It's Friday!

Well hey y'all!



I don't have anything pressing on my mind tonight. More than anything I was itching to show off my new design. And all the little extras that I created (hint, hint, look at my button).


Well this week was exam week. Out of five classes, I had three real exams and they were all on Thursday. I had one "exam" on Wednesday. It was a killer--we had to go out to PF Chang's and eat supper together. And it was optional. But the three exams on Thursday were rough. I got B's in all three of those classes and I am thrilled with those grades. Still waiting on the other two, but I'm not obsessing.


So today really was the end of the semester for me. And let me say Thank Goodness! Hands down, this has been the worst semester EVER. And it's not just me saying that. Everyone is; the students, the professors, the spouses of the students. Now, I am at a school where a teacher decided to kill fellow teachers and no one really recovers from that well. It's not that we are in shock, or grieving, or are scared. It just threw everyone off. And on top of that, it seems like everyone--teachers (and me) included--have had some sort of personal disasters happen in their life. I think the planets aligned and evil ran rampant in Morton Hall at UAHuntsville.


But it's done. And I survived. And to celebrate, some of the education students got together tonight and had a great supper and spent quality time together out of the classroom. And we even ran into one of our favorite (and most intimidating.he.is.brilliant.) professors and his lovely wife. I took my husband and kids and it was just so nice to not be stressed out for a change.

And now it's time for summer. I opted to not take summer classes. Of course that means that next summer I have to take four classes, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. This summer, I am just going to be. Now, that doesn't mean I'll be sitting around doing nothing. I've got several months of real cleaning to catch up on. There's a delightful rumor *fingers crossed* that I could be moving this summer. I must find a school for my children. I get to go build houses with my church. I have boys to play with and movies to watch and books to read. But I get to do it all at my pace. And I don't have to reflect (education word of death) on anything or write any papers. 

I get to be Annie.

And that's a good thing.

Stewing in a Pew

So I'm talking to my preacher Tommy today during church. He was telling me about the change in confirmation schedule. He asked if Tuesday at 4:30pm would be alright with Mac. I said sure, we had made this a commitment, so on and so forth. Now I told him that it would be Forest bringing him because I'd be at class. Tommy looked at me oddly. I said, no really, I'm in class all the time, you know that! Then with an impish grin, he said of course I know that, I read about it on FaceBook. Luckily, someone else grabbed his attention and I was off the hook.

And I was mad. Now really, I am very careful about what I post. Family and kids are on there! But I had forgotten that I'm friends with Tommy. I don't post anything that I would be ashamed if my family or friend saw, so why was I ashamed that Tommy was reading it?

I'm sitting in the pew stewing over the look on his face thinking what I could have possibly posted to get that reaction. And then he stated preaching!

And Oh My Stars he was at preaching me!

That really got my blood pressure up. How could that man stand there and judge me like that! Preaching from James 13, that to show others that we love and follow Christ that we must love one another. That while it's great to wear our crosses and our Christan t-shirts and listen to Christian music and put catchy bumper stickers on our cars, that we still have to love others to show that we are Christians.

We need to do loving actions to love others. Say kind words, do nice (and unexpected things) things (my fav is Tommy telling us that he likes to pay for the people behind him in the drive-thu), do things that show we love others.

None of this seems hard. But then I realized that while I live parts of my life that way, some of the much more public parts don't show this side of me.

 Especially my FaceBook side.

That side can be ugly. And when I think of how unloving and uncaring I can be, how sharp and biting my words can be, and how unkind so many of my thoughts are

it hurts me.

So yeah, he was preaching at me. God placed those words in his mouth so that they would be placed on my heart. And I'm glad for it.

I might not ever know what that grin was about. It might not have meant anything. But it did set up my heart for things I needed to hear.

So, with even more care and vigilance, I will be mindful of what I say and how I say it. That my ugly thoughts stay with me and not let into the world. That I won't say things that I'd be ashamed for Tommy to hear.

God, I have not loved you with my whole heart

I have not been obedient

I have not done your will

But God, I'm here now asking for help

Trying to love you 

Trying to love others

Trying to love me

Trying to be who you made me to be

And God,

Thank you