The Rat Attack

"All creatures great and small the Lord God made them all."   But why, rats?  Still, I am not a happy camper as these furry little creatures have set up their home in my attic!  Yes, we've heard them on and off scurrying about with their little toenails clipping and scratching on the ceilings as they scamper on by.  One day I heard definite biting!  I am told that rats teeth continually grow and so if they don't gnaw at things they will die of suffocation!   Yesterday morning as I was hurriedly trying to get ready for work I heard this noise - bump, scrape, bump bump bump, scrape, thump!  It was right above my head as I was walking in the entryway.  We have a friend and her two sons staying with us and I thought - "there is no way these kids are up at 6:30 am playing in Richard's study!"  So the thought came to me....RATS!  I went and grabbed my flashlight and taking the stairs two at a time arrived in a flash at the attic door in the study.  Slowly opening it and flashing my light - which I couldn't get to go on - click click click - finally, the light coming on there was a baby rat stuck in the rat trap and Mama was standing nearby.  When I flashed the light she went scurrying away! What to do?  Call the husband!  So I did.  He said I should take the thing and drown it!  Fine thing to say when he is at work and I am at home!  Well, I did as I was instructed.  I took a glove and grabbed the trap and all and went outside and dumped him in a bucket of water watching him flailing around for air.  The thing is I didn't feel the least bit sorry!  What a hard heart I have!  I didn't even think - "all creatures great and small the Lord God made them all!"  I just thought - GOOD!  You pesky rat!  And then I left him in the bucket and went to work! 

So....next step is to call the exterminators!  I got my list and began calling.  You know how many companies are out of business now?  Well, after 3 calls I had to look again.  Finally made some calls and made appointments to find the best deals!  Its all about money after all!  haha!  Western Exterminators came out - they had the best price so we shall see what shall become of these little rat pests in my attic.  Tomorrow is doomsday! 

So life goes on if its not one thing its another!  Isn't that life though!  Wonder what will be next!

The latest in my work saga....

Well....a new development.  In the last month I have been working in a new construction trailer in Santa Ana at Kennedy School which is off of 4th and McFadden.  The office has been without a secretary for 2 years!  The first day I walked in was without doubt a bit of a shock.  Instead of a neat orderly office, I found piles of papers scattered about on the floor with boxes and boxes stacked around full of papers without folders.  The one guys office was ...well how does one describe it?  Needless to say, going to work was overwhelming!  I didn't know where to start.  I was later told that we were going to move to another trailer at a different site and start a new project and I would have to pack up the office!  Dreadful!  I did my best but happened to go on vacation when Christy and Audrey came to visit so I missed the move and the rest of the packing.  Whew!  What joy!  When I got back to the new office my supervisor had organized everything....it was beau-ti-ful!  I was totally amazed!  And so pleased....  We also got a new superintendent who just happens to have a great personality and suddenly going to work has been really fun!  So, happy me, going to work setting up the new office and getting things done in a timely manner couldn't be more pleased, when my supervisor called and dropped the bomb! 

My old boss, from Foothill High School, has been bugging and bugging the Senior Project Manager to get me back!  So finally they contacted my Supervisor and she told me that he wanted me to go back but she felt I was just getting situated and wanted me to stay on where I was.  Apparently, my old boss doesn't get on well with anybody and I am the only secretary who he has gotten on with ever!!!!  It is only because I set my heart to love him (he is not the most happy soul and to get him to smile was a major victory)!  Well, my supervisor told me that one of the secretaries filed a suit against him because of his manner!  Several have quit!  I was a bit shocked, yes, he is a challenge and no he doesn't praise anyone often.  In fact, when he did praise me once I nearly fell off my chair!  I then knew I must be doing something right!

