Jodi's Blog

Check Joe's blog....

2007-12-05T19:24:00.000-08:00

Hey there blogalotta people...............from the highly inconsistent blogger!

Check out our 23 year old son's blog......He is Mr. Deep Thinker, but also a whole lot of fun.......Most importantly, he loves God and people.........We are blessed that God chose us to be his parents, but he is really just "on loan" as God is His heavenly father.

www.joetucker.wordpress.com

Back to school-----three weeks late after knee surgery

2007-09-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

I am thanking God for being out of pain........Arthroscopic knee surgery was last week (Sept. 7) and I went back to work on Sept. 14, one week later. It was a teachers-only day, so my first "real" day will be Monday, Sept. 17.............one month after that dreadfully nasty major tear in the medial meniscus of my right knee, along with alot of unstable cartilage.

I thank God for trained orthopedic surgeons who can do this surgery almost effortlessly. I thank God for trained medical persons that are called to heal and help. I thank God that we are fearfully and wonderfully made! I thank God for this present life and for eternity!! I thank God that I can get back to kids and teaching very soon......I thank God for Jesus!!..................Yeah, you guessed it....I am thankful!!

From Go, go, go to Slow, slow, slow

2007-08-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

Greetings blog readers,

Aug. 17 ended my go-go-go days at least for a while...... going up the basement steps with a box, thee most excruciating pain I've ever had (even worse than labor) attacked the back side of my right knee and made me scream intensely and fall forward. Daughter Lindsey came running down to see what was wrong. I continued to cry for a long time and was unable to move that leg for a long time.......still can't put full weight on it and have had a stream of dr. appointments, x-rays, and most recently an MRI with Pete, the great hubby, driving me all over. Plus, my parents have been great in the food and help department!!

Mostly I missed not being able to help any of the three Tucker "kids" move into their dorm or the sorority house or another house AND not going back to teach this first week of school. That has caused MAJOR crying out to God in frustration and dependence all in one cry!! If I had a sitting job, I would have gone back to work, but elementary music teaching is rarely a sit-down endeavor in combination with the playground and cafeteria duties, too. Anyway, it's brought me back more often to God......not that I just ignore Him on any given day, but the "Dependence Factor" is in high gear now instead of low gear.................not to mention all the verses about His ways/plans are not what our plans are..........So, I must continue with not teaching since using crutches is not an option for that and praying and crying out alot.

OK, enough of the pity party and onward to knowing that reading and realizing/comprehending the last few verses of Isaiah 40:28-31 is what this is all about........I will have them memorized in about another few days. These verses will take a lifetime to know in full. It's not about me, but Him!

Parenting 101-501---phasing into Consultation 101

2007-05-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

Dude!!....................The youngest Tucker (Lindsey--18) will be graduating from high school in about 2 1/2 weeks on June 7, 2007. Where did those past two decades go??????????? I am really excited for this next phase of life as more consultant instead of parent. However, when she goes to senior prom or walks across that stage with her diploma, it will probably hit me like a ton of bricks that these days of parenting are over. I just may sob like a baby. But, I'll get over it!! We have a 22 year old son and 20 year old daughter who have helped us phase into "consultation mode" already.

Most of all, I am eternally grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ for decades of answered prayer....that these three kids would come to know and love Him and have a heart to love Him and others.........Now this is worth tears of great joy!!!.........PS.....I have found that thankfulness and laughter will boost your immune system and energy level like nothing else......well, maybe some chocolate is good, too!!

I weep for Lisa

2007-03-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

Last night I attempted to get to fall asleep between midnight and 2:30AM. It didn't happen. Instead, I cried, sobbed, prayed, talked with Pete, tossed about, and blew my nose alot. Earlier on Tuesday(3/27) I had gone into GHS to get my mail as PTA Pres. there. I am on Spring Break from where I teach, so what am I doing?.......going to another school where daughter Lindsey is a senior of course! Anyway, within a few minutes I was approached by two wonderful teachers that I know well who asked me if I had heard what had happened. No I had not. To my shock and dismay and sadness, a father of another senior had committed suicide very recently. His wife's name is Lisa. Although I do not know this family all that well, even though our kids grew up together and are about the same ages, we hung in different circles due to the different things our kids did. Our kids were more into music stuff, scouting, dance classes, etc. and their kids were big into sports. Anyway, I do not know any details of his suicide and I don't want to.
The fact is a 40-something man took his life and left a wife and three kids, ages 23, 20, and 18. For this I weep for them all.

