Ah, moving is SO much fun!!!!
But, it needs to be done. In case you've missed my saga, here is the Nancy's digest condensed version... we decided over two years ago that it would be wise to plan for mom and dad to be living in the same house as us as they are getting to the point where they need some extra help, and we all are adamant that we won't be shipping them off to a nursing home or assisted living place unless it were absolutely medically necessary... so we started talking about building a house. Well, here we are - we had hoped to be in the house last September (!), but purchasing the acre from our daughter and son-in-law was insanely difficult thanks to the employee of Chase who no longer works there, because evidently she did others like she did us (fax that to me TODAY - then not look at it for 2 weeks after my wonderful SIL called her three times to ask about it... then something else always had to be done that she hadn't communicated to him, etc, rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat - when she was replaced, her replacement got us finished in 2 weeks!), then the county approving the plat of the land took months, plus an additional $6K in surveyor's fees (which he definitely earned:), etc, etc, etc...
Now, FINALLY, Bo will, dare I say it? - be able to get our building permit next week, but, since we decided it was time to close the LBC chapter of our lives and move on to a different ministry - we know not where or what at this point... it may be just taking care of mom and dad... we have to be out of this house (church parsonage) by WEDNESDAY - can you say... "Nancy is not packed yet" with me???
So today, I am packing, moving stuff and will be repeating that tomorrow, Sunday after church, Monday and Tuesday (thank God our SIL is off today and tomorrow and is willing and eager to help, God bless him!). I need to film and upload my blog hop entry... it is a 2 page scrapbook layout for the 4th of July, so hopefully it will inspire you... but then, once I get that done, I'm off the computer (yeah, we'll see) for a while!
Have a lovely weekend, and think of me while I'm packing, sorting and moving... and if you're in the Houston area and want to come help, I'll give you directions to my house, lol!!!
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Friday, June 25, 2010
Monday, October 27, 2008
Back at home, crazy busy... or just crazy?
We are back at home - moved back home around Sept 23 or 24th. Since then, we've been straightening up, putting away and getting stuff in order... babysitting grandbaby Ava every weeknight til about 8 pm... oh, and going on a scrapbook retreat last weekend. I didn't really have TIME to be off work, but OH, how I needed the mental health days!!!!
I thank you all for the good wishes and prayers while we were out of our home. We have been VERY blessed.
I ask that you remember our good friends Kelley and Chris Vaughan in prayer. Kelly is a pastor in Galveston, Texas. They are still out of their home as it had more than 5 feet of water in it. They have lost ALL their furniture, and many 'things'... and are praising God that they and their family are all safe. They are awesome people. If you feel led to bless them with a gift, let me know and I'll tell you how to get it to them.
I will be working on a Christmas tag swap (actually 2 of them for two different groups) and the designs for my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack this week...
Be well, be blessed.
I thank you all for the good wishes and prayers while we were out of our home. We have been VERY blessed.
I ask that you remember our good friends Kelley and Chris Vaughan in prayer. Kelly is a pastor in Galveston, Texas. They are still out of their home as it had more than 5 feet of water in it. They have lost ALL their furniture, and many 'things'... and are praising God that they and their family are all safe. They are awesome people. If you feel led to bless them with a gift, let me know and I'll tell you how to get it to them.
I will be working on a Christmas tag swap (actually 2 of them for two different groups) and the designs for my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack this week...
Be well, be blessed.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Still no power, but still so blessed
Well, just a quick update here - - - we've still no power at home. HALF of he little strip of apartments behind the parsonage has power now, as well as our neighbors on our street... the remainder of the apartments and the parsonage where we live do not - it seems they are on another transformer... Bo suspects that it must be gone.
As far as the church goes - evidently there was a line DOWN... and now it's just GONE. Bo said he thought that the power company must have cut it to get it out of the way and done something to enable them to restore power to the houses on Citadel Street behind the church... so we have to wait until they can come back and fix that, too... so tomorrow we will be worshipping without benefit of electricity... that won't stop us from praising God for His mercies throughout all this.
Do I want to be home? Surely... but I have to say - my house is safe, my dogs and cat (and betta fish) are all well, I am staying in an airconditioned HOME with mom and dad and Bo where I come home to a cooked meal (that part is spoiling me, lol), and I don't have feet of mud and yuck to clean out of my house when I do get to go back home***. Yeah - it's annoying and frustrating on some levels, and I want to be in my own space, but I am so blessed and so grateful to have what I have and I know it!
***Have you SEEN what some of these poor people are having to deal with in going back home? Inches or feet of mud and debris in their house or business - and let me tell you - this stuff STINKS!!!! Belongings and mementos, family pictures, scrapbooks, etc, knocked down into this stinky mess? Plus, some of these people will be living in hotels or FEMA housing for ages! We aren't talking good clean earthy mudpies your kids can make in your back yard! Man, I am SO blessed!
