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Friday, April 22, 2011
Monday, April 04, 2011
Days of Solomon
It's been so nice to go into this week of spring break. I have been looking forward to it! Music is playing right now while I go about normal household routines that have been greatly neglected. Right now, just Keva and Keegan are in the house with me. Keri Lynn is in school. Kristofer is at a friend's house. Kathleen is on a trip to North Carolina with a group of girlfriends. Kylie and Kade are outside playing with a friend. Konner is at a friend's house where he spent the night. Four kid were out of the nest just last night, everyone enjoying their free time.
I have a ton of things to get done, though. Not the least of which is applying for teaching jobs. Supposedly, there are a few openings right in the county where I am student teaching. My cooperating teacher is hoping to move up to high school, so I am gunning for HIS job! I also need to complete a big school project called the teacher work sample which I will also be able to use going into job interviews. It's basically a notebook of what I did during my two week solo.
Up until last Thursday, I was feeling pretty confident about my teaching time, that is until Thursday afternoon, last period of the day. The hardest class to handle. I was by myself because my cooperating teacher had re-injured a bad knee and was out for the day. The kids were really ready to get out of school. We were starting our spring break on Friday rather than Monday for a longer spring break. Mistake #1: I thought that I could grade their re-test that they had just completed in class while class was going, just as I had in the three classes before. Mistake #2: I continued to grade papers while kids started throwing little balls of paper at each other. Mistake #3: Trying to find out who was throwing the little balls of paper by myself, not getting help from the office, because paper turned to orange Tic Tacs. Mistake #5: Feeling a little like King Solomon, I said that, since I couldn't spot who was throwing the balls of paper, I would give The Dreaded Silent Lunch to whoever got HIT by the paper, with the idea being that whoever got hit was probably part of the group throwing the paper and Tic Tacs.
So one kid stands up in the back of the class with a Tic Tac ready to aim at someone and says, "Mrs. Johnson, you mean if I throw this, that person I hit is going to get Silent Lunch?"
I nod sagely.
He pauses, looks at his hand and then sits down. I'm thinking I am SO SMART! Then "Owwwww!"
"Mrs. Johnson, he threw that at me!"
I'm still trying to salvage the moment, "No, he missed you."
I quickly get up to the front of the class, putting the grading aside for good, to announce to the class that my "King Solomon" declaration has just been revoked! Too late! They are all throwing whatever they can get their hands on. Total pandemonium. I start giving Silent Lunch left and right. I get them settled down again.
"Okay, Class, who is throwing the Tic Tacs? I am telling Mr. D (the cooperating teacher) all about this."
They all throw Allen under the bus. He's the class clown and has already admitted to throwing the paper wads but not the Tic Tacs. Allen gets REALLY ANGRY and uses some choice words.
Gloriously, the bell for car riders rings and I am saved. But not before Allen uses more choice words and storms out into the hallway. He really should be written up for this. And only seconds of class time left!
I am about to tell Allen to go with me to the teacher across the hall who is known for being pretty mean.
"Oh, no," says Allen, "You are not taking me to Mrs. Robinson."
That's when I see the hurt in his eyes. He is trying desperately to not cry. My heart breaks.
"Allen, wait. Look at me," and he does and my heart breaks again, " We are not going to see Mrs. Robinson."
"But I'm the only one getting in trouble!"
"Oh, no! I've got a whole list. You did tell me you were throwing paper. Maybe you weren't throwing the Tic Tacs, but you were part of it. Rest assured, you are NOT the only one getting into trouble when Mr. D. comes back."
And then everyone was lining up for bus and out the door and gone. Just like that. I just felt terrible about the whole class period. Thus why I am a student teacher, I guess, but I still felt badly for Allen and for so many other kids like him who get chewed up and spit out by their own classmates who they are trying so very hard to impress. Especially Allen who is so smart and capable but gets trapped in worldly concerns.
It took me several days to shake off that class period. I know that some days will be better than others, but I really need to stay humble and ready to learn some more. There is no "having arrived" as a good teacher. There is always something to learn, and it is such a huge responsibility to be in charge of those kids, because even though they are big-time eighth graders, they are still children. Children doing a lot of adult things, granted, but children nonetheless.
Lord, give me wisdom like Solomon. Really like Solomon.
I have a ton of things to get done, though. Not the least of which is applying for teaching jobs. Supposedly, there are a few openings right in the county where I am student teaching. My cooperating teacher is hoping to move up to high school, so I am gunning for HIS job! I also need to complete a big school project called the teacher work sample which I will also be able to use going into job interviews. It's basically a notebook of what I did during my two week solo.
Up until last Thursday, I was feeling pretty confident about my teaching time, that is until Thursday afternoon, last period of the day. The hardest class to handle. I was by myself because my cooperating teacher had re-injured a bad knee and was out for the day. The kids were really ready to get out of school. We were starting our spring break on Friday rather than Monday for a longer spring break. Mistake #1: I thought that I could grade their re-test that they had just completed in class while class was going, just as I had in the three classes before. Mistake #2: I continued to grade papers while kids started throwing little balls of paper at each other. Mistake #3: Trying to find out who was throwing the little balls of paper by myself, not getting help from the office, because paper turned to orange Tic Tacs. Mistake #5: Feeling a little like King Solomon, I said that, since I couldn't spot who was throwing the balls of paper, I would give The Dreaded Silent Lunch to whoever got HIT by the paper, with the idea being that whoever got hit was probably part of the group throwing the paper and Tic Tacs.
