You Get Paid!

When I was student teaching, eons ago, I spent a lot of time encouraging students to try a little harder.  One day, I told a student to think of it as his job, for now.  He needed to work now, so he could qualify for a better job later.

He immediately piped up and told me that it was easy for me to say. "You Get Paid!"

He was very surprised to learn, as did some of the other students, that I did not get paid.  In fact, as a student teacher I was paying for the privilege to be their teacher.  I paid for 9-15 hour days, being ignored, to be a disciplinarian, deal with disillusioned students and their often even more disillusioned parents, go to after school events, meetings, and all while still taking classes of my own and being a single parent.

Today, someone posted this on FaceBook, from the Ohio Teacher's Assoc.;

I can honestly say, from personal experience, that this applies to everyone that deserves to be a teacher.  The teachers I worked with that got to school right before the first bell, and left as soon as the classroom was empty, were NOT the good teachers.

The good teachers always tried to be early, relaxed and prepared, before any kid got to the classroom.  The good teachers stayed late to grade, tutor, help kids make up missed material, etc.  A good teacher is involved in after-school programs, summer activities, etc.  ALL teachers MUST continue their education, even after certification, to stay certified.  The classes and the time are at the teacher's own expense.

I tell you this, because I would like to give praise where it is due, regarding my son's teachers, especially in the band department.  He has other great teachers as well; but, these go WAY BEYOND.

My son is usually at the school by 6:30 am.  The band teacher is already there, for the kids that want to practice before school.  Multiple band teachers, on their own time, have helped students prepare for auditions for honor bands, of which their are several. The band teachers hold summer camps, in/out of town, for kids that want to stay involved, and maintain or improve their skills over the summer.

During marching season, students and secondary band teachers are at the school every weekday, until at least 5 pm.  Of course, it is much later on Football game nights.  During concert season there are evening performances, which include setting up and tearing down.  Some kids will go early and stay late to help with this very time consuming chore.  All students are encouraged to help;  But, most show up right before the concert and race out afterwards. Often, the few kids and teachers that stay don't get home until after 9 pm. -sometimes later.   

Did I mention that out-of-town band trips?  While the school district helps a lot, much of the expense of honor band trips, state competitions, etc. come out of the band instructors' own pockets.  It also involves packing and unpacking very expensive equipment, very early days and late nights, traveling with and taking care of students around the clock- even unexpected hospital visits.

Last, but not least, there are the private FREE lessons, for the students who, like them, want to share the love of music.

Both my daughter and son have chosen music for their future careers. in one form or another.  They have both put in LOTS of extra hours toward their goals.  But, the teachers have matched or exceeded those hours, in order to help and encourage them.

It makes me so very sad, when I hear of schools that are discontinuing their music programs, due to budget cuts.  Both of my kids have learned so much more than music. It has taught them discipline, responsibility, caring, patience, kindness, and more.

I am deeply grateful for all of the good teachers I had and the ones that have blessed my children over the years.

In Everything Give Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18New International Version (NIV)

18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Generally, my life is boring.  I don't have much to write about, because one day just seems to run into the next.  But, the last couple of weeks have been a little too interesting- both good and bad. So, when I look back on those days, I think of this verse, and hope that I have remembered to give thanks in all circumstances.

There have been some really difficult days.  My mom and my aunt are both dealing with some serious health issues.  Both have spent some time in the hospital; both had close calls.

Although I naturally pray for them to get better, I also realize the close calls could have gone south, fast.  How can I be thankful?  Well, it wasn't too hard.  I am so thankful for their faith and love of God, and passing it down to their children.  I knew exactly where they would be for eternity, if/when God calls them home.  So, even when I was very sad, and trying not to be worried, I could be very thankful.

God things have also happened this last week.  Months of practice paid off. My son would get up at 5 am, so he could use the school practice rooms before school.  Marching band practice lasted until 5 pm, and then there were games or private lessons to attend.  He was burning his candle at both ends.  But, their band came in 1st, with a superior rating and 4 of 6 of the caption awards.  If you know anything about marching band, you know this is a BIG DEAL.

Monday, he also found out that he was accepted to an International Honors Band.  He, and seven other students, will be traveling to Washington state next month.

Again, I am thankful. He has worked very hard toward this goal. I am grateful that God has given him this ability.  It might also lead to scholarship opportunities, which would be such a blessing.

Late last night, my daughter called to say that someone ran into her parked car.  The girl had insurance, so she wasn't too worried. The car would be fixed up like new.  

Well, I am not sure what the girl was doing.  She wasn't drunk.  Was she texting? 

