40 Years Ago

I copied this idea from Deana's blog. I thought it was a really cool idea.

40 Years Ago (1968)

I was a sophomore at Cuyahoga Falls High School. I ironed my hair every morning and it still curled up on humid days. I worked every weekend at pizza take-out. I was trying to decide who to invite to the Twirp Dance. Our music and drama departments performed, "My Fair Lady".

30 Years Ago (1978)

Dan and I were married in March. I had left college and was living in California. Dan and I came back to Searcy in May for Diane's wedding and Dan decided to enroll in the preaching school at Harding. We moved to Searcy the next summer. Dan took a weekend preaching job in North Arkansas. It took us over two hours to drive there. We stayed all day and ate dinner with different families. Our daughter was born in 1979 and the church was so small and rural that it did not have any indoor plumbing. It was quite a learning experience.

20 Years Ago (1988)

I had two children (9 and 7) Diane and Mike had moved to Searcy about 4 years earlier. It was so nice to be living in the same town again. It sure saved a lot on long distance phone bills.

I think this was the year Dan and I took our kids to Disneyworld. Dan had enrolled in Harding College after preaching school and he was finally finished!!!

10 Years Ago (1998)

My daughter was a freshman at Harding and my son was a junior in high school. I had finished with my education degree several years before and I finally got a teaching job. I was tired of subbing and so happy to have a permanent job!

5 Years Ago (2003)

My daughter and her husband had spent their first year of marriage teaching English in China. They were married about 10 days when they left for China. I was soooo happy to have them back in the USA. My son was a newlywed and he and his wife were seniors in college.

I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in August. I struggled with my current and potential disability and whether I could continue as a school teacher. I was blessed with the opportunity to take the position of school counselor at my school. I hurriedly began the course work to become a certified school counselor. I was diagnosed with COPD six months later.

1 Year Ago (2007)

I love my job as a school counselor! I have two beautiful grandsons. Both are blue-eyed blonds. I have another grandson on the way. I was sick with bronchitis for nearly the entire fall semester.


That brings me to October 2008.

My last post has photos of a wonderful visit with my daughter's family. I also have another grandchild on the way (my son's 2nd child) I am blessed and very thankful.

I didn't realize . . .

Last week was such a difficult week at work. I began to doubt my ability to maintain the stamina required to meet the needs of the students in my care. Beginning with neglect and hostility and then on to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of the very people whose job it is to care for and nurture these children.

I listen. I comfort. I answer their questions the best I can. I point them to hope and a better life ahead. I call the abuse hot line.

One girl came back to me the next morning asking, "why didn't DHS come to my house? They said they would come. I'm afraid to go home. Time to call a supervisor.

This week has been so different. Girls fighting with their friends, competing over the same guy. Boys being bullied or bullying others. Families dealing with divorce. Boys and girls dealing with the normal adjustments of middle school. While each problem was disturbing to the individual, I felt better able to offer what they needed. I felt more sure of my decisions and responses.

Frankly, both kinds of weeks are difficult in their own way, but last week required me to draw from resources deeper within.

Then a teacher stopped me in the hall. She said, "Vicky, you are what I have always pictured a counselor to be. You do such a good job with our children."

Then I remembered last week when I shared my feelings of discouragement with another teacher friend. Her immediate response was, "but Vicky, you can't quit, you are so good with these kids. They need you".

I didn't realize . . .until I was reminded. I am making a difference even when I can't recognize it myself.

Thank you my teacher friends. You really encouraged me and you may never know how much.