In amongst the midnight-2:30AM time, Pete and I talked. He said he just does not understand suicide as it is the most selfish act any person could do, obviously the most desperate, too. We talked more and I reminded him of my pregnancy 19 years ago with Lindsey......I had "pre-partum" blues, not post. I was indeed clinically depressed when I called an mental health hotline and asked how I could kill myself but not the baby. Well, duh.....that is not a possibility.
Those health line workers had me connected in no time flat with my ob/gyn in Toldeo, OH.
I went there with the other two kids (then ages 3 and 1) and talked at lenghth with my good ob/gyn. I had an adult or teens from my wonderful church with me throughout the week and family there on weekends for about 4-5 months to make sure I did not do anything AND to take care of Joe and Bethany. Pete was there when he could, but he worked 60 hour work weeks then. All those who helped me in my desperate time of need were angels from God as far as I am concerned. With being pregnant and clinically depressed, no meds could be given for possible damage to the baby........the baby who is now 18. I asked Pete,"Do you honestly think that at the moment someone takes their life, they are thinking, "Oh gee, how will this affect my son or daugher or mother or father or friends?" No way, they are somehow lost in an abyss of desperation and depression with no hope in their own minds. Pete knows this, too.

The best book I have ever read regarding suicide is "Goodbye Jeanine, " A Mother's Faith Journey After Her Daughter's Suicide (at age 19) by Joyce Sackett published by NavPress.
I would highly recommend it for anyone to read. In the meantime, I weep for Lisa and family.

As white as snow

2007-02-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day to all!! The snow is so high and so bright (I'm even squinting looking outside from the inside window) today with most everything (schools/businesses) cancelled in NE Ohio that this verse comes to my mind:

Isaiah 1:18-----"Come now, let us reason together, " says the Lord.
"Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be AS WHITE AS SNOW.
Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

Wow!........................Even though it is a pain to drive in, the beauty of all this intense white is everywhere and a vivid and real reminder of Isaiah 1:18!.....Jodi

It's been three months.

2006-12-14T19:31:00.000-08:00

Hey blogworld,
It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out the obvious......I am not a consistent blogger.
Oh well, I am more of a reader than a writer, more of a talker and phone caller than a writer, more of a listener to kids, etc.
Such is life.......My heart and head are joyous over the upcoming celebration of Jesus' birth, yet also heavy with prayer for people I know with brain cancer and a kindergartener named Emma with leukemia, etc..........Sooooooooooooo many needy people in the world----physically, mentally, and definitely spiritually. It is impossible to be all things to all people. I am so "at peace" to know that God is in control and that Romans 11:33-36 is as true today as when these verses were written so long ago by the apostle Paul. I sure am anxious to get more SLEEP over the break from school. These 5 and 1/2 to 6 hours per night are just not cutting it. My Dec. grade 4-5 music program is over and went well. That was ALOT of work with 120 kids involved..............Anxious for time to recoup and think more, read more, listen more, and SLEEP. Did I mention SLEEP?? I think I will go do just that now...........zzzzzzzzzzzzzz Thank you Lord for each new day!!

Soooooo many diagnoses----Wow!

2006-09-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

Hello www readers,
School is in gear for the 2006-2007 year. I have a plethora of students with soooo many different diagnoses, it almost makes my head spin.........ADD, ADHD, Aspergers, autism, transverse hypoplasia, dyspraxia, bee sting allergies, intense peanut and peanut butter allergies, hypotonia, diabetes, kids in remission from leukemia, anemia, bladder disorders, etc. and a new one to me........Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)........a student who was adopted from overseas has this.......Without treatment/therapy, this one could be the saddest and scariest diagnosis of all........failure to bond as a baby and young child, in this case being raised in an orphanage with probably lots of others and no real bonding with a primary caregiver......It can lead to basically no conscience and worse without corrective therapy for the long-term.

Mostly I pray for wisdom with all of them.....to teach music......No, to teach a child music and to know when compassion is in order or when tough love is needed....or something in between. I thank God that He wants us to ask for wisdom because I need it big time daily.......His wisdom.
Time to catch some zzzzzzzzzzzzzz's.........Bye!

Vicodin is evil.....at least for Lindsey

2006-08-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

Hello www folks,

Last week, daughter Lindsey had her widsom teeth taken out. I gave her a vicodin pain pill just like her older sister three years ago. Linds reacted waaaaaaaaaaaay differently then Bethany........as in passing out and many vomitting spells. No more evil pain killer for Linds.

