Happy Teacher Dance!

I'm a Bemiss Elementary Bulldog! After 5 long years of waiting, wondering, learning a lot and gaining valuable experience, I was offered a continuing contract as a teacher librarian. Sooooo excited!!! This is the first summer I haven't had to wonder what the fall holds for me as a teaching job. What a relief and I can focus on other important things, such as keeping up with Easton and enjoying all of the summer activities.

It's official!

I'm officially a librarian for Spokane Public Schools! I was hired yesterday, signed all of my papers and I'll be ready to go on Monday. I'm only part time but it gives me time to still sub in the classrooms & take time off to be with Easton on Fridays.

L-O-V-E my school and the staff and the students! It's going to be a fantastic year.

This weekend I'm in Yakima with Easton so stay tuned for some more cute pictures. Ian and Brad went to Seattle to watch the Sounders and Jen is working today. So Easton and I are hanging out together. Right now he's working on a nap and I'm finally updating my blog.

Happy Fall weekend!

Happy first day of school!

It'd become a tradition in our house to do a "first day of school" photo. Not having kids in school for awhile, we'd gotten out of practice.

Not anymore! Today was OUR first day of school. I'm a part time librarian for the Spokane Schools and David is doing a teaching practicum in Orchard Prairie School District. (He'll be doing his student teaching in February and graduating from Whitworth Univ in May.)

A very fun day of meeting kids today and learning what our jobs are all about. I can't recall the last time I read the same story three or four times. I had seven classes with at least 22 in each class, ranging from Kindergarten to 3rd grade. I have a bunch of names and faces to learn, but how exciting to share my love of reading and learning with all of them.

David tagged-team taught with his master teacher. He even brought science notebooks home to make teacher comments for the kids. Poor guy, he has college class tonight -- it's his PE methods class and boy, do they learn to play all of the games the kids learn. (I keep telling him that he's an ADULT and not to break anything! One guy broke his foot last week. Just sayin'....)

I have five or six classes tomorrow and then I'm off to Goldendale to be with Jen, Brad and Easton for the weekend. I'll be checking on current children's literature ideas, though. What's your favorite kid's book?

It's a fun sub start job!

Yippee! I had a phone call from the sub desk today. I'm going to sub start as a part time librarian for the first three weeks of school. The cool thing is I'll be back at Bemiss, where I taught first grade last year. That means I get to see all of my kiddos!

We're spending the rest of the weekend with this cutie and his parents. They're packing up their duplex and moving to Yakima as soon as their house closes. What a long process this has been.

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter & Jen starts teaching @ West Valley HIgh School in Yakima and I'll be at Bemiss in Spokane. Let the school year begin! (But let us enjoy the nice summer days for a lot longer!)

Overdue update!

Good morning! It's a definite fall morning here in Spokane. After enjoying a beautiful Indian summer, today's weather is rather cooler and damp. But that hasn't stopped us from planting tulip and daffodil bulbs, transplanting lilac bushes and planting two new shade trees!

I am teaching in a wonderful first grade classroom this year. It's a very sweet change from teaching 6th grade. (I know how to do 1st grade math! Smile...) Although it's not a permanent position, I'm at Bemiss Elementary (Spokane Public Schools) until Christmas break and feel blessed to be a part of this school. I've so connected with my kiddos -- 18 girls, 7 boys -- and they've stolen my heart. My favorite quote from one of the kids is "Mrs. York, you're one lucky lady to be able to use an electric pencil sharpener!"

Other news from the homefront:

Jen says there's no room at the inn for Baby Easton and she's getting kicked in the ribs quite often. We're excited to meet Easton sometime next month! She and Brad have been busy with Goldendale's football team, getting everything prepared for Easton's arrival and enjoying married life, too!

David continues to work for Pennacle Investigations and going to Whitworth @ night. He's loving the same classes I took at Whitworth; some of the professors are the same so he's following in my footsteps. David and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary over Labor Day weekend by being tourists in Seattle -- Pike Place Market, Alki Beach and Lighthouse, Seattle Mariners game, IKEA. A very fun and relaxing weekend!