Unfortunately, when my daughter took it to the garage today, he said that the car was going to be totaled.  The girl had done even more damage to the underside of the car that we can't see.

My girl called, so sad.  You see, this car is really special.  The day before she got her driver's license, she won this car in a drawing.  The school district and car dealership had teamed up to encourage kids to strive for perfect attendance. She was one of the few that qualified for the car.

I am sad for my daughter; but, I can still give thanks.  This car was a Godsend! I couldn't help her get a decent car before college.  It has been a wonderful car for her.  Also, she wasn't in the car, when the girl hit it. No one was hurt.  It is just really sad.  She took good care of it, and it only had 35,000 miles on it.  It would probably have lasted her another 10 years.

Another sad thing happened in the last week.  My great-niece, who isn't even 2 1/2 fell and broke her arm.  As a parent, there is nothing worse than when your baby is sick or hurt, and you can't make it better.  Again, our family gives thanks, because this sweet girl isn't in pain.  In fact, it hasn't slowed her down much. We are thankful that the doc set the bone well.

About yesterday, while waiting for the doc to check her arm, my niece had this to say:

"Everyone was charmed and heartbroken by the little lady with the broken arm.  In fact, when people would crouch down and say, "oooooooooh what happened?" Her response was, "I broke my arm, but I be okay. I got my mommy."

It was actually what this little lady said that got me thinking.  She said she would be okay, because she had her mother.  We can learn a lot from that seemingly simple statement.

How many times have we been hurt or sad?  How many times have we complained to God, for even the smallest things. Some people even blame God, when life gets tough.  Instead, why not believe and say:

I'll be okay.  I have my Father.

In everything give thanks.

Pocket Corners

How do you make your bed?

With my physical challenges, making the bed is exercise.

I love clean sheets.  I hate changing them.

I love my adjustable bed; but, getting the sheets to stay has been almost impossible.  Since I push and pull myself off/on the bed, the sheet often comes with me.

A few years ago, I got bed garters.  However, this posed a problem as well.  I had to lift the corner of the mattress, clip it to the edge of the sheet, and close the clip with one hand.  I had to do this twice on each corner.

Putting the first two corners of the sheet on the bed isn't very difficult.  But, in order to stretch the sheet over opposite corners means actually laying on my stomach on the bed, rolling around to pull the sheet, and hoping I have it stretched far enough.  Then, if it just pops off, the first time I get off /on the bed, I get to do it all over again.

A few months ago, I found the solution to a lifetime of bed-making woes. I found a home hospital bed sheet with pocket corners, on Amazon.com.

Instead of elastic gathers on the sides of the sheet, the elastic is on the bottom and the top of the bed sheet.  In addition, it has pocket corners that fit more firmly to the mattress. Finally, a sheet that stays on the bed as long as I want it to!  It is a simple pleasure, or comfort, that most people probably don't even consider.

Wonderful Weekend.

This weekend was wonderful!  My sister, her daughter, and my great-nieces came to see my mom.  My daughter also came home for the weekend!

Of course, it went way too fast!  I was feeling a bit nostalgic, watching my little nieces and thinking back to when my kids were little.  (My "baby" is going to be 17 this week!)

I also got to babysit my friend's dog, which used to be my dog. (Long story) So, I felt blessed.

However, I am also a bit sad.  Now that my girl is working full-time, she doesn't get a long Christmas break.  With the iffy weather in this part of the country, it is highly unlikely that we will be able to spend Christmas together.  It will be my first Christmas without my girl, since she was born.

On the other hand, I am very grateful that she has some really good friends.  She won;t have to spend the holiday alone; and, she will not be risking her neck on slick highways.

I am so proud of both my children.  They are nice people.  God truly has really blessed me, in so many ways!

My heart is full!

Think Positive

Yes, I know.  I should think positive.  After all, God is in control. Besides, as long as I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food I am rich.  Right?

Well, I must confess, there are just days it is a little more difficult than others to think positive.

Wednesday was a very ouchie day.  What didn't ache just downright hurt!  Well, my head was fine.  By the time it started snowing, in the summer, I was feeling much better, physically.  But, the 1-3 inches predicted was more like 8+.

Thinking positive, I reminded myself that I didn't have to go out into the storm; we can always use the moisture; by tomorrow afternoon, it would be gone.

Then today happened.