As far as the church goes - evidently there was a line DOWN... and now it's just GONE. Bo said he thought that the power company must have cut it to get it out of the way and done something to enable them to restore power to the houses on Citadel Street behind the church... so we have to wait until they can come back and fix that, too... so tomorrow we will be worshipping without benefit of electricity... that won't stop us from praising God for His mercies throughout all this.
Do I want to be home? Surely... but I have to say - my house is safe, my dogs and cat (and betta fish) are all well, I am staying in an airconditioned HOME with mom and dad and Bo where I come home to a cooked meal (that part is spoiling me, lol), and I don't have feet of mud and yuck to clean out of my house when I do get to go back home***. Yeah - it's annoying and frustrating on some levels, and I want to be in my own space, but I am so blessed and so grateful to have what I have and I know it!
***Have you SEEN what some of these poor people are having to deal with in going back home? Inches or feet of mud and debris in their house or business - and let me tell you - this stuff STINKS!!!! Belongings and mementos, family pictures, scrapbooks, etc, knocked down into this stinky mess? Plus, some of these people will be living in hotels or FEMA housing for ages! We aren't talking good clean earthy mudpies your kids can make in your back yard! Man, I am SO blessed!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Blessed
In the dark of the midnight
Have I oft hid my face
While the storms howl above me
And there’s no hiding place
Midst the crash of the thunder
Precious Lord, hear my cry
Keep me safe till the storm passes by
Till the storm passes over
Till the thunder sounds no more
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand
Keep me safe till the storm passes by
~Mosie Lister
The song "Til the Storm Passes Over" has always been special to me, but even more so after experiencing Hurricane Ike over the past 24 hours. Our electricity went out for the 4th (or 5th, lol) and final time about 26-27 hours ago, so we packed it in and headed a mile or two away to my mom and dad's as 1) they still had power and 2) mom was fretting about us...
We spent the night in the 'new' room (now about 25 years old, lol) that has its own window unit so we had control of our temperature (they sleep at about 80 degrees.... we sleep about 12 degrees cooler than that, lol). About 3 this morning, their electricity went out as Ike passed through the area. About 3 hours later, Kari called to tell us that they had lost electricity, too, out in Waller where we will building a house this year on the back acre of the property we are buying with them... not only that, but Clementine, their part Blue Heeler, part Red Heeler, decided to have her puppies in the midst of the storm in their laundry room.... NINE puppies she had :) Of course the first boy is named Ike. Mama and babies are doing fine.
We slept a bit fitfully since we were hot - me especially after the power went off and Bo throw his part of the blanket over me :). Anyway, after his dad checked in with us at 8, he got up and went to check on our dogs and house. The wind was still blowing wildly enough I was a little concerned about his sanity... but he was on his way home when I texted him to check on him. We were still at mom and dad's when my sister called a bit after lunch and said that her daughter and son-in-law were at Costco in Austin and they had plenty of generators, and asked if we wanted him to get it and meet us halfway with it... so Bo and I hopped in the truck and drove to Buccee's in Giddings to meet him:)
As soon as they loaded the thing in our truck, Mom called and said that the power was back on at their house, lol - but at least now we have the generator we were planning to buy when we get our house built out by Kari and Garrett's!
In all of this, there has been, of course, a tad of discomfort, but I feel so very blessed. All of my family is safe. We have minimal property damage, consisting mostly of downed tree limbs in the yard. In both our neighborhoods, we spied trees on houses and cars, trees and limbs in the street, pieces of trees in our yards from God-knows-where.... but all the people (and pets) are safe... and now we have a generator to plug our refrigerator into, lol!
Hopefully our power will be restored within the next couple of days... I confess that I'm actually a bit more concerned about the water at the moment as there isn't enough to take a bath at the moment - this could get ugly! But I know that God will continue to hold us safe in the hollow of His hand. For all of you who have sent me emails that you are praying for our safety - thank you - it is appreciated, and if you know me, you know that I believe in the power of prayer.
"Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand
Keep me safe till the storm passes by"
Keep me safe till the storm passes by"
I know that there will be other hurricanes - some even bigger and badder than Ike, but I am so blessed... and I know that God will continue to hold us in the hollow of His hand. Do you?
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Baseball, hurricanes, banana bread and traffic jams
I was singing the old Chevrolet ad song when I typed that title for this post - - - you remember? Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet....
My apologies to the jingle writer, lol!
Anyway - the Astros are doing well - they started playing - I mean REALLY playing, after the All-Star break as usual :) Go 'Stros!!!!! 3 games out of the Wild Card slot....
