Thank you all so much for your well wishes and congratulations! I just wanted to pop in before DD's jv soccer game this afternoon. (we had a modified football game this AM!)

I still love my job! A gift from God! I even love doing homework. Most of all I've been very careful to listen to the students. I am in a room with 8 children in the afternoon. I usually work with the 3 ninth graders on vocabulary, but occasionally I get to work with the older students too. Most of them like to share little bits and pieces of themselves if you'll listen.

I went to my first pep rally in 17 years on Friday....quite the experience! I was covered with silly string by the end of it! No wonder the teachers don't sit with the students!

Well I have to run! Hope you are all doing well!

~Blessings!

What a Week!

As I mentioned before, I started my new job as a teacher's aide Wednesday. After 3 days, I can't tell you how much I love my job. I start my day in the Health office taking attendance for 6-12 grades, listing the early dismissals and that sort of thing. That takes about an hour and a half. Then I go to Algebra!! Two of my students are in that class and need me there to take notes and occasionally give them further explanations on certain concepts. I was never a math wiz, but I was not asked and I never told! And Praise God, I actually get it!! I am actually having a ball taking notes and figuring problems and stretching the ol' gray matter between the ears!!

Now, after this class, I am bopping down back to my old job in the cafeteria and doing as much of my old duties as I can in my dress clothes. This will only happen for two more weeks, but after the first day I was so exhausted I didn't know how I'd make it. It got easier as the week went on though. After two more weeks that time will be filled with possibly lunchroom or study hall monitoring and helping my math kids with their homework.

Next comes my favorite part of the day. The teacher I work with teaches a 9-12 Lifeskills class. This includes what is called consumer math; filling out and understanding time cards, pay scales, shopping lists etc.; English and vocab and a bit of social studies. Usually I get to help the 9th graders with their vocabulary. They have worksheets and games that they play. I am excited because they seem to have let me right in and we have a lot of fun together.

Things are never the same and I am always learning. I know, it's only been three days, but you should see this big ol' smile on my face!

Ah, but my feet are a bit achy from my maybe not so sensible shoes, so I am glad it's Friday!

Have a blessed weekend!

Chchchchanges...

I am not big on change. I like things to stay pretty much the same and expected all the time. Even when there is a change I want and pray for, I often go through quite the period of adjustment. But, when summer break came around, I knew God was preparing me for change. Time for a job change. For the past seven years I have worked in the school cafeteria. Glamorous? No, not at all; but ever so convenient for raising two children. I also see it was a great transition job. I started there pretty shy and unsure of myself. Having had my first child at 20 and then staying home full-time when baby #2 came along; at 28 I was a little shaky on my big people real world skills! So as He often does, God used my circumstances to prepare me for life a little further down the line. In June when school let out, I was not sure where I was going to turn. I had in the back of my mind to figure out this civil service stuff. While on vacation, I really had time to think about what I wanted to do. To be honest, nothing was crystal clear, but I knew God was again preparing me to take some steps out of my comfort zone. When I got home I answered an add for a teacher's aide position at our school, filled out some applications for civil service exams and left the rest in God's hands.

It's funny, but the job I thought I wanted the least, was the first offered to me and turns out to be such a perfect match I am just still in awe. The teacher's aide for HS special ed. It's not a coveted job apparently.

There can be some tough days with some tough kids.

You can explain a subject, be totally convinced they have it, and then find the next day they lost all the information you taught them.

They speak what they hear at home and that is not always what I deem appropriate.

These were a few of the warnings I received from the Superintendent of schools before he hired me. (Yes, I went to TWO interviews and you just can not imagine how far out of my comfort zone I was at that point!) I found the more they tried to warn me the more excited I got about the job. I want to be in these kids lives and make a difference. I know that I will rarely see the results, but I know I can make a difference.

So that is my big change. What a good one! I can't wait to share more with you!

~Blessings

A Quick Meme

Found this at Aunt Jenny's http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/


1. Accent? : probably a little NY nasally
2. alcohol?: nope
3. Chore I hate: cleaning the bathroom
4. Pets?: one dog
5. Essential electronics: home pc, DVD player
6. Perfume?: not usually,
7. Gold or silver? Silver
8. Insomnia? no, I could sleep through a hurricane
9. Job title?: school food service
10. Most admired trait?: laid back
11. Kids?: 2 children, DD 14, and DS is 12
12. Phobia?; not that I can think of
13. Religion?: born again Christian
14. Siblings?: none
15. Time I wake up?:6:00am
16. Unusual talent/skill?: hmmm
17. Vegetable love/hate?: I love veggies, except for beets and lima beans
Worst habit?: procrastination
18. X-Rays?: dental, right arm when I was 9 (yup, I broke it!)
19. Favorite meal?: Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and fresh broccoli
okay...now how about some of you post your answers??? We may have alot in common!!

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Well, we are getting into the swing of things here. Back to work, back to school! DD starts her first day of HS today..."I will not think about that today!"-Scarlett O'Hara

Before we headed back, I had some last ditch fun! Found a great yardsale Saturday on a beautiful old farm! I just knew there had to be some good stuff there.

I also made a back to school Joann's stop on Monday! I even remembered my coupons! Got some lovely fat quarters for the "Turning Twenty" quilt pattern and I bought some great buttons. Whew! I hope I got everything I needed for back to school!!!
I am finishing this table runner for a co-worker of my mom's. I have never met her, but she always passes along bags of fabric she finds to me. So I thought I needed to make a little something for her.
Also been quilting on a wall hanging! See those gloves? They are an absolute necessity for quilting on your machine at home!!


Well, my coffee is cold and my oatmeal is gone, so I guess it's time to head out the door!
~Blessings!