Anna's Really Exciting Blog...Really

Say What?!

2006-12-30T22:03:00.000-08:00

So it's been like three months, but here are some updates, y'all!

Joelle is eating solids (well, pureed solids).

Joelle can sit-up by herself.

Joelle has cut her first tooth!

Brian is graduating with his MDiv. May 5,2007(finally...90 units later).

I am gradutaing with my Masters and Credential in LMT (Library Media Teacher) in July.

WOW! We've been busy!

Two Things

2006-10-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

1. Babies make funny noises at 3 months two weeks of age.

2. Babies like to stick the strangest things in their mouths.

I guess she was still hungry.

Who Does She Look Like?

2006-09-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

That's the question we've gotten from day one with our Joelle. To be honest, we couldn't quite figure it out until we went to visit Brian's parents. His mom pulled out a photo of herself at a similar age and there it was, the striking similarity (proof that Joelle is really a Ferguson)! But don't take my word for it, judge for yourself:

2006-08-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

So Joelle is going to be 8 weeks tomorrow (Saturday) and she has already acheived many milestones. I may be biased, but I think she is quite advanced! Here those milestones are, enumeratred:

1. Successfully exploded out of at least 7 diapers (and when I say exploded, I mean EXPLODED!)
2. Had four baths (mostly because of the aforementioned issue).
3. Larned to cry when she is hungry.
4. Screams bloody murder when left alone in a room for 5 seconds...the amazing part here is that she knows when exactly 5 seconds has lasped, not the screaming part.
5. And my personal favorite----smile!!!

How Long?

2006-07-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

So it's really hard to believe that I've been a mommy for 17 days. It doesn't seem possible that at one point I weighed 161 pounds and just 19 hours later most of that weight came out in the form of a 6lb. 10oz. little girl! Yeah, the labor sounds long, but it felt like it went really quickly. Anyway, now our lives have forever changed and Brian and I are wading through this time on your prayers, other people's generosity (thanks SO much Smiths -- for sending Jamie out -- and mom and dad for the food), and very little sleep (The Frasers were rght!!). We really couldn't be any happier and thank God for our sweet Peanut, Joelle Grace!

2006-06-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

So, to quote a not-so-famous- person, "It's amazing what you can fit into a one bedroom apartment." (this from my esteemed husband) Take a look at what sort of things I'm talking about and the effects on the soon-to-be-dad!

New Pictures

2006-05-18T19:56:00.000-07:00

Someone just sent me a comment that I need some new pictures up. I think she meant of my belly. I'm not sure. I have lots of new pictures of lots of things, but if she wanted to see my prego. self, I guess these should suffice:

hello...again

2006-04-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

So I've been a little behind recently (no I'm not talking aobut the Fergie butt again!), but hopefully I will be able to keep up a little bit more frequently. I have new belly pic to show all of you if you care to see...

Whoo Hoo!

2006-03-09T20:52:00.000-08:00

So I am so excited and have a few things to list:
1.I only gained one pound between today and the last Dr. appointment (this is good because I have really been trying hard to cut back on my sweet tooth cravings and get in more exercise).
2.Baby is fine -- Dr. said the ultrasound looks great and the baby will come sometime between the 4th and 11th of July…I’m still confused about that one.
3.She spends a lot of time kicking and moving around after dinner (5 p.m.).
4.I have an A in both my grad. classes right now.
5.My students keep patting my belly when they walk into class.
6.One of them decided it would be funny to put a picture of Osama Bin Laden up on my document camera so the whole class could see it.
7.I’m looking forward to Spring Break…I’m tired!
8.I’m really enjoying American Idol (I’ve never actually watched it before this season).
9.I can’t wait for Jamie to come visit!

Baaabaaay!

2006-01-11T17:33:00.000-08:00

So I thought Brian was going to blog this and maybe he was, but he's been really busy (getting ready for the Maxicali Medical MIsison Trip coming up this weekend..say that three times fast!). So since I want eveyone to see, check out our first sonogram (at 14 1/2 weeks). We won't be able to tell whether the baby is a boy or girl until February, but you can see a cute Fergie butt!!

Qualifier

2006-01-11T17:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, while the previous post was not meant, in any way, to be bitter-sounding, I supopse to some it did. Aside from that, I did want to qualify a statement that I made regarding the "tours" of hurricane-devastated New Orleans. Yes, that is probably a very enlightening, possibly educational , and maybe even informative trip to take. However, I qestion the motive behind it. After all, it is one thing to be a person of authority, fit and able to make changes or help out, and quite another to be a "Looky-Lou" with nothing better to do on a vacation (or other time on holiday) than to make the site of peoples' devastaion part of your "fun".

