Done!

The primary program is over! Woo hoo! The kids did a good job. The Sunbeams were still all over the place, but at least the little girls kept their feet below their heads. (Wish I could say the same for my own son who kept putting his feet up on the pew in front of him and swinging them around!) The best part was one little Sunbeam who got to the podium and immediately pointed and announced, "There's my mom and dad!" It was so hysterical!

I think changes are in the works. I don't think I'll be the primary pianist much longer. Our chorister is SO done. You can just feel it. And since she and I aren't allowed to be apart in our callings apparently, I'll probably be moving on too. And I'm ready. You know that feeling you get that something's up? Well, that's how I feel. I thought I had a feeling for where I might be going, but not so much this afternoon. Maybe I'm not going anywhere. But I think I am. Next weekend is Stake Conference, so the leadership has a couple of weeks to get it all done. Now to wait for the phone call....

Fall's Finally Here

Yippee! Fall showed up this week. One blustery rainy day when the front came in. Since then--highs in the 60's and 70's, gorgeous blue sky, leaves just starting to change, windows open, lows in the 40's. Ahhhhh! I love fall. Fall in Texas isn't quite as pretty as fall in Utah (or just about anywhere north of here), but oh I'm happy it's here! Yay fall!!!!

I Gave Up

So, I made a decision on Monday at school. I gave up. Seriously. Just gave up. Quit disciplining the students. It started with 5th grade. We're working on their December program. There were students who just talked and talked while they were supposed to be singing. I didn't say a word. Just let them go. But I put a little dot next to their names on my roll sheet. And that's what I did the entire class. At the end of class, those students who had 4 or more dots got "notes home." (They aren't good notes.) The students were quite indignant! "That's not fair! You didn't tell us we were getting notes!" Uh...you talked the whole time and didn't participate at all. WHAT DID YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN?!?

But you know what...I ended the day with a smile rather than a frown. So I did the same thing with all my classes all week. And I've ended the week with a smile rather than a frown. It was a fabulous week. I got everything done that I really needed too and got a good list going for next week. I also put upper grades into seating charts on risers--and that seemed to make a difference as well. I just love it when I come up with ideas and they work. With any luck, they'll work next week too!

Columbus Day? Fair Day? No Day?

Remember when we used to get Columbus Day off? It's a federal holiday, so we got off school too. Then it became not a "day off" but a "Fair Day." It was the day that the Texas State Fair gave all the students in the district a free ticket to the fair. For that day only. Every student in the Dallas area going to the fair on the same day. Uh, no thank you, but I'll take the day off.

Well, now they've taken that away too. No more Fair Day. The kids still got a ticket--to be used on any Sunday. Yep, Sunday. Well, gee...that's just great. We're Mormon. Should I be crying discrimination? We don't do things like that on Sundays,watching football and NASCAR notwithstanding. So we're being discriminated against, right? I wonder what TPTB would do if we really called them on that.

So anyway, no more Fair Day. That means that we go from Labor Day to Thanksgiving with no break. Not a single day off. Nada! I know, I know...a lot of people work year round with no break, blah, blah, blah. If I wanted to work like that, I wouldn't have become a teacher and I'd make a lot more money. Whatever. I'm complaining here. I try to tell myself that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. It's not. Halloween is just around the corner and there's not a single solitary piece of a costume to be found in this house. But that's another whiny post. This is about being tired. This is about having a day off. What happened to just one long weekend in October? What happened to Columbus Day? I guess we don't celebrate him anymore now that we know a bit more of real history. But can't we still have the day off school? I think if I have to go to school, the post office should deliver mail. If they're not delivering mail, there shouldn't be school. But I still want my snow days too, so maybe that's not the best idea.

Yes, I need a day off.

Yay James!!!

James has been taking karate for about two years now. He goes through phases of being really into it and then not so much. But this year he's really enjoyed it. So last night, we had an awards dinner for those students who placed in the state rankings. James placed 4th in kumite (sparring.) He had a tournament that morning as well. He medaled in chanbara (swordfighting), 4th in kata (forms), and 2nd in kumite (sparring.)

