Welcome To Year 34

Yes, the title refers to my age. Now if I was like my mother, I would never reveal my age to anyone, let alone on a blog for all the world to see. But I realized today that much of life comes down to my attitude. I started the day off with a pretty good one. Got the kids up, was blessed by their hugs and kisses, “happy birthdays” and poster pictures they created for me. What a great start to the day. I sent them off to school (we were actually on time for once :) and then came home to a ringing phone and the pleasant surprise of my parents voices on the other end. We talked for almost an hour and I was refreshed, as I always am when I’ve been able to talk with them and hear their voices. But then my attitude started to go down hill from there. I started to work on something I should have finished weeks ago, but because of my bad habit of procrastination, had left until the left minute and now it was crunch time.

I just got into the swing of things when Josiah arrived home from school and I had to step back from my project to make him a snack and spend time teaching him math and phonics. I was able to push aside the nagging feeling about all the things I had to do, and focused on teaching for the next hour and a half. It went well and I would call it a productive and enjoyable time together! I walked him back to school and then returned home and sat down determined to finish my project. But all too soon the time came for me to leave it so that I could go and pick up Josiah and Keyana from school. Why today I had decided Keyana could have friends over, I don’t know but I had promised and so I came home with two extra little persons. Then another one showed up unannounced and just walked right on in when I opened up the door. Oh well, what’s another one?

I cooked lunch, got them all fed, then turned them loose to play and tried to get back to the project I needed to finish. But I forgot that I had promised Josiah some computer time as a reward for doing so well in our teaching time together. That meant I couldn’t use the computer I was presently working on, so I changed projects and decided that now would be a good time to finish up Joyful Praise for this week. Besides, it had to be uploaded today in order for it to be aired on CIAM tonight, Alberta time. I started to work on it but was interrupted by numerous problems and numerous needs. As I was outside, trying to help deal with a situation involving the kids, our neighbor, Maryanne, asked how I was doing and I answered, “I’m feeling stressed.” I went on to say that I had two projects that had to get accomplished today and that having extra kids over to play wasn’t helping. I told her that it was my birthday and that Anthony was off doing a workshop and wouldn’t be home until tomorrow, that I still had to take Keyana to see the Dr. about her tick bite and then we were trying to get to the restaurant for supper since I didn’t feel like cooking for myself on my birthday. She was very kind and sympathetic and asked if they could join us for supper to help me celebrate. I told her that would be wonderful.

I tried to return to my work on Joyful praise and managed to accomplish a bit before the person who was suppose to pick up one of Keyana’s friends, came an hour late and I was starting to feel the pressure and panic of two project deadlines with little hope of getting either of them finished the way things were going. So I plugged in a movie for Josiah and Keyana, (something I don’t like to do often but I was beginning to feel desperate) and returned to making Joyful praise. It was coming along well when up popped a box saying “Adobe error” and I lost everything I had put together in my session. I was reduced to tears and tried to recover it but was not successful.

At this point my attitude was at it’s lowest and I was feeling sorry for myself and listening to the negative, sarcastic voice in my head that said, “this is some birthday, eh?” I realized that the best thing for me to do at that moment, was to walk away from the computer and try again later. So, I closed it up, turned off the TV, got the kids ready and said, “let go see the Dr. about Keyana’s tick bite.” As we were going out the door, 2 fellow MCCers arrived, I had forgot they were coming, they asked about my day and I replied that it wasn’t going well. They were caring in their response and asked if I was on my way somewhere. I told them we needed to see the Dr. and they offered to give us a lift. I called the Dr. to see if it was still okay to come his way, but after talking on the phone, he answered my questions and we decided it wasn’t necessary for us to see him unless things worsened. So at this point we are continuing with the course of antibiotics and will keep an eye on the site for any further change. Then Anthony called to say his workshop was done and to ask if he should come home. I told him I would like it if he did and that my birthday had not been going well. I then informed our colleagues that they didn’t need to give me a lift to see the Dr. and that we could proceed to the restaurant instead. So we did and there began the beginning of a better birthday! We relaxed and visited and then another couple from the school arrived, they had heard there was a birthday party happening (they brought me chocolate chip cookies:) and our neighbors showed up, not to long after them. Then Anthony arrived to join the wonderful time of fellowship already started and which continued throughout our meal together. To my surprise, Maryanne produced a chocolate cake, iced and decorated with “Happy Birthday Karlene.” They sang and all the stress slid away and gone was my bad attitude that had dis-colored much of my day. It was a good feeling and I thanked God at that moment for the blessings of another year, for the blessings of this past year, for my precious family and for precious friends and then I asked Him to forgive me for my negative, down in the dumps attitude.

So really, in the end, what’s another year since it all comes down to attitude anyways? Welcome year number 34…I look forward in anticipation to what you have in store! ~Karlene

God Blesses Dependence

Let me continue the story that was left from last blog entry about the workshop. Yes I texted Karlene saying that the workshop was going great and to keep praying. I partly did that so she would not worry, I was not sure the workshop was going that well. But i did have a confidence that God was truly going to do more without my dependence on the DVD series, instead total dependence on Him.

