Life with Karen

Sunday Stealing #51-60

2012-02-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

Somewhere along the line I lost #26-50, but that's okay. I'll just jump in here. You can read #1, #2-10, and #11-25 in these separate blog posts. Enjoy!

51) Do you tend to hold grudges against people who have done you wrong?
I do stay hurt for a very long time. Grudges? I'm not quite sure you could say that. I would help most of the people who have hurt me in the past. There's a couple I think I would watch drown, though.

52) What is your astrological sign?
Libra

53) Do you save money for anything? What?
Ha! Saving money and paying on a student loan don't really go along too well. Seriously, we just get by for the most part. I'm trying to put a little bit away for an emergency fund now. Ours was run completely dry last year when I spent more than $2,000 in two months trying to find out what was wrong with me. That was just the regular doctors visits and tests. It does NOT include the ambulance, emergency room visits, and hospital admission or the follow up visits and tests.

54) What's the last thing you purchased?
This morning I purchased a file box and grading pens for my classroom.

55) Have you ever had a relationship that you realized was lust not love?
Of course, haven't we all? I think that's what young "love" is about.

56) In a relationship?
I've been married to my husband for almost 12 years now. I can honestly say we are forming a deeper relationship the longer we have been together. I love growing up and "old" together!

57) How many relationships have you had?
Far too many. Most desperately unhealthy.

58) What do you want to tell us about your day?
Today was a team effort. I felt like I was drowning, and Daniel jumped in to help me get caught up with my responsibilities. I feel badly he was doing what should be my job (grading papers), but I grateful he is willing to help.

59) Where were you yesterday?
Written on Sunday, February 12: Yesterday I got to spend some time watching the blessing of the dogs at the hospital (my mom and her dogs are a pet therapy team) and got to go out with my mom to a health event after. For the rest of the day I was hanging with my husband and girls and took a walk in the evening.

60) Is there anything interesting within 10 feet of you?
Not particularly for most people. There IS a really cool book for my students on the desk, though. They will be building their own societies. I can't WAIT to see how this project turns out! The book has all sorts of aspects from what language they will speak, to the clothes they will wear, to the type of government they will live by. Cool stuff!

Random Questions part 2

2012-02-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

Please see questions 2-10 here.

11) Do you have any strange phobias?
I don't think so. I am afraid of scorpions, but come on, that's just logical! I am afraid of dark parking lots, too, but that's because I watch too much news.

12) Ever stuck a foreign object up your nose?
Again, I don't think so. My mom may be able to tell you differently, though. I was kind of a weird kid.

13) What's your religion?
I do not follow any religion. I do believe in a higher power, but I'm not she what he/ she/ it is called. I believe in living a life of honesty and doing good for others and myself. Really, every religion believes in those principles, so maybe I'm ALL religions rather than none.

14) If you are outside, what are you most likely doing?
Walking. Daniel, the girls, and I go out walking at least a couple of times per week. Now that I CAN I take advantage of it every opportunity I get!

15) Do you prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?
I am definitely the one behind the camera in most cases. There were times I asked Daniel to take pictures of family gatherings just so I could prove I've been a part of our daughters' lives!

16) Simple but extremely complex. Favorite band?
I don't really have a favorite band. This is something that changes daily, depending on my mood.

17) What was the last lie you told?
I told a student I wasn't angry with her, even though I was furious. I wanted her to get on with the day so I could, too. I don't stay mad at my students for too long, anyway.

18) Do you believe in karma?
Absolutely! I think that is why I have a hard time accepting being so sick for so long. What did I do to deserve this pain? I know... it's silly.

19) What does your URL mean?
My blog originally started as a health blog to keep me accountable on a weight loss journey. Little did I know that it would eventually become a life-line to me through the worst year of my life.

20) What is your greatest weakness; your greatest strength?
What is this, a job interview? I hate this question. My greatest weakness is my ability to see both sides of a situation. It makes me look two-faced because I can flip-flop often. My greatest strength is my ability to see both sides of a situation. I think it gives me compassion in a lot of areas. I rarely see absolute right or wrong.

21) Who is your celebrity crush?
I can't really say I have a celebrity crush. The two trainers on Biggest Loser, Bob and Dolvett, are both pretty nice to look at, though!

22) Have you ever gone skinny dipping?
I can't remember a time when I did, but that's not to say that it didn't happen.

23) How do you vent your anger?
I scream, I cry, then I get very quiet lately. That quiet part of me is my dad coming out. Once I blog about the situation or let it ease on its own I usually don't talk about it again. This is kind of a new way of handling anger for me. I used to do a lot more of the screaming and be more physical in my anger. I couldn't do that during the months I was confined to the couch, though. I definitely started turning inward at that point.

24) Do you have a collection of anything?
Yes, I have a collection of picture books and stuffed animals to go with them. Kohl's sells these sets, and I started collecting them for my classroom when I thought I would be teaching in an entirely different environment.

25) Do you prefer talking on the phone or video chatting online?
Neither, I enjoy texting or emailing.

3 in 30- February Week 2

2012-02-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

My weekly goal update:

1. Prepare taxes: I have not made ONE STEP toward this goal. This week I have been away from home for 11 hours each day. Some part-time job I have! I wish I was getting paid for all these hours I'm putting in, but that's the nature of teaching. I plan to spend a lot of time on this goal during the President's Day holiday.

2. Walk for exercise: This week has been rough with the number of hours I worked. We didn't get out at all, except for Friday night. I'm hoping to come up with an interesting route for tonight. I'm getting bored with the lake route since we aren't seeing very many birds anymore.

3. Unpack boxes in bedroom: I haven't even THOUGHT about this goal. In fact, I had to look up last week's post to remember what my third goal was. Oh well, it will get done when it gets done.

It would seem that this week hasn't been very successful, but other parts of life took priority. I'm finding a new way to reach my low students, and Daniel and I have had a great week together. I'll take those successes over unpacking boxes any day!

Book Review- "Invisible" by Jeanne Bannon

2012-02-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

"Lola?" he whispers. "You there? It‘s okay, I‘ll just wait here ‘til you come back."

Let's face it, at some time in our lives we have all wished we could become invisible- even if just for a moment. Well, Lola CAN. "Invisible" by Jeanne Bannon tells the story of high school senior Lola Savullo and her incredible ability. Will Lola be able to learn to control when she disappears?

I loved this story, and even though it was written for young adults I felt like I could relate to Lola. I guess some parts of high school never do change. There will always be those who pick on others and make life miserable for some. Lola, though, finds a way to get back at the bullies in her life.

You'll have to read "Invisible" to find out what happens, but I promise this is one read you won't regret. I laughed, I was saddened, and there was one shocking part that was handled with finesse by the author and by Lola herself. I am really glad I got to read this book and will be looking for others by Jeanne Bannon.

Random Questions

2012-02-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

Question #1 was actually about my iPod, which I posted here. Enjoy!

2) If you could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?
Maybe I'm strange, but I really don't have a desire to meet anyone I haven't already. I'm excited to see who will come into my life in the future, and I am super interested in seeing what kind of students I will have next school year. Other than that, I don't really care to meet any famous people because to me they are just like everyone else.

3) Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 23, give me line 17.
..."other workers looked away." From "Minding Frankie" by Maeve Binchy

4) What do you think about most?
I would have to say that I think the most about lesson plans and how the next day at school is going to work. I am constantly "rehearsing" in my mind.

5) What does your latest text message from someone else say?
It was an encouragement from an acquaintance that we all "drop the ball" occasionally and to not be upset about it. Her daughter and mine are in the same class at school and she has helped me tremendously this year as we transition into a two parent working family and I can't seem to get my head on straight when it comes to school functions for my daughters.

6) Do you sleep with or without clothes on?
Since becoming sick last April I have been very sensitive to the cold and feel my best when I am not chilled at all. I have slept with heavy pajamas on so that Daniel doesn't boil in his sleep.

7) What's your strangest talent?
I don't really have any strange talents that I can think of.

8) Women.... (finish the sentence); Men.... (finish the sentence)
Women are no different than men; Men are no different than women. Although I don't actually believe this, I really don't have huge generalizations, either. Both sexes can have their frustrations, but the more I work with the public the more I realize I just see people.

9) Ever had a poem or song written about you?
Yes, as a matter of fact I have. In 9th grade my boyfriend and his friends played a song in our school talent show. The song was written about me. Fortunately it was a pleasant one!

10) When is the last time you played the air guitar?
I don't tend to play air guitar. I do, however, like to play air drums. My poor steering wheel sometimes! After a particularly hard day at work I like to crank up a CD I've made for the car and let loose. I must look like a maniac to the drivers next to me, but I don't mind.

Super Bowl or Reading?

2012-02-07T05:19:00.002-07:00

Musing Mondays February 6, 2012

I'm joining Should Be Reading for Musing Mondays. Sorry this is a little late!

This week’s musing asks…

Did you do any reading in lieu of watching the football game Sunday or were you foregoing reading to watch the game? If you read a book (or books) what did you choose?

I actually didn't read OR watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. Instead, my family went to my mom and dad's house and had a blast playing Wii Sports Resort. After playing our Wii during the Christmas season, Mom and Dad decided they wanted one as well. It is so fun to play with my parents and daughters!

I did come home and read, though. I just started "Matched" by Ally Condie. My students have been reading this book, one after the other, so I thought I would figure out what all the fuss is about. It's a pretty good book and I love being able to talk with my students about something they enjoy. "Matched" is part of a trilogy, and I will definitely be checking out the rest of the books in the series.

Here is a blurb from Amazon.com:

For Cassia, nothing is left to chance--not what she will eat, the job she will have, or the man she will marry. In Matched, the Society Officials have determined optimal outcomes for all aspects of daily life, thereby removing the "burden" of choice. When Cassia's best friend is identified as her ideal marriage Match it confirms her belief that Society knows best, until she plugs in her Match microchip and a different boy’s face flashes on the screen. This improbable mistake sets Cassia on a dangerous path to the unthinkable--rebelling against the predetermined life Society has in store for her. As author Ally Condie’s unique dystopian Society takes chilling measures to maintain the status quo, Matchedreminds readers that freedom of choice is precious, and not without sacrifice.--Seira Wilson

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Five Question Friday- February 3, 2012

2012-02-04T09:25:00.001-07:00

1. What have you done recently that you are proud of?

I have started walking about every other day. After spending almost a year wondering if I would ever walk for exercise again, this is a big accomplishment. The walks are slow, but they are steady. I think I got in 5 miles last week.

2. What is your favorite way to work out? Or if you don't workout, what are you wanting to try?

When I could work out regularly I LOVED Zumba!

3. If you knew you best friend was cheating on spouse would you tell?

Absolutely. Best friend or not, cheating is disgusting. I would tell my best friend that she needed to tell her spouse and give her a time limit. After that I would have to tell.

4. If you could afford a live-in maid or nanny, would you have one?
No way, not a live-in. I like to have my privacy too much. I do share a lot here on my blog, but I like to have the CHOICE of what to share.

5. Do you stress out about birthdays (specifically the age) or do you enjoy them?
I enjoy my birthdays. There's no use stressing about the age; we're all getting older each day.

Shuffle my iPod

2012-02-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday Stealing

1) Put your iTunes on shuffle. Give me the first 6 songs that pop up.

4 Non Blondes "What's Up"

Ronnie Dunn "Cost of Livin'"

Anna Nalick "Just Breathe"

Chicago "Hard to Say I'm Sorry"

Cutting Crew "(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight"

Debbie Gibson "Foolish Beat"

3 in 30 February

2012-02-03T08:16:00.002-07:00

Well, it's the start of a new month so I'm going to set three new goals. I enjoy focusing on these items for just 30 days. It helps to know that I can either start again or set new goals in a few weeks if what I'm doing is not working out.

February Goal #1: Prepare tax paperwork
Ug, it's tax time again. It's really not a big deal to gather all the paperwork and prepare for the appointment with the accountant, but each year I dread it. I hate paying the price for someone else to do our taxes, but owning a business and having rental property is just too much for me to handle on my own. My goal is to have the paperwork ready to go and the appointment made by the end of this month.

February Goal #2: Walk for exercise
I've been having some good days with my feet, so we've been taking walks up to a local park. I love it! It's not the running I had wanted to do, but it's a start. It's been close to a year now since I've been in a "normal" body, but I'm doing well on accepting that change. I've found that if I tell myself our walk is just another thing I have to do it comes easier. It also helps that my favorite birds hang out at the park we walk to. My goal for the month is to get out for our walk at least twice a week. (If you are new to my blog and would like to read the story of what is wrong with my feet, you can see it on the Shingles/ Nerve Damage tab at the top of my blog.)

February Goal #3: Unpack boxes in bedroom
Even though I didn't get very far in this area last month I am going to go ahead and make it a goal for this month again. Maybe I'll get to that area when we are off school for President's Day. Eventually I would like to get that little corner of my bedroom cleaned up and organized.

3 in 30 Update- Week 4

2012-01-28T05:12:00.001-07:00

Well, this is the last week in January. Next week I will change my goals and come up with three that are completely new. Whether I've been successful or not so successful at these ones I think I've learned a lot by setting a goal and following it week by week. I can see where my priorities are, I've been able to monitor my health and see what's working for me in that area, and I have enjoyed sharing this part of my life with all of you.

Goal #1: No smoking.

I have been 100% successful in this area this month. The last day I had a cigarette was New Year's Eve, and I don't intend on every having another. I am super proud of this achievement, even though in all reality it wasn't that difficult. I've quit once before, and for me smoking really is about making a choice. I have to admit that for my husband, that choice isn't quite such an easy one to make. He has struggled, really, really struggled, with quitting several times. He is doing well, though. I'm proud of us together.

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Goal #2: Unpack boxes in the bedroom

So, the same boxes are STILL sitting in the bedroom, but this is part of the learning experience. I'm not going to get to those boxes anytime soon. To be honest, I want to spend the time I have with my family, not cleaning up boxes. I'll get to them, probably over Spring Break.

Goal #3: Exercise bike

I just can't seem to get myself onto the exercise bike. Even when I was perfectly healthy that wasn't my favorite form of exercise, and I think I resist it because it's not really what I want to do. I know I made a goal to get on it for just 5 minutes a day, but looking at the bike reminds me that what I really want to do is run. I HAVE been getting out for short walks with Daniel in the last few days. We turn around when my feet hurt too much to continue. At least I'm getting something done and it feels authentic to me. I definitely do better with exercise if there seems to be some kind of point to it.

Stay tuned for my new set of goals next week. I think they are going to be challenging but enjoyable.

How have you done on your goals this month? What is something new you will be shooting for in February?

Girls' Club Update

2012-01-27T04:36:00.000-07:00

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You may remember me talking about the club for girls I was going to start this semester. Oh, I was so excited, and really looking forward to it. Well, unfortunately it has already been canceled. The first week back to school many girls were talking about attending. I got them pumped up and ready to go when we returned the second week.

On the first day of the club I was standing in my classroom all my myself. I gave it a few more minutes, thinking the girls were taking a break, going to the bathroom, getting drinks, being responsible middle school students. As the halls got more and more quiet I realized I was fooling myself. There were no girls coming to my classroom. Day one of the club was a bust. I went home frustrated and saddened.

The vice principal in charge of clubs wouldn't let me give up that easily, as I wanted to just cancel the club that week. She put yet another advertisement for the group in the school newsletter, and we talked up the club again. Girls were excited, raising their hand when I took a poll of who was attending, and were asking me about the first day activities. They really wanted to join; or so it seemed.

