Crumbs from Cookie

Waiting on God

2010-06-08T16:28:00.004-05:00

I don't know about you, but I hate to wait. I want to know all my plans are in place and hope that they will go off without a hitch.

I've found that's not the way God usually works.

We are planning to leave for Haiti in 2-1/2 weeks. Our trip will cost about $4000. So far, we've raised $665 (plus $50 that I've misplaced somewhere!). We feel God is wanting us to go at this time, and we've already seen His provision in several ways.

We were able to purchase the airline tickets to Haiti with savings that came from Mark's mother's estate. We'd hope to use that money to pay on debts, but at least we didn't incur more to buy the tickets. The donations we've received so far were enough to pay for our Tortug'Air tickets for our in-country flights.

The remaining money we need is for our in-country expenses -- lodging at the guest house. I'm sure we could always put up hammocks at Ruth & LJ's house and pitch in for food, if we needed to. Their house is so tiny that there's no room inside.

Please pray for me that I'll be patient as I wait on God's provision. Pray for guidance and an open mind if it becomes clear that we're to wait until another time to go. (Our American Airline tickets can be used up to a year from the original flight date.) Pray for God to open hearts to our need so that others can be a part of our trip. Pray for our safety and protection as we venture out, seeking His will for our future. Pray that I'll find that missing $50 check!

Thank you for your love, concern and prayers for our family. We couldn't do this without you!

Haiti Bound, Si Bondye Vle (if God wills)

2010-04-13T00:44:00.002-05:00

Mark & I are planning a trip to Haiti in early June this summer. We want to meet the folks doing the work for Agape Flights in Port au Prince. They are doing this on a volunteer basis, in addition to their real ministry! We also want to introduce Will to the country. He'll have just turned 13, so he's still at an impressionable age. We are confident he'll handle it well, since he has yet to meet a stranger! When we went to Agape Flights in October 2008, he was introducing us around because he'd already met most everyone! While we’re in Haiti, we’ll assist in whatever ministries are ongoing with those we visit.

Please pray for God's provision. What is holding us back from entering missions right now is finances. Slowly we are seeing progress. However, this means we can't just stick the expenses for this trip on a credit card or write a check.

Even if we could fund the trip ourselves, we want to involve you, our friends and loved ones. Please pray for us and consider partnering with us for this trip. We will need either frequent flyer miles (35,000 miles per ticket, or 105,000 miles total) or about $2000 for airfare, plus about $2000 for other expenses like food and lodging for about 9 days.

As for the goal of entering missions, Mark is trying to settle his mother's estate. Hopefully, when the estate is settled, we'll be able to pay off all of our credit card debt. This would only leave us with our mobile home and our cars, which are both nearing the point where we could sell them and not lose money.

Julie, 23, is still in Germany with her hubby, Josh. He's teaching English on a Fulbright scholarship. They'll be heading home in early July. John, 21, is awaiting a basic training date for the Air Force. The latest he's heard is August 2010, which is just a guess. He's looking for a job in the mean time. Know anyone who needs odd jobs done or knows of an opening for a college-age guy? Will, 12, is dragging his way through his school work and having fun in karate classes. John joined karate as well and is really getting into it, as well as parkour. (Google it if you're not familiar with parkour.)

We are hoping that we could soon be asking you to help support us as real missionaries! However, we trust in God's timing and know that He is the one to bring it to pass. Please note that our contact information has changed (see above). Thanks for your love and support! Let us know how we can pray for you!

Praising Him,

Mark & Carol Hawkins

Long awaited update

2010-02-06T10:24:00.009-06:00

One of my handful of readers insisted I needed an update. Where do I start?

On the personal front, I'm still working away at teaching school. Things are going pretty well there. My hubby has begun some installations in schools, which means working late and hopefully a little overtime. My daughter is doing well in Germany, apparently (no pun intended) getting baby fever from babysitting two adorable children of friends. My older son is home from his Canada visit to his fiancée and is now waiting for a basic training date from the Air Force. My younger son was doing very well on his AD/HD meds but recently started sliding into old patterns. We visited the doc yesterday, and she is adjusting his meds a bit. Overall, though, he has made good progress!

On the missions front, we were able to represent Agape Flights at our church's mission conference. It felt like a little closer to being missionaries! Our friend, Ruth Scott, Agape Flights missionary to Les Cayes, Haiti, was able to return home to join us at the table, hear her son preach, and travel to see her new grandson! Ruth and LJ are always such an encouragement to us! Financially, we're still plugging away at retiring debts. Mark is trying to wrap up loose ends of his mom's estate, which will bring in a little more money to put toward debts. As you know, Haiti has suffered a major earthquake, which has put life at a standstill in Port-au-Prince. We aren't sure where Agape Flights would have us serve, but we're still willing to go wherever God is sending us. Please keep praying for God's leading and timing.

Agape Flights has been doing tons (literally) of relief shipments into Haiti. The only airplane they own, the King Air 90, suffered a landing gear collapse in Jacmel, Haiti. This will at least put the plane out of commission for a long time, if not permanently. They are leasing and borrowing other planes for relief shipments, but I know they will be needing to repair or replace the King Air. Please pray for Agape Flights as they continue their exhausting work and seek God's direction concerning the King Air.

Thanks for your continued interest in our family!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T09:22:00.004-06:00

I totally missed December in blogging! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with family & friends.

Our Christmas was small & quiet. My married daughter was off in Germany. My older son went to Canada to see his fiancee. So it was just me, my hubby and my younger son. We didn't even decorate! I got out a Christmas tablecloth, but that was about it. My younger son picked out most of his own presents, so I didn't even wrap gifts. But it was nice and relaxing, and I didn't hear any complaints.

I've enjoyed a two-week break from working. I love teaching, but it's nice to get some time to myself. I must have really been tired because I've been sleeping a lot! I guess I needed to catch up!

We've decided to start planning a trip to Haiti to introduce our younger son to the country. Hopefully we'll be able to spend some time there this summer. Spring break is an option, but it wouldn't give us much time there. We've applied for our son's passport, which is the first step. Once our missionary friends get settled back in the country after their Christmas trips home, we'll start discussing timetables and arrangements.

I've started a diet called the Phase One diet. It is similar to Atkins -- very low carb. I was on it a couple of years ago and did very well. My blood sugar and lipid numbers went WAY down. Right now, my diabetes control is the worst it has ever been ! I need to do something for my health's sake. I need to lose some weight. And if I get a better figure in the mean time, even better! I'm going to try to do some exercising, too. I just haven't developed the plan for that yet. I do have an accountability partner! She's starting her diet on Sunday, January 3. She's a homeschooling missionary mom in Mexico that I met on SparkPeople, a free weight-loss website.

I also want to get into better spiritual habits -- Bible reading, praying, giving, etc. Please pray for me in this. Feel free to ask me how it's going when you see me!

I wish you all a Happy New Year! If you needed a new start, here's a brand new decade!

Thankful for blessings

2009-11-25T08:47:00.004-06:00

Last Sunday evening, we had a Thanksgiving barbecue dinner at our church. (Yes, barbecue!) The praise time was awesome! There was also a time for us to share what we were thankful for this year. Although I didn't share at that time, it got me thinking. It has been an eventful year, and I have a lot to be thankful for.

A Heavenly Father who gave His only Son that we might have life!
The ability to offer Him praise and honor!
A family who all trust in Christ as their Savior!
A son who led his girlfriend to Christ this spring!
A wonderful trip to Haiti with 11 wonderful people!
A wedding with 14 beautiful Haitian brides!
A fun visit with my son's girlfriend!
A beautiful wedding for my beautiful daughter!
A handsome & intelligent son-in-law added to our family!
A loving mother-in-law who finished well and is with the Father now!
A lovely daughter-in-law to be!
A wealth of loving extended family!
A faithful, loving and very patient husband of 27 years!
God's provision of jobs and material needs!

So often I fail to remember just how much for which I am thankful. And I'm sure my list is way too short!

I pray God will give you, my friend, a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends and many blessings in the year to come!

Just going through life

2009-10-18T19:55:00.003-05:00

It's been three weeks, so it's past time for an update. I'm not sure I have much to say.

Will had a great time on his first trip to Pine Cove, a Christian camp, for a weekend retreat with the midschoolers. A friend & I were counting up the years we have had kids going to Pine Cove. For her, it was 7. I realized that over the last 11 years, when my daughter first went, my kids have gone every year except last year. They continued to go as high schoolers on the servant team (serving meals for the midschoolers). My older son even went once as an "adult counselor" after graduating high school. He skipped last year, though.

Today was Missions Meal. This is a monthly (most months) meal we cook and serve to raise funds for our Haiti Sister Church or other missions cause. It's always fun to get together with friends and work for a good cause. We're raising funds with a new roof in mind for our brothers and sisters in Chambellan, Haiti. We had a small crew, but we got it done eventually, starting at 8:00 a.m. and finishing up at 2:30 p.m. We hung out for an hour to wait for the midschoolers to return from Pine Cove.

I've been convicted about a couple of things -- time in the Word and in prayer, and financial giving. I'm posting it here so I'll be accountable to you, my reader friends. So far, I haven't made any changes. I find time to read fiction all the time, but I'm having trouble getting motivated to read my Bible. Right now, I'm not in a Bible study other than my mini-church (home group), so I don't have a class to structure my reading. I'm terrible at deciding WHAT to read, and that stalls me out. I have a devotional that would at least keep me going, but I'm not picking that up either. So, when you see me, asking me how I'm doing on spending time with the Lord.

Although I enjoy the relative simplicity of having fewer people around, I do miss my big kids. With my daughter in Germany for 9 more months and my son in Toronto for a few more weeks, it's been quiet. But I do enjoy the smaller grocery bill! Only I have to adjust my shopping habits to buying for three, not five. We can get by on a gallon of milk each week! Wow!

OK, I guess I had something to say! I'd better wake my younger son and see if I can get him to do a little more school work!

2009-09-26T22:53:00.002-05:00

A friend told me today that I update my blog every two months, whether it needs it or not! OK, friend! Here's an update, much sooner than predicted!

As of Wednesday, we're a one-kid household. My older son is in Canada visiting his girlfriend. My daughter is married and in Germany with her husband. It feels strange to only be the three of us! But it's kind of nice, too. Less to worry about, fewer people making messes, etc. Don't get me wrong. I miss the big kids. But I'm ready for this next stage. And the older son will be back for a couple of weeks before he leaves for Basic Training.

My younger son was in a parade today. Lewisville had their Western Days festival. My son's karate group marched in Old Town Lewisville. It was a small group and short parade, but it was fun! My husband and I drove the instructors van, equipped with an amp and speakers which were playing country music loudly for the crowd! It was good to help out!

Tonight we went to a thank you dinner for serving on the Brew Crew, our church's coffee service team. We serve coffee for the church services on Sunday. The coordinator hosted us to a nice dinner of fajitas and all the fixings in his lovely backyard. We had a wonderful time getting to know each other better!

It was nice to have a relaxing weekend with fun events. Not that we don't have a few fix-it projects looming in the future! But that'll be another weekend!

Back in the Saddle

2009-09-19T21:12:00.007-05:00

Or, rather, bus driver's seat. The school hired two new drivers. One of them is terrific! The other one quit after a week and a half. They tried to get teachers to drive personal vehicles. They even rented some 15-passenger vans. It still wasn't working well. So they asked me to drive until a new driver, whom they had hired, could start in a few days. I agreed to drive for a few days.

The driver didn't work out. I'm still driving. It's only been a week so far, but the driving is much easier than last year. Instead of having 50-60 students, I have 20-30 students. Also, my route is over 10 miles shorter. I'm thinking about continuing the job. They asked me if I wanted the job when the new driver didn't materialize, but at that time I didn't think it would be a good idea. Please pray for wisdom for me. The money is nice, but I need my sleep and my sanity!

My daughter and son-in-law are in Germany. I hear they were supposed to move into an apartment, but I haven't heard from them since. A youth hostel, which has rooms full of bunk beds, is not a newlywed's dream accommodation! Also, due to Oktoberfest, the hostel was booked solid. The apartment came through the day their reservation ran out at the hostel! I hope it is working well for them.

My older son is leaving for a 5-week stay in Ontario with his girlfriend. He'll be back for about two weeks before he leaves again for Basic Training. It just hit the younger son that his brother wouldn't be around much longer. It's going to be a hard transition for him, but I think it will be a good one for us. It might be emotional, though.

We're still battling schoolwork issues with the younger boy. He's already sliding into bad habits. Driving hasn't helped any because I haven't had the energy to ride his case constantly. We saw the neurologist again on Friday. She's going to put him back on Adderall, but on the extended-release version. My son tells me, after we've left the office, driven across town, and are eating lunch, that he doesn't want to go back on it because it makes him moody. I wish he'd said that at the doctor's office! We'll give it a try and see how he does. The Focalin made a noticeable difference, but he still wasn't getting his work done. And, yes, we have seen him do his work willingly, if not cheerfully, when medication was working well.

My class is going well. I'm sticking closer to procedures than I did last year, and things are running more smoothly. I also feel like I'm getting more opportunities to provide academic assistance -- that is, actually teach!

As for the missions front, things are still moving slowly. We hope to be more aggressive in paying off bills. We've had a lot of home repairs that needed to be done, and we still have more to do! That will get the house more ready to sell, so it's not wasted money or moving backwards in our "getting ready" process. It's hard to wait on God's timing, even when you know His timing is perfect!

Sorry I left you hanging!

2009-09-05T16:27:00.009-05:00

My daughter said I need to update my blog! She's right. I shouldn't have left you in a slump for a month!

My biggest bit of news -- NO MORE SCHOOL BUS DRIVING! After a near miss involving a tight turn and a ditch, I decided the stress of driving was too much for me after my roller coaster summer. My nerves are just not up to it. I think I'll be a better teacher for doing less. And I'll be available to tutor or meet with parents after school.

School has started, and we're setting into a routine now.

My younger son has started a new AD/HD medicine, and it seems to be working well. We are determined to keep him on track this year!

My teaching is going well so far. I still have a few challenges now and then, but that's just part of it! Teens will be teens. Overall, it seems much smoother than last year. Maybe I learned from the experience of my first year.

My daughter and son-in-law have left for Germany. He will be teaching English in a German high school on a Fulbright scholarship. Hopefully they are finding a place to live and settling in. I haven't heard more than a "Good morning!" on Skype. Of course, I was

asleep at the time! We'll get this time difference thing worked out eventually. I need to get a webcam so we can actually see and hear each other.

My older son is officially in the Air Force now. He departs for Basic Training in San Antonio on November 17. Life is changing in a hurry for our family. Frankly, although I'll miss my older kids, I'm ready for this next phase. I'm hoping it will be better for all of us.

Keep Mark in your prayers as he will be the representative in handling her estate. He'd be the executor, but the will she prepared wasn't valid. The lawyer said declaring her intestate would be easier and would give the same results with less hassle and expense. He'll have to make several trips up to Oklahoma on business days for court

appearances and such. They will also have to sell the property. The house still isn't empty, but it's getting there.

We've been able to use some of the money from my mother-in-law's estate to pay some bills and make a couple of purchases. We have some nice patio furniture that we're using in our living room that we got at the end-of-season discount of 50%. If we ever make it to Haiti, the termites can't eat this! It's cast aluminum. Also, Mark is buying a digital SLR camera, which has been a long-time dream. I think taking a photography class at church this summer stirred up the shutterbug in him!

Slump

2009-08-01T18:17:00.013-05:00

I'm in a slump. Here's a few definitions:

a landslide or rockslide

the vertical subsidence of freshly mixed concrete that is a measure of consistency and stiffness

glass melted over or into a mold using heat from a kiln

a period during which a person performs slowly, inefficiently, or ineffectively

Which one do you think applies?

The Haiti Bunch

2009-07-27T08:25:00.000-05:00

The 2009 Haiti Team, or "The Haiti Bunch", had a wonderful time visiting our sister church in Chambellan. We had twelve members: Pastor Bill Lee, Midschool Director Charlie Ridenour, Bryan Knowles, Roger and Linda Little, Mission Board Member Cindy Guidroz, Carol Etheredge, Mark & Carol Hawkins, Keila Lorenc, Connor Egbert, and Jessica Williams. We had one member who was not able to go when we rescheduled: Kristen Moore. We also had one alternate who was unable to go due to team size: Lauren King.

At 12:15 on June 11, the team members were at their homes, finishing their final packing details, and almost ready to leave for the airport. The night before there had been some storms in the area, including a few tornadoes, but the weather was much better that morning. Except for at the airport. It seemed storm after storm built and reformed right over DFW. At that point, we learned that American Airlines had canceled our flight to Miami. Try as we might, we could not get on a flight to Miami that night! We contacted Billy Moses, the RMI missionary, to determine what to do. Since we couldn't get to Miami, there was no way we could make our flight to Port-au-Prince, Haiti the next day. We had to cancel. Fortunately, the team scheduled for two weeks later had canceled, leaving an open spot for us! So we put our bags aside and waited.

