Prof. Growth Reflection

Professional Growth

1. At the beginning of the clinical field experience, candidates learned that “educators should become knowledgeable about and sensitive to issues surrounding human and cultural diversity.” What does this mean and why is it important?

Growing up I was raised by both of my parents to be respectful towards any type of race, ethnicity, gender and religion. At the beginning of the clinical field experience I learned new rights as a soon to be teacher that I need to keep clear of my surroundings. I remember our discussion about the freedom of speech and how it is completely true how each teacher needs to be careful what is said around students. I do not allow foul language around my child so why would I let anyone else. I think also that sensitive issues come with a certain maturity level later in life. In my situation I am believe in Jesus Christ and it is hard for me to not talk about faith in a classroom to students because a lot of families are either Christians, Atheist or Agnostic. I think that once a student becomes a teacher then multiple roles of that person come into place- counselor, mentor, friend, trustworthy and respectful.

2. At the beginning of the clinical field experience, candidates learned that a goal of the experience was to assure that all candidates become reflective, moral, caring, and ethical classroom practitioners cognizant of their responsibility to assist all students to fully meet their learning potential. Now that you have completed the clinical field experience, why is this important for teachers “to assist ALL students to fully meet their learning potential?”

This semester has helped me extremely by focusing on accommodating students learning styles. In my educational psychology class, I learned how to prepare my classroom for time management and focusing on outside factors that a student may go through in life. Currently I am focusing on the elementary level, which is a time when a student’s mind is running wild, and putting new information into their schemas. One of the classes that I observed was a kindergarten class and I remember a Hispanic student whom had trouble and the teacher fully assisted him in the computer lab by using an online site and making him print out the results after the testing. The teacher encouraged the student to do well on each test and he ended up getting ecstatic and raising his hand afterwards. I enjoyed classrooms where each teacher was involved in some type of form that the student felt “supportive” by someone else other than a parent. I put myself in that position because I want Paisly to feel like she is worth more than our approval in life and education especially.

3. What perceptions of yours (of teachers, students, or schools) were changed due to the clinical field experience?
The clinical field experience reminded me a lot of my mother and the memories we shared throughout the years. My perceptions of teachers remain the same but I know that each teacher has a different teaching style and some just do not have the best patience after a long day. I observed a third grade classroom and the teacher would just yell at each student coming into the door to sit down and focus on her which brought me back to Mr. Wong. In order to be successful and enjoy the students it is best not to just throw worksheets at them and think it is ok because of course two wrongs do not make a right. Correct. My perceptions of students remain the same because each one wants to gain attention either by acting out or the right actions. I think I have more experience than others do because I babysit Megan after school and in the summer, I run a daycare in my home up to four children including Paisly. Although, it is not a classroom with twenty kids or more but I organize multiple activities, lunches, nap and give love to each one. Schools on the other hand I think are a little outrageous on their money funding because they remind me of the Springfield prison. Honestly, if a student has a parent in jail then it would just remind them of it. I think the technology is a great learning enhancement but the white walls and less windows is a little to the extreme. It just teaches the students that each person can have whatever he or she wants and not be appreciative or respective. I could possibly be thinking into detail more than I should. Unfortunately, I learned without those items and I think I turned out OK. J

4. What is the role of the teacher in the classroom?

I think that once a student becomes a teacher then multiple roles of that person come into place- counselor, mentor, friend, trustworthy and respectful. I am focusing on elementary and in the different stages each student will face obstacles were they would want to find trust in someone other than a parent, which plays into role of the teacher. I think students will reach out in other ways such as art and expressing their emotions, behaviors and home life and it will take a strong person to understand and help. I work at the Flip Shop as well as a tumble bear preschool coach, the “gymnasts” are three years old, it shocks me how much trust, and respect plays into role. The “gymnasts” will not do somersaults, cartwheels, walk the beam or flip on the bars unless I have a strong bond with each one. I have had to learn new names and focus on a trait that makes them unique in order to be accepted as their friend but instructor as well. It is the same in a classroom with twenty kids.


5. What are the teacher’s responsibilities to the learner?

The teacher’s responsibilities are to focus on trainings, lesson plans and curriculum through the school. One of the teachers at Irving Elementary explained to me (fifteen-minute conversation) what she has to do in order to teach her class. She first taught at Webb City Elementary and the Principal required that all lesson plans must be turned in before the school year and I agree because procrastination and certain events in life can slow anyone down. Then she explained that in the Joplin School District the teacher’s need to stay organized and it is not a requirement to turn in the lesson plans. I think this is a little ridiculous because in order to teach the students a teacher needs to be well prepared to propose the new information and conclude background information if it is not learned well enough. I am a very organized person, I do not plan to get behind on activities, and I will follow up on my responsibilities.

6. Why is the teacher referred to as a decision maker?

The reason a teacher is known as a decision maker is the option each one has to face in the classroom. A teacher must identify a student who might need further assistance in learning disability that might lead to contacting the parent. A teacher may encounter an explicit piece of artwork that concluded questions that would lead into talking to the counselor about a problem concerning the student’s safety. The teacher makes decisions throughout her classroom all day whether it is small to a huge flabbergasted ordeal.

7. What do you think are the characteristics of a “Master Teacher?”

A Master Teacher would be someone that is highly intelligent in his or her academics and can solve problems. This so-called teacher will maintain a high level of withitness in his or her classroom therefore, leading into a low standard of problems. Each teacher has different qualities, which makes his or her unique in their teaching. I think a teacher that understands problems, patience and teachers each student well is a master in disguise and a leader.

8. Is teaching what you want to do as a vocation?

Yes. Even before I had Paisly, I enjoyed children especially working at daycares. I have always provided parents with options for teaching children by swim lessons, gymnastics and care giving. I have definitely learned new things throughout the years that prepared me for motherhood. I volunteer in the children’s ministries on Saturday night and Sunday mornings at Forest Park Baptist Church and teaching them about Jesus is the most amazing thing in my life. I know that I make a difference in their lives just as much by being there and if things do not work out at MSSU, I know that my focus would be the children’s ministries. God comes first in my life so I plan to follow in his direction because he has provided me with a supportive family. The clinical field helped me to understand a classroom setting with only one teacher as the focus.

9. How did the clinical field experience help crystallize your decision?

My decision has been pretty set and clear for a few years I just took time out to care for my mother while she was sick. I now have more free time during the days in which I planned my observation hours according to my schools hours and Paisly time. The clinical field was a great experience to enhance new learning skills, attention getters, and understand what it takes to become a splendid teacher. I am sure I will have my moments the next couple of semesters…

10. Based on your own strengths and weaknesses, what skills do you still need to develop to fulfill the role of a teacher?

My focus is on completing and understanding the designing of lesson plans and not handing out random assignments to people, I barely know as a reference. I know I need to focus more on classroom management, withitness, structure, reinforcement, and punishments when needed. I eventually will learn more of this as the semester passes by in other classes. I have listed most of my strengths throughout this reflection. I would like to make a point about Head Start though because a few students made it out that it was a bad program. I understand it is based on lower income but if a person took time to do a survey of how many of those parents work or go to school full time the issue would be different. I just think that if a person wants to become a teacher they must be open to EVERYONE instead of judging each person depending on income, looks, background, parents and any other circumstance. EVERY child wants to learn.