Week number two found me once again standing in an empty classroom. This time I was more than upset. A couple of the students who were supposed to be in the club were wandering through the halls, unsupervised. They were telling one club chair they were at my club, and they were telling me they were supposed to be somewhere else. Sixth grade girls definitely start turning into Jr. High students right around this time of year.

I have to admit that I am not terrible sad about canceling the club, though I am extremely disappointed. I wasn't going to get paid for this extra work, and I'm starting to feel the crunch of being a part-time employee working full-time hours. Or maybe the truth is that no matter how old we get rejection just sucks.

Book Excerpt: The Prophet by K.J. Dahlen

2012-01-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to bring you my first book from the Ever After PR company. Book bloggers, this is a REALLY fun company to work with, and they offer a TON of options for bringing books to your readers. Check them out if you are looking for more books to review.

Today I am bringing you "The Prophet" by K.J. Dahlen. The following synopsis was provided by Ever After to tell you about the book. You can buy "The Prophet" on Amazon.com in Kindle and paperback editions.

The Prophet

Synopsis

For the last three years FBI agentsRheta Morgan and Sean Carter have been following a serial killer known as theProphet Elijah. Each has his/her own reason for hunting him down. Their reasonsare personal but that doesn’t stop them from hunting down this killer. Rheta’sreason is that Elijah murdered her sister. She was one of his “Chosen One’s.”

The Prophet is a man they know as ElijahBanks. He swooped into town, gathers a handpicked flock, takes everything theyhave and departs after murdering his “Chosen One”. He’s crafty and never saysin one area too long. That’s the biggestreason he hasn’t been caught yet.

Rheta and Sean find him in La Crosse, WIand they are determined not to lose him this time. When they arrest his disciple, Cole Robbinsthey uncover evidence that leads them to the complex behind the scenes cultElijah belongs to called The Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is a secret societyset up twenty years ago by a man named Richard Holden. Richard encouraged hisgroup to recruit people with less than savory reputations for his army offollowers. Richard wanted the power and the wealth of being the one in charge.He named himself the “Father” and has complete control over the Brotherhood.

Rheta discovers that her partner was atone time a part of The Brotherhood. But Sean comes clean and explains he wasundercover at the time and has been undercover ever since. His real name isMichael Roane. He also tells him that Elijah isn’t the Prophet’s real name. Hisreal name is Jody Bradford and Jody is Michael’s cousin.

Jody barely escapes from La Crosseleaving behind chaos and several broken and bloody lives. They trail him to northern Minnesota. Thecult is there for a “Gathering.”

The FBI including Rheta and Michaelconfront the cult and manage to contain most of the group. Who isn’t dead fromthe gunfight are arrested. But when the dust settles Jody is nowhere to befound. The leader Richard Holden is missing as well. They find Richard’s body alittle later. He died from a stab wound rather than a bullet and Michael andRheta know that Jody murdered Richard. Rheta is worried that he’ll change his name and start all over somewhereelse but Michael knows how to bring Elijah back to him. He has taken somethingJody values most. He found Jody’s money and he knows Jody will want itback. In retaliation Jody comes back andkidnaps the two people Michael cares about the most, Michael’s sister Theresaand Rheta herself. Jody sends Michael a video of Rheta, hanging in a siloslowly filling with corn and Theresa who he’s buried alive with a small tank ofoxygen.

Now the race is on to see if Michael canrescue Rheta and his sister before Jody gets away for good. They track him downto a small town in Colorado. Michael finds Rheta just moments before the siloimplodes but when they find Elijah’s compound, he’s nowhere to be found.Michael finds where Jody sent him the video concerning his sister but hissister is missing.

Jody is running for his life and Michaeland Rheta are two steps behind him. Theresa causes an accident that leaves her injured and Jody on foot.When they find him, Jody refuses to go quietly. In fact he taunts Michael thatthe Brotherhood will never be stopped. He claims that his brothers will avengehis betrayal and that Michael won’t see them coming until it’s too late. Heclaims that even good people can be pushed only so far before they fall intoanarchy. Jody claims there is a restlessness, almost an undercurrent of evilbrewing and that soon it would spill out and consume everything good and pure.The storm of evil is coming sooner than they think. Then rather than spend therest of his life in prison, Jody chooses certain death.

Michael and Rheta are left with morequestions than answers and hopes Jody is wrong.

And.... for your reading pleasure, here is an excerpt from the book:

Chapter One

It was late and Rheta sat at her desk in Chicago reading yet

another report. Her eyes were tired, causing the words to blur

together. She stopped for a moment and took off her reading glasses

then rubbed her eyes. She had the beginnings of a really good

headache starting and it didn’t want to quit. The nagging pain in her

temple was spreading and she knew she should call it a night.

The light on her desk seemed awfully bright tonight. She got

up to get herself another cup of coffee and found her muscles tired

and sore from sitting at her desk too long. She glanced at the clock.

No wonder I’m tired, she thought to herself. The clock read 3:34 a.m.

She looked over at the couch in her office. Maybe I should take a

nap, she thought as she headed over toward the couch. Glancing over

at the coffee pot, she noticed it was empty anyway.

Rheta headed for the couch. As she stretched out, she was

very glad she hadn’t given into Sean’s request for a leather sofa in the

office. She hated the feel of leather and since she spent most of her

time right here in this office, she had the final say in the decor. As she

closed her eyes, she thought about turning off the light, but her body

wouldn’t let her get up again. She was almost asleep before her eyes closed.

About two hours later, she began tossing and turning caught

up in the all-too-familiar nightmare she dreaded. She was leaning

toward the makeshift alter, reaching her hand out to the person lying

there. Her hand was shaking as she touched the cold, clammy skin.

Rheta gently brushed a lock of blonde hair from the woman’s

forehead and wept with sadness as she looked down at the face of

someone she had loved. Her sister hadn’t deserved this fate, no one

did.

Rheta touched her face and gently outlined her cheek with

her finger. She couldn’t believe Sarah was gone, yet the pool of blood

from the wound on her neck spoke differently. Her entire shirt was

painted crimson with it. Tears of rage and anger filled Rheta’s soul

and as she wept for the sister she couldn’t save. She vowed not to let

the man who murdered her get away with it.

Rheta looked down at her hands. They were stained with

Sarah’s blood and her own tears. She looked at her sister’s face one

more time and was horrified to see the face no longer was Sarah’s but

another woman’s. Her name had been Kelly or Janice or was it

Nancy? She couldn’t remember them all anymore. There had been so

many, a different face in each city over the last few years. She

looked again at the face she didn’t recognize. This time, the face was

a skeleton. There was no flesh or features left on it. It was just what

remained after everything else had faded away. She opened her

mouth to scream but couldn’t make any sound come out. With her

heart pounding in her chest, Rheta sat up on the couch and screamed

out loud.

She brushed her long dark hair away from her face and

looked around the room. Glancing toward the window, she saw the

dawn just breaking in the eastern horizon. Wiping the sweat from her

forehead, she got up and stumbled toward the coffee pot. Rheta was

still shaking inside as she remembered the nightmare that had plagued

her for the last few years, ever since she had found her sister Sarah’s

body. She caught her reflection in the mirror above the coffee station

and grimaced. Her hair had a tossed look she got when she slept

badly. Her green eyes looked tired and there were dark circles under

them.

A man who called himself, The Prophet, had murdered

Sarah and all the others. To Rheta, he was nothing more than a serial

killer who hadn’t been caught yet, and she stressed the word yet.

She and Sean had been trailing the man responsible for these

deaths for three years now. They had tracked him through four

different states and about 13 cities along the way. His M.O. was

always the same. He would set up shop in an abandoned building

somewhere on the poorer side of town and troll the streets looking for

his next victim. Then all the while, he would gather a following of

people looking for something missing from their dull everyday lives.

He would offer them hope of a better tomorrow with one hand as he

took what little they had as far as money or possessions with the

other. The people around him were so overwhelmed by his presence

they never realized what he was doing to them until it was too late.

He was gone and they were left with nothing, except empty hearts

and wallets and something else...at least one of them would be dead.

So, what do you think? Does this sound like something you would like to read?

Book Review: "Finding Noel" by Richard Paul Evans

2012-01-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have never read a Richard Paul Evans book that let me down, and "Finding Noel" is just another example of this author's superb story-telling. I would highly recommend not listening to the final disk of this audio book on the way into work when you need to be upbeat and in an early meeting without tears running down your face. I learned the hard way, so I thought I would share this nugget of wisdom with you. Mr. Evans has a way of making his characters feel like family. I wanted to drive around the block time and time again just so I could find out what was going to happen. Unfortunately, the earlier referenced meeting could not be put off, and I had to stop the car and go to work. It gave me time to reflect, though, and savor the fantastic story the Richard Paul Evans has brilliantly put together.

View all my reviews

R is for Rage (A Short Story)

2012-01-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

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At one point I was doing really well with writing and posting my short stories. I write in spurts as the inspiration comes to me, but I would really like to start getting into the habit a little more often. For now I have decided to share the first short story I posted on my blog.

You can read "Rage" by clicking on the link provided. I also have a short story tab at the top of my blog. I encourage you to check out some of the writings I have posted. I think my favorite story is "Home," but I have a fondness for all of them for different reasons.

Please note: "Rage" was written during a creative writing class that was meant to take me out of my comfort zone. It is one of the few writings I have done that "lets go" and explores what could happen. There is language that is definitely NOT child friendly and could be considered offensive. Please keep this in mind before opening and reading "Rage." If you are looking for something a little more mild I would start with "Home."

Fear

2012-01-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

Daniel and I were out doing our weekly errands last weekend, and he made a comment that sort of got to me. I had picked up an item from a shelf in the back of the store and decided I didn't want it by the time we got to the register. The line was long, so I said I would run the item back to the shelf. Daniel said, "I can do it more quickly. I'll get it." Now, that shouldn't seem like a big deal, but it was.

My husband has never been one to baby me, and to be honest he hasn't always had the best of manners. Offering to put something away if I'm already on top of it is not something that would necessarily be a first reaction for Daniel. Don't get me wrong, he is a loving and caring person, but I have also somewhat "trained" him to allow me to have my independence as well. I can be pretty stubborn.

Later in the day I asked him why he hurried to put the item back on the shelf and he admitted that he has noticed me slowing down quite a bit. He could tell I was getting tired. I really didn't want to hear this, because I have always held out hope that I would be improving by now. Instead, we are at a point where Daniel is noticing when I need a break and when I can be pushed just a little farther. This SUCKS! Truth be told, I CAN'T move as quickly as I used to. I have noticed a huge lag in my reflex times, too. I tell my brain to move my body, and it takes a few moments before getting the message to my muscles. This is scary, but I try not to think about that. Fear has held me back too often in my life. THAT monster is not going to get me again!

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The truth is, though, that the fear IS getting to me. I worry that I won't be able to do the things that make me who I am. Forget the running and the exercise. I think I'm adjusting to that okay now. What about the days I can't hold a pen? For now I am covering up my illness pretty well in front of my classes, but what happens when the day comes that I just can't be that strong in the classroom? I guess we'll have to cross that bridge when we get there.

Book Review: Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy by Debbie Macomber

2012-01-22T04:33:00.000-07:00

Shirley Goodness And Mercy by Debbie Macomber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How cool. I can link up my Goodreads book reviews with a simple click of a button. A short but sweet post.

View all my reviews

January 21- National Hugging Day

2012-01-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

Hug O' War by Shel Silverstein Image Credit

Today is National Hugging Day! I have to be honest, I'm not a huge hugger. But, for those of you who love to hug, this holiday was made for you. Enjoy!

5 Dogs

2012-01-20T06:57:00.000-07:00

MamaKat's prompt this week was to talk about five dogs in my lifetime and why they were memorable. Well, having fostered MANY, MANY dogs over the course of a few years I have plenty to choose from! All in all, there were 97 dogs that passed through our door; some stayed for mere hours while they were waiting for other placement, some stayed for as long as eight months. We fostered beagles and retrievers of all kinds.

1. Bruce: This wasn't a foster dog; he was our family pet from as far back as I can remember. One day when I was in high school I came home from work to find my mom laying on the porch with our big golden retriever. He couldn't get up, and we all knew it was time to say goodbye. He had been having some trouble for awhile, and the next day my parents took him to send him off humanly. He was no longer in pain. This is the first time, and one of the VERY few, that I can remember both of my parents being so emotional it hurt. Bruce was a good dog and a great friend to us all.

2. Rusty: Having grown up around golden retrievers all my life, I knew I wanted one the minute I was old enough to have my own place. Being young and stupid, not knowing what I do now, I went to the pet store and paid $2000 for my very own pet. When the boyfriend I was living with and I broke up, Rusty and I went to live with my parents. In what is definitely NOT a common example for golden retrievers, Rusty turned aggressive. So aggressive that one day he backed my dad down the hallway, growling and snarling the whole way. Unfortunately we had to put that dog down because he was going to hurt someone. It wasn't a matter of if, but WHEN. I have since learned why people shouldn't buy from pet stores.

3. Cody: When I volunteered for Arizona Retriever Rescue we lived in a beautiful house with a fenced yard, and I was a stay-at-home mom. My family rarely went out for too long, and we never ventured far from home. I was the perfect foster mom for this dog who was terrified of thunder storms and couldn't be crated because he was so afraid of enclosed spaces. He had been known to jump over walls and had entered a neighbor's dog door to find people. His family was moving to China and they couldn't bring Cody, so they surrendered him to the rescue group. Cody quickly became part of our family, and he stayed with us for eight months. Oh, how I wanted to adopt that boy! Unfortunately his fear of thunderstorms, fireworks, and loud noises was extreme. Many nights during monsoon season I would lay with him on the floor while he shook and shook. As the girls grew older I realized that I couldn't be with a dog 24/7.

4. Lexie: Arizona Golden Retriever Connection called to tell us they had a foster placement they were sure wouldn't last long. She needed to get her foot fixed up, then she would be on her way to a new family. We had Cody at the time, and the two of them became great friends. For some reason, be it her foot issue or the fact that she was an older female, Lexie was also with us for eight months. Saying goodbye to her was TOUGH! We knew we were moving into a small townhouse, and we just didn't feel right bringing her into such an environment.

5. I'm going to take the easy way out here and lump all the rest of the fosters together. There were some who stood out more than others, but all of them were special in some way. Volunteering for rescue groups was one of the most rewarding and fun experiences, and I'm glad I got that opportunity. Fostering dogs was great fun for the whole family. Unfortunately we are at a time in our lives where having people and pets in and out of our home is just not a realistic goal. One day we will get there again, but for now I would like to encourage you to get involved if your heart says fostering is right for your family.

3 in 30- Week 3

2012-01-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

Week 3 went well, though there are some areas I wish I could have made more progress in. That's okay, there's always next week.

Smoking- AWESOME! I have not had a cigarette since New Year's Eve, and this is going well. I really don't have a problem in this area at all, except around other smokers. I even had an opportunity to say no and walk away this week. Like I've said before, it sucks to not hang out with certain friends but this has to be about me. Daniel is doing great, too. He is using the nicotine patch, but he is happy and pleasant to be around. I'm really hoping this is it for both of us!

Boxes- Well, I'm pretty much stalled in this area. I got one box done, but I've been lazy about getting to the other one. School break times really offer a lot more time to get things done. I should have just tackled the boxes over winter break and had it done. By the time I get home from work now I don't want to do anything, and the weekends are jam packed with other activities. I'm going to keep this on my goal list, but I have a feeling this may not get done until Spring Break in March.

