Please Remember Carter!

A few posts back I mentioned a classmate of Carson's that is dealing with a brain tumor. He is five years old and no child should ever have to deal with the stuff this little guy is dealing with. Please remember him in your prayers, along with his family. He is dealing with radiation at this point and seems to be responding well. So keep the prayers going up! For more information a blog has been created called Carter's Crusaders. We are a bunch of Moms, friends etc, and we are crusading for Carter, raising money to help offset medical costs. If you would like to visit and receive updates on Carter his blog is http://www.carterharris.blogspot.com/. Please drop in, follow it if you like, and cover him and his family in prayer!

What a Difference a Week Makes!

Last Sunday...it was cold, and snowing....while I don't have the official totals (11 inches in our backyard), we missed 2 days of school plus had a 2 hour delay on Wednesday when we finally got back to school. Yesterday it hit 78 degrees....sunny, slight breeze, and beautiful. Today temps topped out at about 83 degrees. Gorgeous! Crazy weather! I guess all areas of the country have crazy weather, here is definitely no exception. It just really makes me long for the warmer weather to hang around a bit. I am not looking forward to the humidity and heat that comes with summer, just some nice warm weather.

Tonight we took a walk to the park down the street. We stopped and talked to neighbors we haven't seen all winter, and enjoyed the extra daylight. We opened all the windows and aired out the house....it is amazing how stuffy a home can get all closed up. I am kinda itching to do some spring cleaning, and plant some flowers. But... tomorrow is Monday, and back to work, and from what I understand the temps are supposed to drop back to the 40's for a high temp. It was good while it lasted!

Snow Much Fun....Round 1

Ok...I looked at the calendar and it DID say that today was March 2nd. Right? The weathermen were joking last night that we are 4 weeks away from the Cherry Blossoms...and this is what we have this morning.

We are still getting accustomed to the weather here. One difference we have noticed.....when it gets cold.....it stays cold. In Amarillo, it could be 75 degrees one day, and 6 the next. Constantly changing weather. We have had some warmer days here and there, but they seem to be few and far between.

This snow started yesterday afternoon, and it was snowing continuously for about 16 hours. Weathermen locally have been complaining about the lack of snow for this season, are all now rejoicing that at least they got this one right. As of last check we have about 9-10 inches. The sun is starting to peek through as I write this, so it looks to be a beautiful, crystal white afternoon. A bit windy, but with very few drifts.

Carson woke up this morning, and was chomping at the bit to run outside and PLAY! I did manage to get him to at least wait for me and his dad. Wayne chose to work from home after our power went out sometime during the night and the alarm didn't go off. So we have a day to play!

School was called out last night, and the ONLY schools in the area that are in today happen to be the schools in the District. Hmmmm wonder if that was because of the Presidents comments during the last minor snowfall. Calling us wimps....We most likely will be out of school until Wednesday, at the earliest...could even be until Thursday. Time will tell. Hopefully, they can get the roads cleared and we can back in sooner.....I have a full plate of school work to do, and NEED to get it done.

This was last evening after about 2 hours of snow.

The same shot this morning...this is the backyard.This is off the front porch.The snow measures about 9 inches...up to Carson's knees at times.I LOVE this picture.....gotta catch some flakes!Can't tell but this is a drift behind the truck...Carson was standing.We got the sled out and walked across the street for a couple of quick runs. It was really deep out in the open, and Carson (and mom) had trouble walking back up the hill.It was even too deep for snow angels.....this is the boy attempting to get up after he failed at making one.Carson managed to make a couple of mean snowballs...and NAILED Wayne!

Of course Dad had to have the LAST word...and Carson got a face full. This quickly ended round one of the snow play..... I am sure we will be back again this afternoon.Petey...did NOT like the snow at all..... he couldn't walk in the deep yard..so he did all his business on the driveway where it wasn't as deep.

Prayers for my son's classmate!

Please add little Carter to your daily prayers. Carter is a five year old Kindergartner, here in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He began having trouble seeing, slurring his speech, and losing his equilibrium. Pediatrician was able to get a rush MRI done yesterday, and is showed a large tumor deep in the cerebellum. From what I understand, it is inoperable. The doctors are pursuing different treatments to shrink, and hopefully eventually rid his young body of this horrible diagnosis. Please remember this family, his mother and father, and especially little Carter.

Please pray specifically for his mom, a sweet friend of mine. This is devastating news to any mother, and I can only imagine how she must be feeling. I have seen God's power first hand, and am standing believing that Carter can and will be healed, and that his life will be a great testimony for all. Please pass this along to ANY believer.....the more praying the better.

God is Pretty Amazing....

