• Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 78 other subscribers

  • “Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers” — Isaac Asimov

  • Recent Posts

  • Pages

  • Categories

  • Archives

  • Blog Stats

    • 195,070 hits

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2009 by auburnchick

Wow!  I can’t believe it’s 2009 already!  Time flies when you’re having fun, eh?

Today is New Year’s Day.  I’ve declared it Pajama Day in the AuburnChick home!  Rooster and I worked so hard yesterday that I figured we deserved the break.

So, here I sit, in my jammies and fluffy robe, pondering what New Year’s means to me.

I’m not sure that I’m big on resolutions.  They never amount to much for me.  I guess I just have a bad way of following through with them, despite my good intentions.

Between this post on the True Woman ’08 blog (make sure you read this list in the middle of that post) and this post on Mrs. Pivec’s blog, I’ve been more reflective than past years.  Both blogs offer much food for thought.  I like that Mrs. Pivec selects one word to focus on during the year.  I also love the ten questions that are presented in the True Woman list.  They are not for the faint of heart.

I pondered the words I had read.  Over and over, I kept hearing the themes of time and debt in my heart.

I think I need to do a better job of managing how I spent my time.  I’m not dedicating much, if any (I’m ashamed to say) quiet time reading God’s Word.  I’ve used the excuse that the kids and I do devotions on school days.  However, that’s no way to build a relationship with God.  Relationships require an investment of time to truly get to know the other party involved.  A man and a woman who desire a serious relationship do not spend all of their time together in the presence of other people.  They spend time one-on-one, listening to each other, speaking the words that are deep within their hearts.  Sometimes, they are content just to be together, not even saying a word but simply enjoying the quiet presence of the other person.

The same can be said of growing a relationship with God.  Yes, we need corporate worship time.  However, we also need one-on-one time.  I think of some of the greatest people in the Bible.  Men like Abraham, David, and Jesus (I’ll count him even though he IS God) spent many, many hours in solitude, praying and desiring to be close to God.  I need to be more like them.

The other issue that’s been on my heart is debt.  With the down-turn in the economy and the severe cut in my pay, I’ve felt very convicted for the financial choices I’ve made over the years.  I think I’ve confused wants for needs.  Somehow, as salaries have increased, my savings have decreased.  More money in the paycheck?  Now I can up my cell phone plan, subscribe to more channels on the cable box, and maybe even buy more yarn.  However, I should have been putting more into savings, paying down things like the car payment and other debt, tithing more, and looking for more ways to give.  Putting God first.

Ugh.  How I wish for a clean slate – someone to come along, pay off everything for me – and let me start over.  But I think that I wouldn’t learn my lessons well that way, now would I?  I would probably revert back to my old ways.  Metal cannot be purified without going through fire; nor can I be changed and molded into something new without bringing the impurities of my life to the surface so that they can, ultimately, be removed.

So, those are the things I’ve been pondering lately.  I didn’t mean for the post to sound depressing.  When I reflect, I often do not focus on the good things I’ve done.  I look for ways I can grow, and this usually involves peeling back the superficial layers in my life to reveal the blood and guts of that lie beneath…not a pretty picture but present all the same.

Oh, and a few last words before I end this post.

Last night, while watching THE ball drop on TV, I was struck by something one of the hosts said.  He said that people are happy to see ’08 go and are looking forward to the new year and the HOPE that it will bring.  It was a reminder that each new day presents a fresh ray of hope to start anew.  God, in His infinite wisdom, did not make life on earth one long, endless day.  I think that would be rather depressing.  The rising of the sun each day symbolizes the chance to start over.

God is SO good!

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

A Day of Rest

Posted on October 26, 2008 by auburnchick

Sundays can be so refreshing.  It’s no wonder that God mandates in Deuteronomy 5:12-15 to “Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy…Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord Your God.”

Our bodies need rest.  We need to decompress.  We also need dedicated time to worship God and reflect on Him.

