Girl Scouts--Volunteering and Painting

Today, our girls had the opportunity to participate in two different activities.

The church, where my co-leader attends and I have been visiting, was volunteering to help build a local house with Habitat for Humanity.  We learned that our girls were not old enough to assist with the building b/c one must be 16, so we asked if there was anything we could do to assist.  There was! We brought and served lunch to all the volunteers today.  We had sandwiches, pickles, chips, cookies, tea, and water.  The girls were able to meet some of the church members as well as learn just a wee bit about Habitat for Humanity.  They also met the family that will be moving into the house.  We were invited back to the dedication this summer. The girls thought it was really neat to see the skeleton of the house before it was move-in ready.  They can't wait to go back to see it all finished.

 

Singing Grace

 

Serving lunch

 

 

Enjoying lunch

We had a little time to spare, so we let the girls play at McDonald's.  They had an indoor play area on this warm, humid day. They got to enjoy an ice cream one too.

We spent the afternoon painting.  A local teacher/painter taught the girls how to paint owls.  They are so cute, and we had a ton of fun!

 

 

State Testing Part 2

Yesterday and today, I spent 4 hours with students retesting the state's mandated Math and/or Reading assessments.  These are the students who did not meeting the passing standards in April.  The students must pass these tests to move on to the next grade level. 

Those making the decisions surrounding state assessment should have to assess students--prepare the tests, arrange the schedule and rooms while everyone else in the building carries on with curriculum, find staff who can give up a day or two of their regular jobs to assess the students, and deal with the stress, frustration, and discipline of the re-testers.

We are always hearing things about prayer and God being removed from schools.  Well, during both days of testing, prayer was taking place.  The adults administering the tests for praying for the students.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!  Do you have any traditions to celebrate?

I think we always gave Mom a card, maybe a gift, and we either went to lunch or dinner or my dad grilled.  Because Granny lived so close, we always included her in our celebration, and when my brother married and my nephew and then niece were born, my brother, sister-in-law, and the kids were included.

This year is a little different.  This will be our first Mother's Day without Granny, and I know this is weighing on my mother.  This has been a very hard year for Mom.  1. Due to her medical needs, she has been hospitalized several times and is now on oxygen full time.  2. My brother chose to move his family 5 hours away.  For almost 11 years, she kept my niece and nephew when my brother and sister-in-law worked, and they lived with us for several years.  Her whole life was devoted to them.  In June, her whole life changed when they moved.  3.  And now, she has lost her mother, after being her full time caretaker the three months leading up to her death.

Yesterday, Mom wanted to go over to Granny's house to continue going through things and clean.  We worked in the master bedroom where we found every card Granny received between 2001 and 2004.  I know people keep a few special cards through the years.  Mom has some in her dresser drawer, but Granny kept every card.  Who does that? She had notebooks with clear sheets containing two cards each.  I'm not sure how many there were, but we went through several notebooks looking at each card. It was fun looking at how my niece and nephew signed their names as infants and toddlers.  They were budding writers.  :-)

We then went to the cemetery to check on Granny's name plate.  It was our first time back since the funeral.

I wish I could do something to make this a wonderful Mother's Day, but I think we will just use this one to process all that has happened and make it a low key kind of day.  We'll have lunch and dinner together.  She will open a present from my niece and nephew and a card from me.  We'll just relax throughout the day.

My mom is one of the strongest people I know.  She has handled all her loss and life's ups and downs with strength and grace.  She doesn't let it all get her down or stop her in her tracks.  She continues to do what she can--running the highway to see her grandchildren, fighting her medical needs to get back on her feet, and getting up everyday to do what she can to take some of the work off of me.  Yesterday, I mowed our nearly two acres.  She didn't want me to be outside alone, so she sat on the porches and watched.  While I was in the back acre, she moved her portable oxygen tank around the yard while she weedeated.  Who does that?  My mom!

I love my mom immensely and greatly appreciate all she has done for me--her support, encouragement, time, spirit, the skills she has taught me, everything and so much more!
Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to my sister-in-law, who has given me the most amazing niece and nephew ever.  What amazing young people they are!

Happy Mother's Day to my two dearest friends, who are amazing Moms with the stresses of full time jobs, and so much more.  You are great role models for your children!

Happy Mother's Day to my co-workers, who are in different stages of parenting and have taught me how to handle both stages with energy and grace.

Happy Mother's Day, everyone!

Science Fair

I am so very proud of my niece and her 1st place win in the Earth Science category of her campus Science Fair! 

