Ima Witness

I love God. He continues to give me chance after chance. The Bible says that I have new mercies each day.

It is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed...They are new every morning...Lamentations 3:22-23

At my church, we are encouraged to be witnesses for Jesus. We are to do as the disciples did and share the gospel with everyone. I haven't been good at doing that, so I made a new commitment to God to share His gospel. One of the young ladies in my class shared that she has a felony, but she needs a job. I told her that I was praying for her because with her record it would be difficult to get a job. I asked if she was saved and she told me she was and she said that she prays also. I encouraged her to keep looking because it can be difficult to find a job with a record, but it's not impossible.

Thank God she received His word!!

Following Directions

I have gotten good at following directions and instructions--of course there are some times when I "know what I'm doing" and I mess screw something up, but for the most part, following the order of something step by step is what I like to do so that I don't make a mistake. Because of this, I teach and instruct in steps. Step 1... Step 2... Step 3..., etc.

I was a little inquisitive when only 2 of my 6 students followed the steps, one at a time. Did I explain the assignment correctly and good enough? Did anyone read what I had type out as the instructions?

I'm not sure!?

So, I just let it be. We'll see how their assignments turn out on Tuesday because I don't teach again until Tuesday, Sept 6. The college will be closed for the next two days because of the Farm Progress Show. I'm happy, but I don't have any money and I need to do laundry. I NEED TO DO LAUNDRY, BADLY!!!

I have no clean clothes and I'm running out of underwear.

I did get a chance to clean yesterday. I cleaned the living room and I started on the kitchen. I finished cleaning out my refrigerator. Now I need to mop the floor and wipe down the cabinets.

After cleaning the kitchen, I'm gonna tackle my laundry. I'm not gonna be able to wash anything because I don't have money for the laundromat, but I will prepare my clothes which usually includes separating and putting stain cleaner and baking soda on the underarms of my shirts. I don't know why, but my regular detergent doesn't clean the deodorant off well and if I don't use baking soda, I get ugly yellow stains from my sweat on the underarms of my shirts.

After tackling my laundry, I'm gonna work on my closet. I have one closet where I have things shoved in there on the closet floor. I can't keep things that way.

This will be my cleaning regime this week. I hope to have the whole house clean by the time I go back to work on Monday.

Teaching GED

I started teaching an 8:30 GED class on Monday. It was a little rocky at first because I wasn't sure how exactly to teach the class. I mean, everyone in the class is at a different level, so how do you teach that?

The first day was testing. No problem. Pass out the test, use the two hours for them to complete the test. If they complete early, good, they can go home. It they take longer, we finish the next day.

But, the second day was when I needed to have a plan in place. Hmmm, what to do, what to do?

So, as I"m fumbling around showing student's their test scores and telling them where they needed to start, a former student of mine comes in. He was a little bossy, but I didn't mind because he let me know that the previous teacher had folders for each student with assignments for what they needed to do.

Hmmm, that sounds like a good idea. I got folders and ran with it. Then I began deciphering the test scores and learning all of the coded words and numbers. Instead of putting together an outline, I simply added the test scores to their folder and told them to use that as a guide of what to work on.

I'm gonna take some time this weekend to really go through information that they need to work on so they won't be bored to death. But, the first week was cool. Not all of my students showed up. Some showed up the first day and that's it. I need to maintain a good enrollment.

One of my goals is to have all of the students who have shown up, complete the 8 week class.

I Love Jesus!

God has been and is SSSOOOOOO good to me!!! I love Him for loving me!!

Stupid Overdraft Charges

I wrote 2 bad checks. I didn't mean to. I actually thought I had money to cover one of them, but I didn't and recently I haven't had any money so there have been overdraft after overdraft on my checking account and now I owe the bank $105. UGH!! That's in addition to my car note that is 18 days past due. GRRRRR!!!!!

Despite it all, I still THANK GOD!!! I did get my unemployment check today, so I can pay on it. But that means I have to pay my bank $350 which leaves me about $200 to live off of. OMG!!! The good news is that I will be getting money on my LINK card on Friday. I can't wait. I have food, but nothing good.


Thank God for public assistance!!

Motivation & Inspiration

I was blessed as a child. Yes, my family was poor, but I belong to what they called the "sanctified" church--Emmanuel Temple COGIC. There was a woman there who was a role model for me--Gladys Steptoe. She was over the youth choir, sunshine band, children's church and vacation bible school. If there was anything to do with the youth, she was over it. She also had a radio show--For Children Only, that my sister and I was apart of. She was a great inspiration to me and because of her, I wanted to work with young people. She made such a great impact on me that I am walking in her footsteps--working with youth, working with vacation bible school, etc.

She passed on Wednesday. I wanted to go to her funeral, but I wasn't able to because my car was not working properly, but she will greatly be missed.

I was just leaving a note on her obituary guestbook and I read some of the other notes. I almost cried when I read what my brother wrote, "I am the black child."

*tears in my eyes*

This was a poem she had him recite during some type of youth program. I loved hearing him read that poem.

I can remember reciting Langston Hughes "Mother to Son" during one of the programs she was putting on. She will never be forgotten!!! And I thank God that she was in my life to inspire me and motivate me!!


Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor --
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Stranded at Work

I volunteer at a Non Profit as a supervisor of a summer work program. We've hired 20 young people ages 16-19 to work from July to August 31. It's been a great learning experience for me. But at the end of the day, I'm tired and I want to GO HOME!!!

So why am I stranded???

Why won't my key turn in the ignition????

WHY, WHY, WHY???

I dont' have any money for car repairs. I don't even have money to catch the bus to the college tomorrow. I've been praying to God that my car will start, but it won't. Ugh!!!!

WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY???

I was done at work at 6pm and it is now 9pm. I don't want to leave my car because the windows are down and my sunroof is open. UGH.

I need a miracle. I NEED MY CAR TO START!!

*Post Script*

My car finally started, but it was after 9pm. I was so tired. It's now making some kind of rattling noise when I start it. Boohoo.