Elise's Mobile Goodbye

We made it to Alabama! Elise met us at the hotel and we had supper together at Cracker Barrel. As I was walking across the parking lot, I caught sight of Tony! What a surprise!!! Elise made sure he attended her farewell supper. He was so tired. He is working at the University of Southern Alabama with the marching band, plus trying to keep up with two high school bands that he teaches, plus school started for him this week. I could tell by his tan that he had done his fair share of walking the field outside with his band students. So wonderful to catch up with him. Here are a few pictures of our time together. Tomorrow Elise and I begin "The 2009 College-Bound Road Trip". We are going to try to get as far as we can and maybe even drive all the way to Bloomington so we can crash at Laura's instead of in a hotel...we'll see how well we do!

Tony and me

Tony with his little sister

Elise with best friend Jason


Some of Elise's many friends that she loves dearly

Daddy Bill, Tony and Elise

Half of the Schulting Family

And The Winner Is...

The polls are now closed, the guesses have been tabulated, and the winner of my first ever blog contest is..................(um, where's the drum roll?) my sister, Nancy!!!!

And she didn't really win. However, she will be declared the winner because NO ONE ELSE EVEN GUESSED!! (sniff, sniff) So Nancy, I will be in Michigan on Monday, and I want you to get ready for your big prize. And believe me, it's big! I'll take pictures of the award ceremony, and I hope the rest of you feel really badly for not participating!!

So, what is so important about this Sunday? Besides being Sunday and besides being my niece's birthday, and besides the face that I will be sharing Sunday with my two daughters (together, in the same place at the same time which hasn't happened for almost two years) it will be the first birthday of Blah Blah Blah Houston!

This little blog which started out as a therapeutic diversion, has turned into a world-wide read phenomenon! Seriously, I have had readers from Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq, Norway, Holland and several states from the United States.

And what does one get a blog for its' first birthday, you may ask? Well, this little blog would love it if you would just share a comment. That would be a wonderful gift!

Starting tomorrow, the blog is hitting the road and traveling to Mobile, Alabama. From there it will wind its way up I65 with stops in Bloomington, Indiana and Chicago. Then it will travel to Michigan (for an important award ceremony presentation for my sister, Nancy, the famous blog guesser!!) and make a return trip to Chicago. So keep checking in for all the fun and festivities as this little blog brings the summer season to a close in style! (and please don't forget its' birthday on Sunday, August 23!)

Blah Blah Blah

Hi Everyone! This Sunday, August 23, will be a very special date to mark on your calendars. Go ahead, find a pen and circle in the date....I'll wait!

This is a guessing contest for all of you readers out there. You have 24 hours to guess what special activity will take place on Sunday. Post your answers under comments and you might just win a great prize plus (!) the honor of being named, "Mr./Mrs./Miss Blah Blah Blah Contest Winner"!!! Ok, put your thinking caps on!

In other news, there has been no change in our work status. Things are bleak. Please uphold us in your prayers.

I received the following video from one of the women that was in my evaluation group at She Speaks. I distinctly remember our daughter Elise doing the same thing. It's even funnier when I associate it with the She Speaks conference and think of the 600 attendees that all desire a speaking ministry...hope we don't sound like this cute little girl (who, by the way, seems like she would be a perfect candidate to attend the conference in 2029!).

The "EYES" Have It

As I washed my face last night, my eyes caught my attention...and not in a good way! They looked so tired and old and dark and sunken and wrinkled. So, what's a woman to do? Find her little jar of special eye goop! I slathered that stuff on like there was no tomorrow! I couldn't open my eyes for the lathery mess, but who cares? I felt my way to my bed and settled down for a good night's rest, my mind filled with thoughts about the well-rested eyes that would greet me in the mirror when I would wake up...

Fast-forward to four a.m. I rub my eyes. I rub them some more. I can't STOP rubbing them!!! They itch like crazy! I stagger out of bed, feel my way to the sink, and splash copious amounts of water on my face. The big reveal? Tired, old, dark, sunken, wrinkled eyes that are now red and swollen and itchy. Not the look I was hoping for. Thankfully, I could still get in some sleep before the new day would officially start.