American Dysfunctionality...American Idiot?

2006-01-08T18:55:00.000-08:00

The top four stories of the past week or so…

1.Pat Robertson on Ariel Sharon
Pat: "He was dividing God's land, and I would say, 'Woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the [European Union], the United Nations or the United States of America,'" "God says, 'This land belongs to me, and you'd better leave it alone.”
-- Why does Robertson get to “speak” for all Christians and then say something so controversial? Is that really God's judgement on Sharon? How about the hole in his heart he has had since birth?

2.Family Vacation to Vegas (minus the 9 year-old and his 5-year old autistic brother): "A husband and wife who found a dog sitter for their new puppies but left their 9-year-old son home to care for his younger autistic brother while they celebrated the new year in Las Vegas were arrested Wednesday, police said."
-- Why do parents of two minors go off and leave them to fend for themselves while ensuring the puppies got good care?

3.Coal Mine tragedy: "They took our miracle away."
-- How can a miracle be taken away, especially since it wasn’t a miracle to begin with?

4.Bus line debuts tour: "An international bus line launched tours of devastated sections of New Orleans on Wednesday, amid controversy over whether so-called disaster tourism would help, hurt or humiliate the hurricane-ravaged city."
-- Nothing like a tour of a devastated city to brighten your otherwise dull vacation!

Morningsickness?

2005-11-30T18:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, so after some prodding from Laura, I decided to blog. I know it's been a long time and I should make some comment about my pregnancy, so I will! I am SOOOOOO SICK!! My first two weeks of pregnancy went great! The only thing I noticed was that I was a little bloated and a lot tired. Now, however, about three weeks after finding out (about 8 weeks into it) I am so sick all the time! The only time my queasiness goes away is between 3:45 and 4:00 on my drive home from work. It comes back in full force, though, the minute I walk in the door! Yuck! Whoever decided to call it MORNINGsickness had it seriously wrong! The up side is that the only thing that doesn't make me sick to think aobut eating is ice cream...Ohh! Woe is me!

Rock On Marty!

2005-10-27T20:25:00.000-07:00

My favorite performer from last summer's coolest reality show, "Rockstar: INXS" has his single out and available on ITunes! Yaay Marty Casey . Personally, he should have been the newest member of INXS. But now that I think of it, I'm not sure I'd want to be involved in a band full of control freaks!!

Tammy Faye Syndrome

2005-10-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

I think I wore too much make-up today. I had three different classes of students comment saying, “How different you look.” and “You look so young.” and “What did you do different today?” 7th graders always know the right things to say. Oh, yeah, except for the student who said, “What’d you do to your hair?!!” Somehow that just didn’t have the right ring to it.

Shout out to the Mommy from Caroliney!!

2005-10-04T20:43:00.000-07:00

Yaay! My dear friend, Jamie who has moved all the way to South Carolina has started her own blog. As David Mac says, “We like Tim and all, but I like variety!" Now we get to hear about the other side of Smith life way out there on the eastside! Whoo! Whoo! Check THIS out!!!
Meanwhile...
So I 'm having the best school year of my career, I think at this point. Now we all know that 7th graders as a rule are pretty squirrelly, but did you know they're also comedians? Okay, so we're reading this story about a boy who is injured in an accident and no longer has the use of his hand. He meets, by chance, a Vietnam War veteran who was injured in the war and lost an arm. Through their friendship, the boy begins to gain confidence and come out of his shell. Great story. Anyway, we have just gotten to the part in the story where the boy meets the veteran. He sees the man from a long distance and notices that he is digging through a trash bin (it's because he's looking for reusable items for art projects, but everyone thinks it's because he is homeless, right?). So I'm, of course, trying to get the last period of the day to "get serious" about this story and figure out some other reasons why this guy is digging through the trash. Here's how the discussion went:
Me: So can anyone beside Cory think of another reason why this character is behaving this way? (Cory always has an answer)
Cory: He's a Bum!
Me: I said, “Beside Cory!”
Tyler: Mr. Hedberg digs through trash and he's not a Bum!! He makes good money off the stuff he finds!
Me: Hysterical laughter (hey, give me a break it was 3:30 after all!)

NOTE: Mr. Hedberg teaches woodshop.

It's Alive!!

