The kids are coming!

The kids are coming tomorrow. We get the boys to ourselves for a few days, then the parents, too. After they all leave (boo hoo), my parents are coming (yea!) to go with us to the Spiritual Growth Workshop in Orlando and spend a few more days. THEN I may finally get to move into my "new" classroom and finish my quilt. I know the rest of the summer will fly by.

Camp was good, and it flew by, thankfully (because it was hard work . . . and when it was done, the kids are coming!). It was a joy to serve, but we were kind of isolated in the kitchen so not much interaction with the kids and the rest of the staff. The kitchen crew was fun, though. We plan to do it again next year.

I'll post some pics eventually, but in the meantime, I'm devoting every minute to our boys!!

Ahhh, summer . . . .

Summer so far has been great, but 4 of 9 weeks is gone!

Last Friday was the Fourth. It was pretty laid-back in our household. In our two previous homes (Randolph and Tabernacle, NJ), we lived on the parade route. In Randolph on the Fourth the hometown parade marched right past our home. In Tabernacle, the parade was on Memorial Day. I miss that, but I love the patriotism. We missed the parade here in Mount Dora, not knowing when it occurred. (MD has TWO parades, Christmas and Independence Day - the weather is much nicer in December!)

At about 5 we parked downtown and listened to friends from church who perform around the area. They were at the park. I'm attaching a picture because I love the Florida cracker-style building that is central to the park.
At dark (about 9) there were fireworks over Lake Dora. We had parked downtown and ate dinner at Fiesta Grande, a local Mexican favorite. Some places have had to cancel fireworks displays because of financial issues; thankfully, Mount Dora did not. Loni told me that our cameras have a fireworks setting, so we had fun trying to capture the beauty. (Next year need to try a tripod.)
Speaking of Florida Crackers (natives), since I'll be teaching FL and US history this fall, and while I do know US history, I know FL history - um, not so much - I've been researching. I'm reading an interesting novel by Patrick Smith, A Land Remembered. It's a very enjoyable way to learn some Florida history and get a feeling for what life was like in Florida around the time of the Civil War.
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This week Bob and I are helping out at Central Florida Bible Camp. We're working in the kitchen, and Bob is also teaching a Bible class. It's interesting to compare Christian camps. I have a 40 year history (!) with Christian camping, beginning with Maine's Camp Ganderbrook in the 1960's and 70's. Then Bob and I worked many years at Pennsylvania's Camp Manatawny where our children were campers.

Today I met Lee Cain, whose family and ours knew each other in Massachusetts. Lee remembers my brother Jim as one of his Ganderbrook counselors. I love the small world of the Lord's church!!

Bob spoke tonight at the evening devotional. He mentioned our history with Manatawny, and yes, three campers here at CFBC have also been campers at Manatawny. One of them reminded us that Bill, the eldest son of the Garrett family who helped establish Manatawny, helped establish CFBC.
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Working in the kitchen this week - time to go put my feet up. Night.

First year done

Well, my first year has come to an end in several satisfactory ways. I've earned my professional license by passing my final test; my contract has been renewed; almost all my students passed on to the next grade; my schedule of classes is full (three 7th grade World Geography and - moving up! - three 8th grade Florida/US history classes - and that's as far "up" as I want to go!); new classroom in with the other middle school classes rather than in the "boonies;" and graduation.

Graduation was last night. We attended last year, and it was very nice. This year was more significant for me since I was among the robed and hooded faculty seated up front. In a few years, when my first students are among the graduates, it will be even more special. It was a lovely culmination of the year.

Today is the last day of post-planning. While I'm looking forward to all the summer rest and catching up on chores and projects, I'll miss the daily routine, students, and co-workers. I'll especially miss my lunches with my special co-workers. We probably won't share lunch next year. We'll have different levels of classes. My lunches have been so beautiful: a brief, relaxing respite in the middle of the day, outside in the quiet courtyard near a fountain (all year long in the lovely, mild Florida winter and even in these hotter, summer days recently arrived). These dear ladies have been my true mentors, not the ones assigned to me, but the ones who have nurtured and guided me through my first tentative year. I'd love them if that was the extent of our relationship, but factor in the bond of Christian sisterhood, and the blessing is multiplied. I'll miss them this summer.

But I'm looking forward to catching up with my blogging and email friends! Talk with you soon.

Tagged!

A. Attached or Single- attached for 32 years, almost, and counting

B. Best Friend- Bob

C. Cake or Pie- Pie - French silk!

D. Day of Choice - Sunday, even though it's too full and stressful

E. Essential Item - Bible

F. Flavor of Ice Cream- chocolate, plain old chocolate

G. Gummy Bears or Worms- um, sorry, neither

H. Hometown- Eustis, Florida (home is where hubby is)

I. Indulgences- chocolate, crocs, Pilot G-2 gel pens, waterbed

J. January or July- January (my birthday month and better weather in Florida than July, although July is no school . . . .)

