Short-N-Spunky

Remember me?

2010-08-12T08:38:00.002-04:00

Wow! I haven't been here since March? Guess I've been busy. Let's see:

1.) I taught summer school, and EVERY student passed! I wish the success rate was that wonderful during the school year!

2.) My son got an engaged. He and his fiancee are going to be seniors this year, and they're planning to get married right out of high school. I can't get them to change their minds. Hmph.

3.) I left First Baptist and an returning to Maranatha Church. I'm excited about this too! Pastor asked me to come back and play the piano so that the current pianist can retire, and I accepted that position officially last week.

4.) I am still teaching the women's Bible study at a local mission, and it's going extremely well.

5.) Perhaps the biggest change in my life has to deal with my diabetes diagnosis. My blood glucose level was 600, and some people go into a coma at 500! I've been taking meds to get my sugar at healthy levels, and it's working pretty well. I don't have to take insulin, though, and I'm grateful for that. I sure do miss chocolate candy! :D I don't like sugar-free choclate; it tastes ok, but it upsets my stomach. I'd rather have nothing.

I hope all is well at your house!

peace

2010-03-04T17:08:00.003-05:00

Hello everybody!

I hope all is well in your world!

The sun came out today, and it brightened my mood considerably! ;D

I will tackle my never-ending supply of dirty laundry while Jamil is at youth group. Have a good evening.

another update

2010-01-09T08:19:00.002-05:00

I can't seem to keep up with blogging! Here's another update of what I've been up to lately:

1. I tried to move in my mother, but that didn't work at all. I was on vacation, so I thought I'd try taking care of her. Unfortunately, she was up at 11:00 p.m., midnight, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. The realization that she needed round-the-clock care was difficult to accept, but she is now in a nursing home for a month to get some extra physical therapy.

2. My brother, Eddie, has been awesome by going to see her twice daily, making sure she walks, and cracking jokes to make her laugh until she cries!

3. My job is fantastic! My students have such a positive attitude after the Christmas break, and they're working much more diligently than at the beginning of the year.

4. I began two women's Bible studies: one at a local mission and one at my church on Sunday mornings. Both are doing well, and I'm looking forward to what God has planned for us.

5. I am a chicken as far as dating is concerned. A friend has offered to set up some blind dates, but I'm not entirely comfortable with that. The one person I would love to spend time with doesn't find me attractive that way, and I've had some creepy dudes that have actually made me more cautious than ever. Single is better than the marriage I had, so I can't complain.

I hope all is well with you in this new year. May God bless you and yours!

Getting ready for Christmas!

2009-12-20T17:00:00.003-05:00

I finished wrapping gifts last night, and the only job left to start is the cooking.

I want to get the cookies done tomorrow (or Wednesday at the latest).

If I don't get a chance to get back on the computer, please know that I wish you a very Merry Christmas! God bless!

update on my life

2009-12-12T08:29:00.002-05:00

Wow...I haven't checked in for some time, eh?

Here's a little synopsis of life at Michelle's house:

1.) Work from 7:00-3:00 (which will change to 5:00 in January).

2.) Visit mom (who has had a second stroke since October)...do her laundry...bring it back to rehab center...try to make her laugh...go home and sleep...repeat process.

That's pretty much it.

Last night we had a concert at my church. I was tired and wasn't in the mood for really loud Christian hard rock, so I left and went to visit mom since I hadn't had a chance to do that after work.

When I got to the rehab center, mom was having a really hard time controlling her body. Man, it's hard to see her lose control, yet they're still sending her home on Tuesday. She can't even go to the bathroom by herself! She can't brush her teeth, get dressed, or do anything alone, so I'm worried about her.

My friend has been noticing that I'm running ragged and mentioned that I probably need to create some boundaries to avoid having a break down, so I told my mother that I would help her as much as I could but not at the expense of my own family. I'm trying not to feel guilty as I think about how impossible it would be to work my full-time teaching job in addition to two part-time jobs, keep my own home clean, cook, and give my boys the attention they deserve while committing to 4 hours of nursing my mother back to health.

That's not possible.

I'm really tired every single night that I go to bed, and I haven't even worked out in the last few days because it would have meant getting five hours instead of six hours of sleep.

Something's gotta give...

Don't worry; I don't expect solutions. I just needed to write through my thoughts and, hopefully, come up with some ways to keep my sanity while still trying to fulfill my obligations as her daughter. I'll let you know what I decide to do...

2009-11-23T21:42:00.004-05:00

This is my niece, Lina, and my nephew, Leonard. They were in town to see my mom, who has been recovering nicely. We celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, and it was so much fun! I'm still recuperating from the work of hosting such a big celebration, but it was definitely worth it!

The guy on the left is my son, Shaq, who did a magnificent job in the drama club's production of three one-act plays. That's his buddy, who was also phenomenal (and one of my students too).

My life has been crazy, but I wanted to take a minute to share a little of what has been going on lately. Best wishes for a wonderful week!

God bless!

:o(

2009-11-16T20:47:00.001-05:00

I love animals.

I do NOT like seeing deers that have been hit, and I just saw one on the way home from the hospital.

So sad.

no more cookies

2009-11-14T21:30:00.002-05:00

I just finished making a double batch of peanut butter and a batch of chocolate chip cookies for Thanksgiving dessert. I'm going to freeze them so they'll be soft and yummy, but we're having the dinner a week early since my niece will be here on Saturday from Tennessee.

I'm planning on roasting a turkey, making a glazed ham, serving some stuffing and making homemade mashed potatoes (no gravy though). No one will suspect that this is a Weight Watchers holiday (aside from the cookies, which will be sent home with the relatives)! Why have the fatty stuff if they like the healthy versions????

I don't want to see another cookie though...

:o)

update on mom

2009-11-13T22:39:00.002-05:00

1.) She is feeling better and wants her hair done every day. Unfortunately, I had two boys, and I don't spend much time on my own hair. I'm doing the best I can, though!

2.) She can walk slowly with a cane now.

3.) Her appetite has improved!

4.) Mom is looking forward to visits from family and friends. (Nice switch: she initially didn't want to see anyone.)

I'm getting my mom back, slowly but surely!!!! Praise God!

update on mom

2009-11-10T22:15:00.000-05:00

She rode the bike for two days in a row, and she can wriggle her left foot as often as she wants to!!!! Praise God!

God's Favorite

2009-11-08T08:53:00.002-05:00

I went to see this play with my buddy, Iva. What a hoot! I was able to see some friends I haven't seen since I worked with them last December.

Then we went for coffee at Perkins, and she enjoyed some pie while I munched on a muffin (which ended up being my supper because I forgot to eat). Oh well.

We talked and talked and talked...until 2:00 a.m.!!!! It's all good though; I'm wide awake! I'll be fine while I teach Bible study this morning, but I'm not sure I'm going to make it through a meeting at 3:00. :o) I'll just grab a big 'ol cup of coffee on the way and pray that God keeps me awake! :o)

Happy Saturday everbody!

2009-11-07T08:49:00.003-05:00

This morning I'll take my son to drama club to help paint the set for the play. (I'm the asst. director, so I'll be there the whole time. I'll probably be the one to pick up pizza too!)

Then I'll take him home before I got to church and help out in the office.

After that, I'll pick up my buddy, Iva, to visit my mom for a bit before we head to a play.

I'm guessing I'll sleep well tonight! :o)

very tired, but happy

2009-11-05T21:09:00.001-05:00

My morning began by running into my friend, Joe, at the grocery store! He looks great! I had a little crush a while back, and he was interested in me too, but our friends pushed a little too hard - - - it made both of us really uncomfortable. He was a pastor, and it's really cool to talk to him about scripture and God. He's still as handsome as ever!

Then I went to work and gave candy to all of my classes. (I had to buy extra, which was a blessing cuz I ran into Joe!) They worked very hard on grammar, and I'm thrilled that they're trying to focus.

After that, I tutored until 4:30.

Then I got a call from the rehab asking me to come and fill out some paperwork for my mom. My son and I stayed until she finished her supper.

From there we went home to pick up child #2 so that I could take them to youth group.

We just walked in the door a few minutes ago. I think we're all going to fall asleep pretty easily this evening! :o)

update

2009-11-05T05:24:00.002-05:00

Mom moved her fingers yesterday! She can't do it every time she tries, but this is improvement! :o)

PRAYER REQUEST

2009-11-01T05:51:00.003-05:00

Please pray for my mother. She had a stroke on Saturday; I'm just getting home from the hospital at 4:51 a.m. - - - I haven't been to sleep yet.

She is in the intensive care unit, but hopefully she'll be home by Monday or Tuesday.

Thanks. Love you.

little scare on Halloween

2009-10-31T07:46:00.003-04:00

My mom was crying when she called and said, "Michelle, I don't feel well. I'm going to the hospital."

Click.

Before I could even ask which one, she had hung up.

I had already gone to bed, so I jumped up, got dressed, and hopped in the car. On the way to hospital #1 (there are 2 near her home), the Lord said, "Just stop by her house first." So I did, and she was there!

Apparently, my mother changed her mind about the hospital. My sister called the paramedics, and they couldn't find anything wrong with mom. Her vitals were perfect, her sugar level was just a little bit high (diabetic), and her oxygen levels were great.

For some reason, she couldn't breathe. There was no pain in her chest or arms, so they don't think it was a heart attack.

I ended up chatting with her until 11:30. I was exhausted from an incredibly stressful day (work was fine, ex was difficult), but I just wanted to stick around as long as I could without the threat of falling asleep at the wheel on the way home.

I wish she had gone to the hospital for tests, but she felt better after she prayed - - - she didn't see the need.

God is soooooooo good.

what to do, what to do...

2009-10-27T21:41:00.003-04:00

There's so much on my "to do" list that I'm almost ready to give up. Today was one of those days when it would have been lovely to come home and say, "Hon, could you come here for a sec?" I definitely could have used a hug today.

At least my dog was eager to see me. :P

My ex hasn't been shy about want to spend LOTS of time with me lately and even went to church Sunday. Nice, huh? My heart has finally healed from the divorce. Sadly, I'm not interested in starting over with him.

