Sunday, December 26, 2010
Whaaa?! Where's the Video?!
All I saw after upload was a photo--the beginning frame of the .mp4 I tried to upload. I have now reverted to the old blogspot editor and uploaded the actual video. What gives here?! What does Google think it is doing with this blog? I think I will upload another video, as well. It is longer and preceded the first video chronologically. So..... probably view the second video first. Happy New Year!!!
After Christmas--stayed home from Church--a little ill--drank liquids all day
Well, I stayed home from church today and Claudia got someone else to play for Primary for me. We both stayed home, along with Gabriel.
Claudia's brother, Blake, brought some gifts from her mother this evening. Included was the book, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss, and Claudia had me take photos while she read to Gabriel. I also took a couple of videos. I have posted two of these items here. I think you particularly enjoy the video when you hear what Gabriel says!! Enjoy!!
Claudia's brother, Blake, brought some gifts from her mother this evening. Included was the book, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss, and Claudia had me take photos while she read to Gabriel. I also took a couple of videos. I have posted two of these items here. I think you particularly enjoy the video when you hear what Gabriel says!! Enjoy!!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas Eve at the Clyde & Claudia Tigner Home--What Blessings and Peace!
Christmas Eve this year was in fact very peaceful and wonderful after all. Stephen would have to go to work on Christmas morning and Claudia and He did not want to get up early to open presents. Christmas Eve was our time for exchanging gifts this year, and oh what a blessed occasion! We first had family prayer--my turn. I then read the story of the Savior's birth, as found in Luke, chapter 2. I read it from a Christmas story and music book we have. Interspersed with the story were Christmas Carols, which I would begin singing and everyone else would join in. After Claudia read the story of the Three Wise Men, we began opening our presents to each other. For Gabriel's presents from Santa, we had to wait until this morning.
In my nuclear family we wrapped all the gifts--even those from Santa. In Claudia's family, they never wrapped gifts from Santa--only those they gave to each other. So if I want Santa's gifts wrapped around here, I have to do it myself--she refuses. So Gabriel's gifts from Santa went unwrapped--again.
Our little guy loved all of his gifts, wrapped or not. He didn't even care about that part. We had a fun day with our two sons.
Our little granddaughter now weighs over 6 lbs!! She has been at home for several weeks, but is not allowed to go out anywhere. She still struggles with how to nurse and she has to get burped really good or she will stop breathing. Carolyn really enjoys her little darling and is loathe to give her up when Grandma Tigner wants to hold her only granddaughter.
Grandpa? An afterthought. I have been able to hold my granddaughter only once so far.
Oh what a wonderful event that was, though!
What more can I say--Everyone have a Happy New Year!!!
In my nuclear family we wrapped all the gifts--even those from Santa. In Claudia's family, they never wrapped gifts from Santa--only those they gave to each other. So if I want Santa's gifts wrapped around here, I have to do it myself--she refuses. So Gabriel's gifts from Santa went unwrapped--again.
Our little guy loved all of his gifts, wrapped or not. He didn't even care about that part. We had a fun day with our two sons.
Our little granddaughter now weighs over 6 lbs!! She has been at home for several weeks, but is not allowed to go out anywhere. She still struggles with how to nurse and she has to get burped really good or she will stop breathing. Carolyn really enjoys her little darling and is loathe to give her up when Grandma Tigner wants to hold her only granddaughter.
Grandpa? An afterthought. I have been able to hold my granddaughter only once so far.
Oh what a wonderful event that was, though!
What more can I say--Everyone have a Happy New Year!!!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
How Blessed and Peaceful!
I sang Christmas songs about the birth of Baby Jesus this evening and Gabriel kept wanting more. He eventually fell asleep. How blessed we are in our home. I am so thankful for the love of that tiny holy child!!
Everyone please have a wonderful Christmas!!!
Everyone please have a wonderful Christmas!!!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
T-Day and Family
Well, we had a good Thanksgiving. Carolyn, Samuel, and Neil, Sam's friend, came for supper and Stephen was here, as well (of course, he lives here). I took pics of Gabriel and Carolyn uploaded pics of Lilly from her camera. We had a great meal (my expert cooking while Claudia rested much of the day). I baked pumpkin pies made with almond milk and Splenda (Carolyn can't have milk and Claudia can't have the sugar), and lemon meringue pies with Splenda. I whipped up some potatoes (Claudia & I cleaned and peeled) and made the gravy with corn starch so Claudia could have some. I made the turkey so juicy throughout that even when we went to put it away it was still full of juices instead of dry.
What a day!! But it was fun having everyone over. Just one person missing--Lilly. She is still in the hospital acting like a premie and trying to figure out how to breathe when she eats. She just wasn't ready to come to dinner yet.
The pics are of Carolyn holding Lilly while in at the hospital and of Stephen and Gabe this evening.
Oh well. Enjoy the pics!!
What a day!! But it was fun having everyone over. Just one person missing--Lilly. She is still in the hospital acting like a premie and trying to figure out how to breathe when she eats. She just wasn't ready to come to dinner yet.
The pics are of Carolyn holding Lilly while in at the hospital and of Stephen and Gabe this evening.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
A Month?! Big Deal! How about several months lag?! Yup! That's Me!
I just realized this post is more than one month behind the last post. Gabe is really blossoming and growing now. He is talking to us all the time and we can understand him some. I am growing more comfortable with addressing him as "Son" like I did Stephen. Gabe has called Claudia and I "Mom" and "Dad" for a long time. He still misuses a lot of words and slurs a bunch of them, just massacring them over and over, but conversations are fairly good and fast moving and he understands a lot more now. He gets a lot of services and he is also in a big growth spurt!! I think he is at least a head taller than when we got him.
He just charms us over and over again daily. He gets lots of hugs and kisses from Dad here. And, yes, he still tries to tackle anyone he can!!
Potty training? Well, that is another subject. He still makes his share of wet and messy pull-ups. At the same time, we are finding ways to help him be more interested in pottying himself.
What can we say more. We just love our little guy. If only he could just sit down for his teachers!
Oh well--all in good (or bad?) time.
He just charms us over and over again daily. He gets lots of hugs and kisses from Dad here. And, yes, he still tries to tackle anyone he can!!
Potty training? Well, that is another subject. He still makes his share of wet and messy pull-ups. At the same time, we are finding ways to help him be more interested in pottying himself.
What can we say more. We just love our little guy. If only he could just sit down for his teachers!
Oh well--all in good (or bad?) time.
Well--What a Blizzard!!
Don't fain anyone--I'm posting again!! Our new granddaughter was born a couple of weeks ago and we are anxious to see her leave the hospital. Her mom says she is out of the isolette now but still on a feeding tube. We have been to see our little Lilly a few times but I have not been able to get Claudia to go with me for a week now, and I feel out-of-place going to see the little one by myself.
I have pics, but they were of the first day and Lilly has all kinds of gadgets attached to her--you really can't see her very well.
Anyway, I do hope we go again soon--or that I can go with someone instead of by myself. Claudia is always too tired in the evening when I can go.
Ohhhh--the blizzard. Sorry--off-topic. Wow!! The TV news crews are calling it the Blizzard of 2010. It was a surprise early snow storm. It actually began over the weekend, but worsened to very bad blizzard conditions over the past two days. All public schools that were scheduled to be in session were cancelled for the week. I didn't have to go to work at all this week.
We got some groceries today and are getting ready for the big feast on Thursday. But all the roads were closed north of Idaho Falls today. Some were closed yesterday already. I have shoveled the driveway twice today, and now it is too cold to go out there and do it again. Temps are supposed to go to single digits or minuses tonight and lasting until 11 am tomorrow.
Brrrr!! But that's Idaho. Winter is without doubt here now!
I have pics, but they were of the first day and Lilly has all kinds of gadgets attached to her--you really can't see her very well.
Anyway, I do hope we go again soon--or that I can go with someone instead of by myself. Claudia is always too tired in the evening when I can go.
Ohhhh--the blizzard. Sorry--off-topic. Wow!! The TV news crews are calling it the Blizzard of 2010. It was a surprise early snow storm. It actually began over the weekend, but worsened to very bad blizzard conditions over the past two days. All public schools that were scheduled to be in session were cancelled for the week. I didn't have to go to work at all this week.
We got some groceries today and are getting ready for the big feast on Thursday. But all the roads were closed north of Idaho Falls today. Some were closed yesterday already. I have shoveled the driveway twice today, and now it is too cold to go out there and do it again. Temps are supposed to go to single digits or minuses tonight and lasting until 11 am tomorrow.
Brrrr!! But that's Idaho. Winter is without doubt here now!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Finally--Grandparents!!!
When: About 3:45 this afternoon (Saturday, November 6, 2010)
What: A wee little baby girl
Where: Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Weight: weighing no more than 4 lbs 4 oz.
How Born: Caesarean Section
Currently Carolyn Tigner Shaffer is in good medical condition after the surgery and is resting at the hospital.