2005-09-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

So, it's finally happened. I've been waiting for about three weeks now for the consistent phenomenon of seventh grade behavior to rear its ugly head. What is this terror, this nerve-wracking monster that naggingly nips at our heels in middle school circles, you ask? Well, none other than the "He's/She’s Bothering Me" Syndrome, most commonly seen later in the day (around period 7) when those students who have been in seven out of eight classes together for over a year now come to the end of their rope with a certain someone and explode. I mean aren’t they a little more advanced than the five year olds I’ve known in my day? Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m sure Cory was annoying to Jazmin (especially since three other people confirmed it). But what I don’t understand is how Jo-Jo happened to have someone step on her foot as she was walking to her desk after completing an assignment at the overhead? How does someone step on a moving person’s foot while that someone is seated? I mean, there she was, working on the overhead and the next thing I know, she’s yelling at the top of her lungs and swiping at Lupita because “She stepped on my foot!” So I say, “How is it that you stopped long enough for her to do that on your way back to your desk?" Jo-Jo says, “Her foot was in the way.” “Oh, so you stepped on her foot?” “No! Umm. Yeah, uh…huh.” Hmm…sounds like the ugly seventh grade monster is out and about…. I think he’s a little early this year!

The Grad. Student's Lament

2005-09-09T19:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, so I'm truly excited. I started my first class for my Library Media Teacher Masters/Credential. It's online and totally great to be able to work from home, but is it just me or is it more work than a normal "in-class" course? So I was commenting to Brian and my parents about the amount of work. The reading feels about right for a grad. school class, but because it's online and not real time, it takes a lot of writing. You know when you're in class the conversation goes a lot faster and you interact more. Anyway, Brian politely reminded me in the midst of all this yakking on my part that of course it's more work because it's only a nine week course! Well, if he's gonna think of it like, that, sheesh, of course! (Stay tuned for an ode or maybe a sonnet, next time)

It's Official!

2005-09-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

“I am pleased to inform you that your application for the School of Education: Masters in School Librarianship at Azusa Pacific University has been accepted.” Those were the words I heard over the phone from a Mr. Doug Yost (Grad. Center Enrollment Counselor) on Friday evening. Yes, I have, within a week, decided on a program, applied, and been accepted to a masters degree program at APU. I’m so excited. One of the coolest things about it is that it will all take place online except for a session during the summer. This means that I will be able to do stuff at home (like work and husband time) and at the same time, complete a degree with as little gas expenditure as possible! Praise God. Please pray for Brian and I, though, as we do this. He is taking his units full time and will be gone two nights out of the week, which leaves only three for us to be together (but those nights are sometimes church, work, and “other”-stuff-nights). Anyway, we’re both glad that this is occurring as it seems to be good timing in a lot of ways so we’re trusting God to help us out.

My man is cool!

2005-08-30T20:46:00.000-07:00

I love my man! Yes it's true. Even though he does weird "man" things, he is wonderful. This week I was complaining (again) about going back to work and how I feel like a lameoid because I never accomplished my goal of getting a master's degree (I went to Bible School instead!). So he said, why don't you just do it? I had been looking at Azusa'a online masters for School Librarian and so I decided to go for it. Now mind you, classes start Sept. 8. Okay, so I'm cutting it really short, I know. But thanks to some very good friends, Tim Smith, Teddy Smith and a close colleague, Tricia Tongate, I have all my recommendations and will be walking everything in (with the department chair's blessing) tomorrow. Now all we have to do is figure out how we're going to pay for it all. Any suggestions?

Wyoming: "The Equality State"

2005-08-22T22:37:00.000-07:00

This Bison is scratching himself on a wooden post

I love the country I live in. Not only do we have awesome technology and are extremely blessed, but we also have some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. Now, I’ve been to several other countries in my lifetime (Canada, of course, South Africa, Madagascar, Germany, England…albeit just inside Heathrow) but I truly think some of the most beautiful country is right here in the good old US of A!
Brian and I just returned from our trip to visit his parents in Wyoming. I had no idea Wyoming was as historic and foundational to our country’s growth as it is! Did you know that part of the Mormon Trail passed through Wyoming? Did you know that the Oregon Trail went through as well? Did you know that Sacagawea was buried in Wyoming? How about that Wyoming is home to the world’s largest hot spring? Or that near Thermopolis, Wy. (where the hot spring is) there is an active and huge dinosaur dig/excavation? How about that women were given the right to vote in Wyoming in 1869, 50 years prior to the Nineteenth Amendment being voted in. I was thoroughly in awe at the amount of “history” that took place in a state which is home to only about 435,000 people. Total. Yeah, that’s about the size of the state of California in 1870!

