The Week's Been Long . . .

I just want to be brutally honest and say that I am so glad this week's WSA class is over!  The students were pretty much okay and for the most part, did well.  The co-workers, however, needed more leadership and direction than I was able to give as I was busy teaching certification classes.

I had to confess to our aquatics director last night that I had lost it on them as they had chosen NOT to wear their swimsuits in the pool in order to teach swimming!?!  They asked me to watch their students so they could go change into their swimsuits for the last twenty minutes of class to which I responded with, "No, there's not enough time left."  Indecision has been their biggest time waster all week - that and STUPID planning . . .     

Thankful Thursday!

This particular Thursday, I am so thankful that Sam caught the hacking of our checking account Tuesday night BEFORE we permanently lost any funds!  I was equally thankful for the four different Finance Offices and staff at Districts 196, 194, and 191 and the Y who helped us with redoing all of our direct deposits.  I was thankful that Sam was able to contact most/all of our automatic withdrawals while I was able to contact most of the missionaries we support to let them know what had happened.  And, we're both thankful that we were able to open an account at a NEW and DIFFERENT financial institution!

Water Safety Aide Class

I walked into Falcon Ridge this morning fully expecting to teach the Water Safety Aide (WSA) class for ISD 196, but "blessed are the flexible".

Since I'm the only staff with current, like 2022 ASHI (American Safety and Health Institute) teaching certification, I'm now teaching CPR Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings this week and then the WSA class every afternoon.  What a zoo!  And this new CPR stuff, we were all laughing so hard!  It's not our "normal"!  Maybe that's why we're all Red Cross fans! 

"Hi, Mrs. Zupke!"

School hasn't even been out for forty-eight hours yet and it happened today - while we were hiding out in Apple Valley of all places!  A little voice chirped, "Hi, Mrs. Zupke!" at the Target check-out while two beaming parents looked at Mrs. Zupke!  

Praise God that school hasn't been out any longer than forty-eight hours because I was able to respond with "Hey, Zeke!" to one of my second graders!

"Walk for Life"

It started to sprinkle as we drove over to Normandale Lake in Bloomington this morning for New Life Family Services "Walk for Life".  Fortunately, it was just a sprinkle and it ended by the time we got there because we had left rain coats and umbrellas at home - in spite of the weather forecast!

The walk started off with a drum roll and right off the bat, we recognized two people walking in "Run for the Unreached" t-shirts that we had at home.  We began what ended up being a 2.1 mile conversation about adoption, allergies, Antioch and more!  

Thanks to the generosity of friends, together we were able to raise $725.00 for New Life!  

A sad picture of our drummers!

Sam and I at the beginning . . .

 

Thankful Thursday!

Today, I'm thankful for the third grader on the playground.  She was often found wandering alone, not quite fitting in anywhere, so I'd take a minute or two to talk with her, about her swimming and taekwando and her little sister and her grandma.  Today, she came running up to me with a card and said, "Don't open it until you go home."  So I thanked her for it, gave her a hug good-bye, and opened the card when I got home.  It had a note from both her and her mother, sharing that I was her very favorite teacher at OHE and thanking me for talking with her at recess.  It also had a very generous gift card.  Just being Jesus with skin on . . .

Today, I'm thankful for two different fifth grade boys.  One I helped with math.  We talked earlier this week about our favorite Jolly Rancher flavors.  Mine were watermelon and green apple.  He met me when I came outside for recess today and said, "I've got something for you."  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of Jolly Ranchers, all watermelon or green apple flavored.  I thanked him with a smile on my face.  Just being Jesus with skin on . . . 

The other boy I helped with math and reading WHENEVER he was in school.  I also told him every day he attended school, how nice it was to see him and how much I wished he would come EVERY day.  He reached into his backpack and gave me a felt bookmark that his mom made.  It was beautiful.  What a sweet gift!  Just being Jesus with skin on . . .     

Today I'm thankful for Jen and Stacy, fellow tutors who picked me up on the way to the end of the year staff party.  It was so nice to get some extra social time without any children interrupting us!  

Today I'm also thankful that it was the LAST.DAY.OF.SCHOOL.  I love my job, but I'm looking forward to SUMMER!

"Mrs. Zupke!"

"I'm bleeding!"

I have seen a lot of bloody messes, from fishhooks stuck in scalps to sticks stuck in legs to the after-affect of barbed wire, but today's bloody face was a winner!  It was like fountain coming out of Aubrey's nose!  Absolutely amazing!