So one kid stands up in the back of the class with a Tic Tac ready to aim at someone and says, "Mrs. Johnson, you mean if I throw this, that person I hit is going to get Silent Lunch?"
I nod sagely.
He pauses, looks at his hand and then sits down. I'm thinking I am SO SMART! Then "Owwwww!"
"Mrs. Johnson, he threw that at me!"
I'm still trying to salvage the moment, "No, he missed you."
I quickly get up to the front of the class, putting the grading aside for good, to announce to the class that my "King Solomon" declaration has just been revoked! Too late! They are all throwing whatever they can get their hands on. Total pandemonium. I start giving Silent Lunch left and right. I get them settled down again.
"Okay, Class, who is throwing the Tic Tacs? I am telling Mr. D (the cooperating teacher) all about this."
They all throw Allen under the bus. He's the class clown and has already admitted to throwing the paper wads but not the Tic Tacs. Allen gets REALLY ANGRY and uses some choice words.
Gloriously, the bell for car riders rings and I am saved. But not before Allen uses more choice words and storms out into the hallway. He really should be written up for this. And only seconds of class time left!
I am about to tell Allen to go with me to the teacher across the hall who is known for being pretty mean.
"Oh, no," says Allen, "You are not taking me to Mrs. Robinson."
That's when I see the hurt in his eyes. He is trying desperately to not cry. My heart breaks.
"Allen, wait. Look at me," and he does and my heart breaks again, " We are not going to see Mrs. Robinson."
"But I'm the only one getting in trouble!"
"Oh, no! I've got a whole list. You did tell me you were throwing paper. Maybe you weren't throwing the Tic Tacs, but you were part of it. Rest assured, you are NOT the only one getting into trouble when Mr. D. comes back."
And then everyone was lining up for bus and out the door and gone. Just like that. I just felt terrible about the whole class period. Thus why I am a student teacher, I guess, but I still felt badly for Allen and for so many other kids like him who get chewed up and spit out by their own classmates who they are trying so very hard to impress. Especially Allen who is so smart and capable but gets trapped in worldly concerns.
It took me several days to shake off that class period. I know that some days will be better than others, but I really need to stay humble and ready to learn some more. There is no "having arrived" as a good teacher. There is always something to learn, and it is such a huge responsibility to be in charge of those kids, because even though they are big-time eighth graders, they are still children. Children doing a lot of adult things, granted, but children nonetheless.
Lord, give me wisdom like Solomon. Really like Solomon.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Solo teaching
I have finished my two week solo teaching. It was a very valuable and interesting and exhausting experience, made all the more challenging with Keegan's ear infection and some kind of intestinal bug that traveled through everyone in the house. Teaching four eighth grade classes a day seemed fairly easy compared to what was going on at home! I still need to hone my classroom management skills, but I think I'll be able to produce good lesson plans wherever I end up teaching. That's the fun part -- lesson plans. I've always enjoyed putting together a calendar. With this particular program that I'm in, the more "out of the box" the better.
The best news lately, though, has been Kristofer's acceptance to two of the three colleges he applied to. We're waiting to find out about the third one, GCSU, where Keri Lynn attends school. That's his first choice, so we'll see. It's nice to know that the other two are a possibility, though. A lot of the pressure is now off, and we can begin the process of getting him ready to go to college in the fall. I can't believe he is so close to graduating.
Keri Lynn is also in waiting mode, waiting to find out what will happen this summer. She was planning to go to Japan as an intern this summer, but with all that is going on there, she's afraid that the church will cancel her internship. All the missionaries in the area have already been evacuated further south in Japan because of the radiation scare.
Keegan is now 14 months. He is growing like a weed. We all get the biggest kick out of watching him walk around investigating his world. He does not like to be in the family room. He considers it a prison because we've always got it barricaded to keep him from getting too much trouble. The moment it is not barricaded, he practically runs to the opening and makes a break for it to freedom of the house. He particularly loves to run up and down the hall being chased by whoever is supposed to be keeping an eye on him.
The best news lately, though, has been Kristofer's acceptance to two of the three colleges he applied to. We're waiting to find out about the third one, GCSU, where Keri Lynn attends school. That's his first choice, so we'll see. It's nice to know that the other two are a possibility, though. A lot of the pressure is now off, and we can begin the process of getting him ready to go to college in the fall. I can't believe he is so close to graduating.
Keri Lynn is also in waiting mode, waiting to find out what will happen this summer. She was planning to go to Japan as an intern this summer, but with all that is going on there, she's afraid that the church will cancel her internship. All the missionaries in the area have already been evacuated further south in Japan because of the radiation scare.