School starts next week for all of us Tuckers as students or teacher. So the whirlwind begins.
........probably meaning less posts and less pondering and thinking and reading times, but more social and people and community time. I like both of these. Teaching school takes plenty of energy (at least for me).............Most fortunately, God is everpresent in times of quiet or whirlwind.......................YES!! I still want to finish Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper and keep chugging away slowly at parts of the Koran. But, more importantly I am in Phillipians now and thinking on that and Proverbs, too.

Well, time to get to lesson planning and seating charts! Hope anyone reading this takes time daily to pray, be in the Bible somewhere, and love people.........................Mark 10:45.......Jodi

The Reading

2006-07-19T05:31:00.000-07:00

Hello www friends and family,

I am currently typing left handed with a bulky cast on my right wrist and arm from the 7-14 carpal tunnel surgery. But, I am thankful to God that all went well and the cast comes off next week. In the meantime, there has been ample time to read through teaching materials, do a few Sodukos left handed and read. I have been reading three books: To Live is Christ by Beth Moore (a study on the life of Paul), Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper and the English translation of The Koran (which means The Reading). No, I am not planning to convert to Islam. But, I do want to be able to have more of a mindset of where Islamic extremists are coming from (Hezbollah, Hamas, Al-Quaeda, etc.) especially in light of what is happening in the Middle East right now. I doubt that there will ever be peace in this region. The hatred goes too deep and is ingrained in childhood for many. My son Joe had a copy of The Koran from a comparative religions colloquium class at UAkron. It is obvious that occupation of sacred land is a biggee for many of different religions. Is it Israel or Occupied Palestine? Depends on who you talk to and when. Hezbollah has made it clear that their goal is the destruction of Israel.

From my last post, I had the opportunity to have an instructor from Israel who is Jewish in a music workshop. I fear for her safety in Acco just as much as the innocent folks in Lebanon. I will say reading The Koran has been helpful to know what a Muslim believes and how "works-oriented" this religion is. I will continue to read the various surahs (chapters) to take it all in. I am thankful that I do believe that Jesus paid the ultimate price for my sin......His death and resurrection. The more I read in the Koran, the more I see I would never know if I was good enough to attain heaven. That is too unsettling with a lack of peace and joy.

Also, I will pray for peace in the Middle East. Maranatha! Other opinions out there?

July 2006

2006-07-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

Greetings www family and friends,

It appears that I may have settled into blogging once per month at this rate and that's OK. Since my carpal tunnel surgery is coming up Friday, 7-14-06, better post now because the next one will most likely be August!

Outer Life Stuff:
The June things (week-long course at Walsh University and the most excellent and relaxing Florida vacation with partial extended family) are now over. Ft. Myers Beach was just lovely AFTER the tides took back all the algae globs that looked and smelled like whale doo-doo that had been churned up from Tropical Storm Alberto a few weeks earlier. So, we weren't in the ocean for a day and a half but the rest of the time----YES!! It was nice relaxing with family and having alone-time with God to simply bask in the warm beauty of His salt water creation and the pristine beach by the motel. We had fun! Flew back to OH on July 1. On July 2, our beloved dog was hit by a van, since he hasn't figured out to look both ways when he gets loose from us. Pete and I both saw it happen and I was fairly hysterical since screeching brakes and a thump sound along with seeing it were just awful. We both figured he's dead, he's gone, it's over. But, get this...............After a very short time, he manages to wiggle his way out from the undercarriage of the van and RUNS to our neighbors house. Of course, I am still semi-freaking out, but he appeared fine with the exception of a little scratch on his leg. Just to be sure, he jumped in our van and we took him to Metro Vet Hospital and spent a tidy little sum on an exam and x-rays to make sure there was no internal damage, and there wasn't. Our neighbors were all wonderful and I thanked them all the next day. They had all been trying to catch Frodo prior to the van impact. Anyway, Frodo is alive and well and being his regular dog-self. And yes, I am thankful to God for watching out for this goofy black lab.

