Kids these days...

First of all you should know that our school does not allow cell phones to be on during school time, which includes detention. Secondly, as I start detention each day I remind them to keep their cell phones off and put away. Third, (and you'll need this one last) students are to work on school related work and there is to be no sleeping during detention.

So I'm sitting in detention with students who didn't do what they were supposed to do at school and I have a student start texting while he is in detention. I wait, and observe him doing this for a while to be sure he really thinks he is getting away with it, I mean it was only 20-25 minutes into the detention of which he had a 2 hour detention.

So, when I go to take his phone, he of course denies he had it out, then when I take it he asks if he can have it back at the end of detention. I decided that I would contact our deans' office since they were still here. They tell me that if mom doesn't come get it that it stays here at school and they are waiting on mom to call them back. Mommy calls and says what any good mother should have "Keep the phone and I'll come by tomorrow sometime and get it!" :) YEAH MOM! It was his second offense having his cell phone taken this year, so he is looking at 1 day In-School Suspension and he'll loose the privilege of even bringing the phone to school.

THEN, when you think it all couldn't get better...I have a student tell me that he doesn't have anything else to do and he is going to sleep the remainder of the time, almost an hour of his 2 hour detention! I had already woke him up 1 time to warn him about sleeping. The second time I woke him he said go ahead and write his name down for sleeping.

Wow, I don't understand why kids think they can get away with these things. Is there no discipline at home or WHAT? I'm open for discussion on this one!

Tired...

This week has been one that would wear out anyone, that's for sure. Between finally getting my boy back, going to court Tuesday, finding out we have no agreement on file and to have NO agreement filed that day(ARG!!), getting yelled at on the phone, and a WHOLE LOT MORE I've gotten tired this week. I got to finish out my week (Thurs & Fri) reading the state of Indiana's "End of Course Assessment for Biology I" 5-7 times both days! Let me just say, "Oh the Joys!". I'm kinda glad I could do that because it did keep me a little busy, but I really missed being in the classroom.

I have really enjoyed working with Kelli, and look forward to next year (and ending this year!). Thanks for being a great friend and a great boss. Happy Mother's Day all and Happy Birthday (a little early) to Aiden! :)

Blessings,
Mark

Wild Ride!

Well, let's just say that since getting all lawyered up it's been interesting. We had our preliminary court case this week and until we have our final court hearing in July the agreement that my wife and I had for the kids will remain, and has been approved by the court as an official agreement. Praise the Lord that things have gone so well for the kids. They still see mom, and spend plenty of time with me too. :)

I am doing well, and continue to improve my eating/sleeping habits. :) It's been a ride that I would never wish on my worst enemy thus far, but there are days when things seem to be going uphill rather than down it spiralling out of control. Keep praying, I know I am. There have been several songs that the Lord has spoken to me through in the last few weeks. You can google them if you'd like, but I've tried to put some links here for you.

The first is by Matthew West called "The Motions". I heard this the very first Sunday after we split. God really spoke to me through the song saying hold tight and fast, don't go through the motions as you go through this, let My all consuming passion truly consume you and I will guide you through this. In the video that Matthew West released, and is linked here, you see at the beginning a bit of the story behind the song for Matthew West. He had a potentially career ending vocal surgery, but had to rely on God fully to bring him through the surgery. Can you see where this song would speak to me. Check it out and let me know what the Lord says to you.

The second song that I'll share today is by Unhindered called "Father Will You Come". I took the youth group to Acquire the Fire (ATF) in Indianapolis and Unhindered led worship with this song multiple times during the event. My youth fell in love with the words to this song and asked if we could do it the next day at church. So, being the overachiever I am sometimes (LOL!), I went home Saturday night after ATF and found it, printed it, and learned how to sing and play it at the same time first thing Sunday AM when I got to church. We just did the chorus and bridge that Sunday, but then the next Sunday we did the whole thing. Check it out...the Lord really has spoken to me through it as well, let me know what the Lord says to you through it.

Well perhaps you see that I'm not talking much about what is going on behind the scenes...that's because at this point in time I have, I think, let go and let God, and I'm doing much better...of course until the next time that I take it back from Him and try to handle it on my own. Each time I do that, the song "Father Will You Come" comes ringing through my ears...Thank you Lord for your all consuming passion and continued presence in everything in my life.

Blessings to you all and keep praying! :)
Mark

Lawyered up...

