Perks of my job

When I was told at the end of the year that I would be traveling from campus to campus, I was apprehensive. Shanon assured me I would love it, and Dana assured me that those 1st graders would be so much fun. So it began....

Now, 6 weeks into the year, here are the perks:
No lesson plans or grades
No duty - NONE !
My groups are 4 at most
Meetings are a thing of my past - if my supervisor needs to tell me something, she emails me! All she asks is that I drop in a couple of times a week to "touch base" and fill her in. This, I can do.
I share rooms with 2 amazing teachers, who show me professionalism every day. My new friend at Primary is superb and kind, and shows me the ropes at my new campus. My co-hort at Elem. is still the same, and I love it!
I get mileage for my whopping 1.5 mile a day transition drive!!
And best of all -

The stress of the past years is gone. I feel like the teacher I knew I was, and it is wonderful to feel that way again. I still plan retirement asap, but at least this is do-able. The day flies by and before I know it, it will be the holidays.

So. Shanon and Dana were right. This is starting off to be a banner year, and I hope the good times continue. And while I don't "belong" to any particular campus, I feel appreciated at both. What more could I ask for?

Spurs post #1

Yippee!! The long, 3 month drought of Spurs-mania is over!! The boys begin training camp today, and soon my ears will be ringing with news of Manu's acl, Tony's summer in France and Tim's aged abilities. New guys to learn and "old" guys to miss - how can we play without Robert and Brent ?!?! What will happen with the HEB commercials?!

Even though Manu will be out until after Christmas, we'll still see him on the side-lines, cheering on his team. I'm sure he'll be back better than ever, and being an odd-numbered year, it's time for another Championship!!

Next to Liz being born, this is the highlight of my Fall!!!

Go, Spurs, Go!!!

26 years and 1 day

Happy Birthday, Erin!! My little one, my spunky child, my singer and dancer. The persistent girl, the teddy-bear collector, and more. All grown up now and awaiting her baby girl.

When I think of Erin as a child, I shake my head. For many reasons. She perplexed, entertained, questioned, and demanded. I watched as she grew from a little ballerina in a green tutu to a bride of immeasurable beauty walking to her groom. Now, she prepares for motherhood, with questions and fears just as we all have had. I tell her it will all pass and then she will have Liz, but right now, all that faces her is the process. And the swollen feet, and the emotions coming from all directions.

When you hold your child and dream of what life holds for them, you have no idea. Sometimes it is pain that you must go through with them to come out stronger, and sometimes it is sheer joy and laughter. With Erin, it was been much more the later, and I am so appreciative. She is a treasure.

Voices from the past

Last night, Andy and I went over to my home church to attend their Gospel Meeting. As he got home after 6:30 and needed something to eat, we walked in soon after the singing ended and they introduced the speaker of the evening. We sat down next to my dear friend (we literally ran into each other on the sidewalk of that church and began a life-long relationship), and while my body was in 2008, it wasn't long before my mind was in the 60s.

That is where my dad would lead singing, and prayers, and announcements, and - well, you know those little churches. My mom wrote the bulletin that sat on the round table by the door. I noticed the guest book is no longer there - what did that mean? As I scanned the pews, I could see Sister Spence in her crocheted cap on her head. She taught me Bible stories with Pipe Cleaner characters and Felt cut-outs. We gave our monies for the missionaries in a Band-Aid box at the end of class. Next to her would be Sister Kinchen. Her husband demanded lunch at noon, so she left every Sunday after the Lord's Supper to be in subjection to him. The Perrys would be in front and the Ankroms beside them. The Maxwells, such dear, sweet souls. Now, all are gone, and as I sat there, it dawned on me that Cathy, her two sisters and me were the only ones there from my past. That was a moment I won't soon forget.

What I recall about those people I named that are all gone now is that church and God was serious business to them. The men, especially, were sour faced and somber; no "Joy of the Lord is My Strength" would pass across their lips. And yet, you knew they loved both you and the Lord, and nothing was going to harm the church as long as they had any say. If they walked into a church today, would they even recognize it?

