Life the past month and a half

Concerts..

Shooting a music video with Jason Clutter!!

Volleyball games..

and more volleyball games...


Friends :)

Mud Volleyball 2010

High School buddies ;)

And growing baby bumps!!!!! (Regina & Danielle)

School has been in full swing for 7 weeks and it seems that life has a way of flying by without much time to sit back and reflect on what all is going on around me!! I would much rather be busy than bored though, because business keeps my sad thoughts at bay (November will mark 2 years that my dad has been gone- unbelievable). Lately I've been very busy with school, Praxis II stuff, graduation requirements, the girls' volleyball games, trying to find time to fit into 2 teenage lives (key word: trying), and all the other busy stuff everyday life entails...

About 4 weeks ago, I started working at the Children's Center at USI for a couple hours, three times a week, and although it's been difficult learning the ropes, there is this one experience that keeps popping into my head and it keeps me going... The 2's Room recently got a new little girl who had trouble adjusting and wasn't comfortable being touched, or near other adults besides her parents. This little girl came in, clinging to her daddy, not wanting to let go. I could see fear written all over her face. He introduced her to us and set her down on the steps, trying to fade into the background. She immediately sat in the corner and kept to herself. I just watched her for a little while... we would make eye contact every few seconds and then she would glance away. Ater a few minutes I went and sat on the steps, a few feet away from her, and started talking about things in the room or whatever came to mind and just let her listen. After a few more minutes I moved to the bottom of the steps... a few minutes after that, she came down the stairs too. She looked a little wobbly climbing down those stairs, so I slowly reached out my hand to her, she looked at me for a minute, and then she took it!!! Her dad was standing furthur back and I could tell he was excited. He told me he was very suprised she reached out for me and that she seemed comfortable around me for some reason. She was my little buddy for the rest of the day.

That experience is what makes teaching so exciting for me- it's that one child that no one can seem to get to or understand and by one simple gesture of kindness, all of that fear of letting someone in is gone. It's one of the most amazing feelings...