The few, the proud, the tenacious...

In all of the whoopla swirling about awaiting "Miss Aubrey's" arrival, a very, very significant milestone was reached by my firstborn. And with apologies, I want to honor him for his determination, perseverance, and sacrifice in "keepin' on, keepin' on." My son, Chris, completed his last class in college two weeks ago, and now has his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry, from North Carolina State University, after a what seemed an eternity.

There won't be a processional, or the usual Pomp and Circumstance that accompanies graduations normally. He passed the class and is now finished. To the uninformed observer, this event is everyday and mundane, but for this young man, it has been a continuing life lesson in 'focus on a thing and see it through' - one in many through out his young life. And, I might add, just the way he wants it...no celebration - let's just move on and really start living.

Chris has always - ALWAYS - wanted to be in law enforcement. A policeman, as a little guy, and then a career Marine, as he grew up. Maturing often softens or lessens those lofty aspirations, but in Chris' case, it brought them more in focus. He began to hone in on exactly what that would look like on him. My ever "outdoorsman" realized at some point that he could mesh the two - law enforcement and outdoorsman - and have just the right career. His degree in Forestry, his experience in the Marine Corps, his experience with weapons, and his love of all things nature, will (prayerfully) come together in a career that he has applied for with the State Trooper Department of the state of Alaska, Forestry Division. Yes, he will be moving there shortly to join his sweet Jessica, written about in an earlier blog, who left a couple of weeks ago to take a teaching job in Anchorage, AK.

Life has dealt him some unexpected challenges, but he has, in his steel-jawed manner, pressed on through each one with 'grit' that I'm sure was from his Mimi (who was called "Sarge" out of loving respect for her pluck). Unrealized expectations turned into different opportunities and nerves of steel were forged and tempered, life always asking for more than was anticipated. I have a remarkable son, and now college graduate.

Son, I am so very proud of you. God made a man of valor, character, determination, with a very sensitive heart and gave you the name "Christ-bearer." As He has led you, so your future is in His careful Hands. Just remember Who you belong to...

One week down...35 to go...

I made it through the first week of school relatively intact. Very tired, though. I always forget how exhausting those first days are. How much walking I do (shouldn't I be skinnier???), how much I sweat in car line (again, skinnier???) which by the way has gone relatively smooth for a first week, and how little time I have to eat because of time crunch (Ok, this is so unfair...) certainly makes this girl a tired puppy! But, as mentioned, I survived.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I have a homeroom for the first time this year, and it is going very well in spite of my anxiousness. Our cafeteria administrator even commented how well I was doing with my lunch orders! You have to know her to know how big that is to me...

I get to share a devotion each morning and that has been very special to me. This time(seventh grade), in most of their lives, is a formation time of morals and character traits that will serve them for a lifetime. I want to be someone who will "light the way" and offer them something to hold on to in such uncertain times. May it be so...

I also shared here that I had the pleasure last year to have four wonderful AP students with whom I shared the book "The Shack" by W. Paul Young. This year I have one young man who is actually looking forward to the book as I mentioned it in his class of Art I last year and he was intrigued. We began reading it this week and his interest is even more than before. He is going to be a gift to me this year. As a young artist, I was captivated by animation. Even now I envy anyone who has had the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Disney animation studios (I actually have a friend who has done it and she said it was the best! And I still speak to her...grrrr). My student is planning on creating a character and developing his own animation short. And from what I see here at the beginning, I think it will be good.

My other students, a mix of elementary and middle school artists, have begun their respective beginning projects and are getting a feel for each new level in which they find themselves. Drop/Add is for two more weeks, so my rosters in Middle School Art are still in flux. I am glad they had me an entire week (before I take off for Aubreyland ;o) so they can decide whether to stay or not. I am an acquired taste...

So, this is the beginning of a new week, new lessons, new projects to conquer, and new anticipations about when "Miss A." will arrive! By the way, transportation issues have been solved!! I can now get to my daughter when she calls and not leave my poor husband carless! Kind friends who have a spare car have turned it over to us for the "Great Escape"! Bless you, friends and thank you, Lord, for providing for our every need - just in time - Yours, not mine.

Perfectionists...

I am a perfectionist...OCD (self diagnosed ;o) about things I expect of myself. Thankfully, God has enabled me to be (or protected me from being otherwise) merciful to those around me. The flaw is truly my own alone. We won't dwell on where that has taken me but give praise to God for the fact that I am a relatively normal person (debatable by some). One does what one must do.

