Starting Again...

So where do you start when you keep getting off track with your blog? I guess you just start from where you are in life.

Lots is always happening in our large family. I am already "unofficially" back at school. Not only am I  moving into my NEW school, but our school is also dealing with a poor grade. So there will be a lot more trainings, a lot more work, and a lot more people coming through our school, both from the state & from the district levels.

My classroom is almost ready. I'm in a portable this year & I want the kids to be proud of their room. Many kids dislike being in these plain boxes, and I can't blame them. They can be so drab at times, depending on the age & layout of the portable. A number of people also automatically think ESE kids when they think portables. But I will be having PEP children this year. These are kids who are not retained, but have the same grade level curriculum & need a little slower pace for learning. They also need to catch up. So the portable I'm in is actually probably good for them. Few distractions. There are windows (yes, believe it or not, some older ones don't have windows); however, the windows are up high & about 24 inches in height. The width is what I shall call "3 valances long". At least that's what it took on each side of the room for each long window. I've chosen a cat theme and a calming blue color scheme with some cute denim valances I found at WalMart. They are tab curtains & the closure to the tab is a metal hook device like you find on overalls. So they look very kid-friendly. I also added a corn plant, some pothos, and used two long matching denim curtain panels to pull up to the ceiling & drape down for a "homey" feel in the reading center. Since these kids are usually the ones who are lagging in reading, I want to encourage the reading area as much as is humanly possible. I want them to CHOOSE to go there...to feel the pull of the environment.

I'm also debating on having a "reading pup" come to my room. If you've ever read my blog, you know we not only adopt children, but also have adopted pets. We now have 2 girl greys, 1 boy Iggy, 1 boy poodle, and 1 physically challenged foster girl greyhound pup. And I haven't even covered my daughter's cats. Anybeehoova, the national news touched on the reading dog program last night. I've heard of it before. A calm & patient dog comes to "sit-stay-read" with a child. This program is so successful that the children who are in it are increasing their vocabulary three times faster than kids without the program. So I'm thinking of having one of our dogs come in once a week to "read". (Any thoughts on this, Bea?) Perhaps more on that as I've had time to ponder it...

So as far as school is concerned, I've already hit the ground running, even though I didn't want to. Hence the "discontent" label up above. We, the teachers, aren't supposed to be back to school until this Friday, the 8th. (Students come back on the 18th.) But I've already been working almost daily in my classroom & attended two PTA meetings. Sadly, our parents are not as involved in PTA. I'm not only a teacher, but also the membership chair. We've had some things to consider & discuss besides calendar. I also attended a grade level calendar/curriculum meeting. That one didn't last too long. They didn't realize we have a computer disk with our reading program that maps out our curriculum for the whole year. I was aware of it from my last school. So I gave the disk to them & we rescheduled to a later date when all concerned have had a chance to look at the disk. That brings us to today...the "re-meet". My team will be having lunch together & then going back to school to complete the "language arts" curriculum calendar.

With all that our county/state requires now, teaching is not easy & not as much fun. We have way too many "have to's" or expectations for every curriculum area. Keep in mind I teach ALL core subjects: math, reading, writing, science, social studies. It's mind boggling when I look at all "they" train us to do & want us to do. To get it exactly right, a person would have to be awake 24/7 to make & prepare everything. What does a teacher do anymore? Yes, we integrate, but it doesn't change the amount of work involved. This is the only profession I know that can never truly be left "at the office". Due to lack of planning time & rushed work day, it's a must for teachers to take work home, or you just can't teach properly. And by THAT time, I really don't FEEL up to doing it. I just want to collapse, relax, and forget about anything school-related. With the new school being under close watch, I have indeed wondered what it'd be like to work in another profession....

Well, after today's meeting, it's off to hopefully have some unwinding time. Last chance. I am taking two of my sons (biological) with me to ColorMeMine, a ceramics/pottery shop. We have a special tradition (that began before our teen adoptions) of going there for our last few free moments of summer together, just to relax & create a keepsake of our time out together. I'm looking forward to it. Things like painting, crocheting & knitting leave my mind time to wander & think.

I am just NOT ready to let go of summer....

