[Okay totally had pictures, but I'm having issues with uploading them for some reason.]
Four days at home with the kids and I'm telling you I'm so glad they went back to school! Still, we had a lovely time together. Friday, I took them with me to deliver Meals on Wheels. They weren't impressed. It's more of an investment on my part, because it doesn't matter to them today, and it won't matter to them next month, but it might matter in 10 years when they look back on what we were doing.
When I was in junior high and high school, I used to go with my grandfather to volunteer to sing at a nursing home in Michigan. It was not comfortable and it wasn't "fun", but it mattered, and it makes my heart happy to know that I did it. I also used to volunteer to help with BINGO at a nursing home in the town where I grew up. We went once a month with my church group and it also mattered. I'm glad I did it. I hope I can share similar experiences with my children.
Yesterday, we went to Chuck's office so that Evie could sell Girl Scout cookies. It is a painful experience because she is so ridiculously shy. Next time you see us, you can have her give you the speech. It's gut-wrenching for me to watch it, but I have to remind myself that I used to be just as shy. I try to have patience, but it is difficult. We will just keep practicing, and hopefully someday she will break through that shell and show everyone the strong, confident lady I know she is.
After selling cookies, I took the kids to visit Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth. I know I've talked about it before, but I'll remind you that it is the organization that I've had the pleasure of working with for the past two years to put on the Shot in the Dark night golf tournament and wine tasting. It is an amazing organization with similar sister organizations throughout the country. The kids were so impressed! The director, Nancy Fisher, gave us a tour. As a former first grade teacher, she had the kids riveted. I was shocked at how well-behaved they were and engaged. She handled them perfectly! I highly recommend touring one of the Lighthouse facilities with your kids, or even with your co-workers. It's an amazing place, and we met so many of the workers - all of whom said hello and were very friendly to the kids. They employ individuals with significant vision loss (many completely blind, but all legally blind) and the things they do will amaze you! At our Lighthouse, some of the employees work with saws and industrial staplers. It's absolutely humbling to realize I could not possibly do the things they do each day. And the kids were simply fascinated by it. In fact they kept talking about it throughout the day, which means it really stuck. I'm so glad!
We wrote thank you notes when we got home and I had them draw a picture of something they saw at the Lighthouse. I was shocked that they sat down and did it without any complaints. Evie even wrote her name in Braille. So awesome! What a great day!
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2 comments:
I hear what you are saying about a new change in your world. I was filled with fear about my lack of school since 1985. I was sure I would get turned down for admission to UTA but then they took me. There went my plan for a year at the local CC for my basics. Then not only do I get accepted to enroll at UTA, I then get accepted into the school of Nursing. They accepted all my classes except for the PE classes. I have 5 'core classes' I need to complete and then enrolled in Lonestar with no entry requirements since I graduated from Lonestar.
So here I am 2 weeks into school, so far with an A at UTA in my Technical Writing class and heaven only knows what in my History I at Lonestar. I am playing strategic procrastination this week as I have gone into work every day so that I can chaperone the Confirmation retreat this weekend.
My History homework and weekly assignments are complete. I need to figure out a movie to watch for my film project #1.
My Technical Writing class, I have two more chapters to read then assemble an APA formatted paper on my research related to my field of profession (I am leaning to history of chemotherapy) and then evaluate my email netiquette, write a paragraph about plagiarism and if intent has any impact on the issue, then determine if I could copyright any of my documents.
It is hard when my spouse and son are home as they think I should stop and cook a meal, or change a load of laundry or clean the kitchen or just listen to them. I meas, seriously??, I have to LISTEN to you? At least I can tune that noise out but I still have to deal with the TV blaring for the deaf. I have located some great headphones and my earplugs. I could move my computer to the upstairs room but really that would just mean I'd be up and down the stairs all day.
The weight issue can creep up when you are home all day. I have taken to a BIG pot of tea twice in the morning then two more in the afternoon of herbal tea (a girls gotta' sleep). By filling up on liquid, I don't crave the bad stuff and I can make it as sweet as I want. What I really want is chips and green sauce but I won't.
Hang in there, It takes 90 days to affect change.
I hear what you are saying about a new change in your world. I was filled with fear about my lack of school since 1985. I was sure I would get turned down for admission to UTA but then they took me. There went my plan for a year at the local CC for my basics. Then not only do I get accepted to enroll at UTA, I then get accepted into the school of Nursing. They accepted all my classes except for the PE classes. I have 5 'core classes' I need to complete and then enrolled in Lonestar with no entry requirements since I graduated from Lonestar.
So here I am 2 weeks into school, so far with an A at UTA in my Technical Writing class and heaven only knows what in my History I at Lonestar. I am playing strategic procrastination this week as I have gone into work every day so that I can chaperone the Confirmation retreat this weekend.
My History homework and weekly assignments are complete. I need to figure out a movie to watch for my film project #1.
My Technical Writing class, I have two more chapters to read then assemble an APA formatted paper on my research related to my field of profession (I am leaning to history of chemotherapy) and then evaluate my email netiquette, write a paragraph about plagiarism and if intent has any impact on the issue, then determine if I could copyright any of my documents.
It is hard when my spouse and son are home as they think I should stop and cook a meal, or change a load of laundry or clean the kitchen or just listen to them. I meas, seriously??, I have to LISTEN to you? At least I can tune that noise out but I still have to deal with the TV blaring for the deaf. I have located some great headphones and my earplugs. I could move my computer to the upstairs room but really that would just mean I'd be up and down the stairs all day.
The weight issue can creep up when you are home all day. I have taken to a BIG pot of tea twice in the morning then two more in the afternoon of herbal tea (a girls gotta' sleep). By filling up on liquid, I don't crave the bad stuff and I can make it as sweet as I want. What I really want is chips and green sauce but I won't.
Hang in there, It takes 90 days to affect change.
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