More thoughts on teaching

If I spent half as much time lifting weights as I do tweaking lesson plans and text material I have already written and rewritten, I would be a BEAST! Getting six sigma "right the first time" production as a manufacturing engineer was a piece of cake in comparison, but I am eagerly embracing the new challenge because it is SO worth it. ‪#‎RookieProblems‬ ‪#‎DoWhatYouLove‬ 

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I am still looking for every opportunity to equip these students to walk in wisdom.  While all my personal stories and segues do connect with the math lesson, I am purposefully using math to teach life lessons that matter ever so much more than statistics. My goal is to equip them with tools for decision making, so that when they face peer pressure or a crisis, they have already thought through their responses carefully, logically, and with a sound mind.   So I was thrilled when I found this blog post which summarizes what I've been trying to teach my students in a manner that is concise yet thorough. (Gift #934)  Even better, this post has gone viral, so thousands of others are reading this message as well and continually spreading the word.  I want to keep this link here for future reference.
http://truelovedates.com/10-things-every-teenage-girl-need…/ 

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I am finding that you can take a girl out of her process engineering career for over 13 years, but you can't take the continuous improvement mindset that is so implicit in process engineering out of the girl.  My head is always spinning with ways to continually improve the school.  I have done lots of research, observations, and interviews, and I have already presented proposals to three principals, the headmaster, and a board member.   The school is not that big, but it changes direction slowly.

I recognize I must be viewed as the new kid with no teaching experience who has absolutely no right to suggest changes so soon, especially when I am only teaching part-time. But I'm not looking to force others to change as much as I am seeking ways for the school to best glorify God with excellence in all disciplines, and those changes absolutely must begin with me.  I conducted a blind survey/evaluation doing my best to eliminate the many different biases that skew data about which I have taught in depth in class.  The feedback was very helpful, and I have been implementing the best practices with great fervor.  I am now in the process of summarizing the data and the results into a report to provide further proposals to our board with the hope that some day, I will get more support.   Some staff members started this movement years before me, so I am not alone, and most of the board agrees with the improvement ideas we have in mind.  I'm just trying to get the wheels moving as I give every effort to making a difference where I am in my little class and tutoring sessions.  Lighting fires and stirring up trouble is my specialty after all.

I've been thinking much about the school's vision and goals so as to make sure any changes I recommend are consistent in promoting that vision.  One such goal is to foster a love for lifelong learning.  The school greatly desires that teachers be passionate about their subjects and devoted to loving, supporting, and serving the students as Christ modeled.  So, if a teacher or administrator is not constantly re-evaluating and looking for ways to continuously improve his or her (or the overall school's) effectiveness, then he or she has become complacent.  Complacency fosters boredom in the classroom and crushes any remaining intrinsic motivation or love of learning in the students.  I'm not suggesting at all that we should fix what isn't broken or waste limited resources making unnecessary changes.  But let that desire for excellence in all we do never die, for whatever we do, we do unto the Lord. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 
Matthew 25:40

I know there is balance needed lest burnout take down the teacher, and I have certainly not found that balance yet, as I have worked tirelessly to learn the subject, write all the curriculum, and learn how to teach while too often giving my family the leftovers.  That is entirely displeasing to the Lord.  They are ever so much more important than this job.

But love should always compel the believer to serve others devotedly and diligently. I have no patience for teachers who are too proud to admit that there is ALWAYS room for improvement, have no desire to do things differently, never question the status quo, make no effort to build relationships with these students, have no passion about their subject or the supernatural impact that teaching can have on those precious students, or do not rejoice over the amazing privilege and responsibility of not only communicating knowledge but also of imparting God's wisdom into the hearts and minds of our next generation of leaders.

