Continuation.... THE END!!!  haha, if i've never understood an unspoken word before, I have now!  It was a week ago today that Ben and I went out for supper.  Like I said immediately, "it was a nice night but he'll never call again and neither will i."  Well, I have received unspoken word by absense of body that I was more than correct!  Not only are there no more phone calls, but there are apparently no more after school visits outside either! Haha, I'm not sure if he thinks I expect something or what, but he's quite careful to not come out when I'm there now! I saw him poke his head out at one point and quickly he disappeared again.  The kids said they had tried to get him to come out but that he had said, no, not today. 

Whatever. Too bad he doesn't know I'm not expecting anything from him.  Maybe I hurt his feelings by telling him I wasn't going to kiss him. Who knows. But it's too bad, cause the kids like it when he comes out.

Maybe Wed-Fri, they'll get their fix

... even if it's not THE good that we wanted him to use it for.

I just arrived home from four absolutely lovely hours sitting at a table for two in an Irish Pub.  Well, from three great hours sitting at a table for two at an Irish Pub.  The first hour went well.. typical "first date get to know each others". The second hour was a little slow.. past the formalities, not quite yet into comfort... Him finished eating, me still trying to get through my mistake of an order.. a taco salad. Seems safe... But to think this is very misleading!! How DOES one eat one of those??  Lesson learned: order something that does not need a teaching class in unique eating etiquette.  oh well, it was good for a laugh.. and did we laugh!

Somewhere near the third hour, we suddenly hit a comfort zone. We had some very good discussions actually.. Some actual thoughts rather than favourite colour and favourite place to visit. 

What did I get out of this evening out?  I got a lot out of this evening out!  I was assured that what I thought about him was correct. The passion that I see in him concerning his kids is real. He loves them more than they will ever know. The spark in his eye is set to a full flamed fire when he talks about his favourite moments as a teacher -- those real life teaching moments that pop up when you least expect it.  And is he the angel that I presumed??  Yes, he is an angel. But his purpose had been disguised by my eyes.  While I had hoped and desired that he may be the answer to a special prayer, I now think God has used him to answer that prayer in a different way. I believe that God is using Ben to show me that there are good guys out there. They are out there and someday, God will send one my way that is right for me. But not at this moment. 

I was not far off in thinking that there was something special about this boy.  In fact, I was not off at all. He has challenged me in more ways that I can even explain in a simple blog. Perhaps some of these challenges may be mentioned in time... But I don't know that I even understand some of them. 

Do I think this is the boy for me? At this time, no.  Do I think I would go out again if I were asked? Probably.  Do I think I have found my soulmate?  Not yet. But it has encouraged me to know that if this is not it, when 'it' comes, it will be well worth waiting for!! 

God is good. Even though I wouldn't have been at all  offended if he had decided to allow this to be the "right one" for me.

I am pretty sure I learn everything the hard way at least once...

Today's lesson, if you give someone your number, turn on your phone.

Apparently, there was a request made for my accompaniment for dinner last night, but I did not realize my phone was off. When I did turn my phone on before heading home, I did not realize that I had a message.  Needless to say, I did not get the message until this afternoon, thus being a little late to accept a dinner invitation for last night...

Oh my. Is there anything that I'm not going to mess up?? Just think. By the time we actually GET anywhere, there will be nothing left to mess up and the evening will be FANTASTIC!

(Please, don't burst my bubble. Allow me to believe that nothing else can go wrong!)

It's a good thing Bethany taught me to laugh at myself (aka, thanks to the Hartland bridge and to the prayer slip ups... you've humbled me.)

I was going to wait until tomorrow for a new post.. since I have already written one tonight, but I'm bored (since I had a lot more of evening to fill than expected.. i'm still a little ... preturbed...) so I'll post it now.

I've been trying to think of the positives of this afternoon so that I don't have to feel like a complete fool the next time I see him. So here's what I'm thinking. Let me know if you think I'm misconstruing something into a positive when it really isn't! But I think I'm right on the button with the positives. I could make a list of negatives, but who wants to focus on that... look at the bright side and move on! So here goes... the positives!

1) he said yes
2) he was willing to come to the community center to meet me, despite this meaning that some of his kids may know what he is up to
3) he showed up
4) he willingly played games while waiting for the last parents
5) he admitted some pretty interesting things in "I have never" - not necessarily things you'd graciously tell odd girls OR students..
6) he offered a rain check
7) he offered information concerning his schedule in the attempt to reschedule.