So while things are not at their best right now, there is still a core of folks who have hope. A new co-minister set-up with the church in Natalia has everyone optimistic about the future for the first time in as long time. I'm adding the church in Poteet to my prayer list, and would apprectiate if you would as well.

Lots of wonderful memories came back to me last night. It was an evening well spent -

7 years ago....

Today is the anniversary of my mother's death. I told Andy this morning it seems like just the other day, and yet so much has happened in those years. Erin asked me this weekend if I'd thought about her much with Liz coming, and the answer is yes -for me, but probably no for most other people. I don't dwell on the dead; I have peace with their lives and where they are so I don't let it be the focus of my thoughts. But I have given much thought to how she would be enjoying becoming a great-grandmother and doing all the creative things she loved to do. Am I sad she will not get to hold Liz and sing her silly songs and tell her funny stories? Definately. But I'd like to think, if there was a way for this to happen, that she's met Liz already in the great beyond, and told her all about us. What we are like and how we will love her and teach her all about God and His goodness to our family. About what I was like as a little girl and her mother's fun and playful personality. Her sweet Aunt Dana's care and concern for others and her Daddio's strong, loving nature.

Mayber when she's older, I'll ask her. I may be surprised!

"Teacher Maims Student While Playing Games"

Second graders do not play nice... I wanted to thrash them and the games. Grrrr! So much for a nice, quiet Friday!!

Make a wish -

This is the season of birthdays in the Johnson/LaMore family. Gregg's great dad, Lin had his on Tuesday, and Andrew's was yesterday. Erin follows on the 24th, and so it goes.

I think Andrew was pleased with the day. He had lunch with a group of his co-workers, then came home and joined me for a quick Chinese dinner. We went to church and then came home to open gifts and cards..... we'll finish up next weekend with the girls. Dana is treating him to Cracker Barrell Breakfast and lunch with Mom and Dad. Should be a great time, despite Ike!!

So, Happy Birthweek, Andrew! I love you exponentially!!

Ireland, revisited

Not the country. A family name that sent cold chills down my spine earlier in the school year. A second generation I've been dreading....

The worst year of my career was 1990-91. It was my second year in Pleasanton, and I was sent to work at the Jr. High with emotionally disturbed kids. (Most kids in Jr. High ARE emotionally disturbed anyway, but this group was certified!) One of the boys' last name was Ireland. Throughout the year, he gave me grief and drove me to want to quit almost every day. I gave up on him, and I've thought of him several times over the years, wondering....

When school started, I got not one of his sons, but 3. Yep. 3 little stair-steps. I almost cried with visions of that year running amok in my brain. One is a 1st grader at Primary, the other 2 are 3rd graders. (One failed) So. how is it going 4 weeks into the year?

I have to confess that I truly LIKE these boys. They must have their mother's temperment, except for the middle one. He is just like I remember his father, except he isn't evil. It's like I'm seeing him in a time-warp; before the bad stuff that warped him got ahold of his soul. He wants SO badly to please me, to do well, not to embarrass himself. I've made a pact to him and to myself, that this year, he will read. Maybe never grade-level, but he will function if I have any say in the matter. Then, he won't have to act silly or be a bully to divert his lack of skills from his peers. I'm not going to quit on this little man, because I want redemption for the lack of effort I put in to understanding and caring for his father. This is a second chance for me, and I will give it my all.

And in seeing my care for him, the others will learn to care as well.

What is it with me lately?!?

I don't get it... I am usually not a crier. Life has taught me that tears don't change anything or fix it, and for a while, nothing made me cry. My head was logical and my heart was hardened. Not even the monthly hormone rage made we weepy.

Now, I cry. Happy, sad, disappointed, patriotic, memories, dreams, you name it. I read a story - I cry. I talk about Liz - I cry. I look in the mirror, and I cry. I think of things I've dreamed that didn't come to fruition - I weep. Yesterday, I sat in my car and cried a while. Just me and Rush Limbaugh. The tears flowed and then I had to act like I had allergies when the kids came.

