11.01.2009
We moved!
Mike and I are finally in our first place as a married couple. For me it still feels like I am just staying in a hotel for now and will go back home soon. I'm guessing the feeling will change. Our place is still a disaster zone so no pics yet but stay tuned...they are coming.
10.22.2009
Called to the be the Gate Keeper of my Home
Background- not too long after marrying Mike this summer, God seriously started digging into my heart about being a Godly wife. I've felt him grooming me in this way for a couple years but the ring was there, the vows were exchanged and God said "Leah, get busy and be intentional about it."
Amen!
In my pursuit I prayed for a mentor...a women whose marriage I admired and whose heart had the same desire as mine. God brought Diane to my mind and I asked her to come along side me in this journey to being the wife God designed me to be. She invited me to Grace North Church in Anthem for a series that their women's ministry was starting. The ministry is called the 10/10 Connection and is based on the principle that every woman should be mentored by someone ten years older and be mentoring someone ten years younger. The series is all about the home and how God describes the woman's role in the home. (Now let us really set the feminist movement aside and embrace the precious truth here).
The first week was about dignity and peace. Whether you are married, single, divorced, widowed, a teenager etc, you have a responsibility to be THE GATEKEEPER OF YOUR HOME. I love that! I knew that God was telling me I am responsible for making my home a place of rest, relaxation, peace, restoration, forgiveness, order, truth. Out of these homes come families that seek the Lord first in all things.
Enter second month: The Also Principle/Priorities. In our home, the also priniciple doesn't imply to just do more, it implies being intentional to go the extra mile especially when it's not convenient. My common excuse not to apply the also principle is "I'm so tired, I don't have time." Really, that's called laziness, also more commonly known as procrastination. An example of the also prinicple for me that God has specifically put on my heart is
Do the laundry...and ALSO fold and put it away.
Clean the toothpaste out of the sink...and ALSO remember to put the toothbrush and paste back in the drawer.
Priority Management:
This is not time management or multitaking. I am talking about putting the life in order.
1. Fear of the Lord-
2. Husband- (if you're married, if not it's relationship with God)
3. Home- what came first, the home with your husband or the children?
4. Children- children come after the home and husband because they need to be taught that they fit into the fmaily; they are a part of it, not the center of it.
5. Private Life
6. Public Life
We tend to get these all mixed up. We aren't making time for the Lord, our home is in shambles, we aren't communicating with our husbands, but we are making sure our children make it to the playground or soccer practice to keep them happy and feeling loved. That's not right. God came first in your life (or should since He created you). You husband was given to you, you care for him above all things and God will honor that. Typically, a home is started with your husband so your responsibility should be to maintain a sanctuary of love and a haven of peace. The usually come children, they are special but they are not more important than your husband and your home. They are a part of that unit, not the focus and center of it. Then take care of you privately, then worry about what you do outside the home- serving at church etc.
This is such a mouth full and I know so many people will probably disagree but I've seen the fruit of being an intentional wife who strives to fear the Lord in all things, honor and serve her husband before herself, and maintain a home of dignity where children are obedient and others are served. I'm still working on these things but I know women who have these priorities straight and it's a beautiful thing.
Amen!
In my pursuit I prayed for a mentor...a women whose marriage I admired and whose heart had the same desire as mine. God brought Diane to my mind and I asked her to come along side me in this journey to being the wife God designed me to be. She invited me to Grace North Church in Anthem for a series that their women's ministry was starting. The ministry is called the 10/10 Connection and is based on the principle that every woman should be mentored by someone ten years older and be mentoring someone ten years younger. The series is all about the home and how God describes the woman's role in the home. (Now let us really set the feminist movement aside and embrace the precious truth here).
The first week was about dignity and peace. Whether you are married, single, divorced, widowed, a teenager etc, you have a responsibility to be THE GATEKEEPER OF YOUR HOME. I love that! I knew that God was telling me I am responsible for making my home a place of rest, relaxation, peace, restoration, forgiveness, order, truth. Out of these homes come families that seek the Lord first in all things.
Enter second month: The Also Principle/Priorities. In our home, the also priniciple doesn't imply to just do more, it implies being intentional to go the extra mile especially when it's not convenient. My common excuse not to apply the also principle is "I'm so tired, I don't have time." Really, that's called laziness, also more commonly known as procrastination. An example of the also prinicple for me that God has specifically put on my heart is
Do the laundry...and ALSO fold and put it away.
Clean the toothpaste out of the sink...and ALSO remember to put the toothbrush and paste back in the drawer.
Priority Management:
This is not time management or multitaking. I am talking about putting the life in order.
1. Fear of the Lord-
2. Husband- (if you're married, if not it's relationship with God)
3. Home- what came first, the home with your husband or the children?
4. Children- children come after the home and husband because they need to be taught that they fit into the fmaily; they are a part of it, not the center of it.
