I am awestruck on how well God has protected me. Easter weekend, I and a friend went back down to South Dakota to enjoy the peace that can be found in a house in the middle of nowhere. On our way it began to snow. It was not that much snow as we drove through it, I remember it because we were talking about the fact that it was snow like in Oregon. You in Oregon know what I mean, big, wet flakes swirling and floating down. North Dakota mostly has the very dry powdery snow. After a five minute discussion and about an eight minute drive in the snow, the snow was forgotten. On our way back four days later it was dry with no sign of snow.
The next night, I was listening to the news and those fat snowflakes did a lot of damage. We were driving through the front of the storm. It snowed for about eight minutes and the snow got so heavy that it took out 12,000 power lines. Eighteen days later and there are still 600 miles of power lines to be fixed and about 500 houses still without power. This happened about a four hour drive from Mandaree. What amazes me is that if we had been about 2 or 3 minutes slower we would have been stuck in a blizzard and stranded in snow. Instead we barely even saw the flakes. God has always been good to me. He just keeps underlining it for in the news and other avenues.
Talking about God always being good, I have 22 more school days left. I cannot believe that I have made it. I am almost finished from my first and I hope most difficult teaching year. I have had some joys and lots of trials and heartaches. But God did as promised and saw me through the whole thing. Now I face kids that are as excited as I am to be out of school so they are bouncing off the walls (sometimes literally). The weather it beautiful. It is sunny and in the seventies with a nice breeze though the wind can be very strong here. In fact, last week the wind was blowing so hard it made the East Wind at the Gorge look and feel like a light breeze. We are suppose to be getting a rain and thunder storms this weekend.
Spring is very different here. There are no flowering trees bursting with color or flowers like daffodils and crocus. Just green grass. The trees have not even began to leaf out yet. Very different than I am use to. But I am not complaining, the snow is gone and I have almost thawed out. I just wish the school would turn off the boiler so my heater would stop radiating heat. I have an upstairs room with large, east facing windows. Then I now have sixteen students to help generate more heat. I come into my classroom at 7:30 am and it is 75+ degrees. I throw open the windows (I have two that can be opened) and turn on the fan and air conditioner that does not work as well as it should. SO I have a fan and air conditioner on and windows open and a heater running. We could probably cut utilities in our budget a lot if they would just turn off the boiler. I do not know who is cold but I do know no one on the second floor is.
I have put several applications into schools in Oregon. Including one that would be a dream job for me on the Coast by Astoria and another in Coos Bay. I think I would really love to settle in one of those towns and jobs. Living on the Coast has been my dream since I first saw the ocean when I was thirteen. But I am surrendered to God and He has my best in mind. So I will accept what His plans are for my future. I do reserve the right to make requests and I have those in. I hope to know whether I go or stay soon. The not knowing drives me crazy. I have packed a few things I am not using in faith that I will be moving home. It is hard to not go over board and have everything in boxes and eating on paper plates because everything is packed and ready to move home. If I don't move, I will be home to visit this summer. I have a 30 year high school reunion to go to and my grandson turns TWO if you can believe it.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
April is almost May
I have six more weeks of school. I am in the home stretch. I only made it through with God. Boy there were some tough times. It will take me some time to figure out all I have learned in this year. I am thankful for the experience but I will be more thankful that when it is over.
I have been putting application in from Oregon teaching jobs and have had no luck so far. I ham putting in an application that I am really hopeful I get. I think it may be my dream job. It is located in Warrenton Oregon. Right next to Astoria. I would be living at the coast as well as teaching in Oregon. It fits all the things I have wanted. Elementary classroom, on the coast (close to my favorite area of Cannon Beach), in Oregon, close to my family, and I already found a church I think I would really like. I am praying that God gives me a job in Oregon but I am also surrendered completely to God.
I was listening on line to this pastor in a Calvary church in Warrenton and he was talking about Psalms 20 and 21. Psalms 20 was a song written by David that was sung before battle and Psalms 21 was sung after battle. In Psalms 20 they sing and rejoice for victory before the battle even starts. Giving all glory to God. I am singing and rejoicing in victory that I will be moving home soon. I have feeling that I am coming home but if I don't come home this year than I know God has a plan and I will be well cared for. I am pretty positive and hopeful that God is going to bring me home this year. I can only leave it in God's hands knowing He can see the whole picture where I can only see a corner. He knows what is in my heart and what is best for me.
Keep me in your prayers. The teachers here say that classroom management gets more difficult the closer we get to the end of the year. Last week was only four days but they were four real tough days. All the expectations and behaviors I established throughout the year was out the window. I am trying to have keep a tight reign but it is getting hard and I am worn out. Only six more weeks. With God I can do six more weeks. I only hope that I have been able to teach these kids something. I don't feel that I have but maybe there is a little glimmer somewhere. I also have had three new students in the last month. They have open enrollment in North Dakota so when the kids get into trouble or don't like the school they are in, they move to another school. It is crazy having new students when the year is almost over. They all seem to be seventh graders too. There is a rumor that more are coming. I hope not I have more than I can handle now.
The snow is gone and the wind is up and it is dry and brown and a major fire hazard. I am looking for rain. Man I miss the rain. That beautiful music tapping on the windows and roofs. A little thunder, a little lightening the soft whisper of raindrops on the grass. The moisture, I feel like a wrinkled raisin. Oh for a good rainstorm.
I have been putting application in from Oregon teaching jobs and have had no luck so far. I ham putting in an application that I am really hopeful I get. I think it may be my dream job. It is located in Warrenton Oregon. Right next to Astoria. I would be living at the coast as well as teaching in Oregon. It fits all the things I have wanted. Elementary classroom, on the coast (close to my favorite area of Cannon Beach), in Oregon, close to my family, and I already found a church I think I would really like. I am praying that God gives me a job in Oregon but I am also surrendered completely to God.
I was listening on line to this pastor in a Calvary church in Warrenton and he was talking about Psalms 20 and 21. Psalms 20 was a song written by David that was sung before battle and Psalms 21 was sung after battle. In Psalms 20 they sing and rejoice for victory before the battle even starts. Giving all glory to God. I am singing and rejoicing in victory that I will be moving home soon. I have feeling that I am coming home but if I don't come home this year than I know God has a plan and I will be well cared for. I am pretty positive and hopeful that God is going to bring me home this year. I can only leave it in God's hands knowing He can see the whole picture where I can only see a corner. He knows what is in my heart and what is best for me.
Keep me in your prayers. The teachers here say that classroom management gets more difficult the closer we get to the end of the year. Last week was only four days but they were four real tough days. All the expectations and behaviors I established throughout the year was out the window. I am trying to have keep a tight reign but it is getting hard and I am worn out. Only six more weeks. With God I can do six more weeks. I only hope that I have been able to teach these kids something. I don't feel that I have but maybe there is a little glimmer somewhere. I also have had three new students in the last month. They have open enrollment in North Dakota so when the kids get into trouble or don't like the school they are in, they move to another school. It is crazy having new students when the year is almost over. They all seem to be seventh graders too. There is a rumor that more are coming. I hope not I have more than I can handle now.
The snow is gone and the wind is up and it is dry and brown and a major fire hazard. I am looking for rain. Man I miss the rain. That beautiful music tapping on the windows and roofs. A little thunder, a little lightening the soft whisper of raindrops on the grass. The moisture, I feel like a wrinkled raisin. Oh for a good rainstorm.
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