Mom seeing her 'boys'

Here is my mom with my best friend from high school/college, Jerry. Mom was in heaven, seeing her 'boys', catching up with their lives, hugging on them, and walking around our 'home' with them. She laughed more than I have heard her in a long time!!

It was good for all of us to see one another. It's been many years since I had seen Jerry, Sam, and Brad. Ef and I used to work together for the City of Lubbock.Probably 30 years since I'd seen Drew and Gary!! And we STILL recognized each other! Of course, since I was the ONLY girl, they all knew ME!!

Family Forever

My brothers, Efren, Sam, Drew, Brad, Jerry, and Gary. There were others who were unable to attend. We went through Camp on Saturday, along with my mom, and others who did not spend the night. All gathered at Buffalo Gap for some great fried fish, onion rings, and 'bean things'. Later, at Abilene State Park, the women helped Sam put up his tent...while Ef, Drew and others started the campfire. Then we spent many hours, telling stories, funny things that we lived through together.. laughing and remembering.

Then, Sunday morning...oh my! I was the LAST one up. Do you know what it was like to WATCH men cooking for me!! They took care of me!! That was different!! Pouring my coffee fixing my meal...WOW!! I felt special!!

It was an amazing, fun-filled, relaxing weekend. Yes, I slept in the back of my car, while the guys stayed in Sam's tent or the shelters. (it was cold out, and I stayed VERY warm!!

Hope this becomes a tradition!!

Woo Hoo!! What a hoot!

Returned from my reunion...I haven't laughed that much in ages!! Will write more later and add photos...nothing like reminiscing, campfires, putting up tents, hiking, and laughing with friends you've known since childhood....

I can't wait!!

Woo Hoo!! On Saturday, I am going to a reunion with some of my favorite folks on earth!! All my little (and older) brothers! As most of you know, I grew up as the only girl at Camp Tonkawa. It is located near Abilene State Park, and my dad was the Camp Ranger. (Boy Scout camp) My little 'brother' Jerry decided it was time for all of us to get together...been about 30 years since we have all seen each other.

During the 70's we had a blast each summer. I just 'got through' the school year, but 'lived for' camp. These guys probably knew me better than anyone I went to school with. I have stayed in touch with a lot of them, even worked in the same office with one, when I lived in Lubbock. No, never dated any of them. (knew them too well, they knew me too well)

So the reunion is almost here, and I am SOOOO excited!! We are bringing photos of our family, photos from our old times, and will just hang out at the park and get to know each other again. And of course, we will have to go into the Gap to the'beer garden' and have some fish....just like old times.

So, look for the pics next week right here!!

The rest of the story!

Okay, here it is....

Four years ago, I decided to take classes from UNT to work on my Tech Apps and Master Technology Teacher certifications. I took 9 hours in the summer, 6 in the fall, took the exams (spent about $5000) and received my certifications.

I've been the Tech Liaison for Clack for the last three years, as well as teaching numerous classes for the Instructional Technology Department of AISD. In fact, I probably ended up teaching over 30 classes last summer. I wanted to work quite a few, to help pay for my son's college costs, but each time someone couldn't teach, they asked me, and said yes.

Looking back I was probably 'overworking' for one reason and one reason only. I wanted to be an Instructional Technologist for AISD. And I was basically told I would be, as soon as there was an opening.

Last May, our 'Head IT' retired and the middle school IT was moved into the head position. I contacted our CTO (Chief Technology Officer) for AISD and asked to interview for the IT position. It was the Middle School Instructional Technologist position, so I felt I was suited for it...besides the fact that there are only two Master Tech Teachers in AISD...Paula Waddle (one of the elementary ITs) and myself. I just knew I was a 'shoe-in' for it. It was just a matter of time until it happened...The Chief Tech Officer said they were not replacing the middle school position, the high school IT would just be stretched very thin. But that I was 'not forgotten'.

