Settled In

Notice that there are no panes in this window.

In order to get this queen sofa bed couch into the living room, we had to remove the panes.  It took 5 men to move it.

 This is the front door.  All the doors are the same size and thus all were too small.

This shows my mom's cedar armoire in its new place.

A glimpse of the chaos that reigned for the rest of that day.

Here is the window with panes back in place.

We put the cats' perch there so Scruffy especially can watch the birds.

(George doesn't use it.  He stretches out on a chest that is set in this alcove.

Here are all most of my potted plants.

I told the guys to just set them there until I figured out where 

they could go.

Most of my potted herbs are still on the screened-in back porch

at the other house.

One of these days we'll cart them down the steps,

load them up and bring them here.

The friend from high school who is now our neighbor

brought brownies for us.

I couldn't resist taking this photo.

As you can see hubby and our cats have settled in well!

 George

Scruffy

Here is the far end of the living room.

It will change eventually, but for now we have chairs for others to sit in.

Here is our dining room.  

I had forgotten about most of these items.

The Orr crock and the grandchildren photo and frame

were the only items put out in the bungalow.

That's because when I moved into the bungalow,

these items were decorating the home in Cinci.

Glass and pewter that had been packed away.

 Here is the kitchen.  It is the most 'settled' of all the rooms. Look at the lovely flowers sent us by friends---aren't they gorgeous!  Uhh, fellow bloggers, what are they?

No pictures are up

and there are still many boxes to be unpacked,

but it feels like home

and we are happier than we've been in a long while.

School is going well,

but there is so much to do.

We have paper work, data, and statistics

to do and put together.

I have my 4 syllabuses done

along with my rules (from last two years) 

and my grading and assignment policy (new this year).

My sub binder is done.

I thought I had my pretests done--

I chose to do unit ones---which was fine last year.

I've just been informed that I need full year pretests

for my data for my SLO 

(new Ohio lingo--it stands for Student Learning Objectives,

so I have to make up new tests this weekend.

I still have my unit lesson plans,

my curriculum map,

and my SLO to do.

Plus I have a class of essays  

and other misc. stuff to grade.

I thought I might get almost caught up this weekend,

until I was thrown the curve ball of the pretests.

But new teams were formed for this year,

and I have help for the first time since these new requirements were put into place.

Before I just had the other English teacher 

and she is a complete loner---no team attitude at all.

So it has been lonely and frustrating during team planning time

for the past few years.

Now I have feedback and encouragement.

It is making a huge difference.

To sum it up, I'm doing well.

I'm happy.

Below are photos of my classroom.

Blessings to you all this weekend!

Explanation and Monday's Prayer

I have been absent from blogging.

Sometimes, I have read some of your blogs,

but did not comment.

At other times, I didn't read any.

I have not posted for almost two weeks.

Explanation: A switch of medications.

Something I researched and agreed to do.

I have a good doctor and I believe I am in good hands.

The body has not liked the change

and I have felt anti-social 

and/or too tired to think of something to write.

I am rounding a major bend and in three weeks

I will be completely switched.

My body is finally adapting

and thus, my brain is beginning to want to function.

I don't know how much I will blog or comment,

but know that I care for all of you -- my blogger friends.

My silence only means my body is adjusting.

A HUGE moment occurred yesterday:

I joined a local church.

It is where my dad pastored when I was in high school.

It is the church God has been instructing me to join.

I've always been a bit rebellious,

but the rebellion often manifests as passive aggression.

I don't 'do' as much as I 'do not do'.

So I did not join though I've lived here nine years.

Well, yesterday I became a conscious (not simply on paper)

 member of a church.

Below are some pics of the house.

We have possession 

and my husband has started on the living room ceiling.

He and a friend tore out the ceiling in the living room.

He is wiring places for lights.

Then he will put dry wall up and do the finishing touch.

We've got a guy lined up to paint it then.

MONDAY'S PRAYER:

Lord,

I commend my day to You 

and ask You to be in charge of it

from beginning to end.

Enable me to do all

I need to do successfully and well.

Help me to do it 

carefully and not carelessly.

Help me to do it all diligently 

and not lazily.

Help me to do everything skillfully 

and not shabbily.

I know I cannot do all I need to do in my day

without Your help.

I don't want to ever take for granted that,

just because I have done some of these things before,

they are always going to turn out right

each time.

I know that sometimes

even the simplest things

can become a problem or a challenge,

so I don't want to assume that 

everything will automatically go smoothly.

That's why I submit 

my entire day to You

and ask You to be in charge of all I am doing.

Specifically, what I need the most help

with today is:

(fill in).

The ways I want You to guide me today are:

(fill in).

What I am most concerned about today is:

(fill in).

The things I want to accomplish today are:

(fill in).

The people I need to see and talk to are:

(fill in).

What I hope will happen today is:

(fill in).

What I don't want to happen today is:

(fill in).

Lord, I thank You that You are in charge

of my day and all that happens.

Be in charge of the surprises,

the unexpected,

and the things that turn out differently

than I planned.

Enable me to hear Your voice

speaking to my heart,

telling me the way I should go

and what I should do.

In Jesus' name I pray.

WORD POWER:

This is the day the Lord has made;

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Blessing to you all as you go about your week.