I really don't believe in coincidences much anymore, however, I do believe in Divine Intervention. There are just too many "coincidences" that are Divinely appointed in my life to think it was all a cosmic happening or something of the sort. Carson being the biggest, greatest example of God's timing in our lives....just the whole process of events that led up to his birth, the gift his birth mother provided us in blessing us with him, and even his autism diagnosis. All are uniquely Divine in timing, and what leads me to where I am. When I decided to go back to work this year as a substitute teacher, I went back believing that I would pick and choose when and where I worked. I would have the flexibility to stay home if I wanted to even......then I subbed in a special ed class last fall. One day, I was hooked...seriously one day in this classroom of 5 and 6 year old boys, with moderate to severe autism. Then I was asked to fill in long-term while the teacher is on maternity leave, and have been doing it since the beginning of this year. The difference in what I was doing as a sub, and what I am doing now...is drastic. When I subbed, I was in the class with the younger boys, now that I am subbing for the teacher, I am in an inclusion (general education) class with 24 third graders. Two of which, are diagnosed with moderate autism. My job is to accomodate these two boys, so that their educational goals are met, while the gen ed teacher, teaches the rest of the class. More often than not I am repeating the same thing 85 million times, answering the same question, and reminding the boys, to have calm hands and quiet mouths. I never in a million years pictured myself going back to teaching.... I haven't taught elementary level since 1991.... a looong time ago, and something, that while I enjoyed it, I didn't feel called to it...if you know what I mean.

Tonight, I went to an informational meeting at Mary Washington University Graduate School, on teacher licensing. I was expecting to go to this meeting and be told that I needed to take umpteen courses to get my Masters of Education degree in Special Ed, emphasis on autism. Since I already have a Masters of Science degree......all I have to take is one class. ONE CLASS! and I will be able to teach this Fall! It will be a provisional, meaning that I have three years to complete the 15 hours needed to get my Masters of Ed degree. This is seriously a no brainer for me....I can take this one class this summer, at night and teach this Fall. I was told tonight, that I would almost be guaranteed a teaching position, and that they are desperate for Special Ed teachers! How is this Divine? I was never going to get back in the classroom. I never figured I would love special ed.....not just enjoy it, but love it. I truly believe that God knew that so long ago, and lined everything up so that when the desire was kindled in me...it would all fall into place.

Ok..... I'm gonna do it...

Tomorrow night I am heading to an informational meeting to figure out what is needed for me to do in order to get my Virginia State Teachers License in Special Education. From what I understand with my Masters degree already, most likely all I will need is 3 classes to get a Provisional license. Meaning I can teach while getting my degree.

That's right.... I am loving teaching so much...... I want to do it full time again! Call me crazy, but there is a huge shortage of teachers in Special Ed. Particularly with an Autism specialty. The teacher that I am teaching for is coming back in 6 weeks, and I am kinda sad about it...I love those boys! But I will definitely continue to sub at this school for the rest of the year!Plus two incomes has been kinda nice now too!

It's time for Valentine's Card making

You have to start them young.... plus I have never really likes the cheesy little boxes of Sponge Bob or Spiderman valentines that are available now. I always prefer to make our own. Last year Carson and I made his Valentines, and I had to do 99% of the work this year, he was all about stamping and inking, and writing! We started on Monday night....figured it would take us all week to complete the 30 some odd number of Valentines he needed to make, but once I had all the paper cut, he went right to town. I forgot to take pictures of him stamping, because I was just enjoying watching him have fun.We had no spelling errors...thank goodness. I had him stamp a few extras...just in case!

What a cheesy, goofy grin... Another cheesy grin....but that just distracts you from the fact that he is not wearing his jeans.....The finished product....Normally, I am all about perfection... but he picked the colors, the stamps and the candy we put in the bags.... I let him have at it... and I LOVE them! He did really good on his stamp placement... as a matter of fact he was a little obsessive about them all being in the exact same spot. The only things that I did was the lettering...(I figured we would be here til June if he had to write all that out),the taping and the stapling.Not bad...for a six year old!

A Year Ago...

I walked into the reception area on the 12th floor of the Vangent Office building in downtown Arlington, Virginia as a new employee thankful to have a job after being unemployed for just over 2 months. I consider that extremely fortunate, especially in today's economy. Ron the guy who hired me basically sight unseen, interviewed me over the phone and told me that while we were talking he e-mailed HR and told them to hire me. Ron told me yesterday that he is glad that I'm here and that he knows he can let me do what it is that I do without having to worry about it getting done.

Since today is February 11, 2009, I have completed my 1st year with Vangent. Seems like it has not been a year but it has. A lot has transpired in the past year, noteably us moving to Virginia, Carson entering Kindergarten, Kari getting a job as a full time substitute, making new friends, exploring Virginia, and having to again pay state income tax (Texas does not have a state income tax).

Today is also Freedom day in that if I were to voluntarily leave the company now I would not have to pay back the $25,000 (gross - after taxes it was about $16,000) they gave us for relocation from Texas to Virginia - not that I'm planning on leaving. I like working here, the bosses and peers like me, the customer loves me, and it is nice to come to work and actually enjoy it.

Now if I can only get a job back in New Hampshire (NH also does not have a state income tax)....LOL...just kidding Kari.

Oh by the way my lovely and young bride of 11 years turns 45 tomorrow (2/12) so please take a moment and send her a birthday wish. Hey Babe your getting closer to that BIG 0 - I mean "50"

You know you are settling in when...

Since today was a Saturday, and yesterday was payday we made our monthly trek to Costco, BJ's, Walmart and the sort. We went to Costco first, and we ran into two different people that we have met since moving here. Went to Walmart, and again ran into two different friends. I commented to Wayne, that it is nice to KNOW people now. We have been here six months, and we feel so settled. Now, if we could only have ALL of our friends from everywhere, here....THAT would be bliss!

What Kind of a sick Mom am I ???

I know not the best quality... but what can I say .... my son .... is truely all boy! He only does this if we aren't watching him! Just so you know...he is eating noodles like Lady and the Tramp!