May I just say...

I TOTALLY LOVE MY JOB!!!!

So weird because I was so stressed this last week: I have all of my classes just about at capacity (which is 5 more students than I can comfortably help during class time for each and every class period)- which for special ed is a disaster or 200 waiting to happen... I have 42 students on my caseload as of this afternoon- 30 is ideal and 35 is doable- meaning this year: 

• I have 42 hour-ish IEP meetings (with parents, administrator and gen ed teachers- plus the hour or so to arrange the meeting and do the paperwork for EACH ONE!
• I have 42 kids to first learn about their gen ed accommodations and then communicate to each of their separate gen ed teachers what those accommodations may be- EACH SEMESTER!
• I have 42 kids to track on grades and attendance, ideally each week, but may be more like once or twice a quarter- yikes and not so good
• I have 42 kids to listen to, help when I can, and to just make myself available to when possible
• And about 1/3 of those 42 kids will be up for their 3 year re-eval, meaning an additional 5-6 hours of work time for that process for EACH RE-EVAL!
• I could continue this list, but you get the idea... I just need to never leave HHS and never sleep. Then it will be a piece of cake! And then I will be able to prep for my actual classes and do the 'less important' business of actually teaching, grading, and providing the services on all those IEP's...

So why do I totally love my job?

All of those kids!!! They are the best part of teaching. Yes, it's still that 'honeymoon' period...

SO HERE'S TO THE HONEYMOON LASTING ALL YEAR!!!! 

And so it begins...

First official day back to school/work today... I sat in meetings all day, so how can I be tired?! 

I must say that it was so good to see all of my good friends and to have a few minutes to catch up on all of the happenings! I REALLY love my job! I don't know why HF thought I needed to apply for a different one and to go out of my comfort zone earlier this spring- but if nothing else, that whole experience made me realize some things:

1. I work with fabulous people who love me!

2. I am good at what I do! I hadn't even realized how much I had been influenced to doubt that over the past  while until sometime last year... it's amazing how when you subtract the political machinations of the workplace, I suddenly feel valued every day!

3. I love Herriman High School! It is by far the best place I have worked. The faculty, administration, the students, the parents... they are the best!

4. I love my job! I cannot wait to establish and re-establish those links with the students that will allow me to just be there for them. If I have to have a job away from my own kids (and I do have to have a job away from my own kids!) I am so grateful to have one in which I can make a positive difference in someone's life!

And by later tonight....

This will no longer reside in my garage!!! Yes, sad news to all of you who so wanted to own an engine/transmission that was once owned by yours truly. :(

But did I mention that just over a year since the disaster that was 'the great car project', I will no longer own any of the pieces?! Yes, and I have never been so excited to have lost money on a sale in my entire life!!!

But seriously, the money lost was not as bad as it could have been, Charly was not injured in the original accident, and my home has some wonderful new deadbolts on all the doors... Life will always work out! 

What if we only had today what we thanked HF for yesterday?

Such a great question! This was a great editorial: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765597847/What-if-we-had-only-what-we-were-thankful-for.html?pg=2

This got me thinking about so much in my life, but most of all, it started me thinking: What if I only had in my life today the people I thanked HF for yesterday?

So I want to just review A FEW of the MANY people I am thankful for today and why (in small part) I am thankful for them in the hopes that they will be around for MANY tomorrows!

Tracy and Shauna Smith: Two of the most fabulous friends and neighbors ever! Not only do they share and validate my (and my kids') obsession with all things Doctor Who, but they have become a part of our family- from the heartbreaks to the exhilaration of life!

My kids: Eric & Alison are ALWAYS smiling! They brighten my day. Charly and her fabulous writing skills are a complete joy! Check out this sample: http://allsortsofdancer.blogspot.com/2012/08/who-am-i.html Jon has become the best handyman a mother could ever wish to have! Just today, he finished 'repairing' the deck... and his chicken coop will look fabulous! (pics to come)

My extended family: They are phenomenal! My older brother and his family (including grandkids), my parents, my sister and her family- all took time out of their busy Friday night schedules to come to Charly's book event!!! (and my little bros would have if they could have given their job/living situations). So awesome when I consider that they all see Charly at least once a month and could have congratulated her any time... they are the best!

Luke: (Yes, I know this may embarrass him, but I just have to tell it!) He is such a VERY GOOD man!!! 'Down to the core', as Charly so correctly puts it. 

Luke has enjoyed his hobby of riding his unicycle- and enjoys it for exercise as well. In fact, his talent for an upcoming no-talent show was riding said unicycle. Well, recently, Luke's nephew (age 12, I believe) moved from Utah and away from all of his friends and extended family to North Dakota. This nephew also enjoys riding the unicycle.

Last Saturday, as Luke's brother-in-law (father of nephew now in ND) stopped on his way back to ND for a 5 minute visit, Luke discovered that his nephew no longer (through no fault of his own) had a unicycle. Knowing how much his nephew loved riding and knowing how much his nephew was missing friends and family... well, Luke, being the man he is, promptly gave away his prized unicycle! Yep, Luke's unicycle now resides in ND with, I would imagine, a VERY HAPPY young nephew!

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THIS VERY GOOD MAN IN MY LIFE!!!

There are many more people I could mention here; however, I would like to end with this thought from Betsy Hart's OpEd piece (cited above):

"But as I ponder the question about only having today what we were thankful for yesterday, I see another facet to it. And that is the chance to shape our lives to live more purposefully. In other words, it reminds me to spend time thanking God for my children, my home, my fiancee and his children, my church and so on. But if I'm not willing to take time to thank God for, say, reality television or a Facebook page, maybe that's a pretty good indication those aren't things that should be taking up much time in my life.