Ian is looking for work (if you know of anything, let us know!) and he's helping out in my classroom as a volunteer.

The four legged kids keep us laughing with their antics. Never a dull moment. We did lose one of our cats -- Gretel -- so we're trying to decide if we'd like another friend for Hans. Thinking it might be nice to have an already spayed/neutered cat to add to the family. We'll see!

A bit of this and that!

Hi, everyone! Since the last posting, much has happened. I'm going to just do bullet statements to make it short and sweet & then I'll fill in details later.

• Jen's bridal shower was wonderful.
• The wedding on May 30!!! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. (The official date on the marriage license is December 17, 2009 -- they did their wedding European style. They met with the Justice of the Peace in December and had the wedding celebration with family and friends on May 30, 2010.)

• I finished teaching on June 17th with my subbing for Mead, Medical Lake and Spokane School Districts. It was a great year of experience for me and I eagerly await news to know if I've been selected for any of the jobs I've applied for in Spokane.
• No job for this summer so I am off playing. I leave on the 1st for Mesa, AZ to spend time with my longtime girlfriend Wendy. Then on the 8th, I fly to Ft. Lauderdale to spend time with my cousin Gigi. I know...it's going to be H-O-T but I plan on keeping cool the entire time or be in the water. I can't wait to fly out of Spokane and get away for a few weeks.
• Lots of other little things happening this summer so I'll be back and forth out of the house in Spokane until mid August.
• Jennifer and I have spent this past week thrift store and yard sale shopping. Baby Bellamy is due November 19th and I'm sooooooooooo excited about being a grandma. I can't help looking at all of the cute baby items that are for sale. Jen and Brad hopefully get to find out the sex of the baby on July 1st. I get to be there for that special moment, too! (ohh, the fun danger of knowing if it's a girl or a boy....more shopping potential for me!)
• And that's it from the peanut gallery for tonight. Stay tuned for more details and pictures.

What's new in your little part of the world? I want to hear!

The end of my long term guest teaching position....

My long term teaching job is coming to a close. It's caused a lot of different emotions these past few days, mostly one of happy sad because I realize how much I grew to love these 6th grade students and how much I tried to give my very best to their education. I move on next Thursday, back to Michael Anderson Elementary on Fairchild AFB, to teach 2nd grade for two days and then back to Spokane Schools to teach Kindergarten and 2nd grade. It'll be quite a change for me. Still looking for that full time position, whether it be in Spokane or somewhere else in WA State.

Tomorrow is Jen's bridal shower in Goldendale. I called her today to ask her what she wanted for a gift. Guess I'm not very creative on giving my daughter a gift from the mother of the bride. However, she'll be happy when they make coffee each morning. She told me they want a tent, which is funny because that's what my mom and stepdad gave David and me for our wedding present. Hmmm, perhaps we'll have to be on the lookout for a great tent to go with the portable dishwasher we're purchasing them for their wedding present. Talk about practical, huh?

Time to close up the computer for the night. I really don't like Friday nights because it's a very quiet time and I'd rather be around people, laughing and visiting. Tonight, though, I'm okay with it. It's been a very long 4 day week and I'm going to head to bed, read a little bit and be ready to leave Spokane at 6 AM. I'm going to enjoy my time as Mother of the Bride!

Sunny Saturday morning!

It's a beautiful day here in Spokaloo. I started out the morning by going to the gym and then to the Petite Chat bakery where I picked up some a-m-a-z-i-n-g chocolate croissants and two loaves of bread. From there, it was home to get a cup of coffee, check email and correct more 6th grade papers. I'm hoping that this project will be done soon so I can go outside and enjoy. It's only supposed to be 55 but just the feel of the sunshine is amazing!

Mid week check in

I'm halfway through my 7th week of teaching! Boy, is it always a learning experience for me. I was subbed out today for a grade level assessment think tank meeting. I am definitely ready to apply what I learned to my teaching and making it intentional to benefit my students. Seeing reading and math scores made me really sit up and notice where the kids are in their learning. The kids say that I already push them to succeed....they're going to see a little bit more of it, but they will show their excellence in learning as we go through this together.

