New Year...

Looking forward to see how things unfold this year. I'm still adjusting to not teaching full-time. Still trying to figure out what I want to do as far as a career. It is a blessing to be able to be home more....no more hectic mornings trying to get four children here and there. Heck, even though they are teenagers (all but one), they are still in need of mom being around. I still think a half-time teaching job would be the answer, but then again, I don't know what God has planned and I can't have a world view w/out faith as the foundation. Everyone is doing great!

Be Blessed today......

Glad Summer is going to be fading into Autumn

This summer has brought some wonderful family memories and times but has also brought a very rough time for me re: my work/career.

Because of this, I am so happy that school started today for my children because this is a sign that summer will be ending and we will be moving into a new season!!! Hopefully I will do so in my life also.

Financially, things will be a bit difficult if I don't find part-time work. However, I have to try to have hope and faith for things to come.

I have been looking deeply within myself and feel God has something important for me to learn.

Be Blessed.

Changes, changes...

After several months of prayer, I turned in my letter of resignation at the Catholic school where I have taught school full-time for the past 2 years.

If you have ever had a time when you knew (through prayer) that God wanted you to take a step into what you see as the "unknown" (in this case, no job/income) and you knew that this is what you needed to do....however, you just did not want to let go of what you were being asked to let go of, well, that explains it. I do have faith and believe that something part-time will come along. Something that is better for our family than my previous position.

I really enjoyed some of the staff there and have become close to a couple of the other teachers, and I LOVE teaching and feel that is my natural gift in life. These were the reasons for me trying to hold onto something that I needed to let go of.

I am excited to see what comes....

Asia left for NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) on the 16th. Last night was her first night sleeping out in the Wind River Mountains. Today, her first day hiking what will become more than seventy miles over the course. She is in a group of twelve other students from all over the world. They have three instructors. I am still in awe of this awesome opportunity that Asia has earned through being awarded a scholarship to this world renown school. I'm so grateful for the scholarship because most people can not afford the tuition unless they are very well off financially. (so, she is with a group of rich kids....lol....but the wilderness does not differentiate!) Naturally, we are unable to talk to her at all during the next 30 days...which makes this difficult for me! She and I are so close. (I'm close to both of my daughters, actually...thank goodness Sereah is here!) This will be one of those life-changing experiences for her and may even change the path she heads down in life. Other news about Asia....she completed her first year of high school and carried a perfect 4.0 GPA the entire year while being a three-season athlete and also being involved in other activities as well as working part-time at the local health club/gym. She had a lead in the high school musical this spring....we did not know she could sing!!!! She started dating her best guy friend and they are just so cute together. Truly a first love. Ahhh, to be young! We are excited to see where her life leads....

Sereah spent a week in Boston, MA this spring. She realized that she is indeed a city girl. (something I always knew!) She also finished up her junior year in high school with only one "B" grade (math) with the rest being A's and many of her classes were dual-credit. Next year, she is taking many more dual-credit classes and should graduate high school with nearly a year of college credit completed. This summer, she is working and taking a college class. She is looking at history as a field of study for college and will probably attend UW on a scholarship. She has grown into a beautiful young lady who has a gift for language and history. She loves the theater and speech/debate and does well in both. I am so very proud of her and am amazed that she will graduate high school next year!!

Our oldest child, Zakk, is living in Rapid City and is making some good choices in life. I think he may be getting things on-track now. So happy for him and pray it continues. We miss him and hope to see him this summer.

Eddie is nearly 16 yrs old! His mental functioning seems to have stopped at approx 4/5 year old. He is getting much more difficult to handle as he gets older...the behavior problems in addition to the Down syndrome is taxing at times. He still needs 24/7 supervision which really holds me back from a career. (much of the reason why I can't work full-time very easily) We recently found out that the state of Wyoming makes parents keep their child (like Eddie) in the public school system until age 21! If you do pull them at 18, you are stuck trying to provide services for them on your own. I really think this is horrible to make someone stay in high school until age 21, especially when he will not progress in ability. Not to mention that I was planning on pursuing my career when I thought he'd graduate, which would have been in 3 years. Now it will be 6 years. Sigh. I am glad we were bold enough to adopt him and to really make a stand for radically giving of our lives and time by raising him, however it has been really difficult.

Eli will be in the upper elementary grades next year and then off to middle school. He is quite a cool little dude. Takes after his sisters in his intelligence and his humor is amazing. He has a natural gift for understanding anything scientific...which I am in awe of. He is a musician. He has decided to add swimming to his martial arts as his physical activities. He is more of a academic-type, but we are making sure he has the other side developed also. Thankfully his JRA has been mild and should allow the physical activities to a large extent. He is taking a chemistry class next week and then will be in drama camp.

I'm grateful and very blessed.

Peace.

Steps toward getting back to "me"...