But I can't help but wonder what God is up to.

Maybe he's serious this time. Perhaps he didn't go to church simply to be near me; wouldn't it be cool if God blesses him with sobriety permanently? My boys would be thrilled too!

I shouldn't keep pushing him away, huh?

It might be time for me to put my own wants aside for a minute so that I can concentrate on helping somebody else. And who knows? Maybe God will heal what has been broken, eh?

That is totally a long shot, but I'm game for whatever God desires for my life. Maybe we're just supposed to be friends.

Maybe not...

Hmmm....

GOD IS GOOD!!!!

2009-10-25T16:51:00.003-04:00

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had to deal with one of my son's teachers (who happens to be a coworker as well).

All I can say is that God rocks!

My boss handled the situation better than I could have imagined, and I'm thrilled with the outcome. I give all the glory and praise to the Lord!

I'm going to color my hair and then head to a friend's church for a worship service. :o)

I hope all is well in your world!

October 24th already????

2009-10-24T09:32:00.000-04:00

I cannot believe how quickly this school year is passing!

My students are wonderful. It's only the second month of school, and they have already learned my expectations and have also stopped challenging me. Of course I still have one or two children who push my buttons, but I'm so grateful that it's not one or two entire classes! :o)

This afternoon I'll provide the music on our baby grand for a wedding at church. I met the bride and groom last night at the rehearsal, and they are fabulous! They're so young and cute! I pray that God blesses them immensely as they begin their lives together as husband and wife!

My ex-husband has been calling a lot lately, and I'm starting to lose patience. My life is entirely too full already, and I simply do not have the time to spend hours with him on the phone. He has made it clear that he wants to come "home," but I'm not ready for that (nor do I see myself wanting that in the near future....or ever, for that matter).

Please pray that I keep clear, healthy boundaries without hurting his feelings.

I'm off to get some grocery shopping done before I come home and get dolled up for the wedding. I might even wear lipstick! :P

ex-hubby

2009-10-16T20:26:00.003-04:00

The boys and I were treated to supper at Red Lobster and a few more treats (shoes for the boy, bill money for me) for Sweetest Day. He said he simply wanted a chance to be a blessing to us; he had an urge to help me in any way he could.

My ex-husband was hilarious! We had such a wonderful time! I think we'll be friends forever...

teacher from hell

2009-10-08T23:10:00.001-04:00

not literally (I hope)!

Yes, I had a parent/teacher conference with her after school today, and she was so stuck on stupid.

It's teachers like her that make it so difficult for some kids to enjoy learning. If you hate children, why are you in the classroom?!?!?!?

It's all good though; I warned her that I would be speaking to the principals regularly throughout the school year. She can continue to mistreat my son if she wants to, but she better prepare for a battle.

'nuff said.

a bit of venting

2009-10-07T22:20:00.002-04:00

May I vent for a sec?

Why must married men be the only ones interested in me? What in the world do they expect? Wouldn't they wonder about ME and my fidelity if I DID choose to date them? My pastor and I happened to chat about this briefly this week. I find it intriguing that anyone would consider having a serious relationship with someone who would cheat (or be the "other" woman).

I got propositioned today, and I was totally offended. How dare he think I would even CONSIDER something so...so...inappropriate? Sheesh! Yes, I desire intimacy and companionship, but NOT with someone else's husband, for goodness' sake!

(whew)

Prayer request: Please pray that I remember that I am a child of God all day tomorrow. I will need to address something that happened to my son, and his teacher is my co-worker. (Yes, I teach English at the high school that my sons attend).

I tried to exhibit restraint by NOT addressing her today, but I definitely need to have a chit chat with her soon. Please pray! This is also someone with whom I have shared my faith, and that makes this doubly tricky for me.

Happy news: Pastor had my back today, and I totally appreciated it.

More happy news: My friend is feelin' pretty wonderful after her surgery this morning!

Even more happy news: My teenage boys are actually getting along, laughing, and playing a game together. I'm letting them stay up an extra half-hour just to hear the joy!!!

Best wishes for an incredible Thursday! God bless!

Oh yeah!!!!

2009-10-06T20:53:00.003-04:00

I was asked to lead a Bible study one town from where I live, and I started tonight. It was awesome!

We spent some time reading Romans chapter 1, and then we had a wonderful discussion followed by prayer.

What a fantastic beginning! I'm still learning names, but I am soooooooooo glad I agreed to lead this. Wow. God showed up, and I am humbled! :P

Ugh...

2009-10-04T15:06:00.004-04:00

In case you hadn't noticed, I've had very little time to chit chat here. That's because I have been forced to grade all of these stupid practice OGTs for my 160 students. The reading test had 7 essays, and the writing had 1 short answer and 2 extended response questions (think full-length essays).

I don't want to grade any more tests!!! :o( It took 2 hours to get through a single class set of reading tests, and I have six classes. I'm halfway done; I left the rest of those at school.

I just finished the second batch of writing tests, and I have 4 more to go. I might be able to knock those out tonight; we'll see.

On a MUCH happier note, I met with Jamie and J.J. after church today, and it looks like I'll lead a Bible study for a local group of women beginning on Tuesday! Woo hoo!!!!! That's exactly what the Lord has been laying on my heart lately, but I had no idea how he was going to allow me to minister the word. Now I know! :o)

I also ran into a friend in the grocery store this morning before I went to church, and we're both having trouble in the guy department. In fact, after hearing my pastor's response ("Maybe God doesn't really want you to 'play' right now...") and her circumstances at the moment, we've both agreed that the single life is for us. Sadly, my heart yearns to be loved, but I guess God doesn't want that for some reason.

Church was especially hard today. Pastor rocked (as usual); I just felt this incredible sadness during the service. I even missed communion because I left the sanctuary for a bit to compose myself; I thought I was going to cry in front of everybody. I'm not sure what's wrong with me, but I'm glad I start ministry again soon. I rarely focus on my own issues when I'm loving and encouraging others.

I've given myself a 30-minute break, so I've gotta go; I wanna play Tetris before I resume where I left off. Have a great evening!

a little worship here, a little prayer there...

2009-09-30T20:43:00.002-04:00

My morning began with a surprise visit from two of my fabulous friends, Melanie and Annette. They popped into my classroom to sing a few worship songs! Wow, what a fantastic way to start the day!

My classes seemed to run much more smoothly too! I had to give a few yellow tickets for excessive talking AFTER several warnings, but nothing major happened.

This afternoon I received a phone call from a parent who had some prayer requests. Isn't that amazing?!?!?!

I spent most of this evening at Bible study. Man, it was nice to have Pastor Matt back. Yes, the substitute teacher did his best, but it wasn't the same.

I'm tired but very peaceful at the moment. And you?

My first time!!! :P

2009-09-28T21:25:00.004-04:00

Mom has given me a boat load of tomatoes and zucchini from her garden, but I'm the only one at my house who eats them.

She was proud of a particularly humungous zucchini and brought it to my house, but I didn't want anymore.

So I went on-line and found a recipe for zucchini bread - - - and it's yummy!

This is enough for 4 days' worth of breakfasts for me and my boys, but I don't think they'll last that long...I think my kids could have easily eaten 3-4 at one sitting if I had let them. I had no idea how easy it was to make such a yummy treat! :P

Happy Sunday!

2009-09-20T08:40:00.002-04:00

First: church this morning :o)

Second: finish grading papers

Third: nap

Fourth: church again tonight

Fifth: out for coffee with some friends

Thanks for a beautiful morning, Lord!

What a bum!

2009-09-19T16:21:00.002-04:00

I'm ashamed to say that I didn't even shower until 4:00 p.m. this afternoon. Isn't that horrble?!?!?! I'm a morning person and usually up before my alarm clock, so perhaps my body is trying to make up for lost sleep during the first few weeks of school.

It has been a relatively peaceful beginning for 2009-2010. Most of the kids are putting forth the effort I want to see, and I am quite pleased. However, I got cussed out for the first time this past week, and it will ALWAYS bother me. I will never get used to it. After 15 years, that blatant disrespect still gets under my skin. Sadly, on Friday afternoon, I witnessed a girl cussing out her mother in front of the entire student body who happened to be in that hallway on their way to lunch. Wow.

On a happier note, we had some wonderful praise and worship at church last night, and I needed it! Man, it was awesome!!!!

In a few minutes, I'll brew a nice pot of coffee and sit down to get my grading done. Then I can just enjoy church tomorrow.

Best wishes for a restful, enjoyable weekend!!!!

sniffle cough *aaahhCHOOO!!!!!

2009-09-15T19:14:00.002-04:00

I feel icky.

I hope you feel better than I do.

I will write more tomorrow.

nice trip...except for a bug

2009-09-15T05:54:00.003-04:00

Seeing my friends in Columbus was fantastic! We also finished our work an hour early, so I was able to get home by 6:00 p.m. instead of 7:00!!! :P

Unfortunately, I caught a nasty cold. I was up every few minutes all night on Sunday evening coughing. Hmph. Maybe I'll get over it soon.

The trip itself was incredibly relaxing. I'm grateful, though, for kinda sorta living in the "country" - - - I don't think I'll ever get used to big city traffic. Where I come from, if there's not enough room to cut in front of someone, we usually just stay put.

On a happier note, I'm hoping that my students were well-behaved! :o) We'll see in a few minutes...

good day

2009-09-09T21:17:00.003-04:00

Most of my kids did very well on their oral quiz today.

I'm ready to relax for a second, though. I woke up incredibly early, worked all day, went to a 2-hour professional development class, and then prepped my stuff for tomorrow - - - but I still went to Bible study tonight. I left this morning at 6:30 and didn't get home until 9:15! Man, that's a long day. I'm definitely on the sleepy side! :P

Off to check FB, play a game of Tetris, and hit the sack by 10:00. G'night.

going, going, gone...

2009-09-08T22:34:00.002-04:00

I've been running myself ragged...kinda like the Energizer bunny which, by the way, will eventually go kaput once the batteries die. We just never see that part in the commercials. :o)

I need to rest.