Banana bread (yeah, I skipped the hurricane for a moment) - so my mom buys bananas.... and they never eat them all.... so she gives them to me to make banana bread (now, this is a really obscure reference... but a Christian singer who has long since gone Home to be with Jesus - Keith Green - wrote and recorded a song called, "So you wanna go back to Egypt"... anyway - one of the lines in it is "baMANNA bread" - you'd have to know the song, but it makes me chuckle anyway :) - so my mom buys bananas, as I said, gives me some that are past their prime and PERFECT for making Banana bread (or baMANNA bread, if you prefer).... so the other day I bring these home, and Bo brings them in, and the next day when I go to make the bread....no bananas!!!! I found them a couple of days later... in the freezer.... with about a dozen other bananas in packets of about 3 or so each.... Anyway, when I picked up Ava from my mom (Mamaw) today, she handed me 3 bananas that were READY! So when I got Little Bit and I in the house, I got the bananas (which had fallen off the stem, thank you, and had to be picked up from various locations in my car, garage and kitchen - I thought my load was getting lighter:) - put Ava in the little crib my granddaddy made when I was born, and rolled it in the kitchen. We had a great time, with her kind of playing with her crib toy and me singing along and mixing up the bread. I baked it as a flat cake rather than a loaf... it came out of the oven about 10 minutes before Kari and Garrett got here to pick up Ava.... it is now over half gone - guess it was ok, lol!!!
Traffic jams - when Hurricane Rita hit in 2005, Hwy 290 was backed up to a stop - people were running out of gas on the highway by the time they got to Waller (where I work, about a 40 minute drive from Houston normally) - it was really bad, and they had to open up some of our schools for shelters because people couldn't get away that way. Well, we were expecting more of the same today, but this time, people evidently actually did what the authorities asked them to. The evacuation appears to be leaving the coastal areas in an orderly way, at the times they were asked to. Traffic heading out of Houston on 290 as I drove back in to get home this afternoon was MUCH worse than normal, but it was moving. They just announced on the news that they don't need to make the contraflow lanes at this time because traffic is moving out on all the routes... awesome!!!!!! Kari and Garrett headed home to Waller via Tomball on 249 and made it in about an hour or so, so it is MUCh better than during Rita, thank God!
Back to the hurricanes... as you may know, Hurricane Ike is headed down our throats. While we are aware and prepared, and know we may lose power tomorrow, we also know that God is in charge and we will be fine. So as you pray, do remember the Texas Gulf Coast residents, the first responders, those who are foolish enough to dodge the mandatory evacuations, etc. Do pray that loss of life will be none and loss of property minimal. Pray for the elderly that have chosen not to leave their homes.
It is a serious thing, a hurricane like Ike. Many people are afraid... the young teachers at school - especially those from other areas who haven't experienced a hurricane before and are away from family - they were having a hard time with this today! Pray for them that they may be safe, and feel God's peace with them.
As for me...
"Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say...'It is well, it is well, with my soul' ".
Be well, be blessed, and if you are in the Gulf area (as we say in Texas) - Hunker down, hon and be safe!
My apologies to the jingle writer, lol!
Anyway - the Astros are doing well - they started playing - I mean REALLY playing, after the All-Star break as usual :) Go 'Stros!!!!! 3 games out of the Wild Card slot....
Banana bread (yeah, I skipped the hurricane for a moment) - so my mom buys bananas.... and they never eat them all.... so she gives them to me to make banana bread (now, this is a really obscure reference... but a Christian singer who has long since gone Home to be with Jesus - Keith Green - wrote and recorded a song called, "So you wanna go back to Egypt"... anyway - one of the lines in it is "baMANNA bread" - you'd have to know the song, but it makes me chuckle anyway :) - so my mom buys bananas, as I said, gives me some that are past their prime and PERFECT for making Banana bread (or baMANNA bread, if you prefer).... so the other day I bring these home, and Bo brings them in, and the next day when I go to make the bread....no bananas!!!! I found them a couple of days later... in the freezer.... with about a dozen other bananas in packets of about 3 or so each.... Anyway, when I picked up Ava from my mom (Mamaw) today, she handed me 3 bananas that were READY! So when I got Little Bit and I in the house, I got the bananas (which had fallen off the stem, thank you, and had to be picked up from various locations in my car, garage and kitchen - I thought my load was getting lighter:) - put Ava in the little crib my granddaddy made when I was born, and rolled it in the kitchen. We had a great time, with her kind of playing with her crib toy and me singing along and mixing up the bread. I baked it as a flat cake rather than a loaf... it came out of the oven about 10 minutes before Kari and Garrett got here to pick up Ava.... it is now over half gone - guess it was ok, lol!!!
