life...

...is good because God is good!

As of late -

• House-sitting for the 'rents this past weekend


• Preparing to spend Mother's Day with the Simmons family...which means we're also celebrating May birthdays. There are at least 6!


• Jamie graduated from Westmont over the weekend (M & D attended the festivities in Santa Barbara and that's why Ben and I were at their house). CONGRATS TO HER FOR GRADUATING EARLY WITH A DOUBLE MAJOR!






• I finished my Professional Certification classes! My original teaching certificate (issued in July of 2004) expires in June of 2010. So, in the lovely state of Washington I have 3 options. I could have applied for an extension, earned my Professional Certification, or worked towards my National Board Certification. Since I'm guessing we'll have kids someday, I decided to get this out of the way now. An extension wasn't an option for me. Instead, Pro-Cert was my route of choice. It's a class divided into 3 parts. The Pre-Assessment class was something I completed last year at this time. In the middle, I had to take 9 credits that were aimed at my goal (I used classes from my Master's Program), and then Culminating piece is the class I just finished. By the end of this summer I should have my Master's completed and then I'll be good to go for another 2 years. After that, I'll have to be sure that I'm earning 15 credits every 5 years. DOESN'T THE FIELD OF EDUCATION SOUND SO ENTICING?


• Searching for Dessert Auction documents - I know they're around here somewhere.


• Loving my marriage - Ben and I are communicating well, focused on what matters most, and things are running smoothly these days. I am just enjoying him more than ever...he's the best! He's so thoughtful these days. Every time I turn around he's surprising me with the little things (making sure there's gas in both cars, taking out the garbage, helping with laundry and the dishes, working lots of extra hours washing windows, washing the cars, and playing endless rounds of Ticket to Ride). He's the best!



<-- He is so stinkin' cute!

• Enjoying each day with my students - we've had a lot of fun reading about Japan between the 9th and 12th centuries (samurai warriors, ninjas, foot binding, aristocrat homes, cosmetics, manners, beauty, shallow societies, etc.) The kids are soaking it all up and realizing that life exists outside of "their world."

• Mid-term grades for the students = entering late work, updating grades, tracking down missing work, printing out grades, responding to parent emails ("he/she said they turned in this assignment"), collecting signed Progress Reports


• Preparing for the Maywood Middle School Talent Show...the auditions are so much fun! I wish I could make a video of these and post them. They're so sweet (often funny too).


• Being spoiled this week (Teacher Appreciation Week) by our PTSA - they had gifts donated and each day several teachers have their name drawn. My name has yet to be pulled and I'm okay with that...the big gifts are still out there (a weekend at Chelan, a day at the spa, etc.). They have also arranged to feed us lunch each day. These parents are amazing! I guess you could say that this kind of appreciation makes up for the endless credits I am supposed to be earning.


• End-of-the-year stuff - Ordering supplies for my team, finalizing elections for next year's ASB officers, putting together the packet for potential Leadership students, trying to squeeze as much curriculum into the next few weeks, working around chaotic school schedules, attempting to make progress on my work-to-do list, hanging out on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help kids with their failing grades (and credit retrieval for failed classes throughout the year), waiting for next year's master schedule (to see who will stay and who will leave), filling out recommendations for the potential Leadership students, looking into nannying part-time for the summer, trying to find a time to squeeze in a trip to NY to see my best friend (who still needs to start a blog)


• Annoyed by Brianna and Joey - these are 2 of the individuals on this season's Real World. Joey has a drinking problem, but he's getting help from Dr. Drew, so that's good. However, Brianna is a mess...I don't even know where to start. Although these characters frustrate me, I still watch this crazy show (and I love it).


• It's a great season in my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything (although, I could use more than the 3 hours of sleep I got last night).