nigelb

Didn't he free the slaves?

2008-01-19T06:41:10Z

Today my students and I read the I Have a Dream speech in honor of MLK Jr. day. This was the first time that I had read the speech as an adult. I have to say that as I read it to my kids I almost cried. In fact when I played the audio version for my kids one cried and the others were inspired to learn more about the MLK Jr. and civil disobedience. The words in the speech are so powerful that they awaken a pride that is hard to put into words. As I talked to my students i came to the conclusion that the pride that I felt was,idealistic, but pride as an American. It was a national pride that I have not felt in a very long time.

I was proud to know that because of the country I live in I am able to be free from many injustices. I was proud today to remember that many men and women shaped my country into a land of opportunity. I know that this all sounds cliche and silly. It's just that lately I have been feeling, as most Americans, a bit disappointed in my government and country. It was refreshing to be reminded of the injustices we went through as a nation and to be reminded that there were people who fought against them.

I heart Huckabee

2007-12-02T06:37:03Z

So today I watched the Republican You Tube debate on CNN. I was not going to watch the debate because, as ignorant as this sounds, I am not republican. Anyways I was at my mother in-laws house having chocolate and coffee ( She is awesome like that) when she suggested that we watch it. I was curious to see what happened. I know enough about the candidates to know that a You Tube debate should be interesting. So through the course of the debate I found that McCain and Huckabee actually made a lot of sense. Not only did they make sense but I actually agreed with a lot of what they said. In fact I really liked Huckabee. He seemed like someone I could vote for. God help me I think I might be a Republican.

On another note I just read Jon's post for tonight. It was the most beautiful thing that anyone has ever written to me. Sometimes he just blows my mind with how romantic he can be. His romance always comes when I don't expect it. He is the best.

Whaaat?

2007-11-28T02:44:13Z

In my class I have a student who has ADHD. He drives me crazy everyday. I mean he cannot stay still for anything. Today all he wanted was a rubber band to fling across the class. He asked over and over for one and of course I could not give him one. Finally after about an hour of asking he decided to take matters in to his own hands. He went into a cabnet that I keep my snacks in and found a bag of yogurt covered raisins. As I was teaching the class about buoyancy a student very calmly tells me"Mrs. Juarez he has your candy"? I turned and looked and sure enough he had a mouth full of white raisins. With raisins pouring out of his mouth he said "What?". It was all that I could do to keep from laughing. The raisins were pouring out of his mouth and his pockets were overflowing. I had to pull it together and make him leave the room. I turned toward my chalkboard and quietly laughed. The class thought that I was crying. One student told me that she would replace the raisins. Gosh it is days like this that love teaching. Kids are just so crazy.

Road trips are good for the mind

2007-11-27T04:51:09Z

    As I was driving to Colorado with my sister she said something that made me think. She said that the time that we lived together was the best time of her life (other then her daughter being born). She said that she felt free, independent. That although it was hard it was amazing. As she said that I realized that I had felt the same way. When Jess and I moved in I had begun a stage in my life that would inevitably lead to my love affair with Jon. I was, for the first time, truly independent.

    Before Jess and I had moved in together I had always lived with my best friends. I found my identity in my friendships. My friends and I were alike in every way but one. I was a Christian and they were not. This lead to a disconnection between me and God. Eventually I had to disconnect from them. When I moved in with my sister I became independent of my friends. I found out who I was without them. It was the most independent that I had ever been. It was great. That was when I met Jon.

    It seemed like the perfect time to meet him. I really did not want a boyfriend but he was too good to pass up. He was everything that I was looking for. I think that because I was in such a good place at that time in my life I was able to let him in fully. I think that because of that "perfect" time of my life I was able to fall in love.

    I love Jon so much but when we meet my life changed. I became less independent. I had another person to consider every time I made a decision. The loss of my independence has been the hardest part of my marriage for me. I think that it is because a part of me does not want to let it go. I have been known to be stubborn but I am learning how to compromise. Although it is hard sometimes I do have to say that being with Jon has made me happier then I have ever been. I am just worried about how our adjustment will be.   Nine weeks is a long time to be independent from your spouse.

And now take a breath

2007-11-21T06:28:08Z

    So I have been insanely busy lately. I just finished report cards which were more complicated then I expected. My report card was five pages long and each page had at least 15 things that I had fill out. I had to do about 40. Today was the last day of my conferences. It was interesting to see that only 10% of the parents showed up. I spent most of my day at school planning my social studies block. I made an entire 10 week unit plan on U.S regions. I also planned homework and math for the next 6 weeks. Yeah me!

    I have been looking forward to the weekends so that I can relax. Unfortunately I have been just as busy on the weekends. I want to spend time with everyone but it is just too much sometimes. This weekend I filled out report cards, babysat, went to a movie and a birthday party, visited my mom, grandmother, inlaws, and a my best friend, shopped for gifts, and finally worked on Jon's gift. Oh and I went to have coffee with an old friend who is visiting from Finland. I am tired.

    I am leaving for Durango tomorrow for Thanksgiving. I have to say that I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. I want to go and be surrounded by my family but now my family is different. It now includes Jon and the Strawns. I don't feel complete without them. I am going to be missing part of my family, a very large part of my family. It will be fun but not in the way that it was the last time I went. I am going to miss Jon this Thanksgiving.

    Everyday I let myself miss Jon more. I try to fight back the thoughts of him being in Iraq. I try to think that he his in Europe safe having a good time. Everyday it is becoming harder to lie to myself. Although he is coming home soon I feel more lonely now then when he first left. The lord has blessed us in so many ways and so I need to be strong for the next few weeks.

And some how life goes on as normal

2007-10-19T04:32:05Z

I have spent the last few days making French flags and crepes for my school. Tonight was World Tour at my school. I have spent the last month teaching my students about France. Finally tonight they got the chance to tell their parents what they learned about France. It was very rewarding to see that they actually learned something. Sometimes I feel like nothing is getting through. It is nice to know that what I am doing is working.

I had a student make me the cutest card yesterday, she knew that I missed school because Jon left. It said "When you feel sad just tell me and I'll give you a hug." I nearly cried when I read it. I miss my husband. I can't wait until he's home. I love you Jon!