Wow! It's been a long time since I've blogged. Sorry about that! Lots has been happening both good and not. Here are some bullets.
* I got a job teaching summer school! Then I lost the job teaching summer school because Otterbein screwed up my initial teaching license application. Grr! But maybe it's for the best
* I had an interview last week to work at a speech therapy intensive summer camp. It's sounds like fun and a great learning experience for me to gather ideas to work with my students! I should hear about that on Monday...fingers and toes crossed
* A mother at school is about to discover that I can live up to my name's meaning. Lion of God is not to be taken lightly nor to be taken advantage of. When it comes to abuse and injustice I can rear a pretty ugly head. She is making some ridiculous accusations against me and my classroom staff. Little does she know that I am the queen of taking RIDICULOUS amounts of documentation. Children's services will be investigating next week and let me say I have all of my ducks in a row.
*My brother is engaged! I am getting a new sister October 23rd and I am so excited for him! Who knew Seth would be the first to get married...I think most of us had our money on Alie.
* The stress from previously mentioned mother and the end of the year has led to a baking frenzy. Which is at least fun!
* My sister is having an art benefit for Cornerstone Children's Home in Sudan tomorrow at Wild Goose Creative for which I am making 4 dozen cupcakes (see the baking frenzy?). You should come on out...7-10 p.m. at Wild Goose there will be light food and sangria available for FREE!
* 10 days left of school this year and I cannot wait for this year to be over!

I am feeling a true burden to pray for children in this world...those who I know with great families and those who are struggling and hurting.

Last week was one of the most difficult weeks I've ever had. I saw a little boy's face bruised and beaten to the point of almost unrecognizable. I saw his brother with several cigarette burns on his little 3 year old body. And what did I have to do...I had to put them on a bus and send them back to that hellish home. But my God prevails even when I've given up hope and tonight those boys are safe and together in a foster home. Unfortunately, that home is in such a place that the boys can't come to my school anymore. All I can do is pray for the best outcome for them.

At church this weekend we were challenged to pray for those around us who are doing well, and not just those who aren't. So I've been praying for the children who have great families, homes, etc...May God continue to bless them and keep them safe.

Then I find this on another blog I follow and am called to pray for children I do not know.


This family has been through the hell of delivering a baby who died in the womb and now their precious new life has been diagnosed with EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa) This genetic disease causes the bodies skin to slough off at the slightest injury or bump. Little Jonah is in the NICU fighting for his life. Please join me in praying for this family. You can click on the Praying for Jonah link picture above to read more of their story.

So, the meeting on Friday went as well as could be expected. The parent mentor from the Ohio Coalition would bring up an issue and I or the school nurse would bring out all the documentation that refuted her claims. All I can say about that is that if you ever met the director of Special Education in Worthington you would know that all of her employees have their ducks in a row. The meeting did, however, raise several concerns for me about my little guy. It seems that his mother is over medicating him and making him eat til he gags--not cool. I will be contacting his doctor this week and possibly children's services--although I think we all know how I feel about the job they do.

In other news, I don't have to work today. Yay! Thank God for president's day. After all the stress leading up to last week's meeting I need an extra day in my weekend. I took the dog on an extra long walk this morning. Later I'm running to Michael's, JoAnn's, and the grocery. Yay for not having to grocery shop on the weekend!!! Best of all, my mom and I are going to Marcy's clayground (http://www.marcysclayground.com) to paint some pottery this afternoon. I love this place--it's so much more friendly and price conscious than Color Me Mine at Easton.

Church yesterday was awesome and I think it resonated with a lot of people. All I can say is I was extremely blessed to have 2 awesome parents who worked really hard at rearing their children to be their own people and guided us into a relationship with Jesus. Some people in my life are having really difficult parent issues and it was a good reminder to keep praying for them.

How is everyone else spending their President's Day?

My day started with one of my students coughing up blood. Not much makes me panic but that was a little scary. The work day ended with my cranky student having his best day ever!!--even saying a few words. SO EXCITING!

