Who is this Etta Powell?

About 15 years ago, I was asked to be on the ballot for secretary of Women's Ministries at church.  I was mostly working with kids ministry activities at the time, so the prospect of getting involved with Women's Ministries seemed very attractive! Since the only other person on the ballot was Etta Powell, and I had never heard of her,  I figured I was a shoe-in for the position.  I didn't go to the event where the voting took place and was shocked to learn that Etta (who did attend) was elected secretary!  How had this newcomer defeated me?!

Someone pointed her out to me a few weeks later as she walked into church, and I was still puzzled. She looked very ordinary and nice, so I didn't feel too upset about it!  History again reveals that God certainly had a plan there! Etta went on to be an outstanding Women's Ministries Director and eventually Women's Retreat Chairman as well. She was extremely gifted in organization and in recognizing other peoples gifts. Her love and acceptance inspired confidence in women to use their gifts to serve God.

I got involved in the Women's Retreat Committee around 1997 when Etta was the director.  When she ran a meeting, it was fun but focused!  I was asked to do a workshop on journalling at one of those early retreats, and later on there was a delay in the programming. For some reason I ended up with a mike in my hand telling a funny story or two to bridge a gap. Soon after that, Etta decided that as Director, she did not want to emcee the retreat, but I would be good at it.  I wasn't so sure. Giving boring announcements really isn't my thing, and I was pretty nervous about being in front of people on a mike.  But in her own sweet gentle way, Etta prevailed, and the next year I was the emcee. 

I have held this position ever since, though I volunteer every year to step down if they want to give the position to someone else. There are just enough people out there who like to laugh at my imperfections that they can't get rid of me! I have learned to enjoy it as well. I used to think you had to look really good as well as have your act together before people would listen to you. Obviously not! I still don't like the announcement part, but God has give me so many  opportunities to share his faithfulness while enjoying a lot of fun and laughter and meeting many wonderful women.

Along with many others in our women's group, I often remarked that  wanted to be just like Etta when I grew up. She was  the epitome of a fun godly woman! We all loved to be around her, always receiving encouragement and feeling like a better person just from spending time with her.

During those early retreats as I stood in front of those women, I really wanted to have an image as a strong, godly woman like Etta. But as God worked in my heart at the 2006 retreat, He impressed upon me to share my burden for my wayward oldest son, and the sense of failure that was weighing me down even as  I desperately sought after God to intervene. I couldn't believe all the women who shared their stories with me afterward who had wayward sons and daughters….including Etta. I was so surprised that an amazing woman of God like Etta could have a prodigal son! Etta and I shared each other's burden, praying for each other's son after that. God miraculously intervened in my son's life and brought him back to the fold, and I was so blessed to share that at retreat the next year.  I still pray for Etta's son and will continue to do so.

When Etta retired and moved to Prineville with her husband, it left a huge hole in our women's group and our church. Etta came back for retreats whenever she could and occasionally visited at church when in town. On February 9, 2008, Etta sent an email to me and a long list of her friends, breaking the news that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer. I saved this email, and I wish I would have saved the updates that she continued to send during the past couple of years, because even though at times she shared bad news about her health, she always included words of hope and faith. Here is how she ended that first email:

"I want to share a quote with you that has been tucked into my Bible for several years.  I think it is fitting for what I am going through at this time. 

"First, He brought me here;  it is by His will that I am in this difficult place;  ........... in that I rest.

Second, He will Keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.

Third, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn and working in me the grace He means to bestow.

Fourth, in His good time, He can bring me out again.......... how and when, He knows.

So, I am here by His appointment, in His keeping, under His training, for His time."    By Andrew Murray.

I believe in the power of a mighty God who loves me.  He is the one who gives me the hope, strength and courage to take this battle on."

I am so thankful for the time that God gave Etta on this earth and enjoyed visiting with her at her two-year survival party earlier this year. Even when bald from her chemo, she was beautiful both inside and out. She exemplified "the joy of the Lord is my strength."

God brought her home to her eternal reward yesterday evening. Just imagine His great delight in saying, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

So who is this Etta Powell? An amazing woman of God who encouraged and inspired me more than my feeble words could ever describe, and I still want to be just like her when I grow up. 

First Fire Drill

How lucky we were today, to have our first fire drill of the year scheduled for 9:45 am on a dry sunny day. At 9:30 I called the alarm company to put us in test mode for 45 minutes, as is my duty in this situation. Just before the custodian pulled the alarm, she asked if I had called the alarm company. Yes, ma'am. The principal had asked just a few minutes before.

So we're standing outside a few minutes later and we hear sirens approaching. The people around me ask if I called the alarm company. Once agan, I assure them yes I did. The sirens cease, and the assistant principal calls me on the radio and asks if  I called the alarm company. Yes I did! Well, the fire department called our  physical plant, who then called my principal and chewed him out for not calling the alarm company before we did our drill!

I made a bee line for the phone when I got back inside and called the alarm company to pleasantly inquire what happened. Turns out they put us in test mode for 5 minutes instead of 45 minutes!

Can you believe, there were some female employees who had the nerve to express disappointment that the fire trucks were called off before they got to our school, because a couple of tall, dark and handsome paramedics came out last week when we had to call an ambulance for a sick student whose parent was unreachable.  The nerve!!!

Another First Week is Over!

What is it they say about the best laid plans? After constantly waking up Monday night and checking the clock, my alarm didn't go off and I overslept! Instead of being nice and early to work, I was five minutes late on the first day of school! Fortunately everything was ready to go and it was probably the least hectic first morning ever.

To my surprise, Justin the phone guy was there first thing to program the bells! He hadn't quit just yet. But the next day,  I didn't hear the bells the first couple of periods, and when I went out to ask a couple of teachers, I was informed they hadn't been ringing. So I reset them and they worked. What is up with that?  No one called the office to mention the lack of bells. Could it be that we have no complainers among our staff this year? Or have they just lowered their expectations?!

