People Who Make You Want to Tear Your Hair Out

I have to follow my own advice for Amanda this morning. One of my schools has an extremely proactive parent trying to advocate for her child. This is usually a good thing, but it's becoming a pain for her child, her child's teachers, the principal, and myself. This student would shine in most schools as a good A, B, some C's student who has some trouble staying focused at times. Mom wants us to fill out all kinds of charts to document what accommodations work, what we're doing, etc, etc. But I will try to let my light shine, smile, and answer her questions the best I can. Mary, I know you know exactly what this is like. Smile!

Here I Am

I haven't posted in a while. No real excuses--just feeling brain drained. Saturday I spent all day at home--I haven't done that in a while--I caught up on laundry--worked on some wedding projects and tried to catch up around the house. Sunday was church, a baby shower for Matt Gorham's twins (Mommy couldn't be there because she's on strict bedrest, but Daddy did an awesome job, considering he was with a roomful of women trying to do the ooo's and aaahh's thing.) Then it was to Emily and Bob's for Bob's 32!!! birthday. Yesterday one school was off for records day--unfortunately I didn't get my progress reports finished which should be what I'm working on right now! So....have a great day everyone!

A Visit from the Woehlke Girls (and the McClellands)!

Emily and her girls haven't been over SINCE CHRISTMAS! So they came over tonight for supper (Bob is in California). Scott had called because he and the kids had gone out to eat in Milan since Heidi was working--so they came over too. We had some fun! Here are some pictures since I haven't posted any of the kids in a while.

Emily had tried a new method to try curling Ella's hair - thus the funny topknots. She and Quinn were playing piano and singing. Notice Ella's quick hands. Actually Ella is going to start piano lessons this week from a lady who lives in my mom's building.



The finished product:



Little Lu -- She's a LuLu!





The Sophinator!

Count Your Blessings!

It's a good day to count my blessings even if my back is hurting. After school yesterday I had a meeting to learn of a new student that will be coming to AACS. She is being adopted by her aunt. Her mother died and her father is incarcerated. She is quite behind academically (I wonder why?), and she has never set foot in a church. What a blessing to be able to possibly affect the life of such a young lady. Please pray that she will make the transition to a move far away, a new family, a new school, and a new way of life.

Tell It Simply, Please!

This week in my Emotional and Behavioral Disorders class we are learning about conceptual models in approaching the problems of students with E/BD. This morning I read about "Triadic Reciprocality in social-cognitive theory". Basically it means that a student's behavior, personality, and environment work together to affect a person. Duhhh! It's amazing how the academicians can come up with such high-falluting terms to explain something we all know! Then they display these unbelievably complicated diagrams to illustrate it--like that's going to clear it up for us. Learn a lot today, everyone!

King Martin Luther Day

Last night Quinn said he didn't have school today because of "King Martin Luther". I should have used the opportunity to talk to him about Martin Luther King Jr., but he didn't seem to be in a teachable mode. The question always arises as to whether the students should be in school for Martin Luther King Day or not. My schools have split the difference. St. Paul does not have school, but AACS does. I would have to say that AACS probably is doing more to celebrate the occasion. Most of their morning is designed to teach, learn, and celebrate the man and what he stands for. They've gone to a lot of trouble to make it a teachable time. However, I won't be there until the afternoon. I have a feeling that most of the St. Paul students won't learn too much about MLK on their day off. I have to admit that for me it will be a "Progress Report" morning, and a "Test a student" afternoon. God bless your day and week!

Loving Detroit?

Nephew Matt has been attending school and living in Detroit since late August. He is a student at Wayne State. He has really enjoyed the Detroit scene and has even been thinking about staying in Detroit for the summer and working at Tiger Stadium. He was about to begin tutoring in Mexican Town (He had volunteered there because he had a car and could get there while other students would not be able to.) Notice that I said "had a car". Yesterday his car was stolen! Has the bubble burst, Matt? I hope you're not too discouraged and that you will hang in there for Detroit! The city needs people like you to be excited about it!