Exercise bike- See the boxes above. This is really hard, and to add to the work and weekend reasoning my Fibromyalgia is beating me up. Week 2 was super difficult because of the routine of working after a three week break. Week 3 was difficult because my body needs more time to recover than it used to. Grrr.... I'm thinking the exercise bike was a great idea when that was the only activity I was getting but walking around in my classroom all day seems to be all I can handle right now.

Q is for Quiet Time

2012-01-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

Image Credit

One thing I absolutely MUST have every day is some quiet time to myself. This can range anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours, but if I don't get that time I seriously start to feel anxious. Since I am a naturally early riser anyway I make sure to get up before anyone else in the house. This usually gives me an hour to be alone. I don't turn on the radio or the TV.

Since starting to work I have found it more difficult to get the time I need into a day, but I find it even more essential. I have made it a point to head into my bedroom about the same time the girls go to theirs to do their nightly reading. On most nights now I spend this time doing my own reading. Some nights, however, I'm just plain exhausted and watch TV instead.

What are some things you do to get some quiet time in for yourself?

P is for Parents

2012-01-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

I am super fortunate when it comes to my parents. They are still together through 38 years of marriage. They are both relatively healthy, and they are an active part of our family life. The best part is that they only live three miles down the road.

Unfortunately our work schedules don't always match up very well, so we don't see my mom and dad quite as often as we like. There is a benefit to those crazy schedules, though. In most cases, if needed there is an adult to help out with the girls. I love that my kids have grandparents they know they can count on and who enjoy spending time with them throughout the year.

O is for One Word

2012-01-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

Last year I found a website that I fell in love with as a writer. OneWord.com gives the user a single word and sixty seconds to write about it. The author can be serious, she can tell a realistic story, or she can use the word to launch a fictional tale.

I have, unfortunately, gotten out of the habit of using OneWord, but I need to start again. It is such fun to read what others have come up with in the same one minute time limit. Several of my short stories came from OneWord prompts. It's really interesting to see what can come about from one simple word.

N is for New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-16T04:30:00.000-07:00

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As you all know, I decided not to do New Year's Resolutions this year. Instead, I set some goals for myself. The biggest of those goals is that I am going to learn to be okay with myself and my new normal. I am going to cut myself some slack and quit beating myself up that I can't do the things I could at this time last year. On the other hand, I am going to celebrate the things I CAN do.

I found a really cool challenge that I think is going to help me with my plan for this year. It is called the 3 in 30 challenge. You can see my first post here. The idea is to set three goals to work on throughout each month. In January I started with smoking, cleaning, and a bit of exercise. I love that these are things I can work on every day and I have a whole month to focus on those things. If I need to start over on something a new month is right around the corner.

Just out of curiosity I looked at my New Year's Resolution post from last year. It's really not anything special; just the typical resolutions that are common. Losing weight, eating better, spending more time exercising, etc. One that really caught my attention was encouraging more positiveness in my family. I would like to do that again as I didn't do so well with that in 2011. This time I'll actually define that and decide what success will look like for me. Stay tuned to see that in my February 3 in 30 post.

Today in History- January 15, 1929

2012-01-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

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On January 15, 1929 Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. The son of a Baptist minister, Martin Luther King, Jr. earned a doctorate degree in theology and went on to become a powerful speaker. Dr. King organized several peaceful protests and was instrumental in the civil rights movement. He is most well-known for his "I Have a Dream" speech.

It is partially due to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s hard work and dedication that racial discrimination is outlawed in the United States. As a teacher, I am most excited about the accomplishments that were made in the field of education. Students of all backgrounds, colors, and religions now learn together. We still have a long way to go for complete equality in this country, but we owe a big thank you to people like Martin Luther King, Jr. for helping us get started in the right direction.

Come join the hop!

3 in 30 Challenge- Week 2

2012-01-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

For more details about the 3 in 30 challenge see my Week 1 post. Today ends Week 2, so it's time for an update. After you read about how my goals are going, please be sure to leave a comment about how you are doing. Is there anything I can help you with?

1. Smoking- I am continuing to do well here. I have not had a cigarette since New Year's Eve, and I don't intend to smoke again. The main thing that has to happen for this to be successful is to not hang around with people who are smoking. Although this sucks because it limits my interactions with some of my best friends, it's what I need to do for me. I am totally okay hanging out with those same people as long as there are no cigarettes around or if they understand when I walk away.

2. Clean up the boxes in my bedroom- One down, one to go! I pulled out the first box to empty and Daniel jumped in to help me. Within about 15 minutes the box was done. Too bad I didn't start with the big one!

3. Ride the exercise bike- This is one area where I need to remember my one and only New Year's resolution which was to give myself slack and realize my new normal is not always going to allow me to do physically what I wish I could. I have the best of intentions to get on the exercise bike every day, but even 5 minutes seems too much on some days. After working all day I just don't have it in me to get on the bike. I'm doing what I can, though, and that is the important part.

M is for Muppets

2012-01-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

I don't think I'm ready to grow up. There- I said it. I still love the Muppets, I got "Where the Wild Things Are" stuffed toys for my 35th birthday, and my favorite music is still Disney soundtracks. Fortunately for me, I'm a child of the 80s, and 80s retro is cool. I hope the obsession with that era continues so I can fit right in!

When my girls were little I loved that I could watch cartoons with them and sing silly songs. As they are growing up and out of these stages I find myself somewhat saddened. Now I don't have excuses to enjoy these things that make me smile. Well, I don't need an excuse. I'm going to enjoy anyway!

L is for Lounging Around

2012-01-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

Amber and Bumpkin

Before I got sick in March I was always on the go. Monday through Friday I would work or volunteer at the school, and Saturday was our errand day. From the time we got up in the morning until late in the afternoon we were running around getting things done and cleaning the house. Just in time for dinner we would stop and finally settle in for the evening. Sunday was really our only day to kick back and enjoy life, but even then we'd probably wind up finding something that needed to be done.

After my hospitalization in April I was reduced to basically doing nothing. In those first months of being sick I may get out of the house for an hour or two, but gone were the days of running around for half the day then cleaning for the rest. I can't say I can complain about the cleaning part; doing one small bathroom at a time was about all I could handle and that alone could take me all day.

What I learned while I was "recovering" was that I COULD sit and do nothing. The world would not stop if I didn't get something done, and my head would not pop off if I didn't do something productive. In fact, many times I had to just sit in silence just so my head WOULDN'T explode. Many hours were spent on the couch listening to meditation music on Pandora. Thank goodness I had my laptop and blogs to keep me busy. For some reason I could see the computer screen okay (for the most part) and could concentrate on short articles and posts, but reading a book was like torture. I could only imagine what it must be like to be a child who cannot focus for longer than 10 minutes at a time. That was me. Maybe that's why the computer worked out for me so well. I could jump from one thing to the next without really committing to any one task.

Although I longed for nothing more than to get back to "normal" life, I quickly found that there was a new normal to get back to. No longer can I run around all of Saturday. Now I MUST give myself some time to lounge around. Maybe the alarm doesn't get set during the weekends anymore. Maybe I stretch in bed for a few more minutes before crawling out where I used to hop out of bed like a spring. Maybe Saturday afternoons are spent watching a movie or catching up on Grey's Anatomy instead of cleaning the bathrooms or organizing the books I want to bring to school for my classroom library. No matter what the method, I have finally found value in lounging around. I no longer consider it lazy. It is now restorative.

Two-Year Marriage Contracts

2012-01-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

I recently came across an article that told about how Mexico now has marriage contracts that last just two years. Their reasoning is that more than half of new marriages are ending in divorce, most before they even get to two years. Although my opinion will probably be extremely unpopular, I don't necessarily think these contracts are a bad idea. Let me explain.

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I was married to my first husband for just two-and-a-half years. I knew it was over before we got to our first anniversary. Truth-be-told, I knew it was over the night we got married. I thought I had done everything right. We had talked about the number of children we wanted and how we envisioned our futures. My first husband and I agreed on everything, right up to the wedding day. That night he literally changed his mind on just about everything we had agreed on. Let me put it this way, the marriage was not consummated on the day of our wedding. When it finally was several nights later it was using birth control even though we had agreed we would start trying for children right away because of my endometriosis.

Throughout those first months I found out some very interesting things about this man I had married. I found out more about his background, his interests, and his future plans. Interestingly, this sounded much different than the fairy tale he had sold me on. I came from a family who didn't divorce, though, so I hung on as long as I could. I finally couldn't take it any longer and asked for a divorce. He granted me one happily, not even bothering to show up in front of the judge for the final divorce proceedings. He was already off living his new life.

The point I'm trying to make is that people don't take marriage seriously anymore. My ex-husband wanted to be married, but he didn't want the same things I did. Why, then, didn't we just break off our relationship so he could move on and I could find what I wanted? I'm not really sure why that didn't happen. I'm seeing this more and more, though. Either people don't want to be honest, or they don't want to explore their own feelings. They don't understand that words DO have meaning. The other party in a relationship actually believes in the hopes and the dreams he or she has described and shared.

It is for this reason I am actually in favor of the two-year marriages contracts. Give couples a chance to see if they have what it takes to keep their commitments. We are growing into a world where people don't mean what they say and say what they mean. If the relationship is still working out at the end of the contract, renew for a longer time. My only worry is the children. My hope is that these "starter marriages" would not produce children. Then again, that's a whole different issue since so many children are being born without two parents to raise them now.

Movie Review: Mars Needs Moms

2012-01-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

Image Credit and Amazon.com description

This movie has been on my wish list to see since I first saw previews. It just looked so cute! I finally got around to watching it this week when I picked it up from the library. My daughters, husband, and a family friend watched it together, and we all had a great time!

Martian babies are raised by "nanny-bots," and Mars needs moms so they can steal their skills for the nannies. As luck would have it, Milo has told his mom he would be better off without a mom on the same night she is kidnapped to be used by the Martians. Milo hops aboard the spaceship and tries to rescue his mom. Through his actions and the help of some others on the planet, Milo saves his mom and brings some compassion back to the Martians.

The story was cute and moved along at a nice pace. Even my husband was cheering at some points, yelling at the TV in others, and generally having a good time. It is, of course, a pretty predictable plot, but all in all it was presented in a way that was enjoyable. The animation was done so well that we even had an argument about whether some of the characters were live actors.

I would recommend "Mars Needs Moms" to everyone who has ever had a child who said, "I hate you," or "I would be better off without you," or who said these things as children themselves. This movie is a nice reminder of all Mom does for us. It reminds moms that we are needed, too.

What'cha Reading Monday? January 9, 2012

2012-01-09T05:33:00.000-07:00

For once I am only reading one book. That's amazing! In my old age I am finding that reading one book at a time works better. I should more accurately say with the lack of reading time I have one book serves the purpose better. I can focus on that one book until it is finished rather than dividing my time and not finishing books before they are due back at the library. I will be starting another audio book on my way to work today, though. I just haven't decided which one.

The book I am currently reading is "Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy," an angel book by one of my favorite authors. Debbie Macomber writes about great characters, and her books are usually quick, easy reads. This is the story of three angels who have been sent down to earth to help a man who has prayed for guidance but has a pretty messed up life. I'm sure Greg Bennett will turn out alright in the end, which is one thing I enjoy about Macomber's books. They offer a sense of peace and security for times when a bit of light reading is just what is called for!

Image Credit and Amazon.com description

Missing You

2012-01-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

Image credit

Wow, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed blogging. These past three weeks, being on Winter Break, offered me a lot of free time. Time to catch up on the reading and writing I don't usually get to do during the school weeks. I realized how much I am going to miss this.

But, it's time for me to head back to work. Time for me to, once again, focus on my students and how to best serve their needs. This is going to be an exciting semester. I changed how my classroom is going to work. There will be a lot more in-class assignments and not so much homework. Students will have journals to write in rather than handing in single papers. No more no-name issues! The lesson plans have been modified to fit what each class has expressed as their favorite learning styles. We'll see how this goes!

I'm looking forward to starting the Happy, Healthy Hearts club for 5th and 6th grade girls. I have lesson plans prepared for the first five weeks and have more ideas for the weeks following that. I only have 16 or 17 weeks (depending on if we have clubs the last week of school) to work with, so I can't get too crazy with ideas and plans. I wish I had thought of this club earlier in the school year! That's okay, I probably wasn't ready then. Next year the club will continue to grow.

I'm still going to be posting, reading, and commenting, but it won't be as often as it has been this last month. Don't worry.... I haven't forgotten you. I'll be back in full force over Spring Break, I'm sure!

Happy Birthday Andrea!

2012-01-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter Andrea! Today she turns 11-years-old.

Wow, does time fly! It doesn't seem like 11 years since we brought home our first child. It seems like yesterday she was starting Kindergarten and meeting new friends. Now she has a whole different group of friends but still mentions a few from years past.

This year Andrea is looking forward to her first long field trip for Oceanography Club. She is going to play viola in her first concert, and she hopes to join a basketball team at the YMCA. She's got a lot to look forward to, and it all sounds like a lot of fun. I hope this year is awesome for her!

3 in 30 Challenge- Week 1

2012-01-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

I saw this challenge on a blog I follow, and I thought it was a great idea. I don't make New Year's Resolutions because I think it is just too big of an idea. This, however, is right up my alley! Three smaller goals, 30 days to work on them, and the chance to start again fresh if need be in a relatively short time.

I am starting to work on this the first week of the new year. I plan to start fresh each first of the month and see how things are going for me. Here are my goals for the first month of the year:

1. NO smoking at ALL! For those of you who have followed for awhile know, I quit smoking for 14 months. An extremely stressful situation happened at our home, leading to some huge life changes for our family, and I STUPIDLY picked up a cigarette when my husband lit one. Don't ask me what I was thinking. Since then I've smoked here and there, almost always in social situations. You know what they say... to change habits you have to change the people and places you hang around. I haven't been willing to stop hanging around my friends, and since Daniel is STILL struggling with quitting he's had cigarettes around. I can't stop hanging around him. So, I have made a decision. If I can't say no and still be around these people, I will need to walk away. Go into the house and pick up a book. Go for a walk around the block if I am feeling up to it. Whatever I have to do to not feel the peer pressure to do what the rest of the crowd is doing. It's funny.... I am on day seven of not smoking at all (New Year's Eve I smoked with friends). I have absolutely no interest in having a cigarette and not a craving at all. BUT, I haven't been around anyone smoking, either, as Daniel has been doing a fantastic job himself. Smoking isn't a physical addiction for me. It's a stupid choice I make when I don't know what else to do.

2. Clean up the two boxes sitting next to my desk. When we moved (in September) there were two boxes of "stuff" that belong in the office area. They are important enough to hang onto, but not important enough that they get used ~~every day~~ ever. They are filled with little papers that need to be filed or thrown away, and the task just seems like such a big effort. I trip over the boxes often, or I wind up throwing them from one side of my bedroom to the other. I want to get those taken care of once and for all. I think that will lead to a bit more peace and a much nicer looking bedroom!

