Random Thoughts

So, my life is totally kicking my butt at this point in time. I haven't had time to even sleep, let alone post anything on my blog. But, rather than completely give up, here is the shortened version of the past few weeks, in no particular order:

1. Going back to work has exhausted me! I miss summer. This year I was given all of the 7th and 8th special ed. students. Last year I was only in charge of the 7th grade kids, so 32 kids is completely overwhelming. Seven of them have pretty severe needs, so it feels like 50 kids.

2. During the first days of school we had lots of meetings. One of them was a special ed. meeting, where we were given our list of kids, then told about all of the new IEP requirements that we are in charge of implementing. I burst into tears! I felt like an idiot. I wanted to cry silently in the corner (my favorite spot for all meetings and social activities), but no, there were too many compassionate people there who felt the need to get up and console me, thus calling more attention to my totally unprofessional behavior. Luckily Spence and Kirstin invited Ryan and I out to eat that night, so I could relive the moment with humor instead of humiliation.

3. Compounding that stress, was the fact that I had been called as the new Primary President, and we were taking over the Primary that weekend.

4. Now, all complaining aside, school and Primary have been just fine. Funny how that always is. Ryan tells me that I just like to worry. I like to call it preparation for the worst. Ha.

5. School has been hard, but rewarding. A lot of it seems to be training the new 7th graders that, yes, we know you are in special ed., but no, you still have to do schoolwork and actually turn it in. I admit, I kind of get a kick out of how shocking this is to their systems. But it is incredibly rewarding when you get to the end of the year and see how much progress they have made, even if it is just in being a more responsible student. It's also nice to see how capable the 8th graders are after the same training last year.
5a. Oh, and I have 3 new aides that I am in charge of. Not my best skills, being a supervisor. But we seem to be getting the hang of it.

6. Those same 7 severe-needs kids are some of my favorite. I shouldn't listen to previous years teachers, because they always freak me out. I was expecting a lot worse. (See #4 above). Actually, one girl in particular completely makes my heart happy every day. About 15 times a day.

7. I love my counselors in Primary. They rock. I have a problem with thinking I have to handle all the problems in the world by myself. I've just been amazed that they are willing to handle them with me. Hee Hee. I really am a dork this way. I am absolutely certain that the lesson I am to learn from this calling is to rely on the Lord and others. I couldn't have picked better women to help me learn this. OK, lets be honest, I'm also certain that God picked them to help me learn this.

8. Utterly random thought: The Olympics certainly didn't help with my sleeping habits. From all the yawning at work, I think everyone had my same problem.

9. The kids seemed to have settled into school quite nicely. Nothing too exciting. Lauren loves her teacher, Syd continues to be a fabulous student, and Cade is enjoying "The Crucible" in English. OK, that one is probably fairly shocking.

10. Miracle Grow is the answer to lots of tomatoes and cucumbers. I only have a couple plants of each, but more vegetables than I can keep up with.

11. Cade turned 16 on August 18th. A little tradition at the High School is to put a sign on the chain link fence on campus to announce the big day. I told Cade that I couldn't do it because it would be a big sign announcing that I had been letting him drive illegally for 6 months. He agreed.

12. Ryan is coaching Jr. High football again this year. He's been doing it for about 10 years. He loves it.

13. Ryan and Quinn spent a weekend in the middle of August searching the Northern part of the state for buffalo. They didn't see any, but found lots of sign. They also found out that the animals are now on the Grand Canyon park, and won't come off until Spring. So, I guess I will have my husband around more often than I expected. That's a good thing, in case you wondered.

14. I'm setting a goal right here and now to keep my flowers alive past Labor Day next year. Every year, school starts and I kill off my flowers. This year, I have kept the vegetables alive, next year, I'm going to extend the love and actually water everything.

15. Fina ran out of Pepsi for a whole week. They are lucky I didn't completely boycott them. I'm lucky they have the problem fixed this week. A girl shouldn't have to teach Jr. High without a Pepsi for lunch.