I don't think I'm depressed... I think I'm 53 and things hit you differently then. Your husband doesn't "get it," and you worry the kids if they find you crying for no reason, so you hold it in until you are all alone, and just cry. It's the one thing you can do when there are no other options to alleviate the situation, and you feel better afterward.

So, while I don't understand what's going on, I'll just go with it and maybe it'll pass soon.

I really, really hope so.

A Time to Work, a Time to Rest

I know that this is not part of Eccesiastes (sp) per se, but it sure fit the LaMores this past weekend. I've discovered that as we age, there is just time when the body needs to rest - not so much from physical labor, but just to give the soul a break. As we neared sleep last night, Andy talked about how much he'd slept over the weekend, and for him, it was a lot. I could tell by his tone of voice that it bothered him, but I assurred him that it was alright every now and then. I think his mind is overwhelmed with work, church, kids, me, life in general. The body just has enough to go on for so long. Add the stress of not knowing what it was Ike wanted to do, and that was it.

I hope you and yours all survived the storm - or lack of, here - and are back into your routine. I know I'm grateful for cell-phones!!

This, too, has passed

After days and days of speculation, planning, buying and praying, Ike has come and gone. Here in our little town, south of San Antonio, we got nothing. Nada, nyet. A little breeze this morning, but nary a drop of rain.

Erin, Gregg and Dana rode out the storm at the Johnson home, and lost power for about 6 hours. None of them know their work status as of this post. But they are safe, don't face the awful task of driving back into Houston with the tens of thousands here in SA, and have a great story to tell Liz sometime in the future.

Praise God for looking over my Houston family and all those who were protected by His loving arms.

A nice surprise

Today, as I was leaving Primary, I went to turn some papers in to be copied for next week. As I walked down the hall, a bulletin board stopped me. It had pictures and info on the new staff at the campus, so I stopped to read. One of the new faces is a Ms. Joiner, who grew up in Abilene. When asked her favorite sport, she wrote, "Go Wildcats!" Now, if I remember right, that's ACU's mascot - so maybe we have a new sister in our midst!!

Her room "just happens" to be right next door to where I work, so I'll be stopping in to visit with her on Monday. Pray she is just waiting for someone to invite her to worship!!

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing....

ever try to keep 6 to 9 year olds on task when the storm of the century is coming to Pleasanton? It is beyond even the most capable teacher's abilities. When is it coming? Will my house blow down? Could I drown? What will happen to our school, and so on and so on.

Sad thing is, those same questions are running through my mind!

You can almost FEEL him outside already; the sky looks stormy, the trees sway in that ominous way, and people are in a rush, even in our little town. I have things to do to prepare for the arrival, and know that everyone here is also going to be at the store. Football games have been moved, and we dismiss early tomorrow.

All this worry and preparation for something that may not even happen!! Gregg and Erin had to cancel their trip home thanks to this storm, so it better be a doozy!!

so much for cuddling!

Lots of times, I go to bed and fall asleep before Andy turns in. I don't like it, but I need more sleep than he does, and I honestly think he likes the solitude after I am asleep. However, on Monday night, he announced as he left for visitation that Tuesday night, we would turn in early and cuddle. (I never said he was spontaneous!) Anyway, last night, we were watching Frazier on cd, laughing our heads off, and the episode ends. He grabs the remote, puts up the cd, and shuts down the living room. We are going to cuddle! I go in, get ready for bed, and - you guessed it - fell dead asleep. The last thing I remember is him turning on the shower.

I felt SO bad this morning - the man was being just what I wanted him to be, and I botched it up. So, during breakfast, I apologize. "For what?" he asks. For not being awake to cuddle, I reply. He grins and says, "We cuddled for 30 minutes! You snored, and I cuddled."

