Finally! Let'sstart fresh

Holy moly I just figured out the password for this blog. I have been using a cleaning software on this laptop and it continously is causing blocking problems.  Need to remove it and use another.  Glad I found the password and info to restart.

Well this big elf had a wonderful time Christmas Eve! This my bil that is 6' 8". Someone actually found these Santa pants for him. OK so they end above the ankles but you get the idea. This was a nice evening with the exception of having to call for an ambulance for one of the older guests who was having trouble breathing. They came fast and were swift to get her to help. All is well. It was beautiful night celebrating Jesus' birth. I did not get to bed until 3.

Christmas Traditions

If this isn't obvious that this is the first time putting pictures in the blog, well ....
anyway in recent years it is my job to transport the elder members of the families to and fro. I love that even thought there are 5 of us, all of the in-laws genuinely care for each other. We are all invited to all Christmas parties and open houses. I try to hit them all within 48 hours. I do not have children so this is possible.

I love to see the joy and wonder on the kids faces. Many of the kids are coming back from college for visits and wild games are enjoyed by all. Family favorites last year were Buzz word, Electonic Clue and Electronic Monopoly. Pictionary is the all time winner! Christmas afternoon is usually movie and naptime for kids and adults. Santa usually brings a few new ones.
My brother-in-law is from Germany and many of his family members are in the area. They typically celebrate on Christmas Eve with a huge party with a full dinner. My favorite part is later in the evening when we sing Silent Night in German and English. I usually pack up the crew and travel to another in-laws house for their beautiful open house. Their dad takes the week off before Christmas and bakes something with each of his six children. The children get to pick whatever they want to make and they go shopping with him for the items. The kids are so proud to share their items at the open house.
Christmas morning is very quiet :). I get up travel to get the elders and head to their children's house's. Grandchildren that drive usually drive them back after the days activites. My friend Laura and her family invite me over in the late evening for dessert and coffee and to laugh at all of the days events. Church is emersed all this week. I love how it is all decorated. A very Merry Christmas to all.

Snoopy

I love Snoopy! Santa brought me a wonderful Snoopy when I was a toddler. It was very special too me as a blanket or bear would be to another. I still have it and remember the comfort that it gave me in in tough times. My head fit inbetween his neck and head. It was a special night when the Charlie Brown specials were on tv. Sadly I don't think kids get that feeling anymore because they dvd's of everything or Netflix. I am watching the Thanksgiving episodes right and I am takin back to the days sitting on the floor in the living watching every moment. You couldn't go anywhere like the bathroom incase you missed something. I realize Snoopy is different in my mind as the show but they still are one of the most celebrated shows around holidays.

Again?

I was completely sidetracked by facebook. Sucked in is more like it. i was more concerned about what others were thinking and doing that i lost the fun in blogging. i have kept up with some of my favorites. I have another computer so I will attempt pictures soon. It is all healthy for me.

Trying again

Okay, so I finally am updating my blog. I haven't very dilegent because I forgot the password. It has recently occured to me how to retrieve it. So maybe I can get back in business. Change-up the site. I did finally join the facebook bandwagon and am not sold on it because of a few main factors. People try to friend you that you need to be cautious about. Some people are friends of others and you do not know well until they start leaving embarrassing and offending messages. I am glad others can not see exactly what I see. Mostly it is very time consuming. I also like to talk quite a bit so this really works better.
I have preschool classes every morning. There was very little interest for the afternoon class. Luckily my job has given me other options like stay with latchkey in the afternoon. I sub in the afternoons if a teacher is sick. I did that today for eight grade religion. Tricky to go from preschool to eighth so I try to use my strengths. I read them a book called 3 in 1. It is a great book about the trinity with an analogy to an apple. The core is like the Holy Spirit, flesh is like Jesus taking care or our needs and the skin is like God it protects us. They then had to draw a picture of another object with similar principles. It was neat what they came up with for their examples.
Well on another note the weather was awesome! A perfect picture of God's majesty and splendor!

The first contact was made with the school to start the new school year. I am little grouchy that the children start before Labor day. I know that we will be getting the room ready so we begin early. I feel that kids are robbed of simple childhood "rights".
Learning to climb a tree, Making mudpies, learning to ride a bike, catching fireflies, or seeing fireflies, swimming for fun, and many other things. Of course some of the little bad things need to happen too like skinning a knee, mosquito bites, bee stings, and sunburns. They need those opportunities to grow on the inside. It is a fact that children are being raised without these experiences and are diffinitly feeling that they are missing something or that they are different. I drove by a daycare center the other day at 6:30 in the evening and there was a handful of children still there on the playground. That is too late. I could go on and on about overscheduled children or daycare dump children. I spoke with a young man the other day and I did speak up. I asked him what was his favorite thing he did this summer? "I got the new .... game and ....game and got to such and such level." All he does is play video games at home by himself. Mom and dad think is fine because they can trust and know where he is all day while they are at work. What????!!!! Are they kidding!!! The computer is the parent, friend, and babysitter. This child has such a hardtime making friends summers are when he should be out with others learning how to be a friend.