Reflection

The beginning of the semester our focus was designing a website bibliography. This helped me to gain information throughout websites and collecting information for future classroom activities and enhancement learning. Once I gathered information over science, history, mathematics, technology and special education I then contributed the different websites, discussed the activities, and evaluated each category. This will be great information for the future as lesson plans and set curriculums to show and explore as further assistance.
The introduction PowerPoint was a great way to introduce the students to a teacher’s life, culture and background. I enjoyed this assignment because I was able to upload and scan pictures, hyperlink websites, explore my family and our adventures. PowerPoint is a technology tool to increase knowledge through teaching students in a different atmosphere. Through my PowerPoint, using narration to entertain, I enhanced videos, and followed my objectives. Although, the narrations were nerve racking to record I felt that it brought out my anxiety and helped me pursue a higher intellectual intelligence by writing down a few sentences and then talking through the recorder. Dr. Flatt helped me to understand the FLV converter by watching YouTube videos and then copying and pasting the link, which would automatically format where I inserted it into the PowerPoint.
Before the semester started, I stated objectives for each class and that was to push myself and fulfill each goal until I received a great extent of the material. This class has helped me learn technology in a different way than from High School especially after using a Mac for four years and learning new programs. In this computer software class, I learned to maintain one file for each project and to save each item to that one folder otherwise the file might become corrupt or information does not follow through. The Windows Movie Maker was a bit of a challenge because once I had all pictures in place the adjustment on the words would move which went into the transitions but eventually it worked out. I enjoyed downloading free music tones and testing each one on the movie to make sure it went with all my daughters’ pictures. I also found it interesting to include and watch videos for my final Capstone project because it helps the children understand the information by upbeat activity. I think that the different options through font, drawing, design and animation are a creative option also for children to understand the art of learning. It also is a great technology tool for the classroom such as introduction to the school, graduation, memories and commercials.
On each assignment, I stated my sources/references because I plan to use them in the future but I will never forget the six by six rules because it is easier for the children to read especially at younger age. Throughout my other classes, I learned that each student accommodates certain learning styles which rambling can often lose attention but regaining their attention by technology is a great effect. This has been an experience and a challenge at times especially when the MSSU computers did not function quite up to par but I have learned information that I plan to use in my classroom with the younger students.

HELP

Here goes another blog that I honestly am pulling out of my ass. The past few weeks have gone by so fast that I want to mention something that is bothering me again. One of my best friends is getting married June 5, 2010 and a group of us girls organized a bachelorette party. I chose the Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa, OK because it has the restaurants, ice bar, and the club called friction. I ended up leaving the so-called “meeting” early and then I get an email saying, “We need your money by this weekend.” I though ok that is completely fine because I was excited to shop for party favors with them. Come to find out I was not invited nor were the girl going to ask me to join. It was the crappiest thing EVER. Honestly, my feelings were crushed. Not only was she my best friend but her other so-called friends were taking over and they will not take care of her when she is completely trashed and cannot walk. It will be me caring for her of course…Like always. Not only to add on to that week of crap is our final exam focusing on a presentation with our group. It is five people, one of the students did not finish their part, and the teacher docked each person because of her un-organization skills. I dislike group projects with a passion and I will NOT ever have my students reliable for someone else’s work. Therefore, I had the group meet afterwards and told them to have their information ready by Monday or else I am taking over and finishing it because if not my grade will go down. I am not going to sacrifice my grade for someone who does not give two shits about anything. I thought the older a person got the more mature and organized they became. I guess that is just me. After all this happened I went to church and just poured my heart out to God and was just was hoping for guidance and security through all of this mess. Our pastor talked about Philippians 2:14 “Do everything without complaining and arguing.” It also talked about putting a hundred percent of effort into the things you do each day and do not get upset if your career or goals are goings as you planned. Focus on the plan that God has in store for you as a person. Of course here I am complaining like most people do, but this is my way of expressing to other students to get things together. Please focus on the money a person wastes by not trying to succeed. I understand things become a distraction and there is no way out but plan for the future and set goals high. This Sunday- David and I are dedicating our daughter to raising her in a Christian life, which it is Mothers Day and an emotional day for our family.

summer

The weekend has officially begun- Although, I manage to plan out my week and weekends in advance I have no clue what is going to happen. I know that one thing is for sure I am completely finished in one of my education classes. I finished my Capstone as our final project and I am ecstatic. The past few weeks I have worked so hard to complete according to the rubric. The assignment was to choose the grade each student would like to teach once they finish graduating. Of course, I chose kindergarten with a focus in math-learning addition, subtraction, and money, face and place value. On each slide I chose images off of Google and each item was placed into my capstone folder and on my jump drive. Throughout this course I learned how to use windows vista for movie maker and power point. In high school the money funding was provided towards Mac computer which are a bit different than MSSUs. I also had the courage to do a few narrations- where I recorded myself talking on a slide about the specific topic. It was not easy to do so of course I recorded the sound from home and then brought it to the school to add to the power point. Some of the disadvantages were that I do not have an upgraded computer with Power Point 2007 therefore; it corrupted a couple files leaving me to start completely over. One day I got to class and realized that I did not have my jump drive leaving me with nothing to do for a whole class period and then found out Paisly had put it in one of her purses, funny. If my memory was awful I have no idea where I would be right now. I am completely finished – burned the CD and turned it in to the professor. The only downside is I still have four classes including our English class. BOO. I hope these next three weeks pass on by and I can still squeeze in observation hours. I am really getting irritated with one of my teachers because she keeps assigning assignment and I turn them in before the due date and of course she extends the dates for the procrastinators. I honestly could have squeezed in a little more Paisly time; movie, outdoors etc… catch my drift? The assignment is over education in the different countries and to fill out a chart with our own words through the Power Point she shows in class. The students should all be writing down word for word, but instead they do nothing- then realization hits the night it is due and the Power Point on blackboard does not open.
Dear summer,
Please hurry. I need a break!

RANDOM

This is a random blog because my mind is completely scattered today.
This week has not been one of the best times in my life but luckily, I have a great family to support me. I have met a considerable amount of new people in our neighborhood. There is one woman whom is eighty-one years old, lives alone, and still manages to take care of flowers, bamboo tree, aloe vera plants etc… I have been very blessed to meet her and learn about her past. Her daughter passed away at eleven- years old and her soon about a year ago. She was explaining a fire pit that her father built on the farm and how she roasts marshmallows during the summer and asked us to join. As she explained this, I thought about the times when I was a kid and our family would go camping to Grand Lake. Of course, our camping trip was a little too pampered with a TV, VCR and a fan. My sister and I would spend quality time together watching The Parent Trap, laughing all night, and reciting the movie repeatedly. I think about the past a lot and wonder what it would be like to go back into time and re do a few things to improve. I think as a teenager I treated my mom disrespectful but I know by taking care of her when she was sick helped make up for it. I think about girls and their behaviors towards their parents and I would like to tell them you eventually might regret it. Although, it takes a mature person to accept different perspectives in others lives. It has also been a year since my mother passed away and of course, I had these vivid memories in my head. I walked to the cemetery and had the smell of bedsores and could hear the respirator working and then just hum... It was the worst feeling ever. I have not spoken to my mom in almost three years nor have I seen her face/body/expressions in a year. Paisly goes with me to visit and always says “hi nana” and kisses her mausoleum and it breaks my heart because my mom would love to be here with her but I know that she is in a much better place living eternal life with Jesus Christ. This is all a plan that I have not figured out I am just following it and trusting with everything.

