I don't profess to be particularly religious, although I was brought up in the Catholic Church and went to mass as often as my parents sent me, but in the last week I have probably said more prayers than the last 10 years combined. I am one of ten children, 7 boys and 3 girls and I am the youngest. We are a very tight knit group and since both of our parents have passed, my dad when I was a teenager and my mom a little over a year ago, we have needed each other even more than in the past.
Just last week, on Friday morning, my brother who is the oldest had a very serious stroke. It was actually a hemorrhagic stroke and the bleeding was in the middle of his brain. He is not in very good shape right now but we are hoping for the best. He is not really responding to any stimuli and we are not sure how much he can comprehend. Now this is a man who lived a very healthy lifestyle, working out 3 times per week and eating a healthy diet and was very active and vibrant, but I guess you just never know what life can throw at you. Anyway he is a bit of father figure to me as well, since my own dad died when I was young and my brother is just about 20 years older than me, so needless to say him and I have always been close. So what I'm asking is if anyone has any extra prayers or would like to take a minute and offer one up, we're taking. We could really use them.
It's Crazy Isn't It?
Jayjay
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Friday Fill In
And...here we go!
1. Right now, I'm feeling concerned.
2. Home is where I want to be.
3. How does one know when to quit??
4. Life keeps me on track.
5. Please don't judge people before you know them..
6. Naturefills me with joy.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to the gym, tomorrow my plans include groceries and school work and Sunday, I want to do some baking.!
1. Right now, I'm feeling concerned.
2. Home is where I want to be.
3. How does one know when to quit??
4. Life keeps me on track.
5. Please don't judge people before you know them..
6. Naturefills me with joy.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to the gym, tomorrow my plans include groceries and school work and Sunday, I want to do some baking.!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Busy Week
So I haven't had much time this week to do all the internet visiting that I would like to do, it has just been one of those busy weeks. We all have them, that's for sure. Now that I have a minute, and only about a minute, I just thought I'd write a few lines to refresh myself and anyone who may read this.
The week is quickly approaching it's end and I am looking forward to this weekend. Not because there is anything special I have to do this weekend, but because there isn't anything. This weekend is wide open and I think I'll just spend some time at home, do some reading, and some of the dreaded housework and just relax. Sometimes it's just those simple things that can seem so exciting just because it's wide open and free and you don't have anything you HAVE to do. Cheers for free weekends.
It's Crazy Isn't It?
Jayjay
The week is quickly approaching it's end and I am looking forward to this weekend. Not because there is anything special I have to do this weekend, but because there isn't anything. This weekend is wide open and I think I'll just spend some time at home, do some reading, and some of the dreaded housework and just relax. Sometimes it's just those simple things that can seem so exciting just because it's wide open and free and you don't have anything you HAVE to do. Cheers for free weekends.
It's Crazy Isn't It?
Jayjay
Friday, October 17, 2008
Friday October 17
And...here we go!
Friday Fill In
Thanks Janet.
1. Follow the yellow brick road.
2. Sunscreen is something I always take with me on vacation.
3. To achieve your goals, you must work hard.
4. I'm a softie is something I'd like you to know about me.
5. I have a soft spot for unruly kids..
6. Hope floats.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a concert, tomorrow my plans include Laundry and chores and Sunday, I want to go on a nature hike!
Friday Fill In
Thanks Janet.
1. Follow the yellow brick road.
2. Sunscreen is something I always take with me on vacation.
3. To achieve your goals, you must work hard.
4. I'm a softie is something I'd like you to know about me.
5. I have a soft spot for unruly kids..
6. Hope floats.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a concert, tomorrow my plans include Laundry and chores and Sunday, I want to go on a nature hike!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
I Love Long Weekends
You have to love a long weekend, that extra day just adds so much. We had a great weekend with family and friends, got lots of chores done and got to enjoy the outdoors also because the weather was great.
Even though the autumn is just a precursor to winter, I still love it. I love the crisp, dry air, the wonderful colours, Thanksgiving and even though winter is coming it brings thoughts of (dare I say it) Christmas, which is another one of my favourite holidays.
This fall I plan to really enjoy myself and take in as much of the outdoors as possible. I have also decided to take on a more positive attitude toward winter. Remember when you were a kid and a snowfall was exciting because you looked forward to sledding and making snowmen and skating, instead of heating and shoveling. So to that end I have made a vow to do more sledding and skating and snowman making and less shoveling and maybe, just maybe I will enjoy this winter like I did when I was a child.
