Day by Day

In three weeks, I will be teaching a course for University of St. Joseph's.  It runs for four hours one night a week, for seven weeks.  It is a graduate course for teachers.  The topic is special education, including social-emotional learning.  As I began reading the chapters of the two textbooks, I found myself learning things about the brain that I either didn't remember or never learned.  I was scared at first-four hours and I haven't really taught in awhile (I have-adults-but I never give myself the credit I deserve).  It is all starting to come to me though...creativity is one of my strengths and I just have to get it rolling again.  There is so much to do in life, how do we pick and choose?  I just want to do everything!

Here it is...I have been waiting.  When we first moved in and Bob was laid off, he ended up painting a few rooms.  One of the reason I loved this house was because we did not have to do a lot with it decorating-wise.  The previous owner was rich and it shows.  However, there are a few rooms that are starting to get to me...I may have to learn how to put in kitchen cabinets and retile bathrooms, but for now....it is just the front entry room.  It has a drop ceiling that desperately needs to be replaced.  It needs a good painting also. So, off I went to Lowe's figuring I would just pick out a paint for the walls, but that led me to looking at the drop ceiling tile aisle..which led me to teh sales person for help in looking at tiles..which he then led me to the total clearance ceiling tiles that normally cost 10 x's what they did, each.  Of course I am about 10 tiles short, but we are going to do a pattern of cheap, expensive, cheap, expensive.  I am...

Saturday morning was the end of a very long week at work and at home (i.e. new birds, dogs, activities, etc).  I made the mistake of opening up my work email and finding yet another dissatisfied customer, so to speak.  I kind of ranted and raved and Keera started consoling me. After a few minutes I told her that she made me feel better (and I actually did).  She said, "Just call me the Mommy Whisperer."

I held it off as long as I could, but I knew it was bound to happen.  A 19 year old with a full time job and not a whole lot to do with his money.....hence the bearded dragon he just bought as his pet.  How can you argue with it when he builds the cage himself-pretty cool and pays for everything himself. So, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 1 bearded dragon and....... A 17 year old with a job (saving all of his money for something) decides to not ask and buy 2 love birds.  I have always said no to birds (a definite no because of the noise they make).  I was not happy, but have to admit they are really pretty.  One love bird was the goal but Kelly went with him and saw that the two love birds were bonding, so she bought one too-although it lives at our house with our bird.  Short of a cow and a goat, I am feeling a little like a zoo here at our house.  I guess it is nice to have a full home for now. (I will post pictures when I get a chance.)

Sheryl Sandberg is my new mentor.  I heard about her on 60 minutes and followed up by watching her TED video and then buying her ibook "Lean In".  Wow...she is good.  Her message is filled with stories, humor, important messages and reality.  One of the things she says is that women don't join men at the table (in leadership positions).  I had a workshop I was running with one of my male bosses and the first time I was in awe of how well he presented.  I, on the other hand, felt self-conscious and unsure.  (Even though I felt that way, a teacher came up to me afterward and said that I was awesome-she had never seen me in that role). But this time, I decided that I was going to lean in.  When it was his turn, I stayed at the front of the room with him, instead of taking a seat in the back.  When it was my turn and he stated something that I was going to state anyway for a conclusion, I let him know that in a humorous way and he said that he ...

I saw in the bulletin the need for Eucharistic Ministers.  Then I sat next to an older woman at a women's club event, who is a Eucharistic Minister, and she said they were in dire need of Eucharistic Ministers.  So, I decided I couldn't ignore the messages and I decided to become trained.  I had my first experience a few weeks ago and it felt so fulfilling.  Then I had to do deliver to homebound people and it made me feel so blessed with all that I have.  At one apartment there was a girl the same age as my teens and she was obviously helping to take care of both of her grandparents.  As much as we want our children to go through life painless, I think the pains bring us closer to God, as we try to find peace in what we have. At any rate, I am glad I did it, although a man dropped the host (my first week).  After a few people a woman I know came up and said, "isn't that a host"?  I said, "yes, I will take care of it."  I picked it up and th...

Family membership at the Y-great decision. I love Zumba, Yoga, Body Pump, not to mention the pool when I get over to the other side of town to use it.  When I look back at my knee surgery, it was the best thing I could have had, as I see it now.  I was forced to look beyond jogging to what other forms I could use to keep my body working well.  The forms I use now involve all of my body and strengthening, as well as exercise, calorie burning.  Things always happen for a reason, even though we figure out why at that time.