Such a Blessing

I know that it has been a while since I have posted.  Things have been so busy around here between work, school (both mine and Mike's), and of course football.  The Razorbacks have gotten off to a super start.  We have only lost one game so far and that was to #1 Alabama during the last five minutes of the game.  I have high hopes of going to a bowl game.

Speaking of being busy with work, Mike just got hired at my school to be an Instructional Assistant full time.  He had been subbing, but know will be able to work everyday and still go to school.  The pay is the same as subbing, but he doesn't have to look for a job and he gets benefits. He know has health insurance and will get retirement.  Yay!!!  He is working in the computer lab and will be working one-on-one or in small groups with students.  He is excited and has enjoyed his first few days.

I am also really enjoying my students this year.  I also got another teacher that comes over for 1 1/2 hours during the day to serve five kids, so my caseload is now down to a manageable level.  The only setback I have had is that I am now sick and having to stay home today, but hopefully I'll be back at work tomorrow for Professional Development.

There are possibly some exciting things coming up on the horizon for Mike and me.  Hopefully, I'll be able to share soon!  I'll leave you with some photos of our first Razorback football games courtesy of the iPhone.  I hope life is finding you well!

The First Week

The first week of school has come and gone. Things are so different when it's not your first year. I really like that. I'm not having to learn all over again like I had the previous two years. Tomorrow I finally get to start seeing some kids!!! Yay for me!! As I special education teacher, I have been helping out with lunch duty. You can't imagine how much help those sweet little kindergarteners need. I have also been getting paperwork out to the classroom teachers and working on my scheduling, which is going to be a little tricky. Right now I have 29 kids on my caseload. I'm really only supposed to have 25, but will do the best I can until I get some help.

We've had an unexpected blessing in that hubby has already subbed 3 1/2 days. The first three days of school he worked with kindergarten so the teachers could screen the kids and get them divided into classes. He enjoyed it, but came home pretty tired. Hopefully, he will be able to stay busy subbing while going to school this year and not get too overwhelmed.

I have also started both of my graduate classes. One is Special Ed. Law and it is completely online. I can work at my own pace, so I want to get it finished as soon as possible. Finishing by the end of October would be really nice. My other class is Leadership Ehtics and meets in person sometimes and online other times. I think I'll enjoy it. It is going to force me to do some deep thinking, if that's possible!

The weather has finally cooled down massively, which was much needed. We are in the 80's instead of being close to 100. This cooler weather is giving me the football itch.

New Blog Name

About a month ago, I changed the name of my blog without any explanation.  I just wasn't ready to talk about it yet and there were some things that weren't completely official.  My blog used to be called "Journal of an Army Wife."  I created this blog when hubby was in the Army and preparing to leave for Officer Candidate School.  I wanted it to be an outlet for the thoughts and feelings that I would be dealing with while he was away.  That didn't exactly go as planned and he had to come home early without completing the course.

Our next plan was for him to become an officer by going through the ROTC program while going to school to get his master's degree.  At the same time, he would remain in the National Guard.  Then, the Guard threw a kink in that plan.  They wanted to send hubby off for some additional training that would cause him to be out of school for another year.  That just wasn't an option that hubby was willing to accept.  Instead, he asked to be released from his contract.  They granted the request and discharged him and left him the option of rejoining at a later time.

Hubby really wanted us to be able to get on with out lives, which he felt would have to be put off even further if he didn't begin school immediately.  I understand this now and agree with the decision he made.  At the time, however, I wasn't quite sure how I felt.  I was so proud of him for giving of himself to serve our country and I couldn't see how he could change his mind so easily.  I saw it as being a little selfish.  Now I realize it wasn't selfish at all.  He was trying to look out for our family. We have been discussing when the time would be right for us to have a baby.  With the path that we were on, it would have never been the right time because after finally finishing school and all his training, he would have been facing a deployment.

God gave him the wisdom to look ahead and think about our baby who may or may not have had the opportunity to bond with their father as an infant.  I know the right decision was made for our family at this time.  The door is still open for whatever hubby chooses to do in the future.  I am so blessed to have a husband and a God that look out for me and are able to help me plan for the future.  I could not ask for a life more blessed than the one I have.

Kittens!

Last week the cat, Cindy Lou, that adopted us in June had babies of her own. When she started hanging around, we didn't realize she was expecting. After a few weeks, we started noticing that she was growing and growing. Last week she gave us six little ones. They are so adorable! Take a peek!

They will be ready for adoption around the first of October.  Let me know if you would like one as your own.

Such a Great Book!!

Recently I read this book:

I highly recommend that everyone read this book.  It is about a 5th grader named Melody.  She is brilliant.  The problem is that nobody knows it.  Melody also has Cerebral Palsy.  She has never spoken a word or had friends.  The book talks about her journey to become a "regular" kid and letting everyone know what is truly going on insider her.  

This book should be read by all kids, parents, teachers, and anyone else that is interested in knowing what it is like to have be different from what is considered the norm.  There are so many things I would never have thought about that Melody faces.  I teach special education and I now realize no matter how much I know about a particular disability, I don't really know what life is like for that child.

This book encourages people to not assume anything and to empathize with people with a disability, but don't have pity on them.  My job should be to help them to reach their fullest potential and offer them the support they need to be as independent as possible.  I should also empathize with parents and help them find the support and resources they need.

I'll be quiet now, but I could go on and on about this book.  It touched me so deeply.  I laughed, cried, cheered, and got angry while reading this book.  It showed me the true nature of so many people.  It made me want to be a better woman and teacher.