixed up with others, I changed the titles to reflect the Bronte and Dickens I actually bought.

Ready, Set, Blog!

Sippy cups, Frozen sing-alongs, coloring books, teaching job applications, and way too much free time. This is my life. Your 20s are supposed to be the most exciting years of your life, so why does it seem to be so stressful for most of us? My journey of the last 9 months since graduation and moving back home has brought many changes and a lot of uncertainty. But I have decided to take advantage of this transitional time and try to enjoy the slower pace and free time to explore new hobbies and interests so...Voila! That's where this blog comes in. 2014 feels like it will be an exciting year full of more experiences and changes for me and I wanted a way to chronicle all of the work God is and will be doing in my life through this year. I also wanted to be able to connect with others that might be experiencing the same! I'm hoping to blog about the daily ins and outs of being a part-time nanny, aspiring teacher, and the hobbies I pick up to fill my time.
I thought it might be a good idea to start off with a list of 10 "Get to know me" facts that I hope you enjoy reading!

1. I am a Michigander born and raised. I grew up in the Metro Detroit area, moved to Grand Rapids for school, and then moved back home after my graduation from Grand Valley State this past April.

My Grandma and I at my graduation.

2. I am currently a part-time nanny to a 4 and 1 year old, and substitute teacher. Hopefully by next school year I will be a full-time middle school teacher!
3. I love any and all card games. Euchre, hearts, spoons, rummy; they're about the only thing I actually get pretty competitive about.
4. One of my dreams is to move to a Southern state, lie near the coast, and own a plantation style house with a wrap-around porch and a long, tree-lined driveway. Why wasn't I born a Southern belle?

Something like this maybe? :)

5. I spent my last year of school student teaching in 7th and 8th grade Social Studies classrooms and I loved every minute of it. Oh the stories I could tell about the adventures of middle school. I can't wait to finally have my own classroom and group of students.
6. Any of my close friends will tell you that I am not a fan of running but I participated in the Color Run as my first 5K two years ago. I survived and it was so much fun!

7. My favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
8. My favorite book genre to read is Historical Fiction, which is, in my opinion, the best and most interesting way to learn more about history, much better than textbooks. :)
9. The best job I have ever had was a summer camp counselor at Camp O'Malley near Grand Rapids a few years ago. I would recommend being a camp counselor to everybody, it was the best and most rewarding experience of my life.

10. Since I moved back home, I still go to the church where I grew up and went to school from Preschool to graduation. My life revolved around that one building for 18 years and coming back 5 years later, it still felt like home.
Extra special bonus fact: My last two years in Grand Rapids I lived in the cutest blue house with the best roommates, I couldn't leave them out. :)

Thanks for reading my first post! As I get into blogging more often feel free to comment, I would love to hear from you!