Here's a picture I just found of the Beagle Boys and me. My half sister Mattie took it last spring. Enjoy~

Gratitude Friday

Happy Friday! Here's my list for the week....

1. sunshine on the wintery days! It felt so good yesterday to be outside with the sunshine. We've had a mild winter and even though the groundhog saw his shadow this week, I'm okay with 6 more weeks of winter if it's like this!

2. bagels and cream cheese! My favorite breakfast food at the moment. Soft, fresh bagels that are toasted and spread with strawberry or raspberry cream cheese. Yum!

3. Kleenex! I have a cold and it's causing all sorts of havoc. So, the box of Kleenex is my friend this week. I'm wondering how I'm gong to give the spelling test this morning so that the kids can understand me!

4. my 6th grade teaching team! I have the BEST teaching team to work with. They have taught me lots and I'm glad to have them by my side each day. It's been a tough 5 weeks, but I'm learning day by day. (and we've all decided that we definitely believe in prayer in the public schools...I don't think we'd make it each day if there weren't praying teachers and people who pray for us, too!)

5. my 6th grade classroom! I probably would choose a different grade level if I could, but these students have taught me a lot about grace, perservence, the art of counting to 50 or higher to keep from getting upset and how to laugh at myself (because if I don't, they will!) Even though it's been a tough 5 weeks, it's also been a joyful 5 weeks. I'm looking forward to the next 7 weeks with the kids.

I'm off to Starbucks to get a venti vanilla latte before heading to school today. I'd love for you to join me for a coffee!! But if you can't, have a great Friday and let me know what you're grateful for today.

Lessons Being Learned....

The past three weeks that I've been in the 6th grade, I've been learning a lot of lessons, some good and some bad. The last two nights I've read a few tips for helping me become a better teacher. Read on....

Taken from 2 Sisters' Daily Cafe Tip of the Week : "I Am Still Really Smart!"

Don't you savor those moments when you see a former student... How delighted I was to hear those words from Maleesha - "I am 6, and I am still really smart!" You are the one who has the power to tell your own Maleesha the truth -- she (or he) is really smart, and will only get smarter if shejust believes it. I look down the lists of standards, skills, and minutia we're expected to teach every day. It takes a Maleesha to pull me away from the papers I'm delivering to the office and back to the most important work you and I do -- we help students believe in themselves, and show them in tangible ways every day how much they are learning, and how smart they are. Who is your Maleesha this year? Have you told her how smart she is today? Have you helped him take pride this week in a new skill mastered?

From Chicken Soup for The Soul "A Wrinkled Piece of Paper"

As teachers, we strive year after year to help our students feel successful. We do the best we can to find ways to make them achieve their goals and grow as individuals...David knew that someone thought he could learn and that someone had listened to him.

Wowie, here I go into my 4th week of teaching at Ridgeview. The kids have really been challenging me with their behavior so tomorrow I will go in with these thoughts and be prepared to listen to my students and tell them how smart they are!

Sunday night....

...and I get to sleep in for two more days! I have lots to get done before Wednesday's really important day at school. I absolutely love teaching 6th grade, just a tad bit challenging to learn everything and keep it all together. I found this saying tonight as I was cleaning up my office...it's the feeling right now.

"When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on!" Thomas Jefferson

All you need is love....I want to leave a legacy!

Remember the Beatles' song "All you need is love"? That's what I think each day when I go into my 6th grade classroom. I love these kids -- some of them come from tough backgrounds, some have a blank looking stare all day long -- and I show them love in so many different ways. I don't even think they're aware of it. But I do know that I am making a difference in their lives each day!

This week has been easier than last week. Although I think I keep adding more work to the pile of "To do" as I learn more and more about the requirements of a sixth grade teacher (today I taught about common sense and manners!) I'm beginning to see why full time teachers get weary. However, I choose to put in the long hours because I want to be prepared and organized. The kids reap the benefits, too!

I'm a pretty simple teacher -- I expect the best from them! I love the song "In the Blink of An Eye" by Mercy Me. The one line "if I give the best of me, that becomes my legacy" has become my motto and I'm sharing it with the kids. I won't be in their classroom but for a small chunk of their 6th grade educational career. And as Nicole Nordman says it so nicely "I want to leave a legacy How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough?"

