Finally!

Well, summer may not be officially recognized by our calendars yet....but my classes are now over for this semester. Grades are in (all A's)...yes!!! I am soooo ready for a respite. This semester was soooo busy. The fall promises to be even more "fun"!!!! Yikes

I don't know how much blogging I'll do, but I just felt like blabbing a bit. I'm so addicted to Facebook now, that I rarely blog. I get all of my frustrations, joys, etc. out in that format now. It's also enabled me to reconnect with so many friends. Friends I haven't seen since high school.

It's been nearly a year now since I was summarily dismissed from a job I held for 30 years. I'm not as fixated on the whole ordeal as I was, but I am still angry...and confused. I still do not understand WHY it happened. Nor do I understand how a "man of the cloth" could do such a thing. I guess I will never know. He refuses to apologize. I must find a way to make peace for myself.

But without a job.....without a paycheck.....for nearly a year....it's not been easy. And as time goes on, it's only gonna get worse. And that burden is only gonna dredge up my feelings of anger for this person. I pray that God will give me peace to move on. I pray that He will help me find a way to get beyond the anger and hurt and just go on. I don't expect I will ever get any answers...and for me, that's a hard one! I always wanna know "why"? This is just one of those times I may not receive my answer.

I pray that God will help us find a way to survive ..... financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. The whole "incident" has left me and my family devoid of a spiritual connection. I so need that. I so want that. Not just for me, but for them as well. I don't know where this journey will take us. I don't know where it will end. I can only pray that God, in His infinite wisdom, will give me peace. I know He will allow things to happen the way they should. I just hope I have wisdom and fortitude enough to let go and let God!

Wow! Time Has A Way Of Getting Away!

I see that I haven't posted here in almost two years! I guess I really lost my mojo when I was working full time and going to school, etc. But, then I also found Facebook! I reconnected with sooo many friends. I all but totally abandoned this blogging business.

I have been through sooo much since my last post on here. The boss I gushed about turned out to be a .... well, a ...... hmmmmm ...... not a nice person at all. Without warning, provocation or explanation, he summarily dismissed me from the position I had held for 30 years!

This past year has been VERY difficult. I lost my best friend to suicide, then I lost my job without cause, then my Dad got very, very ill (we were told he didn't have long), my husband lost his job, and in February of 2010 I broke my ankle -- relegating me to a wheelchair!

But, you know, they say "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." "There's a silver lining in every cloud." "When God shuts a door, he opens a window."

I'm trying to find the positives in all the events of my life over the past year. I have found many. I am trying to get beyond the pain and hurt of the last year's events. Most days I am successful.

But through it all I have found who my true friends are. I have also been blessed with some new ones through my classes at ETSU. I honestly believe I am where I'm supposed to be. Otherwise, I wouldn't have the fabulous school friends who have become a part of my life. They are my strength and encouragement as I continue this journey to become a teacher.

I now have one year left at ETSU to earn my bachelor's degree in elementary education. I am so excited.

After losing my job, that I gave my heart and soul to for sooo many years, I was absolutely devastated and had my self-esteem knocked pretty darned low. But.....I realized that I was giving waaaaay too much power to that. I have been shown the true meaning of friendship and family love through all of this.

I now attend school fulltime (which means I will finish ahead of schedule). I maintain a 3.9 grade point average. I have the most amazing friends and family. I still have my Dad in my life (despite the odds).

I feel more at peace these days and look forward to the challenges quickly approaching. And as soon as I am able to get back to church-hunting, I will be looking forward to that as well. I found one before I broke my ankle that I really enjoyed. I will be going back there. I will also be open to other "callings".

But, with everything I've been through this past year, I know that wherever I land, it's because God put me there.

Time Flies

Holy Cow. I haven't posted anything since May!!! Wow. I thought I'd have all this time this summer. Well, then hubby finds himself a job in June and is working out of town. Daughter and I went to see him on a couple of weekends. But, he's working 7 days a week and didn't have much time to spend with us.

I really thought I'd have more time for blogging before my classes start again, but now I'm a single Mom with a home, job, dogs, yard work, yada, yada. Not much time for blogging. But that's okay.

I did want to say that this week is my first week back to work after two weeks' vacation. I had a very nice respite. And this is my first week working with my new boss. He's da bomb!!! He's young, 46...very good looking...very, very nice...very laid back...very smart. I am really looking forward to working with him. He and his family finally got moved into their house, but they are still working on putting everything away. Heck, I've lived in this house for almost 12 years and we STILL have boxes that haven't been put away!!! LOL

Anywho...The Rev. Dr. Mark W. Frazier is my new boss and our new Rector. He really is a very nice man. He has a lovely wife and four VERY energetic daughters...three of whom will become acolytes. It's a very exciting time for us at Emmanuel.

Anybody ever broken a toe? Well, I did this past weekend. Good God that hurts. Holy Mother. My toe nearly turned black...the top of my foot was blue...now it's blue and green. I still cannot wear a shoe. I can only wear flip-flops and flip-flop-style sandles. Nothing can touch that little toe or I go into orbit. Holy cow. Never knew my toe could be soooo painful.

We'll soon be gearing up for many things at work. Gearing up for daughter to return to school (Aug. 11). Gearing up for me to return to school (Aug. 25). Will be a very busy time...especially if hubby is still out of town working. I know my folks will help me out, but they will be out of town the first two weeks of classes!!! Oh well...I'll figure it out.

Here's hoping all my friends are enjoying these sunny, hot days of summer.

