A Great Commute

One thing I enjoyed, when I was driving to the amusement park daily, was the commute. I drive by two of my favorite restaurants, my favorite butcher, and "cheap" gas on the Indian Reservation.

The boys' child care center is on the way.

I go by a truck stop, a winery, and a cheese shop. I also pass the junk store, a complex full of antiques and discarded treasures.

It isn't a short drive, but it is an enjoyable commute.

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Waiting for the Harvest When Spring Wont't Come

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 135 helpful votes

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.



In this part of the country, we are very hungry for Spring to arrive. I suppose everyone is looking forward to Spring, but winter's grip seems especially fierce here. We are currently under a snowstorm with bitter cold and more...ice and snow.

The large plastic bin that holds our hats and mittens has been sitting in the entry way since October. I want to put it away.

One of our lambs died in the cold this week. She was fragile and the mama ewe avoided nursing her.

The calendar says that Spring should be here. It's March 23rd, for goodness sake.

I'm eager to plant snow peas, spinach, and lettuce seeds.

But God is trying to teach me *more* about slowing down and being patient. I'm sure of it.

It took ten long months to land my dream job. He saw us through that long *winter* in amazing ways- gift cards that appeared in the mail just when I needed groceries, an unexpected refund from overpayment of property taxes...

I dreamt this week that I hit someone while driving on the road past a group of pedestrians. I had slowed down, but not enough. I woke up with the nagging feeling that "I should have slowed down more. Or just stopped."

I wonder what He would want me to do now, during these last weeks of a long, cold, snowy winter? In what ways can I be more patient?

"You've Arrived at Your Destination"

I had to take back roads to work this week so I used my phone's GPS. Upon arriving at my campus, Mrs. Maps announced, "you have arrived at your destination."

It's hard to miss our college campus; I recognize it when I arrive there.

But with respect to my new job I'm in such a state of disbelief that I feel the need to pinch myself.

I've arrived. I'm home.

It was a long journey, ten months in fact.

There were pit stops and bad weather along the way.

Now it's time to step put and stretch a little.

I've arrived!

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Nanny McPhee and Me

This week was Spring Break. I didn't have to check my college email, correct papers, or teach any classes.

Still, it wasn't much of a vacation.

I spent Monday and Tuesday subbing at a large, suburban high school. Wednesday through Friday I temped for an International company that fabricates tractors and implements. Their products are highly specialized: grape pickers, corn heads, onion planters, etc.

In this game of subbing and temping, I liken myself to the character of Nanny McPhee.

1. I get a lot of strange looks from students and other employees. Is there a wart on my chin?

2. It's fun to "work my magic." People who have been buried under piles of work are thrilled when I come in and whip things into shape. It's nice to hear them exclaim, "you're doing an amazing job!"

3. The flip side of coin #2 is that I see enormous piles of clutter. I inherit the consequences of other's bad habits. Yesterday I spent six solid hours doing data entry to close open work orders for the manufacturing side of the tractor company. My hands burned and then went numb.

4. Like McPhee, I do like to do things my way. I need to listen to music or Bible lessons while working long hours on the computer, folding drawings or placing stickers 1,000's of times in a row. Otherwise, it's unbearable. In the classroom, I NEED to work with a textbook. I must have access to a computer and a board to write on. Those are my standards and if I can't have it my way, I will have to leave. Simple. (OK, maybe if I were teaching in a very poor district I might bend some).

5. Students despise me at first. They roll their eyes. They moan. They complain loudly. I insist that they put away electronic devices. I make them use the dictionary. I'm tough and, at first, they hate me. It doesn't hurt my feelings.

6. Genuine concern for people works magic. Students respond positively when I ask questions that demonstrate that I care. They want to share their opinions and their fears. Fear is most often the reason for #5.

So, instead of a Spring Break tan, I have paper cuts. At home there are piles and piles of dishes and laundry. I'm exhausted and impatient with my own children. Ironically, perhaps, I really need to hire a nanny to swoop in and fix things up here!