WOW..

I am going to rant about a few things that happened this because I am not quite happy with the ending results. First off I enjoy giving other a helping hand no matter the situation but now that it has involved the school I am little aggravated. A person that I just met this semester recently has asked for help on some assignments of course I offered. The next week I was asked if I could e-mail my assignment that I had recently turned in two days in advance to look over as a reference of course I said “yes”. I thought it would be ok to help where the person did not receive a zero. Well… little did I know something BAD was about to happen. Our teacher had posted on BB that plagiarism is against the MSSU policy, could result in an F in the class, and kicked out of the teacher education program. Of course, my intentions were wow that is awful and I double-checked my work making sure I sited resources etc and I figured I was ok. I then get a phone call from that “friend” saying “Jenny…. We have a problem…. I accidently turned in your chart as mine with your name and nothing changed.” Are you serious? I was not a happy camper afterwards and then receiving an e-mail saying, the three of us need to discuss this incident. The next day the meeting took place of course I got punished as well for letting her “cheat” off my assignment and teachers are technically not suppose to do this type of activity. In the result, I received the same punishment- a zero on the assignment and a write up at MSSU- other (student giving education chart to another student). It was not a great Monday and Tuesday to start my week. I have worked my *** off this semester studying, assignments on time, observation hours, papers and much more. I have often helped others out who work full-time or do not understand. I recently had straight A’s but I now have a B in one class and perfect attendance. I could honestly ring someone’s neck, which I understand it was an honest mistake. I am not dishonest, that is what bothers me the most, and my feelings actually are hurt by this. I have learned never to do this again in the future. After all of this I then asked this person where in BB was our handout that the class was suppose to bring to class and I got a reply saying “Oh… I do not know but I printed it off already. Sorry” I was livid. Luckily, after deep searching on BB I found it and had it for our class discussion. Then I get a call today saying, “Hey have you turned in your assignment” I replied, “Yes… I turned it in the other night” then a reply of “Oh… I am turning it in late because I was busy tonight and I can find the submission for it.” I explained where it was in the assignments but the teacher had taken it down after the time limit. I checked my e-mail seriously twenty minutes ago and the teacher said she extended the submission until Friday at Five pm. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME…. I again turned in my assignment on the due date and I still get in trouble. RAR… Oh and not to mention my advisor is horrible and never once told me that I could fill out a petition slip for almost three classes that I transferred over from PSU. What a rough week… Is it
Friday…YET? ;)

BASEBALL

I have always found a passion for baseball games. I do not know if it is because my dad played as a kid and took us to multiple games. I have vivid moments of when I was kid going to the St. Louis Royals game and playing around with my sister during the games. My parents, now just my father’s home is fully decorated in signed baseballs and jersey from the Yankees and Cardinals. It amazes me how much money he will spend on random collections. When I think of summer, I remember the time our family went to a St. Louis Cardinal baseball game at Busch Stadium. There was a fundraiser held for patients that had been fully confined to a wheel chair. My mother was determined to be down on the baseball field taking her pictures with all the Cardinal players. The security officers took us through the VIP area and let my mom, sister and I explore and let me tell you it was the most amazing place and definitely, lots of money put into it. My mother sat in her wheelchair completely ecstatic and at that point, I knew that she was not thinking about her disease. I think about the movie the bucket list and I know that was one of hers on the checklist, meeting the St. Louis Cardinals-head coach Tony La Russa. The St. Louis Cardinals seem to be playing well in the pre-games, which help them out towards the main season. My mother always focused her disease around Lou Gehrig since that is what ALS is based off in the 1930s. It is a rare disease and completely paralyzes a person. Lou Gehrig was the greatest man in history for his prowess as a hitter, consecutive games-played record and its subsequent longevity, and the pathos of his farewell from baseball at age 36(Lou Gehrig). Lou Gehrig played for the Yankees for over two-thousand games in his career and rewarded with the Most Valuable Player from 1927-1936. This disease affects multiple people every day and one day there will be a cure. Lou Gehrig and ALS patients refer to this note:
Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.
Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky.
When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift — that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies — that’s something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter — that's something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so that you can have an education and build your body — it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed — that's the finest I know.
So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for. Thank you.
— Lou Gehrig at Yankee Stadium, July 4, 1939

Lesson Plan

Over the past few months, our Art for Elementary teacher’s class has reached the peak and now it is time to teach our own section. It has been a bit of a challenge for me coming up with new ideas instead of coping directly off the internet. I first chose to use book by Eric Carle, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” I think thought of different ideas and research lesson plans. I then used our resources from our book and chose one off http://www.crayola.com. It is called The Leaf Café and the materials consume of paper plates, wax paper, white paper, glue, scissors, hole puncher, markers, crayons, colored pencils and pipe wire. My objectives for this assignment are focused on 1st-3rd 1. The students will learn interdisciplinary connections through the science knowledge. 2. The students will understand an insect’s survival in life. After learning a minimum of the Art GLEs Education system, I kept it focusing on interdisciplinary connections connecting art, non-art subjects, visual and performing arts. The Art of Education follows these requirements and for the Kindergarten classes some of these are not assessed so I chose to go up higher in the grade system. The project is using elements such as color, shape and texture followed with a design of balance. I have chose vocabulary known as habitat, abdomen, thorax, head, insect, leaf and antenna although; some of these will be for the higher grades. This is an emphasis on the science terminology and getting them interest in the biology section and understands that different insects eat leaves and fruit to survive, unlike humans eating regular food and drinking water. The step to this lesson plan 1. Cut the paper plate into two sections and then glue into the shape of a leaf. 2. Color all of it green and with the extra paper plate use it for a stem. 3. Chose which two insects that you would like to draw on white paper. 4. Color the desired portion, cut it out and color. 5. If the insect has wings then the student will use pre cut wings out of wax paper and must be colored w/crayons. 6. Then the items must be glued onto the leaf. 7. Once the leaf is all finished the students may use the hole puncher to show that the insects officially ATE THEIR FOOD. After all this is finished hopefully the student will have learned the science and visual art section of this lesson plan and can then relate it into their schemas. I have inserted different aesthetical questions such as “Why do insects eat leaves? What do you think it tastes like? How many legs does a caterpillar use?” In conclusion, at the end of closing the students will think about these questions later on and will know the answers through the guided and independent practices. I hope that all of this goes well seeing how I have it thoroughly planned out. I hope I have the ability to speak to my peers and one day I can use this actual lesson plan in my classroom.

