Hey, folks--I really do know the reality!

I have been working in our local elementary school with both a second grade and fifth grade class. I have been doing what is described as pre-clinical experiences before I begin my internship in January.

This has allowed me to meet some amazing teachers and some not so great ones as well. Upon my initial meeting with some of them, I have been surprised by this response, "Really, you want to be a teacher?!" I think the reason I am so surprised is because I am obviously an older student even for a masters degree. I am not some starry-eyed, naive twenty-something, who thinks she can change the world through teaching. I have gray hair, folks! I have battled the school district in an effort to do what is best for my chronically ill son and I have gone the rounds with some teachers when a situation has required me to intervene for one of my children. I know there are some teachers, schools and administrators who really want children to succeed and I have seen some of the same who seem to do everything in their power (with glee) to watch them fail. Hey, folks--I really do know the reality of teaching!

So, yes, I really want to teach and here is the reason why: Kids are the most amazing people on earth! From the youngest baby to the newly cynical teens, they continue to delight and intrigue me. They are filled with such vibrancy, curiousity, and challenge. Can I change the world teaching? No, but I can make the world a little better and open some doors for one child (or more if I am lucky)!

Nothing in this world is more exciting than to see a baby, a toddler, child or teen discover something new! Sit and watch them one day--you will see why I want to teach!

It's those little things that make a difference!

I got a phone call from Cole yesterday morning. Besides wanting to share his college experiences and tell me about his roommates, he needed his shirts I had taken to the cleaners for his girlfriend's sister's wedding on Friday. He wanted to know with his very full schedule how he could get back out to West Jordan to pick them up and still get enough sleep and study before his 7AM flight on Friday morning. As you know, Friday is my day off after working four-10 to 12 hour days. I told him between Syd's physical therapy appointment, my hair appointment and other various errands that I would pick up his shirts and drive them to the flight ops center to leave them in his car along with some toliet paper, Q-tips and cable he needed for his dorm. It was out of my way but I had great company, Charlie and Syd came along. We visited, laughed and shared during the drive (we even stopped and had lunch on the way). We didn't see Cole, just leaving the items in his car (I have a spare key, we didn't break in).

I got a phone call from Cole about 3:30 this afternoon. He had just finished with his classes at the flight ops center, changed his clothes and was driving to Layton for the wedding. He just wanted to thank me for taking care of his shirts and helping to relieve some of his stress.

See, I told you, it's those little things that make a difference! Do I have great kids or what?

The only thing that is constant is CHANGE!

We have had a summer of changes in our home!

Cole is now moved into the dorms at college and started classes on August 2. He will attend his ROTC orientation at Camp Williams in the middle of August and prepare to play lacrosse with his college team. It has been so different since he moved out although he is still sweet enough to call his mom and share his day with her.

Syd finished her last year of elementary school and will start junior high at the end of this month. She has grown up so quickly but I love having her at this age--we share so many fun things now. This week she has been at a lacrosse camp, where the coaches recognized her incredible talent and moved her up to challenge her skills with the high school girls. Last week she went to her first girls camp and experienced the ups and downs of camping with a bunch of girls ages 12-17. Syd had a run in with a branch, ending up with a black eye but she enjoyed the experience.

Charlie will begin his first year as a high school student. He is growing taller everyday and only has about 1/2 inch left to reach his dad's height. His diabetes is still a challenge for us all but he is a real trooper and together we don't let it defeat him. Charlie has also been at lacrosse camp this week and has loved having a lacrosse pro show him how to improve his game. He is preparing to try out for the high school team and although his brother played on the varsity team all four years, Charlie is hoping to get on a team that will give him maximum play time because he loves to play! He is slowly moving out of his smaller bedroom and into Cole's larger one--Cole won't recognize any space as his since he moved out.

Eric is taking on different responsibilities at work with a new title of Epidemiologist. With his master's degree finished, he should have more time but he just fills it up with projects around the house and of course, doing things for me, the kids and our parents. His garden is struggling to produce veggies this year but it looks great! Together we are learning to adjust to our ever-changing roles as parents---it is definitely different to have a child move away.

I am speeding quickly towards my internship and master's thesis. I just began my term before my internship, which I will take a leave of absence from my full-time job to do January through March of next year. My thesis will be researched during this time and written in the term following. My girls' lacrosse team had an undefeated spring season and I was sad to see it end. Most of my girls will move up to the next age division so I am recruiting players for my fall season, which begins at the end of this month. I love coaching these girls and developing their love of lacrosse! My work continues to be an on-going sea of change with budget cuts and politics galore. Somedays I love the challenge but on others, I just want to hide.