5. Private Life
6. Public Life
We tend to get these all mixed up. We aren't making time for the Lord, our home is in shambles, we aren't communicating with our husbands, but we are making sure our children make it to the playground or soccer practice to keep them happy and feeling loved. That's not right. God came first in your life (or should since He created you). You husband was given to you, you care for him above all things and God will honor that. Typically, a home is started with your husband so your responsibility should be to maintain a sanctuary of love and a haven of peace. The usually come children, they are special but they are not more important than your husband and your home. They are a part of that unit, not the focus and center of it. Then take care of you privately, then worry about what you do outside the home- serving at church etc.
This is such a mouth full and I know so many people will probably disagree but I've seen the fruit of being an intentional wife who strives to fear the Lord in all things, honor and serve her husband before herself, and maintain a home of dignity where children are obedient and others are served. I'm still working on these things but I know women who have these priorities straight and it's a beautiful thing.
10.09.2009
Moving
Mike and I just found out today that we are moving into our first place as a married couple! I'm excited, you have no idea. We are moving in exactly 2 weeks on Oct. 24th into Mirador Apartments on Thunderbird between 7th st and Cave Creek on the golf course. Here are some pictures
Kitchen
view from golf course
living room
floor plan...can you say walk in closet?!
Now we get to start looking for furniture... woot!
Kitchen
view from golf course
living room
floor plan...can you say walk in closet?!
Now we get to start looking for furniture... woot!
9.21.2009
I am officially highly qualified!
For those of you who know, I have now taken a test that costs $105, 5 times! You do the math. But as of today, I passed and am now highly qualified. It doesn't mean anything monetarily and there is no badge of honor or prestige...it just means that I am allowed to legally teach the subject matter I teach. It was my own personal Goliath and now I am parading his head around for all to see!
Test Date: 08/22/2009
LEAH A JENKS
PHOENIX, AZ 85022
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Test: 039 Middle Grades General Science
Status: Passed
9.18.2009
RIdiculously crazy dream
So many people know about my new job teaching in the highly gifted program this year. What some people don't know is that the REACH (program name) parents are extraordinarily generous people. They use a lot of their own personal money for the benefit of their childrens' learning in the classroom.
WELL!!! I n my dream last night I walk up to my classroom door and the whole outside is decorated with pumpkins and leaves (that magically no one is touching, which wouldn't happen in any middle school in America). When I go inside, my classroom has been transformed into a fall wonderland and I can only guess it was the REACH parents because I didn't do it. Every inch of my room looks like a street straight out of the midwest with changing leaves, all new red, orange, and yellow color schemes. It's AMAZING. The colors on my walls even changed.
WELL!!! I n my dream last night I walk up to my classroom door and the whole outside is decorated with pumpkins and leaves (that magically no one is touching, which wouldn't happen in any middle school in America). When I go inside, my classroom has been transformed into a fall wonderland and I can only guess it was the REACH parents because I didn't do it. Every inch of my room looks like a street straight out of the midwest with changing leaves, all new red, orange, and yellow color schemes. It's AMAZING. The colors on my walls even changed.
It was like this all over my room. I remember jumping up and down and screaming like a little girl. I was in fall heaven!
This will not happen of course because that is just madness but what a FUN dream.
9.08.2009
Crazy with editing
So I've mentioned how much I love this new photo editing website. Well, this has to be the weirdest one yet. So much fun
Before
After
Before
After
9.03.2009
Sticks out like a sore thumb...or toe
So on Sunday I decided to reorganize and declutter my life per Kathy's blog post and did not clear the doggy stairs when stepping over them. I didn't clear them because I was holding clutter. The result was the most painful event I can remember in my adult life. It was the "I want to throw up" and wish I was 5 so if I cried like one it would be okay.
Who knows if I really broke the toe because getting an x-ray would be such a waste of time. If it's not broken I spent too much money and they'll send me home with nothing. If it is broken I spent too much money and they'll send me home with nothing.
I ignored every person's advice to tape it to the next toe however because that just hurt too bad. No thank you. The bruise yesterday was pretty bright but today is fading while it spreads across my foot.
Oh yes...the dots are me measuring the spreading bruise for my science class. They love when bad things happen to me because they get to investigate it.
Who knows if I really broke the toe because getting an x-ray would be such a waste of time. If it's not broken I spent too much money and they'll send me home with nothing. If it is broken I spent too much money and they'll send me home with nothing.
I ignored every person's advice to tape it to the next toe however because that just hurt too bad. No thank you. The bruise yesterday was pretty bright but today is fading while it spreads across my foot.
Oh yes...the dots are me measuring the spreading bruise for my science class. They love when bad things happen to me because they get to investigate it.
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