K. Kids- four wonderful adult children (3 born to me, #4 married into the family), three grandkids, and a DH "kid"

L. Last movie I saw in a theater- Indiana Jones

M. Middle Name- Lucile

N. Number of siblings- one brother

O. Orange or Apples- (same as Lisa's)I like both, but I would choose clementines over all other oranges or apples

P. Phobias or Fears- speaking publically to adults/peers

Q. Quote- "Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children." -Walter Elias Disney

R. Reasons to smile- grandchildren!, beautiful weather, lunch with co-workers, days off with Bob, student hugs

S. Season- spring

T. Tag 4- Bob, Loni, my Mom (since she refuses to blog, she'll have to respond here), Trey

U. Unknown fact about me- I love classic movies

V. Vegetarian or oppressor of Animals- there's some judgment expressed in this wording, I suspect! I LOVE meat: beef, chicken, pork.

W. Worst Habit- procrastinating (i.e., laziness)

X. X-rays or Ultrasounds- not having much experience with either . . . I have to agree with Steph and Lisa — who would choose an X-ray over an ultrasound of your baby’s heartbeat?

Y. Your favorite Food- definitely chocolate!! Have you tasted Hershey's new Bliss Dark Chocolate??!!

Z. Zodiac - I don't do horoscope, so I won't go here. I'll go for zoo animal: giraffe.

Bonus!

For as long as I can remember, Bob and I have stayed until the very end of the movie credits. I think it began with my wanting to know where the movie was filmed (geography buff even then). Once in a rare while we're rewarded with a bonus for our patience. Tonight as we watched the credits roll, we were chatting about the empty theatre and how we're almost always the only ones in a theatre to do this and how we wish movie producers would wise up, that movie goers would more likely stay for the credits if they were rewarded with an extra bonus scene. A few years ago we stayed for the end of "Daredevil" and saw a surprise scene like this, an extra perk, a bonus hint of things to come. When this happens, we have an extra thrill that we've be given something others have missed.

Tonight it happened again. (Hint: if you go to see "Ironman," be sure to stay through the credits!)

Hmm, seems there might be a spiritual application to this, something along the lines of "he who is faithful to the end will be rewarded with a crown of life" (a very loose paraphrase of Revelation 2:10 "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.").

When the going gets tough or even when the road just seems long, hang in there. Be faithful unto death. The reward is infinitely better than the fleeting, shallow thrill of being one of the few to see the bonus scene in a movie.

Random Thoughts

We received two more "Christmas" cards/letters yesterday (Feb. 1). It's nice to know I'm not the only one who procrastinates (as evidenced by the fact that I haven't written my thank-you notes yet).

Some people get all bent out of shape by holiday newsletters. Not me. I love to hear what's going on in the lives of far-flung friends I only hear from once a year. Today I read that Andrea and Chuck's four boys are a year older, changing from cute to handsome, and the two eldest have become my brothers in the faith! Yea!

I hardly know Lisa's (Lisa my college BFF, not Lisa my daughter, her namesake) family. I've never met her husband and stepchildren and probably never will since they live in the opposite corner of our nation. But I like to see that she's happily married and travels the world to places I only dream about and teach about in my geography classes.

People who complain about those letters criticize the bragging and dwelling on mundane details. Not me. I skim the parts about people I don't know; say a prayer for my friends' aches, illnesses, sorrows and joys; examine the photos (thanks for sending those!) and lay them aside to reexamine from time to time; and am grateful that we haven't fallen off friends' mailing lists and from their hearts.

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Thursday night Bob and I watched the first game of the Mount Dora Bible girls' softball season. Ah, Florida. We sat in our camping/sports chairs in short sleeves, enjoying the balmy breeze and the crack (bats don't crack any more, they clang or something, don't they?) of the bats as the girls played in sleeveless shirts under the lights.

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How is it I have time to blog this morning? This is the first Saturday I've had in quite a long while without somewhere I need to be at some point. I'm also finding, gratefully, that my work isn't taking so much of my spare time as the previous semester: planning is a little easier since I've established a routine, grading papers can be put off a day or two without the earth ceasing to rotate, papers to be filed - well, if they haven't been filed before today, they probably can wait another day or week or month. Yes, today I need to generate a test to be copied on Monday, plan for the next week, mark three periods of tests, etc. but it's just Saturday morning. "There's hours to go before I sleep."

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I have two screensaver slideshows stored on my computers. One I've been using at school since August seemed appropriate for a geography teacher: Places I've Been. It includes photos of Prague, Edinburgh, Camp Manatawny, Maine, Lompoc flowerfields, a west Texas oil derrick and sagebrush.