PAISLY

This is another chapter in our life but another reoccurrence. I find myself in the doctor’s office every month either for a checkup, shots or ear infections. Of course it seems like the ear infections happen at the beginning of the week and lead all the way to Friday where I am left with the weekend full of tears, sorrow, pain and sadness for my daughter Paisly. She is now nineteen months and not once has the doctor considered tubes. I do not want to look into an ear nose and throat doctor because then David and I have to schedule a surgery to follow. It breaks my heart that every time this happens she is cutting teeth which leads to more pain. I often though when she was younger that it was because of the pacifier but again after her first birthday I decided to only let her use it during nap/bed time. I read articles about how the pacifier will increase ear infections and also slow down their speech. The speech is not the problem. She has a vocabulary of almost thirty words and defiantly knows that she is miss independent which is hilarious at times. I often worry how she will react once I fully take out the pacifier or better yet sleeping in her own room. These are the choices parents take when they decided to become parents. It is a blessing to have a child and become a mother. Although, once you take on these responsibilities it often brings different emotions as a parent. I often wonder if I am missing out on the time spent with her because I have school during the days or homework once she goes to bed. I know that I am raising her in a home where she is loved, accepted, valued and nurtured. Entering the Education department I often see kids who suffer with a lot of ADHD and Autism which sometimes leads to very bright kids. I decided when I first got pregnant that I would enter the Head Start Program since I was working full-time and attending MSSU. It has worked out great other than people often say it is just for poor people who can afford anything living off the government. Well, actually it is for people who do not make much money and a full time student BUT shouldn’t every child have the opportunity to learn? YES! Why does every judge a person by their cover? It should matter about the education and the future. It just annoys me so much that i would love to teach lower-class students or even go to another country. As for this blog Paisly is now telling me UP MAMA. That means it is time for me to spend time with her in this beautiful weather with our new dog Charlie. Enjoy.

MISSION

Realistic thoughts are crossing my mind as I ponder about Gods plan. My focus is on children and their ability to learn new characteristics whether it is God, school subjects, gymnastics or life in general. My Uncle Mark lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia working in the Bykota Home (this website has blogs from our family who is there.) with children who need a better home life and learning curriculum to receive a high school diploma. Cambodian children have free public schooling but in order to sit in a desk, receive worksheets and a book they must pay five to ten cents each day. Therefore, this does not make it FREE. It is a messed up system. Luckily, five years ago my Uncle, Aunt Rhonda and cousins sold everything they owned here in Carthage, MO to move to Cambodia to offer a better school system. It is defiantly a different life than the United States but Gods words were to sell everything and teach about him. I am focusing my attention on a mission trip through Forest Park but have not yet decided between Kenya, Brazil or Cambodia. It is a week long fulfilling duties through God with VBS, construction, handy work, and people accepting God and believing in him through mind, body, spirit and strength. I know that God will show me the path and make the right choice. I am very excited to go out of the country and open up a new world to my “inside” judgments and environment.

I also find it interesting the different groups that help raise money towards causes in need. I know that multiple people raise money through garage sales, baking cookies, carwashes and donations. The most interesting cause that I have joined is the TOMS Shoes. Each time a person buys a pair of shoes then another pair goes to a child in need. I think this is the best way to help other in need in a different country. I find it amazing how many people actually join in and how it has become over populated. People have over ten pairs of Toms. Once you purchase a pair of TOMS, you cannot feel dissatisfied because a child now has shoes instead of barefoot. Today they held a public ONE-DAY WITHOUT SHOES (un dia sin zapatos) a great day to inform others about this world wide donation. They are also very comfortable and different designs can be chose OR if someone wants to get creative-PAINT. It would be nice to have enough shoes bought so children do not have to suffer with cuts and infections.

In all of this discussion, I feel that this is my calling… missions, teaching and caring for others in some particular way whether it is in a classroom or 2309482084 miles away with my family. Please PRAY for this chapter in our lives. Phnom PenhPhnom Penh

First off, depression hurts. Over the years suicide has increased here in America with six people out of every 100,000 will attempt suicide. There are seventeen different facts about suicide each one with a fact. The past few weeks our education classes introduced us to the topic of the teenage girl involved in bullying with classmates and it resulted in suicide. At least five people know someone who think/done this to a friend, family member or acutance. Did you know that a suicide happens every seventeen minutes in America? That is just ridiculous. If all of us could reach out to someone in need instead of judging based on gender, race, religion and age. What are we teaching? In addition to this article, the teachers knew about this bullying and never once reported which results in malfeasance: 1. Perform your duty as a teacher fully 2. Performs the duty inadequately or poorly 3. Fail to perform the duty at all. The faculty from South Hadley School said they were aware of the bullying a week before the suicide although, the parents complained for months. Teachers have to fulfill their position as a teacher, mentor and sometimes a nurture position and if these can not met then it leads to the Principle or even the main Counselor. This type of bullying is much worse that the movie “Mean Girls” In all honesty grade school girls can be awful which I was one of those preppy brats. Definitely, regret that part of my life. I feel for some girls whom are going through puberty, emotions and life changing situation from elementary to middle school and then high school. The transitions can be overwhelming and the attention to fit in with some type of crowd or friends. Now today’s society has learned to judge other by what they look like.

After my mother was diagnosed with ALS, depression was all my body felt. It is hard for girls that are ages twelve through fifteen experiencing changes and not being able to reach out for the correct help. Medicines that doctors prescribe are to strong for their metabolism which results in Lilly (Cymbalta) approving only eighteen and older. This result in younger adolescents to trust in their own instincts or in God that t will resolve. For others the only way out is to change school districts and learn new atmospheres or the devastating suicide. I hope that the Courts overrule in the parents side and make sure that teachers report incidents whether they are small but could lead into bigger actions. The parents should have offered more options instead of forcing her into the school where she did not feel safe attending. In the end of all this sadness, I hope these girls will get a good glimpse at reality and realize they took an innocent life. No texting at this age.

Spring Break

Spring break is a time for excitement, relaxing and for a few that enjoys the party scene. I like to think of my spring break as laughter, enjoyment, sadness and a celebration in the end. Although, I had to work nine-hour shifts at work Monday through Thursday I managed to succeed. I enjoy Sunday mornings at Forest Park and listening to the sermons and I go into deep though about life in general. The youth pastor encouraged us to go out into our community and be disciples to encourage other to come to church on Easter. What a great way to get people to know about God. I felt a sudden passion that my life is following in God’s plan short and long term. I then woke up Monday morning praying that God show me the path. After the days passed, my boss informed me that I was going to lose my job because the company needed “full time” positions which is understandable I am only obligated to “part time” availability. I typed up a resignation letter and quit instead of terminating on my record. I did not like leaving the kids but I know God is holding something else in store for my family and me. The next morning I baked cookies with pink sprinkles and decided to meet the neighbors after a year of living in Webb City. I have met some wonderful people who also go through different struggles. If my mother were still on earth, her birthday celebration would be Saturday March 27 turning fifty-five. Paisly and I spent a few hours remembering the courageous person she was while battling ALS. The weather was peaceful, calm and beautiful which was God’s way of saying she was in a better place.

I eventually went into depth thinking and tried to broaden my horizon into an educational thought of “how could I teach this.” I have learned a lot about God and the creation of Jesus and resurrection and I feel more knowledgably to my surroundings. After going to the Bow the Knee, it helped me to understand parts of the Bible and a better communication through my mother in law who is a strong Christian. After losing my mother, it has been difficult to know whom I trust and can talk to that will understand. My soon to be mother in law has helped David and me out with our relationship, daughter and finances. Karen would do anything for the three of us. I feel that through her strength and compassion she has helped me open up to another part of myself I had lost. In addition, I love God, family and friends.

