And there was much rejoicing!
I think that it went ok. We'll see what kind of feedback we get from people next week. I still have to finish grading the project display boards (all of which were left after the Fair Friday night so that we as teachers CAN grade them at a more leisurely (read: not frantic) pace), but otherwise, no more Science Fair. Except to put all the wisdom and experience of three years of this thing into a binder for future generations. (read: whatever poor schmuck gets stuck doing it next year.)
No school today. Using a friend's computer to send this brief update out to the world. Still not able to connect to the internet on my computer. Wireless or wired. doesn't matter. really need to factory reset it, i guess (AGAIN) but it's SUCH a pain and process, and what if this time it DOESN'T work? (all five - or 4?- previous times it's worked like a charm.) If it doesn't work, then i'm stuck with a computer lacking years and years of Windows updates and many of hte applications that i've downloaded and won't be able to download again.
Scouring the internet for possible help and solutions simply gives me a headache. I'm NOT a computer guru. Sigh.
Next decision: do we have a spelling bee this year or skip this year? I'm in charge, and it was originally scheduled for three weeks into the Science Fair process, which just wasn't a sound decision, but especially if the coordinator is also on the Science Fair Committee. So, I was given the option of canceling or postponing. I elected postponement, becuase I really do see a great deal of benefit from doing a spelling bee. HOWEVER, postponing means doing it in November (now) and I failed to realize that this is also the time for Family Day, the gigantic school-wide event that is mostly planned by parents. shouldn't interfere, except that parents are going to want to be focusing on Family Day, and not spelling bee, and with the end of the year, TEACHERS are going to be wanting to focus on TEACHING curriculum, and not losing time to spelling bee. and then there's the Christmas program... Anyway. Despite all the truly wonderful things that spelling bee teaches, i'm beginning to think that because of when it was programmed into the school year, this year we might not have it. Program it into the year early on next year. But, don't know if that is still a decision that I can make, after being offered the decision earlier...
I'm excited because it appears that Cindy is coming to Peru for a visit!!! and I am rather despondent to start thinking seriously of packing and going home to nothing. Well, ok, not NOTHING. Going to home to family and friends. But nothing else. No job, no money, no place to live other than my parents' basement, no transportation... I keep reading those promises of God's got a plan for His children and I keep fighting back the bile. God got me this far, through equally "hopeless futures"... I guess I just feel like, how many times do I expect Him to pull a rabbit out of the hat for me?
And, as I wrote that, I realized: it's not Him pulling a rabbit out of a hat... it's ME giving up on trying to create a rabbit on my own to put in the hat. How many times will I go through this silly song and dance of thinking I'm supposed to create the rabbit and pull it out??? HELLO, McFLY? God tells us not to rely on our own understanding, our own powers of provision, our own anything. Everything we have is a gift from Him, and (as JEsus says) what kind of Father doesn't give good gifts to his children when they need them? That's the thing- WHEN they need them. And there I am am, back at the same place i've been so many times before: wait patiently for the Lord, instead of TELL ME NOW GOD.
So, I'll keep doign what I can to prepare for what comes next (updating my resume, for example) and I'll just keep praying for help in trusting Him to give me the next gifts when I need them. (Ever read The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom? If you haven't, DO SO. Read it yesterday. this idea was illustrated many times in that book.)
okay, i need to go to school and prep for the week. Thanks for being there, wherever "there" is for you!
with love-
