Life

I can not believe that October is half over. I want the world to stop spinning so I can get off. I feel like I am constantly on the go. I hope this feeling eases up when I am done with school.

I did just return from New Orleans with Angie. We were there for her to speak at a National Confrerence (go Angie!!). It was GREAT fun. We had good times, good food, and many laughs along the way. I even survived driving across Lake Ponchatrain with NO WARNING whatsoever that it was coming. All of a sudden you were driving across the water about 5 feet above it and on and on it went. At least this was not the 24 mile bridge, just the 4 mile one. Still, it was nervewracking for someone who doesn't like going across water.

The food and sights were amazing. I encourage anyone who has the chance to go to New Orleans. The city is still recovering, but many areas are back and they want visitors.

Kabal24 Book Review

Amazing. Simply put that is the best way to describe the book Kabul24. I remember in the late summer and fall of 2001, amidst the devastation of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, hearing of the kidnapping and imprisonment of the 2 American aid workers in Afghanistan. What I did not remember from this time was that there were 22 other people being held at the same time.

The book opens as the aid workers for Shelter Now International of SNI are working in Afghanistan. Reading about what these people do, and the love they have for the Afghan people really touched my heart and showed such a true image of the fulfillment of the Great Commission. These people were not paid exorbitant salaries, nor did they live in nice homes. They were simply there because of their love for the people and the answering of God's call to go.

The story of their kidnapping amidst the amazing miracles that God performed to get most of the team and their families out of harms way is breathtaking and page turning. Following the story of the leader of SNI, George, the reader is taken on a journey of despair but also of hope that God would come to their rescue in HIS timing.

As you read, you constantly see the hand of God moving and miracles being performed to keep the team of 8 and their 16 Afghan workers safe. At the end of the book, their is a list of all of the miracles that occured to make this story happen. As I finished the book, I was amazed that these people still have a desire for the Afghan people. It goes to show that the call of God is strong and forgiveness is even stronger. I recommend this book to anyone who questions whether or not God still performs miracles today, because these 24 people are living proof of it.

Happy Fall

I can not believe that September is almost over. What a month it has been. Started the month sick as a dog with my annual back to school sinus infection. What a way to spend Labor Day. But, I did manage some fun. My sister, Angie was home and we went furniture shopping for my den. I had exactly in my head what I wanted. Comfy, cushy, and RED. Well I found it for a great deal and have been enjoying my "reading couch" for several weeks.

While the calendar may say Fall, its still summer here in GA. My air conditioning went out last week. The repair man came and told me we would have to wait until the next day for the unit to cool off. So, Barney and I packed up and headed to mom and dads for the night. He loved the field trip. The next day the repair man came in the midst of a monsoon. I am talking Biblical type rains here. But he got it working. As he worked I watched the house across the street from me flood. That is how bad the rain was. And the rain continued. We have had almost 11 INCHES of rain this month and its raining right now. I feel like I should be growing webbed feet or at least live in Seattle.

School at TSA is going well. I love our new headmaster. It is like working in a different place and God is doing some awesome things in our midst. This week will be crazy cause its homecoming, but we will survive.

Grad school is ok. I am actually beginning to like my reading class. The teacher is really neat. My first observation is Monday, so please pray for that and pray that I find motivation to work on my portfolio.

Randomness

If you know me well, you know that I can sometimes be quite random. Tonight is one of those nights. It might have to do with the fact that there is so much going on in my brain, or the cold medicine I am taking thanks to the annual back to school sinus infection.

My mortgage company ceased operating in August. Now, how did I find this out? Not through a friendly letter or e-mail, I was LOCKED OUT of the online payment system. So after spending a total of 2 hours over three days of trying to get through, this afternoon I am told that the company was sold to Bank of America and here is the phone number. Thankfully, I got a very helpful (what a suprise) person on the phone who walked me through the whole process of getting a new online account set up. Of course, in the mail today was a letter from BOA telling me what had happened. It would have been nice to know about this say three weeks ago!!!!