Two weeks later, on June 25, our flight took off right on time without problems. We spent the night in Miami and took a morning flight to Port-au-Prince the next day. We breezed through customs -- a rare event! A private bus driver/pastor, Nader, drove us from the large airport to the smaller one. After getting our flights arranged, we at lunch at a nearby gas station. Actually, it was quite nice. That afternoon, after a 45-minute flight, we arrived at the tip of the peninsula in the town of Jeremie. From there, we traveled 2 hours by truck into our sister Church village, Chambellan.

We arrived in Chambellan Friday around dusk to a parade of church members waiting for us about a mile from the church. The Brigade, a youth organization in the church, met us in uniform with songs and flags. There were hugs, kisses and hand-holding by young and old Haitians as they welcomed us. The team was overwhelmed!

On Saturday, Charlie Ridenour led a seminar on being a godly single. College students Connor Egbert, Keila Lorenc, and Jessica Williams added their input and experiences. Carol Etheredge gave her viewpoints on being an older single. We broke into men's and women's groups, where they asked lots of questions. The team did an excellent job of pointing them back to God's word as our standard.

Sunday began with a long worship service. Their music groups, ranging from children to adults, gifted us with wonderful singing. Jessica and Carol sang a song in Haitian Kreyol for them. Our team members had an opportunity to share a personal greeting with the church. Pastor Bill Lee introduced the topic of marriage in his sermon. After lunch, some of the team members took a walk into town, where we got a closer look at local living. Later that evening, the church and the team held an open air service at the town soccer field. Several of our team members presented their stories of how they came to know Christ as Savior.

The adults on the team led a marriage seminar on Monday -- three sessions with lunch after the second session. Pastor Bill, Bryan Knowles, and Roger Little taught in the sessions. Everyone participated in fielding questions about marriage in our breakout sessions with the men or women. Although they have different cultural situations, we stayed close to God's word as our guide for the roles as husband and wife.

The highlight of our trip was the group wedding ceremony. We were planning to marry 9 couples. We found out when we arrived that there were 14 couples! Fortunately, we found dresses for all of the brides. It was wonderful to sit back and observe as they performed the wedding ceremony. The team is usually in the spotlight, so being on the sidelines was a real treat! Carol Etheredge took pictures before, during and afterward. She took two "formal" photos of each couple -- one of the couple posing and one of the couple kissing! They weren't used to kissing in public, so this was really funny for all involved! Carol brought her printer and left photos for the couples!

Very early Wednesday morning, we began our travel to the mission compound and then to the retreat center for a little R&R. This isn't just a fun time, although playing at the beach and relaxing in the gazebo is wonderful! It is also a chance for the team to share their experiences and think about how being on the trip might change their everyday lives at home. It's always enlightening to hear everyone's highs and lows.

Thursday we did a little shopping from vendors who set up their wares. We also toured the domestic center, where women are taught to sew, crochet, cook and embroider. This gives the women an opportunity to earn money for their families and learn a valuable skill. The best of the graduates move on to open their own schools! They have lovely items available for sale in their gift shop.

Friday was a day of travel, rising early and arriving in Port-au-Prince in the midmorning. One last treat was representing a family who had adopted a Haitian child. We met with his birth parents and siblings, giving them photos and a video to watch. We took pictures and video of the birth family to give the adoptive family. We flew back to Miami and on to DFW by late evening. It was wonderful to be greeted by family and friends there to greet us and to share our stories.

Thank you for supporting our mission trips this summer through Impact 2009. It was an honor to represent you to the Haitian church in Chambellan. May God richly bless you for being a part of our trip!

Wild Ride

2009-07-25T22:32:00.008-05:00

"Trust God and do the next thing." -- Oswald Chambers

Life has been a bit on the crazy side lately. The ups and downs have jumbled together into a wild ride.

Friday we spent all day at the church decorating for the wedding. The rehearsal that evening went well. Dinner was fabulous! (Thanks, parents of the groom!)

My husband ran home to change between work and rehearsal and accidentally left his phone at home. We decided later it was no accident, but rather God was sparing us that evening.

When we got home, my husband discovered he had a message from his brother. His mother had passed away that day. A friend had called Mom and didn't get an answer, so she checked Mom's house. She found Mom sitting in her favorite chair in front of the TV. She may have drifted to sleep and not woken up. We'll never know exactly, this side of heaven.

My husband's brother and sister had headed to Oklahoma that evening to take care of details. But we had a wedding to put on. After I was given the news, I knew I had to tell the kids. I called them all together and broke the news. I hated to upset everyone before the wedding, but they had to know. My older son's girlfriend, who was staying with us, was a great comfort to my younger son.

The next morning, although a bit numb, we began the wedding preparations. The girls got together in the morning to do makeup and hair. After having an emotional morning, I joined them around noon. Once we got in the swing of preparations, we focused on rejoicing with the bride and groom.

The afternoon ceremony was absolutely beautiful! Thanks to lots of creative friends, the church was lovely! My older son's girlfriend was escorted in place of Mom, and she placed a white rose in Mom's chair. Everything went smoothly and pretty much as planned. The only faux pas was almost forgetting the unity candle. But after a laugh, that was forgotten. The reception was fun and memorable. We finally had to shut it down about 7 PM!

After LOTS of cleaning and undecorating (with lots of help from friends and relatives), we left the church around 9 PM. We decided to wait until Monday to go up to Oklahoma. That gave us a day to regroup, do laundry, and get ready for the next thing.

Sunday morning we attended the worship service. Sunday afternoon, we enjoyed dinner with both brothers and families, as well as the bride and groom! In the evening, we attended a wonderful concert featuring two guitarists with a very different style: Rhett Butler and Billy McLaughlin. We marveled together at the talent of these two men! My younger son became a favorite fan in no time, getting a tour of the bus and making friends with the crew.

Monday morning we packed and prepared to drive to Oklahoma. We left around noon and arrived to find my husband's sister, with her friend, and his brother, with his wife and daughter. Over the next few days, the siblings made final plans and started the long task of sorting through belongings. We only made a small dent, but it was a start.

After the memorial service on Wednesday, we took Mom's ashes to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. We went to several of the family's favorite camping and picnicing areas to spread her ashes in her favorite places. On Thursday afternoon, still having a lot of ashes left, we went out again to spread some more. We were blessed with several rare occurances. We saw male and female elk down by the road (usually up in the mountains) and were able to get some photos. We had a racoon family approach us at a picnic table and eat from our hands -- also a great photo op! We saw wild turkeys, buffalo, longhorns, and prairie dogs. It is rare to see so much wildlife in one day. My husband and his brother said they had only seen elk and turkeys once or twice over the many times that they had come over the years.

My younger son stayed with his aunt over the weekend while we came home. I am going to do some laundry, take care of a few things around here, and head back up on Monday. My sister-in-law will be tackling the house and the accounts and other details that couldn't be done this past week. Since I'm off for the summer, I wanted to help her with whatever I could.

My daughter and son-in-law (wow, that sounds strange!) come back tomorrow afternoon. I'll get to rejoice with them as they share honeymoon excitement. Then it will be back to the aftermath of losing someone you love.

I wonder what new dips and turns lie ahead?

Home again, home again, jiggity jig

2009-07-09T08:43:00.002-05:00

We're home from a wonderful trip to Haiti! The team did an excellent job! We had 14 couples marry instead of 9, but we found dresses for them all! I'll share more when I can add some pics.

We dumped our suitcases and repacked for an overnight trip to Oklahoma. My lovely mother-in-law turned 91 on July 5. We were able to visit with all the siblings for a short while.

My older son's girlfriend is here visiting from Canada. She's a delightful young lady! I'm enjoying getting to know her, but she's a quiet person. She arrived in the morning the same Friday we returned from Haiti in the evening. She'll be with us through the wedding.

Life marches on, and now we rush toward the wedding day. So much to do, so little time. I'm excited and nervous all at once. I'm sure the bride is even more so!

We're off! Again!

2009-06-24T21:20:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow we attempt departure to Haiti once again. Boy, am I ready! I hate waiting. I was hoping I'd get something done in the intervening two weeks. But no! Inertia took over, and a motionless object remained motionless.

Come tomorrow, remaining motionless won't be an option! I can't wait to see my Haitian brothers & sisters! We have a wonderful team, and I know we'll have a blast!

I don't know if we'll ever know why we waited, but we know God knows best. His timing is perfect. It will be a different trip than if we'd gone two weeks ago, but it is the trip we're meant to take.

Please pray for our Haitian brothers and sisters as they prepare for our coming (again). Pray that their hearts and minds would be open to the message God is bringing through us. Pray we can have an impact that will carry on in their village to bring many to know Christ and escape voodoo. Pray for the team -- that we will be flexible tools in God's hands and, to quote a certain pastor, that we'll be "shiny, happy people solving problems."

I can't wait to see what God will do in and through us. I know we'll be the ones most blessed. And I can't wait to share with you after we get back home. But I guess I'll have to.

Cookie crumbs make good pie crust!

2009-06-14T20:05:00.008-05:00

Have you ever thought about what a graham cracker thinks about before becoming a graham cracker crust? Maybe it had dreams of becoming S'mores. But what happens? Pretend you are the graham cracker.

Someone comes along, plucks you out of your comfy package, and smashes you to bits!

Then you are mixed and mashed and poked and prodded and squished into places that aren't so comfortable.
But when it's all over, you are part of something beautiful and delicious!

As hard as our Haiti trip postponement was, it led to something beautiful and delicious for me today! If we had been in Haiti today, I would have missed having visits with two lovely missionary families!

I walked into church this morning, and standing in the back row were missionary friends from Haiti. We squeezed into the row with them and worshiped together. After the service was over, in spite of the fact that my house was a mess, I invited them to lunch at our house. After all, that's what true hospitality is, and that's part of what we want to do as missionaries. Even though it was hard for me, I decided sharing time with them was more important that worrying about having a tidy house.

We stayed for the second service, expecting to have a Sunday School class, but our room was dark and empty. Our son was in his class, so we went back to our church's "cafe" area to mingle and wait for classes to be over. We joined some good friends who were visiting with missionaries to Hungary. We were able to chat with the missionary family for the entire hour, even after our friends left. What a blessing it was!

After picking up our son, we headed for home. My husband immediately began working on dinner. (He's the master chef in our home!) All three of my children worked on cleaning up the living room while I cleaned the dining room. We're talking clutter, toys, dirty socks, dog hair, trash --it was a mess! By the time our guests arrived, a little before 2:00, we had tidied and swept, and it didn't look too bad. I got them a cool drink and ran to the store for a few items. When I returned, the missionary wife, who is German by birth, was chatting with my daughter about living in Germany. After a while, we sat down to a delicious, relaxing dinner! After dinner, I prepared the desert and put it on the table for a "build-your-own shortcake" time. We continued talking about weddings and missions and kids and city vs. country living in Haiti. Before we realized, it was 6:15! We had such a wonderful time of sharing each others' lives!

If our flight to Miami had not been canceled and our trip postponed, we would not have been able to even see either of these missionary families! And if our Sunday School class had met, we wouldn't have had time to visit with the family from Hungary.

I guess the moral of the story (for me) is:
When Cookie gets crumbled, let God turn it into something sweet!

Change of plans

2009-06-12T16:10:00.002-05:00

Wednesday night we had thunderstorms with tornadoes. My family spent about a half hour in our neighborhood storm shelter. Fortunately, the only damage was a few limbs down here and there. Some of my friends had lightning strikes to trees and houses, as well as lots of downed trees.

Thursday morning comes. The weather forecasters said no storms. However, one storm after another formed right over the airport. Consequently, they canceled our flight to Miami, which was to begin our mission trip to Haiti. After a lot of phone time and internet searching, we could not find a way to get to Miami in order to catch our connecting flight to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

After contacting the missionary in Haiti, we decided to reschedule for June 25-July 3. We are thankful to be able to continue so quickly with most of our existing team intact. If we had waited until fall, when most of the available openings were, many of our team would not have been able to go.

Yesterday was an emotional roller coaster as we went from packing to canceled to trying to get flights to rescheduling. Now we have a plan in place, but today hasn't been much better. We've had to confirm the availability of all the team members and get information to the missionary.

I'm sure God had a good reason for keeping us home yesterday. We may never know what it is, but we know He is in control! I was reminded again how tightly I hold on to my expectations rather than trusting God to lead and provide.

Well, now I've got two weeks to work on cleaning the house for company coming right after the trip to Haiti. Also, we need to finalize last minute details for the wedding. I won't be bored for the next two weeks!

Random Thoughts

2009-06-04T21:31:00.004-05:00

Random funny sign:
My baby turned 12 yesterday!

Today was the last day of school. Tomorrow, report cards and cleaning out my room.

Fifth grade will be continued next year, but in the 6th grade room. (He was in the 6th grade room this year, as well, due to a conflict with another student.)

No more bus driving for the summer! (Except for taking the bus to another campus for the summer.)

One week until the Haiti trip! We're packing Saturday for the team. I'm not sure how we'll fit in 10 wedding dresses! I still have to pack and prepare for myself. And maybe shop a little.

Three days off have never looked so good! I know they'll be busy, but at least I'll be able to do some of the things I've had to put off -- like prepare for Haiti.

Birthday parties don't have to be fancy. Invitations can be hand-written and photocopied (at the last minute).

Lessons do not prepare themselves. (Something to do in those three days off?)

Time keeps marching!

God will provide.

Please pray for my Haitian friend, Jules, who is battling bone cancer in Boston. He will be missed greatly on this trip!

Busy, Busy! (Still)

2009-05-30T19:51:00.005-05:00

That's me on the right!

Life has been a tyranny of the urgent for me. I struggle to get over the next hurdle, not even considering the hurdle beyond that!

School is winding down, with 3-1/2 more days left. The last day is a sale for the students to buy things with play money they have earned by completing their work. Friday is a workday for the teachers, and then we are done for the summer. I am looking forward to not having to drive the bus for a while!

My daughter's car is fixed and running. Or it would be running if she were home to drive it. She went to her fiance's graduation at UT Austin, and then they spent some fun time with relatives.

My younger son is still not doing well in school. The valiant effort did not happen, and I don't think he can finish in summer school. He does not seem to care. I think he is in denial.

The Haiti team leaves in 13 days! Please pray for us! We finished our shopping today. Next Saturday we'll pack it all up. This is just the stuff for our ministry and gifts for missionaries. Our personal packing will come later! I haven't even bought any "Haiti clothes." I'm sure I can make do with what's in my closet, if need be.

The wedding will be a month after we return. We still have to order the cake, and I need to find a dress for myself. We'll also have a visitor for two weeks prior to that -- my older son's girlfriend from Toronto. I'm looking forward to meeting her!

I don't think this will be a very relaxing summer, but it will be memorable! Even with all the other things to plan and do, it will be a relief to not have teaching and bus driving on top of that! And maybe I can catch up on my sleep!

Cars, TAKS, school work, fungus, and flu

2009-05-02T22:58:00.003-05:00

Here's a hodgepodge of my life this week:

My daughter's car is still in the driveway awaiting repairs, so we've been sharing cars to get everyone where the need to be. What fun! It has led to a little more togetherness than usual. Which is a good thing, most times.

We finished a week of TAKS tests -- our standardized state testing, for those not from Texas. It is supposed to demonstrate that our students have learned what they were supposed to for their grade level. Since I tutored the high school students in math, it will be interesting to see how they did. Frankly, I'm not optimistic.

The younger son is still not getting his school work done. We shall see if he makes a valiant effort and passes 5th grade.

Allergies have kicked in big time for me, causing sneezing, coughing and asthma issues. The pollen counts indicated fungus was very high. Fortunately, an all-day field trip to Waco, for which I was driving the bus, was cancelled due to the swine flu scare. Although I'd been looking forward to going, I was glad I was able to stay home, sleep in, and nap away most of the afternoon. I also got some kitchen cleaning done, which was desperately needed. They have rescheduled the trip for May 16, which is the day of my daughter's bridal shower. I'm disappointed that I won't be able to go! I'll see if they still end up going.

So far, our schools have not been closed due to swine flu. Lewisville and Denton have both closed all their schools for a week to disinfect them and let the sick students get beyond the contagious stage. The Education Center has charter schools in both towns. I don't know how many (if any) reported cases either distric has. Lots of my friends think this is a gross overreaction. It certainly seems extreme. I really don't know if it is merited.

Well, time to take some more cough medicine!

Hot and Bothered

2009-04-24T00:12:00.002-05:00

Julie's car has an overheating problem! I just helped her limp it home. We would drive for about 5 minutes and then stop to let it cool for 20 to 30 minutes. After 3 stops, we finally completed what should have been a 20 minute drive. It took us about 2 hours. But now it's home, where it can be fixed at some point. Until then, we'll have to play musical cars and see who winds up walking!