Holland

For the past two weeks I've been dealing with a rather painful infection. My doctor is not sure what is going on and is sending to the hospital for the test games. Luckily this past visit she finally gave a full dose of antibiotics to kill the whatever and hopefully the pain.
Any who.
I have been busy with the kids who went to my favorite city in the world the past weekend. It is Holland, Michigan. I spent time on those wonderful beaches growing up. I grew closer and still grow closer to God each time that I am there. If you have never been there it feels like you are at the ocean. But not with the rough waves and salty water. On my visits to a distant cousin I would work hard and play all in one day. Aunt Mary as I would call her taught me cooking, planting, pruning, painting, making hospital corners and stopping to reflect quietly as we watched the water. I think that she spoke to me about God when we watched the magnificent sunsets. I can't recall what she said but I remember being in His presence with her near me. When we fell asleep at night she was always mindful to pray. She woke up with such pep and joy as she readied herself for the day. Her day started with a quick run up to the local church for morning mass and a walk to the newspaper box with her wonderful dog. She always had plans for the day. On some visits we prepared homes for refuges that her church sponsored. Buying furniture, clothes, food, toys and books for the families. We would then deliver the items to the newly arrived family. Oh! How scared they were. I would be too. Most were Vietnamese. To her last breath they were a loving devoted community to her every need. I could go on and on but this is a place that I would love to live and do the same or some other mission. I have been blessed!

rainy summer

To my recollection this has been the most it has rained since~ well forever. It has rained almost ever day since spring. April was rather dry around here and then May hit and we have had rain almost every day. Last weekend was the driest. Two and a half days without rain. The grass has ruts from the mowers. This has got to be good for the farmers. But I am not sure.
Anyway. Safia has become quite the cookie chef. I have the ultimate cookie recipe book and she is making a cookie from it each week. She and her friend made a double batch last week and combined it to make 9 dozen. This school year the staff passed around a little cookie recipe book. Each week someone made a recipe from the book and brought it in for the staff to taste. They signed and dated the book. It was rather fun. I am having her and whoever is with her sign and date this book. It will hopefully become a nice memory book.
Hey vote for the best scrapbooking store in Detriot. I luv scrapbooking in Clawson. http://www.scrapbookingclawson.com

updates

Wow! It has been too long. The children I watch during the the summer holidays are going to help me to keep an updated blog. If I make them to work they can certainly keep me accountable. Today the kids and I are trying to find how to make a bird feeder using a pop bottle. This has become rather tricky. I have lost my camera so putting a picture up of the final project may be delayed.
Last night was the visitation for my friend Nancy's father. I have known this family for approximately twenty years. May and Doc are her parents and I was trying to figure out how many years they were married. I think it was at least 65 years! They were truly a couple that was in love. As May says, "There wasn't a mean bone in Doc's body!" He was such a wonderful person. Doc was also a former POW from WWII. That is a story I will have to write when I have all of the facts straight. I do know that there was a time when May was pregnant and a telegram came that Doc was missing in action. Which implies that he was missing dead. She gave birth and of course Doc did not know that he had a son. I can't imagine what they went through. They seem to have lived a life of not wanting to miss out on the important things and appreciation every moment. May is having a difficult time remembering and putting things together but this is traumatic.
Enjoy the breath and life that was given to you today!

Stephan Curtis Chapman

Okay new commitment to write often!
I am so sadden for the Chapman family. They have been struck with such tragedy. A family member accidentally hit their five year old daughter Maria in their driveway. Maria went home to Jesus soon after and I am sure in His glory. But as always it is the ones that are left behind that have such a great burden. Especially the family member. My prayer is for peace and healing for the family. Stephan Curtis Chapman's music has been a great comfort and redirection for my life. I can only think of his Cinderella song and tear up for that loss of a daughter. His website has some beautiful videos of this family and daughter. http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/ God has a testimony for us in this.

Have a great weekend.

Back to School

Okay, I know the big complaint from people is that teachers have a lot of time off. REALLY!!! Let's look at my "vacation." I spent Thursday with a student because mother had purchased me to watch her for a day in the school auction. I worked everyday with students on school skills. They were not even my students but cool kids all the same. Tuesday I went to my college school for class because teachers need to continue going to school to keep their certificate. Trained for one of my spring/summer jobs because most teachers need to work during the summer. Now I am not stupid I realize that there are teachers who go on vacation and loaf around during the summer and on all these breaks but a majority of us are working all the time! We do have these breaks because most of the school would be absent visiting family. Some of the days that we held school close to a holiday more than 50% of the school was absent. Just like snow days we have complainers if hold school and complainers if we don't. There are real reasons for days off. Just please keep that in mind instead of complaining to somebody who is up most nights checking papers and making lessons plans. We do care!

Easter greetings

It is the Friday before Easter, Good Friday. I am looking outside at a sudden winter wonderland! I do happen to be one of those people that loves snow. Everything is quiet and clean. Frankly I think it may make it easier to look for the colorful eggs outside. Of course it could be tricky when they sink.
I grew up in a large family. I can not recall us each getting a basket for Easter. The family was lucky to share a large popcorn bowl filled with Easter grass and sugary treats. But there were specific items that we received like bubbles, jump ropes, chalk and coloring books. I was wondering what others received from the Easter bunny?