Quote of the Week ~ Teaching...

“In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.”
  ~ Phil Collins

It has been a good experience working at Lincoln Academy (a public Charter School). I am a teaching assistant ("TA") for Mrs. Otto and she's a wonderful teacher. She teaches 7th, 8th and 9th grade English, about 160 students. She is so young and has only been teaching for two years. I help her any way I can in the classroom. I have graded papers, recorded grades in the computer, ran errands, and made copies. I also help with classroom management, like discipline problems. I also help with traffic safety after school, monitor the halls, lunchroom and the playground. Good times! The students are generally very good but there is always that one!
 

I didn't know this when I accepted the job, but if the teacher is absent the TA is the substitute. Mrs. Otto is in charge of the Student Council and they had a retreat at a cabin in Heber on Friday, so I became the teacher. Mrs. Otto had the lesson plan for the day so I just had to execute it. I wish I could say I was as cool as a cucumber but I was nervous the night before. I studied the lesson plan many times and was as prepared as I could be. The first two periods are 7th graders and it went so well. I also had homeroom and we talked about bullying. We did some roll play and talked about being kind and respectful. Last period was the 9th graders, a little more challenging but over all it went great. I did finish early but the class read and did homework.

When I get nervous, my internal temperature rises, I get hot and sweaty! I turned down the thermostat in the room and every time the students came in the room they would say, "It's so cold in here." Ha Ha!

I get up at 6:00am now so I can still exercise. The mornings are so beautiful and quiet. I do get home around 3:00pm but it's highly unlikely I would exercise then!









I did learn a lot that day.  I never thought I would be teaching school, I was amazed that I could overcome my fears and actually do a pretty good job. I also learned that kids have a way of rising to the occasion, they want to be challenged and if you expect the best from them you will get it!
And I learned to never let them see you sweat!

Ya, I taught school!!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Back to School...

Not a day goes by...

Twenty years ago day my Dad passed away. I think about him everyday. I pass by pictures of him that I have around our home and think how blessed I was to have such a wonderful father. Even though miss him so much the joy in the memories I hold so dear, gently pushes the sadness away. I was holding his hand and saw him take his last breath. It was sad day for me. I miss him here on earth but I know one day we will be together again.

I find my self wishing he were here to see Cash and Colby. I know he would love playing with them and he would be so proud of his great-grandsons. I will tell them about Grandpa Federer and show them pictures and let them see his cowboy boots and hat, so they will come to know what a great man he was.

The older I get, the more I realize just how much my Dad gave me. He taught me to be humble, and to always give people the benefit of the doubt. He taught to give without expecting anything in return. He taught me to respect Nature and the Earth. I can can still see him standing outside in the early morning hours, taking the time to enjoy the beauty of the Wyoming prairies.

Today and everyday I offer a prayer to give thanks for all my Dad gave me, for the sacrifices he made to take care of our large family.

 I miss my Dad and I love him with all my heart.

Quote of the Week ~ Happy...

 Everybody happy.happy.happy

~ Phil Robertson

Quote of the Week ~ Everyday moments...

“The happiest people I know are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments.” 
~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Cash and Mommy built a cool fort!

Quote for the Week ~ Friends

 
"Seek women companions who live beautiful and clean lives, lives that our Heavenly Father meant for women to live. I have been drawn like a moth to a flame to women who were spiritual and uplifting. I have looked for and found every year of my life a new friend, full of righteousness, someone who I knew was better than I was, and I knew if I spent time with her, I could become better as well. My friends are such queenly women. As I look back on the thirty or forty years I have known some of them, I wonder how I had the ability as a young women, wife, and mother to choose such friends, who contribute a continuing righteousness to me. Every day I feel as if I'm bathed in righteousness. Our circle of encouraging, faithful friends will help us to make wise choices. They will be there in our times of struggle, pain, and grief to lift and bless us. Find friends; look for friends. Don't try to go it alone." ~ Ann Madsen 

 Dear friends, Sharon, Karen and Susan

Wordless Wednesday II ~ Chris... beautiful hike with friends!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Colby's curl...

Perfect day... 8/8/2013

Definition of a perfect day: 

Quote of the Week ~ mother and son...

Thirty years ago today, I was handed my very own treasure. I love you very much Mark. I am very pleased and proud of the man you have become. I feel blessed to be your mother.

Happy Birthday Mark!