My weekends have been booked with prepping for school in August and grading papers last week. I'm burning out, but I'm not quite sure how to change my routine without getting behind in my work.

I'm not doing anyting at church except praying for the ministries and building relationships with the women, so I don't go to meetings, have choir rehearsal, or teach Bible study anymore. Yet I'm STILL swamped. Where is my time going???? Hmmmm...

I will leave for Columbus Sunday afternoon so that I can work on the proficiency tests for the state of Ohio. It's not exactly a glamorous job, but I haven't seen these folks in a long time (perhaps even a year). They are dear friends, and I'm excited about this trip! I'm also looking forward to having the hotel room to myself since there's no such thing as "quiet" time at my house. :P

Amazingly, the start of the school year has been glitch-free! I've only had one gal push my buttons, but I pushed back - - - and lately she has been honoring the boundaries I have set.

I hope all is well in your world. I'm going to play one game of Tetris before I hit the sack. Have a good one!

Crazy week!

2009-09-02T22:17:00.001-04:00

I cannot believe that tomorrow is already Thursday! I'm exhausted, but I will write more later. I promise!

incredible afternoon

2009-08-29T18:12:00.003-04:00

My boys VOLUNTARILY cleaned up the yard today! WOO HOO! Jamil cleaned the house this morning and then cut the grass, and Shaq trimmed the bushes. Wow! My boys truly blessed my heart today!

They also spent the day with me: lunch, Wal*Mart, and grocery store.

After I put everything away, I ended up chatting with a special friend. It looks like we'll enjoy a movie and/or dinner soon. I'm so excited! I haven't done this dating thing in 18+ years, but I'm looking forward to this new chapter in my life.

In a few minutes, I will get off of the computer and make supper. But first, I wanna pray for sec:

Thank you, Lord, for letting my friend and me get reacquainted with one another. It has been so long since someone has shown this kind of interest in me, and I truly appreciate feeling so beautiful! Jesus, I thank you for my health, my boys, my family, and my friends! Thank you, God, for being with me every day. I am in awe of you, and I thank you for each blessing, including my finances and emotional support lately. You are amazing! I love you, Lord, and I hope you're pleased with me. Please continue to bless each person who reads this blog, each friend in my life, and each student I will meet on Monday. In Jesus' name, amen!

Ron Clark

2009-08-27T17:41:00.005-04:00

I had the privilege of seeing Ron Clark in Cleveland a couple of years ago, and he is a hoot! Our district had him as our speaker at convocation, and I'm sad to say that my battery was dying just as I took pics of him! Good grief!

Anyway, here are some pictures. Here's our awesome band with the flagline:

Of course, when Mr. Clark is right in front of me, my camera's battery is starting to die...

Here's the last picture I tried to take before my camera breathed its last:

Sorry everybody! I thought I had charged the battery long enough. (sigh)

How was YOUR day?

perplexed

2009-08-26T05:00:00.006-04:00

As I pray for my friend, Val, to receive healing and joy, I will also pray for myself.

I'm actually extremely happy! :D

I just need God to be more clear about my purpose at church. I have never felt more disconnected!!! I thought I was supposed to work with the women, but I don't see how that's possible at the moment. I'm doing much more ministry with my on-line friends than I do at church.

On a happy note: School starts Monday! I will have meetings all day today, tomorrow, and Friday, so I'll try to pay attention. ;o) Ron Clark will be our speaker at convocation; they made a movie about him teaching in New York City. You might remember the clips that showed him learning how to double-dutch with some of his students. I saw him speak in Cleveland, and he'll probably be as hyper as ever!

My friend, Rob, stopped by my classroom yesterday. Niiice. Maybe I'll get to see him today too.

"Your Will" by Men of Standard just started playing!!! Yes, Lord, I'm staying in Your will! ;o)

Well, gotta get ready for "work." :D

v-e-r-y long day

2009-08-25T20:31:00.002-04:00

1.) went to doctor - - - thumbs up!

2.) had my first pain-free afternoon in almost a week!

3.) finished getting classroom ready

4.) went to Bible study and enjoyed being loved by my friends

5.) came home, did a blog, will check e-mail, then get sleep

6.) Tomorrow is my first day of school! I'll have meetings ALL DAY for the rest of the week, but I'll get to meet my 2009-2010 students on Monday!!!!! :D

I hate headaches!

2009-08-24T19:21:00.002-04:00

Today was incredibly stressful, but I haven't taken any headache medicine because I've already been pumping too much into my system because of this stupid infection. My head hurts big time.

I've only been on the computer for 1/2 hour today to check FB, read e-mail, and type this little message to you. In about five minutes, these contacts are comin' out and I'm jumpin' in bed. I think I'm gonna take some pain medicine, even though I was trying to wean myself off of it.

I hope you have sweet dreams!

difficult day

2009-08-24T08:06:00.005-04:00

I'm going to my friend's funeral today. We weren't "close" by any means, but I know his ex-wife and children very well. He was an ornery old fella! I chose to hug him and kiss him on the cheek every time we were in the same room, and eventually he started to like me...which is when the teasing began. :P

Sadly, he passed away, so I'm going to the service this morning. Please pray for my friend, Kathy, her children and her grandbabies. They are brokenhearted and will need lots of prayer as they grieve.

On a happier note, I will also get to spend some time working on the bulletin boards in my classroom. I also got a few books from the library, so I'm looking forward to a cup of tea and a novel this afternoon.

Best wishes for a wonderful day for you!

Owwwww....

2009-08-21T08:32:00.002-04:00

Normally, I'm not one to whine and complain, trying to get sympathy from everybody and her mama. I'm a "suck it up" kinda girl. I rarely miss work unless I have something horribly contagious that would make my students miserable, but I have to write this: I hurt!

I'm actually on my way out the door to go to the doctor for this horrible spider bite. My dear friend, Darlene, happens to be a nurse, and she told me to use Neosporin last night. Unfortunately, I was in the same amount of pain this morning, and the bite itself blew up and filled with puss!

I have NEVER had a bite cause as much discomfort as this one. I hope whatever bit me enjoyed the feast; otherwise, this just ain't worth it! :P

Soooooooo...I'm asking for a bit of prayer, please. I hope I didn't wait too long to see a doctor. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to make another medical bill when my other two aren't paid off. Oh well.

Have a good day!

Who's his teacher?

2009-08-20T17:39:00.002-04:00

I went to work today to get ahead on preparing for the first day of school. I:

1.) cleaned out my cabinets.

2.) threw away stuff I knew I wouldn't use.

3.) worked on making folders for each student.

4.) made all the copies I need for the first three weeks of school.

5. checked my rosters.

That's when I realized that they had accidentally put my son in my English class! :o)

I will let them know about that tomorrow. High school is hard enough without having your mother for English class! :o)

women's ministry

2009-08-18T15:24:00.004-04:00

I haven't felt comfortable moving in leadership at church since I left abruptly for six weeks. In fact, I really don't want to do what I did before; it was way too stressful, and people were way too critical. It's sad, though; I really have a heart for ministry. In fact, two women said on Sunday, "You know, Michelle, you should go to school and start preaching!"

You have no idea how much I would love to do that!

But I don't have the finances for more college classes right now, and I'm not sure I want to (or am supposed to) return to leadership at my own church. We'll have to see what God says on that one.

But guess what!

Some of the women I prayed with during "The 99" want to keep in touch! I'm definitely going to keep e-mailing, praying for, and encouraging them!

That experience has helped me to be much more bold than ever about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. I was "bold" before, but not always about praying and witnessing.

That said, I have begun a mini-ministry on-line! God has been putting people on my mind, so I've been e-mailing them and praying for them that way. My goodness! The response has been amazing! Even the folks who I thought might be irritated or a little offended are totally welcoming prayer!

I'm just super duper happy right now! God is wonderful, isn't He!?!?!?!

We're having leftover chicken, but I think I'll make some homemade biscuits to go with it. I also want to make some corn on the cob. Have a great day!

Whew!!!!

2009-08-17T12:51:00.003-04:00

Remember "The 99"? Well, I had to do follow ups with those who did not already have a church, and I finally finished this afternoon. I feel so honored to share with you that God allowed me to pray with 173 women during my experience with "The 99," and 31 of them accepted Christ for the first time!

I got to witness 31 women give their lives to the Lord for the first time!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!!

If you're in town, stop by my church at 7:00 on Friday. Check out First Baptist Church for information about our pastor, programs, or directions. Have a great day!

some pics!!!

2009-08-16T22:07:00.010-04:00

My day began with my friend, Leon, serenading me with "Happy Birthday!" before church this morning! :D After church, mom took us to Red Lobster (HER favorite restaurant too!), and they gave me this:

Here's my cutie pie mom. She LOVES any reason to celebrate with family!

And these two knuckleheads are my beloved children, Jamil and Shaquille. It's my birthday, for goodness' sake! Can't they be serious and let me take a nice picture of them just this once?!?!?

This is a gal from church. She's a friend of my boys, and I love her to pieces! My mom likes her too, so she invited Trisha to my birthday dinner. We had such fun!

Shaq took this picture of Trisha while I was driving to dinner.

I tried to take my boys to lunch last week, but Jamil already had plans to help Grandma in the yard. So it was just me and Shaq, who refused to get his picture taken.

Shaq took this one of me. We're not the best photographers, but we're trying!!!! :D

I've lost a little weight since my surgery, partly by watching what I eat and partly but stopping when I've had enough. I never stuff myself anymore; on this particular day, I was finished with this cookie...

...and it actually made Shaq mad! He kept saying, "Mom, eat that! It's only a little bite!"

It was comical how he was joking yet VERY serious about that! I didn't want any more, though.

It's been a long day. I'm going to check a couple of e-mails and then head to bed. There's some work I want to get done in the office at church, but I'd like to finish before Pastor gets back from vacation. I don't want to disturb him while he's trying to work. Have a good one!

unexpected interruption

2009-08-12T16:48:00.003-04:00

When I heard the doorbell, I thought it was my son who had forgotten his key for the umpteenth time.

