Hundred Acre Woods

You know how the Winnie the Pooh song starts -- that's where I live!! ;) There are a million acres of nothing but nature all around me -- and for the most part -- I love it!! ;) There are houses, but you definitely have "your own space!"

The trip up consisted of my mom and I traveling in her van, and my car. It took longer than expected, but we arrived safely. After unloading some things to stay up at the church, we headed to my new (temporary) home. - I'm staying with the Pastor's parents until something more permanent can be found. I'm ok with it though b/c I have people to talk with! ;) As the pastor led the way to "my house" he took an all-too familiar road to him, but completely foreign way of driving for my mom and I. Part of the way was paved, and middle section gravel. I was going about 40 mph and the taillights of the 2 vehicles ahead of me where growing smaller and smaller. At one point they disappeared in all the dust I was driving into. I started yelling in my car (like they could hear me) and flashing my brights. Thankfully they didn't lose me - and I plan on NEVER taking that way again if I can at all help it.

My mom stayed with me until Friday morning. She helped me get settled in my room - went shopping with me - helped me set up my classroom. I started to feel like everyone was thinking I wouldn't be able to do this without my 'mom,' but that was just my brain making up stuff to worry about I'm sure. I didn't cry that much - Wed. I lost it during prayer, and then 2 or 3 more times. But it went MUCH better than I had expected. Why is it - I asked my mom - when you want to say words of love and yadda yadda, you get all choked up and all that comes out is: take care of yourself?!?! What's that suppose to mean?? That's not what you "want" to say!!

I dove right into my work after Mom left. Set up my lesson plans, finished up my bulletin boards, cleaned, unpacked a little bit more, the to-do list seemed endless.

My students are really great. They each have distinct personalities. I have "talkers" that's for sure. I just hope they'll take it easy when describing their hunting stories -- I'd hate to pass out in front of 1st and 2nd graders!! ;)

I've seen God bless in so many ways already. It seems like blessings always start out with disappointments. One night I decided to install my printer (from college) to the laptop Tim and Rebecca gave me before I left. The connection cables didn't fit. The next day we were going on a shopping trip so I took the equipment with me to show someone at a computer store to see if they could hook me up with a port or something that would work. When I talked to the guy at Office Max, he took one look at my printer cord, and said, "That won't work!" I thought, man mister - give it a shot before you knock all my hopes down!! He did come up with a solution, but when he found out I hadn't used my printer in years, he gave some pretty good advice. He said I would be taking a $60 chance to find out if this printer still works. And the connector he found, would cause a delay in printing. "Just so happened" (I know it was God), that they were having a sale on a printer/scanner for $70!! It's been a huge blessing to have this newer printer/scanner. I thought I only needed a printer - but do you know I've already needed to use the scanner. God knew!! :D

Many many more stories to come - stay tuned!! ;)