Fear

 God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind........

I know that I should not fear, but the human side of me does.  I fear the future.  The government is already trying to close Thanksgiving and the headlines on WRAL today read......I will do whatever it takes (coming from the governor).  What is next?  Will he be closing down NC very soon? I have also heard that Biden will require the vaccine (which I won't take) and you will not be able to go to stores or anything if you don't have it.  I shouldn't fear the end times, but I really don't like what is coming.

Jacob's Senior Pictures (some of my favorites)

 

Long weekend

 We had a long weekend(fall break) and the guys went to the coast for a weekend of fishing.  Jenna and I went to SC to see Josh.  We were able to ride with friends who were also going, so we were very grateful.  We were hoping to see Taelyn, but she actually tested positive right when we got there, so we had to see her from a distance.  The picture shows how people communicate with those in isolation.  They reminded me of Romeo and Juliet.  We went up to this mountain place for awhile and also ate at Biscuit Head which was really good.  It was good for me to see him since I hadn't seen him since early August.  Only 4 1/2 weeks and he will be home for an extended time. 

MS Volleyball, Dog, Josh

 Life is very busy with teaching and all.  It's been really hard to teach and do remote learning as well, but I have adjusted.  I love my kiddos!  God has truly blessed me.

Volleyball has come to a close after tomorrow.  Our girls should finish 8-1.  I am so proud of them and love them dearly.  We tied for 1st place in our conference.  I am not sure if they will make us co-champions or find some other way to break the tie.

Bella finally got back to the groomers.  It's nice to see he eyes again.  She was looking pretty bad.

Last but not least, I get so see Josh next week!  I am so excited.  I am counting the days!!  He sent me this picture of him and Taelyn.

When a child touches your heart

 One thing I am guilty of is judging kids.  I say that meaning I quickly determine if this kid is going to annoy me, be a trouble maker, or whatever.  I have recently had my eyes opened on two occasions in the last two weeks.  Scenario number 1...... there is the kid who is "chubby", kinda off,   I never really paid much attention to him or brushed him off.  Last week when I did a home economics demonstration on making no bake cookies he approached me after class.  He asked me how much everything cost or tried to figure it in his head and then he pulls out a $20 bill and tried to pay me for the $7 worth of stuff out of my pocket.  Of course I didn't take it, but I was touched that he realized I had to pay for him to do this stuff.

Second scenario was today.  There is a kid in my 6th grade lit class.  He probably has ADD.  He would talk out load and not turn in his work.  I got him moved to the front.  I prayed for him one day and then emailed the mom that homework was not being turned in.  I started working with him just a little bit and today at the soccer game he walked up to me and gave me a big hug!!  That made all the difference.  Mom told me that he must really like me, but let me tell you......that single hug did more for me than I ever dreamed!!

MS Volleyall

 

I have been helping with MS volleyball.  Not because I am athletic, but because I love these girls.  I taught 4 of them last year with Bible, 2 of them the year before and I have two of them for literature this year.  I adore this age.  I love these girls and wanted to help.  I am not sure what help I really am, but I am thankful to get to work with them. Tonight we had our first game and they won.  It was a nail biter.  We won the first set.  The second set we were behind by 9 points and came back and then sat at 24 and then the other team ended up beating us.  We won the third set though so it was tight.

Could use some prayer

 Tomorrow we start back at school.  I am full of anxiety right now. Not only am I teaching new subjects, but we also have students that are staying home and doing on line work, so we have to do livestream for them.  I am not familiar with google classrooms and how to do all of this (it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks) so I would appreciate your prayers.  Then you put the COVID factor into the classroom as well, so everything is different.  If I can figure things out this week I think I will be ok. My schedule will be as follows

Early care

1st period cleaning or sub

2nd working with LSP students

3rd planning or sub

4th 6th A literature

lunch

5th cleaning or sub

6th 6B literature

7th Computer 7th grade (for this quarter then it changes to 8th and then 6th)

Help with MS volleyball 4:30-5:30

College

 I went with Josh Wednesday down to BJU.  He didn't really need me other than to help unload stuff, but I wanted to get out of the house.  Jacob, Jenna and I drove down Wednesday and spent the night.  Josh was able to go early because he had to work Thursday.  I am glad because the dorms were pretty empty and he could get in without the chaos.  Everyone else moves in today and tomorrow and due to COVID, they want only one person to help and then to leave campus immediately.  (again, we didn't have to follow that since we went early).  As soon as Josh saw some of his friends, and his girlfriend, we were chopped liver.......LOL!!  We went to dinner Wednesday night with Taelyn and her siblings and mom.  Thursday we pretty much ran Josh to get some things at Walmart and then said goodbye to him and Taelyn.  We left earlier than expected so we stopped at two outlet malls and then for lupper (lunch/supper).  I have to admit the house is a little empty now and I do miss him.  I didn't cry this time though!!  It is such a weird feeling.  I miss him, yet I am so happy for him.  Seeing him there at BJ just confirmed in my heart that is where he is supposed to be.  How could I want anything less for him?  He is where God wants him and although I am sad, it's where is his supposed to be!!

Sunflowers

Sunflowers just make me happy!  I was sad to hear that Dorthea Dix was not doing sunflowers this year and then I found a farm in Clayton, but I missed all their events.  I found this one from a post on FB and decided we would go.  We got there in Kenly right at 10 when the event opened and there were only a few people.  It was already hot so I knew we needed to take our pictures and get out of there!!  I liked this place because I believe they are Christians and they let you cut flowers for $1 a piece.  One of these sunflower pictures is here at my house in the vase.  They had three different kinds of sunflowers and although the plants weren't as tall, the flowers seemed to be bigger.  I didn't include a picture of the brown sunflowers.  I picked one, but I really like the others.