I understood all this. I was fine with it. I continued to think...my time is still coming.

Boy, was I wrong. God had different plans.

I walked into our Tech Liaison meeting last Monday. We received a new department flowchart, and in looking over it, my friend, Laura, pointed to the IT portion and said, "who is this?" Imagine how I felt when I realized that there was a new IT on the flowchart...and it wasn't me. I left the room to have some "Jesus time", came back in about 20 minutes, and continued the meeting. Before that meeting, at 3:00, the high school IT called and asked me to throw something together for the 3:45 meeting about the new CPS Chalkboards we were given. (and, yes, I said I would do it.) So, here I was, devastated, disappointed, yet, I had to pull it together and teach a portion of the liaison meeting. Only by the grace of God, did I make it. Being blindsided certainly requires you to rest in his hands.

I left after the meeting, immediately. Went home, changed clothes and 'me and Jesus' went for a run at Redbud Park. By the time I finished my two miles, I was at peace, content and resting in the love of my Lord. Thus, my previous post.

Sometimes what we consider our dream, is not what is in God's plans. I realize that now. God is good, and He has helped me see how much I am enjoying this year as a regular ed English teacher.

Since the meeting I have heard from the high school IT, the "Head IT" and the CTO. They think I should work for them either in the summer, teaching again...or as a Tech Apps teacher next fall....but ya know what??? God has told me something different. He has told me that I need to forgive, forget, but I shouldn't be a doormat. So, my answer to all these folks, is NO...and it will continue to be NO.

This year, working with the other 7th grade ELA teachers has been amazing. They are helpful, never tiring of my incessant questions, (or at least they don't tell me!!) And I am loving it!! Even on my worst (behavior) day, it is tremendously better than working in Special Ed with all the drama.....

My mom put it best, "Maybe God wants you to have the summer off!" Ya know, I think she is right!!

So, now you know....God answers prayers, not in the way we expect, but in the best possible way for US!!

Who would have thought???!!!!

Something happened yesterday that absolutely, positively, totally killed a dream I have had for several years....and the strange thing is....I am okay with it. Even more than okay...I am content, at peace and even feel a great burden lifted.

I will explain more later, because this old woman is tired, and needs to get to bed. Just know that I realized that God closed that door, the door to a different assignment in AISD, and I feel more peaceful and relaxed than I would have EVER dreamed.

So, this old, relaxed and peaceful woman is gonna hit the hay....I'll explain it all later...

Just remember -- God IS in control. AND He always answers prayers. AND sometimes when He answers your prayers totally opposite from what you thought you wanted, He is sooooooo right!!

He knows me better than I know myself. DUH!!

Cousins, Loving Others, and Age....

In the past four months, our family have had four deaths.... two uncles (one in Pecos, one in Weatherford), one cousin,(service in Weatherford) and a cousin's husband (in North Dakota). While I was only able to attend two of those, my heart hurt for my family. The only upside of all this, is that I have seen relatives I haven't seen since my grandma died in the 80's. Wanted to put some photos up of these folks. We plan on staying in better touch, and hopefully have a get together when we don't have to attend a funeral.


I have certainly realized in the last several months, that the love of my family is getting more important as I age. Since I never know if I will see that person again, I make sure to always tell them I love them. With some of my family, which I haven't seen very often in the last 30 years, they weren't sure how to respond. But I just didn't care...I do love them, and I need to tell them so. Life is too short to not say I love you...Wow...sounds like a great slogan...

Sunday at church, I hugged a young man who I taught in Bible Drill years ago. He is now a junior in high school, and as I hugged him, I said, 'Gosh, I love you, Brett!" He looked at me funny, then hugged me again. Guess this is what it means when you get old enough to not care what others' reactions are.

Tag I'm IT

Here's the rules for those I'm tagging. Check the list after my 6 THINGS to see if you're it and then:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.

2. Post the rules on your blog.

.3. Write six random things about yourself.