32 years of marriage. I'm so glad he still loves me!!

Yet another storm

Ike. Another hurricane aiming at spoiling my plans... Erin and Gregg and Roarke are planning to come over for the weekend; Erin's last one out before Liz arrives. Now, we watch the spaghetti models to see what Ike has in store. Erin tells me they're still planning to come, and so Ike just better behave himself!! A pregnant woman has her mind made up and it will take more than a category hurricane to stop her!!

When I was little, my grandparents lived in Alice, Texas. During the 60s, there were several devastating hurricanes; Carla, Camille, and more who came in at Corpus. My grandparents' home was made of very thick concrete, and sat right on Hwy. 281 heading north. My grandparents would put a sign on the road, offering safe harbor to ride out the fury. Strangers by the carfull would find food and pallets laid side by side in the huge "front room." They stayed as long as was necessary, and were given what they needed.

It set a powerful example for me to see. Real-life Good Samaritans at work.

A realization in HEB

Yesterday, I faced HEB. I'd put it off as long as I could, even sending Dana last weekend, but now the time had come. No yogurt, milk, butter, eggs - well, you see why.

I don't shop with a list; I go down the same aisles in the same order, and the stuff I use hops in as I pass. Not really, I wouldn't dread it as much that way. But, anyway, as I scanned the rows and rows of items, it dawned on me that I was looking for cold-weather foods; chili, Taco soup, stew. Jambalya crossed my palate as I neared the sausage. That's it! My taste buds are tired of the same, hot-weather foods we've been eating since March! It's time for the good stuff, that warms you down to your toes.

Lucky for me, when Liz comes, and I go to stay a while, I can have all that good stuff ready for Gregg when he comes home after work. Assuming the Houston area knows it's winter by then!!

MMMMmmmm - can't wait!!

And, they're off !!

My morning started watching a scene unfold that happens all too often these days in Elementary schools.
The teacher I share a room with is the Resource/Behavior teacher. She wears a radio so they can call her to come running when a child has a "crisis." Today, it was a 1st grader I'll call "John". He'd already been brought to the room for a "time out" and left seemingly under control. Things are not always as they seem.

About 9:15, I went out to pick up my first group of 2nd graders, and heard footsteps running toward me. It was John, and he was running. I stood there, because these days, you don't go after a kid unless you are specifically trained on the physicality of the moment. As I stood there, the teacher I am with and the principal chased John round and round for several minutes. He was an adrenalin filled 8 year old and they were grown women in work shoes. He clearly had the advantage and new his path well. After watching several laps and near-misses, John found himself cornered, and collapsed into a heap at the feet of the teacher. She and the principal put him in "transport" mode and took him to seclusion, where they called his mother. She came up, said all the right things, and went home. My co-worker says it will last for about a week, and then, they'll do it again.
There used to be one child like John in a district. Then, one per campus... later, one per grade level. Now, it's almost one "runner" in each class.

Please. Finger print me. Put my scores in the newspaper. Take away my laminating budget for the year. Give me a child or two like John.

Teachers don't ask for much. We just would like to teach and be left alone.

There, but by the Grace of God, go I....

This weekend, with all the news of Sarah Palin and her pregnant daughter and other thought-provoking things, I have been thinking about my life. I have two daughters, and by grace, as well as good choices on their part, we were not faced with the situation she finds herself in. It does not always matter how hard we try to raise them, sometimes things just don't go the way we plan. I know that anyone can find themselves in settings or circumstances where things go tragically wrong, and life is changed. We have several friends whose kids made poor choices, either with sex or drugs or stupid driving or a multitude of things, and the outcomes were tragic. When we forget how close we ourselves come to the fire on occasion, we set ourselves up for heartbreak or disapointment. Then, God steps in, and spares us from ourselves. I've learned many lesson from hindsight, and I hope that life continues to work itself out as it has in my life and in the lives of my husband and children. I also hope I am spared from looking down my nose at those who find themselves needing God's grace.