I am loving that this morning has been on the cool side. That could change in an instant, but i will cherish it for now. I have much to do today, but i knew the day would not be complete unless i checked in over here at Peacoats and Party Hats.
I have been spending my time off this week reading, sunning and walking. I always feel so much better when i make sure to schedule some "me" time. I think we often disregard our own needs for relaxation and little bit of laziness. It doesn't feel right at first...i often have thoughts of trying to multi-task or make my time productive, but this week i talked myself out of focusing on my endless to-do list and instead enjoyed some time alone without looking at my watch. The warm afternoons have been partnered with cold, low fat vanilla yogurt from Fresh and Easy topped with fresh strawberries and granola clusters.
This week was Teacher Appreciation week, as many of you mom's may know, and so i brought my teachers some fresh cut roses from out yard in mason jars with bows accompanied by home-made chocolate chip cookies and a hand crafted card.
You may be asking, "what teachers is she referring to?" I have failed to mention much on this blog in last month or so, so i will catch you up. I started a masters/credential program at National University in February in mild/moderate special education. I knew i was going to start this program at the last part of 2009, so i started applying for jobs in education. My goal was to get a para-educator position but i was willing to take anything just to get my foot in the door with a district. Months went by and nothing. Then suddenly, i got a call from an elementary school principal, interviewed, fingerprinted, TB tested and BAM, i was hired! I am a para-educator at this elementary school now for to moderate/severe classrooms and i am loving every minute of it! It's part-time, so it is the perfect companion to my classes as i am actually getting to do the job while learning more and more about teaching and special needs children. I have fallen in love with these kids and i couldn't have more respect for the teachers i work for. So, these flowers and cookies were the least i could do this week as we step back and appreciate all that educators do for our children.
I was happy to receive several district letters regrading job security which stated that the Special Ed departments are "safe" from cuts for next school year. Now, nothing is ever 100% certain, but i feel confident so far with what i have seen and heard around the water cooler. All i know is i absolutely love what i am doing and who i am working with and so i hope that this path will continue. It feels right. I can see myself doing this for years and years.
Something exciting that happened this week - i was officially accepted to the Chapman University grad program for special education! I start this summer. I was happy at National, but i was worried about the valuable connections, internships and job offers that Chapman would have to offer me and that i wasn't seeing at National. So i completely confused everyone and quickly applied to Chapman about a month ago...essay, letters of rec, etc. It all came full circle for me on Friday when i had my intake interview and received my class schedule and program outline. It was a good feeling, walking away from that meeting, but i also was a little overwhelmed. There are a lot of hoops to jump through and i am eager. And i just have to have a glass of wine every time i think of the additional students loans i will be collecting over the next year and a half. lol!
And finally, i did get to do some scrapbooking while on our scrapbook cruise. I saw this amazing layout in a magazine...i wish i could remember which publication and who the designer was, i will have to look it up...which used several border punches to create a background. I LOVE when the same color cardstock is layered in any way, so this background was like happiness for my eyes. So, i tried my own version using all of my Fiskars edge punches (which i got at The Red Bee) and punched a mint green background. I love layering.
It was fun going through all of my springy embellishments. I created another Easter layout too...
I have found that i don't like to do any 2 pages a like. Even if they are the same event. I will have probably 2 more pages about this very same Easter, both different from the first 2 and each other. It's not that i get bored with what i'm using, it's just that i have so many visions and ideas for how the Easter 2010 pages could look, so why not try them all! There is so much freedom in personal scrapbooking.
Today - lot's of cleaning and organizing, but i promise to make time for reading and walking. I need to clear my head for this brand new week on the cusp. Everyone, have a great Sunday ans i hope you too take some time for yourself soon. :-)
