Hello!

Just wanted to put a post up here...mainly because I haven't posted since 2007! What is that?! So, I'm still living in VA and teaching at a public high school. The newest news is that I am engaged to Timothy French and getting married this summer on Saturday, July 5, 2008. :)

Do you ever feel unloved? I was feeling that way earlier this evening as I left a friend’s house. I was immediately reminded of the fact that if I would show love, I would feel loved. Not that you should love with that motive, but it is a nice reward. I tell you. I am so very selfish. Always looking for my needs to be met. It is a strange paradox that one should feel loved when they seek to love others, but I tell you – it’s true. Just now I spent a great deal of time chatting with my brother on the phone and when I hung up the phone I felt very loved. Just spending time with him on the phone made me feel loved. I am grateful for that. May we ever remember that there are others out there who are longing to feel loved just as much, if not more, than we are. And, just because you don’t “feel” loved, does not mean you aren’t loved. Even if no human on earth loved you, Christ loves you. He proved such love on Calvary. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. This is a promise we must cling to. The next time you feel unloved, run to Christ!

Continuing from the courtroom…

I eventually was able to approach the front of the room and speak with the judge presiding. Did you know that the officer who gave you the ticket also shows up at the front with you? Well, there he was…the one who had made all of my vehicle violations very clear to me. Joy of joys. Here is what had occurred. I was home sick one day from school. I had just been to the doctor and then gotten my medicine from the pharmacy. Upon reaching the corner right before my apartment entrance, I rolled through the stop sign. Bad idea. And an even worse idea today for right there across from the stop sign (the road “t’d”) was a policeman. Sure enough, as I finished turning the corner, the flashers went on and he pulled me over – right outside my apartment complex. I was not 20 feet from the entrance. After everything was discussed and “discovered,” the officer made it very clear to me that I had three violations. First, I had rolled through the stop sign. Second, I had not obtained my Virginia drivers’ license within 30 days of moving to the state, and my vehicle registration was not with me in the car. Not only did the officer state these things very clearly to me, he had me sign two (possibly three) yellow sheets agreeing that I was guilty of such violations. That will make you feel good. Well, I do need to be thankful. He gave me a warning for rolling through the stop sign, and said that I could just pay the fines for the other two violations if I didn’t wish to go to court.

Needless to say, I was not very happy about this whole situation. Upon entering my apartment, I checked to see what the fee was for my violations, promptly located my vehicle registration, and called the courthouse. They waived my vehicle registration violation fee because it was in my apartment and said that I would need to call back later regarding the “failure to get VA license within 30 days of moving to the state.”

So, here we were…the three of us. The officer, the judge, and myself. The judge asked if I had obtained my VA license. I said yes and showed him my license.
“Show it to the officer.” “So, you didn’t get your license right away.”
“No sir, I moved here from Chicago back in August.”
Turning his attention to the officer, “Was she polite?”
“Yes sir.”
I don’t remember the rest of what the officer said, but the judge told me that he would dismiss the fee for compliance! He said I was free to go! So in the end, I did not end up paying any fines for my violations (except maybe the fee to get my VA license at the DMV). Thank you Lord for your mercy!

Thursday. Still dark outside. About 6:30am. Driving toward historic Fredericksburg. Worried that we will miss the train into the city. I met Tim on his way to the station and parked the car. Grabbed my luggage and hurried across the streets and up the stairs. Tim quickly validated the tickets while I stood outside the train with the conductor. Tim came out and we stepped onto the train. Whew! We made it. I was flying out of DC that morning, and we needed to make that train. It was chilly when we stepped off the train and hour later and began walking toward the metro station with a train that would take us to Reagan International Airport.

Upon arriving at the airport, we ended up getting in line at a self-check-in station. The personnel there were not very helpful at all. They just kept saying “You need to check in here at these machines. This is self-check-in only. The line was not going very quickly, and I was becoming nervous that I might be late for my flight. Eventually we got through and I was going to make my flight. Said goodbye to Tim and headed to my gate.

