Saturday, May 23, 2009
Having a Ball
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Home again, home again...
Jiggity Jig! :D
Kevin is home, safe and sound. Time to retrieve the coffee pot from the garage. Now, before my coffee-loving friends brand me a heretic for relegating the coffee pot to the garage, let me explain that I became a tea drinker during the deployment because coffee made me lonely. For those of you that know my beloved "bean-juice fanatic," you will understand why. But (oh joy and rapture), no longer! With the return of my Honey and his coffee habit also return quiet evenings on the back patio, outdoor grilling of pork steaks (yum), and falling asleep with my head on his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. All is right with the world once again.
(BTW...yes Caitlin is in this photo...she is smooshed between Thomas and Daddy, with just a bit of her coat peeking out.)
Monday, November 24, 2008
Cute Monster
What Your Cute Monster Says About You |
 You are a very natural, real person. You're comfortable with who you are - and your spirit truly shines through. You are free of inhibitions and hang ups. Because of this freedom, you tend to be very creative. Your inner demon is greed. You can't help but lust after wealth and shiny objects. People think you're cute because you are so lively. Your natural glow makes you charming. |
Hmm...not so sure about the "lusting after wealth" part, but I do admit I have an affinity for shiny things! lol :)
Monday, November 17, 2008
Putting the Puzzle Together
The students I teach are amazing. They are mysterious, magical, heartbreaking, baffling, beautiful ... they are autistic.
From the AutismSpeaks website:
"Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe. "
It's the "severe" ones I teach, and love. Many of them are nonverbal, about half of them display extreme behaviors such as self-injury, tantrums, and violent outbursts. I've been either hit, kicked, or bitten on an almost daily basis. Kevin asked me recently how I suppress the natural reaction to retaliate, and I could only say that I don't feel that reaction. It doesn't cross my mind to retaliate, because they aren't being malicious or hateful...it is the only way they know how to express themselves until they learn differently, and it is my job to reach them and teach them.
It occurs to me that God has given me an amazing gift...to understand in some small way the love of Christ for us, through these beautiful but heartbreaking children. We often treat Him the same way: avoiding eye contact and close personal interaction; throwing tantrums; staring at our fingers flicking in front of our face, oblivious of the glories He wants to show us; engaging in self-injurious behavior and hurting those around us, kicking and hitting and biting and hammering those nails in deeper. And though we break His heart, in His eyes we are beautiful, and He loves us. He loves us. And He takes the time to reach us, and teach us.
From the AutismSpeaks website:
"Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe. "
It's the "severe" ones I teach, and love. Many of them are nonverbal, about half of them display extreme behaviors such as self-injury, tantrums, and violent outbursts. I've been either hit, kicked, or bitten on an almost daily basis. Kevin asked me recently how I suppress the natural reaction to retaliate, and I could only say that I don't feel that reaction. It doesn't cross my mind to retaliate, because they aren't being malicious or hateful...it is the only way they know how to express themselves until they learn differently, and it is my job to reach them and teach them.
It occurs to me that God has given me an amazing gift...to understand in some small way the love of Christ for us, through these beautiful but heartbreaking children. We often treat Him the same way: avoiding eye contact and close personal interaction; throwing tantrums; staring at our fingers flicking in front of our face, oblivious of the glories He wants to show us; engaging in self-injurious behavior and hurting those around us, kicking and hitting and biting and hammering those nails in deeper. And though we break His heart, in His eyes we are beautiful, and He loves us. He loves us. And He takes the time to reach us, and teach us.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The Mom Song Sung to William Tell Overture
To earn your forgiveness for not updating my blog in a million years, I offer this...
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Can you handle two in one day?
I know I just posted earlier today (shock!), but on the Cards for Soldiers blog, Chris posted this video and it touched my heart. It is so easy to say "thank you" and it truly does mean a lot.
Gratitude Sign Video
Gratitude Sign Video
The Random Blogger Strikes Again!
Wow, has it actually been a month since my last post? And longer than that since my last actual update? I feel like I am in one of those worm holes from Star Trek where you go in one side and are sucked through time and space to instantly find yourself on the other side. (Yes, I'm a sci fi geek, if you didn't know that about me.) ;-)
I spoke with a friend last night (hi, Debbie!) about how I sit here and wonder where to start since I'm so far behind on updates...and we decided it was best just to start with today. So here is today in our life.