I hope the kids see Jesus in me as I'm with them these next few weeks. If you think of us, be praying! After lunch is the hardest time....I don't know what happens but they come back different kids after lunch and teaching becomes difficult! I am so thankful for the hot cup of coffee right out of the coffee pot -- it keeps me going.

What a wonderful Monday!

Today was the first day of my long term subbing job at Ridgeview! I had a wonderful day and hoping the students did, too. This class is known for its noisiness, etc. so today they were ecstatic to get compliments from other staff members and the principal on how quiet they were in the halls. Of course, a little bribing on my part has never hurt (5 gems in the jar for quiet hall, 5 more gems if they get a compliment) The gem jar has a long way to go to get filled up, but they earned lots today! I think it was difficult for them to be without their regular teacher, coming back from a 2 week vacation and getting settled into a new routine.

I floundered a little bit, had the biggest butterflies this morning, got flustered a few times. But all in all, I LOVE being part of this classroom and the Ridgeview community. The verse from Esther about "for such a time as this, you have been created" has come to mind lately. I feel very blessed and humbled to be in this 6th grade classroom. I'm learning a lot from the kids! (in fact, I need to go figure out the answers to a 9 grid math paper so I know the answers!!)

I'm not lost...

....just super busy! I've been subbing a lot for Spokane Public Schools and doing different activities, including one very tough English class at Whitworth! On Thursday, I received a call from my former principal (where I was the secretary before getting my teaching degree) and asked if I'd be a long term sub in 6th grade!! Of course, I said, "YES!!!" I began yesterday, shadowing the teacher and then I really start when we get back from Christmas Break. The assignment is at least six weeks!

Whitworth University!

New Whitworth University students and their parents began flooding the campus today, moving in and getting to know the beloved WU! It made me very nostalgic -- after finishing my degree two years ago, I love being on campus and I'd love to become a dorm mom!!

David started at Whitworth a few weeks ago, taking teacher certification classes. I'm starting on Thursday with "The Structure and Development of the English Language." I realized I only have ONE class to take to finish my Reading endorsement and eight classes to finish my English endorsement. Time to get cracking and make myself more marketable in the teaching field. The English endorsement would be for 5-12 grade so I actually could teach middle school and high school.

I still don't have a full time teaching job, but I do have a half day assignment on Tuesday at my favorite school in the entire Spokane area -- Ridgeview!

My parents are arriving on Monday afternoon and we're taking them to Anthony's for dinner. They're on their way to Wisconsin and parts of the US farther East. They'll be leaving the same time I leave for school on Tuesday. The poor beagle boys will have gone from having company for the past two weeks to being back in their crates for a half day!

Hope you have a great rest of your Labor Day weekend~ enjoy lots of coffee!!

Gratitude Friday

Good morning, Company Girlfriends and everyone else! It's been awhile since I've done Gratitude Friday, due to being gone at camp forever. But I'm back home and at my computer lots more, instead of checking email, facebook and voicemail at Mile Marker 43. (The nearest wide spot in the road for cell phone service!)

I'm busy cleaning the house, putting things away, dusting high and low! (Earning big points for Home Sanctuary!) I was hoping to have a full time teaching job by now.....I've applied EVERYWHERE in WA State, even sending off an application packet to my hometown district of North Kitsap. However, nothing has surfaced yet so I'm waiting impatiently for a subfinder phone call. I've got a really cute first day of teaching outfit. So far, I've worn shorts to the school where I used to work as I volunteer to help my teaching friends get ready for their first day of school. Yesterday was that day for them. Today I chose to stay home and focus a bit on me!

Gratitude List for today~

1. a VERY wonderful summer of being at Tshimakain Creek Camp! I miss my camp family lots! The memories made and the kids' lives we touched -- priceless!

2. the Beagle Boys! They turned a year yesterday. We can't imagine life without them! Perhaps it'd be a smidge quieter and less chaotic. But they're so fun. I'll see if I can get a new picture of them posted today.

