Blindsided

Please pray for my family. My brother-in-law died unexpectedly this morning.

This is the way I want to remember Tony...on vacation with the boys he loved most in the world (July 2010).

and with Tiffany, his bride of 15 years

We are a very close family, and Tony is one of us.  This is very hard.

A Fresh Start= Big News

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31

A few posts back, I alluded to the possibility of big news coming soon.  Today, I am ready to reveal that news.


After 18 years of working in a school I love, I have decided to transfer, and I have secured a position at another school.  This decision has been tough and wrought with sleepless nights, but I am excited as it looks like my expectations will be exceeded.  This opportunity comes with the excitement of a school-wide renovation that includes the opening of a new library.  I will be working closer to home and closer to where Zach, Savannah, and Wyatt attend school.  I will be a bit further from Julia's school, and this weighed heavily on my mind, but I had lots of encouragement to pursue this opportunity that would not likely come up again in my career.


To give an accurate picture of the catalyst to this difficult choice, I must share what this past school year has looked like.  Our school learned of a significant drop in test scores early in the year.  We also learned that, due to a new state law (a very bad law, I might add), up to 50% of our staff would have to leave after this school year.  We were audited in December, and our former principal was raked over the coals in the press.  It was entirely unfair to her.  You would have thought that she came to work and played all day.  She was actually a very caring person who worked very hard and had great concern for our kids.  She left in January, and a new principal arrived in February.  Within one month we all interviewed to keep our jobs, and a huge portion of our staff (myself included) received the news that we were overstaffed.  I was asked back when the other librarian at my school decided to retire.  The school had decided to go forward with only one librarian.  I committed to stay, and felt very firm about that commitment.  I did not take my change of heart lightly as I was absolutely adamant that I would not go back on my word.  Leaving a collection I know and helped develop over the last 13 years is very hard.  


This year, however, has brought a great deal of pain.  Some of our best teachers were overstaffed.  Teachers who have been in the building for a very long time are being forced to leave.  The family atmosphere that once characterized our school has been splintered by divisions, cruel rumors, and challenging working conditions.  I work with strong professionals who continued to work hard while heart-broken.  Over the course of this year, we have lost four students to illness, an accident, and a murder.  The staff has faced personal losses in addition to the struggles at school. It seems that every time we move past a period of grief, another one starts.  It has been messy, ugly, and painful.  Without a doubt, I would call this the worst year of my life so far.  


So what now do I do?  Whether I stay or go, I am moving into a new school.  After much prayer, discussion with friends from work and outside of work, and great encouragement from Andy (the person who has carried the weight of living with a wife trying to survive career and personal crisis), I have decided to go.  A hard decision, but a good one.


I started this post with a quote from scripture about soaring like an eagle.  I have waited and struggled through this process, and now I am trading in the Redhawk mascot for that of the Eagle.  Go Eagles! (okay, I do still love my Redhawks)

Insomnia

So, I am up way too early, missing my mom, wrestling with a couple of big decisions, and wishing I could sleep.

The Compromise

It appears that we have reached a decision on Julia's gymnastics. We will be pulling her from traditional gymnastics, and she will pursue tumbling only.  Julia's ultimate goal is to be a cheerleader, so this still fits her agenda. We will miss seeing her on the bars, and I know that at one point this year, she was anxious to learn how to flip on the beam.  However, this is the most economical and family friendly choice.  Julia seems thrilled with it.


This may open the door for other opportunities she wants to pursue such as horseback riding and swimming.

She Did It!

She posed this one herself...just had to have her products in the picture.

One surprising little detail about our glam girl is that, until last week, she was adamant that she would not have her ears pierced.  I was fine with that and actually kind of liked the idea.  My parenting approach to piercing is that I wanted my girls to make their own decisions about having their ears pierced.  As for the boys, I would rather they just refrain altogether.

My ears were pierced when I was seven years old, so that was the ballpark age that I anticipated allowing this process.  Savannah had hers done at the age of six and a half.  (Savannah was also pretty adamant that she was not having any part of pierced ears, so I guess I should have known that Julia would change her mind sooner rather than later).

