So it's Friday and today was a little loosey-goosey at work. Ok, I'll admit it, I had very little planned to do with the children. I thought I'd take a page from those great teachers everyone loves and just see what happens. It was a good day. Long, but good.
So I was reading a great story from my youth... Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. I haven't picked this up, since, well, I was in school, I guess. But I always loved Judy Blume books, so this has become a class read aloud. Today, our hero, Peter Hatcher, was enduring a 3 year old birthday party for his brother, Fudge. And he made a very insightful comment. He was waxing poetic after a scolding by his mother about calling his brother Fang (after an unfortunate fall) and he commented "Nobody can stop me from thinking. My mind is my own." It struck me, as I was reading to a class of 3rd graders,that I might have forgotten this fact somewhere along the way. And it also struck me that these students might never have heard that the act of thinking is personal, and interesting, and powerful. That "doing" isn't the only thing they are capable of. I hope that I can share the power of thought with them this year. Their minds are growing and reaching the ability to have deeper, more global and complex ideas. I am excited about being a part of that in their lives.
That is my major deep thought for the day. I don't get one very often, so I thought I'd share it. :)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
funny things...
* Josh at the baseball game: Mom, when are they going to hit each other?? (D'oh)
* Getting my first mail addressed to "campus technology specialist".. I laughed out loud
* Ways to write a "W": just think up-down-up-down... ouch, my head hurts
* conversation overheard in the hallway: No ma'am, I don't know why she cut her shirt 12 times, maybe you should ask her.
*Ways to use the word "rock" (as discussed by my PM class) : Mrs. W rocks while she listens to Rock N roll and holds rocks while rocking in her rocking chair. I think I've got rocks in my head after that one!
* Getting my first mail addressed to "campus technology specialist".. I laughed out loud
* Ways to write a "W": just think up-down-up-down... ouch, my head hurts
* conversation overheard in the hallway: No ma'am, I don't know why she cut her shirt 12 times, maybe you should ask her.
*Ways to use the word "rock" (as discussed by my PM class) : Mrs. W rocks while she listens to Rock N roll and holds rocks while rocking in her rocking chair. I think I've got rocks in my head after that one!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
First Day of Fall
First day of Fall... and it's raining! What! This is Texas... Where's the scorch-your-face-off heat? I don't see the tumbeleweeds blowing through the carefully manicured streets... Where are teh children playing in the sprinklers because the AC is out AGAIN??
So much for global warming... gotta go look for some sweaters.. later.
So much for global warming... gotta go look for some sweaters.. later.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Tummy Bug update
Josh - feeling great
Me- recovering from my 12 hour puke stretch.. dinner tonight=mashed potatoes.. fan-tastic
Chris- taking vitamin boosters in hopes that he doesn't catch "the bug"
Ryan - cluelessly playing Legos
Faith - made dinner.. picked up children.. made a great buy at the HEB
Tonight - Big Bang Theory and Heroes premiers.. nice. :)
Me- recovering from my 12 hour puke stretch.. dinner tonight=mashed potatoes.. fan-tastic
Chris- taking vitamin boosters in hopes that he doesn't catch "the bug"
Ryan - cluelessly playing Legos
Faith - made dinner.. picked up children.. made a great buy at the HEB
Tonight - Big Bang Theory and Heroes premiers.. nice. :)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
"normal" weekend postponed
The normal weekend planned for this weekend has been postponed... It has been interrupted by a stomach virus for Josh. Nice.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Heading into the weekend
Wow! Unbelievable! It was as close to a normal week as I've had in AGES. Nothing new broke. Nothing exploded that wasn't supposed to. Everyone made it to work and school on time. Nothing pooped on my floor (that I know of). Wow!
I never really thought I'd crave normalcy. I don't mean that I'm an adrenaline junky or anything, but I've always known that "normal" was not going to be my life. But these days, I relish the idea of coming home, making dinner, hanging with the family and not attempting to make a huge impact on anything. I want to be a wall flower for awhile. I want to be invisible for a spell. Don't worry, or anything, I'm sure it won't last and I'll be back to managing yet another crises soon enough. But for the time being, I want a weekend of contentment.
So, think of me as I head out of school today, into the weekend. We've got a birthday party for my 1 year old niece, some Walmart shopping, and church on Sunday morning planned. That's it. I'll sprinkle in some laundry and maybe clean a bathroom or two. I'll probably make the boys try on a ton of clothes to see what still fits. But that's it. Normalcy at it's best.. I hope.
