A weekend of recouping.....

So... You said you wouldn't mind a few stories about substitute teaching?  Well....

Friday I subbed for a friend of mine who just took on a 2nd grade class... the teacher that started the year left 3 weeks in... and so my friend Mrs. P took over at about week 4....

Anyway - I just emailed her my "comments" about how my day went.

One word:  Monsters.

There's something that happens when kids don't have consistency.... and it's ugly.

And I feel bad for the kids.

But I didn't feel bad for them until after school... during school?  I wanted to send half the class to the principal! (And probably should've!)

A class of 28 seven year olds.

7 of them got "good notes" from me for their regular teacher.

9 of them got the opposite.

One example:  Little boy was following me out of an afternoon assembly - and I heard giggles behind me, and turned around to see that he was pretending to grab my booty with both of his hands in a very crude way..... luckily for both of us, he didn't actually touch me, but he did absolutely floor me!

I was so shocked that I couldn't even speak.....

Tomorrow:  4th grade at another school...... maybe I'll have a better day!

xoxo

Jen

Patience

So... While I was away, I was trying to be patient.  

Patient.  That word is so evocative..... Brings me such frustration, and peace, all at the same time.

I took the CBEST exam for California - it's a test you have to pass if you want to teach in CA...... passing that test, along with having a BA/BS makes you eligible to apply for a substitute teaching credential. 

Well, I passed the CBEST and ordered my transcripts, and submitted my application to the state.... and began to wait... and wait.... and wait.....

I totally underestimated how long it would take the State of California to process 5 pieces of data.  

I submitted my application on June 18.  They finally approved it on August 24.  And every day for 2 months, I sat on my booty and checked the website praying that they approval would be there... and every day for 2 months, it wasn't there.

And then several local school districts started posting their sub teaching jobs for the school year - and I couldn't apply because my credential wasn't valid yet.... waiting... waiting.... waiting......  

I had placed all of this in the Lord's hands at the very beginning - I knew if He wanted me to persue this, it would all work out. I wanted to sub, and I wanted to work in my kids' district.  That was the only thing that would work, and still allow me to be MOM.

Well... I FINALLY got my credential.  

And then there were no jobs open.  So I waited.  And waited....

And then I checked my kids' district website on LABOR DAY.... yep - ON THE HOLIDAY!  Who looks for work on the holiday?  me!  And it's a good thing I did!  I had until 4 PM the FOLLOWING DAY to apply - they only accepted applications for less than 48 hours!

Luckily, I was ready!  So I submitted my app, and was finally.... FINALLY approved and hired!  But not until I had more fingerprints taken, and a TB test done (yep -- more waiting....)

So I've been teaching for about 2 weeks.  

I have a new happy place.  And I love it.  

I'm happier than I've been in several years.  

So you just might see lots of substitute teacher horror stories here in the future - and probably a bit less quilting stuff.... 

xoxo

Jen

2 months off!

I can't believe I took 2 months away from my little corner of the blogosphere!

I have to admit - I haven't picked up needle or thread, or turned on the sewing machine (or the iron, for that matter) since July.....

And I'm ok with it.

Because things have changed on the homefront.  In a very very good way.

I also realized that my blog was becoming more about depression than was healthy for me.... and I needed time to get re-focused.  I feel the need to change the direction of my blog overall - It needs to be more balanced - more about all parts of my life, not just about quilting and depression.....  I have found that blogging helps keep things in perspective.  So.... If you don't want to follow me anymore, you won't hurt my feelings!  I totally understand.

So I'm back.  And I'm better.  Much better.  I'll explain more later, but just know that things are good!

Missed you - and can't wait to get back to writing!

xoxo
Jen

Miss Darling's First Quilt!

So last week Miss Darling spent Tuesday with my mom - (Thanks mom!)

Mom had pre-cut some scraps into 5 inch squares.

She let Miss Darling dig through them and pick out her favorites.

