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.