You just never know what is going to happen when caring for the elderly.
My mom broke both right leg bones at the ankle on February 10th. With her injury, hospital stay, surgery, and need for rehab, Granny needed round the clock care from the ladies we used in the past. They were good with her, and we greatly appreciate them.
Over the last two weeks, Granny has seemed more confused in the evenings. Our head caregiver called that "sundowning." This last weekend, when she talked, she didn't really make sense, but she kept going. She seemed to not be as interested in her daily puzzle in the paper or drinking as much coffee, but she still seemed OK.
At 11:33 pm, Feb. 25th, I was awakened by a phone call with the head caregiver telling me Granny was unresponsive and the ambulance was on its way. When I got there, I knew she was gone, but they couldn't officially tell me that yet. They did CPR for at least 20 minutes and then transported her to the hospital, still doing CPR, but she never woke. The lady we thought would outlive everyone, Granny, passed away in the wee hours of February 26, 2013.
She was an amazing lady, and she will be greatly missed.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
God's Test
I truly believe that God doesn't give us more than we can handle. He pushes us to test us, and He knows how strong we are, so He pushes us right up to our limit or even a little further in order to strengthen us.
With that said, the last 12 months have been very difficult and exhausting. I know God has a plan, but I just don't understand, and I am getting so tired. I know! I know! I should not analyze and try to figure out His plan. I should just follow it. However, it is so hard. Just today, yet another thing happened. My mother fell and broke both bones at the ankle in her right leg. I hate to see her in pain, and we have to figure out how this will play out since she is Granny's caregiver. It will get interesting this week.
I recently saw the following: "When you are down to nothing, God is up to something."
I am sure He is, but I have to stay in prayer for patience b/c I want Him to just get me there already. :-) He has gotten me down to the lowest place I've ever been, so I know great things must be to come. However, I also know that things could get a lot worse. I just pray they don't.
I also saw this one: "When everything seems like it is falling a part, that's when God is putting things together just the way He wants it." I believe this. I have to be patient and do as He wants in His time. I am sure this all has something to do with my lack of patience. :-) Or . . . He is trying to get me back on track and onto the path He wants me to follow rather than the one I have been making the decisions about the last 20 years.
Finally, I saw this one: "When God puts you through trials, He breaks you down, but He always puts you back together stronger than before." I truly believe this one too. He needs me to give it all to Him, quit doing things my way and wanting to be in charge of everything, and allow Him to lead me. I know God has a great future ahead of me.
What are your thoughts about tests from God? The quotes I shared?
With that said, the last 12 months have been very difficult and exhausting. I know God has a plan, but I just don't understand, and I am getting so tired. I know! I know! I should not analyze and try to figure out His plan. I should just follow it. However, it is so hard. Just today, yet another thing happened. My mother fell and broke both bones at the ankle in her right leg. I hate to see her in pain, and we have to figure out how this will play out since she is Granny's caregiver. It will get interesting this week.
I recently saw the following: "When you are down to nothing, God is up to something."
I am sure He is, but I have to stay in prayer for patience b/c I want Him to just get me there already. :-) He has gotten me down to the lowest place I've ever been, so I know great things must be to come. However, I also know that things could get a lot worse. I just pray they don't.
I also saw this one: "When everything seems like it is falling a part, that's when God is putting things together just the way He wants it." I believe this. I have to be patient and do as He wants in His time. I am sure this all has something to do with my lack of patience. :-) Or . . . He is trying to get me back on track and onto the path He wants me to follow rather than the one I have been making the decisions about the last 20 years.
Finally, I saw this one: "When God puts you through trials, He breaks you down, but He always puts you back together stronger than before." I truly believe this one too. He needs me to give it all to Him, quit doing things my way and wanting to be in charge of everything, and allow Him to lead me. I know God has a great future ahead of me.
What are your thoughts about tests from God? The quotes I shared?
Thursday, February 7, 2013
World Thinking Day and Bronze Award Project Update
On Friday evening, our troop met to cover two major topics. First, the girls who chose to participate, presented their World Thinking Day projects. The girls were given the choices of Jordan, Malawi, Pakistan, Venezuela, Russia, Japan, and Ireland. They were asked to tell us what Girl Scouting is like in the country, what the Girl Scout uniforms look like, and what life for a young girl is like in the country. The girls did a great job!
