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This has been an exciting, and busy couple of weeks.

Church update:

Chip and Steve have spent the last two weeks casting vision for our church. In response to our renewed vision, exciting things are happening at CTK Durango...we are relaunching our small groups, meeting on Sunday mornings and moving into a new location. I am very excited about the new location. We will be sharing space with two other churches. We will have real Sunday School rooms, a sound system and seating for 100. The switch to Sunday mornings is a big one...but unlike what we imagined when we moved to Durango, we are attracting a group of people who are less likely to come on Sunday evening. It has always been difficult for families with small children to begin the church experience at 6pm. I am excited to see how we change and grow as a result of our new meeting space and time. If you are looking for a place to worship in Durango, CO, come and check us out...we meet at Matthew's House at 10 am on Sunday mornings.

School Update:

My students are wonderful! I have them well trained and I am enjoying them so much as people. I have two upper level literature classes, each with eight students. It is SO fun! We sit in a circle, drink coffee and discuss literature. It's like a college seminar and we are all having a great time! I am, however, VERY nervous about the standardized testing that is coming up in a couple of weeks. They really have come so far...but I might rip out me hair if they don't do well!

One of my students experienced some real-world pay off. Christopher Woody, a twelfth grader in several of my classes, has been writing a column for the DHS newspaper, El Diablo. This month, his second article was published. It was a very creative piece on depression. It contained lots of imagery, really reached out to the reader and inspired empathy for those who are experiencing depression. A week later the Durango Herald (the grown up newspaper) published a response to his article. Nancy Heleno, who I've since learned is quite the mental health expert, wrote in the opinion column that she loved Chris's article. She praised his writing skill and his content. It was profuse praise - a compliment of the highest order. I had the joy of sharing the article with Chris when he arrived the next day at school (he hadn't seen the paper) and we celebrated his accomplisment in every class! It was such a rewarding time for Chris, his teachers and his peers. Durango Academy has always been the ugly step child in the 9-R district...and yet we received accolades through the hard work and creativity of a student.

That same week, we had a student sell a watercolor at an art show (of grown up work) for more than she was asking. There was a bidding war on her piece! It has been a great time of sharing success! I am so proud of their hard work!

Cheerleading:

My cheerleaders are incredible! I took a few of them up to the college to get ready to cheer for the FLC playoff game this Friday. They are such a professional, hard working, mature group of young ladies! They have amazing cheerleading skills and the personal maturity to make coaching them a joy. They did not just hold their own with the college girls. They modeled technique in many areas and learned their material quickly! I can't wait to see them at the big game!

Family:

Oscar and Piper continue to grow and mature. It is so fun to watch them grow. These days I sometimes feel like I am watching from the outside, as Chip has much more contact with their daily experiences, but I certainly enjoy every single moment I get with them. Our time is special - and easy to treasure now that I am back at work. Piper seems, all of a sudden, like a Kindergartener. Oscar has been teaching her the rules of school (and expecting her to follow them!) so I am sure she will be confident and prepared. Oscar is as social and caring as always and continues to love his friends and family. Chip has really enjoyed his special time with Piper this year, but is excited to actually get to do his job next year when Piper goes to school. Chip has been such a trooper this year - balancing way too many responsibilities.

It's a bit long - but now you know!

This week was full.  It was the end of the trimester so I had lots of grades to get done, tests to create, give and grade and then final grades to compute.  All while planning for my new classes which start on Tuesday. 

The cheerleaders are also finishing up basketball season.  We have been working (since August!) on a show stopping routine to perform at the Cortez game this coming Thursday.  We had to add a Saturday practice since we still weren't ready.  As a sort of practice, we decided to do our routine for the half-time at the game Saturday (after three hours of practice).  We were all so nervous - it really wasn't ready, but I knew the girls could pull it together if they stayed focused. 

They did.

It was SO awesome.  All of their parents were there and the miniscule crowd loved it too.  No cheerleading squad at Durango High has ever performed anything of such difficulty with such excellence.  It was wonderful.  The girls were absolutely thrilled...they sure had plenty of adrenaline to purge at the end of the routine.

We have this week to fix up the details that still need work and then we'll perform it up at the college for the final game of the season.  What a nice way to finish up the season.

Kids are funny.  Both of my kids are funny.  Oscar doesn't talk as much as Piper, so he says funny things less frequently...but this was awesome:

Mom:   So, Oscar, who are you hanging out with as school these days?
Oscar:   I am mostly hanging out with Justin and Art*
Mom:  Is that the Justin who was in your preschool class last year?
Oscar:  Yeah, but I wasn't friends with him last year.  But when we saw each other at school this year we were buddies right away.
Mom:  So are Justin and Art making better choices these days?
Oscar:  Oh yeah.  Totally.  I mean, ever since Art got in trouble for cutting off the Barbie heads and throwing them on the roof of the school and he had to talk to Ms. Denham and almost go home...he's totally made better choices.
Mom:


I'm still trying to figure out how to respond.  Oscar was so sincere.  What could I say?

*names changed to protect me from their parents

Chip has been working hard to shovel the roof.  Until this winter, I had no idea one was supposed to shovel the roof!  Of course, the kids and I play in the snow while Chip is working...we have much more fun.  If you look very carefully, you can see Noe (the dog) on the roof.

As I am done shoveling my driveway, I can now sit in repose and add a new blog entry - ahhhhhhhhh.  Snow Day!  There are some perks to teaching school.  Apparently, every eleven years we get a couple of snow days!  Boy, did I pick the right profession!  I cannot believe the amount of snow we have in our neighborhood.  I had to shovel a foot plus off our driveway this morning - and I shoveled twice yesterday.  I was about 1/3 of the way through when our wonderful neighbor brought over his snow-blower and finished the job for me.  A neighbor of beauty is a joy forever.  My back and shoulders are very grateful.

Chip, Steve and Dave are driving home from Denver since they hadn't been able to get on a plane and the weren't going to be able to get on one anytime soon.  The funny thing is...all the passes are closed.  I have no idea where they are.  Oh, I have talked to Chip on the phone - but he cannot explain to me where they actually are.  They are in New Mexico...that is all I know.  They may end up in Albequerque over night and then drive home in the morning.  They have seen other vehicles on the the road...so they aren't too worried.  Three men in a car together...am I crazy to be concerned about their decision making abilities?  At least they will have stories to tell when they return.

I am hoping for another snow day tomorrow, but it looks doubtful as it isn't snowing much today.  I don't know what to do with my children if Chip doesn't make it home.  I guess they'll go to school sick or not -

I added a new book to my book list.  I was surprised by A Walk Across America.  It was a poorly written book - and I enjoyed it anyway.  It was a very strange experience for me.  I recommend all the books on my list.  Not a single one is a waste of time.   Feel free to ask questions about any of them, or give your own opinions.