Keegan is now 14 months. He is growing like a weed. We all get the biggest kick out of watching him walk around investigating his world. He does not like to be in the family room. He considers it a prison because we've always got it barricaded to keep him from getting too much trouble. The moment it is not barricaded, he practically runs to the opening and makes a break for it to freedom of the house. He particularly loves to run up and down the hall being chased by whoever is supposed to be keeping an eye on him.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Ephiphany
Several things have been swirling in my poor little brain lately. One of them is how to get housework done while student teaching and going to school. Last semester, I only student taught two days a week. This semester, it is full time. While it is giving me a wonderful feel for the reality of teaching, I am having to schedule things differently.
First of all, Keegan is now in daycare. This was my one hardest development for pursuing a teaching career. I feel very blessed to have been able to stay home with him for his first year, but it simply breaks my heart to drop him off in daycare every day now. The original plan was for Keith to stay home with him during the day and then he'd work swing shift. This proved to be too hard for the entire family. Keegan got to see his Daddy and stay home in comfortable surroundings for the two days a week I was gone, but the entire rest of the family did not get to see Daddy, nor did Daddy get much rest! So when Keith was offered a job working on a project, we decided it was best for him to go back to working days. I think we're all happier for it, except for me when I drop off the Little Man early each weekday in a stranger's arms. Sigh.
Second, is the ongoing saga of the laundry. I have come to an epiphany about the laundry. It started out with just getting organized to go to school five days a week. I needed all of my clothes ready. No time to do a quick emergency wash or iron or fiddle with finding a matching dress sock or shoe. Everything had to be ready to go! Then it occurred to me that I needed to do the same thing with Keegan's clothes (and everything else he needed for daycare for the week) and Keva's clothes. That meant that all laundry had to be done on the weekend.
Now I can see everyone rolling their eyes right now. "Really, Jackie? Laundry on the weekend? This is your epiphany?" Yes, it is. Up until now, laundry has been something to be done on the weekdays when time permitted. I didn't want to cut into weekend activities. Little did I know that it is actually quite nice to have not only laundry done, but major household chores done over the weekend as well. Which leads into my third thought, that I can declare clean-up time on a Saturday morning (gasp!) and tell beloved children that they cannot go play or do anything else until the house is in order. So far, it's taken just a couple of hours to clean up and then everyone disappears outside or to friends' houses or to do homework. Again, you all might be saying, "Duh! Jackie! Haven't we suggested this to you a dozen times before?!?" But again, I say that this idea of not doing chores during the weekend is a result of having been a stay-at-home mom for so many years. There is always time to clean on the weekdays!
All of this is a work in progress. I have done Keegan's, Keva's and my laundry for a whole two weekends in a row with resounding success. Now I am working on getting the rest of the kids to do their laundry over the weekend. Konner decided to stay home with me right now on this fine Sunday morning, while the rest of the family went to church, since Keegan is still sick, and I told him to get a week's worth of dirty clothes to get washed and dried and folded and ready for the week. The exact words out of my mouth were, "And you won't have to do a load of laundry all week long!" A little light bulb went off over his head (similar to my epiphany) and he went running upstairs like a soldier on a mission. I called upstairs to see if he wanted any sausage for breakfast and he told me, "No, I've got things to do." A few minutes later, he was back down with not one but TWO weeks of laundry to wash!
We shall see how the it goes as the months wear on. I will be student teaching all the way to the beginning of May. It is going to be a long haul, but organization is the key.
First of all, Keegan is now in daycare. This was my one hardest development for pursuing a teaching career. I feel very blessed to have been able to stay home with him for his first year, but it simply breaks my heart to drop him off in daycare every day now. The original plan was for Keith to stay home with him during the day and then he'd work swing shift. This proved to be too hard for the entire family. Keegan got to see his Daddy and stay home in comfortable surroundings for the two days a week I was gone, but the entire rest of the family did not get to see Daddy, nor did Daddy get much rest! So when Keith was offered a job working on a project, we decided it was best for him to go back to working days. I think we're all happier for it, except for me when I drop off the Little Man early each weekday in a stranger's arms. Sigh.
Second, is the ongoing saga of the laundry. I have come to an epiphany about the laundry. It started out with just getting organized to go to school five days a week. I needed all of my clothes ready. No time to do a quick emergency wash or iron or fiddle with finding a matching dress sock or shoe. Everything had to be ready to go! Then it occurred to me that I needed to do the same thing with Keegan's clothes (and everything else he needed for daycare for the week) and Keva's clothes. That meant that all laundry had to be done on the weekend.
Now I can see everyone rolling their eyes right now. "Really, Jackie? Laundry on the weekend? This is your epiphany?" Yes, it is. Up until now, laundry has been something to be done on the weekdays when time permitted. I didn't want to cut into weekend activities. Little did I know that it is actually quite nice to have not only laundry done, but major household chores done over the weekend as well. Which leads into my third thought, that I can declare clean-up time on a Saturday morning (gasp!) and tell beloved children that they cannot go play or do anything else until the house is in order. So far, it's taken just a couple of hours to clean up and then everyone disappears outside or to friends' houses or to do homework. Again, you all might be saying, "Duh! Jackie! Haven't we suggested this to you a dozen times before?!?" But again, I say that this idea of not doing chores during the weekend is a result of having been a stay-at-home mom for so many years. There is always time to clean on the weekdays!