As I seek daily to make lessons relevant to daily life and current events, I have uncovered inaccurate statistics in every venue, even in the church.  Bad news sells newspapers, serves as click bait, and even makes for some interesting church sermons, but the stats often aren't nearly as bad as the media gossip embellishes it.   The Bible tells us that the truth (Jesus is the truth!) will set us free, but discerning the truth in media can be challenging indeed.  Unfortunately, bad news also has the effect of suffocating hope so that people are more likely to stop trying.  That seems to be the case with regard to marriage.  Here's a dose of encouraging news for marriages in America (Gift #935) that could possibly instill enough hope to save some struggling marriages:  The Real Threat to Marriage

In addition to learning my subject, writing (the text, tests, quizzes, homework, lesson plans, projects, supplemental readings, etc.), learning how to teach, and learning three other subjects well enough to tutor five students each day after school, I am also helping seniors with their senior thesis projects.  One of my students is presenting a proposal for how the government should address the gay marriage vs. traditional marriage debate.  He is so courageous that he has even gotten permission to present at one of the most liberal universities in the country, so I feel enormous responsibility to give him all the support I can before they rip him apart. His proposal does seem to give both sides what they truly want: (1) equality (for the small percentage of people who want to turn the foundations of society upside down to suit their own selfish desires); and 2) preserving the traditional definition of marriage (which has proven itself to be the most effective foundation of society for the greater common good since the world began).   I just love watching these young people think, reason, research, and defend. (Gift #936)

As I grade papers, read rough drafts, study a dozen statistical texts, compile Powerpoint presentations, study the Bible to find God's hand in each and every stats concept, and think about how to best teach and reach students with their unique life issues and needs, one constant companion sits beside me (or in my lap or on my head or shoulders) reminding me to kick back and relax every now and then. Miss Muffin, when you aren't staining my carpets with your bright red pee or leaving a million poop balls all over the house or chewing apart my favorite fitness gear, I really do appreciate you.

Sometimes a girl just needs to kick back and relax #bunnytrance

The Gift of Suffering and a True Story of Redemption

Our Bible lesson this past Sunday (see Romans 8) on waiting beautifully summed up a theme that I have been wrestling with a lot lately after several periods of prolonged waiting. (Gift #920)  Pain, waiting, loss, and futility are givens in life (even in the Christian life), and those Word of Faith "name it, claim it" teachers become heretics when they teach otherwise, for such teaching leads hearers to use God as a means to a material end instead of using the things of this world as a means to lead more people to an eternal end with Him.

While sin and the enemy of our souls will cause us pain and suffering, God still allows us to endure some measure of suffering and loss because those hardships are fulfilling His greater purpose...to redeem us and conform us into His image. These hardships cause us to loosen our grip on the things of this world so that we may instead cling tightly to Him alone. (Gift #921) Our brief and momentary trials in this life may frustrate us or feel like "forever", but they are nothing compared to the eternal glory for which we wait and for which those very trials are preparing us to enter. (Gift #922)  Like the experience of childbirth, great physical pain is required to usher a beautiful new life into the world. I love this perspective because it reminds us that every trial has a purpose, though we may not understand it at the time. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord, but can we accept that trials may be gifts, too?

I have a dear friend who has waited 18 years to remarry. She courageously raised her children by herself, but as single moms are tempted to do, she was "looking for love in all the wrong places."  Then after seeking soul satisfaction in every spiritual outlet from Catholicism to Zen Buddhism, she starting reading Christian romance novels (which I think are generally a bad idea for Christian women because they set up false expectations and minimize the fact that love and marriage are always first and foremost intended to give glory to God not to each other).  I met her over 12 years ago at the gym.  She was reading romance novels on the elliptical, while I was reading my massive study Bible on the elliptical next to her.  We began meeting regularly and talking about matters of life and faith as we did our cardiovascular workouts side-by-side.  She told me of her divorces and how she had been a single mom for 10 years.  I could tell she was searching for a soul need, while stuffing her heart with affairs with married men who made empty promises she believed as they used her only for her body.  Dazed and confused, she began to listen to me as I shared my story and my faith, though I was 10 years younger, newly married, and had no children, so I could not speak with experience or full empathy having never walked in her shoes.  Yet, our conversations continued. (Gift #923)

She began visiting a nearby Bible based Baptist church (the last place this stark raving liberal ever imagined she would land), and God pursued her relentlessly.  She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior shortly after she began attending this church (Gift #924), and her son soon followed in a profession of faith (Gift #925).   She believed and accepted everything she was reading and being taught from the Bible (for the first time) EXCEPT for the passages about sexual immorality.  She wanted Jesus, but she also wanted her bed companions.  She was rigid in this area for a time.  Yet, the Spirit kept reshaping her heart and changing her desires.  She came over one day to talk, so we took my infant daughter on a long stroll so we could talk without the awkwardness of staring into each other's eyes as sensitive subjects were raised. She was so tired of being single and wanted a good man to marry as opposed to her previous husbands. I asked her to describe the attributes of her ideal man and then challenged her to consider what type of woman would attract him.  She really pondered that question, and then the "Aha" moment came.  She realized that she would never find the man God wanted for her by sleeping around with married men, and as we talked more about what physical intimacy represents inside a marriage covenant, she began to realize that God's word on the matter was for our good and that perhaps she could learn to accept that teaching as well. (Gift #926) For truly, anyone who professes to accept Christ, yet rejects any part of his word, is not a Christ follower at all.

