Out for the summer - part 2

Back when I first got out of school for the summer, I wondered how I was going to spend the next 10 weeks. I know that there are many people out there who wish they still had the summer vacations they had when they were in school, but really...10 weeks gets a little long when you have nothing to do. Let me update you on what I have been doing this summer. My last post was about my job as a nanny - that took about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks. Blair is a great kid and I really enjoyed my time hanging out with her. Other than that, I...
me at Old Bedford Village
...left Dallas on July 3rd and flew to Chicago then to Washington D.C. and finally to Altoona, PA. It was a very long day - just the right amount of time to change terminals and get back through security in Chicago and about 3 hours too long in Washington D.C. where all I could do was walk up and down the terminal or sit at the gate. On July 4th, I went with my aunt, uncle and cousins to Old Bedford Village http://www.oldbedfordvillage.com. We walked through an old town with houses and other buildings that had been moved there for restoration to their original form. We saw a lady spinning thread in an old house; walked through an old church; ate lunch in a tavern (I had sausage on a potato roll and a cream soda out of a bottle); went to the carpenters shop, the chandlery, the blacksmith and the whitesmith and two schools. On the 5th, we had our family reunion down at the farm and in the afternoon, my uncle loaded most of us (probably 60 - 70 of us) into 2 hay wagons, attached us to the back of the tractor and took off down the highway. On the 6th mom, pop, my brother Chris and I went over to the Bedford Springs Resort http://www.bedfordspringsresort.com to look around. The last time I was in PA, the Springs was in shambles but now it has been restored and is up and running for business. It is beautiful!
...Mom, Pop and I began our trek back to TX on the 8th and made several stops along the way. On the 9th, we stopped at Jackson's Mill in WV, http://jacksonsmill.wvu.edu, the boyhood home of Stonewall Jackson. We walked through several cabins and 2 mills.

Inside the original mill

pictures of Stonewall Jackson
As we continued on our journey, our next stop was the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in KY, http://www.shakervillageky.org. Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill was started in 1805 and the last Pleasant Hill Shaker died in 1923 - the shakers would be considered a cult by today's standards as they lived basically in communes as brothers and sisters - there was no husband and wife - and they tried to live a perfect life before the Lord. They are known as the shakers because of the body movements used during their "meetings" which we would call church. The same day, we got into Paducah, KY which is the home of the National Quilters Museum and many antique shops. We only had about 30 minutes before the shops closed, so we rushed through town looking at antiques - even bought a few treasures. We got back to Dallas on the 10th, had dinner, went grocery shopping and the next afternoon headed to Lake Whitney for another family reunion.

...today, I decided to ride the Trinity Railway Express http://www.trinityrailwayexpress.org from end to end - I hopped on in Irving and went west to Ft. Worth stayed on and went east to Dallas. I jumped off at Dallas Union Station and walked a few blocks to The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza http://www.jfk.org. This is the location where Lee Harvey Oswald stood on November 22, 1963 and assassinated President Kennedy during a motorcade through Dallas. There is an audio tour as you walk through and look at pictures and memorabilia as well as short informational movies you can sit down and watch for additional information. This was a very moving experience - and creepy to stand almost in the place that Lee Harvey Oswald stood.

Well, it's been a pretty busy summer so far and it's not over yet. I wonder what the next 4 weeks will bring...I'll keep you updated on my adventures.

Nanny

For several weeks this summer, I worked as a nanny for an almost 4 year old little girl. I gained a new respect for parents through this experience. I have been around kids in different avenues for the last 17 years: babysitting, working in my church nursery, working at a preschool and a daycare, teaching, younger siblings (my youngest sister is 14 years younger than me), younger cousins, and my niece and nephews. However, I have never been solely responsible for their moment by moment daily life.
I enjoyed hanging out with Blair and I tried to do as many fun things with her as possible, as well as just running simple errands. We went to a couple of parks, the Dallas Zoo, the Science Place in Fair Park (a great children's interactive museum for those Dallasites with kids of all ages) and we watched Happy Feet at the Studio Movie Grill. I took her with me to get my tires rotated, to get a new cell phone after I demolished mine and school supply shopping for when I head back to teaching.
I fixed breakfast and lunch; gave baths; cleaned so the house wasn't totally demolished at the end of the day; tended to boo boos; put together puzzles; colored; played hide and seek; and even had to put her in time out some. I was tired at the end of each day - but it was a good tired.
For you parents out there, I only got a sneak peek, but I applaud you because it's a tough job. But as tough as it is, I look forward to the day when I can join your ranks. I thank Blair for teaching me all she did about being a "mom".

100 Things...(I borrowed some of these because I want to do them too)

This is a list of things I would like to accomplish in my lifetime (my bucket list, if you will)...

