2012: Ups and Downs

As I reflect on 2012, I can’t help but think that while I’ve had some major losses in my father death, and the loss of my marriage after 16 years, that which I have gained this year has far outshined the bad. 

I’ve gained an incredible new job in 2012 at Gibbsboro Elementary. Along with that job, I’ve gained some remarkable new colleagues that have grown into friends. Each day I ask God to give me the confidence and competence to do a job well done, and each day I am blessed beyond measure that he continually answers my prayer. That job, and the students I see each day, have gotten me through some difficult days.

I’ve also gained a sense of myself. I think I was lost for a little while, but I’ve found my independence and inner strength again. I have learned how to do things I always relied on someone else to do for me. I forgot that I could do these things.

I have grown in my relationship with my son. While Rob has always been a priority to me, I have realized that I needed to spend more time with him, and spend that time listening to him. I have enjoyed him so much this year in the midst of a very difficult period of time that isn’t quite finished yet.

I have always had wonderful, truthful, and supportive friends. I just know exactly who they are now (and more importantly, who they aren’t). My friends have been amazing, encouraging, loving, supportive, and caring. I love them SO much and cannot imagine how I would have survived this year with out them!

And my family, as always, has loved me, cried with me, laughed with me, and has let me spew my orneriness without judgment this year. My blood family, and my family through marriage will always be my family. My relationship with my mother in law has always been fantastic. I love that woman, and she continues to love me. I’m so thankful that has not changed.

So it is with mixed-emotions that I say goodbye to 2012, and look forward to what God has for me in 2013. Happy New Year, friends and family!

Why oh Why am I not surprised?!

Honestly, it takes me a REALLY long time to get it sometimes...

About 2 years ago I lost my job and went back to school. About a year ago my healthcare finally ran out. (I was very lucky to have it as long as I did, so I'm not complaining!)

When I started school, I had to pick up coverage through school which worked out PERFECTLY time-wise (again, not surprising when He knows exactly what I need!).

But while I had health coverage for my son and me, neither of us had dental coverage. Rob really needs a cleaning (it had been just under 2 years and that's insane for a boy who is just starting to get his permanent teeth!). I made the appointment today and they are seeing him tonight.

Meanwhile, Bob is adding us to his dental coverage, but we're not really sure if we're on it or not. It seems there is endless paperwork. Every time we think we're done, there's something else to fill out in triplicate.

So I just made the appointment anyway because it really has to be done. I asked how much it would be worse case scenario and we're not yet covered...

"150.00"

"Wooo... uh, ok, then..." I hung up thinking, "ok, where am I gonna come up with that?"

I went out to the mailbox and today I received a check for a voice over job that I did a few months ago. I had completely forgotten about it. You'll never guess how much the check was for...

I'm such a stubborn Swede...

Strange Mother's Day Gift

What a fantastic Mother's Day yesterday! I got up, went to church, and enjoyed a great day of worship with my church family. Then we went over to my MIL's house to give her a Mother's Day gift: We put up her cucumber trellis so that she can start her garden. No cards, no flowers, just sheer hard work... with SWEAT!

Now she knows how much we love her! She was THRILLED! My mother in law is certainly not the gift giver kind. When you look up "practical" in the dictionary, there's Norma's picture! We learned very early on, that "flowers die, candy makes you fat, and cards are just a waste of paper" (of course, you have to say that in a near whisper Southern accent for it to have the same impact).

It was a successful Mother's Day.

Afterwards, we came back home and my boys got to work on MY Mother's Day gift: a homemade pool heater.

 

My guys toiled and toiled away all afternoon; cutting, sweating, hammering and whatever else one does to make a homemade pool heater. By the early evening, we were ready to put a fire in the hole and try it out!

Now I know how much I am loved!!

Another Teaching "test"

So my first big teaching "test," if you will, was to pass the Praxis I. It is a test much like the SAT's. Basically, they want to see if you are a big dummy, or can actually lead a group of young minds down the path to academia. I was not at all worried about the reading and writing part (which I aced by the way... yay me!). I had sleepless nights and anxiety over the math. I worried so much that it was the ONLY thing I studied. "I just need a 174 in math, just a 174 to pass..."

I eeked it out with a 174 exactly! Whew! The first hurdle had been crossed.

