Laptop Computers Are Wonderful!

So, I finally got my laptop and I am loving it!
This means that I no longer have to stay at school to do my computer work. I can do it all here at home or in a coffee shop or at someone else's home or . . . you get the idea! I am so excited that I have not done any school work on it - yet! You know, all work and no play makes Abbey a dull girl!
I'll probably post some pictures on my facebook page of Hawai'i and the interesting things that I have seen so far.
One thing that I saw this morning when I went into the bathroom to take a shower was a Cane Spider. It was pretty early so I didn't have the presence of mind to get my camera. This thing was huge! It was about half the size of my hand and it was hanging out right where I wanted to go. Now, I don't touch spiders that big, if I can help it, so I scared it into a corner and kept one eye on it to make sure it didn't move before I got into the shower. When I was finished, I checked to make sure that it hadn't moved somewhere else before I got out!
My motto is: Live and let live! As long as the bugs don't bother me I am fine. Besides, Cane Spiders eat other bugs so we're not supposed to kill them!
This week at school is GIG week (GIG stands for Getting into God). Seeing as how I have never been through one before, I sometimes feel like a spectator rather than a participator. Though, I have been reminded once again that God never works like I expect Him to or like I think He will. God is so good to remind me that I do not have a corner on the market of predicting what God is going to do! Over the past couple of years that is the one thing that He has continued to bring to the forefront in my life. I am learning to appreciate each surprise He brings into my life.
Get to know your surprising God!

Teaching in Hawai'i

Well, so far I have been teaching for four weeks and in some subjects I still feel like I am floundering around. I am not sure if my expectations are too high or if I really don't know what I am doing! I hope it's the expectations-too-high problem.
The weather has been beautiful. I think it was the warmest that it has been on Friday. I think my students thought they were going to die of heat stroke! It was really warm.
I am trying some new ideas to see if I can motivate one of my classes to actually want to learn what they are supposed to. I hope they work.
One thing that is easy for me to forget in all my busyness is that I need to be seeking out the Lord in all that I do. I need to remind myself daily that unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. I guess sometimes I feel as though I am laboring in vain.

PS. The word Howlie in one of my previous posts, I just found out, is actually spelled Haole!!!

I Hate Millipedes . . .

. . . and any other creepy-crawly that wants to climb into my bed!
True story. You know how when you get that "bugs-are-crawling-on-me" feeling and you reach down/up to scratch the spot and that usually takes care of it? Well, the other night I was happily sleeping away in my bed when something woke me up. I had that "bugs-are-crawling-on-me" feeling on my leg and shifted position to see if the itch would go away. It did not. So I reached down to scratch it when my hand closed over a millipede crawling up my leg - under my pajama pants! I don't think I went to sleep for the rest of the night! That is why I hate millipedes.
I guess in a place like Hawai'i there would have to be a downside. Bugs is definitely one of them!
Other than bugs though, my time here has been exciting and a blessing from the Lord. He is continually teaching me things that I thought I had already learned! Do you ever find yourself thinking that you've learned a particular lesson pretty well only to find out that you have only made a few scratches on the surface. That is me, here! I suppose that is one of the reasons for my exhaustion. I not only am teaching for the first time but God is teaching me new and deeper lessons on how He wants me to live my life.
I am so thankful for His faithfulness to me.