We also have a broken AC at home. Open windows and fans help some. Just about the time we can't stand it anymore, it turns cooler for a day or two. I think it's time to call the AC guy, though. We have a slow leak that requires a refill of refrigerant every year or two. Mind you, if I can't handle this, I have no business in Haiti. I'm just not acclimated.

It's after midnight, and I'm waiting on the washer and dryer to finish so I can pack for a retreat this weekend. I also have to prep for a Haiti Team meeting, which will be Sunday afternoon. Maybe I'll take my laptop and work on it at the retreat. I hope I get some rest this weekend!

Happy Resurrection Day!

2009-04-11T19:38:00.005-05:00

Tomorrow is Resurrection Day or, as most know it, Easter. This is the day we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in order to redeem us from our sin. I pray you will have a blessed day as you remember Christ's sacrifice for us.

In the morning, Mark will be assisting with sound for the Sunrise Outdoor service. I'll be singing with a small ensemble for our three indoor services. With 10 voices plus a soloist, four horns, and the usual guitar, bass, piano & drums, we'll be putting out a wall of sound! It's nice to get the opportunity to lead in worship again! May God be glorified!

Please pray for Agape Flights. Their new plane, a Beechcraft King Air which has been named "Grace," had engine failure in one of the engines on April 1. With a full cargo load, they made a safe emergency landing in the Bahamas, using the one remaining engine. Using a borrowed plane, the pilots were able to deliver the load to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The pilots then went home and the mechanics went down to begin the process of replacing the engine. Since the mechanics are both pilots, they will bring home the plane when finished. They will have to bring their own tools and work on the tarmac as a hangar isn't available. Please pray for financial provision for this added expense.

Sliding into Spring Break

2009-03-16T17:00:00.003-05:00

I'm glad Spring Break has arrived! It's nice to have some time off the merry-go-round life has become. Not that I regret any of it. It's just nice to have a break!

Unfortunately, my Spring Break started off with a bang. Or, rather, a crash. On my Friday afternoon bus run, I topped a wet, slick hill to discover a small SUV waiting to turn left. Slick road, full bus, not enough stopping distance. You get the picture. Fortunately, no one was injured. The bus sustained a slightly bent bumper that you have to look closely to detect. Unfortunately, the SUV did not fare so well. The back window shattered and the back of the vehicle was pushed in. They were able to drive it away, but I know it will probably be a hardship for them. It was a young couple with a baby and a toddler. After all the paperwork was done, I finished my route without incident. One of my kind fellow teachers even waited around to greet me with a hug! He figured I'd need it, and I did!

This weekend, we finally finished our "New Year's" letter to mail off. We were too far into it to change it from winter to spring! It was a big project that we undertook in preparation for announcement letters about going into missions. Now, to get it to the post office!

Yesterday we met with the wedding photographer for our daughter. They are taking engagement photos as we speak. We are praising the Lord we had the funds to pay his down payment. Now we only need figure out how to pay for the flowers, the church, the cake, and the second half of the photography! Aren't weddings grand! Don't get me wrong. We're very excited about it and know it will be worth every penny!

Yesterday we also got a new foster pet. A family from my school is moving and could not take their dog at this point. We now have a 2-year-old black lab named Fezzik (from the Princess Bride) living with us. He and Emma are still getting used to one another. We have a few habits we need to break, but he should do fine.

My focus for Spring Break is to do some house cleaning/decluttering. I'm focusing on Will's stuff and the living room. I'm finding myself enjoying some relaxing time, too! It's so easy for time to get away, though.

I hope you are enjoying your Spring Break, if you get one. If not, just enjoy spring!

Vicious Cycle

2009-03-06T20:02:00.002-06:00

This picture seemed so fitting! How appropriate that the "bike" is yellow! Sometimes my bus is so sluggish (no turbocharger) that I wish I had a bumper sticker that says, "I'm pedaling as fast as I can!"

Life seems like a vicious cycle lately. Drive the bus, teach, drive the bus, finish any test grading or paperwork, go home, eat something, fall in bed, start over the next day! Also, I've had the challenge of fighting off viruses and allergies! But God keeps sustaining me! Praise to Him!

I try to carve out time to do a few mundane tasks like laundry or dishes when I can. It seems something always eats up the spare time! This weekend, I'm hoping to squeeze in time for cutting the guys' hair and maybe making soap. We'll see!

I don't know if I mentioned that we had to drop Perspectives, the missions course we were taking. We thought that our paying for the online course would qualify us for a free class, but they are different organizations within the ministry. God knew best. Mark had started overtime at work & I'm busy enough without a class to attend.

I will be adding Haiti Team meetings to my schedule soon! We're trying to put together our first meeting. Right now, we have more interested parties than we have spots on the team. It's exciting to see so many people wanting to go! Mark may have to forfeit his spot so others can have an opportunity to go. The Mission Board and RMI decided it would be best for Will not to go this time. After some reflection, we agreed. Besides, we wouldn't want to keep an adult from going in order to take him. It will be better to take him to Port au Prince to visit the area we might be living in.

I've had some turnover in my class. Students leaving and new ones coming. It certainly keeps me on my toes! It is surprising how many parents will move their students all throughout the school year!

I guess I'd better see about some food and then fall in bed!

The latest

2009-02-21T17:09:00.004-06:00

For those who wondered, now that I have my license, I have been driving the bus daily, morning and afternoon. The fun part is trying to keep the kids in their seats and the noise level to a dull roar. I have a whistle I use when necessary. I've rearranged their seating twice in an attempt to keep problems to a minimum. The second change goes into effect Monday, so we'll see how many complaints I get!

My hubby is working like crazy! He is working overtime into the evenings almost every day. The paychecks have been great, but we hardly see each other. Hopefully, this is just for a season.

We are quitting yoga. My daughter, who was paying about half of our monthly membership fee, decided to try a gym instead. We really can't afford it without her. Also, we haven't been as much since we've been so busy, so we probably weren't getting our money's worth. And we really need to apply our money elsewhere. We ARE trying to get out of debt and onto the mission field.

The wedding plans are coming together. We've met with a decorator friend who has items to rent out to brides. Soon she'll be meeting with a friend who does beautiful and delicious cakes. She is still planning to have her maid of honor do her flowers -- either on her own or through the store where she works.

My older son is working at Kroger now in the meat department. This is his first "real job." He worked for the church doing set-up, which was very few hours. He also worked for a landscape lighting company, but that was very infrequent. Now he is getting regular hours (and pay) and wearing the uniform. He looks pretty good in the uniform! Now, if he can just keep his car running!

My younger son has had ups and downs in school. We upped his ADHD medicine dose, and that has helped some. He's still lacking in the motivation department most days. I sure would like to see him get on a long streak of getting it done! Summer school is looming large, ready to smack us in the face before long! I'm still smarting from last summer! For our school, summer school is the opportunity to finish the curriculum so that you can promote to the next grade. And I just remembered that summer school will happen while we are gone to Haiti with our church team. Bummer! I'm not sure how we'll deal with that! Never a dull moment around here!

I passed!

2009-01-29T19:01:00.006-06:00

Don't you love the picture! BTW, I'm not that old!

Due to bad weather, my bus driving test was postponed until Thursday. Despite the fog and lingering ice, I took my test and passed! My parallel parking wasn't the best, but I didn't hit the curb. That would have been an instant failure. I had practiced parallel parking one car width from the curb. They had me park from one parking place (car length) from the curb in an empty parking lot. I finally got it close enough to keep the examiner happy. I guess I didn't mess up too much on other stuff.

Our bus driver/content mastery teacher/reading lab teacher has his last day tomorrow. I'm not sure what we will do for content mastery and reading lab. I'm sure they will hire someone as soon as possible.

We had two days off from school -- Tuesday and Wednesday -- due to weather. Tuesday they were predicting ice as early as noon. It didn't hit until evening, but it hit with a vengeance! We had to pick up my son at work at 10:00 because his heater wasn't working and he couldn't keep the windshield deiced. Wednesday the roads didn't start clearing until around noon. There are still a few icy spots today, believe it or not. The areas in the shade take a long time to melt.

I'm off to enjoy my mac 'n cheese n' hot dogs with my younger son before minichurch!

Road Test

2009-01-23T20:59:00.004-06:00

Our school bus driver gave his 2-week notice. He's moving to Missouri to run a horse farm. In the mean time, I'm hustling to get my CDL to be able to drive the bus. I've taken the written test and have been practicing driving the bus run. I'm scehduled for my road test on Tuesday morning. Prayer would be appreciated. I have to parallel park the thing! Yes! Parallel park a school bus! I've practiced, so hopefully I'll do O.K.

Pray for my hubby, too. He's contemplating a job change. It would mean less pay but also less stress. We're not sure less pay is the way to go if you're trying to get out of debt. I'm praying God will make it very clear which would be the better choice for him.

Advances

2009-01-18T15:03:00.007-06:00

Well, we finally gave ADD medication a try for our son. It seems to make a big improvement in his school day! I know it's not a magic pill, but it's good to see some progress!

I also got tough with my students, which seems to have helped with getting their school work done, too! It also improved the classroom atmosphere a bit. They still have their moments, but overall it is calmer.

Between the two of these things, my stress level has gone down a bit. (Not chasing as many chickens?) Still, I'm looking forward to a day off tomorrow for Martin Luther King Day. Maybe I can get some stuff done around the house -- the cleaning & decluttering chickens!

We're still playing with the pressure cooker. We're checking out buying one online, when we get the funds.
Meal #4: Pinto beans cooked with a ham bone.
Meal #5: Barbecued ribs. (Yes, ribs in a pressure cooker!) They cook in their own homemade sauce!

Today we helped cook mission meal at the church. We served Spicy Minestrone Soup (a version of Southwest Stew, for those who are familiar with it). It didn't sell as well as we hoped. I think "spicy" in the title scared a few folks away. We also had a "meet & greet" for our new Worship Pastor and his wife at the same time -- not sure how that impacted our meal. The meal raised $420 to help out our sister church in Chambellan, Haiti. And, it was nice to meet our new Worship Pastor face to face!

I am going to be leading a team going to visit our sister church Haiti in June 2009. We will be doing a marriage conference and a "True Love Waits"-type conference for the youth. I think my hubby wants to go, and we are hoping we can take our younger son as well. Since he'll be moving there before long, it would be good to see what the country and the people are like. Although he is below their minimum age for a team member, please pray that the missions organization would be willing for him to come.

Winter wonderland!

2009-01-05T16:34:00.020-06:00

We had ice today. Nothing that was dangerous for driving (yet), but definitely wintry! I had to get out the camera and snap a few pics!

The underside of our pierced metal patio table.
Yesterday we did pressure cooker meal #3 -- a wonderful chili! Yum! Sorry, no pics. We ate it too fast!

Under pressure, meal two

2009-01-01T19:37:00.003-06:00

Tonight we tried porcupine meatballs in the pressure cooker. They were so easy and came out great! They were done so fast that we had to wait on the black-eyed peas to finish cooking. I was also impressed with how clean the pot was both times. No sticking on the bottom or sides! Clean-up was really easy. Here's the finished product, thanks to our lovely new camera!

Chasing too many chickens

2009-01-01T11:26:00.007-06:00

I'm a city girl. I can't say that this word picture would have readily sprung to mind, but it fits!

I visited with some friends who are leaving for the mission field for a second time. I was sharing about my worries concerning all the details to be dealt with to prepare for the mission field -- debts, clutter, selling the house, what to take, where to store it, etc.

After listening to my worries and woes, he told me I was chasing too many chickens. He pointed out that the only chickens I needed to chase right now were the debts and the clutter. He assured me I had plenty of time to figure those other things out and probably couldn't do so now if I wanted to.

Sometimes it feels like I'm not making any progress in the goal of becoming a missionary. I feel like I should drop everything to get ready, but I can't. Or, sometimes, I choose not to. It makes me feel like I'm spinning my wheels and not doing my part. But I have to remember I can only do what is in front of me at the moment and I have to trust God for the timing. Patience is not one of my virtues!

So, the plan is going to be to take it a day at a time. Pay off the debts as much as we can today. Cut our spending as much as we can today. Pick a spot and declutter a little today. And remind myself that my baby steps put me a little closer to that elusive chicken I'm chasing!

I'm not looking forward to returning to the school grind -- both for my class and for the boy. We've gotten him to do a little while on break, but he's no where near to being caught up. Once again, one day at a time. One assignment at a time.

But instead living in the pressure cooker, I'm trying out using it! I've borrowed one from a friend and have used it once. We may have to invest in one! The split pea soup I made was the best I've ever tasted! I should have taken a picture with our new camera!

And speaking of pictures, here's the Agape Flights plane with its new paint job. It's hard to believe they lost their plane just a year ago, and look how God has provided!

Gramma Julie's Coming to Town

2008-12-22T19:44:00.007-06:00

She may not be Santa, but I'm sure she'll brighten our Christmas. My hubby's 90-year-old mom will be joining us for Christmas this year. We're going to drive up to Oklahoma to pick her up on Wednesday.

My Dad lives across town, but his wife had back surgery last Tuesday. They aren't quite up for company or car travel, so we won't be seeing them until after New Year's Day. My brother & his family are coming up on January 3rd. We'll get together at that time.

This will be the first time in a few years that we have had "the big meal" at our house! It will be a nice change!

This also may be the last Christmas that we're all in the same country for a while. My daughter & fiancé are planning to go to Germany shortly after they are married this summer. He will be teaching English in German schools for the school year. After she marries, my older son is planning to enlist in the Air Force, so he could be anywhere!

I enjoyed a quiet day today: sleeping late, reading and getting chores done at a leisurely pace. It was nice. Tomorrow I'm going to redeem a 2-year-old gift certificate for a massage. I'm hoping it will help with my back issues.

My back has been much better. I went to yoga on Saturday, and I suffered no ill effects it! We might go again tomorrow night.

We're getting ourselves a Christmas present, with a little help from our kids. It's a nice digital camera. I broke ours the day our youngest was baptized. We'd been having trouble with it, so we weren't too disappointed. The camera probably won't arrive until after Christmas, but that's O.K.

Ready for Christmas Break!

2008-12-14T10:32:00.004-06:00

Or, Winter Break, to be politically correct.

It's been a busy time lately, as you can see from my lack of posts. The students have been challenging lately. We had a school rep come & demonstrate how things were to go -- which was much more regimented than I usually do things. Consequently, they have been challenging my authority since then.

I've also had an ongoing battle of wills with my younger son. We're going to try to crack down on him to get him to meet his responsibilities.

I noticed my back hurting after a yoga session two weeks ago. I went to another session two days later, and now my back is worse. My doc gave me some exercises and OK'd yoga, if I go cautiously and skip the parts that hurt.

Just before Thanksgiving, I got my hair cut! I donated the ponytail to Locks of Love. They make wigs for children cancer patients who cannot afford them. The new profile pic is the straightened look. I'll get a pic on later of the curly look. I broke my camera, and Julie has misplaced hers.

The profile pic was taken from a picture of last Sunday's worship team (which explains the shiny things by my head!) With our new worship pastor coming soon, this may have been our last time to lead worship together. We've really enjoyed bonding as a team. When you have a great group of musicians to work with, you just naturally fall into your parts. Thanks to the whole team for allowing me to be a part of such talented servant leadership!

Weighty song

2008-11-11T23:59:00.002-06:00

Here's a video for you to enjoy. It really moved me when I heard it on the radio in the car, so I had to look it up at home. Let me know what you think.

I think Julie started something!

2008-11-08T19:27:00.004-06:00

Wow! It's been a long time since I posted!

I did go back to yoga, along with my older son. We joined with a family plan that includes my daughter. I really debated because of the cost, but my hubby said that it would be good for my health. He's even coming with us now! We're getting our money's worth, at least, and all benefiting! Since it is done in the heat (90 to 98 degrees, depending on the class), it is helping us acclimate to what will eventually be our home country -- Haiti. Of course, that's quite a ways off, and I'm not sure how long we'll keep the yoga up. And I just ignore the references to "Mother Earth" and praise Father God instead!

The younger son is still struggling with his school work, but they have moved him to a 6th-grade class (still doing 5th-grade work), and he seems to be improving -- slowly! Keep praying for him!

We are still in the process of making some lifestyle changes. Hopefully, before too long we'll get rid of some big bills. We've been counseled to consider replacing our cars with notes with cheap ones, even if we have to get a loan to pay off the difference. I need to go in and talk with the credit union where we have one note to see what could be done. I'm grateful to have friends in my Financial Peace class that are encouraging us in our debt reduction. (Thanks, Norm!)