The second part of our evening was spent on their Bronze Award project. The girls decorated white coffee mugs with sharpies for Valentine's Day. (I put them in the oven on 350 degrees for 30 minutes to set the color.) They also decorated the gift bags. We will fill the mugs/bags with sugar free hot chocolate, coffee, tea, chocolates or cookie, and a book of poems/quotes for women or a tie for men. The bags will be taken to the church by the weekend and then delivered before Valentine's Day.
The second part of our evening was spent on their Bronze Award project. The girls decorated white coffee mugs with sharpies for Valentine's Day. (I put them in the oven on 350 degrees for 30 minutes to set the color.) They also decorated the gift bags. We will fill the mugs/bags with sugar free hot chocolate, coffee, tea, chocolates or cookie, and a book of poems/quotes for women or a tie for men. The bags will be taken to the church by the weekend and then delivered before Valentine's Day.
Feel the Love
Every 3-4 weeks at work, we hold a day of Professional Development. Today's theme was Feel the Love. We had heart stickers, Valentine's Day foam stickers, and Valentine's candy, and we wore red or pink. We also played "love" music.
In order to reach every teacher on campus, we repeat our session each period. We start about 5 minutes into the period and try to finish a few minutes early.
Today, we began by having the teachers reflect on the activity they did since the last one (using a behavioral strategy). We discussed the Kisses and (Cupid's) Misses. (This was our create way of discussing Glows and Grows.)
We then asked the teachers to write as many ways to say or show praise with students. We kind of did Scattegories. One person read their list. If anyone had the same word/phrase, they marked it out. We went around a few times. The person with the most left was the winner.
We then had half the teachers read an excerpt from Fundamental Five by Sean Cain, and half read an article my Principal found that I retyped on positivity with students. To summarize their reading, they wrote a tweet and then some shared out. A co-worker created this cute third of a page slip of paper with the Twitter symbol for the teachers to record their tweets.
We then did a Temperament Survey and let the teachers discuss their findings.
We then explained that depending on their temperament, it may or may not be easy to praise students.
Their homework is to use a list of 100+ statements to praise students and challenge themselves to say more and more praises as the days pass. They are to journal about their process and outcomes. We asked then to continue working on their behavioral strategy from last time and to continue journaling about it too.
We will meet again in 3-4 weeks to discuss how they did.
In order to reach every teacher on campus, we repeat our session each period. We start about 5 minutes into the period and try to finish a few minutes early.
Today, we began by having the teachers reflect on the activity they did since the last one (using a behavioral strategy). We discussed the Kisses and (Cupid's) Misses. (This was our create way of discussing Glows and Grows.)
We then asked the teachers to write as many ways to say or show praise with students. We kind of did Scattegories. One person read their list. If anyone had the same word/phrase, they marked it out. We went around a few times. The person with the most left was the winner.
We then had half the teachers read an excerpt from Fundamental Five by Sean Cain, and half read an article my Principal found that I retyped on positivity with students. To summarize their reading, they wrote a tweet and then some shared out. A co-worker created this cute third of a page slip of paper with the Twitter symbol for the teachers to record their tweets.
We then did a Temperament Survey and let the teachers discuss their findings.
We then explained that depending on their temperament, it may or may not be easy to praise students.
Their homework is to use a list of 100+ statements to praise students and challenge themselves to say more and more praises as the days pass. They are to journal about their process and outcomes. We asked then to continue working on their behavioral strategy from last time and to continue journaling about it too.
We will meet again in 3-4 weeks to discuss how they did.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
My school has implemented PBIS this year with the theme of SWAGG. We want our students to be Successful, Wise, Accountable, Giving, and Goal Oriented. The students have an ID card and lanyard. As long as they have it on them, they can receive various positive rewards. If they do not make a wise choice, it can be removed for no more than 24 hours. During that time, the student loses his/her privileges.
To help reinforce this each six weeks, a group of educators on my campus has created videos. Take a look at their amazing work . . .
SWAGG – So Keep Yours Maybe
Swaggalicious
(This is one of my favorites. I think the rapper is hilarious!)
Hey Ho Trailer
To help reinforce this each six weeks, a group of educators on my campus has created videos. Take a look at their amazing work . . .
SWAGG – So Keep Yours Maybe
Swaggalicious
(This is one of my favorites. I think the rapper is hilarious!)
Hey Ho Trailer
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