Familiar Faces

There's something about human nature, at least my nature, that finds comfort in a familiar face.

I enjoy seeing former students at the store or when we go out to eat (photo). I love to see the faces of my family members as I look through old photo albums.

Two Sundays ago we took nursery duty at church. I missed seeing all of the faces in the congregation, although I sure did enjoy playing with the wee ones.

This Sunday morning, it seemed "extra sweet" to look around at the faces of the people I love. Some of the newer faces in church are even becoming more familiar.

Why are we wired this way?

Today in the teacher's lounge a group was discussing where to go and how much to pay for a face lift. I was surprised that so many educators had the means for, and the interest in cosmetic surgery.

In thinking about the familiar faces and the people I love, I wouldn't want them to change in that way.

I'm so grateful to the folks who come and share life with us week after week, often sitting in the same pew.

Hymn
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in his wonderful face,
and the things of this world will grow strangely dim,
in the light of his beauty and grace.'

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Stepping Out Into Loooooong Hallways

I started the week with a blister on my heel. On Saturday morning the first two lambs of the season were born. I rushed to put on my barn boots without stopping to put on thick socks and then made several trips between the house and the back barn to fetch (or look for) towels, scissors, iodine, and liquid vitamins. By mid morning I could barely walk.

Then I "landed" in a very large school district with acres of buildings connected by window-lined hallways and bridges. It's part of each secretary's job, in fact, to walk new subs from the parking lot to the office. I imagine they've lost a few en route.

I'm definitely working outside of my comfort zone. Every student at this district is assigned a laptop. As I lecture, I look out at students hidden behind monitors. I've never taught Spanish to the back of 145 computers before.

Yesterday I was pulled out of my free period to sub for BIOLOGY for the duration of a "block." I needed to run from room 127 to room 1115. I was terrified that I might not find my way back to my homeroom again.

The Biology teacher in room 1115 had life-sized 3D models of the male and female reproductive systems mounted on the wall directly across from her desk. I felt embarrassed, quite frankly, having to face these graphics for an hour and twenty minutes.

Behind me were several posters. I learned, from one, that the Portuguese Man-o-war is not one, but four animals living as a unit. Amazing!

The Portuguese Man-O-War.

The Biology textbooks today looks very different from those of my own high school career. They are filled with pictures take by high-powered electron microscopes and high-tech cameras. Emphasis is on cellular activity, since we can now "see inside" our own cells.

Later in the day I was escorted to the Central Administration section of "the city." I interviewed for a position that would last several months, even though, I'm told, by "the grapevine," that I am the teacher of "last resort." (The only one they could find that can teach Spanish.)

Perhaps, I really am the only long-term sub they can find... The other candidates are lost in endless the maze of pods, nursing their sore feet.

(Thank YOU Mr. WestBerryWorking Dad for yesterday's foot rub. And to my children, who let me go to sleep very, very early at night).

A challenge posted by SoulPancake...list the things that take you "back to school."

The Deer's Tail

I'm back in the subbing business for the time being.

Today I subbed for a 7th and 8th grade Social Studies teacher. He took the day off to pick up his wife and new baby from the hospital! He keeps this deer tail in his top desk drawer.

So its not just the children who can throw a sub off her game. I was repulsed every time I opened the drawer today to find scissors, tape, or paper clips.

A lunch lady had a heart attack and died this morning after leaving work to pick up her granddaughter. So sad.

Yesterday a buss full of children spotted a dead body by the road during their morning trip to school.

Teacher sure do have their hands full these days.

I was scheduled to interview in two days for a long-term sub position for a Spanish teacher who was planning to go out on maternity leave.

Baby arrived today and now I'm subbing tomorrow morning "sight unseen." Paperwork to follow.

Even though I don't believe in good luck charms like rabbits' feet or 4 leaf clovers, I'm amused by the thought that the deer's tail might just bring a little good fortune my way.

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