I took this weekend off. We had Parent/Teacher conferences on Monday and Wednesday night. We had our BGSU class Tuesday night, and I stayed late Thursday doing lesson plans and making copies for this week. It was a long week. Saturday, my daughter came over with her boyfriend, his son, and their daughter- one of my beloved grand-babies. They were going to ride four-wheelers Saturday with my husband and I was watching Addy- 2 years old. I clearly had the best of the deal. We played, she napped, I did laundry, I picked out articles for my BGSU paper, we played some more, and then everybody came back. My husband had put on a pot of chilli before they left, and my son joined us for dinner. Then at 6:00 the fun continued- trick-or-treat. We sat on the front porch of the funeral home- my husband is a funeral director and we live in the apartment upstairs- and passed out candy. Addy was going trick-or-treating Wednesday. So, she helped pass out candy with us. Sometimes, you just have to take a break from the merry-go-round of life, and be a real person, and have fun. I had a lot of fun this weekend. I love my family and wouldn't trade them for the world- at least this past weekend.

I love to read. I have my favorite authors; some romance, but mostly mysteries. I have read science fiction type mysteries, humorous mysteries, and mysteries that make you think. I have also read other types of genres. I read a book that was fiction, but based upon one of the kings in the Bible. I have read poetry, biographies, but I really do love mysteries. I want my students to find that joy, too. This year's students seem to enjoy being read to, and I think they enjoy reading, too. My reading groups are broken up into three groups. I have one group meeting with me, one at the computers doing Read Naturally, and one sprawled out on the carpet reading from their baggie books. They must record the page they start and leave off on every day, as well as, the title of their book. When they finish reading their book, they write me a letter in their Reader's Notebook and tell me about their book, the genre, what they liked about their book, etc. I hope I am encouraging a love for reading. I am thinking about having them do something with the computer after they finish a book this quarter...perhaps a comic strip type book report, or maybe we could have a sit-in where we just discuss the book we are reading. Or perhaps they can write a blog and post it outside the room. I hope I am helping them to become lifelong readers, not readers who read to pass a test.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow We were driving home in the rain when we spotted this rainbow. The picture doesn't do it justice. It was a double rainbow, actually, and the colors were so vivid! I love rainbows. It reminds me of being a kid again and seeing them. I remember sharing them with my children, and one day, I know I'll share them with my grand-babies. I hope to be able to share the story behind the rainbow with them just like I did with my own children. Promises are what keeps us going in life. God made us a promise. Jesus made us a promise. And if I can hang in their and finish my classes, BGSU has made me a promise- I'll have a Master's degree. I just need to finish the race and keep my eyes on the prize. I was so stressed out, as I left my classroom for the weekend. I had so much to do, and my husband and I had plans of socializing with other couples. After seeing that rainbow, I relaxed and thought everything will work out. I just need to breathe and take time to enjoy the rainbows.

Help, I'm Drowning!

I am so overwhelmed with paper work. I have papers to grade and papers to pass back to students. I assessed all of my students over the past two weeks, and must put their assessments on a reading and math report for the parents at parent/teacher conferences. I must get my binder ready and all of my data to share with the parents. I need to post all of their grades. My book bags, desks- at school and home- overfloweth. On the bright side, as long as I don't go under for the third time, I guess I can look at it as job security.