Spring Break Party

Well, actually only the last part of the week included a party. The first half of the week was reserved for several doctor appointments and a not-so-fun endoscopy. I'll find out the results tomorrow. I was forced to schedule them this week since I have run out of sick days for this school year.

Dan and I drove to Birmingham to spend a few days with Caleb and Ethan and celebrate their birthdays. Caleb turned 3 and Ethan turned 1. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them.

Ethan loves to eat!. We went out to dinner and Ethan noticed the appetizer menu which was in a triangle shaped stand. He picked it up and kept pointing to the crab cakes and asking for them. "Dat" he said repeatedly and he would make the sign for eating. Every time he said it he would look at a different person at the table. It was so cute because he just assumed that the food would appear in our hands and we would give it to him. When that didn't work, he turned to the next person. When the server came to our table, Ethan smiled real big and began bouncing up and down - - he was sure food was coming now. Alas, the server left to get our drinks and poor Ethan just couldn't believe his misfortune. We had given him bread but he knew better food was coming and the bread was no longer cutting it for him.

Caleb has become such a little man. His personality is much like his mama's was at his age and I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed watching their interactions. He absolutely loves to be read to. He had just been on his weekly trip to the library so he had a bookbag full of new choices. I read 4-5 books to him in one setting and his eyes never left the pages. I read to him many times during our short visit and I honestly believe he would sit there for hours as we read and even reread book after book. Caleb is a very active boy and loves to run, jump, and climb. He does not, however, like to be held or cuddled much. Much to my surprise, he jumped into my lap one evening and lay his head on my shoulder with his arms wrapped around my neck. He cuddled with me for about five minutes. Even better, he lifted his head and whispered into my ear, "I love you Nanna" several times before he decided to get down. I am still savoring those moments!

PARTY

They had a joint party with their own cakes. We had to move the party to the church because of rain. Caleb and his friends played Duck, Duck, Goose, Musical Chairs, and some other games. They had a lot of fun. We sang Happy Birthday to Caleb and then to Ethan. Caleb had to help Ethan out and blow out his candle for him. Caleb's eyes lit up when the group sang to him. I held Ethan and fed him his cake which he really enjoyed. Every time I gave him a bite, he would smile and go "mmmmmm". It was a nice party.

He's a Red-Head!!

For those of you who haven't heard, my newest grandson has red hair! Since both of my kids are red-heads, I am a bit partial. Jasper was born March 14th and weighed in at 7 lb 10 oz. and 19 1/2 " long.

I haven't seen him in person yet. but I can't wait!!

Thank you God

A woman came to me recently describing a period in her life when she battled with serious depression. I've known her for many years.

At that time in her life, she doubted herself, her value, and even God's existence. I nodded as she went on, understanding that she had been in a really hard place.

At that time, she was meeting with a counselor and was invited to a group that was meeting weekly to deal with a variety of issues.

It turns out that I was a part of that group and was working through some difficult issues relating to childhood abuse I had experienced.

As she became aware of the influence and level of evil that had existed in my life, she concluded that God MUST be present and active in our lives.

It was at that point that she began her walk back toward Him.

I was stunned!! God used those dark moments in my life to bless her which in turn, blessed her children.

Thank you Lord for being with me always, even when I don't have a clue.

I LOVE my iPhone

I do love my iPhone. I can check all 4 of my email accounts including my school account.

Facebook loads in about 10 seconds!

Park Smart is a program that records the location of my car when I go into the store and shows me a map back to my car. No more pressing my clicker until I hear my car or see it's lights flashing. :)

I have 3 versions of the Bible and the concordance searches the entire Bible in seconds for a word or phrase.

I have scrabble or sudoku for those long lines that everybody hates. I think I'm becoming ADD.

Web MD is at my fingertips. I hope that's a good thing.

Whether it's a thesaurus, dictionary, or encyclopedia - If I think of a question, my iPhone has the answer.

I recently added a Spanish translator and a sign language program.

It has a digital tape recorder and even a brain exerciser!!

Best of all, it has a digital photo album for those great photos of my grandsons.

What more could I ask for?