Traffic jams - when Hurricane Rita hit in 2005, Hwy 290 was backed up to a stop - people were running out of gas on the highway by the time they got to Waller (where I work, about a 40 minute drive from Houston normally) - it was really bad, and they had to open up some of our schools for shelters because people couldn't get away that way. Well, we were expecting more of the same today, but this time, people evidently actually did what the authorities asked them to. The evacuation appears to be leaving the coastal areas in an orderly way, at the times they were asked to. Traffic heading out of Houston on 290 as I drove back in to get home this afternoon was MUCH worse than normal, but it was moving. They just announced on the news that they don't need to make the contraflow lanes at this time because traffic is moving out on all the routes... awesome!!!!!! Kari and Garrett headed home to Waller via Tomball on 249 and made it in about an hour or so, so it is MUCh better than during Rita, thank God!
Back to the hurricanes... as you may know, Hurricane Ike is headed down our throats. While we are aware and prepared, and know we may lose power tomorrow, we also know that God is in charge and we will be fine. So as you pray, do remember the Texas Gulf Coast residents, the first responders, those who are foolish enough to dodge the mandatory evacuations, etc. Do pray that loss of life will be none and loss of property minimal. Pray for the elderly that have chosen not to leave their homes.
It is a serious thing, a hurricane like Ike. Many people are afraid... the young teachers at school - especially those from other areas who haven't experienced a hurricane before and are away from family - they were having a hard time with this today! Pray for them that they may be safe, and feel God's peace with them.
As for me...
"Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say...'It is well, it is well, with my soul' ".
Be well, be blessed, and if you are in the Gulf area (as we say in Texas) - Hunker down, hon and be safe!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
On being positive
I went to a friend's blog this morning to read her updates on the kitchen remodel they are undergoing, and I was struck (stricken?... nah - struck, I think :) by her spirit.
So many women today engage in husband bashing on the internet - why not, we think? He won't be reading those posts to the scrapbook or stamping groups I'm on, will he? (Um, no). So why is this a bad idea?
Well - we all DO need friends to whom we can safely vent, and that's not always a bad thing... but if our spirit towards our husband is continually one of criticism (no matter how well-deserved we think it may be) and anger (because we think he never meets our needs)... then that is going to bleed over into our everyday lives and spoil (as in 'make rotten') our relationships with him.
When I read Wendy's blog this morning, it just really convicted my heart - have I been unjustly critical of Bo? Good grief - so we didn't get to go to New York for our 30th anniversary as planned - not his fault that we had a grandbaby due smack in the middle of the summer and I was afraid to plan to be that far away when my first grandbaby was due, lol - and the man sent me 3 dozen long-stemmed red roses to work on our anniversary. He has never, ever - not a single time - forgotten my birthday, our anniversary, my parent's anniversary (of course, it's the day before ours :) or birthdays, nor our kids' birthdays. He is a bivocational pastor and second year special education teacher (at a new school - AND he got bitten this week by someone else's student and has to take shots to prevent Hepatitis now, plus antibiotics and a tetanus shot, poor baby). He does the grocery shopping (still - because he got in the habit of doing it before he started teaching because of my commute and his more relaxed schedule), NEVER fusses when I spend money, puts gas in my car and has it washed for me, and is a kind, gentle soul... and I don't tell him these things nearly enough!
So, what about you? Is your focus on you and your needs, or on him and his needs.... or even more importantly on Him - - - on God, and what He leads you to do? That's something on which I'll be meditating today.
So many women today engage in husband bashing on the internet - why not, we think? He won't be reading those posts to the scrapbook or stamping groups I'm on, will he? (Um, no). So why is this a bad idea?
Well - we all DO need friends to whom we can safely vent, and that's not always a bad thing... but if our spirit towards our husband is continually one of criticism (no matter how well-deserved we think it may be) and anger (because we think he never meets our needs)... then that is going to bleed over into our everyday lives and spoil (as in 'make rotten') our relationships with him.
When I read Wendy's blog this morning, it just really convicted my heart - have I been unjustly critical of Bo? Good grief - so we didn't get to go to New York for our 30th anniversary as planned - not his fault that we had a grandbaby due smack in the middle of the summer and I was afraid to plan to be that far away when my first grandbaby was due, lol - and the man sent me 3 dozen long-stemmed red roses to work on our anniversary. He has never, ever - not a single time - forgotten my birthday, our anniversary, my parent's anniversary (of course, it's the day before ours :) or birthdays, nor our kids' birthdays. He is a bivocational pastor and second year special education teacher (at a new school - AND he got bitten this week by someone else's student and has to take shots to prevent Hepatitis now, plus antibiotics and a tetanus shot, poor baby). He does the grocery shopping (still - because he got in the habit of doing it before he started teaching because of my commute and his more relaxed schedule), NEVER fusses when I spend money, puts gas in my car and has it washed for me, and is a kind, gentle soul... and I don't tell him these things nearly enough!
So, what about you? Is your focus on you and your needs, or on him and his needs.... or even more importantly on Him - - - on God, and what He leads you to do? That's something on which I'll be meditating today.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Waiting for Zoe
I'm sitting here writing, waiting for a phone call to say, "Zoe's here!!!". Who is Zoe, you ask? Well, our family has just undergone our own little population explosion (HA, Little - that is funny - that is our greatgrandfather's family name - Little - ok, maybe not THAT funny - but I'm tired.
