What?

Where have I been? I've been transcending Cyberspace for the last three weeks. Ask me anything -- I think I can do it or answer it beyond the confines of the Earth. I can visit the rain forest in Indonesia. I can float with the astronauts in the Space Shuttle. I can visit the individual rooms of the White House. And best of all, I can hang out with the Galapagos Tortoise in its fine and beautiful habitat. This, by far, was the best class I ever took. I learned sooooo much. COOL! Have a restful weekend, everyone!

ONE MORE CLASS!

I have just begun my last online class. I'm tired. This one is an Internet for Educators class. I thought it would be a great class to take since I know so little about the internet. I read some of the posts of my classmates and they are so smart. These are very educated people. I feel a bit out of place. I don't understand the work-at least last night I didn't, but going over to a coworker's room who said she would look at it, it was very easy to understand - duh! I think I'm just overworked. Report cards are due, brought a lot of stuff into my room -- yay! we're going single-track.

It's been. ..

Sunday we went to a benefit dance for a dear friend of ours who has cancer. We did not know he was so sick. So many people were there. It broke our hearts to see him so ill. He is very loved. The bands were great, especially the last two. We danced and danced and danced. It was the best! But for our friend, we wish for him many more good days. God bless him.

Blessed

I will take but a minute to say, Wow! It's been hectic around here for quite some time. I think every weekend has been filled with some event or something.

Today, however, we slept in and took time to just sit and relax. Ahhh. . . it was good. Isn't it something to wake up and realize how blessed you are to be in this time and place in your life? The day was beautiful with blue skies and the mountains peaceful and quiet. I'm just amazed with all the wonderment.

My sister called me yesterday during class time when my little ones were all sitting on the carpet and she told me that she was cancer-free. My students asked me who it was and I told them-- "It was my big sister and she is cancer-free! And I am so happy!" Of course a discussion on "cancer-free" began and lasted for about ten minutes. Children. . . :-)

My son-in-law, we hear, is running in his first marathon tomorrow -- yes? Got to call my daughter to be sure. Really cool!

Ok minute is up -- got to get back to work. Taking my second on-line class in Spanish. What am I doing????!!!!!! :-)

Online Classes

Online classes are not so bad. I'm having an interesting time with it and learning how to navigate in and out of cyberspace. It's so cool. I actually think I'm getting the hang of it.

It's also interesting to "talk" to people from all over the U.S. One of my classmates lives in New Jersey. Another in Miami.

We have disucussion questions we need to answer and then respond to. It's pretty neat to "listen" to people with your same thoughts and different interpretations. We don't all live in California and have to live with Prop 227--the Unz Initiative. It's cool to see that people can still teach in two languages. But everything is a circle story -- we'll be back there again. God-willing.

Everyone have a blessed day. :-)

Rest . . .

The party is over . . . sigh of relief. It was a really nice party. Lots of family and friends. Good food and drinks. But it was a bit chilly. My little sis-in-law looked very happy, laughing and dancing. I'm so glad she was able to have her party here at our home.

Today I rested.

Tomorrow I start school again. I think I need 6 more units to move up to the next pay scale at work. I'm so excited and a bit anticipatory since I've never done an online class before. A friend at work is doing the same class with me so she'll be a big help to me. Wish me luck.

God bless them . . .

What do you say to a mother and father who have lost their child? To a sister who has lost her brother? I don't understand.

The funeral was solemn, sometimes we laughed at a memory spoken by a loved one, sometimes we cried, most of the time we thought about this young man's life and how blessed his family and friends were to have him in their lives. We also thought about our own children and how blessed we are. We never know when our Good Lord will call us home. We need to hug our kids and thank God for them over and over again and tell them how much we love them.

As I hugged my friend's mom, my friend, she asked me about my own son -- my son who used to get her son's hand-me-downs -- I said he was good. She said "Give him a big hug for me and don't ever stop hugging him." We cried together. "I'm so sorry." I told her I loved her. And she said the same.

My heart hurts for the family because they are in so much pain. God bless them.

Sadness

A sweet teacher friend of mine lost her little brother last night in a car accident. He was coming home and was hit head on by a reckless driver. He died instantly. I am so sorry for her family. They are truely a very loving family.

A mother of two of my students lost her daughter-in-law from heart failure. She had lost her son about a year ago.

Such sadness.

I believe our lives are written for us before we come to this life. I believe we know where our lives will take us as we prepare to be born, but all that understanding is taken from us when we are born. Sometimes something may seem familiar like a deja-vu, but it's because you are remembering what was already written for you. You had already seen it. All this, however, does not erase the pain we feel when a loved one is taken from us, especially when they are so young.

My heart hurts for my teacher friend, she's gone through so much already. My heart hurts for the family of my "mother." They need so much prayer. God bless them and keep them strong.
God bless us all and our families.