Back to the Real World

Today was the first day back to work after a great 2 weeks off. It doesn't matter how long of a vacation I get - it never seems long enough! Cameron and I had an agenda everyday so there wasn't a whole lot of R&R. Let's see what we did get checked off the to do list:

• Spend LOTS of time soaking up family - Check. Time went by too fast in Bville though.
  
• Start and Finish "New Moon" - Nope. But now I have a student waiting to borrow Slatten's copy that I have now had since November. Better get crackin.
  
• Work a puzzle - No! Ah man. Trish even brought one to mom and dad's and I totally forgot.
  
• Exercise at least 2 days a week - Hah. That's funny. I really need to start training for this so called half marathon we are doing this Spring... right Mandy?
  
• Find some good deals on New Years Day - Sort of. Cam cleaned up, however! Got lots of "grown up" clothes.
  
• Clean and organize the office - Again a good laugh. Cameron and I both talked about doing that, but not so much.  

Phil and Christie leave for St. Louis tomorrow. It's Christie's turn for surgery! Keep her in your prayers. We are excited to get this one over with too so she can begin her road to recovery. Cameron and I will head up there this weekend to be there while she is in the hospital. I know that place pretty well by now. The cafeteria is great! Updates to come. 


Happy 2009!

Year in Review

Merry Belated Christmas to all! I had a great time with my family, but it went by WAY to quickly. One week of my vacation has already come and gone and my to do list has not gotten any smaller. Still haven't started reading New Moon. Still haven't worked out yet. Still haven't tackled the office. I can be productive this week, right? Most likely not. 

2008 went by quickly. A lot was jam packed into these 365 days (well technically 362 as I'm writing this early). This was the year of health struggles in our family.


We started off with the mission of figuring out why Cameron's hip had been hurting for a year. He had some intial x-rays and the first MRI in January which told us he had a laberal tear. No big deal, we thought - just an out patient surgery to repair it. To be continued in March...

In February, we lost Roy. This was a hard hit for the family, especially for June. She was unable to make it to Roy's service as she was too ill to be released from the hospital. 


Our family's health continued to decline as Meghan became really ill and had to be hospitalized for a few days, followed by some dreadful steroids. My Uncle Phil was also diagnosed with cancer. Upon referral to a specialist, Cameron and I find out that his hip pain is much more than just a laberal tear and required a major surgery to fix the problem. Phil continued to stay what seemed every other night with his mother as her health continued to decline as well. 
 

Meghan slowly regained her strength and managed to finish out the year at Hawley. Then off to Friendswood, Texas! Garrett had started his new job in Friendswood before he graduated and they quickly found a house, found new doctors, and found new hope for Meghan's health. She is continuing her journey to complete wellness, and is gaining a few answers along the way.

In June, we traveled to St. Louis for Cameron's surgery. He was a great patient and has made a great recovery! (You can review that whole process in my June blog overload.)


Sister Sara somehow came down with a case of whooping cough and had to be quarantined for several days at home. Also accompianed by several calls from the heath department... geez.

This fall, we lost June. She was able to be in her own home when she passed and is now finally relaxing with Roy on their golden porch swing.

We also unexpectedly lost my Aunt Francis to an unforseen battle with cancer. By the time she went to the doctor, it was too late. My Uncle David continues to preach at his small congregation in Texas and is learning how to cook and clean! 

Trish and Tim continued to learn more and more about Mitchell's condition. The situation was intensified with frustrating experiences at school. He was able to be placed under an IEP which made for a smoother transition into the new school year in the fall. 


Currently, Uncle Phil is cancer free! He is doing well and is soaking up every minute of those beautiful grandchildren.  


As I'm writing about what seems to be the year from hell, I can't help but feel blessed despite all the heath issues we have faced this year. Although each circumstance was hard to take (some we had to take in all at once!), God never gave us more than we could handle. It seemed wild at times and thousands of tears were shed, but we made it. 


Despite all the negatives, God blessed us with three graduations (Garrett, Cameron, and Mandy), a great job opportunity for Cameron, Meghan's acceptance into graduate school, Christie's answers about her hip (surgery to come early next month), Cameron and I beginning our journey to financial peace, and many more. 


For 2009 I look forward to witnessing complete healing among my family members. I wish Cameron fullfillment as he starts his career. And is it too much to ask for all my student's to pass their CRTs? 


Happy New Year!

The Middle School Teacher Within

Holiday Shopping- need I say more?

Now, I realize that there is a certain amount of patience required when shopping between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. I get that, and I thought I was handling it pretty well.

A couple of weeks ago Cameron and I were in lime at the Gap. There were a few people waiting- but nothing unreasonable. The lady behind us got the attention of the worker "Excuse me, Are you going to open up the registers in the back? There is a line here." Really lady, a line?!? Seriously? Yes, of course there is a line. It's December- get over it.