Now, I'm facing the Praxis II. This is the "content knowledge" portion of the test. Now, they want to see if I actually KNOW anything about the subjects in which I will be teaching. After all, how can I teach something I know nothing about?

As an elementary school teacher, I will have to teach the same group of 25 or so children all of the subject areas.

That includes math.

So, I'm back to anxious nights of waking up in a cold sweat while screaming about fractions and probability.

I've got 5 weeks to study, and hopefully I will only need to take this test once. Then I can concentrate my efforts on taking the Language Arts Content Knowledge portion of the test to get me certified to teach middle school.

Where I'll never, ever have to do math again! :)

Last Day of School

Today is my official last day of school for the spring semester of 2011. Whew! It was a hard couple of months between roles of wife, mom, AWANA Youth Leader, Cub Scout Tiger Leader, and student (My goodness, I'm exhausted just reading that!).

I have 2 weeks of no school (but all of my other duties are still in full swing!), and in 2 weeks I start the first of 2 summer courses. Luckily, by the end of June when my 2nd class kicks in, my first class will be done, AWANA will be done, and cub scouts will be done for the year! I don't know what I'm going to do with myself!!

Oh wait, yes I do... I have to STUDY FOR THE PRAXIS II. Yes, the dreaded content knowledge. I need to take the Praxis II before November, so before I begin school again in September, I really want to have that exam behind me. I can't study for that, AND take 5 classes PLUS resume all of my previous roles.

It'll be worth it... It'll be worth it... It'll be worth it...

More Proof That I Know Nothing

Saturday was a jam-packed day! I was taking a group of cub scouts over the bridge to Philadelphia to visit a radio station at 1. We had to be at the "meeting point"  (we were carpooling since I couldn't fit 6 cubs and 6 parents in one car) at 11:45. I had plenty of time to run to Mt. Holly and pick up my motorcycle. She had been in the shop for a week and I was really anxious to get her out of jail, and on the open road. "Look at me, I'm a master-multi-tasker," I gleefully thought as I rounded up my guys and we took off to rescue my Kaw.

We walked in, and I marched my black riding boots up to the service desk, armor-jacket on, and helmet in hand ready to roll. "Mike" informed me that I needed a new battery. "I don't have time for a new battery" I thought panic-stricken. "I'm on a deadline here." But, time or not, I needed a new battery. So I waited.

It was about 20 minutes that seemed as though it were 20 hours, but I was finally ready to take her home. Bob took off ahead of me and I rode behind the car occasionally waving at Rob who kept turning in his seat to watch me ride. As we turned onto Route 206, the road was blocked and there was a terrible accident. We were detoured and continued home with never a second thought.

This morning Bob emailed me a news link. The headline read:

STATE POLICE: 2 dead after motorcycle collides with police cruiser

The police officer was on his way up 206 to another accident and collided with a motorcyclist and passenger. I saw the police cruiser with the driver's side door completely crunched. I didn't see the motorcycle from the main road. Neither the driver nor the passenger survived.

If I hadn't waited for that battery, that very well could have been ME involved in that accident. While the fate of those two people is indeed tragic, what I am amazed at is while I was standing at the store annoyed because I was being late for an appointment I had meticulously calculated, God knew all my planning couldn't account for what He already knew was happening, and spared me.

God is good, friends.

Nobody's perfect... not even me.

No, I didn't get an A on that OPEN BOOK test. In fact, I got a B... MINUS! To say I was livid is like saying there was a bit of water in Japan. I mean, I was irate!

But I had time to think about it, and I said to myself, "If Robbie came home from school with a B-, would you be this mad?" No, of course I wouldn't as long as I knew he had done his best. As much as I hate to admit it, a B- was actually my best (on an open book test... I know!). Every single question I got wrong was a question I narrowed down to 2 possible answers. Each time, I chose the wrong one. It wasn't "the most correct answer." (I'm still irritated by the type of test it was, but I digress)

So, my perfect 4.0 GPA is gone. Actually, I am surprised I had it for an entire year! I'm just a regular person. I'm not super-mom, I'm not Den Mom of the Year. Heck, if I'm "Mom of the Day" I consider it successful!

However, I do have homework to attend to now... Just because I didn't get an A doesn't mean I stop trying!