My sister's daughter, Melissa, gave birth to Hannah Madilyn on April 15th of this year... my daughter, Kari, to Ava Kate on July 3rd... Jen, the daughter of our cousin/big brother figure (John) went into labour this morning - we are expecting Zoe Grace ANY TIME NOW (call me, call me, call me), and John's older sister, Carole - well her daughter, Holly, is expecting her 3rd in late August/early September - but that one's a boy :).
So if anyone is around and reading this - please say a prayer for Jen and David, and baby Zoe - and of course the assorted grandparents, great grands, aunties and all... I'll update you when I get that (call me call me call me) phone call or text message!
(And if you are reading it after I've posted she's born and all - pray anyway - God is not bound by such mundane things as time and place - He'll honour our prayers whenever and wherever they're said!)
My sister's daughter, Melissa, gave birth to Hannah Madilyn on April 15th of this year... my daughter, Kari, to Ava Kate on July 3rd... Jen, the daughter of our cousin/big brother figure (John) went into labour this morning - we are expecting Zoe Grace ANY TIME NOW (call me, call me, call me), and John's older sister, Carole - well her daughter, Holly, is expecting her 3rd in late August/early September - but that one's a boy :).
So if anyone is around and reading this - please say a prayer for Jen and David, and baby Zoe - and of course the assorted grandparents, great grands, aunties and all... I'll update you when I get that (call me call me call me) phone call or text message!
(And if you are reading it after I've posted she's born and all - pray anyway - God is not bound by such mundane things as time and place - He'll honour our prayers whenever and wherever they're said!)
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
My, how time flies...
I haven't posted since LAST YEAR! Oh my goodness!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
What a wonderful season we've had, celebrating the birth of our Lord! My family got together, several times and had some good food and good times... our church family celebrated together - my choir did an awesome job with our musical. A wonderful season indeed!
Now, time for school to get back going,...my stamp club is starting up again, and, hopefully, Nancy will be a bit better at updating the old blog here...
but if not...you know where to find me :)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
What a wonderful season we've had, celebrating the birth of our Lord! My family got together, several times and had some good food and good times... our church family celebrated together - my choir did an awesome job with our musical. A wonderful season indeed!
Now, time for school to get back going,...my stamp club is starting up again, and, hopefully, Nancy will be a bit better at updating the old blog here...
but if not...you know where to find me :)
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Happy Birthday to me!
Wow - 49 years old! Yep - I admit it - freely, and honestly! After all - eventually I'll stop aging - when I get to Heaven with Jesus...as for now, I'm just going to enjoy the life He's given me and praise His name!
It's been a busy few weeks - things are progressing at a manic pace at school - I'm feeling great job security there...and home, well - home's pretty busy, too! The kids are back from their honeymoon at Disneyworld, and seemed to have a great time! Still waiting on wedding pictures to get back, though! Just wait - when they do, I'll be scrapping them, and you will have the wonderful opportunity to see them!!!!!
Anyway, back to the birthday - as birthdays go, it was pretty cool! Bo got me this very cool new laptop on which I type (whoo hoo!!!!). My married daughter asked me for a couple of ideas - so I requested a DVD movie - she got me, oh, about a DOZEN of them!!!!! And packaged it in a big bowl with popcorn and popcorn shaker flavors (she's so creative!!!!) - it was very cute! My youngest, having just been home for Thanksgiving, couldn't make it back, but she called me...just as church was about to start - and guess who forgot to put their cell on silent??? Sooooooo - as Bo stands up to do the morning announcements, "I can only imagine" busts out of my cell phone...of course, I am on the platform at the keyboard, ready to lead the welcome song - yeeeech! So I hop up, run to the purse and stick it on silent real quick :)
She called and sang me "happy birthday" - awwww - it was sweet!
I got a lot of fun loot - new towels from mom (you know how long it's been since I got NEW towels??!!?!?!), a hobby lobby giftcard from my sis, along with a mug reading: "Sisters never forget. This is both good and bad."
If you have a sister, you know JUST what that means....
It's been a busy few weeks - things are progressing at a manic pace at school - I'm feeling great job security there...and home, well - home's pretty busy, too! The kids are back from their honeymoon at Disneyworld, and seemed to have a great time! Still waiting on wedding pictures to get back, though! Just wait - when they do, I'll be scrapping them, and you will have the wonderful opportunity to see them!!!!!
