littleredjoy

Teaching and Stress

2007-02-11T21:19:00.000-05:00

Dad finished his first week of teaching high school math on Friday and has found a new level of stress that he has never experienced. He said that even flying helicopters in the jungles of Vietnam was less stressful than his first week of teaching. Every teacher I know can echo the level of stress, and many more haven't made it more than a week or two...

I thought healthcare had issues - but I think that education has its fair share. Oh, the need for systems change!

And so all my dear friends and now Dad who are braving the world of teaching - I have continued amazement and respect for you and will try to do much more praying for you!

Winter Weekends

2007-02-03T16:39:00.000-05:00

I just love being home or visiting friends on cold winter days when there is a little snow on the ground - and a chance for more. I really don't want to go anywhere or do anything, but just enjoy reading a book, playing games or watching a movie. And maybe it's that I am just at a place where I am "forced" to rest. It's too cold to be out - even to be biking. And maybe it's also because I am not traveling nearly as much as I usually am on the weekends. I must say I'm enjoying this time immensely. It does concern me a bit when I think about going back to school in the fall...do I really want to give this up? Perhaps I am just supposed to rest now so that I am rejuvinated for the upcoming adventures.

Either way, it's nice. I am getting some rest and just enjoying sitting around doing whatever may come my way - as long as it's warm and indoors!

Waiting and Seeing

2007-01-11T13:34:00.000-05:00

I am so thrilled for my friend, Katie, who is currently in China waiting for just a few more days to pick up her precious little girl, Phoebe. She and her husband, Andy decided over two years ago that they wanted to adopt from China and here they are. It's been quite a waiting process and I must say that they have been ubelievably patient. They found out just a couple of months ago and didn't find out their leave date until just two weeks ago. I just recently reread many sections of genesis and have been amazed at how God makes a covenant with us (Abrhaham, Isaac, Jacob) and the pieces aren't there to make sense of it right when he tells them. They have to wait sometimes for a few months other times several years. But every time, God fulfills his promise and the timing is just as it should be. What a reminder to wait on God and his best and then to SEE his promise fulfilled. I know that's what he wants to do with us and it's exactly what he is doing for Katie and Andy right now. If you want to see more about their journeys and story, you can visit their blog at http://bathjes.blogspot.com/

I'm so glad we get reminders of those promises!!

taking pictures...

2006-12-29T17:25:00.000-05:00

I continue to find that once a couple gets married, there are not so many new pictures taken. You can find lots from the wedding and even prior to, but once you say "I do" the cute couple shots are rare.

This is exactly what has happened to my brother and sister-in-law who have been married just over 3 years now. They wanted some new pictures, had a camera but didn't really have a willing photographer. That is until just before Christmas this year.

We raced to a local spot that was "outdoorsey" before the sun came out fully -- clouds are so much nicer for those quality pics...and I managed to take 74 pictures in about 15 minutes. It really was fun and now they have some pics to enjoy. Here is one of them...Aren't they cute?! :)

Rejuvination and Organization

2006-12-29T17:11:00.000-05:00

I'm enjoying some much needed time off from work. I am truly blessed to work for a university that gives us "bonus" days every Christmas - New Years. I really think everyone should get this time off if at all possible. Just think of how rejuvinated we would be if we had a good break.

I must say that I'm enjoying some relaxing time with Mom and Dad. And then I'm also putting forth some pretty major energy toward helping them organize the house, the "to-dos", etc.

I guess it's the teacher (ENFJ) in me that wants to help and empower Mom to be organized and free from the stress of chaos, clutter and stuff she doesn't use and won't likely use. Now, I continue to learn that it's a balance...figuring out ways to help in ways that will really help. I do my very best to understand what kinds of things will "work" for her and those things that may be quite sensible for me but would be completely useless for her.

And thus, the challenge of organization - it's a process, it's a way of thinking and there is no one way to do it. It's also something that requires patience so that as the process ensues, the relationship also remains strong and healthy....and if that's not possible, it's best to just leave well enough alone (which is what Dad has learned to do when it comes to organizing the house)

Hopefully, by the time I leave in the next few days, my organizational help will truly be help. And that my rejuvination time will also be truly rejuvinating.

And it's just too bad I don't have one of those fancy label makers.... :)

my bag is found!

2006-11-13T23:04:00.000-05:00

Well, I went to the airport hoping to retrieve my suitcase. Lexington is a very small airport, so after 9:00 pm, there are basically no flights leaving from the airport, therefore often the ticket counters are closed. I went to the "bag claim" area and asked the lady if my bag had been retrieved. She said it wasn't delivered yet that she knew of but that we could check with the ticket counter. After waiting and ringing the bell, I thought my search had again ended in vain. But just as she was taking my phone number again and promising to try to locate the bag, two guys walked out from the door behind the ticket area. She asked if my bag was in the back and the guy said, "yeah, it is right here." He rolled it out and sure enough, my suitcase was returned!