Imagine my surprise when 4 humungous, bullet-proof-vest-wearing members of the S.W.A.T. team were standing on my porch! My heart skipped a beat, but I new instantly they were after my ex-husband.

Apparently, he has several outstanding warrants for his arrest. My youngest son saw them surround the house and tried to call me, but I was already outside talking to them when the phone (which was downstairs and out of earshot) rang. He was terrified when he saw men at each corner of my house with their hands on the weapons!

Oh boy....

I think my heart rate is finally back to normal...(breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out...)

Geez. I NEVER get in trouble, and seeing 3 unmarked vehicles barely fitting in my driveway and on the street near my home freaked me out!!! I was frustrated earlier today about some paperwork at my job that is driving me crazy and may affect my first two paychecks of the school year, but this experience has reminded me that things could always be worse!

I'm off to play Tetris for a little while.

I hope YOU have a peaceful, relaxing day!

catching up

2009-08-10T21:57:00.002-04:00

I've recently been reconnecting with some friends from years ago, and this experience has been wonderful. I have had to pace myself, though; I could easily spend way too much time on the computer and ignore my chores.

Today was a little productive after I was a bum and slept in until 11:30 a.m.! :D I cooked for my hungry boys, cleaned the kitchen, and did five loads of laundry.

In about 10 minutes I'm going to get some much-needed sleep. Have a good night!

Why am I not in the bed?!?!?!

2009-08-09T02:08:00.002-04:00

It's 2:10 a.m., and I have to get up in six hours so that all three of us have equal time in the bathroom to get ready for church.

Why am I still awake?

Because I have discovered Facebook.

I have also discovered that Shaq has had a facebook account since he was 12...

...and he has told the world that he was born in 1992. (Um...I actually gave birth to him in 1993, but what's a year?)

I LOVE finding friends I haven't spoken to in years, and it's thrilling to get messages from them. It's fascinating to see how they've changed over the years. Some folks look just as they did when we were in high school.

But now, I must get off this computer and get some sleep. Enjoy the Lord's day tomorrow (errr..today)! May the Lord bless you. Sweet dreams!

Love,

Michelle

I can lead you to Jesus, but I can't get put shoes on...

2009-08-08T01:29:00.002-04:00

I went to "the 99" once again, but I was running a bit late because I had to feed my boys first. I was also tired from a long night with little sleep, so I was rushing out the door...

...and didn't realize until my Pastor made a comment that I had two totally different kinds of sandals on my toes.

Duh.

I also had forgotten my jacket, and I was freezing! So I rushed home when we had a break so that I could look like someone with a bit of spiritual authority to pray for folks (instead of a goofball who can't even dress herself).

Tomorrow is another day...I'll try to get it right! :D

recommended song

2009-08-07T01:12:00.002-04:00

I had a bit of an exciting evening, so I wanted to listen to one of my favorite songs. "The Prayer," with Josh Groban helps me relax, and tonight I needed a bit of help winding down to get to sleep.

It's number 69 if you'd like to hear it.

Goodnight, all.

Tanna and Sharon

2009-08-07T00:31:00.002-04:00

I met these women tonight, and they blessed my socks off!

Tanna is an extremely outgoing, lovable gal who chatted with me during The 99.

Sharon is a woman I prayed for, but I was surprised when she launched into her own, anointed prayer for ME when I finished!!! Wow!!!!

I am exhausted, or I'd write a lot more. Sweet dreams!

poor pastor

2009-08-05T22:19:00.002-04:00

Our pastor was the only guy who showed up for Bible study tonight, and we were, *ahem*, a bit out of hand. He knows we love him, though! :o)

Have you ever had a perfect day?

Today was one of those days when everything falls into place perfectly. I started my day by worshiping the Lord and enjoying his presence...then I wrote paper #2...went to church to organize the office a bit...chatted and prayed with Pastor, came home and cut the grass...made supper and ate with Jamil (Shaq was at a friend's house)...went to Bible study, visited with my mom for a while and then came home.

Today was balanced with work and recreation, responsibilities and a bit of fun!

I'm looking forward to tomorrow!!!! :o)

WOO HOO!!!!

2009-08-05T10:22:00.000-04:00

I just e-mailed both of my papers for my grad class, and I'm officially done!!!!!

YAY!!!!!

I think I'll treat my self to something nice, like a book from Borders. Have a good day!

YAY!!!!!

2009-08-04T17:28:00.002-04:00

I finished one paper for my grad class!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!

I will work on paper #2 when my brain can handle it...probably Wednesday morning. I'm sure I'll get an A, but it's still so time consuming.

I will let myself relax this evening by reading while enjoying some refreshing ice water with fresh lemon juice. It's supposed to cleanse the system, and I love it! Yummo!

I'm working on keeping my joy...how about you? :D

Hearing from God

2009-08-03T21:43:00.005-04:00

Let me confess something to you: I have been running from leading a women's ministry in my church.

Did I mention that God was not impressed with my tantrum? :D Since I ran, he had to chase me down....and plop several ministry opportunities in my lap simultaneously.

Ladies, I am sooooooooooo excited!!!!! I just spent an hour worshiping the Lord and praying, and the Holy Spirit hugged me the whole time! Woo hoo!

So I called my Pastor to broach the subject (women's ministry) and share a little bit of what God has been speaking to me, so we're going to talk about that tomorrow.

I can't wait to see what God is up to!!!

Any prayer requests? I'm in the mood to do some serious prayin' in the days to come, and I'd love to include your name! :o) If you're going through something traumatic, please know that you are NOT alone! Keep your chin up; God loves you bunches!!!

in awe of God

2009-08-03T08:36:00.003-04:00

I spent my Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings ministering to people who've never had a relationship with the Lord. I also prayed for some folks who were already Christians but had some prayer requests.

Wow.

I also had a pleasant surprise! After I prayed with one young lady, she said, "You are an amazing prayer warrior! Now let me pray for you..."

She hit on some personal issues that I definitely struggle to handle, but she didn't know me at all. That's how I know God was moving! And the atmosphere was so charged with the love of God! If I remember correctly, "The 99" has successfully worked with folks from 30 area churches to lead almost 3,000 people to the Lord over a period of 6 days! WOOO HOOO!!!!!

You have no idea how this experience has humbled me.

Yes, I have been praying for people for several years, but I had only led a couple of folks to the Lord before this experience. I haven't counted, but I think I've had the privilege of personally leading at least 50 people to Jesus Christ!!!! I'm so excited! I am definitely going to be much more bold in the future.

We aren't allowed to take pictures, or I'd give you a tour. :o) Keep your eyes open; if "The 99" comes to your city, GO!!! Volunteer to do make-up, counsel lost souls, act in the realistic theater productions, make reminder phone calls to the volunteers, or help in any way you feel you can contribute. I guarantee your life will be more fulfilling if you do! God bless!

Love,
Michelle

P. S. : If you have no idea what it means to be "saved" and have questions about salvation, PLEASE leave a comment! I'd love to talk to you about it!

hectic week

2009-07-31T06:00:00.003-04:00

This week has gone by crazy-fast!!!!!

Today is the last day of my grad class, and I had planned on turning in my paper early because I'm such a nerd. However, I spent many hours ministering to folks this week during the little bit of free time I had. I'm no longer in leadership at church, but I haven't slowed down one bit as far as listening, praying with, and ministering to hurting people. I've even had people in my grad class ask me about my spiritual life. Cool, huh?!?!

Anyway, my paper isn't due for two weeks, but I'm going to write it tomorrow (Saturday) morning so that I can relax and breathe. This is the last paper I have to write for at least two years, which is when I'm planning to take more classes for the fun of it. At this point, it looks like the boys are going to college for free because of Wilson's disability, but I still want to help them a little every month. I'd prefer that they do not work while in college, so the money I would have paid for tuition can go for clothing, cell phone bills, food, or whatever they'll need. :o)

I keep forgetting my camera, but I'll try to take pictures of the beautiful campus where I've spent the majority of the last four days. It's gorgeous! A convent is on the other side of the grounds, and the nuns are so cute in their habits! They're sweet, too, and I enjoy chatting with them before/after class or on breaks. Walsh University pays them for three classrooms, and they've been renovated. It's an older building, but it looks brand new on the inside. I'll have to show you with some pics this evening.

My son, Shaq, volunteered to do some ministry with our pastor, and I couldn't be happier about that. My little one is going to the "The 99" with my mom tonight; maybe I'll see if since I'm a prayer counselor. I'm planning on staying until Shaq calls me for a ride home.

I hope you have a spectacular Friday!

What is wrong with these people?????

2009-07-29T21:40:00.002-04:00

I just finished checking my e-mails and reading recent news articles.

In the last ten minutes, I've read 3 articles about people hurting children in gruesome ways.

Let's pray:

Father, these situations clearly do not reflect the love and care you expect parents to show their children. Please protect little ones! Keep your arms of protection around them, and touch the minds of parents who are contemplating hurting their own children. In Jesus' name, amen.

On a happier note: I only have two more days of my grad class. It's interesting! I've learned a great deal of time savers that I'll try to implement this school year. I also received a behavior analysis that is almost 100% correct! I LOVE taking questionnaires like that, especially when they are amazingly accurate.

I just got off the phone with my buddy, Iva. We spoke for several hours, laughing and being silly. She's such a sweetheart!

I'd better get to sleep. I have a long day tomorrow. See ya!

Whew! What a relief!!!!!

2009-07-27T17:44:00.002-04:00

Today was my "first day of school" for my grad class, and I wasn't sure what to expect.

Thankfully, it's a wonderful experience! It is NOT a joke or a waste of time, but he isn't piling on the homework, either. I've learned a great deal today, all of which is applicable to my teaching career.

I'm looking forward to the next four days! :o)

Granted, I'm tired because my brain was working all day. It's also a 1 and 1/2 hour drive round trip, so I'm tired. It was nice quiet, worship time, though; I listened to 95.5 The Fish (contemporary Christian station) during my drive.

