New Years Eve.

It's kinda strange to think about it, but a new year is upon us. 2008. Hmph . . . it means my birthday is in two days, and I'm well, not so young anymore. I'm still a young adult, but . . .

I knew I would be the last of my girl friends to get married. They all laughed at me, and didn't believe me. Yet I never thought I'd be this far along in life and still single. I thought I'd have kids by now. HA! well I guess I do. Several infact, but hey, I get to send them home at the end of the school day. ;)

So back to my first thought, what will 2008 bring? 2007 brought a feeling of success at teaching again, completion of my standard teaching certification, and my two little mischievous and absolutely adorable 'lil girls Brindi and Gemma (We've decided to share a birthday since the vet thought they were about 3 months old in March), friends to teach and work with and more.

So, 2008 . . . ?

Eyes that are Red . . . PINK EYE!!!

ERG!!! So I woke up this morning, and my eyes are red again. Tim's Fault, he got pink eye last weekend, now I have it this weekend. ERG!!!

Have to go get some eye drops. :P

YUCK!

Did you get what your mom wanted for Christmas?

Wish dad had come too . . . oh well, we had fun.

More later!



Hope you all had a lovely Christmas afternoon too.

A slide show that is a little off center . . . hmm, oh well

Merry Christmas!

I just had a delightful evening with friends. It was all unexpected, we got a call this afternoon saying come over for the evening. We did, it was lovely. I like spontaneous evenings with friends. :)

I hope and pray that you all have a lovely and blessed Christmas.

Love ya guys!

Who is that stranger?

Yes . . . This is he . . . recognize him?














He let me cut his hair last night and turn the scruffy beard into a goatee :D










More pictures to come later from today's excursion . . . but wanted to get these out there.

:D

Christmas Vacation

Hmm, is it a vacation if you are still at home, and can possibly run into all your students at church? What is a vacation?

I'm hoping that this one is one filled with with some much needed sleep and some fun activities. I don't care about presents and all that . . . just hanging out and doing stuff with family and friends is perfect.

Though I will say, getting kids things is so much fun. Especially when they are the age my students are. :) I got each of my students a scarf, gloves and a hat. The girls all got red hats and gloves and an animal print (snow lepard) scarf and the boys black gloves, black scarf and a grey and black reversible hat. I have matching hats and gloves too. We had fun going around the school wishing everyone Merry Christmas. :) I guess the girls liked it well enough, they wore them to church yesterday too
:D

Ok, we're headed off to do some shopping soon . . . and to surprise people with my brother's new look. . . Pictures to come soon I hope :D

Sunshine, Sabbath, Sadness, Silliness . . . sigh

What a beautiful morning to wake up to. Today the students had the church service at the two churches and I had decided I was not going to worry about any of it. I was just going to go with whatever. And you know, goof ups, spacey kids and all, it was lovely at both churches.

One of my kindergarten/1st graders was so tired and emotionally drained with what is going on in her home, that every little thing just puts her into a weepy state. Poor thing, all week long she's been breaking into tears at any little thing, and one of the other kids in the class noticed she was wearing her earrings and said to her that wearing ear rings was a sin and so forth. That was it for my little emotional child, she wasn't crying up front, but was very sad and just look like she was about to fall apart. I was sitting on the floor in front of them so I motioned for her to come down to sit next to me. She came down, cuddled into my lap and practically fell asleep. I really couldn't do much directing with my hands, for which I am VERY thankful for Jenni, my friend and our school aid who kept the kids going as my arms were full.