Everything else is about the same. Hubby's overtime is just about over for the year, which will mean smaller paychecks. The school's afternoon bus driver position is opening again, but I don't know if they would want another full-time driver/teacher aide. That's the only way Mark could take a job there. It would mean a lot less stress and much shorter commute, being about a break-even in pay (without overtime). I just don't know if the school can afford to hire him. If it's God's will, it will work out. If not, I'm sure we're better off where we are.

It's encouraging to run into folks at church or at the school who ask how our journey to be missionaries is progressing. It gets us all fired up again! It is so easy to lapse into complacency in daily life and forget the big goal ahead. Please keep praying for us -- for God's provision and our self-discipline as we work on paying off our debts.

Yoga, anyone?

2008-10-19T13:55:00.003-05:00

I attended my first yoga class this morning. (We go to church at night, in case you're wondering!) I'm not sure if yoga is for me. In the first place, my body doesn't bend in the ways they want you to bend. And even if I had the flexibility, there's too much body in the way! I also struggle with the philosophy behind yoga.

The class we attended was what they call a "Fire" class. They had the room at 98.6 degrees and 60% humidity to help warm and open your joints and muscles. I did not leave the room during the 90-minute class, but I did have to take some unscheduled breaks to rest.

I bought their trial "10 days for $10". I'm not sure if I'm going to give it another try or not. I guess it wouldn't hurt. Let's see how I feel tomorrow!

Back to the Daily Grind

2008-10-18T19:45:00.003-05:00

I enjoyed one day off for Columbus Day, then it was back to work! I like working with the students, but it can be frustrating at times. Our system requires the students to sit still and be quiet most of the day, which is hard for anyone. It's even harder for some -- like students with ADHD. I have a couple of those. I've been moving them around and trying different strategies to keep things under control in the classroom. I'll let you know if I find something that works!

We're trying to make some lifestyle changes to help retire the debts faster. There is only so much you can change, so we'll have to wait and see how quickly the debt diminishes. We thought we could sell our cars to get out from under the loan payments, but we're a bit upside down in both car loans. Our friends at Financial Peace said we should call Dave Ramsey's radio show and ask him what would be the best way to handle the cars. I don't know if we're THAT bold!

My hubby was off all week. It was nice to have him home. He worked very hard, though -- no sitting around (or not much). He cleaned the living room, cooked dinner daily, and painted the exterior of the house, except for the trim. My older son helped with the house painting. I'll be sad to see him go back to work. I'm sure he will be sad, too! But we have to keep the income flowing -- preferably with a bit of overtime added to the check!

We are missionary candidates!

2008-10-11T10:09:00.001-05:00

I'm checking in from Florida. Agape Flights has asked us to join their team, and we have accepted! The first stage will be getting rid of our debt, repairing & selling our house, and getting rid of a bunch of junk! They want us to come to Florida for 3-6 months to learn how their operation works. After that, they are planning to send us to the Dominican Republic to work under their missionary in Santo Domingo to learn that end of the work. Then we will go to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to learn the work from the volunteer (a local missionary) who has been in charge of what will be our job. As we learn how to do the work and learn the language, we will begin to take over the work ourselves. It will take a while to get there, but we are really excited! The hard part will be getting rid of debt and stuff to get ready to go. Thank you for your prayers! I'll check in again when we get home!

Breaking news!

2008-10-02T23:30:00.012-05:00

Mark & I are going to Venice, Florida, to interview with Agape Flights. They are a mission organization that delivers mail and provides support to the missionaries in the Caribbean (including our missionaries). The position would be that of Field Director. They need someone in Haiti to meet the plane for mail deliveries, organize volunteers to sort mail, interface with customs officials for shipping and receiving, and host short-term teams, hopefully through a guest house the Field Director would run.

Our friends, Ruth and LJ Scott, are going to be joining Agape Flights as Field Directors in Les Cayes, where some of our other missionary friends are. Agape Flights also needs someone in Port au Prince & Cap Haitian.

We have received frequent flier tickets from some friends, so our way is provided. We will be staying in the home of Agape Flights missionaries, who will pick us up at the airport and take care of us for the weekend. The only thing else we need is your prayer support.

Our trip will be from Thursday, October 9, through Sunday, October 12. Our youngest, William, will be going along with us. Please pray for us as we travel and meet with Agape Flights to get to know one another and investigate possibilities for the future.

Yes, I'm still alive!

2008-09-20T22:12:00.006-05:00

I haven't fallen off the face of the planet, although sometimes I'd like to! I've been exhausted lately!

This teacher job is taking much more time and energy than I thought. Every night I bring home tests to grade and PAKs to look over to make sure the student is ready for the test. Every night I fall asleep over my grading. At the same time, my hubby has been working lots of overtime hours. We hardly see each other lately! I'm hoping my teacher work will come easier as I get the hang of it. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like my hubby's work is due for a slowdown for quite some time! At least we'll have the blessing of overtime pay!

I made a point of doing as little as possible this weekend, just to make sure I caught up on my rest. It seems to be helping so far. Aside from a trip to Home Depot for my hubby, I've stayed in and relaxed. I played with a troublesome batch of soap (with no better results). I'm going to grate it up and use it for laundry soap, so I'm n0t too worried about it. I really need to make a fresh batch to boost my confidence! Maybe next weekend.

Tomorrow, I'll be back at it. I'm helping in the kitchen for our Mission Meal and Mark is running the sound board. Mission Meal is a meal we cook from scratch and serve after the second morning service and offer for take-out. The proceeds go to help our sister church in Chambellan, Haiti. It's a lot of work, but it's worth it! My hubby & I really enjoy helping with the meal. The Mission Meals have been able to provide a lot of support for our sister church -- everything from a new parsonage to beds to put in it to donkeys and motorcycles.

Please pray for Haiti. They are really suffering after the devastation of hurricanes Gustav & Hanna. Their gardens have been destroyed and they have lost many animals. Lives have been lost as well, although not in our sister church or the satellite churches in the district.

Speaking of hurricanes, I finally contacted my brother and sister-in-law. They had minimal damage -- just a few shingles blown off. However, they are still without power in their neighborhood. They are using her mother's generator to power a few things. Fortunately, they never lost water and their stove is gas. We have not called my other brother, my aunt, or Mark's brother, all of whom are in the Houston area.

I guess I'd better head for bed. Tomorrow is an early morning! Plus, I'm falling asleep at the computer.

Whew!

2008-09-08T21:37:00.002-05:00

I tried to think up some catchy phrase to sum up the last couple of weeks. I don't think I have enough brain cells!

School is started and going pretty well. After two weeks, I think we're getting a routine down. I'm getting to know the students and their individual personalities. There's something I like in every one of them -- even those with "attitudes".

The main challenge of my day is what we call Goal Check. I make my way around the room, stopping at each student's desk to check that they met yesterday's goals and to help them in setting today's goals. And all the record keeping that goes with that! The secondary challenge is to keep the ADD kids/talkers to stay focused on their work rather than chatting and getting attention.

My prayer daily is that I would be shown how best to meet the individual needs of each student, especially those with struggles -- academic, emotional or physical. I still have a few I haven't figured out yet or don't always like as much, but I care for them all. Some of the ones I feared working with the most are the ones I find myself enjoying working with. That's what I get for prejudging!

Last Sunday, on one of my regular opportunities to serve on a worship team, I was asked to lead on a song. Being a "backup singer" doing the harmony part, it seemed really strange to carry the melody and having others harmonizing with me! I never considered myself as having a solo voice, but I have sung solos from time to time. It was fun, scary and challenging to have the opportunity to do so again.

What meant even more to me than the fact that I was spotlighted was the fact that all three vocalists took a turn leading songs. I love it when we mix it up and let people step into new roles for them. As much as I love the very talented people who usual take solos, it is good to see others step into that role from time to time -- even if they aren't as talented as the "regulars". Our pastor summed it up for me when he said in his sermon that we (those leading the service) aren't here to perform but to serve and hopefully have an impact on others.

Countdown!

2008-08-19T23:34:00.006-05:00

The countdown is continuing on beginning my new teaching career. I'm excited and scared. I'm worried I'll do something stupid or blow things on the first day. Actually, I don't know why I'm worried. I'm SURE I'll do something stupid! I usually do! ;-)

I'm excited about getting involved in the lives of teens. I'm looking forward to getting to know the new teachers and renewing friendships with the returning ones. I'm having trouble letting go of the secretary job. I want to help my replacement get established so badly! But that's not my job now, so I'll try to keep my hands off.

Well, I guess Monday will show whether I launch to new heights or blow up on the launching pad! No matter what happens, I hope I'll be a light for Jesus in the lives of the students and their families.

Time's up!

2008-08-06T23:39:00.003-05:00

That was a short vacation! Oh, well! Two days are better than none!

Due to unforeseen circumstances, they needed me back at work. The good news -- I get paid extra for the secretarial work I put in! That will be a real blessing to the family.

So much for all those projects around the house!

Vacation!!

2008-07-30T17:56:00.005-05:00

Guess what? I get a paid vacation!!

Only thing is:
1. I wasn't expecting it.
2. I don't have the funds to go anywhere or do anything.
3. I'll probably spend it cleaning house, prepping for teaching, and working on a class I'm taking.

But I do have the next week and a half off from secretary duty. Tomorrow is my last day as TEC secretary. I'll start new teacher training on the 14th.

Don't worry. I'll mix some fun and relaxation in there, too!

Catching the train(ing)

2008-07-17T21:57:00.007-05:00

I started my teacher training today. It is at the lovely Ruthe Jackson Center in Grand Prairie. It really is a beautiful facility. Training involves sitting at round tables in a ballroom, listening to a speaker, interspersed with occasional group activities. It hasn't been boring, but I did have trouble staying awake at one point after lunch!

While reading through Colossians a couple of days ago, I ran across a verse that has stuck with me:

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving... -- Colossians 4:2

Convicting & encouraging.

Old Friends

2008-07-12T15:01:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I spent the day with an old friend. Sorry, I have to say "old" friend because we've known each other about 20 years! And she still likes me!

It's wonderful to spend time with those you love and have a history with. You come with no agenda, talk for hours, never run out of topics, and the time flies away! It's so refreshing!

We both have "split families". She has two grown children who are 1-1/2 and 3-1/2 years older than my oldest. When our older children were young, we used to come over for visits and let the kids play while we had "mom time". Shared toys and a lunch of grilled cheese and tomato soup would go a long way in entertainment value.

We both ended up moving to new locations in the metroplex and still visited periodically. Thirteen years ago, she moved to California & I moved to our current home. Afterwards, we each had a third child -- this time mine is about three years older than hers.

A few years back, she moved back to the metroplex. We've resumed our periodic visits, this time with the younger ones playing while the moms chat.

Having children slightly older than mine, she's been a mentor and a friend. She photographed my children for their high school graduation pictures. Last summer, both of her older children married. Also, her son is in the navy. Once again she's a step ahead of me in the directions life is taking our family.

We come from such different backgrounds. But God has put us together and given us much in common. And, no matter what, she accepts me and loves me for who I am.

I am truly blessed!

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. -- Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Happy 90th Birthday, Mom!

2008-07-06T23:14:00.002-05:00

My mother-in-law turned 90 years young on July 5! We went up to her home town in Oklahoma to attend her party. My husband's brother came from the Houston area with his wife & daughter. My husband's sister came from the Stillwater area with her husband, and several of her children were able to attend. There was a family gathering for the first two hours, then friends from her church came to honor her. It was a lot of fun! Plus, it was wonderful to see family again!

We finished summer school. My younger son officially passed 4th grade! (And I didn't kill him in the process!) It's been nice not to have to hound him every second to do school work. It's also been nice to have an even slower pace at work -- and NO INTERRUPTIONS! I am trying to get the school records in order. I'd also like to expand the database I created. I'm still praying for that future secretary that they have yet to hire!

The tall son decided not to press charges against his "friend". He felt like the friend was suffering enough with the loss of the friendship. Even though I am a signer on the account, I felt it should be my son's decision and am supporting him. He did provide information to the bank on his friend (as a suspect) when filing a claim for the charges to his account. I am not sure what will be done with that information.

The tall son has also decided to wait on enlisting in the Air Force until after his sister's wedding next July. He wants to make sure he'll be able to attend. He's applying at NCTC (community college) to take some of his college basics. He'll be working part time as well.

I'll be starting my teacher training on July 17, taking general teaching classes over a two-week period. I'll have to drive to Grand Prairie every day. I'm not looking forward to paying for gas those weeks! Especially with a smaller paycheck due to days off for the classes. Please pray for God's provision and wise budgeting on our part.

Wounds of a Friend?

2008-06-19T00:03:00.002-05:00

Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
-- Proverbs 27:6

What about the wounds of one you thought was a friend?

My son had his wallet lifted. It was later found where he first missed it. However, in the meantime, two charges were made on his debit card. Due to various events, my son traced the loss back to a friend he has known several years and led to the Lord. Or at least we hope he did. Right now, the fruit we can inspect isn't smelling very sweet. The friend is still denying having anything to do with the lost wallet. Evidence strongly suggests otherwise.

The bank can reverse the charges, so the loss will be temporary. The wallet was recovered, so identity theft is unlikely. Important documents don't have to be replaced. That is a blessing.

How would you handle a situation like this? This young man committed fraud against my son and refuses to acknowledge his guilt. Would you report him to the police? Give him one last chance to repent? Let it slide? There is the desire for retribution or justice to be done. But aside from that, what will help this young man the most? Getting away with it? Getting caught? No matter what, it's bound to be messy.

Please pray for our family to have wisdom in how to deal with this. And please pray for this young man. More than anything, we'd like to see him confess, seek the Father's forgiveness, and choose to follow Christ.

Relaxing!

2008-06-12T17:04:00.006-05:00

After an intense last week of school, summer school has begun and things are slowing down. Yes, I'm still working as secretary. As a matter of fact, the first couple of days of summer school had us running around like crazy, looking for all the things the teachers were supposed to have left for their students. Things like Paks (the curriculum), score keys (for the Paks), tests, and test keys. But we've gotten it pretty much under control, and the first week (of three) is under our belts. I've even begun putting together a database of next year's students. It's amazing what I can get done when I don't have to worry about lunch (and all the record-keeping that went with it)!

My work hours for summer are shorter. Plus, I get Fridays off. It's nice getting home earlier and being able to get more done around the house. My house definitely needed the attention. I just hope we can make it on the reduced paycheck.

I restarted my diet and am trying my hardest to only eat allowable foods. I hope I see some progress so that I will get some motivation to stick with it. I think the first few days are the hardest.

How do you motivate a guy who doesn't want to be motivated? I've tried praying, bribing, threatening, intimidating, coercing, breaking goals into smaller pieces, painting the big picture -- you name it. Three weeks isn't a very long time. I guess we'll see if he gets motivated to finish his work, or if he will repeat fourth grade. Suggestions welcome!

I passed!

2008-05-30T23:23:00.008-05:00

Good news! I got the unofficial results of my math teaching test. The range of possible scores was 100-300. Passing was 240. I got a 260! The test pointed out to myself that there is a lot that I would need to brush up on for teaching anything higher than Algebra II. But at least I passed, and now we can move on to the rest of my teacher training. In July, I'll be going for 7 days of training over a two-week period.

Allergies are better, but I've still got a cough and occasional asthma symptoms.

My hubby contacted Agape Flights, and they are beginning to contact our references. After they get back information from some of our references, they will schedule a time for us to come to Florida for an interview. They also will run a background check on us. I've led too sheltered a life to find much of interest, I'm sure. My hubby was in the military with a high level of security clearance. I think he'll pass.

The bride has a dress and a venue. As long as the venue is available, she has a date. They have decided our humble church is not such a bad place after all. It's not your traditional-looking church building, but our multi-use auditorium can get pretty snazzed up! The church has decorations we can use. And we have lots of people who will be able to help us out at low costs or as volunteers. We are truly blessed to be at Crossroads!

What's a derivative?

2008-05-27T21:01:00.004-05:00

Wow! It's been a busy month!

Today I took my content test that proves (if I pass) that I'm "highly qualified" to teach high school math. Right now, I feel like someone sucked out my brains! I don't feel highly qualified to do anything! But I survived the testing process. I should have results in a week or so. If I have to do this again, at least I know what I need to be studying! I think I will need a crash course in calculus and linear algebra. I'm amazed by how much I have forgotten!

I've been fighting allergies, along with most North Texans, this year. It's been REALLY bad! For me, that also means asthma. I went to see a pulmonologist (lung doc) on Friday. He put me on steroids and some more herbs (he believes in those). He wants me to do a sleep study, since I snore. If my lungs don't clear up soon, he wants to "put me in the hospital and clean them out." I hope it doesn't come to that. I really can't afford it. Especially when I'll be faced with substantially reduced income over the summer. Which is a whole 'nother topic.