Inner Life Stuff:
The lady that taught the Walsh U. course was from Acco, Israel. She is Jewish. The little town where she lives has Jews, Arabs (Muslims) and Christians living peacably together. This pretty much blew my mind, since what we read in the papers is ALL about fighting in the mid-east. She said there are definitely hot spots of dissension, but it's not all over Israel. One day, I want to go to Israel and see where Jesus walked and visit my new friend, Efrat. (She speaks Hebrew, Arabic, and English.) Of course, just thinking of Israel and the middle East ties in with the book I am currently reading, To Live is Christ---Embracing the Passion of Paul by Beth Moore. Excellent book!!......with much to ponder over after each chapter. It is a fairly exhaustive study of the entire life of Paul. Joe gave me this book as a Christmas gift and I am now getting to it. I really like to read. And of course, the Bible is a biggee for me and other books by Beth Moore or C.S. Lewis and numerous others. Sometime, Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin will be another must-read. Going to Borders or B Dalton Books is like a candy or toy store to me.

Anxious to see Lindsey since it's been 3 weeks of her away in CO and now DC. Besides having Jesus as the central part of all areas of my life, I am most thankful for a good husband and three great kids. I know I am immeasurably blessed and I never ever want to become ungrateful regardless of good or bad life circumstances. Since He is over all things, I want to remain grateful to Him and His faithfulness to me and then go and serve others!! Mark 10:45 is a biggee for me-----For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

School's out. Summer's in.

2006-06-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

Greetings family and friends,

Outer life stuff:
Those culminating events from the last post took up ALOT of time and energy. Plus, containing/managing kids at the end of the school year at an elementary school is like trying to herd cats or stop a volcano with your bare hands. Get the picture? I enjoy my job, but I also really need the summer to re-charge the thinking and pondering batteries and just have a change of pace. So, yeah, I am alive. Besides a plethora of doctor appointments for Linds and me, there's still planning and such for a niece's grad. party and my parents 5oth anniversary celebration in August, a week long graduate workshop course in music education, a week in Florida, and July 14-----carpal tunnel surgery on the right hand/wrist. After that, who knows how long I may or may not be able to type on the computer?? Older Tucker kids are at Camp Carl already. Linds has alot cooking for the summer. Pete is busier than ever with work responsibilties and lots of business coming his way. (Good thing I have the real God and the dyslexic god (that means dog) to talk to!!)

Inner life stuff:
Summer means more thinking/pondering time........So, what should I think more on?
How about a favorite verse of mine? Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." Words of truth and wisdom. Words of life and peace. Words of love and caring. Words I need to apply to a certain family member who does not like me because we are very different. Words, but powerful words, that need to sometimes lead to prayer and sometimes to action. I'll do both.

Truth, wisdom, life, peace, love, and caring to you!

Ecclesiates 3:1-14 and Culminating Events

2006-04-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

Greetings family and friends!

As always, the outer life (that most people see or are aware of) is colliding (as it often does and should) with the inner life (one's most intimate thoughts, feelings). My outer life for the month of May and into June will involve many culminating events as a teacher and as a parent.......**banquets for PTA and instrumental music boosters, **praying and voting for Issue 1, the Akron Public Schools levy to pass,** an Eagle Scout award presentation for a good family friend, **a talent show at my school, **my niece's high school graduation and celebration party, **final band concert for daughter Lindsey,**getting all Bethany's stuff returned from UA dorm room,**not to mention final grades for 400 students......Other than that, life will be slow and easy. (HA!)

OK, so how does all that stuff collide with the inner life? Well, I was asked to do a short inpiration/invocation for the Garfield PTA banquet. It's going to be from Ecclesiastes 3 about a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven......including the celebrations of culminating events where people are honored for their labors and honored for their character.
As I will read through all of Ecc. 3:1-14, I'll end with the gist of verse 14..........God has done all these seasons for everyone SO THAT MEN WILL REVERE HIM. It's not just all about frenzied activity for the sake of being and looking busy. It's so we will honor God. And how do we do that? Well, that's another post with LOTS of different outer ways springing forth from what Jesus told the Pharisees in Matthew 22:37-40: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

How does one love the sinner, yet hate the sin?

2006-04-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

I'll cut to the chase here.................My brother, Jamie, age 46, is in the middle of divorcing my sister-in-law, Kim.............and I am actually OK with this. How can this be, you say, since God hates divorce? Well, I believe He also hates alcoholism that destroys marriage, family, self, etc. Kim is an alcoholic, but will not and has not ever admitted to this. Her third DUI will be netting some jail time soon for a couple of months. There are two kids in the family, a senior girl in high school----E, and her brother, my nephew, J, a sophomore. There have been many past years of counseling, half-way houses, de-tox, re-hab, and police coming to take a drunken Kim to the hospital, and then much more of the same for many, many years. There is a restraining order for Kim not to enter her home due to the drunkeness.