1. get married
2. have/adopt kids
3. pay off my car (paid off 12-16-2008!!!!)
4. get out of debt
5. live debt free
6. go to New York City
7. go to Washington D.C.
8. go to all 50 states (I've made it to 25 so far)
9. take an Alaskan cruise
10. backpack through Europe
11. make a quilt just for me (finished 11-08)
12. finish my students handprint quilt (from 2004-05) - yes, I'm behind - finished it 7/14/08
13. finish the magic tree house quilt (from 2006-07)
14. buy a house
15. live in the country
16. have acreage
17. own a horse
18. finish all 7 BSF studies [Acts (04-05), Genesis (05-06), Romans (06-07), Matthew (07-08), the Life of Moses (08-09), John (09-10), Israel and the Minor Prophets (10-11)]
19. get my masters
20. work as an adoption counselor
21. dive the Great Barrier Reef
22. dive Roatan
23. lose weight ONGOING GOAL - AS OF 12/22/08 I'VE LOST 23 LBS AND 26 INCHES
24. get another tattoo
25. go to Brazil
26. go to Ireland
27. go to St. Petersburg, Russia
28. go back to Moscow
29. write a book and get it published
30. own a quilting frame
31. meet a celebrity
32. go to a Dallas Stars Hockey game (Emily and I went and saw them play the San Jose Sharks 12/29/08)
33. have a better relationship with my brother
34. ride the TRE from end to end (7/22/08)
35. go to Australia
36. go to New Zealand
37. have a backyard for Bella to play in
38. take a flower arranging class
39. go to the 6th floor museum (JFK) (visited 7/22/08 - very interesting - this is the location from which Lee Harvey Oswald shot President Kennedy
40. take a train ride cross country on Amtrak
41. eat lobster in Maine
42. read the bible all the way through
43. buy a Dyson vacuum (12/13/08)
44. fly in a helicopter
45. learn to snow ski
46. go to Disney World
47. go to Sea World
48. go white water rafting
49. go the Lone Star Park for horse races
50. do karaoke
51. go to Mackinac Island, MI
52. see Niagra Falls
53. go to Mexico
54. go to Canada
55. attend a taping of Oprah
56. go to Africa
57. go to Scandanavia
58. go to Spain
59. go to Austria
60. go to Italy
61. go on another cruise
62. have a star named after me
63. host a dinner party
64. learn to waltz
65. learn to salsa
66. learn to tango
67. stay in a bed and breakfast
68. see a broadway play
69. take a photography class
70. get an SLR film camera
71. swim with dolphins
72. go on a whale watching expedition
73. make a quilt and sell it
74. do sona med spa (or something like it) on my legs
75. do sona med spa on my armpits
76. make it to 500 volunteer hours at CMC (this put on hold...I have over 100 hours but because i got pneumonia in April/May and have been sick off and on over the summer - i temporarily resigned for my health and that of the sick children)
77. go to the drive in movies
78. see Emily get married
79. go to Texarkana to see Kim, Clay and Owen (7/28 - 30 /08)
80. live somewhere besides Texas
81. go to the San Diego Zoo
82. design and build my own home
83. learn to change my own oil
84. run a mile (I know its not far - but goals have to start out small)
85. plan a wedding (preferably my own)
86. ride horseback on the beach
87. spend a day at a spa
88. retire from teaching
89. rejoin a gym and use the membership (7/22/08 - I joined Curves - I like that I don't have to come up with my own workout plan)
90. ride the Texas Star at the State Fair
91. dive in Cozumel
92. go on another mission trip
93. go to the Amazon Rain Forest
94. go to South America
95. learn to knit
96. see Stonehenge
97. visit Alcatraz
98. go to the annual Tulip Festival in Iowa
99. go to Prince Edward Island
100. break out of my shell

A New Respect

I'm a teacher. I try to be at school everyday because I am responsible for the knowledge my students are required to gain throughout their year in second grade. However, just like everyone else, I occasionally get sick enough to have to stay home from work. And every once in a while, I just need a "mental health" day. But the concern of every good teacher is what a substitute will do with their class (think back to a class you had on a day when there was a sub - movies, talking, playing, no work, etc). Because I am a very organized person in general, my sub lesson plans are very detailed, often even down to the words I want the sub to say to explain a concept to my students. However, I never really imagined what it would be like for a substitute to walk into a classroom of students and be expected to teach, regardless of how well planned the lesson - I will admit that I have frequently been irritated with my substitutes for not getting done what I've left for them to do.
On Tuesday and Thursday, I was a substitute for one of my co-teachers for her summer school class. It was 4th grade (I've never taught anything but 2nd) and it was reading (I do teach this, just at a lower level). When I arrived, I found very detailed lesson plans which she had gone over with me on the phone the night before, but I still found I was very nervous when the students walked into the classroom and often felt like they were listening to nothing I had to say - a couple of times I asked "Is this how you act for Mrs. W?" They replied no. On Tuesday, it was all I could do to make it to the end of the day, wondering if this was really worth the $20/hour I was getting paid. Thursday morning was fabulous but that afternoon I wanted to pull my hair out.
Now that it is over, I've decided that it was worth the $20/hour - 2 days, 8 hours a day...but I have definitely developed a new respect for substitutes. In the future, when I have a sub, I will be much more understanding if they don't get everything done.