So I have been comparing my patience to this woman ever since and thought I was doing well. (Bible 101 no-no by the way to compare your virture levels to others.)

I don't mind parking far away- I am glad that there are so many people out there boosting our economy. I don't mind the lines- plenty of opportunity for people watching. I don't mind the disgruntled retail workers- they put in long days. I don't mind digging through piles of clothes to find the right size- it's hard to continually pick up after shoppers every 5 minutes. I get it. It's going to be crowded and messy, but that's just the way it is.

What I do mind is people who completely disregardall common rules of mall walking when stores are at max capacity. (Hense the middle school teacher within kicking in.) For instance- going up the escalator; common sense would tell you to quickly move out of the way so that those behind you can safely depart. Common sense would tell you to walk on the right. Common sense would tell you to have your children walk infront of you so they ate not tripping the strangers behind you. Common sense would tell you to move off the "road" if you are waiting for the rest of your party or are stopping to look for your next destination.

At Alcott we have been working with the kids on how to move in the hallways most efficiently. We say things like "Walk and talk" to keep the hallways moving without clumps of conversationalists to maneuver around. We remind them to walk on the right. We ask them to walk with a purpose so they preplan their next destination.

The middle school teacher within desperately wanted to educate the complete strangers around me of these common courtesy rules. Maybe I should make some posters of these friendly reminders. Now that's the Elementary teacher within talking...

Heater Saga and Other News

Thank goodness I married a handy man! For some reason the guy that installed our heater designed it in a way that it won't work when it's below freezing outside. A little backwards if you ask me... Something about condensation and freezing water in the drainage pipe... yada yada. Same story for 3 straight winters now. Good news is - Cameron set up a temporary fix until we can get it fixed permanently... someday.

In other news - 2 more days of school till a break! Hallelujah! The kids and I need a break from each other so they can realize how much they truly love me and so I can have time to remember how much I really do like the little boogers. Absence makes the heart grow fonder - so true for teaching.

Cameron got a job offer! It is just what he wants for now and a good career move. I'll post more once everything is official. He's waiting on a background check, so as long as he hasn't committed any crimes that I'm not aware of - I think we're good! He already had his fingerprints made and drug screening done. It's quite the process - much like applying for a teaching position!

Christmas shopping is almost done. This has been the longest drawn out process. It started on Black Friday at 4am and still continues. Hopefully we will have it wrapped up (literally) by this weekend.

Goals for the Break:

• Spend LOTS of time soaking up family - I miss my peeps
  
• Start and Finish "New Moon" - I'm tired of having to shush Twilight conversations
• Work a puzzle - Christmas isn't the same without a cup of hot chocolate and a puzzle
• Exercise at least 2 days a week - I've gotta set some realistic goals
  
• Find some good deals on New Years Day - yea for more shopping
• Clean and organize the office - notice this is last on the list...
  

Happy Thanksgiving!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Hqppy Thanksgiving. I grew up adoring Thanksgiving, except for when Dad made us awkwardly go around the table and say what we were thankful for. Sara would always answer "I'm thankful that we only do this once a year." That left Trish and I to say something meaningful. Usually it was "I'm thankful for my family" or "that I only have one more test this semester" or "that mom cooked instead of Uncle Dale". Just kidding- we love you Dale.

I am a firm believer that Thanksgiving often gets overlooked it's like the opening ceremonies for Christmas instead of the "main event". Don't get me wrong; Christmas is still by far my favorite holiday. I just think Thanksgiving gets the shaft. I used to make my parents wait to put up Christmas decorations until Thanksgiving was officially over. A few times when I came home from college for Thanksgiving, I would pull up to see lights already strung outside. Mom and Dad would meet me at the door saying "I can explain..."
This year I have to admit I pulled out the decorations before we left for Houston. Now the tree is not up and there are no lights outside, so Im only cheating a little bit...
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Home Away From Home

Cam and I made the trek up to St. Louis yesterday for his third follow up appt after his surgery in June. This trip was so much easier without crutches, a cane, surgical hose, pain meds, gause, etc! It was just Cam and I and our one suitcase. Last night we hit both our favorite hotspots- Imo's pizza and White Castle. A gross combo- I know, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
As we were driving to the hospital this morning, we were talking about how easy this trip has been without worrying about directions. We really feel this has become our home away from home!
We'll be coming back again in January for Christie's surgery! Cameron will get to experience the other side of staying at Barnes Jewish hospital.
He's shaking his head at me right now- "Why must you blog right now?"

Proud to be an American

There are LOTS of times I get very frustrated with our nation- especially the people! I get frustrated with bad drivers, lies about construction deadlines, broken promises, dirty politics, selfishness, stubborness, etc. But having to wait in line to vote makes me very proud of our nation. The fact that this many people in my neighborhood care about our country enough to stand in this line makes me forget about their junky front yards, loud music, or speedway driving down my street. It makes me proud to be an American.
Now... I hope they're not just in it for the sticker...