Christmas

We got the tree today. Then we rearranged the living room to accomodate the tree, only to discover the tree is much bigger in the house than outside in a field. So we rearranged the house again.

Then I started pulling out Christmas stuff and out fell last years Christmas card from Joice. I'm so sad that I don't go home more often. It is just so hard to leave here and so expensive! But I thought I had forever to see my friends...

Joice I. Heim - Ardmore, OK - The Daily Ardmoreite

Joice I. Heim - Ardmore, OK - The Daily Ardmoreite

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A Week

On Tuesday Dan was involved in a wreck that totaled Matt's Jeep. Yesterday I realized how fortunate I am when I found out a dear friend of mine was killed Tuesday in a wreck similar to Dan's.

First, let me tell you about Joice. When we got married Dan worked for Joice and her husband. It wasn't long till she took me under her wing and was my best friend. We had horses in common. Many a day I sat in her kitchen drinking coffee. I loved her and she loved me, but more importantly she loved Drew. It was a wonderful time for me, and through the years we kept in contact. I think we spoke last year at Christmas.

Next, the Dan thing. Joice was in a wreck that rolled her Suburban, much like Dan's wreck. Only Joice was thrown from the car and Dan wasn't. Dan managed to miss telephone poles and trees. One lived and one died. Many times over the years I spoke to Joice about Jesus. If she ever acknowledged him I don't know. I hope she did.

I do know that the world is a little sadder place this week without my spunky hyperactive friend who could never sit down. I know that she left a wonderful daughter who was her whole life. And three grandchildren who I'm sure she spoiiled rotten. She always thought spoiling children was the way it was suppose to be. She would say, "I know Joette is spoiled, but so what, I can."

Thank you God for saving Dan and giving us more time together. Thank you for letting me have really known Joice Heim. Thank you for Rhonda inviting us to her house for Thanksgiving and for Freda.

I may have been around, but I have been blessed.

Dreams

Two Writing Teachers are back from a convention and Ruth heard Nicholas Sparks speak. In his speech he said, “I decided I’d never let another 12 year period go by in my life where I started with big dreams and ended with none.” Whew what a statement! In 2006 I started with big dreams, I was finally going to get my doctorate. Let me explain something...the classwork was the easy part. Now here I am with a dissertation that continues to go through rewrites. I tried to get a new chair, and was basically told to get over myself and move on. A lot of money has gone into this dream, but now I question is it worth it.

The daily pressures of a job that is nearing impossible makes me sad! NCLB has a huge flaw at the elementary level. Teachers must be considered "highly qualified". because of this students are being moved from class to class all day. Watching 125 5th graders moved all day long, from teacher to teacher, in a quest to meet the standard for highly qualified is just sad. Big government doesn't understand that what children at this age need is stablity. For instance, when 5th grade was self contained F's class scored 100% on the CRCT in reading, language arts, and math. To me that proves highly qualified teaching!! And it worked out okay when they went between the two of us. Things worked out well. Last year we finished with 98% passing math and around 95% passing reading. Not bad!!! Yet, according to NCLB there was a problem over who was qualified. Unfortunately, NCLB does not measuring the most important attributes of a classroom teacher. It doesn't understand that in reality "highly qualified" has nothing to do with what is on certification papers. "Highly qualified" teachers are measured by something else...caring, compassion, and committment.

So back to Nicholas Sparks quote, do I still have the desire to live a dream or has the government robbed me of all dreams. HUUUMMM...I thought it wasn't that long ago that they encouraged people to live the American Dream. Will I be able to flesh out my dream, or am I going to be left with nothing? That is the question of the year...

For today I'm going to research and write. I'm going to pray that God helps me find the voice and brain power to finish what I've started. Today I'm going to dream of a day when a dream becomes reality...I'll think of NCLB next week.

Need Something

I need to find unusual. I like different and think it has a place in life. I can't even remember when I found this picture. It has been a long time ago. I fully intended to ask my favorite artist to make these and sell them...of course to me first. However, my favorite artist is so busy with her growing business that I didn't ever get around to it. However, now that she knows about it perhaps we could plan on next year...