I love all my students, very much! And I have never seen a class that is more cuddlebuggy as mine is this year, which is fun and scary at the same time. NO wonder we all get tummy buggies and sniffles and such. hehe. Anytime I sit down, the kids in my class closest to me snuggle in, and if I don't prevent it, I will have on on my lap (more if they could figure out how) and the others crowded close in. However, this one little girl touches me in such a way. I haven't felt like this since my year as an SM, and one of the native kids there, the strong desire and wish to be able to take her away and into my home as my own. People always tease me about my mothering nature or whatever, but I haven't had that deep desire, mothering instinct feeling as I do for this little girl (besides my 'nephews' who I love so much, but don't worry about the same way because they have two parents who love them). If I could, if there was a way, I would adopt this little girl. Even though I am single, I would. I'm a firm believer that children need both parents, a mom and a dad, but when a child has really neither . . . She could really look like my little girl too. Dark, wavy hair and brown eyes like my mother's. :) She needs a lot of one on one, and I wouldn't be surprised if some counseling will be needed. Right now, I recognize the signs of a depressed child, and that breaks my heart, and scares me at the same time. Her situation isn't so bad. Her grandfather loves her a lot, as does her step-grandmother whom she calls Nanna. Her Nanna and Papa love her, yet they are caught in a tough situation because the mother won't give up her rights, and causes problems for them when they try to help. DRUGS!!! I despise drugs! Parent's who have been using drugs should have NO parental rights. The children! OH! it just makes me so angry, frustrated, and tremendously sad.

OH, and in this lovely state of New Mexico, they told the grandparents of this little girl that it isn't against the law to do drugs and breast feed, so they couldn't do anything for this little girl and her baby brother. The grandparents could become foster parents, and then the mom would have visiting and parenting rights several times a week. That just defies the purpose of protecting these kids and helping them to be loved, happy and successful with a destructive mom always horning in and causing trouble. It has been good for this little girl. Her mom is in jail right now, and she's never done better academically, however I know she could do much better in a more stable home and not just at Papa's and Nana's on weekends. Please pray for this little girl and her family. I worry what will become of her if things don't change soon for her. Her mother doesn't want to give up parental rights to her dad because she likes having this beautiful little girl and getting praise for such a cute little girl . . . yet she just ignores her otherwise. Please pray for wisdom for myself with my daily interactions with her.

Well, I wondered there a bit. I was telling how the Sabbath programs went well. I'm so thankful for the people I work with able to just keep things going. :) It is such a blessing, and hey, NO WORRIES!!! I even was able to just relax in the car while driving home. No, I wasn't driving, else my eyes would not have been shut. We then had a lovely supper with the family, and I now am sitting here, listening to lovely music, watching the baby girls play or sleep inside, and outside I am watching the wind blow a tree branches under beautiful blue sky. Trials and frustrations and all, I am growing to love this place.

A Series of Random Events

A friend and colleague, whom I will just call G- (not that many of you who read this don't already know who G- is), seems to be the recipient of a series of random events of which could give someone of lesser esteem a complex. Between August 1st and December 6th of this year, G- has met with the police four times. I suggested that G- write a short book (though at the rate things are going, it could be pretty good sized) on the adventures and mis-adventures of G-'s first year in Farmington. Of course, it's so tempting to write about it . . .

G-'s story though gives a bit of a complex to those who work at the same place G- and I do. The story goes back before G- moved to Farmington. It goes back before I moved to Farmington.

Our place of work has had some pretty rough years. Though some people would like to place the blame on the current administration, the facts show the "company" has had trouble for several years before any of the current staff and administration were here.

Last year, the sickness and dirt grew into a pussy, infected boil. The pain generated from that boil was tremendous. When it finally burst, it was with relief, but a lot of heart ache. Very few were not exposed to the pussy lies and abuse that erupted from the infection.

Now, I'm not saying that it was all bad. In fact, it was a pretty good year. The Board is supportive (though it took them awhile to be completely so, which would be explained at a later point if I was to write this story fully) and the Superintendent is better then any I have worked under. The "clients" I work with are fun, loving, and just a hoot some days. And once the boil was exposed and lanced, it was (and still is in many ways) healing and recovering. Dirt did keep trying to get back into the wound and it's still a rather tender scar.

And thus, if I was going to write a story . . . but alas, I should not . . . or?

