Alive, almost there...

12/17/2023 2 Comments

Alive, almost there...

Ps 34:7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Again – a verse that is a promise on a weekend that I needed it. Driving to school Friday morning, there was a train on Hwy #16. A semi was first in line as I pulled up behind him to wait. By the time the train was across, there were about 5 vehicles behind me.
Now a loaded semi takes a while to speed up, but I wasn’t worried. 2 kms down the road was a passing lane, and we would all be able to pass him then. Since it was pitch dark outside, about a km from the passing lane I noticed headlights in my mirror. To my horror I saw a vehicle driving like crazy passing the 5 cars behind me. I glanced at my speedometer and saw we were already up to 90 kms. Then I saw headlights in front of me and realized a car was heading toward us, but this (CRAZY) man was still coming. There was nowhere to pull in since we were a convoy of 7 vehicles, but this pickup passed me and was halfway by the semi when he realized he wasn’t going to make it. He pulled over ON THE OPPOSITE shoulder – then changed his mind and veered right back across at us – still maxed out on speed! The semi slammed his brakes and shifted onto our shoulder, while I did the same thing. I felt like time was suspended as my brain screamed, he’s going to hit, Lord, we’re an accident happening, he’s going to hit, Lord, help…. The oncoming car hit his shoulder and somehow the pickup driver slipped through between the semi and oncoming vehicle with probably a bit of paint left on someone’s fender --- and kept on streaking right down the highway with never a pause or care (it seemed) to the havoc he’d nearly wreaked upon us, let alone my heart palpitations for the next 10 minutes.
I think I was still trembling when I pulled into the schoolyard. I spent the next few minutes just sitting at my desk. Then I picked up my weekly schedule book. A paper slipped out. It was my 52 verses for the year. I thought, “Well, I could use another verse today already” so I opened it and looked at what I’d be typing about for this Sunday … I just smiled when I saw this verse. “Lord, SO what I needed right now. Thank you!”
How much more direct an answer to prayer could ever be, eh?!! God is so good in so many ways we don’t even know about. When something like this happens, it turns my focus back to realizing I need to be thanking God for every single thing. Not only am I still alive to be writing this, but we are in the Christmas season. The untold thankfulness of God sending Jesus as a baby to start the entire salvation story for us is mind-boggling. I can’t comprehend it; I can only be thankful for His mercy, grace and love.
Another answer to prayer was receiving my 4th book from the printers this week! I had really wanted it before Christmas and already have many on the way to readers wanting them for Christmas gifts! I have a library always willing to host a book launch for me – this one will be Jan 5, 2024 (ooh, a new year!).
And the Lord continues to give amazing sunrises and sunsets to absorb most days. So many blessings – and this verse will remind me this week, I’m not alone. That is a huge blessing as many people really struggle with aloneness over Christmas when people focus on family and friends in a big way.
Have a blessed week as you face whatever is on your agenda and remember – Jesus is the reason for the season!

This sunset is at 4:30, so not really night, but what a glorious moment in the midst of early dark days. Can't capture the real beauty - just a quick snap.

2 Comments

Crystal Beachy

12/19/2023 02:47:35 am

So thankful to God for protecting you, and so many times!!!🥰 And, so glad for His many blessings in your life!!!🎁 Praying you have a lovely Christmas!!!🌟 I am looking forward to reading book #4!!🥰

Tamara Bergen

12/20/2023 04:34:43 pm

Very glad that you were safe through this dangerous drive, and the Lord delivered you! This might be another story for your next book.

