Wow! Have I really not blogged since mid-August?

Not only have I not blogged since mid-August, I haven't had time to keep up with others' blogs which I really enjoy. I haven't even kept up with Lisa's (and Trey B's too infrequest blogs). Haven't called people I need to call. Certainly haven't written anyone.

Today is Labor Day and I plan to . . . labor. I'm grateful for a day to try to catch up on school stuff. I've been behind since before school began.

The week before school started (students' first day was Aug 20; we started the previous week) was pre-planning for teachers, and it was mostly meetings, helpful, informative meetings, but I really needed more time to get my room set up (which I didn't even know I was going to have - I thought I was going to be floating from room to room - not the best prospect for a person who likes to have surroundings and materials organized and at hand).

My classroom is in the basement of one of the Children's Home "cottages" (they have something like 8 bedrooms or more - some people call them more accurately dorms). The ceiling is low and the ceiling tiles painted by previous students, fun and funky. The room is pretty large, though, with big windows (bigger than you'd expect from a basement). The house (and campus) is built on a hillside so my classroom is in the back portion of the basement which is mostly not underground. I don't know really how big the basement is because there are parts that are blocked/closed off and inaccessible from my room.

The biggest surprise about all this is that I'm teaching middle school rather than elementary! Well, actually, an even bigger surprise than that is that I'm loving teaching middle school - totally unexpected. I anticipated when I reluctantly accepted this job (really wanted a job and really wanted to work at the Bible School but wanted elementary) that I would tolerate and survive a year in middle and hope that an elementary position became available next year. I know it's early, only two weeks into the year, but the kids are great (for the most part), and I'm hoping that I'll continue to love it and keep on at this level.

I have 3 sixth grade classes and 2 seventh grade classes - just two preps - and monitor a group of high schoolers taking online classes for another period (and get paid for giving up one of my two preps). Both grades are geography, divided by hemisphere (7th grade western, 6th grade eastern), and share a textbook.

Some of the really cool things: during teacher planning week we started each day with a devotional. I have a Bible verse theme on the wall in my classroom AND a religious bulletin board. Two days a week, at lunch, I attend a girls' student/teacher Bible study -- too cool. There's chapel every day (could be cooler - most of the high schoolers with whom I attend chapel are themselves too cool to get into singing and other forms of worship). Working with other Christians every day is terrific. Some more minor cool things: free lunch is part of our comp so I don't have to prepare lunch every day. I get to attend all the athletic events for free.

I have mixed feelings about teaching at CH&BS rather than a public school. I thought I would work in public schools. I was looking forward to it and anticipated ministry opportunities but having to tread cautiously. I DO think Christian schools are a crutch for some kids. As a secondary student, I was grateful for the faith-building challenge of being one of very few Christians in my school.

But, as He did with leading us to Mount Dora, Florida, God closed every door to me but this one. It's unmistakeably clear that this is where He wants me. AND there are lots of students here who are not from Christian homes, even more than half if I'm not mistaken, and there are lots of opportunities to minister to and teach them AND the kids from Christian homes who benefit from the extra spiritual boost they get every day. This past week in class we spontaneously talked about creation, dinosaurs, Pangea, the flood, Adam's God-given task (which we inherited) to care for the earth. I even pulled out my Bible at one point to reference something. Awesome!

It is interesting to me that after working so hard for these past 3 years to be recognized as qualified to teach elementary (and doing most of my subbing these past 13 years at the elementary level), I end up teaching in my field. My degree from LCU is secondary education with teaching fields in history and English. (I still had to pass those tests to show I was qualified to teach this level like I did elementary.)

I'm excited and grateful - and grateful for your prayers and good wishes on my behalf.

Well, the morning is a good bit gone, and I need to begin laboring. Have a great Labor Day. Let's all be grateful for the labor force in our country, for our jobs (with all their frustrations and rewards), for our many material blessings, and more - for our rich spiritual blessings.

It's Lisa's birthday . . . and I missed Loni's!!

It has been SUCH a summer - studying, testing, getting new jobs, squeezing in a bit of vacation time. I haven't kept up daily with the date very well. We celebrated Loni's birthday in the middle of VBS and my testing, but I neglected to post about it since I've neglected to post in general. Then today, filling out required paperwork for the new job, someone said, "What's today's date? August 14?" and I realized that today is Lisa's birthday. She's such a blogger that I couldn't let the day finish without a note about her. But since I missed blogging about Loni's, I'll do a dual.

Loni first, since her birthday comes first in the calendar year. This is Loni at Kennedy Space Center with the shuttle (the one which recently launched) on the pad in the background.

Loni recently accepted a job at the nearby public school as a 5th grade teacher. This is not her first choice, but she graciously accepted what God offered, and I know she will do as exceptionally well at this job as she did at her previous ones. Loni has such a heart for children of all ages. The girls at church, young to teen, are anxious for her company and encouragement. And in spite of being part of our family trio here, she's carved her own path with the young women and older folks, too, here at Mount Dora. I've really enjoyed having Loni live with us (although we anticipate that she'll be on her own in the next few months). We've become friends as well as mother-daughter, and we enjoy each other's company shopping, movie viewing, and Curves together.

And here is Lisa, in pink in the center, with some of her dear friends, during our recent visit to Virginia. We were blessed to be able to enjoy the company of Lisa's church family and especially her spiritual sisters, during our recent visit to Virginia. Although we went primarily to get our hug-fix with the grandsons and be with Dan and Lisa, too, it was great to spend a little time with her church family. (Thanks InaCarol for organizing this!) We are so grateful that the church in Blacksburg has been so supporting and loving to Dan, Lisa, and their boys. I'm proud of Lisa's leadership role among the women at her congregation. She's a good friend as well as a very loving and supportive wife and mother (and daughter and daughter-in-love).

Happy birthday to both my girls and my prayers for many blessings in the coming year.

A Ready Recollection

You know how our brethren are known to pray for the preacher that he have "a ready recollection" of the things he's prepared to speak from God's Word? A brother at VBS last night urged Bob to pray for me that I would have a "ready recollection" of the things I've been studying these past two weeks in preparation for today's tests. Bob did, and God did! AND He "guided, guarded, and directed" my hand on the mouse to make the right educated guesses on the things I had not known to study, too. He's so good!

Thanks to God for boosting my brain cells, I passed both tests! On the way home through Mount Dora, I stopped by the Bible School and shook hands with the Headmaster/Principal regarding the job. I'll go back tomorrow or Thursday to sign the contract. I am SO HAPPY right now I could dance a little jig! Thank you, Lord! Thank you, family and friends, for your prayers.

NOW I get to start preparing to teach middle schoolers. Time to get nervous all over again. Well, hopefully not. If God has opened this door, He is holding this situation in His hands so I shouldn't be nervous. I SHOULDN'T have been nervous about the test, but since I didn't know if this was God's will (and I told everyone in creation that I was taking these tests and that a job was riding on the results), I was very nervous. (Has anyone invented anti-perspirant for the palms of you hands? I could have used some!) I'm going to try to generate only excitement for the opportunity. Not everyone gets the opportunity (and challenge) of teaching young adolescents!

Two more nights of VBS, one day of tearing down VBS and packing, then Loni and I hit the road to visit grandsons (nephews), their parents and my parents! I really could use a vacation!!! Hallelujah!

One down, two to go (and Harry on hold)

Well, Loni and I took the General Knowledge test today. It was harder than I anticipated. I have spent so much time preparing for the other two tests still to come that I just breezed through the materials I ordered to help me study today's. The practice tests in the book were much easier than the actual thing. Oh, well. I'm hopeful that I passed all four parts, but each part individually can be retaken. I'm sure Loni passed, so she'll soon be eligible to be hired.

On Tueday I am taking two more tests, and I've been studying like crazy for them. Well, "studying" is not exactly accurate. All I've had time for is to read and hope that the gaps in my memory are refreshed. I signed up to take TWO tests because if I pass at least one of these two, I will have a job teaching sixth and seventh graders at the Christian Home and Bible School here in Mount Dora. No, middle school is NOT what I've been working toward, but it seems to be the area God is leading as it is currently the only door open, the only one even partially open since we've moved to Florida.

The tests? Social studies grades 6 - 12 and Middle Grades Integrated Studies (English, math, social studies, AND science for teaching middle grades). Even though my degree from LCU is secondary education (and I've been working hard to qualify to teach elementary!), my teaching fields are English and history. And even though one of the minors is history, I didn't have any Economics or (ahem!) geography (which is what I'll be teaching, Lord willing), so I have to pass one of these tests the receive this subject coverage on my FL teaching certificate.

