Just completed my first full week at school. Whew! I got home late almost every night, sometimes 8:30 or 9:30 at night. I'm ready for the weekend break. I plan to clean house, sleep, clean house, sleep, then, sleep some more. I'm exhausted, mentally and physically. It looks like this may prove to be a make or break year. With four out of seven of our special education teachers leaving this summer (a major stressor), we are in for quite a challenge. Two of the teachers that left were the special education supervisors in our building. Now, my friend and I are attempting to do all of the paperwork that they were responsible for, plus, our OWN paperwork, then, TRY to find time to squeeze in some "TEACHING"!!! Ha! That will be quite the miracle to pull off.

I've found the old saying, "Life is what happens when you're making plans", to be quite true.

Ahhh....life. You do like to give us a challenge, or two, or three, or more,...all at once don't ya, God? I love that You think I can handle all of this. You have much more confidence in me than I ever have. I know, I know...it builds character, it makes us stronger, it makes us appreciate You more, it makes us grow closer to You, and much more. I need that and want that, but, have mercy, I'm just about done. I just keep thinking of the part in the Bible that says You won't give us more than we can handle. I'm there, Lord. I really am. I just don't think I can handle any more problems, and I know and understand I'm not SUPPOSED to handle them. I'm supposed to give them all to you. Well, Lord, I'm giving them ALL to you. I can't do it on my own. I don't know what I'd do without You, Lord. Thanks for Your help. Love you, Lord, even when times are hard, even when I want to give up, even when every cell in my heart and body hurts, and I feel like I'm all alone on this big ball You created in only seven days.... I still love YOU, and thank you for the many blessings you've given me. This must be my latest, most recent, ever changing, valley. My very deep, dark, lonely, dry, and desolate valley. I can't do this by myself. I'm Yours, Lord. Please hear my cry and know my heart. I surrender.

Why does life have to be so hard at times? Why? I'm ready for some easy days.

Praying for friends that live in and around Mannford and Drumright. Praying they get some of the wonderful rain that we are getting right this moment. Wonderful rain. I walked outside and just stood in the rain for a few minutes. It is still thundering like crazy, but, such a sweet, gentle rain. I hope it stays and covers the state with abundant, life-giving water. What a precious commodity, that we often take for granted. Thank you, Lord, for the rain. I pray it puts out all the fires in our state, and saturates the ground, restores our water table, and brings renewed life to crops, hay meadows, and our soil.

Praying for families in Oklahoma who are in the path of the wildfires. Very sad situation. Dear Lord, please send rain, lots of rain, for the whole state. Please take care of and watch over the families that have lost their homes, the firefighters, first responders, Red Cross volunteers, etc.