Happy birthday, Mom! and backwards'Monk'...

Today is my Mom's birthday... I still miss her wisdom, hugs, and smile!

But I am so blessed to have had her as MY mother!

I love the TV show, 'Monk'! I always chuckle when Adrian Monk says, 'it's a blessing.... and a curse!' So in that spirit, I have thought of some things in my life that have both a blessing and a curse- but seeing as how I like to have something positive last, I'll do it backwards!

**Single sites on the internet.

My curse: attracting all of the scam artists, unemployed, or just plain what-were-you-thinking?! type guys! Yes, I have been hit up by no less than 3 scam artists really looking for money in just the last 2 months! Maybe I should offer my great talent for finding these types to the sites themselves- for a fee! Might be a great 2nd income!!!

My blessing: being able to spot and/or catch these scam artists without being trampled emotionally or financially! I know there are so many others around who fall for every bit of these scams before even thinking there could be something wrong. At least I have been taught so much better than to believe something too good to be true and to never part with a penny to someone I didn't know very well. (Thanks Dad!)

**Employment (I must say that I do feel badly even complaining a little in this area when I know so many wish they had employment...)

My Curse: Being a public school teacher in the state of Utah means that I have made less money each year for the past 4 years now than the year before-which equals me taking on extra part time assignments just to make up some of the difference... working an extra 10-15 hours each week (on top of the 40 + involved in teaching) means less time with Jon, less time to do things I need to get done, less time period. Also, so much less energy! Talk about long weeks/days!

My blessing: Being involved with MESA has given me new opportunities to learn and to make new professional contacts. Supervising attendance school has given me a chance to help students in need. Tutoring students on home/hospital release has been a true joy. I learn a lot, they get some help, and I get to work with students who truly want to learn! (mostly...) All of this has also helped with the finances a bit. Finally, being a public school teacher has always been a blessing to me in part because I felt like my spending time at work, away from my own children, was in part helping others- it wasn't just a job for me to make money. This has been something VERY important to me as I had always dreamed of being able to be at home with my kids instead of out in the job market...Working with the students that I do has been nothing but a blessing to me!

**Home with just Jon. (my 'only child'!)

The curse: Nobody to complain to when I am upset with Jon, nobody to help me problem solve when there is a difficult decision or situation regarding Jon... and nobody to side with Jon when he is upset with me... And no one else around for either of us to do something with when the other is not at home!

The blessing: Spending all of that time alone with Jon! He and I can pretty much talk about anything now! (There were some rough weeks at first- but no more!) Jon has had to step up on the cleaning- and he has! Example, I came home tonight (after an 11 hour work day) to a spotlessly clean kitchen! No evidence of breakfast being eaten in the wee hours of the morning- and that included clearing the clean dishes out of the dishwasher and sweeping the floor! All because he was 'bored while waiting for' his ride to school... My time this year and next with my last only child is such a blessing for me!!!