atilson travels

Henry Rollins, taken from his post regarding the Steubenville case (http://www.underthegunreview.net/2013/03/18/henry-rollins-comments-on-steubenville-rape-verdict/)

C.S. Lewis, taken from ‘Love Does’ by Bob Goff

a new beginning has come in the year 2013

new (adj.) - 1. having recently come into existence

beginning (noun) - 1. the point at which something begins; start 

much has happened in the past year and for this I am grateful.  

the biggest thing was receiving the most exciting news of having a teaching position with just 6 months of being out of college.  though there are many ups and downs as I teach, I could not be more thankful for the position I have received.  these children light up my world and are teaching me so much about how to be as a teacher and as a person; remembering to show grace, love, patience, peace and kindness.   

countless lessons have been made (so far there are 3 binders filled with lessons for only Kinder through 7th…wow.  numerous pencils have been sharped and have been missing.  two clorox wipes containers have been emptied from cleaning the instrument mallets and doorknobs.  the number of tissue boxes used is unknown - those kiddos go through so many. 

yet I rejoice with the endless joys and learning processes I have experienced so far.  this is why I love and try to live by these verses: 

‘This is why it says: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ’s light will shine on you.”’  

- Ephesians 5:14

‘Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.  Therefore, stand in awe of God.’

- Ecclesiastes 5:7

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.’

- Hebrews 12:1-3

there is so much yet to come with teaching, thankfully I made it through the tough low part of teaching.  now to move forward through the next 6 months. 

there were many adventures had with family and friends through this past year.  family and friends were recognized for their amazing accomplishments.  through international travel, graduations, completion of internships, moving to new cities, and receiving jobs which are challenging and encouraging them.  there were also numerous heartbreaks and hurts that took place. 

still through it all, I will quote scripture turned into a popular song:

REJOICE in the Lord always, and again I say REJOICE!

now, even though the year will not always be easy as many grievances will arise, I will rejoice knowing that God is in all things.  I hope we all will have ‘confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see’.  

may this new year be one of change and encouragement for you all, just as it will be for myself.  

Philippians 4:12-13

two months in and it has been an adventure and such a blessing.

homework, lesson plans, assemblies, conversations, laughter, tissue boxes, hand sanitizer, bathroom passes (which fall in the toilet), water fountain trips, rhythm sticks, missing assignments, detention slips, subbing, halloween costumes, xylophones…the list goes on and on. 

there are so many things I am learning that I was never taught in school which has been a learning curve.  here are a few of those things:

• how to deal with parents
• grading papers and in class performances
• managing a balance between social life and school life
• how to mildly motivate students who just don’t care
• communication with teachers and administration (this is getting a lot easier!)

sometimes I am just overwhelmed with how much there is to do (assessments, lesson plans, grading, etc.) and I often try to do most of it while I am at school and then I just have take a mental break.

teacher’s have lives outside of school and I am realizing that I have literally disappeared in so many ways.  I hang out with my guy, his roommates, my roommate and a few other people sometimes.

people always said how this first year of teaching is, but I had NO IDEA how tough it really would be.  

yet, I LOVE my job and all the people I am able to spend time with.  

there have been a few time when students have told me how much they love music and that I am the best music teacher (mind you it was a 1st grader who said this and I am only his second music teacher). the 1st graders sang the halloween songs they learned in class to the principal and assistant principal as they were walking through the school on halloween.  the 4th graders have been singing a song about papaya’s to their homeroom teacher quite often.

one of the 6th graders mentioned this past week how much they were going to miss music once the trimester was over.  I started to cry I was so happy.  

for all of those teachers in my own life who invested so much, offered information, gave insight and redirection, provided times for me to talk and ask questions I send this…

my gratitude cannot be expressed enough.  I am overwhelmed with everything I have been learning, seeing and experiencing now that I am actually putting degree to work. 

this feeling of everything paying off cannot be expressed in words.  

I can only say thank you. 

more will come - including pictures of the students in their costumes, classroom, and of learning in the classroom.  

next adventures:

• having to say goodbye to the 5th & 6th graders and welcome in the 7th graders
• mom visiting the music room
• report cards & parent/teacher conferences

I AM A FREAKIN TEACHER!!!

wow…I did not think that day would come so soon. 