After nearly a year of feeling worse and worse, I finally went in to get my blood drawn. A day later, I had a message on my cell phone from the nurse requesting that I call them as soon as I could. I called and she said that the doctor wanted me to come in and discuss my blood test results with him. This was a Friday...imagine carrying that all weekend and into next week...wondering if something was really wrong. I can't take much more leave this year from my job so I had to wait until I could get an after school appointment. Mid week. I did ask the nurse if she could share what came up and she did give me a general answer....enough to satisfy me until I see the doctor. Severely anemic. So, I googled anemia and learned that there are over 400 different types/causes of anemia. Wow...who knew! Some causes were rather frightening and without any information about my background (adopted without ANY information whatsoever), I could only narrow down based on my symptoms and what I think it may be from looking at my lifestyle/diet habits.

I am just sorry that it took me getting to the point of barely being able to function to get into the doctor. That is how much I loathe blood tests. I am glad we are on the path towards getting me back to the real "me" again....at least health-wise. I pray there are no serious underlying problems and have hope that I will again soon be well again.

I also don't feel so guilty about how I have not been able to keep up on everything around the house. It all makes sense now and I'm so glad for that. Now to move into the details and get a plan to get well.

At work, our superintendent dumped a huge amount of work on the staff with only six weeks of school left. Teaching at a private school really doesn't pay in so many ways. Things that occur there would never happen in a public school. Private schools are not what the stereotype tends to be....our students are not from "upper class". We are more like a reform school and have a lot of families with a lot of problems without the resources to deal with it. I'm sure some private schools are indeed the stereotype, but we are not. I hope to move into the public school system. If not, sub-teaching would suffice until I have the connections I need locally. Teaching is wonderful and I have such an admiration for those teachers at the school I work who are doing a great job and are dedicated.

I think an added difficulty is working at the same place I worship. There is a sub-group that has been showing up in many Catholic Dioceses that operates very much like the cultish behavior and tactics you see in Mormonism and Jehovahs' Witnesses, for example. Really very divisive and disturbing to me since I have studied this type of practice, control of behavior, and manipulation within Mormonism. Those who are in it, don't see it and the perception they hold towards any other viewpoint is very warped and paranoid. This group I speak of are known as the Neocatechumenal Way. I was required to attend the "introductory" meetings as part of my own path into the Catholic Church (rather than RCIA since I came into Catholicism during the spring and already knew a great deal of Catholic doctrine) and I had warning flags going off by the 3rd meeting. Very disturbing. Especially considering how our Parish Priest pushes this group on people. It goes to show that anyone can get sucked into something that is divisive.

Sure someone can say that just because I disagree with it, does not make it bad. Agreed. However I am talking about messing with foundational truths that the Roman Catholic church stands upon. This is not done. Liturgy and the sacrifice of the Mass is not to be changed on whit and whim. I do support groups that bring people to a faith in Jesus Christ and I see good in them. What I am disturbed with is this group operating within and causing divisions in a Roman Catholic Parish. I am seeing it happening before my eyes. We actually are attending a different Parish for Mass today because the Priest involved in this is saying Mass at our local Parish and I question things now with his presiding. I need a step back from things directly related to this group and this priest. Thankfully those leaders in this group should leave again in a few months, however they will have left these "cells" behind that do their damage. This is the third spring/summer they have been at our Parish with their recruitment tactics. As soon as they get people, they have them stop attending their local Parish Mass and they attend "the Way" for Mass....which is a Mass that is one departing from basic truths found in our faith. They claim that they do attend one Parish Mass a month, as this is a reaction to increased disapproval towards this very strange group. Freedom lost is scary....it appears very cultish to me.

Well, I suppose I have gone on long enough. This is what happens when one becomes mostly put on rest when dealing with health issues.....lots of time to ponder, and spout ones opinions.

Peace.

March 30, 2010

Lent has been a blessed time but also a time of trial and seeking for answers.

News:

Sereah:

Sereah placed 6th at State Speech for the original oratory she wrote and performed. She also leaves on Monday for a trip to Boston and New York with one of her advanced high school classes. She is going to be in the High School production/musical of Willie Wonka. She is one of the grandparents and is also a Oompa-Lompa. She was on the honor roll again. We are happy for her accomplishments and it is fun to see her grow up. She will be a senior next year. WOW!

Eduardo:

Eddie still enjoys school and we are looking ahead to what he will be doing in his adult years.

Asia:

Asia was awarded a scholarship to NOLS....one that was open to all residents in our county! It was almost a full-scholarship. She will spend one month this summer backpacking in the Wyoming wilderness. It will be one of those life changing events in her life. She finished up indoor track and is now in outdoor track. She got her mile time down to 6 min 30 sec, dropping 22 seconds! She beat all but one varsity runner in the 2 mile, even though she is on the JV team as a freshman. This was at her first outdoor track meet. Her coaches were so impressed that they are now going to run her in the 800 at the meet this Thursday. (as well as the mile) We spent the day yesterday in Casper on the hunt for her prom dress and we found one. Really a beautiful dress. She and Robert (her first boyfriend) got back together and are dating exclusively again. She has continued to maintain a 4.0 GPA. She is also in the same musical as Sereah and has the part of Mrs. TV. She is also still playing the drums and will travel for a band event in April. Also still altar serving many Sundays and started her first part-time job at a local health club.