Tags: Color Me Mine, WalMart, ceramics, pottery, crochet, knitting, adoption, greyhounds, poodles, sit-stay-read program

I'm Back...Kids & School

I haven't posted since November. Wow! And so much has happened...

We wrapped up our adoption of our children. Three teens...2 boys & a girl, I'll call R, E, & J. Two of them have had a birthday since then, and our new daughter has one coming up in June. They have done so very well in school.

R started & has maintained a gamers' club (ya know...GameCube, etc.) He's maintained all A's & B's, except one C. He turned 18 two days after the adoption & started driving. Boy! That's a story within itself. He also managed to get lost in the woods down here while out running with Dad. Another time on that one, too.

E will turn 17 next month. She has maintained high honor roll. She writes the sweetest letters to us. She doesn't want her brothers to see them, though. She thinks they'll think she's a traitor to their real mother & father. Their real father passed away from cancer, and that's when their mother couldn't hold things together, both emotionally & financially, and the children were taken from her (after trying to work her through several case plans). Frankly, I also don't think she intellectually had it together. She would leave the children alone, often over long periods of time & without food. So E feels more bonded to us. She's always wanted to be part of a family. Tonight she drew a heart on a letter she wrote to me. She colored it just a tad bit & said this was how her heart USED to be. Then she drew a second heart, colored it almost totally in & said that is how her heart is NOW. She'd had a very sassy week this week & confessed to almost kicking me. I'll allow for the fact that it wasn't the best "time of the month" for her & then you'll probably understand. I don't think there's a woman out there that hasn't felt like tearing someone's head clean off around that time at ONE time or another...or another...or another... :-) It didn't help that "Daddy" was out of town. I think that's when she likes to try & test me a bit. She wants so much to be a "momma's girl", but then also likes to pull some immature stuff to get attention. We're working through it.

J turned 15 in January. He's been our "up & down" child. One day he's doing great in class, doing his classwork & homework, and making good grades. The next day, he misses a class, doesn't do his classwork or homework, and loses or "misplaces" anything he knows he is supposed to have for class. Always a very convenient excuse! We know he's ADD, though undiagnosed. Even HE is aware of it! Just this week he had some wonderful surprises. He is mainstreamed as SLD for two classes & struggles with some things. But this week he rec'd his FCAT writing scores. He scored a 5.5 out 6 (being the highest), which means one judge gave him a 5 & one judge gave him a 6. The whole school keeps asking me about it. He was floored & just beaming! So very proud! Turns out he IS quite the writer! He's written several poems that are very impressive. We're going to help him set up a notebook to keep them in. But his teacher was so impressed that she wrote one of his poems up on the board & asked the class to discuss it...without telling them who wrote it. One girl kept saying that "she" meant this, and "she" (the writer) meant that about the writing. J spoke up & said how do you know it's a man...could be a woman. Good point! After some comments, the teacher asked them what did they think about the fact that the writer was less than 18 years old. J said they didn't seem to know WHAT to think. Then she finally told them that J was the writer. People at school have been so highly impressed that they now tell us we should have him enter some contests that are coming up. J is pleasantly surprised & not sure what to think about that. A bit bewildered, me thinks.

Also in the news...

 I put in for a transfer to get into a school closer to home. At first I didn't hear back from any principals that were interviewing during our transfer period. I was getting pretty frustrated. I felt like,after all...1) I've taught since 1984 with some time off to be with my kids in their early years...2) I am an experienced team leader....3) I am certified to have interns from our area universities...4) I am trained as a PNE support person for beginning teachers...5) I have experience with all socio-economic groups....6) I have experience in writing grants...7) I'm willing & experienced in teaching & leading workshops. SOOOOoooooo...WHY IN THE HECK WASN'T I GETTING ANY PHONE CALLS??!!!! You have to understand...I have to have the security of knowing WHAT I'll be doing. That's just me. Even though transfers continue after the end of transfer period next week & through the summer, I can't stand NOT knowing what I'm going to be doing WHERE.

