Insomnia has declared itself to be my new best friend. I'm thrilled. </sarcasm>
This past week has been hard on me. But rather than delve into details (did you like that alliteration?), I'll just leave you with a few thoughts/quotes that have kept me going...
- Don't make someone your priority when you're only their option.
-There has to be a breaking point for this bad luck streak.
-"What would you think of me? So lucky, so strong, so proud. I never said thank you for that... Now I'll never have a chance. May angels lead you in, hear you me my friends. On sleepless roads the sleepless go, may angels lead you in." - Jimmy Eat World
For those of you who choose to pray, please offer up a prayer to whomever for myself and my family. We desperately need it.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Day 62: Bragging Rights
Excuse me while I brag a bit on behalf of my husband. :)
Arron was recently chosen out of his squadron for a lunch meeting with Command Sgt Major Hill, the highest enlisted member under General Petraeus in Afghanistan. Arron was the only one picked out of his squadron, and only 15 people were picked from Bagram Air Base overall.
This also makes the second coin he's gotten in less than a year--he was coined when he was in Sweden by a two-star general, and now he was coined by a Command Sgt Major. Getting coined is a big deal in the AF, especially when it's someone high-ranking. :)
Anyway, I just wanted to boast for him a bit. So proud of everything he's done. ♥
Arron was recently chosen out of his squadron for a lunch meeting with Command Sgt Major Hill, the highest enlisted member under General Petraeus in Afghanistan. Arron was the only one picked out of his squadron, and only 15 people were picked from Bagram Air Base overall.
This also makes the second coin he's gotten in less than a year--he was coined when he was in Sweden by a two-star general, and now he was coined by a Command Sgt Major. Getting coined is a big deal in the AF, especially when it's someone high-ranking. :)
Anyway, I just wanted to boast for him a bit. So proud of everything he's done. ♥
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Day 59: Love & Logic
A few months ago, our youth program staff began a series of training seminars titled "Love & Logic." The premise of the seminars was to reduce stress on adults and to have more fun, while still raising responsible kids. Children know what buttons to push to get their way, and they certainly use them. L&L's aim is to reduce backtalk and arguments between children and adults, and help children solve their own problems without much adult interference/help.
I must admit--at first, I was highly skeptical of L&L. Many of the things we were taught went against (what we thought was) common sense. However, a few weeks into the six-week course, it dawned on me--this was so much easier than our old ways! L&L teaches adults how to help children fix their own problems and make their own disciplinary actions without us having to stress about how to discipline a child.
The following is copied from the L&L website:
When adults take care of themselves, they hand the problem back to the student who created it.
When the student has to solve the problem, they have to think.
When students have to think, they learn that decisions have consequences.
When students have to deal with consequences, they learn to think.
When we allow the student to deal with the consequences, they learn to think before they cause a problem.
When the student learns to ask themselves, "How is my behavior going to affect me?" they have learned self control.
As I said before, I was skeptical. Today was our last Love & Logic meeting as a wrap-up for any last questions or comments, and we all looked around the room and realized how much we have reduced the stress level in our facility for staff and children alike. Honestly, before, there were days that I hated going to work because I knew some of our kids would be argumentative and I just didn't want to deal with it. Now, we all have the ammunition (so to speak) under our belts to deal with situations and diffuse the problems quickly.
To those who are planning on being teachers or who already are--check out Love & Logic. It's amazing.
To all of the AYP staff...
That's a bummer!
I must admit--at first, I was highly skeptical of L&L. Many of the things we were taught went against (what we thought was) common sense. However, a few weeks into the six-week course, it dawned on me--this was so much easier than our old ways! L&L teaches adults how to help children fix their own problems and make their own disciplinary actions without us having to stress about how to discipline a child.
The following is copied from the L&L website:
When adults take care of themselves, they hand the problem back to the student who created it.
When the student has to solve the problem, they have to think.
When students have to think, they learn that decisions have consequences.
When students have to deal with consequences, they learn to think.
When we allow the student to deal with the consequences, they learn to think before they cause a problem.
When the student learns to ask themselves, "How is my behavior going to affect me?" they have learned self control.
As I said before, I was skeptical. Today was our last Love & Logic meeting as a wrap-up for any last questions or comments, and we all looked around the room and realized how much we have reduced the stress level in our facility for staff and children alike. Honestly, before, there were days that I hated going to work because I knew some of our kids would be argumentative and I just didn't want to deal with it. Now, we all have the ammunition (so to speak) under our belts to deal with situations and diffuse the problems quickly.
To those who are planning on being teachers or who already are--check out Love & Logic. It's amazing.
To all of the AYP staff...