Steven's birthday is in less than 2 weeks.  So, I ordered his present.  I am making something for 2 different babies that will need mailed.  So, I signed up with the post office to start printing my own postage, since going to the Post Office is difficult.  For $10, they are sending me a scale for small packages.  I figured that was a good deal.  I was very pleased.  When the projects are done, I just need to stick them in padded envelopes or something, and stick them in the mailbox.  I was pleased with myself, until . . .

My computer screen turned into about a thousand colorful lines across the screen!  Ugh!!!

It happened a couple of times last night.  I forgot about it, until it happened this morning at least 4 times.  I turned the computer off, turned it back on, and they went away.  But, they were soon back. With pictures and files on my computer that I don't want to lose, I found my external hard drive and started backing EVERYTHING up.  This has been going on for at least 2-3 hours, and it is only half done!

The computer still works fine.  It is the screen.  But, if it goes out, how can I tell when things are done?  So far, so good!

I have spent the last 3-4 hours shopping for a new computer.  I looked at refurbished ones.  But, they are almost as expensive as the new ones.  There is no way to tell whether the previous owner just didn't like it, so they are selling it as used; or, was there a major repair job?

Now, I am using my kindle to blog.  It works great.  But, even with my glasses, the print is very small.  Since I am starting to freelance again, it isn't what I need to write, proof and post professional articles.  Plus, I can't send bulk emails, or work on the church website with my kindle.

So, once the backup is done.  I need to get on the church website and get what I can finished, before my computer conks out on me for a 5th time. Who knows if it will be the last?

I looked at 3 reputable sites for a laptop.  I found one that was just over $200.  What a deal!  Then, I read the cusomer reviews.  The keyboard vibrates, when typing.  There was something about what you can see, underneath one of the keys.  Another advised to be sure and purchase the repair plan, as the keyboard was VERY flimsy.  Maybe it wasn't such a deal after all.

I finally settled on a computer that was just a bit more.  It doesn't have an optical drive; but, I usually watch tv and movies on Netflix anyway.  If I miss watching our collection of DVDs, I can always purchase an external drive later. They are not very expensive and a lot less than what it would cost, if it comes installed in the computer.

Guess this just means I will have to spend more time writing articles. Surely, I will come to a point when I can actually spend less and save more.  Right?? Think positve!

It's Coming!

Play eerie music now.  It's coming!  I can feel it in my bones.

I feel like having a pity party.  If you don't want to join me, I will party all by myself.

We are expecting snow tomorrow night and Thursday morning.  Snow, mind you!  We barely had a summer! What happened to Fall?

Ok!  Get out your teenie-weenie violins.  If I thought crying would help, I would.

Thank goodness for my house, my electric blanket, and my furry friends who like to snuggle at my feet.

I just have one question:  Why is winter 3x longer than the other 3 seasons combined???

Part-Time

Recently, it seems like I have been bleeding money.  It has been one un-budgeted expense after another.  I am not complaining.  It just is what it is.

The last major bleeder, (sorry Mom), was the vet.  Just in the last week and a half, over $700.  But, it has been a bit of a struggle, since I was in the hospital, and my new and pricey prescriptions.

Anyway, I was told, when I went on disability that I could work up to 20 hours a week to supplement our income.  However, since I was self-employed, she would not recommend it.  Because I would not have the proper pay stubs to prove I wasn't working/earning too much.

Obviously, we need some kind of supplement to keep up with all of these unexpected expenses.  So, I have decided to go back to writing part-time.  I am signing up with a company that takes a percentage of what I make.  But, they send out W-2's.  So, I can prove I am not taking advantage of disability.

Now, if you think I will all of a sudden be rolling in dough, forget it.  The articles requested are posted by category, and it is basically first come, first serve, unless a client really likes your work and asks for you.  That rarely happens, in my experience.  Most articles are cheap for the consumer, which means $5-10 for me.  If it takes me an hour to write them, and some require research, I am still making less than minimum wage.

However, I can choose how much I want to write.  So, if I am having a bad pain day, I just won't write.  This is a very uncertain means of earning money.  But, English and writing is my thing.

So, even if I could just make a few extra bucks a month, it would help pay down some bills.  So, wish me luck.  If you are the praying sort, I am good with that.

I am starting over from scratch, without the resources, and clients, I once had as a freelance writer, so I had to reapply and send a test article. It is virtually applying for a job.  A few years ago, they readily accepted me as an author.  But, they also rate your work.  The better my rating, the more the client has to pay for an article.

I am a bit anxious to hear from them and get started.  I am not worried. (There is a difference.) I know God has always taken care of us. But, it seems He was waiting for me to talk to Him.  Once I did, the plan came to mind for short and long-term goals.

The prep work was my day.