Before I knew it, she had sold or given away most of her belongings and packed the rest in her car along with her teenaged son and was moving to California without a job or a place to live.  She's got some courage, that girl. California seemed like the darkest place on earth for a new Christian to call home, but God placed her into a fabulous church family where she grew in faith, knowledge, and wisdom. (Gift #927) She wrote me about 6 months later to say she had made a commitment before God to stay abstinent until she marries again, and if she doesn't ever marry again, she will trust God with her desires, knowing His will is best. (Gift #928) Without a doubt, my precious friend was now born again, saved and redeemed by the blood of Christ, for only His saving grace could change her so radically.  She faced many struggles along the way, but she did her best to keep her commitment not out of self will but out of trusting that God's ways are best and by relying upon His strength.  I always smile when she contacts me for my opinion on the next guy who asks her out to get my approval.  I can't meet him face to face, but she gives me as much information as possible to help her be discerning as a Christian father should for his daughter.   After seeing firsthand how strong my marriage with my husband is, she trusts me to help guide her, even though I am 10 years younger.  What a special privilege!  (Gift #929)

Eight years to the day after she accepted Christ (this past Sunday), she sent me news that she had just received a marriage proposal from God's man for her. Hearing that wonderful news on her spiritual birthday totally reinforced the day's lesson on waiting, trials, and redemption! (Gift #930) Waiting has a purpose, and while her marriage proposal is a gift worth much rejoicing (Gift #931), her greater gift is the close relationship with her Savior (Gift #932) that has been forged through the testing and years of waiting. Her marriage will be so much richer with Christ first in their lives before each other.  Christ's purpose is always to redeem us and to prepare us for eternity! (Gift #933)

After writing out these thoughts, I came across this quote which serves as a good motto:

 “Seek not to avoid a wounded life, but rather seek to avoid a wasted one.”

A Choice No One Should Want

Do you see that open dresser drawer behind me in this baby pic? That drawer was my bed instead of a crib because my teen mom at that time had very few worldly possessions and minimal family support. But sleeping in a drawer sure beats being flushed down a toilet or stored in a freezer because a young girl, overwhelmed by crisis and flooded with irrational emotions, was pressured by others to choose against life, a decision which typically haunts a woman for the rest of her life.

I was later adopted into an amazing and loving family who could provide what this precious and brave young girl could not, so I am exceedingly grateful for both her (Gift #914) and my adopted family (Gift #915) who sacrificed so much for my sake. On the  42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade (January 22, 2015), I could not help but reflect on the fact that my birth mother was nearing the end of her 2nd trimester, which is approximately the limit at which the ruling declared that a mother could abort her baby for any reason.  What if I had been conceived just a month later?  The "what if" game truly serves no purpose, but I am thankful that my teen mother did not have the choice to end my life, at least not legally at the time (Gift #916).  I am also forever thankful for her choice to place me up for adoption with the hope that God would protect me and provide for me through a stable, loving family. 

The decision to kill another human being is too overwhelming for anyone, but especially for a young girl with developing hormones, out of control cortisol from the stressful crisis, conflicting and irrational emotions, little or no support, and no real hope in sight.  For those reasons, Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers prey on helpless young women, outright lying to them, neglecting to inform them of the lifelong repercussions of abortion, denying the sacredness of the life within that woman God made (which even as a heart beat and brain waves activating as early as 2 weeks into the pregnancy.) Praise God for the loving crisis pregnancy support centers (Gift #917) like the one where I once had the privilege of volunteering and the Christian life homes (Gift #919) where mothers are supported throughout pregnancy in a nurturing, family like environment and where they receive unconditional love, tangible support, companionship, and Biblical compassion.  Whatever one's position on this monumental court ruling, few would deny that women in crisis pregnancy situations need loving support and wise counsel. Please extend love to a hurting young mom or a grieving post abortive mom today.

