Another grandparent gone

Last Friday I showed up at my grandfathers home to find him hunched over in his bed, oxygen tube falling out of his nose, unable to really speak or move.  I didn't expect that. I knew he was sick, but didn't want to see him like this. Pale doesn't begin to describe his color of skin, out of it doesn't describe his behavior. Zombie....maybe, a man always full of spirit was wanting to die. He had given up. 17% of his heart working, but that isn't what killed him. He staved himself and suffered from dehydration in the end which was July 25th. Cremation means the family will wait for services. His children were around him in the end, as we were all making a trip back to celebrate class reunions in town and my grand parents 60th anniversary party.

Memories that pop into my head. He had an office in my grandmas store where he did reality. I spent lots of time there. He also went to the meal sight when I was  4 or 5 and I went often with him. He was always in the same seat at church on Sunday morning. He would say good morning with a tight firm hug or grip on the arm. He loved picking up golf balls at the golf course....everyone made fun of him for it. He loved collecting all of them.  He use to attend every sporting event he could, standing on the fence line watching raider football. I found an old video of him driving his Oliver tractor in a homecoming parade. I think he loved that so many of us graduated from the same school as him! Several of us graduated from ISU too, just like him.

RIP grandpa your birthday is. Friday and we will celebrate the life you had.  Strong faith, helpful friend, supporting family member.

To have baby or not to have a baby that is the question.

To the doctor I go to see if it is possible to have another child.  I love children, I love my son to the moon and back, but I dont know about having another one! Can I do the late nights, no sleep, crying all day and night from not only my child but those of the children I watch all day? Can we afford it?  What if we have a girl? Then they are going to be dressed in a lot of boy clothes! I am not good at doing hair, my husband would try the vacuum cleaner pony tail.  If it doesn't happen in the next couple of months then that would be it for me and having another baby....am I ok with that?


Ahhhhhh!

The days of potty training!

Since the years of not writing on here much in my life has changed. After being married for years and trying to have a child....we were blessed by God to have a son. Now at 20 months old! Life has changed, priorities different. I worked at a great school district, but resigned to be a stay at home mom and do child care from my home! Wow! What a change this was. Who doesn't  love getting up in the morning, keeping on Jammies or throwing on sweats!  Now for my next struggle the potty training. We our on day one of trying.....
Plan: pull ups, going every 20 to 30 min., seat on big potty, M&Ms.
So far it is nap time and he told me he pooped after he went, no success yet. I have read, sought advice online....but am going to do my own thing. Here goes nothing! Today I felt defeated. He has the sitting, wiping, and washing hands down. He has been watching us for months always wanting to sit in the bathroom with us until we are done with our deed. Yesterday he tools me poop and he went. That was a picture I texted to my husband.
I pray for strength to make it through this phase!

Odyssey of the Mind

Odyssey of the mind was this past weekend in Ames, and I was blessed to have the chance to party with a bunch of young kids dancing the night away in really hot rec center.  It got me thinking about how closed minded I have become, how I've stopped challenging myself, stopped dreaming about what is to come in the future.  The Odyssey (adventure) of my mind has been stuck in one spot.  I looked at all these kids from all over the world here in Iowa for one purpose to use their minds in creative ways. 

As a teacher I'm stuck like others and continue to do what works and am willing to try new things, but don't always want to prep for those new things.  I don't want to say it is the laziness in me....but lets get real it is partly that.  Part of it I think is knowing that I won't ever get regonition from administration if I do something great in class.  I'm stuck in a little hole without a ladder to get out on some days.  This year has been a challenge in teaching and a true joy.  I watched students go from hating to read to not wanting to put a book down.  I saw students learn how to problem solve and have conversations with others.  Other students write with spaces and with periods at the end of a sentence.

My odyssey, adventure, journey this summer is focus on my walk with God again.  I want to get refocused on what direction I need to be going in my life.  I worked with youth earlier this week and we talked about choices that we make and having the freedom of choice.  We played a little wii party to make that connection....it worked!  How do the choices we make young effect the choice we make later as an adult?


I reflected today by going through picture after picture....Memorial Day is a time to reflect on those that served our country.  God bless my grandfather, may he rest in peace.  To this day just the start of the Taps, make me cry.




 

Long Time No Write

Wow, it has been a long time since I've been on here.  I thought this summer I would use this to do some reflection,  share or get some advise, and work on my devotions.

Graduated College-check
Teaching at a an elementary school-check
Married -check
Children-in prayer
Masters degree- soon will be work in progress!

Married Life!!

Gangs all hear. Everything went well, God has truely blessed my life with Andy and we are doing great. A year this month we bought our first house, now we are married and have a wonderful home!

Marriage Coming Soon

Can you believe it I'm getting married in one week from tonight!

"Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile." ~Franklin P. Jones

Packing

if you were to walk into my house.....who am I kidding....i don't want anyone in my house. I have been packing since 8am and I give up....for the night. I have a long way to go and a lot of stuff still to trash pack and sell.

I'm moving to Waukee...looking for a house....getting ready to work in a new place!

summer is going fast!

Ready set go......

Well, my new journey is about to begin. Earlier in the week I got a call asking if I could interview for a job the next day....I said yeah sure!!!! It was one of the hardest interviews I've done. It was based on just Special Education (which I haven't worked with in 4 years) I didn't think I was going to get it. Then I got a call yesterday and I got the job, sending in my resignation, I'm looking at houses, thinking about going back south and packing up my house....too many things going through my head. I'm so nervous.

I get to meet Andy's sister tonight so that is also very excited and nervous too. I hope she likes me.

Summer is here!

Well summer break has been here for a while now, but I've been busy.

I have spent the last week up at my sister's and Andy's. I managed to get food poisoning the previous weekend and the past weekend I got just flat out sick. Grrr I just can't just get well. Pastor and his wife are moving in with me for the month of June so I'm headed up to spend my summer with Andy and my sister and her new home.

Any ideas for a good summer break? I'm going to be lazy. ......but I'm up for some ideas too,

Count down to summer...1/2 almost here!

I've started packing, my classroom not my house. It looks like at this point I'll be staying in where I'm at.
Today was my last day with my kindergartners and I hope I did a good enough job that they love school and love to learn.
Tomorrow is kindergartner round up and then I have Thursday and Friday to finish packing up stuff in my classroom, last year it took a month. I'm going to give myself until Friday! Tresa is coming back and then I'm on my way to visit Andy! Summer is here and I have no solid plans and that is kind of nice, kind of boring I know....but I what to breathe and I want to get healthy. My goal for the summer is to workout hard core, finish my illustrations for my book, spend time with my nephew and niece and with Andy and all of my friends!

10 days and counting (weekends excluded)

Plans for summer?

Well-hmmmmmm

June is almost here and my plans are to head to dsm area and spend it with Andy and my sister's family....other than that no detailed plans.

?to move or not to move that is the question?

Psalms 35:7

Depend on the Lord; trust him, and he will take care of you.

Life headed in the right direction

Life is heading in a new direction, I wish I knew what direction I was going.
The direction I'm going I hope is good, I hope I'm happy.

count down is on

22 more school days and counting and I have not job pending......

Life is going well, what can I say?

Weekend Count Down

As much as i tell myself i could use a good drink, i will not be doing that this weekend.

I get to hang with my family and paint with a friend, I'm looking forward to getting out of town!


Life sometimes sucks....we all just need to take a deep breath and remember change is good ....we don't need to be stuck in things that are constant and without change, how boring right?


breathe---breathe---breathe