What a crazy day!! First - it's Friday. (Yay!) Then - it's picture day. Then - we have a bunch of teachers already out and then at least two more went home at the beginning of the day. So some subs got moved around and aides were used in other classes.
But...it's Friday. I have Saturday school tomorrow morning and then I'm spending the rest of the weekend doing laundry and watching conference. I just love General Conference! It's the boost I always need. I need to feel that spirit. I need to find hope again. Well, I actually have hope. But someone else in our house doesn't. I'm hoping and praying that he can feel the Spirit this weekend. That he will feel Heavenly Father's love for him. And that our family can come together again.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Spring Has Sprung
We made it through spring break. A wonderfully enjoyable and productive week off school. Finally got the house really cleaned. Of course, now we're just dirtying it up again and I'm not keeping up again, but it's not long until summer. Just eight weeks away.
Eight weeks. That means in eight weeks, Chris will be graduating. In 10 weeks, he will be at BYU. I don't think it's really hit me yet. Tuition, housing, meal plans, travel there and back. Ack! It'll work out somehow.
We're still unemployed. Not sure what's going on in that regard except that we're getting an unemployment check every two weeks.
But...since it's spring...the weather has been BEAUTIFUL lately! I keep meaning to go work in the front flower beds, but of course, other things come up - things that aren't quite so physically taxing.
And...in celebration of spring...I've joined Weight Watchers again. Today is the last day of my first week. It's harder this time - I think because I eat when I'm stressed and I'm ALWAYS stressed. Eating healthy is much more expensive that eating unhealthy. Fruits and vegetables are expensive these days. But it's still less expensive than medical issues. Of course, since we had pizza and pie for lunch today - I think I ruined my diet today. But maybe I'll walk the dog to help that out this afternoon and we'll go from there. :-)
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Small Blessings
It doesn't take much to make me happy these days. It really is the little things. Like a 5th grade teacher who put a dollar in the Coke machine and got two Diet Cokes. She brought me one of them. Or a sister from church who was already coming up to eat lunch with our favorite redheaded 2nd grader and brought me tacos from Taco Bell and HUGE Diet Coke from Sonic.
It's a good feeling. :-)
It's a good feeling. :-)
Monday, February 27, 2012
Am I Really the Mother of a Senior?
Is he really going off to college this summer? Yes. Yes he is. Chris was accepted into BYU and will be starting college on June 18th. This after he graduates from high school on June 3rd. W. O. W.
Now we just wait and see about scholarships and such. He will do one summer term, come home in August and hopefully get a short-time job, then plans to begin his mission right at his birthday in November.
It's really too bad he doesn't have a plan, isn't it? Gooooooooo Chris!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
It's Better to Look Up
We have turned the corner. It's just a small corner, but at least it's a corner. Richard received his unemployment award and they sent us four weeks' worth at once - two of it back pay. Yay! And they took into account Richard's previous teaching salary when making their award determination. Whew! That's something at least.
I've been picking up some Saturday school tutoring gigs and one building monitor evening gig. So that will be a little extra in the paycheck in March. AND our tax refund will be officially in our account tomorrow. So maybe we can finally get caught up and take care of some of Chris's things like a book for his college class and trip payments and AP test fees.
It feels better anyway. I had a major meltdown last Monday - cried it all out. Not the sweet, cute cry you see in movies. Oh no...not me. This was the out loud, nose-dripping, red-faced kind. The kind you don't want anyone to see. And no one did. So I share it here for all my readers. (All two of you.)