California DMV

2005-08-10T10:52:00.000-07:00

I know many of you have seen the commercial for the cell provider where a man is being held by some thugs who are torturing him by using all his cell phone minutes calling “Nana”, reading a book to someone, and (my personal favorite) calling the DMV (the implied meaning being that you’re put on hold so long, it’ll definitely rack up your minutes!). I recently received The Dreaded Envelope in the mail requesting my presence at the DMV for my license renewal. Since the last two times I renewed my license it was by mail, I was “required” to show up in person.
They have really been pushing the website for making appointments, so I decided to make my appointment that way. No dice. It is such a convoluted and horribly put together site that even when I found the area for making appointments, “nothing was a available” for any of the times I put in. I sat at my computer and selected every appointment all day, for several dates. Either there literally were no appointments at the two locations and the on the several dates and times I chose, or there is something wrong with the site.
Okay, so I knew that trying to get through on the phone was a joke (proven by the TV commercial previously mentioned) so I decided to just arrive at one of the offices about twenty minutes prior to its opening (8 am). I’d been trying to decide when to do it this week because Brian and I are leaving for Wyoming next week, so I chose today, Wednesday. As I drove toward the office at about 7:15, I thought to myself, “I wonder if that office hours on Saturday thing affects office hours during the week.” Well, when I arrived, there were about four people in line and a security guard filling out what looked like a crossword puzzle. This older man came wandering by (looking a little wobbly) and asked the guard when they opened. The guard says, “9:00.” Whew! I was a little irritated. I should’ve checked the website! Apparently, they have like five different times when they’re open or closed depending on whether they offer hours on Saturday that week or not. It is probably the most erratic hours of operation schedule that I have ever seen. So I decided to sit in my car and just wait. As I waited and it got closer and closer to 8:00, the line got longer and longer. At about 7:45, I heard a loud shout, “9:00!?” This woman had just asked to security guard when they opened. Apparently, she didn’t like the answer! After that, about every five minutes, someone would get to the line, stand there, look at their watch, go check the posted hours and then come tell whomever they were with that they didn’t open ‘til 9:00. It got to be pretty funny; trying to guess who the next person was who would do it. The funny thing was, they all just kept standing there. Here it was, 8;00, and they just stood there being herded around like cows whenever the line got out of control. I ended up deciding to try my luck at another office that when I got there I only had to wait about 15 minutes in a shorter line than the first office. People were still confused about why there was a line out the door and why the office wasn’t open. So is the DMV a public service office or are they just part of a bigger conspiracy meant to keep people “hostage”. Per the guy behind the window after my thumbprint and mug shot, “You are free to go.” Makes one wonder, huh?

Chicano Style?

2005-08-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I was shopping with my mom today at this mall. There were the typical mall stores: Macy's, Robinson's May, Nordstrom, Bath and Body Works, etc. We looked around in the Macy's, which by the way was one of the biggest one's I've ever seen, decided to walk all the way to the other end of the mall to see the Robinson’s May store and happened to walk by this new store called C28. I don’t know if any of you have heard of it, but a few months ago when Brian and I were down visiting his parents (Before they moved) we went to an El Cajon mall and visited this store there.
Anyway, it was a very cool experience then and today. When we went in, I pointed out all the “cool” stuff they had and then my mom decided to by some music. When we checked out, as always (I think it’s store policy), the gal behind the counter said, “Do you have any prayer requests?” My mom popped off with hers and the girl says, “Would you like to pray now?” and my mom said yes. The moment the girl began, I, of course, started to tear up. I knew my mom was really touched by it and sure enough, when we left, she had cried too!! We’re so sensitive!
So after our turn around the mall, I looked over as we walked down the walkway and saw this other store that I hadn’t ever seen at this mall before: Chicano Style. I didn't get a chance to look any closer than several feet away, but I definitely thought that was an interesting store name!

Developing Events

2005-08-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

Anthony

Danielle

Brian and I just got home from something call the YLT (Youth Leadership Team) Meeting. It's been about a month since we've met. Yeah, I know, how effective is it if you're not meeting regularly? Some things took a little precedence, however. (Like Brian not being able to talk!!) Anyway, we met with Anthony and Danielle, our two college-aged leadership team members who are being mentored by Brian and myself and helping implement stuff with the youth group. It was such an awesome meeting. We met at Starbucks, (but this time I didn’t order the blended crème/frappuccino thing so no problems there!) and not only revisioned our youth group goals, but how we’re going to achieve them. It is really exciting to see some growth in these two young adults and how willing they are to learn and grow even though sometimes their parents aren’t the very best examples of the same. Praise God for the encouraging changes we're seeing in the youth group!

