Not because I was good....just because I was first!
I am soooo glad I chose to be the first to present my speech this week. It's over! and I can now relax and enjoy the rest of the presentations. I will also be able to sleep at night. I know that some of you were praying for me this morning and I DO appreciate it. I was nervous, my stomach was upset, and my voice was shaking, but I am still alive and I think I did OK.
I also have a number of nice baskets to show for my efforts.
Monday morning I have the first "major" speech in my public speaking class. As has proven to be the case thus far, I am first on the list to speak and I'm starting to get a little stressed. Some of you will wonder how in the world speaking could ever cause me to be stressed. When I started this semester my son said to me, "Mom, you're always talking, you won't have any problem!" A good son he is, but I'm afraid that giving a speech is a little different than just talking.
Anyway, this is a demonstration speech and I am demonstrating how to make a basket. I thought this was a good idea since I wasn't about to cart my sewing machine or the kitchen stove into the classroom. My husband liked the idea too because he felt that this would get me back into basket weaving. He's anxious to have the tons of reed and basketry supplies removed from the walls of his garage.
Last night, while my husband and daughter were gone, I sat and made a basket just to review the techniques and decide how I could divide up the steps to make my presentation effective. It was GREAT! I'm now in the mood to weave and my husband is thrilled. The only major drawback to this is that the living room now contains hanks of flat reed, coils of round reed, my bucket for soaking above-mentioned reed, and the various and sundry nippers, cutters, and sharpeners that are required for this undertaking. The carpet is covered with fuzzies AND there are a number of chewed pieces courtesy of Jasper. He proved to be a great help. It's wonderful exercise trying to pull a 30-foot length of reed through the ribs of a basket when there's a 20-pound cat clinging tenaciously to the other end. Needless to say, we both had fun and I now have a beautiful new melon basket ready for finishing.
I won't take the cat with me on Monday for my demonstration, but I do think that I should be able to get through this speech with very few hitches. AND I might just make a few more baskets while I'm at it.
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior
An excerpt from Isaiah 43 (NASB)
I love this passage. It reminds me that no matter what may come my way my Lord will be there with me.
I am back at work in a new position after about a six-week break. Home is really where I would prefer to spend my time, but the financial remuneration that comes from staying at home is somewhat limited so, since I have bills to pay, I have chosen to return to the world of working adults. Actually, I don't do much work. My new title is "Computer Lab Manager", which sounds important, but really isn't. I answer questions (when there are any) and make sure the printer has paper in it. Yesterday, after a week and a half of looking at the smudged, square faces of the 28 computers in this room, I dragged out the alcohol wipes and scrubbed them all down. I scrubbed monitors, keyboards, mice, tables, you name it, it got cleaned. I now have the most sanitary computer lab on the face of the earth!
Besides cleaning everything in sight, I also have the opportunity to meet people. Lots of really "different" people. In the short time I've been here, I have discovered that some of the most threatening looking guys get the shakes when faced with navigating their way around a computer. They strut through the door like they own the place, but when they sit down in front of that keyboard, their entire demeanor changes. They glance around the room to see if anyone is watching or listening and then quietly slide over to where I'm sitting and ask for help. It's one of the most fascinating transformations I think I've ever witnessed.
There is one lady who came in the first day I was here needing a lot of coaching. She's been in the lab almost daily since, and always parks at the computer next to mine. She really no longer needs my help, but we have a good time discussing our classes (we have the same speech teacher) and just chatting. I am hoping and praying that I will eventually have the opportunity to share Christ with her.
I also have a lot of time to read. I have practically memorized the first three chapters in my speech and psychology textbooks. If I don't get a decent grade out of these two classes, it won't be because I haven't read the material!
This morning I read Beneth Jones' book "Ribbing Him Rightly". What a great little book, one I should have read and applied years ago. There are a number of other books on our shelves at home that I have never taken time to read because I've always been too busy. I'm beginning to think that God has moved me out of the stress-filled office environment I once occupied to a place where I can spend some time refueling and sharing His love with others around me.