Now that is something to ponder. And I think that realization is something to be thankful for each day — in the hope it will be with me every tomorrow."

I ABSOLUTELY am thankful for coming across these questions and remarks this week!

Last Days of Summer

Another school year is set to begin.... which is terrific! except that it also means this wonderful summer is coming to an end...

 It hasn't even been all play time either! Jon has been called back to work, and while that is a great blessing for his budget, it means he and I missed out on climbing Timp and our annual Downtown Day! So I spent some of that time making plum jelly... Yum!

Last Tuesday was attending the temple and spending the afternoon with my friends, Michele and Jayel. Love these ladies so much!!! We are going on 30 years of friendship -and we're all only 29 years old! ;)

Last Wednesday was lunch with Luke's extraordinary mother! What a wonderful and caring lady!

And Charly, Sue and I finally saw 'Wicked' on Thursday evening!!!

After waiting for more than a year, it was so much fun to spend an evening with these ladies!

Last weekend was one event after another.

What a beautiful wedding early Saturday morning at the Logan Temple! My cousin Michelle's oldest son, Cameron, had a perfect day!

And Jim Margetts, a very talented friend of mine from high school days, performed in concert on Temple Square. I love listening to him play! His talent is such a blessing in my life!

And after a 'quick' round trip to Tooele for church, I was able to spend a little time with family celebrating the life of a truly great man, my dad, for his birthday!

So I was supposed to spend this week taking care of last minute doctor appointments and going to work...

Here's what I did yesterday instead:

My girls!!!

Pickles and Pizza- what a combination!!

Brynndi and Abish

So much more fun!!! I am so blessed!!!

New Addition to the Family & The Date is Set!!!

OK- so I couldn't resist... but it did get you to read at least this far. Plus the title is so totally true! Just not what some of you expected...

These are the newest additions to our family! Yes, Jon and Charly bought chickens- on purpose!

And they are thrilled to have them! The chicks are very cute, but boy does Jon's room smell like a barn!!! 

The best part, in my opinion to date, is that my normally well-behaved, cooperative kids are even more well-behaved and cooperative if you can believe it! They have cleaned out the garage, re-painted the deck, put Charly's furniture back (after a painting project I will show in another post), and all in less than a week while going on trek and working at their regular jobs! - Jon also plans to finish cutting down the tree- all in preparation for building their own chicken coop! This had made the chicken project a success already in my humble opinion!

And the date being set, you ask?!

Monday, August 13th, 2012...

YES!!!!!!!

Charly's eBook will be available at  www.deseretbook.com  and/or Deseret Bookshelf.

Plus, I will be having a Meet the Author event at my home on Friday, August 17th! 7-9 PM and you all are invited!!!

I am the most blessed single mom ever!!!

They're Back!

This week our stake had Trek (handcarts, sleeping under the stars, lots of heat and sand- the whole pioneer experience!) Both Jon and Charly have been gone for the past four days, and I have missed them! The house is much too quiet and big for just one person, even if I did stay pretty busy.

 I cannot wait until later today when I get to hear more about their wonderful experiences!!!

Yesterday in the temple, I was reminded several times of how happy I can be when times are incredibly hard. Although a nice reminder with some terrific memories attached, this is most likely my preparation of harder things to come... here we go! But I am so grateful for such wonderful memories! 

And this morning in the ward newsletter this great account/advice from Brother Coulam:

"During the past few months I have had experiences that have caused me to think about the Savior in my life.  I would like to share with you one experience of how He eased my burdens and was aware of my needs. 

Two months ago I found myself stranded in a small town after a chain of very unfortunate events. It was late and my family was traveling on to our destination without me. Once the tow truck driver arrived and picked me up, I was feeling pretty depressed and upset. I felt alone and helpless. I discussed what I would do with my father on my cell phone, and it was decided that I could stay at a motel or I could stay with his old friend that he happened to have come in contact with two weeks prior. I hesitantly agreed to stay with the friend. It turns out that my father’s friend was a close friend with the truck driver that was taking me in to town. Not only did everything work out well for the night, but the truck driver didn’t even charge me! 

When the bad events first started I questioned how the Lord could let these things happen to me. It wasn’t until after that I could see that it was the exact opposite. The Lord had been watching over me. 

In Mosiah 24:14 it reads, “And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you

cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as

witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their

afflictions.”

It is my witness that the Lord does watch over us, and makes our burdens

seem light. We must learn to recognize His hand in all things. "

I know that He does have His hand in my life and pray that I will continue to recognize that every day!

I Survived!!!

One 'real' camping trip complete! And I only got mosquito bites on my leg- under my jeans!!! Yes, the Utah version of this pest love me most! I am so glad for this experience (although I could have lived without the sleeping outdoors and no shower for almost 3 days part of it all!) Spending time with Jonny & Luke and his family made all the rest so worth it. Incredible people who were more than fun to be around! Maybe next year Luke will feel up to a longer hike...

And who knew that the stone box from the Hill Cumorah had been moved to Big Cottonwood Canyon?! 

Not me!

Congrats to Devon and Ronni on their marriage!

Loved going with some of my favorite peoples!

Not sure what happened to this pic, but Eric and Alison look great!

Jon and the international crew look great too! (Antoine from France and ________ from Germany- yes, I forgot her name again!)

Missed you, Char!