VS unit life

Its been a half a week since I moved 4.5 hours north from my home in Hagerstown MD to Bradford PA to teach school and live in the VS unit. Life here seems almost a dream. In some ways I really like it and in other ways it is odd. Growing up I never had a large family or brothers and sisters so the family dynamics are all new to me. It's interesting to watch a family of 8 from day to day. In the VS unit there are 13 of us. The host family and 4 volunteers. We all seem to get along pretty well so far. The VS unit house is often a busy place with the church and house and school all in one place there are always people coming in and out. In all there are 13 of us. The host family (8) and us teachers and personal workers {4} Most days I get up go down stairs for breakfast and then head over to the school to work on my room which is buried in text books right now. I usually spend about 4 hours in my room setting it up and working on school things. So far I have it decorated, and half my text books sorted out.. I'm missing some curriculum still but I guess that can get sorted later. Anyways back to VS life. Really its like everything I've always wanted. I always look at families like Full house and wonderd what it would be like to live like that. Now I finally have my chance. I have a job that holds to the same values I do. This will be an interesting year for sure. Tomorrow is my first Sunday at Bradford mennonite church. I miss my church family back home but I am excited to meet my new one.

Till next time

Desiree 

Humbled

God is always one step ahead of me for which I am grateful. Almost six months ago I broke my right femur. Because of this break I acrued many assistive devices  some of which are quite large and take up a good ammount of room in our small duplex. Many weeks ago I had called the Lions club to come pick up these items because I no longer needed them. Well the Lions club never called me back (much to my annoyance). So ive been grumping the past few weeks about how the house is a wreck because of all these things. Then I get the message that my cousin Erin had been in a bad accident and had several broken bones. Then I realised she will need assistive devices...I no longer need them but she does. I am so glad that the man from the Lions club never called me back. So glad God is always one step ahead. Once again I have been humbled.

Handicapped Accessable

America prides itself on accommodating those with handicaps. Our nation has handicapped parking, handicapped doors, we even have laws in place to help prevent discrimination in the work place against those with physical handicaps. However it is not enough. This became very apparent to me this last October when I broke my right femur. After two weeks in the hospital I was released to go home. Going out into the real world was scary...even with my walker. The first few weeks outings were very difficult. Often times I would need to go to doctor's appointments or the grocery store and there were very few handicapped parking spots avaliable. Often times mom ( mom played cheuffer as I could not drive) would have to circle the parking lot two or three times to find a handicapped spot. Often times at stores the closest spots were reseved for employee of the month or president of the store or even expecatnat mothers. Do not misunderstand me . I think that all these positions are important espcially the expectant mother, however I do not think that these spots should take place over handicapped parking.

A Broken Leg

If not for a broken leg I never would not of realized how much I was loved.

If not for a broken leg I wouldn't of gotten to see my little cousin off to the marines.

If not for a broken leg family would not of grown closer.

If not for a broken leg I would not of made new friends and re connected with old ones.

A broken leg is teaching me balance. I cannot be all wrapped up in work and ignore my life, I cannot be all wrapped up in home and my life and ignore work. There must be balance.

A broken leg is teaching me to slow down and not let life pass me by so quickly.

A broken leg has shown that even in disaster something good can come from it.

A broken leg is showing me other aspects of life.

What is Love?

Love is when Jesus died on the cross for me.

Love is when your boss brings you flowers in the hospital and coupons so your mom can eat down stairs in the hospital cafeteria so she can stay with you more.

Love is when your students parents offer emotional support.

Love is when you get dozens of visitors in the hospital.

Love is when co-workers bust you out of your room on a Sunday afternoon and wheel you around the hospital.

Love is a family from church coming to sing to you in the hospital.

Love is surprise visit from  the woman's work committee at church once your home.

Love is when friends from afar check up on you to see how your doing.

Love is when your out in public and your students run up to you and give you a big hug.

Love is your mom putting up with you when your being a total brat ( thanks mom!)

Love is what God has for us . Thank you God for loving me.

Just The Way I Am

In the Alexander Technique there is the idea of self-acceptance and non-judging yourself..or in other words, giving yourself permission to be exactly as you are. Lately I have been laid up with a broken femur ..well more so recovering from surgery for a broken femur.  Every day I try and push myself a little bit more to see what I can do. Perhaps this is not what many would consider being kind of gentle with myself but I feel it is the right thing to do. I do not push myself beyond my limits. I feel accomplished and satisfied knowing what I can do and knowing what to work towards. People tell me to "rest" and "stop trying to do so much". This is not me. I have never been one to slow down much. This used to really bother me but lately I have come to realize (and slowly accept) that this is who I am. Yes, I do enjoy resting at the end of the day just like every other person but I am not one to laze about all day.  Most times I ENJOY being active and being with others, learning about different things. This is who I am.  When the time comes I will rest when I need it. Do I overdo it sometimes and end up frustrated from trying to do too much too soon? You bet! But I learn not to do that again. I'm learning that is who I am AND I'm learning to accept that without judging myself. As they say in the Alexander Technique " I am free to be me." After all that is who God loves!

Sappy teacher post

Today is the start of a new journey for me. I am now the co head of the 1-3rd grade at work. Today a good first day with our new group of after school kids. Its hard to believe that my old pre k babies from 2yrs ago are now my 1st graders! I remember how little they were when I had them back in pre-k , I remember them on their first day of kindergarten and now they are so grown in the first grade. My first graders are now 2nd grade and they look so big compared to my new 1st graders. They have grown up and become so independent. Hardest to believe though is this year's 3rd graders. I have watched them grow up from the first grade, watched them change and become independent. Its hard to think that at the end of this year they too will be joining the 4-6th grade down stairs. Most of all I miss my old 3rd graders. Today when one little girl got off the bus she gave me the biggest hug ever. She said she would miss me. I stood there hugging her back and told her how much I would miss her too. Letting these kids grow up is proving harder than I thought but I know its time. So here is to a new school year and new adventure in the 1-3rd in 2017-2018!