Engagement/Divorce

It is SPRING BREAK finally… Of course, I offered to work everyday for extra money. Over the past, few weeks I have had friends ask me “are you engaged yet”, “want to go look at dresses” blah. Blah. Blah. Engagement is a huge decision. It is when a person decides to ask permission from the girl’s father asking if he could take her hand in marriage, treat her with respect, and follow your vows. Although, I know that David and I will follow the Lords plan and eventually will plan a marriage. I just am not in a rush for him to propose. Of course, I had the opportunity to design it on my own and I used my mother’s diamond out of her wedding ring, which is amazing, and it means a lot more to the both of us. My parents were married for twenty-five years and faithfully strong until she passed. I want David to be completely ready and I do not feel that girls should pressure their boyfriend into an engagement or wedding because divorces occur excessively much by rushing. Do people really need to rush their lives anymore that they do during the day? I also have experienced friends who I do not hang out with anymore because of their affairs with other men and only been married maybe 6 months. I love the movie License to Wed with Robin Williams and a new engaged couple through a grueling marriage preparation. Seriously, every couple should go through some type of class just to prepare themselves even if they live together. I would love to do marriage counseling at the church before I said, “I DO”. Most people would think I am crazy but I want something to last forever especially for my daughter and the plenty more we decide to have in the future. I feel that most people who get married do it because they feel it is morally right or because of a money situation such as the three people, I know whose husbands decided to go to the coast guard, army and the navy for more money and better insurance. I understand it is a good idea but is that morally the only purpose to marry. Therefore, it is their decision and no one can change what they believe. I know divorce has risen in the past few years and I think it is a great that churches offer divorce recovery as a small group option. It is also wonderful to meet new people in those situations to know you are not alone. I sometimes wish my father would join a small group just to interact with members who go through these different changes in their lives. Although, my dad is only fifty-two and will eventually find someone I just hope that he keeps the same values like him and my mother.

Relationship

I cannot explain how excited I am about the paper extension until April 12 and I am finished besides these blogs. I first off want to start with my weekends and how I enjoy helping the church out through children’s ministries. I have a burning passion for children of course since my degree is in Education but I love observing the way God works in peoples lives. I help on Saturday evenings at Forest Park North Campus and then on Sunday mornings before the service. Helping out with the Church has helped me have a deeper relationship with God and has helped my family, friend, and work life easier. Not everyday is perfect but I know to put all of my trust in God. Therefore, I have put a lot of thought into my mothers passing and realized why it happened. God represented different attributes in our lives when my mother was sick- Compassion, Kindness, and Love. My father followed his vows and loved my mother unconditionally through her good and bad times and he was by her side every minute. My sister even though she is a little wild at times and will not let anyone win a fight God helped her with kindness and showing respect towards my mom by dropping out of school. Seriously, who does that? My sister did. My mother relied on her all the time while I was out of town for my first year of college. God showed compassion through me by being Ms. Nurse with bedsores, bed pads, diaper, etc. I watched as my dad cried in sadness next to her. I always wondered why God choose our family/life. Deep thought- God chose our family to help strengthen us in his name. He wanted us to grow and know that it is ok and that there is a wonderful place and we can overcome obstacles. I have seen the most amazing miracles happen throughout the past couple weeks by listening to K-LOVE Christian radio station, Pastor Swadley, and most of all my daughters teacher at daycare. I have been praying every night for Michelle’s mom whom has a brain tumor and the doctors told her she would lose her vision for good on her first couple of treatments of radiation but she is doing AWESOME. In addition, one of my friends from high school her nephew has gone through over twenty radiations and he officially rang the bell at the St. Louis Hospital. Honestly, how can you believe that God is not real? It boggles me… Everyone has his or her own opinions and I understand that, but I see God helping me through his plan.

MURDER

Friday you are finally here, let start the weekend with a bang. Of course, here I am typing up a lovely blog for my twenty points. I want to start with how I am obsessed with NCIS and CSI- Special Victims Unit although, I recently decided that I end up freaking myself out with each episode. Sometime I think, “Oh man what would I do in that situation” or “do people seriously do that stuff?” Yes, people seriously go on mass murder hunts and it leaves me with one question “WHY?” I do not understand. I read the most recent article about the serial killer photos about Alcala who was on a dating show in 1978 as Bachelor No. 1. This man would take pictures of girls, women and men and would use items to bash in their face and then sodomize them. This is graphic and seriously why would it happen to a young girl. This man would ask them to pose and take pictures and then would follow, kidnap and later kill. Obviously, from the pictures and the lack of DNA they are not completely sure if he is the known “killer”. This man killed a few people and then got out after a couple years but went back on a killing spree. Could you imagine this happening to a loved one or better yet go onto the internet and see these pictures and realize “wow I know that person.” It is defiantly a shock for multiple people right now. Although, I hope eventually these families can find closure and eventually Alcala would admit to these incidents. However, here I am praying for the best when most killers will not admit their faults nor do they want help. It stated that he has acted as his own attorney that has not done him well since he is and should stay in jail. I am not a huge fan of the death penalty just because it seems a little injustice but he should serve little more punishment if this did happen to so many people. He is not the only one who has gone on a mass murder hunt. Another mass killer would be Hadden Clark whom was abused as a child, neglected and had trouble as a kid. A lot of this follows onto adulthood and they feel the need to express them by acting upon it. I think parents have a considerable amount upon their children in how they express behaviors. Raise them the correct way you will not have a problem although, I understand kids act out in their teen years but I think abuse is not the option especially drinking and name-calling.

Obesity

Over the past, couple of months I work on keeping our foods healthy and nutritional although, sometimes I find myself snacking out of the “candy” jar. The meals that I cook usually consist of steak, chicken, lasagna, spaghetti, corn, broccoli, carrots, peas and garlic bread. I try to keep things categorized in our cabinets where things are easy to access in the kitchen. If I do not have it organized after I go shopping on Sunday afternoons then I consider myself a complete idiot because I cannot find anything. I enjoy watching different shows on TV and I think that children’s obesity has increased because of the foods our children have accessed. I am a little pumped about the new show Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution," starting Friday March 26) on the ABC Television Network. This is a production by Ryan Seacrest and Fresh One. I hope that this will help other parents learn better techniques on cooking instead of “hey fast food”. It is not hard to shop at Wal-Mart, Price Cutter or Target to get cheap and easy meals to cook in little than 30 minutes in the oven or even the microwave. For myself it is difficult starting out cooking because my mother was sick and I never actually learned “how to” so I have learned from David’s mother and she is wonderful. I think also as a parent it is a great way to communicate and teach your children multiple recipes. I always let Paisly sit next to me while I cook because it is a great interaction and bonding for her. I also feel that children should not watch as much TV even though it is easy to get things done through out the house. An article read in my psychology class said that you should not let children watch TV until they are two years old, which I completely agree. I feel that children should be stimulated with hands on activities and learning through stages as in Erik Erikson’s steps Trust vs. Mistrust as infants 1-3 years old. I also want to advertise the Flip Shops MOM & TOT class for children 18months- teen years and is on a Tues, Thursday or Sat mornings for 45 minutes. It gives the child a time to run around learning different structures and exploring different equipment. I would like my daughter to follow in the experiences I got as a kid and gymnastics is the way to go. I hope whoever reads this will keep their children healthy over their youth years.