Lily Shaffer is in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and will remain there until she grows to term (probably 2 or more weeks) or begins eating healthily and gaining enough weight. Carolyn is expected to be in the hospital for another 3 or more days. Samuel is there with Carolyn and the baby and is a happy father right now.
We are happy new, first-time grandparents.
The story as Claudia and I know it:
Last night Carolyn and Sam came over to the house. They had been worried about the baby because it seemed to have dropped a little over a week ago and Carolyn was not feeling very well. During the day the lay midwife had ordered an ultra sound to examine the condition of the baby and Carolyn. The imaging showed a low level of amniotic fluid--less than half. Carolyn is only 35 weeks along and this was a concern. Visits were scheduled with the midwife and Dr. Isbell (Ob Gyn) on Monday, but no one would see Carolyn until then.
At our house last night I was the only person who had observed a mother in labor. I was concerned and thought they ought to probably contact a doctor right away. To me she looked and acted as though she were in labor. Carolyn was grouchy about the inference. They decided not to contact the doctor. Home they went.
This morning Claudia received a call while I was out reading with a friend's son. Sam and Carolyn were going to the hospital because some "things" had occurred during the night and the midwife had told them they should go there immediately.
They went at about 9:30 am and were there the rest of the day. The hospital was apparently about ready to send them home until about 3 pm, when Carolyn's body started into full labor. A C Section was scheduled for 4 pm. Claudia called me as soon as she found out. I headed home withing about 5 minutes. We arrived at the hospital at 3:50 pm and the baby had already been born and was in the NICU. We were told everything was going to be just fine. We stayed awhile, saw our new granddaughter, retrieved some supper for Sam and us and some flowers for Carolyn's room (Carolyn is on a clear liquid diet until they know she can take in solid food). We then wished them both well and left the hospital for home.
We were both pleasantly surprised to discover that the baby had been born and that both were physically doing well.
What more can we say--she is perfect!!!
What: A wee little baby girl
Where: Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Weight: weighing no more than 4 lbs 4 oz.
How Born: Caesarean Section
Currently Carolyn Tigner Shaffer is in good medical condition after the surgery and is resting at the hospital.
Lily Shaffer is in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and will remain there until she grows to term (probably 2 or more weeks) or begins eating healthily and gaining enough weight. Carolyn is expected to be in the hospital for another 3 or more days. Samuel is there with Carolyn and the baby and is a happy father right now.
The story as Claudia and I know it:
Last night Carolyn and Sam came over to the house. They had been worried about the baby because it seemed to have dropped a little over a week ago and Carolyn was not feeling very well. During the day the lay midwife had ordered an ultra sound to examine the condition of the baby and Carolyn. The imaging showed a low level of amniotic fluid--less than half. Carolyn is only 35 weeks along and this was a concern. Visits were scheduled with the midwife and Dr. Isbell (Ob Gyn) on Monday, but no one would see Carolyn until then.
At our house last night I was the only person who had observed a mother in labor. I was concerned and thought they ought to probably contact a doctor right away. To me she looked and acted as though she were in labor. Carolyn was grouchy about the inference. They decided not to contact the doctor. Home they went.
This morning Claudia received a call while I was out reading with a friend's son. Sam and Carolyn were going to the hospital because some "things" had occurred during the night and the midwife had told them they should go there immediately.
They went at about 9:30 am and were there the rest of the day. The hospital was apparently about ready to send them home until about 3 pm, when Carolyn's body started into full labor. A C Section was scheduled for 4 pm. Claudia called me as soon as she found out. I headed home withing about 5 minutes. We arrived at the hospital at 3:50 pm and the baby had already been born and was in the NICU. We were told everything was going to be just fine. We stayed awhile, saw our new granddaughter, retrieved some supper for Sam and us and some flowers for Carolyn's room (Carolyn is on a clear liquid diet until they know she can take in solid food). We then wished them both well and left the hospital for home.
We were both pleasantly surprised to discover that the baby had been born and that both were physically doing well.
What more can we say--she is perfect!!!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Well--Finally Another Post--Wow!!! It's been a month!!!
It is late at night--again. I have a lot of thoughts on my mind and I just discovered where to find your comments. Thanks to those of you who have commented and read my posts!!
Gabe is coming along well. We have just polished off one year of court-ordered guardianship by submitting a status report to the judge.
This evening when I came home I was welcomed by a little boy giving me a big hug and saying (not for the first time, btw) "Dad, I love you so much!!" He always says it several times when he says it.
He is back in preschool and loving it. He has several wonderful grown-ups surrounding him with love and therapies. Life is good.
I am also back in school--teaching instead of counseling. I am loving what I am doing and am having the usual challenges of teaching a new grade. My class is full of 32 wonderful kids!! Each one is unique and beautiful in her/his own way. I am the "low count" class. The other two classes have 34 students each. If any new 5th graders register at our school, guess who gets them. Yup, that would be me.
I also am working my IBI and PSR positions and loving that.
These all keep me very busy and the outside-of-school jobs (both professional positions) have so far kept me from catching up fully at my day job. But I plan to get all caught up this weekend--and perhaps get somewhat ahead in my planning.
The superintendent came by this week, observed, and gave me a helpful comment. The principal came by and observed, as well.
One thing a former principal said in my presence years ago--"Public education is never boring" still rings true.
I am so blessed to have what I have!! These students are wonderful!! I am getting back into the teaching part of education and enjoying being part of the faculty at Jefferson Elementary!!
Gabe is coming along well. We have just polished off one year of court-ordered guardianship by submitting a status report to the judge.
This evening when I came home I was welcomed by a little boy giving me a big hug and saying (not for the first time, btw) "Dad, I love you so much!!" He always says it several times when he says it.
He is back in preschool and loving it. He has several wonderful grown-ups surrounding him with love and therapies. Life is good.
I am also back in school--teaching instead of counseling. I am loving what I am doing and am having the usual challenges of teaching a new grade. My class is full of 32 wonderful kids!! Each one is unique and beautiful in her/his own way. I am the "low count" class. The other two classes have 34 students each. If any new 5th graders register at our school, guess who gets them. Yup, that would be me.
I also am working my IBI and PSR positions and loving that.
These all keep me very busy and the outside-of-school jobs (both professional positions) have so far kept me from catching up fully at my day job. But I plan to get all caught up this weekend--and perhaps get somewhat ahead in my planning.
The superintendent came by this week, observed, and gave me a helpful comment. The principal came by and observed, as well.
One thing a former principal said in my presence years ago--"Public education is never boring" still rings true.
I am so blessed to have what I have!! These students are wonderful!! I am getting back into the teaching part of education and enjoying being part of the faculty at Jefferson Elementary!!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Tired, Stressed, Relieved and Currently Happy and Healthy!!!
Finally I am back!!! Having just spent several weeks summarizing previous assessments, observing behaviors, interviewing significant people (including other therapists), summarizing interviews and observations, and postulating in a clinical opinion, I have finally completed a 60 page comprehensive assessment, a new program plan, and a new 18 page implementation plan for a new client. It has all been submitted to the main office and, hopefully, is on its way to gaining approval from the State for services.
Every time I complete a project like this I breathe a little sigh of relief and then go back to stressed. Now that I have a plan, I am responsible to make it work for this child.
On top of all this I now need to be preparing for a new school year at my day job. Only, instead of being the school counselor, I will be teaching 5th grade!!!
After 16 years as a school counselor, the only position I have held in this school district, they have now seen fit to keep the newest counselors in their positions (since they have no other endorsements on their certificates) and put me and another, older counselor, into the classroom. Just think of it--I have not had my own classroom in 19 years!!! Here I am, a 5th grade teacher-to-be and expecting a classroom full of 30 or more students. The last time I taught I had 18 students in 2nd grade. What a change in professions!! What stress on me and my family!!
Oh--as I have previously mentioned--that is not all!! More changes are on the way!! Everyone in our district is taking an enormous pay cut. Mine will be over $4,000!!!
This means I cannot spend all evening at the school prepping for the next day. I used to do that, but I don't think it was of any real value to me professionally. And now I can't afford it!!! I have to keep the money coming in from my second and/or third professional job by continuing to work every evening until at least 6 pm or later at my IBI/PSR jobs. Which positions are coming under increased regulation by state bodies who do not have even a tiny idea of what we do and what our clients need.
In the meantime, the State Bureau of Occupational Licenses has decided that I need to actually physically go to expensive classes rather than just take courses online for my 20 CEU's per year for my professional counselor license renewal.
I won't be trying to digest all of this at once. I am going to live one day at a time and plan ahead for as much as I can accomplish.
For some unknown reason, I am being stretched immensely at this time in my life. I do not know why, but I know my Savior, Jesus Christ, and my Father in Heaven will be there for me all along, just as they always have been. For whenever a door is closed on one part of my life, another is opened and new beginnings are at hand.
I am both concerned and excited about my new challenges and believe I am about to embark on a journey requiring faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and service to others.
I would like to say something funny right now--but I am not thinking of anything--I am too fatigued from the events of the past month.