Also, may we never forget that God is the giver of life.  Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, but God is a giver of good gifts.  That life was created by Him for a purpose, and that purpose is not to punish or torture the parents.  God's purpose is to redeem that parent.  I've seen this story played out too many times.  The decision to kill leads to a lifetime of grieving and regret.  The decision to give life redeems and restores, even when the act that caused the crisis pregnancy was done by force, not by consent.

Romans 12:21

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

On the anniversary of this ruling, I mourned that a proposed bill to limit legal abortions to 20 weeks (since babies are now viable sooner due to advancements in neonatal medicine) was being pushed back by a few wanting revisions and by a president who vowed to veto it against the wishes of over 60% of the population across all demographics.  However, the House of Representatives did pass a bill that day which would outlaw the use of taxpayer dollars for abortions, even in insurance coverage.  Such a bill would remove the blood guilt from the majority of American taxpayers who are opposed to abortion. 

Love Conquers All!

#SanctityofHumanLifeMonth
#RoevWade

Girls' Beach Getaway

A small group of friends had the tradition of meeting at the beach once a year in January for a girls' weekend.  This group consisted of two ladies I knew through our church college ministry and campus IVCF ministries and two of their local friends.  This year, they invited more people, and I felt so blessed to become a part of this annual tradition. (Gift #898)

Girls' Weekend Getaway at the Beach

With two other trips planned this month and with lesson planning consuming almost every waking hour of every weekend, I did not know how I would find the time to attend, but God gave me the stamina to work late hours each night so that I could get ahead a little freeing up my conscientious mind to fully enjoy the weekend.  (Gift #899)  Words cannot fully express how refreshing and freeing it felt to have a carefree weekend without the responsibilities of caring for a family, doing chores, and checking off items from the never ending to-do list! (Gift #900)  I'm so thankful for my husband's willingness to take over those responsibilities and grant me this opportunity. (Gift #901)  He even made sure the kids did their chores, washed a load of clothes, and helped the kids bake me a pan of welcome home brownies while I was gone. (Gift #902)

Before I left for this trip, I recited something word-for-word that my husband had said to me while I was away the last time I went on a girls' weekend approximately five years ago.  My primary love language is words of affirmation, so when he says something that touches my heart, I do not easily forget it.  So I told him that receiving a few sweet texts over the weekend would mean the world to me. He doesn't easily speak that love language, so I  suggested that the girls may possibly compare the number and quality of texts they receive from their husbands (making it a bit of a competition to inspire him).  Since he is a computer guru/geek who doesn't speak "words of affirmation" very easily, he joked that he might just have to write an app that grabs thoughtful sentiments from the internet and automatically texts them to me periodically in his name.

I shared his app idea on Facebook and then received inquiries from several people wanting to buy that app!  He did not write such an app (although he may be working on one now given the interest and impact it could have on strengthening marriages), but he did send me some very thoughtful texts (some quoted from famous poets and others from his own heart) that weekend.  (Gift #903)

"Doubt that the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move. Doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt my love for you." - Shakespeare

"For it is not into my ear you whisper, but into my heart... It is not my lips you kiss, but my soul."

I told my friends how I had asked him for these texts, and they thought that was very shallow and lame, but then I asked them how often their husbands had sent texts to them that weekend as an expression of how much they were missed.  After considering the content of their texts ("did you buy tomatoes?", "Where is the mustard?", "Hope you don't mind if I keep the kids up extra late tonight."), they realized that telling your husband how to fill your tank isn't necessarily a bad idea.  I think a wife should help her husband out instead of expecting him to read her mind and automatically know what she wants.  When a man wants to please his wife but does not know how, she may go looking for that need to be met elsewhere.  So, I am coaching my husband as he is coaching me, and our marriage is stronger for it. He speaks my love language more to me, and I automatically want to reciprocate by speaking his love language to him. (Gift #904)  It's a win/win in my book.  Those idealistic notions presented in romance novels and chick flicks set up unrealistic expectations.  Let us love passionately while accepting the limits of reality. (End of soapbox rant)

After weeks of miserably cold weather and dreary rainy days, the sun finally came out last Friday just in time for our beach trip! (Gift #905)

The resort our friends booked was extravagant but came at very affordable (okay, dirt cheap is more like it) off-season rates (compared to the $8K-10K weekly rental fees in the summer).  (Gift #906)

Our home at the beach for the weekend

We stayed in a 3200 square foot, five bedroom ocean front condo with five baths, fully equipped kitchen, full size laundry facilities, breakfast nook, dining room, large family room, and a separate TV lounge / living area.