So, since July 6th, I've read the second half of Loni's old HS US history text book (somehow, we never got to WWI or WWII in my courses and yes, they were history even when I was growing up!). I've read the geography sections covering Asia and Africa, regions with which I have less familiarity than others. I've read pertinent sections in a middle school science text (I gave up, though, trying to comprehend and remember plant and animal reproductive systems) and reviewed the math concepts to be covered. I've researched, copied, pasted and printed probably 300 pages or more from the internet and read and underlined these. I've read a CliffsNotes book about Economics (and understood very little!). I'm now halfway through skimming and notetaking a World History text (I've handwritten about 30 pages of notes). Since VBS starts tomorrow, about all I have time left to do before Tuesday is skim my highlighted pages and texts Monday for a quick review.

Harry Potter, you arrived today, but you'll just have to wait until Tuesday afternoon!!!

Pray for me, please. The old brain cells seem stuck in slow gear sometimes. And pray for our VBS.

31 years

Yesterday Bob and I celebrated (quietly) our 31st anniversary. We did our "usual" = splitting a dinner at Outback: appetizer (coconut shrimp), steak (with sweet potato for Bob, regular for me), and dessert: Chocolate Thunder Down Under. I'm grateful that both sets of parents gave us good examples in marital commitment. Both have passed the 50 years mark!

We also had a good rain (at least 2 inches - the gauge filled up) so that was another thing to celebrate (sorry folks in TX and OK - we need the rain here).

I was also hoping we'd be celebrating a job offer for me, but alas, not yet anyway. I thought the principal with whom I'd been discussing the middle school job would hire me without a temporary certificate, knowing that I was working on it, but no, I must take and pass a test FIRST. Somehow our communication wasn't clear, his expectations and mine. Would the job even be available still after I studied and took the test? I need to go back to him for some reassurance about that before I spend the money and significant time preparing for and taking this test.

So how do YOU determine when God is telling you, "Try harder. Keep going. How hard are you willing to work to obtain this goal?" OR "This is another roadblock. I'm trying to tell you to go another direction." ??

I'm grateful God is delighted to use us no matter where we land, in spite of our choices, if we are seeking to serve Him. I'd love to hear how you think God has led you and your experiences with trying to determine His will in specific areas.

Update:still waiting

Thanks for the comments and encouragement.

I just finished a 3-day workshop at the Bible school which the principal kindly allowed me to attend. (I may even get paid for it which would be nice. Participants who work at the Bible school get paid but in my special circumstance, I'm thinking I might not. We'll see.) Being allowed to attend was a blessing whether or not I get paid. The materials, the videos, the activities directed by fine facilitators were all excellent. I feel better prepared than ever to teach . . . although the middle school teachers attending kept saying, "But middle schoolers . . . ." If I get offered the job, I'll either love it or survive it. Sixth and seventh graders. Getting better acquainted with the teachers who also took the course was icing on the cake. I really would love to work with them. And to have the opportunity to talk about God in the classroom, to bring His name and principals into discussions about course work and discipline issues would be so fine!

Right now I'm waiting, again, this time until the gal at the County office who handles certification questions returns next Monday to see if my qualifications allow me to be hired for this particular position (middle school social studies rather than elementary grades for which I'm already certified). I'm pretty sure she'll say I have to take the subject area test (yet another test!), in which case principal assures me it would be no problem (even if I don't get around to taking it until later in the year). I'm going to pick up a text book on Friday to look over the course work. The situation is very promising, but I'm not counting my chickens yet. As a matter of fact, the first thing I plan to do when/if I get hired is buy a Mount Dora Bible school magnet for the car. And I'm not doing that until it's a done deal, papers signed or at least a handshake on it.

So that's the status of my job situation until at least next week. Now if I can just get busy with other projects (of which there is an abundance) and not fret about it! Oops! Time to go change clothes and go to Curves. Have a good evening!

How goes the job hunt?

Loni and I have been busy with training. Last week we had ESOL training for 60 hours (yup, 60 hours!). We had class every day from 8-4, Monday through Saturday. The instructor did release us at 3 or a little earlier most days to work with our groups (or separately) on projects. (BTW, ESOL is English Speakers of Other Languages - working with students whose have LEP, limited English proficiency.) We had several projects, one individual and two group. Loni was supposed to begin working at camp on Saturday but had to go late, as in early early Sunday, because of the scheduling. And it turned out that we were released at 11 on Saturday AND that she could have been excused from one day. Oh, well. What can you do?

So Loni is working at Manatawny this week and I - am in a training class again. This one was unplanned. There is a possibility that I might get a job at the Bible School here in Mount Dora teaching middle school social studies. One of my major concerns about teaching middle school is discipline issues, but I found out (Providentially?) that the school was having training in Classroom Management. I called the principal/headmaster and asked if I might attend and he agreed. So more training! And this one I may get paid for! Whoohoo.

Several of our area public schools have had principals move from one to another; one of the favorite things our superintendent likes to do is shake things up by moving principals. When that happens, some teachers like to follow their principal to the new school. One of our nearby schools has a new principal and consequently has more than a dozen teaching jobs posted. I have my application on file with the county. I have emailed him (twice - once in his former school and now since he's moved). My former principal told me she had emailed him about me at the end of the year as well. But I haven't heard from him. I don't know whether to be annoyed or relieved. Should I push the issue by calling him or assume that God is intervening and let it go?

Today I meet with the principal at the Bible school so maybe this is the direction God is leading. I really want(ed) an elementary position. At this point, I'm better "qualified" to teach elementary. But my training (many moons ago) was secondary. So we'll see what transpires, whether he offers me the job and then whether I decide to accept if he does.

Trey is still making plans to move to Philadelphia. He hopes to be there by August. That's nearly next month. Wow!

Loni will decide after she returns from PA/NJ whether to accept a job as a teacher at the preschool (she'd be committing to the full year but at higher salary) or teacher's assistant (no commitment to complete the year but lower salary; then she could accept a teaching job in the public school should one open and she receive an offer). She doesn't know yet what the salary of either position might be.

Decisions, decisions, waiting, waiting, praying, praying, praying.

Gotta go decide what to wear today . . . .

Happy Father's Day (and birthday)

I hardly know where to begin. Happy father's day to all you dads out there who read this. I am the recipient of the blessings being the daughter of a great dad and the wife of a great dad.

My own father I described a bit in my anniversary "tribute" to my parents a few days ago, but let me add that he is the kind of dad that others would want. He was/is a good provider for his family, courteous and thoughtful (when I was a teen I met him for lunch near his work one day and remember being treating as a woman should be - he made sure he walked on the side of the walk nearest traffic and opened my door, etc), a wonderful Christian evangelist who never met a stranger.

My husband has been a terrific dad to my kids. Living "hard fast to the synagogue" in the parsonage with a somewhat flexible work schedule allowed him to be very involved in their day to day lives. He made their lunches every day (I appreciated that probably even more than they did!). He's easy-going and laid back, which is a mixed blessing, but mostly a very good thing (because he's so patient with me and our children)!

My father-in-love (on the right) is also a great dad (and granddad, all three are!) who worked tirelessly to make sure his children had what they needed and knew they were loved.

All three of the dads in my life love their wives deeply and generously, with a life-long commitment. That is not only a blessing to their wives but to their children.

Lest I forget, my son-in-love (center, with blue hat) is likewise a great dad who emulates his own great dad, our daughter's father-in-love. I love to watch him play with his boys. So fun. His discipline of my dear perfect grandsons is hard to watch, but fair and consistent. He's a wonderfully careful provider for his family for which I am also grateful.

AND today is Bob's birthday - as he says, he is double-dipping today. I asked him a couple of days ago where he wanted to eat today. It is our habit to eat out on Sundays AND for the birthday person to choose where to eat his/her birthday meal. So when I asked, he paused in thought and I said, "How about home?" He said, "Really?" And I said, "How about brisket?" (Easy to put in the oven during Sunday service.) And he said, "Really?" So I made the extreme sacrifice of cooking on Sunday for my beloved! Happy birthday, sweetheart.

(The weird lay-out and word breaks are Blogger's fault! I've tried and tried to edit this post so that the layout is better. Oh, well.)