Anyway, now I am in a quandary because I really like my new office and to go back now to the old office isn't so appealing, but I told my supervisor that I would do whatever is best for everybody all around.  So she called me back and told me I will go back to Foothill High School beginning Sept 6th!  Ahhh - well I did tell them that my plans are sort of up in the air because of our thoughts on moving to Mongolia. I told her I would only work till the end of November.  She was okay with that.  I was amazed.  The company has supported whatever I want to do - the many vacations I take, etc.  Its amazing.  I know that is the Lord and His grace to me. 

So... that is the latest. 

The Day After.....

The day after family leaves is always the worst! Christy and Audrey came for a 2 1/2 week visit and the time flew by! I miss them sooooo much! Audrey is such a delight! I will miss her little antics like how she runs up to our living room knowing that I will run after her to catch her, playing in the pool, and dancing to the music. It was so cute how I'd ask her to go and call Grandpa for dinner. She would climb the stairs calling out in her cute little voice, "Grandpa time to eat!" He loved it! She's the only one who can get him down to the table in record time! haha!

We had a lot of fun just playing in the pool, going to the beach, going to the OC Fair and to the Getty museum. But just being together is so special! It is hard to be so far away and miss being a part of their lives on a regular basis!

Christy taped some songs on the piano playing and singing. I realize how much I miss her playing - she has such a gift! We wanted to tape Audrey talking and singing but didn't get to it!

So once again time is the culprit cutting short memorable times and pressing forward to other things. I guess we wouldn't like it if time stood still though we think we might! But the best thing is "our times are in His Hands!" In this we can be truly thankful and restful knowing that He keeps us and orders our days!

The Splendor of Youth

She's growing up! Just look at that picture, isn't she gorgeous? Life is so uncomplicated when we are young! No worries, no pressures, just learning and growing. Isn't it wonderful! Of course, that is the way it should be, however, it isn't that way for everybody.

We thank God for giving us parents who love us and treat us with love and respect. We thank God for providing us a home, food on the table, clothes to wear, and friends to enjoy things with. We thank God for good things like happiness, stability, peace in our homes, loving family and friends, and most especially for His loving care and watchful eye over us.

Youth is so carefree, so full of curiosity, discovering, moving into new realms, growth. Youth is for the most part a happy time, until we reach those puberty years! Then everything is up for grabs!

I think that youth is a picture of those first years as a Christian. Everything is so new and wonderful and we are discovering God's love and life - and its all lovely. We are sheltered from troubles and burdens but then God opens our eyes little by little and we begin to see the sorrow, suffering and pain around us. We begin to learn to bear one another's burdens, to sacrifice and give to those in need, to spend and be spent in the ministry of God's love. And then perhaps we feel the weight of things and feel as though life is a great burden hard to bear. But we must remember our youth - our love for the Lord, our delight at learning and growing in God's love. Here is the key to remaining carefree as a child, sweet in spirit, joyful, full of light and love in the midst of pain and suffering. The scripture says, "Abide in Me and I will abide in You." I think this is the key - our first love! Let's remember that as we face the our daily lives of pressures, troubles, sorrows, and joys. God wants us to remain in love with him, trusting Him fully, and happy in His care.

Change is on the Wind

Change is on the Wind here at the Porowski household. Kim is moving out in 2 weeks - going on to Grad school in Atlanta Georgia. She will be there for 3 1/2 years and then who knows what she will be doing. We are also thinking of spending a few years teaching English as a Foreign Language in Mongolia. Dick and I just passed our TEFL course which consisted of 3 grueling weekends - 60 hours in total of intensive learning. It was a good course and very helpful.

However, change always is unsettling, though can be exciting if one has the adventuresome spirit. Challenge is always a good motivator and a spur up the backside to get moving. The best thing is that God is in control. His leading is my safety. His loving care is my strength and support. His assurance is my confidence. Change may be like a storm in that everything is in motion, unsettled, and a bit frightening, but God is in change, often bringing it about. There is no safe place but in the center of God's will. Here is peace. Here is where I choose to stay and stay put.