8 months after graduating I now have 9 different grade levels I will be working with, having a choir and also be giving after school lessons on certain days. 

any time I ask ‘WHY GOD, WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED?’, He smiles and shows me that He will supply every time, especially when I am not paying attention. 

the nerves that come along with all of this have been getting to me and starting take way, but since I was at the school today and found what I really needed and what all needs to be done, I am feeling a bit more at ease. 

there is so much that will be coming into my life and the life of my students over the next year and I am excited to see what will take place (good and bad) and look forward to the adventures we will all go on in exploring music together.  I am just SO FREAKING EXCITED this all came together.  

my mind is just in such a spin with all the ideas I have floating around…goodness!

this song really got to me today and I am so grateful for all the wonderful musicians and groups who create such amazing music together.  Check out Soweto Gospel Choir, so amazing. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yr7DGQZkWY

now it is off to more tasks that must be completed before the next few days!

there have been a number of things recently that have made me wonder…

• a regular at the coffee shop I work at passed away due to the heat.
• I still have yet to hear back from a recent teaching interview.
• teaching positions are getting harder to find/my schedule is making it difficult to apply for them.
• there is so much turmoil intense going on in the world and within the U.S. 

yet, I know…HE WILL SUPPLY!

forever and always I am shown how much God displays His amazing glory and love to us all, even in ways we do not expect it. 

Oh how I am overjoyed every time this happens to me.

Through the people I spend time with.  My coffee/tea loving co-workers.  My family.  The church family (even the little kiddies).  Through the nature within the city.  Through the hot weather.  Even through the little puppies that are galavanting around the parks and city. 

How wonderful it is to smile at the things presented before us amidst all the pain, frustration and questioning.  

God is here, He has never left us.  We must continue to follow Him. 

this is my 4th summer in the city.

every time I become so excited when I see the signs of summer.

warm weather.
the smell of charcoal.
fireflies.
baseball season.
flowers.
bugs.
late night bike rides.
roadside fruit stands.
front porch conversations.

babysitting tonight reminded me of how much I enjoy city summers.

we sat on the front steps and had dessert and it reminded me of the summers I spent sitting on our front steps when we lived in the Midwest.

so much is yet to take place this summer…

I intend to run my first 5K.
I will be camping A LOT.
I will partake in many many MANY bike rides.
I will watch many sunrises.
I will enjoy as much time with my friends as possible…especially before my roommate leaves the city.

I will find joy in all of this.

everything that I will partake in this summer will have been given to me by my wonderful Father and Savior.

how overjoyed I am with the grace, peace, love and joy He extends towards me.

I am constantly amazed at all of what God had provided to us all.

especially everything we didn’t want to have or didn’t think we were suppose to have happen.

God knows what is suppose to happen and how everything is suppose to be.

my plans changed quickly in the last month and half.

I was anticipating to move to Thailand for the next to years to teach. I was preparing to move everything, find plane tickets and start teaching.

God has bigger and better plans. I didn’t see it like that at all.

I was upset that God didn’t let me get this job, move to Thailand and try and learn a new language.

I clearly am not ready to go there yet because I was only looking at what I wanted and thought was best for me.

even though I was upset with not receiving this position, I do think God wanted to see how committed I was to moving away and not being able to attend a number of events in my family’s lives.

God is working and doing something even if I have no idea what it is and don’t see where it all is leading me.

all I can do right now is enjoy the city summer, my job, camping trips, seeing my family, church softball, babysitting and listening to the nudges of the Holy Spirit.

let the wild rumpus begin…

today is Good Friday. 

we so quickly jump to the good, the end result of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. 

Jesus’ silent sacrifice to atone the sins of all the world.

Eugene Cho, founder of One Day’s Wages, wrote a wonderfully honest article/blog on Good Friday.  I have attached it below. 

I myself and needing to remember not to quickly go through this day.  I am needing to slow down, to think of what God did to have Jesus die for all of our sins. 

today is a good day, a powerful and memorable day. 

I will rejoice for what Jesus did, yet be humbled by His willingness to lay down His life. 

I am the daughter of a great and wonderful King. 

Eugene Cho’s article:

http://eugenecho.com/2012/04/06/how-could-it-possibly-a-good-friday/

no more left to go…i made it through posting an entry starting with every letter of the alphabet.

took a while, but it was pretty cool to do.

today i have been doing nothing.

well alright, filing taxes is something and listening to music is something as well. 

i am realizing over and over again how grateful i am for having a music education degree. i have learned so much and have such an appreciation for music! 

peter gabriel’s ‘In Your Eyes’ with the New Blood Orchestra is SO great. it utilizes different timbres and methods of orchestration and notation without using typical rock and roll instruments. musically i am energized with listening to this song. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPFDVeDXGR0

such a great sunny saturday song.

i’m also missing my main squeeze…traveling to Boston without me…

ah, well off to enjoying the weather and the need to do nothing except enjoy the day today. thank you for the warm midwest weather!