Thankfully, the top three schools I wanted FINALLY emailed or called me. The first one (School A) is 1.2 miles from home & is a Second grade class...this is the one I reallly wanted! School B is a situation of a brand new school that isn't even finished being built yet. Everything brand new, but further from home. About a 15 minute drive. The principal offered me a job right away. It was so tempting. We clicked immediately AND she is a friend of my current Asst Principal, who is also MY good friend. My Asst Principal doesn't want me to leave, but said she had nothing bad she could say about me to scare off the other principal. HA! School C happens to be only 1.5 miles from my home. The principal there was the first to set up an appmt with me, but was offering Kindergarten, which I did not wish to return to. I felt I owed her an interview before making a decision on the offer I was given, considering she DID contact me.

BUT...as luck/fate/etc would have it...the first principal (School A) called me back. Now understand..she was the one that left me feeling as if I was coming away with a "flat" interview. She told me several times how energetic her people had to be because they were involved in so many things. She even stated how she'd purposely hired "younger" teachers for that reason. (At that point, I thought, "What am I...leftover chopped liver, or something? Do I look THAT haggard??!!") I just smiled & said that was what I was used to already. She mentioned that she still had several more people to interview & then she'd get back with me...and if I didn't get the job, she'd keep my resume around through summer in case something else opened up.

Now---I ask you...at this point, would YOU think she was going to hire you??? Go with your gut instinct & you'll arrive at the same conclusion I did. Nopers!I figured THAT was THAT.

So the next day I was telling my current principal...yes, I'm up front & honest with my admin all the time about the fact I was interviewing...I was telling her the outcome & how I felt like the first principal gave me that "flat" feeling. She said, "Well, look at what I have in my hand." It was an email from the hiring principal asking about me. My AP friend also confirmed that Principal A had been asking the night before, too. When I told my principal that was the job I realllllly wanted to tranfer to, she said she was making a call to talk to the other principal on her request anyway & was going to talk to her. In less than an hour, I had an email offering me the job! I was so excited! Hubby had wanted me to take this school, too. Anytime I asked about what he thought about other schools, he said his heart had been set on this one school all along.

So next year I will be walking to school & my children were also given special assignment to the high school down the road from there. I had everything ideal in my current "old" school...HUGE classroom...respect from people who knew me...lots of people I know & care about & love. I've traded it for people I don't know..and admin I don't know...the possibility of losing weight walking...and a PORTABLE! Imagine that!

AND...

I'm still excited! :-)

Tags: sibling group adoption

Am I Late??

I promised back in SEPTEMBER I'd write soon! I hope no one will base who I really am upon that promise since I believe in keeping promises.

Soooo much has happened.

It has been a rough first half of the school year. It started with such promise. (Hmm...there's that word again...) I've had a number of children who've had behavior problems, which seems to have finally sparked off my family's genetic trend for high blood pressure. I ended up having to leave the classroom one day to take myself to the doctor because it was so high. I've questioned myself since that time as to whether or not I really should've been driving. My hopes are, though, that it is only a temporary problem. I'm telling myself to slow down & quit taking on so much school-wise. Our district has insisted upon emphasizing EVERYTHING....meaning EVERY curriculum area & what it should contain...within this one year. Usually wise districts will pick one area at a time to "upgrade" per year. At times, I blame myself. Due to my own curiosity & wanting to learn more, I've attended enough trainings within one year, I believe, to renew my certificate. That's not a joke. What's that old adage...too much knowledge?? Can't recall the rest. Perhaps it is "ignorance is bliss".

Thanksgiving has provided some "down" time...and a wonderful blessing which I will document in my next entry.

Here's hoping all of you have had a thrilling Thanksgiving with friends & family!

~sher

Oh My Gosh! Time for Fall?

 

It's time for a new season to begin shortly. Not that you'd notice it in Florida. I can't believe I've gone over a month without writing! Then again...maybe I can.

Life is a little crazy right now. I've been back at school since August 10th, and the students arrived August 20th. I've got 17 "little darlings this year". Nothing at all like the 31 student class I had last year, thank goodness! But I still have quite a few "movers & shakers"...literally. My administration purposely gives me ADHD children & those that are a bit hard to handle. They figure that since I can handle my youngest son (who is ADHD), then I can handle it at school, too. So I get a double whammy working with it at school AND at home. More on the Movers & Shakers later.

We finally...FINALLY...got our three children we are adopting. If all goes well, we'll be able to finalize November 20th, National Adoption Day. The kids are doing great, so happy to be together, & I have so much to write about. But it's late now. So I'll save it for another entry...and promise to come back.