Love Unwavered, Patience Tried

I love the little puppies God brought into my life, but they sure try my patience sometimes. Monday, when I got home from the jury thing, I checked on them to make sure they were ok, we left them in the house because of the cold temperatures, and I opened the door to a mess. One I'm still trying to see if I can remedy. They didn't mess with anything of mine, nor my brother's not even anything of my mom's. However, two things of my dad's was messed with. One, thing was "whatever" they tore open a container of the nail like fastener things my dad has for work he's doing around the house. That was ok, no real damage there, just the plastic container mauled. But then they took out something that is worth something to him emotionally and shredded it throughout the living room and family room. OH did they get a spanking. And ALL dogs spent the rest of the day outside, cold and all.

So yesterday, they spent the first time in their lives in a crates. Supposedly they are training crates, but in any case, they had to be in them. My mom and I went searching for them on Monday night.

I think being in them wore the pups out, they were exaughsted last night, and seem to still be this morning. When mom came home, she said they were crying away in them. Hopefully they only were because they heard the front door open. But hey, nothing was shredded, no potted plants with potting soil all around them but in the pot, and so, back into the crate they go today.

Unimpressed with the Local Legal guys

If I was the one on trial yesterday, I would have been scared! Both the DA and the Defense attorneys were ramblers. The Defense guy though kinda creeped me out. Well, actually he just annoyed me. Personally, I would think the trial would be a mistrial before it even began because of the biases the Defense set up before the trial. Though I don't know how helpful for the defendant he was. "You will hear that my client is a loser" I got the impression the lawyer thought he was attractive and could appeal to the ladies at least too.

Oh well, I was to far down the list of 42 that they didn't even get to my name to be on the jury for the case. Which is ok. Would have been interesting, but considering how both parties talk a little to long before getting to their point. And they both annoyed the Judge. LOL! That was funny, but I couldn't laugh. The one day case, would probably taken two, and I really couldn't afford to have a sub for two days right now. So, I was able to get back to my kids by noon. Found out one of my students had such a rough morning, he spent part of it in recovery in my mom's classroom, and two others got next to nothing done in math, and yet another was teary all morning. They love their sub, but they really don't do well with change. Poor little tykes. the one girl who was weepy all morning, broke into tears the last 10 minutes of the day, crying she missed her daddy. Sad thing is, she doesn't know who her daddy is. It's the idea of a daddy. The man who is her dad, is in jail. The one who played the role of her dad for awhile is in jail, and her mom now has a new boyfriend that she doesn't like. Parents who do drugs and mess up their kids lives like this little girl and two others in my class, should be "fixed" Should not be allowed to have more kids, it's what's happening. ERG! And parental rights terminated! But no, NM says "It's not illegal to breast feed and do drugs." COME ON! the drugs are illegal! And if it is illegal now places to even smoke in a car with underage kids, then . . . OK, RANTING! I'll stop now

Keep praying for these precious ones in my class. And many others too. All they really want is to be truely loved and to succeed someday.

The Call of Duty!

HA!

Ok, so yeah, I'm actually excited that I could possibly be on a jury. I've been on Jury duty this month, however the panel I'm on has not been called in until the last day my panel is called in. We'll see if I get to be on a jury on a case.

So, off to sleep with me, and you all have a lovely day. Pray that my students behave for the sub. The first day after a vacation . . . YIKES!

Lethargically Speaking

You know those days when everything just sorta goes blah? Ever had one of those months? Or feel so lethargic that the year feels that it was just incredibly consuming. I suppose it has to do with the number of albatrosses (or I suppose responsibilities) that I have.

Not taking up jobs at the churches is encouraged for teachers, however, no matter how many times I said no, I kept being asked, and it really seemed God wanted me to do so . . . I love being a part of the ministry and social events of my church, but when it seems my life is completely taken over by the church and school and I have no personal time. It's no wonder I am so vulnerable to every little cold bug that makes it way into the classroom on my 'lil pups (as I fondly call my students who are all part of The Pack, aka wolf pack).

I'm feeling bad for those who are closest to me at work and home. They get pulled into every little thing now. I bump and bramble about, everyone gets hit and scratched with me.

