Here's a logic problem for you: on Sunday we have a baptism at church, our minister is recovering from a broken wrist and I am a deacon. Can you work out the solution? I'm feeling very nervous, I never imagined I would ever be "dunking" anyone, what if I do it wrong?
Would you like to support your favourite charity by surfing the net? Everyclick is a search engine which donates money to charity every time you make a search, if you register you can even choose the charity where your money goes. Why help Google rake in the cash when you could be helping a good cause? Go and have a look, it sounds like a great idea to me (and it was the brainchild of one of our ex-teachers!). See a video all about it here. Please tell all your friends and colleagues about it.
Its turned cold here in the UK, winter has properly arrived, but I'm ok because I am wrapped up warm in my scarf and hat which Mum knitted me at Christmas!
I don't think these pigeons are particularly wild, in fact they are very tame,
I couldn't let my sister have all the fun so now I'm knitting a jumper! Sadly annoying things like marking and meetings have been getting in the way of my knitting time, but I've now finished the back and am feeling rather proud of myself.
This week is turning out to be busy and stressful! On Monday we had a staff meeting with the governors to discuss details of the merger and necessary staff cuts, which inevitably left us all a bit depressed. Yesterday was the first of the parents forums, when the parents have the chance to ask questions of the governors about what will be happening to their daughters, to help them to decide what to do next. We have been encouraged to go along to hear the parents concerns so we are better informed about how they are feeling. It was actually quite encouraging to hear the compliments of the parents on our current school and how good they think the staff are, but not so good to hear how worried some of them are about the future education of their daughters. To top a stressful week, I have 2 AS Accounting exams tomorrow morning and I had forgotten just how scary taking exams is! Why on earth did I think doing an A level would be a fun thing to do?!?! I've been doing some last minute revision but I have to say I'm not feeling too confident. If I don't do too well I have already decided that I have a perfect excuse of all the recent stress and meetings! I'm remembering all the usual things I say to the girls about "only doing your best", "stay calm and don't panic" and "if you've done the work you'll be ok", but its not really helping too much. I'd better get an early night so I am fresh and raring to go in the morning and hope the "right" questions come up!
Well, we are now in 2007 and no one knows what this year will hold. What I do know is that in this year I will face a lot of changes. In September my school will be merging with another so everything will be changing. There has been a lot of debate amongst staff, pupils and parents about whether this will be a good thing and obviously this is not the place to raise such issues but it has meant we have all had to have a good look at the future. Whether we like it or not change is coming!
It is time to make choices: stay and deal with the changes, find a new teaching job or take this opportunity to try something new. It would be good if there was a nice easy choice but to be honest all these options will take hard work and courage (I really don't like interviews!). I really wish God would speak through big neon signs, I could do with a very clear sign what to do next!
On Sunday night the preacher spoke on the prayer of Jabez, now I have heard of this before but have been wary because of the hype about it in certain circles. However this week it really spoke to me:“Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” 1 Chronicles 4 v10 (NKJV)
It is slightly different in the New King James version to other places I have read it but I think I like this version best. Maybe all the changes happening are God's way of enlarging my territory, which I actually find quite scary, I like a small familiar territory!
I think I need to hold on to this verse from Jeremiah:"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29 v11 (NIV)