If I remember, I'll take my camera so that you can see the gorgeous grounds where my class is being held. There is a flower or plant, though, that has an awful stench; we could smell it all day until we close the windows and turned on the air. :D

Happy Monday!

church

2009-07-26T16:04:00.002-04:00

Church was cool today! Pastor did a sermon on "first fruits," and I know that he's not particularly fond of preaching on that topic. In addition, we happened to have quite a few visitors today, but he still did a wonderful job.

I also met a great new friend named Amy. She's so sweet!

My headaches are back, so I was uncomfortable during the sermon. I was tempted to run to the drinking fountain and take a couple of Tylenol, but I would have interrupted the service big-time since I was sitting in the front.

I pray for myself when I'm sick, but sometimes God doesn't heal me. Oh well.

I'm making Hamburger Helper for dinner. I might be more creative if I didn't feel so icky. I took a nap, and it DID help a little bit.

In a couple of hours I will go to M. Church and lead the music for the worship service. Corporate worship is always fun, isn't it? :o)

Have a great evening!

If you died tonight, where would you go to spend eternity?

2009-07-25T00:20:00.003-04:00

Thought-provoking, isn't it?

I prayed with 16 people this evening, and three of them came to Christ for the first time!

WOOO HOOOO!!!! Heaven got a little bit bigger tonight!

There were around 100 counselors eager to pray with folks, and I had a BLAST!!!!

I will definitely go back tomorrow evening. Pray for the counselors, please. I'm specifically asking for wisdom and discernment to pray effectively for these precious souls. Thanks!

Let's pray:

Thank you, Lord, for an amazing night! I thoroughly enjoyed ministering to hurting hearts, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to pray for so many folks, including two married couples. God, you are so amazing! Please use all of us tomorrow and soften hearts to be ready to accept you as Savior! In Jesus' name, amen!

getting ready for something B-I-G!

2009-07-24T09:31:00.003-04:00

Tonight is the first night of "the 99," and I'm psyched! I can't wait to counsel folks who have never accepted Christ into their hearts! It's going to be incredible!

I was speaking with a fellow counselor last night before group prayer, and she was feeling intimidated because she can't quote scripture very well. I told her, "You know, I don't think that's important at all. Before I knew the Lord well, I couldn't care less if people could recite scripture. I knew people who could do that but were mean and judgmental. What caught my attention were the folks who exhibited God's love, and you do that just fine!"

She felt a lot better at the end of the evening when we walked together to the parking lot. :D

I'm a morning person, so I'm going to take a nap later so that I won't yawn while I'm trying to lead people to the Lord at midnight (or later). ;o)

Have a beautiful day, my friend!

oops!

2009-07-23T14:02:00.002-04:00

( I'll keep this rated G.)

My friend, Melanie, went to Subway to pick up sandwiches for our lunch, but on the way back she saw a guy riding a bike. What's so odd about that? Well, he had apparently forgotten to put on his clothes.

Yep, he was adorned with only his birthday suit as he exercised. :D Thankfully, the police were quick to arrive.

On a happier note, today was my last day of summer school!

On an even happier note, every student passed with a C or better!!!!!! WOO HOOOO!!!!!!!! One of my little darlings said, "Ms. S., I learned more from you in four weeks than I did in a year. Thank you."

Wow.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing them with understanding as I presented material. Please keep your arms of protection around them as they begin their senior year of high school or, in some cases, graduate.

Father, all of them have tickets to "the 99," so PLEASE touch their hearts! Let them be curious enough to attend. I pray that all of them receive you as Lord and Savior! In Jesus' name, amen!

in the way

2009-07-22T21:40:00.004-04:00

When I was hurting and decided to leave the church, Brian stepped up and faithfully played every single week. Now, I am hesitant to play during a service. I want him to continue playing. Besides, he has been playing (and doing a great job!) every week.

I think I'll bow out for a while. Pastor will be out of town, and Brian actually wants to tackle the challenge of playing by himself. I don't mind; it's on my birthday, so I'll be able to sit back and relax. :o)

I'm not really needed at my church anymore.

The work that I would have done is now being accomplished by a beautiful, sweet, kind, loving woman who is willing to tackle just about anything.

The music I would have played is being done by the capable, friendly, lovable husband of a friend of mine.

I think all of this is happening for a reason. I won't say what that reason is here, but I sure am excited about it! I will keep praying for the growth within my church and the opportunities for others to become involved in ministry.

God, thank you for allowing me to move aside, to allow Brian to shine as he worships you each week. Thank you for blessing him and his beautiful family with a wonderful vacation! I'm also grateful for the folks who are willing to put their hands to work for you!

Father, I will continue to pray as you lead me, and I appreciate every opportunity to show you my love for you through obedience and humility. I am yours, Jesus, and I'm listening for your voice every day. I love you, Lord, and I pray that you continue to use me however you see fit. In Jesus' name, amen!

a little excitement

2009-07-22T14:17:00.004-04:00

We had an unannounced fire drill at an awkward time: break (lunch).

But it wasn't a drill at all! Somehow the lunch ladies caught a pizza on fire.

Umm....I'm not quite sure how one does that, but that's the story I heard.

So my students and I enjoyed the beautiful summer weather for 45 minutes while the firefighters got everything under control. Unfortunately, one of the workers suffered smoke inhalation, which is why it took such a long time for us to receive clearance to reenter the building.

This afternoon, I'll meet a friend at 5:00 to help her with a project, and then I'll just sit tight and wait for my church's Bible study to begin. (We'll be at Panera; come join us!) After that, I'll get some much-needed rest. I stayed up late playing the piano/singing to the Lord, but now I'm sleepy!

Have a wonderful evening!

prayer warrior women

2009-07-21T22:21:00.002-04:00

Every now and then the prayer time at the women's Bible study blows me away.

Tonight was awesome!

I'm so excited about the friendships that are unifying this kind, compassionate group of women who attend M. Church.

I'm also thrilled about the visions God has given some folks at FBC!

God is moving, ya'll!!!!!! :o)

Be happy, and look for opportunities to share God's love. He'll give them to you!

By the way, I love you, and you are loved by the most high King! Be blessed!

Excited!!!!

2009-07-20T22:25:00.002-04:00

After work, I had a meeting with Pastor about my role in the church, and I feel MUCH better about everything. You may have noticed that quite a few of my blog entries have disappeared. That's because I have decided to erase every entry that contained even one ounce of whining.

:D

I want this blog to bless, NOT DEPRESS, people!!!!

(Hold me accountable to that, please. I'm on an "accountability" kick, and I'm getting blessed by the words of truth that my friends are sharing with me.)

I'm going to spend several evenings with some fellow Christians as we witness and pray with young people in the next few weeks. Please pray that we say the exact words God is calling us to use.

My boys will be home soon. They went to Cedar Point with their youth group, and I'm looking forward to hearing all about it! :o)

I praise God for every blessing, and I'm looking forward to seeing what He's up to not only for my life but for the lives of everyone I know! I love you, and I'm interested in your testimonies. I'm all ears!

oooops!

2009-07-19T17:02:00.002-04:00

I thought I was supposed to play at M. Church today, but I'm supposed to play NEXT week!

Duh!

The music director let me play anyway since I had already picked out the songs. :o)

I enjoyed some incredible prayer time with her and the pastor after the service, and I feel so refreshed!

moments of reflection

2009-07-18T20:42:00.004-04:00

I had quite a wonderful opportunity this weekend to reflect on my behavior, mentality, and attitude as a woman of God, and I have to say that I liked what I experienced. Yes, there were some intense moments when the Lord allowed some residual pain to surface, but I've dealt with it, and so has God. Here are some affirmations that I will try to remember in the weeks to come:

1. God made me; therefore, I am precious. I don't have to do good works to get His attention. He loves me already!

2. I have the power to forgive, even when folks don't even want my forgiveness. The act of forgiving offenses is for MY benefit too!

3. There is a reason that God has me where I am at this time during this season of my life. It is not my place to ask, "Why, Lord?" All I need to do is be obedient and wait for further instructions!

4. I want to be accountable. Although I have only recently begun to get to know Iva, she has already agreed to be one of my accountability partners - - - she'll keep an eye on my behavior and attitude, and I'm so grateful to her for that.

5. I want to be the woman God is calling me to be right now. I want to be a bright light that draws folks toward God's love! I want to bring peace to every relationship I have! I will try very hard not to inflict pain; instead, others will feel better after knowing me, in Jesus' name! Amen!

God's goodness is amazing!

2009-07-16T14:53:00.003-04:00

I shared my love for God with come folks today, and it felt wonderful!

I am totally enjoying my private prayer time with some Bible reading with the Lord, and I usually play the piano/sing some worship songs to God after work every day. My dog looked so relaxed as he listened this afternoon! :D (I'm serious! I think he might have felt the Lord's presence too!)

I confessed some immature behavior to someone last night, and he laughed. (I'm so grateful that I didn't get a long lecture. Instead, I received precious friendship, complete acceptance, and his typical encouragement. We simply sat and talked for a couple of hours like we used to do so often, and I smiled as I drove home.)

My Mom also got a visit from me last night; I just wanted to check in on her and make sure she was feeling well. We ended up talking and laughing in my car for an hour! She's reading a book and wanted to tell me all about it. :o) I didn't mind listening - - - I love her dearly.

Recently I read about some folks who displeased God so badly that the earth swallowed them up...including their wives and children. Aren't you glad God doesn't punish that severely anymore? If He did, I would have been dead long ago!

**** WHOA! **** I just got a call from my friend, Iva, who won tickets to the Women of Faith Conference in Cleveland tomorrow! And guess who she asked to use the second ticket?!?!?! Praise God! A few weeks ago some of my girlfriends spent some serious moolah that I just didn't have to arrange a group trip, but God knew the desires of my heart. It's funny; I type the title of this entry 15 minutes before the phone call! :o)

THANK YOU, GOD!!!!!