3. Ride the exercise bike. No, I won't be able to run. Yes, I can do other exercises. I need to start doing something that isn't enjoyable to me just so I can be doing SOME exercise. I am going to start riding the exercise bike for 5 minutes per day. No, that's not a lot of time, but that's the point. Maybe if I get on for 5 minutes I'll stay on for 10. Maybe I'll be able to find a balance between working out and overdoing it. That's been the biggest problem for me and my autoimmune disorder. If I exercise too much I pay a big price. I haven't been able to find where that line is. I think the line keeps moving daily. Five minutes, though, should give me a good baseline. I'll take a book on the exercise bike with me and get in a few extra minutes of reading.

What are some things you would like to accomplish this month? Can you commit to making it happen in the next 30 days?

Movie Review: Idiocracy

2012-01-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

Image Credit and Amazon.com description

It's not too often my dad mentions he wants to watch a movie. So when he suggested "Idiocracy" and told us what it was about I immediately put it on hold at my local library. I am so glad we did!

Before I go any farther I will admit that this movie was a waste of 90 minutes if you want an intellectual film. There is cussing and disgusting jokes, but it is FUNNY! This is just what I needed to relax and have a good time with my family.

"Idiocracy" is about an average man and an average woman in 2005 who are frozen for a government experiment. They are supposed to be woken up a year later, but the lab gets shut down. The pair finally wake up in 2505 to a whole new world. In this new world the average man is now the smartest man in the world. The United States has essentially turned into a bunch of morons who can't put together a full sentence to save their lives and are run by corporate endorsements.

I loved this movie because it has so much truth behind it. The idea is hidden under a comedy, but I think the writers were really trying to make a point. A point that should be paid attention to before we really do head down this path. In America we seem to value and encourage stupidity many times. "Idiocracy" is a great reminder of what can happen if we don't pay attention to the roads we travel.

Follow Friday- January 6, 2012

2012-01-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

This week’s statements:

1. Keeping my mouth shut is not my strongest virtue. I am terrible about saying what comes to my mind. It's not that I don't have a filter. I do. I just won't sit back and allow people to spread untruths. I try to hold myself just as accountable as I do others, too.

2. Dinner is my favorite meal of the day. I have never been good at eating breakfast, and lunch just seems either rushed or lonely. Dinner is when I get to sit down with my family and enjoy a meal. The best thing about dinner is that it can be as light or as heavy as I wish depending on my mood.

3. Sunday is my favorite day of the week. I LOVE that on Sundays no one has to be anywhere at any particular time (for the most part). We can each sleep as late as we want, and the mornings can be lazy times. I don't have to rush the girls or Daniel to get ready and start the day. Sundays are often spent visiting with my parents, and if we don't do that the four of us do something fun together. I like the calmness of the evening when everyone is getting ready for school and work the next day.

4. Whenever drama happens, I always get stressed. For example, Amber just came home from school saying the backing of her earring has gone INTO her ear. She is screaming and yelling, and I am stressed out. Daniel is handling the situation, though, so I am still typing so I can try to avoid the situation. I highly doubt the backing of her earring is literally INSIDE her earlobe, but the crying and screaming is seriously a problem for me. It ticks me off, though, that the teacher wouldn't allow Amber to go to the school nurse to have her ear checked, though. Peace of mind is important to 3rd graders. Dealing with this fear is not productive for paying attention in school. Amber told us what happened IMMEDIATELY when she walked in the door from school.

For What Will You Be Remembered?

2012-01-06T04:00:00.000-07:00

I saw this question the other day, and it really got me thinking. How do I WANT to be remembered? It all comes down to the same basic qualities I've valued since I can recall. I want to be remembered for the way I loved my husband and children. I want to be remembered for the students I helped in my classroom and others. I want to be remembered for the friends I held dear and the ones who passed through my life simply because one of us needed something the other was able to provide at that moment. Basically I want to be remembered for having a giving heart.

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In this lifetime I don't see myself doing something so extremely huge that my name goes into the history books. I'm okay with that. Really, how many people get that type of recognition? How many of those people do we learn about and easily forget, anyway? I want to be etched into the hearts and minds of those who recognize me as being something special. If I can make that difference, I have done my job on this earth.

Daybook- Thursday, January 5, 2012

2012-01-05T06:50:00.002-07:00

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... it is calm and quiet. The birds are not even awake yet as the sun just barely starts to rise.

I am thinking... I hope I get the job I interviewed for yesterday. The more I think about it, the more I really want it.

I am thankful... that I have a job currently. I will make the most of that position if I do not get the one I interviewed for yesterday.

In the kitchen... not much is going on. I am getting ready to make the girls' school lunches pretty soon.

I am wearing... my pajama bottoms with a tank top. It's actually warm in the house since I just got done doing some Wii Fit exercises.

I am creating... the best day I can. This is my last day of Winter Break that is just for me. Tomorrow I will be running around getting Andrea's birthday dinner cooked.

I am going... to Changing Hands Bookstore tonight. There is a class called "Meditation for Relaxation" that I am looking forward to.

I am wondering... if I will hear back from the principal about the job today.

I am reading... nothing right now. I just finished two books yesterday. Today I will begin something new.

I am hoping... that I hear back from the principal today.

I am looking forward to... Andrea's birthday this weekend. She is turning 11.

I am learning... how to go after the things I want in life.

Around the house... I need to get some light cleaning done. For the most part I am pleased with it, though.

I am pondering... what I want to do after this school year if I don't get the job this week. Interviewing for this position has shown me that I would REALLY like to teach Language Arts as originally planned. Maybe I should work on applying for some of those positions for next year even if I might get offered full time in Social Studies where I am.

A favorite quote for today... "All men commend patience, although few are willing to practice it-" Thomas Kempis
Read more:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/patience.html#ixzz1iaj9q8Vf

One of my favorite things... listening to the silence as the world wakes up around me.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Celebrating Andrea's birthday, enjoying a weekend doing whatever my family wants to, and getting my classroom ready for Monday.

A peek into my day... I will get the girls off to school about 8:30. Daniel and I will chat while he gets ready for work, then I will sit and enjoy some time alone. Eventually I may get up and go work in my classroom for a little bit. After dinner I'll go learn about meditation to help me relax better. It will be bedtime when I get home.

Join me at The Simple Woman's Daybook to fill out your own diary for the day!

K is for Karen

2012-01-05T04:00:00.000-07:00

Who is the person behind "Life with Karen?" Although I have an "All About Me" page I think there is so much more about me that is not included there. Here are some things I want you to know.

Roles I Play/ Hats I Wear:
mother
wife
daughter
friend
teacher
employee
business owner (though I've really stepped out of this role for the most part)
sister
blogger
pen pal

Hobbies/ Activities I Enjoy:
Reading
Writing
Playing with my girls (board games and Wii lately)
Hanging out with my husband
Blogging (both reading and writing)
Watching my favorite TV shows (Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, Parenthood, The Middle, Modern
Family)
Word games

My Favorite Authors:
Debbie Macomber
Jodi Picoult
Karin Slaughter
Harlen Coben

One thing I can say is that I am never bored. If anything, I don't know how to fit all of my activities into a day, a week, or sometimes even a month! I am working right now on finding a balance between work and home life. I love teaching, don't get me wrong, but I want to spend more time with my family and for myself in the evenings than I did the first semester of teaching. We'll see how that goes this coming semester.

The big change I've made is that I've set aside 30 minutes per night for reading. I love getting lost in a good book. I've decided that if one is not catching my attention right away I'm not going to struggle through it. There are too many I want to read to force myself to finish something. I might come back to it later, though. Some of the best books I've read I had to start two or three times to find when they were right in my life.

Today in History- January 4, 1896

2012-01-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

Image credit

Happy Birthday to the state of Utah! I'm not much of a traveler, but this is one place I'd like to see. Every picture I've ever looked at seems so peaceful. There are mountains of all sorts, and it just looks so clean compared to where I live. I'm sure that's great tourism advertising, though. There have got to be ugly parts, too.

Utah was the 45th state to join the United States, and it did so on January 4, 1896. You can read more about Utah's becoming a state at History.com. The article seemed to focus a lot on the origins of Mormonism, though, rather than the history of the state. A quick search of the internet proved that Utah has so many more attractions. I couldn't believe the number of state parks, zoos, and other outdoor adventures. Utah is definitely a place to visit for a family who enjoys hiking, camping, and sight-seeing!

What'cha Reading Monday- January 3, 2012

2012-01-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

Well, it's really Tuesday today, but what can I say? I almost never get these things done on time!

Amazon.com description and image credit

The week after Christmas I was at a local thrift store browsing, and I came across this book. I LOVE teaching stories (hmm... big surprise, right?), and this just sounded cute. It is a collection of short essays by a third grade teacher. What made it even more interesting, in my opinion, is that the teacher is male. For some reason I admire men who teach elementary school. I think that takes a special heart and talent. This guy is funny, but I can tell his classroom is great place to learn. I recommend this book to all new elementary school teachers. Mr. Done has taught for 20 years, and he definitely has some experiences to share that will make the first year of teaching seem a little less intimidating.

I finished this book today! You can read my Goodreads.com review here.

Amazon.com description and image credit

One of my favorite parts of working outside the home is that I can listen to audio books to and from work and I know I will have plenty of time to get one finished before I have to return it to the library. I don't complain (too much, anyway) about my drive because I get a good 45 minutes a day of "reading" in. Right now I am listening to Debbie Macomber's "1105 Yakima Street." This is pat of the Cedar Cove series that I have read from the beginning. Sadly, the series is coming to an end with the next book. Wahhhh! I sure hope Ms. Macomber is coming out with a new series that is just as engaging. I like Debbie Macomber's series books, but I haven't been able to enjoy her romance novels.

Amazon.com description and image credit

I have always loved stories about the underdog, the guy or girl who just doesn't fit in for some reason or another. Maybe it's because I've not always fit in. Maybe it's because I'm always wanting to save the world. Whatever the reason, I'm pulled toward this type of book.

I've just started to read Buddha Boy, so I don't have much of an opinion on the book yet. I do feel sorry for Jinsen, though. I hope he and Justin become good friends and turn their backs on the others in Justin's group. The kids who are making fun of Jinsen are not at all tolerant and are typical high school students. For once, though, I'm not hoping for the happy ending these books typically have. I'm hoping to see some reality of how these relationships actually work.

Job Interview

2012-01-03T18:20:00.002-07:00

Over the last couple of months I've realized that I'm thrilled with my job, but I would also like a little bit more. I would like full-time status and the benefits that come along with that status. I would like health insurance, and I would like to be paid on what I consider to be a more professional level.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job. But. There's always that but lately. Since I do have an opportunity to change my situation I decided to give it a try. I put in an application for a full-time teaching position that another charter school wants to fill as soon as possible. Not sure I would even get a response back, I forgot about it until they called this afternoon. I had put it so far out of my mind that I had even forgotten to tell Daniel I had put this application in!

Now I am faced with a decision. IF I get offered this job, do I want to take it? The easy answer is, of course! Why else would I have even put in an application? The truth is, though, it is not quite so easy to make that choice. The pros: I would be making three times the wages I am right now and I would have health coverage. The cons: It is about twice as far away from home, forcing me to leave MUCH earlier than I do now and returning home later. I will be driving in heavy traffic both ways. Finally, I will have to say good-bye to the school where I currently work.

Everyone who knows me knows that I don't like change. That is part of my hesitation and complete anxious feeling. I HAVE grown attached to my administration and students. On the other hand, I have made it clear that I could use a higher pay. I have to think about what is best for my family.

When I first took the job I have now I was surprised I got a teaching job at all. I had just made the decision that I was recovered enough to work, and it was just a week before school was starting. I did hop on the first job that was offered to me, and I DON'T regret that at all. I honestly didn't think I had a chance to get something better. It was a great first job, and I have every indication that the school wants to continue for me to grow with them. The problem is that I don't KNOW. None of us knows what the future will bring. So, I have to make a decision about what is right for NOW.

Well, I'll be heading out for the interview at 9 AM tomorrow. I'll try not to be too nervous, and I'll try to remember that I've made myself a promise that I will start making decisions based on what is right for ME not how other people will feel. I've got to tell you... the idea of having health insurance now instead of waiting for next school year is pretty appealing.

Edited Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 2:11 PM: If offered the job I will definitely take it! I loved the principal and the other 4th-8th grade teacher. I liked their approach to education and the obvious pride they had in their school. I am really hoping now that I get this job. I am still not thrilled about the idea of having a conversation with my current principal about leaving, but once that is done I will be able to move on happily if I know I am doing the right thing for my family.

J is for Jigsaw Puzzle

2012-01-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

One thing I learned quickly when we moved into our townhouse years ago was that space was limited. Never having been one who could tolerate clutter, I had to find alternative methods to having "stuff." I was thrilled when I found JigZone.com. There are hundreds of jigsaw puzzles on this site, and the best part is you never have to worry about missing pieces!

There is a puzzle-of-the-day and you can choose how many pieces to play with. On days you are short on time you could choose a smaller puzzle. When you want to spend a bit of time, you can pick the 247 piece option. Do you have a favorite photograph? Upload it to the site and they will make a puzzle for you!

Sunday Stealing on Monday- January 2, 2012

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1. What did you do in 2011 that you had never done before? In 2011 I was in charge of my first classroom. Teaching, being the only teacher in the room, is a lot different than student teaching. Being the teacher was a first time experience for me in 2011.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't remember making new year's resolutions going into 2011, so either I didn't keep them or I didn't make them. I originally said I wasn't going to make any for 2012, either, but an acquaintance talked me into one. This year I will be working on loving myself a little more, giving myself credit where it is due, and not being quite as hard on myself as I have in the past. I will be working on finding a new "normal" for me and exploring what can come of that instead of comparing my life to what I used to be able to do.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No

4. Did anyone close to you die? No

5. What countries did you visit? I am not a traveler, so none. I did actually leave the state in 2011 for a teaching conference.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? In 2012 I would like to have a better understanding of what is happening in my body. Whether that means a definitive diagnosis or just finding a way to cope with my pain, I'm not sure. We'll see how this year unfolds.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 23- the date I was taken by ambulance to the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack. April 8- the date I graduated from Ottawa University. April 15- the date I was hospitalized for complications with the shingles. I still have not recovered.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I wouldn't have seen this as a huge accomplishment at the time, but looking back I realize what a big deal it was. The day I put away the walker I left the hospital with and said I would walk on my own was a big thing. I do well now, but for awhile I wasn't sure I would ever walk normally again. There are days I could probably use the darn thing still, but I don't like to admit that to myself much less anyone else.

9. What was your biggest failure? I don't remember any failures in 2011.

10. What was the best thing you bought? I bought a Wii with the Wii Fit and balance board with my Christmas money. Other than that I don't remember any big purchases.

11. Whose behavior merited celebration? My daughters deserve a great deal of credit for how they handled themselves this year. It's been rough since March. They really understood when plans had to be canceled and we had to sit at home because I was not doing well. My mom and dad were each also hospitalized and needed help being cared for briefly this year, too. The girls handled those times well and behaved appropriately. They now think the hospital is where we go to get ice cream, though.

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted? I can't think of anyone in my life that this applies to. There were some celebrities and news stories that were pretty appalling. I can't think of anything specific, though.

13. What song will always remind you of 2011? "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus is one song that I kept coming back to over and over in 2011. First it was about teaching, then running. Finally it symbolized my illness. Damn I wish I had a NAME for this stupid thing!

14. What do you wish you’d done more of? I wish I had done more running before I couldn't anymore. I wish I had lost more weight when I had the chance to exercise.

15. What do you wish you’d done less of? I wish I had done less eating poorly. I used being sick as an excuse too many times.

