It's like I'm 15 all over again...

Back in the summer of 2006 I found out that I had an outstanding ticket, and, thus, my license was temporarily suspended. All I had to do was pay the fine, fax in the paperwork to the DMV, and stay out of trouble. So, in November 2006, I got a sub for half-a-day, paid the fine, faxed in the paperwork, and have since stayed out of trouble. Then, about a week ago, my insurance agent called and mentioned that my driver's licence was invalid. Upon re-running the numbers, we found out that it was, in fact, true. My only option was to go to the DMV and get this problem figured out.

I went in today, and I found out that, sure enough, my license was invalid. The nice lady at the DMV looked up my info and discovered that my ticket was paid two months late. When that happens, they automatically suspend a person's license (and apparently don't have to notify the person). Had that been my only problem, I would have sucked it up, paid the fine, and gotten on with my life. Sadly, that was not the case. The fax that I sent to let them know I was good-to-go never showed up to the DMV. And I never thought to check up on the situation... As of now, my license has been suspended for over two years. When that happens, a person has to start all over.

What does "start all over" mean, you ask? Well, let me break it down for you:
License Reinstatement: $95.00
Permit/Testing Fee: $14.00
New License Fee: $21.00
Feeling like I'm 15 all over again: Priceless.

I am now excited to get to study that oh-so-fun book, take a written test to get a permit, and take a driving test to get a new license. (Wish me luck. It took me two tries to pass the written portion ten years ago. I'm sure I have only gotten dumber since then.) Plus, I get to pay $130 as icing on the cake. Good stuff... And to add insult to injury, I don't even get to keep my old picture. Nope. I will have to lose the greatest picture in the history of licenses. That's not sarcasm. That's truth. I'm not even kidding. Bummer.

Ok. Pessimistic isn't my usual attitude. Let's try to find a silver lining here. I mean, sure...I was so lucky as to stay out of trouble, not get any more tickets, get found out, and ultimately get sent to jail. I found out about all of this in time and can now get it taken care of. It would just kill me if I had to go to jail...even if for just a few hours... I'm sure Eric and Hawkmoon would have given me good advice as to how to survive, but I'd rather not even go there...

"Pearls of Truth and Wisdom"

"Only the brave should teach. Only those who love the young should teach. Teaching is vocation. It is as sacred as priesthood, as innate a desire, as inescapable as the genius which compels a great artist. If he has not the concern for humanity, the love of living creatures, the vision of the priest and the artist, he must not teach." ~Pearl S. Buck

I would like to shake her hand and have coffee with this woman. She was one who not only took her own education seriously, but did everything in her power to help others succeed. She had a deep love and passion for China, since she spent the majority of her life growing up and living there. She believed that everyone, no matter their lot in life, deserved a chance at success. Pearl knew the value of human life. She worked throughout her life to make others aware of it, too. I just discovered a new hero today. I wonder what she would say to that...?

It just goes to show...

I know that up until I was about 19 years old, I held strongly to what I believed my parents believed when it came to politics. I figured, if my parents steered me in the right direction in every other area of my life, they must be pretty dead-on politically, too. I think that is true for most kids (especially under the age of 18).
During the election time, it was very clear to see which of my students parents were voting for whom. If the kids did not out-right tell me, I got a pretty clear picture by a show of hands when asked who the kids would vote for. Obama was outnumbered 12-1 in this little class of mine. That didn't really surprise me. I teach in a Christian school full of right-wing, conservative WASPs. It also didn't surprise me that the one student who was "voting" for Obama happened to be my non-white student of the class... However, today I was surprised by some things.
I took the time to talk about the Inauguration and the new President today. I had a wonderful Scholastic News for the kids to read that was full of pictures and facts about Mr. Obama's life as a kid and into adulthood. There were some pictures and facts about his family, too. We got to discover how very similar (and different) our lives happen to be from the President and his family. Scholastic did a great job "humanizing" Mr. Obama and portrayed him as a real person.
Here is what surprised me. Of all the kids in my class, only two or three stuck to their guns and insisted that they didn't like him. Most of them, when given his "humanness" to look at, were able to relate to at least something. Whether it was the fact that he had a close relationship with his grandparents; he loves basketball; he was a good student; he has a 7-year old daughter (my kids are mostly 7); his girls play the piano... They realized that he just might be a normal guy who happens to have a very big and special job.
What made me sad were the few kids who still insisted, after all the discussion, that they didn't like him. It made me wonder what kind of things were being said at home... I wish that people would just understand that though we might not have gotten our way as far as the election went, we still have to accept what happened. We are called to PRAY for our leaders. Instead of speaking lowly about our President, I wish parents would encourage their kids to talk to God about him. The only way anything is going to change is if we learn to accept people for who they are and realize that none of us are perfect...not even the people we voted for...regardless of who that person was...
I realized one thing that my parents taught me through their honest actions: though they did not always support or enjoy what was going on politiacally in our town, county, state, or nation, they still chose to never speak badly about the political leaders in front of their children. The only bad-mouthing I ever heard came from other family members or adults in my life. My parents knew that it wasn't productive to impress their negativity onto their kids. I thank them for that. I hope I can show that example to my kids in my class, my niece, and any kids of my own I might someday have!
That's all I have to say about that for now. Congratulations, Mr. President. I don't envy the job you have before you...But I do trust that God is in control. And that is a great comfort.

Thus sayeth the Queen Part II

OK. Part I was written in haste during my lunch break today. That turned out to be a very disappointing blog... Just ignore it, if you can help it... :o)



Actually, a little over a week ago, I was doing a study on Psalm 23 and Sabbath Rest. I was personalizing Psalm 23 as I read through it and considered what it meant. When I was done, I realized how incredible and insightful the Holy Spirit can be to me if I allow Him to be. I guess I just want to share it with whomever wants to read my blog...



Mary's Psalm 23



*** Jesus is my guider, helper, protector, and ruler. I am never in need or worried about being provided for. The Lord commands me and encourages me to take a break, relax, and enjoy the LIFE He has given me. He wants me to rest so He can fill me back up, energize my spirit, cleanse my soul, and keep me close to His heart. Jesus leads, and I follow Him along the ways that are good and correct. He does this because His JUSTICE makes me RIGHTEOUS. He does this to bring Himself GLORY. He does this to show what a great and powerful God He is.



Wherever I go, evil is lurking. Temptation never goes away. The shadow of death is around; but my Shepherd keeps it from me. I don't have to be afraid. His discipline in my life helps me walk the path of righteousness. His Word gives me guidance. I am surrounded by PEACE and well-being. Even when things look bad; people don't like me; and I'm not sure how I'm going to make it through, my Lord sets me up for success.



He provieds. He makes His own Name renoun so that everyone can taste and see that HE IS GOOD! I have no doubt that goodness, love, mercy, peace, grace, and Jesus will be in my life forever. Because I am so filled with these, I will reflect them and show them wherever I go and in whatever I do! The best part of all is that I will get to spend my life in God's will and my ETERNAL life in His very presence!!!! ***

Thus sayeth the Queen...part I

And now I have started a blog. I tried to resist, but I could not. I thought facebook would be the worst of it... But no...

Anyway, I figured this would be an interesting way to write. Sometimes I have stuff to share...