Let's pray:

Thank you, God, for your presence, your love, and your forgiveness! I know that I have found favor in your sight recently since my hard-headedness transformed to a desire to obey Your will for my life. There's still so much I need to improve, though. Please continue to walk with me every day.

Forgive me, Lord, for my immaturity! I know that you're not shocked by my decisions, but I am truly sorry for giving up on You too quickly. As I've already told you, I'm ready and willing to do whatever you ask!

Your kindness astounds me! I am humbled as you show me myself daily, but I'm also encouraged because I know that You are helping me in so many areas of my life. I am truly grateful!

Father, please continue to knit our hearts together! Remind us of what our mothers and grandmothers had said for years: "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." I also pray for balance as we try to communicate with each other regarding offenses. Don't let us judge and convict others; instead, Lord, allow us to simply address offenses in as loving a manner as possible and to feel eager for any correction that is going to ultimately bring us closer to You. Jesus, I also pray that you would embolden the women in my life so that they will be willing to correct me if they see me out of hand. I really do want to be holy because You are holy!

Thank you for the best evening (last night) I've had in a long time! I really missed my friend, and I'm so thankful that you've allowed the tension to totally disappear. He is such a blessing to me, and I pray that you bless him in every way. Father, I pray that you use me to bring him peace, to help him relax on the rough days, and to encourage him with visions you give me in prayer.

And thank you, again, for Iva's thoughtful heart! I'm still in awe that she thought of me when I'm sure she has lots of friends her own age! (I hope I'm not old enough to be her mother; perhaps I'm just 15 years older than her). God, thank you so much for allowing me to know this sweet, amazing woman who loves you with all of her heart! Bless her with a pain-free night of rest this evening, and touch her home with peace and excitement for what You're up to in their lives. Let her, her husband, and their cutie pie baby boy have some fantastic family time today before he goes to work. In Jesus' name, amen!

The sermon tonight was right on time!

2009-07-12T20:19:00.002-04:00

John filled in tonight while Woody is on vacation, and he spoke about FORGIVENESS! (That's exactly what God has been dealing with me about for several days!)

He encouraged us to keep standing on God's word, to keep loving one another, to keep behaving in a way that is holy so that those without God's love can see a difference in us.

Worship was amazing; Mandy harmonized with me as we led the music, and it was fantastic! God's spirit ministered to me tonight, and I loved every second!

I'm off to write three tests and get some sleep. Goodnight!

peaceful

2009-07-11T21:35:00.003-04:00

Jamil and I spent the morning rearranging my living room!

I had a large rug on the floor, but at 8:30 a.m. Jazz's collar got caught on a loose loop. The poor guy was freaking out; it took a few seconds to get his collar off to see the problem. If that had happened when we were in school, he would have been trapped from 8:30 until the boys came home at 2:30.

The carpet had to go.

That was a no-brainer. :D

I have beautiful hard wood floors, but they'll need to be stripped and waxed - - which will need to wait until I have extra money (probably January when I'll get three paychecks).

I spent the day cleaning up, trying furniture in different spots, cooking, doing laundry, and watching a couple of movies on t.v.

I've had quite an amazingly relaxing day! I might spend tomorrow relaxing at home as well; we shall see. I'm not exactly motivated to go to church; it's not fun anymore, and I have so much more joy spending time with God right here at home.

I enjoyed some fantastic worship time this evening, though. I have come to cherish my private time with the Lord more than ever.

Sweet dreams!

TGIF!

2009-07-10T05:34:00.002-04:00

I have had a long, busy week. I worked 7 hours every day, and then I helped with the kids at church on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evening for Kids Fun Nights. Although it was enjoyable, I still greatly prefer teaching my teenage students. :D

I'm pleased to say that everyone earned an A or B during the first "semester,"which ended yesterday. Only ten more days until my summer begins!!!!

The weekend will be spent working on homework for my next grad class. It doesn't begin until July 27th, but I'm getting a head start since I already have the book. I'm looking forward to enjoying a few cups of decaf tea as I catch up on some recreational reading.

Enjoy your weekend!

trip to the store

2009-07-08T16:01:00.003-04:00

I misunderstood the directions last night, and I gave prizes to the kids...even after all their tickets were used.

That means we were running out of candy, pencils, etc. pretty quickly.

So.....

I just bought about 15 bags of candy to replenish our supply for tonight! :o) I also bought some pencils with encouraging sayings and someChristian playing cards (like "Bible Memory"); if we can't use them tonight, then we can always save them for Sunday school.

yawn

2009-07-07T23:16:00.001-04:00

We had at least 3 times as many kids tonight as we did last night, and perhaps we'll have even more tomorrow.

Yes, I'm tired, but my nieces made some little friends this evening. :o) Speaking of "tired..."

G'night.

Kids' Night at church

2009-07-06T20:58:00.002-04:00

I didn't think to bring my camera, but I'll try to remember to take it tomorrow (and Wednesday).

Iva did a wonderful job organizing this three-day kids' fest. There were games, balloons, snacks, fun, and fellowship! I invited my great-nieces who had a blast! I was thrilled to see them behave so well and participate with the others.

I am exhausted, though; I'm used to the big boys and girls. :o)

I'm off to relax by playing a game or two of Tetris before I finish a writing project and write a test. Hopefully, I'll be in bed by 10:00 or 10:30 (at the latest).

Have a peaceful evening!

Happy 4th!

2009-07-04T17:34:00.021-04:00

Hello! I had a fantastic 4th of July! My family gathered at my house this year, and we had such a wonderful afternoon being silly, eating, and singing some worship songs together. You already know how un-talented I am with a camera, which is why I'm including some not-so-glamorous shots of myself to appease those who aren't thrilled with their own pics.

This first pic is of my beloved son, Jamil. He does NOT like getting his picture taken, but he humored his mama today. What a sweetie!

My Mom's excited about Lina coming over today!

This is one I took of myself just to see what the lighting looked like. Note to self: wait until hair dries completely after shower, and then check hair before pressing button on camera...

My son, Shaq, wasn't cooperating regarding a pic, so I snapped this one without permission. You can't run away if you're sitting down with a plate of yummy food! :o)

This is my sister mid-sentence as she's talking to the fam.

My sister Lani is getting a big 'ol hug from her baby girl, Lina. Man, it was good to see her today!

I got a hug from her too!

My Mom is surrounded by three generations of her family (counterclockwise): Lani (my sis), Lina (my neice), Tiana (sunglasses - my great-niece), and a family friend (pink top).

The guy in this picture, Christian, is Lina's fiancee. They haven't set the date yet, but they're shooting for some time in the spring. I hope I'll be able to attend!

This is what we saw of Aaron's (Lina's son's) head most of the afternoon. Oh well...I can't say that I blame him. If I were a 10 year-old kid, I'd probably prefer playing a PSP to talking with women at the kitchen table. ;o)

After eating a big meal, Tiana just couldn't hang with the big kids anymore. She conked out on the couch...errrr, on my dog! (Jazz didn't mind, though.) If you look closely at his face, you can tell he's more annoyed with me and the camera than he is with being her pillow!

Lina and Aaron are getting ready to leave, but we wanted one more picture with Mom.

I have more pics, but they're terrible. I just need to practice, practice, practice. I promise to try to improve so that my birthday (in August) or the Thanksgiving pics won't put me to shame.

Have a wonderful holiday! And God bless the USA! (And Canada!)

Thank you, Lord!

2009-07-04T04:16:00.006-04:00

God woke me up really early this morning, and I felt an urge to check my e-mail.

I'm glad I did.

My friend, Ruth, wrote to let me know that someone's mother passed away on Wednesday. I spent some time with her at the hospital last week, but I haven't seen her since then. The least I can do is attend the funeral and support her daughter, Nancy.

Please keep my friend and her family in your prayers. Although they've known that mom was terminally ill, I'm sure it's an intensely painful week for them.

One of my favorite songs, "Let the Worshipers Arise" is playing on the radio, and I'm smiling. Even at times like this, there is still time for some praise to the Lord for all of his blessings. From his perspective, death is no big deal.

May God give you a wonderful sign of his love today!

Lina's coming!!!!

2009-07-03T08:45:00.003-04:00

I am sooooooooooo excited! My neice, who lives in Tennessee, will be here tomorrow!

The boys and I have been cleaning up more than usual since Mom volunteered my house for the family get-together, and I'm truly looking forward to seeing everybody.

I will have pictures soon!

I have been involved in several Bible studies lately. The first one is a women's group at M. Church; we meet on Tuesday evenings, and they are so enjoyable! There is one woman there who tries to dominate every conversation, but we cut her some slack since she is a new Christian. She doesn't know any better.

My personal Bible study time has been with devotionals from the book Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be, and it is going slowly. I am gleaning from this piece of writing, but it is starting to become aggravating to read. If I were grading her work, there would be several notes in the margin indicating her excessive repetitiveness. She literally repeats phrases verbatim several times within the same paragraph, and it's annoying. I will try to finish this book in its entirety, but I might not make it...

I returned to a Wednesday night Bible study (for FBC) this week, and it was interesting. I am currently praying about my role in this church (the one God called me back to), and I haven't heard any definitive answers yet....which is why I'm doing nothing except attending and giving my tithes/offering. We will have a special kids ministry this week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evening. I am NOT gifted with little children, but I offered to help oversee the games. Others will be running them, though, unless they need me to help with that too. I was told that she needed someone to simply make sure the teens were staying on task as they helped the little ones play.

I have a few errands to run, and then I'm coming home to finish cleaning. Have a happy 4th!

mom

2009-07-02T06:45:00.002-04:00

I'm going to meet my mother at 2:00 after work today. She has been throwing hints that she's "tired." She has also been getting things in order for her death. Her burial is already paid, and today we're going to run some errands for the same purpose.

She really misses my dad, and she has seemed preoccupied lately.

She had chest pain recently, and she refuses to go to the doctor. Gathering from what she is not saying, I think she's ready to go "home."

But I'm not.

Although she is not what I'd call suicidal, I do believe she doesn't want any intervention if something should happen.

I can handle this...I can handle this....

Ewwww!!!!