It's Crazy Isn't It?
JayJay
Even though the autumn is just a precursor to winter, I still love it. I love the crisp, dry air, the wonderful colours, Thanksgiving and even though winter is coming it brings thoughts of (dare I say it) Christmas, which is another one of my favourite holidays.
This fall I plan to really enjoy myself and take in as much of the outdoors as possible. I have also decided to take on a more positive attitude toward winter. Remember when you were a kid and a snowfall was exciting because you looked forward to sledding and making snowmen and skating, instead of heating and shoveling. So to that end I have made a vow to do more sledding and skating and snowman making and less shoveling and maybe, just maybe I will enjoy this winter like I did when I was a child.
It's Crazy Isn't It?
JayJay
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thanksgiving Weekend At Last!
Thanksgiving Weekend. The first long weekend of the school year. Wow that extra day on the weekend sure makes a difference.
I always find Thanksgiving works, it makes me sit back and think of all the things I am grateful for and really cherish. So for today I thought I would list a few in no particular order:
1. My husband and 2 children
2. My 7 brothers and 2 sisters
3. My parents who have both passed on, but were awesome parents, friends, mentors,
people.
4. Living in a free country
5. The ocean - I am thankful every day for the ocean.
6. My profession - even though it is at times frustrating, I love it.
7. Books - good books
8. Sunshine
9. Rain
10. Music
Of course there are many more things, but these are some that I cherish and am grateful for every day. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
It's Crazy Isn't It?
Jayjay
I always find Thanksgiving works, it makes me sit back and think of all the things I am grateful for and really cherish. So for today I thought I would list a few in no particular order:
1. My husband and 2 children
2. My 7 brothers and 2 sisters
3. My parents who have both passed on, but were awesome parents, friends, mentors,
people.
4. Living in a free country
5. The ocean - I am thankful every day for the ocean.
6. My profession - even though it is at times frustrating, I love it.
7. Books - good books
8. Sunshine
9. Rain
10. Music
Of course there are many more things, but these are some that I cherish and am grateful for every day. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
It's Crazy Isn't It?
Jayjay
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
And Some Days Not So Normal
Have you ever read the poem May You Always Have Enough…by Patricia Bankhead. It reads as follows:
May you always have enough…
Joy to make you laugh
Hope to make you smile
Sorrow to keep you praying
Faith through your trials
Peace so you can rest
Pain to make you strong
Wealth to meet your needs
Friends to cheer you on
May God give you enough love from day to day
To help somebody else along the way
Well just a day after I had written about the greatness of a normal day, I had a not normal day. We had a situation at school, which was somewhat frightening, my oldest moved out (again), and many other little things, which were not normal, occurred. It reminded me of this poem because it made me think if we didn't have those days, which are "not normal", then we might not recognize the wonderful serenity that goes hand in hand with a normal day. I think this poem should also include the line "enough chaos to make normal seem like the best thing on earth".
It’s Crazy Isn’t It?
JayJay
May you always have enough…
Joy to make you laugh
Hope to make you smile
Sorrow to keep you praying
Faith through your trials
Peace so you can rest
Pain to make you strong
Wealth to meet your needs
Friends to cheer you on
May God give you enough love from day to day
To help somebody else along the way
Well just a day after I had written about the greatness of a normal day, I had a not normal day. We had a situation at school, which was somewhat frightening, my oldest moved out (again), and many other little things, which were not normal, occurred. It reminded me of this poem because it made me think if we didn't have those days, which are "not normal", then we might not recognize the wonderful serenity that goes hand in hand with a normal day. I think this poem should also include the line "enough chaos to make normal seem like the best thing on earth".
It’s Crazy Isn’t It?
JayJay
Monday, October 6, 2008
A Normal Day
Today was quite a normal day for me (whatever normal may be). I woke up at my normal time. I had a shower and ate my normal breakfast (cheerios). Then I did my normal things: dried my hair, makeup (not too much), brushed the teeth and got dressed. I woke my daughter up at her normal time and left for work at my normal time.
It was a normal day at school, some ups, some downs and things were normal for a Monday. I got home at my normal time and went about my normal getting supper ready, etc.
