Happy Independence Day!!!

This is my favorite holiday. We celebrate with family at a barbecue, nothing too big. It is summer, we can play in the water or park or sit around drinking cold sodas, you know, doing summer things with family. It helps that I really like my family. My parents are great, my brothers and sisters and I finally get along (My mom is VERY grateful. And it gives me hope with my own kids.) I have good in-laws that I look forward to talking with and it is just a time to hang out.

This year was particularly fun because I saw almost everyone. Just one brother didn't come. We talked wedding plans because my other brother is getting married in August. Something to look forward to. . . I am anxious because it is planned on my first day of work. Grr... I'll have to make some arrangements with a brand new employer - not a great first impression.

Aside from the family fun, I have always been patriotic. I love to see the American flag waving high against a blue sky. I think of George Washington, Thomas Paine, Ben Franklin, and all the others that are not as well know. I am grateful to the generations of soldiers that have kept us free from tyranny and harm. I'm grateful I have the choice to do things and I'm not forced to do things. I believe our country was founded by men helped by God.

Today was thoroughly enjoyable and I hope all of you had a great day. I'd also like to thank the current soldiers who worked through the holiday to keep us free.

Last Day of School

No more Teacher's dirty looks!

It's the last day of school tomorrow and boy am I excited! And I'm the TEACHER! This is my last day working in West Jordan and I'll start in Alpine in August. I have a whole month off in the summer. Unheard of in a year round school so I'm gonna put my feet up and . . . run around taking care of the kids!

I've had many great experiences so far I wish I could write about them all. But here are a few.

Mrs. Grundy and I had a blind student one year. She was so funny. She would always rub my forearm or hold my hand. Which I had to get used to because I'm not used to students being that close. One time she was getting on the bus and the principal was in talking to the driver. She bumped into the principal and said, "Sorry, I didn't see you there." Another time she brought her tandem bike to show to the kids and I ended up riding around with each child in the class which was okay except when they weren't peddling with me - the little stinkers.

One time I was talking to my husband after work on the office phone and well, we were newlyweds. So I'm talking to my sweetie poochie coo or something equally disgusting and embarrasing and another teacher runs down the hall and yelling, "Turn off the intercom!" Yep, I had declared my love thoroughout the entire school.

The thing I was most afraid of when I started teaching happened my first year and I was able to handle it. Yes, the dreaded kid throwing up in the classroom. I can't say what I'm most afraid of now, after teaching 7 years because the thing I love about teaching is that each day is an adventure no matter how much you have planned.

In a nut shell,I'm goona miss the copy room rush before and after school, the smelly and squeeky laminator, the terrific office staff, and my friends. I won't miss grades, parent teacher conferences, and the long commute. I'm looking foward to short work days, being at the same school as my kids, and meeting new friends.

I'm turning a new page in my life book and looking foward with anticipation and back with sweet memories. What I have discovered is that the heartbeat of the school is determined by the secretary. I love the secretary at the new school so bring it on!