Happy 58th Anniversary

Happy Anniversary, Dad and Mom (Lon & Jeanne)! (This is not a great photo because Dad is usually smiling. Don't know why he wasn't smiling on this day last September at Kennedy Space Center, but it is the most recent I have of the two of them. Mom and Dad, be ready to be captured on camera when I see you in July/August.)

I tried (and tried and tried and tried . . . ) to upload a very cute photo from early in their marriage, but Blogger frustrated me AGAIN. Surely am thinking about switching!! Their help is worthless because I'm unable to locate any useful information. Is the learning curve on wordpress more than I can handle? Is it any less frustrating, those of you who have switched?

A summary of their marriage as told from my perspective:

--they met at a wedding on a blind date (he was a farm boy and student at SMU and she a city girl)

--they were married at the Highland Park (Dallas) church building on June 11, 1949

--they moved to NJ briefly early in their marriage

--Dad was a partner in an insurance agency in Dallas and Mom was a stay-at-home mom (and sometimes a volunteer secretary)

--after a brief time away from the church, they worshipped at Saturn Road (in Garland, TX) and Wynnewood Hills in Oak Cliff (Dallas). Dad was a deacon at Wynnewood Hills.

--in 1967 they committed to move to Burlington, MA with an Exodus movement. Don Humphrey, Glen McNeese, and Dennis Kelly were the ministers of that church. They moved without the security of a job beforehand. Dad became an elder and sold insurance for Curtin Insurance (Jane Curtin's father). I think Mom was a volunteer church secretary.

--they sold their home in MA and moved to Lubbock, TX so that Dad could attend SSOP. Mom worked with Marge Smith in Cline Paden's office.

--after graduation from SSOP, they moved to Bridgewater, NJ where Dad was minister for 5 years.

--Dad and Mom served churches in NJ, Sunbury/Selingsgrove, PA (10 yrs) and West Chester, PA (11 yrs?) before he retired and they moved to NJ to live near us (for 3 years)

--they now reside in Charlotte, NC

I know you'll correct my timeline, Mom, and add comments which we look forward to.

I hope you have a very special day and a year full of blessings. It has been a privilege to be your daughter. I couldn't have asked for better parents and a better example of Christian marriage and service.

I love you dearly.

6 Billion Others

On Sunday mornings I've been teaching to 3rd through 6th graders a very old series written by Joyce Hardin about missionaries. I've taught the series a couple of times before, at least once in each of our previous churches. I think the series is excellent for opening the children's awareness of missions.

Today, I found this interesting link by following from one blog to another (is there a name for that? Surfing or something unique to blogdom?). Anyway, it is interesting to hear folks from around the world describe themselves and what they think in their own language. Although there is no tie to Christ and His message, as I watched and listened, I couldn't help but view it as a potential missionary. How would I share Christ with each of the individuals interviewed? I'd like to be as aware of the lost state of each person with whom I have contact daily.

Without Bob sitting here helping me with the link, all I can do is insert it like this:
http://www.6billionothers.org/main.php?Lng=en&File=homePage

Launch!

Yesterday we had the privilege of joining the hundreds of folks viewing the launch of Shuttle Atlantis Mission STS-117 (click here for more from NASA). It was very exciting!! It went up with a roar into the clear blue sky, and we all watched until it became a pinprick star and disappeared through the atmosphere. This second photo is the same picture, zoomed so you can see the shuttle above the burning fuel exhaust. Our eyes saw the first pic with the bright light; we could not see the actual shuttle either before or during the launch.


We drove over to visit NJ friends Dave and Marge Lipscomb who have a house outside of Titusville, across the inland waterway from Kennedy Space Center. Titusville has been their getaway Florida home, but they will be making the full move this summer after their house sells.

We arrived about 5 pm for the 7:38 launch and found our little patch of ground to park ourselves among the many others to wait. (Interesting note: we ended up next to a gal I had worked with at Seminole Springs Elementary School and her family! It was her third attempt to see a launch; the previous two had been scrubbed.)


After the launch we walked back to the car and joined the hundreds of cars on the roads headed back home. We made it back to their house (with a brief stop for delicious icecream) around 10, then headed on home to our place, another 1 1/2 hours. Even though it was crowded, it was SO worth the effort. I'm anxious to do it again. There are six more launches planned for the next 12 months. Will I get to go to another? I hope so!

How well does your congregation welcome visitors?

When we were traveling home from Searcy, we spent the night in Tupelo, MS, then got up early and drove several hours east to worship. (That's as specific as I'm going to get about where this church I'm going to describe is located.) We planned to arrive in time for worship, not for class, and that's when we did arrive. We pulled into the rather full parking lot (good sign - a lot of people had attended Bible class, apparently) and walked into the full foyer. Two men, likely elders, greeted us and chatted with Bob. A sister at the other door handed us a bulletin and smiled at Loni and I. We made our way through the crowd into the auditorium. (No one greeted us.)

The auditorium had two aisles. The right aisle was closer to the main entrance so that is the one we started up. There were some partially empty pews along the aisle on the right side so I walked up toward them. (Bob was in the rear of the group because he had been chatting with the two brothers.) As I approached the open seating, I discovered that folks had put purses, Bibles, sweaters in the pews to hold their spots. Kept on walking toward the front. No one offered to help us find a seat or invited us to seat near them. We walked all the way to the front, unsuccessful in our quest for a place to sit, to the right across the front of the auditorium and started down the side aisle. One pew a few rows back had no items holding places. I spoke to the women sitting toward the center and asked if the seats were taken. She fumbled in her reply, "Um, you can sit here." She was friendly, but it was obvious that she had hoped to save the places for her family, so I smiled and said thanks anyway and moved on, still looking for unclaimed seats, ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK of the auditorium! What to do now?

We started BACK up that aisle - the place was filling up and it was nearly time to begin. Up at the front, across the front, and to the side in the second pew there was a spot we had passed by, so we walked back to the front and across where we finally sat down.

Here's my point -- if I had NOT been a Christian, when I reached the back on the first go-round, I would have continued right on out the back! It was very embarrassing to have to start up front again feeling all eyes on us.

I hope and pray that this situation is VERY unusual, but I wonder. ALL of us need to be always aware of visitors, first-times and repeaters, and be thoughtful about how we welcome them (or not).

What do you think makes visitors feel welcome? What experiences have you had? What does your church do that you feel is successful in welcoming guests? What turns you off, or what do you think makes visitors uncomfortable or feel unwelcome?

Our two most recent churches had visitor signs in the parking lot which I think is very welcoming. I noticed that this church did not, but that's okay. There are other ways to make visitors feel welcome (which this church didn't utilize).

How do you think greeters should behave? Should visitors be requested to stand? (I vote no.) Wear a special sticker or name badge? (Another nay from me.) How can we make sure they have comfortable (meaning emotionally comfortable as well as physically) seats? Do you know folks (are are you one) who invites guests to sit with you? How about welcome packets and/or visitor cards? Whaddaya think?

Prayers, prayers, prayers needed, esp for Loni

Loni and I are both in the market for teaching jobs again. But Loni has a new and possibly insurmountable problem - but God can surmount - is that a word? - so we're going to give the impossible to Him. Here's the situation:

A week ago things looked so promising for a job for Loni. She has enjoyed and done very well her first year of teaching. Her principal wanted to hire her back (too far a drive and not the preferred grade level); her principal recommended her to another who likely wanted to hire her; she's run into a certification snag which could have been avoided if she/we had been aware but not it seems too late to rectify in time for the next school year.

She has the 3 year non-renewable temporary certificate. She's only taught one year. Seems like things are okay - two years left. BUT Florida law currently says that she must pass a General Knowledge test within the first year of teaching (the end of that first year being August). AND the only time the test is offered this summer is next week (too late to register and ineligible for emergency late registration) and July 21. Looks good. Surely she can pass in time. BUT the test scores aren't received for more than 4 weeks from the test date which would be too late! Bad, bad news. Bad, bad law and Florida legislators. Sad, sad.

Sooooo her current options appear to be - wait and hope to apply for a job after the school year begins (if any open up and yuck! after the school year begins! I've seen what happens there - if the hiring is a new class created because of increased enrollment, teachers choose which of their students to pass onto the new teacher - and the choices usually aren't their best students, if you catch my drift). OR she could probably get hired to teach at the Bible school's preschool -- for maybe 1/4 or 1/3 of her public school salary. She could get by on that, barely, if she continued to live with us (and I'm not objecting to that except that she's ready to be on her own). She could maybe get hired at a bank or something similar, too. BUT SHE NEEDS TO BE TEACHING. The children need her. So if God agrees and chooses to intervene, let's request His intervention!!