Since I am not one to dwell on past mistakes and reasons for same, it has not become a need to determine exactly what brought this about in my life. But as we serve a remarkable God Who uses all things in our lives to good (and brings things to light), it has come to my attention recently in a study I am doing on my own of the book of Esther written by Beth Moore, there IS indeed a reason and she spelled it out in thoughts even this simple mind can grasp. Please bear with me as I share what she wrote. I can only wish that these wonderful thoughts were my own, but they are not so I give credit where credit is due.

"Extraordinary things happen around us continually. We just don't recognize them. The thought occurs to me afresh that great lives don't always seem great while we're living them. They may seem embarrassingly regular. Seeking to be extraordinary isn't the answer because great lives are never achieved by making greatness the goal..."

"If your identity is wrapped up in the magnificent things you're destined to achieve - as a great writer, musician, scientist, politician, chef - the thought that you might produce something mediocre can be devastating." Perfectionists always lose. Couldn't the craving to do something great keep us from doing something good?"

"Spending ourselves for something infinitely greater still fans our parched souls with the God-given need to matter, but relieves us of the relentless pain of being the "IT" person at the center of it. To live for the greatness of God is to live the great life." - Beth Moore

I have the wonderful opportunity to spend myself for something infinitely greater as a teacher. I matter to about 375 kids every day. What a privilege! May I ever be mindful of the gift God has given me where He has placed me.

Beth writes, "Every one of us who embraces the glory of God as our purpose will end up doing great things precisely because we do God-things. His Holy Hand resting on the least act renders the ordinary extraordinary." Teach your children, Lord...here I am, use me.

One step at a time...

I packed my "gamma" traveling bags last night. It really messes with my mind that I will holding my offspring's offspring in my arms soon. For those of you, who are just beginning the adult thing, may I tell you from a couple of years (decades!) out that you never view yourself any different than that twentysomething that had great hopes of tackling the world and being a superhero in your own right!

That twentysomething still in her mind almost grandmother, looks at her second baby having a baby and the world goes upside down. How can this be???? It was only yesterday that she nudged me twice and out she popped! And days later that she sat joyfully in front of her dolls and taught them all they needed to know about whatever she thought they needed to know. And then days after that she began her life as a ballerina, first on the stage as a cute little blue flower and hours later on pointe with fellow dancers groomed from the Bolshoi! And then she danced one last time for the man who stole her heart and made her his bride. And now...she's having my granddaughter...who will probably be dancing "Swan Lake" next week at the Lincoln Center!!

Where do the moments go? They are beautiful threads of a glorious tapestry, woven by the Master Designer, Who's love stretches from generation to generation, ever faithful, full of mercy, drawing us ever closer to Himself, where we will forever enjoy the treasures of family. Thank you, Abba...

Countdown...

We have arrived at the point in expectant mother time, where anytime she calls on the cell phone, your heart skips a beat! "IS THIS IT????" But, no, it's just another check in. She says she's going to stop calling and just text me until THE CALL ! I am so not good at this cool as a cucumber grandmother thing! But, it is my first one...there is time for improvement.

And, oh, yes....school starts tomorrow for us all - students AND teachers! My plans are all laid out for the sub to step in at any moment so I can whisk away to Aubreyland! Of course, getting to Aubreyland might prove to be a little tricky...we only have one car and the magical land of my new granddaughter is an hour away. Hmmmm...needless to say, there is much prayer about a request for a convenient departure time for me.

But, back to school. I am, for the first time in my illustrious teaching career, a homeroom teacher. Seventh graders!! I teach all levels from fourth grade up, so I have had most of these students for several years and don't have to get to know them from scratch. What a neat grade to get 'broken in' with! I am a little concerned about all the extra details of dealing with homeroom, but I'm sure we'll make it through together. I've already apologized to their parents for whatever I'm sure to forget to send home or let them know about at some point during the year! Most all are very kind and understanding.

My youngest students will begin the year with a project on geometric quilting designs. This project is some Origami, some math working with rulers, some art creating unique designs all their own. The outcome is always beautiful and we are going one step further this year and actually making a quilt from student colored patches from each class. Big undertaking that I hope I can get support from parents to help me put together!

My Middle School and High School students will begin the year with review lessons on drawing and the elements of art. My new students are often surprised at having tests in Art of all places. But I want them to know how to draw, but also what goes into a well-designed artwork and how to plan on succeeding in their creativity.

So, here we begin, again. I love this time of new beginnings! I am a tree planter at heart and this year like those past, are a privilege that my Abba allows me, to see His Hand at work in the hearts of those students in whom He helps me sow. Let's get going....

