Heartache

Yesterday was a sad day. Collin came to the 9th grade awards assembly to tell me that his girlfriend, Dylan, had broken up with him. He was very upset and hearbroken.
It got me thinking about my love in high school. I really don't remember hurting that bad at the end of my relationships. Was I hard hearted or, maybe, just ready for the relationship to end? Could I really feel LOVE or have a damaged heart because of divorce?
I can't answer these questions nor do I care these days. I know that I can feel love now and have a loving heart and spirit. This is all because of the grace of God. If you trust Him, God can heal anything. That is what I tried to tell Collin yesterday. He is such a special guy that feels with all he has. I pray that this hurt doesn't damage his heart and spirit.
I will tell you this. You have never hurt as bad as when you have seen your child with a broken heart.

OYE Yipee!

This is spring break, but more importantly, it's the Oklahoma Youth Expo!I love that show. The best of the best kids from across the state come to compete with thier livestock. From what I've seen, the animals are only vehicles to get the kids together. Lifelong friendships are made in that barn and showring. I've been a part of that for a long time now and can atest to that. The showring has brought my husband and I friends that we talk to on a regular basis and love dearly. The OYE is an awesome place to spend time with these people and root their families on. I bleed the blue and gold of the FFA and believe every kid should be raised in a barn!

Pioneer Woman?

I love the pioneer woman....Ree Drummund. I was introduced to her through her cookbook that kk got me for my birthday. I knew after reading that cookbook that I could really relate to her. Living in the country, having onery country kids, liking to cook, and loving animals. I visit her website and read her blog quite a bit. I was doing so a few minutes ago and thinkng, "wow, it'd be neat to live on a ranch like Ree does". Then I looked up to a sow staring at me through the patio door! Ugh! I don't know why she broke out, or why she had freed every other pig on the place. I did know that, being home by myself, I was going to have to capture them all. Reba and I did it with not too much trouble. I wonder of Ree ever has to pen up escapees? I bet not.

Is God Real?

I see people doing mean things to other people all the time. Being uncompassionate and hurting others, even when they know what they are doing. It makes me sick. I can get so mad at those mean people and hurt for the ones being hurt. You know what rarely crosses my mind? What that hurt does to God. Why can't I hurt for what those actions do to Him? I can when I think on it for a while, but why is that not my first reaction? I say God is the most important to me...but is He really?

It's Friday! For a 4 day week this has been a long one! Tuesday ended very badly! Gossip in the church is so hurtful! I wish everyone would just go straight to the individual instead of asking other people if they have heard this or that! I think people mean well most of the time. At least, I'd like to think that of my Christian friends.

Our Superintendent has called a district wide meeting after school next Wednesday. I'm sure it's going to be about budget cuts. I think she is going to tell us we have to start saving money in areas of the district. I could really give her some ideas on saving money. Not that I can see the whole picture or anything, but I do see ways on my campus.

How about getting rid of some of the programs that we are using, or not using, in the district? We pay a lot of money to Pearson for Benchmark testing that none of us has been able to access all year. You know what? Our kids are still learning what they are supposed to learn. We also pay for Curriculum Mapper. I, and the teachers I talk to, make their maps at the beginning of the year and don't look at them until the next year. Now, how is that helping my students. You know what? Our kids are still learning what they are supposed to be learning.

How about going to a 4 day week? Lots of schools and business's are doing it and it's saving them money. Here, we are so ahead on our minutes, that all we would really have to do is shorten lunch. Which should be done anyway. I know what you are saying. "What about my kid? What am I going to do with him on Fridays?!" Well, what did you do with him on Christmas break? I don't know when schools started catering to whatever the parents wanted to do. Schools used to just make the rule and that was how it was. The community adjusted. I long for those days when school was the most important thing a kid did and parents did whatever they had to do to keep them in school.

Anyway, I don't feel like this meeting will bring on the kind of changes we need. Yes, I have sadly lost faith in our Superintendent. I just pray that Wednesday she redeems herself.

It is so cold outside! I am really getting tired of this weather. The dog has to go out every hour or so, but it does get me outside in the fresh, frigid air. Probably good for my health.

God has taken care of us so well during this cold snap. The pigs have all stayed warm, the pipes have all stayed thawed out, and our electricity never went out! We are so blessed.

I have got to start on Collin's FFA scrapbook! It is due in a couple of weeks! Ugh! I hate scrapbooking! Especially one this emotional.

Wow! I am blogging! I have wanted to write for a long time. I think it would be neat to write a book. I really am not very good at writing so this is probably as close as I will get to it. :)
I think writers need to write. It offers some kind of release for them. I wish it could be a release for me. Maybe if I start blogging it become one. Who knows?

I really wish my students could blog in class. All the blogging sites are blocked by out administrators. It would be so good for the students to practice thier writing in a published forum, but alas, our school board deems it dangerous. Oh well, maybe someday.