When we make time for God, He is faithful to hear us.  And we can hear Him better.  I think the message he spoke to me today was to praise Him…no matter the circumstances.  He is here, even when things are bleak, and I’m feeling low.  We praise Him for simply Who He is.  His love for us is not dependent on what we do but the simple fact that we are His children.  We should respond in kind to Him, our heavenly Father.

We sang “You Never Let Go” at church this morning.  I felt it so personally, as I’m sure others did.  I will praise God for being faithful.  He is my rock…my sure foundation.  All else pales in comparison.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

Today Was My Turn

Posted on October 13, 2008 by auburnchick

I should have just stayed in bed today.  In fact, I tried my best to do just that.

Soccer Chick and I spent the weekend out of town, just the two of us, at a soccer tournament.  This was her first one back with her old team (the one she was on before joining the Jacksonville team).  I felt like the new kid in class as I joined the parents on the side-line.  Everyone is thrilled that we are back.  The soccer community is one huge family.  That’s one reason why I love being a soccer mom.

We had left our home at, what Mr. AuburnChick is fond of calling, O’Dark Thirty.  That means a time of the day when nobody should be out of bed, much less on the road.  Here’s what it looked like as we left our house:

As we neared our destination, we had to cross a bridge.  Daylight had broken significantly (Soccer Chick took this picture for me):

The competition was certainly not what we are used to, but Soccer Chick came off of the field happy.  That was the best thing about the weekend.  Oh sure, her team soundly defeated each team it played, but we left with much more…her joy for the game had returned.

In between games on Saturday, I went yarn shopping.  I had planned on being a bit sneaky, but Soccer Chick would have none of that.  My plan was to check into our hotel, leave her there while I ran to the shop, and then pick her up to go to the mall.  Well, she didn’t like that one bit.  Our conversation went like this:

“Soccer Chick, I’m going to leave you here for a short bit while I run to the yarn store.”

“Um, Mama, if you think I’m going to be left behind, you’re crazy.”

“Soccer Chick, when did you start liking yarn?  Is this why you want to go?”

“Um, Mama, I know that if you go, you will forget the time and stay gone for hours.  I’m going with you.”

And she did.  Granted, she waited in the car, but after about 40 minutes, she made her presence known.

Inside the store, I heard the honk of the car being locked.  I looked at the store owner and asked if an angry teenager parading around in a soccer uniform was making her way through the door.  She nodded an amused “yes.”  I quickly wrapped things up, paid for my yarn (which I’ll take pictures of another day), and left.  Soccer Chick was not amused, but she withheld her contempt since we were, after all, on our way to her store.  For once, she played it smart.

We went shopping and had a great time.  We didn’t spend much, but it was a relaxing afternoon and a great time of bonding.

Soccer Chick’s last game was at 4:30 on Sunday afternoon.  We were both exhausted as we left for home.  Here’s what it looked like as we headed out:

By the time my alarm went off this morning, I was ready to pull the covers over my head and feign illness.  Molly, my youngest pup, tried her best to get me up, using her nose to push off my covers and then doing a head dive into me.  It didn’t work.  I ignored her plea to go potty.  I’m mean when I’m sleepy.

I did finally roll out of bed around 8:15, about the time that I’m supposed to be at work.  Oops.  I figured that if the kids were getting to sleep in on their holiday from school, why shouldn’t I get a break too?  Boy, I can’t wait for retirement.

But I digress…as usual…

Aside from the slow start to the day, my morning at work went well.

Until my boss paged me over the phone system.  She wanted to meet with me in the conference room.

My heart fell.

I knew what was coming.  It was what I had been dreading.

She wasted no time in getting the bad news out.  The firm is making budget cuts, and there just isn’t the financial means for part-time IT people (i.e. me), effective the end of the month.

As I said, I was not surprised.  I’ve been part-time since I started there.  We now have a full-time, fully certified IT guy, and he’s doing a great job.  I’ve only been putting in between 12-18 hours a week lately with the subbing work I’ve been doing.

Still, it was difficult to hear.

It was official.

I count myself fortunate that they have given me two more weeks.  They could have easily told me to pack up and leave today.

