Teaching Rocks

For me, teaching is all about relationships. I teach high school, but I almost don't care what I teach. If I can connect with a student I can help them as a learner. It is so cool to have a job where I am able to make a difference. I realize these kids are GREAT. I realize they have a lot to contribute to this world. How cool is it that I have a job where I can encourage others to grow and make a difference? I consider this the most wonderful part of the job.

Updates:
- Hubby is taking a class this semester - yay!
- Dad is doing okay with radiation for the prostate cancer. He has good and bad days. Cancer is like that.
- Wonder boy is continuing to have issues with sleep, we are working on it.
- Super Girl is still challenging me as a parent in terms of her achieving to her abilities in school. How typical is that?
- I'm a first year teacher so I'm taking a break from my master's program. Can I just say that next year will be SOOOOO much easier when I'm not going through everything for the very first time?
- Why is it acceptable for tees to grind on each other at high school dances? Do we not have standards?

Teaching is amazing... you learn SO much!!

Teaching

I'm neglecting my blog because I'm focused on the children. My own and my STUDENTS! Thanks for celebrating my accomplishment of securing a teaching gig! I LOVE LOVE LOVE my students. High schoolers rock! It is wonderful to be in the classroom and to share moments with my students. I love watching their eyes light up and hearing their thoughts. All of my energy is focused on the kids right now (that and getting in all of my required hours of professional development). I never know I could learn so many names so fast. I need to ensure I get enough sleep and eat lunch so that my brain works and I can REMEMBER the names I knew just last week! Interesting how sometimes it is so easy and other times so hard!!!!

I'm lucky my students are patient with me. Class sizes are around 35 -- multiply that by each hour of the day and you have a TON of names to learn.

Year one is all about hunting and gathering what you need to teach. Who know this was the challenge. Luckily classroom management is only an issue 5th hour. The rest of my hours are relatively under control. 5th hour is like wrestling a greased pig. I'm not certain I'm always winning over their minds... but I'm making progress on their hearts!

Dad is starting radiation for the prostate cancer. So far so good.

Hubby is supportive during this transition. He rocks.

More soon! Yay teaching!

New learning is a blast -- why does it make me so tired!!???

Celebrate!

I can't remember the last time I had BIG GOOD NEWS! But here it is.... I'm a real teacher!!! Sure, I got my certification in the spring of '08, but the fall of '09 is when I got my first FULL TIME teaching gig! I'm so excited! I'll be teaching high school this fall! As one door closes another opens... I'm so exited to finally be walking through this door. I have worked many years to get here. I started back to school 8 years ago! Slow and steady wins the race!

I have to admit it, it has not really sunk in for me yet. What is a joy for me is watching the reactions of those who have walked on this journey with me. So many have known me as I've returned to school. Taking classes while raising a family and working full time is NOT puppy chow. I have had many support and cheer me on. This has been a challenge. I can't wait though!

How wonderful to know that in a few short weeks I will be doing what I LOVE! Wish me luck -- I'm a teaching now and the challenge is just beginning!

Life is good!

Dream Deferred......

I am interviewing for my dream job. It would be a dream come true to teach in my own community. I have worked since 2001 to become a teacher.. to follow my dream.

I have taken classes at night while working full time and raising a family. It has been wonderful to learn and grow. I love the idea of working with high school students and helping them achieve their full potentials.

I want this job so much it hurts to even hope.

Please pray for me... I've been working toward this goal since 2001.

How cool would it be to work in my district? Way cool. Please say a big prayer for me.... I made the cut for interviews.. now to survive stage one! Stage 2 is teaching a lesson. Even if I don't get the job I'm learning... it would just be so awesome to land a job in this district though....... it it hard to interview for this job because it hurts to even hope...

Competition is amazing,,,, I hope they love me... nobody will work harder than I will.... it would be amazing to land my dream job.

By the way.... Super Girl and Wonder Boy have become Bonnie and Clyde. How did my babies become Tweens?????

Stuff

I feel guilty that I have not posted on Dad's recovery from C-diff and all that other stuff. He claims that he is at 90% now -- that is awesome considering the surgical recovery was supposed to be 6 months. Yay Dad! He isn't supposed to be 100% until at least November. That is not even taking into consideration all of his complications which were more than extensive.

It is interview season and I'm hoping to get the call for a teaching gig -- please say a prayer for me. I don't want to admit that I'm obsessing on my portfolio..... but I am. There are a few openings and hundreds of applicants. I would love to work as a teacher. I miss teaching. It would be awesome to spend my days with amazing kids (all kids are amazing... so much potential!).

My kids are good. Super Girl and Wonder Boy are true partners in crime.... they have challenged my will and parenting skills as of late. Can you say Bonnie and Clyde?

My friend's never ending divorce has yet to end..... 2 years and counting. Stalker ex hubby.... ick. I fear for her.

No time to blog lately, but I'm trying to jump back in. I find that blogging is a great way to remember what the heck happened during that crazy year..... I read a few old posts recently and realized that writing about the now preserves it for me.. I simply don't remember the details... too much going on for detailed memory. It is a gift to look back at old posts (especially "Waking Up") because these posts bring back important memories that I need to hold close so that I appreciate the gift of right now. It has been a rough patch for chronic pain...... ready for it to improve.