This next paragraph is about as close as I get:
How has it occurred that governments are always wanting more work and stress for less money?! What did someone say we cannot ever escape? Death and taxes? Well, we also cannot escape the alarming combination and default conspiracy of legislative ineptitude and bureaucratic tunnel-mindedness. Throw that in with some people's idea that spending money to assist the developmentally disabled is some type of diagnosable (yet untreatable) disorder and you have a humongous mess coming your way. Look out!!! You may be next!!!
The Lord bless all of you!!
My Love to you!!
Every time I complete a project like this I breathe a little sigh of relief and then go back to stressed. Now that I have a plan, I am responsible to make it work for this child.
On top of all this I now need to be preparing for a new school year at my day job. Only, instead of being the school counselor, I will be teaching 5th grade!!!
After 16 years as a school counselor, the only position I have held in this school district, they have now seen fit to keep the newest counselors in their positions (since they have no other endorsements on their certificates) and put me and another, older counselor, into the classroom. Just think of it--I have not had my own classroom in 19 years!!! Here I am, a 5th grade teacher-to-be and expecting a classroom full of 30 or more students. The last time I taught I had 18 students in 2nd grade. What a change in professions!! What stress on me and my family!!
Oh--as I have previously mentioned--that is not all!! More changes are on the way!! Everyone in our district is taking an enormous pay cut. Mine will be over $4,000!!!
This means I cannot spend all evening at the school prepping for the next day. I used to do that, but I don't think it was of any real value to me professionally. And now I can't afford it!!! I have to keep the money coming in from my second and/or third professional job by continuing to work every evening until at least 6 pm or later at my IBI/PSR jobs. Which positions are coming under increased regulation by state bodies who do not have even a tiny idea of what we do and what our clients need.
In the meantime, the State Bureau of Occupational Licenses has decided that I need to actually physically go to expensive classes rather than just take courses online for my 20 CEU's per year for my professional counselor license renewal.
I won't be trying to digest all of this at once. I am going to live one day at a time and plan ahead for as much as I can accomplish.
For some unknown reason, I am being stretched immensely at this time in my life. I do not know why, but I know my Savior, Jesus Christ, and my Father in Heaven will be there for me all along, just as they always have been. For whenever a door is closed on one part of my life, another is opened and new beginnings are at hand.
I am both concerned and excited about my new challenges and believe I am about to embark on a journey requiring faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and service to others.
I would like to say something funny right now--but I am not thinking of anything--I am too fatigued from the events of the past month.
This next paragraph is about as close as I get:
How has it occurred that governments are always wanting more work and stress for less money?! What did someone say we cannot ever escape? Death and taxes? Well, we also cannot escape the alarming combination and default conspiracy of legislative ineptitude and bureaucratic tunnel-mindedness. Throw that in with some people's idea that spending money to assist the developmentally disabled is some type of diagnosable (yet untreatable) disorder and you have a humongous mess coming your way. Look out!!! You may be next!!!
The Lord bless all of you!!
My Love to you!!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Wha...? Those help instructions are old!!
It took me a while this evening to realize that I already have the following function from Google Friends installed. I kept reading the help instructions on Google and and saw no "Layout" tab on my Blogspot page.
There always seems to be an issue with documentation and communication between techs and users. I would wonder more about why that problem exists, but I have a 30 year old son who is a tech and I have had to make him communicate adequately with me. He often gets so exasperated in the process that he has a meltdown.
Stephen will soon be 31 (July 21) and we are still wondering about any interest in getting married. It doesn't seem to be there and it really doesn't matter that much in his case. Stephen is Stephen!! As one of my young IBI (Intensive Behavioral Intervention) clients recently observed to me, "You're not me" is not an unusual response when someone is attempting to assist you with life's challenges.
Well, I am not Stephen. I am me. We can never be the same!! That is so wonderful!! We are all different from every other person on this planet!! If only more of us could realize this and be more sensitive to others needs and unique personal characteristics. We all seem to want to be regarded as not being like anyone else. This is often to our own detriment, for when some of us think this way about ourselves we leave others and their possibly very valuable viewpoints out of our lives. The truth is that regardless of our own assertions of being independent and totally different from anyone else we each actually need the ideas of others in our lives. We need that enriching power--very often the power to change...the power to become....
When will I really learn that? When will any of us really learn that?
Have a great weekend!!!
There always seems to be an issue with documentation and communication between techs and users. I would wonder more about why that problem exists, but I have a 30 year old son who is a tech and I have had to make him communicate adequately with me. He often gets so exasperated in the process that he has a meltdown.
Stephen will soon be 31 (July 21) and we are still wondering about any interest in getting married. It doesn't seem to be there and it really doesn't matter that much in his case. Stephen is Stephen!! As one of my young IBI (Intensive Behavioral Intervention) clients recently observed to me, "You're not me" is not an unusual response when someone is attempting to assist you with life's challenges.
Well, I am not Stephen. I am me. We can never be the same!! That is so wonderful!! We are all different from every other person on this planet!! If only more of us could realize this and be more sensitive to others needs and unique personal characteristics. We all seem to want to be regarded as not being like anyone else. This is often to our own detriment, for when some of us think this way about ourselves we leave others and their possibly very valuable viewpoints out of our lives. The truth is that regardless of our own assertions of being independent and totally different from anyone else we each actually need the ideas of others in our lives. We need that enriching power--very often the power to change...the power to become....
When will I really learn that? When will any of us really learn that?
Have a great weekend!!!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Some of You Should be Getting This in Your Email
Just a note that I have finally taken time to explore my blog settings enough to put a bit of each blog post into some of your emails. If you don't want that you will let me know. If you do and you are not getting the emails, please tell me. I can only send emails to 10 people.
I have also given a few of you invitations to become authors of my blog spot. That should make it easier for my family members to blog here.
Have a great day!!!
I have also given a few of you invitations to become authors of my blog spot. That should make it easier for my family members to blog here.
Have a great day!!!
To My Two Followers
Next I need to brush up on a few things and get my classroom and plans ready for the next school year. I have not yet seen my class roster, so I am anxious to see who I have. I probably know a lot of the students already. Hopefully my resigning principal, Ben Lemons, has the rosters up soon.
I don't know who will be the new principal, but come what may, I will, indeed be the best I can be for those kids and their parents.
Stephen is home and has put all our computers on the LAN, so now Samuel and Carolyn have their own internet access, as do Stephen, Claudia, and myself. We have added two more computers to our network now to create a total of 5 machines online.
Sam has not found a job yet. He still keeps his long bushy beard and mustache combo, looking like an Hasidic Jew or someone straight from the 19th century. We just hope that gets overlooked in the hiring process.
Carolyn is pregnant with her first child!!! In about November or December Claudia and I are expecting to be first-time grandparents!!!
Gabriel finished his first-ever year of preschool yesterday and brought home a Fathers Day card for me, which you can see above. He will repeat preschool next school year. That will give us some time to get more attachment issues under control and hopefully get him potty-trained. He will be 5 on July 21 (Stephen's 31st birthday).
I have a lot to say and more than one place to say it. I will keep you posted as much as possible as the summer progresses. I will be very busy working and earning as much money as possible to try to keep us afloat and pay off some loans. Next school year everyone in our district will suffer a pay cut. Mine is $4000!!! Unless the economy turns around in time for state revenue receipts to increase adequately enough to restore some of our pay.
Our district continues to hire employees but has laid off some as well. We will see what is happening as time goes on.
One thing is for certain--I am not getting any younger. Another thing is for certain--I am losing weight no matter what I have to do to accomplish that. My goal is about 160 lbs. Currently I weigh between 230 and 235.
Years ago Carolyn, as a little girl, asked me if I came across the plains with the pioneers!!! Of course she was too young to understand large time concepts. We think she has now gone full-circle on that. She now refers back to the ancients and 19th century church leaders to argue we need to retrench and be polygamists. Sam and his father and brother are also headed that way. It was Sam who introduced Carolyn to the Parowan Prophet. Last evening Sam was heard to tell a guest of ours that when his father gets his social security he will buy some property in southern Utah and they will set up their own colony there!! Unfortunately the guest was thinking on similar lines regarding polygamy, though not interested in their offer, and has read many of the same questionable materials Sam and his father and younger brother have read. Our guest is also very easily misled.
Claudia and I and Stephen are not even interested in the options they have been selecting for themselves. We have testimonies of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, as taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons). We are members and have been for years, as have Carolyn and Sam and his family.
We are still in some shock regarding their unusual choices, to say the least, after several years of these goings- on. It is amazing that Sam and Carolyn are still members of the LDS church. The LDS church does not countenance polygamy in any form. That practice was abandoned during the 19th century. However, some former church members continue to practice polygamy, believing the LDS church has apostatized.
Well, when life gives you a lemon, make lemonade!!! Only people who work hard make mistakes in their work and in their lives!!!
All my best to you and anyone who has read my post. Please feel free to tell others about my blog.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Summer "Vacation" Is Here!!!??
