A rough year...already

This has been probably one of the most difficult times in my life. Within the last month we have had two funerals and an attempted break in at our house. My uncle, which most of you know was like a father to me passed away. He was a wonderful man and he implanted so many good values and life lessons into me and Terrell. He kept Simone for the first six months of her life. He was hurting in the last month of keeping her, but wanted so badly to be there for her and me that the tried to press through by using a computer chair to get around.

He was in a lot of pain, and when you are dealing with a situation like that it seems that there is no win. You want that person to stay with you for your own selfish reasons, but at the same time you hate to see them in so much pain. To stand and watch someone pass away before your eyes is something that is just unexplainable. He is loved, he is missed, but I KNOW he is in a better place. I love you Fruits and I'll see you again.

A couple of weeks later we had to bury my 17 year old cousin who was shot and killed. How any human being could kill a child is beyond me. We has an African American race have got to step up and stop killing each other. We always want to talk about what America does to us and how they are killing us off, when in true essence they only have to sit back and watch as we take ourselves out. Come on people let's start working together instead of against. We have got to keep our children prayed up, as well as our country, and our families.

Pray for me family, because things are crazy. I keep telling myself that this to shall pass, and it can only mean that God is about to show up and show out!!!

The Love Dare - will i make it through this forty day journey?

so i'm reading this book called "love dare" and it's really testing and trying. a couple of days ago i was sitting at lunch with my coworkers and they were telling about how they had started it and it was a true blessing to their marriage. i bought one for me and one for terrell. i've started it, but he doesn't know it. i'm very interested to see what road this is going to take our marriage down. i can tell it will be a challenge and there are some things that are very difficult for me, but my prayer is that i can finish it and make it through the forty days (even if it takes me a lot longer to finish the journey). each day brings about a new dare for me and something for me to do in order to make my marriage stronger. if you are one of my prayer warriors out there, please pray that GOD will work through me and give me the strength to face the challenges/dares that are presented for me each day. i'm believing God that i will make each day and that He will really work through not only my marriage, but my life/attitude/etc.

Direction

Things are going a little more hectic than I had expected. My prayers it that God will allow me to find the place and position for me that will make me happy. There are days when I wonder if it's the profession that's not for me, am I being tested and prepared for something greater...so many thoughts go through my head each day. I'm just praying that God will allow me to find peace, and a job that really is made for me. I know that there is a place for me, where I can find that happiness that I had my first three years of teaching. I'm just praying that God will lead me there.

At this point in my life I'm in yet another job situation that is not the best, there is a possibility that my husband may or may not have a job next year, and I'm just in constant prayer. I'm just waiting and praying to see where God is going take me from here. As the words of the old song say, "I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me."

On the job front, I'm just doing what I can do to cope. I'm working towards making a difference in the lives of these students that I'm teaching. They are handful, but I'm seeing this as an opportunity for me to invest in the lives of children that are already given up so early as the age of 10 and 11 years old. I have set limitations on myself as to how much time I devote to my job, and am constantly reminding myself that it is just that - my job, and that in no way can I let it overtake me or the time that my family gets.

These things and prayer have really made my year much more bearable. I am making the most of the situation that I am in and trying to see what lesson God is teaching me through all of this. I'm just enjoying myself on my job as much as I can (but still secretly counting down the days to summer).

On Halloween day, we decided to have fun and dress up, because the kids get to wear their costumes on this day as well. We need the kids would already be crazy, so we just had ourselves a blast with them. You just have to make the most of any situation that could turn out crazy. This was one day that I really had a blast at work. I know that this day could've been hectic and crazy with one thousand plus children walking around school in their crazy outfits. I don't think there was ever a cuter Hannah Montana than me - lol! This experience helped me come to the perspectives I mentioned above and realize that I've gotta make the most of it. It also taught me that blonde is definitely NOT my color.

God is definitely taking me through some things that are preparing me for what's ahead. There

are so many things to be grateful for in the midst of all this chaos and trials. I am actually living through history (YES WE CAN!) and have the ability to witness the first African American president of the U.S., Simone is growing by the minute and growing up to be a beautiful little girl with a wonderful personality (of course she got that from her mother - lol!), and my family is holding strong together and keeping each other lifted in prayer daily as we go through the bouts of cancer with my uncle.

