The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The Good

1.  I had six students compete to represent our room in the poetry recitation contest.

2.  My low reading babies are hanging through class novels at a 5th grade level and passing AR test.

3.  Gabe's One Act Play won state.

4.  I teach with my best friend; therefore, she shares my misery.

5.  I'm married to the love of my life.

6.  Matt got accepted into UGA.

7.  Drew and Nicole are doing good at UK.

8.  Chiropractor seems to have helped my back (see the ugly).

9.  I've got a week off work to relax.

10. I've got time to read a book for relaxation this week. 

The Bad

1.  I'm not having enough time to test reading, writing, language, spelling, and do massive amounts of RTI data.

2. We've got serious clothing needs around here.

3.  My classroom discipline techniques are going south.

4.  Matt going to UGA = more money needed.

5.  Feeding a family of 4 through the holiday on a budget!

The Ugly

1.  We've got to get on a serious budget in order to survive the remainder of this economic downturn. (A second job might be in order.)
2.  My students call people names, walk around the room, talk, and go through numerous mood swings.  All the time not understanding that if they could settle down we could learn.
3.  Payroll budget cuts are killing us.
4. Trying to figure out how to buy even a meager Christmas.
5.  Trying to determine the differences between needs and wants.

10/10/10

I believe this makes for a perfect day.  So in honor of that here goes:

10 Things I'm Thankful For

1.  I'm thankful that I grew up in a Christian family and learned of God's love at an early age
2.  I'm thankful that no matter what trama existed I always knew I was loved
3.  I'm thankful that I grew up in one town for 25 years of my life. That I grew up where everyone knew your name.
4.  I'm thankful I found the man of my dreams and that we've been together 26+ years.
5.  I'm thankful that I've had three beautiful boys. (and now a daughter in law)
6.  I'm thankful that while others have stayed put, we've lived all over the United States and made wonderful friendships.
7.  I'm thankful that we finally have a home of our own...even if it is on a long dirt road.
8.  I'm thankful I got to stay home with my boys and return to a job that I love on most days.
9.  I'm thankful that we both have jobs in this tough economy.
10.  I'm thankful that God sees fit to continue being merciful to me every day.

10 Things I'm Glad I've Done

1.  I'm glad I went to school at the same school my mother graduated from for all 12 years of school.
2.  I'm glad that I graduated from college.
3.  I'm glad I went ahead and got my master's before I had children.
4.  On most days I'm glad I started this doctorate...now to finish it.
5.  I'm glad I've always had good friends.
6.  I'm glad I've lived on a top notch cutting horse ranch, a 2,000 acre ranch in Colorado, a condo on a ski slope, a farm house in Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
7.  I'm glad I married my best friend.
8.  And that God continued to give me friends in my life to take the place of my extended family.
9.  I'm glad I was old enough to understand my mother's death at a young age and that I have know fear of death.  I'm also thankful that God let's me help other children through this experience.
10.  I'm glad I lived.  I've attended great concerts, I've had fantastic meals, and I've loved unconditionally. I've seen the highest mountains and the ocean.

10 Things I Still Want to Do

1.  I want to get this doctorate behind me and breathe.
2.  I want to teach a college class.
3.  I want to get a job that helps struggling teachers become better.
4.  I want to travel.
5.  I want to lose weight without dieing first!
6.  I want to see my children settled and I'd like some grandchildren.
7.  I want to spend a snowy weekend with Dan alone and just be.
8.  I want to go to NYC.
9. I want to go to Washington DC
10.  I want to have a clean house every day!!!!



I Wish

...that I didn't care so much about my JOB!!! I wish that I could take off and work on my paper and not feel like my students would be sufferring.

...that we didn't have to worry about money so much. I get tired of wondering how in the world we will ever be able to get everything paid. Yes, God provides in the end, but I worry to much.

...that somehow I could lose weight. I'm tired of the constant pain from my back. However, who has time to exercise when they are working 10 to 12 hours a day. If I can't do the work at school...it comes home.