Well, for next school year we have...Mr. Tigner, 5th grade teacher (instead of counselor). After 16 years as a school counselor, the district that hired me as such is now placing me into a teaching position, thus changing my profession involuntarily. This is done because of the cuts in funding (the economy) and to allow other counselors, most of whom have no other endorsements on their certifications, to remain employed by the district. Unfortunately, the situation begs a question: Why has another counselor with many more years in the district than I been removed from the high school to an elementary school for this past school year and now reassigned to a classroom instead of a counselor position for next school year? I can understand my situation, if that has been explained correctly by the superintendent. I just don't understand the other counselor's situation and why this is happening to her.
Anyway, I am increasingly becoming excited about my assignment for next school year. After all, I have a great relationship with all the kids at the school. I think everything will work out just fine and I will be a great teacher for these kids.
I will miss being the school counselor. I will not miss some of the duties attached to that position, but I could not have ever enjoyed doing anything else more than being a counselor in a school.
Anyway, I am increasingly becoming excited about my assignment for next school year. After all, I have a great relationship with all the kids at the school. I think everything will work out just fine and I will be a great teacher for these kids.
I will miss being the school counselor. I will not miss some of the duties attached to that position, but I could not have ever enjoyed doing anything else more than being a counselor in a school.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Well--Finally Another Post--Wow!!!
I have had very little time online lately. Busy is an understatement of what has happened. Now here I am. I have been transferred out of my counseling position and into a 5th grade teaching position at my school. In addition, our principal and another principal in the district have both quit. I do not know who our principal will be next year, and I do not know how all this will work out for me to teach--especially after 19 years of not having a classroom full of kids to teach all day every day.
Our little guy, Gabe is continuing to learn to speak and to understand spoken language. He is getting more into the routines around here and has grown a lot emotionally and academically. Last month we had a transition meeting for him at the school he would be attending if he were promoted to kindergarten. We let them know that he is not in any way ready for kindergarten but they promoted him over our objections. They claimed that they could not get any funding to keep him in the developmental preschool after he reaches 5 years of age (next July 21). A few days later his preschool teacher called Claudia and told her that decision had been revisited and reversed by a school district Special Education consultant and he will remain in preschool.
We are sooooo happy about that! We know he has progressed a lot since he has been with us, but the attachment is so obviously not complete and too many of the control issues are still plaguing him and us.
To top everything off, our daughter, Carolyn, and her husband, Sam, have moved back in with us. They came up from Utah and Sam will be looking for a job up here. Carolyn is now over two months pregnant!! We are going to be grandparents in about November or December. She has not had medical care yet, so we do not have an accurate estimate of her due date.
Sam and Carolyn wore out both of their cars and do not have a car to get around with anymore, so we think they will need to get one as soon as Sam earns some money from somewhere.
A busy month? Oh yes!! This has been a very busy month so far!!!
For those of you whose blogs I am subscribed to or whom I am following somewhere online, I must apologize that I have not been able to check out your blogs for many days and that I have been unable to comment on anyone's buzzes or tweets. I also apologize to those of you who have not seen any blogs coming from me for awhile.
Hopefully I can resume normal online activities now that I have helped promote one PSR client out of PSR services.
Our vegetable garden has now been tilled (Claudia and mostly Clyde) and planted (Claudia, Sam, and Carolyn). We hope we can now get our front planters planted this week.
We are still Gabe-proofing our home. Gabe can now open the doors with the child-proof door handle covers and we are busy installing locking doors on all our rooms as quickly as we possibly can.
He gets into things much less now and is far more responsive to direction now than a year ago. I think his Dubach family members would not experience him as quite the same boy they gave us now. But he still can grab and destroy faster than any child we have ever seen.
We are very thankful for him, though. We love him a lot and are re-learning how to parent young children. He is definitely all boy, as the saying goes.
Everyone have a nice week!!!
Our little guy, Gabe is continuing to learn to speak and to understand spoken language. He is getting more into the routines around here and has grown a lot emotionally and academically. Last month we had a transition meeting for him at the school he would be attending if he were promoted to kindergarten. We let them know that he is not in any way ready for kindergarten but they promoted him over our objections. They claimed that they could not get any funding to keep him in the developmental preschool after he reaches 5 years of age (next July 21). A few days later his preschool teacher called Claudia and told her that decision had been revisited and reversed by a school district Special Education consultant and he will remain in preschool.
We are sooooo happy about that! We know he has progressed a lot since he has been with us, but the attachment is so obviously not complete and too many of the control issues are still plaguing him and us.
To top everything off, our daughter, Carolyn, and her husband, Sam, have moved back in with us. They came up from Utah and Sam will be looking for a job up here. Carolyn is now over two months pregnant!! We are going to be grandparents in about November or December. She has not had medical care yet, so we do not have an accurate estimate of her due date.
Sam and Carolyn wore out both of their cars and do not have a car to get around with anymore, so we think they will need to get one as soon as Sam earns some money from somewhere.
A busy month? Oh yes!! This has been a very busy month so far!!!
For those of you whose blogs I am subscribed to or whom I am following somewhere online, I must apologize that I have not been able to check out your blogs for many days and that I have been unable to comment on anyone's buzzes or tweets. I also apologize to those of you who have not seen any blogs coming from me for awhile.
Hopefully I can resume normal online activities now that I have helped promote one PSR client out of PSR services.
Our vegetable garden has now been tilled (Claudia and mostly Clyde) and planted (Claudia, Sam, and Carolyn). We hope we can now get our front planters planted this week.
We are still Gabe-proofing our home. Gabe can now open the doors with the child-proof door handle covers and we are busy installing locking doors on all our rooms as quickly as we possibly can.
He gets into things much less now and is far more responsive to direction now than a year ago. I think his Dubach family members would not experience him as quite the same boy they gave us now. But he still can grab and destroy faster than any child we have ever seen.
We are very thankful for him, though. We love him a lot and are re-learning how to parent young children. He is definitely all boy, as the saying goes.
Everyone have a nice week!!!
Friday, April 16, 2010
I Think I have lost a lot of my creativity!
We made it through this week!! It was the first week of ISAT (Idaho Standards Achievement Test) for the students at Jefferson Elementary, where I work during the school year. (At least I presently work there--who knows what will happen after all the cuts!) I have been working in this district for no less than 15 years now. If I reach full retirement in the state retirement system, I will have worked for the State of Idaho for approximately 23 years. Presently I am waiting to hear about next school year. No decisions have yet been made by our school board so far as I know.
Life has its twists and turns and can be very difficult to negotiate at times. We are trying to have some humor around here, but the stress is overshadowing everything we try so far. And yet we cannot stay serious all the time. After all not every minute has to be sad. Only some minutes need to be sad so that we can appreciate and know happiness.
Sometimes we need to count our blessings and enjoy the beauty and humor surrounding us in life. Every day of work I have bouncy, happy, little ones all around me!! How could I be more blessed?! Our little 4-year-old is a magnificent blessing in and of himself. And when I go to work at the school there are 630+ just like him, many of them running up to me each day to tell me about something they did, when their birthdays are, what they got or are getting on their birthdays, their teeth that are wiggling loose and what the tooth fairy brings, what they can do on the bars or the slide or the glider, how their favorite professional team or their own peewee team won a game, how they did on the state tests, and many other wonderful things in their lives. Sometimes I sit down with a student and we visit about how life is working out for them. Often they come to me for help in solving a problem with another child or other children.
Sometimes their parents call me to ask for help with their student. "I just don't know what to do!" I am often told by a frustrated mother. "Can you help my child do better in class? on the playground?" a parent asks me. I am simply humbled by the faith and confidence placed in me at times by both the children and the parents. I often ask myself, "Can I really do this?" And yet somehow I usually manage to help that child and/or parent in some way--even when I don't think (and maybe they don't think) I am doing so.
Over the years I have been a school counselor I have been thanked many times by grateful and gracious parents and children. I have also been criticized by some of the same--even after working intensely with the student and risking my credibility (i.e. sticking my neck out) for that student and even for those parents.
But all of the bad stuff pales in comparison with the joy of seeing a child happy and full of excitement over life's great moments.There is nothing more wonderful than that!!
Life has its twists and turns and can be very difficult to negotiate at times. We are trying to have some humor around here, but the stress is overshadowing everything we try so far. And yet we cannot stay serious all the time. After all not every minute has to be sad. Only some minutes need to be sad so that we can appreciate and know happiness.
Sometimes we need to count our blessings and enjoy the beauty and humor surrounding us in life. Every day of work I have bouncy, happy, little ones all around me!! How could I be more blessed?! Our little 4-year-old is a magnificent blessing in and of himself. And when I go to work at the school there are 630+ just like him, many of them running up to me each day to tell me about something they did, when their birthdays are, what they got or are getting on their birthdays, their teeth that are wiggling loose and what the tooth fairy brings, what they can do on the bars or the slide or the glider, how their favorite professional team or their own peewee team won a game, how they did on the state tests, and many other wonderful things in their lives. Sometimes I sit down with a student and we visit about how life is working out for them. Often they come to me for help in solving a problem with another child or other children.
