I'm Still Here!

No. I haven't been a very good blogger lately. I apologize for that. I need to find a way to get blogging back into my routine!

I work 5 days a week now... 8:30 to 1:30. But, I leave my house at 8:00 and don't get home until nearly 4:00 most days.... so.... really.... I am gone pretty much ALL DAY!

I have been going to the gym on Mon, Wed, & Friday's after work. I go to see my mom on Tuesday's after work. On Thursdays, I go to see my Care Receiver. So, you can see that my week is FULL!

I am now attending a Bible Study on Sunday evenings, and of course.... I have church on Sunday mornings.

Twice a month, on Thursday evenings.... I have my Stephen Ministry meetings.

On top of all of this.... I am trying to keep on top of my household chores, spend time with David and my girls, and also make time for what few friends that I have.

You can see why Blogging has kinda' been put on the back burner right now!

On the list of things to do today --------

At work: I am teaching today while the teacher that I assist, does "assessments" with the children.

After work: I will call my CR and see if she is feeling well enough for me to visit her. (She was in the hospital earlier this week.) If she is... then, I will go to see her.

After seeing her: I have to go to the grocery store and buy the ingredients for a pasta salad that I am bringing to work tomorrow for "Fun Friday". -- Once a month, all of the teachers take turns providing a meal for the rest of the teachers. I am on the list for tomorrow, along with several others. The theme is "Italian".

Then... I get to come home!

Oh ya!! Today is PAY DAY, too!!! So, I will need to go to the bank. **Smile**

My Head is Spinning!

SO MUCH is going on right now! I feel like my head is spinning as I try to keep track of all that is in my brain!

---- At work, I am still trying to get myself organized while I help the young teacher that I am the assistant to, get organized as well! Today, "should" be an easier day. We'll see!

---- At the gym, I went for my "Physical Assesment". I wasn't impressed with the trainer that did my assesment, so I feel like I wasted my time on that. Oh well. I did get signed up for a program called "Fitlinxx", tho. It is a program that keeps track of your workouts as you work out on each "Fitlinxx" machine. I am hoping that it will help me to "accountable"! I need that! My plan is to go to the gym on M-W-F, after work.

---- At church, there is this HUGE event happening on Sunday, after church, and I am part of the team that is organizing it! And... on top of that.... I am in charge of helping my College Age Sunday School Class prepare a "booth" for it! I am feeling frustrated because it doesn't look like some of the kids are going to come thru with the things that they promised that they would "do" or "get". (This is including MY own girls!!) I have to be at the church pretty much all day on Saturday to prepare and set up for Sunday. I was hoping that I would have plenty of help from my students, but several of them have had to back out because of work or school commitments! (Including my girls!) So.... I have no idea what our booth will look like on Sunday! I don't like that it is being left up to ME to get it ready!! I am trying REALLY hard not to stress about it, but it's hard.

---- At home, I feel lost. Now, that I'm working 5 days a week... I am having to do more things "after" work and therefore I am not getting home in the afternoons until like 3 or 4pm. I am not keeping up with my household chores as well, and it is frustrating me. David is having to help out more and I know that he doesn't like it. Hopefully, once I get this weekend behind me... things will get better.

Gotta run and get to work! Hope you all have a blessed day!

Taking a break

Hi friends ~

I am taking a break today from... "My Vacation A to Z". I have a horrible sinus headache and can not think straight... but, I thought that I owed you a different post to let you know how things are going with my new job.

My new job as a  4 yr old, Pre-K Assistant Teacher is a lot harder than I thought it would be!!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the preschool itself!!! It is wonderful!! But, the teacher that I am working with is a new teacher and she was TOTALLY unprepared when school started, just over a week ago.

She told me in the beginning that because she WAS new and I was a veteran... she wanted us to work TOGETHER to teach the kids. I was fine with that, but it has turned out to be very difficult because every time I offered her help or suggested different (and better) ways of doing things (because of my experience)... she thinks that I am criticizing her!! I don't mean to come across that way... but, that is how she is seeing it! So... I have backed off of trying to offer my "suggestions" and have just let her handle things.

Last week, the kids were in control of the classroom!! SHE was not, which was not a good thing! Yesterday, she seemed to have a little bit better control over them, which I was glad to see. Hopefully, this will continue.

She has a VERY "high strung" personality and seems to have a hard time focusing on one thing at a time. This is another thing that is making things difficult. Last week, she was SO overwhelmed and she was a nervous wreck! This week, she seems to be a little more calm and in control. I can't help but wonder if the kids were "feeding" off of her nervousness last week, and that is why they were so "out of control".

