Spring has Sprung

Pardon the pun, but Spring has indeed spring. Teaching 12 year olds with hormones running amok? OMG!! Yes, sunshine brings out the best and worst in them. Whining because they want to be outside in the sun, but complaining that it is too hot in the classroom. Hello...however hot it is in here, it is cooler than outside.

Then today (after 4 days of grueling heat with mugginess) what do we get? Yep, torrential rain! WELCOME TO OREGON! It's like living in a bi-polar weather system.

It's fine...I will make it. Only 15 more days until school is out. (school days that is!) I am getting ready for the marathon in October (well, you wouldn't really know it from my lack of working out), but I am getting my butt moving!

Here's to spring and summer...eating right, getting in shape...getting control of it all!

One step at a time!

Shannon

Getting Fit?

Well, I am on a mission...a mission to get fit. Here's how that looks for me:

1. Walking on Wednesdays/ Fridays and Saturdays with the HB Lee-er's.

2. Being part of the HB Lee Biggest Loser Club

3. Eating Healthy

Yep...That's my plan! :)

Shannon

I am slow but steady

Okay...long ago I said thast I was going to start writing in the blog again! My life is crazy! Yet, every B day (at school) I manage to update the blog for my students but not this one.

NEW COMMITMENT:

Update this blog every B Day!

Here I go!

The tragedy of loss

Life is an odd thing...I mean I know that this is obvious, you take what is thrown at you...

The last few weeks have been strange, ones that I wouldn't want to go through again. An acquaintance of ours committed suicide, leaving a wife and two small children. My husband is very close to his father. It has been tragic! What gets you to that point when you feel like there is no hope? That the love you have for your family isn't enough? I can't imagine. It's sad...

It does make one ponder,,,life is precious. To watch others suffer because they can't even grasp what it was to make this man take his life is beyond tragic. It is horrible. To watch our friend sob at the funeral, trying to say how much he loved his son, his first born, was heart wrenching.

I hope to never have to see that again.

Tragic, dead at 37.

I'm baaaaccccckkkk!

So after many moons, I am finally back. I don't have new years resolutions...just a plan.

I am choosing my life this year. Now, don't get me wrong...it's not some fatalistic wow, my life sucked last year (or the year before) kind of thing, but rather an enlightening moment that I had. Okay, be prepared for what may sound like a really dumb thought, but I really realized that this is it...my only life. I talk about the things that I think would be great or fun to do, but then life happens and then the time has passed. I can't get it back, that time I've wasted, but I can choose something different this year.

I love my job. Teaching middle school has both aggravated me and invigorated me. I look at the kids and shake my head in wonder. What makes them think? Do they think?

This year has been crazy...I am teaching math, teaching Lee Academy (and after school program), and taking classes toward my Masters in Teaching Math. This term I am taking 6 graduate credits. I may decide that I am crazy! Time will tell!

All is going well at this end of the world. Adam did well in his first quarter at Southern Oregon, Stesha did great at PCC, Simon is loving high school, and Javad is doing well in Kindergarten.

I will be writing more about Javad o his blog...check it out for more information!

Live, love, choose!

Shanno

Hello from Middle School

What is there to say? Twelve year olds crack me up! I am sorry that I have been away for so long...It has been a crazy year. Two weeks before school started I transferred to teach 7th grade math. It has been awesome, I love the kids, David has been awesome in support, but I am working like crazy. I am also teaching an afterschool program twice a week....

Adam left in August to attend Souther Oregon University. He is loving it and it is going well. The classes he took in high school have bumped him to sophomore status winter term. He is excited about that! He has decided to major in computers, an awesome choice...

Stesha is finishing her associates this year at PCC. School is going really well for her. She was accepted into a program called the Illumination Project which writes and performs plays dealing with oppression, racism, etc. She is very excited about this...She is looking into majoring in psychology and becoming an art therapist. She is looking at four year colleges to transfer to next year.

Simon has started his freshman year at Clackamas. He ran cross country in the fall, plays in the band, and is generally having a great time!

Javad started kindergarten at Cascade Heights Public Charter School this fall. It has been really great, they are working with us to make it successful and HE LOVES SCHOOL!!!