16. Did you fall in love in 2011? I was already in love in 2011

17. What was your favorite new TV program? I don't watch too much TV, and what I do watch is pretty established. I liked that new show "I Hate My Teenage Daughter," but I wish it was called something different. The title bothers me.

18. What was the best book you read? I read two fantastic Jodi Picoult novels that really stuck out- "House Rules" and "Handle with Care." I also LOVED "Water for Elephants" which is a book I wouldn't have picked up myself but I read for a challenge.

19. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying? Ha, do I really have to answer that? Recovering after having complications from the shingles would definitely have been satisfying.

20. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? Unchanged from the rest of my life. Jeans and t-shirts will forever be "me."

21. What kept you sane? My blog. Hands down, my blog was the one thing that truly changed my life in 2011. I was able to express myself, to share what was happening with me without having to physically talk about it, and I made some incredible on-line friends. My blog was literally a life-line to the outside world for a few months.

22. Who did you miss? I missed my brother. He lives on the east coast. With him here, my family would be complete at all of our gatherings.

23. Who was the best new person you met? I can't name just one. I met a TON of bloggers, some of who I have started friendships with. Each of those relationships is important to me.

24. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2011? I learned that no matter what OUR plan for life is, each day comes as it may. It is great to have long-term goals, but you also need to be prepared to find a new way to do things if those original plans don't work out.

25. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. From the Dixie Chicks "Not Ready to Make Nice"
"I know you said
Can't you just get over it
It turned my whole world around"

This is actually taken out of context here, but it sums 2011 up perfectly for me. My world was completely changed in so many ways last year. I went from being a full-time student to a student teacher, then substitute teacher, then a "real" teacher. I went from being a runner and having a strong interest in exercise to not being able to do those things. I will, as is my resolution this year, learn to live with this new normal, but it DID turn my whole world around. Although that change literally happened over night, the mental change will take a bit longer.

2011 was definitely not my best year, yet some incredible things happened. I can't completely write the year off as a failure. That's what's great about life. We get a chance to see what another day may bring. I looked at death last year about as close as I care to get for a LONG time. 2012 is my year to LIVE!

I is for Intense Pain

2012-01-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

Image credit

I have had pain since I was in my first car accident when I was 16-years-old. I have NEVER felt pain the way I have in the last year, though. I'm sorry for yet another post on this goofy disease, but I wanted to share this image.

These six areas are just of the few places I regularly feel intense pain. Interestingly, one of my acquaintances posted this on a chronic pain group I belong to, and I realized I truly am NOT alone. The pain in the upper leg is what really got me. There have been times I've said I feel like my pain is in my bone- not the muscle and not the joint. Even the doctors looked at me like I was nuts. Apparently I'm not the only one who has reported this symptom!

This is great news. If I'm not alone that means there are others out there with whatever this problem is and I am not an alien with some unknown and strange disorder. The doctors may not be able to figure out (yet) what this problem is, but if there are many patients SOMEONE has got to be working on finding answers!

H is for Husband

2012-01-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

As frustrating as he can be sometimes, I don't know what I would do without Daniel. He has literally carried my family through this year. He has worked his tail off, sometimes from early in the morning until late at night, to make sure that I am comfortable and that the girls' needs are met.

This picture was taken in June during the Great American Backyard Camp Out. We celebrated in my parent's backyard, and this was dinner time. Daniel was helping Amber cook her hot dog. I love how hands-on he is with the girls. He helps them cook (indoors and out), he helps them with their various sports and interests, and he plays with them. Daniel is one of the most active, involved dad's I know (mine being right up on the top of the list, too).

Just like any couple, we have our ups and downs. When it matters, though, I know I can count on Daniel. I am really proud of the man he has grown to be.

2011 Reflections

2011-12-31T07:12:00.000-07:00

I found this awesome post over at SimpleMom, and even though it was written for 2008 I wanted to share it here. It is a list of reflection questions for the end of the year. As many of you know, 2011 was a crazy year for my family. I have a lot to reflect on, and I have a lot of wishing to do for 2012.

I'm finding out that there are parts of 2011 that I either don't remember entirely or I don't remember the realities of life at that time. Apparently when I got out of the hospital in April everyone else knew how truly sick I was, but I did not. Thanks for letting me in on the secret Daniel!

I hope you will join me in your own reflections for the new year. I don't personally do resolutions, because I think that sets us up for failure when we don't follow through. The old joke is that the resolutions are forgotten by the end of February. I will share some goals, though, to give myself something to work toward.

Reflection Questions for 2011

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year? The single best thing that happened in 2011 was getting a teaching job. I was hoping for a full-time position, but I am thrilled with the job I did get. I applied only two weeks before school started because I wasn't ready to teach before then. Beggars can't be choosers, so I took the job when it was offered. In many ways it's amazing how the timing worked out on that one. The stars all lined up for me just right there.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened? The most challenging thing that happened this year was, of course, the shingles disease that I got and the complications that followed. I think the MOST challenging part of all of that ordeal was needing to use a walker to assist me both at home and in public. I wanted to be part of daily life, but at the same time I wanted to hide where no one could see me. I'm glad my family encouraged me to go out with them on short trips.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year? Something that really brought me joy this year was Amber's karate competitions. I honestly didn't expect to enjoy watching her as much as I have. I really look forward to the tournaments and don't mind spending the day watching all the kids compete. It's neat that Amber found something she enjoys this much.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle? An unexpected obstacle this year was moving the same week I started my teaching job. Things got bad enough in our townhouse complex that we decided we simply couldn't stay. Thank goodness my mom and dad were willing to take us in for six weeks. It would have been longer, but my father-in-law had a rental house open up unexpectedly. Life was a little crazy for the months of August and September, but we all got through it. I actually enjoyed the time we got to spend with my parents.

5. Pick three words to describe 2011. Stressful, relief, growth

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2011 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you). Stressful, painful, exhausting

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2011 (again, without asking). Stressful, changing, aweful

8. What were the best books you read this year? Two stand out above all the rest: "House Rules" and "Handle with Care," both by Jodi Picoult. I didn't get as much reading done this year as I would have liked, but those two were definitely page-turners. Oh, "The Hunger Games" was awesome, too, along with the other two books in the series.

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships? Daniel, my mom, my dad, and my girls are always important. I also enjoyed friendships with Kara, Carrie, Mira, and Darshani, especially during the months I was sick. They all kept me going by coming to visit and constant encouragement.

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year? I don't really think I've changed much this year. My illness that has lasted nine months was a big change, but I don't think it changed me as a person. I put some of the weight back on I had lost the previous year, and I've recently found out I will not be running again, but I still think I'm the same as I was last December in my strength and attitude.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally? I actually feel like my emotional growth has gone backward this year. In December 2010 I was really sure of myself and excited about where I was going. This year I've lost a bit of confidence and am more easily frustrated. I'll be working on that in 2012, though, as I come to accept some of the changes that happened in 2011.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually? I didn't really grow spiritually, either. The biggest change here is that I am thankful every day for the health I DO have.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically? Sadly my physical health compared to this time last year has gone down hill. Compared to April, 2011, though, I am doing fantastic. I am working with my chiropractor and massage therapist and making improvements each week. They are small changes, but I can now actually turn my neck to look over my shoulder when driving. That's big for me, so I'll celebrate that.

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others? I have learned how to ask for what I need from people and to ask for help when I need it. I am more honest about what I can and can't do.

15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home? I had a great time setting up our furniture when we moved into our new home. I also enjoyed picking out some new plants for our yard.

16. What was your most challenging area of home management? With Daniel and I both working, home management isn't as easy as it once was. The most challenging area is getting laundry done on a daily basis.

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year? Spending four months on the couch being too sick to know what as going on around me sure wasted some time! Outside of that I spent a lot of time on my blog and Facebook. Although they "wasted" time, I don't see either as negative.

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year? I spent some time substitute teaching at the beginning of the year. I think that was really time well-spent so I knew what being in a classroom alone felt like before I got one of my own.

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year? The biggest thing I learned this year is that no matter what our plans for the future, we need to be ready to go with the flow. 2011 definitely did not go as planned, but in the end it all worked out. The four of us are together and learning how to handle life. That's the important part.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2011 for you. Life's lessons don't always come at the most convenient times. Family and friends will gather around, though, and help you through. Don't think you've failed just because you need to start again.

Friday's Fave Five- December 30, 2011

2011-12-30T14:46:00.002-07:00

Sharing five of my favorite moments this week with Susanne of Living to Tell the Story

1. Last Friday when Daniel came in from work his vacation began. Every year he takes his vacation between Christmas and New Year. This year was particularly cool for us because of the way the holidays fell. Our family wound up with nine days together. The great part about this is the last time we spent an extended amount of time together I was too sick to really participate with the family. Even though I need to watch how much I'm doing now, we are spending a lot of time doing a mixture of in-the-house activities and errands. The important thing is that we are ENJOYING each other!

2. I have always been an early riser, but the thing about it was that I got up on MY terms. When my body said it was time to get out of bed I did. If I wanted to sleep longer on one day I would do so. Since I've started working and I get everyone else ready to go in the mornings, I have to set an alarm in order to get some quiet time in the mornings. I have really come to hate the alarm clock! I can get up naturally at 5:00 AM with no problem if that's when I wake up. Getting up at 5:30 with an alarm, though... that is torture. Don't ask me why I'm so strange. The blessing this week is that there has been only one day we needed to worry about what time we got out of bed. NO alarm clock all week long, and I have a couple more days to enjoy. Yep, no alarm clock days are fantastic.

3. Christmas Eve was a blast! This year we did something new and had the girls open their gifts a day early. We sat around and spent time with just the four of us before the craziness of visiting families started. I loved it! The girls went to bed nicely because they weren't so worried about how the next day with presents was going to go. Everyone got the rest they needed, and we were all in good moods for Christmas Day.

4. On Christmas Day we took our new Wii over to my mom and dad's house. It was so much fun playing with them! I couldn't believe how much fun my parents had. They came over for dinner a couple days later and we played more Wii. I definitely think I made a good choice with the gift card I had received!

5. Being able to get into my chiropractor two days early was definitely a nice moment this week! I had an appointment scheduled for today, but I REALLY needed to get in Wednesday. It sure pays to have seen the same doctor for 20 years now! The chiropractor was able to give me some relief to my pain and help me enjoy this week a little bit more.

Four Fill-In Friday- December 30, 2011

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1. Lately, I have been feeling a little irritated. I don't do well when life is not structured, especially since I was sick. I need to know what the day is going to hold so I can figure out how to balance my energy for the day. This winter break, when people are typically running around doing way too much is just killing me.

2. I am usually a control freak. I've had to learn to let some of that go, though. One thing my husband took over is the invoicing for our business. Giving that up has been a bit stressful. He's actually in working on that now, and he talks to himself while he is doing it. He's not doing it the way I would. That drives me crazy! In the end it's done and done right so I really can't complain.

3. Taking off my shoes is always the best feeling at the end of the day. I used to come home and take off my shoes almost immediately upon entering the house at the end of a long day. On work days this was especially enjoyable because I got to signal to myself a job well done. Unfortunately I am now not allowed to walk around barefoot as we try to build up the arch in my feet. The massage therapist wants me to have as much support as I can have as often as I can. Fifteen minutes in the morning and fifteen at night without shoes is what we are shooting for. Now taking off my shoes at night is REALLY the best feeling!

4. Going to the bathroom, taking my Synthyroid, and checking my email is the first thing I do in the morning. If I don't start the day in this order anything that comes after just doesn't feel right.

Five Question Friday- December 30, 2011

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1. What's the oldest piece of clothing in your closet? Daniel has the jacket he wore on our first date almost 14 years ago. He still wears it occasionally, and it fits! I'm so jealous. I have some pajamas from when we first got together, too. I think the two of us need to learn to update once in awhile!

2. How many random blog readers have you met? I haven't met any blog readers in person, but I have met a couple other on-line friends. My mom and I belonged to a group called Chemo Angels for awhile. My mom met some of the other angels in our area and introduced me. They are still a source of support, especially when I REALLY need it. Hello to Lana and Sue if you are reading!

3. Do you let your kids stay up till midnight on New Years Eve? We have let our kids stay up on New Year's Eve, but we have a different tradition. We all go to bed at our regular times and wake up at our regular times the next day. We go do something like a zoo or park on New Year's Day and usually have the place to ourselves until lunch time!

4. What are the gas prices where you live? I paid $3.11 last week when I filled up, but I think I saw the price was up to $3.17 when I drove by yesterday.

5. What is one resolution that you know you should do but are too afraid to try? I don't believe in resolutions, so there is nothing I feel I should do. I like to set specific, measurable goals that are realistic so I'm not setting myself up for failure.

Just for Fun Reading Challenge

2011-12-29T18:19:00.003-07:00

Just for Fun Reading Challenge 2012

It's been a long time since I've done a reading challenge, and this one is perfect for me! I have gotten away from reading for fun since going to school full time, then getting sick and not being able to see well to enjoy reading, then being just plain busy with teaching. It's time to reclaim one of my first loves.

The reading challenge is to read one book a month that is just for fun. I can do this! I am going to shoot for reading 20-30 minutes per night, just like we encourage the kids to do. I used to do this when I was trying to beat my students in AR points last year. Putting aside time to do this really makes a difference in how much can get read.

Audio books count toward the challenge, too. Whooo Hoooo! Now I REALLY need to make sure I have one in the car for the ride to and from work. I can't wait to see what's going to grab my attention. I've decided not to try to choose the books now but to let the books call to me as the months pass.

If you choose to join the challenge I'd love to know. You can keep track of your reading in the comments here so we can share our lists if you want. I'd love to see what others are reading!

For my January audio book I know I will finish "1105 Yakima Street" by Debbie Macomber because I'm on disk six of eight now. Winter break has really slowed me down there since I'm rarely in the car alone. I'm hoping to finish a regular book, too.

Year in Review

2011-12-29T04:00:00.001-07:00

I'm linking up to Mama Kat's weekly writing prompts. This week's choice is:
This year in blog posts…choose a favorite post from each month of 2011 and share

January: New Year's Resolutions Looking back at my goals for 2011 kind of makes me laugh. It reminds me of the saying, "People plan, and God laughs" or however that goes. This year was DEFINITELY not what I was expecting!

February: Insecurity In February I started seriously thinking about my first teaching job. Apparently that caused a little bit of stress in my mind. If only I had known...

March: Card Shower Thank You I have been on the sending side of MANY card showers. Being a receiver, though, really showed me how much of a difference such a seemly tiny act makes

April: My Homeless Angel This is one of my all-time favorite blog posts

May: Losing It- A Short Story I really enjoyed sharing my short story writing during the months I spent trying to recover from complications to shingles. What an awesome outlet! If you are interested in more short stories by me, there is a tab at the top of my blog home page.

June: Home- A Short Story This is another from my short story collection. It is one of my favorites that I've ever written.

July: When It Rains It Pours July was a CRAZY month of ups and downs. Thank goodness it was mostly ups!

August: 30 Day Music Challenge I really enjoy these challenges that give me something to focus on writing. This one talks about the music played at my wedding.

September: Bye Bye Netflix I miss the days when Netflix was all I could ever ask for. I'm sad they are definitely not offering what works for our family anymore.

October: Why I Love My House We moved into a home we used to live in (long story), and I was definitely walking down memory lane on this day.

November: My Holiday Solution I had a hard time with Christmas this year. I was SO proud of my solution that helped me deal with that!