Life According to Seuss Part 4

“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”

-Dr. Seuss

That Dr. Seuss who knew he was so wise! I love this quote!! I think this should be my life motto. Lots of things in our lives have ended...death of a parent, death of a business, moving nine times, changing schools, children moving and getting married. All are very sad events, but what a joy the memories were.

Today driving home from Madison I saw a horse trailer. A smile came over my face as I remembered hauling two kids around the country. What a time we had. Sometimes it brings a tear to my eye that God never saw fit to give Dan the success he sooo deserved. However, at the same time a smile crossed my face because it happened.

I've seen death and lived with it...it holds no fear. I've had a promising business, stayed at home and raised a family to see it all end in bankrupcy. I've left wonderful schools and friends and thought I'd never have either of them again. I've watched two boys go off to college, and one get married and regretted that we were so tied to that business that failed. Yet, they have life experiences that others will never get.

So yeah I think I'll smile because it all happened.

Life According to Seuss Part 3

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”    -Dr. Seuss

Okay, perhaps in your day this was true, but I don't know about today. I think we've got to many people in the world saying what they think...movie stars, politicians...with little thought to the fallout.

The Bible has a very different take on this thought.

Ecclesiastes 5:3 As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

1 Peter 3:10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

Yes, Dr. Seuss there is are times when we should speak our minds, but those times are few in between these days. We now live in a society of people who believe it is their right to speak whatever pops in their minds and it is okay.

Oh, be careful little lips what you say...

Life According to Seuss Part 2

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”

-Dr. Seuss

After 26+ years of marriage I think this is definately true. One thing about Dan is he is exactly what I prayed for as a single woman of 22. We met when I was 23 in Sunday School and for me it was love at first sight. Which was a very strange experience, considering I didn't see him again for about 5 months because of job obligations. I remember coming home from our first offical date in September 1983 and praying that if he wasn't the one I never wanted him to call again, because I knew it would be too painful to date and then have him move on. By March 3, 1984 we were married!

I wish I could say that the years have all been easy, but they haven't. However, there is a comfort that comes in knowing that I go to sleep at night and wake up the next morning with someone who loves me (in spite of all my faults) and I love him. The other day I made a comment about the fact that he starts the dishwasher and never has all the dirty dishes in it. He looked at me and said, "You know when I look at you I never see anything wrong with you." That pretty much sums up true love. Love is the ability to see on the best in the one you love.  It  is also the security of knowing that the one you have is the only one you'll ever want.

Life According to Seuss Part 1

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

-Dr. Seuss

Hard to believe the first of July and my thoughts are already turning to a new group of students I've never meet. However, one look over the class role and I know I'm in for a long year. Again I will have the struggling students. Those barely reading at a 3rd grade level. Yet, I wonder how would their life be changed if they really believed the simple wisdom of Dr. Seuss, that they are unique.

When I was growing up my Grandmother always said things like, "You'll be the first woman govenor of Oklahoma, or the first woman president." Then she'd always say you can be whatever you want to be. And guess what...I believed her.

I remember when I was ready to start college, my mom had died, and her boss Sam Noble came for a visit. He said college was taken care of and if I'd go into computer sciences I'd have a job with his company the rest of my life. My grandmother thought I should take the offer. Then I looked at her and said, "But I really want to be a teacher." She truly believed it didn't matter, just be the best you can be. So of course I believed whatever she said.

Wonder if my students ever hear that anymore.One day in a meeting I was discussing how many of my babies were below grade level and what was I going to do. That's when my principal said, "The difference is when they are with you they think they can do it, because you think they can do it."

And you know what..I do!

If they could only see that they are unique and full of possibility and potential. That they are the only "you" that God made. Wonder if there lives would change. Folks it is a class list that would could make a grown woman cry, or become an alcoholic! But for some reason I believe we are all going to be brought together for a purpose. I will need them as much as they need me.

We will be makin' each other into just what God intended.