I’m sad because I never expected to fall in love with these people.  I’m scared because I don’t know when I’m going to find a better paying job (i.e. a teacher position).  I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to pay my bills.

But ultimately, I know that God is in control.  Everything in our lives is for His glory.  I am more certain of that than anything else in my life.

I am determined not to feel sorry for myself, knowing that others are going through what I am going through.  I was browsing around YouTube and found this version of a song that I absolutely love.  I used to sing it to Soccer Chick when I rocked her to sleep, and she sang along when she was a toddler.

The version below is a bit rocked out and probably not something you’ve heard before, but I really like its faster, uplifting beat.  The most important thing is the message of the song…Jesus is my All in All.  Much like the lambs He is holding in the various pictures, He holds my life in his hands as well.  I know that is the safest place to be.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , | 6 Comments »

Disappointment, and God’s Answer To It

Posted on October 1, 2008 by auburnchick

As y’all know, I recently started subbing as a way to try to get my face known at the schools so when a teaching position becomes available, hopefully I will have an advantage.

Well, I got my paycheck for my first subbing job, and oh boy…what a shock!

My district pays $55 per day for subs with bachelor’s degrees. At 7.5 hours of work, that breaks down to $7.33 per hour.

Very sad.

I do not mind that I will not make much money teaching, but this…for subs who are responsible for 30 kids each class period, is sad. I made more money when I was a paraprofessional at the schools a couple of years ago, and I wasn’t even allowed to be in a classroom on my own…without a teacher! That’s standard policy for all para’s.

I LOVE subbing, and I’m hoping that I can find a teaching position really soon. But it’s not economically feasible for me to sub more than one day a week (I have another part-time job that pays a lot more but is not in the education field).
So, I got my pay check yesterday and stressed a bit (ok…a lot) over it the rest of the evening and today.

Until this afternoon.

Today, I had an appointment with a gal to measure a few of my windows for blinds.  I am trying to reduce my electric bill, so I’ve decided to finally cover the rest of my windows.  I’m sure the neighbors will be happy.  I believe that putting up some money up front will save me $$ in the long-run.  After sucking in my breath at the final quote, I pulled out my credit card.  The gal and I started chit-chatting, and I mentioned that I am a computer tech/teacher-wanna-be.

“Oh really?” she said.

Yes, ma’am.

“Do you teach people how to use the computer?” she asked.

Yes, ma’am.

“Would you teach me if I pay you?” she continued?

Yes, ma’am (happy dance in my head).

My eyes began to fill with tears, although I did control myself.  She is an answer to prayer.  I’ve spent the last two days concerned about bringing home less money and not being able to pay my bills, and I might just be getting a bit of extra work, for good pay, which will bridge gap.

The kicker?

My devotion with the kids this morning was about taking your disappointments to God and turning to Him for help.

I am awed, once again, that God would hear me…small, insignificant AuburnChick.

For those who think that God doesn’t care about them or the small things in their lives, I can say with confidence that He does care…very much so.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , | 4 Comments »

Another Milestone

Posted on August 18, 2008 by auburnchick

Do you hear that?

What, you may ask? All you may be listening to is silence.

Well, that’s because my children are busy doing homework. Today was the first day of school, and a couple of the teachers decided not to waste a moment, digging right into the course material. Good for them! After a summer spent beating the drums to the latest tunes on Rock Band, the Chick children need their brains to be stimulated.

For Soccer Chick, this was a regular day. She is now officially a Junior.

Rockin’ Rooster, on the hand, had a big day. It was his first day of high school.

Last night, as I was driving to church to pick them both up from youth group, a slow song came on the radio, and I got misty-eyed as I began to think about Monday morning’s event. How well I remember his first day of kindergarten. Rooster was my buddy when he was a tot. After Soccer Chick started school, Rooster and I had two glorious years to ourselves (at least until 2pm). He ran errands with me, almost always without complaining. Even after he started preschool, I always picked him up in time to eat lunch together.