Gamma and Geezer...

So, grandparents have this rite of passage to figure out just what the new grandchild will call you. This has been particularly frustrating because I am not really ready for "the home" yet! (Well, this is debatable to my children sometimes and we won't even ask my students!)

My husband and I have decided to make light of the situation to our daughter and son-in-law and come up with some fun monikers that may (who knows!) might actually stick someday.

The latest is in the title and we think it may be a keeper!! But, of course, you really would have to know us to REALLY appreciate it like we do.

AND, by the way, the day's dr. visit resulted in a declaration of 40 weeks but no guesses on the coming event!! Any day now....

Back to work...

School has officially started (for teachers) and I have just returned from Open House for Middle School High School students. What a night!! I can't wait for classes to start and to get to know these folks better!

And, as my life goes, here I am two days later and just getting this posted. Tonite is Elementary Open House and I will meet with some of my "itty-bitties" and their parents. My level spread is from fourth grade to twelfth grade and I jokingly describe myself as having mental whiplash throughout my days of teaching them all. But the young ones keep me going with their unabashed sense of creativity with abandon!

I am a little anxious about the school year for a couple of unexpected unknowns, but what I DO know is that my Abba will give me what I need to make it. The official them of the school year is Courage. The unofficial theme of the school year has been dubbed "Expect the unexpected!" So, stay tuned...my 'tree planting' has stepped up a bit!

Parting is such sweet sorrow...

"Parting is such sweet sorrow..." and it will begin on the next tomorrow...

What a sweet ending to an event filled summer! Our family shared lunch together at a halfway point restaurant, so that our 'soon to be delivered' daughter and her husband could join the rest of the family in a sendoff to our son's "raven beauty," who heads north to Alaska tomorrow morning. She preceeds him to the "land of the midnight sun," to begin a job at a language immersion school teaching a combination Kindergarten and First Grade class. After a valiant attempt to become employed here in the sunny South, she made contacts with former employers up north and was quickly offered a job. Their gain, our loss...but we are all trusting that God's plans for them are much greater than our sadness at our parting. Tomorrow begins the long day's night as she leaves here at 6 am and eventually arrives in Alaska at 1 am their time (5:30am next day, our time!). To say she will be missed is more than an understatement.

And, tomorrow begins my return to my school, with teacher's workdays before the kids come back next Monday. I saw a fellow teacher at church today and was asked, "Are you ready?" and I gave her my traditional answer, "Do I have a choice?" We both smile knowing the answer before we began the exchange. Now, where did I put that seed for the oaks, and elms, and maples, and willows, and pines....?? Here we go, Lord.

Time is moving quickly...

It's Friday before school starts on Monday. Yikes! Time seems to fly more quickly each year. I guess that is how growing closer to eternity works...and, getting ready for Miss Aubrey Vernon's appearance has hurried things along considerably. And that should occur any time now!

I will no sooner get to school and get started before I start my next vacation...with my new granddaughter! Yay!!!! But the getting ready is the big thing right now. Classes don't start until two Mondays hence, but teachers go back this Monday. And due to the plethera of meetings I am expected to attend, no time is available to set up my room and complete lesson plans for my time off. So, this week, while my husband is at school for Band Camp, I have been there for a while each day, setting up the room and trying to order the room to resemble the first of the year introduction that I always prepare. Room is ready, sadly, lessons are not yet. A quiet Saturday should help that and then I can await "The Call" and be ready to fly!

Here we go, Lord...another year and thankfully, more grace to make it through.

We are much blessed...

Remember the Emergency Room trip and the five stitches in the writing hand???? The following pictures are of my handsome son and his lovely lady together. Today we celebrate the goodness and mercy of the Lord...






Our son, Chris, has just finished the last of his finals and the finish line of university obeisance is in sight. He was able to word process the essay test and apparently (who's surprised?) wrote his answers out to Calculus, hurt digit and all. When asked whether he had any pain meds, he looked like I had asked him something ridiculous. Mr. Toughguy...

But then, this has been his life...adult life...cause the "up to" years were nothing but "wonder years". We were blessed with a child whose insatiable curiosity brought him information the old fashion way - reading! Having been taught to read in Kindergarten (maybe before), he would read anything and everything. His grandfather and grandmother sent us the Reader's Digest for Christmas every year and Chris would read all the stories he was interested in. And this at the ripe ole age of 6...we remember him remarking to a friend of his, the definition of some word that should have been beyond their comprehension, and the friend asks him how he knew what it meant. "Do you read the dictionary or something?" was the question that followed. Figuring that everybody read it as he did, Chris answered, "Yeah, don't you?"