God gives us so many things to be thankful for, and in the midst of it all we have so many things going on that often we look past those things that we have to be grateful for. If you gain nothing else from this post, do stop and think about all the GOOD things that God is doing in your life. You're alive to see another day, God loves you no matter how much you are messing up, and He will never leave you or forsake you. Amen

dee dee

Work in Progress...photos

Well, I actually remembered to take my camera this time! As I said before, I've gotten the desks arranged and I've just go to add some life to the walls. Things are coming along slowly but showly (surely) and I'm really excited about the year. Next week I'm going to have to hit it hard, because I did not realize how close we are to school beginning again. Here are a few angle from my new place:

I will post more pictures as I get my classroom together. It really is a work in progress, but I'm excited about fixing up all of this space!

dee dee

Movin' Ahead

wow! so much has taken place with the new classroom that I don't know where to start. i went over the first day and basically just put on my grubby clothes and tried to clean and get rid of the old carpet smell. air wick graces the room in various corners to replace 'old carpet' scent with 'fresh waters' scent. my good friend dander came over last week and help me actually start a plan, sketch it out, and put it into fruition. the furniture is all set and now i have unpack the tubs and tubs of books that i have packed up. i did manage to get on box unpacked and get the organizations style set up at least. the joy of being able to actually set up by genre, authors last name, and series just made me giggle the whole while i was working. no level a, b, etc.! woohoo! for all you teaching buddies out there you know exactly where i'm going with that one.
i will be spending the next few weeks leading up to school working in my room and i must say it's actually really fun. i've also gotten the opportunity to meet other teachers at the school and that has been pretty neat. most everyone seems to be pretty sweet. i took simone up thursday and could already tell that i was back in another family environment - thank you God! - because that is what i loved most about my old school.this time God just decided to give me a HUGE family. everyone welcomed simone in, invited her to play with their kids as i worked, and she just ran around giving hugs and smiling at people (that's my child with LOADED personality - i just wonder where she gets that from? lol!) on top of that, the great thing is that all those sisters that i have grown relationships with at my old school are still in my life, praying for me, helping me out, and just being listening ears when i need them. i'm truly a blessed woman.
i must admit i'm a little nervous. kinda feel like a first year teacher all over again, but i continue to pray for God's peace as i begin another school year. i keep hearing people say that once midyear hits and i know the ropes i'll forget this beginning of the year feeling all together. i know that's true, because it happened that same way at my old school. i've already started making good ties with the office staff. if it's one thing i've learned it's be kind to the office staff, custodial staff, and lunchroom staff. i really like them all and they have been SO patient and kind to me.
the school is a bit more traditional than my own philosophy, but i laugh and continue to know that God really has a sense of humor. i'm just watching and waiting to see what he does with this crazy girl driving way out yonder to teach. this is in His plan and i know that some awesome works are going to go down in that big ole school house. i pray that i will just touch the lives of some children and be able to honor God through good works and good deeds in my new environment.
i thought i would have before and after pics, but it'll be more like during and after pics. i've been so excited about getting down there everyday that i've forgotten the camera.

Jer 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

dee dee

my new home

i went to the school today to get my key and get a tour of the school. i still haven't seen the entire schol yet, but i do know where my classroom is! let's just say i can just walk around the building and get good exercise. i got the keys today and for a while i just sat there and tried to soak it all in. going from a situation where i was one of three teachers to a situation where i will be one of seven is a little overwhelming - BUT i am pumped! i guess you can just call me an up and coming artist. my room is an empty slate and i have to do a work of art inside and make it my own, my new home away from home. i really enjoyed going in and seeing all the new faces. there are lots of new faces for me to learn and keep up with.

i'm so excited about entering this new phase of my life. i know that if i can get these first few weeks of school down and get to know my coworkers some of the stress will fade. the principals and staff have already made me feel at home. mcadory...my new home.
there will be before and after pictures of my room coming soon.

-fired up and ready to go!!!
dee dee

joy's comin in the mornin'

in the words of a man from a hilarious movie "life is ike a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." things for me have not been at the best point right now. i ask for continued prayer from all of the friends that read this blog. i really don't know what to do or where my journey will go next, but all i know to do is pray. i'm coming to a point that i'm realizing that even when things are going crazy and array in life i have to remember that God is in control and He will take care of me. the words of a great gospel song run through my head over and over - be encouraged, no matter what's going on...He'll make it alright, but you gotta stay strong. i know right now, it's impossible to see - God is gonna work it out if you just believe. stand strong and dry your weeping eyes. joy's comin' in the morning and everything is gonna be alright. i'm holding this in my heart daily, by the hour, by the second, by the minute. this life thing can go through loops, turns, road bumps, and much more, but joy is coming in the morning and everything is gonna be alright! amen

-dee dee