Wedding Stuff

We went to a wonderful wedding Friday night! Congratulations, Mark and Martha! Some excitement during the ceremony when the coatrack in the narthex fell off the wall with the weight of all the winter stuff. It momentarily diverted the attention from the beautiful bride!

Yesterday, after church and a quick lunch, Heidi, Avery, and I decided to go shopping to see if I could find a dress (doom, gloom, and dread - I always hate the pursuit)for Andy and Christie's wedding. We only went to two places. We did find and purchase flower girl dresses at Von Maur's (6 of them actually- two for the actual flower girls - 3 for the look-alikes and one extra for the littlest (Lucy) because we weren't sure about the size - one will go back). With no luck finding a dress for me, we decided to stop at JoAnn Fabrics and I decided to make my outfit (Am I CRAZY?). I found and ordered some beautiful material and bought a pattern. Hopefully, the material will come in soon enough that I'll have time to make it and still have time to look for another one if it totally flops. I also went online and ordered some dyeable shoes.

Last evening, Heidi came over with all her kids and we tried to get pictures of the flower girl dresses to email to Christie for final approval. What a hoot trying to get Kaleigh to stand still long enough for a picture. We did get some of Avery!

Constant Motion Kaleigh



Avery (Feeling Like a Princess)


Have a great week everyone!

Accosted at Dress Barn

On Tuesday after school I decided to make a quick stop at the Dress Barn in Arborland to see if I could find a black skirt to wear for Martha's wedding tonight. I walked in the door, went straight to a rack to look for a skirt, when suddenly someone I took for an overly friendly store clerk came up behind me and gave me a hug. I turned around and there was Roy Wasilewski--on a mission to find something for the same event. We had a great time- visiting, helping each other find things, waiting while each other tried things on, etc. An hour and a half later we walked out of there with mission accomplished. By the way, if you are attending Martha's wedding, don't look too closely at our skirts. Suffice it to say, that we both have wonderful taste!

Get Out the Boats!

I don't mind driving in the dark (usually), but dark and rain combined on an early morning commute--not so much! And our road is starting to get pretty muddy. It was a few years ago that conditions were just right that Tom ended up using his tractor about 8 times to help people who got stuck in the mud in front of our house. AND we had to park at the corner and walk home. I'm hoping we don't have a repeat of that!


Ron, is Georgia still in need of rain? Can we send it that way with you?

Hope Springs Eternal!

Today it's back to both schools and my new class starting up! This is the day the Lord has made--I will rejoyce!

My class: "Characteristics of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders of Children and Youth" So far the first chapter basically tells you that no one can or has adequately defined the above, and the second chapter that there is a prevalence of children in this category who have not been identified or serviced for many reasons, not the least of which is not enough money! Surprise, surprise! Not much hope there.

Watched the debates Saturday. Lots of troubling questions about our society and world. Not much hope there.

Tom and I watched a documentary last night about the decline of family farms (especially the apple orchards in Washington state)-due to foreclosures, foreign competition, etc. Interesting, sad--some hope, but not much there.

But, God is in control! Lots of hope there! I will rejoyce and be glad in that!

As I read this over--it sure sounds like a Monday morning blog :{.

Back to a Routine

It's back to school for me this afternoon. I debated about staying home--I'm battling the sinus infection junk that's been going around our family. But, I guess I'll go. Today won't be bad since I could still sleep in until 7:00 or so--but tomorrow it will be up at 5:15 again. Then, Monday it will be back to a full day, plus my online class starts up. Happy New Year! Stay warm and healthy, everyone!

White As Snow....

Our praise team sings a song..."White as snow, white as snow, though my sins were as scarlet, Lord, I know. Lord, I know, that I'm clean and forgiven! White as snow..."
What a beautiful way to start the new year - knowing that our past sins are forgiven and that we can start the new year fresh, forgiven, and white as snow! What a beautiful object lesson God gave us with the snow last night and this morning. Tom and I took a walk out in the beautiful snow at 12:01 last night! And again this morning! Here are two of my favorite pictures of the ushering in of 2008 "white as snow"!