 

8 out of 9 of us in the family room

The master suite was gorgeous with Ralph Lauren decor and regal furnishings.  

The resort featured an upscale spa, at least four hot tubs, several indoor and outdoor pools, and a lazy river.  There are some funny stories I could tell about our adventures at the hot tub involving young but grown men who forgot their swim suits, a bunch of old drunk men who nauseated us with their obnoxious flirting and one whistle, and three respectful and mature teenagers from our capital city who would be attending our alma mater in the fall and majoring in engineering as I did.  Shame on Beth for taking this picture of us shivering as we ran into the jacuzzi.

Jacuzzi in January?  Yes we did!

 

The condo even had the exact same furniture piece in the foyer that we have in our foyer which made me feel even more at home.

The views from the extra long balcony were spectacular.  (Gift #907)

We ate out each day for lunch and dinner.  Since we did not have our kids or husbands with us making the dining costs so high, we splurged.  No fast food for us!  We enjoyed delicious, high quality seafood, Italian cuisine, quiche, and a wide variety of menu items I could not pronounce or do not usually allow myself to order because of the cost or caloric density.  What a privilege to taste and see that the Lord is good without breaking our budgets. (Gift #908)

Friday Dinner (I'm hiding behind Heather.)

Selfies after lunch

While dining, we noticed that three gals, each living in three different corners of two states four hours apart, just happened to all have the same NCSU clings on their phones.   

Van full of crazy women after another fancy dinner

Most of the ladies went to the very expensive and exclusive resort spa which just happened to be featured on the golf channel the following week.  AAs much as I already spend on chiropractic care and physical therapy, I didn't want to spend that kind of money on treatments unless collagen was involved. I'm only kidding.  So, the the friend I had invited from Charleston who did not know many people and I there went on a different adventure.  We had planned to walk on the beach, workout at the resort fitness center, and ride the Sky Wheel, but we spent so long walking and talking on the beach, that we had to skip the fitness center.  Miracle of miracles....I did not work out that day and had no withdrawal symptoms. (Gift #909) She has been wanting to ride the Sky Wheel for ages, so since it was her birthday weekend, and she had to leave on Saturday after lunch, I treated her to tickets.  The views were excellent, and we had great fun as we giggled like school girls.  The photo of her with her tongue out says it all.  (Gift #910)

The birthday girl and me right after boarding the Sky Wheel

What middle aged glee looks like at over 20 stories above the Atlantic Ocean

Here are some of our views from the Sky Wheel:

The Sky Wheel was fun, and shopping for souvenirs for the kids afterwards was a must, but the best part of any beach trip is walking on the beach and soaking in God's glory on display. (Gift #911)   Some of my greatest spiritual breakthroughs have taken place while walking or running on the beach.  It was during beach trips like this one during college with our college campus ministry and our church's college ministry with some of the same people on this trip that I made the greatest memories.  I enjoyed long walks and great talks on the beach with my sisters in Christ and forever friends that weekend.  (Gift #912)

Before we left, a good friend of mine from college and I tried to recreate a picture we took back in 1993.  It's been over 22 years since the beach trip shown to the left, and we've only seen each other two other times during all those years, but we picked up right where we left off as if no time had passed.  Her friendship is such a gift. (Gift #913)

Kids, Teaching, and Nostalgia

Kids Make Me Smile 
Receiving a big good night hug from my cuddle bug is a daily gift from the Lord. (Gift #879)  I'm so thankful that my boy speaks one of my top love languages with such enthusiasm. (Gift #880)

 

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After getting his teeth cleaned and polished at the dentist's office, this same boy asked if he could have some of the hot chocolate or coffee in the waiting area.

So I replied, "Please don't stain your clean sparkling teeth they just treated with a hot drink so soon."

He insisted, "But the reason they put those hot drinks in the waiting area in the first place is to wash away the bad taste of the tooth polish."