I love the weather right now--it's very British. Overcast, damp, but not below freezing--I love it! I took the dog on a long walk, knit 2 hats, and went grocery shopping :) Then I took another silly quiz online while I listened to the president's press conference. Here are my results...

Your result for The Heart Test...

Heart of Gold

Take The Heart Test at HelloQuizzy

Hi all,
I am so bad about updating here...sorry. Life has been moving along at a bullet train pace. I mean can you believe that we're already into February. Last week I sent home semester progress reports--the school year is half over! Yikes!

I have a meeting this Friday with the Ohio Coalition about a student whose mother is making completely unfounded statements about our school. Little does she know I have documentation coming out my ears that completely refutes all of her claims. Oy! At least now people understand why I keep such ridiculous amounts of documentation.

My boys at school are all doing quite well. They are learning to play with others and are finally starting to enjoy cooking. I mean, come on, I cook with them almost weekly. Last week was people puppy chow ( we called it snow mix) and this week is Valentine's cookies. It should be fun :)

My life outside of work (when I get one) is plugging along too. I spent last weekend celebrating my former assistant's engagement. This weekend I went to the CAEYC conference with the same former assistant. It was pretty fun :) Our last session was with Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld. If you ever get to attend something with her do it. It's fun to just be a goof for a couple of hours. She does some story times around Columbus at the local libraries over the summer so check her out if you can. She's a fun, older, Jewish hippy and she taught my art for the elementary teacher class at Otterbein.

Right now I am a knitting machine as I get ready to do a craft fair at Liberty Elementary with my sister on March 28th. This will be the first time we're doing something like this even though we say we're going to all the time. I'm excited for it.

Well, that's about it here. I am getting ready to watch the Grammys while I knit for the next couple of hours and then it's time to sleep so I'm ready for a new week. I hope everyone out there is doing well!

You Are an Argyle Sweater

You are contemplative, brainy, and serious. You don't take much lightly - life is too important for that. You are a very determined person. You don't let anything stand in your way. You think out your actions and act deliberately. You don't waste time, money, or resources.

I promise a real post tomorrow after I finish processing my early childhood conference from this weekend :)

2009 has started out with many ups and many downs...

I have had many friends go through heart breaking losses in regards to children. Whether it be children stuck in a foreign country and unable to come home due to corrupt governments or friends losing babies still in the womb or friends whose teenagers are stuck in a cycle of destructive behavior it has been a tough pill to swallow. So much hurt and attack on people who have nothing but God's heart and will in mind. I've spent many an hour praying because that's all I can do.

My new assistant started January 5th and she is fantastic! She is a Christian woman who has experience with special needs kiddos. She settled in in the first hour of class and hasn't looked back. She's so great and I'm so thankful that this was a seamless transition for my students and myself.

My dog had 2 seizures right before New Year's Eve and that was horrible. I was scared and didn't really know what to do with the first one. I spent 2 hours and $250 at MedVet for them to tell me "We're not sure but it could be epilepsy starting or it could be a reaction to something he ate." Oy! Now I'm watching him like a hawk when I'm home and hoping that it was just something he ate. Like the poor guy hasn't had a rough enough life as it is.

And, lastly, my family and I leave today for my twin cousins' bat mitzvahs in New Jersey. While I love being with my family the Jewish side lives a different lifestyle than my immediate family and it can be quite stressful so please pray for our weekend. I'm excited for the parties and going into NYC on Sunday! However, it is colder than cold outside (-10 with windchills at -25) and I have to wear a dress tomorrow morning! YIKES!

Everyone have a fantastic weekend! I'll try to write on Monday or Tuesday and recap the bat mitzvah festivities.