Sometimes their parents call me to ask for help with their student. "I just don't know what to do!" I am often told by a frustrated mother. "Can you help my child do better in class? on the playground?" a parent asks me. I am simply humbled by the faith and confidence placed in me at times by both the children and the parents. I often ask myself, "Can I really do this?" And yet somehow I usually manage to help that child and/or parent in some way--even when I don't think (and maybe they don't think) I am doing so.
Over the years I have been a school counselor I have been thanked many times by grateful and gracious parents and children. I have also been criticized by some of the same--even after working intensely with the student and risking my credibility (i.e. sticking my neck out) for that student and even for those parents.
But all of the bad stuff pales in comparison with the joy of seeing a child happy and full of excitement over life's great moments.There is nothing more wonderful than that!!
Friday, April 2, 2010
LDS.org - Family Chapter Detail - The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles
All our friends:
To find out more about what Easter is please use the following link:
Easter, a Sacred Time of Year
Easter--Is is not about eggs and bunnies and Easter baskets. Those are fun and nice and come from pagan rituals. It is about the atonement. It is about our Savior, Jesus Christ's and Heavenly Father's love for us. Easter is a very important time of our year when we remind ourselves of His mortal ministry and that we really cannot comprehend that sacred something he did for us. He suffered for our sins in Gethsemane. He suffered and died on the cross and was resurrected and brought us the resurrection. He has taken away the sting of death and the victory of the grave. After we leave this life, we can then be resurrected and live again with Him.
This life is a time for us to prepare to meet God and to perform our labors and serve Him. We will never be perfect (complete) in this life. When we leave this life it won't matter how close to perfection we are. What will matter is which direction we are headed. As an apostle of the Lord once said, it just doesn't matter how far up the "ladder" we are, so long as we are headed up and not down or some other way. We will be saved in the celestial kingdom of God so long as we are going in the correct direction.
I am so thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and his love and sacrifice for us!! I have made sacred covenants to live as He would have me live. May I so do!!
Of the truth of these things I testify in His name, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
For more information to to www.mormon.org or www.lds.org
This life is a time for us to prepare to meet God and to perform our labors and serve Him. We will never be perfect (complete) in this life. When we leave this life it won't matter how close to perfection we are. What will matter is which direction we are headed. As an apostle of the Lord once said, it just doesn't matter how far up the "ladder" we are, so long as we are headed up and not down or some other way. We will be saved in the celestial kingdom of God so long as we are going in the correct direction.
I am so thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and his love and sacrifice for us!! I have made sacred covenants to live as He would have me live. May I so do!!
Of the truth of these things I testify in His name, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
For more information to to www.mormon.org or www.lds.org
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
First Day of Spring Break--I Slept In
Today was the first day of our district's Spring Break and I slept in. I did go to work at one of my other jobs at 4 pm, but mostly I just went slower and enjoyed the vacation. Now I am so sleepy I can hardly think. To bed I go.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Parents, People, Comments, and Child Rearing
A cousin of mine who has adopted a child from Russia has been key in guiding us through taking charge of our Gabriel and helping him with attachment issues and other issues of adoption. On some adoption boards and very well-read and respected for her adoptive parenting wisdom and wisdom in general, she recently posted a comment about her tangle with another person who apparently freely pointed out that, due to the fact she had other children before she adopted she lacked knowledge of adoption.
Not certain exactly what the disagreement was about I find myself reflecting on the commonalities of disagreements and criticisms in whatever context they may appear. As a teacher, a licensed counselor and school counselor I have had to learn a lot about these social forays and why they occur. In education I have found these to be especially distressing and they certainly need addressing as the problems they are.
People will criticize for several reasons. They may actually feel insecure and self-critical about their own struggles with this topic and may be trying to make themselves feel better by putting someone else down. They may be viewing the other person as inferior to them. They may just be wanting to bully someone. They may genuinely believe that they know the only way and that no other way is acceptable. They may be pushing a cause they are devoted to. They may be wanting to be respected as an authority on the topic and may believe they are getting insufficient recognition. They may just be socially inept. And there are probably more reasons than I have mentioned here.
Regardless of the reason for the attack they often leave the attacked steaming and fuming. Over the short span of my life I have had to deal with these situations many times and in various contexts. I am certain that you have likewise experienced these situations in ways that have disrupted your life.
Deciding that I am never going to live free of these types of attacks I have concluded, at least for myself, that I need to deal with them in ways that give me my life back as quickly as possible. In this way I can hopefully continue to function normally while I process the incidents.
Without a doubt I have come out of such situations scathed in some way. Usually I have found myself angry at the person who is doing the inflicting. I have tried arguing back and showing my anger and opposition to the other person. I have tried talking about it to others to garner support. I have tried simply pretending like it hadn't happened. Every time I have argued and shown my anger at the person I have felt "small". Every time I have shared my experience with others I have felt "small". When I have tried to pretend it had not happened I have found myself talking to myself to garner support!! None of these has ever worked for me. The wound just keeps getting bigger and bigger and going deeper and deeper. It is only when I have responded with a caring attitude toward the other person that I have come away feeling okay with myself.
Since I cannot control what anyone else does I find myself now wanting to control what I do about what they do. Thus instead of simply reacting I can act on the situation and feel more comfortable in my own shell.
In his book, Bonds That Make Us Free, C. Terry Warner expresses his beliefs about how, "Life can be sweet." This amazing book seeks to help us maintain our appreciation for ourselves. He comments, "We all know the difference between times when we feel open, generous, and at ease with people versus times when we are guarded, defensive, and on-edge." And this entire work is devoted to understanding ourselves better and taking back control of our own feelings instead of, for instance, believing that someone else "Made me mad."
With me this approach to life works well. The application of the principles embodied in this material is challenging for me. As with many of you I have my own issues that tend to just pop-up and challenge my ability to take back control. And when I do take my control back, claiming my own emotions as mine and making decisions that are in my best interest, a very liberating feeling emerges within me and I am back on track and happy again.
I do not entirely accept all of that which C. Terry Warner advocates, but for me the general principles he covers are relatively sound.
I plan to keep referring to those and I teach my kids, both at school and in my family, as much as I can about how much control they really do have in their lives. It is actually very scary to some of us to discover this, but when we overcome our fears of this knowledge, we can move on and be happier.
Have a great day, and thanks for reading!!
Not certain exactly what the disagreement was about I find myself reflecting on the commonalities of disagreements and criticisms in whatever context they may appear. As a teacher, a licensed counselor and school counselor I have had to learn a lot about these social forays and why they occur. In education I have found these to be especially distressing and they certainly need addressing as the problems they are.
People will criticize for several reasons. They may actually feel insecure and self-critical about their own struggles with this topic and may be trying to make themselves feel better by putting someone else down. They may be viewing the other person as inferior to them. They may just be wanting to bully someone. They may genuinely believe that they know the only way and that no other way is acceptable. They may be pushing a cause they are devoted to. They may be wanting to be respected as an authority on the topic and may believe they are getting insufficient recognition. They may just be socially inept. And there are probably more reasons than I have mentioned here.
Regardless of the reason for the attack they often leave the attacked steaming and fuming. Over the short span of my life I have had to deal with these situations many times and in various contexts. I am certain that you have likewise experienced these situations in ways that have disrupted your life.
Deciding that I am never going to live free of these types of attacks I have concluded, at least for myself, that I need to deal with them in ways that give me my life back as quickly as possible. In this way I can hopefully continue to function normally while I process the incidents.
Without a doubt I have come out of such situations scathed in some way. Usually I have found myself angry at the person who is doing the inflicting. I have tried arguing back and showing my anger and opposition to the other person. I have tried talking about it to others to garner support. I have tried simply pretending like it hadn't happened. Every time I have argued and shown my anger at the person I have felt "small". Every time I have shared my experience with others I have felt "small". When I have tried to pretend it had not happened I have found myself talking to myself to garner support!! None of these has ever worked for me. The wound just keeps getting bigger and bigger and going deeper and deeper. It is only when I have responded with a caring attitude toward the other person that I have come away feeling okay with myself.
Since I cannot control what anyone else does I find myself now wanting to control what I do about what they do. Thus instead of simply reacting I can act on the situation and feel more comfortable in my own shell.
In his book, Bonds That Make Us Free, C. Terry Warner expresses his beliefs about how, "Life can be sweet." This amazing book seeks to help us maintain our appreciation for ourselves. He comments, "We all know the difference between times when we feel open, generous, and at ease with people versus times when we are guarded, defensive, and on-edge." And this entire work is devoted to understanding ourselves better and taking back control of our own feelings instead of, for instance, believing that someone else "Made me mad."
With me this approach to life works well. The application of the principles embodied in this material is challenging for me. As with many of you I have my own issues that tend to just pop-up and challenge my ability to take back control. And when I do take my control back, claiming my own emotions as mine and making decisions that are in my best interest, a very liberating feeling emerges within me and I am back on track and happy again.