So, you see, change is the constant in our lives! Life is meant for living and we are doing that to the fullest!

Celebrate accomplishments!

This week was an ending and a beginning of accomplishments. Cole graduated from Bingham High School on June 3. It was the ending of thirteen years of books, homework, assignments, projects, research, dances, games, activities and friends. He was one of 176 students from Bingham who were awarded enhanced diplomas. Cole's enhancements were for extraordinary achievements in Social Studies, Health and English/Literature. You can't see it in this photo because of the money lei but he was awarded cords to wear at graduation. He was also one of the many students contributing to the overall $4 million worth of scholarships. His scholarships total almost $500,000 although he will only be using one. We are so proud of Cole and all his accomplishments. He has had struggles and challenges but he never gave up.

While this is the end of this chapter in his life, it is also the beginning. Cole will have more books, homework, assignments, projects, research, dances, games, activities and friends. New adventures, challenges and accomplishments await him as he begins college.

Celebrate every accomplishment in life!

Celebrate Spring!

I love Springtime but only when it starts to warm up. Rain doesn't bother me as long as it is not a cold rain. Spring brings with it the flowers, birds, green grass and lacrosse! All three are my favorite parts of Spring.

This Spring we are very immersed (more so than normal) in lacrosse. Not only are all three kids playing but I am coaching the Thunder girls team (Syd's team). I have coached soccer and played field hockey, soccer, tennis and volleyball but I was worried that I didn't understand enough of the girls game (it is very different from boys) and I wouldn't be able to teach it. I think I am doing an okay job of it--I began practices in March with just 8 girls on the roster and I now have 21! My team played in the Chicks with Sticks tournament this weekend and they took first place (see the photo above)! I am so proud of how well they playing including the girls that hadn't picked up a lacrosse stick until just a few weeks ago! I am having as much if not more fun teaching them the game of lacrosse as they are in learning it. Syd had an incredible day as she scored 11 of our 19 total goals. She is extremely talented (that is from her Mom and her Coach).

This is our last Spring with Cole playing high school lacrosse so we are also sharing bittersweet moments as we realize that he has less than six weeks left before he graduates. We had an amazing Senior night at Cole's lacrosse game last Thursday. After the game, the parents were assembled on the field. Each of the parents received a letter from our seniors and the Moms were given lacrosse necklaces that our seniors had purchased for us. Spring is also a time of endings and beginnings. It is the end of Winter and the beginning of warm weather. For Cole, it is the end of one period of his life and the beginning of a new one.

Charlie has come out of his brother's shadow and is making his own name on his lacrosse team. He is a leader on the field and his teammates enjoy playing with him. At one of Cole's games, one of his coaches pointed out Cole on the field to his wife and daughter and said, "That is Charlie's brother, Cole." I had to smile and Charlie had a grin on his face as well!

So, celebrate Spring. Enjoy the warmer weather, the sun, flowers, birds and sports. Celebrate the endings and beginnings of Spring!

Celebrate Support!

Saturday afternoon we went to the Westminster/Gonzaga lacrosse game to support our friends. We have friends who play on on both teams so it was difficult to know who to cheer for--we went with Gonzaga because we were sitting on their side with friends. As we sat there I had a thought I shared with Eric, Charlie and Syd---if Cole doesn't get the Naval appointment we could be sitting here for the next four years as his ROTC scholarship would allow him to attend Westminster. With that thought hanging in the air, Eric received a call from him Mom. After months of waiting the letter from Navy was finally here. We pleaded with her to open it since Cole was still in Washington D.C. and would be for another 3 days. The news was not good. They didn't not offer him an appointment. After a few tears I called Cole and broke the news to him while I sat in the Westminster stadium. He was quiet and as a Mom I was worried about his reaction to the death of his lifelong dream of attending an academy. He was clear across the country and I couldn't be there to hug and comfort him. I prayed his buddies would be supportive and then I did the only thing I could think of---I called another Mom. Ann Jones or Mama Jones as the boys call her was on the trip with them. She waited in the lobby for Cole to return from his walk around the city. When he enter the hotel, she crossed over to him and without a word, gave him my hug. Cole looked at her and said, "You talked to my Mom!"

Celebrate support! Whether it is from your immediate family or those who walk in and out of your life, it is wonderful to have the support of those who love you!

Celebrate Talent, Part II

I have some pretty talented kids and I want to show off one of them:


Syd has found a passion for cake decorating and has been making cakes for our family and friends. Here are just a few of the recent cakes:




Baseball cake for a 6-yr-old catcher!





Red Velvet cake

Valentine's cupcakes

Superbowl cake

She is taking orders if you want to help her talent grow!