That's right...just crazy. I think I'm going to bullet this so it doesn't have to cohesive ;)
1) My little guy's dad has been arrested. This means that I will be subpoenaed. This means my classroom will be on a lock down for at least the next week. This means that my OT wants to buy me mace and a flak jacket. This means that when I drive around I have been told to watch my rear view mirror and go the closest police station if I am being followed. This is a good but scary thing.
2) We interviewed new assistants on Thursday. We found 2 good candidates out of 5 interviewees. The 2 good ones have experience, college degrees, and similar to beliefs to both me and Paige. Yay right?
3) No, not yay! Friday the jobs were offered to the 2 candidates. Paige's assistant accepted the position. My assistant did not. Grrr.... Oh well, I know this position pays less than her current position and I would guess that that's why she did not take it. I am trusting that God has a better plan in all of this.
4) I am almost done with Christmas shopping. Whew! I do still have a lot to do to assemble my homemade gifts though. We also have 4 gifts to make at school next week--there plans done :)
5) I finally got a my birthday gift from my best friend in NC. It's a fantastic gift of slipper socks too. I so love them. They are soft and toasty. (My birthday was in July--lol)
6) I went to a gold party last night with work friends. Many of them made 200+ dollars!!! My mom is having a party in January and I have found a few things to take with me. Is it bad to sell my high school class ring? I don't really see the need to keep it.
7) Here's to one more week until Christmas Break!

I got one of the best phone calls ever yesterday. The police detective on my little guy's case is pursuing child endangering charges against the little guy's parents. I know I shouldn't be happy about someone else's misfortunes but this guy needs to answer for what he's done. I have been praying, and crying, and crying out in prayer and it seems that SVU of the Columbus Police Department may just be my answer. Praise God!


I also have been having the best time at work with my little boys. They are growing up so quickly and I see new developments in them every week when I add up my data. It's so awesome. I'm sure that praying over them every day on the sly is helping. Public school means I have to be a little sneaky about this but I do it just the same.


My home group from church is awesome. I love them so much and feel like I have finally found somewhere that I fit. I am bringing them brownies tomorrow night--from scratch. I love baking.


If I had one big request right now it would be prayer that I find the right assistant on Thursday for my classroom. My beloved assistant, Laura, is leaving to finish her educator's license. We fought a good fight for her to be able to stay and just take a few weeks leave to no avail. So now I have to replace her--a feat that is virtually impossible :( Please pray that out of the field of 5 there are 2 viable candidates because my friend and co-worker Paige also has to replace her assistant who quit unexpectedly. Thanks in advance :)

Hi there,
Many of you have been following me on facebook and wanting clarification of my status lately. So, I think I've processed through enough to be able to type of most of it.
I have a student in my class who is one of those kids who grabs the heart of anyone who works with him. We have known from sometime that he lives a hellish existence at home. He has an abusive, alcoholic father and an abused, numbed out mom. He and his little brother are left to fend for themselves much of the time and are surprisingly resilient. I have called Children's Services about this family at least 6 times in the past year. This leads us to Wednesday.
Wednesday was AWFUL. My little guy (he's only 4) came to school with a broken nose and blood running down his face. Keep in mind-- he was put on the bus this way. His brother had thumb shaped bruises on both sides on his tiny face. So, I spent my Wednesday on the phone to Children's Services--who told me they probably couldn't send someone out that day. WHAT? So, I called the police (for the second time this year) to file an assault report for this child. The police came and immediately wanted to transport to the hospital--YAY! Then Children's Services calls back and speaks to the police officer and decide to come out themselves. It takes them an hour to arrive at school.
When they arrive they agree to transport to the Child and Family Advocacy center at Children's. They also notify me that they have already alerted the parents and will meet them at the hospital. FANTASTIC--give them 90 minutes to get their story straight. So, they take both boys after having to call for another car seat (duh, 2 kids under 5) Does anyone else see the incompetency I'm dealing with here? So, finally at 1:15 the boys are on their way to the hospital.
I get a call from a police officer at the hospital wanting me to send him the pictures I took of the boys injuries before we did any first aid. I email them to him. An hour later I get an email back that Children's Services is letting the boys go home with their parents. EXCUSE ME?!?! HOW?!? But the police are still investigating. WHA--????
So I cry about the injustice of it all. I cry because our system is so screwed up that unless a child is dying Children's Services doesn't have the man power to do anything. I cry for these boys who have so much potential and may never be able to reach it. I plot to take them away to Mexico, or Canada, or anywhere else even though it's ridiculous.
I start to feel better by Friday morning. Their mother is coming that day to get some free kitchen chairs I found for them since Dad has broken all of their old ones. Yes, you read that correctly. So, mom shows up at 11:00 to get the chairs and the younger boy (older one stays longer for school on Friday). She walks up with 2 black eyes...and the injustice of it all hits me all over again. She is battered, she is scared, she is screaming out for help in the only way she knows how--by dropping hints about broken chairs, by sending her children bloody and bruised to school--and she gets NOTHING but 2 black eyes.
So, I am now left asking WHY? and where is the justice? And how will Jesus help these people because I am broken and drained. So, that's the story behind my facebook status as of late.