Participating in the Science Fair was voluntary, and she was eager from the beginning.  She thought about various questions she had and categories to study, and she settled on testing water samples.  Because we don't live near one another, we used a dance competition weekend to get it done.  She gathered all the water samples, and I gathered our testing materials.  We worked for several hours in a hotel kitchen area--getting organized, testing the samples, typing on the laptop, organizing her thoughts, etc.  She knew what questions she had and where she wanted to take the project.  A sweet friend gave me some guiding questions to make sure we included, and my niece tackled everything head on.  I was quite impressed with her knowledge and thinking.  Once everything was typed and ready, pictures taken, we went and got the project board and supplies to make it look great.  She finished the board at home the following week.

1st Place!  Awesome for doing it all in a hotel!

Good luck at District!

Jeweler Badge

Tonight, we had a special guest teach our Girl Scouts how to make bracelets as part of their Jeweler Badge.  The girls learned how to choose one special bead to be the focal point and then how to choose beads to accent it. They learned to keep their beads/string on the table as they worked so they didn't drop the ends and lose their beads.  When they finished beading, we tied the ends, and our guest put a special clamping bead over the knots so they didn't unravel.  The girls made bracelets for themselves and one for their mothers for Mother's Day.  They were so excited, and their bracelets looked great.  Now they can make necklaces too.

Teacher Appreciation Week

Today marks the beginning of Teacher Appreciation Week.  I have fond memories of the teachers who taught me K-12.  I can recall each one by name, see their faces, and think of something about them or their class.  Some, I still see from time to time.

I can remember many teachers with whom my mom taught for 30 years.  Well, I didn't come along until year 8 or so.  :-) 

I had many fabulous, memory worthy college professors; some I still speak to today. 

I met some great educators while working at a museum in high school and college.

I had an amazing student teaching experience, so my student teacher teacher holds a special place in my heart.

I have worked with some amazing teachers and administrators over the last 16 years.  Some I feel are like family.

All of these people have left an impression on me, and I thank them for all they have done for their students and for me.

I know what teachers do.  I know how hard their jobs are.  It is easy for non-educators to think teaching is so easy or they get holidays and summers off, but the job is so much more than that.  Teachers make thousands of decisions a day, impact children (positively and/or negatively), teach state mandated objectives, and so much more.  Teachers are educators, mothers, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, coaches, caregivers, judges, managers, supervisors, facilitators, behaviorists, scientists, historians, readers, librarians, writers, mathematicians, heroes, comforters, leaders, inspiration, explorers, collaborators, counselors, and more . . .

Has a teacher left a lasting impression on you?

Just Call Me Shellerbeller

Today, my maternal side of the family gathered again--the 3rd time in four and a half months to say "good-bye" to a loved one.  My Great Uncle passed away after developing an infection and could no longer breathe on his own.

From the earliest time I can remember, he called me, "Shellerbeller."  Every time I saw him. Always with a smile.

I enjoyed all the time I spent with him, my Great Aunt, and their kids.  They belonged to a church where everyone seemed to attend weekly and also marry.  My parents were married in the church as well (years before I came along).  We visited on occasion when I was a child, and I attended VBS for years.  Their kids played on the church softball team, and I remember many times being at their house and everyone coming over before and/or after the game. It seemed like everything revolved around the church.  My Great Uncle was passionate about the Lord, and he wanted others to come to know the Lord.  His beliefs were evident in how he carried himself and raised his kids.

As I looked around the chapel during the service, I recognized many people.  Some were family, some were folks I didn't know, friends of the family, and others were people I remember from the church, who I haven't seen in many, many years.  It became very evident that my Great Aunt and Uncle have had friends from church for nearly 40-60 years. I hope, if I am blessed to have children, that I can raise them in a church where they can make friends, have lasting influences, and grow to love the Lord, becoming good Christian examples to others.

I also noticed how passionate and loving the family is with one another as well as with those they haven't seen in a while.  This is another way my Great Uncle has been an example to everyone.  He was always ready to give a hug.

He has left such a lasting influence on his family and all who knew him.  He will greatly be missed.

Photos from his funeral

I had a hard time with his passing.  I think it was because it came on the heels of my grandmother's death.  My Great Aunt was there to ride with me to the hospital, where Granny was pronounced, and she held my hand as the Dr gave us the "official" news.  I'm still grieving for her, and now this.  The one thought I just couldn't shake was that my Great Aunt has now lost her brother, sister, and husband in 4.5 months.  It is just too much for one person to handle.  The more I think about this, the more emotional I become. I continue to pray for her and the family.  Other than being here for her, that is all I can do.