And the lucky number is . . . . 1 4 6

Battle of the Bulge

Food for Thought

2 Rules for a flat stomach

Yo Yo Dieting

. . . . on and on the phrases go and yet I had never given them much thought. After all, I had been skinny most of my life -- and no, that didn't make it any easier when I began to face weight gain. Yes, I was lucky that I didn't have to think about calories for decades. Even then, it was the result of megadoses steroids that caused me to gain more than 80 pounds in 3 years.

On January 1, 2008 I weighed 210 pounds. I was depressed, discouraged, and hopeless. I decided that there had to be a way for me to lose it. I researched the amount of calories burned at rest and depending upon which source I believed, it seemed to be between 1800 and 2200 every 24 hours. I was very limited as far as exercise because of my MS.

I decided that I would limit my daily caloric intake to 800-1000 calories daily. I allowed myself about 150 calories for breakfast, 200 for lunch, 200-300 for dinner. I had two snacks a day and totaled my calories every evening. I found that it helped me to write down every single bite I took each day.

I started losing gradually and soon I had lost 20 pounds. Dan noticed right away, which helped alot. Even as I lost the next 20-30 pounds, most of my work and church friends couldn't tell. I was always sitting in my wheelchair so it was harder to notice. I didn't mind, I just kept at it. By September I had lost 55 pounds and people were noticing.

Now, here it is February, and I have lost 64 pounds!!

I was in a hurry as I got on the scales this morning and I froze when I saw 146. I rechecked it about 6 times but it was true. If you've read this far, you must care about me or be really bored.

I, on the other hand, am so excited and grateful. I just have a few more pounds left to go.

:)

:)

:)

Break Dancing Boy

I wish you could have been here. As we all sat around the living room, Bennett began to dance, casually at first, and then he got fired up and began dancing up a storm. He was so cute and we started laughing. Soon we were all laughing (Nanna, Papa, mom, and dad).

It seemed like our laughter energized him as he went faster and faster. He began to move toward the right as his arms and hips were swinging back and forth. I was holding my side by this time. As soon as he covered the distance of the living room, he spun around and twisted his way back to his original spot.

By now we were all gasping as we laughed. I remember thinking - I wish we had video taped this - I didn't say anything because I fully expected him to quit any second.

He had no intention of quitting. On and on he went, covering the span of the living room several more times. It was hysterical!!

All of a sudden, he dropped to the floor and began some kind of roll, push, roll break dance. I couldn't believe my eyes!! He navigated the span of the room several more times.

We laughed and laughed. According to his parents, he had never done this before and hasn't since. He was quite the entertainer!! (I think they said he had danced before - but never put on this kind of show)

We had a great visit. They had come the weekend before Thanksgiving. I feel blessed to get the chance to see my family. Rachel's family came in October, Michael's family came that weekend, and I flew to Ohio to see my sisters over Thanksgiving. I didn't take my camera to Ohio but I will be posting pictures of Bennett real soon.

You should have seen him!

The Election Through the Eyes of a Child

I have viewed this election through the eyes of children and I do not like what I saw.

I am a counselor for a middle school and we had a mock election a few days before the real one. Our students have been learning about political parties, running mates, and the electoral college. Our social studies teachers led discussions and spoke positively about both candidates.


In our mock election, Barak Obama won. It was quite interesting that he won by a margin that was very close to his margin of victory in the national election. We have about 500 students in our 5th and 6th grade school.


I am saddened by the response of our McCain supporting students to the Obama supporting students. I had a number of students come to me because they were frightened by the statements that were made about Obama. They were hurt by the names they personally were called.

They were anxious and frightened by the number of times they heard, “assasinate Obama”.
These are 10 and 11 year old students! Parents, no matter who you supported in this election, you owe it to your children to be respectful of each candidate. Think about what you are saying around your children. Think about the impact of your words.

How sad.

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.

My first visit to Harding

It was spring or summer of 1976. My friends Diane, Rose, and I climbed in Diane's car and drove from Ohio to Arkansas. I remember as we drove into town on E. Race I saw this large billboard that said, COMING SOON - - McDonalds!!

We left after work on Friday and had to be at work again on Monday morning. It was a whirlwind weekend.