Just after lunch I went to Ms. Chemical Engineer...remember her? She's my student that is way too smart for me. She asks me questions about verb tenses that would make a weaker woman faint. (Who am I kidding? My knees buckle every time I am standing outside of her apartment door! It takes everything I have just to get my finger to ring her doorbell.)

Today I am confident! I am strong! I have challenging exercises that I prepared. I will astound her with my vast knowledge of future perfect verbs, and present progressive verbs, and anything else she throws my way! I am woman, hear me roar!

So, I meekly ring her doorbell while firmly forming my trembling lips into a fake smile. We make our way to her study (aka "The Torture Chamber"), and I begin my confident (?) spiel about verbs. She stops me dead in my tracks. "I've never seen the necessity of memorizing verb tenses, as long as I know how to use them correctly." Ok...No problem...Plan B...what's Plan B???? Meanwhile, behind my plastic smile, my mantra in my mind is "Never let them see you sweat! Never let them see you sweat!"

Plan B: Let's get out our textbook and fumble our way through the next chapter since "someone" has fouled up all my fun plans. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I had an eye appointment earlier, and they put drops in my eyes. I won't be able to read today."

WELL, NOW WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO, MISS SMARTY PANTS??? I'll start my verbal tap dance!!! I go into a L O N G story about my eyes...how my eyes woke me up at 4 am, how I had cataract surgery, how distorted my vision had become, blah,blah,blah. Which led me into the story of Helen Keller. I mesmerized her with my vivid descriptions of Helen's antics as a child, how Anne Sullivan found a little cottage (Miss Know-It-All never heard of that word before, so we spent at least 15 minutes learning about what a cottage is!), and the touching way Helen was able to break through her silent world. Man, I was GOOD!!!!! She thanked me profusely for such an interesting lesson, and I walked back to my car, once again belting out, "I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR!!!!

Blessed Assurance (Part Two)

Last night I couldn't sleep. I was in a knot about my students. I had made a HUGE mistake! I had run ahead of God and instead of praying for His direction and His leading. I was offered a job and just jumped on it! So this morning (at 4 a.m. to be exact!) I found myself asking for forgiveness, taking a deep breath, and getting behind the Shepherd instead of in front of Him!

On the way to Bible study, I called the lady that interviewed me on Saturday and explained what I had done (taken on way too many hours) and why I had done this (because I saw this as an opportunity to make more money because of our situation with Bill's job). She was so understanding and sweet, and we were able to come up with a workable solution.

Then I walked into Bible study. This was the last lesson of our book, Assured By God. It was also the last time I will be able to attend now that school will begin next week. The last chapter was written by Jerry Bridges. I have always enjoyed his teachings and have taught a few of his books for various women's groups. It was a difficult lesson to read, in many ways, because it dealt with discipline and adversity. And yet it was so timely for what Bill and I are facing right now, and, in the end, brought me a deep sense of God's presence and peace. Here are a few of the sentences I underlined in this chapter:

• Adversity (as presented in Hebrews 12) is not the result of a particular sin. Rather, it is part of God's growth process....
• There is no such thing as as chance or meaningless events in our lives.
• ...we make light of God's discipline when we fail to see God's hand in whatever adversities we encounter.
• We may speak of the "blessing of discipline" even though such discipline comes to us in the form of the adversities of this life. All of our adversities, regardless of their source and severity, come to us from the infinitely wise and loving heart of our Father, who intends them for our good.

Bridges reminded me that my response should be one of humble submission and trust - not one of anger or telling God how unfair He is. It doesn't mean I can't pray for relief; even Jesus did that in Matthew 29 in the Garden before the crucifixion. But He prayed in total submission to His Father. God desires the same thing from all of His children.

This little prayer was included in this final chapter:

Lord, I am willing to

receive what You give

lack what You withhold and

relinquish what You take.

It's painful, but it is (in a strange way) a joyful experience to see how God continues to sustain Bill and I through days that, to our earthly eyes, appear to be so hopeless.

How thankful I am that God teaches me so patiently and tenderly because, truth be told, I can be quite a "pill"!!!

Bullet Points, Decisions, and Memories

Today has been one of those days! I don't have much to write about, so I'll use the old bullet point method!

• I'm having to make some difficult decisions about my work. "My cup overflows" with students, and I need to figure out what in the world I'm going to do with too many people and not enough time.