So, all in all, the jump into the 21 century wasn't ALL for naught..

Who knows what tomorrow will bring. This is the way I look at it.  It's like a new jar of jam. The first time you try to open it, it's hard, stuck, takes strength, and sometimes you just give up. But once that seal is broken, it opens so much easier the next time. Our "seal" has been broken. I took the effort to open it. Now either of us can open it the next time without as much awkwardness.

BTW, if I ever found out that he had somehow tracked me down I would be mortified!!! If you're reading this, admit it now and I'll just call Amy and quit After School before DYING of embarassment. So just comment and sign your name. Oh my. Even the thought terrifies me!!!

We've all thought, at one point or another, that homework isn't all it's chalked up to be.. But we're wrong. ALWAYS do your homework!!

So here's my story.

You're right. A girl CAN technically ask a guy out. And it doesn't always IMMEDIATELY blow up in her face. I asked, he answered, we decided where to meet.

Mistakeningly, some of the kids heard me ask. As we were leaving, Zoe was jumping up and down saying "CAN I COME? CAN I COME?"  Amy told me later he was standing behind me laughing (a good laugh.. the chuckle kind of a laugh...) 

When we got to the community center, Marissa (the mouthiest of the bunch by FAR) looked at me with a little Marissa-smirk on her face and said "Did you ask out Julia's teacher??"  I'm sure I changed about 9 shades of red in about 3 seconds flat. After lying unconvincingly, they knew that they knew the truth.  They walked away saying "I KNEW it! I KNEW she would!!" So later, at 5, he walks in. Marissa JUMPS off her chair, points at him and yells, "SEE I TOLD YOU SO!"  I think I just laughed it off. Everything after here is all a blur...

So, the great "date" that i am, we spent the first 20-25 minutes playing "I Have Never," one of the kids favourite games. Their dad came and Marissa, not done sticking MY foot in MY mouth yet, points at Shannon and Mark and says "YOU two can go home." Then she points at him and I and said "But YOU TWO, don't forget that YOU'RE going out!"

So we left.. each in our own cars and met across the street at the restaurant.. only to find the door locked and all the lights off. It's not OPEN on monday.  Dumbfounded, I looked at him and said "Well. thanks for supper" and laughed. He laughed and offered a raincheck. I'm not sure who's idea it was to NOT mention trying to go somewhere else, but neither of us brought it up.

I'm mortified. I forgot to do my homework. AND I've stirred up lots of rumours for him to deal with at school. The poor guy. You know third grade girls.. EVERYONE in his class will know that "Our teacher had a date with the after school girl" by tomorrow first recess.  Oh, what have I done????  And all for a "thanks for supper" and a long lonely drive home

Lesson learned: ALWAYS do your homework before asking a teacher out for ANYTHING!

Tomorrow.. another new day....  maybe he'll give me detention for the homework issue..

Okay.. well, apparently the 21st century has struck. My 'poll' was drastically in favour of me making the step to "pop the question" despite being a girl... of 28 people asked (11 guys, 17 girls) 100% told me that there was no question about whether it was ok for a girl to ask a guy out for coffee.

Here are some comments from guys if there are any other girls interested in what guys had to say about this topic:

EI: I would actually have been honoured if a girl asked me out.

RW: Frig, NO, it's not bad. This is the 21st century, for crying out loud. Some of us are too dumb (or slow, or shy... you fill in the blank) to realize a girl might actually be interested so it's good when she might make a move.

JG: I'd find it HELPFUL if a girl asked ME.

SS: I bet it would be a welcome change. I wish a girl did that to me.

RW2: I know I've got my many moments of timidness and shyness and if a girl was direct, I would honestly appreciate it.

ST: Are you kidding? For some of us shyer (is that a word). more shy guys, it is the only way we ever get a first date. Ask away!

So..... come Monday, I'm *thinking* about asking a certain someone to grab a cup of coffee. Nothing major.. but a way to send a signal and see if there really is a possibility or if he really is just a friendly guy

I've decided it's immature to talk about people (mainly guys) online, so I'm going to start posting pictures instead

(bigger pic above)

POLL::: is it weird/strange/bad for a girl to ask a guy out for coffee/dessert/pizza/whatever -- the "first date" if you will??

