Taking a Web 2.0 Class

As a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher I am able to take some classes free of charge about technology. I also get clock hours, which is great! So the next few posts will be while I am taking this class. Tonight is on "How to create a blog". Hopefully I will have some good ideas to post for everyone.

Jessa Update #3

I finally got a response from Jessa's dad on Thursday night about private school. He said yes and even gave me his portion of the registration and testing fee! I registered her on Friday. She still has to be tested for placement. I don't know if she will start there this week or if we will just wait until next Monday, which is the beginning of a new month (that would be March!).

I am feeling pretty good about this decision. I still have my doubts, but I think she needs a drastic change and this is the best I have right now. She has been doing very well at her current school, but I still think she is the best thing for her. My plan is to take it slow over the next 4 months and see how the rest of the year goes. If I see a big change then we will keep her there for next year.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and concern. Please put this issue on the long-term prayer list.

Jessa Update #2

Thank you everyone for your prayers! Jessa started at her new school on Monday. She really likes her new teacher. She had a pretty good week, but I am still searching for the best place for her right now. I have looked at all three private schools and have narrowed it down to the one less than a mile from our house. I went and got the paper work and toured the building. I even got to meet who her new teacher would be. We had a really nice talk. I was telling her that Jessa can not handle all the drama and she said, "The thing I like about teaching her as opposed to the public school, is that when a child is struggling with something I can take them aside and pray with them." Sold to the person with the right words this mama needed to hear!

I talked with Jessa's dad about it and let him know I was not going to pay for school on my own. He is all for this school since his 22 year-old girlfriend is a graduate from there and in fact wanted me to send her there at the beginning of the school year. Then when I said it would cost each of us $1,150 over the next four months and that I wanted to change the child support order to reflect his portion, he wasn't as "in" as before. He said he needed to the weekend to think about it.

So that is where we are at. I am sorry I didn't post earlier. It has been a very long week for me and I am still emotional over last Thursday night. I have talked with Jessa's counselor twice this week and he has assured me she is doing ok.

I am very thankful to be surrounded by people who love us and truly care about the well-being of my family. Thank you again!

Jessa Update

Thank you Kim and Rachel (the two people who read my blog) for your prayers and support today. Boy could I feel it.

Today has been an exhausting day, but I think we have made some decent decisions. Both principals at Jessa's old school and her new school were wonderful in expediting the paperwork so that she could start school at the new school on Monday.

I have looked into 3 private schools today, one in each Tri-City. The one in Pasco isn't taking students for this school year. The one in Kennewick has a 4th/5th combo class of 19 and surprisingly the one in Richland has two 4th grade class of only 15 students each! I was very surprised by this. I had a brief phone call with Jessa's dad and it went fine. We are going to talk more this weekend.

I got to meet Jessa's new teacher. Funny thing is she used to work with Kevin at the Spudnut Shop! She seems full of energy. Jessa got to spend a fun day with her grandma Marcia baking valentine goodies and is spending the night there tonight.

Thank you for listening and praying. We still have a long road, but I am glad the decision to leave is over. We will see how the next couple of weeks go.

Just when I thought it couldn't get worse...

Thanks Kim and Rachel for your encouragement. The school situation got extremely worse today. I can't bear to write what Jessa said to me, but she will not be returning to her school. She has an appt in the morning with her counselor and then she is going to stay with her grandparents until I get done teaching for the day. Hopefully her transfer papers will go through by the end of the day tomorrow and she will be at a different public school by Monday. If not I will have to find somewhere for her to go during the day until then.

I am in the process of looking at private school options, but obviously that kind of change takes more than a day. I still have to talk with her counselor after her appt. tomorrow and then there is the task of talking with her dad. A prayer request in itself.

My heart is broken right now. I need your prayers.

Not feeling very positive...