Surgery and More Surgery

2005-07-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot of stuff going on recently. Including, but not limited to an oral surgery. Back when I had braces, they had to pull a tooth (like most folks). But when they did that they took out a lot of extra bone, which caused another tooth (last year) to basically fall out (nice, huh?). On Friday (the 29th), I went in to get a bone graft done in that area, but despite an MRI of the area, multiple checkups and x-rays, the surgeon was very unpleasantly surprised about the extent of the damage in that spot when opened me up. Apparently, the area was too damaged to do anything to, so he just cleaned out extra scar tissue and then closed me up again. Additionally, he said that the teeth on either side of the area are starting to be affected and are losing bone as well. Anyway, long story short, I'm really upset because it is really discouraging to not have a "whole" mouth and realize that at almost 29, I may lose two more teeth because of a stupid decision made while I was in high school, you know?
At least I am done with summer school (last Thursday) and I can rest up. If you are a praying friend of mine, please pray for my tooth/mouth issue, I can defintely use it!

The Fine Art of Ordering at Starbucks

2005-07-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

I'm a Starbucks "Tall Chai Tea Blended Crème" fan. Whenever I go to a Starbucks (because Brian really likes it and he's made sure we have a monthly allowance to ensure our enjoyment of this yummy treat) I always order off the signboard exactly that, a "Tall Chai Tea Blended Crème". Trouble is, the person behind the counter invariably asks, "You mean the Chai Tea Frappuccino?" So I end up saying, "Yeah, whatever the Chai Tea blended thing is." Okay, so isn't the distinction between the Frappuccinos and the Blended Crèmes the fact that the Blended Crèmes don't have coffee? Why would I want a Chai tea with coffee in it? I mean, shouldn't I be able to read off the menu and have them understand exactly what I want? Anyway, Brian and I have been spending a lot of time around the house recently so last night we decided it would be nice to go get a coffee drink and walk around a shopping center (nothing too strenuous for the recuperating patient, you know?). As we walked in to our friendly neighborhood Starbucks, we were chatting about this weird phenomenon. The man behind the counter said, "What can I get for you?" I decided to be daring and told him my story about being misunderstood. He kind of looked askance at me like, "Is she for real?" So I decided to take the plunge. (But this time I wanted to try their new green tea blended thingy). So I read off the menu, "May I have a Tall Green Tea Blended Crème?" He says, "You mean a Tall Green Tea Frappuccino?"

Jailbreak!

2005-07-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

So said my husband after today's post op. doctor's checkup. We went to San Marcos (about and hour north of San Diego) to get Brian's second checkup because his surgeon was on vacation this week. We saw a Dr. Kim who looked lke he was fresh out of medical school. He is actually the second option and almost as well known in San Diego County as Brian's surgeon Dr. Londo. Anyway, he looked at Brian's incision sites and pronounced them healed then took out some sort of measuring plastic ruler thing and asked Brian to "Open up". He was very pleased with his range of motion, Accoding to him, within about three and half weeks, Brian should be back to a regular diet (which Brian says he'd like to with a nice meal of some surf n' turf). Hence, the jailbreak.

Is It Therapy?

2005-07-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

Knowing that Brian was going to be "out of it" for about two weeks, he thought it would be fun to get some lego kits to put together. Of course, he wanted the Imperial Star Destroyer ($299.99), The Millenium Falcon ($99.99), Death Star II ($299.00) and the TIE Collection ($69.00). We don't have $767.98 plus tax and shipping laying around for Legos, even if he can't talk or eat solid food. He ended up getting a Mini Star Destroyer, Mini Imperial Shuttle, Mini At-At, Sith Infiltrator, and Mini Clone Scout Walker. So we waited for four days with bated breath while they were shipped. Brian had the tracking number and kept checking to see where his items were. Turns out, on the day they were supposed to be delivered, they "were overlooked" (meaning the UPS guy didn't see them in the truck until he was done with deliveries, then didn't bother to come back). We got them the next day. Now, this UPS guy knows us becasue Brian orders so many books for school from Amazon. He rang the belI and when I opened the door he said, "More books?" I said, "Legos." He said, "Oh, therapy!"

Colored People

2005-07-11T14:50:00.000-07:00

Wow! DC talk really knew what they were talking about when they wrote that song, huh? "Spousal abuse black" and "Spank me pink"!!! Wheew!

Good-bye

2005-07-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

The Smiths left So. Cal. for another kind of SC today at about 4:30. It was so sort of strange to see them drive off and realize they weren't coming back. Joyce K., Corrie, Marc and Christy and the boys showed up as well as TIm and Jamie's realtor David. It was kind of neat to see their realtor who wasn't just there to pick up the keys, but to help out too. What a nice guy! Anyway, I should've taken my camera, but I just didn't think I could handle it. Maybe TIm will post a photo later on his site. He took some shots as they pulled out of the driveway. Godspeed, Smiths!!

Thanks

2005-07-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of you who have sent the rejected crayon color that you are. I feel like I am in great company! Mel, I'm sure you make lovely "tin mans john silver" and Jill, you are a vibrant "found in a diaper gold". Ahh...such beautiful people!

