Need REST!

Ok, I'm tired now. Two more days until vacation. Last time to rotate -- finally. I'm so tired of the rotation. We're finally going single track. Next week, however, I am definitely going shopping. I realized, as I told my husband, I haven't bought a new pair of shoes since forever. Going back to school really took up a lot of my time with studying, writing papers, and forever reading. I just want to go out there and see what's new in fashion and buy one pair of shoes. I'll be so happy to go off-track. Yes! Oh! And our youngest turned 17!!! Where does the time go?
Time for sleep, busy day tomorrow.

Blessings

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John3:16

Happy Easter to everyone.

When we go to church, I am excited to hear God's word. I like our Pastor because I feel he is so blessed to be able to share with us what I feel and believe God has to say to us. So much is applicable to our lives.

Throughout the years, we have visited many, many churches looking for a place we could honestly say -- Yes, I can hear You. We have visited Assemblies of God, Pentacostal, Mormon, Calvary Chapels, Baptist, and for many years the Apostolic Church. We were raised Catholic like many of our families. I love the Catholic Church, it's a good church. I feel God's love in this church, but I didn't learn as much as my heart wanted to learn. It was traditional, the same every Sunday. It's a church to meditate in, to contemplate God's presence in your life. And it was good. But I have always wanted more. There had to be more. Therefore, the visiting. The Apostolic Church had a real hold on us. I loved the messages, the singing, the speaking in tongues. Our pastor was also very blessed. But what I didn't like were the rules bestowed to the women. No, no, no!

We were there for so long. Then we left. For at least ten years I could not bring myself to attend a "church." I had become disillusioned by any "man-made" church meaning -- all churches. Until one day someone invited me and we went. My youngest son liked it a lot and for him we stayed. And now we love it, too. I'm so filled with gratitude that God, in his infinite mercy, does not give up on me or us. I stop and think how much He must love us to continue to call us back to Him. I'm so glad I have begun to listen again.

Yes, today was Easter. It was a beautiful morning singing songs of praise and listening to God's word. It was a beautiful afternoon with our children. We are so blessed. It will be a beautiful week. I know. Thank you, Lord.

Thoughts

Life has its ups and downs.

Mostly ups!

I finished my class at Cal State - a blessing. I learned a lot. But it was exhausting. Now I'm looking into attending the U. of Phoenix which has some really cool online classes. I think I need two more classes to move up to the next level of the pay scale.

My son's school had a near riot today, don't know the reason. They were on lockdown for a while and were released by wings. He recorded what was going on outside and you can hear the security yelling at them to keep moving -"GO! GO! GO!"

I think of where I went to school back in Idaho and how naive I was about life. We were happy kids, everyone got along (I think). I loved going to basketball games and football games. My friends were nice -- I liked everyone (almost everyone). Then I listen to my son's happenings at school and I worry for him. But then this is all he knows. He needs to stay safe. I pray for him everyday and for my other kids.

There is this teacher at my school who is bitter about everything in her life. I feel sorry for her. Sometimes I don't like to be around her because she complains all the time and is angry that she can't teach her way. She can't wait to retire. I'm sorry, but I love my job and do not share her viewpoints which she finds rather odd seeing that we are almost the same age. I can retire before her and she wonders why I don't. "What am I going to do at home?" No, I tell her, I love my kids, I love my job -- I'm ok where I'm at. I'd rather not be around her, but if she needs me, I'll try to help. I'll try.

Went to the doctor today -- good report! Yay! Cool. Thank you, Lord.

My niece is planning a birthday party for her mommy here at our home in April. Lots of relatives will come. I'm so excited. BUT I got to clean from top to bottom.

Rambling...

Goodnight everyone. God bless.

A pillow for my head... please

Wow, I can't believe I'm actually adding to my blog. I have a mere 10 minutes to do so. I feel exhausted. I just finished reading a chapter on small group work. 36 pages long. Did I read it all in absolute? No. I concentrated on the questions the professor will ask. I'm tired of this class, I don't want to do it anymore. Enough. I have one more paper to write. I really feel for the young students who are taking up to 5 classes. How do they do it? Well, let me tell you. They're young!!! They're young, they live at home, most are unmarried - no children. They have stamina -- something I lack. I leave my stamina at work with my little ones. I think the next class I will take is Spanish for Educators, Part 1 -- Ha! Easy! :-) But why not. I need, I think 1 more class or maybe 2 to get to the next level --why not take an easy class -- something I can just sit back and at the end have more stamina.

All I can say is "Young people -- go forward and conquer!" 10 minutes are up. zzzzzzz.....

Malcolm

I'm sorry. We are all sorry. We feel your sadness.