Anyway, back to the birthday - as birthdays go, it was pretty cool! Bo got me this very cool new laptop on which I type (whoo hoo!!!!). My married daughter asked me for a couple of ideas - so I requested a DVD movie - she got me, oh, about a DOZEN of them!!!!! And packaged it in a big bowl with popcorn and popcorn shaker flavors (she's so creative!!!!) - it was very cute! My youngest, having just been home for Thanksgiving, couldn't make it back, but she called me...just as church was about to start - and guess who forgot to put their cell on silent??? Sooooooo - as Bo stands up to do the morning announcements, "I can only imagine" busts out of my cell phone...of course, I am on the platform at the keyboard, ready to lead the welcome song - yeeeech! So I hop up, run to the purse and stick it on silent real quick :)
She called and sang me "happy birthday" - awwww - it was sweet!
I got a lot of fun loot - new towels from mom (you know how long it's been since I got NEW towels??!!?!?!), a hobby lobby giftcard from my sis, along with a mug reading: "Sisters never forget. This is both good and bad."
If you have a sister, you know JUST what that means....
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Well, my WHOO HOO *did* wake Bo up, but that's OK....his whoo hoo when he was offered not one job...but two jobs was so faint I couldn't have heard it if I had been standing right by him and *not* been deaf, lol...he was in a state of shock for, well...I'm not sure he isn't still a little shocky! He is such a brilliant, competent, caring person - it amazes me that he is so surprised when other people recognize that! Of COURSE both principals wanted him - they'd be foolish not to! I think he will be an awesome special education teacher!
Glad we got that whoo hoo - not much Astros activity to whoo hoo about - although as I type they are tied with Milwaukee...won't help us any - we're firmly cellar dwellers...but it might open a door for, say, Chicago, to have a firmer grasp on first place in the NL Central Division...
In other news...well, tomorrow is the day - back to the dreaded....dare I even say it? Nah - you know where I am headed with my girls...keep me in your thoughts will ya? And just say a little prayer for me - NOT FOR PATIENCE - oh, no, PLEASE not that....but that my daughters would LIKE one another tomorrow, and that I would like both of them and they me, at the end of the day! And that maybe......just maybe - we will find the perfect dress for Kate, and get the rest of the errands done we need to!
Shopping at the Mall is like being pecked to death by ducks!
Glad we got that whoo hoo - not much Astros activity to whoo hoo about - although as I type they are tied with Milwaukee...won't help us any - we're firmly cellar dwellers...but it might open a door for, say, Chicago, to have a firmer grasp on first place in the NL Central Division...
In other news...well, tomorrow is the day - back to the dreaded....dare I even say it? Nah - you know where I am headed with my girls...keep me in your thoughts will ya? And just say a little prayer for me - NOT FOR PATIENCE - oh, no, PLEASE not that....but that my daughters would LIKE one another tomorrow, and that I would like both of them and they me, at the end of the day! And that maybe......just maybe - we will find the perfect dress for Kate, and get the rest of the errands done we need to!
Shopping at the Mall is like being pecked to death by ducks!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Jobs
I am SO excited!!!! Bo went for a job interview last week in a local school district, for an elementary lifeskills classroom - seems the teacher was resigning, but still considering whether or not she *really* wanted to or not. She took off Monday through Wednesday of this week...
So Friday night, during the Astros game, he gets a phone call on his cell - from another principal...who asked him to come in for an interview on Monday after he finished subbing. Since the 1st position was 'iffy', after discussing it with the principal he agreed...he talked to the first principal on Monday and told her and was pleased that she told him OF COURSE he had to go for that interview!
It was a good interview.
He was offered the job...on the spot!
But the way it works, is he isn't really offered the job until HR calls...which they did today...while he was subbing...obviously since he was in charge of children at the time he didn't take the call, but called back later...and accepted!
So now, I have a first year teacher in the house! Me, who've been teaching for 28 years! (well, working in education that long - been out of the classroom for 16 years!)
Suddenly I feel the urge to make a bulletin board! I'm SO proud!!!!!
So Friday night, during the Astros game, he gets a phone call on his cell - from another principal...who asked him to come in for an interview on Monday after he finished subbing. Since the 1st position was 'iffy', after discussing it with the principal he agreed...he talked to the first principal on Monday and told her and was pleased that she told him OF COURSE he had to go for that interview!
It was a good interview.
He was offered the job...on the spot!
But the way it works, is he isn't really offered the job until HR calls...which they did today...while he was subbing...obviously since he was in charge of children at the time he didn't take the call, but called back later...and accepted!
So now, I have a first year teacher in the house! Me, who've been teaching for 28 years! (well, working in education that long - been out of the classroom for 16 years!)
Suddenly I feel the urge to make a bulletin board! I'm SO proud!!!!!
Saturday, September 1, 2007
It's a God thing...
I am SO excited....it is just totally a wonderful thing!
You know, educators as a rule are grossly underpaid.
Now, you may disagree here - but it's my blog, and my opinion....and, of course, as my friend Cyndi says - opinions are like belly buttons - we all got 'em (well, except for this little boy named Freddie that I taught one year, but I digress)...