I do not entirely accept all of that which C. Terry Warner advocates, but for me the general principles he covers are relatively sound.
I plan to keep referring to those and I teach my kids, both at school and in my family, as much as I can about how much control they really do have in their lives. It is actually very scary to some of us to discover this, but when we overcome our fears of this knowledge, we can move on and be happier.
Have a great day, and thanks for reading!!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Oh--That's Where I Do That!!!
Epiphanies!!! I finally took a look at my blog, didn't like it, and started searching for something that looked very different that what I had seen--templates were what I wanted. Now you can see my blog and its links. Perhaps some day I will connect with how to design my own template. But this new, light background, simple template will just be fine until then. After all--a techy I am not. A somewhat savy senior--that is a better description of me. I just can't figure out why little old ladies who are younger than I keep thinking they are older?!
Finally I Went Through My Email!!
With all the jobs we both are now working to keep up with our expenses, and with a little one and all the other activities we are involved in it is no wonder that I had over 500 email messages to sort through today. What I cannot figure out is how to get my friends and family subscribed to this blog. I have even opened it to public view and only have two followers!! One is my son and the other is my cousin.
Of course when I started using this blog and sent announcements out to all my family I had not realized that nobody could actually access the blog without a gmail account. Even then they were having trouble getting to my posts.
I have just added a bunch of gadgets to my blog that should make it easier to access--a search box, a list of blog titles and topic, and some other things--several and I don't remember what they were. I just viewed the blog and realized the text color and background are making it difficult to read, as well. So, I have some more adjusting to do before I try to send out any more invitations or email any of my posts (if that is possible).
I guess the fact that I am not really a tech hurts my ability to manage something like this. My cousin seems to have her own blog sight somewhere on its own--not in blogspot. She is more techy than I (and younger, as well) so I keep wondering--How did she do that? My son also has his own blog sight--not in blogspot.
Oh well. I think I will just see what I can do with this one. Maybe I will be able to get some things right here before I move on somewhere else.
Keep checking back and maybe you will see my blog start looking better. Some day I might even add some more photos!!
Of course when I started using this blog and sent announcements out to all my family I had not realized that nobody could actually access the blog without a gmail account. Even then they were having trouble getting to my posts.
I have just added a bunch of gadgets to my blog that should make it easier to access--a search box, a list of blog titles and topic, and some other things--several and I don't remember what they were. I just viewed the blog and realized the text color and background are making it difficult to read, as well. So, I have some more adjusting to do before I try to send out any more invitations or email any of my posts (if that is possible).
I guess the fact that I am not really a tech hurts my ability to manage something like this. My cousin seems to have her own blog sight somewhere on its own--not in blogspot. She is more techy than I (and younger, as well) so I keep wondering--How did she do that? My son also has his own blog sight--not in blogspot.
Oh well. I think I will just see what I can do with this one. Maybe I will be able to get some things right here before I move on somewhere else.
Keep checking back and maybe you will see my blog start looking better. Some day I might even add some more photos!!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Big Changes?!
The economy is big news to everyone who has a job lately--and to everyone who doesn't have a job any longer or who can't get one. I find myself wondering about my own. The State of Idaho has decided to make some cuts in many areas of state government and in education. Our legislators have never been eager to actively seek new revenue for the more and more expensive education costs of our ever expanding population. This has been true even in good times. Now that we are really in a hurt, why would anyone expect them, under worsening circumstances, to take any action to increase revenue in support of education? That would be a ludicrous idea to them--as it ever has been. So what are they trying to do now? Well, it looks as though they are trying to "keep the teacher in the classroom" and at the same time reduce funding for textbooks and other materials teachers need, and programs (such as counseling) that are needed more and more because of the great increase in family dysfunction that go along with our culture's weakening moral fiber, to effectively teach their students. I don't know if our lawmakers will ever overcome their incapacity to understand education and needs regarding education funding. What would ever make them think that a teacher can teach adequately without curriculum materials?!! They need to experience the pressures we are experiencing with No Child Left Behind (NCLB) looking over our shoulders constantly, expecting us to "lead the horse to water..." and make it drink whether it wants to or not. Not only are the Feds expecting us to motivate unwilling children with rescuing parents to reach "proficiency" on the statewide standards test (Idaho Standards Achievement Test or ISAT), but they are also expecting that 100% of ALL children (regardless of whether they even know English, or have a developmental disability or cognitive impairment) who take the test in 2014 reach the "Proficient" level of achievement on the ISAT!!!
This comes back to sufficiency of state funding and rational goal-setting, both of which appear to be severely lacking both at the State and Federal levels. Educators have explained to lawmakers for years that teaching students effectively requires more than a one-size-fits-all approach. It doesn't! Never has, never will! We have explained and explained until we have been blue in the face (if not purple and dying) that the ratio of adults to students needs to be cut way, way back if we are to serve each individual students successfully. Even then, and even with all the new methods and ideas floating around education, the question still remains: How many adults and how much time does it take to bring a child with a severe learning disability or cognitive impairment, who is several years behind his or her peers, to grade-level proficiency?
I had the gall to mention this at a State testing coordinators meeting a few years ago. The state official in charge of testing responded by telling me not to say that the chances of a child with down syndrome reaching proficiency on the test she "loves" are very, very low, perhaps nonexistent. She cited one child she was aware of (in the entire state, mind you) who had down syndrome and had reached proficiency on the test. Of course, since that time they have stiffened and narrowed the availability of accommodations for these kids so that the test is much, much more difficult to pass. Ever mindful of the need to keep testing material secure, they made most of the test available for review and tightened security to the extent that we now are told that no test parts can be continued to another day for our slow testers--unless they have IEP's or other legal individual plans that specify this as an accommodation. Even then we must go through the district testing coordinator and the State Department of Education for approval, and no students who become ill during the test will be approved!!
Small comfort that Arne Duncan and Obama are working on using growth as a measure of success rather than proficiency level. This seems to be taking forever and NCLB is a sacred cow at the moment. Unless something happens to greatly change all of this to a rational growth model, an extremely ugly scenario will unfold in the next few years. Almost all of our nations public schools will be found to be "failing." This, despite the fact that many of these schools are failing in only one subgroup (IEP students, ELL students, etc.). Keep in mind that our state agricultural college system has gone from state supported to state subsidized to state named in the past couple or three decades. My prediction is that the same will happen to our public schools. They will mostly become listed as "failing", be in position to be taken over by the state, the state will not want to administer them (too much money and too much trouble), our public education system will be declared "failed", and our free and appropriate public education will cease to exist. It will go from state supported to state subsidized (unless this step is skipped) to state named, only. Yes, charter schools could take over some or all of the functions of regular public schools. This would probably bust the current teachers unions, but a backlash of union starting activity will occur with regard to educators who, once again, will need to actively seek better pay and benefits for their now very, very poor families. If this does not happen, then, since both parents usually have to work nowadays, the kids will still have to go to school out of the home. This is because there will be no supervision in the home. Since public education will be declared a "failed enterprise" wealthy taxpayers will demand that their tax money not be used for public education any longer. Poor and, especially middle class, families will no longer be able to have their children educated. Only the very wealthy will have access to a public education for their children.
This is what I see in the future of public education unless we wake up soon and do something about supporting our schools.
This comes back to sufficiency of state funding and rational goal-setting, both of which appear to be severely lacking both at the State and Federal levels. Educators have explained to lawmakers for years that teaching students effectively requires more than a one-size-fits-all approach. It doesn't! Never has, never will! We have explained and explained until we have been blue in the face (if not purple and dying) that the ratio of adults to students needs to be cut way, way back if we are to serve each individual students successfully. Even then, and even with all the new methods and ideas floating around education, the question still remains: How many adults and how much time does it take to bring a child with a severe learning disability or cognitive impairment, who is several years behind his or her peers, to grade-level proficiency?
I had the gall to mention this at a State testing coordinators meeting a few years ago. The state official in charge of testing responded by telling me not to say that the chances of a child with down syndrome reaching proficiency on the test she "loves" are very, very low, perhaps nonexistent. She cited one child she was aware of (in the entire state, mind you) who had down syndrome and had reached proficiency on the test. Of course, since that time they have stiffened and narrowed the availability of accommodations for these kids so that the test is much, much more difficult to pass. Ever mindful of the need to keep testing material secure, they made most of the test available for review and tightened security to the extent that we now are told that no test parts can be continued to another day for our slow testers--unless they have IEP's or other legal individual plans that specify this as an accommodation. Even then we must go through the district testing coordinator and the State Department of Education for approval, and no students who become ill during the test will be approved!!