February 26, 2021

For a time in life when we supposedly have nothing to do because of Covid restrictions, it's amazing that I have trouble finding time to write here!
Life in the classroom is exceedingly busy as the students are pushing to make up the beginning days we couldn't be in school. So there are no extra moments there. I still work/volunteer at the local thrift shop regularly and deliver the newspapers. Then any spare time I have, I have been working on book #2. The Girl with Nine Lives has sold well; I still need to get some more sold, but do hope to see book #2 hit the printers sometime this year, if possible. To that extent I have a poll to take. Titles are hard for me. This book starts where the first one left off. Tales of my adventures in teaching in at least six places. So with that in the back of your mind, what would be your favorite title out of the following:
1. The Teacher with Nine Lives
2. Lessons Learned Along the Road
3. What is Going on Here?
4. Around the World in Many Schools
Send me your vote on the best title in your opinion!

February 12, 2021

Where does the time go? It feels like I should be frozen in time. After an extra mild winter, we were nailed with minus 47 wind-chill and -33+ temperatures for a week now! Makes it hard to do anything except get to work, and come home and wrap in a cozy blanket.
The blog definitely took 2nd place.
But I'm so thankful and humbled at the wonderful remarks and reviews I've been receiving from people. It makes the struggles I've gone through worthwhile when I hear how people have identified and laughed and cried over incidents. That was my prayer when I first started writing.
For all those who have asked, yes, I'm working on book #2. It will be slightly different as it is more the adventures of a teacher and the various cultures I experience along the way. When it will come out? Totally up in the air!

January 24, 2021

Well, I have managed to get my books! It is an exciting moment when you have a physical visual of fifteen boxes waiting to be loaded into your vehicle full of your books with your name on them! It is also a huge blessing to immediately need to divest yourself of half of them because they have sold to various people and two bookstores. Thanks, Lord! Another blessing is that I'm receiving comments from various buyers that they had trouble putting the book down until they had it finished! I pray the lessons I learned the hard way will be of help and comfort to others who read this.

January 16, 2021

For those of you who have read my book "The Girl with Nine Lives", or are reading it, or are waiting to read it and have wondered what that crazy little kid looked like, I have put two photos here for you. The little girl in the red dress on the horse is 'Stacy', shortly after she was adopted. That is the horse they gave her to help work her leg muscles. The black and white photo is almost two years later. It was taken for the immigration application to get Stacy into Canada. You notice she is smiling here. The doctors hadn't started sticking her with all those horrid needles yet!
I do not like to have my photo taken, but this will give you a visual to keep in your mind as you read about Stacy's adventures, or misadventures. As an adult, I have to admit, looking at the four-year old's picture - I can see her attempting to walk on air.

January 12, 2021

What a week! As a teacher on a Hutterite colony for grade 5-12, life is non-stop from 9:00-3:30. This coming Friday is the end of quarter, so report cards will be due. So that always makes one extra busy.
But I had 2 highlights in this week.
The first: I came home and stumbled over something on my step. When I picked it up and entered, I found out I was holding MY copy of my book! I felt like a mother receiving her first child. The awe and wonder of holding something I'd created and labored over for - yes, about nine months- well, that is quite the feeling.
The second: Last night the doorbell rang. I answered and a man stood there with a floral arrangement. I was sure he'd come to the wrong house, but he had the right name. Imagine my amazement when I saw that friends from the States had arranged these lovely roses to be delivered to celebrate this milestone in my life. In today's Covid restrictions, such a thoughtful, kind gesture means SO much! I never get flowers, so I'm still just smiling over it.

January 5, 2021

How many of you make New Year's Resolutions? How many of you don't because you know you won't keep them?
As I look at 2021 and wonder what this year will bring, I've decided to try a couple resolutions.

A poet once said, "It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." I feel that can be applied to resolutions too. As I start this year as a new author, I'm scrambling to figure out what I'm doing! This has definitely pulled me out of my comfort zone. I've asked the Lord, "What have I done? Am I stepping off this cliff to float or fly?"

So my New Year's Resolution is to have a website and put a blog on it. Will this last? It will be interesting to look back in December 2021 to see what has happened here! Tech stuff is NOT my thing. But as a teacher, I always tell my students, "Just try. You never know what might happen." So how can I do less than I preach? I will try this. No guarantees, but I've made a start! Happy New Year to you all!

YOUR CART