I'm fairly sure that there is a parenting rule that says, "Never try to debate with a child."  I thought that rule had to do with how incapable a child is to think logically, but now I think that rule is found in so many parenting books because the child might outsmart the parent.

I simply informed him that the hot drinks were for those waiting on the patients and for job security as they would certainly keep the kids coming back to the dentist for more treatment.

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That 8-year-old is not only logical for his age, but he is also very literal.  He recently asked me in all
seriousness, "How is it even possible for you to lose your mind?"

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I recently instructed our son to be a leader at a birthday party by setting an example of mild-mannered, respectful, and obedient behavior that the other boys could follow (thereby making the party easier on the hostess/mom).  So he marched off to the Nerf party and was very obedient to my instructions regarding calling us about certain issues and so forth.  However, his method of leading the boys toward right behavior during a Nerf battle was to proclaim, "Ok, if anybody does anything stupid, shoot him!"

While he isn't supposed to use the word "stupid", he at least did not use it in a personally offensive way, and he sure made that host mom laugh while trying his best to obey.  I guess that's an example of parenting outside of the funnel( that is, expecting too much from him for his age).

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Our first born has a fondness for cooking, so she has been experimenting in the kitchen.  She made a fabulous breakfast pizza one evening and then asked if she could prepare a multiple course meal for me the following Saturday. She pored through three different cookbooks to select the menu. Then she compiled a massive grocery list and did the shopping herself (with our debit card & her dad's supervision). 

Grocery list in-process

She and her dad then spent the next few hours in the kitchen preparing a fabulous meal. Dinner wasn't ready until 9:30pm (so maybe now that she understands how much trouble meals are, I will not hear any more whining, "Is dinner ready yet?"). I wasn't allowed inside the kitchen, for this meal was  supposed to be a surprise.  Such a thoughtful labor of love is quite a gift, and she and her dad even cleaned most of the dishes. (Gift #881)  She included lots of vegetables in the meal that she knew I would love even though she doesn't like them very much.  That's love, y'all.  (Gift #882)

She made it so special that we really should have eaten in the dining room. She spoke with a French accent as she seated us, took our orders, and served us each course.  I love the way she makes everything she does a dramatic production. (Gift #883)

 

We enjoyed yeast rolls with butter and roasted garlic, fresh basil salad, tropical fruit salad, grilled basil & garlic chicken, potatoes and vegetables, and chocolate mint silk pie on a homemade cookie crust. She even made us fill out a customer satisfaction survey. 

My husband deserves a prize for spending so much time with his little girl that evening laboring with her for us both.  He is such a gift to our family.  (Gift #884)

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Her creative antics are entertaining, but sometimes the chaos her right-brain creates brings me to knees.  This left-brained mom needed some parenting input, so I took a survey.  When the right-brained-child, over time, rearranges the closet I so meticulously organized for her such that everything is random (ie, uniform pieces scattered throughout, pants, dresses, shirts, skirts, sweaters all jumbled together according to no recognizable pattern) and assembling a simple standard uniform each day takes way too long, is she:

a) Expressing her creative genius
b) Being lazy
c) Deliberately trying to drive her OCD mom nuts
d) Making her closet coordinate with her room which is equally chaotic
e) Just being the beautiful, wonderful, unique way God made her.

Most agreed that the answer should be f) all of the above.

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Our kids continue to be invited for play dates with school friends. My son is mild-mannered for a boy, so I think other kids' parents like his calming influence on their children.  What a gift it is to have two easy going guys in our home to balance out the high strung gals. (Gift #885)

Park play date with school friends

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At our school, the discipline policy requires that children visit the principal after the third warning in the classroom, and then after a certain number of principal visits or for certain situations, the child is immediately sent to the headmaster's office where corporal punishment is administered for the boys under a certain age.  So, when my daughter overheard me mention that I had a meeting with the headmaster (it was about long range vision & planning for the school), she automatically assumed that meant I was in big trouble. After school on the day of the scheduled meeting she asked, "Did you have your meeting?" When I told her no, she said, "So you haven't been fired yet?"

