Making the shift

Making the change from insight broadband to comcast should have been easy, but for some reason, now the only person's login that will get us to the internet is Chad's. I'm the administrator on the computer. I have talked to comcast numerous times. UGH!! I don't understand. Anyone out there in cyberworld know why it would work for him and not for me? It makes no sense to me. The only site I can get to is, get this.... comcast's home page. Dumb, huh? Any suggestions would be appreciated.


Oh...and who KNOWS what that did with email addresses!! Why can't companies just stop buying each other out? It would make my life simpler.

Say it isn't so!!

When Chad got home tonight and told me that his dad (an EMT) had told him that they had started putting up all kinds of signs around the hospital he now works for claiming that Diet Coke could link people to pancreatic cancer, I wanted to believe it was not true. How could something that has given me so many YEARS of delight be truly that bad for me? Then I sat down to the computer and googled it. Here are some links. See for yourself. It's going to be hard, but I think I have to give it up completely. I have been weening my way off of it for a few months because I really have found I like Gatorade's Propel water. But going cold turkey will be difficult. Still, after seeing what my dad went through this summer (especially since now it's a part of my family) I think it's best if I steer clear. You should, too.

Further searching showed a diet rich in red meat, pork, and processed meat increased the chances of pancreatic cancer by 70%.

Love ya!
Michelle

http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/14/9/2098

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20051004/meaty-diet-may-raise-pancreatic-cancer-risk

Ever have one of those days??

When you just think, I did a good job today? Most days I look back at the end and think I should have handled this student differently. I should have said this instead of this.

But today, I was in the teaching zone! :) I had some real whoppers of kids, but I was great with them, I have to say. I don't like to brag about myself. That is not my intention. I'm only reflecting the difference in the two ways I can feel and how to get there.

On the one hand, when I am impatient and easily agitated and illprepared, I feel like I can't get my footing. I'm putting out fires and correcting this and that and not accomplishing the goal of playing eighth notes with second graders or not accomplishing reading a difficult recorder piece. However, when I go in to it with a different mindset and am prepared...have thought through each scenario, it's SOOOOOO much better.

I could have told A.A. that he was being disrespectful. But how many times has he heard that?

I could have told H.P. that I can't stand her snotty attitude. But what would I ultimately accomplish in that?

I wanted to tell C.M. that he drives me insane. But he probably hears that and worse at home.

Instead, I pulled Alex aside a few days ago and made a deal with him. If he made it through 5 straight days I would buy his lunch at Subway. Guess what? It's been 10 days. All he needed (and his teacher is LOVING me) was someone to check in. So I do. And he runs and gives me his stubby-fingered hug every morning because of it. And today when I had him for Music, he was as perfect as could be. He STAYED in his SEAT!! Seriously, if you knew this kid, your jaw would be dropped to the floor!

I don't always feel like being patient. I don't always feel like mediating through their he-pushed-me's and she-said-I's. But boy, at the end of the day, if I can stay focused on the MISSION of being a teacher, I sure feel good about it.

So next week, Alex is due for another lunch on me. I think now he has proved himself, I'll have to up the ante. I could go broke. :)

In the bag

A few things that are complete lately:
1. Not only is my classwork finished, but it has been submitted to IWU. PTL
2. I have found someone(s) to watch my children when Chad and I go with our small group (and several others from church) on a Couple's getaway. It will be nice.
3. I found out that my teaching assignment for next year did NOT change, as about 25 or 30's did today!!! Whew~!
4. I would tell you more but don't have a lot of time right now. :)

It's official

After today, I will be officially done with my courses to renew my teaching license!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!! One more paper to write and a few self-assessment rubrics to do, and that's it!!!!!!!!!

You have NO idea how wonderful this is going to feel!

Letting go

I've come to the conclusion that life is too short to stress over little things. And yes, I am specifically talking about the division (that actually does seem to be getting better) in my church. I'll just lay it all out there on the line.

When an elder looked at me and very pointedly said, "We don't want you to fight these battles alone. Send them to us. Every time." I didn't really think much about it...until the next time it happened.

The next time I was approached about something, even though it was hard to hear, after I walked away, I realized that this was exactly what he was talking about. This was the chance to get it off my shoulders. They wanted the burden, as if they were trying to protect me from it. So I let them have it...I gave it up...

People who inadvertantly saw it or even Chad (since I shared it with him) will bring it up in reference. It used to really bug me, and I used to obsess over it...mulling it over, checking off the long list of should-have-said's, fretting, getting my feelings hurt....but not this time.

Giving that up was the most freeing experience! The yoke became easy. The burden light.

And the most amazing part is that even if the elders never approach the person, even if they never do anything about it...just hearing them say they were going to "go to battle" for me was enough, somehow. For now, at least.

I don't feel alone in it. That's huge.

Occasionally people from my inner circle will ask me if I have gotten any grief lately. That happened tonight. I just smiled and said, "Yeah, but I'm over it. I'm done. I am not going to allow myself to get in the middle of this anymore." And that was that.

It feels....oh, I don't know....healthy I guess. To quote my favorite Friends character, "And that, my friend, is what we call closure."