We found out through some friends that Agape Flights has our application and has been waiting for us to call them. And here we were, trying to be patient and wait for them to contact us! Our friends have been accepted to Agape to go to Les Cayes, Haiti, to set up a guest house and mail services. They are hoping to be able to go in three to four months. Right now, they are sharing their vision and waiting for God's provision. Agape Flights is close to replacing their airplane that they lost at Christmas last year.

Pray for the Russia Team. They are currently in Tula and will be coming home on Sunday. I have not heard from my son or anyone else on the team. A friend said their daughter contacted them, and all are well.

Well, that's all my sucked-out brain can come up with for now!

Happy Administrative Professional Day!

2008-04-24T19:15:00.007-05:00

(I had this ready to post yesterday, but Blogger would not upload. Then we had a power failure! So, here's a second try, a day late!)

Or, for the less politically correct, happy Secretary's Day!

I was overwhelmed yesterday when I walked into the school to discover gifts and cards covering my desk! Just as I finished opening them all and oohing and aahing appreciatively, I had a class of first graders come into my tiny office to present me with a banner that they had all signed. I said my thank yous, hung the banner, and turned around to find the third graders in my office with their banner! There was also a poster in the cafeteria available for all to sign. Then a bit after lunch, my superintendent dropped by with a bouquet. I haven't felt this appreciated in a long while!

Although it's wonderful to be honored and appreciated, I was even more glad that the students had an opportunity to show appreciation for someone who serves them. So often these days, children learn to take, take, take and never give back in return.

Next year, there will be another secretary at the desk. I've signed up for my content test (over math & some teaching) at the end of May. Passing the content test demonstrates that I am "highly qualified" to teach Math 8-12 grade. In July, I'll be doing my training with the alternative certification program. In August, I'll start teaching on a probational certification. I'll probably teach high school, or possibly midschool. I'll be teaching every subject, due to the nature of our school. It is more like "group homeschooling". The students work mostly independently using PAKs, or worktexts. I'm there for assistance, motivation, and encouragement -- as well as classroom management and discipline.

I called my former boss to inform him of my career direction change. He wished me well, but I know he was disappointed that I wouldn't be available to help his company. They have a bid on a contract, but without the contract they cannot hire someone in the position he wanted me to fill. He is still uncertain when that position will even open up. Even if that was the right direction for me, I couldn't wait around for a job that might come to be.

I've been tutoring some high school students in math in preparation for their TAKS exams next week. I've really enjoyed interacting with them. I'm looking forward to teaching next year!

News!

2008-04-06T08:35:00.008-05:00

Gosh, it's hard to believe it's been a MONTH!

First, I have to share my good news! Our daughter came back from a spring break ski trip with a ring! Yes, she is getting married, probably in July 2009. The date has not been finalized at this point, but we're working on it. So many dreams, so little money! That's the hard part. But we are adjusting our expectations and trying to embrace the decisions which might not have been our first choice in a perfect world (with unlimited funds!). No matter what, it will be a very special and memorable event!

Over the spring break week, I spent a lot of time thinking about the job decision. I even investigated doing medical transcription again. After obsessing over it for several days, God convicted me that I wasn't trusting Him with the matter. I prayed again that he would give me clear direction and tried my best to not think about it.

Several days after I went back to school, I started getting a "feeling". Now, I don't recommend you base major decisions on feelings, but sometimes I get them, and I can't help feeling they are from God. This one reminded me of the feeling I got about my husband after our first date the second time around. I actually was inspired to write a song, the gist of which was that God told me that I was going to love him (that guy I just went out with) for the rest of my life. Of course, then my reaction was, "You don't mean HIM, do you God?" Well, I guess he did! I had a friend sing the song at our wedding, and we just celebrated 26 years of marriage.

Back to my "feeling". The feeling this time was that I was going to end up teaching. And the more time that has passed, the more right this seems. I also found out that the school will pay all my certification fees if I contract to teach for two years, so that's definitely an answer to prayer!

Interestingly, about the time I decide that the teaching position is the way to go, my old boss calls me. I haven't called him back yet. I was at work and not in a position to talk, so I told him I'd call him back. They have bid on a contract that would give them the customer base to bring someone on -- IF they get the contract. If not, it will be months before they have the business to support someone in the position for which he was wanting me. And then what happens if they lose business? I don't know that this job would be worth the wait -- or the gamble. And several loving friends have counseled me that it would be wise not to take this job.

This week, I applied with Texas Teachers, an alternative certification program, and had my university send them a transcript. The training would be on-site over two weeks this summer, plus an additional national trainers session. My campus director was very glad to hear this! I know they will have a position for me at the school. They are trying to open a new campus in the Aubrey-Pilot Point area, which would be much closer for our current high school teacher. They have not gotten state approval to the amendments to the charter yet. Even if they don't, our midschool teacher has stated she will not be back this year, so I would be able to teach that level as I will be certified for Math 8-12. Our midschool is only 7th and 8th grades.

Throughout this decision process, I was reminded by others of several things:

Philippians 4:6-7 clearly shows that obsession is not demonstrating faith:Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God cares more about who we are than what we do. Many times he leaves that choice of what we do totally up to us. However, he wants us to show Christ to others by doing what we choose in the best way we possibly can.

On the missions front, we did complete our application for Agape Flights and mail it in. We have not heard back from them yet. Our friends that have applied with them said that they will check out all our references first. Even if we end up getting accepted with them or another organization, it usually takes two years to raise the necessary funds to go on the field. Bottom line, we're in God's hands and on God's timing!

Thanks for your prayers, all my friends!

New Possibilities?

2008-03-06T23:01:00.003-06:00

Last week was both interesting and difficult.

For the difficult part, I received some information that I was doing a couple of things wrong on my job. In a perfectionist like me who strives to always be found favorable, this was disappointing. Even though some of it may have been based on mistaken information given to me, I still got bummed. I was also told not to work overtime without approval. I hadn't intentionally been working overtime. I was just trying to get the job done, and that was how long it took. All this information was received when I was in the throes of trying to get report cards out -- a process that took a bit of overtime to make happen.

Now the interesting part. The same letter advising me not to work overtime included an offer for me to pursue a teaching position at the school where I work. Being a charter school, I would not be required to have a teaching certificate. I would only need a bachelor's degree and to prove competency in my subject area through a test given by the TEA (Texas Education Agency).

You've heard me discussing a position my old project manager hoped to offer me at a start-up firm dealing with computers. It would require a commute and more time that my younger son would be on his own in the afternoons.

Right now, my younger son and I "do school together" in the sense that it is an activity we share. I'm seeing some improvements in his behavior (at times), and I'm having more time for character-building instruction and interaction. A friend reminded me of the importance of keeping son-time as a priority. Not that I disagree or hold another view, but sometimes we need reminding. It is easy to get sidetracked by the urgent things in life -- like paying the bills. Even if the other job would provide more financially, would I be sacrificing my son in the process.

I'm not sure if I want to be a teacher forever, or even if I feel it is a calling. At one point, it was the career I was pursuing with my educational preparation. I mainly changed my direction due to marriage. I still got my degree. However, I didn't pursue teaching as I felt it was a career, not a short-term job until I began a family.

And how does missions fit in? Would making more money get me to that goal faster? But at what cost? Would being a teacher make me a more attractive missionary candidate? Is that what I'd want to do? So many variables!!

At this point, I'm seriously considering pursuing the teaching position. However, I feel I'd be short-changing myself by not pursuing certification. There are alternative programs that let you teach as you train and will deduct your program fees/tuition from your teaching paycheck. There is an upfront fee/down payment to get started, and I would have to pay for the state testing separately.

The school has offered to pay for the competency testing, which is also one of the requirements of the alternative programs. I have asked my Campus Director to find out what, if any, financial assistance is available for the certificaiton program.

Although we have not finished our applications yet, Mark is still wanting to pursue applying with Agape Flights. I have not heard anything new on a replacement airplane for their ministry.

By the way, we survived the first round of TAKS testing. Overall, it went rather smoothly. Next week I will begin tutoring high school math students in preparing for the math TAKS test in April. I'm hoping these tutoring sessions will give me an indication of whether teaching would be a good fit for me. I figure it will either whet my appetite or drive me crazy!!

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

He knows the plans, but we don't! Please pray for me (and my hubby) to have wisdom in our decision-making process.

TAKS woes

2008-02-23T16:38:00.014-06:00

I hate TAKS! No, I don't mean tacks, although you could probably make some valid "points" of comparison. Or taxes, even though I'm not fond of them, either! I mean Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.

Back in the day, when I was a blissfully ignorant homeschooler, I didn't know just how much TAKS drives the day-to-day events of public schools. At first it was just a benchmark (practice test) here and there. Now, closer to the dates of the actual TAKS testings, the benchmarks get harder and closer together. This week we will have to start additional tutoring for those who did not have passing grades on their benchmarks so that they will have a better chance of passing the TAKS. I'm even going to do some high school math tutoring. (My Campus Director thinks I should get my teaching certification.)

Those who criticize schools for just teaching to the TAKS tests do not realize the pressure schools are under because of the TAKS. Mind you, I don't like teaching to the TAKS either. However, schools and teachers are evaluated based on the percentages of passing students. If the school does not get an acceptable rating, the state can put a full-time monitor into the school (that the school has to pay for) and possibly close the school if improvements are not made.

Sometimes I wish I were a blissfully ignorant homeschooler again!

As for the rest of life: I'm feeling quite a bit better. Hopefully my throat will hold out tomorrow as I sing at church. No more news on the job front. And I haven't made soap yet. The diet is going o.k., but I am cheating more frequently (just in small ways). The mission application is still in progress. No news from Agape Flights on replacing their plane. Lunch still pretty much dominates my day at the school. And we have not made any progress on our online class.

I guess I'm just taking life one day at a time. Which isn't a bad perspective.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
-- Matthew 6:33-34 NLT

Surrender!

2008-02-16T15:40:00.005-06:00

I thought it was going to be "Retreat!" but it ended up being "Surrender!"

The Women's Retreat was this weekend. I was really looking forward to it and had a couple of service opportunities that I was looking forward to. Plus, our new pastor's wife was our speaker. However, Thursday night I started feeling bad. By Friday morning, I knew I wouldn't be able to go. I even took off early from work -- as soon as I got my lunch duties finished! Oh, well. God knows best, and I'm sure there's a good reason why I needed to be home this weekend.

Mark & I worked on "cleaning" the fat today -- boiling in water the tallow we had rendered in order to get rid of more impurities. Someday it will be soap! I've also been checking out recipes and techniques online. As a side benefit of salvaging the scraps from mission meal, we also got several pounds of very fatty ground beef. We're going to mix it with some leaner ground beef we have or cook it and rinse it for use in spaghetti sauce or soup. Overall, our salvage was a blessing!

I got a call from my old project manager earlier this week. It looks like the end of the school year will work out better for his company to bring me on. He's still working on justifying my position. But he says he still wants to hire me. That would be good for me, since I don't know how much I'll work at the school over the summer. And if I'm not working, I'm not getting paid!

I'm getting tired of my weird diet, but I am losing weight. I think that generally I'm feeling better as well. Fortunately, I like the things I am allowed to eat. I have cheated a little, but I really try not to.

I got a very touching letter from my hubby for Valentines Day! I know it was a labor of love, as writing does not come easy for him. For me, it's not the pricey presents that count!

Sometimes I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels and not making much progress getting anywhere in life. But I know God is working in me and my family in subtle ways I can't always see. And when the time is right for a change of direction, He will make it apparent.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. -- Psalm 23:2-3a

Updates

2008-02-09T16:51:00.000-06:00

Lunch only takes up 3/4 of my day now! Occasionally I get caught up. Frequently I get interrupted! Oh, the life of a school secretary.

I haven't heard from my previous project manager. Some days I'd take that job in a heartbeat. Others, I'm glad I'm at the school. I love the folks I work with -- at least most of them!

We're slowly making progress on the finances. Hopefully, March will be a little better. I'm also reading through a book a friend loaned me -- "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey.

Mark is making progress on his Agape Flights application. In his defense, it is lengthy. I also saw online that another organization, Baptist Haiti Mission, needs a computer tech. Hmm...

We did the precooking today for Mission Meal today. The proceeds will go toward the Russia Team, who are providing most of the labor as well. The menu is barbecue brisket, baked beans, cole slaw and chocolate cake. Yummy!

BTW, the Russia Team is going to visit a sister church in Tula, about 100 miles south of Moscow. They will be doing a marriage conference, English classes, VBS for kids, computer classes and visiting in church member homes. My daughter is on the team. My hubby and I were, too, but we had to drop off due to work conflicts.

We brought home a bunch of fat trimmed off the brisket they are cooking for tomorrow's meal. My hubby is cutting off any meat and rendering the fat so we can use it to make soap. I've thought about making soap for a long time but just haven't done it yet. Our next step is to obtain a source for lye! Then we get to try our hand at it!

Let's do lunch! All day!

2008-01-22T00:19:00.000-06:00

Lunch is dominating my life at work! Our charter school just opened a cafeteria and is serving a boxed breakfast and hot lunches. Guess who gets to handle all the accompanying paperwork and money flow? That would be me, the entire administrative staff at the school! By the end of the week, I actually got to where I could spend a few minutes on things not lunch-related. But I was glad to have an entire day to get out report cards on Friday! It was a teacher workday, totally devoted to report cards. That, coupled with 10 hours of overtime on Wednesday and Thursday nights, got our report cards out on time!

I had a visit with my former project manager. I was impressed that he started the conversation with an apology for how he treated me at the end of our time together at the former workplace. I was interested in what they were doing at this new company and wouldn't mind being a part of it. It is much more "start-up" than I expected. After a follow-up call, it sounds like he will pitch the idea of hiring me to the higher ups. Even if an offer comes around, I still will give it a lot of prayer and thought. Please pray for wisdom and discernment for me! And if I do leave the school before the year is out, I will make sure their transition will be as painless as possible. I would want them to hire a replacement and let me assist in training that person thoroughly. (Then they can un-train them when I leave!) It may be that I will finish out the school year and make a change, or stay with the school for years to come!

We have not submitted our applications to Agape Flights yet. Mark is still finishing up his. I just noticed information on their website about the loss of their plane. You can read about it here.

If you read my daughter's blog, you know this has been a challenging month for us. Sometimes it takes the challenges for us to be dependent on God for His provision. God revealed his provision through an unexpected gift that taught my daughter the humility of allowing others to bless you in your need. Yes, we have made mistakes and poor choices and will have to face the consequences thereof. But I do not regret that our children have had to learn that at times we must wait for things and make choices between needs and wants. Hopefully, they will be better prepared for life because of this.

A New (Year) Start

2008-01-07T22:46:00.000-06:00

Today was my first day back to school as school secretary. It was a zoo! We enrolled 4 new students and had several calls inquiring about openings. If they all come, we'll be maxed out on enrollment!

It was hard getting back in the swing of things. I felt like I couldn't complete a task before getting interrupted. But it was good to see the teachers, the students, and my campus director again.

I had something unexpected happen today. My project manager from my previous employer called me to try to woo me to the new company where he is working. I'm not sure what to think. This is a company that was started by a very respected coworker at my previous place of employment. However, the guy that called is the same guy that, for all practical purposes, fired me a year and a half ago. I was a temp, so I wasn't really fired -- just "no longer needed". But since he bantered around words like "insubordination", it makes me wonder why he's after me now.

As I look back on that time, we were both put under a lot of stress by those above us. And it was a weird situation, as far as chain of command goes. He was my project manager but not my supervisor, and it was unclear who I actually supposed to report to. (If he's not your supervisor, is it insubordination?) He pushed me to cut corners, which I felt compromised the procedure, if not the product as well. I questioned him one too many times. However, before those last few months, we actually worked well together, and he elevated me to positions that stretched me and challenged me.

I'm also reminded of an old adage with a twist: Fire me once, shame on you; fire me twice, shame on me.

From another angle, the money was good, and the family made the best progress in recent years of retiring our debts. Since I lost that job, we have made negative progress in that regard. Money isn't everything, but it has been keeping us back from possibly pursuing missions.

Another important aspect is how this would impact the family. William is in school now. They have after school care for a very reasonable price, but we'd also have to work out getting him there every day at an acceptable time for all. I've also been spending lots of time working with him to get him to do his schoolwork in a timely fashion. Would I have that time at another job? It also has helped for me to be on campus and chatting with his teacher on a regular basis.

This phone call was so out of the blue that I know I need to mull it over a bit before I decide anything. And just because I investigate this new company doesn't mean I'll accept an offer. But this is one time that I wouldn't mind if God dropped down a billboard with directions!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T17:09:00.000-06:00

Enjoy your time with family and friends.
Enjoy the food and the gift-giving.
But don't forget the best and most expensive gift of all.