This was a great relief, mostly b/c of my cell phone charger but also b/c I didn't have to go buy new contact solution or anything else I might need tonight and in Paducah.

I think this is another way of seeing that there is One beyond us who really does care about the little things. And even when we think it's impossible and we need to give up even for the evening, the possible happens and thankfulness abounds!

I hope that any of you traveling soon will have suitcases arrive to and from your destination and that your flights really will exist in all directions! :)

Blog again....right where I am

2006-11-13T20:48:00.000-05:00

I've honestly avoided blogging for a while now b/c there is so much to tell and so rather than catching up, I'm going to start right where I am...

I am a blessed lady indeed -- I have had the opportunity to fly to Arkansas, Boston and Florida during the past 3 weeks. I saw dear friends, met new ones, did some presentations and work and relaxed on the beach. Now, for the most part, my journeys went well. I flew in and out of many cities and made it to and from all my destinations, but last night I had the most frustrating flying experience ever!

I was on my way home from Jacksonville, Florida where I met my dear friends Jen and Debby (they go all the way back to my days in Dover, AR) and got up to the ticket counter to check in. I printed my boarding passes (which didn't really work exactly as planned), gave them my luggage and walked away. I hardly made it 100 ft. before I realized that my flight from Detroit home was supposed to leave before I even landed in Detroit. I went back to the ticket counter only to find that my flight home didn't even exist. I mean, how is that possible -- no call or anything...just no flight home. After multiple reroutings and eventual tears (I couldn't help it -- I just wanted to go home and as much as I tried to be strong, I couldn't fight back the tears). Well, I finally arrived home in the wee hours of the morning and had a faithful friend, Steve come get me from the airport. Of course, my bag was nowhere to be found -- not surprising...

Also not surprising, I decided to go to work late, which in essence didn't help me that much b/c I was there until 6:30 with barely 15 minutes for lunch. After a good workout at the gym, I made it home just hoping that my bag would be delivered. But alas, it was not. I called multiple airline folks, including a delivery service and they didn't have any such bag. Well, I am supposed to drive to Paducah tomorrow for a business trip and a phone charger would be nice so that I can actually have contact with the world...my battery is slowly running out of juice and now I have decided that once I eat some dinner-- always a good plan when dealing with troubling circumstances -- I am headed to the airport to try to locate that missing bag.

Now, I realized that in the big scheme of things, this is minor, but it's amazing how a minor thing can be such a frustrating experience and can "waste" oodles of time. So, any of you who happen to check my blog again just wondering if I have an update, please pray that the missing bag will be found and that my patience won't wear thin on the people at the airport who had absolutely nothing to do with losing it in the first place.

I know that I am learning something through this process and just this morning I prayed that I would not be led into temptation...so perhaps I can let you know at a later date what that learning is all about...

With hope for lost bags...

The survey I've been tagged for...:)

2006-02-27T10:41:00.000-05:00

Four jobs I've had:
1. Pizza hut waitress
2. Youth minister at Dover FBC
3. Pampered chef kitchen consultant
4. Admissions counselor at Ouachita

Four Movies I can watch over and over:
1. Anne of Green Gables
2. Miss Congeniality
3. How to Lose a Guy in 10 days
4. 13 Going on 30. :)

Four places I've lived:
1. Ceder Falls, Iowa
2. Batesville, Arkansas
3. Arkadelphia, Arkansas
4. Lexington, KY

Four TV Shows that I Love:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Apprentice
3. Friends
4. Ally McBeal (though she's never on anymore, I still loved her!)

Four places I've vacationed:
1. Iowa (every summer as a kid)
2. Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail Colorado (oh how I love the skiing!)
3. England (as a young girl and I'm going back in August to be in a wedding!)
4. Gainesville, Georgia (It's the Bull/Linton family vacation every July!)

Four of my favorite dishes:
1. Homemade pizza (my family's recipe)
2. Black Bean Nachos
3. Bisquick cheeseburger pie
4. Pancakes and Bacon

Four sites I visit daily:
(I don't visit any site daily, but my most common four are:)
1. Centers for Disease control and prevention www.cdc.gov
2. Kentucky Cancer Registry www.kcr.uky.edu
3. Weather channel www.weather.com
4. Our office webpage, Kentucky Cancer Program www.kcp.uky.edu

4 Blogs I visit (when i do get around to blogging which you all know is way too infrequent!)
1. http://www.jem.squarespace.com/
2. http://www.teacherlearner.blogspot.com/
3. http://chraftykids.blogspot.com/
4. http://www.mobilesocialworker.blogspot.com/

I'm back by popular demand! :)

2006-02-08T14:53:00.000-05:00

Ok, my blogging friends. I am back and will REALLY try to be more current about posting and letting you know about life! In light of these requests, I think I'll talk a bit about friends...I have been told that most people only have 2-3 people in a lifetime who are really dear friends who you can trust, confide in, have fun with and really be yourself. I don't know why, but I am blessed way beyond the 2-3. And it's those friends that come in all sorts of ways at all kinds of times that have been such an inspiration to me throughout my life.