I need a teaching job, too. I am eligible to be hired (I haven't reached that 1-year-deadline yet), but there aren't many spots open. I won't go into why I NEED a job. I do, though, and would much rather work at something that utilizes my training and experiences, pays more than a job at Wallyworld or Mac-in-the-sack, and provides health insurance. So after you've beseeched the Lord on Loni's behalf, put in a good word for me, too, please.

Still on the job front for the Blisses - prayers, too, for Trey to make a wise decision regarding his career choice, including location. Pray especially that his choice will be a wise one for his spiritual well-being.

Thanks for putting in a good word for us. Have a good day!

Long Time No Blog

I'm going to have to start keeping a list of ideas. Whenever I don't have time to blog, I think of pretty good ideas for one. But here I sit at the computer (when I should be starting dinner) and can't remember any of those things. All I can think about is the job I need to get, how much I hate interviews (and how poorly I do at them), how few jobs there seem to be (in FL where everyone claims there are not enough teachers!!), the hoops politicians make you jump through to prove that you are "highly qualified" so that "no child will be left behind" in your classroom. Sorry, brothers Bush, but your education reforms aren't working. They are only torturing excellent teachers along with the not-so-excellent ones and poor children who agonize over the standardized tests.

Whaddayaknow? I did have something to blog about! BUT I don't want to dwell on that negative!! Just pray for me and for Loni (if you happen to stop by here - if you have in the past, you've probably stopped coming by since I stopped blogging . . . .). We need teaching jobs and the opportunites seem remote. I won't get into why just now.

Bob got lots of compliments on his sermon Sunday. I thought it was as good as usual. I asked him if he thought there was anything different. He never seems to. It flowed well and he had good points and illustrations, but there again, it didn't seem more so than usual. Do you other preacher-types have the same experience, where the sermons you thought went well get the usual comments and then you get lots of comments on a sermon you thought was about the same as the others?

I don't know how you preacher-types do it. I get nervous when an administrator walks through my classroom. Loni is a lot like me in personality, but she doesn't have this experience. Why is she more self-confident? I get nervous when an administrator walks through, when I interview (yuck!), when I have to offer an opinion to an adult group I don't know. But one-on-one, no problem. It's not easy and it doesn't come naturally, but I've had lots of practice at it.

Well, I hope to do better about blogging in coming weeks and hopefully have more interesting things to stay, so if you stopped by today, thanks and come again!

It's Trey's birthday!

I would have blogged about this earlier, but we've been traveling. I even neglected to get a card in the mail for my favorite son!

But I want to share a few of my favorite pics (well, I don't have many recent ones . . . ).

Before we moved from Jersey last summer, Trey took us all to Pat's in Phila where he introduced us to the BEST cheesesteak! (We were sitting across the street from that OTHER place. Imagine that this is Trey's expression when we suggested eating THERE!)

This one is from last summer when Trey free-traveled (mostly alone, brave soul) in Europe following a business course via Harding in London. I'm not sure of the location.

My blogger is acting very strange, so I hope these pics come out okay.

The last picture is the most recent. The day after Thanksgiving we went to Universal. And in Seussland (or whatever is the official name) some of us posed under the appropriate street sign.

Here is Trey, hamming it up again.

He is a very charming young man, imaginative, anxious to forge his own identity, sweet, and will graduate very soon from Harding. What will he do then? What path will he take? My prayer for him is that he will be God's man above all else.

God bless you with a wonderful birthday, son, a terrific graduation, and wisdom to continue to make good choices. You have always been a joy to us. Wherever you land this summer and beyond, you will always be in God's hands and our hearts.

Spring Break campaign - Heritage University

BTW - thanks Brian and Lisa for reading my blog and posting a comment! I appreciate the encouragement and support. Those of you who are preachers, be strong and courageous (and the rest of us, too!). And give your wives my love and appreciation, preacher's wife to preacher's wife!

Friday afternoon I had to stay very late after school to do lesson plans and help my co-teacher prepare for several meetings she was having during the weekend. But it turned out to be a blessing because we were all caught up and I had very little school stuff to do this weekend.

We're having a campaign this week. The group is from Heritage University with some others from supporting congregations in AL and MS. The campaigner assigned to stay with us didn't come after all so we don't have any campaign guests. Sad, but a relief, too, with all that is overwhelming me at present. There was a workday at the building Saturday, but I stayed home to clean house and do some grocery shopping and tried not to feel guilty that I wasn't at the work day. (You know, part of my guilty feeling was probably remembering all the years of mentally criticizing people who didn't come to church activities like work days. It has been a real eye-opener to me to work full-time for the first time ever! It's so hard to have to miss all the things I'm used to being involved in.) Anyway, Bob and I actually had a quiet dinner out Saturday night together, just the two of us, and a quiet evening at home to rest in preparation for the Lord's Day and the week.

So Bro. Stephen Guy preached this AM on Revival and several (7) of us responded asking for prayers to be more dedicated (me wanting to be more aware of opportunities to share the gospel). After the potluck (the biggest we've had since our arrival), a bunch of us went out door-knocking. I tend to feel that d/k is ineffective in this day and time, but some of the pairs/groups had some "success" - eight Bible studies set up already. It was a good experience for me to stretch myself out of my comfort zone. I was encouraged to see who and how many showed up from the church here to go out into the neighborhood. Many others are contributing by serving food to the campaigners and house them, etc. I'm glad I got to go today at least since I am not in a position to take a day off for more.

We sang at the nursing home and campaigners joined us - 40 rather than the usual 18-20 or so. All those extra male voices - terrific!

The theme for the week is "Light the Fire," a song I love and which is not that familiar to the church in general, although the youth and Bible school folk know it. It's such a good "revival" song. Please pray for the Mount Dora church and the campaign that we can connect with seeking folk in this area.

Signing off.

Have a great week.

Joke punchline

For the few who read my blog and haven't seen the answer elsewhere (thanks, Bob!):

What's Irish and stays in the backyard all night? Paddy O'Furniture!

Th-th-th-that's all, folks!

Whew! It's been two weeks since my last post!

First off - in honor of dear old Saint Patrick -
What's Irish and sits in your back yard all night?
Tune in to my next post and find out!

So o o o, I've been a salaried teacher for two weeks. I've been in this teaching job for FOUR weeks with four to go. I can't believe it's half over. Yup, I'm planning to apply for a full-time teaching job as they come available. Hopefully, now that schools have asked teachers for indications of intentions to return in the fall they will soon know how many positions they will have. I know that Loni is hoping to work closer to home, so she and I will once again be competing for teaching jobs. Only this time, she has a year's experience under her belt as well as all the right answers at interviews! My only hope is to get a job at my current school or at the Bible school where I'm better known than she is . . . .

Well, to update a little -- the first student I zeroed in on as a prospect for my effecting change in his school life got transferred to another classroom before I even had a chance to meet Dad and convince him to let us continue to work with his son. We weren't making much progress, though, in how much work his son was willing to attempt (read none!), and his new teacher across the way is having a bit more success. But poor lady has her hands full with 24 other students AND this uncooperative one.

Since my last post, my co-teacher and I have: reorganized the room arrangement; sorted books; gotten caught up on paperwork and grades (these were way behind); cleaned out the closet (and I DO mean cleaned out [ packed away boxes and boxes of stuff to another closet - but this week we have a tornado drill and have to squeeze 33 children and two adults into that closet and next month there is a fire inspection - nothing can be on the top shelf of the closet and it was packed to the rafters; there was hardly room to move through the closet); reorganized some of the teaching pattern - more instruction, less papers; determined which children are in danger of retention and had meetings, paperwork, parent-teacher conferences, etc. about this; learned how to post grades on the computer; input weekly grades, done final grades and other kinds of reports; had a teacher work day full of meetings; had lunch with small groups of students several times; stayed after for several hours every day and come in 45 mins or more early, too; come up with new systems of incentives and implemented them. In addition, my co-teacher has gotten over being pretty sick, moved, found a new home for her dog, and had a formal observation. In further addition, I've met with my mentor and done a lot of the planning for the days/weeks.