He also received his orange belt recently. He's really proud of that belt and works hard on his skills. He's come a long way since he started. Two years ago, he was the kid who got hit in the head and started crying. This year--he's the kid who hits someone else in the head and makes them cry. I know...I shouldn't be proud of that, but I am. :-) Great job, James! We're really proud of you for sticking with it and doing your best!

Weekends

I should look forward to weekends. No school, easier schedule, right? Nope. A friend of mine said that she likes Saturdays because they're a "go and do" family on Saturdays. She grew up having to clean house on Saturday and she's rebelled against that as an adult. I can understand that. Unfortunately, Saturday is the only day that I have off to do any house cleaning. But...when the weekend is filled with other things--like karate tournaments, region auditions, shoe shopping, karate awards dinners--when do you do house cleaning and grocery shopping. Oh yeah...there are four other people in the house that could help. That should make it go quickly, right? Bwahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

The other four people in the house are male. That pretty much explains it right there, doesn't it? The oldest male in the house sleeps. A lot. All. Dang. Day. I know--I should go in there and scream and yell and throw things and make him get out of bed, but I just can't do that. I guess I want him to *want* to get up and help. The second oldest male is a teenager. 'Nuff said. But really, he's a pretty good teenager. He gets up and goes to seminary every weekday morning at 6:00. He makes good grades in his pre-AP classes. He's figuring out high school. And he'll do whatever chore I ask him to do without any loud complaining. (I don't count the drooping shoulders.) So, I let him sleep in a bit. And I'll ask him to vacuum the upstairs this afternoon. And he'll do it. The other two will do whatever I ask.

I guess I'm just tired of asking. No...I'm tired of needing to ask the oldest male in the house. So, I tried an experiment. I quit doing dishes this week. Probably back on Wednesday although I really don't remember exactly which day. This was a really busy week for me. Let me think back...Monday - FHE, Tuesday - cub scouts and karate and workout, Wednesday - Mutual for Chris, Thursday - school choir, PTA emergency board meeting, PTA general meeting and 3rd grade program for meeting (which I was in charge of), Friday - orchestra party so had to pick up teenager at 10:00 pm (wayyyyyyy past my bedtime.)

Ok...so I know there are plenty of people out there with more hectic schedules than mine, but I'm a homebody. I don't like being busy. So anyway, I quit doing dishes. It's now Saturday morning. We're out of bowls, most glasses, all silverware except a couple of spoons. NO ONE ELSE HAS EVEN ATTEMPTED TO DO THE DISHES! Not one person. They're all piled in the sink. Teenager has washed out a bowl and then put it back in the sink when he was done with it.

I don't mean to whine--okay, maybe a little bit--but if I don't whine here, where? There's not much point in whining in my house. No one gets it anyway.

Conference Weekend

I love conference weekend. Saturday is a bit harder because there are always other things going on as well. It's harder to take the day "off." I missed Elder Uchtdorf's talk yesterday while taking Chris to his district orchestra audition--and I've heard it was wonderful. I'll try to watch it today. (Again...I love DVR!)

But even when there are places to go and rooms to vacuum, the spirit of General Conference fills the house both days. It makes for a pleasant day no matter what else is going on. Of the talks I heard yesterday, I think Elder Bednar's spoke to me the most. His thoughts on starting our day with prayer hit home with me. Perhaps my days would go even better if I remembered to do that.

I just love the spirit of Conference. I love the spirit that it brings to my home and to my children. Although they have a hard time watching the entire two hours, they are at least quiet for the first hour--almost an hour and a half! I think what I love most about Conference is that it gives me hope. It reminds me of who I can be and who I am. I am a daughter of God. Heavenly Father loves me and wants what's best for me. And he's shown me how to have joy. It is a true blessing to be a member of this Church.