When I grow up....

I love my major! I am studying to be an elementary school teacher and it brings me joy! However, today in class it hit me that in 3 semesters from now I will be a student teacher! Yikes! Sometimes I feel like college students have their certain careers in mind and they study and study.....and study more, for their classes. Yet, the reality that they will actually be doing those careers (God willing) doesn't sink in. Today that reality hit me! I thought about everything I still have to learn. Everything I still feel insecure about. I thought about the ways that I am not adequate to be a teacher. I thought about those sweet little children that I will be teaching, and feared that I would not teach them enough, or the right things. I think as humans we have the "when I grow up..." mentality. "When I grow up I want to be a teacher..." When I grow up I want to be an actress"... I am sure you all had many other dreams in mind as well. We love to dream about the future. I know I do! There is nothing wrong with this mentality. But when does that end? Does it ever end?

When I was thinking about how close I am getting to student teaching and how fast college has gone so far, I kept having the same thought! "Will I ever be ready?" I think this is a very humbling thought. Right now I look at the professors that I admire. I remember my favorite teachers. All of these people made such an impact in my life. They taught me vital life lessons and information I will need someday. I place these people as great role models in my life to strive to be like. But will I ever be ready? All of my classes teach me so much. Learning never seemed so important to me! (Seems a little late to have that revelation...ha ha) It is easy to just coast through school. But if I want to be a great teacher someday, it is time for me to soak in everything that I can now, while I am still a student. I know I will always be learning and growing. That is the beauty of life. God created us to grow more and more each day... if we choose. Effort is such an important part of everyday life! 

Bonus part of my amazing career path is that I get to read children s books in my college level class as homework!!!!!! This should be your persuasion to become a teacher if you are still deciding what you want to be when you grow up! 

One of favorite books is The Grouchy Lady Bug by Eric Carle! Check it out sometime!!!

Thanks for reading!!!

~Cara

My Dad, My Hero, My Pastor, and My Friend

Not many people can say this, therefore I feel truly blessed. I have two wonderful and loving parents. THey have been married for almost 24 years! They not only love me unconditionally, but they have also taught me how to love. They love each other and they are examples of a godly couple. My mom is one of my closest friends. I look up to her so much.  I can only pray that I will be as great of a wife and parent someday.

My dad has been a pastor my whole life. I grew up playing hide and seek under the pews. I would imagine I was in a Castle, when I was actually just in the Nursery. Spending hours at the church was normal to me. As I transitioned from my elementary years into my awkward middle schools years, I became more secretive about my dad's occupation. I don't know why I was ashamed. I think it boiled down to my desire to fit in with others. Through a series of events God showed me that I should not want to please others. Only HIM! I also had to come to the realization that my relationship with God was up to me, not my parents. 

Pastor 's kids tend to get placed into two main stereo- types.There are "goody- goody two shoes" pastor's kids and "rebellious" pastor's kids. I don't like to think I am in either stereo-type. It is easy to judge people by their family or their background.  If I could change anything, it would not be my background. I have always looked up to my parents.Growing up in a pastor's home was and is not always easy. It is just like living in any house hold. There are good times and there are bad times. The older I get the more I realize that everything that has happened to me throughout my life has shaped me into the woman I am now. I am growing everyday. I am so thankful that my parents love me no matter what! I love my family!

Today is my Dad's birthday! I have been blessed to have him as my father. I am the luckiest girl in the world. He is a loving and tender hearted man. He is my pastor, my friend, my mechanic, my hero, but most importantly, he is my dad. 

Love you dad! and Happy Birthday!