~sher

Tags: adoption

Adoption Options

Been quite a while since my last posting. We've been busy & have had quite a run around with our adoption situation.

Without going into a long, drawn-out story, suffice it to say we've been going through things we thought we were done with. We've already been meeting with our children, but now this other agency told us we had to complete three things OUR agency said we didn't have to do (because we are "straight adoption" without fostering first). So we've had no option, but to begin scrambling to get them done so our kids can come to us before school begins. I return to school August 10th; the kids return on the 20th. We'd like to get all three of our sibling group situated with home & school BEFOREhand. And we still need to do school shopping.

To complicate all this, Hubby & I have been playing "bedroom shuffle". His study is going to be a bedroom for two & our new study will be in the sunroom. So I've had to stay busy cleaning out the sunroom, which was previously my teaching materials aka STORAGE. I've stopped counting bags of stuff to trash. Thanks to www.flylady.net, I'm feeling pretty good about it. Once we shift the office to the front, we have to shift Youngest Child's bedroom to the old study. He's going to share with our youngest new sibling. They are only 11 months apart. The oldest "new" sibling will get the Youngest's old room.

Have you followed that so far??!!! :-P

I hope so. I always have to stop & think it through!

One of the "no options" we had to complete was a water safety course since we have a pool. We took it at a place called "Everyday Blessings". It is a group home setting for kids 10 & under. It is a gorgeous place situated on 72 acres. Kas, it made me think of you...there were cows & horses nearby, along with a horse riding trail. Hubby & I thought... what better place for kids who are hurt & suffering! Nature was our medicine, just driving through there. And how much MORE sofor these kids who have had to be removed from their homes due to abuse & neglect. Broken bones are not new to this place, sadly enough.

We took clothes & books out there with us for the children. But we were not prepared for how much we would be moved by our short time with Everyday Blessings.  

Our instructor there was Sister Claire. She told us of a project they are working on. You've heard the adage that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, they are doing just that. They are working on The Village at Everyday Blessings, which is modeled after Generations of Hope, established more than 12 years ago in Rantoul, IL. www.generationsofhope.org

In Everyday Blessings' Village www.ebvillage.org , parents, children, & senior citizens will reside in what is known as an Intergenerational Community of Caring. It's specifically designed to meet the needs of children 8 yrs of age & older, & for large (4+) sibling groups who would otherwise have little or no chance of being adopted together. These two groups are highly representative of children most likely to languish in foster care --AND least likely to be adopted. (Hence the reason Hubby & I chose this particular age group & our sibling group to adopt.)

Parents willing to adopt four children temporarily reside, rent-free, in a seven-bedroom home. One parent is a stay-at-home parent & earns a salary. (Can't beat that, can you, Kas!?) The other parent works outside The Village. Financial planners assist the family so that, once the new family is well established (no less than 10 months), the parents have set aside the funds necessary to make a down payment on their home.

Singles & couples, ages 50+ who are willing to volunteer a minimum of eight hours a week toward the mission of The Village, pay reduced rent for a two- or three-bedroom apartment. To the parents mentioned above, the seniors of this community are mentors, listeners, and supporters. To the children, they are nurturers, tutors, cookie bakers, & so much more. To The Village, they are groundskeepers, seamstresses, administrative assistants, & community builders. Through the planning of birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and other events, the seniors help create & sustain a strong sense of community at The Village.

We don't know the requirements for the "seniors" to move in, but Hubby & I have decided we're already certainly interested. It's down the road a bit. Things are in motion for the Village. Approvals have been made by & are moving through the local government, but no new buildings are yet standing. That's the next step. Hubby & I are 55 & 44 yrs old, respectively. We figure we will be even MORE so "seniors" by the time the buildings are completed. What an awesome opportunity! What a wonderful community for children! What a beautiful place & fantastic way to make a contribution to our children!

If you would like to support Everyday Blessings in ANY way, we know they can use your help. It doesn't have to be money. Maybe you have other items you can send to help, like clothes, books, toys or gift certificates. Here is the contact info:

13113 St. Francis Lane, Thonotosassa, FL  33592

(813)982-9226, x 234

FAX: (813)986-0298

or go directly to www.ebvillage.org if you'd like to make a monetary donation. It also gives more information & tells other ways in which you can help or volunteer.