Hi Friends,
I LOVE Christmas. I love giving gifts and taking the time to think about what to get people. I started making Christmas gifts over a month ago--everyone in my family gets something handmade :) Anyway, I follow a blog and found this there today


I've already signed up for it. It's an ornament exchange where you will get an ornament from someone, somewhere if you agree to buy an ornament too. The names will be drawn next Friday (the 14th) and ornaments should be sent by the end of Nov. so people can enjoy them. If you want to join just follow the above link. It promises to be fun :)

Sorry but this is going to be a bullet post...that's the way I roll right now!
* I am graduating two little guys from my class. Yay for them!!! They now have the right to be in a class with at least 50% typically developing peers. Yay for them!!! Really sad for me. I love these guys. One comes from a home that isn't a home and if I could I would take him home with me and keep him for the rest of his life--no joke.

*My assistant at work is leaving in December because she's back in school. Yay for her--again sad for me. I love her. She's awesome and she's going to make an awesome teacher in her own right. BTW, her supervisor right now for her field experience (in my classroom) SUCKS. I don't think she's ever really had any contact with severe autism.

*I have started on my Christmas gift projects. I am aware that it is only October but when you hand-make your gifts you have to start early. They are coming together pretty well. I think everyone is going to love them.

* I am going to the zoo for free tomorrow! It's a city-wide educator's professional development day and my contract (for various reasons) says I don't have to work. However, from 1-4 the zoo is open for free to educators with their ID badges! Yay for free stuff!!!

*I'm going to try to go to the pumpkin show for my first time ever this weekend!

I am fully back in the swing of school--even with the weird calamity days already. Yes that's right! I already had 3 calamity days due to Hurricane Ike hitting Columbus. I was without power for 28 hours--which is nothing compared ot the days that didn't have it for 7-8 days.

My students are doing amazingly well. I am surprised after having the whole summer off. I have learned to say "no", "stop", and "sit" in 4 languages. We're pretty well into the swing of things at school The routines are pretty set and I am graduated one of my kiddos to a more typical classroom in early October :) yay for him, sad for me.

There's not much else going on right now. I am excited for fall to come, for cool weather, apple picking, and trips to the pumpkin patch. Should be fun! I'll keep you posted.

This map is where my students are from this year. Notice I have 6 students and 6 countries colored in dark green. That's right--multi-culturalism is alive and well in Worthington.



For those of you who aren't inclined to be good at geography those countries are USA, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, India, and Japan (going from left to right across the map). This also means I have 6 different languages in my classroom. How fun! I made an Olympic display in my classroom with a paper doll for each student dressed in his country colors and holding his country's flag. Everyone loves it!

The places in the dark purple are where I've been. I have a lot of traveling to do.

Hi there. It's been forever and I'm going to try much harder to be more consistent this year. As you could probably tell, my work sometimes consumes me. Well this summer I go sucked into a black hole of work hell. I mean the crying everyday, working with difficult people, can't catch a break kind of work that zapped all of my energy for anything else. Now I've had time to process this suckiness I have learned some things this summer:

1. Work CANNOT become my life--it's too hard and takes too much of a toll on my body.

2. I am fearfully and wonderfully made to work with preschool aged children. I spent 5 of my 8 weeks this summer with older kids and honestly hated every minute of it. I wanted to work with a different age this summer. I wanted a change. Ha! No I didn't! The last 3 weeks I was moved to preschool and had a ball.