I got a raise this year....everyone did...but I calculated mine out...
and
like God does...
you know the verse
"good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over" (Luke 6:38)
my raise is more than twice what I prayed for...
that's God for ya!
I don't deserve it - I mean - I work hard - everyone in my profession does - we take work home, we stay late working (teachers/educators do not get paid overtime) we obsess over making appropriate recommendations for the kids we evaluate as diagnosticians - I mean, after all - these are LIFE-AFFECTING decisions we make - there are NO do-overs, no UNDELETE button, no UNDO key combo (CTRL+Z on the computer, if you didn't know), no REWIND - you screw up with a kid, you can't get that time back....you can't unaffect them (if that's a word) - but I don't deserve it more than anyone else does....honest!
But I appreciate it... BOY, do I appreciate it!
It just reminds me - that's how God works...God's system is GRACE (God's riches at Christ's expense...) - for me! The unmerited favor of God - and I so totally do not deserve it!
It's just, well....a God thing!
You know, educators as a rule are grossly underpaid.
Now, you may disagree here - but it's my blog, and my opinion....and, of course, as my friend Cyndi says - opinions are like belly buttons - we all got 'em (well, except for this little boy named Freddie that I taught one year, but I digress)...
I got a raise this year....everyone did...but I calculated mine out...
and
like God does...
you know the verse
"good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over" (Luke 6:38)
my raise is more than twice what I prayed for...
that's God for ya!
I don't deserve it - I mean - I work hard - everyone in my profession does - we take work home, we stay late working (teachers/educators do not get paid overtime) we obsess over making appropriate recommendations for the kids we evaluate as diagnosticians - I mean, after all - these are LIFE-AFFECTING decisions we make - there are NO do-overs, no UNDELETE button, no UNDO key combo (CTRL+Z on the computer, if you didn't know), no REWIND - you screw up with a kid, you can't get that time back....you can't unaffect them (if that's a word) - but I don't deserve it more than anyone else does....honest!
But I appreciate it... BOY, do I appreciate it!
It just reminds me - that's how God works...God's system is GRACE (God's riches at Christ's expense...) - for me! The unmerited favor of God - and I so totally do not deserve it!
It's just, well....a God thing!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
preferences
What a day!!!!! Even though the preschooler we had scheduled to evaluate this morning stood us up, I was busy every second of the day...then I come home to some controversy on one of my news lists. What caused the controversy is not that important - just call it preferences ...what matters to me is that one of my friends was hurt by it, hard feelings were stirred up by it, and it is just unnecessary. Even more unnecessary was that my co-mom on the list is dealing with the illness of a close family member and really doesn't need this sort hassle on the list and in her inbox. It hurts my heart when something like this happens on a list, and then people start trying to stir the pot. I think it hurts my Heavenly Father's heart, too.
As a Christian woman, I believe that I am accountable for my words and actions - even though you reading this probably do not know me personally, it is up to me to let Christ show through my actions. I just pray that in my REactions to this situation today, that I did that. I didn't want to...to be honest, my humanity and flesh just wanted to jump up in someone's face...but by God's grace I didn't. That's one of those things I also have to credit my husband for being part of. When something like this happens and I have to deal with it in an administrative capacity, after venting at my computer a minute, I settle down and pray about it. I formulate my response, reread it, pray over it, and then, when I am wise, ask my husband to read it.
I thank God for my Godly, beautiful husband. His kindness and thoughtfulness has tempered my impetuosity more than once and kept me out of deep dog doo (weren't expecting that, were ya?).
As a Christian woman, I believe that I am accountable for my words and actions - even though you reading this probably do not know me personally, it is up to me to let Christ show through my actions. I just pray that in my REactions to this situation today, that I did that. I didn't want to...to be honest, my humanity and flesh just wanted to jump up in someone's face...but by God's grace I didn't. That's one of those things I also have to credit my husband for being part of. When something like this happens and I have to deal with it in an administrative capacity, after venting at my computer a minute, I settle down and pray about it. I formulate my response, reread it, pray over it, and then, when I am wise, ask my husband to read it.
I thank God for my Godly, beautiful husband. His kindness and thoughtfulness has tempered my impetuosity more than once and kept me out of deep dog doo (weren't expecting that, were ya?).
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Astros....changes - finally!
I like Phil Garner.....*really* I do - I admired him as a player, and like his personality and style...but as a manager, sometimes I had a really hard time understanding him....And don't even get me started on Tim Purpura....oy.
Morgan Ensberg would start getting a hot bat - he'd sit him down....what's up with that? And when Morgan struggled, they eventually ended up getting rid of him, and he got two homeruns in ONE game (however I do believe this move was God's will for the Ensberg family - the interview I heard him in he sounded so excited about going back *home* - they are such a sweet Christian couple, though; his wife has been a guest host on the local Christian radio station here in Houston - you can listen to it on the web, by the way - ksbj.org - AWESOME station!).