Chicago was wonderful! I do indeed love the place. My family is there and, of course, the city. I was able to spend a day at the firm where several of my family members work/have worked. I myself worked there last summer. I spent the morning saying hello to the office personnel and reading a Chopin biography I had from my public library. That afternoon, several of us “office girls” enjoyed lunch at a Chipotle window on a busy Chicago street. People watching is fun! I believe I walked past the window once myself…for our entertainment.  Once back in the office, I read and took a nap in my usual corner – tucked away and unseen. By the end of the day, I ended up doing a minor bit of office work for one of the lawyers. It was rather amusing, I must say. Five o’clock pm and we were out the door and headed for the train. Time to go home!

Friday evening was nice. Spent time with my family.

Saturday was the big Firm Summer Event! We spent the morning getting ready and then headed downtown once more. Diane, Mom, Nathan, Amanda, and I traveled together. We went to lunch at the Flat Water Café along the Chicago River and then attended Wicked (a sort of “prequel” musical to the Wizard of Oz) at the Oriental Theater. Nathan and I bought sweatshirts and wrist bands! The show was amazing. And so was the architecture inside the theater. Thank you so very much to the Firm for taking us all out for the fun adventure!!

Sunday morning arrived, and Amanda, Truffles, and I hit the road and headed back to Virginia. Long day. We arrived at my place and then turned around in the morning and drove to Virginia Beach the next morning. Ginger joined us! Although busy with socializing and new apartment red tape for Amanda, we were able to enjoy the beach for a little while that Monday. It was nice to be able to meet a few more of Amanda’s law school friends during that visit to VA Beach. Tiffany is a dear. We spent the night and headed back up to Freddy and DC on Tuesday.

Tuesday night found Amanda and Truffles at a friend’s house in DC. This is where Truffles would be spending the next month. Things were quite busy with Frankie, our friend’s adorable new puppy, and now Amanda and Truffles’ arrival. Frankie was over-joyed at Truffles arrival. Tim and I left them all and headed back to Freddy (we had picked Tim up from the Metro along the way).

I was in the car once again on Wednesday morning. Headed for DC to take Amanda to the airport. The trip was not uneventful. I had quite a time of it trying to find my way to where Amanda was staying. Once I was in the city, I ended up in the wrong quadrant and needed help. I called Amanda, but soon became very frustrated. How was I supposed to just up and do a U-turn as soon as I was told to? And how could I get across town when buildings and one-way streets just kept popping up in my face?! Tim was also called during my escapade into the city. Finally, after much stress, I made it to where Amanda was. I’m glad we had planned to meet a bit earlier than necessary, because now we needed to get her to the airport. Off we went. And we made it on time. Sigh…she was finally off to Strausburg (well, at the airport at least).

Summer…Need I say More?

Wow, where do I start? This summer has been so incredibly full. Looking back on it now makes me smile. I am grateful to the Lord for life – and allowing me to experience it in its many facets.

It all started on a sunny morning back in May. Friday, May 15th. Before heading south on 95, I stopped off at the local CVS on the corner near my apartment. I headed for the medicine aisle. After perusing a few rows, the pharmacist’s counter was my next stop. “I am not feeling well and I feel as if I might have a fever. I am a teacher, and I have a lot to do today. Is there something you could suggest I take to help me get through today?” I left with a box of Mucinex D. (The stuff, the pills that is, taste horrible! In my opinion. And yes, I can taste the pill during its brief duration on my tongue. Uehg!)

Medicine, a Starbucks, and about 30 minutes later, I arrived at school. I had a great many things to accomplish that day. Three o’clock in the afternoon was “check-out” time for us teachers, and we had a list of items to finish before we were allowed to check out for the summer. Typical me, I had plenty of them left to accomplish, on top of a few other things I needed to finish. (I certainly will do things differently next year!) Lunch time rolled around and a few friends said they would pick up lunch for me while they were out. Great! They forgot my lunch on the restaurant counter.

I was able to finish most of my responsibilities and obtain the required check-out signatures. With a few things left to wrap-up the following Monday, around 5:30pm I headed outside for Graduation Parking Lot duty. Although due to my health I had the principal and department head’s permission to go home as soon as I was done with my end-of-school responsibilities, I really wanted to participate in parking lot duty! This was an opportunity to do something non-academic with my colleagues. Yes, it was fun! 

