Time For Barbie Bungee!

In my classroom, as part of my unit on slope, I have the students do a little something called Barbie Bungee.... Yes, they attach many rubber bands (they need to figure the number out themselves) to an action figure (No, I do NOT use Barbie Dolls with teenage boys!), and then bungee it off a pre-determined height. Their grade depends on how close they can come to the ground WITHOUT hitting it! And they get just the one chance...  As the assignment is worth A LOT of points, this may sound very hard.  However, before the actual jump, we spend an entire class period collecting data, developing an estimate of a linear equation, and discussing the slope of that equation, what the slope means and how to determine the correct number of rubber bands for each group to use. So, by the time of the actual jump and if the students took enough time collecting data, the end results should be spectacular!

Red zone = 'A'!

Not bad for almost 500 cm off the ground!

As the action figure had to get to at least 50 cm off the ground- or the grade of 'F'

Buzz Lightyear made it!

- and NOT hit the ground- or a grade of 'F'- ,

Poor JackJack... ouch!

 I had to be a bit merciful with some groups- meaning I gave them a second chance. Other groups trusted their preparation and their math- result? One group on their first jump got their figure to within 1 cm from the ground and an 'A'!

The best bungee! 1 cm

So why this topic in my post?

Lately, my life feels a lot like this assignment....

Like I, a small little action figure, am standing on the brink of that 500 cm drop while trusting that the rubber bands will get me close enough to the ground without hitting to earn a good grade!

Will I make the red zone?!

I submitted my application for the new job today. Will I get the interview? Will they choose me? Do I want them to choose me, knowing it will mean leaving a school I absolutely love?!

I also made a decision with Luke this weekend... where will that lead? Either path is new and kind of scary... have I mentioned that 500 cm to a mere 8 cm tall action figure seems like a long way down?!

But I know that on both of these decisions, I have 'done the math'. I have weighed my options, kept close to the Lord and the Holy Ghost, and prayed continually.... I need to trust that 'math'- trust in my Father in Heaven- if I do, my results, like those of my students, cannot help but be spectacular!
And if I do 'hit the ground', I also know that my Heavenly Father is merciful and will provide that second chance!

Roller Coaster Week...

But then again, have I ever had a different kind?! Sure a good thing I love a good roller coaster!!!

So here are some of the ups:

1. I was talking to my friend, Victor, about his physical therapy, his hopes to one day walk again, his plans to spend a month this summer at a special facility to help with that... I expressed my happiness for him and his chance at this- but then I felt impressed to ask him if he had even made any plan for himself if walking just didn't work out. (Perhaps this was not my place, but Victor took it well.) He told me that if it didn't work out 'this time', he would would just keep trying. He said that if you quit trying, you're not living. Wow! I very much needed this unintentional advice from a dear friend! He has no idea how profound his statement and example are to me today.

2. The flowers keep coming!!! My yard is starting to bloom and I absolutely love it! (now if only I could get the veggies to grow so well...)

First full-sized rose already blooming!

My fav-colored irises 

mini roses starting to bloom too!

3. And I just love my students!

gotta love the dress code pants with this outfit (especially those boots)!

4. I love reading LDS authors- even in fiction because I find quotes like this one: "Maybe faith isn't any more complicated than simply believing there is a purpose behind hard things and allowing God the latitude to do it His way instead of ours."

Yes, He constructed this roller coaster- guess I need to learn to sit back and enjoy the ride!

Life is like 'The Spooky Old Tree'!

When my kids were very little, they liked me to read 'The Spooky Old Tree', a Berenstain Bears book all about three little bears (2 boys and a girl!) who go out at night to explore a giant tree full of hidden wall panels, slides, spiders, crocodiles, and, of course, a great sleeping bear! These little bears would encounter an obstacle, and the book would ask 'do they dare?' Do they dare go into that spooky old tree, do they dare go up the twisty old stair, do they dare go through the moving wall, do they dare go into that spooky old hall, do they dare go over great sleeping bear? You get the idea. Well, lately my life has been one ginormous spooky old tree just full of 'do I dare?' moments! And I don't think I will be getting to the happy 'home again, safe at last' moment for a very long time!

