Random Thoughts from a Random-Feeling Week...

Had Monday 'off' for end of term- meaning IF my grades were completed and I had logged an extra four hours outside of contract or paid time, I could stay home... I did-both- but spent four hours in attendance school (and the previous Saturday!) With the extra 8 hours in the building, the weekend didn't seem real- oh well. Oh, and I found out that my time sheet was not submitted properly- so I did not YET get paid any extra $ in my monthly check.... guess the blessing is that it is still coming, just next month!

Jon earned a 4.0 grade point average this quarter!!! Now for some students, this isn't as grand as it is for my Jon. He has struggled long and hard with some cognitive issues since the fourth grade. Some days he forgets the most basic of things. If it were not for his routines (thus not requiring short term memory), he would forget things, on occasion, like getting dressed in the morning- yes, it did happen a few times years ago.

Thankfully, Jon had been blessed (before his disease took greater effect) with a brilliant mind! His mind continues to re-wire itself whenever possible and to help him to find ways to cope with his deficits- which my feeble mind could never do- in such a way that Jon has now figured out the high school thing! I am so proud of him and all of his hard work! (Even if I tease Jon by responding, 'It's too dark to weed!'- inside joke brought on by Jon's foreign accent syndrome and his love of reading at night!)

Heard tonight that yet another of my former students passed away. Twenty-two is so young... and he left behind a little boy. 

Wondering if I will ever figure out who to trust in the single men department...

I am so grateful for the upcoming General Conference and that I will be able to listen/watch all of it! And so blessed to have a dad who will take my Jon to the Priesthood Session!

'Don't Let the Turkeys Get You Down!'

No wonder I am so tired and feeling as if I can never get anything done... I just turned in my time cards (for the extra hours of work for the month), and guess what?! I actually worked an extra 39 hours this last month! Yes, that's right... I created an extra week! Now I understand a wee bit of Hermione's world... you know, the time turner and all!

But seriously, what a wonderful blessing from the Lord to have these opportunities- I have a suspicion that come late summer I just may need some extra cash!

And I have met even more questionable 'men'-type people online this week... it's kind of an interesting hobby of mine now to see how long I can string them along until the needing money story starts to crop up... I think my tired mind has created a new type of entertainment- 

It's just an encouraging thing that I came across this fabulous quote in a book I just finished: 'Don't let the turkeys get you down!' Ha! Something I need to remember admidst all these many turkeys...

makes me hungry for turkey dinner... Yum!

Strange Things are Happening to Me...

(I apologize up front to anyone and everyone who enjoys the Disney on Ice...) I just can't help it, I laugh at just the thought! And this week was Toy Story 3! I am sure the performers are talented and all that... it's just that I am the mom who allowed, no encouraged, my 4 year old to watch the cartoon version of the Lord of the Rings just so that I could have a good excuse to read him The Hobbit when most moms were still reading to their kids from Winnie the Pooh! And Eric loved The Hobbit so much, he begged and begged until I would read him all 3 Lord of the Rings (only slightly edited as I read)- he was in kindergarten! -That's my boy!

Schedule changes have been endless. Last week, we administered the ACT to all the juniors- only I couldn't because Jon had yet to take the test. So I spent the morning supervising two wonderful students who require adult supervision (bless their hearts) because their bus only comes at 7 AM!- not the most fun morning for me or for them, I can imagine. It's not so exciting having that much attention from a teacher- always asking if that assignment is done, what else do you have to work on, aren't you finished, do you need any help... yes, I ask the most not exciting questions when I am bored!

And there has been yet another in the long list of con men revealed this week... I know that he says his co-worker died in a tragic accident and that the widow is really needing support- both emotional and financial- but does he really believe that if I had the money, I would send it to someone I have only heard (this widow) of through someone I have only written through email (him) for 12 days! yes, you sent me numerous pictures, even of you with family and with friends- but even I could come up with a collection of those from the internet, a book at the public library, being creepy and following someone around in public with my camera- like at the mall! I wonder what the next story will be... (and yes, there is yet another one who strikes me as highly suspicious!) I have to say that if the prospect of quitting looking altogether weren't so totally depressing (as if looking itself weren't depressing enough), I would stop immediately and cut my losses! But what else is there to do?! No really, at this point, I would certainly be open to some alternatives!

So sad that there are so many opportunistic people in this world- and even more sad that there are so many people who fall into their paths!

But on a brighter note- yesterday was Pi Day! I got to embarrass my darling daughter by wearing my 'Peace of Pi' shirt in public! To school, no less! (The look of horror in her eyes when I got it out the night before- and in front of her boyfriend- was priceless!) And my classes loved the pie (chocolate or banana cream) if not the Pi song that I helped to stick in their heads! I can hardly wait for the ultimate Pi Day- 3/14/15!!!!

Cinderella, Cinderella...

So after working all week, including  a home/hospital tutoring visit, an early morning of attendance school, two days of P/T conferences, then driving on TERRIBLY un-plowed roads on Friday morning, spending all day in classes, I arrived home to find Jon hanging out with a friend and his list of chores to do untouched! He had not even put his wet clothes in the dryer! As I did the dishes and the sweeping and the- well, anyone who has ever watched 'Cinderella' knows exactly how I felt an hour after arriving home and then delivering the dinner to the two boys playing video games in my basement! I was not feeling like a happy mom!!! However, I am so thankful for the Holy Ghost. Even as I arrived home exhausted, becoming quickly frustrated at the mess that was my house, I was inspired to do the cleaning myself, to just let the boys be. Then I felt very strongly that I should make them dinner. It was only after I did these things that I noticed Jon's pill minder on the counter and his Thursday pills still in their place. 

For those who are unaware, Jon has to take a muscle relaxant and a vitamin E pill every night in order to even function the following day- he is as yet undiagnosed as to what causes his various troubles- but that's a story for another day...

Thursday night had been hectic- I arrived home just before 8 PM, exhausted, and needing to put some final touches on my presentation and to go to bed early so I could get up the next day VERY early. But I knew Jon had Friday off both work and school, so I allowed him to stay up late on the condition that he would remember to take his pills before going to bed (something I usually check for him due to his poor short term memory- thus the pill minder on the counter). It turns out that Jon forgot. That led to Jon spending most of his day off in bed, feeling ill with his legs hurting even more than 'normal'. In fact, Jon had just starting feeling better shortly before I arrived home to find the house a mess and the gaming going on.

I am so grateful that the Holy Ghost was able to help me to NOT get upset at Jon for not doing his chores and was able to help me to realize what I should do instead.

Bless his heart, Jon, with Charly's help, cleaned the house from top to bottom on Saturday while I finished my conference at JHS. He even volunteered to help my sis and bro-in-law to entertain their boys all Saturday night! Jon is the best!

My favorite quote of the week- from my Adilynne Sue: "We are going to Aunt Deanne's?! She is my best friend!"

My Adilynne!

I am indeed the most blessed!!!!