What happened to first semester??

Wow...the school year is half way over. What the heck happened to the first semester? It has flown by that's for sure! I have learned more in the last semester then I did in a combined 4 years of college that's for sure. I haven't loved every minute of it, but that's how it is with any job. Overall, I am loving it more and more everyday.

I applied to an on-line Master's program for Adapted PE, the only one in the US, and I got it. But wait, it gets better! I was able to get a grant/scholarship and my tuition and books is going to be totally paid for. Isn't that sweet?!? I am way pumped! It's cool how the Lord just keeps reinforcing the fact that I am where I need to be. Change is always so tough and uncomfortable, but that's when we grow the most. I feel like I have grown more in the last 6 months then I have in a long time. It's great.

3 more days until Christmas break! I must admit, I'm looking forward to having a few days off, but not really looking forward to break. The tonsils are coming out on the 20th...so that is how I will spend my 2 weeks of Christmas break, but hey, better now than ever.

This Christmas I find myself blessed in more ways than I could image. My health is something that I have taken for granted. Sure, I have had a few health issues, but nothing major. I work with 7 year olds fighting cancer, students who were abused as infants, and a handful of kids who are nonverbal, and can't communicate with their families and friends. Yet, they are some of the happiest, loving kids I know. Wow...I'm just blessed. And I don't know why.

Merry Christmas to all...may the Lord bless you and your family this holiday season.

Just another day in paradise

I am updating my blog to avoid homework. Some things never change :)

School is going well. We added 4 kiddos last week, so our number are growing. My guess would be that I will add at least 5-10 more by the end of school. We are starting to creep up on 50! Friday I was asked what grade I was in at one school and then later the afternoon asked if I was a girl's mother. Both of which I just shook my head and laughed.

I think I have found a church home. I have gone a couple of times to Journey Church journeylive.org . I really like the worship and how many different ways there are for me to get connected. The people are really friendly..so we'll see how the next few months go. I was driving to church today and saw the Fred Phelps people on the corner with signs. I had seen them on tv, but this is the first time I have seen them in person. You've seen the signs about God hating gay people and how the war is because of our sins and yada yada yada. I wanted to roll down my window and yell at them, but I just kept driving by. As a Christian it just made me angry. How could you read the bible and claim to be a Christian and tell people that God is full of hate. I'm pretty sure that's not found in any bible I read.

Other than that, life is pretty much the same. Still just livin the dream, facing the giants, and trying to make a difference. Keep loving!

small victories

October?!? Really, where has the time gone? Things have been busy around here with master's classes, school, and keeping up with paperwork. 4 IEP meetings in 3 days, and it's just going to get even more crazy.

I am learning to celebrate small victories. Today one of my kiddos who all I could get to do for the last month and a half is walk, finally sat on a scooter and we rode around. He smiled for the first time today, and seemed to love it! I pulled him for a while, and then once he got the feel of it, he started pushing himself. It was awesome! The SpED teacher was taking pictures to show his mom, and everyone was so excited he was succeeding. Small victories!!

We went to the Nascar race in KC this last weekend. It was great. We had pit passes and watched the race from a suite, we had the hook up! Jimmie didn't win, but ended up moving up to first in the standings. We were in the pits and in the garage before and during the race, which was something that was awesome and a side of it I hadn't seen before. Makes me love it even more!!

The Aflac tire...they made me laugh :)


The big man on campus!


Victory lane!


Jimmie's race car. It was sweet to be up close!

thankful..

paddle boat fun


love these girls.





Well one of the best weekends I've had in a long time. One of those where you would like to just stay forever. We were sitting on the dock of a little lake in the middle of Minnesota, and I would have given anything to freeze time. The weather was beautiful, the lake was amazing, and I was sitting with 3 of the best friends a person could ask for. Let's just say I'm ready to go back!

School is going well. We're a month in now and I would say that each week is getting better. We definitely have our ups and downs, and there are days I leave loving my job, and days where I wonder what the heck I'm doing. The kids are starting to get more comfortable with me, and I with them. It's exciting to start building the foundation for a program. We are starting from the beginning. I'm not sure what this will look like in 5 years, but I hope we've made progress. Each day I spend with them I am thankful. Thankful that I have a job, thankful for my health, thankful that God has put me in a place where hopefully I can make a difference.