"Live in the now!" is the best advice I've ever been given. How about you? What is the best advice you have received?

Summer

Is there anything better than my backyard swing with the fire pit close at hand? I think not.....

Already July?

The pain has been terrible lately. It is amazing how much you deny and for how long, but in the end you pay when you don't do that which you know you must do to take care of yourself.

I have overdone it for too long and the crash hit me. I'm struggling mightily at the moment, but I am pretty grateful that I've hit a point where I can enjoy the down time provided when the crash hits.

Now to work my way out of the ditch. Time to eat right, exercise, slow down, exercise (again), relax, self limit and restore. I'm going on vacation next week. It is much needed. I can't wait to curl up with another good book. Something about this Twilight series makes it a page turner. It is nice to read something that isn't super graphic.... I like to read books before I see the story in a movie because I feel like my imagination is hindered by the director's vision. When I read the book after the movie I compare the text to the film and my imagination is limited to the physicality of the actors or special effects. My imagination is better than what can be captured on film. Is it just me?

Updates:
-Dad is doing well, still weak but improving.
- Wonder Boy and Super Girl are having a wonderful summer. I need to work on math review more.... perhaps this week?
- Hubby is looking at classes for this fall! YAY!
- Grad school is kicking my ass. I'm taking the stopper class in my program. I understand why people stop but I will make it.
- LOTS of computer issues -- hard to handle thermal events... glad for back ups.
- My very best friend is close to finishing divorce arbitration. I think I need to get busy writing the book for her... the madness astounds me.
- Dad is opting toward radiation vs. surgery for that pesky prostate cancer. A better option in light of his recent surgical nightmares.
- Still not comprehending what the hold up is with my brother getting driving again... ready for him to be able to take some of the workload off of me.
- Interesting that memory is coming back lately... I still have major gaps due to my stroke in 2002, but it is interesting to start to have some of my learning abilities return now that I'm more challenged by this graduate program.

I really enjoyed my nieces and nephews recently. Can I just say that I'm jealous of the stay at home mom club? I know you work your butts off... but I'm jealous of your job!! the 10+ year gap between my kids and this flock of babies makes me feel like a grandparent.... it is wonderful to enjoy the babies of others.

This N That.

Update: My dad is doing much better now. He conquered C-diff and is on the mend from the aortal aneurysm surgery. What a surgery, what a recovery! Thanks for the prayers.

My inlaws have gotten out from under their big fat hairy mortgage by selling the house they built. They have purchased and are slightly renovating a more reasonable home. If only they had stayed in their original home. That mortgage had almost been paid off.... the upside is that they were able to get enough from the one home to buy this other house (a foreclosure, amazing how much property you can get these days). They have a huge yard that I would plant a monster garden in... that's just me though. I'm all about planting vs. buying! Call me cheap....

The kids are FINALLY out of school. I'm loving having nightly bonfires in the fire pit. What a great thing.

School is kicking my butt.... apparently I'm taking the stopper class of the program. Ugh. Must make it through.... must stop being an academic perfectionist.

Work is hectic, my pain is pretty bad (hence the lag in posts). But, I'm happy. I'm grateful my dad is better and that I've got great kids. But why is it that Super Girl likes to wear her sweat shirt hoods so that she looks like the Unibomber? I have made a no unibomber in the house rule.

I just wish Hubby could pick his career goal.... he is working a job, not a career. He knows he needs to go back to school but is paralyzed by the daunting task at hand. I get it, but time to move on!!

There is nothing better than a swing in the summer time.....

Egads!

Contact dermatitis. Hello, sounds somewhat innocent, but let me tell you! It is not! I don't know what it is that I'm allergic to, but darn it, I'm allergic to something!

I am on round 3 of this icky yucky itch. My doctor was al about prescribing steroids, but the real issue is that I must learn what the heck it is that I need to avoid. If you can tell me about the vine in my last post I will bow to your horticulture genius.

I'll admit it, life is crazy enough... I do not need itchy madness!!!!! Can I just say that Calomine does not do the trick?

On th bright side of things I am learning TONS in my masters classes. I'm working my ass off, but I'm learning a ton. Yay for learning!

BTW --- GO WINGS!!!!

This and that....

Is the above poison ivy? I don't know, but I've already had several severe "contact dermatitis" situations this year and I'm not happy about it. I'm sorry, but I don't like to scratch until I bleed.....
We are on a Topsy Turvy ROLL! 6 tomatoe plants have been planted and now he is planting cucumbers..... We shall feast shall we not?
Spring came and it was beautiful.....
Travel brought me and some new friends to appreciate sunsets on the shore. It is nice to have a perk like this to go along with work travel.

How is time flying so very quickly?

Good news: my dad is much better. He is on the slow road to recovery. I am grateful at how lucky and blessed we are to still have him. Thanks for the prayers!

Super Girl seems bound and determined to spend time at summer school this year. Not the choice I thought she'd make, but if she is determined then it will be her destiny.

My pain is pretty bad... travel is kicking my butt and weather change is always a challenge. My how graduate school is challenging as well! Yep, crazy hectic times around here... does this ever change?
It is in the small quiet moments when you see the sunset on the blooms that you know the frantic pace does not matter... right now matters. I hope all is well with you right now. When I stop and take a deep breath I am grateful for the mercy of this moment right now.....