All of this is a work in progress. I have done Keegan's, Keva's and my laundry for a whole two weekends in a row with resounding success. Now I am working on getting the rest of the kids to do their laundry over the weekend. Konner decided to stay home with me right now on this fine Sunday morning, while the rest of the family went to church, since Keegan is still sick, and I told him to get a week's worth of dirty clothes to get washed and dried and folded and ready for the week. The exact words out of my mouth were, "And you won't have to do a load of laundry all week long!" A little light bulb went off over his head (similar to my epiphany) and he went running upstairs like a soldier on a mission. I called upstairs to see if he wanted any sausage for breakfast and he told me, "No, I've got things to do." A few minutes later, he was back down with not one but TWO weeks of laundry to wash!
We shall see how the it goes as the months wear on. I will be student teaching all the way to the beginning of May. It is going to be a long haul, but organization is the key.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Happy birthday, Keegan!
A year ago today, Keegan Lee Johnson was born. Wow, has my life changed since then! Keegan has been a big part of it, of course, but when he was born, I did not have a clear direction of where I was going. I wanted to stay home with him really bad! At the same time, we were struggling mightily with our finances. So as I began to recover from my first c-section, about four months, I started looking at master's programs. I registered at LaGrange College where my friend Lisa had also registered. We decided if we got in, we'd carpool together, which took a big load off of my mind because the family van just wasn't the carpooling type of car!
Today, Keegan has a full year under his belt, by the grace of God! He is the cutest sweetest little man. And I'm half way through my master's program. I've gained more confidence and a more professional wardrobe. Our family has been adjusting to life with mom gone part of the time. However, if I have to work, the teaching profession is the way to go. We'll all be off together.
Today, on this fine Saturday, I wanted to take a moment to give a snippet of a "normal" Saturday.
I am sitting in our dining room turned office pounding away on my laptop when I should be working on a diversity paper for my January class. The smells wafting through the house are really irritating me in that our "beloved" dog has decided to sneak around and use said dining room for his bathroom area ever since we had the snow and ice for a full week outside where he has been going properly for YEARS. I am about ready to KILL HIM> But then he looks at me with those sweet brown eyes pleading forgiveness, and I let him live a little longer.
Kathleen is at the high school preparing for her final performance of her first drama production. She got some juicy roles for her first time and has done really well, especially for being a freshman. She was born a drama queen. After dinner, I'll be taking Kristofer and Kylie with me to see the performance. It will be the third time I've seen it, and I don't mind at all. It's fun to go to the theater!
Keith is sitting in the family room watching football, enjoying some free time before he heads back to his project at work on Monday. He's been working long days to meet his goals. In a few weeks, he'll be doing some traveling, which will be playing some havoc on our family life because it will be just about then that I'll be fully entrenched in my second student teaching gig.
Kristofer has been working on college applications. I'm having a hard time with the idea of another bird leaving the nest. Once again I am in denial.
Keegan is laying in his crib fussing a bit while I ignore him. I need to go find some more clean clothes for him, but I know I'm not going to find anything that will keep him warm enough! Kathleen made his birthday cake for him earlier today, but we decided that we will have it tomorrow when we're all home and can take pictures of all of us gathered around him. That way, it will look like we had a nice big birthday party for him, just like we had for Keri Lynn so many years ago when she turned one year! Hahahahaha! By the way, our family is a terrific "Rent a Party" if you ever want to invite a crowd over that can come eat your food, play your games and then go home at the same time!
Keva is also in her room. I am also ignoring her. I know she needs her pull-up changed. I could get Keith to do it, I suppose, but I'm not doing anything productive either besides typing this little missive. So I will wrap things up, take care of poor Keva and Keegan and start making dinner before heading off to see Kathleen's play. The paper can wait one more day.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Snow Day #2
Tomorrow will be another snow day. We've gotten into a nice pattern of winter fun. Kylie, Kade and Konner eat something for breakfast and then I don't see them for the rest of the day, except if they can't find someone to mooch lunch off of. They go off to play with neighborhood friends. The sub-freezing temperatures don't seem to bother them a bit. The dog, however, is having a hard time dealing with all of the ice, especially when he goes out to do his business. He waited all day yesterday before he finally gave up and took care of things on the ice. Poor dog.
Kristofer spends his time numbing his brain with video games. Kathleen bemoans the fact that she can't get to school and practice for her upcoming stage production. She also misses seeing her friends. Even church events were canceled for this Wednesday night because of icy road conditions, so now she's really bummed!
Keri Lynn has been back at school since Saturday, leaving a day early to beat the weather. However, she still hasn't started classes yet, as Georgia College has also had to postpone classes because of the weather.
I may be coming down with a cold. My throat has been hurting all day. I'm hoping it's just irritated by the smoke from our nonstop fire in fireplace, but I have a feeling I'm going to be miserable with a cough and cold very soon. I've already started popping a bunch of Vitamin C and drinking a ton of water. The air is very dry because of the cold. Everywhere I go, I keep shocking myself because of all the static electricity.
