Sorry Matt

It's just easier to do the list again...

Reasons I'm a happier person

*I got to see my mother. You know when you see someone and you just sigh that huge sigh...like your home and your safe and nothing else in the world matters at that moment...because you are with them. I love my mother.
*I got to spend a weekend at home...with things paid for. I love it when I go home and eat out 10 times and family pays for it all. Not that I am spoiled at all.
*I got to see almost everyone that I really cared anything about seeing...and even a few good that I didn't expect at Homecoming Friday night.
*I got to see Anna go through her Senior Homecoming. She has more inner and outer beauty than she will ever realize. She makes me proud to know her. I love you ANNER!
*I got PAID! Oh what a huge blessing to the bank account because I was about to go sell myself in downtown ATL. I hear the going rate on Jimmy Carter is more than the public school system.

Reasons I'm NOT so happy
*New Hope lost Friday night. A few really bad mistakes and some HORRIBLE calling. To the zebras...you deserved everything you got Friday night.
*Alabama lost...but at least it wasn't a blow out like expected.

Quote from the weekend.....
Heard from the stands of the New Hope High School Football game...directed at the sorry refs.

"Get out of here you jackass..."
"That's not a jackass...that's a zebra!"

Ready, Set...Go

Here's the rundown....

* It's 8:34 (Eastern Time) and I'm fighting to stay awake till 9.
* Working at the High School is going good...
* Kids today are NOT the same as when WE were teenagers....
* Two out of the three statements above make me sound like my mother.
* The Church at Mill Creek's future is amazing, exciting, and scary all at the same time.
* Getting paid once a month from the school board system STINKS...and therefore you cannot reach me on my cell phone until the end of this week. In fact...just plan to probably not reach me on the last week of the month for a while.
* Continuing that thought...don't expect me to eat out, pay bills or drive anywhere other than my house and work on that last week either.
* I miss my mother. Bad. Really bad.
* I'll confess that I resent my dad because he's the reason my mother will never come see me here in Georgia.
* On second thought...maybe it's because she won't drive outside of New Hope.
* I miss my friends.
* I kinda miss my life pre - 5:30 A.M. Wake up calls
* Darlene starts Chemo Thursday
* I get to see Darlene and the rest that is New Hope on Thursday
* It's the begining of fall time in NEW HOPE!! (They might even make it to the playoffs this year!)
* Alabama's kicker sucks
* I'm coming up with stuff to make my list seem longer and my life less boring.
* The mee-maw babies are CUTE!!! Recent picture on their blogs (see right) prove that.
* I want to believe what I know to be true about God. Try to figure that out.
* When you see a therapist and he has to diagram your life on his note pad...signs are...YOU'RE CRAZY!!
* God is faithful and good and at the end of the day...that's all that is important.

* The end!

I'm bout to lose my Jesus card...

real quickly if these strange calls from a 229 area code don't quit. I get them, like clock work at 2 a.m. every morning. It's really about to tick me off. Sorry...had to vent.

Other than that....I think we need to make some plans for HOCKEY DAY girls. I always say that I'm coming...and then punk out! Well...not this year. I need some babies, some mee-maws, some Hockey, a little J & R's and a LOT of Pennies in my life SOON!

Who's in?

I asked for a word.....

" I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it's like to be a leader, in on Christ's sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here is my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepard. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way. When God, who is the best shepard of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he'll see that you've done it right and commend you lavishly. And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for - God has has it with the proud, But takes delight in just plain people. So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ--eternal and glorious they are! --will have you put together and on your feet for good. He get's the last word; yes, he does!"

1 Peter 5: 1-11 (The Message)

Now I know this is Peter writing to exiles scattered "to the four winds", but these words...especially in bold...give me comfort right now.

What does wholeness look like to you?

It's a Full Moon

So I never really believed the connection between the full moon and weird behavior until I started working around teenagers. But this week, I've seen it in the kids and maybe even a little in myself.

So I'm finally updating, I know I'm a sorry person. There's just so much in my heart and head right now that I really don't know where to begin or even if I should.

Darlene's surgery went great, and she is doing so well. I'm so excited for her that she made it through as wonderful as she did. She will start Chemo in a few weeks. Just keep her in your prayers through this time.

I now officially work for the Gwinnett County School System as a Para-Pro at Mill Creek High School (which is actually the high school our church plant meets at). I work in the Special Ed Department there. It all started after I subbed there for three weeks in the Severe Autistic class. I'm not actually in that class anymore (which makes me sad) but I'm still near it and in the area with the same people. It's been neat meeting new people and having a whole new group of friends.

Otherwise I'm just in a really weird place right now. I feel myself checking out of some things. It's amazing how caught up you get in the work that God wants to do and begins to do, and when the process gets painful and the change starts happening, you quickly revert back to your old self and take yourself out of the process. I'm not all the way out yet, but if I don't get coaxed back in soon, I may miss this chance.

I'll write more when I get all my thoughts together. There just not there now.