Haiti/Chile

The girl’s night was a success although, it took forever to get a seated and ended up eating at Outback. The memories we talked about were from High School since it has been so long since all of us have been together. Two of my friends work in the Joplin area hospitals and they discussed some stories and it was quite interesting but sad because a lot of them were older men and women with Alzheimer’s and dementia First off, I want to mention that Forest Park did a garage sale to raise money for Haiti and it was defiantly a success. The Elevate team raised two thousand and seven hundred dollars and it proves that God is good. I still am just in shock of all the aftermath that happened in Haiti and the people whom are suffering with no food, shelter and missing loved ones. I feel appreciate of what I have and the items I can donate to help others in this time of need. I think an American citizen our economy has a great amount of options in hospitals, food industry, jobs and extra resources, which can help families out in times of need. I was flipping through channel and recently heard about the 8.8 earthquake in Chile which is the fifth biggest quake since the 1900s and how it affected the shifting of the continents. The CNN news said that it shifted Chile 3 inches off the scale and shortened the day all quoted from British scientist. This is a rough time in our society where all of us should open our arms and just be thankful for the things we have and not dwell upon past situations or impatient. When I hear about life situations, I think about passages in the Bible and how God will protect all of us and I pray things get better with the people where the earthquakes have hit.

LOTS TO DO, LITTLE TIME

Hello Blogger… This week has been full of writing intensive between my sixteen hours of school. I have yet to get behind but with this last paper, I find my self in a little procrastination. UGH OH is right. I think I choose to plan a girl’s night first instead of get my assignments in track. My assignments for the week consisted of power point outline for my presentation toward “my students” introducing myself, reflection over psychology, observation hours, Procrastination paper, blogs and now I am in charge of our group project poster board for the weekend. Although, tonight is the night I am going to finish my homework so I can enjoy a little bit of fun since New Years. Girls nights for my friends and I is getting all dressed up, choosing a fancy restaurant, gossip and a couple drinks. All of that being said I have asked a few girls from school that I met just this semester in my education classes and the ones that I still talk to from high school. I enjoy having my best friends still around and relying on them to help me out and understand that I still am a mother but a night out is a great time to relax. My best friend from high school named Hilary now officially has her Nursing degree and it has been almost two years since I have spent time with her because of school so I cannot wait. The funny thing is that all of us from high school whom are Hilary, Haley, Blake and Lindsey the four of us use to cheer together at Joplin High School and enjoyed lots of late nights together. I remember this one time my parents went out of town so, we decided to have a slumber party in the summer although, and it turned into a party all night with the cheerleaders. Those are the memories I will never forget because our friendship grew stronger. Paisly’s school has different closing dates than MSSU and Blake is always the one to babysit when I need her. Moreover, I think that as a mother who stays home quite a bit to stay in school, work and enjoy hours after hours of free time playing baby dolls and coloring needs a break. I love getting ready with the girls and picking out outfits, making sure, we look good but it is for our entertainment, and it is funny. The seven of us are planning on going to cheddars and not sure what to do afterwards and the bar scene is not for me anymore. Therefore, here is to a great weekend for everyone with his or her friends and family! ENJOY!

TEACHERS

First off as an Elementary Education major, I am going to rant about how some teachers are portraying awful habits towards children in different high school among us. I do not know exactly what is going on in their heads it just puts me in amazement. Most of the Joplin Area has heard about the new allegations between the Webb City teacher and the football player having sexual relations although, she was fired the student is still approved to graduate and continue his scholarship on Football. He therefore had no punishment and it just amazes me how the Webb City School foundation works. I also did some research on other teachers here in the state of Missouri, there is a website known as http://www.teacherscrime.com/, you can locate any state and it will tell you the charges. I think it is rather inappropriate that teachers seem to find younger children “attractive”. I read up on a girl named Teresa Engelbach whom was a student teacher, had sexual relations with a 14-year-old boy, the charges were felony, second degree statutory rape and misdemeanor of sexual misconduct. I really did not expect to read about so many teachers doing this kind of action and I would think they could find someone their own age. Right? Guess not! I also read on CNN that two teachers were using unacceptable behavior at a pep rally using lap dances to draw attention. Who does that? Seriously, do you want to teach students that it is OK to sell yourself to SEX? I understand in health class that we teach student to use protection and be safe but that just makes them more curious. If the teacher is doing this behavior then they think they can as well. They are 13-18 years old it is not acceptable and it really makes me PISSED that schools hire these kind of people and the handbook is not followed accordingly. I think using the websites to locate sexual offenders near your home is a great to be protective of your home and know the people around you. Although, living near a few of them really worries me because of my daughter and people are just crazy at times. I pray that every family is safe… The world can be a scary place.

MAMA MOMMY

As the year pass I ponder over the relationships built spiritually, family, boyfriend and my daughter. I realize how much I have grown up through the years. During high school, I was a cheerleader and I enjoyed the long nights out with friends and gossip. I realize how much of a difference I have changed through out the past three years with my mother being sick. I am twenty-one years old with an eighteen-month-old daughter whom I adore everyday. I think back to the care, love and support my father and mother gave me, which pushes me to be a better person. My parents never gave up on me even when they were driving through Joplin to figure out where I had gone. My mother was rather strict although I completely understand WHY and HOW stupid I had been. My father is rather quiet but he is respectful and trustworthy towards my family and kept us together over the past twenty years and more to come. Once the doctor diagnosed my mother with ALS, I slowly pushed myself away from God. I was very angry towards my loved ones and did not have the patience to cope with this illness. After going to Forest Park, I have realized my reactions were ridiculous and how I needed to trust in God more. I am still with my daughter’s father whom I love with all my heart, which like every couple we have our differences and our spats. I know that after a long day I have him to help me snap out of any mood, relax and just talk. My daughter is the one that helps me feel even more appreciative because of the way she needs me to help her in every necessity. I love the feeling of her waking up next to me and trusting that I will not leave her. I am sure you are thinking “HER DAUGHTER STILL SLEEPS WITH HER?” Yes. Yes. I am a very attached to my daughter because of my mother’s death and I will nurture here until it is time to let her go. It brings me to a funny situation the past couple days. Last night I got her ready for bed and told her it was time to go potty and like a big girl, she went in there and went pee so I did a potty dance of course. I felt on top of the world and she though it was the funniest thing and danced around the bathroom clapping saying “bye bye pee pee”. She then woke up with the same intentions...POTTY. Although she is still young, I hope this attraction to the potty continues. I have my “mommy” weeks where I think about my mother and continue to follow by example. Since my mother’s birthday and almost a year since she has passed my sister and I decided to decorate her mausoleum with some fun Spring colors… I hope that it looks as good as we plan. I also want to thank God for everything he has done in my life and I will follow him until I meet him face to face! AMEN.

DRAMA...