December: Happy, Healthy Hearts I can't WAIT to start working with the girls who will be joining my new club at school.

Wow, it was really tough to pick my favorites some months. It's a good thing this prompt didn't ask me to narrow this down to my favorite post of the year. I would really have been in trouble! I hope you enjoy my picks. I'd love to read a few of your favorite posts, either your own if you are a blogger, or one of mine if you are not a blogger. Just leave a link in your comments!

G is for Grades 5 and 6

2011-12-29T04:00:00.000-07:00

I don't think I could have gotten a job that was better suited for me for my first year of teaching if I had tried. I LOVE that I get to work with both 5th AND 6th graders, and that I get to see almost 70 students each day. I was worried, at first, about working in a middle school model. Would I get bored teaching "the same thing" more than once or the same subject day after day? The simple answer, as I discovered, is NO!

There are four classes that I work with- two 5th grade groups and two 6th grade groups. I see my 5th graders four times per week for class plus once a week for study hall. I see my 6th graders every day for class plus twice a week for study hall. Even though each of the grade levels are pretty much in the same place as far as curriculum it is far from teaching the same every day. Each of the classes is unique in their needs and their learning styles. For example, I have one class that does not take written tests. They are SO much more project-minded, and a written test is not only boring to them, but it doesn't show me what they know. This class can really knock my socks off if I give them a chance to illustrate their understanding in a creative way. On the other hand I had one class BEG me to continue with the written tests taken from the text book provided. These students feel more comfortable having a definitive right and wrong answer and enjoy being able to study to get to the bottom line. I like being able to give each group what is best for their success.

I do a lot of choices in my classroom, but in the end the students know that I am in charge and will make the final decision. I let the classes choose things like which read-aloud we are going to do next, if they are going to work in partners or groups of three, or even sometimes which activities we will do on a half-day when class is only 30 minutes long. I've found this to be an effective way to form a relationship with my classes, even though some of their parents still say I'm scary to their children. I still can't quite figure that out, but I suspect it has something to do with the fact that I also make it clear that no means no and cute looks don't buy much lee-way in my classroom. Homework assignments are due when they are scheduled, and I expect students to take responsibility for their own learning. Effort goes a long way in my classroom, and those who don't care to work hard don't get the grade they were hoping for. I feel this is a fair system for everyone. Just like with my own children, work first, then we can have fun. When it gets to the fun part we work just as hard at that. There is a lot of laughter that comes from my classroom. It may be a good thing we are at the end of the hall.

Wordless Wednesday- December 28

2011-12-28T06:46:00.002-07:00

Taken January, 2011

F is for Fred

2011-12-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

That weirdo in the picture with me is my brother Fred. He is the one part of my family that is missing from our every-day life that would make the picture complete. For this moment he lives on the east coast of the United States, and I am almost on the west. We have an entire country between us, and that distance is about to get longer. Fred is going to work in Denmark for three months. It sounds like a fantastic opportunity.

When we were younger Fred and I didn't get along so well. I see our fighting in my girls now and realize that is just plain normal for siblings. I'm glad we grew up to get along much better, though I don't hear from my little brother as often as I would like. I could pick up the phone, too, so I have to take half the blame. Our family is just really NOT big on telephones. Thank goodness for email and Facebook!

E is for Energy

2011-12-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

Image Credit

Out of everything that has changed since I got sick in March, I miss having energy the most. Right before I got sick I was working as a substitute teacher and volunteering full time when I didn't have a job to go to. I was running in the evenings at least three times per week and once on the weekend. I was eating well and had enough energy to get me through to bedtime at a reasonable adult hour.

After being hospitalized in April I spent four months on the couch. Near the end of July I decided I was able to apply for teaching jobs, and within a week I was offered a job. I found out about the job on a Friday and starting working the following Monday. Needless to say, it was quite the adjustment going from absolutely NO activity to working full-time hours even though I am technically a part-time teacher.

For the first few months of teaching I would literally come home from work, fall asleep in my chair while Daniel cooked dinner, wake up to eat, then go to bed when the girls headed to their rooms. The last month, though, has been better. Since starting to see the chiropractor and massage therapist I have been finding more energy in the evening. In this area I am making a ton of progress! I have been able to spend a bit of time with Daniel after the girls go to bed, and I can participate in family activities with more enjoyment.

My ultimate goal is to feel like I have enough energy to exercise at the end of every day, but this is a strange catch-22. Exercise offers more energy, but I don't have the physical strength to get that my heart rate up enough to get that benefit. Hopefully my new Wii will help with this issue. For now I'm just learning when enough is enough and to be happy for what I do get to do.

D is for Dancing

2011-12-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

Image Credit

I have to start by saying I don't really care for hip-hop music. But, I have two pre-teen daughters and one has been nicknamed Hippity Hop, a name that has stuck since the karate instructor kindly pointed out that Andrea might be better suited to a different type of sport or dance. Daniel has even taken to allowing some of the songs to be played in the car when he is driving. I am not quite so kind; when I'm driving I get to pick the music.

With that being said I have to admit that I have found some of the music on Just Dance 3 to be just the perfect background for working out. It all started when my in-laws gave me a gift certificate for Christmas. I was going to put it toward groceries like I usually do because I have a hard time spending money on myself. Daniel had used his gift card to get himself a new iPod for running and INSISTED I could not use my card toward household expenses since he was so SELFISH and bought himself something he wanted. My man is somewhat crazy and apparently doesn't understand that the gift cards are meant to be enjoyed the way the recipient would like. But, because he had bought himself something he would feel terrible if I didn't also treat myself. Did I mention that his gift card also got us new sheets for our bed and throw pillows for the couch so I could be more comfortable sitting there? Anyway, he banned me from using my gift card for something practical and told me to dream.

When we lived in our tiny townhouse we had gotten a Wii, but it was hard to play because we lacked the space to move around. Since moving into our "new" house I've been wanting to get another one. When I mentioned for the 50th time I was considering purchasing a Wii with my gift card, Daniel shoved me in the car and said we were going to Target before I could change my mind. Off we went. They were out of the Wii package that came with Mario Kart, so I "settled" on the Just Dance bundle. I'm so glad I did!

One nice thing about the Wii is that it is an active video game system. The first day I danced for 21 minutes. I started to feel slight pain in my feet, which is my indication that I have had enough. It took three more days for me to be able to play again. My body doesn't seem to like ANY kind of physical activity anymore, even though the chiropractor and massage therapist said I should continue light, low-impact exercise. I'm okay with taking rest days in between if that's what it takes to feel "normal" again. That first day of dancing I was drenched in sweat and needed to take a shower after. I haven't had a workout like that in months. With the Wii I can play for 5 minutes or until I'm ready to quit. I don't have to worry about getting too far away from home or getting dressed in my workout clothes just to find that getting dressed was exercise enough (yes, that HAS happened). I turn on the video game, and I stop when I've had enough.

Because of other gift cards I've gotten I was able to get a balance board and Wii Fit, too. Again, I can't do too much at once, but I can feel like I'm doing something. I'm hoping to get my mom to come play, too. I think she would have a great time once she got the hang of it.

C is for Christmas

2011-12-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas everyone! How fitting that the "C" of my ABC book fell on this day. I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday together and that the gift of peace has found each of your hearts.

Most people who know me well know that Christmas is NOT my favorite holiday. More accurately the weeks leading up to Christmas are not my favorite time of the year. Once the actual day gets here, though, I like it. Not as much as Thanksgiving, but enough to have a good time.

For me, Christmas should be about the time we spend with people we care about. That is why I like Christmas Day. We usually get out the door pretty early to start our visiting. We spend Christmas Day with my mom and dad. And by saying we spend the day, I mean we spend the DAY. Even though we live only three miles from them we visit as if we haven't seen them all year. We have lunch and dinner together, and sometimes we even plan to have breakfast. We leave late in the evening after enjoying a day of feasting, playing games, and of course, gifts. I can't remember a year that we didn't wind up taking the dogs for a walk and spending some time at the park. The gifts are a minor part of the day, just the way it should be.

The above picture is from 2009. Andrea wanted Club Penguin Mancala so badly. I didn't understand the game at first, but we played it at home, then it had to be dragged to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Once we caught on, everyone wanted a turn. We spent hours with that little wooden board and those pebbles. For such a simple concept the game really does draw a player in. THIS is Christmas to me.

Homeless veteran receives apartment, aid for Christmas

2011-12-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

Homeless veteran receives apartment, aid for Christmas

I'm so glad to see this man get a place to live for Christmas. What a wonderful gift!

B is for Bird

2011-12-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

B is for "Bird." Amber got her nickname when she was an infant, and it has just stuck since then. Her first birthday party was a Sesame Street theme so we could use the Big Bird nickname as part of the party. She still has the blanket she was given by our friend Marge that is decorated with Sesame Street characters. Sometimes the blanket is in the closet, and sometimes it is on the bed. Either way, the blanket, and the name, is never too far. Amber even uses the name for her Nintendo Mii.

This picture was taken at Amber's most recent karate competition on December 3, 2011. My cousin's son, Kyle, is in the picture with her. We didn't know he would be there, but that was a pleasant surprise. Amber looks up to Kyle, both literally and figuratively since he is six feet tall at 14-years-old, and she was SO excited to talk karate with him. This is what I love about my family. There is always someone to connect with about something in our lives. We have a very active, involved family apparently.

Amber has found her true love in karate. Each practice she goes to she gives her best effort, and her instructor is constantly telling us about Amber's potential. I wonder if they have karate scholarships to colleges?

Outside of her sport Amber loves Nintendo and just bought herself a 3DS with her gift cards from various family members. She loves all things Mario. What she doesn't know is that one of her Christmas gifts is a sheet set featuring Mario Kart. She's going to love it!

Nine Months- An Update

2011-12-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

Nine months ago today Daniel called an ambulance because he thought I was having a heart attack. Nine months ago I went from writing a healthy-living blog to writing up-dates about an illness that no one has yet been able to put a name to. Nine months ago today was the last time that I woke up in the morning feeling no pain.

A lot can happen in nine months. In nine months babies can be born. Nine months is the typical length of a school year. In my case, though, nine months is just another marker of time that has been spent with little improvements that are getting me nowhere.

Okay, it can be said that I am being dramatic and not looking at the positive side, and in some ways that is true. In other ways this is me being honest. Honest with you, and most importantly honest with myself. The truth of the matter is that I am angry about where I am today.

In April, when I left the hospital after four days of the doctors being baffled about what was going on with me, I expected that I would eventually find out what caused me to wind up in the hospital. To this point no one knows, and it won't be explored any further because I've given up on those doctors. More accurately those doctors have given up on me. The M.D. who sent me to the hospital in the first place as decided the pain is all in my head. He admitted that complications with shingles should not have caused the pain that I've been left with. He thinks there are two different issues happening. So I was never hospitalized due to the shingles as far as he is concerned. Hmmmm.....

The first neurologist I was seeing assumed my leg pain was caused by shingles and treated me for neuropathy that is common with shingles patients. Unfortunately he didn't understand that I didn't have a lack of feeling in my feet and legs. I had something that was tightening my muscles to a point where I was forced to walk like a duck. He treated me with medication for nerve damage, and though I do have some nerve issues we have since discovered that it is my muscles that seem to be the main culprit. The medication he put me on almost killed me, and I learned my lesson about speaking out LOUD and CLEAR when I feel something is not right with a diagnosis or medication.

There is one thing that first neurologist said that is weighing very heavily on my heart, and I think this is where most of my negativity is coming from right now. He said that if I wasn't better by December he would begin to consider this to be a permanent injury. Now, this comment should have been thrown out the window with the other garbage that came out of his mouth, but I can't seem to shake it. At this point he would have taken me off the Lyrica anyway and began to treat me for learning to live with my condition "as-is." Well, here we are. I'm a few weeks ahead of what his schedule was. When I started seeing my chiropractor as my main doctor for this a few weeks ago I accepted the fact that I will never again be able to do high-impact activities. We are working on finding what I CAN do and WHEN I can handle it.

I have been seeing the chiropractor weekly and the massage therapist every two weeks. The massage therapist described my improvement as "minimal" when I saw her on Wednesday. We decided to try to go for only a week and a half between visits and see if that makes a difference. She said that right now my muscles are growing too tight between visits and it's like starting all over again each time she sees me. What she doesn't know is that my muscles are that tight again within days. I can't afford to see her more than once a week. We'll see how this new schedule works, then I'll figure out where I am going from there.

The good news is that I am getting some relief from this combination of massage and chiropractic adjustments. It's just not what I had wanted for myself as we head into the new year. To be honest, though, I had told myself if I could teach I would be happy. I'm teaching, so I need to look at that aspect! Before seeing the chiropractor and massage therapist I was coming home and falling right into bed. With their care I am able to stay up and involved until the girls go to bed. These are improvements, I know this. They're just not coming fast enough for me. I'm really a very impatient person!

Boswick the Clown

2011-12-21T06:36:00.002-07:00

I wanted to share with you a blog that I've followed for awhile. Boswick the Clown has some great stories about what it's like to be a clown. He shares the ups and the downs of being an entertainer. I noticed that he only has two followers, and he rarely gets comments on his blog. It must be lonely over there. I remember when I first started blogging, and I often wondered if ANYONE ever read what I had to write. If you are so inclined, will you stop by and say hello to Boswick? You don't need to tell him that I sent you.

A is for Andrea

2011-12-20T09:51:00.001-07:00

I decided to try to make an ABC book of my life using my blog. It may take awhile as I get distracted with other projects, or I might cruise right through. We'll see what happens.

The first letter of the alphabet is "A," and what immediately comes to mind when I think "A" is the name of both of my girls. I'll focus on Andrea today, though. I just realized I don't have many pictures of her recently. Amber has been getting most of the attention because of her karate tournaments. That's okay, though. One thing I came to realize as a parent is that children don't get equal attention all the time. Andrea's turn is coming up with her Strings concert and trip to Sea World.

This picture was taken on Halloween. The girls were told that I wouldn't be buying costumes this year. They had to come up with something on their own, using materials we had around the house. Andrea took an old dress from a witch's costume, tore some holes in it (with my permission), and made herself into a zombie. Daniel is really into zombies, and Andrea has picked up that interest. She did a great job with her make up and made herself look dirty and beat up. It was a fun night.

Andrea is growing up way too fast. She'll be 11 in just a couple of weeks. Why does that sound so much older than the 10-years-old she is now? Maybe because I know the trouble I got into when I turned 11? Maybe because she is definitely NOT a little girl anymore? No matter what the reason, there is no doubt Andrea is turning into a young lady. I'm looking forward to continuing to watch her grow and mature. I love this stage where she can have an intelligent conversation and has her own thoughts and opinions on issues.

At this time Andrea loves hip-hop music and wants to learn how to do the dances that go along with this style. She is well on her way with the new Just Dance 3 game we got with the Wii I got for Christmas. Andrea loves all things sea life and is looking forward to a school field trip that will take her away from home for three days to visit the ocean and Sea World. She hopes to spot a whale in the ocean, and the group will be going out on a boat to do just that. The trip sounds amazing. She loves her 5th grade teacher, and she is making a lot of friends this year. I think moving was one of the best things that could have happened for her. So many opportunities opened up.

The things Andrea doesn't like is homework and chores. Pretty typical for a girl her age. She can't seem to keep her room clean for more than 15 minutes at a time. I remember having some of these same arguments with my mom when I was her age. Well, I turned out pretty okay in the end, so I'm sure Andrea will, too!

