Kicking off summer!

We celebrated 19 years of marriage, to start off June! It is completely unreal that it has been that long and that we are this old! HA!

The kids were involved in helping teach Bible school this week. Jessie taught songs and Cody taught recreation. They had a blast and loved doing it. I really love seeing the influence of older kids on younger kids. The little ones respond so well to the older ones and the older ones get confidence and encouragement in their faith. It was a great week!

Below is Jess with some of her friends after a water fight.



This is Beki and Cody. Yes, it is Cody's girlfriend. She is a very nice girl from an incredible family.

Here are Jess and Jamie roasting hotdogs one night in our yard. They took a break from roasting to make up and sing a few songs, puncuated with much laughter!

A group of friends had a great afternoon in the swimming pool. Summer is just great!

That is a sampling of the start of summer in our circle. I love summer. I love the kids being home, them being HAPPY and able to completely be themselves. It is some serious food for thought to think of the pressure immorality, values, drug use, alcohol use, etc. that is so prevelant in our schools, affect them so negatively and drag them down so much during the school year. The upswing of that is I see great growth in character, faith and wisdom that come from having to be strong. For that, I'm thankful! (And it isn't even Monday yet!)

Multitude Monday---Counting my 1000 gifts

This is the last week of school! It is always bittersweet for me. I have fallen in love with my 14 homeroom students, my 10 reading group students and my 11 math students. All together, that is 28 reasons I am thankful. Each child is unique. I see their struggles, their strengths, their individuality. I love it! (#457-485). They love me too and that means the world to me!

I'm thankful for each day of school...a contract...because those are a bit more rare this year than last and will be even more rare next year. (up to #645)

On a more personal level, I am thankful for my son's lettering in track. He has overcome personal struggles and blown the doors off of "impossible". I am SO proud of him!! I'm thankful for my daughter's dedication in her school work and her academic abilities. I'm so proud of her too! And then, my "for now" daughter...she is in the beginning stages of reunification with her family. I'm thankful for the growth I see and even for the fears she has in going back to her life as normal again. In all, I realize we all have struggles but it is the struggles that make us stronger. (up to #648)

I have pictures to post later, but wanted to get in my thankfulnesses for today.
adding a few of the simple things....
649...dandelions
650...new shades of springtime greens
651...ice cold water with a straw
652...bedding plants
653...the smell of dirt
654...fresh eggs
655...open windows and a fresh breeze
656...baby pictures
657...the American flag
658...Veterans
659...the loud "VROOOM" of Harleys on the Run for the Wall
670...Bible study
671...cotton skirts
672...coffee in a perfect cup
673...summer vacation!

Multitude Monday---next week will be half way to 1000!

#429-451...that would be one for each of these 22 students. This is my reading class and my daughter's reading class, sharing memorized poems recently.

#452..not being chosen for jury duty!

453. for naps in a quiet house..a rare treat.

454. I'm thankful for rain. The smell, the blessing, the moisture.

455. I'm thankful for today.

456. I'm thankful for days like today when I thought I was faced with a major inconvenience and it turned out to be a few blessings, in the long run.

Thanks for stopping in!

Another soapbox

I'm on lunch break at school. My heart and mind are boiling over with sadness, disgust, frustration, disappointment, dismay, horror, and all other negative, hurtful feelings. This is a public blog, that shows a little ray of insight into my heart. If what I write here upsets you, feel free to use that little red "X" at the top right hand corner of your screen. I need to be honest and journal for a few minutes....

I used to live with the mushrooms in the dark. It was safe there and I didn't see reality of public education from my hidden little place. Having become a teacher, the sun glares its spotlight on the dirtiness that I am now a part of. I used to have teachers and administrators on a pedestal of good character and good living. I have MANY fellow teachers whom I hold in HIGH regard. I work with the best. However, I reflect on the many times, in many places I saw those pillars of character boldly displayed on the outsides of schools, as I passed by. They used to give me warm fuzzies. Now, they give me shivers. Why? Because we teach by our character. If we aren't living it, what is the purpose in teaching it in the classroom?

I've lost 8 co-workers in my school to budget cuts. We've lost our programs, which may, by miracle be brought back. However, high school sports are intact. I LOVE high school sports and want them there. My kids love them. They keep kids in school and keep grades up due to elegibility. However, is it really fair to sacrifice education to athletics? Coaches jobs are miraculously saved, despite the years they've worked. I heard that the two teaching positions in our middle school will need to be offered to someone with coaching desire and experience so they can coach at the high school level. Never mind the most "highly qualified"....and that will be MY daughter's teachers for one more year.

I hear those in high places lying, blatantly, in public. Leaders. Leaders of what? Where are those pillars? Oh, I see them now, crumbled and now gravel at the entrances of various school related offices. Sadly, the gravel trail is thickly laid from the federal level of education to the local level.

Budget cuts hurt. They pull down the morale of everyone in the school. Some of the cuts, a school board has no control over. There must be cuts, when government doesn't fund education. I wish there were more strong, honest, outspoken people on school boards and in school leadership. Those who put the interests of children above the fear of being outcast for speaking out.

Then there are those, in places of control that have agendas that don't include the state holders in the district. If a team is routing for several sides and has extreme different goals, is it still a team?

I promise to balance this with the good stuff very soon. Don't give up on the happy me returning. Ugly is really ugly when it is revealed. The Ugly has shocked and stunned me into writing about it. Thanks for being my therapist!

The state of education

Thanks to a government with backward priorities, 16 people lost their jobs in our district the last few days. That doesn't tell the whole story either. More people took pay cuts and programs were lost. No elementary PE, art, or computer. (Music was lost to budget cuts in previous years). I have this mental vision of little white memorial crosses across the district. Eight were from my building.

I worry about the future of education. Sure, there were districts that needed cuts. In my opinion, most districts are heavy in administration. However, the real people suffering in our district are the children. We lost some priceless treasures.

It is easy to complain, sympathize and complain some more. If you have the opportunity, contact your lawmakers. This is a national trend, it seems, to cut education. Even if you homeschool, remember that not everyone can do that. Advocate for our children.

Yes, I'm on a soapbox again. Thanks for reading.

starting with 413...

413. Today, things are kind of shakey in my world so counting blessings and being thankful means digging a little deeper today. And then again, it is easy to find things to be thankful for because the bright spots are brighter. So first of all, I'm thankful for the bright, bright spots.

414. I'm thankful for those who can remain positive despite the negative around them.

415. For those who can accept life for what it is and have faith that things will work out for the best.

416. I'm really thankful for people I've known in my life who are honest. I mean HONEST in how they run their business or organization that is entrusted to them. Trustworthy, honest, full of great character and...well, honest. Through and through. Those people are rare.

417. I'm thankful for laughter. The kind that comes out of no where and just feels good. The kind that is uncontrolled. Enjoyed by the person and all who hear it.

418. I'm thankful for club soda. My stress drink! Yeah, don't laugh. Ice cold with a twist of lemon.

419. for funny cop stories. Thanks to my state cop neighbor!

420. I'm thankful for fresh fruits in my fridge.

421-428. And for all the things that make me happy. Soft sheets, yummy smelling soap, hot baths, strong coffee, warm kisses, tight hugs, pedicures, backrubs....