Keegan is enjoying everyone's attention during these snow days. Kylie has been walking him all over the house. He walks with minimal support but isn't quite ready to break out on his own yet. I've also started cutting out his formula by slowly adding whole milk to his bottle. He may not be totally ready for it, but he's going to have to be because I can't get to the store on these roads to get him more formula.
After his adventures getting to work yesterday, Keith decided to stay home today. He was only one of 25 that came to work out of 400 employees. So he's been hanging out slightly bored like the rest of us. (Except for Kylie, Kade and Konner.) I think we all need our routines back soon!
Kristofer spends his time numbing his brain with video games. Kathleen bemoans the fact that she can't get to school and practice for her upcoming stage production. She also misses seeing her friends. Even church events were canceled for this Wednesday night because of icy road conditions, so now she's really bummed!
Keri Lynn has been back at school since Saturday, leaving a day early to beat the weather. However, she still hasn't started classes yet, as Georgia College has also had to postpone classes because of the weather.
I may be coming down with a cold. My throat has been hurting all day. I'm hoping it's just irritated by the smoke from our nonstop fire in fireplace, but I have a feeling I'm going to be miserable with a cough and cold very soon. I've already started popping a bunch of Vitamin C and drinking a ton of water. The air is very dry because of the cold. Everywhere I go, I keep shocking myself because of all the static electricity.
Keegan is enjoying everyone's attention during these snow days. Kylie has been walking him all over the house. He walks with minimal support but isn't quite ready to break out on his own yet. I've also started cutting out his formula by slowly adding whole milk to his bottle. He may not be totally ready for it, but he's going to have to be because I can't get to the store on these roads to get him more formula.
After his adventures getting to work yesterday, Keith decided to stay home today. He was only one of 25 that came to work out of 400 employees. So he's been hanging out slightly bored like the rest of us. (Except for Kylie, Kade and Konner.) I think we all need our routines back soon!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Snow Day!
We are snowed in today. At least the kids and I are. We ended up maybe getting about an inch of snow and then a little ice to top it all off, just enough to make the roads very slippery. The news footage of Atlanta freeways show just a few brave travelers actually on the road. Keith went into work today. He left at 8:30 when I was still in bed snoozing. I couldn't get back to sleep after he left, though, for fear of getting that phone call about some terrible accident. But he made it to work in less than an hour! Now I'm just glad I wasn't in the car with him. In fact, I'm sure he may have actually enjoyed slipping and sliding down the roads. Yikes!
I am going to attempt to actually be productive today. Yesterday, I needed to be a little closer to the bathroom than normal. I may have eaten a little too much of my own refried beans. Or maybe I got Keva's bug. Or maybe Keva had a little too much of my refried beans! At any rate, we stayed home from church and pretty much sat around being couch potatotes watching Doctor Who. It was borderline pathetic. Except that at least I made another pair of some really fun fingerless mittens. I'm trying to get a bunch done as late Christmas presents for Keva's bus driver and her assistant. They're going to need them this month particularly!
Before you know it, though, the cold weather will be done, but not soon enough for me. I think I've decided that I'd rather have hot weather. I may change my mind come August, but for now, I really dislike the cold. The snow makes it all very pretty, and I know a lot of people really enjoy it, but I'd just as soon have a nice medium weather day. Goldilocks. Not too hot and not too cold. This time last year, was slipping and sliding all over the place going to my OB appointment. We had some crazy cold weather last January! But I was not too cold, at least when I was pregant, since I was carrying around my own thermal unit. After Keegan was born, I spent a great deal of time in his little room, the warmest room in the house, snuggling him and keeping warm under a couple of blankets! Hormones are might powerful!
On the docket today: A few phone calls, get ahead on some laundry, make another pair of fingerless mittens, do some research for my diversity paper. Maybe some dishes. All while trying to stay warm!
I am going to attempt to actually be productive today. Yesterday, I needed to be a little closer to the bathroom than normal. I may have eaten a little too much of my own refried beans. Or maybe I got Keva's bug. Or maybe Keva had a little too much of my refried beans! At any rate, we stayed home from church and pretty much sat around being couch potatotes watching Doctor Who. It was borderline pathetic. Except that at least I made another pair of some really fun fingerless mittens. I'm trying to get a bunch done as late Christmas presents for Keva's bus driver and her assistant. They're going to need them this month particularly!
Before you know it, though, the cold weather will be done, but not soon enough for me. I think I've decided that I'd rather have hot weather. I may change my mind come August, but for now, I really dislike the cold. The snow makes it all very pretty, and I know a lot of people really enjoy it, but I'd just as soon have a nice medium weather day. Goldilocks. Not too hot and not too cold. This time last year, was slipping and sliding all over the place going to my OB appointment. We had some crazy cold weather last January! But I was not too cold, at least when I was pregant, since I was carrying around my own thermal unit. After Keegan was born, I spent a great deal of time in his little room, the warmest room in the house, snuggling him and keeping warm under a couple of blankets! Hormones are might powerful!