Some things I've learned: that teaching takes a LOT of planning (if you don't have every moment planned, the students will take advantage of momentary lulls and run you ragged); that it pays to be strict at first; that a calm, quiet, firm voice works better than a rant (hehe - wonder how I learned that!); that a teacher has to make a point to encourage and notice the well-behaved children rather than spend all her time noticing and working with "needy" or obnoxious ones; that co-teachers need to be carefully selected for compatibility -'nough said; that politics is large in schools; that schools would be better off without lots of government involvement; that No Child Left Behind isn't accomplishing its purpose (and I'm a conservative who blames Ted Kennedy and Bush's attempts to molify liberals for its failure); that teachers would rather be teaching to the student than "to the test", but that really isn't an option in today's climate; that teachers work VERY hard and their days are LONG (I knew this but now have experienced it); that there's LOTS of paperwork involved in schooling; lots about how I want to run a classroom of my very own and lots about what I don't want to do.

I don't know how much difference I've made in the lives of these students - doesn't seem like much, and soon their regular teacher will be back to finish out the year. The students will have to readjust from the changes I/we've made to the ways of their regular teacher. I probably shouldn't have made so many changes, but they were changes I needed to make for me, for my peace and way of teaching. If nothing else, these weeks have been a great learning experience for me, a wonderful preparation for starting fresh next fall, Lord willing. I'm kinda old to be starting out as a teacher, and I'm lots more tired than my daughter is and I need more sleep, which I'm not getting. I have four more weeks, then it's back to substituting, boo hoo (but occasionally taking a day off at my choice, too, yea!).

Do me a favor. If you have children in school, take a minute to thank your child's teacher. You'll probably make her or his day!

Have a wonderful day of worship tomorrow.

It's official!

I am now a salaried teacher, for six more weeks anyway! It would be great if when this temporary job is done another was waiting so that I could just keep right on, but it would also be excruciating to fill in yet another class from mid-April to the end of school (3rd week of May). On the other hand, going back to subbing will be sad, too. (Bob, couldn't we manage on what I earned these weeks and let me start summer break early??) I could hope that this teacher decides to take the rest of the year off, but that would mean that she wasn't recovering well from her grief and stress and I don't want to hope for that!

It has been a trial by fire. That's why I haven't blogged at all. I've stayed late after school every day (until 5 or 6) and spent 5 hours there on Saturday. I get up every day at 5 and go to bed at 11 or midnight, way too little sleep for this old lady! Yesterday and today I actually got to leave right as the children did to run to the county office (about 45 minutes from school - our house is midway between) to take care of paperwork before they closed at 4!

Yesterday my principal handed me a note and told me to go see "MT" at county office right after school. I hoped that it was good news, but she didn't say and I didn't ask. "MT" wasn't expecting me, though; she went to check and came back to have me sign some forms. After signing a couple, I asked her, "Does this mean my highly qualified status is okay and I'm hired? Or can you tell me?" She assured me that I was a salaried teacher starting that day, yesterday. She shook my hand as I left and that was all the ceremony that was involved! Bob was helping out with meals at camp for the Christian camps meeting, so we didn't even get to eat out to celebrate. Since I was home earlier than usual, I did get to go to Curves with Loni for the first time in two weeks, then she and I stopped at Subway to bring dinner home. Whoohoo!

Right now is a very tense time, especially for my co-teacher. This is the time of year teachers "explain" which students are likely to be retained (and why, I guess?). We had our Teacher Talk scheduled for this morning during prep time, but meetings were running late so I was excused to go collect our children from their "special." Because of the illnesses of the two teachers (the one I'm replacing and the one with whom I'm working), record-keeping and so forth has really suffered. Now she's having to gather and organize all the documentation and she's not (how shall I say it kindly?) a very organized person. Also, she's a "new" teacher in this district and in her first year as a regular classroom teacher (after 30 years in special ed), so I think this is much more than she's had to deal with in the past. Although -- special ed requires LOTS of paperwork and documentation so it shouldn't be TOO new.

We've cleaned the room and organized - the teacher on leave doesn't specialize in organization either, apparently, and it's hard with 30+ students in a regular-sized classroom. She DID have certain routines, like copies of dittoes made, on a schedule and a regular schedule of what occurs when in the classroom. But I'm determined to cut down on dittoes and have more writing and instruction, so this next week I'll be pushing for some significant changes in our routine. She may be very unhappy when she returns and finds so many changes, but I have to do what works for me (along with my co-teacher, of course). Plus I have all these ideas I've been gathering for 13+ years that I want to try out!!

We have a several children with "issues" - as a matter of fact, I spent about 1 1/2 hours this evening trying to redo our seating arrangement I created just last Saturday, trying to separate certain children. Some of the children just need academic support (LOTS of it) and some have emotional issues which impact their learning. Still others are just chatty or immature. My BIG IDEA of having lunch with some of them had impact for . . . a few hours! The child I was hoping to bond with still resists my efforts and gives me his special "evil eye" (he's pretty good at it, for a second-grader!) when I speak to him abut his behavior or "request" his cooperation. I know that it will take more than one 20 minute lunch to build a relationship, but I only have a few weeks!!

We're pretty strict with them, have to be because whenever we try to loosen up and have fun, they take advantage and chaos results. I tried having them stand and stretch for a few minutes this afternoon; you never saw so many falling over or heard so much noise from a group of children standing and stretching. We can't walk from point A to point B without arguments, fights, pushing, etc. Amazing! I wish I knew what we aren't doing right.

We do have good moments. We were having a pretty good one this afternoon, if very noisy, Friday afternoon. We'd completed the math test and were paired off for a math game all around the room. The problem was, I forgot that THE PRINCIPAL was our special guest for "Read Across America" and she arrived to read to the class right after the children had all scattered and begun to play. Yikes! Trying to get them quickly quiet and leave their games and sit around the rocker took her authoritative voice and posture. Good job, Mrs. Bliss! Oh, well, what can you do?

Well, this novel has gone on long enough. Thanks for hanging in there to read it. Continue to keep my in your prayers, please. It's not easy, but it is wonderful experience and I am SO GLAD to finally have "my own" class! (singing) "I am a teacher. I am a teacher."

Have a great weekend.

A class of my own! . . . to share . . . for a few weeks . . . .

Whew! My life has changed radically since my last post! I'm now a full-time teacher - kind of.

I've been hired to fill a long-term sub job. However, if my credentials pass muster, I'll be hired as a salaried teacher, although still just for the two months.

A teacher at a school where I've subbed quite a bit (and where the principal is a member of our neighboring church) is taking a two-month leave. Her MIL and mother and brother all died suddenly within the space of a month.

She is in a co-teaching situation and without going into any details, it's a tough job. Besides the turmoil the teacher-on-leave was experiencing, the co-teacher with whom I'm working has been sick and absent a lot. She's also pretty much my total opposite in personality and teaching style. For example, she's chatty and I'm quiet. In other ways, we are dramatically different.

In this coteaching class are 33 second-grade children, in a regular-sized classroom. (This is one of Florida's ways of adapting lack of space to the numbers schools here must accomodate.) There are other aspects that make it more difficult than your average teaching job, I think (I hope!), so it is challenging, exciting, exhausting, and will be a wonderful learning experience. I'm going to be planning, grading papers, posting grades, reorganizing the room, doing parent conferences, student retentions, etc. - all with a co-teacher, but all still a LOT of work, especially for a sub. If I didn't want to be a full-time teacher, I probably wouldn't take a job that's this hard.

Today I invited four of the students to lunch with me; I challenged them to make good choices and make it a good day and this would be their reward. Schools here are campuses of buildings connected by covered walkways. Outside the cafeterias are tables for parents to lunch with their children, teachers to eat together, etc. These students were very excited to have such a treat. (Who would have thought that kids would be thrilled to eat lunch with a teacher?!) My co-teacher joined us, and it was very enjoyable. I was amazed at how much pleasure I got from spending casual time with them and getting to really listen to them. I mostly wanted to do this to begin bonding quickly, and I think it worked. Even though the afternoon was wild and chaotic (typical Friday energy and lack of attention but with 33 kids), I had such a warm feeling about my first week. I'm looking forward to doing this with the rest of the students in coming days.

Less than a month ago I posted about being needed (or feeling NOT needed). Be careful what you pray for, right? I know better than to pray for patience! Maybe I should have known better than to pray to be needed. Did I pray this or complain this? Is it the same thing? Does God view complaints as requests? God is able to do more than we ask or imagine, isn't He? Is He challenged by our naive prayers to give us more than we ask for or imagine in areas of growth? It would seem so. So now I am cautiously praying, as I do every day and have for a long time, that God be my competence, that I see Jesus in my students and fellow staff, that I BE Jesus to my students and fellow staff (the triune Randy Harris mantra), and that God be glorified in all that I do.