My homepage on the Internet is set to AOL.com and I can see the latest breaking news around the world. I use to watch Jon and Kate plus Eight on TLC and I loved the interaction between the parents and children. The Gosselins seemed to be a normal family with life struggles and of course caring for eight children. I remember the Episode when Jon and Kate took the girls to Disney World and all of them had matching dolls and attended breakfast with the Disney Characters. It reminded me of going to Florida with my father, mother and sister about 10 years ago, but I preferred the beach more. Although this family has suffered a rough year with Jon not being “happy” and cheating on his wife, which is his highly unacceptable. The divorce was final December 18, 2009 and her words were "I am very relieved that our divorce has been finalized, and I look forward to the New Year, focusing on the children," Kate said in a statement. "On behalf of myself and my legal team, I want to express my deep appreciation to the Judge and his staff, as well as to the arbitrator, for resolving this case." It just blows my mind that they ended a marriage when the two needed to work out a plan and get help fast. Personally, I think TLC ruined this family because of all the fame that interfered with their marriage, but again they signed up for it because of the money. As an Elementary Education major, I think about the children’s background and hope that all of them can still find time to focus on school instead of divorce, fighting or even abuse in the family. I also noticed that the Gosselins have recently sold their home for twenty-two thousand dollars less than what they bought it for in 2006. The new Homebuyer Tax Credit is a great way for people to start a family and enjoy a few extra dollars to make house payments or necessities. It is based upon the choices we make and hopefully we can all be successful in our lives.

ASSIGNMENT GONE WACK

Well… These past few days have been a bit of a challenge for me as the work is increasing. In high school I took a Movie Maker class therefore, I had more knowledge going into my Education Computer Software. The computers on MSSU campus are so slow and I was determined to make this movie with pictures and music perfect. It took me the whole week and then on Friday the computer froze and lost some information. YES, I SAVED IT. I then came home and uploaded Windows Movie Maker to my computer and to my knowledge, it would not read my flash drive. I then went on with my day and just said forget it I will fix it on Monday, that was a bad idea.

I had a wonderful weekend with my boyfriend David and daughter especially with it being Valentines Day weekend. I chose some things to do to de stress through out the next few semesters and I am currently taking my daughter to the Flip Shop for Mom and Tot classes for forty-five minutes. I love watching her jump around and run like a wild girl on a mission and it is all about her of course it makes us feel complete. My boyfriend took me out on a wonderful dinner to Japanese Steak House and waited two hours but it was worth the wait. I enjoyed some quality time with my sister as I drove her to Pittsburg, KS to go dress shopping for prom and she found a beautiful dress. I remember shopping with my mother for dresses and I felt sadness for my sister because she did not get the opportunity as well. I finally played some Bingo at Bordertown Casino in Seneca, MO although, David and I did not win any money but it was a great time with old friends.

Then of course back to reality in total mondaze as I walk into class at eight in the morning just to realize I have to start all over on my project. I finished the project and emailed it to my professor and he said the servers were down and wanted to grade them in class while viewing. I have put my blogs off for the week because I have had two papers for my Educational Psychology and Educational in a Global Society. Now I am back on track but it just felt like a bumpy road and I had to trust in God. In addition, anyone who is interested in garage sales Forest Park Baptist Church is raising money for Haiti on Sat Feb 20... LOTS OF STUFF!

STUDENTS

During the past semesters, I enjoy going to the schools and observing different behaviors in students. The class I am currently in has a requirement of thirty-two hours needed. The first schools I observe are the Joplin High School, Elementary and last Middle Schools. I remember being a student in my teenage years but society has increased temptation in sex, drugs and other illegal actions. I cannot disclose which classroom, teacher but I will say the structure, and engagement was awful.

I think about the type of classroom and setting structure I want in my classroom. I love love love kids age 2-7 eventually I can teach Early Childhood and K-2, but I hope to move away after graduation. I want set rules so that kids understand that the classroom is a different environment than at home. I would like my lesson plans organized where the students engage and focus on learning in a fun atmosphere. Although, I still have a year to finish, pedagogy will help me to understand a classroom setting, and I cannot wait to student teach.

As I go into different classrooms, the students run wild and enjoy attention from a “new person”. I observed a few students and was so flabbergasted that I just questioned my self “did he just ask that?” I am sure you are wondering what he said… Well a few students were discussing how many times they interact in pleasure through sex, attended jail and the amount of tickets issued. I then over heard a student say, “Would you like to buy an eight ball” referring to cocaine, crack, meth etc. The student and his pregnant girlfriend replied, “How much, lets talk after class.” The teacher NEVER said a word about it to the students and then class dismissed. I just wanted to ring his/her neck and send them to the office but I am not obligated to say ANYTHING. I just pretended I did not hear it and went on with my day. In my psychology class, my Professor told us that in St. Louis thirty crack babies were born in ONE month (his daughter is in Labor and Delivery) Guess who is the main distributor of cocaine? YES JOPLIN! Unbelievable…What is wrong with these people? Most of these teachers just go to work, get a paycheck and do not care what is in the best interests for these students and their future. I WANT to be a part of a student’s life and for them to feel safe and talk.

I always think about my daughter’s future and pray that she will know what is best for her to make right choices. I think about school in 2006 and the parties but I do not remember these types of incidents, society has changed dramatically. No wonder Obama is trying to make education better in student’s lives and pass Reach for the Top. I understand it is more days in school but the focus would help teachers teach and help students who do not receive help at home. Please pray for our young children/students and that they overcome peer pressure.

Missing Boy

On Thursday February 4, 2010, a man named Eddie Salazar reported that two men beat him unconscious and abducted his eight-month-old son. An Amber Alert announcement showed up on headlines, text and flashing billboards to help find this little boy named Eddie Salazar Jr. The Carthage Police acted quickly and kept the father in a questioning room to further the investigation. A friend who works with the mother decided to go back to work, which come to find out many rumors started in the Joplin, Webb City and Carthage area. The mother had announced to friends that her husband was a drug dealer and that two men broke into their house and stabbed him. Although, the Police Department announced that the report was a false statement and he is now on a $100,000 bail bond. On Saturday February 6, a boy found in Spring River near Carthage, MO lodged behind a tree and fits the description: Mexican and 20lbs. The autopsy will determine the cause of death.

In a parents point of view it boggles my mind that a person would do this to his or her own child. How can someone have the nerve and rage to hurt a little human being who is learning to communicate? I think that if the father could not get the child to calm down then he should have called the mother to come home and soothe him to sleep then go back to work. In addition, if he had given the boy shaken baby syndrome he could have called 911 or dropped him off at the hospital in Carthage. Then the boy would still be alive and foster parents are available in the area that can provide a better life. I understand that at times it is stressful when a child is crying, teething, hungry, bellyaches and just uncomfortable but it takes patience. If a parent is having problems then they need to reach out to a friend or relative to ask for support or a few hours to get away. I would also recommend a place here in Joplin called Hour Kids charging $5 an hour and the child needs their immunization up to date. The atmosphere is welcoming and it is full of toys but the parent has to provide food because they have no kitchen. This is located on 4th Street near Rangeline behind the Subway in little outlet.

I then ask myself what is wrong with the American Society. Do people not understand the sixth commandment “You shall not commit murder” is it that hard? I think this is many of the reasons why I crawl myself into my daughters bed at night just to keep her extra safe. It is not hard to enjoy being a parent… PATIENCE and LOVE is all you NEED!

MTV Teen Mom

I guess this is just a mom week for me and I have been thinking about the past year. My daughter Paisly was born on August 29, 2008; she was 21.1 inches long and 7 lbs 6.4 ounces. I remember her moving around in my belly and kicking as if it was yesterday and a week overdue. While driving to Freeman Hospital I thought “WOW this is my last day of freedom and driving ALONE” my life was about to change in the most significant way. I was so nervous that I had a high blood pressure and was on medicine to help keep me calm and the epidural did wonders.