2009-06-30T21:28:00.000-04:00

Ok...so I just finished making homemade biscuits. They're in the oven as I type...

But I almost forgot to add the butter....

...which means I essentially almost served my children baked homemade glue. :o)

That's what I get for trying to cook without the recipe in front of my eyeballs!

A funny thing happened on the way to the store...

2009-06-30T16:45:00.002-04:00

I had just gotten off work and felt a bit sleepy. I promised myself that I'd buy some bread, flour (for homemade biscuits) and aluminum foil on my way home from work, so that's exactly what I did.

As I left my vehicle and locked the doors, I noticed a woman watching me. At first I was going to ignore the gaze, but I decided to be friendly and say, "Hi!"

She returned my smile and said, "You know, you look so refreshed! I wasn't sure how you would receive this, but you look so lovely. It's great to see a woman who dresses like a lady!"

Then she hugged me!

We chatted for a minute. Then I thanked her and said, "I definitely see you as a blessing today. Thanks again!"

Isn't God sweet? Total strangers do not normally walk up to me and shower me with compliments.

Niiiice.

For supper I made some ham sandwiches and sliced some potatoes for fries. It was yummy!

In a bit, I'll head to Bible study. I'll write more later.

contentment

2009-06-28T08:38:00.002-04:00

I woke up feeling refreshed and, well, happy.

I'm excited about what God is up to in my life. Meeting new people is fun!

Be happy, friend! I'm smiling with (and praying for) you today!

God bless!

fun Saturday afternoon and evening

2009-06-27T22:48:00.011-04:00

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a photographer.

That said, let me share some pics from the graduation party. I would like to begin with Josh, my buddy who received his diploma! Woo hoo!!!!

This is Josh's buddy, Eric, with Josh's mom - - - who happens to be a whiz at gardening.

This is the next door neighbor, whom I love because he thought I was Josh's friend from school. He couldn't believe I'll be 38 in two months.

The neighbor's wife, Donna, is soooooo friendly! I ended up going next door to see her garden (which is magnificent), and she invited me to stop over any time. I think I'll take her up on that.

This stone angel and froggy are chillin' on top of some bricks from the local high school that was torn down this spring. I am now teaching in the new high school building (and love it)!

The killer dog growled at me when I put my hand up to the fence, but once I walked through and introduced myself, he was a big baby.

I tried to end the post with a picture of myself with my son, but he wouldn't take a picture with me. He was busy making me an omelet for supper, and he did not want his picture taken. This was the best I could do...

This afternoon was absolutely fantastic! I got a phone number from a new gal pal; we will definitely go for coffee sometime.

Someone else gave me a compliment on my legs. That's always nice.

My evening ended with some friends and prayer. I couldn't ask for a more enjoyable day!

How was your evening?

a memorable quote

2009-06-27T11:20:00.002-04:00

"God's love doesn't prevent trials; it helps us through them."

Isn't that beautiful? If I could remember who said it, I'd tell you.

Any stressful situations I face are merely opportunities for God to exhibit his love for me. What a positive spin for my attitude, eh? ;o)

I was up really early this morning, so I'm off to take a nap. If I have time, I'll share pics from the graduation party. See ya later!

happy, happy, joy, joy

2009-06-26T21:50:00.001-04:00

Dr. T. just e-mailed my grade: A. Yay! One class down, one to go...

a bit of self-reflection

2009-06-26T20:12:00.005-04:00

For the first two days of summer school, I have tried to get my students to work as independently as possible. I do have one child who is incredibly demanding of my attention, but she's quick to say things like, "You know, I hated you, but now I love you!"

Seriously...that's a verbatim quote of hers from this morning.

As a teacher, I always want to be in control of every situation. I do not want behaviors to become so wild that no one listens. On the other hand, I'd like the kids to enjoy themselves while they learn. It's a delicate balance, but I think I've got this class where I want them. I'm lenient, though; it's difficult for folks to focus for six hours on one subject (especially if it was failed during the regular school year).

So far, every single kid has a C or better! (Thank you, Lord! Please help them to keep it up!) One young man said, "Man, you're really nice, and I understand this (persuasive essay assignment) now."

As I sit here reflecting on the day, I am pleased that I let God control everything. He helped me deal effectively with some classroom conflicts without resorting to discipline tickets (which remove them from the classroom).

I have tried to let the same thing (allowing God to be in control of me) happen in my church life, but sometimes transitions are hardly smooth. I find myself longing for the peace and excitement for "church" that I had two weeks ago. Now I am bracing for an uphill battle that won't be pretty.

I asked for some advice from you here on my blog. Since I haven't gotten any responses, I suspect that I'm not the only one who may have reservations about giving advice on how to deal with difficult people.

I have exasperated my arsenal of witty, endearing comments for those giving me grief at the moment. Sometimes I can use humor in the classroom to totally diffuse a situation, but that hasn't gotten me anywhere at church.

You know, I'm just plain weary of getting emotionally beaten up by the very folks I have tried so hard to support and love. God is calling me to continue, though, so I will...

On a happy note: Tomorrow should be fun! A couple of friends are going out of town, so they'll miss a graduation party for their son's buddy. I was asked to take pictures, so I will try my best. My less-than-professional snapshots will have to do.

Hmmm....on second thought, perhaps I should give my camera to someone else for the afternoon!

:o)

Enjoy your Friday evening!

Michael Jackson's gone?

2009-06-25T20:45:00.002-04:00

Whoa...

Michael was only 13 years older than me.

So sad.

The funeral of my friend, Jenny, and the passing of Michael remind me to thank God for every day. We are not promised tomorrow (nor will I be disappointed if I don't get another one). If you think about it, we probably won't want to come back once we've experienced heaven. :o)

Despite the loss I've felt recently in my personal life, I am still happy. I'm looking forward to things to come, and I'm so glad the Lord will be with me every step of the way.

Aren't you?

First day of school

2009-06-25T17:18:00.002-04:00

I couldn't ask for a sweeter group of kids in my junior/senior summer school English class.

Most of them are taking parts A and B, so I'll have them for 19 more days. They are a pure joy! I have kids from several surrounding school districts (including the one in which I teach), and they're getting along well. In fact, I don't foresee a need to ever use a disciplinary card.

My classroom is across the hall from one of my best friends, Melanie. It's cool to be so near to her; during the regular school year, I'm in the basement while she's on the third floor. I'll get to see her every day!

My boys were invited to the movies, so I'll have the whole house to myself for several hours. What will I do? I'm exhausted, so I'll probably just play the piano/sing some worship songs, watch one television show, and then go to sleep.

I know...I know...it doesn't sound very exciting, but that's exactly what I want to do. Have a good one!

some pics before bedtime

2009-06-24T21:39:00.007-04:00

I took lots of pictures today for my project, but I am NOT a photographer...you'll see. This first picture is of our sanctuary. I didn't turn on the lights, though.

I was trying to get the keys of the organ while using the pews for perspective. You kinda sorta get to see what I wanted you to see, but I definitely need more practice...

This is a pic of the stained-glass windows as you leave the sanctuary. I'm glad it was such a gorgeous day with lots of sunlight! Aren't the colors marvelous?

While I was at the church, I managed to smash the pastor's leg with a chair twice. :o( Happy news: I got invited to a graduation party. My policy is usually NOT to attend any graduation parties because I can't afford to give a gift to 300+ students. Josh is an exception, though. He's a sweetie pie. The only thing that will keep me from celebrating with him is a headache. I've been getting them lately.

This evening I went to Jenny's funeral. That had to be the happiest homegoing I've every observed! She was such a wonderful person who always had a smile. Everyone loved her, and it showed this evening. (I'll see you later, Jenny!)

Well, that's it for now. I'm sleepy. I can finally lie down and get some rest before I meet my students tomorrow for their first day of summer school. I only have 20 more days to work before I have two whole weeks off! Yay!!!!!

Sweet dreams, everybody. Love you!

My brain is officially fried.

2009-06-24T15:17:00.003-04:00

I am finally completely, utterly finished with this project! It's not due until Friday, but I am DONE!!!! I can turn in this puppy tonight, and I am sooooooooooooooo happy!!!!!!

I had a chitchat with my pastor this morning and into the early afternoon. I have a serious question to ask you, and I need an honest response, ok?

How do I make amends with someone who is extremely angry with me but won't tell me what I did? You also need to know that when she fussed at me (in front of several other folks), not a single person in the room agreed with her (that I think I'm better than everyone else, not approachable, offensive....those were the implications, but I still have no idea what I did to make her feel this way about me).

I'm trying to keep peace, and I don't want to do anything to make matters worse.

I need to take a shower, pick up a bag of clothes (for me from a friend) and drop of two bags of clothes (for the mission), go to college, make some copies, get to class, give my presentation, attend Jenny's funeral, and come home.

I probably won't get on the computer because I'll be exhausted (since I never had a chance to go back to bed this morning and had a total of 4 hours of sleep).

*** I am VERY interested in your answer to my question. ***

I have asked this woman to explain what I did, but she won't tell me. I'm not going to do anything until I pray some more, but I thought I'd throw my predicament out there in case you guys have a wise answer for me.

Thanks! See ya tomorrow.

peaceful evening

2009-06-23T21:30:00.004-04:00

I figured I'd just write short notes throughout the day so that people can pick and choose what to read (instead of one really long blog entry).

Tonight I met Nancy's sister, who thought I was beautiful and couldn't believe I was old enough to teach high school. (She got a great big 'ol hug for that one!)

Nancy's momma is doing better today because there was no radiation treatment. Hopefully, she'll go home tomorrow, so I'm glad I was able to get up there today. Please pray for Nancy's dad; he's understandably having a rough time.

I have a 9:00 a.m. meeting tomorrow; all of the summer school teachers have a meeting with the summer school principal (my friend, Mary), and then we'll have time to get our classrooms ready for the young uns on Thursday.

My buddy, Marlena, called, and she has more clothes for me. As she loses weight, she gives me outfits that don't fit her anymore. I'm going to give her two bags of clothes (that are too big for me) so that her residents can see if there's anything they'd like. I'll pick up her bag of goodies on my way to class tomorrow evening.