But home is feeling much better. I wish I could say the same about school. It's just awful. A constant feeling of looking over your shoulder, one can never do right, nothing is good enough, and the ever-present, "I don't really care what you're going through at home, just make sure you do everything you're supposed to do here, which includes all the extra stuff I'm assigning you just because I can." Most days it's all I can do to make myself go to work. I've taken more days off this year than ever, I think, but that doesn't really help because so often a sub doesn't pick up and then my team takes the brunt of my not being there. It's not fair, but that's the way it is. :-(
But...I'm feeling better regardless. My last few posts have been so negative that I wanted to finally write a positive one. Heavenly Father is in charge. He's watching out for me and my family. There are positives - lots of positives. That will be another post. :)
I've been picking up some Saturday school tutoring gigs and one building monitor evening gig. So that will be a little extra in the paycheck in March. AND our tax refund will be officially in our account tomorrow. So maybe we can finally get caught up and take care of some of Chris's things like a book for his college class and trip payments and AP test fees.
It feels better anyway. I had a major meltdown last Monday - cried it all out. Not the sweet, cute cry you see in movies. Oh no...not me. This was the out loud, nose-dripping, red-faced kind. The kind you don't want anyone to see. And no one did. So I share it here for all my readers. (All two of you.)
But home is feeling much better. I wish I could say the same about school. It's just awful. A constant feeling of looking over your shoulder, one can never do right, nothing is good enough, and the ever-present, "I don't really care what you're going through at home, just make sure you do everything you're supposed to do here, which includes all the extra stuff I'm assigning you just because I can." Most days it's all I can do to make myself go to work. I've taken more days off this year than ever, I think, but that doesn't really help because so often a sub doesn't pick up and then my team takes the brunt of my not being there. It's not fair, but that's the way it is. :-(
But...I'm feeling better regardless. My last few posts have been so negative that I wanted to finally write a positive one. Heavenly Father is in charge. He's watching out for me and my family. There are positives - lots of positives. That will be another post. :)
Monday, February 6, 2012
Will It Ever End? (With an Update)
Seriously...I don't know what to do next. Apparently I forgot to pay the Uverse bill last month, so it's double this month. The transmission went out on the truck, but luckily I have an awesome father-in-law who paid to get it fixed for us. Then the alternator went out on the van, so that was $400 that we didn't have but we spent anyway. Then the mortgage went through and now we're in the red nearly $500. We've got a hefty tax refund coming - if I can find $10 to pay for the e-filing. Sheesh.
Guess I'll be calling AT&T to see what we can do about our bill. What will the boys do if we have to get rid of TV? If we keep internet, then we could get rid of the TV and home phone. Maybe that would save us a couple hundred a month.
I don't know...it just seems like it's never-ending. We just can't catch a break. I'm working Saturday School tomorrow and in two weeks. That'll bring in a bit extra, but with no paycheck until Feb. 20th, this is going to be a difficult month. Richard applied for unemployment, so we'll see what happens with that.
The quote, "Live by faith, not by fear," is very difficult to follow during these particular times. Saturday night is ward temple night and I'd like to go, but there's the gas cost and the clothing rental. Guess that's part of the "live by faith" idea, huh?
This wasn't how things were supposed to go this year. Certainly not at this point in my life. I never thought we would be rich or anything like that - not on teacher salaries - but I thought we'd be in a better position to send Chris to college and a mission, to support James and John in their endeavors through middle and high school.
Richard's so depressed I'm not even sure he could get a job right now. His demeanor is very blah.
Update 2/6/12
Went to the temple on Saturday and had a wonderful dinner out afterward. I was sad that Richard didn't come, but it was a good time anyway. And a friend paid for my dinner. Late that evening, as I was finishing up my sharing time, there was a quick knock on the door. Whoever it was was lucky they were fast because I was in the front room on the computer. LOL When I opened the door there was a little paper gift bag with a package of Ghirardelli chocolates and a $50 gift card. Wow. That will put gas in the van.
Fasted and prayed on Sunday. Called dad yesterday and he is sending us enough to cover the alternator and/or Uverse. While I was talking to Dad, I had just a feeling of peace - like we're just about to turn the corner to something better. Richard went to the employment center on Saturday, is doing a webinar today, resume class tomorrow and a friend is asking for tutoring for her son. Things are looking up. Well, not really...but I'm feeling more positive. Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and He will provide. Of that I have a firm testimony.