I loved it here! The campus was so beautiful! It was Harding College at that time. Dr. Ganus was the president and Dr. Benson was still very active on campus. One of the first offices I visited was Ted Altman, who was the dean of students. I think Maribeth Downing was the Dean of Women.

Jerry Jones was head of the Bible department and he had spoken at our church in NE Ohio. Harding sounded like a place we wanted to experience.

We decided that we were coming to Harding. Diane sold her car and I moved out of my apartment. We gathered our belongings, packed them in a small U-haul and the parent of another friend drove us all to Harding in time for the Fall semester.

Rose and I moved into the "New Dorm" (later to become Sears) and I think Diane moved into Patti Cobb.

There was a big cafeteria rivalry between Heritage and Patti Cobb (in the basement of the dorm). PC was known for it's home style atmosphere and Heritage for it's better food.

The lily pool had no lilies but the fountain of water was beautiful and we gathered around the pool often for devotionals.

I have so many more memories....

Worn Out

I am so tired tonight. We had open house at school today so we were at school until after 7 PM. I enjoyed meeting the kids and their parents.

Sometimes I have a hard time mustering up the energy but I also can't imagine not having this job that I love.

I think a 4 day work week would be good.

The Shack

I had been hearing about this book for quite a while. Some friends loved it. Others would not even finish reading it. Yet all who did finish said the same thing, "If you come to a part and don't like the book, you may be tempted to just quit reading. Don't quit. If you force yourself to finish, you won't be sorry.

I wish I could write like my daughter. She adds so much flavor to the things she writes about. She makes me feel like I am there with her. I will do my best to express myself and am at peace that it will be enough.

Once I began reading, I could hardly put it down. It's message reached inside my heart more than once and changed my thinking. I am challenged to view many things in ways I have never considered. The word "relationship", for example, has taken on a new meaning. A meaning so wide and deep that it consists of many layers and directions.

The painful experiences throughout my life have taken on a slightly different perspective. My history has not changed, but my view of it's events has enabled me to feel a peace that I can not adequately describe.

I will have more to say as I am able to process the thoughts whirling in my head.

More on The Shack

One of the blessings I received as I read this book relates to someone from my past. I was totally unprepared because as far as I was concerned, this person deserved whatever came their way.

For the first time, I understand that God loves them as much as He loves me. People have said that to me in the past and I inwardly responded with, "you don't understand". Occasionally it was an outward response which included my plea of, "God wouldn't ask that of me".

Now that has changed. God does love that person. He really does. I believe that and I am at peace about it. While I'll never have a relationship with them, I feel completely at peace about them, and that part of my life.

I posted these two messages under two link headings (The Shack, Changed My Life) because I have shared with many people about how the message of this book has changed my life. I forget to tell some that the name of the book was The Shack.

Here is a link to the website for "The Shack"

I AM ME

Virginia Satir was an internationally-known therapist, teacher, and author. Her vision was to help empower people to reach their full potential.

Virginia came to write this poem when she was working with an angry fifteen-year-old girl who had a lot of questions about herself and what life meant.

Her poem is a favorite of mine and I have used parts of it many times while working with students.

I Am Me

In all the world, there is no one exactly like me.
There are persons who have some parts like me,
but no one adds up exactly like me.

Therefore, everything that comes out of me
is authentically mine because I alone choose it.
I own everything about me
including everything it does;
including all its thoughts and ideas;
including the images of all they behold;
whatever they may be...
anger,
joy,
frustration,
love,
disappointment,
excitement
and all the words that come out of it
polite,
sweet or rough,
correct or incorrect;
loud or soft.
And all my actions, whether they be to others or to myself.

I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears.
I own all my triumphs and successes,
all my failures and mistakes.
Because I own all of me I can become intimately acquainted with me.
By doing so I can love me and be friendly with me in all parts.
I can then make it possible for all of me to work in my best interests.

I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me,
and other aspects that I do not know.
But as long as I am friendly and loving to myself,
I can courageously and hopefully, look for solutions to the puzzles
and for ways to find out more about me.

By Virginia Satir

Great People

Great people talk about ideas.

Average people talk about things.

Small people talk about other people.

Author: Unknown