3. I can spend the majority of my day outside and not burn to a crisp. Of course, I have to apply SPF 50 every 2 hours but I can do it!

4. Shade is SO much cooler than in the sun even on a 90 degree day and it's even better if there's a breeze.

5. I absolutely LOVE my school year job and cannot wait to get back--even if it means summer is over.

Well, I've been tagged by David so here goes...

4 jobs i've had:
1.) Wal-Mart as the fitting room attendant/phone operator
2.) Red Roof Inns Reservation Phone line associate
3.) Care After School in Worthington as an assistant
4.) Education director at FCI, Too! Child Care Center--little bit of a culture shock

4 tv shows i'm watching:
1.) Lost which is now on a short hiatus--see me going through withdrawl
2.) Kyle XY which is over for the season--but is a great show anyway.
3.) Big Love when it's on--I find polygamy fascinating and creepy
4.) American Idol although I've been a bit bored thus far this season

4 places i've been:
1.) The Poconos--my grandparents used to have a house there.
2.) Paris, France on Spring Break
3.) London, England for 5 months as a study abroad experience. I miss it a lot.
4.) Most recently, Princeton New Jersey for a family reunion. Awesome architecture!

4 musical artists i'm listening to right now:
1.) The Swell Season
2.) Ronan Keating--gotta love those Irish singers
3.) Sugarland
4.) Arctic Monkeys

Now I'm off to enjoy some more of my spring break. I hope to post about the last few months in the next few days. Lets just say that life is better since we hired another teacher at work...Praise God!

Today was a quite welcome day off. Now the weather men are reporting that tonight it's going to snow until 1 a.m. and then it's all going to freeze. Tomorrow morning should be interesting--add another check to the pro list for living .8 miles from work.
I spent much of today not doing too much. I walked the dog in the nasty weather twice. I also saw Atonement today. It's an absolutely beautifully filmed and beautifully told story. I highly recommend it but keep in mind this is coming from an absolute britphile.
If you the praying type please pray for my work situation. There is some chaos coming down and they want to move assistants around (mid-year) which is absolutely crazy. Please pray that we can really see is right for these special students. Thanks!

Well, there's a lot going on right now but I haven't processed any of it enough to write it down. I spent last weekend sick and didn't feel 100% until Thursday. I had meetings all day Tuesday, an IEP after school on Thursday and interviews for a new assistant yesterday. It's been crazy and this upcoming week promises to be to. I have an IEP meeting after school Monday, a staff meeting Tuesday, a meeting after school Thursday, and a literacy workshop all day Friday. Oy vey! So, anyway, here 's the quiz I took. Apparently, I am 10:02 a.m.

So it's been forever since I've written. I think I'm going to have to bullet this one...
* My class is, for the time being, full. I have 8 little boys everyday and it's sheer insanity. I love it but it's running me ragged. We are getting a new assistant to help in the two structured classes soon.
*One of my student's dad, and only bread winner, has been incarcerated and their car impounded. Nothing is easy for these families--I mean nothing. My school community is amazing however and has raised over $500 dollars for the family plus a TON of groceries.
*We are adding another structured unit at school.Woohoo!!! So exciting and a little sad. I will lose 3 of my students and gain one who is starting new. I'll keep the young kids (all 3 right now) which I love. They have so much potential. They're bright and if I can get them communicating we'll be money!
*I am going to start working in the 18-36 month old nursery at church which is so exciting. After 6 years of working with middle schoolers at my old church it's time for a change.
* My assistant got into Otterbein to get her special ed. certification. I am SO excited for her. She's amazing and she'll be great. It means I'll lose her soon but I'm so happy for her. She'll be fantastic and pretty much already has a guaranteed job!

I promise I'll post again more soon. TTFN!