We are down to zero (almost) and we anticipate the new "school" year. I took Jonathan grocery shopping with me to find out what he'd like to put in his lunch (he'll be taking it 3x during the week). The big question is...will it be enough to satisfy the ravening beast?
Really cool thing: I was given a branch of rosemary that I was going to propagate and plant. In the meantime (read: till I got around to it), I put it in a vase with some water. After a few days I noticed something - roots were growing out of the base of the stick in the water. After more time had passed, we even noticed a little new growth at the top. Very Cool! Now I'm just waiting until it gets full of roots and I will transplant it. I have high hopes for it...this plant is a survivor!
For a last end-of-summer fling, I took the kids to see Guardians of the Galaxy. They are big Marvel fans and really wanted to go. It was fun - and funny - and in the end we all decided Groot was the coolest. But, play time is over...to work we all must go!
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Jonathan starts back up at Aviation Mechanics with the Vo-Tech today. Class doesn't start until noon and this year I'm not taking him to the airport. Instead, I drop him off at the Vo-Tech and he takes a shuttle (okay, a white Suburban) to the airport and back. A shorter commute for me and better for him, really. I hear the airport parking is crowded with all the new students this year.
For those who want to know, he's studying Airframe this year. Last year was his general studies, but now he's focusing on everything except the parts involved in powering the plane (that's Power Plant and it's next year). He has a new teacher who worked at JFK airport, but Mr. Hall, his old teacher, is still there, as well as Mr. Scott, the program director.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Today was Jonathan's BIG day - he starts college. He's taking two classes - History and English Comp - in the morning at WOSC and then will walk over to the Vo-Tech (it's a couple of buildings away) to take the shuttle for his afternoon work at the airport. He already has his books, everything's paid for, so he should be good to go!
Okay, he told me later he was really going to enjoy history (no doubt there, he always has loved it), and thinks English will be okay (he just doesn't want to write, yet he can). His English teacher wants the students to use paper tablets to write on (you know, notebooks bind on the side, tablets on the top) and...have erasable pens. Really? I remember the yucky ones we used to use from Papermate that always tore the paper and never really worked. I don't even think they make them anymore. So now we have to go hunting.
Thursday, August, 14, 2014
Just in case you wonder, in the mornings when Jonathan doesn't have class, he does have lessons with me. He and Analiese are doing Spanish together with me, and then he does Consumer Math with me. Soon, hopefully, we'll be working on Driver's Ed, too. He gets this stuff done fairly quickly, but I figure it will give him time to study for his other classes, too. Analiese I work with alone after I've taken him to school.
Straight after Jonathan got back to the Vo-Tech from the airport, the kids and I went to Lawton for our monthly Sam's club trip. We stopped at Staples, looking for the mysterious erasable pens...no go. Then we went to Sam's and did the Prison Candy Run for Ken. He has so many employees now (over 100) that we can't use a regular cart to hold all the candy; we have to use the long truck thingy (so erudite, I know!) The checker looked at the kids and said jokingly, "I hope you don't eat all that candy at once!" I told her that gratefully, none of it was for any of us!
Friday, August 15, 2014
Jonathan's second day at WOSC and the end of the week at the airport. Analiese and I are starting to settle back down into a routine again, as well.
She went with me, as usual, to the salon as I got a pedicure. She picks out my colors for me and plays on the little game consoles that are at the kiddie salon chairs. Today, I have sparkly purple on my toes...in honor of my sister, Wendy's, birthday yesterday. I just go along.
Rabbit Club was tonight and the fair is drawing near. Just a few weeks away and it will be time for exhibiting and showing rabbits. Plus, Analiese wants to enter her skirt into the fair, too. I just hope it isn't too hot at the Expo center...the rabbits don't like that!
Saturday, August 16, 2014
I drove two hours to terra incognita today. Norman, OK, is about half and hour south of OKC and there is an Institute of Religion across the street there from the OU campus. It's a lovely area; I thought how nice it would be to live there (but probably out of my budget). Still, I was there for the Seminary workshops, not to look at houses.
At first, I was shy (I really am, especially in a group of people I don't know) and only recognized Bro. Sturges, the CES supervisor over three stake's worth of Seminary and Institutes, Lawton being one of them, and Pres. Petersen, our stake president. He was the keynote speaker. I'd say there were about fifty teachers, supervisors and CES missionaries in attendance. I was a little fish.
Bro. Sturges had called me yesterday and asked if I would lead music, so I really had no time to be introverted and got up to lead. Then followed Pres. Petersen and the other speakers, each presenting the CES goals for this year and seminary teaching techniques - including Scripture Mastery. It was inspiring, Spirit-filled, and fun. Bro. Sturges even had a competition with us to see if we could win a plate of brownies at lunch! Yes, I ate my victory brownie!
By the end of the workshops, I had met a few people and received a lot of good ideas and inspiration. I am tired, I THINK I'm ready, and I feel a little less nervous, but no less in awe at the responsibility.
Repeating the trip in reverse was interesting. My GPS was trying to get me to avoid the toll roads, but to be honest - the tolls, even though they involve money - get me there faster and don't get me lost. Taking the other roads is an adventure in jungle trekking.
But...on the way to finding the toll road, I had some pleasant surprises. If I wasn't in such a hurry to get home to dinner with the missionaries, I might have stopped and taken pictures. Sometime I will, though! Because...I finally saw them! Buffalo! (Okay, really they're bison, but buffalo is more fun to say.) I had thought I saw one laying in a field on the way up to Norman, but on the way back there was a whole field FULL of them!!! I'm in awe of them; they are huge, a bit grumpy (you don't want to get too close), and have those solid-looking horns, but still...they are so unique. I want some buffalo/bison memorabilia, like a stuffed animal or bobble-head. It was cool.
The second surprise came a little further down from the field of bison. I saw a field pock-marked with what looked like giant ant mounds (believe me, it could happen). But...there was a furry head sticking out of one hole. And then another...and another...Prairie dogs! I just laughed! They were so cute and funny. Two glorious, delightful creations within minutes of each other. I was grateful for the Father's allowing me that experience.
Jonathan went tonight with a girl (no it wasn't a date...really. She just invited him to join their group, but I think she kind of likes him. We met her and her mom in the Homeschool PE class.) to the Altus Youth Jam. It's put on by Southwest Youth Services and sponsored by local businesses and churches. They have music, food, games, and prizes for the kids, for the most part all free. It's to give them a fun, safe venue to meet. I'm thinking our ward needs to sponsor a booth next year. Our friends, the Doshers, were there representing their church, I know. Jonathan got to see both David and Geordi and hang with them, some. I guess he got a kick out of watching Georgi try to do a front flip on a bungee cord.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Today was Ward Conference, so I saw Pres. Petersen again. His talk in Sacrament Meeting had some elements from yesterday, but between him and me...we were the only ones to know.
After the meetings were over, I went to the Seminary room to see it set up for Monday. Now, mind, I asked all the kids to come over and help me do it, so we could get it done quickly. However, only Jonathan really remembered (good boy!). One mother came in and said, "Is my daughter here?" (No, but she SHOULD be!) and another girl came in...when we were done. Oh well, I think I'm ready to go and that's all that counts.
People have asked me today if I am ready. I think so. I can't imagine being any less ready. I've done a lot. Now it's up to the Spirit and the students.
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