As I am sitting here, my friend and colleague is playing music on his computer and this song comes up, and it just fits so much how I am feeling as of lately. I started to chuckle and mentioned how it fits with what I'm saying and feeling. "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" song just emphasized that I felt like a tumble weed you can imagine while listening to that music, blowing about, and sometimes trampled underfoot.

What would I do without friends like G-. He smiled and said, "You know who decides which way the tumbleweed would go? . . . the wind" I'm sitting here thinking yeah, no kidding! He then points out that everywhere that tumbleweed goes, it plants seeds. YEAH! a little God intervention there with my feeling sorry for myself. Of course, then he says something to the affect that it dies before it sees any of the fruits of the seed. HMPH! But he's right . . . we don't know what the effect we have on others always, and won't know until after the second Advent of Christ. Even after death, the tumbleweed has planted seeds . . . what seeds am I spreading with my tumbling about?

Bumps in the Night!

Yes . . . things do go bump in the night. Furnaces, dogs, shifting people when they rest and bump the wall that startles the dog that barks and freaks everyone out that there's an intruder. Yup . . . things go bump in the night.

I'm up late, playing scrabble with friends online, wondering will I ever be able to sleep. Probably not. To many bumps and bangs and thumps and rattles and . . . yikes, scary stuff.

I wish I could say more, however, I'm on a "secret mission". It will make for interesting memoirs though. :)

what does it mean to be truely tired?

The last few weeks has really answered that question. Exhaustion is caused by a lack of sleep due to having several field trips in two weeks, end of quarters and parent teacher conferences so grade cards have to be completed, a vespers program put on by students that you co-direct in drama, directing church choir, organizing division sabbath for the children's ministry . . . plus more in a matter of 2-3 weeks.

I have wanted to sit and blog, but it is almost to much . . .

So in my personal life . . . I really have no life outside of the school and church lately. I'm thankful for people here that have helped tremendously. My fellow teachers are just as worn out as I am and this weekend, we all crashed. I spent hours sleeping. I could even spend more hours sleeping, but the puppies woke me up, and I should get ready to go to the school, make some copies for today, and all that before the kids arrive.

Hey, anyone want to come out here over the next couple weeks and be a volunteer teacher for awhile? How about any ideas for the Christmas season and school programs? I'm about out of ideas, and we need to get started THIS WEEK! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I better go so I can be ready! :P

Busy, Dizzy . . . What a Whirlwind

Can you believe it? It is already October. There has been something happening everyday, including weekends since school started. The only reason I'm sitting here blogging now, is that I am proctoring ITBS tests for the 6th-8th graders while the Secretary subs in my room. Mr. E-, lucky bum, is away for today through Monday. A big family reunion. So, since it's ITBS testing this week and next, and my class is not involved in testing (testing starts in 3rd grade), the sub for Mr. E- is subbing in my room while this morning we do tests. It's nice to get away from my kids. I love them, but I also really enjoy Jr. High. So it's nice to be in here today, even if it is only for the morning, and on Monday morning.

My little "wolf pack" are doing pretty good. They are such a hyper, active, attention problem group. HA! I hope they are being good next door. We're going to all go eat together in a few minutes. 11 to be exact, since the test should be done and these kids will get to go eat, I'll get to eat, we'll have recess, one more test . . . then I"m back to my kids.

I really am planning to post some pics of my room. I'll also give an update of what has been happening. It's been busy, but wow, what a difference from last year to this by this time. OHH! I have some 1st graders that will be starting 2nd grade math in January probably, and 2nd graders that will probably start 3rd grade math in January.

OH, Breaking News: The teachers at PHCS may be making a change come 2nd quarter (two weeks from monday). It appears that Miss K will be turning her 2nd graders over to Mrs. R and Mrs. R will be sending her 5th graders up to Mr. E. This would mean that Miss K will have only Kindergarten and 1st grade, and have 8 students, maybe a couple more because parents have been calling to find out about enrolling their children come second quarter. Mrs. R will have grades 2-4 and will have 9 students, with two more coming second semester. Mr. E will have 9 students, and a possiblity of two more second semester. That means more work for Mrs. R and Mr. E, and a relief for Miss K who is thrilled with the idea of being able to get more done in reading and writing with the 1st graders and Kindergarteners. Please add PHCS in your prayers, as the faculty are looking to the changes they may have come October 19.