Please pray

2007-12-23T14:14:00.000-06:00

I just got an e-mail from missionaries in Haiti. They use Agape Flights to supply their mail and package service. They received this news from Agape Flights:

There is no easy way to share this with you. Today (Friday, 12/21) on its return flight Agape's Caravan experienced an engine failure and ditched into the Caribbean off of Chub Cay near Abacco and not for from the US.

We ask you to share in praise to the Lord for the safety of Agape's crew Rocky and Paolo... I have just spoken to them and all is well...

Pray with us as we regroup... Please be assured we will persevere...

Please share this with other members of the Agape family, thank you...

God Bless,
Charlie (Gardner, Director of Agape Flights)

Please pray for Agape Flights. As far as I can tell, this is their only plane used for delivery service. They had just spent a lot of money to have the engine rebuilt this fall. This loss will impact the missionaries they serve in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Thanks for praying with me.

Bummer

2007-12-18T21:42:00.000-06:00

I've had to sit out of participating in worship teams for over two months now. If you know me well, worship is a passion for me.

God has his way of keeping me humble. He has shown me that sometimes things are right for a season, and sometimes not. His ways are not our ways, and His timing is not our timing.

At long last, I commit to sing this Sunday. I got my rehearsal notification e-mail today. And I came home from the school running a fever. And as my friend calls it, having a face ache. Probably a sinus infection.

Pastor Steve said that Joseph, the father of Jesus, just did the next right thing. It's never fun when the next right thing is stepping away from something that is your passion. But when the time's right, I'll be up there again, singing my heart out. For now, I'll just sing in my heart!

I hope you and yours are escaping the many ailments that are going around this fall and winter.

Blessings!

Realizations

2007-12-09T00:06:00.000-06:00

I've come to realize a few things over the last few weeks.

I realized I don't spend near enough time communing with the Father.

I realized that I need worship. The times I have missed it due to illness, trips or serving at church have been felt deeply.

I realized I need my friends. For support and encouragement. To share my joys, sorrows and concerns. To share their joys, sorrows and concerns.

I realized I like my job. There's never a dull moment and I don't get bored! I love working with the kids and the parents and the teachers.

I realized I like my new campus director. She is the superintendent's wife, but she has her own educational experience as a principal and assistant principal, and also has special ed training. She'll be great for our school, and I think we'll be good friends! (For those concerned about nepotism, she reports to the board, not her husband.)

My hubby and I realized we could not make it on the maximum salary the school could offer. Not to mention wondering what would happen in summer. It would be an hourly position (as mine is), so it would be "No work, no pay."

I realized that following your convictions is better than trying to please others based on their convictions.

One other bit of news: We've begun a dialog with Agape Flights, a mission organization that provides mail and delivery service for missionaries in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. They also provide transportation for missionaries and bring in short-term teams for mission trips. They are in need of a field director for Port au Prince. The position requires organizing volunteers to sort mail, interfacing with customs officials, hosting teams, and record keeping, among a multitude of other duties. We're not sure how well we fit what they are looking for, but after having them "coincidentally" cross my path several times in different ways, we've decided to talk with them further. Please pray for wisdom as we investigate one another.

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every
circumstance. The Lord be with you all!
-- 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Career Change?

2007-11-18T14:24:00.000-06:00

I'm trying to work my husband into a new job. In some ways it would be a step forward. In others, a step back.

Our school is going to be putting in a cafeteria to be able to serve lunches to the students. They will need someone to run the kitchen operations. If you know my husband at all, you know he loves to cook! He's always one of the "kitchen ladies" working on Mission Meals. Plus, he's often there to help out and clean up at other events at the church.

We have been feeling that God is leading us into a hospitality ministry in missions -- running a guest house or hosting short-term teams. This would be an opportunity to try his hand at cooking for a crowd (probably only about 100) on a daily basis.

Sounds good, huh? Well, the down side is that it would be a significant reduction in pay. But it would also be a significant reduction in commute time and cost, a significant reduction in stress, and a way out of a bad work environment. We're willing to take the pay cut if we can make it on our salaries. I know we can stand to reduce our living expenses a little bit. We've done it before.

I know that God has put me in my current job for a reason. For me, it meant a bit more pay. It also meant a change in lifestyle for myself, for William (going to school for the first time), and the rest of the family. But now that we've settled into a routine, I'm finding I really enjoy my position. It really is a ministry -- to the students, the parents, and the staff.

Please pray for wisdom for us as we contemplate this career change and for the school leadership as they make their decisions.

ap·pre·ci·a'·tion

2007-11-08T00:18:00.001-06:00

–noun
1. gratitude; thankful recognition: They showed their appreciation by giving him a gold watch.

There's nothing like being gone for a couple of days to make folks appreciate you. Of course, the secretary at a small school picks up all the little pieces -- none of which seem that big a the time, but they add up to a lot. (Not to toot my own horn -- it's just the nature of the job.) But it is nice to be appreciated now and then.

A fellow blogger talked about moms and not being appreciated. Moms of toddlers deserve an award for just persevering! You young mothers really amaze me! Especially the ones that weave and bake and knit and make cards and scrapbook and organize meals and... Well, you get the drift. I'm doing good to just get through my day taking care of the necessities. Crafting? Baking? One day I'd like to get back to those.

This fellow blogger also told a story about her son that reminded me of some humorous anecdotes from my children. I hope you don't mind if I borrow your idea, Schweers' mom. I can't promise the deep lesson to go with them, but they might be worth a chuckle.

My older son was about four when we went to my cousin's wedding. Twice during the reception, after sitting quietly, enjoying his refreshments, he suddenly found himself upside down, along with the chair he had been sitting in. Once was with chocolate cake, the other with red punch -- all on blue carpet!

While discussing these events with my sister-in-law, she shared an incident that had occurred about a month before on a camping trip we took together. He was at her campsite, watching them set up, calmly sitting on an ice chest. The next thing she knows, he and the ice chest are upside down. He gets up, dusts himself off, looks at her and says, "I hate it when that happens!"

My younger son has given us a few new sayings. My daughter now asks her friends, "What your doin'?" Also, once a year we have to go get our car expected. I know there are more, but the brain is old.

One day the younger son came running into my room, doing a potty dance. "Mommy, Mommy! Can I use your bathroom? Julie's in ours plundering the toilet!"

I still am wondering what "treasures" she was finding!

The moral to the stories?

Show your appreciation to all the "little people" who make your life easier.
Funny stories are precious! Save them up for first dates and other embarassing moments!

Because I'm home

2007-11-06T13:11:00.000-06:00

The boy & I decided to stay home one more day. He's getting over his symptoms. Mine are diminishing but have not gone away yet. Hopefully, we'll be back in the swing of things by tomorrow.

He is feeling good enough to do homework. Getting him to do it, though, takes more energy than I have today. But I'll keep trying. I hate for him to get too far behind.

I started reading through Colossians 1 today. There are so many good examples: The Colossians, known for their faith and love and hope; Epaphrus, whom Paul calls a "dear fellow servant" and "faithful minister" and who brought the Colossians to the knowledge of Christ; Paul, who did not stop praying for the Colossians to grow in their knowledge and understanding.

And what a marvelous prayer!

10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

I praise God that he gives me knowledge and understanding, counting me worthy to share in His work and giving me the strength to do it. To Him be the Glory!

Life goes on

2007-11-05T19:41:00.000-06:00

The excitement for this week was our Fall Carnival at school, which was Friday night. It was lots of fun! We had a bounce house and an inflatable obstacle course, which I helped man. Also, there were some game booths, karaoke, and hair and face painting. Our high school teacher obtained sumo wrestler suits -- so padded the person inside couldn't move! That was hilarious to watch! We had lots of candy and drinks left over, but it was a good night!

My school kid did not get to participate in any of the possible October 31 events due to not doing his homework for two nights in a row! He's got to get motivated to do his work. We can't coax him through every step on a daily basis. He's also needs to learn to use his class time wisely.

School kid and I had to stay home Sunday and Monday due to tummy problems. We'll see what tomorrow holds. He has the obvious symptoms. I just have stomach pain. Bummer!

We recooked the jelly last weekend and it gelled to a soft set. I like it better that way. It's much easier to spread! Now we need to cook the rest of the juice!

On a more serious note, I've been convicted about how infrequently I spend time in the Word and in prayer. Believe it or not, reading blogs is a great encouragement. But it's no substitute for personal time with God. I think it's time to pick up that Bible...

This week's update

2007-10-27T22:58:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy week full of deadlines! First was a fund raiser -- cookie dough-- for my son's school. The second was the school picture order. The third was the Science Fair. Throw in a Monday followup visit to the oral surgeon (he's healing well!). Also, we had a benchmark TAKS test on Thursday. The good part of that was that he had no homework, being excused from his assignments to be able to work on the TAKS test. The benchmark test, if you're not familiar, is to assess the deficient skills so that they may be addressed over the year.

I'm feeling better but still have been using my nebulizer off and on and having the occasional coughing spell. Usually when taking a big breath before answering the phone! I had to turn down two opportunities to participate in worship, which is one of my passions. Disappointing, but life moves on. And God's timing is perfect.

My hubby and I made our first batch of prickly pear jelly for the year. A couple of weeks ago, my hubby harvested them, cleaned them, and cooked them to get the juice. This is the first chance we've had to cook the jelly. We experimented with the recipe and may not have gotten enough sugar and/or pectin. It might be prickly pear syrup. If so, we'll try recooking it and adding more sugar and pectin. If your interested, I can give you a jar when we get it right! (I still have some from last year, too.)

We're still getting a few e-mails from time to time from mission organizations. Sometimes I feel like we're stalling out on our progress, but life has kind of slowed us down a bit lately. And every day is a ministry, no matter what "hat" you wear. As I discussed with a friend last week, sometimes it would be nice if God dropped a billboard in front of your face so there would be no doubt what direction He would have you to go. The only problem with that "still, small voice" is that you have to be still and quiet to hear it!

I went to a cluttered spot in my living room to retrieve some things and ended up going on a cleaning tear. It looks much better, but we're still nowhere ready for Better Homes & Garden or the white glove test. But it's a baby step in the right direction.

Coming up for air

2007-10-22T21:47:00.000-05:00

I chatted with a friend the other day. She quoted her daughter, who is a nurse, as saying something like this: "In this case, breathing is a medical necessity."

That's how I've been feeling lately. Breathing has been taking up way too much of my conscious thought. Frankly, I prefer it to be a subconscious, involuntary action. Unfortunately, I've resurrected my nebulizer, complete with medicine that's not out-of-date. And I'm hitting the cough medicine as well.

We survived the tooth extractions. Actually, he did quite well -- once he stopped throwing up. I won't go into detail lest my squeamish readers turn even greener. He didn't have much pain other than a nasty headache and tolerated his soft diet pretty well. Today was the follow-up visit, and the doc said it looked fine.

I'm still battling schoolwork with my son. If he doesn't want to do it, he just doesn't. Regardless of the privileges withheld. Regardless of the pain inflicted. Regardless of the carrots dangled. I wish I could find the right motivator. Today, I withheld food until he was finished. We drove through Wendy's on the way home. I wouldn't let him eat his until the homework, which he worked on in the car and at the doc's, was finished. At the doc's, he spent the 1-1/2 hour wait doing two sentences. ARGHHHH! Between the wait and his attitude, I was in tears by the time we saw the doc.

I'm falling asleep at my desk, so I'd better quit here. Actually, I need to hit the nebulizer first!

From Achoo! to Cough, Cough!

2007-10-02T20:09:00.000-05:00

I had to stay home sick today. I made it through Monday at work -- just barely. I started running fever late in the afternoon. The nurse practitioner I saw thought it probably started with allergies and turned into secondary infections. After 24 hours of antibiotics, I'm feeling MUCH better. I still have a nasty cough, but my nose has cleared up quite a bit.

A volunteer at the school graciously filled in for me today. They really need to hire her -- she's terrific! And I found out she lives in my neighborhood. She even offered to take my son to and from school, but I made big brother do the carting!

I've started communication with the company for which I subcontract to do medical transcription. Tomorrow I should hear back from them to have a discussion about whether they want me to continue working part-time. I've felt like that's been in limbo since I started the new job. It will be nice to have some closure, one way or the other.

I also made an appointment for my younger son to get the dental work done he needs. I haven't told him yet as I didn't want a distraction during his homework time. He still hasn't finished it as of 8:15 p.m. I reminded him of the consequences. I'm just not up to being homework Gestapo tonight. ;-)

Hubby goes in for his colonoscopy in the morning. He's been on a liquid diet today. I'm going to take off in the morning to go with him and then head back to work at midday.

It's nice to get a few loose ends tied up. And it was nice to have some down time today. I did a lot of napping, probably thanks in part to the hydrocodone in the cough syrup! I actually did miss seeing the students and teachers, though. I think it's wonderful how God continues to bless us with new brothers and sisters in Christ and new friends to share Him with!

Achoo! etc.

2007-09-29T15:01:00.000-05:00

Nothing profound today.

Between allergies and a cold, I've been keeping the tissue companies in business! I've heard ragweed is really bad this year. I'd been blaming it all on my allergies, but I now that my hubby seems to have a cold that he says he caught from me, it must have been part cold, too!

At The Education Center, we are still without a campus director. However, having the CEO (Superintendent) here with us has helped me better settle into my job! We've also had a volunteer come in and help us get the files in shape, so that's looking better as well. We had missing files, missing info in files, etc. Frankly, I hope they hire her!

I'm really enjoying to get to know the teachers and students. It's kind of fun to have the kids greeting me as I run about the campus with my errands. As the school nurse, I still need a bit of wisdom on recognizing the real illnesses from the fake ones. I know, it's hard to believe -- kids will actually fake illness to get out of class! Unfortunately, head lice have made their appearance already. I certainly hope we don't bring that home!

After doing some research on the heeler breed, I definitely think Emma has a lot of red heeler in her. Actually, the breed name is Australian cattle dog. We're still working on the housebreaking. Aren't puppies fun! (At someone else's house!) She's awfully cute, though. And I think she'll make a great pet for the family. She's very well behaved when napping! ;-)

I'm still doing a little transcribing. However, the company I subcontract to has complained about my lack of hours, so that may come to an end -- or I'll be moved to another contract. At this point, quitting my be the best for all concerned. I'm keeping on just to keep my foot in the door, but it sure adds a load to my day!

Not much progress on the missions front. Still taking the course, although I haven't turned in any work in a few weeks. My hubby hasn't had the time to work on it. He is still working almost every night until 8 or 9 and most Saturdays. He had today off (yay!), but he's spent it relaxing due to the cold. We do have a couple of projects we need to get to, though. But sometimes the best thing for you is just relaxing!

A Taste of Honey

2007-09-23T15:17:00.000-05:00

You probably have heard the old saying: "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." I've recently discovered there are different kinds of "honey". Or rather, different ways to use honey in your speech.

Our campus director resigned on Monday afternoon, leaving with no notice and taking all the things she had brought and not been reimbursed for. Needless to say, the staff members were a bit shocked.

Tuesday morning brought the arrival of the superintendent (or CEO) of the group of charter schools, along with his newly-hired assistant. They remained all week, filling the position of campus director between the two of them. In watching each man work, I saw different types of honeyed words.

The superintendent is a very straightforward man, loud and boisterous in his speech. He doesn't sugar-coat his words, but he uses edifying words and humor to build up others. He jokes with the parents who bring forgotten lunches, with the kids who aren't feeling well (or think they aren't), and even somewhat with the kids who come in with discipline issues. He does it in such a way that you are put at ease, but at the same time he doesn't compromise the seriousness of a situation.

The new assistant is the type to look you in the eye and smile as he talks to you, never raising his voice. His words are smooth, but can also be cutting. He instructs before asking how things are being done. He just assumes they are not being done properly. Although he has taught with the curriculum we are using, he is not familiar with how our schools operate. However, he acts as if he has all the answers.

I like both men and respect them for their experience in education. But I must admit I prefer the boisterous, humorous edifier over the soft-spoken, smiling criticizer.

Observing these men made me think about how others are receiving my words. Are they hearing a honey-coated barb or an genuine word of edification, sprinkled with humor? Or are they just hearing a barb without any honey? I have to go back to what Paul said about our speech:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29

Father, help me to remember to make my words edifying, not using sweetness to hide a barb.

What kind of honey is in your words?

Emphysema!

2007-09-13T22:15:00.000-05:00

Several years ago, my niece had a Dora the Explorer doll that danced and sang her "We did it!" song. Dora is a bilingual show, so they say the main phrases in English and in Spanish:

We did it, we did it, we did it, yeah!
Lo hacimos, we did it, we did it, yeah!

My daughter, not being familiar with the TV show, replaced the Spanish words with what she thought she heard. Thus "Lo hacimos!" became "Emphysema!," and this became a family joke.

I'm shouting "Emphysema!" tonight because my son finished his homework! That may not sound like a big deal, but for us it is! We have been staying up late with him to try to keep him on task, resulting in sleep deprivation for everyone. (Throw a puppy's 3 a.m. wakeup calls in there, too!)