When Julia asked about the pain of ear piercing last week, I immediately asked which of the girls in her class had their ears pierced.  I knew she wasn't just asking out of the blue.  She named a few girls and told me that she wanted her ears pierced.  I suggested that we make it birthday present for her upcoming 7th birthday, and she really liked the idea.  Julia wanted to surprise the family by having her ears pierced a day before her birthday.  After thinking about it, I suggested that we go ahead with it.  I remember what a hard time one of Zach's teammates on the swim team had with freshly pierced ears and thought that getting in a few weeks of healing prior to swim season would be wise.  We could also see how she does to determine if more earrings are a wise birthday gift.  So, since that conversation on Wednesday, I have been hounded non-stop about this piercing business.  Andy and I felt that freshly pierced ears would not mix well with camping, so we held her off until today.  It was crazy to fit it in today, but she had the advantage  of getting to showing them off at a family cookout.

She did great and even giggled some about the process!

Savannah's latest piece

Savannah completed this piece in Art Club.  I love it!  This is her profile, and she was to choose a theme for the drawings inside.  She chose art.  Savannah is also very pleased with this piece and wants to frame it.

I might add that she returned yesterday from her band trip.  After our worries about her roommate situation, she actually had a fantastic time.  The band received first place.

(Remember that you can click on the picture to see it larger)

Camping

The little people went tent camping for the first time this weekend. Andy and I tagged teamed this event.  Budget constraints and having one of our teenagers out of town kept us from doing this together.  Andy stayed Friday night, and I relieved him Saturday afternoon staying overnight and packing everything home today.  

Wyatt meets no strangers and makes friends wherever he goes.

Frisbee golf was Julia's favorite activity.

I don't think they've ever brushed their teeth outside before.

Bottle rockets are so cool!

Sling shot with dog chow

Wyatt spent his time during the astronomy lesson drawing elaborate pictures.  He still knew his stuff when it came time to fill in the blanks.  After Wyatt's struggles with handwriting and motor skills, the details of these pictures really blew my mind.

We had an afternoon thunderstorm, so we waited it out in the unfinished bath houses.

During a break in the rain, we returned to our tent for sweatshirts.  Julia spent the rest of the wait for the rain to end catching a much needed nap.

Julia's book buddy, Rachel, learned some new hand rhymes from Julia.

Chapel this morning.

Our home away from home.

Things I learned while camping:

• Always take a thick sleeping bag.  I was freezing last night, and it was damp in the tent from the drizzle...not such a good night of sleep.
• Wyatt wants to be a Cub Scout.  He got to tag along as Julia's brother, but he loved it all and wants to belong to the pack.
• Even with rain and cold weather, camping can be fun with the right people around.

Now, I have to get a dry day soon so that I can air out and clean our tent.

Zach Attack!

Zach participated in what was probably his last track meet of the year.  Fortunately, it was short, close to home, and I was able to be there to get some cool shots of his throws.  Ironically, I took all of these pictures while talking with a friend on my cellphone.  Can I multi-task, or what?

When he wasn't able to attend the band trip, he asked if he could visit a Hard Rock Cafe that is within driving distance since visiting a Hard Rock Cafe was on the trip agenda.  I knew that my boys need some time alone with Mom, so I took Zach out to the Hard Rock Cafe this weekend.  Their prices are not nearly as reasonable as they used to be, and the food was not as impressive either, but Zach enjoyed it.  He got a few pictures of some of the memorabilia that he liked, and it was a nice time together.

Mother's Day from four great kids

My Mother's Day included the letter above which reads as follows:

Dear Mom,

We love you!  You are very special to all of us.  You always do what you think is best for us, and you listen to what we have to say. We love it when you spend time with us and go places with us.  It really stinks when you can't do things because you have to work, but you do it anyways to take care of us. You take on a very busy schedule because you come to things like sports games.  Thank you so much for the school we get to go to.  We know that you spend a lot of time to pay for things like school and sports.  We will be praying for you because you are awesome and important to all of us.  We love you more!  Ha ha!  We win!

