A Typical Saturday

Our week's been pretty busy. Adam continues to try to figure out his work situation for next year. He has an apointment with the Super intendant tomorrow to see if there is any sliver of hope that he may get his contract renewed. We'll see what he has to say. As far as we can tell, the district's whole basis for not bringing Adam back next year is based on hearsay and rumour. Not one person has asked him to clarify anything or defend himself, and we're not even sure what he needs to defend himself against. It sounds like they want him to have better discipline, but nothing's ever been said to Adam about it. It is really frustrating, and I've had to work though frustrations and anger toward the district and people in the community whom I feel have betrayed us. Do people realize the actual harm rumours and assumptions can cause? Do they realize they have possibly cost a man his profession and his family to be uprooted from their home? 17,000 teachers will be put our of work in California alone next year. Who knows what Utah will be like. All I know is there are an awful lot of teachers out of work right now. How are we to compete with such a senario? Who is going to even look at a teacher that's had a non-renewal of contract when there are fifteen to fifty other teachers who have flawless resumes competing for the same job?

I understand that we are not the only ones struggling in these trying times. The economy is terrible and it is only the beginning, I'm afraid. I'm just frustrated that there seems to be no concern for truth, tolerance or the life of a whole family--especially in these trying times. How can they just uproot us without a reasonable explenation and without even getting at the base of the problems they see. It's as if we are simply pawns; we'r not human beings, we're just tools to dispose of without a second thought. I would never take someone else's livelyhood so lightly and it's hard to comprehend how they could do it. All I'm saying is they could have at least given Adam a chance to explain himself and, if they were feeling generous, help him try to fix the things they had problems with whether it be classroom management or improving the numbers in the classroom. The way they've done things just doesn't make sense to my mind; it's unethical, it's callous, it's just plain wrong.

Yet, dispite the bad decisions of other people and our own mistakes, I know the Lord has a hand in our lives. He has a purpose for us and he will not abandon us in our time of need. If we strive to trust and follow him, he will lead us to safety and joy. The road may be a little bumpy, but he will provide a way for us. Of that, I am sure. I feel his love everyday and I know he wants us to be happy.

On a happier note, the following are a couple pictures from Friday. A few of my students sang for the patients at the Beaver Longterm Care. They are such fun girls and they are truly a joy to be around.

       Jessica Jones singing alone for the 1st time.                       Emily Kitchen...need I say more?

Amber and Brianna

 

This is quickly becoming a typical Saturday--take advantage of the sun, get as much done as possible, and try to not get too tired before your done, cause there's lots of work to do...

 I finally got flowers for my yard. I hope I can keep them alive and that they will florish. Our house needs all the help it can get to look a little more presentable.

Adam replanted the lawn and then rolled steer manuer over the top of the seeds to help it grow. The neighbor kids are already complaining about the smell. I can't blame them, it really stinks!

Ashton sure enjoyed his time outside. Between chewing on his hat and eat the dirt, he kept happily busy. I'm just glad I remembered to put sunscreen on his bald head before he got sunburned.

He learned how to climbe stairs yesterday.

This is him looking really proud of himself at the top of

our porch stairs after his first attempt at climbing.

Oh, boy, we're in trouble now!

Of course Damon spent all day riding his bike and running around the neighborhood playing with his friends. I keep thinking how great our little neighborhood is and hope he won't be too frustrated when we move somewhere else and he doesn't have as much freedom as he does now.

Good Things

The every day things are really what keep life good. Lately, our days have been really full with projects around the house and Adam helping with various activities in the school auditorium. Despite our busy schedules, we fit in fun family activities wherever we can, whether it's taking a walk, cooking together, or playing the Wii.

A couple weeks ago, Autumn and Emily came over to enjoy an evening of playing "Just Dance" with us as Ashton watched from his bouncer. The look on his face tells all...We couldn't stop laughing and I'm still amazed at how well Damon does on the song "Jerk It Out".

Damon's been learning a lot about nutrition at school. For one of his homework assignment we made bread and talked about the importance of eating grain and how it gives your body energy. We had a lot of fun, it was worth the clean-up.

It's a lot of little things throughout the day that make all the hard work worth it. We don't have a lot of big events the happen in our family--no big, glamorous vacations, no pricey nights out--just us spending time together doing things that are not out of the ordinary, but are extraordinary none-the-less.

As Ashton gets bigger, he puts a smile on my face more and more. We've been trying to enjoy the warm weather lately by taking walks almost every day. Damon loves these outings and keeps me reminded that we need to go until we load up and head out. Ashton, of course, isn't so vocal, but he gets a big smile on his face when I strap him into the stroller and spends the whole time sticking his cute little bald head out the side so he can watch the ground go by. I love that something as simple as that can fill his small world with wonder. 

He certainly fills my own days with wonder and quite a few smiles.

Ashton's recently decided he's too big for his bouncer. The other day when I tried to put him in there for just a couple of minutes, he refused by lifting his feet way up in front of his as I lowered him toward the seat. I tried, retried, and re-retried to get him in there properly before I finally just plopped him in the seat bum first and let him play with his feat while I quickly washed and dried my hands. Surprisingly, he thought it was really funny and I got a kick out of watching him entertain himself. It's still bringing a smile to my face as I think about it. 

 

Here are a couple more things that have brought smiles to my face over the last little while. They are only a tiny fraction of the everyday things that make life happy and worth it.

Ashton love the piano, I've resorted to letting him play between my feet as I teach lessons instead of allowing him to sit on my lap. Not only are his hands too busy and quick to deal with while I'm trying to play the piano, they are even worse because loves to try and play too. If I pin his hands down, he'll stretch his little feet as far as they'll go so he can plunk whichever keys his toes can possibly reach. Needless to say, he's super distracting and too cute to get mad at. So, I put him between my legs in order to keep track of him and then he's somewhat satisfied playing with the pedals while I'm plunking away. I just have to remember he's there so I don't smash his fingers between the pedals and floor.

 
On the right is a picture of Ashton in his new shoes. He thought they were pretty cool and spent several minutes checking them out, trying to figure out what they were for.

Deanna stopped by on her way through Beaver. We got pizza and went to the park. The kids enjoyed the swings the most. Here Molly and Ashton got to know each other while they shared a swing. Aren't they cute. I was actually surprised they were okay with the close proximity to one another.

Every day there is something that reminds me to be happy and helps me to see my blessings more clearly. I am definitly blessed, and there are plenty of things in my life to bring joy.