Barn Charm #74

You can barely see the barn hidden in the overgrowth of trees.

My husband spotted it first.

As we continued up the winding country road,

more of the structure emerged.

The set up is like nothing I have ever seen

and though I tried, I don't think I did it 'justice'.

There is a wall made of railroad ties between the side of it and the road.

Then there is a stone wall between it and another barn and the actual house.

I did not get a photo of the house.

Here I have stuck my head out of my SUV's sun roof to get a last shot.

This was part of the property also,

although it was on the other side of the road.

I hope to go back some day and take more and better photos.

Please join Tricia for more barn views.

Graduation and Monday's Prayer

This past Saturday was the graduation at the high school

where I teach.

The first picture shows how beautiful the surroundings were.

One of 'my girls' getting her diploma and a hug.

This does not capture the best decorated caps, but it gives you an idea,  

Just about done with diplomas and getting ready to switch the tassel

to the other side or their caps.

Our tiny band.

Here they begin the parade out to the middle of the football field

where they will toss their caps.

It is a tradition to decorate the senior hall the night before awards day

and graduation practice.

The girls 2nd and 3rd from the left and the one on the rt. end

are three of 'my girls'.

Monday's Prayer

Lord, I can't change the world around me,

but I can bring my life and requests to You.

May Your peace guard my heart and mind today.

Thank You that I can rest in You.

Amen

Be anxious for nothing,

but in everything by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known to God'

and the peace of God, 

which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-7 NKJV

 From The Confident Woman Devotional

by Joyce Meyer

This is finals week.

Teachers' last day is Friday.

I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel

called this school year.

Blessings to you all as you go through this week!

Mother's Day flowers and Monday's Restoration Prayer

My daughter sends me live flowers specially packaged to my school

for special occasions.

This is what I received for Mother's Day.

It is just beginning to bloom.

The photos of the entire arrangement are not the best,

but the light and my choice of camera setting combined to create a dubious outcome.

There were tiny purplish blue flowers that were a bit flimsy after a day of bloom,

so I cut them and put in a tiny vase (they are not shown).

I love fresh flowers.

I love that my daughter realizes and honors that.

Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a High Priest 

who is unable to understand and sympathize 

and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses

and infirmities 

and liability to the assault of temptation,

but One who has been tempted in every respect as we are,

yet without sinning.

"Jesus understands us when nobody else does.

He even understand us when we don't understand ourselves.

He knows 'the why behind the what'.

Jesus knows why we behave the way we do.

He sees and remembers all the emotional wounds

and bruises in our past. .  .

He understand our weaknesses--every fear, every insecurity,

every doubt,

all our wrong thinking. . .

He loves us unconditionally,

and He is committed to working with us through the Holy Spirit---

and He does not condemn us while He is at it."

Monday's Prayer

Lord, who You are making me into is so much more important 

than the doing that others expect from me.

Help me to trust Your hand

and the shaping You are doing in my life.

Amen.

From "Restoration is a Process"

The Confident Woman Devotional

by Joyce Meyer

Blessings to you as you begin your week.

Barn Charm #73

Spring is finally visiting a little farm nestled down in a valley west of town.

For more barn views head on over to Tricia's.

Feeling like an old tire and Monday's Prayer

Ever feel like an old tire?

Most days I feel useful, but some I don't.

I lay around like an old tire, 

praying and hoping for the strength to overcome the chronic illness

and rise up with energy to "go forth and be fruitful."

It didn't help that this ope-floor-plan 600 sq. ft. house

got to me yesterday.

No room with a chair in it to go and close the door

and have peace and quiet.

So I headed to the local nursery.

Asked by one of the owners, who knows me,

what I was looking for,

I replied,

I'm just escaping an open-floor-plan 600 sq. ft house.

He laughed, "Enough said--I get the picture totally!"

I did buy flowers though I had to cover them up last night

since I didn't get them planted 

and temps dipped to 32 degrees.

Monday's Prayer:

Lord, I thank You for Your grace that covers my weakness.

Thank You that Your power shines through my powerlessness.

In times of suffering or trial,

I pray for an added sense of Your presence

so I can grow stronger in You and not weaker.

Help me to know that Your grace covers my inadequacies.

In Jesus' name I pray.

------------GOD'S PROMISE-----------

My grace is sufficient for you,

for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Blessings to you as you begin this week.

Barn Charm #72

This is another segment on my "Seasonal Changes of 4 Barns."

This is my favorite barn.

I rarely get to show it from this angle.

Some of you will recognize it in a second from the other side.

It features an Ohio State University Logo:

a big O with a buckeye and leaves on the bottom rt.-hand part of the O.

Gray and scarlet are OSU's colors.

Here is the more familiar side.

For more barn views, mosey on over to Tricia's Place.

School, girls and their drama, and Monday's Prayer

My computer is fixed, thanks to my husband

and his awesome gift with technology

and the workings of a computer.

This photo is taken from the front 'yard' of the high school where I teach.

It's looking up the hill to the tiny village that is part of our address.

This is looking up that same hill,

but focusing to the left.

This is part of a farm.

I look at this barn as I get out of my car

and again when I get back in it at the end of the work day.

It is a constant in my life.

There was a lot of 'drama' on Friday.

Our guidance counselor had to handle it 

as our principal was gone for the day.

It began with a girl screaming at another girl in the hallway

and calling her two horrendously horrible names 

with equally hideous adjectives.

Never has that happened here.

The middle of the day (5th period after lunch) revealed a plot

 masterminded by one freshmen girl

to isolate another freshmen girl--

cut off her friends and persecute her

seven girls against one.

Jealousy is the motivator.

One girl, who wouldn't turn against the girl,

called her mom and went home.

Another girl was in the counselor's office.

I pulled the victim out of class.

Four of the bullies sat in my class.

The first two girls were also from my class.

I was not happy.

It will take too long to explain how I handled all that

after a lousy lunch

and four hours sleep.

But God is in the midst of this.

The day ended with a boy and girl fighting in the parking lot.

Our counselor was exhausted.

So was I---I am her close friend.

We see eye to eye on a lot of things

and we both have a faith.

Another teacher is trying to gain control again--

she had it under the former principal.

She is an angry, bitter woman full of misery and meanness.

This morning's staff meeting should be interesting.

Please lift us up in prayer---esp. our principal 

who returns to the mess this morning.

This is a typical scene most evenings as baseball and softball are in 'full swing'.

This is looking the other direction--the one I take home.

Monday's Prayer:

Lord,

help me to remember that no matter how dark or uncertain

my situation may become,

You are the light of my life

and can never be put out.

No matter what dark clouds settle on my life,

You will lift me above the storm

and into the comfort of Your presence.

In times of trial,

I pray for an added sense of Your presence.

Help me to turn to You, Holy Spirit,

as my Comforter 

and experience Your peace that passes all understanding.

In Jesus' name I pray.

----GOD'S PROMISE-----

Wait on the LORD; be of good courage,

and He shall strengthen your heart;

wait I say, on the LORD!

Psalm 27:14

From The Power of Praying:

Help for a Woman's Journey Through Life

by Stormie Omartian

Blessings to you all as you begin this week!

Computer Issues

My computer did not turn back on yesterday.
I had a good reason for turning it completely off
before I left for school.
When I arrived home and pushed in the button
to activate the computer, nothing happened.
Nada.
 
My husband tore it apart and then replaced it
temporarily with another one.  He is working
on getting that one up and running with all my
files and programs.
Meanwhile, I wait patiently, thankful I have
someone who can fix the problem.
It should be 'up and running' soon.