Saturday, June 27, 2015
Run for God Virtual Summer Race 2015
Today was the day--Run for God's Summer Virtual Race. I entered this months ago, so I couldn't not do it. I decided that I would break it in half. I walked to Curves, worked out, and walked back. Got more than my 5K completed and a workout.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day to all the males out there who play an important role in the lives of children.
Like Mother's Day, not all males have had the opportunity to father a child, and I can imagine this day is a little sad for them.
For others, they have lost their father.
This is my 12th Father's Day without my dad. Honestly, I am not sure what my thoughts or feelings are on that. I don't know if I can put them into words.
Prayers to everyone having a difficult day today.
My sweet BFF and her mom invited me over for dinner. It was great being around friends today. I hated to intrude on their family, but they were so sweet to include me.
Like Mother's Day, not all males have had the opportunity to father a child, and I can imagine this day is a little sad for them.
For others, they have lost their father.
This is my 12th Father's Day without my dad. Honestly, I am not sure what my thoughts or feelings are on that. I don't know if I can put them into words.
Prayers to everyone having a difficult day today.
My sweet BFF and her mom invited me over for dinner. It was great being around friends today. I hated to intrude on their family, but they were so sweet to include me.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Sickness, Decisions, and Good-bye
On Tuesday, I took Mom to the ER in a local town. What I didn't know at the time was that her Platelets and White Blood Cells were all but zero and her Red Blood Cells were almost that low. The hospital couldn't care for her without a room in their ICU, so they CareFlighted her to the large hospital in another neighboring city. She was doing fine, talking, etc. They put her in ICU and gave her around 12 bags of Platelets and at least 2 bags of blood. She was tired and sick, but she was fighting and hanging on.
On Wednesday, she was weak, but she was still mentally fine, talking when she could, and fighting. My brother came in, and we were on the same page with decisions. However, we had absolutely no idea that time was running out. We seriously thought we had months. The doctors and nurses were amazing, caring, honest, and compassionate.
On Thursday, we were told that her numbers were not coming up and that her kidneys were failing. Dialysis was not going to be an option. Again, the doctors and nurses were wonderful. Again, we didn't realize the time frame. Mom talked to my niece and nephew--knowing exactly what they were doing, making perfect sense with her questions, etc. The conversations sounded so normal and not anything like where we were headed. When we left the hospital that night, they were moving her to a regular room to get some rest and would have Social Services meet with us on Friday.
On Friday morning, we talked with Mom. I could see her breathing was different. We talked to Social Services and were lining up Hospice. A prayer team from my Great Aunt's church came and prayed over her and with us. After they left and before the Hospice nurse arrived, Mom passed away.
It happened so fast. We thought we at least had a few days. We had no idea we had minutes.
We had no idea it would happen like this. She went peacefully with my brother and I at her side talking to her.
We greatly appreciate your prayers during this time and for months to come. I worry about my niece and nephew and them forgetting her. Not having her there for all their big events.
On Wednesday, she was weak, but she was still mentally fine, talking when she could, and fighting. My brother came in, and we were on the same page with decisions. However, we had absolutely no idea that time was running out. We seriously thought we had months. The doctors and nurses were amazing, caring, honest, and compassionate.
On Thursday, we were told that her numbers were not coming up and that her kidneys were failing. Dialysis was not going to be an option. Again, the doctors and nurses were wonderful. Again, we didn't realize the time frame. Mom talked to my niece and nephew--knowing exactly what they were doing, making perfect sense with her questions, etc. The conversations sounded so normal and not anything like where we were headed. When we left the hospital that night, they were moving her to a regular room to get some rest and would have Social Services meet with us on Friday.
On Friday morning, we talked with Mom. I could see her breathing was different. We talked to Social Services and were lining up Hospice. A prayer team from my Great Aunt's church came and prayed over her and with us. After they left and before the Hospice nurse arrived, Mom passed away.
It happened so fast. We thought we at least had a few days. We had no idea we had minutes.
We had no idea it would happen like this. She went peacefully with my brother and I at her side talking to her.
We greatly appreciate your prayers during this time and for months to come. I worry about my niece and nephew and them forgetting her. Not having her there for all their big events.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Have I Lost My Mind?
Have I lost my mind? I just agreed to be the Service Unit Manager for our local Girl Scout Service Unit.
I have been the Troop Organizer and Registrar, but never a position like this. It will be a learning experience. I hope everyone is patient with me.
I have been the Troop Organizer and Registrar, but never a position like this. It will be a learning experience. I hope everyone is patient with me.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Sewing with Girl Scouts--May Meeting
My heart swelled, yet broke slightly, at our monthly Girl Scout meeting tonight. The girls have been discussing Bronze and Silver Award projects, and they decided to make blankets and pillows for local hospitals. I could not come up with something "fun" for the meeting, so I decided we would start with the project. I bought 4 pieces of light fleece to make tie blankets, and Mom found some pieces of material to sew and make pillow cases. We realized we didn't have the stuffing, but we can do that later. I showed the girls how to cut and tie the blankets while she showed them how to sew a simple stitch/hem with the sewing machine. The first girl, who took to it quickly and easily, happens to have the same name as my niece. All I could think was . . . this should be my niece and her grandmother sewing together. Maybe some day it will be, but at the rate we are going, it won't. My heart broke slightly at this sight and thought. However, I was excited that both of us could share these skills with three (only three came tonight) beautiful young ladies.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Reading and Struggling Readers
Our 8th graders had to pass this year's state assessment to move on to 9th grade. If they fail the first test, they receive two more chances. Between the first and second tests, we pulled the students from electives to give them extra help. I had the privilege of working with 12 ladies and gentlemen.
The first day, I had them do a reading interest survey to help me find out a little bit about them. We actually did very little involving reading skills as I wanted to build relationships with them. I learned that most don't have books in the home, and most had only read one book in the last year. The more I read their answers, the sadder I got.
Over the next 11 days, we worked on various things, but the one that that repeated daily was their lack of desire to read and their absolute disdain for reading. It saddened me.
On our last day together, I finally had a great idea. I checked out a lot of children's books from our campus library. We don't have a large assortment, but we had several and some great ones. I showed the students each book, said the title, and told them a little bit about the book. I had used to some sentence stems to create questions they could do with any book to practice the skills they needed. They could work individually or in pairs. Each student or pair chose a book. Next thing I knew, they were reading. Reading silently. Reading to one another. Listening to someone read to them. Working. Practicing. THEY WERE READING!! I nearly cried. Why didn't I think of this sooner? I will next year.
The first day, I had them do a reading interest survey to help me find out a little bit about them. We actually did very little involving reading skills as I wanted to build relationships with them. I learned that most don't have books in the home, and most had only read one book in the last year. The more I read their answers, the sadder I got.
Over the next 11 days, we worked on various things, but the one that that repeated daily was their lack of desire to read and their absolute disdain for reading. It saddened me.
On our last day together, I finally had a great idea. I checked out a lot of children's books from our campus library. We don't have a large assortment, but we had several and some great ones. I showed the students each book, said the title, and told them a little bit about the book. I had used to some sentence stems to create questions they could do with any book to practice the skills they needed. They could work individually or in pairs. Each student or pair chose a book. Next thing I knew, they were reading. Reading silently. Reading to one another. Listening to someone read to them. Working. Practicing. THEY WERE READING!! I nearly cried. Why didn't I think of this sooner? I will next year.
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