Happy Grandparent's Day!

I actually woke up early this morning to drive the 45 miles to my grandparents' church to surprise them for Grandparent's Day! They were pretty surprised--especially since I hadn't been to their church since March. We ended up going out to Macaroni Grill to celebrate the occasion, but I forgot to take pictures. (I know, I MUST be sick...)

What a crazy couple of weeks! Usually the first week is school is crazy and I'm zonked at the end of the week because I've had to re-adjust to getting up at the insane hour of 4 am. However, with the new schedules being imposed on the high school teachers this year, stress form not being able to give my job the attention it deserves, due to administration's priorities, and an overall attitude that I really don't want to be there....I've been wiped out--mentally and physically for the past three weeks!

(I read on someone's post recently that people who do not go out on Friday evenings do rather mundane or "lame" things--I've been sleeping. Forget the food; forget relaxing; after a quick shower, I change into my jammies and I'm out until Madison feels I should be up to serve her breakfast.)


I feel terrible because I told some of my students that I would go to their football games (JV and Varsity), but I just haven't had the energy to go and cheer them on. This past Friday, I think I caught whatever nasty bug is going around because I...well, you don't really need those details. Just suffice to say, I wasn't feeling very well and was afraid to do anything but go straight home to...bed. Saturday, I felt a little better and should have been finishing cleaning out my storage unit for our garage sale this coming Saturday (yes, the date was changed), but I pretty much slept most of the day and finished reading Allison Bottke's debut book, A Stitch in Time. This is the book that I won from Camy Tang's site.



It is a WONDERFUL book! Dee,the main character, is going through a rocky time-period in her life and is struggling with issues most women face as they get older. As a baby Christian, Dee is trying to set a good example of Christ-like behavior for her friends and family, but is having a rough time of it--especially when her crazy family and friends find out that she's had WLS and is sneaking back to the doctor for a tummy tuck. Aside from family and friend issues, Dee's work is sliding--or so her best friend and boss thinks. Will Dee be able to find the balance in her life? Will she be able to find God's comfort and love as she's wading through these troubled times?

I enjoyed this book because it kept me laughing throughout. Having been through a divorce caused by the same mishap in Dee's marriage, I can relate to her crushed spirit and unwillingness to forgive or forget. While I cannot afford the clothing or shoes that Dee manages to find at sample sales and consignment shops, I can still relate to wanting to look my best and give my best to my "clients." I hope within my life that I run into a wise Christian counsel like Dee found in Lily. Despite the obstacles that Dee must overcome, the main theme throughout the book is that God, does indeed, allow us to make U-Turns.

I've reflected on this book a lot over the past day or so because I feel like I've had to make a few U-turns in my own life, and may have to make a few more before it's all over.

You see, I've always felt like I'm a change-agent. I LIKE change! I know it's uncomfortable at first, but the things I learn about myself and others around me when changes happen, are simply astounding. What's even more remarkable is that change happens usually when I'm up past my eyeballs in stuff. You see, when I'm feeling overwhelmed and out of control, that's when God does his most amazing work in my life. Yes, sometimes it's something as simple as me changing the words I say, or the place I've decided to shop for groceries that day. Other times He calls me to make a move--whether it's physically to another location, or mentally in my thought processes. Either way, I've learned something that I needed to learn, and probably would not have been exposed to if I had not made a change.

Why all of this talk of change? Mainly because I can feel God moving in my life. I know something BIG is coming down the pipes and it's going to require CHANGE. How do I know this? Because I feel it in my spirit. I'm feeling antsy and anxious for no reason at all. I want to wring my hands or bite my fingernails because I KNOW it's coming, I just don't know what IT is. All I know is that it will require me to "go a little farther" than I'm comfortable with; i.e., change.

What's even better is God is giving me little sign-posts along the way. Today's sermon at my grandparent's church was discussing Matthew 26:36-39. (This is my NIV translation)

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to
them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." (These disciples did not go as far as the others.)

He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he
began to be sorrowful and troubled.

Then he said to them, " My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." (These disciples went a little farther than the others, but still did not go as far as Jesus.)

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is
possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

(Jesus went father than all the rest. We have been empowered as Christians to go "full throttle"-as the sermon was titled--father than the rest. Rather than be complacent in our attitudes for Christ, we have been called to go a little father.)



You see, had I not decided to go to a different church, I would have missed that little sign post that God put out for me. He is calling me to "go a little farther"-- to be an agent of change.

Now, I just have to figure out where it is I'm supposed to be going. :)