Then they got out a little featherweight for Miss Darling to learn on.  

(I've really wanted her to learn to sew, but as the mom, I just don't have the patience to teach her!  

I could teach anyone else, and have, but when it's my own kids... I just can't do it!)

Anyway - Grammie and Miss Darling spent some time learning about how to work the machine...

And 4 hours later, I came back and guess who was still sewing?  

(I seriously thought she'd give it 30 minutes and be done!)

Miss Darling picked out the fabrics, laid them out in a way that was pleasing to her, and Grammie helped her get them stitched together.  Then Mommy (me) sewed on the borders and quilted it for her.

And then...... TaDa!  The quilt!

It's about 35x40 - perfect for her! 

She's determined to give it to her younger cousin - but I think we're going to try to convince her to keep her first quilt!  

Last night she agreed that we have plenty of time to make another one for cousin for Christmas!  Yay!

So.... I suppose I know what Miss Darling's gonna want for Christmas - her very own fabric stash!

(How could I say no?)     :)

Gratitudes:

Grammie

8 days till school starts

having things to look forward to

children's laughter

xoxo 

jen

Lazy days of summer.... really lazy...

I realized it's been a few days since I posted anything.... 

so I sat down and turned on the camera to download pictures..... and there weren't any.  

I am realizing how many days I've spent sitting 

staring at the walls lately. 

Unmotivated.

Uninterested.

Disengaged.  (And that's the one that's not ok!)

It's time to talk to the doc about backing off the meds -

I don't want to be a zombie.  

And that's what I've been for about a week.

Miss Darling spent Tuesday with her Grammie and learned to use a Featherweight - and sewed together some rainbows of 5 inch squares - and we finished it last night - she did an amazing job - tomorrow we'll be adding borders and then we'll post pictures.  Thank goodness for Grammie who's patient enough to sit and teach her - Seems I can teach anybody BUT my own kids!  

Looks like there's a new quilter in the family!  YAY!

Gratitudes:

Grammie

kids who are best friends

air conditioning

spending money

little girl giggles

Until next time!

xoxo

jen

Traveling Stash Giveaway! - Winner!!!

So..... Sorry this is a few days late - Life's been happening around here.....  only 15 more days until we go back to school!  

I woke up miss darling this morning and while she was still half asleep, I asked her to pick a number - and she picked #1!!!  

(she screamed bloody murder when I threatened to post pics of her in her jammies.... sorry!)

So the Traveling Stash is going to Vrooman's!!!

Send me your address and I'll get the box in the mail today!

xoxo

Jen

Traveling Stash Box - Giveaway!

Yep!  That's right!  I won another box!

And now this one's ready to go to it's next destination!

Are you interested in having it visit you?

Here's how it looked when I received it:

It's got a little Navajo, a little Asian, a little flannel, some Moda, some skulls, quilte a few books and patterns, a cone of thread, and a quilt pouncer!

This is what I'm keeping:

Rules:

1. Be an active blogger. Post about receiving the box and the giveaway on your blog in a timely manner.

2. There's a note in the box that logs where the box has been. Please add your info and place the note back in the box.

3. There's a list of Rules and Guidelines in the box. Please read and follow these and return the list to the box.

4. You may take anything you like from the box. Just replace every item with comparable Quilt Shop Quality items equal to the amount taken.

5. Ship the box to the next person in a reasonable amount of time.

6. Due to the weight of the box and cost of postage, shipping is restricted to within the USA.

Giveaway:

1. Leave a comment on this post.

2. For a second chance, please blog about the giveaway. It'd be fantabulous to share the Traveling Stash with more visitors!  Come back and tell me that you did.

The giveaway will end at midnight PST on Saturday, July 21st.. I'll draw the winner and get the box in the mail to the winner :-) Please make sure you're a reply blogger so that I have a way to contact you. Good Luck!

Have a great day!

xoxo

jen