Crazy Arizona Laws

2011-12-18T14:02:00.000-07:00

In my quest for something interesting to say I came across an interesting blog post: Write about a ridiculous law. I typed "ridiculous Arizona laws" into Swagbucks.com, earned 11 points for the search, and found a fun website, dumblaws.com, that has every state in the nation listed. One could literally spend all day reading silly laws all across our country. Some are from years past when the laws made sense but no longer do, but some are brand new laws. I think this one is probably on of those old-fashioned laws that had to have made sense at some point in time.

Mohave County

A decree declares that anyone caught stealing soap must wash himself with it until it is all used up.

I couldn't imagine how long it would take to use a whole bar of soap. At least the person would be clean, though!

One Down, One to Go

2011-12-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

Image Credit

I have officially finished my first semester of my first year of teaching. One semester down, one to go. I think I have learned more than my students so far this year, but that's okay. Everyone keeps telling me that is what the first year is all about.

I have to admit that I have had a harder time connecting to my students than I did last year during student teaching. I think that has something to do with the fact that this year I have 70 instead of 30. Also, I only see each of my students for an hour a day rather than being with them for the bulk of school time. My students also have five other teachers each day, so they aren't as chatty as last year's kids who couldn't wait to come in and tell me all about last night's episode of "The Middle." By the time they get to my class they are all talked out.

There ARE connections being made, however, and the exciting thing is that as long as I get offered a job at the same school next year I will have half of them again. Since I teach 5th and 6th grade, my current 5th graders will be in my class again. The students are slowly learning about me as a person, and I learn more about them each day. One helpful thing I've done is have them write journal entries about what they are learning in Social Studies. I'm always amazed at some of their thoughts on the topics we are studying.

As we prepared to leave for our three week Winter Break students were in and out of the classroom bringing me gifts. I never expected to get holiday gifts from middle school students since they have a total of seven teachers they see each week. I was especially confused because 70% of my students don't celebrate a winter holiday because of their religion. I love mugs of all sorts, and I got three of those to add to my collection. I also got some hand-made socks flown in from Turkey, the home country of one of my co-workers. She asked her mother to make them for me. That was the most special of all the gifts I think.

The most touching, though, were some of the words written in a couple of the cards. "Thank you for being such a fun and awesome teacher. I'm looking forward to seeing you next semester." This is from a girl who rarely smiles and who seems like she couldn't care less about school. She was grinning from ear to ear when she handed me a gift bag, though, and I can tell the card was not something she was forced to do. THESE are the moments I cherish as a teacher. They don't come often, but when they do they lift the spirits for quite awhile. Another student, who will not be returning after Winter Break, wrote, "... Most importantly, I really enjoyed being in your class." As teachers we don't always have positive reinforcement that we are making a difference. Apparently I am, though. Even if I don't teach another drop of history, knowing that students are enjoying and looking forward to coming to school to learn has made my year successful.

Four Fill-In Fun- December 16, 2011

2011-12-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

1. A mug of hot chocolate, some snacks, and a movie on TV is my ideal winter night. The cold eats me up and makes me feel miserable, so staying inside after dark is ideal.
2. I don’t remember the last time I had a positive Christmas spirit but, I really want to. I've come to really dislike Christmas. I really do hate the idea of this holiday that stresses everyone out. I think if we got rid of all the obligation and got down to the fun I would enjoy it more.
3. I will never turn down a massage. I have come to find that the best way to relax, and massage is doing great things for my feet and legs. I have actually had a few days without pain recently. The fatigue is still getting me, but that I can live with.
4. To save money I like to live frugally. I know... that's a simple answer. The truth is, we've been living a simple life-style for years before it was the popular thing to do. The things I do now are just a way of life.

5 Question Friday: December 16, 2011

2011-12-16T06:34:00.001-07:00

1. What's the best Christmas present you've ever received? My favorite Christmas gift is one that I received today, actually. A student wrote me a card telling me how much she enjoys my class and how she is looking forward to next semester. I AM making a difference as a real teacher! Today was the official half-way point through my first year of teaching. I'm going to enjoy this Winter Break!

2. Worst/Funniest White Elephant gift ever received? I've never done a White Elephant gift exchange that I can remember.

3. Is your Christmas tree plain and simple (white lights and matching ornaments) or is it wild and crazy (colored lights with lots of ornaments collected over the years? We have a Charlie Brown Christmas tree this year, by my girls' request. There is only one red ornament and no lights. In years past we have had multicolored lights and lots of ornaments. I'm definitely not coordinated when it comes to Christmas. Memories are the decorations in my home.

4. "How" do you iron your clothes? The old fashioned iron/ironing board way, the shower, back in the dryer, etc. I have a steamer that I use every morning for my work clothes. I love it!

5. How much baking do you do for Christmas and what are your "must make" items? I HATE being in the kitchen, so I avoid baking at all costs. The year I was pregnant with my oldest daughter I did cookies as gifts. I found it to be much easier to buy on-line and have gifts shipped. I'm the first to say home-made gifts are better, but that was WAY too stressful for me!

Blog Prompt: Funeral

2011-12-15T18:42:00.002-07:00

“If you knew when you were going to die and you had to plan your own funeral, what type of flowers would you choose? What songs would you choose?”

I don't want to have a big funeral. For me, I would prefer that my family saves the money and uses it toward their living expenses. I do want my parents, brother, children, and husband to be able to say good-bye to me, though, if that is what they want. A very small, private ceremony that lasts no more than 30 minutes would be perfect. Then they should all go have lunch and start finding ways to be happy.

I would not want my family to spend money on flowers. If they insist, they should bring a couple of sunflowers. Since I didn't care for cut flowers in my life, though, I don't think they are a necessary expense after I am gone.

As far as music, I would like to have "Wind Beneath My Wings- Bette Midler," "In My Daughter's Eyes- Martina McBride,"On the Side of Angels- LeAnn Rimes," and "I Hope You Dance- Lee Ann Womack" played. Interestingly, this is the same line-up (except for the Martina McBride song because we didn't have daughters then) as what I wanted played at my wedding. Does anyone find that disturbing?

Happy, Healthy Hearts

2011-12-14T05:13:00.002-07:00

I'm so excited! The club idea I proposed for my school has been approved. Each full-time teacher is required to run an after school club to give our students an opportunity to do an activity of their choice throughout the week. The idea is that each student, though implied rather than required, will do at least one of the clubs. I haven't done a club up until now because I am a part-time teacher and don't have the same requirements. Though my teaching status will be staying the same, I decided to jump in and try to fill a need.

Our 6th grade girls can be described with one word- drama. I'm sure that's the case for schools all over the country. Just when we think one issue is resolved, another pops up. Of course, our problems are the typical "she's picking on me" or "I'm not a part of that group." In a very small school (140 students in grades 5-10), I think teachers are able to see and hear more than in a larger school. I see every 5th and 6th grader each day and listen to them in the hallways. Drama inevitably comes into our classrooms, and we have to spend valuable class time handling these situations.

My idea was to start a club for girls only so they could get to know each other, work on self-esteem, learn communication skills, and learn about being healthy both inside their bodies and out. I'm super excited! Dove, the makers of soap for women, has put together an incredible presentation. I am going to be starting with one of their programs. This was meant to be presented in a seminar, but I'm going to break it down into small group activities. We'll do a little bit of the Dove program, then we'll work on other ideas for a little bit so we can get a mixture in each week.

I am looking forward to working with the girls. I know a couple are planning on joining the club already, so I know there is some interest. I am REALLY hoping that the couple of girls I think would get the most benefit from this group will join. They are difficult for me in the classroom and are the driving forces behind many of the drama issues. My hope is that by building a better rapport with them I can be more of an influence and can encourage them to use their leadership skills for the good of our school community.

One thing I'm still working on is a book for the students to read and react to. Everything I'm finding right now is for 7th grade and up. I need something that will fit the reading level and emotional level of my 5th and 6th graders who tend to be a little less mature than public school students. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Heart-4-Seniors

2011-12-11T09:24:00.003-07:00

It's funny when I think about Christmas and the panic I feel about not giving enough. Then I think about all I HAVE done and realize that my family is truly blessed. If nothing else, we are able to show others the love we have in our hearts. In many ways that makes us rich beyond all that money can buy.

One way I was able to give this year is by being a member of Heart-4-Seniors. In this group, people send happy messages to senior citizens who may have otherwise been forgotten. This is a group that goes on all year long, but for Christmas we were each assigned a senior to make sure they had something under the tree. This was, of course, optional. I asked for two seniors because they are a couple. The idea was not to get them something big but to have at least one wrapped gift under the tree.

I had every intention of buying my senior couple something nice and mailing it on time for Christmas, but life got in the way. My plan for giving fell through when other expenses started to pile up. Fortunately, with my mom's help, I was able to pull off something nice for my seniors. We put together wonderful packages for both her assigned seniors and mine, and it was all relatively inexpensive. It's amazing what a couple of hand-made projects can do to put together a nice gift. I was impressed when we were finished, and I wasn't feeling bad about not doing enough. I was proud of what my mom and I HAD done with what we had.

I think we often don't give ourselves enough credit when we think about giving. Holding open doors, a smile, a hug... all of these can be gifts themselves. We just don't think about it that way because we've been taught by the media and advertising that we need to spend, spend, spend in order for our gifts to mean anything. I know, having been the recipient of an angel card shower myself, that a small gesture can mean the world to someone who really needs it. From now on I won't criticize myself when I am giving from my heart. Giving a piece of yourself can really make all the difference and is the best thing you have to give.

The best part of Heart-4-Seniors is that I don't give only on the holidays. I give a little extra around those special days of the year, but each week I send out a card with a joke, a word puzzle, or maybe just a hand-drawn smile. I tell the senior a little about my week. I feel good knowing that someone will benefit from my taking a few minutes to share. If you would like more information on this special group, please click here.

If you need great ideas on home-made gifts, please check out my new Facebook page, A Healthy, Home-Made Holiday. I've been collecting ideas from all over the web to help make your holiday just a little lighter on the wallet.

18 Years

2011-12-11T09:03:00.002-07:00

Yesterday I realized that December 9th flew by and I didn't really think about it too much. Okay... you are saying to yourself. May 29th flew by and I didn't think about that either. Well, December 9th has been a tough day for me since 1993. On that day my best friend was killed. Up until now the anniversary date has ranged from devastating to sad. This year I had no emotion at all.

In some ways that made me sad to realize that the memory of Kevin is something in my very far past. So far past that I don't even grieve for him in a traditional way anymore. In some ways, though, it made me realize how much I have grown up since then. Kevin's death was half a lifetime ago. I was a young adult, barely 19-years-old when he died. At the time I thought part of me had died with him. That is actually true. The part of me who needed to grow up and stop doing idiotic things that were holding me back in life did die. I wanted to be a better person after Kevin's death. If for no other reason than to prove that this life is worth living.

Looking back I realize that our friendship would have slowly faded away, anyway. I hope that doesn't sound callus or cold. It's reality. He and I wanted different things in life. He would have went one way; I would have eventually gone another. Maybe we would have stayed in touch, but I doubt it. Unlike an old boyfriend who just fades into my memory banks, though, Kevin was torn away from me in a horrible manner. There was no chance to say good-bye. It took 17 years for that process, but it is done. I have outgrown the need for sadness when I think of my old friend. It is now time to celebrate the good parts of our friendship.

I have been extremely blessed that Daniel has been so understanding of the process I've had to go through. He first learned of my emotional connection to another man when we had been dating for a couple of months and were out walking around on the 4th of July. The first of the fireworks in the area went off and I nearly jumped out of my skin. At that time, anything that sounded remotely like a gun shot could set me off in a panic, complete with tears that could last for hours. At that time Kevin had already been gone for six years. Wow, I've come a long way since then.

For many of the last several years I wasn't so much sad that Kevin was gone. That I had learned to live with long ago. I did, however, feel badly for the young adult girl I had been who had so many hopes and dreams upon graduating high school, and life just didn't go the way I had pictured. This year, however, I have a totally different outlook. This year I am proud of who I am NOW. Sure, Kevin's death was tragic, and I had a lot to work through with that. But life DID go on for me, and for that I can celebrate. It may have taken awhile to get here, but I made it.

A lot changes in 18 years, and I'm glad it does. I will never forget Kevin and what he meant to me when I was a girl looking to find her identity. If I could talk to him now, though, I would say thank you for the wonderful memories, but I'm letting go now. I'm moving on and not looking back. Because now that I have truly found myself, I think I'd like to forget that era of my life.

RIP Kevin Lewis Monter 1974-1993

To Blog or Not to Blog

2011-12-06T05:58:00.004-07:00

To blog? Or not to blog?

Have you ever thought about ending your blog? What made you change your mind?

I can't tell you the number of times I've thought about closing down my blog. As some of you know, I actually did delete my blog for about 12 hours one time because a crazy stalker just wouldn't stop picking on me. I realized then, though, that my blog has become an important part of my life. I couldn't just throw it away and never look back. I missed my blogger friends, even in that short time.

Since then there have been long periods of time when I just don't have much to say, my thoughts are buried too far inside of myself to bring them to the surface, or I've just been too busy to sit down and type. At those moments I wonder if I should just close up shop. Then I remember that it is when we are the most busy that we need to take time for ourselves. Writing can help bring emotions to the surface. I DO have something to say; I'm just not in the mood to argue my points in public. Whatever the case, it reminds me that if I shut down my blog I wouldn't have anywhere to go when I WAS ready to share.

I am far behind in posting pictures and sharing stories. I didn't get pictures of my daughters at Halloween up here, and Amber has now participated in TWO karate tournaments that I haven't gotten on my blog. It's not because I'm not proud of my girls. That's definitely not true. It's because I'm focused on LIVING with the girls and gathering more memories. There's only so much of life that can be preserved.

So for now, I will continue with my little blog here. I appreciate everyone who reads regularly. I apologize that I don't write now as much as I did when I was sick and sitting on the couch for four months. I take that as a good thing, though. To be honest, I hope to NEVER have that much time to write again!

Giving Others Christmas

2011-12-05T06:43:00.004-07:00

Last week a friend of mine posted on Facebook that she has a student who has been coming to school in shorts and a polo shirt with no jacket. Now, we ARE in Arizona, and shorts are pretty standard year round. This student, though, has been coming to school and hour and a half before class starts and has been seen shivering and jumping around to keep warm. My heart broke when my friend started the post like this; as a teacher myself I knew exactly where this story was going. Sure enough, the post ended with a plea for help for this little girl and her sisters. Did anyone have any uniform pants that this teacher could share with the children? And maybe a jacket?

It was amazing to see a group of people come together so quickly and offer what they could. The pants and jackets were taken care of, and my friend was heading to Target that night to get hats and gloves for the girls. What was still not addressed was the fact that the children hadn't been eating dinner because there was no food in the house. They got free breakfast at school, but anyone who has seen that program knows that it is not heavy on the protein and nutrients students need to be as successful as they could be. Lunch was also provided, but that meant that these little girls ate nothing from around 11 AM until 8:30 the next day. I could not imagine how they could possibly focus on homework at the end of a day like that.