Ever?

Ever feel like you want to just disappear into a hole? Like a black hole? Like a hole that doesn't exist so that you don't exist either? That's kinda the way I'm feeling right now.

I had to help lead the singing of our National Anthem in church yesterday. I had a lot of drainage and didn't do my best, but I didn't think it was that bad until today. I read a friend's blog and found out that it sounded like a pig receiving a procto exam! Then a poster comments that he's heard me sing before and it would make your dog walk backwards. What the f#^*?

Now I wish I could rewind to yesterday and just take it all back. I would never have gotten up to sing. I wouldn't have sounded like a pig with something shoved up my ass.

Damn, I need that black hole to just swollow me up RIGHT NOW!!! Think I'll avoid church services for a bit.

God, how utterly embarrassing.

Happy Memorial Day to all. It's a memorable one for me!

How True!

You Are Beer!

You don't need to get totally wasted when you hit the bars. More of a social drinker, you just like to have fun with your friends. And as long as the beer keeps flowing, you're a happy camper. But don't mix things up: "Beer Before Liquor, Never Been Sicker!"

What Alcoholic Drink Are You?

Things are lookin' good!

Guess I'll start this post on the down note....hubby was laid off from his job on April 18 and still has no prospects. If you are so inclined...please send a prayer or ten HIS way. To say that things are tight is an understatement.

Okay, now that the bad news is done, on to all the good:

We have a new rector! Yes, my church and place of employment has called a new rector. I am very excited as he seems like a really, really nice guy. The day after he accepted the call, he came by my office and said, "well, you have a new boss." And proceeded to give me a big hug. Doesn't get any better than that. He'll be here mid-July (while I'm on vacation no less). But at least he is coming along. And Fr. David Booher will be here until then, praise God. Fr. David is wonderful and a hoot to boot!

More good news...daughter scored a 6 (the highest you can) an the State Writing Assessment. Only two other children, in her class, achieved that score. I'm sooo proud of her. Her teacher emailed me the day she found out. She was so excited and proud of Kaylyn, as are we. Daughter also ended the year with all A's and one B. She'd be a straight A student if she'd only study. But trying to get her to study on a regular basis is like, well, like trying to put a wet cat in a bag. (No offense to cat-lovers)

Even more good news.....I was having trouble finding any classes for my fall semester that didn't require me to drive to Johnson City three times a week and miss all manner of work. But, I finally found two classes (which is the limit I can do both financially and work-wise) at the local "outlet" for ETSU. It means with gas at $4 or more per gallon, I will drive 3 - 5 miles instead of 30 or 40 each time.

Yes, life is lookin' pretty good. Plan to spend time with my family this weekend enjoying the holiday. Eating more than I should or need. Relaxing whenever possible. And cleaning up messes that have piled up over the last semester. Yes, room by room, I'm getting there.

Here's hoping one and all have a glorious long weekend.

Oh, forgot to mention that Lee (my dear friend) and I are leading the congregation in singing the National Anthem Sunday morning. Ms. Margaret (our organist) asked me to sing solo. Lee said if I didn't do it, he would...then I said, "let's do it together." It evolved into us leading the entire congregation. Say another prayer that I don't just collapse in a pile of embarrassment. I have real issues with performing in front of others. But I adore Ms. Margaret and would do almost anything she asks of me.

Again, have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. May God continue to shine his Grace upon you and yours. May the memories of those gone before us be ever present.

Oh, Yeah!!!

Haven't written on my blog in foreeeeeever. Been so busy with work, school, daughter, life.....

I completed my last final yesterday and am done with classes until the fall. It will be nice to have a bit of a break. Now I can do some reading that I've been wanting to get in. I've been reading the autobiography of Barry White. Oh, yeah....that man could make the hairs on my arms stand at attention just hearing his voice. What a very interesting man he was.

Went on a school trip with the fifth grade classes from my daughter's school last week. We took them for three days to Kanuga (Camp Bob to be more precise). It's a very interesting outdoor school. We did LOTS of hiking (OMG....I'm still not recovered), learned about constellations and how we could use them for tracking. They learned about compass reading; we went canoeing; we dug around in a pond and found critters they had to identify; they climbed rock walls..........we were busy from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. The kids were involved in games designed to help build community and trust. They had to be "hoppers". Which meant they took turns showing up early at meal time to set tables and remain afterward to clean up. A very fun, exhausting time. Did I mention that there were only three of us ladies to chaperone 27 fifth grade girls????? Can you say "DRAMA"?

Now that my schooling is over til the fall, I will be concentrating on finishing my obligations at daughter's class...I am the homeroom Mom after all. I still have a few events to plan and carry out before they get out of school.

I am also neck deep in planning for Vacation Bible School at work. We lost our Director of Christian Formation in December, so I took it upon myself to get things going. I swore after last year, I would not do this again. Like I don't have enough to do!!!! Anywho...last year's event was so popular, fun and well-attended, I just couldn't let the kids down by not offering anything. (oh, have I mentioned the fact that I am the only full-time employee left at the church??? We have a part-time sexton and part-time organist/choir director.)

Well, speaking of employees......it looks like we will be FINALLY calling a new rector. After being without one for a year and a half, it looks like we will be calling a young, energetic, gentleman. Don't want to give too many details as the paperwork has not been signed yet. I'll let ya'll know when the ink is dried on the papers.

Now that I've finished with my own studies, I hope to have a bit more time to blog and to read other's blogs. I've really missed that.

Have a Tremendous Tuesday!