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.

Spring has come here and Monday's Prayer

Spring has come to my part of Ohio--southeastern.

I took time Saturday for a drive out west of town.

This water area had definitely perked up with bright greens.

These pinkish/purplish trees winked at me

everywhere I looked.

A 4-wheel drive version of a golf cart pulled over to let me pass,

not realizing that I was enjoying the scenery too.

They had to pass me here as I snapped photos of this row of color.

One of my favorite spots--it is still untouched by stripping or fracking.

"When you don't take enough time to be alone with God,

you can become depleted.

You may feel like an eggshell

 that could be crushed with every little outside pressure.

That means you need more of God in your life.

There is nothing on earth more important than Him.

There isn't anything else that can satisfy the hunger you feel inside

except more of His presence."

Stormie Omartian

Monday's Prayer

Lord,

You are my light and my salvation,

You are the strength of my life.

Of whom, then, shall I be afraid?

I will be strong and of good courage,

for I know that You are with me wherever I go.

If I have gotten my mind off of You and on my circumstances,

help me to reverse that process

so that my mind is off my circumstances and on You.

Help me to be strong and unshakable

so I can serve You all the days of my life.

In Jesus' name I pray.

---GOD'S PROMISE----

If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink.

He who believes in Me,

as the Scripture has said,

out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

John 7:3-38

From: THE POWER OF PRAYING--

HELP FOR A WOMAN'S JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE

By Stormie Omartian

Blessings on you as you begin your week!

Corner View: Bridges and Back Roads

I am featuring my Ireland trip this week

to illustrate corner view's topic.

Look to the back of the above photo 

and you will see the bridge 

that had to be crossed to get 

to a part of Dublin.

Back road on an island off the coast.

After crossing on a ferry,

we walked the island.

Back on the 'mainland' this is in the Connemara region,

which is quite rural with narrow, winding 'back roads'.

The back roads could be treacherous as the driver of this car discovered.

Looking down into an area of countryside in Connemara.

For more views from around the world,

please check out Francesca's place.

Barn Charm: # 71

Several years ago I was able to get two quick photos of these barns.

They are on a curve in a hill on my way to school and back.

The best shot of them is to be taken on my way home

when the barns are on my left side --driver's side.

There is road work intermittently along my route to school.

Yesterday a temporary stop light was waiting for me.

I was thrilled to see that it put my stopped car

right beside these barns!

Those of you who are not familiar with hilly landscapes

will wonder at how these are built.

It's called necessity--you go with the lay of the land.

Firs the group of them on a far shot.

Closer.

Middle shed/barn

One on the right.

This one is in the curve of the road.

Left one.

View to the left of the barns.

If you look closely you can see a pair of black cows.

There is more to this farm.

It has a big farm house and several more small outbuildings.

Then on the other side of the curve

and up behind these barns,

nestled into a flattened out area of yet another hill

is a long, low cattle barn.

Unless hubby drives me there,

I will not be able to get that one.

It is in a spot that will require someone being quite attentive to traffic (hubby)

while the other one (me) snaps the camera.

For more barn views from all around the world,

please check out Tricia's place.

More Prom and Monday's Prayer

I've known this young lady since she was a new-born.

Her dad has been vice-president of my ex's family company for many years.

I have been friends with her mom before this young lady was born.

She does not go to our high school,

but to a vocational school.

The boy is from our high school,

but goes to the same vocational school as the girl.

Ah-ha!

I was surprised but pleased to see her there.

The parents gathered inside the convention center and it was a bit chaotic.

Several of us teachers 'new' at these things 

have some different plans in mind for our years,

such as a red carpet

and seats for the parents---outside.

We would like to make it an event

 where the couples get center stage

walking into the prom.

The high school where my kids went

did this.

The fathers were valets.

But we parents did not have seats

and that was fine too.

I wanted to show you the camouflage dress from the front.

This is definitely a 'country' girl's choice--from a hunting family.

The counselor and I were taking pictures of the girls.

I got mine printed today.

Tomorrow Diane and I will put our pics up on a bulletin board

for all to see.

Then when we take it down, the kids can take the pic of their choice.

These colors are so VIVID!

And underneath . . .

BOOTS!

The theme was "A Country Tale"

and boots were encouraged.

Diane and I thought this was a cool choice of a dress

that this young lady will be able to wear in college.

The one on the left is usually not flamboyant,

but the one on the right dresses with pizazz at school.

The one on the left has her cell phone tucked into the middle of her top!

Only K. would do that and forget about it for a picture!

Classic model type.

Some of us teachers.

The teacher in the white and black skirt with boots

is our art teacher.

She was the advisor for the prom.

I'm behind her in classic long black skirt

with black heels and a simple gold metallic v-neck.

The prom king and queen begin to dance

as everyone snaps pictures.

They really got into it.

He twirled her around---was fun to watch.

They are good friends but are in long relationships with others.

Then everyone got to join in the dance.

A lot of the boys take their jackets, shirts, and ties off

and just wear their vests on top because of the heat.

The girls take their shoes off.

One huge difference since my high school days

is not just the style.

Yes, we wore long sleeves and modest necklines,

but most of us did not have much to hold up a strapless dress! Ha!

I am constantly amazed at how old the high school girls look today.

It's got to be all the additives and such in our food---surely.

(The counselor Diane got such a kick at of how all the girls

would simultaneously grab their tops and hoist them up

before a picture.

Actually they 'hoisted' them up most of the night!)

Monday's Prayer

Thank You, Lord, 

for Your Infinite love.

Make me an optimistic Christian, Father,

as I place my hope and my trust in You.

Amen.

Short and sweet and to the point this week!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Corner View: Architecture

Nine years ago my husband and I celebrated our fiftieth birthdays

with a trip to Ireland.

Some of you have already seen my Ireland photos.

However, I decided that some of the finest examples of architecture

in my photo collection were from Ireland.

Therefore, I am showing these photos again.

A humongous home that became a Catholic girls school and is now open to visitors.

The next three are of a church in Dublin.

This next photo shows the charming stone homes

 that are an integral part of Ireland's architecture.

They may not qualify as stunning to some,

but the attention to detail in these humble abodes

are stunning to me.

It is late and my mind is foggy, so the specific names of these buildings and places

are shut away in a back room in my brain.

I apologize for not giving more detail.

Next up are photos from my hometown.

The town is on the National Historic Register as a Victorian Village.

I have shown this house before also.

It is across from the home where I grew up.

I considered this my dream home. 

I introduced it on my blog here.

I was thrilled when it went on the real estate market.

I posted reasons why it was my dream house here

 and the reasons why it wouldn't work for us, here.

Here is another home we looked at.

But it was up for auction without a clear title.

Our lawyer advised us to leave it alone.

We complied.

These two photos are of our Gay 90s Museum.

It is a stunning example of Victorian architecture

--at least for us small town folks!

For more views from around the world,

please check out Francesca's place.

Barn Charm: # 70

When I, camera in hand, drive on a favorite road out west of my town,

there are two farms that I can see way down in the valley.

Some day this summer I hope to go exploring with hubby

and find the way down to them.

I got a better shot of this one on my way back to town.

It is much further away than it looks.

This barn is one I've taken before, but never this early in spring.

For more barn views, head on over to Trish's place.