On the docket today: A few phone calls, get ahead on some laundry, make another pair of fingerless mittens, do some research for my diversity paper. Maybe some dishes. All while trying to stay warm!
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Should be cleaning
I am sitting at my computer knowing that I should be at the kitchen sink instead but enjoying a little downtime to write. My friend Ginny and her youngest daughter Ginger are coming in just about an hour for the second time in as many weeks. Most of the family came last week to come celebrate the new year, but two are back again for Ginny's uncle's funeral. His family lives just about an hour from us.
I'm also supposed to be getting ready for a research project for my January class. The teacher just went over expectations with us last night. I had thought that it would be fairly easy to put together until she went over what she wants in the paper! Ack! It's going to take the entire two weeks she's given to us to write it.
The job situation looks like a very unjob situation. Any jobs that are available are going to the teachers already credentialed, which only makes sense, but I was really hoping more jobs would open up by now. I am going to make a few calls to some of the private schools this coming week and see what might be available that way. I would so much rather teach in a private school anyway, but economics won't allow that. However, if there's a choice between no job and a lower paying job, I'll take the lower paying job!
Keri Lynn is heading back to college today! This is so sad. I have such a hard time with it every time she leaves, particularly because she's so rarely at home for the whole vacation time. She's been ironing out details for her second summer internship in Japan. I am so excited for these opportunities for her.
Keegan has been cruising along the couches in the family room and is starting to branch out and take a step or two out. It won't be long before he's walking! I can't believe that Little Man is getting so big! He likes to babble quite a bit. In the morning, he calls for me, "Mammamamamamamamamam . . ." which means he wants a bottle. When he sees Keith, it's "DA!" which means fun. Keith throws him way up in the air just like he did for the other kids. It's funny to see the older kids get nervous about it. I just don't look, and I'm fine and listen to Keegan giggle like crazy. As long as he stays busy picking up and putting every last piece of trash and stuff off our carpet into his mouth, he's perfectly happy. I can't tell you how many things I've fished out of that boy's mouth.
I'm also supposed to be getting ready for a research project for my January class. The teacher just went over expectations with us last night. I had thought that it would be fairly easy to put together until she went over what she wants in the paper! Ack! It's going to take the entire two weeks she's given to us to write it.
The job situation looks like a very unjob situation. Any jobs that are available are going to the teachers already credentialed, which only makes sense, but I was really hoping more jobs would open up by now. I am going to make a few calls to some of the private schools this coming week and see what might be available that way. I would so much rather teach in a private school anyway, but economics won't allow that. However, if there's a choice between no job and a lower paying job, I'll take the lower paying job!
Keri Lynn is heading back to college today! This is so sad. I have such a hard time with it every time she leaves, particularly because she's so rarely at home for the whole vacation time. She's been ironing out details for her second summer internship in Japan. I am so excited for these opportunities for her.
Keegan has been cruising along the couches in the family room and is starting to branch out and take a step or two out. It won't be long before he's walking! I can't believe that Little Man is getting so big! He likes to babble quite a bit. In the morning, he calls for me, "Mammamamamamamamamam . . ." which means he wants a bottle. When he sees Keith, it's "DA!" which means fun. Keith throws him way up in the air just like he did for the other kids. It's funny to see the older kids get nervous about it. I just don't look, and I'm fine and listen to Keegan giggle like crazy. As long as he stays busy picking up and putting every last piece of trash and stuff off our carpet into his mouth, he's perfectly happy. I can't tell you how many things I've fished out of that boy's mouth.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
White Christmas
We had a lovely Christmas this year. Some of us were still a little coughy and sneezy, but for a full week all ten of us were home with no practices or classes or meetings to go to at all. Georgia even saw fit to give us some snow on Christmas day. It was so nice to watch the snow come down in the warmth of the family room with a roaring fire.
I'm hoping to get up enough gumption to resume painting. Our living room is still only half painted. We started painting at the end of summer when we had a bit of a break and haven't touched a paint can since. The ladders and boxes and general clutter of it all is starting to really bug me now that I have a few moments to notice it. The Kings are coming for a few days at the end of the week to help us ring in the new year. Maybe I can get Ginny on the painting job with me. Part of me wants to get it done so that I don't feel like a hopeless lazy bum. I have visions of a beautifully decorated home that shocks and amazes all who come through our doors. Part of me then wipes the sleep out of my eyes after the beautiful dream. We've got a long way to go!
With the kids home for the whole day during Christmas break, I've had the feeling of homeschool again. It's nice to have all my chicks under my wing for a bit. But, I've also realized that the house sure does stay a lot cleaner when everyone is scattered to the wind for school or work. Plus now that the kids are older, more of them cook. I have washed so many pots and pans and run the dishwasher to death and STILL the kitchen is trashed! And it's not that the kids don't do their part as well. We run the dishwasher at least twice a day and still we run out of clean dishes! Keri Lynn, in her college wisdom, suggested to me earlier this week that I should get everyone simply to clean up after themselves. Really? I have not thought of this before?
