30 DAYS OF TRUTH...Day #5

SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE COMPLIMENT YOU ON


If we are talking purely physical, then I would say my eyes, smile and figure. Thanks Mom and Dad...what can I say I have great genes. 

Beyond that I have been complimented on: my organizational skills, planning ability, energy level, ability to multitask, creativity, story writing skills, and imagination.
 

TOOBALOO

Have you ever seen one of these? Sam got one today from the Developmental Specialist.

The TOOBALOO is a phone-like device that allows children to hear themselves clearly while speaking softly into it. The design of the TOOBALOO magnifies their voice allowing them to hear their sounds and words distinctly.

It's used mostly to improve reading rate, phrasing and expression, to provide auditory feedback for speech therapy and to motivate and build confidence to practice oral reading fluency and comprehension.

We are hoping it will motivate Sam to talk more and improve his speech by hearing what he sounds like.

I'll let you know if Sam's speech improves by using this. It's a pretty cool little tool.

TIME CARD - November 21-27

I am keeping track of how many hours I work during this school year. My contract only pays me to work 183 days a year, from 7:30-2:30 (that is 1189.5 hours). We are not told we have to work extra hours, but there is no way I could plan, correct papers, make copies, make phone calls, etc., just working to contract. Usually I arrive there at 6:15 a.m. and leave around 3:30 p.m. Then when Samuel is in bed for the night, I do at least another couple hours of work. I also take stuff home on the weekends.

This week I worked 27.5 hours.

Total to date: 832.75 hours.

STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS

So, we didn't tell anyone ahead of time because we didn't feel they would understand nor agree with our decision, but this afternoon we had "K," Sam's birth mom and her parents, over to our house for coffee and dessert.

Last year, around this same time, we met them at a local coffee shop and had a great visit.

Here is Sam's picture from that visit. He didn't have hardly any teeth and he wasn't even walking on his own yet. Now look at the big boy...."K" is wearing the necklace that Sam gave her for her 20th birthday, which is tomorrow.

What a difference a year can make! Anyway, you may remember this post I wrote about our adoption agency having to shut down. Richard and I were very sad and we talked about it a lot. Normally, we would send pictures and letters for "K" to the agency and then they would send them to her, but because of the close and because we feel very comfortable with our adoption situation, we felt why not just bypass the middle man and mail them directly to her. So, we called "K" and told her how we felt and she agreed.

Also over many discussions Richard and I decided we wanting Samuel to be able to continue to see her and in wanting him to be in a comfortable environment we chose our home as the best place for these visits. We called "K" and her parents and invited them over. They were all very excited.

So, Richard put up the outside Christmas lights early and the day after Thanksgiving I decorated the inside (as I always do). I wanted them to feel like they were spending Christmas with Sam.

They gave him this card....

....with this inscription.....how sweet! They also got him some clothes....

....this book and a book shaped like a tractor with wheels. We had a delicious chocolate, pecan pie and great conversation. They were very appreciative that we invited them and I am hoping to make it an annual tradition.

SUNDAY INSPIRATION

Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hands would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil. 1 Chronicles 4:9

SOLVING THE WORLDS DEBT PROBLEMS

HO! HO! HO!

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Mommy is letting me write this post today....

Aren't leftovers from a great meal the best!

Well, we had such a great time and were so busy, these are the only pictures that my Mommy and Daddy took....so enjoy...it's all you're getting! Ha! Ha! The rest of the leftovers are mine.

Grandma is so much fun! She'll even let me put three pairs of sunglasses on her head to make me laugh!

Here I am helping my cousin, Jillian, with her homework. She's a freshman in college, but I love to help with math.

Here I am explaining:

I told her, "The formula above for powers of x fails when n = -1 because there is a zero in the denominator. That is not the same as saying the function 1/x = x^-1 has no antiderivative," but she just didn't get it. Maybe when she comes over for math tutoring next week, we can spend more time on it.

Mommy doesn't allow any electronic devises during dinner, so everyone dug right in!

Here I am impressing Na-Na and Pa-Pa with my stimulating dinner conversation.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Maybe Mommy will let me post again at Christmas. Now I have to help Mommy decorate the Christmas tree. Santa comes in 29 days!

30 DAYS OF TRUTH...DAY #4

SOMETHING YOU HOPE YOU NEVER HAVE TO DO

Of course the very first thing that pops into my head is burying my child. 

I recently saw Marie Osmond on Oprah. Her 18 year old son committed suicide about 8 months ago. She even prepared his body for burial. I CANNOT IMAGINE HER SORROW! 

After that there are any number of things that race through my mind including: being a single parent, losing my home or job, being paralyzed, going blind....ok....I'm sure my list, IF I went on, would be the same as anyone else.


So instead I will divulge something that everyone else may NOT have on their list.....ready....
................................................