Kevin is doing well over in Iraq. Things have been quieter around his base for a few weeks, which is wonderful. They previously had 5 casualties in pretty quick succession, but thankfully none recently. He is enjoying his soldiers and his work very much. He's been implementing a new Combat Stress Prevention program that he is very excited about. Combat Stress is a huge problem in the military right now, and I am hopeful that his program will really help his guys.
Looks like he will come home on his mid-term leave sometime this summer. And no, it really isn't quite "mid-term" since he just left in March, but the benefit is that we will all be out of school and can spend the entire time together with no worries about piles of make-up work or finding substitues for me. The down side is that once he leaves again, it will be a looooong haul until the end....like still almost a whole year. But it was so much more practical to have him home in the summer, so that was what we decided to ask for.
My teaching certificate work and testing are done (whew) and now I am in the middle of job hunting. I had a couple of interviews, but didn't get those positions, so I keep plugging away. I have an interview on Tuesday in the district where I live (not as close to the private school my kids attend, though) and I am hopeful things will work out. I know it is still early in the summer, but wouldn't it be nice to enjoy the whole summer already knowing what the following year will bring? Please pray for me on that one.
The kids are doing great. We seem to have hit our stride and gotten over that tough transition period. Caitlin turned 8 a couple weeks ago with a fun skating party, and we went yesterday to have our toes and fingernails done together. That was fun. The boys are playing baseball and that keeps us hopping! School is out in one more week, so they are all excited about that. I am bracing myself to say good-bye to my wonderful little class...I vow not to cry in front of them but be cheerful and rejoice in their growing up!
Speaking of growing up, today Caitlin told me she thought maybe she was too old for bedtime singing. I couldn't hide my disappointment, and she quickly said, "Well, we'll just try it out tonight and see how it goes." Well...OK, sweet girl, but if I can't sleep then let's go back to the bedtime singing. ;-)
Murphy is doing great, too, for those wondering about him. He protects the backyard from the evil squirrels. Poor Frisky has lost his domain.
I spoke with a friend last night (hi, Debbie!) about how I sit here and wonder where to start since I'm so far behind on updates...and we decided it was best just to start with today. So here is today in our life.
Kevin is doing well over in Iraq. Things have been quieter around his base for a few weeks, which is wonderful. They previously had 5 casualties in pretty quick succession, but thankfully none recently. He is enjoying his soldiers and his work very much. He's been implementing a new Combat Stress Prevention program that he is very excited about. Combat Stress is a huge problem in the military right now, and I am hopeful that his program will really help his guys.
Looks like he will come home on his mid-term leave sometime this summer. And no, it really isn't quite "mid-term" since he just left in March, but the benefit is that we will all be out of school and can spend the entire time together with no worries about piles of make-up work or finding substitues for me. The down side is that once he leaves again, it will be a looooong haul until the end....like still almost a whole year. But it was so much more practical to have him home in the summer, so that was what we decided to ask for.
My teaching certificate work and testing are done (whew) and now I am in the middle of job hunting. I had a couple of interviews, but didn't get those positions, so I keep plugging away. I have an interview on Tuesday in the district where I live (not as close to the private school my kids attend, though) and I am hopeful things will work out. I know it is still early in the summer, but wouldn't it be nice to enjoy the whole summer already knowing what the following year will bring? Please pray for me on that one.
The kids are doing great. We seem to have hit our stride and gotten over that tough transition period. Caitlin turned 8 a couple weeks ago with a fun skating party, and we went yesterday to have our toes and fingernails done together. That was fun. The boys are playing baseball and that keeps us hopping! School is out in one more week, so they are all excited about that. I am bracing myself to say good-bye to my wonderful little class...I vow not to cry in front of them but be cheerful and rejoice in their growing up!
Speaking of growing up, today Caitlin told me she thought maybe she was too old for bedtime singing. I couldn't hide my disappointment, and she quickly said, "Well, we'll just try it out tonight and see how it goes." Well...OK, sweet girl, but if I can't sleep then let's go back to the bedtime singing. ;-)
Murphy is doing great, too, for those wondering about him. He protects the backyard from the evil squirrels. Poor Frisky has lost his domain.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Really? Just A Crutch?
"God is just a crutch."
Have you ever heard this? I can't help smiling at this silly statement. I mean, think about it...what is a crutch, anyway? It's something to help you stand and get around when a part of you is broken. Look at the world we live in...something is definitely broken. Why would a person scorn the one thing that can actually help? This is why one of the first steps to coming to God is to admit that you are weak, that you need help...that you are, in fact, broken. Imagine a paraplegic saying, "Nope. I don't want that wheelchair. I don't need it! I am doing just fine on my own!" No nurse or doctor or therapist in the world can help such a self-deluded person. On the other hand, check out some of the people that embrace that wheelchair, become independent, and compete in sports such as basketball, racing, and other challenging sports, simply because they have accepted the help they needed. We have to allow ourselves to be vulnerable, to admit our weakness, so that His strength can be given to us. And His strength is powerful, indeed!