Kristofer is really hoping to get into Georgia College and State University where Keri Lynn goes. We'll see how it goes. The SAT didn't go great, but his grades are okay. I really don't know how it's all going to pan out for him. I do know that he is very ready to be out on his own. He gets a lot more impatient with his siblings than he used to. I noticed the same thing with Keri Lynn when she was at this stage. There is a natural need to move forward and away, to gain independence, to grow up. Sigh. I've got to get Kristofer's senior potrait done soon. He has taken some really great pictures of himself with his nifty camera, but we need to get the cap and gown one done for the yearbook. I'd like to get the whole family photographed over at Portrait Inovations, too. We have very few pictures of all of us in one picture. We make up for it in hundreds of snap pictures throughout each month. Keegan takes up about 95% of the pictures with his cute little self!
Kathleen is preparing to act in her first high school drama. It's a set of three short plays. She has a big part in two of them. She's been practicing her little heart out. It's been a lot of fun to watch her get her opportunity to do something that she has dreamed of doing practically her whole life. I can't wait to see her! She's been trying to keep her parts quiet so that I'll be surprised when I see it!
I'm going back to school next week for a January class. January is going to be a crucial month as I go on the job hunt. Things are still very tight on the job market in education, as with so many other areas. So we're looking at the very real possibility of me remaining unemployed for another semester. The good news is that by the end of Summer 2011, I'll be credentialed. And we'll just have to lean on the Lord some more for providing for all of our needs. He is the giver of all things anyway, employed or not. The fall semester was a great opportunity to do student teaching and to take a couple more classes. It was a busy time, but it was doable. I worked with a really good teacher and some terrific sixth graders. I can't wait for my own classroom!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, September 03, 2010
One last hurrah!
Last night, I went to my first night class. I've got two for the fall semester along with the student teaching. We got to meet our student teacher supervisors as well, got the syllabi for the class and for the student teaching, and already I'm up to my eyeballs in work. It is definitely time to buckle down and get to work . . . after the Labor Day weekend, that is! One last hurrah!
Keith has this week as vacation, so it's been nice to know that I can leave Keegan with him for some father/son bonding time while I run to take a kid to the dentist or get some groceries. And Keith will still get some bonding time when he starts swing shift in two weeks. That's the week I also start student teaching two days a week. While I'm gone, he'll be home with Little Man. I'm grateful for how our schedule has worked out and grateful to be going to school again, even though the workload is going to be a challenge!
All I can say is that it will be nice to eventually get a paycheck instead of just paying out money for everything all the time! I'm really hoping and praying that I'll find a job during the spring semester.
While Keith is home this week, we've started painting the rooms downstairs that aren't yet painted. We've only been in our house for five years, after all! For several years now, the only rooms that are painted have been my red dining room (that is now an office/game room, and my ELECTRIC LIME kitchen. The lime just doesn't make sense to the casual person who comes visiting. It's such a bright color, but since we hadn't yet completed the color palate throughout the rest of the rooms, people have questioned my sanity. (The fact that my sanity is questioned on a regular basis is beside the point!)
Anyway, we're going with a gorgeous blue in the living room and a kind of orangish/terracotta-ish color in the family room. Since it's an open floor plan, all of the colors really have to work together. I haven't seen the family room color up yet, since we just got started on the living room, but I think it will work. And when I say "we", I of course mean the royal "we", meaning "Keith"! He is doing a great job! It did take some doing, though, finally agreeing on the colors. I had a different scheme of colors in mind when we first got started. And Keith was more than a little taken aback by the ELECTRIC LIME, but I think it has finally truly grown on him.
The painting will need to be put aside today though. Keith will be mowing a friend's lawn this morning and then going to get Keri Lynn from school so that she can "relax" with us and enjoy the Labor Day weekend. Someday she'll have her own car! But for now she's in classes doing what she needs to do to eventually get a job and get her own car!
I'm going to work on a little homework, get me and Keegan ready to go, and then go get Kathleen out of school early for a dental appointment. She's actually not getting her teeth worked on, but her lip looked at. A few weeks ago, they removed a cyst thingie on her lip with a laser. It has since grown back, but not as bad as before. We'll have to decide whether or not to just leave it be for now and see if it will go away on its own. It's just in a very aggravating spot, and aggravation is always compounded when you're talking about a teenager!
Keith has this week as vacation, so it's been nice to know that I can leave Keegan with him for some father/son bonding time while I run to take a kid to the dentist or get some groceries. And Keith will still get some bonding time when he starts swing shift in two weeks. That's the week I also start student teaching two days a week. While I'm gone, he'll be home with Little Man. I'm grateful for how our schedule has worked out and grateful to be going to school again, even though the workload is going to be a challenge!
All I can say is that it will be nice to eventually get a paycheck instead of just paying out money for everything all the time! I'm really hoping and praying that I'll find a job during the spring semester.