I haven't really written on my blog the past several months because of time, but really because I was heartbroken and didn't feel like letting everyone know on the blogging world about it. At the same time, in my personal e-mails, phone calls and visits, my friends..you know who you are...have been a source of significant hope, joy and love that isn't going anywhere. For that I say, "THANK YOU!" I am blessed beyond words and want you to know that you are all truly amazing!

One of my favorite examples is that one of you, Katie, who always knows just when to call and let me you know you're thinking of me. I mean, she is so far away and the phone connection can be sketchy, but amazingly enough, she calls me right in between meetings at work on one of my most difficult sad days as I find out this fellow who used to be the love of my life has a new girlfriend. And I hear from her about her love that is truly amazing. I want to keep hearing about your loves and in that I am reminded that true love, the kind that really will last is really out there...hope is alive.

So, hopefully, I'm turning over a new blogging leaf...read in Isaiah 43:18-19 about a brand-new start. That's what's happening on my blog and in my life and I'm looking forward to seeing what that will bring. :)

Thank you for your gentle reminders, Sarah, and your continual love my dear friends.

I love you all tremendously!

little red

my aunt and uncle's 40th anniversary

2005-08-14T15:35:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Dad, Mom and I traveled to Cincinnati to celebrate my Aunt Sheila and Uncle Bud's 40th wedding anniversary. One of the best things about this party was the fact that the setting wasn't a fancy formal place, but it was poolside at my cousin's house on the outskirts of the city where we ordered some fabulous barbeque pork! mmmm...good. My uncle had a surprise vow renewal planned and there wasn't a dry eye around after he talked about how much he loved my aunt.

That is the kind of love that I want to have at 40 years...it was truly inspiring.
And you know what they treasured the most about the day? It was having family there. What a reminder of what is really important and lasting...

May we all be inspired by love that lasts 40+ years...what a blessing indeed.

bringing my bike to work

2005-08-10T17:03:00.000-04:00

Today, I brought my bike to work because I won't have time to go home before the cycling club bike ride that will be later this evening. Now, the weather is 90+ degrees, I'm wearing a skirt with fairly fresh make-up and we have no shower facilities on site. Yet I had no less than 5 people ask me if I biked to work.

I really shouldn't be so harsh b/c I know they are making conversation, but really...can I look like this and bike in the weather we have right now? I don't think so, friends...:) But I guess I do get noticed having a red and white bike sitting in the doorway!

my fabulous co-workers

2005-08-10T16:48:00.000-04:00

You know in every organization there are some who are delightful and who fully embrace our overall mission while there are others who just sit at their desks (if they even do that) and wait for the weekend while not really contributing much at all. Well, I must admit that I'm often talking about the latter group (I guess it's often easier to see the negative).

Today, however, I must admit that I have some really great co-workers who truly care about both the mission and the people who work here. They are the people who keep me laughing and remind me of why we're really here after all. We don't just work together but we also provide much needed encouragement. And to you great ladies...thank you!

I can only can have a pet cockroach

2005-08-09T18:24:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I was retested for allergies for the first time since moving to Kentucky. Guess what I'm not allergic to that is inside or outside...cockroaches. Yep, the only think I didn't test positive for was cockroaches. So, for those who have always felt so sorry for me because I can't have a pet should know that if I so desired, a cockroach wouldn't make me sick...however even though I might not have tested positive for the allergy, I definitely think I would be sick if I found them crawling around my house!

Also very interesting for you is the fact that the most severe allergy I have is to horses. You would have thought I would live somewhere in the world other than "the horse capital of the world"

Alas, I will begin with 3 shots two times a week beginning on Monday and hopefully will build up to the point where I only need them once a month. We will see...hopefully they will help me visit you pet-friendly friends! :)

let's try again

2005-08-08T12:25:00.000-04:00

I realize that my inital attempt at keeping my own blog began and ended in January...I guess 8 months isn't too bad for a retry. As I visited Katie's blog and found out the latest on her adventures, I realized that I need to take a little time to provide those updates on my own blog.

Work stays busy and I don't have internet (or cable for that matter) at home, but you know I can take a little time to read, write and update....:)

Speaking of work, I am now in an office of my very own (this is BIG) b/c I had thought the walls of my cubicle were going to last indefinitely. My boss has had to take some extended sick leave (one of her daughters is dealing with anorexia, which many of us can relate to) for 2-3 weeks, which means I have been the acting director. I have a whole new appreciation for her job and am glad to usually be the assistant director.

My job (as asst. director) means that I get to have fun, make plans, move forward and not deal with the bulk of the administrative or disciplinary details.

And now, back to that job...:)

Jen

Beginning the blog

2005-01-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

When I first heard of blogging I thought it was just one more thing to do, but now I realize it's a nice place to find out about what's happening among friends and families without having to always send many different e-mails or track folks down on the phone. I may not be much of a blogger because of being so busy, but we will see. ...