I asked Jamie if he wanted me to visit her and give her any personal hygiene items or food, whatever (never $ because that would end up being used for booze) to help her out. He said no because she would either be drunk or would rant and rave about how lousy Jamie was for divorcing her. The kids are also in total agreement with the divorce since they have also been so affected by her awful alcoholic binges.

So, I pray for all of them........for Kim to know Lord and peace/sanity for Jamie and kids.
Alcoholism then even affects the extended family and beyond. This is so very sad. Their marriage is currently the total antithesis of what God intended a marriage to be.

Anybody reading this, please pray right now for these four people. I thank you.

Good Friday and Birthday #48

2006-04-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

How fitting it is that I should finish a little book TODAY that I have never read until now. The last few chapters of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by Clive Staples Lewis have now been read and absorbed. How fitting indeed. Tonight..........Messiah selections at The Chapel. Just where my desires are for this 48th birthday.....praising Him through song with family at home afterwards. Thank you Lord for Your many, many, many blessings!

Music Madness in April

2006-04-08T07:17:00.000-07:00

Hello Tucker children that I birthed many years ago AND whoever else is reading this!
Greetings and salutations!

Continuing the Outer/Inner Life world and how they are intertwined................

Outer Stuff: Lots of music this month......(Duh....I do teach music at an elementary school.) But, more than the usual now that Spring Break is over. April 1---Jason and Angie's wedding.....of course, lots of good worship music during the ceremony and even Brown Eyed Girl from Jason to Angie and the reception....lots of music and even COWBELL on "Don't Fear the Reaper." Yeah! April 2----singing at Arlington, a pre-dominantly black church. Gospel music rocks!! it gets loud alot though, so variety is it for me with music. April 3---722 rehearsal, lovely vocal jazz. April 4----My 70 third graders sang at the all-city choir concert. They sang wonderfully and even behaved well, too.........Threats of loss of recess in combination with rehearsal and PRAYER work! April 5----Linds played flute at the GHS Cluster concert, selections from Wicked.....you missed it B!! Pete played bassoon and sax at Chapel reheasal for Good Friday. April 6-----More COWBELL at the GHS Reverse Raffle. April 7---Three and 1/2 hours of students auditioning for the Talent Show.......Gee, I am finding out how popular High School Musical is with the kids!! Basically, my principal played Simon Cowell, I was Paula Abdul and another parent was Randy Jackson, even though she was a white lady and not a black guy. I got to say, "You're going to Hollywood" to most of the kids. April 14-----will be selections from Handel's Messiah at the Good Friday service. Greatly looking forward to singing alto for Jesus then with the Chapel Choir. Handel rocks!! I think it's a good thing I like music and especially music that lifts up the Lord!

Inner Stuff: A parent of a third grade student really let me have it quite verbally just shortly before the concert on April 4. She was quite upset that she knew nothing about this concert before that day. I explained about having sent out FOUR letters of explanation and reminder and that it was impossible for me to phone 70 parents, so I depended on the kids to bring home important papers to their parents. The student admitted that she only gave one notice to her mom and that was the day of the concert. The next day the counselor at school told me that she and others in-the-know are pretty sure that this mom is unable to read and has been arrested for abusing her spouse. Wow! Who is the parent here? Where and what is this young third grader learning about life? How can I help her?----- love, consistency, and role modeling at school since it isn't happening at home. These situations break my heart. How much more do they greive the heart of God? Lord, please help these kids that have parents that can not or will not help them. Please help the parents and students see their need for you and search You out. Lord, Help.

Wednesday of Spring Break

2006-03-29T06:48:00.000-08:00

Hello blogville/blogosphere/real-people-reading-real-words on their computers,

Hope you are all well and drawing nearer to God through whatever your own daily and moment-by-moment circumstances happen to be.

I think I will continue the Outer/Inner life thing because it's what works for me......although both "lives" are actually quite intertwined.

Outer stuff: BT called from Biloxi, MS this AM to let me (Mum) know how things are going for her on the Katrina relief team sent from the Chapel Campus Focus (college students on Spring Break). Her team is doing lots of painting. Other teams are demolishing houses. There are almost 150 young ladies and gentleman with this particular group. JT visited here yesterday and played with the dog ALOT and we watched Lord of the Rings, the Two Towers together. LT is in school today since she is in a different district where we live then where I teach. PT has had back problems/sciatic nerve big time. I even had to put his socks on for the past few days with the pain he was in.......he is much better today......thank you, Lord!