But then I got to thinking about how I have been in this spooky old tree for a very long time now...

Did I dare to file for my divorce? Yes- and it led me to regaining myself and finding the courage to be a single mom when it was needed.

Did I dare quit doing daycare in my home and to find a job? Yes- and it led to me discovering the joys of working with students with learning disabilities.

Did I dare return to school with my kids so little, to stay up nights studying and then writing my thesis? Yes- and it led to making lifelong friends, gaining a career, and showing my kids the importance of an education no matter the difficulties in obtaining it!

Did I dare purchase a house on my own and then try to maintain it? Yes- and I have learned so very much knowledge that I can now share with others- and my kids and I gained the best extended family (our neighbors) that we could have ever hoped to have!

Did I dare to work at Herriman High this year (after leaving what felt like my home, my previous school)? Yes- and I have to come to realize what a blessing it has been in my life. I have gained so much of my confidence back again, confidence in my abilities and my interactions- something I hadn't even realized I had lost.

Now, will I dare to pursue a new job opportunity? A job that would be so much what I have dreamed of doing, but of which I feel so under-prepared to do. A job that will pull me away from my own classroom and the kids I think of as my own at times... 

And will I dare to try just one more time to give my trust and my heart to someone else- to not be in control of everything in my life (as my Father in Heaven chuckles at that last illusion!)? 

To answer: Guess I'll have to return to the original story: 'Do they dare? Well... they came into the tree, they climbed the stair, they went through the wall and into the hall, so of course they went over great sleeping bear!'

Do I dare? Well I filed for divorce, I found a job outside my safe little world, I returned to school and earned my master's degree, I purchased my home, and I work at HHS... so of course, I will dare! (stay tuned for results- although it may be a while! I finally found a use for that turtle icon on my cell phone, after all!)

And Mother's Day? Well, my kids are the most wonderful kids in the entire universe! Snapshot of my day:

Little Adilynne Sue came into the room with the largest grin, ran as fast as she could run towards me while yelling 'happy Mother's day!', threw herself into my arms, climbed into my lap while still hugging my neck and gave me a big kiss! Yep. I definitely enjoyed my Mother's day!

And we were able to update the photos for Sue! Love my family!!!

A Nearly Perfect Weekend!

I probably don't need to say anything else in explanation than that I got to spend time with each and every one of these great kids! And it isn't even quite Mother's Day!!!

Eric has received a scholarship for the rest of his time at the U!!! 

Charly watched the finale of 'The Amazing Race' with me! (the finale was not so exciting- but having my girl there was, as they say, priceless!)

And had the best night ever with Jon and his new 'pet'!

"pet" is that little red thing... electronic bug!

And only Jon would match his shirt and shoes to his new toy! (Just wait until you see the new glasses!!!)

Almost had a perfect play date with 'my' little girls... but it got cancelled. And a wonderful took-my-breath-away moment... too bad it was only the moment- waiting to see how that will turn out...

And the flowers are starting to bloom!!!

These survived!

 

And yes, this is real!

'Dobby' Gone Wild!

Charly has moved back home for the summer! I am so excited to have her around for at least a couple of more hours a day! I have missed my girl, and I have missed her helpful and (sometimes obsessively) neat nature! Charly likes things clean and organized and looking nice. Now don't get me wrong, I do as well; just usually not to the extent that Charly does- she is a veritable house elf! 

Good thing that being a mom has taught me to be able to ignore the clutter- at least until I've asked the kids to clean it up a few times! 

Because here is the obstacle course that was once my hallway:

Ummm... I know she is so busy right now, and I know she has so many things to organize and put away... 

As I used to say when the kids were young, 'It's a good thing I love you so much!' 

And that's the truth of it. The mess doesn't matter; the mistakes they have made don't matter. The only thing that matters is that I love them! And it's a good thing for them! and for me!

But that doesn't mean it's easy to get to my bathroom at 5:30 AM, in the dark, past this...

I love you Charly!!!