Love, Savannah, Wyatt, Julia, and Zach

Wyatt also gave me a picture of his hand prints along with some information he completed about me.  According to Wyatt, I am 17 feet and 10 inches tall, 15 pounds.  My dress size is 17, and so is my shoe size.  I think he likes the number 17.  My favorite food is candy (he may be right on that one).  He likes our time together best when we spend time at home.  If he could buy me anything in the world, he would get me two days in China. Wyatt admires me because I let him do what he wants, and his favorite memory with me is that I love him. I am special because I cook for him (hmm, not sure I remember doing that).  He knows that I am 40 years old, but he does not know my favorite TV show, favorite book, favorite place to shop, favorite song, thing I like to do at home, my worst job at home, or when I am funny.  

Julia feels that she can identify my favorite show as a crime show because she says that "I am a criminal."  Uh thanks, Julia.

MOM YOU SCARE MEEEEEE (Julia typed this last line.  She says this because she takes a shower in the master bathroom and wants me to stay in my room while she does so, but she gets really upset with me if I have a crime show on TV).

He Made Contact!

Wyatt played baseball this morning.  This season has been challenging for him.  He steps away from the ball instead of toward it when he is up to bat.  The coach decided to have Wyatt bunt the ball to encourage contact, and he did it!  Wyatt was so stunned at first that he did not run, but when he did, he landed solidly on first base.  The parents and his teammates went wild!  What a great group of encouragers Wyatt has to back him up!  I'm so glad I awoke early to catch this game.

Our Week in Review

On Tuesday, I joined Savannah and about 179, give or take a few, other 7th graders on a field trip.  Field trips are never the best way to see a museum because you are so busy trying to keep your group together.  Our kids always have to do a scavenger hunt which makes it hard for anyone to truly absorb everything there is to see.  However, it was still a fun day, and I really enjoyed getting to know her homeroom sub who is much loved at this school.  Now, I know exactly where our family will head on spring break next year.  I am bummed that we did not do this with Mom, she would have liked this particular museum.

It's a wrap for AWANA this year!  Wyatt finished the year on Wednesday.  This night required Andy and me to divide and conquer.  While Andy was disappointed to miss Wyatt's closing ceremony....

He got to witness the debut performance of the band made up of the group of boys who meet in our home every week.  They are such a great group of boys, all from great families.  One family made sure that they were sent off to the performance with drinks kept cold in coolers and great snacks, and they did not forget Savannah and Julia who held down the fort at home (both of the girls would have been at AWANA with me, but our drama queen (aka Julia) was "not feeling well that night").  I was very uncomfortable leaving a sick child home with Savannah, but I needn't have worried. Apparently once the parents were out of sight and earshot, Julia resumed normal behavior right up until she told Savannah that she needed to make a phone call and then called me to express just how bad she felt and to inquire as to when I would be home.  But I digress, the boys apparently surprised Andy by doing very well in their performance.  They are scheduled to return in two weeks.  I say Andy was surprised because he is a musician, and he knows good music when he hears it, and well, in the weeks leading up to this performance, Andy was concerned, very concerned.  He did say that keeping freshman boys on task is close to impossible.  The high school teacher in me just laughed and responded with, "we could be millionaires if you could figure out the secret to doing that."

It appears that the monsoon will take a break for a few days. Therefore, we started the weekend with a make-up baseball game.  Julia joined us thinking that she would be hanging out with a friend at the ball field. Unfortunately, they did not see each other until the game was over.  Julia found a way to entertain herself by rolling down the hill next to the field.

I think this will be Wyatt's last baseball season.  He does not have confidence that he can be successful at this sport, and it is now a competitive sport for him.  We have an early game tomorrow.

Don't they look like pros in their uniforms?  In my biased opinion, Wyatt is quite handsome in his uniform.
I was off work today for a local holiday, and I slept until 9:00 a.m.  That is the best Mother's Day gift I can imagine at this point, so I am fine with skipping the big holiday on Sunday.  I have been dreading it for months anyway and was hoping I would have to work.  Unfortunately I am off, so I have to do the whole Mother's day drill.