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While our children may seem sheltered in their Christian school and many church activities, they are finding many opportunities to lead others toward the way that is good and right.  Our son has especially been growing in this area.  The kids in his class get in trouble a lot, and since he is friends with them all, he initially got in trouble some at school via guilt by association.  We challenged him to be strong and to lead those boys toward right behavior, and that is exactly what he has been doing for the most part.  (Gift #886)

These boys once teased a boy in their class who was different than the others.  So we insisted that our son invite him to his birthday party and get to know him.  We told him that if is kind toward that boy, then maybe the other boys will follow his example, and then they will all gain a new friend as well as making that boy feel more accepted and happy at school. And that is indeed what is happening at school. Praise God!  (Gift #887)

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Another gift I have appreciated is watching God work healing and spiritual growth in the life of one of our neighbors.  We have poured into her family over the past year and loved on her precious boys and prayed for specific changes, all of which have occurred over the past two months. (Gift #888)

When our son attended a birthday party for these boys who have had a difficult childhood and where other boys would be in attendance whom we did not know but assumed came from families with different values from ours, I gave our boy clear protective instructions and prayed he would be a light.  He called to ask permission before he played any computer games or watched a movie.  I'm so thankful he obeyed and understood that the boundaries we set are for his protection.  (Gift #889).  He tried to set a good example.  He has come a long way this year, and we are so thankful, for there have been times when we marveled at the power of the sin nature in both of the kids and in ourselves.  I know God has used his faithful teacher at school to help mold his heart, so we appreciate her very much.  (Gift #890)

Teaching
After spending almost every waking minute last weekend thinking about my students, praying for them, writing and rewriting lesson plans/teaching materials/assignments/quizzes/tests, etc. for them, I am humbled to realize how much my own teachers cared while I often took them for granted. Who in her right mind spends her entire weekend thinking, "I cannot wait for class to begin on Monday"?   Love is powerful!

While I still spend entirely too much time away from my family working for this class, I am so thankful to find a ministry area where I feel like every previous life experience and educational/career opportunity is being used together to disciple this next generation of leaders. (Gift #891)  My prayer is that they may stay rooted in the word and keep abiding in the vine. 

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My students asked me several times the week before last if I would be coming to their game on Friday against their arch rivals.  I wanted to come support them, but I had way too much on my plate, and with so much traveling this month, I needed to get ahead with my lesson planning.  I went anyway.

When our team was down by 15 points near the end of the first half tonight, my son asked, "Are they going to lose?"

After having observed a stark contrast between the sportsmanship and behavior of the opponents in comparison to the mature, upright behavior of our team, I replied, "They have already won, for the character and Christlike sportsmanship they are displaying shines as a bright light. And even though I teach statistics, and the odds are clearly against them, I believe righteousness will prevail."

They trailed throughout the rest of the game until they brought the score up to only one point behind the opponent, and the opponent had the ball.  They ended up scoring and winning by two points during the last six seconds of the game.  Congratulations to my favorite high school men's varsity basketball team. The Lord used you to show my son that righteousness does indeed win in the end!  (Gift #892)

Disclaimer: I am in no way implying the false prosperity teaching that says faith wins every game or brings worldly desires, but rather, that in the long run & at the end of this life, with regard to that which matters eternally, by God's matchless grace, the faithful will absolutely triumph in Christ. And righteous living certainly does bring better natural consequences.

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I am so elated that the Lord has opened so many opportunities for our statistics class to apply statistics to real life situations. (Gift #893)  My hope is that students will begin thinking about key life decisions now, knowing how to choose wisely based on Biblical & absolute truth, logic, and critical thinking skills, so that when they face crisis moments, they will be equipped to respond in wisdom instead of making poor choices when emotions, hormones, and peer pressure are most intense. 

So, I never give my students redundant worksheets.  Every assignment uses statistical concepts to solve real world problems.  I am not training them to be calculators who know how to plug-and-chug using a formula they stored temporarily in their short term memory for a test, but rather to become critical thinkers who know how to use the mathematical tools they've learned over the years to make wise choices for a lifetime.  I would love to see them understanding the concepts well enough to not only apply them, but to also grow and develop the concepts into new discoveries and increased knowledge that would benefit others.  They've come a long way after having their minds blown by how different my class is from the others offered at our school. 