I can already see great need in this classroom, in individual students and as a whole. It may be that I'm being called to minister to my fellow teacher as well. I only have two months, but it is my sincere prayer that God use me mightily in these few weeks and that the Spirit empower me to be what He wills me to be in this class and this school. I suspect that the ways He uses me will impact me even more than those for whom I'm praying. I'd appreciate your prayers on my behalf.

Special times with grandparents

After Curves this morning and before going shopping (isn't that how George and Abe would want their birthdays to be celebrated, after all?), Loni and I stopped by the Thornhills' house.

The Thornhills are a hospitable and very interesting couple. He, Robert, is a retired science teacher. She, Rosemary, is the principal of Hardin Early Childhood Center, HECC, the preschool part of the Christian Home and Bible School. They are devoted Christians, parents, and grandparents as well. I'm so grateful they are members at Mount Dora.

Their house is right on the main drag through Mount Dora, on Donnelly Street, next to the Fire House and Police Station and just a few blocks from the Bible School. I don't know how old their house is, but it is picturesque and kind of Floridian/Victorian. It sits not too far off the road, but behind the house is more than an acre of land, kind of wild and woodsy with some citrus trees, old oaks with Spanish moss, palms, an old chicken coop and an old "fort" their sons made years ago. You can't see all this wildness from the road, which makes it kind of like a secret garden. Robert has planted quite a variety of plants around the house, including herbs and tropical varieties.

Their grandchildren were visiting for the weekend, three charming young ladies. The girls invited Loni and I to stop by this morning to see the lambs. In addition to their "town house", Robert and Rosemary have a farm property about an hour away, and Robert occasionally brings animals home to visit the Early Childhood Center. Their parental sheep pair had produced lambs just two weeks ago, and Mother sheep Snowball, brother Rex and sister Belle were visiting Mount Dora, residing temporarily in an animal transport trailer until they return home tomorrow. Loni and I got to hold cuddly Rex for a bit, then watched as the two cavorted around the grounds following Mother as she ate assorted weeds and a tangelo. Their little "baas" were so cute, and they hopped along just like the cartoon lambs. Belle has black rings around her eyes, and their wool is soft and thick. Rex has little knobs under his wool on his head where his horns will grow.

We enjoyed our little visit. The girls went off exploring as Robert showed us his various plants. As I reflected on how blessed those girls are to have such loving grandparents and a wonderful yard and house to visit at their grandparents' home, I flashed back to experiences I remember at my own grandparents' homes. My brother and I played in their yards and explored the neighborhoods. For some reason, when I hear birdsong, particularly mockingbirds, I remember the birds in my Granddaddy and Grammy's yard. The yard wasn't all that big, probably, but it had interesting areas, like alongside the house, behind the garage, around the garden and out by the alley. At my Mamaw and Granddaddy's house, there was a concrete picnic table and a big old tree to play around and under. There was also a hedgerow where my brother was sometimes sent to fetch a switch. During winter visits, my brother and I slept in the back bedroom which wasn't heated very well. We hunkered down under heavy, warm quilts. At Mamaw's later house, there was a "porch" swing hanging in the yard from a swingset frame and a big old pear tree. (Yum! Her homemade pear preserves are the only thing I can, trying to capture her perfection.) Behind the house and backyard, beyond the fence, was a huge field where you could see the enormous sky and sometimes storms approaching.

My own grandchildren won't have those same kind of memories with us because times are different, and we live too far away for frequent casual visits. But I cherish our times together. I'm grateful Lisa keeps us informed through her blog. I am also newly determined to do a better job at creating long-distance memories and relationship with our boys.

Take a few minutes to reflect on special times you may have had with your grandparents, and thank God for that heritage.

How I chased him til he caught me OR How my mother picked out my future husband

Brian's story of how he and his wife met (very amusing) http://bpnblog.theobloggers.org/?p=107 inspired me to tell my version of how my DH and I met . It's not as cute as Brian's story, but Bob shared his version at a Sunset International Bible Institute Dinner Thursday night; his version and my mother's differ with my own, so I want to set the record straight. (My version differs only slightly.)

Feel free to share how you met your mate here, or blog it and link it to mine!

I was a student at Lubbock Christian College, sophomore year, spring. My parents had moved to Lubbock the previous summer so that my dad could become a student at Sunset School of Preaching. My mother worked in the school office and handled applications. One caught her attention because his name was the same as someone else my parents had met. She told me about him. (No, Bob, she didn't show me your picture.) Hmm, a preaching student. How to meet him? (The first time I saw him, but didn't meet him on that day, he was nodding off in chapel. A future preacher sleeping in "church"!)

LCC's spring break came the week before Easter. My friends and the guy I was dating (no spark) were all out of town. So I decided that I should visit Sunset to "see what the classes were like there." Sunset students didn't take a break that week. Dad took me to the freshman classroom and introduced me to some of those guys. When Bob walked by the group, I introduced myself. I kept going back all week. It took me a whole week of hanging around to "see what it was like." And somehow I didn't visit my dad's classes, just the class of new freshmen (several were single!).

But no date! Bob had decided to concentrate on studies at SSOP, not on women. He also had a girlfriend (sort of) back home. Even though I hung around all week and his classmates and teachers were teasing him, he didn't ask me out!

On Saturday, I helped arrange for the Sunset guys to play basketball at LCC. I invited Bob and his roommate to dinner afterwards. His roommate declined, but Bob came for the free meal. Still no date, though. On Sunday I decided to visit Sunset for worship (I was a member at Broadway). My brother had wrecked our shared car, so I asked Bob for a ride. Still no invitation for a date. In retrospect I can't believe how bold I was. Monday after Easter - should have returned to school. But LCC had given Monday off for student travel. Guess where I was! Back at Sunset.

Finally! That night Bob called and asked me out. It turned out that he had decided that if his CA girlfriend wrote him that weekend, he would not ask me out. But she didn't. And the rest is history.

Now, there's an interesting detail I like to tease my mother about (she denies this). There was a guy in Dad's class she wanted me to date, but I wasn't interested. At some point (I think after Bob and I started dating), I asked her why she'd picked out Bob since she liked this other guy for me. She told me she thought Bob was "one we could agree on." We still agree on him. Dad does, too.

A funny part of our early dating happened that week before our first official date: on a weeknight, Dad invited Bob to our house for a basketball game on TV (thanks Dad!). Bob's roommate had borrowed his car for a date, so I took Bob home afterwards. We sat in the car in front of the neighbor's house for a LONG time, talking and getting acquainted. Finally, it was very late and I knew I needed to be home, so I asked Bob to say a prayer. We were holding hands, heads bowed, eyes closed (really!) and Bob was praying when there was suddenly a pounding on the car window! It was my dad! Lubbock wasn't necessarily a safe place for a woman alone at night, so he had come looking for me. He had called Bob's house, but since we were parked in front of the neighbor's, Bob's roommate hadn't seen us. Bob says he was pretty embarrassed when he saw Dad at school the next morning!

So there you have it, the TRUE and somewhat boring story of how Bob and Pat met and became a couple. Thirty-two years, three kids and three grandkids, from TX to CA to NJ to FL later, we still are. Nathan is the only one in this picture who has changed. He was about two here; he turns six this week!

Thanks Mom!!

Lisa's half birthday!

Happy half birthday, Lisa! I hope you had a good day. It's amazing how everyone celebrates your half birthday with hearts and flowers and candy!

Did Nathan enjoy his first school Valentine's Day? We met Travis's parents tonight. Very cool! I know you will miss Travis and Angela when they move, but at least they are moving to our region, sort of. Another reason to visit your parents, huh?

Amazing tornado photo

This photo has been circulating in the Lake county, Florida schools. I saw it yesterday and asked that it be passed on the me. It is fascinating. It is said to be the tornado that destroyed homes and took lives in The Villages, Lake County, Florida.

HOWEVER, anonymous pointed me to Snopes, and it is revealed that it was taken at Lake Okeechobee, here in Florida in June 1991.

