Mentored and Influenced

I spent a nice night with two of my former students from Harding who are now active in the schools in NWA!  Both are bright, Godly, and will be or are amazing teachers. I don't belive I have anything to offer them but they have asked for my "wisdom" if you will in a mentor relationship.  One of them teaches at Shiloh and the other soon will. I have to say, this gives Shiloh a whole new meaning to me. I say this because, I selfishly want these women in the public schools because they will make a difference in kids lives but, they have a passion for Christian education.  In saything that I wanted to do a post on my mentors. God has truly guided my path in life with some amazing mentors. I have lived by this verse:

Proverbs 12:15 " Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. "
I may even say it is a fault because I value others opinions too much and at times the wrong people. There are women and men in my past that have been huge influences in my life and there are a few women today who I seek counsel and mentor ship from. This is a post for them.  The best is for last but I am starting with as far as I can remember taking advice.
Nancy (woman on the right) was who I worked for all through high school. I babysat for this precious family one a weekly basis! I would choose babysitting over hanging with my friends! I LOVED this family! They have a son(not pictured)! I was crazy about their two children. A boy and a girl! I even wanted to name my daughter after Caroline! Nancy doesn't know but I watched everything she did! She was such a loving mother and faithful honoring wife! She was very generous with me too! I wore her Lilly dresses to functions...they barely fit...she is tiny!  I think my adventurous nature with my children come from watching her! She worked part time and would come home and make everything fun for them! She gave her kids choices when other moms would not.  She is an amazing mother! I loved working for and with her! I tell people her kids were my anti drug in high school!

 Mom: I put her second because I didn't really listen to her until college! She really does have the best advice when dealing with everyday struggles and people!  She doesn't do anything half way and has a very strong work ethic that I admire. She isn't a matronly mom and I am so glad because it makes her so much more relatable. She knows me best and she loves me anyway! She is always willing to help me sharpen my skills in handling "life". I am a better women because of my mother and her constant support! I get three in one with her  mom, mentor, and best friend. 

 Sandy instantly became my friend when I met her! She is obviously Chad's mom and I loved Chad so much I was adamant I get to know and mimic a women who raised such a wonderful man! To be honest she raised three amazing kids. It says a lot to have three kids that are God seekers. She is so fun, accepting, and thoughtful. I would love to be half as thoughtful as her! She thinks of others before herself. I can't tell you how many times she has offered to take my kids on night that she would probably love to rest just so Chad and I could have a date night. I adore and love my mother in law and hope to be like her when I am grand! I must note that this is not a bragging post on her, I get on her nerves and vice versa but, they are way below the norm for most in laws(at least on my part:)!  

 Marilyn(women on Left, I don't know the one on the R)! Marilyn was an elder's wife at our church when we first moved into this area. She immediately got me involved in church when I would have been very comfortable not being active! I seriously was so engulfed in being a wife and my job that those two things alone consumed me.  Marilyn has taught me how to deal with people and the importance of church involvement. At dinner one night with my family over Thanksgiving we did an "advice for Emily" around the table and my one piece was "Get involved in a church". I feel like the more involved I get the more compassion I feel, the less judgemental I get, and I have become  less easily annoyed. It doesn't make sense but, it is true! I have found talents in myself I never knew I had and I truly don't believe I would be this deep involved with my church family if it wasn't for Marilyn! I love her and miss her dearly.

 Laurie is one of my new friends, I would say we have been good friends for a good three years. The best way to describe her is a woman of wisdom! We are doing a study on Proverbs in my Wednesday morning Bible class and every time she days anything that makes a women wise, I think of Laurie! Laurie is beautiful and walks with class but, that does not make her so influential to me. She is genuinely kind to EVERYONE! I am talking everyone! If someone talks too much, is too loud, too quiet, too negative...Laurie is still nice to them...and does not act annoyed! Laurie is NOT any of those things but you know those people that just bug us and take up too much of "our" time....Laurie loves them! She loves them and makes them feel important! She encourages everyone that comes in contact with her. She is graceful and extremely postive. I seriously want to be just like Laurie. Laurie walks the walk Christians should be walking! Her children are the same way! I say all the time I want GK to be like her Shelby and Harry to be like her Cameron! Laurie is real, there is not "fakeness" to her at all.

 Kathy is probably one I talk about the most because she teaches me the most! She also has watered this seed of passion for God's word that may not have grown as much without her. She spends a large amount of time with me guiding me through God's Word. I am understanding it like never before. We love each other. It is a funny thing, we can be in a room and not talk at all but glance and say a million things! I think we have grown to appreciate each other. She is the older women that Timothy talks about that mentors me. It is not just a day to day what is going on mentorship, it is a complete Biblical mentorship. If there is anything going on that I can't understand she immediately says, "what does God's word say about that?"  That has changed everything! She has taught me how to teach the Bible...using THE BIBLE! Imagine that! I say that because so many times we are taught the Bible through a paraphrased version or commentary books. It is a very freeing feeling to know the Bible better but at the same time I feel so ignorant. She has helped me have more confidence in God's word. I can't say enough about how influential she is to me. I pray that one day  I can be like Kathy and when my kids come to me with an issue I can say "What does the Bible say about that?" and go immediately. She is one amazing women and the best teacher I have ever had.

 The person who has mentored me and loved me uncondionally through the time I was born was for sure my Grandmother. My mom was a wonderful mom but, I didn't seek her counsel like I did Grandmothers. I know I have written about her so much in this blog so I am not going to keep on. She has taught me so many life lessons in one sentence that would have taken me a life time to learn. She loved everyone equally and unconditionally, I think I just tapped into her resource of knowledge more then some of the other grands. I also chose to spend more time with her. I miss her dearly and always want to call her and tell her something that has happened to me or the kids. She appreciated so many things that others would not find interesting. I am grateful everyday for her legacy.

I didn't mention the Lincolns or Shacklefords from Wyldewood...I think I am just sticking with women in this post. Excuse the lazy writing...just writing what comes to mind without revision.