Surrendering

"God can dream a bigger dream for me, for you, that you could ever dream for yourself.  When you've worked as hard and done as much and strived and tried and given and pled and bargained and hoped...surrender.  When you have done all that you can do and there's nothing left for you to do, give it up. Give it up to that thing that is greater than yourself, and let it become a part of the flow." -Oprah

I was watching Oprah once and she had Faith Hill on.  She told Faith that she had heard her singing "I Surrender All" in the dress rehearsal and proceeded to tell her why she loved the song so much.  "'I Surrender All' is one of my favorite songs. ...and it lives in my spirit because I try to surrender everything - I surrender my life, I surrender my doings, I surrender my experiences - because I know that God can dream a bigger dream than we can dream for ourselves..."  (continued in above quote).

As she said this and then Faith began to sing, I was stilled.  I just sat there with tears rolling down red cheeks and thought, yes...yes, this is exactly what I needed to hear.

It's so hard to surrender.  To give up all that worries us.  To give up that hold, that control, that anxiety.  I want desperately to be able to just surrender.  When I read those words from Oprah, I finally know why I need to.  Why I should.  Moreover, why I have to surrender.

By holding on, I'm keeping all of this negativity, stress, and anxiety within myself.  What good is this doing?  God is in control and has this grand plan for me that I can't see.  But, ohh, how that kills a control freak like myself.  I don't want to surrender, God!  I don't want to let go!  What if it hurts?  What if doesn't work?  What if I can't do it?

So what.

So what?

So what!

The dream is bigger.  God is bigger.  Surrendering allows yourself to give it up and like Oprah said, it becomes "apart of the flow".  That beautiful flow that life gives us.  It ebbs...it flows...but, God, He never wavers.  He never leaves.  So, surrendering it all to Him, you become free!  You've (I've) done all you (I) can...now GIVE. IT. UP.  SURRENDER.

"All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all;
I surrender all;
All the Thee, my precious Savior,
I surrender all."

April Books

This is a day early, but I somehow doubt I will be finishing a book tonight since I finished one last night.  I figured I would go ahead and give my monthly shout outs.  Because March was such a slow reading month, I tried to catch up with the month of April.  I read/finished four books - granted, one I had previously read about half of, but still counts as finishing it!!  

This month I read a really vast collection of books.  Mysteries, heavy material, historical, young adult, memoir...a mix of stuff.  They were all very different, yet had odd connections.  I really enjoyed them - but you're probably thinking, "Coley, you enjoy all your books!"  'Tis true, but I really did adore this month's selections!

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

I have been a fan of Picoult's since I first read My Sister's Keeper - which if you haven't read, GO DO IT NOW.  One of my favorite books.  Because her books tend to be so heavy, I usually space them out.  When I saw that she had a new book out, I was excited to see what it was about.  I was DOUBLY excited to find out it was about the Holocaust.  One of my favorite things to teach is the Holocaust.  I find it astonishing and hard to read about, but the survivors and victims inspire me.  I try to teach my students how incredibly important their VOICE is.  This book was a beautiful example of this.  The book is about a young woman that meets an elderly man and is asked to do the unthinkable.  It is because of this she begins to ask her grandmother about her past and is amazed by what she learns.  The majority of the story is about her grandmother's past as a young Jewish girl.  She is an amazing heroine and tells her story with such vigor and intensity, it leave the reader breathless.  Jodi Picoult did incredible research and it's impossible not to feel apart of the story.  Probably my second favorite Picoult book (after My Sister's Keeper).  I could not put this book down.  Incredible read.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Ever since I saw the cover of this book in a store, I knew I had to read it.  You should know this about me.  I'm a huge "cover" person.  If it has a pretty cover, I'm more likely to buy it.  I don't even care what it's about - it has to be good, right?!  I wasn't disappointed by this book.  Riggs has the most intriguing way of writing and wrapping all of these elements together.  The book is not only a story, but it's also a collection of old, odd, peculiar pictures from decades ago.  He weaves each picture into the story to make a cast of unforgettable characters.  The protagonist, Jacob, suffers a great trauma that leads him all the way to a small island.  The connection I mentioned before is that he is trying to find out more about his grandfather and his history - just like the previous book.  Jacob is introduced to an incredible adventure he could have never imagined.  I will say that this book was somewhat dark.  A lot of darker elements, but it works in with the tone and mood of the book.  It left me wanting more - a somewhat ambiguous ending.  There is a sequel in the works and I can't wait to read it!  If you love amazing characters, a dash of history, mystery, and chills, this is the book for you.

