Last day of school in France (:

Today was a fantastic day! 
When I got to school in the morning, the teacher I've been working with, Elisabeth, told me we were going to have a little party and she gave me a present. 
It was a book of songs in English and French, with a CD, its just like the one she has that I used to teach the kids "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"
I love it so much, it's the nicest thing anyone could have given me! 
Then the kids came in and I asked my autistic buddy, Axel, if he wanted to work for me today since it was my last day... he said no (:
BUT!
Today was the best quality work, and the greatest in quantity he has done the entire time I've been with him!
Not to mention, we still had time to color a picture for the teacher (;

At lunch, I talked with a teacher that I hadn't met yet and he had been to Vancouver, and Oregon! It was fun to talk about Starbucks and Taco Bell, the other teachers were mortified that there are Venti coffees (;
It was a fun time though! And I said bye to the teachers I've eaten lunch with the past 4 weeks.
Took a good walk while I ate my apple (that's my favorite thing to do)
Then I said goodbye to my little classes (:

Then we continued working, then had our cake and juice (: well, the kids did!
And then they all drew me pictures and kissed me goodbye. 
I am so thankful for having had the chance to work with such sweet kids and such amazing teachers. 
The teachers all told me I'm going to be a wonderful teacher and I'm so good with the kids. I'm so lucky. 

Also, I showed them on their map where I am and where they are!

 yeah, it was a pretty good day (;

Great day!

Today was a good day! (:

Started off by wearing jeans, flannel shirt, cowboy boots, and my new H&M coat, ah, I felt so country and so at home! I've been dying to wear jeans but today was the first cold day we had and I LOVED it, it was fun to finally feel the season change.

I got to school and greeted all my students (:

Then we split up into groups and headed out for our field trip! 

I held hands with Axel, my autistic buddy who I work with individually each day, and Simon, who wore the cutest scarf and jacket today! (:

We skipped, and kicked up leaves. 

This weekend is the Bon gout d'aquitaine, the area's big farmer's market! We went to a place at  the market where the kids learned how to make bread, and the different kinds of bread and all.

 - While we waited for the Baker to be ready for the presentation, we practiced our song, "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes" and learned how to count to 20 in English. - 

Bread is a BIG DEAL in France. They are very strict about not wasting bread and "if you are not going to eat it, you give it to the ducks so that it returns back to nature." 

And of course, we got to taste it, it was fantastic! (:

Then we walked back to school and continued as normal! 

At lunch I went for a walk after I finished eating, (they have and hour and a half for lunch here) and went back to the market and walked around, it was really fun! I love seeing so many things on display. While on my way back to school I heard English and my ears perked up, ah, the sweet sound of English! (: 

It was a hippie-ish looking couple, dreads, dig it, and I asked where they were from. She was from Scotland, her husband from France, and they live in Greece. Talk about random! But it was fantastic to speak English with someone! She was really nice! (:

I went back to school and we went through our normal activities, math, writing, reading.

Recess! I played... "hide-behind-the-tree-then-run-out-and-tickle-Axel" haha, it was fun, and I loved that he smiled so bright!

After working some more, he was totally finished for the day and didn't want to do anything else, so we colored frogs, and I wrote him a note telling him how smart and nice he was, he kissed it and put it in his back pack (:

I'm going to miss my class when I leave.

Then I ate cake. 

Then I drank chocolate milk.

and ate more cake.

OH FRANCE.

Then I came home and did some organization in my suitcase (I can't wait until I get to pack!)

TRIED to make a video for Kalli's birthday, but it didn't work, stink! So I'll have to do it tomorrow. But in the process, I discovered that I remembered the password to my old Photobucket account, and found all my pictures from like 6th grade-sophomore year, I loved seeing picture I thought I didn't have anymore! (:

Then we ate dinner and laughed about the fact that I can NOT pronounce the word "grenouille" Frog (:

Tomorrow is my last Saturday, we're going back to the market (yes!) and then going out to dinner at a restaurant that does traditional french cuisine! 

5 days until I get to pack!! (:

6 days until I see my best friend in Denmark! 

16 days until I hug my parents!

17 days until I have life conversations with Derrick at Jump off Joe!

17 days until I see my beloved Brenna, Dani, Joshy, etc! and get my job back! YES! (:

Country Strong (:

Okay the title doesn't go with the post, I was just listening to the song (;


GREAT. 


I heard a sermon by Mark Driscoll at Mars Hill's Balard Campus last year in April (I think?) with my mom and brother. 
I found it very applicable to my life, and often do a "Great check" to see if I'm on track! I hope you find it helpful (:


G.R.E.A.T.


Glorify God alone.
     -This one is a toughy. Most of the time, I think well sure! of course I glorify God.... ALONE.. ? OH. Think about things you may glorify (knowingly or not) in your day:
Drinking, sex, ungodly relationships, fighting, certain music, etc.. 
maybe look at recent FB posts and see really whom/what you praise?