The day he started kindergarten was rough for me. It was the first time in many years that I had to go home to a quiet house. Being a stay-at-home mom was the best, except for that morning. I walked aimlessly around the house, feeling like one of my appendages was missing. It was…my four-foot walking stick was no longer glued to my side.

In my sorrow, I went to my local ice cream shop and ordered my favorite treat. I was the first person in the shop that day, and I sadly told the owner my story. She commiserated with me as only another mom could.

I remember the relief I felt when Rooster walked out of school that day, as I eagerly waited with the other parents. He had survived, and so had I.

So, the tears flowed down my face last night as I drove. As I pulled into the church parking lot, the following song began playing on the radio:

I do not believe in coincidences. God sees us in our need and provides comfort and wisdom when we need it. Such was the case with the timing of this song. My favorite hymn has always been Amazing Grace, and this modern version is incredible.  God was reminding me that His grace would see me through, and it did.

Rockin’ Rooster got up with his alarm clock and was dressed and ready for devotions when I emerged from the bathroom this morning. I prayed for my children after we read from the Bible, and throughout the day, my thoughts turned to him a few times. Once again, just as I did ten years ago, I eagerly waited for him outside of the school. When he split off from the swarm of kids, I released a contented sigh. My son was fine.

He had survived.

And so had I.

Only by God’s grace.

Praise the Lord.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

AuburnChick’s Grades Have Come In!

Posted on March 9, 2008 by auburnchick

Well, I’m being lazy right now. I want to post pictures of the stuff I’ve been knitting, but I’m too lazy to get up and get the camera.

So, I thought I would share a good tidbit. Y’all know that I finished taking finals the week before last. Well, one of my professors had already sent me an email letting me know that I had an A in his class. One down, one to go.

I’ve been sitting on pins and needles waiting for the other grade. Basically, I’ve been nervous…afraid that someone is going to pull the rug out from under my feet and tell me that I have to take another class.

The class I took (that I’ve been patiently awaiting the grade for) was Military History of the United States. Why in the world would I take this class, you might wonder. Well, basically I had no choice. As a history minor, I had two classes left to take, and this and the other one (History of England, 1689-present) were the only two upper level classes offered this term.

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the Military History class. What a different perspective I have now! But, the professor, who has a great reputation, was tough. I made a 75 on his mid-term…very unlike me. I also had been given two 80’s on papers that I had written. Again, unlike me. I’m used to making A’s on everything. In fact (not to brag), I’ve carried a 4.0 since I began my journey as an adult college student. I did not intentionally set out to do this, but when, term after term, I received A’s, well, it just seemed natural to expect that out of myself.

However, with this being my last term, I was just ready to be done. So, I was concerned. What would I make on my long paper and final? Would I pass? At this point, I realized that I would not make an A, but I just wanted to make a C or better. Last week, I found out that I made a 100 on my long research paper! Wow! After the 80’s, it was a pleasant surprise. So, I waited for my grade on the final, which I thought I did o-k-a-y on, but not great.

Who, in their right mind, can be expected to know the details of air combat during the second world war or the Vietnam War? Not your average female, that’s for sure.

Anyhow, the professor just sent an email letting us know that everything had been graded. I nervously clicked on my shortcut to get me to the school site, dreading every moment. Clicking on the link that said “Grades,” I had to close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Grade on Final: 100

Huh? What’s this? How did I do that? You mean I answered both three-page essay question thoroughly and, most importantly, correctly???

Grade for the Term: 91%

Huh? That’s an A, right? I quickly retrieve his syllabus to check the grading scale. Yep, 90-100 equals an A.

I started crying tears of joy and relief. I passed. More than that, I maintained my 4.0.

It’s tough to be a perfectionist. I learned some lessons along the way. God does not expect perfection…just my best. And that’s what I offered, through His grace every day. I was ready to settle for less than an A, believing that I had honored God with my efforts. That’s all He asks. He provided the icing on the cake. Wow!

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

« Previous Page
  • December 2025
    S M T W T F S
     123456
    78910111213
    14151617181920
    21222324252627
    28293031  

  • Currently Reading

  • Books I’ve Read