Bloom: A Memoir by Kelle Hampton

Another blog I follow religiously is "Enjoying the Small Things".  It's written by Kelle Hampton, and if you've never read it - go read it now.  She is an astonishing woman that is so inspiring and wonderful.  I want to be friends with her!  She is the mother of three children, but Bloom is mainly about her birth and first year with her second child, Nella.  Nella is an adorable little girl.  You can tell by pictures and posts that she is precious, full of love and life.  She was born with down syndrome.  Kelle is so honest with the shock of this and how she overcame and realized, love overcomes everything.  She saw the gift with having a child that might be considered by some as "different".  She is remarkable, and oh my, her kids are so loved!  Not only is the book wonderfully written about Nella, it's just a beautiful book about life.  Add to that her remarkable pictures (and you know I'm a picture girl), the book has it all.  A truly inspiring read.  Go read the book, read her blog, follow her on Instragram!  She's incredible and always makes you feel good about life.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky 

I know I'm late to the party with this book.  I've wanted to read it since I was in high school, but just never found the time.  When I saw that it was being made into a film, I knew I had to read it.  I have a rule that I don't watch the movie until I read the book...just can't help that disappointment, haha.  The book is beautiful.  It's simple, yet powerfully deep.  Charlie, the protagonist, writes letters to his "friend".  He opens up and tells about his first year of high school.  He meets a group of kids that accepts and loves him.  He still struggles though.  I think that's what was so powerful within the book.  How honest he was.  You can't help but connect with him.  It was really interesting to read as a high school teacher.  You can't help but think of certain students and wonder if they're going through the same thing.  An eye-opening read.  

Great books!  Highly recommend them all!  This is my favorite part of reading...picking out the new one ;)

Week in Pics 4/22-4/28

Well, April is slowly closing her doors and welcoming in my favorite month of May!  I love May for a myriad of reasons.  Warm weather, pretty skies, flowers, graduations, beach trips, long weekends, school wrapping up, Mother's day, and just plain loveliness! 

This was a busy week, but I enjoyed all the festivities.  My school had their prom and it was so much fun!  I rarely get the chance to see my kids all dressed up!  They all looked great!  Lots going on at school as the year wraps up.  I decided to take Saturday off and just watched tv and movies and napped all day!

Hope everyone had a fab week...here's to another one!

My class wrote their "Where I'm From" poem - always fun to display student work.

Why thank you, Belk for the early celebration of the bday!

My Saturday night - heaven.

Yummy Petite Apple Crisp from Mimi's

Pink nails for prom!

Prom breakfast gals!

RCHS Prom 2013

Last book of April!  Awesome :)

Week in Pics 4/15-4/21

What a week!  I have been in a very "blah" state - several posts started, just couldn't figure out how to end them.  Working on that.  I'm trying to be super positive and look for the good in life.  I'm going to repeat Dory's mantra this week...and probably for the next 5-6 weeks as school winds down - "Just keep swimming!!"

Here are this week's pics...

I decided to write a couple evenings this week.  I love this porch.

Favorite time of day.  I've been trying to write down family memories for my niece/nephew.

Beautiful evening in Ruffin!

Got to visit the sweet Gladd's!  These kids have grown so much!!

Megan had her second shower at our church today.  Loved the cake!

Everyone loves Journi!

After I found the "evil Ms. Barrier cat" pic, one of my students tried to make me feel better and drew me this lovely pic.  Maybe student's drawings will come true?!

Not surprisingly...I was not an athlete growing up, but I did have some academic medals!  HOLLA - found them in a drawer and had to try them on!

Lola and Muffy all tuckered out...

These are two beautiful quotes from an incredible book (I'll write about that next week) called Bloom. 

Needed to hear this.

Hope everyone has a lovely week!

Week in Pics (4/8-4/14) - AKA The Week Coley Got a New iPhone and Took a Million Pics

This week was not only eventful, but I was also playing with my phone's camera.  So there are a bunch of pics to add!!  Lo siento...but not really.

It was a crazy, busy week, but ended up in a wonderful weekend full of sweet friends (and I got to see my sis)!! Here are the pics...(also, they are in a crazy order...not sure what happened there...)

Happy Bday, Linds!

First Jack Roger wear of the year!

Beautiful flowers at my aunt's house

Look how cute my furry nephews are!! This is Fritz and Ollie - Em and Carrie's sweet pups.

Caesar Project!!

Z and paparazzi! 

YAY FOR SPRING!

Countdowns on my board!

Caro and Case at dinner

Thanks to sweet friends who are willing to paint my toenails...ain't nobody got time for that

Blissful

Yummy fruit for breakfast at Matt and Kelly's

Love. God.

Catching butterflies!

Awesome lunch at Parker and Otis with my sis and Kyle

Spring cake!

3 years goes by so fast!

Linds, Em, and me

Happy bday, friend!

Birthday girls making a wish!

Me and Carrie

Playing

Master of the kitchen - Matt

Kelly peeping in on Bobo

Theme of the weekend

Sweetness

My cake

Wonderful evening with friends!

My other furry (and only feline) nephew!  Bobo - my love!

Whew! Busy week.  This is a busy time of year.  I was looking at my calendar and it's pretty filled already, but that's okay.  Busy, productive, full life.