Small comfort that Arne Duncan and Obama are working on using growth as a measure of success rather than proficiency level. This seems to be taking forever and NCLB is a sacred cow at the moment. Unless something happens to greatly change all of this to a rational growth model, an extremely ugly scenario will unfold in the next few years. Almost all of our nations public schools will be found to be "failing." This, despite the fact that many of these schools are failing in only one subgroup (IEP students, ELL students, etc.). Keep in mind that our state agricultural college system has gone from state supported to state subsidized to state named in the past couple or three decades. My prediction is that the same will happen to our public schools. They will mostly become listed as "failing", be in position to be taken over by the state, the state will not want to administer them (too much money and too much trouble), our public education system will be declared "failed", and our free and appropriate public education will cease to exist. It will go from state supported to state subsidized (unless this step is skipped) to state named, only. Yes, charter schools could take over some or all of the functions of regular public schools. This would probably bust the current teachers unions, but a backlash of union starting activity will occur with regard to educators who, once again, will need to actively seek better pay and benefits for their now very, very poor families. If this does not happen, then, since both parents usually have to work nowadays, the kids will still have to go to school out of the home. This is because there will be no supervision in the home. Since public education will be declared a "failed enterprise" wealthy taxpayers will demand that their tax money not be used for public education any longer. Poor and, especially middle class, families will no longer be able to have their children educated. Only the very wealthy will have access to a public education for their children.
This is what I see in the future of public education unless we wake up soon and do something about supporting our schools.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
A Day Like No Other?!
Yesterday I awoke with a headache. Rarely do I ever have a headache but yesterday I had one that hurt enough to take two extra-strength acetaminophen. Not long after I took the two pills my stomach also began to feel uncomfortable. The discomfort lasted all day and into the evening.
A little after 7 am I went to the school and moved around more slowly than usual while working. At the end of the school day when I went to my second job I found my client was also in pain. I called his mother and she came and picked him up early. I went home and ate. I forgot to remove the shirt I had on and exchange it for another. I had somehow allowed my shirt to be ripped down the left sleeve.
I then went to the home of another client whom I usually take to his Boy Scout meeting. He was also not feeling well so I stayed and worked in the home with him and his mother. I left his home at 8 pm, finished up some paperwork at the main office, and returned to my residence. I still felt not so good but I did the best I could.
About 9:40 our power went off. I was in the middle of posting on a health blog when that happened. The power company sent a man out who went into our back yard, stuck a long pole up by the transformer a couple of times and got the power back on for all 5 or 6 homes on that transformer. I brought the computer back up and checked my post--gone!! I rewrote my post and went to bed a few minutes later, happy that I could remove the extra blanket from our little one's bed--we now had heat in the house again.
I am still asking myself what could have possibly caused such an interesting day?! My wife, Claudia, and I were just amazed at all of this. To be sure, we both have had many such days in our lives--this was not the first and will not be the last. Still, like all of you out there, I wonder how it all happens at once!!
A little after 7 am I went to the school and moved around more slowly than usual while working. At the end of the school day when I went to my second job I found my client was also in pain. I called his mother and she came and picked him up early. I went home and ate. I forgot to remove the shirt I had on and exchange it for another. I had somehow allowed my shirt to be ripped down the left sleeve.
I then went to the home of another client whom I usually take to his Boy Scout meeting. He was also not feeling well so I stayed and worked in the home with him and his mother. I left his home at 8 pm, finished up some paperwork at the main office, and returned to my residence. I still felt not so good but I did the best I could.
About 9:40 our power went off. I was in the middle of posting on a health blog when that happened. The power company sent a man out who went into our back yard, stuck a long pole up by the transformer a couple of times and got the power back on for all 5 or 6 homes on that transformer. I brought the computer back up and checked my post--gone!! I rewrote my post and went to bed a few minutes later, happy that I could remove the extra blanket from our little one's bed--we now had heat in the house again.
I am still asking myself what could have possibly caused such an interesting day?! My wife, Claudia, and I were just amazed at all of this. To be sure, we both have had many such days in our lives--this was not the first and will not be the last. Still, like all of you out there, I wonder how it all happens at once!!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Chinese Spring Festival and New Year Blahs and more
My son, Stephen, displayed a video of the recent Japanese New Year celebration in which the Year of the Ox became the Year of the Tiger. They actually had a baby ox on stage (looked just like a normal calf) and brought a tiger out on the same stage. Both were on leashes. As I watched I remembered that probably the Chinese were doing the same thing right about that time. I checked online for Chinese New Year and it was the same. I sent a Happy New Year and Happy Spring Festival greeting to our former foreign exchange student, Luo Lan. She returned the greeting, thanking me for it, and explained that she had an unhappy New Year because she had to work. She is a flight attendant for a Chinese airline and was dismayed to not be able to celebrate the New Year at home with her mother and father. She had been required to be on board an airplane instead.
I could feel some of her pain as I remembered, rather vaguely now, the lonely Christmas and New Year holidays seasons I had spent in the U.S. Army after I was drafted. This was during the Vietnam War. I knew there must be many people who shared her situation--even on her flight--so I told her about how I and my Army buddies used to celebrate the holidays in the best ways we could. We bought items representing the holidays and used them to help us feel a little of what we might normally feel at home.
Certainly it would never be the same as being with family, I told her, but there would be people around her eager to offer her support and who shared her predicament. She could probably celebrate the Spring Festival and New Year on a smaller scale and still enjoy it.
I gave her our love and closed my email, knowing that it never really was very fun for me during the holidays, but that there always seemed to be someone to share them with.
I could feel some of her pain as I remembered, rather vaguely now, the lonely Christmas and New Year holidays seasons I had spent in the U.S. Army after I was drafted. This was during the Vietnam War. I knew there must be many people who shared her situation--even on her flight--so I told her about how I and my Army buddies used to celebrate the holidays in the best ways we could. We bought items representing the holidays and used them to help us feel a little of what we might normally feel at home.
Certainly it would never be the same as being with family, I told her, but there would be people around her eager to offer her support and who shared her predicament. She could probably celebrate the Spring Festival and New Year on a smaller scale and still enjoy it.
I gave her our love and closed my email, knowing that it never really was very fun for me during the holidays, but that there always seemed to be someone to share them with.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Two Busy Weeks!!!
It seems as though I have finally reached the top of the proverbial mountain and can now take a break, rest, and reflect on the trip up to the summit.
Those people who keep making retirement look like a life of leisure and luxury have been leading us all astray. Some of us are old enough now to be able to tell everyone how insane that old idea is. No, you don't get to relax and leisurely lay around and play when your are old--unless you are in a nursing home. And if you are in a nursing home, you may not be in any condition to play.
An older person let me in on this a couple of decades ago. I don't even remember who it was. I do remember the person told me that when you get older you get busier!! I was shocked to hear that!! Busier?! How could I get busier than I was?! But it has turned out to be true!!
It was true even before we got Gabe in our family. Now it is even more true!
This past two weeks were no exception to that norm. The week before this past week Gabe and I had two medical appointments and my car broke down and had to have a major repair. This past week there were no medical appointments but somehow I managed to keep busy every single evening with something. I had two lessons and a vocal solo to prepare for church as well as my usual Monday through Friday client and my Tuesday evening client for my second job--Intensive Behavioral Intervention therapist for a private non-profit agency.
Beside this, there were the usual house cleaning and other odd jobs around the home, a little 4-year-old to look after whenever Claudia was working or busy, and, since the 20th and 25th were both pay days for me, we had some shopping to do. With Claudia back to work 6 hours per day, things got real messy and frustrating. On top of all this there was the prescription med I ran out of and had to do without this week--too busy during my work day at the school to remember to take care of this problem, obviously. (Maybe some day I will learn!!)
We have added some additional therapies for Gabe this past week and he has been to the dentist and had his mouth pronounced "healthy" with no cavities. Our insurance also refused to pay for that visit (they are correcting this they said), just adding to our stress level.
I want to say something funny, but recounting all of this has only generated some low level humor:
I want to think I am helping and blessing the lives of as many people as I can. After all, I was blessed with a beautiful tenor voice and so many people really enjoyed my solo today--lots of compliments!!! People also complimented me on my lessons or, at least, thanked the Lord for them in a closing prayer. (What does one expect when teaching 12 and 13 year olds?) The truth is I have not been sufficiently sensitive in ministering to the needs of those around me.
I have heard the saying: "No rest for the wicked." Many years ago someone in my life added to that, "And the righteous don't need any."
Let's see: "No rest for the wicked and the righteous don't need any." Hmmm. So am I wicked or righteous? Using these two statements as a test I have to say I cannot determine the answer to that question. "No rest" pretty much sums up my present situation. That is as far as it goes.
For certain I am not accomplishing some important tasks that are long overdue. These are the "shoulds" in my life. Like the understanding cognitive behavioralist I am I tell myself to quit shoulding on myself. But I know I must keep doing my best for all of us.
The song I performed today in church--"You're Not Alone" by Michael MacLean did bring comfort to those who heard it. This time of the year it is a very important message for people to hear.
Always remember you are not alone--He is there. He is either walking beside you or carrying you, for he loves us all more than we know!