And We're Off!

School has started, and wow! what a week. I'm exhausted but it was a good week to a new school year. Poor kids, still learning the process of class routine, listening to teacher, listening to class aid (I have the best aid!!!)

well . . . I'm tired, but coming soon, pictures of my lovely classroom. It has turned out beautifully :D

Happy Sabbath!

Long Time, No Post!

I just looked a the last date of my post. It's been a whole month!!! wow, time flew. Had a two week drama class, my own education classes (I got A's in both, woohoo!!!) a love and logic for teachers convention (the most awesome and productive learning experience I have ever had in regards to teaching and classroom management & discipline) and now I'm getting ready for a friend's wedding. :D OH YEAH!!! I'm moving again. Same state, same city, pretty much the same neighborhood. Living with my parents again has been good in several ways. Especially since my income has just barely been able to make payments on my student loans. (I'm so thankful for an increase of salary next year) But it has been rather crowded in this rental house, while they waited for their house in WI to sell. So . . . they still say it's great for me to live with them since I'm single and working and trying to pay off my education debt. And with the increase I can put more on my loans, and contribute more to the home expenses, AND!!! have a little more breathing room.

YIKES!!! I haven't even gotten to my classroom. I need to paint and build my loft. Then there is all the painting for the rest of the school. Setting up my classroom (organizing stuff), moving furniture around, lesson plans (thankfully I have science and social studies sequencing finished), This is one of the busiest summers I have had. I'm looking forward to school starting to maybe slow down. LOL!!!

Ok, I am sooo looking forward to next week and my little vacation!!! Off to deal with naughty puppy!

La Plata Mountains

So beautiful! and what a lovely way to spend Sabbath afternoon. With friends, all terrain vehicles, the mountains, and some old mining towns. I may have gona a little overboard with the pictures, but this is only a sample of them. I'm a bit sad though, apparently I bumped one of the buttons on Tim's camera that I was using and so the last pictures, of when we drove up, up , and up the mountain the resolution is low. so I can't print big pictures from them that I was planning too. :( oh well, live and learn :) Next time I might get even better pictures. :)

The day started out dreary in the Mountains, it was in the 90's plus down in Farmington, and from a distance the mountains looked very dark and rainy. We still went up, and what a blessing it was. Here you go . . . a pictoral coverage of our Sabbath afternoon walk & jeeping trip. I know . . . you're all just a wee bit jealous you couldn't have been here with us. hehe.

We first took this road we had been up with one of the churches last fall . . .
but we ended up taking that road you see, and what a treat and experiance it turned out to be.
Aspens, Evergreens, Hills, Mountains . . . where else but Colorado. This is only about an hour plus away from me. :D
Maybe this was someone's dream home. Or a place for them to make it rich with the little caved in cave/mine next to it. What stories these old places have to tell.
Climbing up the burned out remains of an old large mine. Guess it used to be 3 stories tall or so.
Looking down from the top of the burned down mine.
Pausing for a few minutes to take in the beauty, and a breather. Jenni on the sometimes seen path.
Crossing rivers and streams and getting misted from pretty little falls.

Columbine . . . not sure about the other pretty wild flowers. Anybody?

The men deep in the cave. LOL! it was probably about 20 yards in. Yes, the burly creature is my brother. Kinda shocking isn't it. hehe, what kind of pictures you will get when it's pitch black and the flash goes off.
Trailing behind . . .
our fearless leader.

Enjoying being out of the truck for awhile and watching the river run by.
Driving up and looking back from where we came.
and what is in front of us.

Puppies like sight-seeing too.

there were probably at least four buildings that are underneath all the rubble.

Barn? House? hmm, wonder what this was?

What an amazing backdrop for the people who lived and worked here a hundred years or so ago.