Out for the summer

Well, summer is officially here - weather-wise and job wise. I said goodbye to my 6th group of 2nd graders last Wednesday and bid adieu to my coworkers on Thursday after a luncheon at Texas Land & Cattle. I will see them all again in about 10 weeks but the next time I see my students, they will be 3rd graders (well, all but one - he will join me for one more year in 2nd grade). My very first year of 2nd graders will be 8th graders next year - I saw one of them back in April and I barely recognized her.
So, what would you do if you had 10 weeks of vacation in a row but no extra money for traveling? Well, the first thing I did was stop at the library and pick up a stack of books (7). That was Thursday afternoon and I've already finished two. On Friday, I hit the road - nothing exciting - just headed to my parents. I can't afford to travel anywhere exciting, but going home means free food and a break on electricity at home because I turned it up real high. I'm not sure how long I'll be here but most likely at least a week. I managed to secure a part-time job for the summer and the week of the 23rd, I will begin working as a nanny for a 4 year old girl. It looks to be the perfect position - just hang out with one kid (some days maybe 2) for 3 weeks. The pay isn't too bad either. I have some fun ideas of things we can do to pass the time like the Science Place at the Museum of Nature and Science and the Dallas World Aquarium. I expect I'll have fun.
My family reunion is in mid July and I'm looking forward to that - we didn't have one last year and with such a large family it's hard to keep up with everyone sometimes.
Other than that, I am looking at 10 weeks of teaching-free whatever. I'll let you know if anything exciting happens.

Academic Fair

Today we had an Academic Fair for the 6 elementary schools that feed into the same high school. Our 1st - 5th graders competed in different areas: 1st - 3rd competed in math, spelling and poetry and 4th and 5th competed in math, spelling, poetry, number sense, science and geography. We only had a few weeks to prepare our students, but we had a few winners place between 1st and 6th place in every grade level except 3rd. But watching those kids who competed anxiously wait for their names to be called and then not hearing it was heartbreaking. There were so many that were extremely disappointed at not placing. Hopefully, we will be more prepared next year and will have more winners and fewer disappointments

Just rambling...

I had a flashback on Friday night. A flashback to my middle and high school days. I went to the movies at Grapevine Mills Mall and when I walked out after the movie, there were kids standing around "hanging out". They were everywhere. I remember when I was a kid and did that. I've come a long way since then...

I graduated from high school 11 years ago and headed off to college. I went home for Christmas that first year and then didn't go home to live again...only for weekend visits. I met some amazing people when I was in college and really came to understand what had happened when I had accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 16. After 5 1/2 years and 5 majors, I graduated from college still unsure of what I wanted to do with my life.
5 months after graduation and too many unproductive job interviews, I accepted a job with Dallas ISD to get certified to teach. It wasn't something I'd ever wanted to do, but 6 school years later, it has become a career. Some years are more difficult than others - and each presents its own challenges, but I have found joy in my students. It is so satisfying when their eyes light up when a concept finally hits home.
I have done my fair share of traveling - I've been to 25 states and 14 countries. I've seen so many cool things like Les Miserables on a London stage; the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and the Kremlin; Westminister Abbey; the Mona Lisa at the Louvre; Notre Dame; I've napped in Hyde Park; rolled down a hill at Stirling Castle; watched the sun set and rise over St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square; shopped at the Gum; and dove the Antilla wreck off the coast of Aruba.
I've gotten into debt and am working my way out (debt is definitely something you should avoid). I've rebelled against the "norm" you might say and got pierced and tattooed. I volunteer my spare time at a Children's Hospital.
Ultimately, my life is and has been great and I have very few regrets - and even those few regrets, I wouldn't change because I've learned so much from them. Besides the debt, which I'm working very hard on, the only thing I want that I don't have is my own family - a husband and children.
I am still waiting, albeit not always patiently, for God to bring that person into my life. I never thought I would be 29, going on 30, and still single. I realize it isn't the end of the world that I'm still single, and I don't always let it get to me, but sometimes it's just really frustrating.
I try to keep in mind some of God's promises to me...

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6