26 school days left to go and we’re out for summer!

Ever since May hit I’ve been battling myself to get my work done. I’ve fallen into the trap of using my 4th period prep to plan for 5th and 6th period geometry. Since we’ve been having a hard time getting substitute teachers lately, relying on my prep period can be risky I never know when I might have to take care of a class unexpectedly. Fortunately for me (my kids would disagree) we’ve just started the CST (California Standards Test) today and I’m loving the change of pace. I have a great group of sophomores for testing and they seemed pretty satisfied today with the puzzles, snacks, and games that I brought for them for when they finished. I love how finally it is the time of the year when I can be more real with my kids, joke around, amaze them with Sodoku puzzles. (we’re starting out easy… http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/sudoku_for_kids.htm) This year has seemed so full but still so empty. Grant just finished his internship at the Wesley Student Center at UC Berkeley. For a whole school year we cooked dinner every Monday night for a group of college students and then Grant led a program. We just had our end of the year graduation celebration and are now in the process of letting go of that group of people and the experience. On Tuesday nights I enjoy my LIFE group. I love the women in the group but I feel isolated at times, the next closest person to me in age is 10 years older. That fastest growing segment of our congregation is single people in their 30’s and Grant and I are really longing for people more our age, dealing with the “just out of college” life changes. Every other Wednesday night I’m taking a progressive theology class at church. The other Wednesdays will be filled with Deacon training for the next 2 months. Thursdays this year have been spent with my God son Aaron. Weekends have been spent everywhere and at home doing all the school work that I have no time to do during the week. So, we see the need for the school year to end! I’m trying to plan a solo backpacking trip to Point Reyes National Seashore for Memorial Day weekend. Grant is really supportive of this and totally trusts my abilities. The women in my LIFE group are freaking out and praying for my safety. I feel like they don’t trust my judgment and skills, but I know that they just don’t understand what I have already done and what I am capable of doing. (I’ve never seen any of them out car camping let alone on a backpacking trip) Plus, it’s only for two nights on one of the busiest weekends of the year in a small park with fire roads and the high likelihood that my cell phone will work! It reminds me of the Lake Tahoe trip last summer. We spent about 130 miles on the trail and nothing happened. We walk through a subdivision between trailheads and I get my hand smashed between the door of a truck and the side mirror of the car parked next to it. We truly are more in danger in civilization! I know some of you will understand. I hope that those of you out there reading this know that I read your blogs as often as you post new entries. I guess I’ve been a blog mooch. I take and take and take but don’t give anything in return. As the summer approaches, I’m going to try to write more updates. Please help to remind me!