Please pray for this young teacher as she struggles to learn the ropes... and for me!!.... as I try to keep up and stay calm myself!

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As far as other things in my life ---

I quit Curves last week and joined the YMCA. I knew that I was not going to continue going to Curves because it was nowhere near where I am working now. (It's not convienent for me... I won't go!) The Y is just two blocks over from my new school!! A PERFECT location! I plan to go every M/W/F afternoons, after work. Tuesdays, I will go and see my mom. Then, on Thursdays, I will go and see my C.R. -- I hate not getting home early in the afternoons anymore, but that's ok. I'm getting used to it.

Miranda started Nursing School last week. It is SO COOL to hear about what she is learning each day! Soon, she will begin going to the hospital to learn. I CAN'T WAIT to hear about her experiences there!!!

Ashley is back in school. She is an Art Education student. She is not too happy right now because she is in a sculpture class. This is NOT something that she enjoys!! She would rather be painting.

She also has a new guy in her life. We met him this past weekend. He is very sweet. She says that they are just in the "talking" stage right now, which is fine. She has been hurt so many times by guys that I would rather her NOT jump into a relationship too quickly. 

I am enjoying getting to know the ladies that I work with. One of them, in particular, I can see as a potential furture "good friend". She and I are very close in age and we have a LOT in common! She has three boys that are in the same age range as my girls. In fact.... my girls know who her sons are!! LOL!  I am hoping that she and I can go to lunch one day soon and get to know each other a little better.

This weekend, I will be at my church pretty much the whole weekend!! Saturday, I will be getting ready for an event on Sunday. And then, Sunday... I will be AT the event all day! I'll be one tired puppy by Sunday night!!

We have no plans for Labor Day weekend, as a family. My very BEST friend that lives in Atlanta is (hopefully) coming down on that Saturday to go "thrifting" with me!! I can NOT wait!! I have been anxious for her to come down all summer! I can't wait to take her to all of our new Thrift Stores!

The only other thing that we might do on Labor Day weekend... is go up to the campground and visit our camping friends. Some of them will be camping. We are not ready to go camping yet. It's still WAY too hot!! I am anxious for Fall to come so that we can really camp!

Ok... I better run. Time to go get ready for work!

Hope you all have a blessed day!

A decision has been made

Many thanks to all of you that responded to my previous post. It was wonderful to read how several of you understood the situation and made suggestions that really made me think. Thank you!

I have come to the conclusion that this is an impossible situation, and the best solution is to look for other employment.

I learned yesterday that I may never get the chance for advancement if I stay where I am. So, today.... I will sadly be turning in my two weeks' notice.

For those of you that don't know.... Since January of last year (2010), I have worked as a teaching assistant for the preschool that is at the church that I am a member of.  My desire is to be a lead teacher in a 3 or 4 year old classroom. I have plenty of experience, as I have worked with children in a classroom setting, for most of my adult life. I have been the LEAD TEACHER before and enjoy it and miss it very much!

The only reason that I am a teaching "assistant" and not a "lead teacher" right now is that when I applied, there were no open teaching positions. I took the assistant job, thinking that I could move into a teaching position when one opened up.

After my talk with the preschool director yesterday, I don't think she WANTS me in a teaching position. For reasons that I don't even know... she has formed an opinion about me that isn't good! THIS has had me torn up in pieces!! Not to "toot my own horn".... but, I am an excellent teacher and you will rarely find someone that doesn't like me! So, this is something that I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around.

Anyway... I know that God has a plan for my life, and apparently... working there, isn't where I am supposed to be. Or... maybe it was for these past 18 months or so, just as a "stepping stone" to something even better. I just have to trust God and follow His lead.

This is what I will be doing ......

Source

I guess I could have had a job that was worse!!

Source

What would YOU do?

What would you do if you applied for a different position, which pays higher, doing the same thing you are doing now. The job requires working more days during the week at the same company you work for now. You were then told by your boss that her/his "gut" feeling was that.... you and the partner that you would be working with, "wouldn't be a good match." ????

You tried asking your boss WHY she/he felt this way, but your boss could not give you an answer. It was just how they "felt".

You are also told that you would be better suited in the same position that you are in now, but with a "weaker" co-worker instead, because you are such a "strong" worker.

How would you feel???

How would you react???

What would you do???