4. Tag six-ish people at the end of your post. Sorry, I only have one!!

5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.

6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.


Okay, six random things.

I. I grew up in the midst of boys....My dad was the Camp Ranger at Camp Tonkawa, a mile from Abilene State Park. Each day after school, I had 200 acres to roam, and get to know myself. In the summers, the place was overrun with Boy Scouts. This was back in the day when the 'cool' kids were in Scouts. I have 'brothers' all over the world, who I dearly love....would have NEVER dated, but love like family. We are having a reunion on the 18th, and I am more excited about seeing them, than I was at getting married 25 years ago...HA!

II. I graduated from Jim Ned High School, when it was a podunk little school. (Before all the rich blonde ladies driving suburbans decided it would be THE place to live) We had 42 in my graduating class, which was the largest yet.

III. My major at McMurry was Recreation. Yes, you heard it right...Having fun!! Started as a business major, was undecided for two years, then decided on Recreation. After we graduated in 79, they closed the major, and McMurry no longer has it. ????

IV. I worked in Recreation, following graduation as a District Executive for the Boy Scouts in Odessa, Tx. This involved planning programs, recruiting leaders and scouts, working at summer camp in the Davis Mountains, between Balmorhea and Fort Davis. Later, I was a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at Physicians and Surgeons Hospital in Shreveport, LA, and Woods Psychiatric Institute in Abilene, TX. Yepper, it was fun!!

V. I went through the Alternative Certification Program for Special Ed teachers following my divorce in 1983. Taught back at Woods Psychiatric for AISD until Woods closed. Then, AISD "made a new class for me" at Clack Middle School. It was the Behavior Adjustment Class...oh joy! This was for students who couldn't behave in regular classes. They either cussed out the teacher, fought, were on probation, or were otherwise a hellion. Yes, it was MUCH more dangerous than teaching at Woods. At Woods, we had a 'bouncer' in the hallway, who could hear by my tone of voice, that it was time for him to come into the classroom and take a student out, or restrain him. The first year at Clack was the worst of my life...(outside of my marriage) I didn't have a planning period, no lunch without students, constant turmoil. I started with 6 students in the 8th grade office, with an aide, who was not at school for the first two weeks. (She was hospitalized for anxiety and depression) Five of those first students are now housed by the government in various prisons around the state. The sixth committed suicide in high school. Only by the grace of God and His love, did I survive that first year.

VI. I have supported McMurry Men's basketball for many years. The coach is a dear friend, like a brother, and is also the one who will take care of things when I am gone. (executor of will) For every home game for the past 15 years, (and during my four years at McMurry!) I make cookies for those guys. When my sons were younger, we also hit the road and followed them to many games....Georgetown, San Antonio, Brownwood, Belton, Mississippi, Kerrville....

Okay, your turn.... problem is...I only have two friends with blogs, and one of them sent this to me....

http://trinalou.blogspot.com/

So TRINA, go for it!!

Jesus is enough!!

Sdays are good, some days are not. I continue to pray for those students. God is not in their lives, and I believe satan has a great stronghold on them, which is shown by their daily behavior, their anger, their defiance. May God show His love to them in such an obvious way, that they must see Him, and His love.

But no matter how hard my days are at school, it is STILL tremendously better than being in Special Ed and the drama and paperwork there.

One more great thing....I get to see my favorite cousin on Saturday!! Woo Hoo!! She lives north of Dallas, and will be taking her mom back to Pecos. She is gonna holler on the way through and meet us at Cracker Barrel....When we get together, it is scary. We are SO much alike, even though I am 10 years older. She is the ESL director at her district, as well as interim principal, pre-k coordinator and whatever else they load on her. It is a good thing we don't live in the same town...not sure the town would survive. And we would have so much fun, we wouldn't ever get any work done!!

Just remember, no matter how hard your life is, and how much you feel you need, just remember......Jesus is Enough!!