Yesterday I decided to switch to Family Photos. I had such a tender feeling throughout the day as I gazed at my grandchildren, children, parents, and sibling (and hubby, of course! but I seem him every day, thankfully!!). Some of my sixth period girls wandered near the computer as they passed me their test papers and stopped to look at the photos: "Your daughter looks just like you!" (Loni); "You look like your mother," and "Aw, they're so cute." (the boys, of course)

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Epiphany: On Thursday one of my students commented (for effect, I'm sure), "You smiled!" I asked, "Don't I smile?" He said, "It's the first time today." I'm sure it wasn't, that he was just trying to get a reaction from me and his fellow-students, but it got me thinking.

I'm pretty much dissatisfied with the behavior of many in my classes. I have high expectations and, as a first year teacher who didn't have as much time to prepare procedures and things as I would have liked (since I didn't know I would be teaching middle-schoolers rather than elementary when I finally was blessed with a teaching job!), my students are often chattier than I'd like. However, that's the nature of the (middle-school) beast: sociable, show-off, talkative. And my classroom has a linoleum floor, cinderblock walls and a low ceiling - perfect for reverberating noise. Visitors (administrators) don't often come to my classroom, but I'm insecure, hoping that my students would be quietly (silently) working or better still, enthusiastically engaged (but with no side conversations!) in a lively discussion about geography or, even better, the Bible in some way that relates to geography (this IS a Bible school, after all). But subconsciously, I'm fearful that should that fateful visit occur, my students would be at their worst (a nightmare I don't want to even put into words of description here in my blog).

But I've digressed from my epiphay. I realized several things as I thought about his spontaneous remark: I am so intent on straightening out and controlling their behavior that I am without good humor; the situation I've got currently is what has evolved from August through January and is not likely to be improved significantly today or anytime soon; the behavior of my students is not as bad as I subconsciously think - it is just not my ideal and likely never will be (they are MIDDLE SCHOOL students, after all); if I want the students to enjoy and be enthusiastic about the information I have to share, I need to "lighten up;" I need to smile more and enjoy and appreciate these young people whose lives I've been blessed to share.

I'm looking forward to my new outlook.

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Bob, Loni, and I went to Disney for my birthday. I love Disney and may never get my fill. We had never been to DisneyWorld before moving to Florida and here we are in Mickey's backyard. I chose MGM Studios this time (which has been renamed Hollywood Studios for some reason) and off we went. I was afraid the weather would be cool, but it was really nice. We had on jackets which were perfect all day; we weren't too cool or too hot.

Fairly early in the day, on the StarTours ride, everyone in our (what to call it? Vehicle? Room? whatever) was gifted with a FastPass Special Pass which entitled us to go to the head of the line of every ride or show which was designated a FastPass ride. Yippee! We were excited, momentarily . . . but all the shows weren't doing FastPass that day. I felt like someone had given me a chocolate icecream cone from ColdStone Creamery, then took it back! So we tried not to be put-out (after all, it's not like something we'd paid for had been taken, or whatever) and just enjoy the day. The shows were fun. The crowds weren't too bad. And finally, yes, because we had the FastPass ticket, Bob and I decided to try a ride we probably wouldn't have otherwise: The Rocking RollerCoaster. Now, you have to realize that Bob and I aren't coaster people. And we've never been on one that goes upside down! BUT the Rocking Roller Coaster is in the dark. We were Bob the Builder, "We can do it! Yes, we can!" And we did it. Bob (DH, not the Builder) yelled, "This is great," over and over again. I kept instinctively closing my eyes, then making myself open them again (we were in the dark, after all!). It was fun. I might (MIGHT, no promises) try another coaster that goes upside down someday, but the next one won't be with dangling feet, I'm pretty sure.

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Since I had the time this morning, I spent an hour finishing a book I started before Christmas, His Dark Materials. This is the trilogy from which the movie, "The Golden Compass," was made. I decided, as a middle school teacher, to read the book so I could say with authority, and not second-hand, what was and was not true about the book. It is extremely imaginative and well-written. I can see why Philip Pullman won all the awards. And it is not until halfway through the second of the three books that the identity of the evil ones is revealed to be "God" and his angels and followers. The powerful groups of the "church" (recognizable as the RC church) are Pullman's really bad guys out to kill the innocent girl and those defending her (because somehow she is the key to who stays in control and what happens to the worlds and their inhabitants). Pullman's "god" is a fallen angel who has named himself "God." (Um, Mr. Pullman, where did angels and the rest of these creatures and worlds come from?) One of the good guys, a woman, was a nun who left the church and is no longer a Christian, but "free." Some of the other "good guys" are witches and gypsies. The story is fascinating and convoluted. I DO NOT recommend that anyone read it. I hope no one bothers. I sincerely hope that young people don't read it and become influened to his viewpoint.

I'm glad to be done with it. The book is now in the trash (minus a few pages I kept for reference) and I'll happily move onto my stash of Christian fiction and more innocent juvenile literature.

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Well, enough randomness for one day. I know anyone who reads this is amazed that there's actually something to read on my blog. You've probably stopped even checking in here. I'm glad you did.

Have a blessed day.

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!