Inner stuff: The dog.....Mr. Frodo. Yeah, right.......exactly how is God using this dog for an "inner life experience?" Well, because he just goes straight away with his own little dog impulses.......namely digging holes in the backyard. Even after attempting Plan A-----re-filling the holes and putting hot chile pepper on them ( info gleaned from the internet), this did no good. He licked the pepper and the dirt and then re-dug the holes. Obviously, Plan B is now in order. (interior fences) The question is: How often do I just go off and do or say the first impulse thing? I will say that happens less than when I was say, 18 or 25 or even a young 36.
But, it still happens........and then I go to God soon and say, please forgive me and make this/that right with You......and go to the other person, too. I think of many students at school from less-then-wonderful homes who go by their first impulse because they have had little to no real love or discipline or teaching of how to act/re-act in many situations. Consequently, most teachers end up teaching alot more than just their main subject area because social stuff is not taught at home. I feel so called to keep teaching in a public school setting. The need is great here.
Plus, this is what I have wanted to do since age 13. Thank you, Lord for letting me teach. And, thanks for Spring Break to re-charge the teaching batteries and find out I need carpal tunnel surgery soon. (all those piano playing years are catching up now at almost 48).......Thank you, Lord for Your Son and His death and resurrection!!!.......YEAH!!

Anxious for Spring Break next week

2006-03-22T16:26:00.000-08:00

It appears that my grown kids actually read this blog. What a concept! So, one of them even wonders if I'll update much? Maybe yes, maybe no. I think I will stick with "outer life" and "inner life" updates. That works for me.

Outer stuff---------Mr. Frodo dog has a new knickname.......Let's just say it's from The Jerk after the dog turned out NOT to be a lifesaver. This weekend will be time to attack the holes and trenches caused by him in the backyard. Kids are a little wild these days at school knowing the break is coming. Singing parts of the Messiah on Good Friday is something I am really looking forward to!!..................musically and spiritually.

Inner stuff--------Thanking God for another day of life. Thanking Him for laughter. Thanking Him for His continous love and care. Just thankful for Pete, too. Hey, check out the last verses of Romans 11.........Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgements and His paths beyond tracing out. Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay him?
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Lock Down at my school

2006-03-08T14:33:00.000-08:00

Greetings readers from far and near! Today was a bit out of the ordinary/regular at school where I teach music. We had a lock down. Now ever since 9-11-01, these drills are as common as fire drills in our public schools. We also lock down about once a month when one of our autistic students decides to bolt and play "hide and seek" with staff and students. We lock down so there are less places to hide and search. This lock down was different. Principal M got on the PA immediatley after lunch/recess and pretty much ordered everyone back to their rooms immediately for a lock down. The tone of his voice was calm, but insistent. I did not have a class at this time as it was my lunch. I scurried the remaining students back to their class so all the teachers would not be wondering and concerned about any missing ones from their rooms. The lock down lasted 25 minutes. Principal M got on the PA two different times and explained that there was a situation very near the school where the police had insisted on our lock down, suspend all activities until further notice. I chose to spend that 25 minutes finishing up lunch in my darkened room hidden in back of the piano and read Romans 12, 13, and 14------now those chapters are some Bible meat!! There is so much in that I will need to re-read and process when I'm not hiding between a piano and a closet with the lights out. If I would have had students they would have been in a little mob on the floor in the same spot, very well hidden from exterior doors and high up windows. After reading Romans, my mind wondered exactly what was this lockdown all about. Yep, I prayed. After it was over, we found out that there had been a robbery at a bank only one block away where a gunman had either escaped or was being apprehended and he was right near the school. Yes, a lockdown was in order. I am glad I have a principal who follows Christ. Thank you Lord that no students or teachers were hurt. During lunch/recess, most doors are unlocked due to kids needing the restroom, the nurse, etc. That thief could have waltzed in the school and done much harm. Thank you, Lord!!

Start of blog---on a whim----let's see what happens!---3-4-06

2006-03-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

Hello www folks, just to see if this comes out or not........I'll just post some little ditty to see if this works..................Frodo, the dog likes to chew dirty socks and underwear. He is such a DOG! OK, this was just something to fill space to see if I actually have a clue what I am doing.