Stay tuned...possibly big news coming soon, and we are camping next weekend.  Andy and I set up our tent tonight to make sure it is in working order.  He will camp solo with Wyatt and Julia on Friday night, and then I will take on the job on Saturday night. Camping is not my thing, but I do think that every child should have the opportunity to try it at least once.  I will post pictures.

On Second Thought...

One day after I posted that Julia no longer wants to pursue gymnastics, she changed her mind.  Therefore, that decision is now pending.  I am leaning toward saying "no" on this one as I think it pushes our budget too far.  What we will decide remains to be seen.

Bittersweet

Today we learned that Julia has achieved level 3 in gymnastics.  We think, as do her coaches, that she has great potential.  However, Julia does not want to continue to pursue this sport.  I understand.  She is too young for two practices a week at three hours per practice.  While we will miss seeing her develop and compete in this natural talent of hers, we will not miss the expense and the commitment it requires.

All in a Day

Yesterday was crazy.  Honestly, this whole weekend has been crazy.  I worked both jobs on Friday, my second job yesterday, and I am working again today.  Friday night was saved by a cancellation.  Wyatt's baseball game was postponed because of the condition of the fields. Otherwise, while I worked, Andy would have had this schedule.  Gymnastics for Julia and a baseball game for Wyatt, both starting at 6:00p.m.  Wyatt's game would end at 7:15, and Savannah was to be dropped off at a way cool birthday party at 7:30.  Julia needed to be picked up at 8:00p.m.  Crazy, I tell Ya, crazy!

Saturday was not much better.  Savannah needed to try and make it to a balloon launch.  (Honestly, I love balloon launches and try to make it to one annually).  This was at 7:00a.m.  I had to be at work at 10:00a.m.  Andy, Zach, and Julia had to be at church for a service project from 9:00-noon with lunch following, and Wyatt was to be ready at the field for his baseball pictures followed by a game at 11:30.  I am sorry if your head is spinning now.  With four kids,  these things rarely make me dizzy anymore.

So, the girls and I started the day very early with a peek at a balloon launch.  Unfortunately, there was much confusion about this event, and we did not get there as early as we should have.  It was really not nearly as fun as it has been in the past, but that won't stop me from going the next time we have one.

Julia was a bear, as usual.  Ironically, Wyatt (our resident morning riser) wanted no part of getting up early on a Saturday for a balloon launch.

My shift ended an hour early at 2:00, so we met my dad, my niece, and my brothers at the zoo.  Savannah and Andy stayed behind to take care of our responsibilities to the church nursery in the evening.  Just prior to our departure to the zoo, I realized that Julia's only pair of tennis shoes would not survive the weekend.

Most of the pictures were taken by Julia.  These little apes were  oh, so cute.

Can we say, Poser?

It is rare to see a peacock strutting.

Wyatt's biggest zoo fun desire was to climb on this log.

We have new bears, and a great new exhibit!  I can't wait to go back and see it again.

After the zoo, we headed straight to the store for new shoes and supplies for a project on Helen Keller that Julia must complete by Monday.  We then ran by home to meet up with Andy and Savannah and headed to my dad's house to celebrate Austin's 14th birthday.

The cake was not cut until after 9:00p.m. because the celebration was interrupted by a kids vs. adults dodgeball game.  In case you are wondering, I did not play.

The kids outnumbered the adults, but I think the adults won both games.

I tried so hard to catch Wyatt's throws to the other side.  He threw the ball in the air and hit it like a volley ball.  He was the last man standing on the kids' team.

Wow! Josh went on the physical attack when knocked out by Austin.

Austin makes it look like such fun to be 14, doesn't he?

I still cannot believe all that we did in one day.  A carmel latte was a must after church today so that I can survive my 5.5 hour shift at work.  Maybe my sleep deprived self will recover on Friday when I finally have a day off.

When you have been living in a monsoon for a couple of weeks, you either seize the first nice day for fun or spend it catching up on yard work.  I think we made the better choice this time.