I'm heading to Camp Esperanza in about 15 minutes! Woohoo!
I've spent 2 whole nights in my new house. Slept like a rock. So far, so good (except for that little issue with the air conditioner).
I'll be back next week with camp stories. As I'm in the youngest cabin (6-8), there should be some good ones!
Today (Sunday, July 16) marked the 4 year anniversary of my nephew Dakota's death.
Daktoa, you still inspire me daily. I can look at your picture and just smile. I miss you, but know you are so much better off with Jesus. Until we meet again...
My Tribute to Dakota (July 16, 2005)
Some more pictures, posted last year
Precious memories, how they linger.
So, I posted a new,updated profile pic. It was taken at school for our summer school yearbook, so I'm sporting my low-maintenence school look--straight hair (no yet pony tailed), barely any makeup, and a durable t-shirt.
One of the TAs remarked that I was sporting a Gothic look. What the ??? Gothic? Me???
My job requires a sense of humor, or else you'll lose your mind. I love to laugh while I'm at work at all the little things that happen throughout the day. Granted, I don't laugh at the kids; it's just more of a light hearted, fun environment. Sometimes, things happen where you HAVE to laugh or you'll throw up, pass out, or some other unsavory thing will happen. I had one of those moments today. My summer school class is students aged 6-15 in the severe profound range. None are verbal; all are in diapers or pull-ups. They are an absolute joy to work with, but there are those moments....
One of our students had a poopy diaper. No biggie. He's not one whose hands wander. Stupid me decided to choose this changing to try and get his pull up down over his shoes. Not my brightest moment. I didn't see until too late that the poopy had spread into the shorts. Oops. Dirty shoe. So, I toss it aside, along with the shorts. We finish the task at hand. Once done, I go toss the shorts into the washer with some hot water. I just happened to glance into the washer..thankfully. There I saw a giant, soft FLOATY! I shut off the water and started laughing hysterically! I went into the classroom and hollered at my friend and replacement at SMS and told her to come look. She did and looked at me and started laughing. I was snorting...teehee. So, being the friend that she is, she went and got me a paper plate so I could scoop it up and into a trash bag. Problem resolved. I guess you had to be there...those moments are the times I'm thankful I can laugh at myself and those incidents that sometimes happen that can sort of throw you!
Last month, 2 of my students (twins) and their mother came to my hometown for a bike rally benefitting Making Promises Happen, a camp for individuals with special needs. The girls have been to camp and gone snow-skiing as recipients of scholarship money that has been raised by people (including my parents) in my hometown. They had a great time. This is me with the girls and their mother (with my mother in the background).
So sweet!