Jesus is more than a crutch or even a wheelchair to me, that's for sure. He is fresh eyes to truly see, new ears to truly hear, withered hands made whole for the purpose of serving other broken people. He is a heart transplant and the cure for the spiritual cancer that is eating at this crazy world.
You think Jesus is just a crutch? No, my friend. He is much, much more.
Have you ever heard this? I can't help smiling at this silly statement. I mean, think about it...what is a crutch, anyway? It's something to help you stand and get around when a part of you is broken. Look at the world we live in...something is definitely broken. Why would a person scorn the one thing that can actually help? This is why one of the first steps to coming to God is to admit that you are weak, that you need help...that you are, in fact, broken. Imagine a paraplegic saying, "Nope. I don't want that wheelchair. I don't need it! I am doing just fine on my own!" No nurse or doctor or therapist in the world can help such a self-deluded person. On the other hand, check out some of the people that embrace that wheelchair, become independent, and compete in sports such as basketball, racing, and other challenging sports, simply because they have accepted the help they needed. We have to allow ourselves to be vulnerable, to admit our weakness, so that His strength can be given to us. And His strength is powerful, indeed!
Jesus is more than a crutch or even a wheelchair to me, that's for sure. He is fresh eyes to truly see, new ears to truly hear, withered hands made whole for the purpose of serving other broken people. He is a heart transplant and the cure for the spiritual cancer that is eating at this crazy world.
You think Jesus is just a crutch? No, my friend. He is much, much more.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
An Excellent Article from....Glamour??
Well, I don't know how much actual substance Glamour magazine typically has in the pages of their issues, but here is a really good article about the Gold Star Family program here at Fort Hood. Gold Star Families are families who have lost a loved one in war. The article gives some insight into what these families go through, and how they are helping each other through it. I had the honor of meeting some of these ladies at a training session for Care Team members. They are brutally honest about their experience, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
A Town of War Widows
A Town of War Widows
Friday, March 14, 2008
Time to Catch Up!
Well. It's been so long since I've posted, I hardly know where to start.
Kevin left last Sunday, headed back to Iraq. He is now safely in Kuwait, where the battalion will spend a couple of weeks, and then on to the base in the Baghdad area. He is doing well...his commander is extremely supportive of Kevin's role as a chaplain, and the company commanders are almost all quite receptive as well. That will make a huge difference for Kevin. The kids and I are adjusting to his absence...we miss him terribly, but the transition has gone surprisingly smoothly. I am thankful for that!
My work on getting my teaching certificate is going along great. I have passed all the tests I need so far (Special Ed, Pre-K - 3 Generalist and 4-8 Generalist). The next big step is finding a full-time job, which will count as my field experience. I have to do this during the next school year, or my time limit will run out. Please pray that I will get just the perfect job for me. I have loved teaching 3 year olds part-time for the past couple of years, and it would be hard to leave them, but my heart is really in Special Ed.
The children are all doing very well, staying active and healthy.
That's just a big sweeping overview of things as they stand now. I'll try to be better about updating and including more details. For now, I hope everyone reading this is healthy and blessed!
Kevin left last Sunday, headed back to Iraq. He is now safely in Kuwait, where the battalion will spend a couple of weeks, and then on to the base in the Baghdad area. He is doing well...his commander is extremely supportive of Kevin's role as a chaplain, and the company commanders are almost all quite receptive as well. That will make a huge difference for Kevin. The kids and I are adjusting to his absence...we miss him terribly, but the transition has gone surprisingly smoothly. I am thankful for that!
My work on getting my teaching certificate is going along great. I have passed all the tests I need so far (Special Ed, Pre-K - 3 Generalist and 4-8 Generalist). The next big step is finding a full-time job, which will count as my field experience. I have to do this during the next school year, or my time limit will run out. Please pray that I will get just the perfect job for me. I have loved teaching 3 year olds part-time for the past couple of years, and it would be hard to leave them, but my heart is really in Special Ed.
The children are all doing very well, staying active and healthy.
That's just a big sweeping overview of things as they stand now. I'll try to be better about updating and including more details. For now, I hope everyone reading this is healthy and blessed!
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