Sometimes normal is great.
It's Crazy Isn't It?
Jayjay
It was a normal day at school, some ups, some downs and things were normal for a Monday. I got home at my normal time and went about my normal getting supper ready, etc.
Sometimes normal is great.
It's Crazy Isn't It?
Jayjay
Friday, October 3, 2008
Friday Fill Ins
And...here we go!
1. October is full of colour, crisp air and that wonderful aroma that only occurs in the autumn.
2. Crazy drivers scare me!
3. Leaves are falling all around, it's a cornucopia of colour and texture and paints the earth with a carpet of warm tones.
4. My favorite horror movie is The Birds because it scares you without ghouls, goblins or psychotic serial killers .
5. Good food, good wine, good company = good memories.
6. It was a dark and stormy night and I was curled up with a good book seeking solace in it's pages.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include a trip to the Scarecrow Festival and Sunday, I want to go on a hike and enjoy the crisp fall air!
JayJay
1. October is full of colour, crisp air and that wonderful aroma that only occurs in the autumn.
2. Crazy drivers scare me!
3. Leaves are falling all around, it's a cornucopia of colour and texture and paints the earth with a carpet of warm tones.
4. My favorite horror movie is The Birds because it scares you without ghouls, goblins or psychotic serial killers .
5. Good food, good wine, good company = good memories.
6. It was a dark and stormy night and I was curled up with a good book seeking solace in it's pages.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include a trip to the Scarecrow Festival and Sunday, I want to go on a hike and enjoy the crisp fall air!
JayJay
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Now That Made My Day
You sometimes wonder, when you're in the teaching profession, if you ever really touch anyone or make a change, or even teach them something. It can at times be a lonely and thankless job, but then there are the bright spots.
I received an email today from a former student who is now in high school. I taught him math in both grades 8 and 9. The email was a thank you letter for being a great teacher and giving him the tools he needed to be successful in high school. Now, this student whom we will call Mr. Lazypants, is a very intelligent young man, but he wasn't the best at applying himself. He cruised through most of his early years in school just doing enough to get by. For some reason I saw the potential in this kid and really pushed him to challenge himself. No doubt, he resented the pushing at times, especially the after school detentions for not doing his work and the extra help sessions at lunch time or after school, but with maturity he has come to understand why I pushed so hard. This year he is taking advanced grade 10 math and told me in his email that he felt he was having success because I pushed him and made sure he knew his stuff. He has aspirations of becoming an engineer and I know he is capable.
It seems like a little thing to some, just one email, but to me it was reassurance that we do get through sometimes and it is worth the effort. We can't get them all, but we can get to some of them and when you hear from even one, it really makes your day. So go ahead write a letter to a former teacher whom you felt touched your life, it'll make their day too, I guarantee it.
It's Crazy Isn't It?
JayJay
I received an email today from a former student who is now in high school. I taught him math in both grades 8 and 9. The email was a thank you letter for being a great teacher and giving him the tools he needed to be successful in high school. Now, this student whom we will call Mr. Lazypants, is a very intelligent young man, but he wasn't the best at applying himself. He cruised through most of his early years in school just doing enough to get by. For some reason I saw the potential in this kid and really pushed him to challenge himself. No doubt, he resented the pushing at times, especially the after school detentions for not doing his work and the extra help sessions at lunch time or after school, but with maturity he has come to understand why I pushed so hard. This year he is taking advanced grade 10 math and told me in his email that he felt he was having success because I pushed him and made sure he knew his stuff. He has aspirations of becoming an engineer and I know he is capable.
It seems like a little thing to some, just one email, but to me it was reassurance that we do get through sometimes and it is worth the effort. We can't get them all, but we can get to some of them and when you hear from even one, it really makes your day. So go ahead write a letter to a former teacher whom you felt touched your life, it'll make their day too, I guarantee it.
It's Crazy Isn't It?
JayJay
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Speechless
Well I'd like to think of something earth shattering or incredibly motivating to say, but I'm just too tired. Busy day, week, month at school and I am just too tired to think tonight. I'm calling it a day and hopefully tomorrow I'll have more energy and will be able to come up with something better than this. Night-night all.
It's Crazy Isn't It
Jayjay
It's Crazy Isn't It
Jayjay
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
The Ocean Speaks
