Last night, my friend's one-year-old grandson was on a ventilator and oxygen and things were looking pretty bad with a combination of H1N1, pneumonia, and possible bronchitis. Today at noon, the respiratory therapist told the family that their baby wouldn't be going home for quite a while. Tonight, thanks to the prayers and thoughts of so many the world over, this baby is home sleeping in his own bed. He's still sick, but he is at home and doing so much better. I know that many of you do not believe in God or in His mercies but it is the only way I can think of this miracle possibly happening. Thank you all for everything. Please continue to keep this family in your prayers. We all understand the severity of this sort of disease and know that it's not completely over with yet.

I finally figure that I will be on here more often and have come to rely on my desk-top for more work than I ever have and, the Friday after my last post, I get hit with, not one, but three blue screens of death within twenty minutes. Fortunately, the crash wasn't one that hit my hard drives (yes, I have two of them) but did destroy everything else that would make the poor Pride of Sony work.
I got paid on Friday and Chuck hit u-bid to find me an HP that is on its way. As one classmate of mine put it, "Isn't it amazing how much we have come to rely on our computers for everything?" Isn't that the truth?!?!?
Tonight's message is being brought to you courtesy of a conglomeration of computer parts and hard drives that my Sweetheart put together for me to use until the new one gets here. Have I mentioned that my guy is innovative and outstanding? He is still trying to figure out just how it is working with some things not having hook-ups. Me? I'm not even going to ask but I will say, "Thank you!"
For now, I am off to get some sleep.
~Later~

In August 2002, I was signed up for two three hour classes at Lee University with a declared major of Christian Education. It didn't take another full time semester to realize that, while I loved God and everything He stood for, I was looking for more than becoming an administrator at a Christian school. That was the semester I took my first history class and failed my first exam with Dr. Barnett. Within twenty minutes of seeing the "F", I was signed up as a history major. I know, the logic fails. Don't try to figure it out. I still can't.

In the winter of 2006 - 2007 I sat with Dr. Bob again and discussed what I was going to do with my history degree. He told me that he would love to see me teach and would be proud to have me teach his daughter. Well, I had worked as a substitute and as a teacher's aid as well as a safety officer for the Borough of Anchorage. I had even worked as an admin assistant for a Baptist Student Union and helped lead mission trips. I applied to the School of Education to even see if they might see in me what Dr. Bob seemed to see and they offered me the chance to get my M.A.T. Two weeks ago, I graduated and am getting ready to start teaching on Tuesday at the top Christian college preparatory school in the Tennessee Valley. I'm excited! I love kids and want to give them the best education I can possibly give them but still...

Somewhere something was nagging at me. Something that said, "There is more you need to do." There are some who would suggest I am 'slightly nuts' but I applied to the School of Education for their new Ed.S. program and received word today that I have officially been accepted to begin work on what will eventually, God willing, become my doctorate in education. Can I do this? I am reminded, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

My pastor has reminded me that, "If it's God's will, it's God's bill." (This is the same pastor who rode his new four-wheeler into the sanctuary the morning of his birthday to thank the church for the present.)

My new employer and the headmaster of the school has said he knows I will do well at this and it will serve as an extraordinary example to the students. (I wonder if he knows that one of the cleaning ladies at the school has already signed up to return to tech school classes after she and I talked.)

Whatever happens, I know this is not the path I would have chosen years ago. It has taken Someone far greater than me to get me to this place. Someone who has a great sense of humor and a plan for my life.

Sometime in the next few days I will post the pictures of my office and classroom. For now I will dream of finally getting my hands on this book. Bless George's heart, Martha was an amazing lady.