Crossing the picket line...

I'm breaking my 'strike' to talk about something that is really hitting me hard...

It seems to go from bad to worse. I'm trusting God; however, the storm seems to be getting worse. Lord, Help me...please. I'm sinking fast and might drown.

I'm finally getting to read the local paper for today. On the front page there is an article on the cuts to the school board and some of the things we can expect for next year. They actually mentioned the possibility of us having a pay cut. They are "hoping" to give us our 'step' raise of $500; however, we will probably see nothing beyond that and we don't have a contract for next year, yet.

I looked on the Chronicle's web site for a link to the article; however, they didn't have it posted on the site (like I'm surprised by that one).

Anyone know of a job for a Drama Teacher/Director with a BA in English and a Masters in Theatre???

On Strike???

I have borrowed most of this from The Conventicle (I hope you guys don't mind!); however, it seemed like it would work for me as well. If you have any thoughts, feel free to respond.

Rather than saying my blog is on hiatus, I think it would be more awesome, sweet, stupendous, good, noble to say that I am on strike. A strike over what, you ask? Not sure. But here are some ideas I have been considering:


1) Teachers get paid the salary they deserve

2) Drama in the schools is recognized as a valid subject and not just a fluff course.

3) When all anonymous commenters in all of blogdom write their real name, drop their moral outrage over book reviews and stuff, and say sorry for hijacking posts (I'm looking at you, 'anonymous'), I shall post again.

4) Until someone can give a satisfactory explanation for the dismissal of ___(insert appropriate name)___ from ___(insert appropriate reality TV show)_____, I shall post no more forever.

5) When Peter Jackson agrees to direct The Hobbit, I shall come down off the mountain with yet another post about obscure things to be read only by people who already know them.

6) Equal cuts are made to sports (Football in particular) that are suggested for other school programs and entire school schedules are not adjusted for athletics. Please stop telling us all things are equal when it is painfully obvious that the opposite is true. Maybe this could be expanded to include state spending for education??? Cuts to education only hurt the students.

7) School administrators do not look at a certificate or resume, see a degree or certified area and automatically assume it means a person is able to teach a subject.

8) Standardized state mandated testing of students...'nuff said.

9) When Tetris: The Musical earns a Tony for "Best New Musical" I shall post again.

10) When my students happily do all of their homework every night and come to class anxious to participate in every activity.

Right, well I'm just brainstorming here.

Until my next post: Power to the ____________ and down with _____________ for a better _______________. Join me as I strike for this.

But I'm tired!!!!!

When we are puzzled by delays and detours, let us think about the great purpose of life: to glorify God. The lessons He wants to teach us "in the wilderness" are priceless means of providing us with a song we could not otherwise have sung: "In Thy constant love Thou hast led the people!" (Ex 15:13).

The above is part of my devotions from today. I am puzzled by everything going on in my life right now. I'm tired and frustrated. While, ultimately, everything will work out for God's will, the here and now is a little intense and overwhelming. It seems that there are changes on the horizon but the waiting is hard.

Tom might be getting another job. We really really hope this job is part of God's will. It would be such a great opportunity: better hours, more money, different environment, etc.

For me? That's the hard part. I just don't know what God is leading me to do. It seems that I keep being told "wait". It seems that there is change coming, I just don't know what that change shall be. When I look at the things I enjoy I don't know how they could fit together.

I like/love:
God
my husband
my family
my friends
my dog (Maggie!)
theatre
directing
research
acting
working backstage
California
teaching
learning (should I get a PhD? if I should, from where?)
FSU Theatre (I'm going to miss being there this summer)
Christian High School/Christian Unified Schools (of El Cajon)
photography
travel
flying
reading
shopping
jewelry (I would love to learn how to make jewelry)
clothing (I would love to learn how to sew/sew better)
music
movies
gadgets
not having to get up for work at 5:15 am!
riding my bike
walking
Mustangs
animals
costume crafts

So how do these things come together to create a career? What is it God wants me to do???



PS...something I just heard "Coincidence is just God in a fake mustache and sunglasses." Hmmmmmmm, I never thought of it like that.

just for me...

Yet again, God has used my morning devotions to speak to me. Even though I am discouraged and totally exhausted, I will push forward. God will sustain. This period is only temporary and He will prevail. (but, Lord, I really am so very tired...)

Training Through Chastening

Hebrews 12:1-11

If you are now going through testing, there are three things you should especially remember.

First, God's way is the wisest way. Training is always accompanied by some type of hardship.

Even athletes realize they cannot properly train without giving up some of the pleasures of life and enduring the hardship of training. God trains us through chastening.

Second, God's time is the best time. God was working out His purpose through Joseph. It was impossible for Joseph to realize it at the time, but later he could look back and see that God's time had been exactly right--everything had worked out.

But imagine the lonely years of waiting. God does not act too early nor too late. He is never in a hurry but accomplishes things in His own time.

Too many of us either lag behind or run ahead of God's time. But we need to remember that the clock of divine providence keeps strict time. Because of our circumstances it may appear to be slow at times and fast at others, but the all-wise God knows precisely when to act.

Third, God's grace is sufficient. He will give us the grace we need to be patient.

James 1:4 says, "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." The word "perfect" means "mature" or "complete." God is seeking to teach us valuable lessons so we will be mature believers.

"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty" (Job 5:17).

My students strike again

So, a couple of my students went to Disney Hollywood Studios on Monday. One of them tells these 2 dandy's she knows how to play the ukulele and the rest is history. I think my favorite part is they guy in the background, it looks like he's having his photo taken. I wonder what stories he'll tell people when he goes home!

For today...

God's ways are mysterious; they are beyond man's comprehension. As God sovereignly works, man is often unable to understand why he is being led down a certain path.

"Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?" (Prov. 20:24).