I promise to keep blogging. I had gotten caught astray..

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving...

Shannon

My triumphant retrun

Well, It has been almost a month since my return home. Let's see...what has happened?

1. I survived math camp (and the dreaded LF)!
2. Loved my math classes, didn't so much love leadership (shocking!)
3. Transferred jobs (from high school to middle school!)
4. We bought an RV
5. Have spent a heinous amount of time moving crap from one school to another!

Life just rolls on!

Math Camp

Okay, so maybe I haven't really been updating regularly. It could be a combination of homeowrk, Big Brother and Harry Potter. Yes I am indeed reading while I can. I try to get my homework done, which I should be doing now, and then do some reading. I am on page 477 (as of now!) and can't wait to read more! The book is awesome. A definite reread! Well, I am sorry that I am making it short...I will update in a day or so, but discrete math and data/ statisitcs await me! Oh...let's not forget leadership (ugh!).

Back to school again...so soon!

Well, the time is here again...time to pack my car (and my fan, clothing, refrigerator, and school supplies) and head down to Corvallis, Oregon (home of Oregon State Unviersity...national baseball champions...The Beavers) for what has "lovingly" come to be called Math Camp.

This is indeed the final year of the three week school experience. This summer I will be taking Discrete Math and Statistics (oh, let's not forget the pretty much useless...Leadership). I do get 9 graduate credits for free as well as a stipend. Sometimes I am not sure that outweighs 7 hours of class and a bunch of homework.

I do get to hang out with my friends and in a weird, warped way it is a fun experience. At least in a school, brain cramping, shed a few tears way...

I will update regularly! Off to mathing!

Cathlin and I are going on a road trip tomorrow to Seattle. We have the opportunity to attend a free workshop at Microsoft for two days. It will be interesting. Again, not tons of stuff that applies to high school, but it should be okay. We'll try it out this year and decide if we want to invest any extra energy in it next year!

Life as a roller coaster

Sometimes I feel like I am at the top of the coaster with my eyes covered waiting for the car to go over the edge. When it does, I am hurtling downward, not knowing when, and if, I am going to go back up again. I hear the screams around me, people anticipating the movement and I tense up, waiting for the next move. Before I know it, the car comes to a sudden stop, giving me whiplash. I take the covering off my eyes and there is a nice man holding his hand out saying, "Have a nice day."

"Have a nice day?" That is not what I am feeling...the adrenaline is rushing through my blood...I am crossing between angry and terrified. Do I know what I am feeling? No! I am rushing our of control, trying to keep my head on straight and my emotions under control.

Tomorrow's ride? To be continued!

Not quite back in the swing...

So we returned home last sunday and have I unpacked yet? Nope...luggage still on the bedroom floor, laundry still in hampers around my house! At least they are still clean and folded.
This day has been crazy...I took Javad to the Casey Eye Clinic for his first eye exam...His vision is horrible...the prescription for his visin is -6.50. WOW! I don't know what that converts to...(20/???), but I suspect it is pretty bad!
Tomorrow I drive Stesha to the coast to counsel Girls Camp...eight 4 - 6th grade girls...I don't think for me, but for Stesh..great! The next week she is counseling at MDA camp. She should have a blast on both counts!
Well, off to bed!

Orcas Island...long awaited vacation!

So, David and I leave on the 20th for a long awaited..long overdue vacation. So we drive from Portland to Anacortes, which is a lot farther from Seattle than I thought! Okay, it's over an hour...but we made the 3:30 ferry to Orcas Islan, located in the San Juan Islands. This photo shows our view as we ride on the ferry...gorgeous!

An eighty minute ferry ride, stopping at Shaw Island and Lopez Island first, finally arriving at our destination...Orcas Island. Orcas Island seemed quaint and beach-town like..laid back...beautiful. We could tell from the beginning that this was going to be exactly what we need!

We get in our car (it is on the ferry after all!) and drive to the opposite side of the island from the ferry. Imagine our delight when we arrived at the Resort at Deer Harbor and saw this fabulous view from our private deck which had a two-person hot tub. Going into the hot tub overlooking the bay became a nightly ritual! It was so quiet...we could see the stars, hear crickets...beautiful!