I never really thought I'd crave normalcy. I don't mean that I'm an adrenaline junky or anything, but I've always known that "normal" was not going to be my life. But these days, I relish the idea of coming home, making dinner, hanging with the family and not attempting to make a huge impact on anything. I want to be a wall flower for awhile. I want to be invisible for a spell. Don't worry, or anything, I'm sure it won't last and I'll be back to managing yet another crises soon enough. But for the time being, I want a weekend of contentment.
So, think of me as I head out of school today, into the weekend. We've got a birthday party for my 1 year old niece, some Walmart shopping, and church on Sunday morning planned. That's it. I'll sprinkle in some laundry and maybe clean a bathroom or two. I'll probably make the boys try on a ton of clothes to see what still fits. But that's it. Normalcy at it's best.. I hope.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Patriot Day
It's been quite a good Friday... finished testing... kids were good in class... Book Buddies to wrap it all up.. Then I realized.. What happened to Patriot Day?? No mention of it from the school (my main source to know what day it is).. Not until I checked my blogs and saw some cakewrecks with twin towers did I sit and think about the effects of this day 8 years ago. I think we, as a people, have forgotten.
Will there be any prayer rallies for our troops serving overseas in those countries?? How about for our friends (known or unknown) who secretly work to keep us free? Or are we too busy trying to make it to the weekend to acknowledge that today marks 8 years since a way of life ended?... not like the terrorists wanted, but a way of life when we think America is untouchable. I hope that we all will take a moment to remember where we were and what we were in the middle of when those towers fell.. Not for pity's sake, but to know that there is a God in heaven who is aware and cares for His creation, even in the midst of pain and tragedy and fear, and hurt.
So as I look forward to the weekend, the coming funeral on Monday for Chris's grandfather, and seek a few moments of peace, perhaps I will hug my kids a little tighter and pray for God protection and peace in this lost and fallen world.
Will there be any prayer rallies for our troops serving overseas in those countries?? How about for our friends (known or unknown) who secretly work to keep us free? Or are we too busy trying to make it to the weekend to acknowledge that today marks 8 years since a way of life ended?... not like the terrorists wanted, but a way of life when we think America is untouchable. I hope that we all will take a moment to remember where we were and what we were in the middle of when those towers fell.. Not for pity's sake, but to know that there is a God in heaven who is aware and cares for His creation, even in the midst of pain and tragedy and fear, and hurt.
So as I look forward to the weekend, the coming funeral on Monday for Chris's grandfather, and seek a few moments of peace, perhaps I will hug my kids a little tighter and pray for God protection and peace in this lost and fallen world.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
A little recap, in case you were wondering where Happy Marie went
So, I've had quite a few weeks of "fun".. Let me give you a recap..
1. Start of new school year in a new grade level
2. car out while they try to fix the a/c, which they can't so i get the car back after 2 weeks
3. dryer stops drying, no dryer for 2 weeks
4. new team leader gets acute appendicitis that is not responding to antibiotics and will be out indefinitely, dr finds heart trouble, team leader out indefinitely; I resume team leader duties
5. trip to NB to see the fam
6. mad rush home 5 hours early due to exploding faucet in central bathroom
7 spend Labor Day laboring over nonstandard valves, new fixture, and wet carpet
8. attempt to find solution to beginning of year reading testing issues due to absence of reading teacher
9.come home to house full of holes and fans, missing carpets and electricity in certain zones (including the washer and dryer), can't turn fans off for 24 hours
10. unplanned meeting in middle of the day 30 minutes away from my campus
Any one of these things has the potential to send me over the edge, but all 10 within a 2 1/2 week period is enough to make me find the nearest doctor and ask for some of those "happy pills" I keep hearing about.
I'm trying not to whine about it all, cuz no one wants to hear whining, and, as my students will tell you, I HATE whining more than dirty socks and lice. And I am so thankful for all the good things I have. But enough already! I even attempted self medicating with chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes. It helped some. Anyway, that's what's going on with us. Joy oh joy. Can't wait to see how God is getting the glory out of this. Prayers welcomed and needed.
1. Start of new school year in a new grade level
2. car out while they try to fix the a/c, which they can't so i get the car back after 2 weeks
3. dryer stops drying, no dryer for 2 weeks
4. new team leader gets acute appendicitis that is not responding to antibiotics and will be out indefinitely, dr finds heart trouble, team leader out indefinitely; I resume team leader duties
5. trip to NB to see the fam
6. mad rush home 5 hours early due to exploding faucet in central bathroom
7 spend Labor Day laboring over nonstandard valves, new fixture, and wet carpet
8. attempt to find solution to beginning of year reading testing issues due to absence of reading teacher
9.come home to house full of holes and fans, missing carpets and electricity in certain zones (including the washer and dryer), can't turn fans off for 24 hours
10. unplanned meeting in middle of the day 30 minutes away from my campus
Any one of these things has the potential to send me over the edge, but all 10 within a 2 1/2 week period is enough to make me find the nearest doctor and ask for some of those "happy pills" I keep hearing about.