Rejected Crayons

2005-07-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

So I saw Ian's blog, which by the way is new, and he had "Which Planet Are You" posted. I clicked on the link and actually decided to do the "Which Rejected Crayon Color Are You?" instead, so here it is

You are

What Rejected Crayon Are You?

Surgery

2005-07-06T18:02:00.000-07:00

Today was the big day. For all of you who don'tknow and those of you who do, Brian had surgery on his jaw today. We went down to SD yesterday, spent the night at a hotel, then rushed over to Otay (no, it has nothing to do with Buckwheat) Mesa Medical Center (or whatever it's called). We were both pretty nervous and didn't sleep well, either. This was just an outpatient procedure so it wasn't huge; but to us, it felt like a triple bypass or something! Anyway, they called him back to the pre-op and I got to go with him. They took his vitals and then hooked him up to an IV. The nurse was pretty funny. Brian said, "Wow you really know what you're doing!" (When she put in the IV, because so many "can't find the vein") and she said, "Yeah I learned through correspondence school. Just got my certificate yesterday!" We laughed about that. Anyway, when she left us to to wait for the anesthetist while she checked more patients in, Brian said, "If something goes wrong, I don't want life support." Well that did it. I started crying. I had no idea I was that high strung, but the nerves really got me. Anyway, I calmed down after awhile, but it was really tough waiting. The doctor told me that the surgery went well and it was a success, then I went in to see Brian. I don’t often use this word, but he looked ghastly – pale and wan – poor guy. We got home about 5:00 today and basically, Brian can't open his mouth (which some of you might think is a blessing) so now I have to learn sign language! He is doing very well, considering he has to ingest all nourishment through a syringe. (By the way, this is a pic of what he basically looks like now)

Saying Goodbye

2005-07-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

Last night was a great time with friends from The Satellite. It was so much fun to see the Frasers, Greg Stump, The Newtons Laura, Emma, Corrie, The Butchers, Casssy (minus her husband...again!)Tami B., Jeannie, Jeff, Joyce and John, Teddy and Jerry, Amanda, and Jason and his fiancé April….I’m sure there are a few people I didn’t mention (oh Katie!) and of course the main attraction, The Departing Smith family!
Since they announced their impending move, I have been thinking about what an impact the ministry of The Satellite has had on so many people. Our original mission was to be an outreach to college-aged students in and around the Long Beach State/City College areas. When we moved to Huntington Beach, our focus changed to more of young adult/college age. We hit a lot of that crowd, have seen so many come through our proverbial doors, and yet never became what maybe a few of us thought was the point: a big church. I think we didn’t know it at the time, but God had other plans for us. As the Satellite grew and shrunk, changed locations, and lost one of our own, God shaped and molded every person who stepped through the doors. I truly believe that The Satellite has had an enormous impact on the growth of leaders and the paradigm-shifting of many people: how to be a missionary in your world. Praise God for the training and leadership skills that have developed in so many over the years!
Tim, Jamie, and the boys will be greatly missed by so many friends and family and although I know they’re going somewhere where God has more for them and their family, it is a very bittersweet time for me. I have known Jamie for about 14 years and Tim for a little less than that. They have been such amazing friends and at the risk of “going Ian” on all of you, I’m afraid I haven’t taken the relationship to heart as I should have. Life changes occur and people drift apart and together, but I do know this: I love The Smith family and thank God for every moment I’ve spent with them.

Summer has come

2005-06-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

So I 'm teaching summer school. Let me just say this: All year should be summer school. The kids are great, the week is short, I get paid. Life is good!

Give 'Em An Inch and They'll Take a Mile

2005-05-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

So we're in the middle of a very fun time in the school year when we take state standards tests and we're on this really horrible, yet terrific schedule. It's horrible because I have to see my worst students for two hours at a time and wonderful because I get a two hour conference period which I've used to get ahead on most of my paperwork. Anyway, after the 2nd part of a very rigorous test today, I did some work with my students, then told them they could have some "free time" to talk (you, know, give 'em a break becasue they're fried after the test.). As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I took about ten steps to my desk to look at some of the never-ending paperwork piled there. Suddenly, from the corner of my room I heard a sort of commotion. I looked up to find a crowd of my very best and brightest students (seriously, they're practically GATE kids) laughing. As I walked over, I was astonished to see my cutest "girly-girl" using a piece of notebook paper to skate on. Somehow in that brief moment between my direction and checking my desk, these accelerated students came up with a great plan to run between the desks, in the aisle, toward a piece of paper and slide all the rest of the way toward the front of the room on it! Well, I couldn't exaclty laugh in front of them, but I did have a moment afterwards. Give 'em an inch...!

