The Ninth Inning

School is out--finished teaching about two weeks ago and the blessed reprieve called summer is once again upon us. If I could have seen ahead of time everything that transpired during May and June, I would've locked myself in my room and hid the key. Thankfully the Lord didn't reveal it to me and instead He has been/is teaching me to rely on His grace day by day. Year 9: My best year as far as teaching goes, my worst as far as health goes. This is the year that I can finally say that I love teaching, and the Lord gave me joy in the midst of being sick for a good portion of the school year. The Lord gave me the grace to teach 100 kids playing on 10 different instruments who were a part of 6 different ensembles. Stressful, but I did enjoy most parts of it.

It is also the year I say goodbye to teaching in a Christian school. The particular school where I teach is struggling to make ends meet and my position is one of the casualties. Why a school would decide to cut a teacher who is running a successful program is beyond me, but it is not beyond the Lord. He is the one who allows things to take place and I must trust that this is His will for me right now. So....year 10 will be the 1st year that I will only be teaching in a public school and the Lord has provided me with the opportunity to increase my time there. I will continue in my current string position and in addition teach some middle school band. This whole situation sure has been both stressful, frustrating and exciting. But when all is said and done, it makes me turn to Him whole has the whole world in His hands. Who am I to question His ways?

I was thinking about it one night--over the time that I have been teaching, I have worked with over 1000 kids. It is wild to think about--both amazing and scary. And that is only in nine years. If the Lord keeps me teaching for quite a bit longer......it really puts into perspective the need for me to be a good witness in the workplace.

Some days....

I wish I could complain. Today is one of them. But what good would it do? Probably not much. And besides, it is all in the Lord's hands, and who am I to complain about the circumstances He has me in right now?

Trusting Him

This has surely been one crazy week on my end of the computer. Every night I have had something to do, and by the time I hit Wednesday I did not think I was going to make it through the end of the week. I was dreading yesterday and today because they were both such busy days. Oh, me of little faith. In my head I know that He will provide for all of my needs, but in my heart I don't always follow through and let the head knowledge become heart knowledge.

Wednesday night I felt that the Lord was telling me to go to prayer meeting. I couldn't not obey and was so blessed by the meeting. Yes, I was extremely tired the next day as I greeted my kids in the "wee hours" of the morning, but I had a peace that I hadn't felt in awhile. He not only sustained me through a tiring day yesterday, but also gave me the grace to make it through a 12 hour day at school today. Not only survive, but thrive and be blessed by the evening's activities. For that I am very thankful....and humbled by my own lack of faith. It seems that years after coming to know the Lord as my Saviour trusting Him should be easier. How sad that I still struggle so much with this! But at the same time, the fact that He is testing me in the area means that He is not through with me, so praise the Lord!

Three Things

Yesterday the Lord sent three things to encourage me. It was a huge blessing as I have been rather discouraged lately.

• After my rehearsal one of my kids gave me a large bouquet of very fragrant daffodils. It was great because they kept the classroom smelling great on a very warm day.
• Earlier this year the kids earned bracelets after performing in their first concert. One of my kids asked my why mine still looked so nice and hers didn't. I told her that I didn't wear mine every day and perhaps that was the reason. To which she said, "Oh I wear mine every day."
• At lunch one of the other teachers told me that the previous day one of my former students who is now in 10th grade was looking for me after school. It turns out that she needed to interview a person for a class and she wanted to interview me because she was interested in becoming a teacher! I was told she was rather disappointed that she couldn't find me. I am amazed to think that five years after I was her teacher she wanted to come back and interview me.
  

Thankful

I am thankful that the Lord never leaves or forsakes us and that in the midst of a trial He can give us the grace to persevere. His love is steadfast no matter how I waver and step off of the straight and narrow path. Thankfully His saving grace is not dependent on my actions and I can not be plucked from His hand. In a world full of constant responsibilities and things that are dependent on my action (or inaction), it is good to remember that I don't earn His favor and that it is freely given to all who seek His face and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Not Much to Say....

Since I don't have much to say this evening, I'll share a picture from my trip to West Virginia this summer.

Who Let the Dog Out?

Third week of back to school: the busiest one yet. But thankfully the Lord kept me going without burning out. I can't even begin to express my appreciation of that! Thursday ended up being a 7-8:30 workday split between the two schools. Not only was I able to get a ton done, but I was still smiling at the end of the day. Knowing me, myself and I, that is something only the Lord can accomplish.

Monday morning I opened the door to the staff room and found two adults and a dog. While I was trying to get my jaw up off of the floor, I apparently never thought to close the door and the dog got out. I should mention that this was taking place as kids were coming in for the day. So the dog took off into the school while various staff members chased it. I, on the other hand, tried to pick up the crumbled pieces of my brain and went back to my room, only to be confronted with numerous 4th graders and parent phone calls.

Found out later that the dog was from the surrounding neighborhood and had followed a kid into school that morning. Upon close examination, the dog appeared to be part pit bull. I'm guessing he was safely returned to his owner. Fun times.

My other fun story so far this year took place at my other school. I was "lecturing" the band kids about being good role models for the younger band kids when one 7th grader got up, rolled on the floor, and then struck a pose. It was priceless!