Bigger and Better Things

Today was the last day for the pre school teacher I have been working with this past year. She opted not to renew her contract with the community school district. She is a bright,young, new teacher who did her job with determination, compassion and a great deal of humor! I was her teacher associate (fancy name for teacher aid). She is the teacher I wanted to be at her age. Now she's going to a larger city where she is looking for another teaching position in the grade school level. I will miss her easygoing-ness with me and other associates. She was always willing to do her job and pitch in and go beyond her own job to help me out when needed. She never acted like she was "above" doing the tasks that are usually delegated to associates. If the floor needed sweeping while I was busy with a child with issues, she swept it. If I was getting the children ready to brush their teeth and one of them poopied in their pants she would change them without relegating the task to me just because it "wasn't her job." So, I tried to give her 150 per cent because I appreciated it immensely. I wish her well and great happiness and success in her future. She will be missed!

Things I Want to Do

1. Take a watercolor class. I work with preschool children and everytime we get out the watercolors and paper I love to sit with the little ones and paint. It calms my soul, it brings me to "that place" I call ME. It's amazing what preschoolers can paint! They are totally oblivious to "what's right or what's wrong." They go at it with sheer joy and gusto. They love to cover the paper with gobs of color and you would be amazed at how beautiful they turn out. When they paint you can tell they are putting their whole selves into the experience; it's as if they are in their "zone". Maybe in my next life (or in Heaven, I hope), I will be an art teacher, inspiring the little ones to just go at it with sheer joy!

2. Learn to read music so I can play my electric keyboard. I know I can play it without knowing the notes but I really want to know what I'm doing, why I'm hitting THAT key instead of THIS one. If there is only one song I want to learn to play it would be "To Take, To Hold" composed by Yanni. Ok, don't laugh, yes, I said Yanni. He is a wonderful composer; especially his early stuff. This above mentioned song is in his cd "In My Time." That song brings memories to me of feelings I have had that I have no words to express .

3. Make a quilt. I've always wanted to learn how. A former coworker of mine makes gorgeous quilts.

4. Really get out there and cook like there's no tomorrow. I love to cook, but I've been getting in a slump lately. I will let you know about some of my culinary catastrophes (my kids laugh about them all the time) at a later date. I have to admit, grilled pizza was the most hilarious error I had ever made! ;-)

5. Get my bathroom remodeled. It desparately needs it. It's been 30 years since we did anything major to it. I can't wait until the vent is installed so I can switch it on with the light and get all that moisture/humidity/mildewy crap out of my bathroom; then on to our bedroom. We wallpapered it 20 years ago; mauve and pink and light blue flowers are soooooooo eighties!

I'm sick ;-(

I hate being sick! Who likes it anyway??? Dumb statement.....the first one, that is. I stayed home from work , took a long nap and glad I don't have to go to the doctor's office.......I hate that too. Prescription is waiting for me at the pharmacy; hoooorayyyy!

On Friends and Family

I talked to my sister who lives a thousand miles away, and who lives thirty minutes from where my daughter will be attending college and she was very happy to let her (my daughter) come and stay with her the week before she is to start school. Jessie wants to get acclimated to the town; where to go, where NOT to go, where to get an apartment, how to get around, etc. etc. It makes me feel much better that my big sister is happy to help. Now I can relax just a little bit about Jess going so far away.

I thought about making a set of rules, which is funny in my mind, because she NEVER followed any rules I imposed, even when she was a teenager. But, she was happy to listen to one important rule: DON'T EVER GO ANYWHERE BY YOURSELF IN THAT BIG BAD TOWN YOU WILL LIVE IN! Now we have to make plans for driving there a week before classes start so she can get settled in. I am looking forward to the visit with sis and seeing the sights, but a flash of an image of leaving her ; seeing her beautiful face as she ways "so long", (never, ever "goodbye") to me is already pulling at my heart. Keep praying, that's all I can say to my self and to God.

This Much I Know

Well, this is my very first attempt at blogging. So for all you veteran bloggers, please bear with me. Nothing fancy, no pics for now; just a few thoughts coming from my head.

After reading my 26 year old son's blog I decided it would be fun to try it myself. So here goes.

I have three beautiful adult children, two sons and a daughter. My husband and I came home a little while ago from picking up my 20 year old daughter from the airport. You see, she just checked out a college in another state some 1000 miles away . Now I know she's always been independant and head strong; and once she decides something she does not waver. But I am already feeling mother anxst. After all, she is my youngest. Going out into the big bad world to a large city far far away I'm sure is totally exciting for her yet very daunting for me, her MOTHER. But I'm trying not to think too far into the future because it will only increase my anxiety about the whole situation. You moms out there with adult kids well know the feeling of having to let go .....watching them, hoping for them, and praying for them from the sidelines. You breath a sigh of relief for a short tiime and try to prepare for the next phase or hurdle. I could go on about that right now; but I won't.....at least for now. Which reminds me of the song from "Fiddler On the Roof." Sunrise, sunset, swiftly fly the years. One season following another, laden with happiness and tears. I know this is sappy, but hey...........