tessellation tee.

tessellation:  a pattern of identical shapes that fit together and do not overlap.

Tessellation tee: Gap. 

Black skinnies: LOFT. 

Infinity scarf: Target. 

Earrings: Stage clearance (yes, Stage!). 

Nail Polish: snake it up by Essie. 

No. This shirt isn't actually called a "tessellation tee." I teach geometry and thought that it was a suitable name for it. This was a casual, comfortable outfit I put together for work. I am all about comfort--first and foremost. Style comes second.

Hope you enjoyed! Excited for the month of March tomorrow. :)

lack of faith.

I want to share a Jesus story.

I call it a Jesus story because that is precisely what it is. I want people to know that Jesus really did rise from the grave. He really is alive. He really does answer prayers. He really is still performing miracles.

This past week has had its challenging moments. On top of being super busy at work, I was under the weather. As in I had a terrible cold. And it rained. Everyday. 

By Thursday, being sick combined with the yucky rain, I had the "blahhs." Big time. And I was doubting. Everything. 

Doubting my job. Doubting this. Doubting that. Feeling like a crazy person! Satan was stealing, killing and destroying. That is fa sho. So I just went to bed early praying for some help from my Savior.

I get up every morning at 5 a.m. to sit and drink coffee with Jesus. MmHm. I do. I also read a devotional called "God Calling" and my ESV Study Bible. On February 22nd, the morning after my day full of doubt, this is what GC said:

"You must trust me wholly. This lesson must be learnt. You shall be helped, you shall be led, guided, continually....Remember always, doubts delay. Are you trusting all to me or not? I have told you how to live and you must do it. My children, I love you. Trust My tender Love. It will never fail you, but you must learn not to fail it. 

You have much to learn in turning out fear and being at peace. All your doubts arrest My work. You must not doubt. I died to save you from sin and doubt and worry. You must believe in Me absolutely."

Speechless.

He knew exactly what I needed to hear and what I was struggling with. GC used the word doubt FOUR times! I was totally convicted about my lack of faith the day before, but He wasn't done speaking yet. I put down my devotional, picked up my Bible and turned right to James chapter one. It read:

Count it all joy when you meet trails of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness....

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  James 1:2, 5-8 (ESV)

Speechless.

Jesus had straight up spoken to me. He had straight up told me I am unstable in all my ways when I doubt! Hallelujah! I needed to hear this. I needed to be reminded that it is not okay to doubt God. Just because we can't see nor do we know everything He is doing doesn't mean He isn't working!

Yesterday I was convicted of my lack of faith by the Savior of the world. He. Is. Alive.

oh. my fortune from dinner that same night.

teacher of the month.

"Teacher of the month? As in I AM the teacher of the month?"

That was my response when the yearbook editor comes marching into my 6th period with his Canon Rebel in hand telling me he needs my photograph. But not just a little snapshot to say "cheese." Nope. In front of all of my 26 little teenagers, he says "I need a full body, one of you standing up, one behind your desk, one of you teaching, and one helping a student."

I wanted to say, are you kidding me?? You do realize that you have just completely ruined the rest of my class period! My students, of course, loved this disruption---not only not having to do work, but getting to see Miss Belvin being photographed ON TOP OF not having to do work. Needless-to-say, I was sweating. If this situation has never happened to you, please know that it is embarrassing. 

After what seemed like a zillion pictures, I was actually a little excited about the fact that the administration picked me for "Teacher of the Month." :) I had never even thought about getting selected, as I am a first year teacher. I must be doing a few things right!  One of the study-skill teachers was in charge of making a poster for the "Teacher of the Month", so I took a few pictures and posted them below.

P.S. I did end up threatening to send a few of my boys to the office after the camera man left my classroom. Luckily, we were able to finish up our lesson on graphing quadratics!

my "bio"//short version

Stephen's response :)