• Being in God's "waiting room" isn't very much fun. Waiting for a job for Bill, waiting to find out if we need to put our house up for sale, waiting to find out if we will have to move away from Texas...just so many uncertainties right now.


• I got to talk to my old room mate that I lived with when we were fresh out of college. It felt so good to laugh and recall all the fun we had "way back when".


• I'm looking forward to driving our youngest up to Trinity on August 22.


• Today is our son Timothy's birthday. Happy birthday, Tim!!! He and his family live in South Carolina and they drove up to see me when I was in North Carolina. It sure was fun to spend a few hours together.


• Today I thought about what I was doing one week ago today...flying home in a FIRST CLASS SEAT!!! What luxury! This is an excerpt from an email I sent to the "anonymous" person that graciously made it possible for me to attend:

Did you know that I had first class seating all the way home? Yes, I was hoping you wouldn't notice that on
the original itinerary until you were getting on the plane.When I booked it, it was only a few more miles so I figured after a long strenuous & hectic weekend and getting all stressed out it would be nice to unwind and take inventory of all the things you learned without being rushed into a frenzy.

Wasn't that just the most thoughtful thing a person could do? When I received that response from my question, it just warmed my heart at how caring and thoughtful people can be!

Well, time for me to go and prepare for Bible Study and Spanish class...

To Make A Wretch His Treasure

Lately I have been singing this song a lot. When we go through difficult days, days that seem so hopeless, isn't it a great comfort to know we are not the ones in control? And isn't it wonderful to just stop and reflect on how much we are truly, genuinely LOVED by our heavenly Father? I know that's why I keep playing this song over and over in my head; it is constant reassurance of the unfailing love the Father has for me. For ME!! And for all of us that are His children!

School Daze

Can't believe it's that time of year again! Today, I interviewed for a new teaching position for the new school year, and I was hired!! My schedule is now full...maybe even a little too full...and I am thankful that God faithfully pairs me up with just the right people. I begin school on August 17, so this is my last week of FREEDOM!!!

I'll tell you more about my new assignment later on, once everything gets "ironed out". I also have a new adult English student. Her name is Ligia (my second student with this name!) and she is a chemical engineer from Brazil. EwwWee! This woman is bright and really keeps me on my toes! Last Tuesday, I was still sort of groggy from my flight the night before, so when she asked when we use "if" and when we use "whether" in English the silence in the room was palpable! Deer-in-the-headlights moment for me!!! My hands still get sweaty when I think about that lesson! And it wasn't in our textbook either...she just wanted to know the rules.

I had my interview for my new assignment in a cute little French restaurant named "Le Madeleine's" and the food was so good! It made me want to see the new movie, Julie & Julia.
Bill and I would recommend this movie, but don't go on an empty stomach. All that French cuisine had our mouths watering! It was fun to go on a "cheap" date ($6.00!) and just let our minds relax and roam for awhile!

A shipyard in Wisconsin called him about a possible job, so we will see what news the week ahead has for us.

Hymns

I grew up in a family that always loved hymns. The truth of that last sentence was clearly brought home to our family during the last year of my father's life. He was diagnosed with a mass on his liver which probably was there because of pancreatic cancer. He knew his days on earth were numbered. He shared with my sister, Karen, how the night time was the most difficult for him. Often he would wake up and it was during those quiet hours of darkness that Satan would go into overtime with notions of doubt and despair. By dad said it was almost as if he could feel the struggle for his soul. My sister suggested that dad focus on the hymns; that when he was awake and alone, he should sing some of the old hymns of the church. What an excellent idea she had! So many of those old hymns are mini-lessons that teach sound biblical doctrine wrapped in beautiful, soothing melodies.

Well, if you ever met my dad, you would know that he never took anything halfway! Before long, each of us was given a calendar and dad wrote the title of a hymn for everyday of the year. That gesture deeply connected our family during that coming year. Everyday, no matter where we were, each of us was singing the same hymn of praise at some point throughout our day. And so often the words of the hymn-for-the-day were words that we needed to focus on at that very moment.