Monday was not much fun either, but I will spare you the details. Suffice it to know that I “officially” finished on-site school responsibilities that day.

Tuesday began my summer adventures. At approximately 9:30am I found myself sitting near the back of a very crowded courtroom. A bit nervous, I watched as people took turns “visiting” with the judge at the front. “Visiting” is hardly the right word to use. The judge was definitely not there to chat with us. One man must have been quite into his conversation with the judge, because after the man had been up at the front of the room for a short while, the judge declared something like, “Stop talking. I am not your buddy.” This judge meant business. I remember one particular man from that day. This gentleman received the accusation, “you have been convicted of possession of marijuana.” Neatly dressed in black slacks, a bright blue dress shirt, and a tie, the man did not look as though he would have carried such an item.

I noticed a black television to the left of and slightly behind the judge. I was very curious about this particular object in the room. I spent a few moments trying to figure it out. The screen contained a person dressed in yellowish shirt and pants. After dealing with several people in person, the judge turned to his right and began speaking with the person on the television screen. How amazing! The judge was holding court via television. Apparently the person on the screen had been accused of battery or assault. Yikes! After the televised court session, several others were brought before the judge.

Up until now, as people’s names were called, they usually rose from one of the pews inside the courtroom. Now, a few people here and there were brought in and out of side doors with handcuffs or some sort of chain on them. Some of the chains were audible as the people moved in and out of the room. What had I gotten myself into? I thought I was going to court for a non-moving traffic violation. The convictions taking place presently seemed a great deal worse than that! Eventually the judge rose and the ever present bailiff began. “All rise. The court is now in recess. Traffic Court will resume….etc.”

They called roll for traffic court, and I now realized that my yellow paper stating that I was to be at court at 9:30am did not mean that I myself had a special and specifically appointed time to meet with the judge. There were many of us who were to meet with the judge at 9:30am. (Well, during the 9:30 session anyway.) Great! So now I had been sitting in the courtroom for a while, and I had to wait a little bit longer.

Good evening,

First of all, let me please apologize for not keeping in touch with each of you as I should. I really have no excuse. My father taught me that "you make time for what you want to do." So, there you have it...no excuse. I trust that all is well with each of you. I would love to hear from you - even if it's just a quick hello (I know that you all are busy).

In case you are not aware, the Lord allowed me to get a job teaching 9th and 10th grade English at Caroline High School in Caroline County, Virginia. I have two ninth grade classes, two tenth grade classes, and an advanced tenth grade class. Teaching in the public school system has been very eye-opening and challenging. I honestly have not felt my personal beliefs attacked or even that I cannot live the way I believe I should, but I have been amazed at how much a different mindset pervades the thinking of the students. One lesson in particular that I have learned regarding myself is that I truly do not love people. I love myself. This was particularly brought home to me when dealing with a student's very unlovely actions and attitude. Someone mentioned that I should be as nice as I could to that student. I tell you, you think you love until the Lord wants you to love when you don't want to. Frustrating students can really show you your own weaknesses and sins ( I apologize right now to my teachers for anything I ever did that was frustrating and upsetting to them...even absences, tardies, and late homework!). Being on this side of the equation is good for me. A second plus of this eye-opening experience of teaching was a greater appreciation for they way my parents raised me. Thank you mom and dad!

The Lord has also allowed me to be involved in the Drama Program at school. I have been able to help with auditions and now I am helping direct Hamlet, our Spring play! The Lord has given me a wonderful opportunity to learn under a well-qualified teacher/director. Mr. Carver, one of the Drama heads at the school, was a professional actor. We are working on two plays right now - Scapin for February and Hamlet for March. Mr. Carver tells me what he wants me to work on with Hamlet and then allows me to take the actors and work with them on my own. I can go to him with any questions I have. He guides me, watches what we have worked on, and also directs himself. It is a wonderful experience for me as a sort of "apprentice." Mrs. St. John, Dr. Burke, and Mr. Stegall - Thank you so much for all of the time and effort you put into training and teaching me at Bob Jones. It has been a tremendous blessing to have those experiences under my belt. Being on this side of the acting has been a challenge. It is very difficult to lead the actors to what they should do rather than just tell them or show them.