Okay, so the downside a little was that we were almost out of gas from driving from Portland and then on the island during day one. We searched around the island (using our handy dandy map provided by Washington State Ferry.) and found this gas station. First our eyes opened wide when we saw the price. OMG!!!$3.84 a gallon? At home I was complaining that we were still over $3.00, but I shall complain no more! Needless to say, $40 later, we were on our way! I guess when you live on a small island, gas can be more expensive...you use less! Food was expensive (almost $80 for one dinner...this is definitely a vacation...thank goodness the lodging was nearly free...time share! :) and gas crazy expensive, but the time we spent together...priceless! More pictures to come tomorrow!

Congrats OSU

Finally,

Go Oregon State Beavers! National College Baseball Champions!

Thank you for being the school where my grandparents met...I wouldn't be here without you!

The Return...

After almost four blissful days of vacationing (pictures to be uploaded later!), we returned to the following:

1) Somewhat annoyed teenage girl

2) Somewhat anxious teenage boy

3) VERY HAPPY five year old boy

4) Two bb holes in our kitchen window

After leaving Orcas Island, where life is slow paced and peaceful, and coming to a screeching halt in Seattle traffic, then home....

I can see why living on Orcas would be awesome! I guess I'll need to vacation about 12 times a year!

Finally, a getaway!

On Wednesday, David and I are going to do something unprecedented since the birth of Javad. We are going away.

We are packing our bags, driving to the Orcas Islands, and enjoying three blissful days together, just David and I. This vacation is an opportunity to reconnect. We are staying in what might be a rustic room, with a hot tub looking out on the harbor. I am hoping for relaxing and spending time together. I am expecting blissful time together!

For those who know us, you know that it takes a village to make this happen. Susanne (my mom) and Megan (my sister) are generously taking two nights to come and spend it with Javad so we can go away. It is a gift...they may never truely know how much of a gift it is for us to be able to get away.

Here's to vacations...

Transitions

Sometimes in life, you look back on the path you have been in wonder. Adam, our oldest, is getting ready to graduate. Adam has been living with us for just over four years. What a different path he is on.

Adam graduated with an excellent GPA, ran cross country, was involved in a variety (sometimes too many) school activities. Now he is transitioning toward college, Southern Oregon University, and the life that is ahead.

How far we have come and how far we still have to go...

Simon enters high school next year, Stesha is finishing her associates, and finally, Javad starts kindergarten.

Life is moving forward, although in ways it is standing still...

Life is lifing...we are moving forward...I am along for the ride!

A wave of sadness from afar...

Sam

Today, I received some sad news..

Sam, the son of a friend, passed away this morning from complications of Myotubular Myopathy, the disease that affects Javad...

You can see from his picture that he was cute as a button. His little body just gave out..fighting for many months in this earthly place. Sam represents many on our group, his life, his death. It comes suddenly without warning and the air is sucked out of the room.

As a parent of a child with a life threatening disease, there is a certain amount of guilt whenever a child dies. You feel the burden of sadness for the family, so deep that it is like someone you knew and held passed away. Another wave of relief passes over you, that it was not your child.

Words cannot begin to describe the guilt in this paradoxical situation. Sam is the second child to pass away this week. Tom passed away earlier this week. He was almost four. Sam was not quite 2.

Death is unfair, it takes some too soon. There are no answers to the many questions that are in the air. I have no answers...

All I think and hope is that Sam and Tom are running free. Standing tall, holding hands, running through the grass, feeling it on their feet, their lungs healthy and strong, muscles healthy and strong.

Tom

Fly free angels...hold hands, laugh together, run...fly angels, fly...

More birthday news

Okay...the weekend was great! Javad slept through the cruise (he stayed up the night before!) and we had a great luncheon today!

Pictures to follow!

Shannon

Memorial Day & Birthday Parties

This weekend is my grandfather's 90th birthday celebration. His birthday is not until next week, but we are having a celebration this weekend. My cousin is coming with her baby son from Florida, my other cousin is coming from California. My grampa's sister is coming and my dad's cousin. It will be quite the event!

Tomorrow we go on a river cruise and Javad is coming. More boat trips for him! :)

It'll be great!

Pictures to come!