The last two days he has not had his assigned homework completed. I was pretty frustrated this morning. I'm not sure if the problem is laziness, lack of motivation, procrastination, or a true learning disability. We were all overjoyed when he finished before 10:00!

Emphysema! He did it!

Now, if only I can get Emma to cooperate...

Meet Emma!

2007-09-10T16:18:00.000-05:00

This is our puppy, Emma, the newest member of the family! We pick her up from the clinic tomorrow. She's one of a litter of nine that were found in a taped-up cardboard box in a dumpster. They were brought to the clinic, nursed back to health, and put up for adoption when old and strong enough. Because of some of the markings, they think they have Australian shepherd or Australian cattle dog in their parentage. She's energetic and enthusiastic, has green eyes, and my daughter is in love with her!

It's been a while since we've had a dog. I figured we'd go longer than this without one, but I guess we're just a dog family. We were tempted to get two, but that would have been a lot of trouble and expense. So we settled on Emma, my daughter's favorite.

Busy!

2007-09-08T12:30:00.000-05:00

Nothing profound to add at the moment. I've just been busy! Probably too busy. Like a hummingbird, not even stopping work to eat!

Right now I'm trying to maintain both jobs -- working at the school and doing a little transcription in the evenings. I wrote to my transcription supervisor asking how she would like to handle the change in hours I am able to put in. I have not heard anything back, so I'll keep typing. I'd like to keep the door open (so to speak) in case the school does not work out.

Working for the school is fun and challenging, but it is also frustrating at times. The Superintendent of the five schools is rather old-fashioned and likes to keep things close to the vest and under his control. I have a computer that I don't really use because most of my work is pencil and paper. Being a database enthusiast, I find this a bit frustrating. I want to make a database to track what we need, design reports to print out when needed, and link my computer with the Campus Director's so that we both have the info available. Right now, my computer programs are also being very flaky. I don't know if we'll ever get computerized, so I just keep on plugging away on paper! Please pray for me to guard my tongue and not voice all the frustrations I'm feeling.

I signed us up with an outfit called The Finishers Project -- an organization to connect potential missionary candidates and missions organizations, especially tailored for the "second career" missionaries. We've received some e-mails back from organizations, but we haven't really begun any dialogs yet. However, it's nice to be pursued!

We've made some progress on "the decision". Please keep us in your prayers. It's good to know God knows the ultimate outcome and what will be best for us -- even if we may not like it!

I was just listening to a worship song that emphasized what I need to remember --

"Strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord..."

But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

BIG Change!

2007-09-01T14:45:00.000-05:00

Wow! Life has changed a lot for the family since Sunday!

Sunday evening I spoke with a friend who had just started her son in a charter school. It sounded really interesting, but I figured Lewisville was too far to drive every day. She told me they had opened one in Denton and gave me the website. I went home and looked them up. We discussed it and felt it would be a good fit for our son. I called them Monday, which was their first day of school. They had room for my son in 4th grade. Age-wise, he's a young 5th grader, and I have been contemplating holding him back for a while now. I enrolled him in 4th grade, and he started Tuesday morning. This is big for us! Both my older children were homeschooled through high school, so this was the first time one of my children has gone to school!

While in the school enrolling him, I found out they needed a secretary. I had been contemplating getting a "real job" instead of doing medical transcription from home. It hasn't been paying as well as I need. Plus, it's really hard being your own boss. I will work much harder for someone else than for myself. It's so easy to goof off and so hard for me to discipline myself and keep to a schedule.

I had to go home and make a lunch since I was not sure if my son would stay all day on Tuesday. While at home, I tweaked my resume and brought it back. Then I went to shop for school clothes for my son. This wasn't the easiest as most of the "uniform" clothes were picked over. They don't have a uniform per se, but they do have a narrow dress code. Believe it or not, my son hasn't balked at that! (Sometimes it's easier to follow someone else's rules!)

I went back in Tuesday afternoon, interviewed for the job, and started on Wednesday morning. I'm the school secretary/receptionist, school nurse, and general flunky. The admin staff consists of me and the Campus Director (principal). They are in the throes of start-up. This is fun for me, as I like setting up new systems and organizing stuff. The pay is not as good as I'd hoped, but it should be more than I was getting transcribing. At this point, I'm not sure if I'm going to continue transcribing part-time or not. I'm kind of hoping not, so as to lower my stress and activity level, but I haven't quit yet and my boss hasn't asked me to yet.

I think the structure is going to be good for all of us and will help us establish some new habits! I've always felt the best jobs are the ones that find you. Although it was big and SUDDEN, I think this change found us, and I feel that God is in it!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
-- Proverbs 3:5-6

P.S. : For those wondering about my big decision, it's still in process. I'll keep you posted.

Pastor Steve

2007-08-27T07:12:00.000-05:00

I saw this link on another blog (in The Diner). Steve is the one in black & white. Wow! He's a very talented photographer! I think he'll be a great pastor, too!

Steve Hixon -- Hixon Photo

I'm excited!

2007-08-26T21:52:00.001-05:00

(No, I'm not having mood swings. Well, maybe I am, but this post is not at all related to the last one.)

We have a new pastor! Or, rather, we will. The candidate who was unanimously presented by the search committee and unanimously approved by our elders has decided to take our officer of position of teaching pastor!

We are so blessed to have a wonderful staff of gifted pastors who have kept the ministry flowing smoothly. I'll miss hearing from them as frequently, but I'm glad they will be getting a well-deserved break.

We are also blessed with excellent elders who have put in many extra hours to keep CBC on track.

It's been a rough road, but I know God is using this time to shape and grow our church. To Him be the Glory!

Angst

2007-08-24T00:04:00.000-05:00

I am struggling with doing something that someone in authority requested that I do.

I don't mean a direct command. More a firm suggestion given because they think it would be good for me. When I decided to take on this request, I wasn't fully aware of what all it would entail. (Thus the first photo. I couldn't decide which sign best reflected how I felt, so I used all three.)

My problem is that because of differing philosophical points of view, fulfilling the request is frustrating, irritating and unsettling. It reminds me of being in a geology class in college. I had to learn all the different eras that happened billions and billions of years ago even though I didn't really believe the earth was billions and billions of years old.

Where does one draw the line between being true to self and submitting to authority? What is requested doesn't lead me into sin (except for my own bad attitude). It will win favor with the authority figure -- and possibly future authority figures -- but winning favor should not be my motivation for complying with a request.

This particular request will entail many, many hours of effort over a long period of time. A heavy investment for something your heart is not in. And a long time to harbor a bad attitude. Don't worry. I'll either convince myself to have a good attitude or decide not to fulfill the request.

Maybe I should have been in the military so that I would have been forced to learn obedience without question. Or maybe I should learn from Nike and "Just do it!" Or maybe I should take a stand and challenge the validity of the request.

Please pray for wisdom for me. I don't want to be a rebellious troublemaker. But I don't want to compromise who I am and what I believe. As the Serenity Prayer says, I need "wisdom to know the difference" whether this is something I should accept or change.

In the basket

2007-08-21T11:02:00.000-05:00

This Sunday our speaker was a visiting missionary named Danny. He talked about how Paul went from being a persecutor of the church to the apostle to the Gentiles. Even though his conversion was instantaneous, with a flash of blinding light and a voice from heaven, the beginning of his ministry took some time. Even thought he had been trained under the high priest, Gamaliel, and was a Pharisee, Paul still had a lot to learn.

First, he went to stay with Ananias and the disciples in Damascus for several days. He taught in the synagogues, explaining that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jews conspired to kill him and kept watch on the city gates. The disciples had to lower him in a basket from a hole in the wall at night in order for him to escape.

Our speaker pointed out that this may not have been the nicest basket. Who knows what it could held before -- fish, produce that went bad, rubbish -- you get the picture. But even in the nicest basket, it is humiliating to have to be secreted out of the city to run for your life.

On leaving Damascus, Paul spent a period of time in Arabia, possibly up to three years. He then went to Jerusalem. Even after being away for a time, the believers were afraid of him because he had persecuted the church so zealously, and Barnabas had to come to his defense. After a while, the Jews in Jerusalem sought to kill him, so the believers sent him to his home town of Tarsus, where he stayed until Barnabas went to find him and took him to Antioch to teach the Greek believers. Overall, it was about eleven years from the time of Paul's conversion until his first missionary journey.

Danny pointed out that personal growth and preparation for serving God takes time. It may involve uncomfortable situations and humiliating experiences. Danny called these experiences our "basket". They are necessary to prepare us to be a servant ready for God's use. Baskets can be a multitude of situations -- financial difficulties, emotional strains, job-related problems, health difficulties, family stresses.

I'm sure Paul felt the same way I do. I don't like being in a basket! It's dark and smelly! It sticks and pokes and cramps me! I want to rush ahead and serve God with the passion He's given me. But God knows I need time in the basket to be ready for Him to use.

What's your basket?

2007-08-16T17:42:00.000-05:00

Listen to this song. It's a simple, mellow song. A little repetitious, but what a message!

http://www.globalworshipnow.com/newsletters/dynamic/214100832_MoreMoreMP.mp3

It sounds a lot like what we've been hearing at CBC a lot lately. And it echoes one of my favorite passages. Paul was a little repetitious, too!

...I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death...
-- Philippians 3:8-10

"O, I wanna know You
deeper than before

O, I wanna know You
more and more!"

Inconvenienced?

2007-08-14T23:35:00.000-05:00

This afternoon, I headed off on what I thought would be a relatively quick errand. At least as quick as any errand to Plano and back. I headed off merrily down I-35E toward Lewisville. However, before I got to the lake bridge, the traffic slowed to a crawl. I took the first exit, knowing a few back roads, and it still took me about an hour to clear Lewisville. All this time, I still had no idea what the holdup was.

As I drove toward my destination, I tuned in a radio station to see if I could find the source of the traffic snarl. As it turns out, there was an 18-wheeler that overturned and caught fire. For a while, it had traffic tied up in four directions -- the highway and the cross street.

On my way home, I took the "scenic route", which was several miles out of my way. As it turned out, my daughter came home shortly after I did. Having traveled that way, she said there was only a little "onlooker delay" on her side of the road.

After I got home, I realized my errand, which should have taken about an hour and a half, ended up taking over three hours. That put me behind in my work and made me a bit frustrated over the inconvenience to my day.

My hubby had to work late tonight. When he passed the location around 9:30 p.m., they were trying to upright the 18-wheeler and remove it from the road. He said it was in the center lane right at the overpass where the street went over the highway. I can see why it had traffic so snarled. I'm sure with a flaming truck underneath, they wouldn't want traffic on the overpass. Or the opposite side of the freeway. Or the service road.

As my little son listened in, he made a comment that put things in perspective: "I hope the driver got out alright."

The Dallas Morning News reported that the truck overturned trying to avoid hitting a Toyota carrying four adults and an infant. The truck driver managed to get out of the cab before it caught fire. The Lewisville Fire Chief said that none of the injuries were thought to be life-threatening.

And I thought I was inconvenienced!

Wondering

2007-08-13T21:12:00.000-05:00

Wonder \Won"der\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wondered; p. pr. & vb. n. Wondering.]
1. To be affected with surprise or admiration; to be struck with astonishment; to be amazed; to marvel.
2. To feel doubt and curiosity; to wait with uncertain expectation; to query in the mind; as, he wondered why they came.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Do you ever have one of those time periods where you start to wonder? Who am I? What does God want me to do? How? When? Where?

I've been doing a lot of wondering lately about several issues. I'll share a couple of them.

The most urgent issue has been to reevaluate our schooling options for "The Short One". After getting some counsel from a friend, doing further thinking, and discussing it with my hubby, we've agreed that we should stay on the track we are on for now, which is homeschooling. Admittedly, it's a challenge to keep him motivated and on task, especially since I'm working from home. But there are some specific issues that would make it difficult for him to switch into public or private school at this time. We have done more evaluating (and second guessing) with him than we ever did with the other two. But we're in a much different spot in life with him.

The biggest issue, which is still up in the air, is the whole missions thing. Are we cut out to be missionaries? Are we too old and set in our ways? What sort of position should we seek and how should that relate to our gifts? Where should we seek to serve? For a long while, we thought those questions were answered and the main question was when. Then our basket of expectations and assumptions was thrown into the air, leaving all the questions floating around our heads again.

On a personal level, I'm much more aggressive and impatient than my hubby. He takes lots of time to think, mull over, react, and evaluate than I do. That's why he is a good balance for my impetuosity. I have to watch myself to make sure I'm not pushing my passions onto Mark but rather following his lead. When do I nudge? When do I wait? (If I hadn't nudged, we may never have had children!)

I pray that God will give me wisdom. On a personal level, of how to act (or not act) and what he wants me to be. On a family level, what he wants US to be.

I need to remember the words of a wise pastor I know:

"God's more concerned about who you are than what you do."

Amen.

Our Personal Navigation System

2007-08-07T16:16:00.000-05:00

I heard a story today about a woman who drove to Atlanta with only her GPS navigation system to guide her. She turned right when it told her to, or turned left, or exited, or merged. She managed to get to her destination one turn at a time, although she had no idea where in Atlanta she was other than the street address. But she never got lost. Even when she missed a turn, her handy device told her so that she could correct her path.

This woman got to thinking about how easy it was to follow one step at a time, trusting the device to guide her even though she didn't see the big picture. And then she realized how much that was like God's guidance. He sees the big picture but only instructs us one turn at a time. He knows that's all we can handle. And it forces us to trust him.

I don't want a navigation system! I want the whole map. I want to know exactly where I am and 15 different ways to get where I need to be if the primary route is blocked. But God knows that if I had the whole map, it would be so overwhelming that I couldn't take it. Like a street map of the entire globe! And even if I could handle it, I wouldn't be trusting Him to guide me, but I'd be trusting my OWN understanding!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
--Proverbs 3:1-8

Where's the next turn, God? My bones could really use some refreshment!

Spark

2007-07-31T07:46:00.000-05:00

I'm a member of a website called SparkPeople. Its purpose is to provide tools and encouragement for losing weight and adopting a healthier lifestyle. They encourage you to join teams and read and post on the forums for your team. They even give you points for doing so. (Isn't amazing what people will do for "points"? They only earn you a trophy icon on the site!)

I belong to several SparkTeams: Christian Homeschooler's Healthy Living, Christian Missionary Moms, Conservative Christian Women, Thyroid Community, Medical Transcription, and Managing Diabetes (which I recently dropped). Through them all, I have met some great people and have found and given encouragement. Being a Christian and all, I assumed I would have the most in common and get the most encouragement from the Christian teams. Sometimes, though, I get more support from the other teams -- those who share health issues or job-related challenges with me.

I've also found that, in general, you get out what you put in. It would be easy to "hide" and just read other people's posts. But by openly sharing about myself and my own struggles, I have been encouraged by others and have been able to encourage others.

I wish I could say I've made rapid strides in weight loss. It's a slow process, and one that depends on my compliance. But I've learned a lot. About the diseases I struggle with and how other peoples struggles are just like mine -- I'm not alone! About the time management struggles I face, particularly from working at home -- once again, not alone there! About the struggles and challenges Missionary Moms face, and that they are just people too!

I've been thinking about how SparkPeople mirrors life. I've learned some things about that, too. Our support and encouragement often comes from unexpected places. We get more when we give more. Risky as it is, being transparent can be beneficial. Everybody needs encouragement.

I've also been thinking about my role in the body. Am I supporting and encouraging others? Am I giving or only seeking to get my needs met? Am I trying to draw in those who "hide"? Am I transparent? Am I open to let God use me in unexpected ways and settings? Am I a "spark" to energize or to destroy?

Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. -- James 3:5

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. -- Matthew 5:14-16

What kind of spark are you?

How can I encourage you today?

It's all about... Him

2007-07-26T09:57:00.000-05:00

I read this on Elisabeth Elliot's devotional site today and thought I'd share it with you.

Title: Identity

Author: Elisabeth Elliot

The search for recognition hinders faith. We cannot believe so long as we are concerned with the "image" we present to others. When we think in terms of "roles" for ourselves and others, instead of simply doing the task given us to do, we are thinking as the world thinks, not as God thinks. The thought of Jesus was always and only for the Father. He did what He saw the Father do. He spoke what He heard the Father say. His will was submitted to the Father's will.

"You have no love for God in you," He said to the Pharisees. "I have come accredited by my Father, and you have no welcome for me....How can you have faith so long as you receive honor from one another, and care nothing for the honor that comes from him who alone is God?" (Jn 5:42-44 NEB).

The photo? That's what our identity should be -- vessels for God's use.