Bucket List #94-96

#94 --- Own a Mastiff --- I LOVE BIG DOGS!! I own two Golden Retrievers, which I adore! They are THE most awesome dogs to own! But...... I have also have a love for MASTIFF's!! They are so cute and cuddly! Yes, they slobber and they eat a LOT!! But.... I can't help but love them! I don't know if I will ever be able to own one... but, if I could... I would!!!

This is an English Mastiff

#95 --- Quit working and become SuperMom & SuperWife again --- When I first wrote this list, I was working full-time. Since then... I lost my job and I am not working 3 mornings a week as a Preschool Teaching Assistant. AND.... I have Summer's off! So.......... This Bucket List item has "kinda'" been fulfilled. The Lord knew what he was doing when He planned for me to lose my job! Thank you, Lord!

#96 --- Own a Camaro --- I have wanted a Camaro since BEFORE I started driving at age 15!! My first car was a Chevy Vega. I DID love this car! But, I still had my eyes set on finding a Camaro! One day... I saw my DREAM Camaro in a used car lot!! I could not wait to tell my Daddy!! I just knew that he would get it for me since it was THE car that I REALLY wanted! This is what it looked like -----

1979 Camaro Berlinetta - I wanted T-tops in mine, tho!

My Daddy DID go and talk to the salesman about it, but Daddy didn't make a lot of money and my dream car was a "bit" more than we could afford. THANK YOU, DADDY for trying anyway! I love you and miss you!

In high school, I had a HUGE CRUSH on a guy that had a 1968 Camaro. -- NO! I didn't like him JUST because he had a Camaro!!! He was REALLY cute!! The Camaro was just a bonus! **Smile**  One time, while in class together (lucky me!), he received detention because he laid his head on his desk. WELL.... I had been trying to get this boy's attention for the longest time and I saw this as my opportunity!! I did what any girl "in love" would do... I put my head down on MY desk, too and sacrificied my after school freedom so that I could have detention with this cutie!! Yes... we did detention, together. Then... when the teacher said that we could leave... I walked out the door with him and instead of running to catch my bus (this was before I had my Vega!)... I told him that I had already MISSED my bus and asked him if he could give me a ride home. (This event would go down in history as one of THE BOLDEST things that I have EVER done!) My plan was working!! **Smile**  He did look over at the buses and asked me if mine was still there, but I lied (Forgive me, Lord!) and said that it wasn't. So.... he had no choice but to give me a ride home! I was on CLOUD NINE!! Not only was I with this CUTIE, but I was riding in a COOL CAMARO, which looked like this ----

1968 Camaro SS 327 - His had blue stripes, tho!

Months went by, and I didn't hear anything from the cute boy... until.... he asked me to go to Homecoming with him!! But..... since I was dating someone else.... I had to sadly say, no. That is my biggest regret of high school --- to THIS DAY! Oh well.

Back to the Camaro's ---- I really like the newest models, too!

2010 Camaro - HOT!!

Maybe someday, I'll get to have one!

Summer Break Ends and the Craziness Begins!

Sadly, the Summer Break has come to an end for my girls and I.  **Sigh**

That's one of the downfalls of me going back to a "school year" work schedule. As soon as I get used to being at home all day... BAM! It's gone, and I have to get used to working again. Oh well. I guess it's better than having to work a 9-5 job, five days a week (or more!).

I really can't complain. I only work 3 half days a week.    

** Smile **

Dtr. #1 started back to college today. This was her first day at her NEW college. I am anxious to hear how her day went!! This is her 3rd college, by the way. Poor baby started out at a 2 year Junior College, then transferred to a big university college away from home and has now transferred AGAIN to the university that is close to our home. If the first college had been a 4 year college, she would have stayed there in a heart beat! But, reluctantly... she had to move on.

She We all thought that moving away to a big college and living on her own was the right thing for her to do, but after a year of unhappiness... we realized that it wasn't such a smart choice. So... she is back home, and going to school here.

Dtr. #2 starts back to class tomorrow. She is in her 2nd year of college. This is the first time since my girls were in 1st & 5th Grade, that they have both been in the same school!! ~ CRAZY!!

Although... it will still be like they are in different schools, because that are each at different campus locations because of their majors.

One thing that I haven't figured out is how I am going to manage FEEDING everyone!! We are all on different schedules! We are all coming and going with our various jobs, as well as the girls going to their different classes.

If anyone has any suggestions.... throw them my way!! I would appreciate your ideas!