Jay actually crawled up into that delapitated building and I got some pics of him waving from the top floor. Crazy!!!

The babies wanting to come down to where all the youngin's were exploring, but being good girls for J & B who are such dears and sooo much fun to go hiking, jeeping, and everything with. Bad pic of Jennie though.

Playing with Tim's camera settings . . . what destruction on an old mining camp rockslides and avalanches have.

And the spectacular and beautiful views never end. Just get more and more awe inspiring.Waiting for mom to get a move on wears a puppy out. Gemma decided to lay down while she waited for me to finish taking pictures so we could walk down the road.

From a distance . . .

Tim, Jay and Angelina "looking for gold" or silver or iron or coal . . . just looking for some cool rocks in the rockslide that took out part of the mining stucture.
From the road, just before the other mining buildings/town, we saw this old mine and several cabins. So we went exploring here too
This picture does NO justice to the amazing and magnificent view of the side of the mountain. That's looking up, up and UP!

More cabins and mine sites. Jenni checking it out. There were three bunk beds and a firebox in there. the stove is outside now rusting out, you can see it in the bottom right corner.
"The crooked little man and his crooked little house" Think there might have been a land slide?
Aspen with Attitude. hehe . . . it's fascinating to see how the Aspen grow towards the light.

The River? Creek? whatever it is, it's runny fast . . . though right there it doesn't look like it.

A bridge we crossed . . . doesn't look like much, but it holds.


It was getting dreary on the way out, and the sun was going down. It's about 8:00pm when I took this picture

A Chimney out along the side of the road . . . I think at least two houses used that chimney. It's practically on the side of a cliff. The river is right below a few hundred feet.

WOOOHOOOO!!!

I just got exciting news. A friend accepted the open teaching possition at the school where I work! I'm really excited for many reasons. One, he's a wonderful christian teacher who cares about the kids he works with. Two, he is someone who is a team worker, and understands what you do to make a Christian School mission go. Three, another young adult down here in the Four Corners!!! (hmm, I wonder how many more we can get :-) hehe) Four, working with someone I know, and have worked with before is such a stress relief. Five, the principal is more relaxed knowing all postitions are filled, and that she trusts them. Six, team teaching is going to be sooo much more of a team teaching then last year! Seven, his parents, who are also dear friends, will visit everynow and then and that just makes my day!!! :D and there are more, but hey! Seven! a perfect number!

I'm sooo thankful. I've been praying about this a lot the last couple weeks, as have everyone else involved, and I just feel so much at ease. I hope he does. :) God's got awesome plans for this next year, and it is like another miracle and blessing to say, "Hey, you're doing what I ask, and I'm providing the rest". :)

Ok, just thought I'd share my joy!

Goin' Huntin'

yup, today I go hunting. For clay pigeons, broken down printers, beat-up refridgerators and whatever else is out at the shooting area we are going today. Yup, going out to shoot some differant rifles and shotguns and whatever else again today. In this little area where people have donated all sorts of stuff to be target practice. Tim's adding some old broken printers that the school was going to dump. Anyhow . . . it'll be interesting.

Restful Sabbath

It is a peaceful Sabbath. No responsibilities this Sabbath, so we've all taking the day to really rest. Even I did. Slept late today, then




Gemma is still recovering from her surgury . . . doesn't the tube thing look funny? My dad is calling her Frankie . . . as in Frankenstien. Both Girls don't seem to know they are suppose to take it easy for a few days after thier hystorectomies . . . but today, they've sure been sleepy like the rest of us. :) What a relief, since trying to keep thier play limited, as the Vet directed, is rather like telling a frog not to croak.







Gemma likes to put her paw on my face when I put my "paw" on hers. Or on my arm when my arm is on hers. She seems to think she's either human, or I'm a puppy.







She seems to follow me around everywhere I go. Brindi isn't to far behind.




Brindi is a hard one to get on camera, but we got a couple. She became very curious about the smell of my foundation and eyeshadow.




Then saw the flash, and took off and looked miffed. It's not as if she's unphotogenic. hehe