Elisabeth Elliot Daily Devotional:
http://www.elisabethelliot.org/devotional.html

Thoughts

2007-07-19T16:41:00.001-05:00

Revelation Song -- sung by Kari Jobe

Some verses that popped out at me today from Proverbs 19:

2 ...he who hurries his footsteps errs.

11 A man's discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.

21 Many plans are in a man's heart,
But the counsel of the LORD will stand.

22 What is desirable in a man is his kindness...

Soaring!

2007-07-19T00:28:00.000-05:00

I received an e-mail from this coming Sunday's worship leader with a newer song they wanted us to familiarize ourselves with before rehearsal tomorrow evening. It's called Revelation Song, words and music by Jennie Riddle. I've listened to it over and over, not only to learn the part, but also because it is so worshipful! It makes my spirit soar! I found this You Tube video. I'm working on getting it posted, but here's the link:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FObjd5wrgZ8

I know our rendition will be different that this one, but knowing the extremely talented musicians I will get to sing with, I know it will be wonderful -- and worshipful! And we're also doing the version of "The Lord's Prayer" that we did last month with the same team. I'm looking forward to Sunday morning! (If you're a nighttime CBC attender, you might want to pop in this Sunday morning!)

I did find out it originated in a local charismatic megachurch. But many of the words (as the title suggests) come straight from the book of The Revelation:

Rev 4:6-8

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures... Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

Rev 5:11-13

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"

With all those creatures and angels around Him praising Him 24/7 (does that term apply to eternity?), God doesn't NEED us to praise Him. But He ALLOWS us to participate in praising Him because He knows how wonderful it is for us to experience! After all, that's what we were made for!

Can you imagine eternity spent thinking up new songs and ways and languages to praise our Almighty God, surrounded by incredible musicians? I can't wait to be a part of it!

I'm soaring just thinking about it!

The traveler returns

2007-07-11T16:00:00.000-05:00

My international traveler arrived home safely! They ended up missing their connection in Houston, and the "regular" flight later had been canceled. So they ended up on an "express" flight (express = tiny plane) that arrived at Love Field, rather than DFW. She had to check her pilot case because of lack of carry-on space. Fortunately, the enclosed glassware survived the baggage handlers! The rest of the luggage went with the original flight to DFW, since they found they had missed their connection AFTER it was rechecked. But they made it home safely and had a very successful trip.

The missionaries thought they would only be able to complete about half the project since they were such a small team and mostly girls! Ha! After a quick demonstration, the girls mastered the use of power tools. By the end of the first day, they had all the pieces cut and had one set assembled. By the end of their time there, they had finished assembling all the bunk beds and left the varnish on the last set drying! They also had some down time to enjoy a hot springs area and do some shopping. And I know they were such an encouragement to the missionaries!

It was a bit of a surprise to them to see how COLD this tropical area was! But mountainous wins out over tropical! And the showers were a bit shocking -- literally. To warm the water, they heat the shower heads with an electrical heater with exposed wires and a switch IN THE SHOWER! They got quite a buzz out of it on multiple occasions. Sounds like they need to work on wire insulation, conduit use, and grounding. Or switch to an in-line propane heater.

Although sad to have missed the trip to Grandma's, she was extremely glad to be a part of this trip. Thanks to all who supported her with prayer and finances. When she gets her luggage, we'll see the pictures & goodies she brought home!

Back in the Saddle Again

2007-07-08T22:06:00.000-05:00

We're home!

We had a great time with family and some much-needed relaxation. My brother-in-law miscalculated and I didn't double check him. My mother-in-law was only 89 -- still quite an accomplishment!

On the 4th, we drove up to Oklahoma and shared a nice dinner and some fireworks at Mom's with family -- including some much-needed catch-up time with my sister-in-law and two of her sons, who were only there for the day.

We celebrated Mom's birthday on the 5th. We got her some solar lights for her "boardwalk" that spans some previous steps down and back up. She loves them!

The next day was a workday -- tree-trimming, grass-raking, and re-mounting her window AC unit.

Mom convinced us to stay an extra day, which allowed us to go to the Wichita Mountains to picnic and tromp around.

The boys and I did a nice hike requiring a short bit of mild rock-climbing (yes, the hand- and foothold type!).

My hubby and brother-in-law did a bit of climbing themselves to capture video clips to use for worship slides, as well as some nice stills.

The extra day also enabled us to go to church with Mom, which she also enjoys us doing. After a safe drive home, we're back to rainy Texas. And tomorrow, the work routine resumes. It was nice to have a break!

Happy Independence Day!

2007-07-04T08:27:00.001-05:00

We're headed for my mother-in-law's to celebrate her 90th birthday! That's her with my hubby's older brother, his son, and his new grandson! Four generations!

Have a great Fourth!

Guatemala or Bust!

2007-07-03T12:40:00.001-05:00

I got my girl out the door for Guatemala -- barely. She had her alarm set for 2:30 a.m. and I had two set. However, she must have slept through hers. One of mine I failed to turn on. On the other one, I had the time set for p.m. when it should have been a.m., but the alarm was set correctly. So, obviously, it didn't go off 12 hours early! She was supposed to be at the airport at 4:30 for a 6:30 flight.

I woke up around 5:00 and in a panic woke her up. My hubby and I threw ourselves together and got her and her stuff in the car. We left the house at 5:25 and managed to get to the airport in 30 minutes -- with a quick "pit stop" so we wouldn't run out of gas. She got checked in with the help of the team leader, went through security without a hitch around 6:00, and pretty much went straight onto the plane!

The team made it to the first destination, Houston, without problem. By now she should be arriving in Guatemala City, where the missionaries will meet them and take them further west to Xela, where they live.

That's Brandon, Jenny & Deacon, the missionaries, in the picture below, and their house above!

I'm excited for the team! It should be a great time for them! They are building bunk beds and helping the missionaries prepare their new guest house to receive visiting teams. Yeah, a "handyman project" and they have two adult males (over 30) and three college girls!

Some of the dust settles

2007-06-26T11:44:00.000-05:00

(in the order previously referenced)

I have an appointment for Thursday afternoon with the new doc. We'll see how that goes.

Julie is going to Guatemala! I'm so glad! After all, it is a college trip, and that was a few years ago for me. It turns out, it will be two adult men and three college gals. I hope they have a wonderful time and are a big help and encouragement to Brandon & Jenny. Thanks to everyone who supported her and/or let her use the money she had raised for Russia in order to go on this trip. (Yes, we are still going to Russia -- in May 2008.)

I've been doing a bit better on work/time management. Just taking it one moment at a time!

In order to facilitate Mark with the reading for our course, this weekend I recorded the readings for Lesson 1 on my computer. After I get closer to filling a disk, I will write it for Mark to listen to in the car. Not only does he commute about an hour one way every day, but he also often goes out to schools for computer installations that could also be an hour or more from the office. (Thankfully, he gets paid for mileage!) I really enjoy reading aloud, for some strange reason. I have read a couple of other books in the car to Mark, but right now we don't have much joint car time -- thus the CD idea. And I get my reading done in the process!

One of my blogging friends wrote about unbelief being the root of our struggles as believers. It really got me thinking. Resting in God, in the midst of whatever life brings, is probably one of the purest forms of worship I can offer. What difference does it make if I sing & shout & fall down before Him if I don't really trust Him. All of my unsettledness is just not trusting God. He is in control and knows much better than we do what is best for us. Thankfully, I have had a few favorite verses popping into mind (one from my blogging friend) as I am feeling anxious:

"Cease striving and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10
"Do not be anxious about anything..." Philippians 4:6
"...the battle is not yours but God's." 2 Chronicles 20:15

Please read the full verse in context. I just pulled out key phrases for me.

What do you have to do to make the dust settle? Stop moving! Have a restful day!

Unsettled

2007-06-21T17:06:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling kind of unsettled lately.

First, one of my friends asked for a followup about the doctor visits of late. The thyroid scan was negative, my blood tests were normal, so no change in medication was needed there. My doc didn't volunteer to check anything else, and I'm still really tired all the time! Sometimes I think he thinks it's in my head! (As if there's anything in there!) A friend referred me to a different, less traditional doctor, both in testing and treatment. I think I'll give her a try -- when I know what I'm doing next month. (See below.)

Second, as I mentioned before, Julie & I want to go on the Guatemala trip. I have sent e-mails out asking for support, but I haven't gotten any response back (only 24 hours ago). I'm wondering if I'm not trying to force something to happen that shouldn't. But, now it is in God's hands. If the money comes in, we will go. If not, either one of us will go or neither will, and the money we have raised so far will go back to the Russia team. But I hate the waiting.

Third, I'm trying to get better on my schedule (work/sleep/life), which is hard when all you want to do is sleep. I want to put in my hours, both to be a good worker and to get paid more. And the new car payments start next month! (No pressure!)

Fourth, we're trying to squeeze in a course about missions into our busy schedule. It's an online course called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. I requires a lot of reading and listening to some lectures. We have a year to finish it. As we do this, we're also looking into missions agencies where we might be a good fit. We haven't made any contact yet, but a few look promising. It would be nice to figure out what we're going to do when we grow up!

I have to remind myself that God knows the end from the beginning. Even though I sometimes feel that life is spinning out of control, it is always in God's hands. At times like this, I have to remind myself frequently of Psalm 46:10, which in the New American Standard Bible says:

"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

More Linguistic Hamburger, New Doc & Mission Trip Changes

2007-06-18T18:34:00.000-05:00

Chief complaint: Tripping and falling with scalp laceration.

(Is that like "running with scissors?")

The patient denies any back pain when lying.

(So when he's telling the truth, he has back pain?)

I found a doc I'm going to try out. I actually discovered her online and through a friend's blog link. We'll see how it goes. I haven't made an appointment because of vehicle issues. My daughter's is in for some minor (I hope) repair.

We found out Saturday that our trip to Russia has been postponed until May 2008. I will wait to see how things shape up before I commit to continue. My daughter, on the other hand, wouldn't miss it! She'll continue on, so expect to hear more from her. Since I'm in charge of the Haiti trips, I have to make sure all those bases are covered first.

My daughter and I are going to attempt to jump onto the trip to Guatemala at the last minute. This means we'll have to raise $2000 in two weeks! They leave July 2. We are going to visit some missionaries who are former members of our church moved to Guatemala last October. They will be taking North American teams to visit their sister churches. Right now, they are getting settled and working on learning the languages - Spanish and Mam (the Mayan language).

The team going from our church in two weeks is a small group of college students going to build bunk beds for the guest house the teams will be staying in. Hey, we know our way around drills & screwdrivers! Please pray for us as we prepare to join this team.

Linguistic Hamburger

2007-06-14T10:48:00.001-05:00

What is hamburger? Meat that has not only been butchered but ground up into an unrecognizable mass.

As a general rule, we Americans are lousy at learning languages -- even our own! I am not that surprised when I see spelling and grammatical errors in online chatting and forums. We never know what level of education folks have obtained. Nor does spelling and grammar come easily to everyone, regardless of their position or educational background.

I occasionally come across something that is very obviously wrong, redundant or just funny. And I have to share! Here are my contributions for the day:

-- from dictated medical notes (rephrased):

"PAST MEDICAL HISTORY:
The patient has a history of (a disease or condition) in the past."

"We will keep her overnight for 23-hour observation so we can watch her."

(They must work for the Department of Redundancy Department.)

-- from an author's biographical information in the back of a novel:

"She... later became the mother of three sons and an elementary school teacher."

Ouch! As my daughter said, "I hope she didn't have a ruler in her hand!"

The Key?

2007-06-12T19:37:00.000-05:00

I have a kid who is wonderful at avoiding activities. Every time he is pressed to do an undesired activity, he is hungry, he needs a break, he needs to go to the bathroom, etc. He works harder at avoiding the activity than he would actually doing it! I can't figure out the key to motivating him!

We have tried positive and negative reinforcement -- anything from wonderfully desired rewards to withholding favorite privileges to (dare I say it?) spanking. Nothing seems to work consistently. Spanking definitely doesn't! (I wish it did!)

The thing that works best is sitting right with him and insisting he stay on task. However, this takes constant attentiveness and excessive use of time, which is not always available for this use. Any lapse in attention and he is off!

Oh, and he also has to tell you about EVERYTHING he does and discovers and makes, whether you want to hear or not.

I don't know if this is an extreme need for attention, a bad case of ADD, or just a very clever kid. But it's getting old!

Any ideas on what the key might be?

The Daily News continues

2007-06-11T18:59:00.000-05:00

I had dinner last night with good friends, some of whom are "professional" missionaries!

My thyroid was scanned -- results pending. I found out several other friends have thyroid problems. I was also reminded that "Aging is not for sissies!"

My friend's wrist only needed a cast, not surgery, and the doctor thinks it will heal well. And I got to spend more than half the day with her!

My son went to the memorial service for his friends' mom. (I didn't find out the time until I had missed it.) He also spent time hanging out with his other friend, Juan, who had hung out with me last week.

Thought for the day -- Friends are precious! Handle them with care and spend time with them often. And don't forget to save time for your best friend, Jesus!

The Daily News

2007-06-09T21:15:00.000-05:00

The crew got home safely from Mexico and had a great trip! My son got sick on the first work day, which really frustrated him. He doesn't know why, and he knows all the rules about drinking (what and how much). This is his fifth trip (plus two to Haiti), and he hasn't gotten sick since the first one. He missed the second day of work completely and felt the effects for the rest of the trip. I suggested to him that since we've had such a cool May, he may not have been as acclimated to the heat as previous years. But really, God only knows! He survived, and the trip was good.

He was bummed to hear about his friends' mother's death. I also told him about an adult friend's broken wrist. He replied, "Yeah, I leave and everything falls apart!"

I'm taking the broken wrist victim to a specialist on Monday. It's nice to have a vehicle to be able to do those things! I was going the same direction for a sonogram on my thyroid gland (in my neck). One side felt enlarged and was tender, so the doc wanted to check it out. He also wants me to have a sleep study since a sleep disorder can cause fatigue. I think I'll wait to see how the thyroid checks out first (and spread out the expense!).

My hubby painted the entire shed by himself today! Other than the trim work, it's done. I stayed inside and did some more sedentary work -- mostly preparing some course material for him to complete. We're taking a class called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement as an online course. Some of the online stuff is just a bit of reading, so I printed it out for him, deleting some irrelevant parts. We are taking this course as a preparation for missions work, should God continue to lead us that direction.

Well, that's probably more info than you wanted on my life. Maybe tomorrow I'll get deep and spiritual!

Doctor, it hurts when I do this...

2007-06-08T10:31:00.000-05:00

I'm heading for the doc today to see if I'm crazy, old, or treatable. Sometimes I just think I'm crazy! (OK, I KNOW I am!) And I do know I'm getting older. But I'm hoping he will take me seriously and investigate why I'm always tired. I don't want "Hee Haw" medicine:

Patient: "Doctor, it hurts when I do this."
(Doctor hits patient.)
Doctor: "Then don't do that!"

If this doc won't investigate, I'll find someone who will. It's been going on too long to be "just me". And it would be nice to figure out what the mystery aches and pains are. I'll keep you posted...

Front door update
Juan came over again this morning. I'm glad he feels at home here! Half the time when John is here, he just knocks and comes in.

It seems that the mother may have overdosed on painkillers she was taking for her ankles (intentional or unintentional?). She was due for surgery on them soon. The dad has serious back problems (Juan said "a broken back") and cannot work. The sons are moving in with relatives, and the dad will probably find someplace else to live. He probably cannot afford payments/rent without her income.

My heart hurts for them! It makes my aches & pains seem so trivial.

Front door

2007-06-07T11:37:00.001-05:00

Have you ever had an opportunity for ministry show up at your front door?

This morning, a friend of my son's came by, very disappointed that my son was still on his mission trip. I could tell he was concerned about something. He went on to tell me that he had just found out that his friends' mother had died in her sleep.

Wow! What do you say to that?

He told me that none of his friends were home, so I invited him in to hang out, use our computer to check his Tribal Wars (online, ongoing game), e-mail his friends and check their My Space pages. His mom was just leaving for work, so otherwise he would be home alone.

Now, mind you, I'm not really interacting with him. I'm not even in the same room. (Before you get worried, none of my rooms are very far apart!) And my younger son has a friend over, so he's occupied. But I can let him be here, instead of be alone, and let him do something to occupy his hands and mind a bit as he deals with his grief. He was close to the family, especially the mom, so this hurts a lot!

Pray for this young man, Juan. He's been "in church", but I don't know that he's a believer.

Pray for the family of James & Kyle, who lost their mom. I learned that she was the only one in the household who was working, and she took care of all the meals, laundry and other household chores. And I know nothing of the spiritual condition of their family.

Pray for my son. He'll have shocking news to come home to. He has spent quite a bit of time with this family, too. And he'll have opportunities for ministry to his friends.

Pray for me. For wisdom in knowing how I can reach out to this family and these young men. That my door would always be open to those who are hurting.