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!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Saturday, July 21, 2007
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
