Just Keep Going...

I love my job. L-O-V-E. I work in a school full of adults that passionately love their students, and one that is full of students that are simply amazing. I have been given such a gift in that I get to help some of them walk through whatever situations they may be dealing with at home. I love being able to help them look at their problems in new ways, to strategically come up with new solutions, and to establish new patterns of behavior that will benefit them in the future.

But some days the problems are big. Bigger than I can begin to fix in a 30 minute counseling session. Bigger than I can fix in ten counseling sessions. Well...bigger than I can fix, period.

The world today is hard. Kids are having to deal with many things that I never did when in school. Some of them are dealing with wounds from family members that left them battered physically, emotionally or sexually. Some of them are desperately seeking the love that they never received from a parent. Some are trying to simply find where they "fit" in this world, and in a stressful place called High School. Some have experienced more trials and hardships in their short lives than I have ever come close to experiencing in mine.

It is hard. I hurt for them. I hurt with them. It can be overwhelming.

So today, I have been repeating these two verses to myself. Over. and Over. and Over.
Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

2 Thessalonians 3:13: And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

The purpose of this post is not to whine or complain. I am blessed. Blessed abundantly to get to work with these students. I guess I am writing to encourage you to never stop trying to do good. To never stop putting your best forward into the world in an attempt to make it a brighter place. There are some sad, lonely, hurting people around you, and you may just be the brightest light that they will encounter anytime soon.

Does it get hard? Yes. Are there days that it would seem easier to give up? Yes. But is it worth it? YES!

Jane Goodall said, "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." So even when it's hard, even if it seems useless, even when you think no one cares...keep going.

SEVEN years ago... (a repost with a few updates!)

REPOST with a few updates!

This week marks six seven years since when Marcus proposed. I thought I'd retell the story here of that wonderful day...

At that time, I was teaching Business and Marketing at NCHS and coaching the Varsity Cheerleading squad. Marcus was working as the Athletic Trainer for NCHS and covered all sports practices and games. We had been dating about 6 months and things were going great. We had talked about marriage, but never anything definite. (To be quite honest, I knew he was the man I would marry from the beginning. I would have said yes if he would have asked me after only a few weeks!)

We had our first pep rally of the year that Friday afternoon. I had started losing my voice and so I asked Marcus if he would M.C. the pep rally for me. He said he would and the pep rally went well. We played games with the students and teachers, cheered on the team and got everyone ready for the game that night. It was about 97 degrees in the gym and so I was sweaty and covered with whipped cream from one of the games we played with the students. As soon as the students were dismissed, Marcus called over all the cheerleaders and football players. One of the students (Cody) took the microphone and started talking to the cheerleaders and thanking them for all they did for the team. Marcus kept asking me to come stand in the circle with all the players, but I was hot and tired so I was sitting on the bleachers. I went over and then one of the football players gave the microphone to Marcus. Marcus thanked the team and told them how much he'd enjoyed working with them. Then he said that if it wasn't for working with them, he never would "have gotten to meet Ms. Redmond and I wouldn't get to do this"...and then he got down on one knee, pulled the ring out of his medical bag and proposed. It was the most beautiful, exciting moment! My cheerleaders all were screaming and crying (as was I) and then the football team broke into a chorus of the song "My girl". For Marcus and me, it was absolutely the perfect proposal.

We were married six months after that and we've been very happy since then. EDITED: We are still extremely happy and he is still my best friend. But we're learning that marriage isn't just about being 'happy' or 'having a good time'. Marriage is making the choice to love even when it's hard...and difficult...and the last thing you may want to do. Our goal is to out-serve one another and to reflect the love that we have been so freely given through Christ.  I'm thrilled to say that I love him more today than I did six  seven years ago and I still get excited when I hear his truck pull into the driveway each evening. He's the first person I want to see and talk to when I wake up and the one I'm most eager to call when I've had a hard day. He is my best friend and my joy. I am so grateful that God blessed me with him!

(What I wrote above really was true...the first time I saw Marcus I told the Principal that I was working for "that's the man I'm going to marry". It took us months before we began talking with each other and months after that before we started dating...but it was worth the wait and all that it took to get us to that point!)

Here's a picture from the girls and me at the game that evening, and a picture of Marcus and I.

To all the single ladies

Years ago, I was sent this by a friend. It was a great comfort for me during my single days, and can be a great encouragement to any of you that are out there that looking for fulfillment outside of Christ. I can promise you that God has a plan for all of you that love Him, and that He is working things out for our good and for His glory. Read and be encouraged today! Love y'all!


Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone -- to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God, to a Christian says, "No, not until you are satisfied and fulfilled and content with living loved by Me alone. I love you, my child, and until you discover that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you.

You will never be united with another until you are united with Me -- exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing -- one that you can't imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow Me to bring it to you. Just keep experiencing that satisfaction knowing that I am. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you... You must wait.

Don't be anxious. Don't worry. Don't look around at the things others have gotten or that I've given to them. Don't look at the things you think you want. You just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you'll miss what I want to show you.

And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any would ever dream. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, I am working even this very minute to have both of you ready at the same time. Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and with the life I have prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me...and this is perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love, I want you to see in flesh a picture of your relationship with Me, and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty and perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly, I am God Almighty. Believe and be satisfied."- Author Unknown