Merry Christmas

So, it’s Christmas Eve Eve… Which means nothing, except that it is VERY close to Christmas. I am excited! I am angry though… I ordered something online for my mom 2 weeks ago, and it STILL hasn’t come in the mail. They said it would be guaranteed by Christmas!! I better get it tomorrow!!!

So, my mom is the district secretary and payroll clerk for the entire district that I work for. In other words, he job is super important… well, because teachers have been off this whole week, she decided to take the week off too… I mean, payroll is done and teachers are on holiday, so what could it hurt? Well, today we are still in our jammies, playing guitar hero, and just vegging when there is a knock at the door…… It is a teacher needing a signature on some important paper…… So, as we are looking totally ugly we get a visitor… Just our luck! That is what you get for living in a small town!

Well, the week has been good. Yesterday we went to see “Did you hear about the Morgan’s?” It was pretty cute… I wouldn’t recommend paying $8.00 for it, but it is DVD worthy. After the movie we ate at Texas Roadhouse, which is AMAZING! Their food is SO GOOD! I had the best steak ever!! YUM!

Today we are going to play games and chill and watch movies and all the stuff we want because it is VACATION! And we can!

So, I hope my package comes and MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

And the vacation begins!

School got out at 11:10 today.. Then, VACATION time started!! I had to go into town to do the last of my shopping, then I was able to come home and relax!! I love my job, I love the kids I work with.. But vacations are SO nice! I get 2 weeks off, which is amazing! And, I’m out of school until January 11th! So, everything is great!

Today, teachers held their classroom Christmas parties. It is so fun to see the kids excited for Christmas. They are excited for Santa, no school, and OF COURSE presents! But, it’s the spirit they have that’s contagious. I feel so much more excited for Christmas now that I’ve partied with some cool kids. One of my students is a Jehovah’s Witness, and I UNDERSTAND that everyone is DIFFERENT… But it is SO hard for him to come to school and listen to all the kids make their wish lists for Santa, play Christmas games, and sing Christmas songs….. and it is SO hard for me to watch him bow his head in disappointment. I did get him a root beer for a “winter prize”… Just because I wanted him to be included somehow. He understands why he doesn’t celebrate Christmas, but it is still hard for him to feel okay about not getting gifts and new things. The other kids don’t understand either, which makes things worse.

Well… I am HAPPY to be on VACATION! I do not have plans. I was too poor to fly to visit family, and it’s too scary to drive… So, I’m staying in good ol’ Idaho… But, it should be fun to watch Christmas movies and scrapbook and wrap presents and see Christmas lights and all that stuff!

I’m not complaining about the weather AT ALL… But it is WEIRD that we have NO SNOW… I mean, remember LAST YEAR??? If not, here is a picture to remind you…

Christmas time 2008… This year looks NOTHING like this!!!

Where are you Christmas?

I know it’s been quite awhile since I last posted… Some days I just can’t find the energy to blog on top of everything else. With Christmas quickly approaching (and a month long break from graduate school) I figured I’d write something.

The last month has been an emotional one. 5 weeks ago my friend Lori called to tell me her husband (basically my adopted dad), David, was in ICU. He had to have emergency brain surgery to remove an abscess from his brain, and he was (and still is) in critical condition. Because Lori and David are like parents to me, it was an obvious shock! As soon as I could, I made a trip to Utah. I wish I could say the visit was a happy one, but it wasn’t. Sure, I loved seeing Lori and my other Utah friends… but seeing David helpless and vulnerable brought tears to my eyes (and I don’t cry!!) (This is a picture of David one of the days I visited).

One day while I was at the hospital, Lori’s dad and brother-in-law gave David a blessing. The spirit was so strong in the room, I just know David had to feel it. Although I am not a religious person, I know God is listening to each and every prayer for David. David was able to squeeze my hand one time while I was there… He also mouthed “I love you” to Lori, which again made me cry! Since then, he has had 2 more surgeries, a stroke, meningitis, and many complications. He has 3 tubes draining abscesses from his brain. He rarely responds, and when he does it is just a hand squeeze or thumbs up. The doctors removed the breathing tube and replaced it with a trach tube in his throat. Since then he has improved slightly.