Mom and dad took it a step further. They found a book that shared the background story of the hymn. It became their practice to look up the story for the daily hymn, read the story, and then sing the hymn together. A few weeks before my father passed, I had the joy of hearing them reading the story together. I was in the kitchen doing the supper dishes while they were together in the study. Dad was in a hospital bed full time by then and mom was sitting in her rocking chair. She was reading the story to dad - a "role-reversal" of sorts because dad was always the one to read aloud any type of devotional in our family. But now my mom was doing what my dad could no longer do. And at the end of the story, by memory, together they sang the hymn.

Yesterday I spoke to mom on the phone and a hymn came up during our brief conversation. She told me that my niece's children (mom's great-grandchildren!) had sung in the chapel service at her retirement home. They sang two songs, one of which was a request from mom. She asked them to sing, "Have Thine Own Way, Lord". She said that was a hymn sung at her wedding. I never knew that. Yet another evidence of the significant role hymns had always played in my parents' life together.

Many of you know that this has been a trying month for our family with the loss of Bill's job and no clear prospects that we know of - despite the fact that he has submitted at least 75 resumes to various companies. So today, we started singing hymns. The first one we sang? "Have Thine Own Way, Lord". Singing those words seemed to usher us directly to His throne of grace, gave us hope, re-established our joy, and refreshed our perspective.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after Thy will,

While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Search me and try me, Master, today!

Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,

As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!

Power, all power, surely is Thine!

Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

Hold o’er my being absolute sway!

Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see

Christ only, always, living in me.

Adelaide Pollard was depressed and thought that God had deserted her. Shehad a great burden for the country of Africa and she believed that sheshould go there as a missionary, but now as she was preparing to sail, itwas evident that the funds she needed could not be raised. That evening she read Jeremiah 18:3,4, the story of the potter. As she read, she believed the story was her own. "Perhaps", she said, "my questioning of God's will shows a flaw in life, so God has decided to break me, as the potter broke the defective vessel, and then to mold my life again in His own pattern." That evening she wrote the poem, which became the hymn, "Have Thine Own Way,Lord." Adelaide Pollard finally did minister for God in Africa. She would speak publicly until she was 72 years old.

*Looks like Adelaide and I have a few things in common! She likes to use lots of exclamation marks (did you see them in the hymn?) and so do I! And look at that last sentence...I hope someday I get to be a speaker and speak until I am 72!!! (Hope it's soon, because I'm starting to close in on "age 72"!!!!)

Wonderful Lysa

This morning I read my devotion from Lysa TerKeurst, founder of Proverbs 31 ministry. WOW!!!, I thought, this woman can see me way out here in Blogland!! She can see me all tied up in a knot over difficult things I had to endure yesterday. The devotion was a much needed reminder that, "If this is the worst thing that happens to me today, it's still a pretty good day."

So, armed with a better attitude, let me share some things I jotted down in my notes from the conference:

• If I've never been broken, how can I be restored?
• We are not doing a "job", but fulfilling a calling.
• Confirmation from God gives us confidence. And confidence gives us freedom from fear.
• Don't sacrifice the future on the altar of the immediate.
• Post regularly! (Advice for having an effective blog)
• Stop trying to be accepted and start being exceptional. Set a new standard for cool. Jesus never called you to fit in; He called you to stand out. (Steven Furlick)
• Take the i out of the word resist and what are you left with?
• Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. (Howard Thurman)
• Take the "com" out of compromise.
• Don't find my confidence in "me".
• What keeps us from resting? Worry. And Worry Only Robs Rest from You.

Well, there you have it...just a few of the many pearls of wisdom that I gleaned over this past weekend! Have a "pearl-filled" day!

A Mountain Top Experience

I want to blog...I need to blog...but, quite honestly, I've come down from the mountain top of the She Speaks conference only to be hurled into the valley of despair...and it's always so much fun to read someone's blog that is full of complaining, right? But that's one of Satan's all-time favorite tactics, isn't it? Just pacing back and forth, keeping us within range, and then pouncing on us when we are weak, and tired, and vulnerable to his attack. So I googled "Mountain Top Experiences" and found a wonderful sermon. Here it is, in case you may want to read it: http://www.centralpc.org/sermons/2001/s010225.htm

So, what was the conference like? Well, it was a large room full of sisters in the Lord that all had the same desire I have held in my heart for so long. Women that, like myself, have been given a dream, a desire, a burden to make God known. These women are all so talented, but there was no hint of the typical jealousy and comparison issues that women can get so easily tangled up in (sorry for ending with a preposition).

