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!!

Oops! Wrong link to Malia's great birthday quotes!

Here's the right link, I hope: http://maliakcarden.blogspot.com/2007/01/3three-on-one1.html
Enjoy! (And thanks, Malia, for nice thoughts and comments!)

It's my birthday and I'll party if I want to!

No, not today. It's tomorrow (thanks to all who have already sent me cards! You are really on the ball!). But I expect to be gone all day, from early morning to late evening, so I won't be blogging. Bob's present to me, which I requested, is a day at Epcot. And I plan to party, Disney-with-my-best-friend style! Friday I'll bake myself my favorite cake and let my DH and DD take me to dinner. II do have to work Friday and Monday, but I gave myself my birthday off. Guest teachers can sometimes do that.) Saturday DD and I are thinking about going to the Highland Games, and Saturday night is Gals Night Out at the Cheesecake Factory (I'm more enthused about the outing with the girls than the cheesecake which -I know, I know, I'm strange - I don't care for.)

Malia, whose birthday preceded mine by a week, has some great quotes on her post about birthdays. http://maliakcarden.blogspot.com/2007/01/thanks-yall.html . Unlike Malia, as far back as I can remember, I liked the timing of my birthday. It was far enough removed from Christmas to be separate, but I could ask for my birthday what I didn't get for Christmas. This year, since the grandsons and their parents came to town, I got Disney Magic Kingdom for Christmas and will get more Disney for my birthday. Whoohoo!

I don't think anyone but family reads my blog, but in case you aren't family and are curious, I was born in 1955. Yup! Almost qualified for a senior discount! It's only a teensy bit hard for me to admit my age. I like what my spiritual sister, Linda Carr, said a few years ago when someone asked her age and someone else shushed the inquisitor, "I don't mind telling how old I am. I had nothing to do with that. Just don't ask what I weigh!"

Don't read this blog right before bed!

Today the weather was so gorgeous, pretty amazing for January. We're certainly enjoying Florida winter. BUT tonight we were greeted at the door by this enormous spider! Loni and I were fascinated, although I was pretty creeped out, too! But back in the fall I accompanied a class of fourth graders on a field trip to Trout Lake for an ecological trip. At the end, during lunch, we were entertained and informed by a great speaker who loves spiders and tried to convince us that they are our friends. Ahem. So I'm reluctant to kill all spiders, especially if they are outdoors rather than in. And not knowing which of two spiders our friend is . . . one of them eats cockroaches, which I think I dislike even more than spiders!

So, like Lisa (who requested helpl in identifying her many-legged house-dweller), I'm requesting that anyone who reads this blog and can help identify this spider, help!!! Is it a wolf spider (venomous but not terribly dangerous) or a huntsman (eater of cockroaches)? Here it is. I should add that it's body is about 1 1/4 inch. Leg span was probably 2 inches or more. Yuck!

Loni, here is snow for you!

One of the things on Loni's Christmas wish list was snow. I wish I'd have thought of it sooner, but I could have at least given her a snow globe. I love snow globes. But thanks to a new blogging friend of Lisa's (I was checking out her thirteens - something new to me), I found a site where you can create a snowflake (and see flakes created by others). So, Loni, this is for you: http://www.popularfront.com/snowdays/. Enjoy!

Manatees and alligators and herons, oh, my!

After dropping Trey at the airport, we made a day trip to Blue Springs to see the manatees. We were told last night that someone that day had seen 8 or 10, but we were amazed and pleased to see many more than that! There are numerous springs in Central Florida where millions of gallons (in this case 100 million) of fresh water come from underground each day. The manatees are attracted to such places when the rivers turn cool; the springs are a consistent 72 degrees year round. The water is crystal clear and beautiful. (The air temp was great today, too. After a brief cold snap, the air was in the low 70s with a gentle breeze.)

We also saw, for the first time since moving to Florida, a couple of alligators. Here's a shot of one (on the far bank, thankfully).

And comfortably preening itself in a tree was this large bird, a heron, I think. (I'm not very informed yet about Florida flora and fauna.)

Tomorrow I think we may see some more animals of the domesticated kind: human sized mice and dogs, and probably some fantasy creatures like princesses, too. Can you guess where we're headed?