Busy, busy, busy

Dear DS freinds, Well the end of the summer/early fall has been a busy one as I have tried to figire out what I want to pursue with my life after all of the changes that occurred to me over the spring and summer.  A number of things I have become involved in are very rewarding and I hope they prove out to be something that works for me over the long term.  So here is how my week goes these days: Sunday -- I volunteered to be a religious ed teacher at church.  I never have done this before, so it was exicting.  Since August, I Had been leaving messages for the co-ordinating of the program in order to volunteer.  But she never called me back.  So last week, for teh first week of classes, when I dropped my son off at the kindergarten class, I asked the teacher if she needed any help.  She said yes since she was all along...so I helped out.  At the end of teh class, she stated that she would not be at the next class so that I could teach it (which was today).  So there I was, surrounded by 12 kindergarteners...reading to them from Genesis and talking about how God created the sun and moon.  It was very rewarding!  However, my kindergarten teaching career may be over as soon as it started.  The director todday told me that she may switch me to teach the 6th graders instead.  I should find out this week. Monday -- Although I finished my degree last spring, I'm taking a class this term that I would have taken if it had been offered previously.  So, by taking the class, it is buying me more time when discrening "new what?"...in terms of my education and professional career. Tuesday -- I've begun attending RCIA classes...which is a process folks go through if they are interested in joining the faith of my church.  I've volunteeer to be a sponsor for someone who desires interest in having someone "walk this journey" with them.  I really hope that I get to sponsor someone for there is just so much power in sharing one's faith with others.  EVen if I don't get to be a sponsor, I will still attend to group to lend support for eveyone going through the process.  There are a lot of great people who run the program. Wednesday -- I was assigned to a prayer group and we met for the first time last week.  There are three of us along with the spiritual director.  For me personally, I just love being able to pray with others...and, I must admit, I really appreciate the thought in knowing that they are praying for me (because I need all of the prayers I can get). In the meantime, I am continuing to see a conselor about once a week about my severe loneliness and inability to develop close relationships with others.  He's a really great guy and I enjoy talking to him.  I haven't yet figured out if the sessions are really helping...or, becasue I have no one else to talk to, it is just nice having an hour set aside to be able to talk someone...even if I have to pay for it (some kind of pitiful, huh?).  SO much of it is common sense and, I think, deep down I know what "the answers are"...but I'm still awful confused as to what to do at times to develop closer friendships...for a variety of reasons I won't go into here. In an exicting moment, one of the girl's I used to coach scored the winning goal in the gold medal game for the US national team against China in the Paralympics in Beijing, China.  This was a great win for our country!  The gold medal game was played before 6000 fans for the home team (China)...so our American girls really came through "against all odds".  For those of you who don't know what the Paralympics are, they are like the Olympics...only for folks with disasbilities.  The guy's USA national team lost in the bronze medal game and finished fourth.  The games were broadcast over the internet, so I got to listen to some of the games, but with the time difference between China and the US, I didn't get a chance to listen to any of teh US games. I pray that all of you are well...that you are blessed with comfort, strength, and wisdom in dealing with the challenges you face in your lives.  You all mean so much to me...and I find it an honor to be able to include you all in my nightly prayers.   May you be blessed in your lives....