Alma Mater

As I continue on the 25DOCO journey, I am brought to an ornament that brings back 4 years worth of a large variety of emotions and memories. This ornament is representative of my alma mater and the time I spent in the education department.



I actually have the same ornament in three different colors. It was a gift from a professor that imparted much wisdom, Dr. Thompson. The most memorable quote was, “Go ahead and forgive yourself for all of the mistakes that you’ll make your first year of teaching.” Oh my, did I have those! I’m sure I will continue to have them throughout my teaching career. Teaching, like many other professions, requires MUCH self reflection. Pride and self justification are not good places for a teacher to be. It allows no room for growth.

he he

This ornament was given at a Christmas party for the club/organization I was involved with. It was MECA, which stands for Mississippi Early Childhood Education. We learned a lot and got to be involved with the elementary schools in our delta community.

Oh, how I miss college! I had grand memories: meeting lifelong friends, growing spiritually, getting the blessing of being involved with FBC Cleveland for 3 years, meeting my husband, learning to stomp him at ping pong, landing my first teaching job, SO many quotable memories, and much picture documentation. There were also many challenging times throughout those 4 years. I learned what healing really meant, and my friends showed me what it meant to bear a burden with you. I had LOTS of car trouble and even said goodbye to my first car. Ha I always had people taking care of me though! Zach broke up with me, and we went 2 1/2 years with no communication. No worries, you guys know how that worked out. Below are just a few pictures of some college memories.
 





























I could keep going. I shall refrain. I think my favorite memories are the ones in which everyone piled into our little duplex for late night studying/projecting. We were all working away into the wee hours of the morning. People would stay until 2-4ish in the morning. The ladies would sometimes just stay and pile into my king size bed. We would be making pots of coffee all through the night/early morning. We might have been more productive had we holed ourselves up to finish our projects, but it was much more fun to be in it together! Don’t wish away your college years, friends. It could very well be some of the sweetest memories of your life!

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Hardy

Tardy Hardy

 

This is the real name I took on when marrying my husband. It has become a reality in my blogging. I am yet again doing WILW…not on Wednesday. I’m also behind on 25DOCO. This week has been a crazy one. Today though we had a much desired SNOW DAY!!! I am LOVING it!

I am loving that I did not have to set an alarm this morning. I am loving that I was able to make the Hardy's a hearty breakfast. Pun intended. I am loving that I have had extra snuggle time with my handsome man. I am loving that I got to hang out with these two sweeties, plus Zach, this morning. It has just been an all around good day!

I couldn’t get the boys to look at the same time.

I am loving these boys! Their parents are also wonderful.

Like always, I am loving my wonderful husband. The future scares me simply because I am a planner, and I have no idea what the future holds. As I see his dependence on God and all the areas in which he is gifted, I am put more at ease. He is a wonderful leader and always speaks the gospel over my anxiety. This is a good lead in for my ornament of choice today for 25DOCO.

I LOVE this ornament. It was a gift from Jennifer at a wedding shower. I love the Walker family and all that they did for me during my time in Cleveland. I miss them a whole bunch. If you want to read a blog packed full of wisdom, then click on the hyperlink above.

It’s not too late to join in 25DOCO with Amber Marie! Stay safe amidst the ice, reader friends.

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Hardy

Teaching

I’m continuing in my link-up of #25DOCO with Amber Marie. Today’s ornament was a gift from a fellow teacher.

It is the teacher holding up the “report card” given to her. I love this ornament. Teachers have got to stick together and encourage one another. Teaching isn’t easy. There are so many days in which I go home and think of all the things I could have done differently, or I feel as if all I did was correct behavior all day long. There are days when I quite simply question why in the world I chose this profession. Teaching has been one of the most sanctifying things that has ever been a part of my life. It shows me my idols and definitely brings to the surface where I am not living in the Spirit. It has also been one of the most rewarding things in my life.

I am thankful for fellow teachers that understand the crazy stories. Since they understand the stories, they can also be great encouragement. I’m thankful for my fellow teachers that talk sense into me when I need it. Thanks for my ornament, Morgan! I love it, and I love you.

There’s still time to link up and share about your favorite ornaments!

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Hardy

Family Gifts

Oh, don’t you just love decorating for Christmas?!? It’s my most favorite time of the year. Amber Marie told me about the link-up she was doing for December. It is 25 days of Christmas ornaments in which you share and tell about 25 ornaments that are meaningful to you. At first, I said that I didn’t have enough ornaments to do this, but then we did the tree today. I think I might surely have enough to complete this link-up.

Last year we spent our first married Thanksgiving with North Carolina family. They were so gracious to have us, and a good time was had by all.

In order to provide some entertainment and family bonding with the sweet girls above, Zach and I went to get the necessary items to make our own ornaments with them. We made our ornaments. When we got home, we got a package in the mail with the ornaments these girls had spent their time to make. They said that they know this will be our first married Christmas, and they wanted to make sure we had ornaments for our tree. Now, isn’t that precious?

You should join the link-up with Amber  and share about your 25 most meaningful Christmas ornaments. Don’t have a blog? Just leave a comment below. We’d love to hear and see!

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Hardy

Your Love is Deep

Hello, reader friends. It’s my favorite time of the week where we get to link up with Jamie for WILW!

All week I have had the song “Your Love is Deep” in my head. I love that song. I used to sing it over the girls when I worked at Camp Garaywa. Sometimes at  night we would sing songs as the girls were waiting to be dismissed to go to their cabins. I loved to hear the girls sing that song. It was such a sweet, sweet sound. God is constantly reminding me of His unconditional and sacrificial love and the constant impact that should have on even the mundane things in my life. Here are the words to that song:

Your love is deep, Your love is high
Your love is long, Your love is wide
Your love is deep, Your love is high
Your love is long, Your love is wide

Your love is deeper than my view of grace
Higher than this worldly place
Longer than this road I've traveled
Wider than the gap You've filled

via

I’m loving that Zach’s parents came to DFW this past weekend. I’ve had a hard last couple of weeks missing the people closest to me. I’ve missed not only my Mississippi people, but my friends and family scattered all over the U.S. So, I was really glad to have them come in town. We had a large amount of fun. This weekend Zach and I are going to our college town in Mississippi, so I will get to catch up with some of my Cleveland buddies as well. I’m very much loving that!

via

Did I mention that Zach’s parents came in with gifts? We have a washer and dryer now!!! I am loving that I have no more laundry mat trips, and I can do laundry at my own pace.

via

heh heh heh

Like always, I am really loving my husband. He’s pretty marvelous, and I don’t know what I would do without him. He is so servant-hearted and very passionate. Just being around him makes me want more of Jesus. I have a significant prayer time increase when he’s driving.

What are you loving this Wednesday, reader friends?

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Hardy