In school, his favorite method of a copious lack of attention, was to open his textbook for the class, and open his current reading material inside it, appearing, of course, to be paying attention to the teacher. Do not expect the expected here...my brainchild was able to answer any question put to him about the day's lesson as though he had been giving it his full attention. I'm sure that there is a psychological learning process going on here, where, even when part of the brain is engaged in pleasure reading, it is processing factual information being heard as well, but to his mom, he's a stinkin' genius!

Late teenager years brought the opportunity to begin to follow a life's passion - the military. Through the unimaginable gift of friends, Chris attended and graduated with honors from Hargrave Military Academy, as the second in command cadet officer to the whole of the cadet population. Next came Parris Island and the dubious suggestion from his parents to sign up for reservist training because "they never send the reserves into a war first." Yes, we ate those words five years later when, just months away from exiting his six year hitch, he was one of the "few, the proud, the Marines" that were sent into Iraq to begin the war. He extended his time by about a year and retired active duty to finally begin college which had seen quite a delay.

Today, it's over. He has worked full time and done school full time for these last years and only God knows how many times he wanted to quit, but Marines don't quit. I only know One way he has been able to accomplish this... "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen..."

The degree is in Forestry, which leds to the beauty beside him in the pictures. Jessica and Chris met finding out many things they had in common, one of which is the picturesque state of Alaska. Jess has family there and has taught there in the past. Chris has ALWAYS wanted to go there. And go there, they are. She leaves (way too) soon to take another teaching position there ahead of him, and he leaves before the first of the year to begin state trooper school there. In Alaska, they have two types of troopers, we're told. The traffic ones and the forestry "search and rescue" ones. He hopes to join the later.

It is never easy to let them 'out of the nest,' no matter how old they are and how long they have literally been out of it. But our hearts are so very comforted that God has provided for him a future doing what he loves with a very special young lady beside him. "But, God? ALASKA???"
Just kidding, guys...go with God and our blessing!

We have just had a most eventful weekend and have come through it with much thanksgiving!

My expectant daughter was being given her last baby shower at my home on Saturday. While this normally would not have been anything but delightful, it arrived with a wee bit of concern because of some circumstances which became greatly out of my control. We have been without central air conditioning for going on three weeks and the maintenance folks decided to replace the outer unit first, hoping to solve the repair. It didn't, so work began on the inside parts. As it would have to be, the inside required ordering that elusive part, that needs to come from Siberia via every slow boat between here and there. After the wait which went on forever, it was decided to just replace the inside workings, too, on Friday, before the shower. Brand new everything should work great, right? Not hardly...

Now, when one hosts an event, one cleans one's house and makes sure that all of the proverbial "ducks" are in their proper rows and the 'dories' are all 'hunkie'. And I would have been happy to oblige these expectations except for the five or so maintenance folks, who spent all day Friday with us and then had to come a spend all morning Saturday as well. I don't know how you do it, but cleaning in front of, let alone, around a group, is not my favorite way to prepare for a party.

Creative cleaning 101 happened anyway, and we literally were prepping the food right up until the first guest arrived. The delightful finish of this part of the weekend was a fun time had by all the sweet friends that came to honor my daughter. And the air conditioning keep us all cool as cucumbers!!

Sunday dawns with the news that our son had spend the previous evening in the ER getting five stitches in his middle finger (left hand) after an accident at work. This would be one of many little nuisances at the ER for him and normally a small thing. However, my young man is about to graduate from college on Wednesday and has his last two finals Monday and Tuesday, one of which will require him writing an essay. He uses his left hand to write, or should I say, normally writes with his left hand...hhmmm.

And, did I forget to tell you that our youngest daughter tripped over her roommate's dog and had a black eye and sprained wrist???

Well, here it is a brand new week! The last before school officially starts again for me. Maybe all the mayhem of the weekend was just getting me ready for juggling 2,225 balls in the air again.

So, our loveable "labrawhatzit," Ella, is quite the yogurt lover. She can hear the top being removed from the container wherever she is and comes running and whining...(I'm thinking..."don't eat without me...don't eat without me!")





But, as you can imagine, "someone" had to introduce our black beauty to the wonderful stuff. And by the way, the by product of such a love of the vanilla treat is an absolutely gorgeous shiny coat!






Uh-oh...there's the culprit now!! Making sure she doesn't miss a single tidbit of her favorite morning snack. Oh, the other side benefit of yogurt-loving dogs is a substantial girth...did I say benefit?!!