Keep Coming Back...!

I've been away from blogging for more than a year... I've really missed it.  So... I'm back!!

New Year's Prayer

Thank you Lord for giving me
The brand new year ahead
Help me live the way I should
As each new day I tread.

Give me gentle wisdom
That I might help a friend
Give me strength and courage
So a shoulder I might lend.

The year ahead is empty
Help me fill it with good things
Each new day filled with joy
And the happiness it brings.

Please give the leaders of our world
A courage born of peace
That they might lead us gently
And all the fighting cease.

Please give to all upon this earth
A heart that's filled with love
A gentle happy way to live
With Your blessings from above.

In Jesus Name. Amen

Thankful for a Wonderful Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in Durham, and it was so good to have quality time with family --- away from the "hustle and bustle"!  We talked, laughed and ate often ... and thoroughly enjoyed! While there, we visited a family cemetery where my great-grandmother and great-grandfather, and many other relatives were buried. That experience was moving and unforgettable!  

In a Good Place

I survived the "Back to School" busyness, and am settling into a nice routine.  After the stress and craziness of my schedule last school year, I'm SO grateful for the slower pace. This year, I'm enjoying the journey; and I actually have time to "smell the flowers" along the way.  My life is more in balance, which puts me in a "good place".  As they say, "hindsight is 20/20", and I had no idea how out of balance my life was.  Grateful for the awareness, and happy to be living life abundantly! ( John 10:10)

Accountability

   In friendship, accountability is a good thing.  Friends helping friends to be and achieve their best.  I'm appreciative and thankful for the friends that "check in" and hold me accountable.  :) 

A Sad Day...

    I woke up Thursday morning to the news that Troy Davis had been executed in Georgia the night before; and I immediately felt saddened.  As I was drifting off to sleep on Wednesday night, Davis was receiving a lethal injection and dying.  Admittedly, I haven't really been following the case closely; but what bothers me most is that Capital Punishment is still carried out in some states.  Considering the fact that the U.S. is an educated, sophisticated and "advanced" country, I'm baffled by the inadequacy of our criminal and judicial systems/practices.  We harrass and bad mouth other countries about their human rights practices; yet we find it perfectly humane to strap someone to a chair, inject them with a lethal dose of a drug, and watch them die.  Not to mention that yesterday was Troy Davis' 4th Execution Date.  It's hard to imagine the psychological torment he and his family have endured.  Where's the humanity in that?!

   There are so many other problems with the case -- based upon eyewitness testimony, using questionable testimony of a "jailhouse snitch", existence of reasonable doubt, the race issue, etc.  Hopefully Davis did not die in vain; and we, as a country, can learn and make changes as a result of this tragedy.   

Next Year

I've had some hard decisions to make about next year!  First, I've decided to reduce my work schedule back to 3 days per week, as a Kindergarten Media Specialist.  While I had a wonderful year, working as the sole Media Specialist 3 days per week didn't quite work out.  It was impossible to plan and prep lessons for 7 grades, teach 13 classes, run a reading incentive program, and manage a library collection in only 3 days each week.  So I ended up doing a good amount of work (a.k.a. too much) at home at night and on the weekends.  Combining my work hours along with the hours that I put in at home, I was working 5 days a week and being paid for 3.   It was such a hard decision to make because I really loved working with the students!  I just couldn't continue to work so much at home, given my other family needs and commitments. 

My second tough decision was to step down as a Girl Scout troop leader.  I love the Girl Scouts and what they do as an organization!  I was a co-leader for 1-1/2 years and a leader by myself for 1 year.  I really enjoyed working with the girls and getting to know them.  The girls have been enthusiastic and great; but this year has been disappointing with the diminishing support from the parents.  I've had 3 parent volunteers that helped out a lot over the past couple of years --- I couldn't have done it without them!  Unfortunately, there were 2 parents that didn't contribute at all.  Anyway, I had a wonderful experience with the Girls Scouts and I'll continue to support the organization in other ways. 

While I'm a little sad about both decisions, I'm at peace.  That's my indication, they were good decision!