Travels

Once again my family is taking another family trip to our favorite city, Chicago. I always love traveling with my family. Traveling is one thing that my parents loved to do and passed it on to my brother and I. My memories as a child are not of presents that I got but the time I spent with my family traveling the country. I think that's why I love it so much. 

One of my favorite times to travel in a plane is when it's dark. I sit here and look at all of the little towns and cities and see the lights they produce in the darkness. They make the darkness beautiful! Looking out the window at the darkness on this small plane, I am once again reminded of the calling God has given us. God has called us to go. Go make disciples. Go talk about our faith. Go. So many times I see people hiding in the darkness when we need to be light just like the beauty I see out my window. I love the small reminders that remind me of the bigger picture. 

Chaos of many roles.

As many of you know, I have taken on so many titles this year. I am a teacher, coach, and now a student as well. You may be asking how do you have time to do all of that. The answer is I don't. I do what I can to get everything done. Lots of schedules to make this chaos work. 

Those that call me teacher some may say they are the worst of the worst. I say that they just need a little more love than others. My class ranges from students who have severe behavior issues to students who need more academic support than a normal special education classroom gives. I have some good days and some days that I wish had gone better, but when asked if I wished I would have stayed in my old position, I always grin and say "I love my kids." 

My role as coach is one that I am very fond of. I grew up looking at my 7th and 8th grade coach as a role model and that's exactly what I want to be for my 8 girls. 

One of my favorite parts of having the titles of teacher and coach is when they both collide. When I have my cheerleaders cheer for some of my students, it makes my heart sing. Tonight was one of those nights. I watch two of my students play the sport that the love. They may not be the best at it but they give 110% each time. We have some of the best students who cheer on students that have a harder time like they are the star of the game. I saw another football player give one of my students with Autism the biggest high five after he came off the field. 

Teaching students makes me grin from ear to ear. Watching students be kind and caring makes my heart jump for joy. I can't imagine doing anything else. I guess that's why I took on the role as student again. I have started my Master's degree in Special Education. So far I am so excited to be learning new ways to meet the needs of these incredible students. 

Nights like tonight are reasons why I am extremely proud to say that I am a junior high teacher. 

August

When August rolls around that only means one thing in my family, its back to school time. With that being said, it also means that school is the only thing we talk about until May... or June... or July... oh wait I don't think it ever stops. My family never stops learning about how to teach in a better way. They drive me to be a better teacher and a better person. I just hope that I can make them proud one day with my teaching ability. This time is an exciting time for me. It's a time where I can put into action what I have been taught from my family and mentors. I get to decorate my classroom. This year my theme is Huff's Heroes (Superhero). I'm loving what I can do with it too. You may think that I shouldn't have a theme because I'm teaching 7th and 8th grade but I believe its going to help me get my students to where they need to be behaviorally. They are all going to become a Huff Hero.
August also means another thing in my family. Another anniversary of my dad's passing is here. This year marks 4 years that my dad hasn't been with us. Geez, it doesn't feel like it could be that long ago. A lot of things have happened in those 4 years. I worked two summers with an organization that helped transform me.  I graduated college. I got my first teaching job. I bought and renovated a house. 4 years of growing up and 4 years of firsts.
Today, I went to visit a family friend and my boss.  She lost her mother this weekend from a long battle of cancer. When talking with her, it brought up so many emotions and memories. I remember what she's feeling. I remember many other firsts that I had without my dad; my first Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday, etc. I remember the first time I forgot that Dad wasn't with us and I tried to call him.  Even though the firsts never stop, the firsts get a little easier or we get stronger. I hope and believe its the latter.
Tonight as I sit here a write this, I pray for all of those who have lost a loved one. Who continues to live through the firsts. I pray that God will help them be stronger. I pray that they will continue to see that the only person that someone could rely on in the hurt and sadness is the heavenly one who created us.  I'll end this with my favorite verse that I hang on to.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:10

Another Father's Day

       Father's Day is one of the hardest days of the year for someone who has lost their dad. For me, however, it is hard to not be among the many families that spend their day with their dad but its also a day that I can be joyful. I know that my dad is singing praises to our God and in my opinion he's the lucky one. Another Father's Day weekend has come. Father's Day for me is a weekend of remembering wonderful memories of my dad. 

     My dad had many different qualities that I love to remember. I can't help but remember all of the funny things that he always did. Like the time we were watching Around the World in 80 Days as a family and he got in the floor and started acting like Budda or the many jokes that he continued to tell everyone that he met. 

     I also remember all of the times that Dad taught me things I still use today. The time he taught me how to drive my little Volkswagon beetle for the first time is a memory that I laugh about all the time.  He came to pick me up from Camp Barnabas in my new car that my parents surprised me with.  The only thing is when I got into the driver seat, it had three pedals. Yes, it was a stick. I didn't even know that standard vehicles had three pedals. He made me drive it home and I had no idea what to do.  I got the hang of it except when I would get to a stop light. I killed it six times at one stop light. I was getting honked at behind us and all that Dad was doing was laughing in the passenger seat while I was sobbing in the driver seat. He did teach me well. I can now successfully drive a stick and not kill it every time I drive it.

     Recently while I have been remodeling, there has been several times that I needed something done and I already knew how to do it because my Dad had taught me.  I took down and put back up a light and put mud on a ceiling. I smile every time I am able to do it without looking it up on Pinterest. 

