God's Testing Me

The past few weeks I feel like God has been testing my faith in him. Though I can't recall it right now, I remember last week something happened and I wondered if God was testing me to see if I would pass or not. Needless to say, something happened again today and I wondered if that was God testing me again. Here's how it goes. Today was a cold, misty day outside. I was off work so I decided to run a bunch of errands that needed to be done. I went by the dry cleaner's to drop off Daniel's suit and his dress pants since he is working all day. After that I continued on to Wells Fargo, where I bank at. I remember getting so frustrated with the teller. I had brought in all my change that I had spent all morning rolling and put it in a ziplock bag. When I got up to the teller I gave her the bag and she said "Give me what you want to deposit." So, I pushed the bag closer to her and she replied with "I thought you would at least take it out the ziplock bag." Sure, it was something little but  I thought she was a little rude with her reply. I apologized to her and took it out the bag.

As payday approaches this Thursday, I was looking forward to having a little extra cash to hold me over until then. With the holidays right around the corner, money was tight this pay period. As I'm leaving the bank, I see this woman, walking toward me in this cold, misty weather. She looked just like any other woman, besides being desperate. Being a little hesitate, I rolled my window down slightly. She preceded to tell me that her and her husband were trying to catch a train back to Washington to be with their family for the holidays. For whatever reason, they had missed the train today and needed just 27 more dollars to buy another train ticket. She wanted to know if I knew where she could work to make that money before tomorrow. I'm aware of all the scamming that goes on around this time but there was something that seemed sincere about her. Besides, she had walked all the way from highway 49 to Wells Fargo/Chicfila area on highway 98 in this weather; she must be sincere right? Well, I thought about the check I had just got cashed and how payday was only two days away. In that moment I handed her some money. She was more than thankful and offered to wash my car or whatever she could do to "earn" the money because she didn't want to just take it. I said told her she didn't need to do anything, that I could tell she needed the money more than I did anyway.

During the holidays, we get so caught up in presents and things such as that. However, there are things much more important in life. That woman, whether her story was true or not, was desperate for some money or else she would not have walked all that way in this cold, nasty weather. Though I questioned whether I did the right thing or not at first, I feel that was no doubt a test from God and I know I passed. I've always been told there's a reason for the season and this holiday season has undoubtedly put that into perspective for me. I can't take all the credit though, my parents have done an amazing job raising my sisters and I and have taught us to always do the right thing. I know in that moment, they would have all done the same thing as well. This holiday season, as with all of them, is about giving. What are you doing to help make a difference this season?

Until next time, it's just the two of us...

My Day Off...

I find myself, on my day off from both school and work, sitting here writing this blog because I haven't done one in a while. I'm suppose to be doing school work, which I had hoped to finish this week but it will not happen. I have finished with my two online classes for the semester and should pull out solid A's in them. I currently have a blogfolio to do for another class for my final, which I'm just about done with and then I'll be finished with that class as well. So, after today, I will only have one class left for the semester. I did not realize our final is not until the 13th though.. seems like it's just dragging out. I'm hoping to finish my last two assignments for that class today as well so that I can actually enjoy my next day off ;). 

On another note, this cold weather has finally got me in the holiday spirit. It was just too hard to get into the holiday spirit when it was 80 degrees outside here last week. Daniel and I have got the tree up and apartment decorated all cute and Christmasy (if that's even a word haha). Now, I just hope the cold weather stays. Lucy, on the other hand, would rather it go. That poor munchkin hates the cold weather and finds herself hardly getting out from under the covers these days. She stays warm with her LSU fleece jacket that Aunt Phe made her though. Yes, my little tiger is reppin' those tigers! Currently, she is wearing her jacket, laying underneath my comforter snoring away as I write this blog. To some, that snore may be annoying but it doesn't bother me. It's the little moments like that, or when she groans when you try to move her from her sleeping spot that I cherish the most. 

I'm excited about Christmas this year. I know I mentioned earlier that my sisters won't be home for Christmas this year and that's a bummer but what I do have to look forward to is 5 days off! Being a Wal-Mart employee for the past two years has taught me a lot but mainly how to be thankful for a stress-less job. I'm beyond thankful for the opportunity and the people I met from Wal-Mart but that is one store I avoid at all cost. It taught me a lot about customer service and how to be a "better" customer myself. Back to having a week off. Lucy and I will not know what to do with ourselves for that long! I know Lucy will enjoy "fertilizing" her grandpa's "oh so precious yard" and being lazy in his la-z-boy! I, myself, will enjoy not having to worry about leaving Christmas night to head back to Hattiesburg for work the next morning! I'll get to visit and spend some quality time with my all my family that I miss dearly. 

For those who have ever lived in different cities, have you ever been so ready to leave a city to only find out how much you miss it when you revisit? That is how I feel about every city I've lived in. When I lived in Corinth, I thought there was nothing to do but when I moved away I found myself going back every chance I got. That city and softball field has got a piece of my heart with it and always will. I then moved to Booneville and met some amazing teammates and we all "hated" that town but again, when I moved away I could not help but reminisce on all the fun times we had at my apartment, morning weights (gosh we dreaded that so bad), running the long track, partying at the Furniture Barn, or hell even mud-riding in open fields. I left that city after I finished with ball and eventually moved back to Louisiana. I loved not having a bill to worry about living with my parents, but I just wasn't happy for some reason so I left it and now I'm in Hattiesburg. I miss Louisiana as much as I miss the others. 

Even though I've moved around so much in the past 6 years, I've gained a lot from it. I learned about diversity and culture. I learned that it's OK to accept myself for who I am and therefore, I should accept others for who they are. I learned that there is a difference in cultures, even with North and South Mississippi. The North is more "Bible Belt" and closed minded, while the South is more liberal and open minded. Maybe one day, the entire state will be open minded. I've learned many other things as well. I feel all these things will ultimately help me be a better teacher for my students, because even though I have not seen it all, I have seen many different perspectives. 

Well, I've spent enough time with this blog. It's time to hit the projects hard and get them finished. At some point, I'm going to drag Lucy out from the covers and spend some time with her as well! :) Until next time, it's just the two of us..