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.

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.

Thoughts as I Approach 40

You know when you are young . . . you dream about your future and make plans and/or set goals.  I remember thinking I would meet my Mr. Right during college, marry soon after graduation, and have at least one, if not two, children by the age of 30 or 35, at the latest.  I figured I'd teach at the same school where I was first hired and stay there until retirement. By the time I was to turn 40, I would be happily married with a great little family and working with a great group of people. My home would have a library and an office, and it would be filled with love.  I think I thought that was God's plan for me, but I have learned that God had a different plan.  However, I worry that I have sabotaged God's plan and how my life has turned out has really been more about my choices than His.  

Have you seen Under the Tuscan Sun?  Toward the end, she is feeling low, and her friend reminds her that when she bought the house, she wanted to do three things with the hoe.  She wanted to raise a family, host a wedding, and one other thing I have forgotten.  The things she wanted, she did receive, but they weren't for her personally. (She was helping her friend raise her child, and she hosted the wedding of the neighbor girl and young man who worked on her home.) That is the revelation I have had this week as I approach my 40th birthday.

I have no Mr. Right.  Yeah, I haven't met him yet (that I know of), and maybe I am not meant to marry. I keep talking to God about this.

I have no children of my own, but God allowed me to be extremely involved in the lives of my nephew and niece the first 11 & 9 years of their lives.  Years, experiences, and memories I will treasure always. Experiences I miss. Through them, I got to enjoy school programs and parties, extra curricular activities, coming home to the open arms and smiling faces of two amazing cuties, and so much more. Not one experience or opportunity did I take for granted.

I didn't stay at the first school where I was hired.  No, I changed schools/districts my 2nd year, and during my 10 years there, I met some of the most amazing people who helped sculpt me into who I am as an educator and person. I went on to get my Masters and Doctorate, which had me meeting many more amazing people, and this led me to a district position that taught me a lot, gave me many new experiences, and continued to sculpt me into the educator I am. State and district decisions led me to a life changing decision that led me to another school and new experience that has stretched me and taught me even more.  Who knows where my professional life will end up? I do have to say . . . the experiences that I have had and the people I have met . . . I never would have dreamed.

I live in a home that I absolutely love in a town I love, even though I hate that it is growing so much, and yes, I do have a library and office space.  :-)

I've buried loved ones and purchased cemetery plots, which is something that truly impacts you.

I have two friends who are with me through everything, no matter the event, time of day, or insanity.  I have amazing co-workers, present and past, and another set of friends I could call on if needed. I have a family that loves me. I have a roof over my head and income each month.

Is my life where I expected it to be when I turned 40?  Nope.  Is it better? I don't know about better, but it is the life that has made me the person I am . . . for better or worse.

Another thought . . .

What makes a great birthday?  I see more and more people making it a birthday weekend or birthday week.  Others go on big trips.  Me? Yeah, I go to work and maybe dinner.  I have no idea what I would even want to do. I guess for me, I am here to live it, and I get to see some special people (maybe not all of them, but some), and the day ends up being pretty OK. I think I will ponder this a little longer.

Mom and Aunt Darlene took me to dinner and enjoyed gluten free cupcakes with me.  Thanks, ladies!

(We laughed hysterically as we tried to take selfies with a digital camera (not a phone).)

April Girl Scout Meeting

Tonight, we finished our Buddy Burners and cooked breakfast burritos.

You just need a large can.  Use a church key or bottle opener to poke three holes along the open end of the can and three more on the opposite side near the closed end of the can.  Light your burner, set your can on top, and cook.

Pics to come . . .

March Girl Scout Meeting

I got the crazy idea to teach our girls how to use Buddy Burners.  I had hoped my cafeteria manager would have the cans I needed to do this, but they weren't ready, so today, we only made the burners.  Next month, we will actually cook.

Buddy Burners are great for Scouts and families to use when at camp or in the backyard.

Tonight, we layered strips of cardboard with dryer lint.  A few layers of each is all you need.  You then roll it so it looks like a spiral and drop it into a tuna and cat food can.  Melt wax on your stove.  Pour it over the cardboard and lint.  Let it dry.

Next month, we will use these as the fire/heat source to cook.

Spring Break 2015

I can't believe we are already halfway through March and finishing up Spring Break.  Time is flying way too fast.  It has been a nice week.  Is our time off ever long enough?

Saturday, March 7th
I spent the morning with three Writing teachers working with a group of students on their writing skills.  I can't wait to read their final papers that they are to bring back after Spring Break.  It was truly a great morning of working with students and perfecting writing. I even took some time to write a draft using their prompt and their strategies.  Now, for me to finish my paper.

My mom got home with my niece and nephew.  I'm so excited to spend some time with them in our neck of the woods.

Sunday, March 8th--Girl Scout Sunday
Check out this Cadette Girl Scout who got to join me at church this morning.

With the kids home, they get to pick what we do and where we eat.  I give them the planning power.  Since they were infants, we have made them a part of our daily planning and events.  Now, as a teen and preteen, they know how to plan a day.

Monday, March 9th
Today, we got tickets to the Perot Museum.  We had to figure out which day still had tickets available, so it went into the plans for today.  They have a traveling exhibit on Sir Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes, so we checked it out.  It was very interesting, and we enjoyed solving the crime.

My nephew has read The Outsiders for school, so I introduced him to the movie.  You know the one.  The one with all the cute guys from the 80s.  :-) My niece said she didn't want to see it until she read it.  Of course, my copies of the book are at work, so it will be a little longer before she reads it.  We didn't actually see the end of the movie b/c he wanted to keep the book's ending in his mind rather than the movie's.  I loved discussing the book and movie with them.

Tuesday, March 10th
Today, they wanted to go to the Dallas Zoo.  When deciding on the zoo to attend, my adorable niece wanted to go to the zoo with the most animals.  Well, I compared the Ft. Worth and Dallas Zoos.  I'm not sure about the number of animals, but the Dallas Zoo is older and larger by acreage.

We have gotten their picture taken on this tortoise every time we have gone to the zoo.  

I wish I could find the first one to do a comparison.

Wednesday, March 11th
Because my nephew had so much homework to complete over Spring Break, he requested to go back by tonight.  We asked all the way back if they wanted to visit anywhere--Cameron Zoo (Waco), Dr. Pepper Museum, anything in Austin, etc.  They just wanted McDonald's for lunch and to spend time together.  When we got them back, we had dinner and then had them finish all their homework.  With it done, we can do something fun on Thursday.

Thursday, March 12th--Girl Scout's 103rd Birthday
Before Mom and I left to head home, we wanted to do one last fun thing, so we went to the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch.  I have never seen so many people there.

When we finished, we went to have a burger/hot dog and fries and finished with custard to celebrate Girl Scout Birthday.

Friday, March 13th
Mom has a serious cold, so she has rested.  After going to Curves, my 200th visit (Woohoo!!), I did chores around the house.

Saturday, March 14th--Pi Day
Happy Pi Day!  Will you be eating pie today? What were you doing on 3.1415 at 9:26?  I was walking into Curves for my 201st workout.

Unexpected Snow Day (Just Before Spring Break)

Today brought the fourth most snow ever recorded for March in our little neck of the woods.  It brought an unexpected day off of work too.  I spent it working on tests for the grade level/curriculum I assist in writing.  It was all just so beautiful.  The pictures just don't do it justice.

Standing my street looking at my house

Kitty staying warm. 

The view out my back door from my writing spot.

I took a little break to go enjoy the snow.  

I even made a snow angel.  

The first one in probably 30 years!