(i don't know how to delete the dark picture)

Alright. After making you hold your breathe waiting for this chapter for almost 24 hours, I finally have time to write the next chapter. 

To understand this chapter, you need a little background of a silly little thing I did over Christmas break. I sent a Christmas card to "my elementary school angel."  It was basically just a nice Christmas card, a couple of acquaintances sharing some Christmas joy...

In the card though, I wrote just a little bit...  I mentioned that it makes me smile to watch him come out to play with his kids.  I guess I also mentioned that it makes my day when he comes out to say goodbye to them. Ya know... nothing MAJOR.  Just friendly, "you make me smile" comments. 

So yesterday, we were back at school picking up our kids.  Lo and behold, who should appear???? you got it :)

So here are my thoughts. Jump into my story of "pretend..." below.

Pretend you are a boy (easier for some of you than others...).  Pretend there is something that you do quite regularly... not everyday but often... you do this because this is just what you do... (ie. coming to the bus to see your kids off after school)  Then, pretend there is a girl. This girl doesn't SAY much, but she's around a lot, picking up some of those kids that you come to see off. She, not in a direct spoken way, but in a indirect "message" sort of a way (ie Christmas card) tells you that you make her smile by doing what you do...

IF the idea alluded to in the above mentioned Christmas card was not something you wished to encourage, would you, as the above mentioned boy, not tend to stay away for a few days... Would you not stick to saying goodbye to the kids INside instead? 

So anyway.... I've kept in mind that this has always been something that he just always has done. BUT, I also am being optimistic by realizing that if he HAD wanted to discourage the ideas from the card, he could easily stay away.

I'm rambling. Tell me if I'm wrong in my thinking. I'm just living on a little bit of a temporary high

This is just a warning that there is a chapter to Approached by an Angel coming up soon! I am on my way out, but just wanted to get people ready for a burst of excitement and energy so that you're stoked when I have time to write my chapter later tonight

Come back soon and I'll write it (I'm going out to watch the Amazing Race at Amy's so I'm off!)

When is part to of the angel story going to be written????

Published By MatthewAaronRose - December 21 1:10 AM

Thanks for the concern about "Approached by an angel - Part 2". Here's the issue. It's Christmas holidays. This angel only shows up in my life when I go to school.  SOOO... holidays, no school, no after school, no angel sightings Amy HAS convinced me though that it would be a no-harm thing to send a Christmas card to the school just saying the typical Christmas things... "Merry Christmas,"  "Give my best to the fam," "Meet me under the mistletoe on New Years Eve if you want to know more about why I come to pick up your kids everyday"... ya know, typical stuff   So I'm considering it. However, actual STORY has been put on hold for one of two things - 1) a miracle to happen and for him to track me down or 2) Jan 3, when school starts back up!   And THEN, it'll be almost time for Alias thoughts as well!! Oh what an exciting week THAT will be!!!

Sorry I haven't written much. Told you a long time ago I'm not much of a blogger!

Today, I was approached by an angel.  I was standing in the school ground, waiting for my kids, when the far door opened, and an angel exited. Jenn was the first to notice and her mouth dropped slightly causing me to look up.  His blonde curls were dancing in the cool breeze while his muscular arms were being accented perfectly in his charcoal button up shirt. He was an angel on a mission, to bring hope and joy to one person... hopefully me!  If he weren't walking directly towards me, I'm pretty sure my jaw would have landed somewhere near my feet. But I stood my ground and smiled as he approached. My doubtful self kicked in, thinking that surely there was something else he was headed for, some invisible thing between myself and him.  But there wasn't.  It was completely clear and empty from him to me.  My heart skipped a beat.  Was this it? Was this the beginning of a beautiful thing??  A girl could only hope. 

His mouth opened as if he were about to speak. "Hi, is Julia _____ (name left out for children's safety sake ) here yet?" Such beautiful words I have never heard spoken. (No fear, Julia is 9.) "No, she doesn't come today. Sorry." How silly of a response. I should have said, "No she's not, but I'm sure she'll be here soon!"   So much could have been said if I had not said "No, she doesn't come today."  But no, nothing else was said.  He turned and walked back to the school. 

My story may sound silly or junior high girlish, but I swear, he is my elementary school angel.  And elementary school angels always win the girl. Right???

I'll keep you posted ;)