Those people who keep making retirement look like a life of leisure and luxury have been leading us all astray. Some of us are old enough now to be able to tell everyone how insane that old idea is. No, you don't get to relax and leisurely lay around and play when your are old--unless you are in a nursing home. And if you are in a nursing home, you may not be in any condition to play.
An older person let me in on this a couple of decades ago. I don't even remember who it was. I do remember the person told me that when you get older you get busier!! I was shocked to hear that!! Busier?! How could I get busier than I was?! But it has turned out to be true!!
It was true even before we got Gabe in our family. Now it is even more true!
This past two weeks were no exception to that norm. The week before this past week Gabe and I had two medical appointments and my car broke down and had to have a major repair. This past week there were no medical appointments but somehow I managed to keep busy every single evening with something. I had two lessons and a vocal solo to prepare for church as well as my usual Monday through Friday client and my Tuesday evening client for my second job--Intensive Behavioral Intervention therapist for a private non-profit agency.
Beside this, there were the usual house cleaning and other odd jobs around the home, a little 4-year-old to look after whenever Claudia was working or busy, and, since the 20th and 25th were both pay days for me, we had some shopping to do. With Claudia back to work 6 hours per day, things got real messy and frustrating. On top of all this there was the prescription med I ran out of and had to do without this week--too busy during my work day at the school to remember to take care of this problem, obviously. (Maybe some day I will learn!!)
We have added some additional therapies for Gabe this past week and he has been to the dentist and had his mouth pronounced "healthy" with no cavities. Our insurance also refused to pay for that visit (they are correcting this they said), just adding to our stress level.
I want to say something funny, but recounting all of this has only generated some low level humor:
I want to think I am helping and blessing the lives of as many people as I can. After all, I was blessed with a beautiful tenor voice and so many people really enjoyed my solo today--lots of compliments!!! People also complimented me on my lessons or, at least, thanked the Lord for them in a closing prayer. (What does one expect when teaching 12 and 13 year olds?) The truth is I have not been sufficiently sensitive in ministering to the needs of those around me.
I have heard the saying: "No rest for the wicked." Many years ago someone in my life added to that, "And the righteous don't need any."
Let's see: "No rest for the wicked and the righteous don't need any." Hmmm. So am I wicked or righteous? Using these two statements as a test I have to say I cannot determine the answer to that question. "No rest" pretty much sums up my present situation. That is as far as it goes.
For certain I am not accomplishing some important tasks that are long overdue. These are the "shoulds" in my life. Like the understanding cognitive behavioralist I am I tell myself to quit shoulding on myself. But I know I must keep doing my best for all of us.
The song I performed today in church--"You're Not Alone" by Michael MacLean did bring comfort to those who heard it. This time of the year it is a very important message for people to hear.
Always remember you are not alone--He is there. He is either walking beside you or carrying you, for he loves us all more than we know!
Friday, January 15, 2010
A Day to Relax?
I am home today because we had parent-teacher conferences in Rigby for the past two nights.
I had to drive Gabe to school because there was a miscommunication and the bus didn't come to get him. He and I played around in the living room this morning and had lots of fun but we waited 45 minutes for the bus to come. Stephen chatted with me from Japan so he was up after 4 am. He told me he should get to bed a little earlier. Hmmmm--Ya think?
Claudia went to work this morning before Gabe had to go to school. She is trying The Learning Center again.
I scraped some of the snow off the ice on the sidewalk and driveway today.
I ate my lunch a few minutes ago.
The house is so peaceful right now. I wish I could rest. Instead I have to go to The Learning Center to do IBI with a new client who is arriving at 2:15. So now I have to reread the client's plan before I go.
I have been told for many years that there is no rest for the wicked and that the righteous don't need any. Therefore, I draw no spiritual comfort from being busy instead of taking a break
I will work with that client until 6 pm.
I used to think that when I got to be a senior I could retire, travel, rest, and play a lot. However, someone several years ago informed me that you get busier and busier the older you get. I find this statement has been prophetic for me.
All the same, I love my life and family. What more could I ask of a merciful God?
I had to drive Gabe to school because there was a miscommunication and the bus didn't come to get him. He and I played around in the living room this morning and had lots of fun but we waited 45 minutes for the bus to come. Stephen chatted with me from Japan so he was up after 4 am. He told me he should get to bed a little earlier. Hmmmm--Ya think?
Claudia went to work this morning before Gabe had to go to school. She is trying The Learning Center again.
I scraped some of the snow off the ice on the sidewalk and driveway today.
I ate my lunch a few minutes ago.
The house is so peaceful right now. I wish I could rest. Instead I have to go to The Learning Center to do IBI with a new client who is arriving at 2:15. So now I have to reread the client's plan before I go.
I have been told for many years that there is no rest for the wicked and that the righteous don't need any. Therefore, I draw no spiritual comfort from being busy instead of taking a break
I will work with that client until 6 pm.
I used to think that when I got to be a senior I could retire, travel, rest, and play a lot. However, someone several years ago informed me that you get busier and busier the older you get. I find this statement has been prophetic for me.
All the same, I love my life and family. What more could I ask of a merciful God?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Okay--now anybody can read my blog
You no longer need to log in to read the Clyde and Claudia Tigner Family Blog.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
A Wedding to Remember
Three years ago today our daughter, Carolyn, married Samuel Shaffer in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Carolyn had some last minute "cold feet" and we were delayed some but everything turned out and she is now happily married to the love of her life.
But that wedding day--Ahhhhh! It was cooooold!! We took photos out in the very cold Idaho Falls January Weather. Poor Carolyn, she was freezing the whole time!!!
Photos?? There on a website belonging to the photographer. Some time I will add some.
Have a great day!!!
But that wedding day--Ahhhhh! It was cooooold!! We took photos out in the very cold Idaho Falls January Weather. Poor Carolyn, she was freezing the whole time!!!
Photos?? There on a website belonging to the photographer. Some time I will add some.
Have a great day!!!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Hmmmm--I thought I was enough!!
Well, well, well, well--I thought I was tech-minded enough to do this blog, and I am!! I just have to slow down and pay attention to what I need to do. It will definitely be a learning experience.
I keep wanting to put my blog out there for everyone to access, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet--at least I don't think I have. Maybe this site doesn't allow people to see my blog unless they are invited? Hmmm.
Tonight I made some toast and the toaster had a strange smell of burning rubber. I looked and looked. Finally, after I had finished getting the toast out of the toaster, I found the rubber band--just hanging there from one of the rib-like objects that hold the toast up.
Now how was I supposed to get that out?
This is a lesson in simplicity--it was so easy to do. Somehow I got the impression that if I grabbed a butter knife from the drawer and stuck it down there something good might happen. (Now don't try this at home!!)
In went the knife (Who did that?!) and up came a dangling piece of half-melted rubber. Into the trash went the offending object!!! And into the air had diffused the toxic odor!!
Opening doors and windows and ordering the bathroom fan turned on--that would be me!!
The house still smells so bad I will be glad to get my C-Pap mask on tonight when I crash--phew!!
Meanwhile everyone else has gone to bed.
Exercises?? Still didn't get them done tonight--when will I get some sense into my tired little head?!
Goodnight everyone!!
Clyde
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Well--Finally Another Post
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It is high time I began posting on this blog. Much has happened since my first post in August and now it is January 10, 2010!!
Our new family addition, Gabe, has been in pre-school since some time in October and has really grown!!! We went to Sacramento to pick Gabe up at the end of last May and the beginning of June. In September we obtained court-ordered guardianship and have since been working very hard to make him a real part of our family. Our oldest, Stephen, who turned 30 July 21st (the same day Gabe turned 4) left for a semester abroad in Kyoto, Japan at Kansai Gaidai University. He has done so well that his Japanese government scholarship will continue for another semester. We are planning on his return in April or May, but who knows? Maybe he will stay there and work or find some nice Japanese young lady to marry.
Our second oldest, Carolyn, (28 May 21st) and her husband, Sam, are presently living in Cedar City, Utah. Because of the economy and some failed jobs they are having more of a struggle than they planned for, but they are so far sticking it out and enjoying marriage. Carolyn could not be happier!
Gabe is learning to speak so we can understand him and we are learning to listen better. Today in church Gabe did better than ever. He really loves his Primary class. Claudia's parents always told us what a peaceful refuge our home was whenever they visited us. I think this is all having a positive effect on Gabe and he is feeling more like he is home and we are feeling more like parents. After the storm of Gabe's newness to our home and family, we are beginning to see the calm of his settling in and our settling for him.
After all these years, and thinking all of our (2) children were grown, it is certainly very different to have a 4-year-old in our home again. How much we have forgotten from those early years of our marriage. Last September we celebrated our 31st anniversary in a very low-key way. Somehow we grow in love for each other and in happiness each year.
I keep my hair short now--mainly because of the hazards of one of my jobs. If there is no hair to pull, that is one less problem! Sooooo--uglier I look now. Oh well--for 62 I still don't look that bad.
As my dad always said, "You are only as old as you think you are." That being said, I am convinced I am still 23 years of age!!! I just can't see myself older than that--yet.
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