That's a bummer!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Day 56: Mother's Day
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Day 55: Birthday Parties and Softball
55 days today! Which means I'm almost a third of the way done. Woohoo!
Thursday night (Cinco de Mayo) was a friend from work's birthday, and we celebrated by going to karaoke. Lots of fun was had by all! And I might have even sung a few group songs... ;)
This is Bill. He runs karaoke on Thursday nights, and we're BFF's when we're drunk. :)
Breanna, one of the few people here who is keeping me sane. :)
Today we were supposed to have an all-day softball tournament. It ended up being a really drawn-out deal with 8 teams and double elimination on one field. We lasted two games and were out. I don't really want to talk about it. But I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to walk tomorrow...
Anyway, that's all for tonight. Ciao!
Thursday night (Cinco de Mayo) was a friend from work's birthday, and we celebrated by going to karaoke. Lots of fun was had by all! And I might have even sung a few group songs... ;)
Today we were supposed to have an all-day softball tournament. It ended up being a really drawn-out deal with 8 teams and double elimination on one field. We lasted two games and were out. I don't really want to talk about it. But I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to walk tomorrow...
Anyway, that's all for tonight. Ciao!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Day 52: Picture update
Here's a shot of Breanna, Stephanie and me from Thursday night's festivities. :)
Not much else going on here. Work and school... finishing up my Italian class next week. From now on we're just reviewing for the final exam, which should definitely be interesting. :)
Ciao ciao. ♥
Ciao ciao. ♥
Monday, May 2, 2011
Day 50: Osama, Hair, and Softball
A whole lot of nothing and a whole lot of something has been going on here, but as I sit down to type it all out I feel like I don't know where the past week has gone.
The biggest news of all: President Obama announced early this morning (my time) that Osama bin Laden has been killed in Pakistan, almost 10 years after September 11. I realize that there will be more hostility from his supporters towards us, but I rejoice that he has finally been caught and killed. He killed many people from all walks of life and religion, and he was the most hated terrorist in the world. I hope that this shows our allies that we will actually finish the things we say we will, as Americans, when we put our time and effort towards them (instead of starting an unnecessary war in Iraq). And I can't lie, I think it will be pretty cool to tell our kids that their dad was in Afghanistan when justice was delivered to bin Laden. :)
In other news... I cut my hair! And when I say that I cut it, I mean it. I needed a trim and have no time to get to the salon on time after work, so I did it myself. :) I cut about 3 inches off. It's kinda choppy, but not too bad. I like it! I had a ton of split ends that needed to be gone.
It's official: softball season has started! I missed the first practice, but I've been to two since then. I'm so sore!! I forgot that I had these muscles, ha. But it's been great fun, seeing the boys move in when I go to bat and then hitting it over their heads. ;) I also got myself a throwing partner in my friend Shannoa, who played fastpitch out of Nebraska. We've hung out a bit before this, but her husband is gone too and we're both having a blast playing together. I love having another girl on the team who has skills!
In other news, 50 days have gone by since Arron left! The more that go by, the faster they seem to go. Hopefully the last 130 will go by just as quickly.
I'll leave you with a song that I've recently discovered and absolutely fallen in love with:
That's about all for now. :) Ciao, ciao!
The biggest news of all: President Obama announced early this morning (my time) that Osama bin Laden has been killed in Pakistan, almost 10 years after September 11. I realize that there will be more hostility from his supporters towards us, but I rejoice that he has finally been caught and killed. He killed many people from all walks of life and religion, and he was the most hated terrorist in the world. I hope that this shows our allies that we will actually finish the things we say we will, as Americans, when we put our time and effort towards them (instead of starting an unnecessary war in Iraq). And I can't lie, I think it will be pretty cool to tell our kids that their dad was in Afghanistan when justice was delivered to bin Laden. :)
In other news... I cut my hair! And when I say that I cut it, I mean it. I needed a trim and have no time to get to the salon on time after work, so I did it myself. :) I cut about 3 inches off. It's kinda choppy, but not too bad. I like it! I had a ton of split ends that needed to be gone.
It's official: softball season has started! I missed the first practice, but I've been to two since then. I'm so sore!! I forgot that I had these muscles, ha. But it's been great fun, seeing the boys move in when I go to bat and then hitting it over their heads. ;) I also got myself a throwing partner in my friend Shannoa, who played fastpitch out of Nebraska. We've hung out a bit before this, but her husband is gone too and we're both having a blast playing together. I love having another girl on the team who has skills!
In other news, 50 days have gone by since Arron left! The more that go by, the faster they seem to go. Hopefully the last 130 will go by just as quickly.
I'll leave you with a song that I've recently discovered and absolutely fallen in love with:
That's about all for now. :) Ciao, ciao!
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