To me a mother is someone who cares for their child unconditionally from birth and puts her kids first. Paisly has always been my number one priority and I would do anything for her. One of the main reasons I have stayed in school is because of her and I want the best for our family. I have always had an interest in children and could not wait to have my own with the person I loved. It has all gone by so fast that I do not even know where to begin. I have always let Paisly sleep in bed with us especially after everything with my mother. I enjoy being at home with her and playing baby dolls, coloring, cooking etc...

After watching Teen Mom, related some of my problems with Farrah, Catelyn, Maci and Amber. Although, I was not 16 and pregnant I felt at times I could not experience college life and “friend time.” I think that Farrah never spent time with Sophia and felt she needed to find a man to fulfill that father figure when she needed to focus on mommy time instead of her parents. I could not imagine being in Catelyn and Tyler’s shoes and giving my daughter up for adoption. I think about adoption and it makes me sick knowing I would not be spending Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthday and milestones. I think it is a great decision for younger kids because it gives their child a better future. Maci is a great mom and defiantly tried to make Ryan happy and still manage school full time- working and a new mom. I think that it takes a very organized and responsible person to care for their child especially when he/she is up all night from teething, ear and bellyaches. It is tough at times. Words cannot express how irritate Amber made me on the show and how inconsiderate she was towards her fiancé Gary. Gary always paid for her items that she needed or wanted and she had the audacity to yell at him. Seriously, why do men put up with that?

In conclusion, women are not your rulers. Especially if you are married, the woman should care for the husband as well. It is a bond between two people and woman should cook, clean and care for the children especially if the woman is a stay at home mom and the husband pays the bills. More information is in the book called: “The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands.”

MOMS SPEECH

Lou Gehrigs disease SUCKS! If you have no idea what it is please research it!

The words to explain my mother through the years would be strong, beautiful and most of all loving. No matter where we would go she could always have a smile on her face. She pushed our family to be respectful loving and generous throughout the years. They say women are supposed to be two things: classy and fabulous. Mom always made sure she looked her best and the right jewelry to flow with the outfit. Over the past few months, people have mentioned I dress like an old woman and a mirror image of my mom.

During the years before she got sick she was determined to take us on adventures. She would always tell dad “OK take off work” Then she would buy the tickets and make reservations. Some unforgettable times would be when the three of us drove to Lawrence, KS just to welcome Tatum into the world. Mom was defiantly not use to the hospital, but she was determined to get into the parking garage. She ended up hopping the curb and drove right on through Janelle then noticed that the top was scraping the car. Although, we promised not to tell because the car was BRAND NEW! When Christie was in second grade, she said she busted her chin open and blood was gushing everywhere, mom was so worried that she left the house with NO SHOES so she had to wear the hospital booties. Another funny story was at the lake again the four of us plus two of our friends out on the lake. Dad let us tube on the back and well he didn’t notice a big wave coming which went over the boat and started flooding and my mothers first reaction was to dump out the Pringles and get all the water out. She always wanted to protect our family against everything. Our dad sometimes wishes he would have traveled with her more and she was the direction map for him. All of us know that she is his guide through life and a beautiful angel in heaven.

I never thought I would be in this situation 20 years old, mother, and losing my mother. Our family has dedicated the past year and a half catering to her needs and wants. Our mother’s wants always consisted of McDonalds, fish filet, icees, ice cream and the most famous panera bread. This disease took over our mother’s famous attributes: she loved to talk, laugh, teach, learn shop and had the most flowing handwriting. She eventually got to the point where she could not walk and we would have to put her in the chair. Our family will never forget the showers outside with Robin and Terra (hospice nurses). Mom enjoyed the outdoors especially our last trip to Florida to visit her sister Merilee and the family. Ever since mom decided on the hospital bed I would ask dad “Do you think you and Jay can wheel the bed out to the pool?” Mom’s big brown eyes would start at us like “YES PLEASE”. I remember my sister and I getting dressed up for different events and she would always do her hand in the shape of a C, which was CUTE. Our mom always took us shopping so it had to look good of course. Even though she could not talk, I could always tell what she was thinking by the look in her big brown eyes.

I sometimes wonder which part of my mom I should remember: The one who satisfied our needs or the one who fought for her life. My dad said I will always remember both although, I hope one day I can be as strong as she can. The last few months helped us become closer with God and the Angels. The most significant days would be when she pointed around the room and open her hand up wide as if she was holding hands with someone. I asked “hey momma is someone in the room that I can not see” she gave me a thumbs up which meant “YES” I would ask her different names of people who had passed and I asked about her Father and she said “YES” and pointed to exactly where he was in the room. I did ask others and she would tell me “NO”. Our family knew what NO MEANT! I asked do you know when the angels are taking you home she had the big brown eyes like “YES”. During that time I asked those questions she would always point with two fingers but we all thought it was a different channel or to move her around in the bed. It went on for a few weeks towards the end. As her time got closer, I thought about it and sure enough, she knew she was leaving on 4-22 at exactly 12 PM. God and the angels were watching over her this whole time and waited for her although, she held out until we were ready. Picking out flowers my father noticed a plaque that read 2- live 2- teach = 4 forever. The two resemblance all runs together and it means have faith and everything will be ok. My last words to my mother were “I’ll love you forever and always my mommy you’ll be my beautiful angel”. There will be days she will be missed, but the pain is gone and no more suffering.

ALS

Kids of ALS- a group of people who have had parents diagnosed or passed away from ALS

Alpha 1- a new gene to diagnos ALS.

I can not believe it has been almost a YEAR.. Our family has grown so much...

HERE GOES SOMETHING

This is my first blog so please be patient and do not judge as much.

I do not even know where to begin about this situation, but it really bothers me how inconsiderate people are towards each other. It all started on Monday on my lunch break I decided, “Hey McDonalds is close…Why not?” I get in line and to my knowledge, I look down to grab something and someone could not wait any longer and left. This woman with two kids in car seats came rushing through the parking lot just to cut in front of me. Then she had the audacity to give me a peace sign and laugh about it while ordering her food. People should know by now that McDonalds has two lanes and the cashiers will eventually take your order. Although, this woman must have been impatient and ignorant to feel she had to act in an immature way. As the time goes by I eventually ordered my food just thinking I am better than that and I will not give her the time of day. Therefore, as I am pulling into the line that combines together a young man is not paying attention at all and almost HIT my car. The woman then just starts laughing and pointing thinking it is the funniest thing ever that I have to wait SOOO long. OK 5-10 min WHO CARES.I then let this young man go before me because they obviously have not eaten in a week. I eventually got my food, left McDonalds, and sat at a red light right next to them. Again, what was the point of them being so childish? Society today has not focused on how to be kind, loving, caring, and mature and no focus is on Jesus. If we all followed Jesus then society would not have all these evil remarks, drugs, porn, abuse etc… YOU NAME IT. Not everyone is a Christian, but my goodness does anyone have any respect? Oh, let me add to this I ended up getting a daycare job before this situation and stressed about having to take my CBASE for the education department. Therefore, I put my focus to Trust in God and I hope that I will succeed in life. My writing might not be perfect but practice makes perfect. Right?

Enjoy,
Jenny