The new scheduling program has had more than it's share of glitches, with a few periods or entire schedules disappearing, which makes it difficult to find students. I frequently thank God I don't do attendance any more. But the bugs are getting worked out, and the teachers who haven't had access have been amazingly patient and kind.

We have been without a heating system in our office since January. A new HVAC system is being slowly but surely installed, causing a great deal of dust and dirt everywhere. It was a bit of a shock to see  all the huge exposed shiny metal duct work under our high ceilings. Yesterday one of our special students was in the office and asked about it. After it was explained to him, he said, "Well, it sure looks tacky!" Several people have commented that it's all the rage in the big city clubs and lofts. Those who know say we won't even notice it in a month. We'll see. If we get heat that is not too hot and air conditioning that is not too cold, we shall not complain.

A parent called yesterday to point out that a teacher had sent home a paper that said volunteer hours needed to be completed and turned in by June 7, 2010. He said he didn't think there was any way his child could accomplish that. I asked if he was sure they wouldn't be able to do some time travel to take care of it, but sadly, he said they weren't time travelers. So I promised him I would let the teacher know about the date error!

So it was an interesting, busy week with many hours at the office. Our staff and kids are so much fun. But a nice sunny weekend is a very welcome break.  I just got a text from a friend thanking me for helping her son find his bus yesterday.  A great example of how nice parents are! Many of them have thanked me for doing simple little things. Although at the end of the day today, a parent with four kids at our school called with a message for them. Four messages to write, four schedules to look up. Good grief! I hope she doesn't get in the habit of that!!  It was a bit of a test of being cheerfully helpful, and I may not have gotten an A+ on that one!

The Night Before the First Day

Why is it that you can't keep your eyes open when you're trying to read on the couch, but when you go to bed you're instantly wide awake thinking about all that's going on the next day? Especially when the next day is the first day of school. After a sleepless hour, here I am to make a note of all the things I need to do first thing.

My alarm is set for 5:00, because you can never get there too early the first day. Our doors open at 7:00. The first thing I did when I got up just now was get a plastic bag and glove so I can pick up garbage on the way in. I noticed some today when I stopped by with a couple of vases of flowers so I wouldn't have so much to carry tomorrow, but I forgot to go out and pick it up.

While there I realized that I had totally forgotten to put in a work order to get our bells changed, and we have a completely different bell schedule this year. So I put in a work order today. I'm wondering if I should dig out the book of intercom instructions and try to figure out how to do it myself, since with such a last minute request, who knows when it will be done. Especially since Justin, the great guy who always did it before, has left to pursue higher education and I don't know if he has been replaced yet. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Tomorrow the sixth graders get to have the school to themselves, and we always have a welcome get together for the parents first thing. I have the big coffee pot ready to plug in, donut holes from Safeway that just need to be put onto a couple of trays, and the whole thing hauled over to the cafeteria, but all the office carts were full of other things or gone, so I'm hoping one of them will have reappeared overnight. Check.

I noticed the boss put out a couple of all staff emails, and our two new teachers don't have email accounts yet so I need to get those printed and in their boxes right away. Check.

Speaking of the big 30-cup coffee pot, I need to put in the staff announcements that the mystery of the missing coffee pot has been solved.  I couldn't find it when I was preparing for their first day back and had been asking around about it. The cupboard where it belonged had been taken over and crammed full of used 3-ring binders. My ever efficient co-worker Cindy dug through them and discovered that yes, there was room for that big pot behind all those binders. I had just assumed there was no way it would fit back there. I'm so glad that it is not missing after all.

On Friday, a parent brought her sixth grade twin daughters in and they brought croissant sandwiches and grapes from Costco for our lunch! That was a first! I got their names, but didn't get around to writing a thank you note for all in the office to sign. Must do that tomorrow. Check.

I have just sent myself an email with six things I need to do first thing, so as long as I have time to check my email, I wont forget anything!

And of course the most important thing of all is making all those new sixth graders and their parents feel comfortable and happy to be there. There will be tons of people in the office, especially in the morning, and it will be a high speed day with lots going on. The staff at our school are wonderful people who pitch in and help out wherever needed. It's a very positive, fun place to be and I am looking forward to a great year! Now can I please just go to sleep?!

The Truth about Costco

Today as I was checking out a cartload at Costco, the young man assisting there asked if I would like a box. (They always sound like it would be somewhat of an imposition to supply a box, though they are piled everywhere under the checkstands.) I replied as usual, "Yes, please, as long as it is small enough that I can get it out of the cart without a struggle." "How about this medium sized one with handles," he said. I was shocked at his helpfulness.

I expressed my gratitude for his thoughtfulness and said, "I thought you  all specialized in getting the biggest box you could find and making it as heavy as you could so that I would end up in a big fight to get it out of the cart once I get to my car. I can't tell you how many times I've been out there muttering very bad things about you guys as I try to remove a big hundred pound box that's stuck in my cart."

This young man and the cashier at the checkstand both admitted they did enjoy causing this problem! I asked if they take turns hanging out in the parking lot to watch chubby middle aged women struggling with heavy boxes, using bad language that they save for the most frustrating occasions. (In my case it would be "poopy, poopy, poopy," but I didn't tell them that.)

That's when I learned the truth! They admitted to me that they actually have hidden video cameras around the parking lot, and they save the best videos to use for entertainment at their company Christmas party!!

Consider yourself warned. Look for the hidden cameras - I was unable to find them but I didn't take too much time searching the parking lot. I believe they are there, so watch your language when you get to your car and realize that once again, they have wedged a huge box full of all heavy items into your cart.