Karlene was able to get the bag to me for the second day of the workshop, but I ended up not using the DVD’s. I tried to start with it, but saw looks on the faces of the teachers that told me to switch it off, so after 2 minutes, I did. I now had a textbook and workbook to use as well. These served me well in some aspects, but the workshop did not flow as well, as I would pause and look through the material instead of speaking from what I remembered. I can now see that it is very important that a presenter had best memorize the topic well enough that you don’t even have to look at the notes. It makes it flow and has a better feel to it. I am sure I forgot things that may have been important or interesting, but in the end, I learned that it is better for the presenter to speak what he or she knows very well.

One topic that came up that I didn’t want to speak about much was corporal punishment, but a certain teacher did not want to let it go. Teachers don’t feel that they should let it go, but it is MCC policy that the stick or cane is not to be used if they want to embrace the Peace Clubs. It is also against government laws as well, unless the principal administers it. After a too lengthy discussion, we moved on, but I did not feel anything good came of it. I was proved wrong when a teacher later shared she had been challenged by my views and would refrain from using “beating” as part of her discipline plan.
I can now testify that the workshop was the best one that I have had so far. The teacher response at the end was very encouraging. We had a brief time of sharing and teachers said they had been revived, challenged and learned a lot. Their were a few with tears in their eyes. They wanted to know how to love the students when their are so many in a class that they hardly know their names (even Gr. 1 has up to 68 in one class). I was hard pressed to give an answer, but did say that what I think is required of us is to do our very best in all that we do, to show love to the students by preparing lessons with all their hearts, by treating students the way that Jesus would, and pray that the Holy Spirit would help them see opportunities to touch students’ lives.

I have another workshop tomorrow. I am recovering from Malaria that I was feeling the effects of at the end of the other workshop, so I pray that again, God will do more than I can ask or imagine in this workshop. Please keep me in your prayers.

God Works Through Weakness (or forgetfulness)

This morning Anthony travelled out to do a workshop at a place that is about 2 hours away from our home. He's staying there overnight. Anyways, he left early this morning to get there in time for the 9 am start time. At 7:40 when I came back home from dropping the kids off at school, I was made sick to see his backpack still beside the door. I opened it up and found all his notes, books and DVD's that he uses to put on this workshop. I realized that it meant he had nothing to use for his two day workshop. I felt physically ill and called him to see where he was and if he realized that he had forgotten his bag.

He thought he had it and was upset when I told him it was still home. But he was too far to turn around and come back for it. Then we got cut off. I tried to text him to ask if he wanted me to see if our neighbours would let me borrow their truck and drive into Choma (half way to his workshop) to drop his bag off there for him to try and get during the lunch break. He called me back when he was in a service area again and said, that I didn't need to bring it, that he was mad at first but now he was calm and just had a peace that God was going to work despite the circumstances. He laughed and said, just because you couldn't do this doesn't mean that I can't. I laughed too because that's exactly what I was thinking when I saw his bag! My first thought was if this was me going to do a workshop and I had left my bag at home with my notes I would be a basket case!!!!! And here's my hubby calm and at peace that God was going to make a way. He did tell me to pray and pray I did! :-)

It was neat to hear later today that Dad and Mom's bible study group had been lead to pray for Anthony last night and today and then they called to see how the day went. Anyway, then I went over to Tracy's and asked if I could use her truck and said I would understand if she said no. But she said yes without hesitation and said it's just a truck! I was amazed and as we talked, she said we could go into Choma together. (She's without her hubby like I am only for more days than me) She thought it would be good to get out of Macha for a bit. So, I went and made provisions for the kids incase we didn't make it back by 13 hours when school is out and then we headed into Choma.

I dropped Anthony's bag off for it to be picked up and taken to him (and he now has it) and then Tracy wondered if we had time to go for lunch together. I said that sounded really good and that I realized now being in Choma that I hadn't been out of Macha for over 2 months and no wonder I was starting to go a bit stir crazy! So we checked with Sue at the school and she said she'd look after my kids and then we went and had a lovely lunch, did a little bit of shopping and headed home! What a lovely morning! We talked non stop there and back and it was just so good to be with a friend and get out of Macha and have a break from mom stuff and yeah.....it was just a good morning. She thanked me after we got home for getting her out of the house and I thanked her for being so willling to give of her time to help me/Anth out. I'm going to miss them when they move April 15th. :-(

Then I went and picked up my kiddies who were fine, went and talked to their teachers and heard good reports about them both. Then we came home and the kids ate a really late lunch and then I felt like treating them for the good reports from school so we made popcorn and watched a movie! While we were watching my parents called and we chatted and while I was on the phone with them I got a text from Anthony saying, "Went great! Praise God, keep praying!" How exciting! I shared it with my parents and neither of us could speak for a bit because we were just awed at the way God works when the situation seems impossible or terrible! :-) (At least in my eyes it did :-)

What a great day! God's just once again proved His goodness and faithfulness and I'm so thankful! My faith is being stretched and it's good!
Thanks so much for your prayers! They are so necessary and so needed!