I’m so excited!  Here's why.

After many months of wondering/thinking/praying about what I will do job-wise on my sabbatical, I’ve been offered a position as teacher’s aide at the Christian school in my home area! This school is familiar territory, since it’s where I received my education. I also taught there for three years. This position feels like a gift from God...exactly what I wanted to do when I’m home on sabbatical. I wanted to be involved in a local school but not have the full responsibility of having my own classroom. (I didn’t really want to be tied down that hard on my sabbatical.) I’m not able to start until October, and they've been very gracious about working with my schedule. I am blessed! I still don’t know what all will be involved in this position, but I do know I’ll be working some with 4^th and 5^th grade...my favorite age group.

Thank you, God, for working this out better than what I even dared to hope!

And in less than two months, Lord willing, I'll be with my family again, not just for two weeks but almost a year!!!!

"Most people tiptoe through life

just so they can arrive at death safely."

-Carpe Diem (Seize the Day) by Tony Campolo

Hmm........

  Things that make me smile 

* going to PA for vacation and family waiting up for my arrival (when I was expecting them all to be asleep since it was the middle of the night)

* hugs from nieces and nephews (and finding out later they were watching down the road for me with binoculars!)

* baking cookies together

* Tri-ominoes and Chase the Rat (a.k.a. Marbles) games with my dear Grandma

* spending Christmas day with my family at the cabin

* carolling for neighbors near the cabin (they loved it! "You must have practiced a long time!")

* going out for lunch with my mom and sisters

* spending one-on-one quality time with former NYP staff and childhood friends (Thanks, ladies! You know who you are--Elaine, Darlene, Kay, Bertha!)

* flying over snow-covered pine trees and lakes in Minnesota on the way back to Dryden (I missed the cold and snow!)

Playing games with Grandma

Making "gingerbread" houses with the nieces and nephews

Cookie baking - ended up with about 60 dozen

Cabin pics--helping "grandpa" open his gift, and Austin enjoying his gift

We hiked the Loyalsock Trail back to the "Haystacks" --water falling over large boulders and sheets of rock.  It was a 4-mile hike roundtrip. About halfway, it started snowing--adding to the beauty!

I love my family!

Night. Lake. Dock. Moon. Full. Stars. Sky. Vast. Trees. Water. Creation. Beauty. Quiet. Peace. Contentment. Creator. God. Worship!

Ah, the joys of summertime--blueberry picking being one of them.

Anita, Clinton, Brenda and I were out picking wild blueberries last evening. This is the third time this year. Since I'm in the North, I've never seen them as big and plentiful as this.

At first glance, it doesn't appear like this field would have any berries worth picking.

With a closer look, this is what you'll find!

For those used to picking domestic berries, these would look small. But for wild berries, these are prize ones.

Brenda fills her bucket(s).

Nita too!

An hour's worth of work!

Cleaning berries.

Blueberry muffins, anyone?