(The Villages at Everyday Blessings is a program of St. Francis Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit Florida Corporation. FL Solicitation #SC02875. NO PORTION of your contribution is retained by any professional solicitor.)

I did not tell Sister Claire I was writing about this. We were just so touched by her & the community that I couldn't resist telling people about it. Please consider helping if you can...and then take ACTION! Our "babies" out there really need it. Imagine if you were separated from your siblings AFTER having to leave abusive/neglectful parents. How would YOU feel?

The "medicine" is there. Let the healing begin!

 

Tags: Everyday Blessings, Generations of Hope, adoption, sibling group adoption, teen adoption

Night of the Living Dead

XXRoxyMamaXX

NOT!

I thought I knew where to begin on this one, but when you're sleep deprived, it just "ain't happenin'".

Those of you who've read my blog before know my hubby sometimes has to travel out of town. Well, lately it's not been just sometimes. Within about the last seven weeks, he's had to be gone for about five of those. It came with a merger with The Company That Must Not Be Named...huge international thingee that joined forces with his former company. They're in the middle of taking over some territories left vulnerable by the competition. My sacrifice to all this...besides NO HUBBY around...is NO SLEEP.

I don't know why it is.

Sometimes I think it is because I was the victim of violence about nine years ago. At the time I met my hubby, I had an apartment on the third floor of my complex. I felt inpenetrable...untouchable. Safe. When my hubby asked me to marry him, my only hold-out was where we would live: his home. It's in the middle of an historic district. Our home has a history over 100 years old. But it's also in the middle of an area that has more crime than I'm used to...or was at least aware of. When I hesitated, my mom pointed out that if you REALLY love someone, you'd follow them to the ends of the Earth. (Bless ya, Mom!) She was right. I excitedly called Hubby & said yes. And now, I'm on the first floor, the only floor of our home. So maybe it is this that keeps me awake when he's gone.

Other times I think it's the fact that I can't seem to shut my brain down when he isn't here to put pressure on me to go to bed. My youngest son is ADHD. My hubby has teased me about that at times; however, I don't really fit the discription. More like distracted. Difficult to focus on only one area. I'm what I proudly would call "the disorganizedly organized." Just about every teacher I know is like this. Ya know...we're the ones who look like a cyclone hit our desks. But, baby, just ask us for that one paper you need, and we know right where it's at! BINGO! Though I'm proud of who I am, I've been trying to counteract this due to the fact it's heck on everyone else around you. I mean, they just can't grasp my creativity. At least that's what the Flylady says. Thanks to Kas (Hestia Home School for Young Wild Women), I've joined the FREE online counseling of the Flylady (www.flylady.com). Every day she sends you messages of one thing you can get done and/or organized within 15 minutes. Just set the timer & ya got it. The guilt is gone! You've actually DONE SOMEthing! She even sends you an email that pops up, reminding you to go to bed and take care of yourself!!! That's right! You betcha!

Unfortunately, for me, it doesn't work. It 's just not the same as Hubby who is physically present & able to add the pressure to come to bed.

Not that that's all bad. There are definitely some distinct advantages to going to bed with him. And perhaps that is...in part...why it IS so difficult to go to bed without him. Reason #3: It just isn't the same without him.

So I come to you this morning after the night of the living dead.

It all began the same way. I couldn't sleep with him gone. He called to say good-night around 10 p.m. He was tired & had to be up early again before driving five hours to the airport and flying out today to come home. He knows how hard it is for me when he's gone. When he comes back all exhausted from the airports & meetings, he's equally joined by me. We usually collapse at whatever time it is & sleep off the effects of his work.

So Hubby told me to take some melatonin. Our ADHD son takes this. It was recommended by his doctor because HE has a hard time going to sleep, too. It's quite safe & natural. Our bodies produce it & it is what helps all of us to go to sleep. For three nights now Hubby has tried to coax me into taking it. I agreed, and had all the right intentions. But I always had "one more thing" to do before I could possibly get to it. Hence the reason I didn't get to bed last night until after 3 a.m. After I typed my blog last night (check the time), I still sat up in bed reading some materials to prepare for school next year. Finally, I forced myself to turn out the lights. Usually when this FINALLY happens, I zap out.