For example, the evaluation group that I was in ...these women were so encouraging! And the testimonies they gave...WOW!...it's mind-boggling all the different life situations we each are called to deal with! (Oops! Another preposition!) There were many, many evaluation groups and each group was assigned to one of the Proverbs 31 women. I was with Micca Campbell. She really gave us all good pointers about ways to develop our talks, how to improve our introductions and endings, etc.

We were each evaluated by our peers and also by Micca. In fact, we are allowed to use her comment about our speaking on our bio sheets and brochures that we create and send out for possible speaking assignments.

And, oh, what incredibly awesome women God placed in our little evaluation group! One women is married to a man that ministers to famous athletes and tv personalities...another woman authored a children's book and gave each of us a signed copy! Another has a daily radio program, and one of the women grew up in the entertainment industry and personally knew many famous singing artists. Each one had a different journey, but we all had Christ in common and that made all the difference. If I hadn't made it to an evaluation group, my experience would have been quite different. I would have been just one face in 600. It makes such a difference when someone calls you by name, recognizes you, and welcomes you to their table!

But this conference was so much more. For me, it was a confirmation that God has a plan and that this conference was right where I needed to be. What that plan is and where it will lead, I have no idea, but I'm just excited about the journey!

So many of the attendees expressed this same feeling...that God was present with us. I saw Him in the faces of the women I spoke with, I heard Him as the professionals taught us, I felt Him showing me over and over how much He loves me...ME! The dumb woman that shut down the security line at the airport at 5:00 in the morning! I have my own name for this conference: HE Speaks and I Listen.

And a big heartfelt thank you to the person out in blogland that made it possible for me to attend. Your gracious gift will NEVER be forgotten!

Three Special Blessings

Right now it is 6:45 and I am blogging from the lobby of my hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. Yesterday I was in a hotel closer to the airport, but now I am closer to the conference center. Yesterday was a day I will not soon forget. God dealt with me in such gentle ways, soothed my heart after my "scissors incident", and had three VERY special surprises in store for me.
Blessing #1: As I checked out of my hotel yesterday, the front desk host asked me about my stay. I told her how I had to wait 45 minutes for the airport shuttle to pick me up (when they told me they would be there in 10), only to have them drive right past me (which resulted in another LONG wait). I also told her about having no kleenex or toilet paper in the room and when I called the front desk to have some sent up, they never came. I finally went to the front desk and picked it up myself. The host apologized and asked if I would be their guest for lunch - a FREE voucher to spend 25 dollars for lunch! I had THE BEST $8.00 lump crab bisque and a delicious $12.00 salad...way better than a stop at McDonald's!!!!
Blessing #2: As I drove to my new hotel location, trying hard to focus on every word my GPS lady was telling me (and praying I would NOT hear the dreaded "recalculating" phrase!), I got a phone call from Elise. She called to tell me that she was accepted into Trinity Christian College.
There is a whole story behind this phone call, but all I'll say right now is that I am thankful for this answer to prayer and so very proud of Elise for making what I know was a very difficult decision for her.
Blessing #3: I am sitting at table 27, surrounded by 600 hundred strangers that all have the same desire I have about a speaking ministry. I began chatting with "Charlie" from Illinois and mentioned how I had prayed about being placed in an evaluation group (and even asked my blog readers to pray about this!), but never got the magic email that said I cleared the waiting list. She asked me lots of questions, and then excused herself. The next thing I knew, one of the Proverbs 31 women was on her haunches, next to my chair and explaining, "Charlie just told me about you and she has graciously asked if you could take her place in an evaluation group." Instant TEARS!!!! Not cute tears either! Nope, these were ugly tears where my nose was running as fast as my mascara and my eyes puffed up!!! Definitely not cute! But oh, how thankful I was!! Twenty minutes later, there I was, in front of a group of peer evaluators, sharing my testimony. Today I will do a longer talk, and this one will be a teaching talk using scripture and applying it to a specific situation from my life. Can't wait!!!!
Time to get ready for this new day, but I just wanted to thank those of you that prayed for me and I wanted to share with you the unique way that God answered that prayer. And to shout out, PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!! Hugs!