As all of you know, there are times when being a mom is just down-right hard! Right now is one of those times for me. My daughter Jessa, is 9 years-old and in the 4Th grade. This has been a very difficult year at school for her. There has been the over abundance of girl drama, "You're not my friend today" garbage. Then there was the choking incident in December. Yes, you read it right, a girl at school was not very happy with my daughter and wrapped both her hands around Jessa's neck and shook her, thus the definition of choking someone. It's a much longer story than that and really not worth repeating, but she was NOT injured and the girl's story makes my children's' experience seem like a pony ride!

Jessa has been going to counseling for almost 6 months now and it has truly made a world of difference for her. Plus my advice is EVERY child whose parent's get divorced should do counseling. Jessa has learned some great coping skills and has really learned how to express and communicate her feelings and thoughts. We have been having a lot of conversations about school lately. We almost moved her to a different public school during Christmas Break, but at the last minute Jessa decided she wanted to give it one last shot.

A month later it is apparently obvious that this is wrong environment for my daughter. The problem is I have no clue what the answer is!!! I NEED a strong and definite answer from the Lord on this one. We could move her to another public school, but which one is a big question. I have explored the Private school option, but with me only on a part-time contract, I just don't know. Plus there is transportation issues and sometimes I don't know if private school is the answer. Home-schooling is not even an option.

So right now I am feeling helpless. It's a terrible feeling when you know the environment your child is in every day is hurting her growth and ability to learn. You want to do anything for your children and move earth if you must. I don't have the answer and I need one fast!

I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Prayers are coveted, especially.

Brought to You by the Letter "K"

I'm playing along with my bloggy friend, Jill, who was playing along with her bloggy friend Jamie in a little word game. I LOVE game shows and record Pyramid from the Game Show network twice a day! It looked like fun, so I decided to join in.

Here's how it works: If you want to play, leave a comment on this post letting me know, and I’ll assign you a letter. You write about ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter, and post it at your place. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on...Jill assigned me the letter "K". So here it goes, the first one is obvious...

Kevin - That would be my amazing husband. We have been married for 20 months. He makes me smile. For those of you who don't know, he was my son's (Jacob) little league baseball coach. He fell madly in love with me, swept me off my feet by being grounded. It's a great story, I will post it sometime.

Kit Kat - Every once in awhile one of these sweet chocolate wafer candy bars entices me at the check stand. I especially loved the one time I found it in dark chocolate!

Kids - Especially my own. Jacob is 12, Joel is 11 and Jessa is 9. They are such a blessing and I appreciate them more everyday. I realize some of you are wondering if anymore "kids" are in the future. God is the creator of humor, so I won't rule it out...

Kiss - I love that all my kids still want to give me kisses at night. Jacob on the cheek, but I will take what I can get. And my hubby, well let's just say the kids have been gone all weekend! :)

Knitting - I would love to learn how, but this left-handed gal has never been able to figure it out! If you are a great knitter and love a challenge, let me know.

Kaye - This is my middle name. My mom took the "e" from Juli and placed it on my middle name to make Kay"e". I have always loved my middle name because when someone asks what it is, I say it starts with "K" and they spend the next 5 minutes naming ever other name, but Kaye!

Kitten - I love Cats! Kitten are great, but I prefer to not have them live with me until they are considered a cat. Too many sleepless nights and if I wanted that, I would have more kids! My hubby is giving me a kitten for Valentine's Day and I am very excited. He is still picking it out, so if you know of a wonderful kitty/cat that needs a home, look no further!

Koala Bears - This was my favorite animal growing up (now it is Polar Bear). I remember when we went to the San Diego Zoo when I was 9, that was all I was interested in. I loved those little guys!

Karat - As in my beautiful wedding ring. I adore my ring. Whenever someone gives me a compliment on it, I can't help but say, "I know! Isn't it beautiful?!" My husband is the best!


Anyone else want to play?

It only took 10 days

Yes, my dear friends the toilet paper has been put away! PRAISE THE LORD! Not only was it put away, but my hubby decided he didn't like where I was putting it and rearranged the shelving. The TP is now on the very top of the bookcase where I believe only he is going to be able to get it without knocking things over, but he did it himself; I am so proud. I knew he could do it. I released control of where the tp goes, which for those who know me know control is my favorite hobby!

TP saga over for now, hopefully forever.