....In the FIRST PLACE........

God is doing such a work in my heart and life! He has presented me with some trials which have been refining me...and oh do I need lots of that! Refining is not fun, but the outcome is victorious when I submit it to God's sovereignty and just TRUST. Sometimes familiar passages become cliche if we are not careful. I allowed this to be the case for me in the case of Matt. 6:33. I committed it to memory years ago..."But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these things will be added unto you".....hallelu hallelu-u-jah How many times I have sung it and not absorbed the depth of meaning to it. At forty, I find myself seeking simplicity...maybe b/c my memory is already fading, or the eyes are squinting a bit more....but mostly because I have decided that life is just to short to obsess over the details. I've never been a good detail person, therefore, I have been guilt ridden over them most of my life. "I should've" "could've" etc. I am learning that all of my efforts to try to be all things to all people have failed me miserably. I have one and only one loyalty...Seeking GOD and HIS Righteousness. I am learning...slowly to trust that HIS plan for me INCLUDES the best plan for my children, marriage, my job, my friendships, even my care of my body! He IS in the details and b/c He loves me so much, HE will take care of the details as long as I just keep SEEKING HIM....daily, hourly, moment by moment, in every breath, every thought, every worry and every decision. He's got it covered. Praise GOD that I don't have to be a detail person! Now...THAT is something to say Hallelujah about!

I have started First Place which is a God centered approach to life in general...and includes an eating plan to help me to take care of my body, HIS temple. I have even chopped my hair off! SIMPLICITY is a wonderful thing! Seeking HIM is confidence building and peace giving b/c if I only do what HE calls me to do, it will be successful - at least if I lean on HIS power for every step! Keep me in your prayers....Donna's on the move toward righteousness....at least I am committed to SEEKING HIM in the FIRST PLACE!

Mercy Day

Some days are just GRACE all over the place. Some days we need so much MERCY. Today was a MERCY day.....After such a fabulous start to our new life in Midland, I found a really negative attitude today on my first day at Lee. It has to get better. 5 rats in my new classroom (the ones that I SAW), NO new friends on my first day, exhaustion and overwhelm just seemed to take their toll. My back hurts - tile floors in my room. Classroom resources are almost nonexistent. I was 'shrugged off' at lunch today....I felt like a 7th grade girl who wanted to run to my car and cry after everyone gathered with their 'groups' to go out to lunch. Man. I haven't experienced that in a long time....if ever. I probably had it coming. I will forever be more mindful of the 'newbies' on campus.....that is for SURE. I miss LD Bell. I miss the comfort of my friends in my department. I miss a room full of resources. I miss students who loved me. I miss a staff where I had already 'proved' myself. I miss confidence. I miss the copy room! (we're on our own) I miss colored paper. I miss having a colored printer. I miss open purchase orders. I miss contained rodents. (???) I miss getting paid on the 20th. I miss my messy desk. I miss internships. I miss my teen moms. I miss Bannister's references to 'getting on the bus' (we had a stupid bus evacuation drill today to see how fast we could get OFF of the bus.......I thought that was quite ironic......) I miss my parking place right by the door. I miss Linard, our custodian. I miss having a dicut machine not only at school - but in my room! I miss portfolios. I miss Felita's tuna fish. I miss her hugs, encouragement and servant leadership. I miss craft fair. I miss having to be rescued from convo. I miss lunch runs with Jen. I miss having Pat to remind me about dates and meetings. I miss CTE campus funds and walmart credit cards. I miss portfolios. I miss knowing what I'm doing TOMORROW. I miss my sweet students. I miss L.D. Bell.

I am so thankful that His mercies are new every morning.

Psalm 90:14

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Love to my Bell Family - Donna