It wasn't to be.

There's this sunroom we have just off the dining room which is also just off our bedroom. It is going to become our new office space this week. Hubby is moving out of his current office/bedroom to give it to two of our teens with the adoption. So I'm trying to get in there to clean it up. Up to now it has been a storage room for my teaching. You name it and if it has anything to do with teaching, it's there. Any teacher who reads this will know exactly what I'm talking about. I know one gal teacher who never used her dining room since she had an eat-in kitchen. You'd never know it was a dining room. It was stacked floor to ceiling. Well, I can't yet claim that honor, but I do know the sunroom is now a storage room instead of a work place. So things need to go for it to shape up into Hubby's new office (shared with me, of course). But funny things have been going on in that room. Our little Italian greyhound has taken to parking himself outside the closed French doors leading in. He barks at it. He behaves worse at night whenever some kind of Critter seems to arrive back. Now, I'm hoping it's just a Critter and not some kind of GrrrAnimal. But I'm not one to take chances. Hubby's not here = no knight in shining armour = no way I'm gonna tackle that Critter/GrrrAnimal alone. I am NOT checking it out!

Lights go out. I go to bed & lay down.

Let the games begin.

Lenny (Italian grey) comes flying out of his bed, barking. His barking starts our other two greys barking. Lenny plants himself at the French doors in stalking mode. The other two bewildered dogs limp back to the living room, still unsure whythey joined in. "Nite-nite time" is "nite-nite time"! I scold Lenny & put him back to bed. (He HAS to be covered up, ya know, or he won't sleep. But, of course!! What were you thinking!!! How could you NOT cover him UP???!!!)

Lights out...back to bed...

and soooo it goes....

Lenny barks - everyone comes running - Lenny stalks - I scold - I cover - we're back in bed, lights out.

You DO recall I went to bed after 3 a.m., right? Our Critter Stalker routine continued for most of the rest of what I would call "dark" night. Somewhere near my "lighter-outside" night, things settled down. I imagine Lenny has worn himself out as much as he has me. FINALLY, I can get some rest. I REALLY had hoped...

Mosquitos like me. I don't know why. I don't understand why I'm always the "preferred white meat", but I am. I can be among twenty people & be the only one bitten up. I've read that it has something to do with mosquitos being able to track our carbon we put out from exhaling. Did you know that to a mosquito, when we exhale, it is like an invisible super-highway that they can detect from over 60 feet away??? Or was that 30 feet away? Maybe it also has to do with bad breath, which I'm sure I had after Lenny got through with me.

The mosquito was merciless. Everyone knows that annoying sound...that shrill mosquito buzz that makes your ears stand on end, and tells you that at any moment, the bull's-eye shall be reached! Dive bombing began. I felt like Gulliver's Travels, trapped by the Lilliputians. I tried sleeping under the covers, but between summertime in Florida and the Golden Age of Hot Flashes, I couldn't tolerate it for long. So the age-old game of "Cat & Mouse" became the new game of "Mosquito & Human".

Just when I thought I'd won, the little bugger got even LOUDER!! What in the heck..??? It took a blonde second of adjustment before realizing it was a helicopter hoovering over the interstate. The interstate isn't terribly close to our home. But you certainly would've thought sowith the sound of the helicopter. Usually this doesn't occur unless there is a severe problem on the road out there for someone.

Geez....what ELSE could happen???!!! Apparently that was the signal for every dog in the neighborhood to bark, and for mine to tell me that it was time to get up & let them go outside to "do their business". It was completed when the "ex" called to tell me he was bringing the boys over, and would I have the prescription ready he had asked me for yesterday. Yesterday??? Oh, yeah!!! I forgot. Time to go digging through the purse. Now if I'd ONLY listened to that FlyLady. Her assignment of the day was to clean out my purse.

I wonder if she has a lesson on ridding mosquitos....

Anyone got coffee???

XXRoxyMamaXX

Tags: melatonin, FlyLady

The World of Rockin' Girl Bloggers

Hmm...Don't know quite what to say. I sort of feel like I'm standing at the internet podium giving an acceptance speech for being myself.