I'm going to work on my project again now. Then it'll be sweet dreams! Have a good one!

hospital

2009-06-23T17:22:00.003-04:00

A friend of mine passed away last night. She has been ill for a long time; we've known she wouldn't make it, but it's still soooo sad. Please pray for her husband; he has his own health problems, and I'm sure his heart is aching terribly right now because of this loss.

I have a project due tomorrow, but maybe my professor will let me leave after my presentation so that I can attend the 8:00 p.m. funeral.

Right now, I'm on my way to the hospital to see a friend's mom. After that, I'll go to Bible study and try to stay focused on the Lord and the scriptures.

Man, I need a hug. I'll get one in a little while at Bible study. Bye for now.

two of my favorite songs

2009-06-23T09:16:00.005-04:00

I've been listening to some awesome music this morning as I spent some time with God.

Wanna hear a couple of songs that minister to my heart every time I hear them? Here ya go:

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d706775a547abac9e0f0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOXVn6k_i4E

Enjoy!

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

2009-06-21T10:12:00.003-04:00

It has been 9 years since my father passed away, and I miss him terribly.

Wanna hear how much God loves us? Here's my last memory of my Dad:

I never called off work. I never used my personal days because each one is worth money, so I saved them for my family. I saved my sick days in case my mom ever needed me if she went into the hospital (and she did). Because of my frugality, I was able to spend a week by her side in the hospital and then three weeks by her side at home, helping her any way that I could.

My parents babysat my boys while I went to teach at a local high school, but they did NOT like getting up early. So every night I drove the boys to their house where they took their baths and went to bed. Then I'd go downstairs and chat with my Dad for an hour or two. :o)

One day, I was sitting in the teacher's lounge getting ready to call my Dad. The Lord put it on my heart to use one of my personal days. As the Spirit spoke to my heart, I picked up the phone and called my Dad. He answered on the first ring, as always.

"Hey, Dad! The Lord was dealing with me to take a day off and rest tomorrow. I'm actually going to take a day off! So I won't bring the boys over this evening. You can take Mom to dinner and have fun!"

He laughed and said, "Fantastic! A date!" Then we spoke for a little while longer....

That was the night he died.

He had a massive heart attack, but my mom was able to spend those precious last minutes with her sweetheart instead of worrying about trying to protect my children (who would have been there if I had planned to go to work).

God in his sovereignty knew that he wanted to bring my daddy home that night, so he worked out a plan that would protect my boys, give my Dad a bit more privacy with his wife as he faced a path we'll all have to take eventually, and allowed my mother to focus totally on her husband.

Lord, thank you for blessing me with your love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace! I especially appreciate how real you've been to me, especially lately, and I know that you are always with me. Please let my Dad read this letter, ok? If not, then just let him know I miss him.

Dad, if God is letting you read this, please know that I love you! I miss you, and so do Shaq and Jamil. I'm trying to be a daughter you'd be proud of, and I hope you are...even from heaven. I miss calling so that you can help me work through my struggles, grinning that lopsided smile when I do something stupid, and just calming me down when I'm stressed. You were so protective and encouraging, and I miss that most of all. Thank you for doing such a great job, Daddy. I miss you.

With love always,

your daughter

"Let the Worshippers Arise"

2009-06-20T17:26:00.003-04:00

I'm listening to this song right now.

This afternoon has been difficult, but God allowed this awesome worship song to minister to me today.

I'm healing...

I'll write more tomorrow. God bless!

wedding bells

2009-06-19T22:04:00.005-04:00

A sweet, cute, friendly couple is getting married tomorrow, and I get to provide the music. Yay!!!!

I went on-line to try and find some more love songs in sheet music form (just in case), but I don't like any of it. I already have most of the free sheet music for public domain classical songs, so I think I'll just bring some of that. If they need more music, I'll have it ready.

I was invited to go to the rehearsal dinner tonight, but I barely know the names of the bride and groom. I was also wearing jeans, and everybody else looked so beautiful and handsome! I would have felt like a dork.

I would have dressed up, but I've never played for a wedding before...I figured it was just "practice." Now I know; I'll dress up, even for the rehearsal if I'm asked to provide music for future weddings.

Pray please; I don't want to screw up tomorrow. I've been practicing all week - - I want to play perfectly.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Blessing who????

2009-06-19T12:45:00.003-04:00

I called the hospital's billing department today to make sure I'm not over-paying on anything. (Lord knows my budget is extremely tight. I don't have money to waste.) As of today, I've paid off 9 of 11 medical accounts due to my surgery in January. I only have two more, one of which is a whopping $1100 for the hospital stay. They'll be paid off soon (in Jesus' name). ;o)

Anyway, I had a nice little chit chat with the guy on the other end of the phone. With a giggle, I said, "Okay, buddy, let me have it. Give me a run down so I can figure out who gets what today." He laughed, and that was the beginning of a really cool conversation.

He turned out to be my age, and we chatted for a while about his family (mom and sisters are dealing with cancer...please say a quick prayer for them). He couldn't believe how positive my attitude was, especially since I recently had a cancer scare myself. I told him, "You know, I'm blessed to be on the phone with you right now. Things for me could have been much worse."

He must go to a pentecostal church cuz when I gave him my testimony, he started whoopin' and hollerin'! It was so cute! I must admit, though, I did feel an anointing as I spoke life into his family situation.

Today was the first time that a bill collector ever thanked me for blessing him.

Cool, huh?

Lord, thank you for allowing healing for this man who is already in your kingdom. Thank you for using me to bless him today! I don't know that man and will probably never speak to him again, but it was fantastic talking about Your goodness and blessing in my life! Thank you for his appreciation of me, too. It's nice to make someone smile. Father, I pray that you will continue to use us for your will, in whatever way you see fit. I pray for him and his family as they battle cancer and its repercussions. Bless them, Lord, give them peace and joy, and heal them completely - - - if it's your will. In Jesus' name, amen.

prayer request

2009-06-18T12:49:00.003-04:00

Please pray for my mom's friend, Ola. She has cancer that has left her tiny...just skin and bones. She is 86 years old and has confided to mom that she is ready to "go home" (heaven).

The cancer is spreading quickly and is inoperable. I guess I'm asking that you pray God's will be done, even if that means she goes to heaven soon.

Lord, please touch Ola's body. Make her more comfortable than she is now. Help her to rest and sleep. Father, I pray that you bless her, even if that means you bring her home to you soon. In Jesus' name, amen.

nice switch

2009-06-16T21:02:00.003-04:00

Tonight I went to a women's Bible study that wasn't a Bible study at all.

Once per month, we will forego our usual Bible study so that we can take time to split up in pairs and visit the sick and shut-in. My group had three since we had an odd number of women show up this evening, but that was still lovely!

One woman simply needed a bit of "girl talk." Her husband broke his hip, and she's alone for the time being. Sadly, we couldn't see one woman because she took a turn for the worse and ended up in ICU; they only allowed family members (and probably clergy). The nurse was lovely, though, and agreed to take our card back to Jennifer. :o)

When all of the teams were finished, we met at Jan's house to pray together.

What a humbling experience!

Several people told me that I looked beautiful because I was "glowing." Apparently, my joy is oozing onto my face. Yay! I'm horrible at being phony, so I don't even try. But that means people can see when I'm hurting or sad. That's why it's so lovely to hear that folks can see my happiness and peace.

Lord, thank you for blessing me with a happy, healthy, vibrant family who loves one another so completely! Thank you for allowing us to have everything we need: food, water, shelter, clothing, etc. I feel blessed and loved by You tonight! Please continue to help others to see my joy (not sadness or pain) from now on. I would much rather be a blessing to Your people! In Jesus' name, amen.

My professor rocks!

2009-06-15T20:57:00.002-04:00

She knew we had a ton of work to do (all of which is due next Wednesday), so she chose not to lecture tonight.

She gave us the night off! WOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!

I stayed in the computer lab with my group so that we could finish our project. Now it's done!

Tomorrow I will exercise (my daily 8 miles), cut the grass, get cleaned up, write my paper that's due Friday, cook supper, and then go to Bible study. It will be a full (but totally enjoyable) day.

I will try to take pictures. I keep forgetting to take the camera with me!

Have a fantastic evening!

Short-N-Spunky

Remember me?

peace

another update

Getting ready for Christmas!

** update on my life **

:o(

no more cookies

update on mom

update on mom

God's Favorite

Happy Saturday everbody!

very tired, but happy

update

PRAYER REQUEST

little scare on Halloween

what to do, what to do...

GOD IS GOOD!!!!

October 24th already????

ex-hubby

teacher from hell

a bit of venting

Oh yeah!!!!

Ugh...

a little worship here, a little prayer there...

My first time!!! :P

Happy Sunday!

What a bum!

**sniffle** ***cough*** ***aaahhCHOOO!!!!!**

nice trip...except for a bug

good day

going, going, gone...

Crazy week!

incredible afternoon

Ron Clark

perplexed

v-e-r-y long day

I hate headaches!

difficult day

Owwwww....

Who's his teacher?

women's ministry

Whew!!!!

some pics!!!

unexpected interruption

catching up

Why am I not in the bed?!?!?!

I can lead you to Jesus, but I can't get put shoes on...

recommended song

Tanna and Sharon

poor pastor

WOO HOO!!!!

YAY!!!!!

Hearing from God

in awe of God

hectic week

What is wrong with these people?????

Whew! What a relief!!!!!

church

If you died tonight, where would you go to spend eternity?

getting ready for something B-I-G!

**oops!**

in the way

a little excitement

prayer warrior women

Excited!!!!

oooops!

moments of reflection

God's goodness is amazing!

The sermon tonight was right on time!

peaceful

TGIF!

trip to the store

**yawn**

Kids' Night at church

Happy 4th!

Thank you, Lord!

Lina's coming!!!!

mom

Ewwww!!!!

update on my life

sniffle cough *aaahhCHOOO!!!!!

oops!

yawn

prayer request