I'll leave the photo here as it IS amazing, even if another terrible storm. Thanks, anonymous, for setting the record straight as best you are able.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/sedalia.asp

Disaster Relief part 2

I got to help unload a truck of supplies again today, this time at the Orange Avenue church in Eustis. Today the senior class of students from the Christian Home and Bible School in Mount Dora came to help as well. We had fewer Sojourners and others, so that was great. Tomorrow they're unloading yet another truck, but I have to work and will be unable to help. Here are some pictures as promised.
At Orange Ave in Eustis on Wednesday: Bob and other guys putting boxes onto rollers. They were rolled out of the truck and onto a series of tables where gals and guys shoved them along to the storage area. Then guys stacked them for later distribution.

Here are some of the girls waiting to pass boxes along the way.

I give up! Blogger is being so persnickety. I've tried to upload pictures over and over again; they won't load. Then one disappears. And the words won't go with the picture I put them with. Obviously, the girls are in the last picture, not the middle one. Anyway, you get the idea.

I'm grateful to have been given this opportunity to assist in a very small way. May God use the efforts of Christians and the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief to further His kingdom and bless those in need.

Disaster Relief

Often when we hear about a disaster, we wish we could help in some way. And too often all we can do is pray and possibly send money. Today I got to participate in a very small way in disaster relief.

I know everyone heard about the tornadoes here in central Florida. They happened to our northwest and northeast. People who have witnessed it said the areas are just flattened.

Churches of Christ Disaster Relief has brought supplies into our area - one truck today and two more tomorrow. And I was privileged to help offload the supplies in Leesburg, one of the staging areas. Some of the supplies were reloaded into small rental trucks for distribution and some stored at the Leesburg church building. Bob, our associate minister, Eddie, and two others from Mount Dora went with men from two other organizations who have come in with chain saws and other equipment to help with cleanup.

Many Sojourners are staying at the Bible camp and are "off" this week, having worked other weeks at the camp and in preparation for a lectureship type meeting at the camp next week, so they were available to come unload also. There were folks from probably a dozen local congregations who also helped. We assembly-lined the boxes into the other trucks and building.

It was a very small task, but we were all happy to have the opportunity to do what little we could. It's not great to live near a "disaster" site, but it's good to feel a little bit useful.

The general public is still being kept out of the areas; too many gawkers and curiosity seekers as well as folks up to no good, probably. So it's really nice to have these organizations who are allowed in to assist in some way.

The truck had snacks for workers (not us, but folks passing out supplies on site), water, boxes of MRE's enough for a family of 4 for 5 days, baby supplies. Sometimes the trucks also have cleaning kits and supplies for elderly. It's also nice to see that monies sent are really well used. The organization is able to purchase $3 worth of food or other supplies for $1.

If I get pictures (can't believe we forgot the camera), I'll post some. Remember the survivors (not victims, we were reminded, but survivors) in your prayers, and the Christians who minister to them, that God will be glorified and the Kingdom increased through these efforts.

It's never too late

I saw a great t-shirt slogan while I was at Curves on Thursday: "It's never too late to have a happy childhood." Love it! To me it says, no matter what your age, enjoy life. I had a great childhood, so I don't want the slogan to imply that I didn't. I just like the encouragement to have fun each day.

What did I like about my childhood? I was a shy child, so I enjoyed reading. Still do. I love the escape reading fiction provides. I love the information I can glean from non-fiction, especially looking up info on the internet. Give me some time free from tasks and you'll find me with my nose in a book! The only downside is that I get so "into" a book that it can affect my mood. If the main character is having a difficult time, say with her guy, it can be hard not to project that mood onto my poor husband!

What else did I like about childhood? I enjoyed playing outdoors when the weather wasn't terribly hot (Texas summers -- prepared me for Florida? I plan to spent lots of time indoors this summer, but I'm sure enjoying the weather right now, um, except for the tornado threats and damage here in Lake County). But I digress. I still enjoy the outdoors. I don't get outdoors as much as I'd actually like. DH doesn't enjoy the outdoors like I do, so I've never cultivated hiking, birding, etc. But invite me to minigolf or play Bocce, I'm there. Anyone for a hike along a Florida boardwalk? Better yet, how 'bout the beach!

Being with friends. I loved being invited to a friend's house to play. I can remember Sunday afternoons at my friend Suzanne's and going next door to Debbie's. We had a great time when we were invited to the Rosenquists', and they didn't even have a TV!! I still like a girls' night out or a game night. Scrapbooking, anyone? Dinner, movie?

Laughing and acting silly. I don't do that nearly enough. That's why I like the t-shirt slogan. It's an invitation to enjoy myself, not to worry too much about what people think, enjoy the company of others and God's creation.

Being cared for and taken care of. When I'm sick, thankfully not too often since my parents live far away, I still want my mommy. But my family and church family care for me and I care for them.

Jesus tells us to become as little children. I think all these things I enjoyed about being a child might apply.

Fun? God must have enjoyed creating creatures like giraffes, chimpanzees, toucans, butterflies, and elephants. Come on, blowing water out of a trunk! How cool is that? Surely He wants us to have fun with His creation and with each other. We had fun bowling with church friends last weekend, even in the dark!

Reading. His Word is one of His greatest gifts, right after the gift of salvation. We have His actual Words as revealed by the Holy Spirit. And each book is wrapped up in the personality of a human being. Isn't it awesome how each time You read it You find new meaning? The Bible doesn't change, but our situations change. Our perceptions and awareness change. Our needs change. And we find answers and wisdom in His Word each and every time. It affects my mood, always for the better, thankfully. And I can travel to other places and times as I read about God's chosen people throughout the ages.

Being taken care of and cared for. No one better to do that than the Lord through His works and through His people.

Yup, it's never too late to have a happy childhood. I'm going to try to make a greater effort to have fun and enjoy life as long as I'm still here on earth. And I'm going to try to be more childlike spiritually as well.

Laodicea and being needed

I've been pondering Laodicea since Wednesday night. We're studying the Revelation given to John and have gotten to the seventh church. The teacher brought a couple of insights to the study that have me thinking.

The first thought that caught my particular attention did so because of my interest in education, first as an involved parent, more recently as a part-time educator. Our teacher (Larry Shyers) pointed out that Laodicea is kind of like the mediocre student in a class: not noticed, thinks he/she is fine, happy to blend in; when teacher does a mental head count she can't remember this one - "who am I missing?" From my children's grade school years I can remember in a PTA meeting a plan to reach out to these neglected students. We have programs for gifted and "special" but not much time or special effort for the average ones. They exist in the church, too. They are happy to attend on Sunday morning, maybe occasionally another service or event. I know that elders and preachers would love dearly to know how to turn these pew warmers on! God wants them excited. How do we accomplish this? That is a whole ‘nother discussion, and one that is addressed in depth in many other blogs.

Another problem with Laodidea was that they thought they were self-sufficient, needing no one. Laodicea was a trading crossroads and had every physical thing they could possibly need. They didn’t need anyone’s help. Wow! This is America. This describes Americans. We pride ourselves in self-sufficiency. But neither Christians nor non-Christians are self-sufficient. We need the Lord! We are not and cannot be "good enough" and we need to remember this. We also need each other. And we need to know we are needed. That's one problem with pew warmers. They don't feel needed. Folks don't really "buy into" or get excited about the Lord and the work of the Church until they know they are needed.This one hits home with me currently. I feel sort of in limbo, drifting with the current.

In our many years of ministry, particularly in the two churches with whom we worked 17 and 10 years, I've pretty much always felt needed. As the wife of a minister, I've always been aware of needs, more than I could handle most times. Sometimes I'm the best one to fill a need. Sometimes I'm the only one to fill a need. Often it would be useful and wise to recruit someone else to fill that need.

(In a future post, I plan to address what it’s like for a minister and his family to “be fired” and part of that relates to being no longer needed. But I’m saving that discussion. It needs a lot of thought and care to put in print, so to speak, such sensitive commentary.)

Right now I'm in an odd place. I feel not needed. I haven't found my niche here in our "new" congregation. Oh, I feel welcomed and useful, but not really needed. Jobs I've done in our previous churches are filled here. I was very involved in ladies' class, the hub of women's ministry, in previous churches, but ladies' class here meets while I'm working so I’m not really “in the loop.” My work schedule prohibits some areas of service that I’ve done before. So I’m kind of floundering, treading water, until I find how God specifically wants to use me here.

