Monday, March 30, 2009

Yumm...Cake!

We took the top off of his giant cupcake in hopes that he would dig into the cake....he kinda did!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

What A Year

I know that I sound like a dork, but this year went fast!
I don't think he even looks like the same kid!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Fun Video

I was going thru the videos and pictures on my memory card and found this from February.

Unfair Pillow Fight

It's kind of an unfair fight when you are only 1 and your daddy is 6'9"

Notice how is hands and feet NEVER STOP MOVING!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Sincerity

I am beginning to wonder if sincerity is a lost emotion among our youth. Heck, sometimes I wonder if it a lost emotion among adults.

I recently had a student who said some awful things about a teacher and thus was removed from school and sent to me. Part of his "curriculum" with me was to write a sincere apology letter to every staff member (he came from the alternative school so he needed to write 5 letters). We talked about what it means to be truly sincere. He then sat down to write his letters. One stated, "I know you feel what I did was wrong, but I don't. I'm sorry anyways." Yeah, really sincerity there!

He was then upset when I told him he needed to write a letter to "R." He was mad because he had never had "R" as a teacher and he didn't feel he needed to apologize to "R." I explained how the EOC is a small pond. When someone throws a stone into their pond, the ripples effect everyone, therefore he needs to apologize to everyone. His letter to "R" read, "Even though you are not my teacher and you won't be my teacher, I was told I still have to apologize to you. So, I guess I'm sorry." Give me a break?!

I took his 5 letters down to the school. The secretary and I had a good laugh over the student's "sincerity." The student council read the student's letters and came to the conclusion that the student was not sorry for what he did, and thus would not be let back in. His lack of sincerity cost him his education. He has burned his bridges with the other school districts and will not be let back in. His lack of sincerity cost him his high school diploma. He decided to go for his GED.

I think the adult world has lost the true meaning of sincerity as well. I think we sometimes are good at acting sincere, but I often wonder if it is truly sincerity or just an act.

We have some inner office drama. My office is 7 women and 1 man. I am often excluded from this drama because my personal office isn't in the same building as everyone else. I am grateful for this! It seems that the women can act like bratty middle school girls. They gossip and can be catty. Well, we recently adopted a new office policy in hopes of eliminating hurt feelings, etc. One person decided to call me this morning and try to make amends. She has never hurt me emotionally (or physically for that matter). I have to wonder if she really did want to touch base with me or if she wanted to make herself look good. I am often the one female my male boss will come to when there is catty drama. Since I am not physically in that office, I am often called to be the impartial 3 party who gets to handle the drama. I have to wonder if she was calling to truly touch base or to just make herself look better in my eyes since the most recent drama revolved around her.

So how do we restore sincerity in our youth? Our kids? As a parent, I want Taylor to truly be sorry for whatever transgressions he may acquire in his life. How do I instill sincerity within him? I know it starts by me being truly sincere in my life. I must be a role model for him, but in a day and age when sincerity about anything seems to be flying out the window, he is bound to know insincere individuals. We can surround him as much as possible with good people, but in the end, we can't force him to be sincere. Who knew raising well rounded kids (that won't end up in my program!) could be so hard! :)

Monday, March 16, 2009

Again? Really? Come on now!

For the second time in 2 years at DeKalb teacher/coach has had an innapropriate relationship with a female student.

Come on people! The girl is 17, the guy is 56. Doesn't that gross out anyone other than me?

It seems like lately there have been so many news stories about inappropriate relationships between teachers and students. Really? I student taught in a public high school and HECK NO! I don't see what teachers see (romantically) in their students.

It makes me want to develop some type of screening test for potential teachers. Some type of psychological screening that would alert authorities to someone who might have a predisposition to romantic feelings towards students.

I just don't get it. It is people like those teachers who tarnish the name of good teachers. Those who try to help our students, not kiss our students!

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Scattergories

Ayron is working an auction today and my other two boys (TJ and Scooter) are asleep and I am bored! Thus this post is born.

Scattergories

Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real . . . nothing made up!

1. What is your name: Carma

2. A four Letter Word: Coat

3. A boy's Name: Chase

4. A girl's Name: Claire

5. An occupation: Color Consultant

6. A color: Cream

7. Something you wear: Clothes

8. A food: Carrots

9. Something found in the bathroom: Charmin

10. A place: Charleston

11. A reason for being late: Car Collision

12. Something you shout: Crap!

13. A movie title: Cars

14. Something you drink: Cranberry Juice

Friday, March 13, 2009

Flooding

Do you ever wonder what Noah felt like? I can only imagine the ridicule and criticism he took during the building of the arc. There was not a cloud in the sky, yet here he was buidling a massive floating farm. I am first to admit that had I lived back then, I probably would have thought he was a tid bit off his rocker (I'm thinking about Evan Almighty as I write this). We are lucky that the flooding was minor (in comparison to Noah's time).
I know several people in Auburn and Waterloo (The 'Loo as I shall now call it, thanks Steve S!) who have been effected by this flood and it is horriable the things they now have to deal with. I am greatful that He did not decide to flood the earth again and hoping that He makes his rainbow known to those who are dealing with the aftermath of this flooding.
Anyone want to go golfing? This is a shot of Bridgewater Golf Course.

