Shadow Chameleon's Dreamworld Journal

I made it through another 3 days of 12-hr. shifts. Next week I'm working Mon., Wed. & Thurs., because I have an appointment on Tues. that I couldn't change. The week after that, I'm working Mon., Tues. & Fri., because on Wed. & Thurs. I'll be getting recertified for Vision & Hearing Screening. Then it's back to my Tues., Wed. & Thurs. for two weeks, and then I start at the school district! Only 4 more weeks!

Most who work in the school district are not excited about the beginning of a new school year, but since I'm getting back into a job I love, and leaving a job I like less, I have reason to be excited.

Dave started class yesterday, and this morning found it difficult to concentrate on his homework with Clayton being fussy. (The daycare was closed today.) So after this afternoon's class, he's going to stay on campus & finish his homework. I guess on Mon., Tues. & Wed. when he's teaching most of the day, he'll just have to do homework in the evenings after Clayton goes to bed. This won't be easy, but we'll make it work.

I got the fridge cleaned today, which was the major task I wanted to get done. Now it's just the usual house maintenance, so I feel a lot better. Tomorrow we're going to Grandma's house for a fish fry. Uncle Wayne sure knows how to fry fish! I hope most of the family is there. Sun. I'm assigned to help out in the nursery again, and we're bringing donuts & kolaches for our class. Next Fri. Gemma comes in to town, and we'll see if she comes early enough to go with me to Clayton's 18-mo. check-up. We don't have any other plans for that weekend, and I'm wanting to keep it that way. :)

One of the nice things about going to work at the time I do, is that I've been getting to listen to some short sermons on the Lord's Prayer over the past two weeks. The preacher has suggested that it can be used as an outline for our own prayers, rather than just repeating the words Jesus gave us. For example, the first thing you do is put God on the throne. "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." Make sure to give Him the praise, glory & honor that He deserves, before you do anything else. The prayer also ends in praise, and so praise should surround our lives. Begin and end each prayer, each day, each year, in praise to God.

If you want to know more, I'd be happy to share, but it would make for a kind of long post. I would like to clearly state that this is not a magic formula for prayer. Rather, it's a good idea that helps some people to focus their prayers, and to make sure they're not just asking for things, but also praising, etc. I, myself, had been neglecting to praise God for who He is lately, and this was a good reminder. Now, even in Clayton's bedtime prayers, I make sure to praise God. I really want to set a good example for my little boy. I hope that all of you who are parents do the same with your children. Improve your relationship with God, so that your children will also have good relationships with Him.