I'm trying not to whine about it all, cuz no one wants to hear whining, and, as my students will tell you, I HATE whining more than dirty socks and lice. And I am so thankful for all the good things I have. But enough already! I even attempted self medicating with chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes. It helped some. Anyway, that's what's going on with us. Joy oh joy. Can't wait to see how God is getting the glory out of this. Prayers welcomed and needed.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Ever felt like you're under attack?
What a crazy couple of weeks! Start of school- with no car and no dryer..Great experience in 3rd grade - but, oops, my team leader will be out for 6 weeks or more having heart surgery and I'm Team Leader again. I made it 5 days with no team leader duties. Fantastic trip to parents - cut short by my house exploding with water water everywhere.
Today I am seriously considering the effects of evil spiritual forces on my everyday appliances and mechanical objects. And I am also wondering who the patron saint of "stuff" is.. cuz my stuff is broken and I really need some help from above and I'm not above asking dead people to pray for me.. not that I really believe that particular theology, but just in case I'm wrong, I'd like all my bases covered.
(( boys, only Pee out the back door. Never the front door... and #2 goes in the other place)) yeah, no water to the house yet.. The Nimrod who plumbed our house used nonstandard fittings and Home Depot is closed at 10 PM. So, after Chris stripped the hot water valve last night, we couldn't turn the water back on, so we are encouraging all possible bodily functions to be disposed of in alternate locations. I know the Woodlands committees are currently meeting jointly to discuss just which deed restrictions are being violated and which ones have been completly disregarded by the freaks at...... this address. I am eager to recieve that letter, let me tell ya.
But back to the evil plans to bring down the Willingham's through mechanical sabotage... It ain't gonna work. We might feel like we live in mold infested, broken down squallor, but it won't break us. All that great new income that should be going toward debt reduction that is currently being used to keep up with the payments to repair men trying to send their children to college is more than enough to keep things floating along. It is God's money after all and if He wants those children to go to college I will not stand in His way! And for Chris and me.. well our relationship is tight.. even after the midnight trip to the church after a 20 hour day on 4 hours of broken sleep, i don't hate him. His need for a shower was valid. And he let me drive the truck. And I know that sleep is for the weak. Plenty of time for that later.
So, if any evil minions read my blog, I send a giant raspberry in your general direction. I am a child of the King of all things mechanical, the great Creator of all stuff that you break. The Willingham's will make it through this like we have all the times you've flung stuff at us before. We won't be broken by this current attack, and we give God all the glory for leading us through it.
Now, time to hit the Home Depot and find those parts.. I've got stuff that needs washing!
Today I am seriously considering the effects of evil spiritual forces on my everyday appliances and mechanical objects. And I am also wondering who the patron saint of "stuff" is.. cuz my stuff is broken and I really need some help from above and I'm not above asking dead people to pray for me.. not that I really believe that particular theology, but just in case I'm wrong, I'd like all my bases covered.
(( boys, only Pee out the back door. Never the front door... and #2 goes in the other place)) yeah, no water to the house yet.. The Nimrod who plumbed our house used nonstandard fittings and Home Depot is closed at 10 PM. So, after Chris stripped the hot water valve last night, we couldn't turn the water back on, so we are encouraging all possible bodily functions to be disposed of in alternate locations. I know the Woodlands committees are currently meeting jointly to discuss just which deed restrictions are being violated and which ones have been completly disregarded by the freaks at...... this address. I am eager to recieve that letter, let me tell ya.
But back to the evil plans to bring down the Willingham's through mechanical sabotage... It ain't gonna work. We might feel like we live in mold infested, broken down squallor, but it won't break us. All that great new income that should be going toward debt reduction that is currently being used to keep up with the payments to repair men trying to send their children to college is more than enough to keep things floating along. It is God's money after all and if He wants those children to go to college I will not stand in His way! And for Chris and me.. well our relationship is tight.. even after the midnight trip to the church after a 20 hour day on 4 hours of broken sleep, i don't hate him. His need for a shower was valid. And he let me drive the truck. And I know that sleep is for the weak. Plenty of time for that later.
So, if any evil minions read my blog, I send a giant raspberry in your general direction. I am a child of the King of all things mechanical, the great Creator of all stuff that you break. The Willingham's will make it through this like we have all the times you've flung stuff at us before. We won't be broken by this current attack, and we give God all the glory for leading us through it.
Now, time to hit the Home Depot and find those parts.. I've got stuff that needs washing!