It got so that for a while you couldn't count on the line-up looking anything like it did the day before ....now, there's shaking things up, and then there's making people so insecure that they cannot do their jobs - creating tension...unfortunately, I think this was a by-product of some of the management decisions that were made. I do know this....the new management team has a hard row to hoe...but really, when you're in the cellar, there is only one direction that counts, at least - and that's up. I still have confidence that they can at *least* haul themselves out of the cellar before the end of the year! It will take more time, however, to build our minor league feeders into strong potential major league players.
(And whether they do, or not - I will still remain an Astros fan!)
Morgan Ensberg would start getting a hot bat - he'd sit him down....what's up with that? And when Morgan struggled, they eventually ended up getting rid of him, and he got two homeruns in ONE game (however I do believe this move was God's will for the Ensberg family - the interview I heard him in he sounded so excited about going back *home* - they are such a sweet Christian couple, though; his wife has been a guest host on the local Christian radio station here in Houston - you can listen to it on the web, by the way - ksbj.org - AWESOME station!).
It got so that for a while you couldn't count on the line-up looking anything like it did the day before ....now, there's shaking things up, and then there's making people so insecure that they cannot do their jobs - creating tension...unfortunately, I think this was a by-product of some of the management decisions that were made. I do know this....the new management team has a hard row to hoe...but really, when you're in the cellar, there is only one direction that counts, at least - and that's up. I still have confidence that they can at *least* haul themselves out of the cellar before the end of the year! It will take more time, however, to build our minor league feeders into strong potential major league players.
(And whether they do, or not - I will still remain an Astros fan!)
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
on the road to a wedding...
So...hmmmm - never blogged before, so I am really winging it here, but then, I find myself doing that a lot these days. My baby is getting married. Yes, I am the dreaded MOB (Mother of the Bride, to the uninitiated). So the FOB and I decided that, since the Event is coming up in November, a scant 3 months from now, with all the stresses that go with, and I have to go back to work next week (I'm an educator IRL...an educational diagnostician, to be exact - sounds really FANCY doesn't it?)....to take a short vacation.
Very spur of the moment, this vacation...but that's OK. The nest is empty....the baby getting married (24, living on her own a couple of years now) and her baby sister (my other baby, known as bebe so as to not confuse, and also living on her own, going to college) are both - dear me, I'm being redundant - living on their own, going to college, working, etc... and since said nest is empty (except for the two dogs, one cat and one betta fish), we can do spur of the moment.
So, we packed our bags, snagged some sunscreen, and headed south to Galveston to see some friends, take some pictures, and just be with one another (and a cast of assorted tourists from across the world). So, be looking in a layout soon to come for some touristy photos of Galveston Island, Texas...as for me, I'm headed to bed, slightly creaky in my bones from all the walking and sun I've absorbed today (and God bless whoever came up with SPF 60), a tad depressed from watching my Astros play baseball (Bye-bye, Morgan Ensberg - do well in San Diego, I'll always be a fan! What on earth is wrong with Purpura and Garner??!??!!!?), and ready - yes, after just 2 nights - to be back home in my own bed, with the two dogs, one cat and the Betta fish, although they each sleep elsewhere, thank you, not in MY bed...and then, Thursday....I might think about scrapbooking something....maybe something touristy.....maybe something from the pictures of my sweet future SIL proposing to my baby....oh, dear....would you please pass the kleenex?
Very spur of the moment, this vacation...but that's OK. The nest is empty....the baby getting married (24, living on her own a couple of years now) and her baby sister (my other baby, known as bebe so as to not confuse, and also living on her own, going to college) are both - dear me, I'm being redundant - living on their own, going to college, working, etc... and since said nest is empty (except for the two dogs, one cat and one betta fish), we can do spur of the moment.
So, we packed our bags, snagged some sunscreen, and headed south to Galveston to see some friends, take some pictures, and just be with one another (and a cast of assorted tourists from across the world). So, be looking in a layout soon to come for some touristy photos of Galveston Island, Texas...as for me, I'm headed to bed, slightly creaky in my bones from all the walking and sun I've absorbed today (and God bless whoever came up with SPF 60), a tad depressed from watching my Astros play baseball (Bye-bye, Morgan Ensberg - do well in San Diego, I'll always be a fan! What on earth is wrong with Purpura and Garner??!??!!!?), and ready - yes, after just 2 nights - to be back home in my own bed, with the two dogs, one cat and the Betta fish, although they each sleep elsewhere, thank you, not in MY bed...and then, Thursday....I might think about scrapbooking something....maybe something touristy.....maybe something from the pictures of my sweet future SIL proposing to my baby....oh, dear....would you please pass the kleenex?
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