Lori’s niece entered them into a secret Santa “contest” in a local radio station (I think 97.1, but don’t quote me)… Well, the radio station gave Lori’s family a nice bunch of gifts including 4 tires for Lori’s van, gift cards, Wii games for Hunter and Morgan, and more. I am SO grateful to this radio station, and Lori’s niece. This family is SO deserving! I went out myself and picked out a few things for Hunter, Morgan, Treavor, and Lori… I wish I could have done more, but I felt like I needed to do something. I’m sure Lori won’t feel up to doing much shopping. I know that all they want is for David to be home… but it is going to be awhile before that happens. I love Lori and David, and I hate that this is happening to them. All I can do is pray, but I want to do SO much more!

I have bought, wrapped, and shipped Christmas… I’ve decorated and sang Christmas songs…. but… I just don’t feel like Christmas. I feel like Cindy Lou Who in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. I feel like Christmas has become all about gifts and commercialism. What about the FEELING of Christmas?

“I'm glad he took our presents. You can't hurt Christmas, Mr. Mayor, because it isn't about the... the gifts or the contest or the fancy lights. That's what Cindy's been trying to tell everyone... and me. I don't need anything more for Christmas than this right here: my family.”

Isn’t Christmas about the spirit and family and togetherness?? I don’t know… It’s 10 days until Christmas, and I just don’t FEEL it… It’s hard to explain…

Well, besides the sadness, I did get to see my friend’s ADORABLE little girl, Vivian… Thanksgiving was enjoyed with cousins (who think I’m awesome), and my semester ended. Grades haven’t come out yet……. but I think I may be stuck with a B this semester. Oh well… I’ll get over it :)

I miss my family. I can’t believe my cute niece Rosie is 9 months old! The last (and only) time I saw her, she was 2 weeks old… I wish I could see all my nieces and nephews open their fun gifts I bought them… but, I can’t. So, I’ll enjoy Christmas with my mom, and HOPE the spirit finds me sooner than later.

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope Christmas finds you!

View Full Album

SwInE fLu

Swine flu sucks… Yep, I am one of those lucky people who caught this flu. A lot of the kids at school have gotten sick, so I’m sure they infected me….. Oh the joys of working in a school district. So, I was off work for a week, and I still don’t feel so great… But… It’s back to work tomorrow. I hope the kids are feeling better so I can stay healthy. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long winter.

 

I adopted a new kitten. A family was giving free kittens away at Wal-Mart….. So, of course I chose the runt. She’s super cute…. and I named her Spooky :)

 

Halloween is over with. I can’t believe how fast the Christmas stuff goes up in stores… it seems like the minute the Halloween candy is sold, the Christmas trees go up…… BUT this year, the Christmas trees and ornaments were up BEFORE Halloween… Crazy. I don’t have any plans for the holidays… So fun.

 

School still sucks… I can’t wait to graduate!

 

So… There is your update. :) I live a boring life, I know :)

 

Princess and Chester still love each other :)

The new edition… Spooky :) She’s SO TINY! And SO cute :)  

It's been a long time!!

Well, I decided I should update my blog... it has been forever!! Not much is new, which is probably why I haven't thought to write. Yesterday was the last day of work for 2 weeks. Here in good ol' Idaho (well, Sugar City anyway) we get 2 weeks off for Spud (or potato if you aren't a true Idahoan) Harvest. I love this time off! It isn't cold yet, but it isn't really hot either. The weather is perfect to enjoy the changing of the season. I've been taking a photography class, so I'm really excited to use these two weeks to take awesome photos! I'm enjoying work this year. I really care for the kids I work with. I love seeing the small glimmers of change in them everyday.

I'm not much of a T.V. junkie, but I am excited for new Criminal Minds, House, and Law & Order.

The holidays are coming up, and I'm pretty excited. My mom and I are going to California for Thanksgiving, which should be fun. We are going to take the train, since it is $300 cheaper!!

I was in a car accident a few weeks ago, which totally sucked! An old man cut me off, and I hit him... but he got the ticket and had to pay for my emergency room visit. I only sprained my shoulder and twisted my back... but they did a CT scan on my head and neck to make sure nothing was broken. I was pretty lucky, but my car was pretty nasty lookin'. We are both better now though :)

Well, there is a short update for ya! I'll try to be more vigilant in my blogging ;)

California, facebook holiday, old habits...