3. continued sunshine! I've been able to continue working on my tan in the afternoons, to keep it from fading since I've been home from camp. It's HOT during the day, but pleasant in the evening and crisp fall feeling in the mornings.

4. my cousins! I was at my cousin Dan's wedding last weekend. It was fun to be with my mom's side of the family. I'm the oldest of the cousins and there just doesn't seem to be enough time to see all of them, plus they're ALL busy! Here's a small picture of Monica, Teresa, Dan and myself.

5. fresh farm produce! I'm planning on going up to Greenbluff to get peaches and other fresh produce. There's a new type of corn on the cob I want to try. My friend Lisa B has zucchini for me...yipppeee!! Zucchini bread, zucchini choc chip muffins, zucchini fritters...yum~

Have a great weekend, everyone! To those of you whose kiddos don't start school for a bit longer, enjoy the rest of the summer! Glad you could join me for Gratitude Friday and a big cup of coffee. I've missed you!

Just this thought....

Today is the first day of school for Spokane Public Schools. I didn't have a teaching job today so I volunteered in the office (my old job, actually!) and in the workroom to help teachers get things accomplished before the first bell rang! I LOVE public schools just because of this verse.....I love letting my light shine to the kids and staff! Looking forward to the school year, not just with Spokane School classrooms, but anywhere where I get to be with kids and teaching! Let my lifesong sing to you~

Gratitude Friday

Hello! Whew, I made it with about 45 minutes to spare for my Gratitude Friday list. I am, in fact, drinking a Starbucks vanilla latte right now as I type this out. I can go get you one, too, if you'd like. There's a 24 hour Starbucks just a little bit away...what would you like?

My Gratitude list...

1. the ability to LAUGH! We had Mud Pit this week at camp and boy, did I get m-u-d-d-y! Stay tuned for pictures.

2. time to relax! While the rest of the camp was floating down the river on inner tubes, three of us floated on this big yellow float thing (it was round) and it took about an hour to go from the bridge back to camp. We stood up on it (and didn't tip!), we suntanned, we laughed, we just looked off into the distance and contemplated life or took time to be quiet. We decided we should do it every day.

3. my friend Robin! She was hired today by a school district in Anchorage. She and I have been friends since I started in the Whitworth cohort. Robin leaves on WEDNESDAY to start her new job the very next day. I will miss her dearly. She's been a great friend and support. Thank goodness for email and texting!

4. flip flops! I have been wearing different shoes at camp because of safety when we're doing the challenge course. I had some other cool slip ons that I LOVE when I'm off duty but I was getting a thick line of white on my feet. So I've switched to flip flops (good ones, not the 2.99 type!) to get a thinner white line. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to have an even tan line...white feet look funny.

5. time to look, in what seems "FOREVER", for a teaching job! If I had tons of major responsibilities around the house besides three cats, three dogs and a hubby, I wouldn't be able to spend this much time in front of the computer. I did turn down an international job in Baku (google to find out what country it's in!) because of lots of reasons. I won't say anymore but please pray that something opens up here in WA State. I am getting discouraged as it gets closer to start time for school.

Alrighty, it's been a pleasure to sip a Starbucks with you late into the late hours of Friday night. Hope you have an excellent weekend. I have NOTHING planned this weekend and since I've been experiencing a bit of vertigo and some other weird symptoms, I'm going to lay low. You can pray that the extreme heat hasn't made my MS flair up....I'm going to be bummed if this is what it's all about!

Share your gratitude list here with the group....check out the rest of Company Girl Coffee and see what Home Sanctuary has posted for us to do with the Small Things in Life.

ps Pictures are coming tomorrow!!

Heart of Worship

Last night as I was driving home, I was listening to this song and really listened to the first few lines. "When the music fades and all is stripped away, I simply come. Longing to bring something of worth that will bless your heart..." What am I doing these days to bless His heart, what do I have that is of worth to bring to Him? I'm headed to camp for the entire summer on Monday so I am busy finishing up last minute details around the house and completing a few more teaching applications. Camp will be a great time of relaxing, reflecting and being with the camp kids!