Guess I'll be calling AT&T to see what we can do about our bill. What will the boys do if we have to get rid of TV? If we keep internet, then we could get rid of the TV and home phone. Maybe that would save us a couple hundred a month.
I don't know...it just seems like it's never-ending. We just can't catch a break. I'm working Saturday School tomorrow and in two weeks. That'll bring in a bit extra, but with no paycheck until Feb. 20th, this is going to be a difficult month. Richard applied for unemployment, so we'll see what happens with that.
The quote, "Live by faith, not by fear," is very difficult to follow during these particular times. Saturday night is ward temple night and I'd like to go, but there's the gas cost and the clothing rental. Guess that's part of the "live by faith" idea, huh?
This wasn't how things were supposed to go this year. Certainly not at this point in my life. I never thought we would be rich or anything like that - not on teacher salaries - but I thought we'd be in a better position to send Chris to college and a mission, to support James and John in their endeavors through middle and high school.
Richard's so depressed I'm not even sure he could get a job right now. His demeanor is very blah.
Update 2/6/12
Went to the temple on Saturday and had a wonderful dinner out afterward. I was sad that Richard didn't come, but it was a good time anyway. And a friend paid for my dinner. Late that evening, as I was finishing up my sharing time, there was a quick knock on the door. Whoever it was was lucky they were fast because I was in the front room on the computer. LOL When I opened the door there was a little paper gift bag with a package of Ghirardelli chocolates and a $50 gift card. Wow. That will put gas in the van.
Fasted and prayed on Sunday. Called dad yesterday and he is sending us enough to cover the alternator and/or Uverse. While I was talking to Dad, I had just a feeling of peace - like we're just about to turn the corner to something better. Richard went to the employment center on Saturday, is doing a webinar today, resume class tomorrow and a friend is asking for tutoring for her son. Things are looking up. Well, not really...but I'm feeling more positive. Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and He will provide. Of that I have a firm testimony.
Common Courtesy
Wouldn't common courtesy say that if there are going to be construction workers on the roof during the school day you would send out an email early in the day to let people know that it will be happening? Possibly even the Friday before? Here we sit in music class with jackhammers and sledge hammers and all manner of hammers pounding over our heads. And because it's the music room our ceiling is higher and so it sounds like they are right on top of us. Right. On. Top. Of. Us.
I'm guessing this headache I got early in the day is not going to go away any time soon. When I complained/questioned the office about it, our principal said, "Yes, they're replacing the drains on the roof. They were supposed to do it last week, but we had benchmark testing. So we just have to go with it." No sympathy. No apology. No empathy. Nothing. Just "deal with it," basically. I'm so tired of the attitude around here.
We got an email at 10:30 regarding the noise. She said she realized the noise was annoying, but water leaking into the building is just as annoying. Really? "Please be patient and flexible." I am. We're watching a video because we can't hear ourselves think. It's okay...we just sing anyway.
Ugh. Grateful to be heading to San Antonio later this week. A two-day work week for me and then vacay! Ok...actually it's TMEA and I'm there to learn things - which I will - but it's still a vacay. Woot! I guess I can deal with the jackhammers for today. :-)
I'm guessing this headache I got early in the day is not going to go away any time soon. When I complained/questioned the office about it, our principal said, "Yes, they're replacing the drains on the roof. They were supposed to do it last week, but we had benchmark testing. So we just have to go with it." No sympathy. No apology. No empathy. Nothing. Just "deal with it," basically. I'm so tired of the attitude around here.
We got an email at 10:30 regarding the noise. She said she realized the noise was annoying, but water leaking into the building is just as annoying. Really? "Please be patient and flexible." I am. We're watching a video because we can't hear ourselves think. It's okay...we just sing anyway.
Ugh. Grateful to be heading to San Antonio later this week. A two-day work week for me and then vacay! Ok...actually it's TMEA and I'm there to learn things - which I will - but it's still a vacay. Woot! I guess I can deal with the jackhammers for today. :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)