My mom and I took a quick trip to California last weekend. My sister just bought a new house, so we thought we would drove over and see it. The drive was LONG and HOT... but it was fun to see my sister and her kids. We spent most of the time in the pool because it was too hot to do anything else. I can't believe how fast my nieces and nephew are growing. Every time I see them I swear they have grown 5 inches! My oldest niece Rebecca will turn 15 in November! I can't believe it. (Is anyone reading this that remembers "bungee"! Yep, same little girl!) She will start high school, and she definitely has the attitude of an almost 15 year old! She may be tiny, but her attitude is full grown!! I love her though, she keeps me on my toes. She is so honest and innocent. Emily will turn 13 on the 31st. Another teenager! Because of Rebecca's disorder, she is much younger than her age... Emily on the other hand is most definitely 13!! She spends her time texting, standing in front of the mirror, shopping, and wishing for more skinny jeans... She is a fun girl to be around! Parker just turned 12, and is a sweetheart. There is something about Parker that I can't explain, he is just a sweet spirit. He is smart and athetic and super cute, but he is also pure and innocent. ANYWAY... I love those kids!! They are growing up wayyyy too fast!

So I decided recently to take a "holiday" from facebook. I do enjoy keeping in touch with my friends and family, but I find it really impersonal and frustrating. I dislike drama, and I feel like that is all that happens lately. I'll go back to it, but for now I just need to take a break... it is hard to explain...

Well, probably everybody knows that I am sometimes pretty crazy. Lately, that craziness has been creeping back. I really do try to be a happy upbeat person, but it is hard sometimes. I feel very isolated right now, like I'm stuck in a bubble and nobody is allowed in. I try to put myself out there, make friends, but my efforts fail. I'm just not a very social person, even though I really wish I was. The summer is getting long and hot, and as much as I love the time off work... I'm ready to get back. I feel at home helping people, helping the kids at school. Even if my influence is small, I hope to make lasting impressions on their lives. Recently, through facebook, I was reunited with my old high school counselor. High school for me was not easy, not because I wasn't smart enough, but because I didn't have the emotional capacity to deal with daily life. I spent many a day in her office, along with other kids who were social misfits, talking and escaping. I hope that the kids I work with will be able to look back to my time with them and feel as though I added something positive to their lives. I've been thinking back a lot, which isn't something I like doing, but I think it is necessary. There is so much heartache in the past, and recently it has been eating at me... making me feel down in the dumps. I'm not anywhere near as crazy as I was 4 or 5 years ago, but I feel it creeping up, like an old habit. It scares me. 4 weeks ago I quit therapy, which at the time I felt really great about... I really thought I was ready to handle life on my own. I was ready to embrace the present and rock at life....... but, I fear the rocking isn't happening. So, I have a dilemma... Do I swallow my pride and call my therapist, or do I try working through this on my own?? I don't know.

On a good note, I went to the back doctor and he scheduled a epidural injection. I had one about a year ago, and they really do work for a few months. It will at least give me some short-term comfort. I've also decided that when my back starts to feel better I am going to start running. It has been a dream of mine to run a marathon, or at least a 5K, so hopefully by next summer I'll be in good enough shape to do so.

Sorry to be such a downer... I just had to get that off my chest.
Oh, happy late Pioneer Day to my Utah friends :-)

Hopefully my next blog will be full of smiles and sunshine!

Sloth bears, school, frustration, and back pain...

Okay, so I haven't updated in awhile. I know I'm terrible at this blogging thing, but I figured I would update it before I got too involved in school.

The other day my mom and I went to the zoo. They have new sloth bears, which were very, very cute. It was a hot day, but the sun felt nice. My semester started today... back to school after having a month off. It's been nice having the time off, but I'm ready to get back to it. The faster I work, the closer I am to graduation! I have something to vent about though:

Yesterday, I was watching "Rookie of the Year" (The 90's kids movie about the 11 year old playing for the Chicago Cubs). Yeah, it's kind of a cheesy movie, but with my back issues I've been down for the count for a few days. So, it was about noon while I was watching this movie... and what commercial comes on? A "male enhancement" commercial. The commercial was advertising a product that will allow me to "get bigger and last longer". It basically talked about sex and penis size for 30 seconds (actually 1 minute, because the commercial played twice in a row!) Now, I don't have kids... but if I did they would probably be curious, mouthy little kids. They would probably want to know what sex was and what exactly would get bigger if they took the pills. It is RIDICULOUS! Play that kind of commercial at night, during adult programming time... seriously. I have to mute the TV or change the channel every time it comes on. It seriously makes me angry! Don't even get me started about the new condom commercial!!!!!!

So, my back is killing me... I've basically been down and out for 3 or 4 days. Today, I've spent the day in bed, with an Icy/Hot patch on my back, reading blogs, drinking diet coke, taking a Lortab, and cuddling with my dog and cat.

I will definitely have better, more uplifting, rad posts soon! Promise!