As I began reflecting on topics covered over the past semester, I made a list of those that came to mind.  Here is a partial list of what we've discussed in relation to statistics thus far.  I am so thankful to have this platform for speaking God's truth and relating it to other subjects so that it will stick better in their minds and hopefully become rooted in their hearts.  (Gift #894)

Primary subjects: physics, biology, chemistry, economics, engineering, political science, philosophy, human physiology/chemistry, psychology, theology, Bible, classical literature, writing, drama, and history

Specialties:  geriatrics, epigenetics, sports injuries, medicine, R&D, quality control, manufacturing, pharmacology, oncology, national defense, election process, brain development, nutrition, weight training, educational theories, finances/investments, music,  journalism, scientific report writing

Extracurricular interests: football (NFL/AFL/CCS), basketball, baseball, tennis, field hockey, weight training

Life: drugs/alcohol/addictions, abortion, birth control, pregnancy, abstinence, body image, peer pressure, gambling, career/college, testing, priority setting, materialism, love/romance, dating, marriage, love languages, parenting, adoption, foster parenting, sleep dangers, gun control, nuclear weapons, coffee, gluttony, fashion, modesty

Pop cultural and/or superficial: Michael Jackson, the 80s, hair, bling, modeling, card games, numerous political figures, cars

Nostalgia
It's hard to believe that much of what I know about life and God, I learned under the disco ball strobe light on the raised dance floor in the bar called Prisms located inside an awesome Baptist church. Our church had just bought a hotel as its new meeting place and eventually converted the college meeting room, Prisms, into a basketball court / recreation area. As Sam filled our hearts with wisdom from God's word and amazing fellowship & accountability nurtured us, we all grew so much stronger in our faith and in our relationship with Christ. And we laughed a WHOLE lot.  I am eternally grateful for those years of rapid and intense spiritual growth. (Gift #895)  In my next post, I'll share about a recent beach getaway with some of these college ministry ladies.

Experiencing rapid spiritual growth on the dance floor in a bar called Prisms

January is Sanctity of Human Life Month (ie, the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision which had resulted in the murder of 55,772,015 innocent, defenseless lives by January 2013).  So, during this time of year, I tend to ponder the fact that my own birth was the result of a crisis pregnancy.  Roe v. Wade made it legal in TX (and other states followed) for a women to kill her unborn baby for ANY reason up until the baby was viable if born at that time.  When this law passed, I was right in the middle of the transition from not being viable outside the womb to being viable.  Of course, viability age has decreased significantly since that ruling, yet the time at which a pregnancy can be legally performed has only gotten later to the point that babies are birthed to the point that half of their bodies are delivered before been violently murdered.

What if I had been conceived a month or two later?  Would I be there?  Should women in crisis be given such a choice with little to no counseling of long term ramifications and by abortion clinic workers who refer to the child as a blob or a fetus while refusing to call the child a baby?  I think not.  While I don't expect most people to agree with me, experience in crisis pregnancy counseling ministries has me convinced that not even in cases of rape should women be allowed to kill the baby God created, for to kill a child when that child is a product of rape is to violate that mother a second time, and doing so causes a lifetime of suffering while bearing that child out of rape (and placing for adoption or even choosing to parent though that is rare) brings redemption, healing, and hope.

But I don't need to play the "what-if" game because my birth mother chose life (Gift #896), and for that I am exceedingly grateful.  And while I may not be the most popular woman on earth, there are enough people who enthusiastically agree with all their hearts that my life matters and is sacred as are the 56 million who never had a chance to take one breath, much less love, serve, and give.  I recently came across this photo of me before my adoption.

I may not have been a very pretty baby, but I sure look better born as God intended instead of being dismembered and decapitated as most products of crisis pregnancy are now thanks to the greed, deception, and outright wickedness that has manipulated hearts and minds.

After coming across that photo, I also came across another photo of my husband with his dad. He, too, was the result of a crisis pregnancy.  His parents also chose to give him life, but they decided to parent him.  They got married right away and have lived "happily ever after" nurturing a strong family with four sons.  I cannot imagine this world without my beloved.  His influence and service have been a blessing to so many.  Without these unwanted pregnancies, our children, who bring so much joy to most everyone they meet, would not be here either.  We're so thankful they chose life for us ALL! (Gift #897)
 

My hubby and his dad and Irish twin brother

As an adopted child, I never thought much about genetics, but now that I have children of my own, I am completely fascinated by genetic similarities.  So I used the above photos to create some side-by-side comparisons of our family when we were all about the same ages.

Our family of four as infants

Our family of four at approximately 13-15 months of age