I am currently living in Fredericksburg. It is not my favorite place I've ever lived, but it has offered some different type of scenery. Old Town Fredericksburg is very quaint. The main street is a bit like Main Street in Greenville - only more Colonial and you may see "Confederate Soldiers" walking around every once-in-a-while. :) My school is out in the country, so my drive to work is very scenic. DC is not very far away, so I have been able to enjoy going into the city a number of times. Two Mondays ago I went to Georgetown on my day off. I love that place! It feels very "Old Town." There are old homes, brick sidewalks, shops, and a nostalgia that I wish I could put into words. It would be so much fun to live in a place like that - at least for a little while.

I am still dating Timothy French and am thankful to God for his friendship. He lives here in Fredericksburg as well. God led us to a wonderful little church about twenty-five minutes away from us. I met the pastor's wife at my chiropractor's office. Tim and I felt very at home with Pastor Crookshank and his wife. They used to attend Pastor Tim Jordan's church up in Landsdale, PA, then were in New Jersey for a while, and have been in King George, VA for about a year. The church is small. Although there are not any young adults our age, we have enjoyed meeting the other church members. We went to our Sunday School Christmas Party and heard some wonderfully funny fishing stories! God also opened up the opportunity for us to be involved in the music program there. We are glad of that because we miss being involved in and with music like we were down in Greenville. Oh, Dr. Cook...Tim and I were able to sing "Messiah" with the Fredericksburg Community Chorus this winter!

We had our first real snowfall this past Sunday, and it was wonderful! It actually allowed us to have a SNOW DAY on Monday!!! That was fun.

Well, I believe that I will end this email presently. Hopefully I have not drolled on so long to have bored you. Thank you for taking the time to read it. I am going to make a point of keeping in touch more often. Please take care of yourselves and don't ever hesitate to let me know if there is anything I can pray for or do for you!

Until we meet again,
Amber Dawn Freeman

Here is a glimpse into a "real-life" moment during my day. I sent this email to Tim earlier this afternoon. Enjoy!

some days just aren't mine...i finally finished the classes' essays and went to grade my third period's exams on the scantron reader. well, the one i was using was out of ink. i went to use the other one, and another teacher in the room offered to help me learn how to use it. as it was feeding tests through, one of the tests got stuck. it ripped when we were trying to get it out of the machine. to top it all off, the teacher helping me dropped my answer key into the box that the scantron reader was sitting on top of. the box is a shredder. so, now i have to fill out a whole new bubble sheet answer key. oh, the joys never end!

it really is a most humorous experience as i reflect on it, however frustrated and discouraged i may feel right now. i even wanted to laugh as i was typing the story above.

and now i'm crying. what a day...

Yesterday and today have provided the most surreal experiences. At bus duty yesterday, it was snowing and sunny at the same time.

Today at bus duty it was cloudy and rather crisp. (Well, I was very cold...but I had been cold in the building as well.) Just a short while later, when I ran out to pick up some lunch, it began snowing. Upon returning, I sat in my room for a while - eating lunch, looking for apartments, and then grading papers. When I took a break to get up and look outside, expecting that it may still be snowing, it was sunny and the sky was blue with patches of clouds (part of the sky was still rather gray/white).

So very strange this weather is!

"Under His Wings I am safely Abiding." This statement is so very true for those who are God's children, and this week I have had the opportunity to see this truth first-hand. Each day I travel for 30/35 minutes to school and then 30/35 minutes back home. I spend time on the free-way and country roads traveling rather quickly. Although I was not in an accident myself, I encountered three of them this week.

The first came on Wednesday morning. I was on 207 (the interstate in front of our school) headed for the high school and watched as a white car flew down a side road and ran into a stop sign.

During seventh period the next day (Thursday) I received memos to be passed out to the students. For the first time I found out that five of our students had been involved in a serious car accident on 207 earlier that day. Later that period it was announced that we would have a faculty meeting after school. No information was released. On Friday, I searched online for some news -something concrete - regarding what had happened. I found it. Another memo arrived during seventh period...one of our freshman had lost his life, and four other students had been injured. It was a sad day for many of our students and faculty/staff.