School is going well. My history kids are so interactive in class and we are having a good time. They seem to love class and are learning alot. The fun is beginning though because my supervising teacher for my masters will start visiting soon. Cue sarcasm They have been threatened within an inch of their lives to be on their best behavior. We will PARTY in December when its all done!!!!!! I have PROMISED them that.

Grad school is a pain in my butt. I literally hate the thought of going to class. Only GCSU would do this. We are getting a new professor after Labor Day so for the first three weeks, we have had a sub. What craziness. But December is coming....

First week of School

I AM TIRED!!!

Somehow, I suspect its because I love it so much, but I forget every summer how tiring teaching is until school starts. I am WORN out. I know it will get better because it will calm down now that we are getting in the groove of things.

The first day was great. The kids looked so awesome in their uniforms. They even like them:) Mr. Collins, our new headmaster, challenged the kids to remember two words, Respect and Responsibility. He said that if they remembered those two words and lived by them, we would have a great year. We then headed off to our classes for 10 minutes each. Thursday brought the first "real" day of school. For the most part, it was smooth. My classes are going ok. I love my history kids. They are so much fun and engaging. I think we are going to have a great year together as we explore GA and Ancient Civilizations.

Today was another day of getting in the groove. Kids complaining about homework. Sounds like a normal weekend. I am spending the weekend recharging the batteries, cleaning house, and relaxing.

Tax Free Shopping

I have to question the intelligence of the Georgia Legislature. Of course, them being politicians, they most likely did not have much intelligence going in and being under the "gold dome" has sucked what sense they had left out.

Yesterday was the start of Georgia's annual "tax free" shopping for back to school. Under the plan, electronics (computers, etc), clothes (up to 100.o0 per item) and school supplies are tax free. Now, mom and I went shopping today and it seemed to us where we were that retailers had marked prices UP to compensate for losing the sales tax. I can understand that in today's economy. I don't necessarily agree with it, but being a capitalistic free market society, until Obama and the Democrats have their way, I see their point. Stores are all about making money. This brings me back to the lack of brilliance of Georgia legislators.

The state of Georgia is in the biggest budget crisis it has ever been in since at least the Great Depression. So, in an effort to "save" money, the governor cut school funding and furloughed teachers for three days. He did this LAST TUESDAY!!! Most school systems were forced to take the days during pre-planning so teachers do not get all the time that they deserve to plan. They were not even allowed in the buildings. Now, this does not effect me because I teach at a private school, but I have lots of friends who are public school teachers.

My question to the legislature is this: Why have you not taken pay cuts? Why has the governor and other top officials not been furloughed. What about the Board of Regents, the head football coaches at State Universities that play football. Why have these people not had to take a pay cut. I realize that they feel they are helping families with the savings on sales tax. But, when stores mark up the prices to mark them down, there is no real savings. Truth be told, the only people we are hurting are the children of the state of Georgia. No wonder we are 49th out of 50 in education. The lawmakers in this state need to remember that Teachers are a powerful voting bloc. We got rid of one governor who screwed up education. This one has a term limit but we sure can vote out the legislature.

Ok, that is my rant against the government for today. Tomorrow mom and I are going to the Office Depot Teacher Appreciation Day (always good for free stuff) and to relax before pre-planning starts. Only a few more days of summer left:(

Back to School

Well, Summer is almost over. School starts 2 weeks from today!! Of course, I have been working some in my room for the past several weeks to get ready.

This year seems to be shaping up to be interesting to say the least. We have lots of new families and students. As well as a new headmaster, administrators, and teachers. That is exciting. I am praying that our current students welcome the new students with open arms and are as accepting of them as they have been of new students in the past.

What I am teaching is interesting too. Right now, I know I am doing Study Skills and a section of 8th grade Georgia History/Ancient Civilizations. Late last week I was asked to consider doing a section of 5th grade history if needed. Of course I said yes. Now, I don't know anything about 5th graders except that it is between 4th and 6th, but I am sure that will change if needed. I hope I find out if I am teaching it though before pre planning starts. I would like a little time to prepare.

I am excited and can't wait to see what God has in store for TSA this year. I think its going to be a GREAT year!!