So I'm officially lawyered up.  I met with my lawyer and paid him his retainer fee on Friday after talking 2 times to him on the phone during the week.  He gave me some very good advice and things were going okay until Sunday.  Sunday afternoon I got a call from my wife.  She wanted me to come up to the house right then and get my things and only then would I be allowed to have the boys back.  I told her I didn't want the boys to see the fact that I was getting my things, but that is not what I wanted to do at all.  Basically that is all I was given for options and then was told she would NOT be meeting me at the VP at 4:00 as was scheduled and agreed upon.  

I ended up going to the house, with parents (mine and hers!) and getting some of my things and the boys.  I talked with my lawyer today and well...I have the boys.  Who knows what may happen between now and Tuesday (next week) when we have the hearing.  Hey boss..I'm gonna have to take at least the AM off Tuesday, if not the whole day, not sure yet.  Hearing is at 9:00AM, sorry, my lawyer WAS going to change the hearing date, but after this weekend, he has decided to try to have it that day so that it is handled sooner since my wife is no longer wanting to do things the civil way.  

Keep praying! 

Mark

Short Update

Just a quick note... I am talking with my lawyer tomorrow morning. I was supposed to be served papers this week, but I think her lawyer didn't do what she said she would do, OR my wife was just blowing smoke to see what I would say/do. I haven't really done anything...I now have my own phone contract with Verizon so that it cannot be shut off again...was on Monday, ARG! I will be talking with my lawyer about filing first thing Monday if she hasn't filed yet so that my lawyer and I can pick the judge, so I've heard that is the case.

Going to dinner tonight with my boys, my folks and the wife's folks. They want to see us, and the kids. :) It will be wonderful, and I'm praying that dinner goes well with me being able to eat.

It's been an up and down week for appetite, but not too bad. Just keep praying that it goes well.

Thanks for the prayers!
Blessings,
Mark

Prayer for Tonight

Pray tonight...we're going to go to dinner tonight as a 'family' just my wife, the boys and I for Keith's 1 year birthday that is today...pray that I'm able to eat and things go well tonight.

Ray told my mom last night that the reason that we are living at my parent's house is because "mommy wants to be with "W" not daddy and "W" wants to be with mommy". I don't know if Ray came up with this on his own or if this was something that mommy told him...my wife and I had talked about not telling Ray anything for a while...trying to keep him innocent...but hey who knows why he said what he said, but he certainly has it figured out now. My heart broke last night when my mom told me that...

Thanks for the prayers and support.
Blessings,
Mark

Update...

So I've decided that since I never really told a lot of people about my blog I'm probably pretty safe on here. I have a stat counter that shows me where people are looking at the blog from, and at this point, no one has, outside of the Indy area and a few outside of the state are reading/checking on the blog (people I know who follow this blog). I think I'm safe for now, I'll need some help on the preferences thing K, to change it so that people cannot search and find me, but other than that, I think I'm safe.

I need an outlet and this will be a small part of my outlet. I'll be careful what I say because I know that it can be used against me in court since it is in writing....but here is where I'll share my thoughts...I accept thoughts back, just know that I will follow what I feel the Lord telling me to do, not necessarily what you tell me to do. I have to do what I feel in my heart/mind is right in the Lord's eyes for my life, and that may not always jell with what you think. I respect each one of you and your opinions and look forward to hearing your thoughts/opinions on different things I post.

Please continue to pray for me to do and say what I should when I should with my wife. I've done OK so far, and know that the Lord has been with me each time. I would love to say that we're going to get back together, but at this time, I'm not sure what will happen. I know the Lord does, and I'm just going to have let Him take this one...He knows what needs to happen. I'm praying that He prompt me in the directions I should go. I'm considering finding a good lawyer, and believe I have someone in mind, but if you know of someone let me know. I want to be sure my boys are safe and secure for the rest of their lives.

My appetite is starting to get better, I think! :) Today I ate a Tenderloin, all but 1 SMALL bite, and didn't feel sick!! I'm doing better during the day with my moods, at least I think I am, and nights are getting better. I am starting to sleep a little better. The Lord is showing me more and more that this anxiety is stuff that I need to "let go and let God" on! I'm working on it, but it's a lot easier said than done.

Thanks for the prayers and support! I know that this has been a REALLY long blog...thanks for reading it all. :)

Blessings,
Mark