Sadly, there is a third accident to relate. I had gone out to my car after school ready to leave for the day, but the whole way out I was debating about whether or not to go back in and make sure something was clear on some paperwork I had turned in to a principal. Having gone back inside to take care of it, I left school for the weekend. I had not driven two miles when I came upon yet another accident. It was right at the intersection where I turn. Amazing. Three accidents in one week. I made the turn.

Part way down the road I just thanked God for keeping me safe and prayed for safety on today's journey home. I prayed for the people at today's accident as well as the people connected with yesterday's accident. You know, I think that it is things such as safety on the road that we so often take for granted...the things that God blesses us with over and over and over again. I also think of how God was in my deciding to go back in and check on my paperwork. I don't know when the accident occurred, but God could have been keeping me from that intersection at a certain time for a very certain reason. That is the way our God works! He takes care of each of us specifically. I am so very thankful to God for His protective "wings." It is there that I am truly "safe." Oh that I would abide under them more!

Please pray for the faculty, staff, students, and families at our school during this time. I know that there will be some very difficult days ahead. Thank you!

What a week! There were times it felt as though it would never end. I have learned so much about myself and other people since beginning my job as a public high school teacher. This week was full of ups, downs, and all-arounds. I will share more specifics later this week. Suffice it to say for the present that I am incredibly glad that it is now Friday afternoon, and I am sitting at home in the kitchen. Tim and I are going to go outside and play catch with the baseball. The weather is "fall perfect!" One of the very nice things of working out in the country is the beautiful windy route that I get to take on the way to school. The other day I noticed that many of the leaves had changed their color. Some places were absolutely gorgeous. And then today...some of the reds were so vibrant and beautiful...seems like there needs to be another word to describe them besides beautiful...ah yes, stunning would be a good word. I love it when the sky is a clearish blue and spotted with white clouds, the sun is shining brightly against the trees, and I have the opportunity to take it in. Today I was able to do that as I drove home on 95. Oh, and back to the windy country road - it provides some exquisite and stereotypical-looking country scenery. I was so inspired by the nostalgia of it all that I decided I wanted to paint. Tim said that he would teach me to paint. I just have to learn to draw first. I think I will be able to do it if I put my mind to it (said like a teacher, right?! :). Okay, I have droned on longer than I intended. I hope that you all are having a wonderful Friday! Do something out of the ordinary this weekend. And most importantly make time to spend with God. He is the best Friend and Comforter you will find in this world. Oh, one more thing...Tim and I are probably going to go to a Fall Festival tomorrow that is held in the little town of Bowling Green, VA. The town is out near the high school where I teach. Hopefully the weather will be as fabulous tomorrow as it is this afternoon. Okay, now I'm really going to go! Please take care of yourselves. All my love to my family and friends!

Good evening friends,

Hello from Freddy, VA. I have just finished my fifth week as an English teacher at Caroline High School in Caroline County, VA. I teach 9th and 10th grade high school students. It has been quite a learning experience, but I know that the Lord is going to use this time in my life to grow me. The faculty and staff at the school are very supportive and encouraging. I have also found a number of the students parents to be the same.

The public school is quite a different world from what I accustomed to. I think that one of the biggest things I have come away with from even just my first five weeks is a heart of gratitude for the way that my parents raised me. I am so incredibly grateful for their strict, and so often unwanted, discipline. I feel truly blessed to have had parents who took the time and effort to discipline me when I was younger because now I am reaping the benefits of it. Thanks mom and dad! And praise the Lord for overflowing my cup with blessing in this way!!!

The high school is out in the "sticks." :) I find myself speaking with an "accent" at times, and I don't really like it too much. Hopefully it won't "stick." I do not exactly aspire to sounding like a southern hick.

Tim and I are still together and doing fine. He is such a gem. Please pray that he would find a job. He has been hunting and even had several interviews with a company, but no doors have stayed open as of yet. I know that the Lord has something specific and wonderful planned for Tim.

To all my family and friends, I miss you! There are times I feel a bit lonely out here in VA, but I know this is where the Lord has me at this time. I hope and pray to see each of you again if the Lord permits. Please take care of yourselves and seek His face!

Love,
amber dawn

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