Elijah:

Elijah continues to take piano lessons and also Taekwando. He is finishing up his last year at Saint Margaret's and has chosen to move to public school for next year. He is a creative and wonderfully smart boy. I see the strength of both Asia and Sereah in him.

Aaron and I are looking at what I need to do next year. I am having a difficult time working full-time and going to graduate school. Now that Aaron is back in administration, I could take a year to sub teach at the local public school and work more on my schooling and keeping our home and being there for the children's activities.

Have a blessed Holy Week!

nice day

I was able to get a good amount of work done around the house. I did not work on my exegesis paper, which I need to do. Tomorrow, I will have to. I am thinking I am going to have to limit my classes to summer break as long as I am working full-time. I still have hope of finding a half-time teaching position.

Asia is at the Simplot Games in Idaho. She has been there since Thursday. There are over 2000 high school track athletes there...the best in the nation. Future olympians. It was a great learning experience for her to compete at a meet like that. She really enjoyed it and got to meet several former olympians. I think state is the last indoor track event remaining. I sure would love to go to that. However, I am not sure if I have any leave left at my job and may want to save it for outdoor track instead. Asia set a personal best time in her mile. 6:52. It is dropping and while I was thrilled with her progress, she was not happy with that time. The time will continue to drop. She just started running competitively this past fall, and started with a ten minute mile!

Sereah is off at a speech/debate meet this weekend with her old high school. I don't know how, but she was able to go with them and compete. I assume she is technically competing for her current high school and just rode along with them. Anyway, it was really nice of the coach of her former high school to think of inviting her.

Both of the girls are doing exceptionally well in their studies. We are really proud of them. Sereah has a trip coming up next month. (Boston with her honors english and honors history classes) She has been working hard saving money to help pay for it. Asia is going to be starting her first job soon and is excited. It will be a a local health club that will work around her school activities. She also applied for a scholarship to NOLS for a 30 day backpacking educational class....we'll see if she gets it. I hope so! If not, she is going to go ahead and run her first half marathon in July. Sereah hopes to find a different job this summer.

Eli is doing well. Excellent grades and he got second place in a recent oral interpretation contest. He recited Lewis Carroll poem The Walrus and the Carpenter. I am not sure if I posted on that yet. He continues to study piano and martial arts.

Eddie....is, well Eddie! He did plateau several years ago mentally and will probably always remain functionally as a 4 year old. It is challenging for us and he still needs direct supervision 24/7. He still has problems getting around and that is difficult for all...we like to be active but are unable to do so to a great extent. It will be easier when he is grown and in a supervised center. It has been difficult raising him w/only my husband and myself and no support system. (unless we pay someone) I think it is so important for us all to think to help parents who are struggling to raise a child with developmental disabilities.

Aaron had his contract offered for the 2010/2o11 school year....thank goodness! We have yet to recover from the financial devastation from when he was unemployed. We are so grateful for this job that he has.

Lent has started. What a time of reflection, contemplation, penance, and spiritual growth.

God Bless.

Three Day Weekend! Yay!

I am so happy to have Monday off from work. I am really pushing the time frame with my Principles of Biblical Study class and will be spending all this weekend working on my 10 page exegesis on three verses in Habakkuk. Please pray for me that I will, if it is God's plan, find a half-time teaching job....and if not, I will be able to better manage full-time teaching second grade with all the extra duties involved for the first Sacraments the students receive, my large active family and the special needs involved, graduate school, and somehow finding time to add my fitness interests and music interests back in. I have had to let so many things go this year and it has been very difficult for me. So far work and my schoolwork is all I have time for. However, in this economy I am grateful to have a job. I just pray that next school year will bring me a half-time teaching position.

It is quiet here this weekend. Our two oldest daughters are off at two different activities. One is in Jackson for speech/debate meet and the other is in Cheyenne running indoor track. Even with the boys here, the house is so quiet! My husband commented along the lines that he did not like how quiet it is. Oh dear, what will it be like in a few years when we only have one at home?

Last week, I was very happy and blessed to receive Holy Communion from a visiting Priest who happened to be the very one I went to for my First Reconciliation! It was one of those moments where you are gently blessed in a very real way. This visiting Priest was in town to offer our Parish School Mass. (where I teach)

Speaking of Reconciliation, what an amazing Sacrament! How grateful I am for this in my life. I make sure to go monthly...it is a good "habit" to have.

Oh, one more thing! Our oldest son is now enrolled at the same University where my husband and I earned our Bachelor degrees! (and where my husband and I met!) Speaking of my husband, our anniversary is this coming week......married 18 years, I think.

I have much to do and don't need to be online.....so, that said.

Peace.