       I am most grateful for the fact that Dad taught me what it means to be a follower of Christ.  Until the day he died, he was a devoted Christian.  I will never forget the many different sermons that he gave on Sunday mornings. Dad always wanted Logan and I to be musicians so that we could worship our God with our talents.  One of the last memories I have of Dad is when he was laying in bed listening to I Can Only Imagine.  It started playing and he asked if we would go get a drum for him to play and he started singing it.  Another moment I will never forget.

     It's hard to believe that Dad has been gone for 4 years now. These memories are memories that I can hold on to and remember each time that I miss my dad. My dad was a wonderful man and I cannot wait to see him again when my time has come to an end.

Grown up

When I was a child, I always pictured a grown up as someone that drives, has a job, and lives in their own house. I can proudly say that I'm about to accomplish all three. 

Tomorrow is the last day of my first semester of teaching. Thinking about it is very bittersweet for me. I absolutely love my job and my students that I have the privilege of seeing five days a week.  I currently teach the eighth grade and my students will be moving on to the high school.  One of the things I love is seeing the growth my students make from the beginning to the end. In my short time at the junior high, I saw so much growth in my students and that drive keeps me wanting to teach more and more. I  pray for each of my students that their growth will continue and that they accomplish great things in high school. 

With the end of school, comes a much needed summer break.  A break to refuel, refresh, and revive myself for my next group of students. A break to learn new ways to teach students better. School may be ending for me tomorrow but the learning will keep flowing. 

This summer, I will also be focusing on remodeling my new home. Who knew that remodeling would be so much work?!?! It's exciting work though and I cannot wait to be able to move in and become an official grown up. 

Chaos is back and better than before!

Chaos. Life. I love it. So many things are happening in this chaotic life of mine. I cannot get over how blessed beyond measure that I really am. I mean Wow! 

This week has been chaos packed. In this week, so many crazy exciting things are happening and I'm so excited! I started with a new title on Monday: Coach Huff. Yes, I am the new 7th grade cheer coach for the Webb City Junior High. Some may think I'm crazy but since starting I am truly loving it. Some of you may say "What Kristin a cheer coach? She is so quiet!" When I was in 7th grade, I loved being in competitive cheer! It was what I did and I did it because I loved my coach. I can't wait to be the role model just like my 7th grade coach was for me!!

Today, I was notified that I was accepted into graduate school. Starting in the fall, I will officially be a dreaded Pitt State Gorilla. How funny is it that I am getting my master's degree at my alma mater's greatest rival! I'm definitely going to have to learn to not hate the red and yellow but I will never stop loving my green and gold! 

Tomorrow I hit another milestone in my journey of life. After months and months of saving, I will officially become a homeowner!!! I cannot express in words how excited I am to start this new chapter of my life! I cannot wait to share my home with my friends and family who helped me grow into the person I am today. This new house I hope will become a place where I can share many more memories and life with the people I find the most joy with. My hope and prayer is that God will be able to use me and this house to bless others with. I pray that this house can be a place where I can serve and love others. I pray that this house will become more than a house but a home filled with joy and laughter.

This chaos doesn't end there. Saturday, I get the honor and joy to stand beside one of my very best and closest friends while she marries the love of her life. I cannot wait to see her grow through this new chapter and see what God has in store for the two of them. 

Joy. Blessings. Excitement. Happiness. All of these things come with this chaos that I love and enjoy called Life. 

New Year with Just Me

I'm sure I'm not the only one who reflects upon the last year when the new year comes around. It's so easy to do each and every year. This time somehow makes us believe that we are starting new. "New Year. New Me." 

2014 was another eventful year in this life of mine. I got to experience many ups and downs that every year brings along. But when I think about the ups and downs, the only thing that comes to mind is the incredible grace and joy that God has shown me throughout my years. I believe that only the proper way to express it is in a list. So here it goes (not in any particular order): 

1. Graduation- It was an incredible experience to finally graduate college. God taught me that promises are worth fulfilling even if there are many and I do mean many bends and turns in the road. 

2. Friendships- My friendships have changed tremendously in 2014. I have to say though that God has placed some incredible people in my life who constantly remind me of his goodness and love that he has for his people. I'm constantly challenged by these friendships to be in the word and continue to grow in my faith. It's awesome! 

3. Family- If anybody has been around my family ever, you would know that we are super close. I am also very protective over them. (Don't mess with my family!) God has definitely blessed me with an incredible family and I think 2014 just showed me that a little bit more. 

4. Teaching- 2014 has shown me that my calling in life is to teach. As someone once said, I think it's in my blood. 2014 just ironed it out even more and made me completely see that I love teaching students period. Whether that be at school or church, I love teaching students. No matter how hard I tried to get out of the family business, God always had a way to point me back to where I am suppose to be. 

5. Love- Oh you're probably looking at this category name and be like what?!? Love? Well it's not Love as in I found a boyfriend to marry. No, it's love as in God has really laid on my heart to love his people. I think this is why I love teaching. I get to show students the love of Christ by just simply using love and everything that comes with simply loving someone. 

6. Thankful- God has truly taught me a lot about being thankful over this past year. I am very blessed by the people around me and the experiences that I encountered over this past year. It would take me a lifetime to thank each and every person who has had a part in establishing the person I am today. A simple thank you doesn't seem to say the amount of gratefulness I have to them.

2014 was a great year that I don't want to forget. I want to learn from it and build on it this year. I am super excited to see what 2015 brings to this so called journey of mine. So instead of saying New Year. New Me. I'm going to say New Year with Just Me.