(Allow me to digress for just a paragraph. I dislike be introduced as the minister’s wife. I’m not sure why. I think it’s because I want my own identity apart from “the wife of the minister.” What does that title communicate, anyway? I married a minister because I wanted to be closely involved in the work of the church, but that doesn't define who I am. And I don’t want anyone to have a particular expectation of me because I’m married to the minister. In the same way that our children were always told that certain behavior was expected because these were our standards as Christians and not because they were the minister’s children, I want people to expect or not expect certain things of me because I’m a Christian, not because of my husband’s role in the church.)

During our year-long search for Bob’s new preaching job, I did a huge amount of researching and searching out churches; preparing packets to send; traveling to churches with him, being "interviewed" and researching potential new homes; and trying to help keep my husband encouraged. Now we're settled into our new home and new church and everything is running fairly smoothly. That was a big, time-consuming, urgent, important job. But it’s done.

A friend with whom we correspond has asked in two letters, "What are your new and/or biggest challenges and opportunities there?" And I haven't answered the question because I don’t know. I don't know what my challenges and opportunities are here. What do I have to offer in this particular church and community? I teach Bible school, but so do a lot of others and before I came here, someone else taught the class. The curriculum is a published one. I’ve gotten pretty lazy about preparation since it’s largely done for me. I'm having a hard time being excited about teaching. Attitude alert!

I thought perhaps when God led us here I would have new opportunities, personally, to teach someone(s) the gospel. That would be very exciting. I've been the mostly-silent partner in many studies with Bob, but I’d love to teach someone(s) myself. However, I’m not very good at starting the conversation. I guess I hoped God would drop those opportunities in my lap. But I haven't made any connections leading to studies. Am I missing your leading, Lord? Make me more aware.

As a substitute teacher, I don't feel I do anything special. Beyond maintaining order and deciphering the teacher’s plans, it’s not very challenging. (Well, day to day, it can be challenging, but overall, I don't feel I make a difference.) That’s why I decided a few years ago to pursue a full-time teaching job. I really do believe that teachers can make a difference in children’s lives. I hoped when we relocated to Florida that I would finally get that teaching job I’ve been seeking. I hope that God is just preparing the right job for me in the way He prepared us here and the church here for us. Currently I'm praying that if God doesn't want me to teach full-time, He reveal this clearly (but I pray this reluctantly, because I don't really want God to tell me that He has something else in mind for me). I'm still hoping and praying for a teaching job . . . and I'd appreciate your prayers on my behalf in this, too. I guess if I don't have a teaching job by the end of summer, that will be a pretty clear answer, since Florida supposedly needs teachers. If they don't need them desperately enough to hire me . . . . Just in the past week I've gotten hints (from Him?) that there might be a job in my future, so I'm feeling a bit more hopeful.

As I composed this, I was reminded that I do have a job to do right now. I'm coordinating an area mother-daughter retreat this weekend. One of my gifts is organization, so I'm sure God is using me in this. However, I’ve been kind of easy-going about the retreat until very recently because the expectation that was communicated to me was not particularly high. I also believed that the only reason I was asked to do it was because I was “new blood” and the previous coordinators were tired of doing it. So I haven’t been excited enough about our preparations. I think that attitude was a mistake. I hope there’s time enough in this last week of preparation time for God to still use it as mightily as He is able, in spite of my poor attitude. I’m praying that my lack to this point won’t prevent God from using it to His glory. I think I need some deeper prayer time before this weekend, don't you? I've been so busy organizing and planning and preparing that I haven't prayed about it nearly enough. I know the speaker will be excellent, that she has been in prayer and in the Word in preparation. Hopefully God will use our little committee to be a springboard to revitalize it. I think I've short-changed God to this point. Laodicea, that’s been me. Pray for me in this, too, please.

Okay, I really don’t intend this to be a pity-party! Really, truly. I DO solicit your prayers, but I my intention was just to share what’s going on in my life. The Laodicea discussion kind of woke me up. I haven't posted much 'cause I hadn't had much to say. I decided to put these thoughts out there in cypberspace so that I can have some clarity. Dee inspired me with her post about depression, http://deeandrews.net/2007/01/23/white-water-rafting-through-the-narrows/, so I thought I’d be really honest, too. Don't think I'm soliciting sympathy - poor, pitiful me. I'm really not. I'd appreciate your prayers, though, for insight and motivation (and a job!)

It was my birthday and I partied . . . . sort of

Thanks for the birthday wishes. It was a fun few days.

Bob and I enjoyed Epcot, which I decided is an "older folks" amusement park. No roller coasters at Epcot, which is mostly okay with Bob and me. But Disney's Magic Kingdom is more our speed overall, I think, a good midline between Universal or Six Flags with their heart-pounding coasters and where you feel like a wimp if you don't do all the coasters and staid Epcot where most of the "rides" are large group rides that move slowly on tracks, much like Magic Kingdom's Small World. At Magic Kingdom there are moderate coasters like Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain which I can handle. I know we will repeat Magic Kingdom. Epcot is just a bit too tame to thrill and probably won't get a repeat.

Epcot has two parts; it feels like it's creators couldn't decide which direction to go. There's Future World where the rides are and seems to be geared toward being educational. We most enjoyed the test track, where a group experiences a simulation of a car's test for a various items like breaking, manuevering, and a "high speed" curved track (I think it reached 60! whoohoo!). It was fun, though fairly tame. We DID really enjoy "Soarin' ", a simulated hang-glider ride. Again, we were with a group, but once the "glider" was raised and moved forward toward the screen, you almost forgot the other passengers and felt like you were soaring over California. Other rides included an Ellen Degeneres hosted educational ride about energy and a ride through "time" about the evolution of communication. There was a boat ride which moved through experimental greenhouses which was pretty interesting.

After thoroughly experiencing the rides, we moved on to the international experiences. Canada, Great Brittain, France, Germany, Morocco, China, Japan, the US, and Mexico are the countries I remember. Each region has a sit-down restaurant (think $$$) and "fast-food" offerings (no free samples), souvenir shops selling items representing those countries, buildings representing those countries, and entertainment. In China we enjoyed acrobats. In Canada we thoroughly enjoyed Celtic rock music by "Off Kilter." Bob even bought one of their CDs. All in all, I'm glad we experienced Epcot, but I doubt that we'll do it again unless someday we purchase Disney annual passes. Some folks in this area have annual passes and enjoy the entertainment and/or impromptu meals at the regional restaurants. One really good thing about the day was the lack of crowds. We were there on a Thursday with "iffy" weather. There were a few school groups and some families, some couples, etc. Our visit to Magic Kingdom during Christmas break was MUCH more crowded! We didn't feel rushed or pressured at Epcot at all. We didn't wait longer than five minutes for any ride.

On Saturday Loni and I enjoyed the Central Florida Highland Games, capped off with a ladies' night out at the Cheesecake Factory.

The Highland Games were so fun! I'm sure we'll make an effort to do it again and bring Bob and maybe others along. Of course, Florida's mild winter day was great. The park where the event was held was very nice with trees and shade, grass, water and paths. There were clan booths (Mom informs me that our family has roots in Jackson, Crawford, and Elliott clans - there was an Elliott booth) and vendors selling jewelry, clothing, food, etc. Food! Loni and I enjoyed fish and chips (there was also Haggis and Scotch Egg) and -- attention Lisa and Trey -- Loni bought a fried Mars bar! More than half the men had on kilts, including the ones tossing cabers, stones and hammers. There were bagpiping and drumming groups, Highland dancing, and border collie demonstrations. I recommend that you visit Highland Games in your area if you have opportunity! (This is Loni enjoying the fried Mars bar.)

Our ladies' night was fun, if initially frustrating. I do not recommend Cheesecake Factory for groups. You cannot make a reservation. I won't go into excruciating detail. Most of our group did manage to get seated together but it took begging and intervention from the manager to accomplish! We had fun but will try a different venue next time! We ended up at Coldwater Creek, though, and several of us made purchases from the clearance area (the only way to afford these clothes!). I wore my new jacket on Sunday, thank you very much. (Diana wore her jacket and Denise wore her new necklace, too. I don't know if Robin has worn any of her new purchases yet, or Jennifer.)

So 2007, my 53rd year on this earth, is off to a pretty good start. This blogging is pretty fun. Thanks, family and friends, for encouraging me to join in. Even more fun is reading YOUR blogs and following links to blogs and other things you find interesting. Thanks for staying in touch, for your kind thoughts and good wishes, and for sharing yourselves. Your prayers for our continued transition, our job situations and my job hunt are much appreciated! Thanks!!