Life . . .

I've been taking a class lately on the Pedagogy of Learning. It's been quite interesting. When I went through my credential classes I took the bad with the good and rushed through most of it. I remember touching on some of the thoughts and facts regarding the laws and methods of teaching ELD children, but like I said it was a whirlwind. Now I have the chance to study at a slower pace and really enjoy it. I'm not saying it's not hard because it is. Professors require a lot and want you to work hard at their "game." But that's ok, because I know he works hard, too. Our last instructor on Communication actually told us he was not exactly reading all our papers, but this one does. He grades with precision. He has his rubric and he follows it to the letter. It's all good because he's teaching these young people and old(me) how to be good teachers. It's all about being a really good teacher. Like he said you have to really love children to want to help them in order to work in this field.

I like when I'm learning new things. Hey! Now I know what BICS and CALP really are. :-)
I think the most important thing I've learned so far is that "don't assume the ELD children know what you're saying, especially when using academic language". They need a lot of realia, TPR, pictures, and patience. It's been a good class so far.

However, a friend told me that the University of Phoenix has a program where you can also acquire units. These classes consist of traveling to the Big Trees, for ex., and writing up a lesson plan. I could do that. I found out I need one more class after this one -- or was it two. Hmmmm
Nevertheless, I should be done, with God's help, by the end of summer. Yay! Then I can go back to reading my books.

Finally, a word of advice to all our young people out there . . . GET YOUR MASTERS WHILE YOU'RE STILL YOUNG!!!!! Ok. Talk to you all later. Happy Super Bowl tomorrow. :-)

Amusing . . .

I read with amusement the blog from my precious son-in-law on the pantry - fridge "hoarding." It was interesting and well, very one-sided. But that's ok. Everyone has their viewpoint, but it was funny. I think if my daughter and son-in-law came on a Friday, they'd find a carton of eggs, maybe some yogurt and a nearly empty margarine tub. I do tend to shop on Saturday morning because I work all week. I DON'T like shopping, especially at a grocery store so I'll buy a lot on Saturday or Sunday for the week.

It could be that because I came from a large family we bought a lot. I remember once when I was maybe 7 or 8 years old, we didn't have lots of money and both of my parents had work. My dad at a farm and my mom at a factory. They were so broke and my mom finally got paid. We went to her work and she gave my dad the check. We went straight to the store and bought lots and lots of food! We were so excited. We were at that time 6 kids.

Then again it could be because when you have a teenager or any children for that fact, they eat a lot and they like certain things. Forget it if you tell them "you are only going to eat what I make. " They're your kids and if you can afford it you will buy it. My daughter liked strawberries, cherries, shrimp, lobster (we told her she'd better marry someone who could afford her :-). Our middle child liked bean burritos, juice, but no meat. Our youngest likes juice, bean burritos, McDonalds, Wendys, fish, lobster, shrimp, tortillas, papitas, Burger King, Carl's Jr., Bakers, Macoroni Grill, spaghetti. Food! Food! Food!

Then again it could be because you always have to be ready for an earthquake "the BIG ONE" and supposedly we'll be on our own for at least 2-3 days -- got to eat.

Then again it could be that we rarely eat out. We are getting old and our stomachs can't take the rich foods of a restaurant. Sure, we'll eat out once in a while, a hamburger, or Cuca's, but the key word is once in a while. Therefore, have to stock up the pantry. But like I said come at the end of the week and have some papitas and scrambled eggs with a fresh chile. I might have a tortilla, but by Friday there is usually just some bread (old and dry).

Finally, I tend to buy things on sale. Take for instance a can of coffee. My favorite is Folger's Columbian (the best). One large can goes for $8 plus. If I find a sale of $4. I will buy the limit.
I stock up on sale items because there is no way I will pay full price. I remember once I ran out of Folger's and for about a week I drank instant - yuck! But it was coffee. Now there are so many varieties and I never run out of Good Coffee.

In Mexico, they have the "mercado" where a lady can go every day and buy the day's meat, vegetables and fruits. I wish we had that here. I would go. But there's no way I will stand in line at a grocery store every single day. Forget it. I will stock up.

In the end, I guess there are people who "hoard." I hope we are not like that. Maybe to a degree because we do have a hard time throwing things that could be used away. Sometimes I think it would be great to really downsize, but you know, I'm content with the way we live and what we have because we have been so blessed. I came from a middle class upbringing. We always had what we needed and wanted. My husband came from a poor background where he had to really work for what he needed. We have lived in nice little places and have struggled a lot, but we were always good. And together we appreciate what we have.

That was a good rebuttle. Thanks son-in-law. You're always thinking of interesting things.
Have a good week.