I love my favorite artists....MonkeyBean

Things Change

Apparently my baby boy is a big one! Yesterday, while playing football during PE it was discovered that he is so tall he can swat the ball down. This was a big deal and made him a bit of a menace yesterday to those short, skinny middle school jock types. He was stoked! Now you know I love football and would love Baby Boy to go out, but I am resigned to the fact that he is a computer geek and will probably do very well for himself in life.

Guess What

As if my life isn't exciting enough I've entered a swap. Yep, a holiday swap. I'm excited for a little change in my routine. I just hope I feel better soon.

Lennye

Needed a reminder

I used to listen to this song all the time when we lived in Colorado. Good stuff...

It's Over

One Act play has come to an end for another year. All the flurry is over and we are moving on to the holiday season. All the hub-bub has left me exhausted. I'm going to stay home from church today and rest a little...in peace.

My afternoon is full. I've got to go to Staples and organized my behavior book. That's right a behavior book. Seems that our principal believes that the children's horrible behavior is because we have allowed it. (Don't mention that we "allow it" because after 10 write ups we get a NI on our evaluation). Behavior has reached a record level of out of control. I feel that I'm more of a refree than a teacher! So last week I started recording every hour two boys behavior. There are about 4 to 5 in every class I teach that are over the top and interrupt learning.

Also, this weekend we've got to make up our minds on if Dan is going to take a new job offer. It would be a little less pay, because of no overtime pay. (You work hard in the winter and summer is an easier time). So who knows what we will do. It would help if my check would stop being cut.

Okay

The book I mentioned yesterday has really stuck with me. So many things are going on lately. Today this boy went off to the state competition at one act play.




His Dad got out of the truck to hug him bye and he stepped back with what his dad called a look that said, "Don't do that in front of people." WAIT...wasn't it yesterday that he hugged us like there was no tomorrow. What happened...all this time I've wanted him to grow up..maybe I didn't really.

Memory Lane

Read this book today while cleaning up around the house. It made me sad. The book is wonderfully written and I may even start giving it as a baby gift. However, it made me ponder how fast it all goes. In the midst of raising the boys with no help or down time; I thought it would last forever. Now I wish I had those last times all saved in a special place. Instead of last times I saw them as firsts. Your first day of school, college, and marriage.

Today one memory has stayed in my mind. When the boys were little 6 and 2, we lived in Pennsylvania. I was really out of my element! I was homeschooling Drew at the time. Anyway it started to rain and I went to sit on the porch. The boys came out and sat with me. It was a gentle late summer rain. Life was going to change again for us soon (we would move to Georgia) and I decided we should just run and play in the rain.

I wish I had thought about us playing in the rain more than once....

Saturday Prayers

Seems like lots of things are going on these days. My friend Missy's husband has had a heart transplant. You can follow this by looking here. Missy lost her first husband to cancer and now her husband John needs all our prayers. He is doing well after the transplant, but today has contracted pnumonia. Not a good thing.

Then there is Dan's Mom. On the 18th she will go in for a lumpectomy. She has breast cancer at 74. Dan will need to start making trips up there to check on both of them. Because they are going to start her radiation following the surgery; it is sketchy if they can come down or not for the holidays.

Freda's Aunt is in the hospital in Kentucky. F is there with her. She has had a couple of tumors removed from her colon. She is hanging in there and the tumors were not cancer. F will be going back and forth this month.

Then there are the prayers for our children. School issues with college.

The church is running behind budget by about $5,000 per month. Never a good sign. My check is being docked a day per month and Dan is also experiencing a flucuating pay check. More families are coming to church asking for help with food.

A dear friend feels called to the ministry. Something I've known God had planned 10 years ago. His daughter is going on the mission field for a year (with The Great Race) and needs to raise support.

Many things need our attention. Lots to pray over today.

"Four things let us ever keep in mind: God hears prayer, God heeds prayer, God answers prayer, and God delivers by prayer." E. M. Bounds

I'm Honored

Jane (a blogging friend)has a daughter Jamee who named her doll after me. How sweet is that. Go check out the post.