Reject unhealthy comparisons to others.
     -Okay, maybe this one is tough too. Especially for girls. Have you ever actually let yourself realize how often you compare yourself to others? Compare your skin, hair, SIZE?, clothes, talents, cars, boyfriends, job,  I do it alllllll the time. If you take a minute to notice.. it doesn't get you anywhere but jealousy, and disappointment. So why do it? Once I mastered the "R" of Great, I was much happier. When I look at other girls senior pictures and wish mine were that pretty, or wish I had hair like that... why? Honestly, why do it? It just sucks. So if you reject it, just move on! You feel much better! You can't control the way you are so stop comparing!
God made you the way you are, EXACTLY the way you are, because that's how He wants you to be! So why try to change yourself when you already have 100% approval from the only opinion that matters? 


Enjoy humbly serving outcasts.
     -This is pretty self-explanatory. BUT! take notice at the word "HUMBLY" the magic word that means... Stop complaining! (: 
Reach out to others, and enjoy it! Give generously! Really... what reason do you have NOT TO? You can't take it with you when you go, so why not give to those in need? (:


Accept your life and do your best.
     -You know that fashion show where the contestants are given material and they have to create a certain piece of clothing? That's kind of how it is with life: here's what you got, now hop to it! This is how it is and how its going to be, so work with it! Do you have a bad relationship with a family member? That's just how it is, now roll with it! Accept it, and do your best, get going!


Take opportunities to redeem ambitions.
     -I like this one. A lot of times, once we get ourselves in something too deep, we think we're stuck, but really we have the power to turn it around at any time! Example: When Mark Zuckerberg was creating facebook, he was ambitious, and had a dream to create this social network.. his ambition eventually became corrupt and was ruining relationships and he went down a crazy path. At ANY moment, literally any minute, he could have chosen to just stop, turn around, and use his means for good! PETER/SPIDERMAN! When he put on the black suit, his ambitions became corrupt and evil, but he took an opportunity to redeem his original ambitions to help people and he changed his ways! (;
We constantly need to renew our ambitions and make sure our desires are on track with what God wants us to do!


Do I follow this every day? No. Its HARD, but Lord knows I'm gonna try (:

:D

Hmm. I am beyond fortunate. Beyond blessed. Not just because I get to be in another country, living with a loving family, but because I get to know the love of Jesus.

Which is what makes everything else possible.

 My best friend Karina just told me that I'm so religious, (in a posotive connotation of course) and I said "nope, just madly in love."

Honestly, I'm just in love. When you love someone, you want to be around them, you want to talk to them, you want to know everything about them. Therefore, I pray, I read my bible, I talk about Him. And in doing so, I learn so much about myself, about who He wants me to be, and about how I can please Him. 

A lot of people buy and read Self-Improvement books. There's a section for it on iTunes digital books. Self-improvement and reflection is a part of life, if we want to be successful, its helpful to read and try to change things about ourselves in order to have more friends, get along better with family members, fix a marriage, be more successful in business. So, we take time to reflect on who we are currently, we read books, we go to counseling, talk with friends, and attempt to start shifting things inside us. 

Here's an idea:

Don't buy a bunch of books: buy one.

 THE BIBLE

Self improvement is kind of just a side effect of falling in love with Jesus. 

Its kind of like a geometry proof, remember that horrible semester? (; 

 A. Because I love Jesus, I want to please him.

B. By focusing on loving Jesus, the person I become as a result of wanting to please him is exactly who I want to be. 

C. When I love Jesus, I am happy, kind, forgiving, accepting, generous, happy, and passionate. 

D. People like happy people. 

Therefore, if A=B, and B=C, and A=D... I'm sorry Mrs. Baird, I don't remember how to do proofs! All I know is that because of Jesus, I am someone people want to like! I have good relationships with friends, family, and everyone else. I have no enemies, but when I do, I love them!

One time a friend was skeptical of Christianity because she felt like you had to be happy FIRST, and then try being a Christian. She told me, "I feel like its so easy for you to be a Christian because you don't have anything bad in your life" and I told her, "Yes, I am very blessed, however.. EVERYONE has crap in their life. I have massive problems sometimes, but I'm still happy because its SO much easier to cope with problems when you trust in the Lord."

Ever wish you could just hand off your issues to someone else? You can. Hand them to God. He'll take 'em in a heart beat. When you know the Lord like He wants you to know Him, He's tangible. You can sit in your bedroom and talk to Him like a friend, because He is! He's my best friend, my brother, my boyfriend, my Father. He's everything! And I'm so glad He has promised me He'll stay forever.. cause Lord knows I need Him! haha!

You know how people always promise you things..? 

well I think as humans, we generally have learned to accept that as like a... I.O.U. with an expiration date. 

