Never presume anything!

Almost 18 months ago we were all set to open a small Montessori preschool program.  The typical model of Montessori schools is that a single preschool room opens and as the waiting list grows, another class is opened.  Then parents love the program and want their children to continue in Montessori, so a lower elementary class is started, and/or they have younger siblings so a Toddler program is added.  This was our plan also.

We found the "perfect" location as it is in a great location--highly visible from a major highway and in a building where occupational services are offered to children--so it gets alot of traffic from families.  We spent time checking with all the local officials and did a budget, a floor plan, etc., and all was going great until we got the Environmental Health office.  It seems this relatively new building was built on a small piece of land and does not have a sewer system.  Since preschools require a lot of sinks and toilets and the septic field was already at maximum capacity we were stopped in our tracks!  Very disappointing but we took it as a clear indication that this was either not the time, not the place, or neither.

A few weeks ago as it became more clear that we needed to start with an elementary program, we went back to the "perfect" space we wanted to lease--it has set new, unoccupied for almost 3 years.  This time, because we were talking about older children, the bathroom was no longer an issue--yeah!  We got permission for 15 students and 2 adults.  We were so excited and called the  landlord to hear these words, "Oh, I wish you would have called sooner--we are signing a contract with a church this weekend to lease that space."  Wow!  I  was really surprised and had a flashback to a very difficult time in my life 22 years earlier.

In 1980 I opened the first Montessori school in Brevard County, FL.  The school began in my home church in a rented space, and in 1983 I built a building for 100 children.  When Edgar and I met in 1986 and decided to get married, I knew I would need to sell the school.  We had two groups who wanted to buy it.  Both groups promised to keep the staff and students; one was a couple whose child was enrolled in the school, the other was the church to whom I had been leasing the school to on the weekends.  The church had an investor who was out of the country but who had pledged to front the money when he got back in town before the end of the school year.  Both were good offers, but we wanted to support the church so we accepted their offer and the parents invested their money elsewhere.

Two weeks prior to the closing the investor came to town and decided he didn't want the church to own our building and he withdrew his offer.  To say this created a huge amount of stress is an incredible understatement!  I won't recount the entire story, but suffice it to say it was a difficult time. Now, I certainly do not want to have our school anywhere but where God wants it to be, but this thing with churches is a bit unnerving!

Believing that we are supposed to open this fall with an elementary program, we sent back to our knees and asked God for the next step.  This was on a Thursday.  Friday afternoon Edgar came home and said, "Hey, what do you think about that little house just around the corner?  It is for sale and I think we should go look at it."  So we did.....stay tuned.

Something is going on

While waiting to see if God was going to ask me to open a school, I was busy doing all I knew to do--I think I mentioned a few of those things in my last post.  The really surprising thing is that all the while I had a real peace about the whole waiting thing.  I seriously was not anxious or impatient, just peaceful.

I was not as peaceful regarding my son's education.  I know I am somewhat idealistic, but I want him to retain his excitement for school, his wake up in the morning before dawn and eagerly prepare for the day happy.  I also want him to learn, but more importantly, I want him to want to learn.  He used to.  But this year he is in the third grade and the majority of his education involves testing and preparing for testing.  If he is being fully educated it is not translating.  His joy of learning is fading, and that is leaving my spirit anything but peaceful.

Early in the school year I asked one of his former teachers if she would consider tutoring him.  She said "yes" and that helped some, but this is a year that requires the memorization of math facts and the ability to process abstract concepts in language and math--things that are difficult for a child who is just beginning to think abstractly.  And he has homework--I don't like homework.  He gets on the bus before 7:00 am and I pick him up from after care about 4:30.  That leaves 3 hours to have dinner, shower, brush his teeth and play.  Yes, play.  I think it is important to still be a child and play.  If he can't get it in the 7 hours he is in the classroom, then he is just not getting it and sending him home with more school work to be completed is just insulting; I don't like it.

Around Thanksgiving I began to suggest, jokingly of course, that she resign her job and just homeschool Ryan and a few of his friends--as it turns out she is tutoring several of them.  I painted a lovely picture of a shortened work day, the opportunity to inspire children, and help them accomplish individual goals.  Obviously she could not afford to do that, so I reluctantly dismissed the thought.  Evidently she did not.

Just after the first of the year she told me she had been given serious prayer and thought to what I had said.  I could not believe my ears, but decided I should further investigate the possibility of getting together a few kids and hiring her.  When I began to look into all that would be involved, things begin to happen so quickly, so easily, and so unexpectedly, my only conclusion had to be--"hmmm I wonder what God is up to?"   Let me tell you--He is up to alot!!  I will tell you more next post.

I believe He asked

Blogging is an interesting thing and obviously there are a variety of reasons why one chooses to blog, for me it began as an easy way to communicate with family and friends. Then came Facebook and Twitter and that seemed easier so I have not written on the blog for over a year. Now I want to begin again, and for a specific reason--I want to share my current journey and I need to know there are a group of you supporting me--in prayer, in well wishes, and with advice. So if you would like to accompany me, read on.

I have had an amazing life and am so grateful for the millions of experiences I have had, wonderful friends and family in my life, interesting jobs, and glorious Bodies of believers in many states with whom I have had the honor of serving. Not all of the paths were paths of my choosing and some were difficult, but my loving Heavenly Father has used each part of the journey to perfect His plan for my life. I am still here, so obviously He is not finished--thank you God.

About 2 years ago our pastor, Andy Stanley, preached a sermon based on the story in Matt 14 when Jesus walked on water and Peter joined him. The part I had not really noticed before was when Peter said, "tell me to come to you on the water". See, Peter asked the Lord to ask him to come and when He did, Peter was able to walk on the water.

I have had a dream for several decades that I wanted to open another Montessori school--one that was fully Christian and would honor God, but 'I have been there, done that', and I know the work and risk involved, so I have not opened another school. After hearing that sermon, God began to work in my heart and I felt a strong conviction to say, "tell me to come (do)" and I even wrote and asked some of you to pray for me as I waited on the Lord to ask; thank you for those of you who have prayed--He heard you.

I felt that God was asking me to do some things as I was waiting, so I did what I knew to do. I have been listening to many podcasts on leadership, reading blogs and even some books on leadership, I lost 65 pounds (still hoping to lose another 40) so I could work on the floor in the classroom if I needed to teach, and prayed earnestly for God to give me a specific vision for what He wanted me to do.

I believe He is asking and I think it is time for me to blog about this journey for several reasons. First of all for accountability--I need courage to follow through and do the work. Also, there may be some of you who are feeling called to do something bigger than yourself and hopefully following my journey will be of help to you. So, if you are interested, check in--I will write as much as I can and would appreciate your insight, suggestions, prayers and feedback.

Thanks and hang on, this promises to be quite a ride!