Wax and stuff

2005-03-23T20:05:00.000-08:00

Hey all! As you may or may not know, I've been sick for about the last month (well maybe a month and a half). Part of it was this sinus infection which I took all my meds as prescribed for and thought I had recovered from. Then, when I got back from Montana I came down with this really icky virus/cold thing (which I've had for the last three and a half weeks). I'm telling you, I get sick every single time I fly! Anyway, I'm having a really hard time hearing becasue I'm so congested and sometimes loud noises really irritate my ears. Between the fact that I teach 7th graders and that it's hard to hear higher pitched sounds clearly right now, I have to keep my voice low and ask the students to do the same. So today I told one class (not my brightest group) that I couldn't hear them very well because my ears were clogged. One girl very politely raised her hand and said, "Is that 'cuz you've got wax?" Yeah, I know, they're a riot.

Who knew?

2005-03-12T21:12:00.000-08:00

So Brian and I recently got back form his little sister's big wedding in Great Falls Montana (where, by the way, Brian was told he overdreessed by some of the locals! A pair of nice slacks and a tie for a night wedding? C’mon!) Oh and by the way, I had this really funny conversation wtih some man that atttends Jen's church. Here's how it went:
Me: Wow, I'm really tired! (9:00 pm, at the end of the reception)
Him: But aren't you from California?
Okay, so my real story is about the next morning.
The time: 6:00 am.
The Place: Great Falls, Mt's "International Airport" (stated in quotes, cuz I think the only place international you can get from there is Canada)
The Situation: Annasarah gets frisked!
Yes, it is true, I am now probably the least likely suspect you could ever meet in a great threat conspiracy! So we check in, go up the escalator to the security area, hand the first agent our boarding passes, have a few conversational words with him, and then the shoe (Hee hee, that’s funny. Wait till later to read why) drops! He says, and I quote, I suggest you take your shoes off before you go through the metal detector.” So I think, “Huh, that’s interesting. Well, I’m not going to. These are the same exact shoes I wore through John Wayne, they’re just tennis shoes, I’ll be fine.” I step through the machine (Nothing goes off) and the security officer (and I use the term loosely) says, “Please step to the side, We’ll need to do a personal search.” Needeless to say, my mouth dropped open, I started to laugh, and then said, “Are you serious?!” Of course she was, so she took me behind a partition and “read me my rights” (now, I wasn’t arrested, but apparently they have to give you all of this information about what is going to happen before they can actually search you). So she says something to the effect that she’ll be using one of those hand metal detectors and that I’ll have to stand like I’m about to do a jumping jack (well she didn’t say, that , that’s just my method of describing it) and if at any time I want some other option, I just need to say so. It was pretty funny and I had a really hard time not laughing because she was dead serious. So she metal detects me and of course the detector goes off….at my jean rivets and underwire bra!! Then she metal detects my offending shoes and sidles over to another officer where she says in a loud stage whisper, “Should we send her shoes through the x-ray machine?” He sort of looks at her oddly, then says, “No, the metal detector didn’t catch anything.” Finally she finishes and gives me permission to leave at which point the male security officer she had been speaking to walks up and gives us a five minute lecture on why this happened in the first place (the infamous shoe explosive guy). We finally leave and Brian tells me about how they spent the entire time I was with the female officer, going through my carry-on because something "suspicious" popped up (it was my memory card reader for my camera!). When we arrived home and I began to unpack, I noticed this piece of paper in my checked mini-suitcase. It had been searched as well! Okay, so the moral to this whole things is, when they “suggest” you take off your shoes, just do it.

Well, shut my mouth!

2005-02-10T17:59:00.000-08:00

So I love it when I teach something and kids don’t get it. We talk about and work on things for four weeks (off and on, granted) and then one day I say, “Hey, remember we were talking about synonyms yesterday? Can someone tell me what that is?” And someone pipes up, “What’s a cinnamon?”
So (yes, that really did happen!), we are studying persuasion, that is, how to persuade (in essays, in media, etc.) so I taught about making overgeneralizations. You know, when you say things like, “all kids like hot cheetoes.” A better way (to not overgeneralize) to put it is, “Many/Some/A lot/Most (you get the picture) kids like hot cheetoes.” So I step outside of the classroom today to talk to some outstanding (tongue-in-cheek, here) student and notice out of the corner of my eye that someone is bopping another kid on the head with a piece of paper when they were to ld to read a paragraph about something to themselves. So I walk back in and in my most stern manner say loudly, “While I was talking to your esteemed colleague outside, I noticed that all of you decided to bop each other on the head with paper.” There was a collective murmur of dissent and one student raised her hand. I called on her and she said, very sweetly, “Mrs. Ferguson, you just made an overgeneralization!” What do you say to that?