No, your boyfriend in high school won't ACTUALLY love you forever, no he won't ACTUALLY call you when he says he will. 

Promise is just a fancy word to reassure someone for the time being.

Look back on your life, was there ever a "promise" that someone REALLY, TRULY kept? 

It's a shame that we ruined the word "promise" cause it doesn't hold much weight anymore. 

GOOD NEWS!

when Jesus made a promise to love us forever, to protect us, to forgive us, to stand between His father and us on Judgement day.. oh wait, PROMISE, that means like.. legitimately, HE WILL. He doesn't mean just for a little while, or when He feels like it. He is unwaivering, everlasting, consistant! I can't type fast enough to explain it! AH!

You know how everything is better with Nutella? okay but not EVERYTHING.. cause you wouldn't eat Nutella on dirt?

but no... EVERYTHING is better with Jesus! Even depression is MUCH BETTER! haha, because you don't fall as deep when you know that God loves you and He'll pull you out! 

LIGHT!

you can't pour darkness into light.. you can close all the windows and make it pitch black but light always seeps in somewhere! You can't trap light. You can't contain the joy in my heart! Since I don't have enough room for it in my heart, I'll give you some! (;

I have so much love in my heart that I just have to give it away, because I don't have room for it all, that's what God intended for us to do! He gives us SOOO much love that we can't HELP but share it with everyone else!

and anything I know about Jesus, came from reading his blog (the bible), and from talking to him one-on-one. 

Relationships really aren't all that hard when the other end is giving 120% and all you have to do is give at least 2%. And finally! You found someone to love you that will keep promises and will stick around forever. Promise (:

20 days

I don't like how every day the number of days I have left gets smaller. ha. I've been so excited about this for so long, but now what? NOW, really? RIGHT NOW? why?..

why couldn't it have been like..2 months ago when I wanted to desperately get out of here, but no, you wait until NOW to make me leave? 

How can something be so perfect that it makes me not want to leave for something unimaginably great? 

I DON'T UNDERSTAND. 

I'm happy. Really, happy. 

Mmm.. France.

So..I leave in.. 25 days. And it's funny I was re-reading one of my posts last night when I was on skype with my BEST friend KARINA (; and I was talking about France and how I had 192 days left. It's incredible to me how fast the time has gone waiting for this adventure to arrive. well, its going to come faster than I want it to. 
God has great plans for me but what if He also has plans for me right here? I need to stop looking forward and start looking ici, here, now, maintenant. Because 25 days.. not a whole lot of time. 
The other night I was driving to Shari's and I was listening to Rascal Flatts, These Days, and I started crying, because I was homesick already. I've fallen in love with so many people recently and I don't want to let go. 


Brenna, Sydney, Connor, Dani, Derrick, Josh, Amber, Gareth, Kalli, Sabrina, Tyson, Mick. 


When you all took me in last summer, I found God where you would least expect Him. You all mended my heart, and made me feel loved and home in the strangest of places. I had always wanted to find a group of friends that was always hanging out no matter what.. and that's what I had with you. 
Then we had our ups and downs! but none of it matters now, because I feel alive and at home again with all of you. I loved last Saturday.. because we were all having issues... well except Sab and Tyson(haha!) but it was beautiful how we just loved each other and helped each other. We are all so awkward and we don't make sense but I think that's why it's so perfect. 
I don't want to leave but I love that I will always have a home with you. And I'm not sure what the future holds for this roller coaster group but I can't imagine having a future without you all in my past and present. I wouldn't be who I am without each and every one of you. 


Well, this was supposed to be about France but ya know. Since when do I talk about what I start talking about?
Its funny. when you meet someone who you think is just going to scratch the surface... but they become so much more and go so much deeper than the surface. 


 Even just last month, I couldn't have even imagined I would have these feelings, and I couldn't have guessed who I would miss the most when I get on that plane in El Pasco. 
I'm amazed at how fast this year has gone. 
A year since I met Clay, a year since Malibu, a year since I met this incredible group of people, how could it all be flashing by so quickly? How fast is the next 365 days going to go?
Where will I be? Who will I know? How will I feel?
The only thing I take comfort in: There is a God who loves me and goes with me EVERYWHERE, who has a plan for me, plans to give me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)


Lately, I've had K LOVE like... live streaming in my head. It's on in my dreams even.  It's the coolest thing I've ever experienced, cause I'm in constant worship. 


Dear Jesus, 
You're tight, I love you. 
Love, 
Con.
P.S. Thanks.

God is faithful.

OH MAN. (say it like Michael Polvi does)

I love that right now. 

My new favorite saying is "we'll see"... cause we honestly don't know whats coming.. so we'll see (:

I'm sick of people trying to control things. Just LET IT GO. All of it, everything, give it all to God, and just goooo. (:

He's always there, never lets me down, always FAITHFUL.

I want one (:

He's cute.