While Keith is home this week, we've started painting the rooms downstairs that aren't yet painted. We've only been in our house for five years, after all! For several years now, the only rooms that are painted have been my red dining room (that is now an office/game room, and my ELECTRIC LIME kitchen. The lime just doesn't make sense to the casual person who comes visiting. It's such a bright color, but since we hadn't yet completed the color palate throughout the rest of the rooms, people have questioned my sanity. (The fact that my sanity is questioned on a regular basis is beside the point!)
Anyway, we're going with a gorgeous blue in the living room and a kind of orangish/terracotta-ish color in the family room. Since it's an open floor plan, all of the colors really have to work together. I haven't seen the family room color up yet, since we just got started on the living room, but I think it will work. And when I say "we", I of course mean the royal "we", meaning "Keith"! He is doing a great job! It did take some doing, though, finally agreeing on the colors. I had a different scheme of colors in mind when we first got started. And Keith was more than a little taken aback by the ELECTRIC LIME, but I think it has finally truly grown on him.
The painting will need to be put aside today though. Keith will be mowing a friend's lawn this morning and then going to get Keri Lynn from school so that she can "relax" with us and enjoy the Labor Day weekend. Someday she'll have her own car! But for now she's in classes doing what she needs to do to eventually get a job and get her own car!
I'm going to work on a little homework, get me and Keegan ready to go, and then go get Kathleen out of school early for a dental appointment. She's actually not getting her teeth worked on, but her lip looked at. A few weeks ago, they removed a cyst thingie on her lip with a laser. It has since grown back, but not as bad as before. We'll have to decide whether or not to just leave it be for now and see if it will go away on its own. It's just in a very aggravating spot, and aggravation is always compounded when you're talking about a teenager!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Still 2010
It is a sign of the times that I had to fix the date in the Subject Box from 2011 back to 2010. It's not that I'm ahead of myself, but that I've been doing a lot of things in preparation for 2011. That's going to be a big year. Kristofer is set to graduate from high school. God willing, I'll have a real job. Keith may be working a different type of job at Delta that will keep him busier than ever. There are just a lot of things up in the air. As usual.
It's Monday this morning. I've already done three loads of laundry and a load of dishes. I've had time to read God's word -- which always puts things in their proper persective. Kids are off to school. Baby is sitting in his bouncer seat beating up on his toys and talking to himself. (He has just caught my eye and may decide that he doesn't want to be in the bouncer seat anymore, but in my arms!) He is such a good natured little guy until he is thwarted in what he wants, whether it be food or attention or a nap.
This afternoon, I'll be going to the high school to meet with Kristofer's guidance counselor. We really need to start putting some plans into action for life after high school. He's not going to be able to take the path that Keri Lynn has taken, in that his grades aren't fabulous. What I'm hoping is that he'll be able to find some kind of work-study program, an internship of some kind, that will help him get his degree and learn some important work skills to get him settled as a working man. It's hard to believe that my sweet little baby boy who told our life story to strangers in the supermarket is getting to be so grown up. He has so many talents with his creative bent. He's also very good with technology. That's why he is so in love with his new camera that he got for his birthday. If you're not on facebook already, then you'll need to be just to see his beautiful pictures. He wants to take a photography class, and I'm hoping he'll be able to take one in college. I don't think he has enough time left to take one in high school.
It's Monday this morning. I've already done three loads of laundry and a load of dishes. I've had time to read God's word -- which always puts things in their proper persective. Kids are off to school. Baby is sitting in his bouncer seat beating up on his toys and talking to himself. (He has just caught my eye and may decide that he doesn't want to be in the bouncer seat anymore, but in my arms!) He is such a good natured little guy until he is thwarted in what he wants, whether it be food or attention or a nap.
This afternoon, I'll be going to the high school to meet with Kristofer's guidance counselor. We really need to start putting some plans into action for life after high school. He's not going to be able to take the path that Keri Lynn has taken, in that his grades aren't fabulous. What I'm hoping is that he'll be able to find some kind of work-study program, an internship of some kind, that will help him get his degree and learn some important work skills to get him settled as a working man. It's hard to believe that my sweet little baby boy who told our life story to strangers in the supermarket is getting to be so grown up. He has so many talents with his creative bent. He's also very good with technology. That's why he is so in love with his new camera that he got for his birthday. If you're not on facebook already, then you'll need to be just to see his beautiful pictures. He wants to take a photography class, and I'm hoping he'll be able to take one in college. I don't think he has enough time left to take one in high school.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Isaiah 25:6-9
The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;
A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow,
And refined, aged wine.
And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all the peoples,
Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.
He will swallow up death for all time,
And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces,
And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth.
For the LORD has spoken.
And it will be said in that day,
"Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us.
This is the LORD for whom we have waited;
Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation."
A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow,
And refined, aged wine.
And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all the peoples,
Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.
He will swallow up death for all time,
And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces,
And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth.
For the LORD has spoken.
And it will be said in that day,
"Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us.
This is the LORD for whom we have waited;
Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation."
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Job 19:20
Did you know that the phrase "skin of your teeth" originated in the book of Job? Check it out! I never noticed it before!
My bone clings to my skin and my flesh,
And I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.
My bone clings to my skin and my flesh,
And I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.
Titus 2:3-5
Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
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