The fairgrounds. The people that live in the Depot across the street were boating to their house (read it in the paper).


Draining Attitude

I have another new student in my program and his negative outlook (on any and everything) is starting to have an adverse effect on my other two students. It is amazing how one person can be in the program for all of 2 days and corrupt my other two students. I am beginning to understand why he was kicked out of his new school after only 3 days of attendance!

I even find myself getting sucked into his negative world. I try to separate myself from his negativity, but it is very difficult when we are in such close quarters. So how do I separate myself from his negativity while still doing my job? How can I make sure his attitude and outlook on life doesn't permanently rub off on my other two students? Thoughts? Ideas?

Monday, March 09, 2009

More Pictures

Ok, so I can't say enough about Stephani Lynn Photography!!! The fact that he is throwing a fit makes this picture perfect!!
Who knew that a dress shirt and tie without pants would be so cute!!


Taylor and Otis.

This pic turned out great!! Especially since the sweater is way to big!!



Steph had a milisecond to snap this pic before Taylor started eating the letters!


Happy Easter!!! The eggs started flying once he got his hands on them!


Seriously? Doesn't this make your heart melt?!

Forget the cake, I can touch the balloons!!


Whatcha gonna do 'bout it?!


Yummy cake!!!


Road Trippin to TN

Ayron and I took a road trip to TN this past weekend. We went down to meet with a family and photograph their wonderful collection of cars. It was an experience. Here are the highlights.

Ayron missed our exit because we were too busy trying to wave to the bus of Canterbury School basketball players on their way to state.

I managed to stay awake the whole way down. This is an accomplishment for me!

I do not like Kentucky. I got major motion sickness. Seriously, straight roads people.

I love downtown Nashville!

We were able to just walk right it and be seated at HardRock.

Here are the links to the facebook photo albums.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=96147&id=790068782&l=83d78
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=96162&id=790068782&l=b1a13

Keep in mind that the pics I took of the cars were just pics I took. I have no where near the amount of pics that Ayron took for work. This truly was a very awesome collection to see!

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Pat on the back

Ok, first a bit of a back story. The way my program (my job) has been funded in the past has changed, thanks to House Bill 1001 (don't get me started). I was allowed (if you call it a privilege) to write a huge grant basically begging and pleading, "Please keep funding my program."

Tuesday my boss called to tell me that my grant was approved and that I had a 40 page document to read. I sat down and attempted to read the document yesterday. I was so confused. I thought it was just all legal jargon I didn't understand since I am not a criminal justice person. Turns out it confused the judge too (so I don't feel so bad now!).

We met with the judge about the grant and we decided to say "Thanks but no thanks." There were so many hoops to jump through, it just wouldn't be worth it. The judge then proceeded to tell me, "I do not want to lose this program or Carma, what do I need to do to keep the doors open." I informed him that I am waiting to hear back on another grant I wrote, etc. My boss and the judge talked and we discovered there is some unused money in the judges budget for juveniles. Guess what? I get it!! This ensures that my doors will stay open thru at least next school year. That means, I have a job!!! I was nervous for a while and I was praying for guidance and strength. Right now this job is perfect. It is semi-flexible and I am able to do what I need to do in order to be a wife and mother and still have a successful program.

It was nice to get that "pat" on the back from the judge. So often I wonder if I am even doing things correctly. My job deals a lot with criminal justice and the courts, and that is not my background. I do education and I just kind of guess on the criminal justice stuff and hope no one calls me out on it. I admitted that to the judge and he said, "Well, you had me fooled! I thought you knew a lot of criminal justice stuff." I told him that I am learning and I am very interested in going back to school (during the summer of course) to learn more (scoring some brownie points with the judge and my boss!!) about the criminal justice system. That seemed to really please him.

I see this as an answer to a prayer. In an economy where people are struggling to maintain or even find a job, I just found out that mine is safe for another year.

Thank you Lord for allowing me the opportunity to stay employed and the opportunity to hopefully reach this students the school labels as "lost causes." I pray that you continue to guide me and bless me with patience as I struggle to connect with these students. Amen.

Monday, March 02, 2009

7th Heaven!


I am in seventh heaven right now! Taylor had his 1 year pics done yesterday and she already posted two of them and oh my goodness!!!! Seriously, you have to use Stephani Lynn Photography for your pictures. I can't plug her enough!!! Here are the two she has edited and posted so far!