Daniel and I went to the grocery store and bought $20 worth of food for the family. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it's what we could do that day, and I wanted to be sure the student could carry the packages in her backpack. We picked up peanut butter and jelly, crackers, spagetti and sauce, and mac and cheese. This are all things that could be prepared by the children if necessary and will fill them up. It is a lot of carbs, but I wasn't so much interested in the quality of the food as getting something in their bellies at night. Let's face it, the first order of business is not going to bed hungry. And, because I believe all children should be able to enjoy time at home I picked up some hot chocolate mix and marshmallows.

The mom was so appreciative of all that was done to help her family. I was told "thank you 12 times over," which is not what I was doing this for. I was doing this because to me, THIS is what Christmas is all about. Helping someone who on every other normal day gets by silently and does the best she can. On a special holiday, though, she deserves a little bit more. Our gift didn't come on the actual day, but maybe now one scared mom can feel comfortable buying a small gift for each of her children, knowing that she can pull a couple of dollars out of her food budget. To me, this is more than the gifts I buy because I feel I have to. My own girls have everything they need and more.

As bills pile up this month, and life gets stressful, let this be a reminder that it isn't about how many gifts are under the tree or how much money was spent. It isn't about what the children THINK they can't live without because all the other kids have one. It's about what families truly CAN'T live without. This season is about the love and the support that we offer each other. It's about coming together to be one group in this world that has become so isolating. Christmas isn't about gifts at all. It's about a need to remember our humanity and our humility. Every one of us can afford to share a smile, a hug, or simply saying, "You are important to me." Every one of us should HEAR that this Christmas. If someone around you has not, please be sure to be the one to give them the greatest gift of all this holiday season.

To my readers: Please know that you ARE important to me. I appreciate every one of your comments, and I enjoy knowing that I am special enough for you to take some of your time to read my words. Have a very Merry Christmas.

Meet Me on Monday- December 5, 2011

2011-12-04T19:09:00.002-07:00

It's been a long time since I've participated in a Meet Me On Monday post, but I miss it. And, I MIGHT actually be able to get this one done on Monday!

Questions:

1. Monday's are... a nice new beginning. I enjoy having a day of the week to start over again. If something went wrong in the classroom the week before I have a chance to fix it now that I've arranged my lesson plans to have the time to address the problem. I can change my attitude if I need to. My children and husband also seem to enjoy Mondays because they get to start fresh as well. Sunday is for recharging and preparing for Monday.

2. What is your favorite kind of milkshake? Did someone say milkshake? It doesn't mater to me what flavor. I'll take it! Jack-in-the-Box often has some great flavors advertised. The problem is now I don't know if they are gluten-free so I have been avoiding them.

3. What monthly bill do you most dislike paying? Does anyone enjoy paying any bill? I think the one I most dislike is the electric bill. Outside of rent, that one is the highest and seems so high. Thank goodness we do "managed pay" so the amount is the same all year round. It's nice to have a predictable bill that way.

4. How many email addresses do you use on a regular basis? 3- my main address, the one I use for blogging and entering giveaways, and my work email.

5. What color lights are on your Christmas Tree? We don't have lights on our tree this year. We all picked out a Charlie Brown Christmas tree which has one ornament and a blanket around the bottom. Too cute!

My Holiday Solution

2011-11-29T18:40:00.002-07:00

Linking up an older post to Tuesdays Gone!

Well, if you saw my last post about Christmas frustration you know that I've just had enough of the crazy obligation to spend, spend, spend at this time of year. In that post I promised a special announcement coming soon. Here it is!

I have started a new Facebook page that I hope you will enjoy. It is called "A Healthy, Home-Made Holiday." My goal is to share tips, recipes, crafts, music, or anything else we can find that will add to our holidays without subtracting from our wallets. The healthier the better on the recipes, but of course we all know that this time of the year is not for dieting. Don't be overly strict in that area. I would love for this page to be for EVERYONE to share on! Please don't hesitate to add your own thoughts.

I don't want this page to be limited to Christmas only. There are other winter holidays, and I want to respect the traditions of everyone. I'd love to learn more about Kwanzaa from someone who celebrates it! I'm going to keep the page going throughout the year, too. It seems like every month there is a new holiday that we could find a more healthy and frugal way to celebrate.

Please share this page with your friends. The more the merrier! I'm hoping to really change the way we look at the holidays. I want to bring us back to the old-fashioned days of hand-made gifts, family stories, and precious memories being in the forefront of our minds. Not how many gifts can be counted and how much we saved because we were spending too much to begin with.

Enjoy!

Lazy Days

2011-11-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had some scheduled lazy time. Yes, I actually penciled in time to just lay around and do nothing. Then I found a blog prompt asking whether lazy days make you feel rested or if they make you feel unproductive. I've got to tell you... I cherish my lazy days more than ever lately.

My husband used to tell me that I didn't know how to relax. This is partly true. I feel like I always need to be doing something. It is probably no wonder than when I finally do slow down I crash. The couch, the bed, it doesn't matter where I am. Reading has become a bit of a problem, even. As soon as I open a book I'm asleep not too long after.

Since I started working, though, I find that I'm enjoying my time to sit down and not think much more. As a teacher I am constantly thinking from the time I walk in the building to the time I leave at night. Of course I also have grading papers and lesson planning to do at home, so I don't leave work at work too often. There are times, however, that I make plans to do just that.

The last couple of weeks I've gotten my lesson planning done on Saturday morning. Once that's complete and uploaded into the required area I turn school mode off. I'm done for the weekend. Monday morning I pick back up and go to work early to get copies made or to work on a bulletin board. Sunday is MINE, though, and I'm finally starting to see the benefits of relaxing time.

Up until now I have been a stay-at-home mom and student, or I have worked while Daniel stayed home with the girls (for one year). This is the first time we are both working at the same time. Suddenly there is no one to run those errands during the week that used to be done, leaving all weekend to hang around together. Now Saturday is filled with errand running and getting things done for the girls. Hair cuts and those pesky types of chores aren't something I can send Daniel out to do for me, anyway. Our Saturdays are usually filled from the time we get up in the morning until around 4 pm. This includes catching up on any of the household chores that got neglected throughout the week. When Sunday morning comes around I need a break from Saturday!

So, yes, I used to feel very unproductive on a lazy day, but all that has changed. I now feel like I have worked hard enough to deserve the break. I look forward to the times we have nothing planned and we can all kick back together to watch a movie or read in our separate corners of the house. It doesn't matter what we are doing, really, as long as I don't have an obligation to get anything done!

Left Brain/ Right Brain

2011-11-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

Brain Lateralization Test Results

Right Brain	\|\|\|\|	20%
Left Brain	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	76%

*results won't usually add up to 100% as this test measures each side seperately

I found this quiz here and decided to give it a try. I knew, of course, that I would lean toward the more organized, orderly side. I really do get uneasy when I don't know what is coming next. Routine is very important to me. I didn't expect, however, to quite bit so unbalanced. Wow! Here is what the quiz says about the left and right brain:

Left brain dominant individuals are more orderly, literal, articulate, and to the point. They are good at understanding directions and anything that is explicit and logical. They can have trouble comprehending emotions and abstract concepts, they can feel lost when things are not clear, doubting anything that is not stated and proven.

Right brain dominant individuals are more visual and intuitive. They are better at summarizing multiple points, picking up on what's not said, visualizing things, and making things up. They can lack attention to detail, directness, organization, and the ability to explain their ideas verbally, leaving them unable to communicate effectively.

Overall you appear to be Left Brain Dominant.

Unfortunately I can tell just by reading this that Daniel is right brain dominant. I really think that is the source of most of our disagreements. We just approach life differently. Fortunately we are both learning to see it the other way a bit more, though I must admit that it is difficult for me. The lack of directness is what gets me the most. It feels like someone is not quite being truthful with me. Anyway, I thought this was pretty interesting. Go take the quiz for yourself. Which side of your brain is more dominant?

Fall

2011-11-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

I saw this question on ilaxSTUDIO and it got me thinking. I used to swear Fall was my favorite season. For the last couple of years now, though, Fall has really beaten me up. I'm not so sure I look forward to it anymore. Here are some things I love about the season, and some of the things that I really don't care for.

Love:

1. Wearing sweaters and jeans- some of my favorite clothing

2. The smell in the air when people are using their fireplaces and fire pits

3. Roasting marshmallows with friends and families in fire pits

Don't love:

1. Whatever autoimmune disorder this is that I have kicks in to high gear

2. Holidays start to really throw routines off (at school/ work and at home)

3. The short days (I used to love this, but lately it's annoying)

So, maybe I don't love Fall as much as I thought I did. Maybe I need to find a new favorite season. Which one do you enjoy most?

Seven Things...

2011-11-16T05:07:00.001-07:00

I saw this fun meme over at Patrick's Place and thought I'd play along. This week's theme is Seven Things I'd Like to Get For Christmas This Year.

You know... I honestly don't have a Christmas list running in my head, but I'll try to come up with the seven because dreaming is always fun. Here they are:

1. Projector for my classroom

2. Bicycle so I can ride next to Daniel while he runs

3. Throw pillows for my couch

4. A cute sheet set for January

5. The Pfalzgraff "Naturewood" dish set I used to have and would love to have again

6. Gift certificates for massages

7. A CD of train sounds

I have to be honest, though... I'm really not in a hurry for any of these things. I'm pretty content with life right now. Every week there are things for my classroom I wish I had, but I find a way to work around that, too. The biggest thing on my list is for my girls to have an enjoyable Christmas without all the "things" getting in the way. I'm really looking forward to our annual Christmas light trip, and I'm getting excited to spend a few days up north with my in-laws.

Right Now I Am...

2011-11-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

I found this on Mommy Has to Work and loved the idea, so I decided to do one of my own. It sure makes me stop and think about what I'm thinking and doing. Enjoy!

In a hurry…. for my daughter and husband to stop arguing over pre-teen issues so we can get on with enjoying our time together

Thankful….. that my husband takes care of these issues so I can get a break. I've already been fighting with her for an hour; it's his turn.

Excited…. about my lesson plans for this week. I'm teaching my 5th graders about natural disasters, and I'm not assigning homework. What a fun week!

Happy…. that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I'm ready for a bit of a break from work, and I am looking forward to a movie date with my family the day after.

Wishing…. I wasn't feeling so crummy. That the doctors would figure out what is wrong with me and how to treat it.

Enjoying…. my husband getting ready to go out running now that he's done arguing with the pre-teen. I'm glad he is still enjoying the sport even though I can't.

Thinking …. well, I'm really trying NOT to! LOL I'm just trying to wind down and relax.

Taking…. a moment to just enjoy my bedroom and the peacefulness it offers. I don't do that enough.

If I Could Travel Back in Time

2011-11-14T04:09:00.000-07:00

Today's Prompt: If I could travel back in time it would be to.... the month before I got sick.

First I want to apologize for yet another post about being sick and how I wish I wasn't. Secondly I would like to thank those of you who have stuck by me and listened to my whining and complaining. But, I seriously expected to be so much more improved by now that I am just losing my positiveness.

I do have a doctor's appointment this evening and will be checking on my latest symptoms. Unfortunately some of my previous ones have come back (the headaches), some never went away (the foot pain), and some new ones have been popping up (pain traveling UP my leg that feels like my leg has been broken). The pain is grating on me to the point that I burst into tears over REALLY stupid stuff- like seeing a runner working out on my way to work. I am SO grateful to be working, but that is really the only thing I have the energy for. In the evenings I lay on the couch and watch TV- or I go to bed at the exact same time the girls do.

Anyway... if I could go back in time I would go back to the month and week before I got sick. That week I had my best run ever. I also went to the gym and did a spin class. That was so much fun! But, I think I would chill out and not do these exercises. I sometimes wonder if one of those didn't kick off this stupid, stupid illness, or injury, or whatever the heck it is. I know that's silly... I know I didn't do anything to cause this. At the same time, I just can't stop from thinking that I could have done something differently. Maybe I'd just lay around on the couch and watch TV. I could handle that. I'm kind of tired of doing that now, but I could do it for a week.

My Favorite Special Occasion

2011-11-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

My favorite special occasion is Thanksgiving. It is the only holiday I can think of that doesn't require gifts. Although Halloween also doesn't require gifts, we usually wind up spending way too much money on costumes. Thanksgiving is unique because it can be made just as simple or complicated as we wish.

For the past several years, with the exception of the last, my family has celebrated with just the four of us at my mom and dad's house. It seems that since all four adults have been working we just don't have time to get together as often as we would like. Thanksgiving is a perfect time to slow down and enjoy our day together.

This year we agreed to do just a ham. Usually we do both a ham and a turkey since my mom is allergic to poultry. I think my husband is into simple but fun this year. It was his suggestion to skip the traditional turkey. I think everyone was okay with that, but I do think I may miss having a bit of bird. That's okay, though. There are two pot-luck meals at work that week, so I'm sure I'll get my fill. We'll have to find a way for my dad to get some turkey, though. He misses out now that it's just him and my poultry-allergy mom at home.

The day after Thanksgiving we are going to see a movie. Our family does go out to do that too often, so if there is something my husband and I really want to see in the theaters we are sure to go. We've actually only been to the movies about 6 times in the 12 years we've been together. Four of those times have been in the last two years. I think we are more likely to go now that the girls are old enough to enjoy a film. This year we are going to see the new Muppet movie. Ever since I saw the first trailer I've been excited. I know.... I need to get a real life! I think we are all going to have a blast.

Straight Out of the Camera Sunday: 11/13/11

2011-11-12T22:25:00.002-07:00

This is my first time linking up to Straight Out of the Camera Sunday. Enjoy!

This is Amber with her karate instructor. I am so proud of how well she is doing in her sport. This picture was taken the day she tested for her orange belt (she passed). Since then she has done her first tournament (and won first place in the kata competition), and she is training for her next one at the beginning of December.

Great Honor

2011-11-12T07:24:00.000-07:00

As I was reflecting on Veterans Day and preparing for that post I started thinking about my job. At first I was thinking about how to bring the importance of the day into my classroom. Then a HUGE realization struck me. I'm an American History teacher. How special is that! I get to bring the importance of our military men and women into my classroom each and every day. I don't have to wait for a special assembly or date on a calendar. I am honoring the men and women who have served for our country since before we were even the United States of America. My job suddenly became a whole lot more important in my mind.

Not only do I get to teach my students about the events that led up to the forming of our nation, the drafting and signing of our ever important constitution, and life in the United States up through the industrial revolution, I get to teach my classes about what this all means for TODAY. I get to teach them how to look at our past mistakes and help to change the world around them so we don't make those same errors in the future. Teaching has taken on a whole new meaning for me. I'm sure this happens for every teacher at some point. For me, it was as I was preparing to present this special occasion. It finally "clicked" that my link to the future is not just a nice thought that we have as we enter the teaching field. I truly play a part in the future. What if what I bring to the classroom inspires the next great president? The next great inventor? The next great doctor or lawyer? The possibilities are endless.

I get to teach my students about some of the basics of being an American. I get to teach them to stand when the Pledge of Allegiance is recited or to take off their hats when the National Anthem is sung. I get to teach my students about the respect for various traditions we have in our country and the meaning of those traditions. I really do have one of the most cool jobs in the world. I'm not only teaching academics; I'm teaching character, and I'm teaching habits that WILL follow our children throughout their lives.

Veterans Day 2011

2011-11-11T07:16:00.002-07:00

Thank you to all the past, present, and future service men and women in our community. I appreciate all you do to keep us safe and free.

To the families of soldiers: Thank you for sharing your husbands, wives, brothers, and sisters with the rest of America. You truly make a sacrifice every time they leave your side.