Having ants crawl all over me......I know, strange thing to think about, but I HATE the little suckers! They freak me out and they make my teeth itch! Sam better not ever ask for an ant farm because the answer will definitely be NO!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

MEAL PREP...a day ahead....

This was my kitchen this morning at 9:00 a.m.

This is the sink now at 2:00 p.m.

30 DAYS OF TRUTH...DAY #3

SOMETHING YOU HOPE TO DO IN YOUR LIFE

I think everyone should have a BUCKET LIST.

I've had one since I was very young. I just didn't call it that until I saw this movie.


Here is my BUCKET LIST. Over the years I've added some and crossed off are the ones I've done.

TRAVEL:

Greece

Italy

Hawaii

Bora Bora, Tahiti

Aruba

Walt Disney World

Grand Canyon

Washington D.C.

Grand Canyon Donkey Ride

Poland

Mexico

Las Vegas

Pyramids of Egypt

Israel

Take a cruise

Acoma Pueblo

Taste of Chicago

Climb the Statue of Liberty
A concentration camp 
See Amish Country

Great Wall of China

Cherry Blossoms in Washington D.C.

Great Barrier Reef

See the Atlantic Ocean

See the Pacific Ocean

CONTRIBUTIONS:

Work at a soup kitchen

Tithe 10%

Work on Habitat for Humanity House
Volunteer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters

ADVENTURES:

Whitewater rafting

Zipline

Parasail

Skydive

Helicopter Ride

See active volcano
See Alcatraz

Bungii jump from a bridge

Ride an elephant
Ride in a hot air balloon
Go scuba diving

Safari in Africa
Drive across the U.S.

ADVANCEMENTS:

CPR class

Dance class

Yoga class

Build a dollhouse

Pay off debt

Pay off house

Photography class

Go to counselling

Graduate college

Become a teacher

Learn to ride a horse

Painting class

Karate lessons

Graduate High School

Read Bible cover to cover
Earn a masters degree
Learn to cook

FUN:

Meet someone famous

Attend the Super Bowl or the Olympics

Go to a Rascal Flatts Concert

See the Macey’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Ski at Vale

Spend week at a Spa

Drive across country

100 followers on blog

Meet 5 blogger buddies

Be on a game show

Get a tattoo

Make a quilt

See a play/musical on Broadway
Run a bed and breakfast/ranch

MISCELLANEOUS: 


Be a God mother
Own a bulldog
See the Lion King 
Grow a bonsai tree
Sit on a jury 
Be an extra in a film
Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary

Redo master bath

Have a baby

Adopt a baby

Buy a new house

Buy a new car

Get married

write a book
marry my best friend

Have a grandchild
Plant a garden

WHICH WAY WOULD YOU LIKE TO FAIL?!

EVALUATING WITH RUBRICS

30 DAYS OF TRUTH...DAY #2

SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE FOR

The dictionary defines FORGIVENESS as: the process of concluding resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offense, difference or mistake, and/or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution.

BEING TOTALLY HONEST.....I do not forgive easily, I hold grudges, I am resentful and I remember past hurts both in myself and from other people. I know that forgiving someone doesn't make what they did right, but until I feel that the person "gets" what they did really hurt me, it is hard for me to move on.

Although I don't like it, I also understand that life isn't fair...but some people just don't deserve our forgiveness.

Plus when I hear, "I'm sorry," I ask myself for what....being caught? If you say, "sorry" that should mean that you understand you did something wrong and you won't do it again....so when that same thing happens again....yah...

....I'm a little cynical. This will never be me.

I have very high expectations of people and although I know no one is perfect, I tend to expect it. I also think I tend to shy away from relationships because I don't want to disappoint people or have them disappoint me. Although I expect it in others, part of me thinks that I will never measure up so I am afraid to put myself out there.

I know I have learned from my mistakes (...and I had some big ones....divorce, bankruptcy....), but because I have a hard time forgiving others, I also have a VERY HARD time forgiving myself.

Some of the offenses against me have been HUGE and the person still doesn't "get it," but I realize that that is actually part of their character and they will never "get it." I have either had to cut all contact with them or just accept that I will never be as close to them as I wish I could be.

PERFECTION isn't possible....

.....but apparently it is a place!

JUSTICE: getting what you deserve
MERCY: not getting what you deserve
GRACE: getting what you don't deserve

I'm a work in progress and what it really all boils down to is FORGIVING myself and others for BEING HUMAN!

TIME CARD - November 14-20

I am keeping track of how many hours I work during this school year. My contract only pays me to work 183 days a year, from 7:30-2:30 (that is 1189.5 hours). We are not told we have to work extra hours, but there is no way I could plan, correct papers, make copies, make phone calls, etc., just working to contract. Usually I arrive there at 6:15 a.m. and leave around 3:30 p.m. Then when Samuel is in bed for the night, I do at least another couple hours of work. I also take stuff home on the weekends.

This week I worked 51.25 hours.

Total to date: 805.25 hours.