Bea, the Wanderer, http://journals.aol.com/bgilmore725/Wanderer/ was so kind to mention me in her blog on July 10th. I am certainly honored by the nomination, but confess I didn't even realize I'd been nominated until comments were left on my journal.

Being a relative newbie to the blogging world, I actually feel nominated by the ultimate "Guru of All That's Right in Education"! Bea leaves me inspired & in awe at all she accomplishes. I often have had to turn right around to my hubby to show him her latest entries, from a bulletin board idea to poop from the sky...which I still think she hasn't figured out, if I remember correctly. (One of my all-time favs is her chronicles of her butterflies.)

Well, Bea, I feel I need to live up to "being on fire". I've been so bad at keeping up with my blog lately. However, it's due in part to a great cause. We are in the final phases of our adoption of our teens & lots remains to be done here at our home. When we finish, we will have a grand total of 10 kids & 5 grandkids, through combined marriages. And I'm STILL not sure we're finished...(right, baby??..hubby reads my blog, too.)

But without further adieu....Here are the blogs I nominate. If you are nominated, my understanding is that you continue the nominations. Copy the tag & nominate five others. Some of my choices have already been nominated. It just proves how powerful their lives and words are to those around them.

 1. Wanderer (Bea)  ...Just has to go right back to Bea. There are some blogs you just can't miss every time you know there is a posting. For me, it's Bea's. She has such compassion for her students & those around her that she knows. Top that off with her incredible curiousity & "let's-find-out" attitude & you have one of the best teachers I know!   

2. Hestia Home School for Young Wild Women (Kas) ...I love Kas 'cause she's a free spirit & down-to-Earth! She says what she thinks & feels. That's pretty much the way that I am, so I feel I can relate to her. She's also a "lifelong learner" like Bea. I enjoy all the varied tidbits about life & the world classroom that she has to share. From butterfly vulvas & Rex rats, I never know WHAT she'll have up on her blog!

3. XXRoxy MamaXX(Shelly) ...I've just recently had the chance to get to know Shelly better. I found out by happenstance that she lives in the same city I do. And she makes BEAUTIFUL tags. You can see some of them on my blog. You've got to go check out her work! I like her free spirit, too!

4. Hope Floats (Jackie) ...Would you believe that Jackie's blog is the first one I came across??!!! Thanks to her, a whole new world of friends opened up to me! She has shared her ups & downs in life. (Sometimes I think she is too hard on herself.)  I like to think she introduced me to MY "ups" here on J-Land!

5. HORSESHOE BEND (Carlene) ...Carlene was my second friend I met here. Her friendship is important to me because she often reminds me to be thankful for the Love of My Life & to care about the small things. She shares her feelings about her husband & what he meant to her. His passing has led her into a new phase in her life, and I feel I'm learning so much from her because of how she deals with it.

6. LivinginSavannah2 (Gretchen) ...Gretchen taught me how to be more thankful with her Thursday list. She really makes me stop & think with the use of her gentle spirit. And it doesn't hurt that she lives in one of my favorite areas, near my honeymoon spot (Tybee Island)!! ha!

7. I Shaved My Legs for This (Kim) ...No list seems complete without mentioning Kimberleigh. Ravin', shavin' Kim blows me away with her courage & Irish spirit. No one I know has ever gone into full-blown battle with cancer with such spitfire...TWICE!! And boy, does she make you laugh!! How she comes up with some of her spicy descriptions is beyond me!

I know that the informal rule here seems to be that only five people can be nominated. Some...or maybe even most...of mine have already been nominated. But I don't know how to narrow the list down. All of mine are on equal & deserving footing. They are all so very strong in so many different ways. They are mentors, girlfriends, consolers, teachers, counselors, jesters...they are strong, yet gentle...meek, yet confident. They have "overcome"! And did I happen to mention that most are free spirits??!!!

Gotta love women who know who they are, what they want, & how to speak up!

I agree with Bea...and glad to find out there are....rockin' male bloggers. But for now...

HERE'S TO THE GIRLS....diverse, but as one.

Tags: rockin' girl blogger, Hope Floats, Horseshoe Bend, LivinginSavannah2, Wanderer, Hestia Home School for Wild Women, XXRoxyMamaXX, I Shaved My Legs for This