The Real Cost of Teaching

2005-01-30T15:16:00.000-08:00

So, I’m having a great time at work last week (not really, but I thought I’d start off nicely), when I get two messages on my voicemail form two parents who are “unsure of how their students are doing and not noticing any work from school”. So, I call them back and they both, despite my assurances that their students are doing well in class, insist on coming in to see me and check out work we’ve been doing. Now I’m thinking, “Hey, this is nice, I’ve never had parents want to come in to talk to me who can speak English!’ and then “Hmmm, what do they really want?” Well the second thought was more to the point of what actually occurred. Apparently I’m not sending enough “busy work” home with students to make the parents happy. It’s a sad day when I now have to make up packets of work to send home so that the parents think their students are “doing something”! The stupid part is that I have only been following district guidelines for things. According to them, the students only need to do one writing project every four weeks. I’ve missed only one. One of these two mothers told me that “Mr._____(he will remain nameless) from last year had something for the students to write every day.” So I kindly told her that I was following the district guidelines, showed her the curriculum map, and sent her on her way, but not before The first parent said in a rather loud stage whisper, “Yeah, I’m not getting any feedback from her (meaning me).” I couldn’t believe the rudeness of that comment, especially when I gave up my time (which was supposed to be planning time) for her to come in and tell me what I’m not doing right. Anyway, all this to say you people who are thinking about going into education, develop a hard shell before you do so!! (Or teach on the “Westside”, where no parents ever come in).

The highwayman and the Way to Hell

2004-12-21T11:26:00.000-08:00

As you probably know, I teach 7th grade English and per the school district's plan, we must read certain stories and poems in order to illustrate alliteration, ryhme scheme, and a bunch of other things that in the real world, probably mean nothing. So my eighth period class usually comes in and then proceeds to slump down in their respective chairs prepared for a "long winter's nap" when much to their chagrin and disgust, in comes Mrs. Ferguson "requesting" that they, in fact, sit up and "look like students". I have one student, who for the sake of privacy will be named, uhh....Dalvin, yes, Dalvin. Now Dalvin has quite a brain in his head, but is usually so busy "sleeping" and generally not doing anything he should be that he doesn't even know which page we're on. This particular day, though, we read something that actually interested him. "The Highwayman". It's this narrative poem written by Alfred Noyes. According to http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/highwayman/, the story "tells of the highwayman's visit to see the beautiful Bess at the old inn (probably the Spaniard's Inn on Hampstead Heath) and of the terrible fate they both meet. The mysterious ending of the poem suggests that the lovers' spirits still linger on the edge of the heath." Anyway, at some point in the course of the poem, Bess, the beautiful landlord's daughter sacrifices herself for her love, the Highwayman, by shooting herself in the chest, thus ensuring that he'll ride away from, instead of toward, the inn where there is a trap waitng for him in the form of King George's Redcoats. As soon as Dalvin heard that Bess had shot herselfto save the Highwayman, and then the Highwayman dies anyway, he became livid. This is the most action I've seen in this kid since he came to class and boy was it exciting! He stood up in class and shouted, "Hey! I have one thing to tell all of you! Never, never kill yourself for love! They're all going to hell!" Needless to say, that class ended on a high note.

The follies of my husband

2004-11-23T20:58:00.000-08:00

So, you all were probably thinking, "What has he done to her to make her want to write some thing so lascivious online." Or maybe you just thought, "Hey, she has really loosened up." But for those of you who were truly concerned, don't be. Yes, it's true. Brian did write that entire blog. He then proceeded to change my password so I couldn't change it or delete it, thus making sure that the entire populace with access to the internet could read of our trecherous and rather explicit "acts"! So none of that happened. In fact that particular night, we went to bed at 8:00. So much for the "romantic reenactment"!

My wonderful MAN!!!

2004-11-17T16:56:00.000-08:00

Ok OK...get off my back!!! I get a blog and then you all expect me to start writting...geez!!!

I guess my life is not that exciting after all. But now I do have something to tell you all...I have a wonderful MAN, really. You know what he did last night?

He recreated our first real date, kinda. I had a bad day at work so he drove me down to Del Mar Fairgrounds where we went to the Del Mar Fair. Well, the fair is not there right now but he still took me. We jumped the fence, walked around the fair, hung out where we ate our Australian Fried Potatoes, made out, and well, you know. But then the security guards walked by on their rounds and so we had to run away in our Garden of Eden garb.

He is so great.

Reading 7th Grade Essays

2004-11-09T17:24:00.000-08:00

find.....