Most of you that are close to me know that I work at Inman Primary School and one of my duties is at 7:45 I am to stand at the corner of 8th and Inman Drive and wait for kids that come to the corner and I assist them across the street.
Well in just the last couple weeks they have issued us a traffic vest which is BRIGHT orange, the after school person refuses to wear it but I wear it only because it does help me stand out with the drivers that aren't paying close attention and I have fun making fun of having to wear it.
So Thursday I go to work and put on my attractive vest and go to my spot and as I am standing on my corner I am looking to the east and admiring the view, well when I turn around to the west I see this animal coming toward me and thinking this German Sheppard is going to bite me and the next instant I see that it's a DEER, no this thing has antlers it's a BUCK!!!!! I am screaming because I can see his eyes and nose because this thing is really close to my face but then it gets spook and heads up the hill! I think the deer thought I was a hunter in my orange vest and probably thought I was going to shoot it! HA! I then yell at my co-worker and she see it and I also have a mother rolling down her window and asking if I am OK because she saw this buck in my FACE! I can honestly say I was scared and shocked at the same time. I know what a deer feels like now in the headlights with a car! So then after all this happens I walk in the school and everyone else has heard what has just happened to me so I am getting my 15 minutes of fame now!
The next day comes and the joking starts up, my new nickname is Elmer Fudd, look there goes that "sweet deer Sherry", Sherry, do you know it's mating season? Hey, Sherry my husband can't get a deer yet they thought about coming to work and standing next to you? My husband forgot his cell phone and comes back in the house and and says" Hey my dear Sherry will you get my cell phone?" I told him "YOU ARE NOT FUNNY!!" Of course he said there was no pun meant. Whatever! I told my co-workers that it was really Rudolph coming by for Santa to see if I have been naughty or nice? We all really have had a lot of fun with this, but honestly I was a little spooked having to stand on my corner again the next day because I kept having this feeling something was going to "jump" at me again! I will always wear my orange vest proudly from now on. I hope the ones that reads this post has had a good laugh as much as I and my co-workers have had!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Do You Know Who You Are?
I know my title of this blog might sound kind of strange but last week I had this question asked to me by a very respectable counselor that my son is seeing and he wanted to visit with Drue and I alone on the next appointment. So Thursday comes and we meet with him and we make small talk and laugh and he turns to me and says "Who are you?" I proceed to say that I am a mother and he stops me and says "No, who are you?" So I again proceed to explain that I am a mother of two boys and ..... he interrupts me again and says " that's not what I asked, I asked who are you?" At this time I look over to Drue for some support with tears in my eyes and he just shrugs his shoulders and this counselor then says one more time, "Sherry who are you?" I say really fast "I AM A MOTHER WITH TWO BOYS THAT ARE MY WORLD!" There I got it out!!!! He smiles and explains to me that being a mother is what I DO, NOT who I am! So I have to admit to him I don't know WHO I am? He tells me that Drue is a policeman BUT that is not who he is, that's what he does. I am still confused because I have always identified myself as a mother and really take the role seriously and have always enjoyed being just Mom.
We then go into other topics but leaving from there that night I really couldn't get what he had said to me out of my mind, one because he made me mad telling me that being a mother wasn't who I was and two because I really deep down understood where he was going with this!!!
For two weeks I have just pushed it in the back of the brain in my head ( yes, I do have one) until last night I said to my husband, I really don't know who I am? Who do you think I am? He tells me that I think you are loving and kind and you are always putting others first before yourself, but you have no self-esteem, you worry way to much and what others think of you and you need to stop that and mellow out! That's why I love this man I married because he will tell me what I need to hear!! So I am on this journey trying to figure out who I am? It's funny as I am trying to figure this out as long as I can recall when I was a little girl playing with my Barbie dolls I can remember thinking I can't wait until I grow up and find my prince (or policeman) and become a Mom someday, not a teacher, nurse, actress, or secretary but a MOM!
I was also told to read the Parable of the Lost Son as many times as I can. My oldest wants to be away from us as much as possible and can't wait until the day he can leave home, it hurts but was told that as parents we have done all we can to have him know the Lord and educate him on drinking, drugs, dating and setting boundaries and rules in our home but there comes a time we have to trust him and have him make his own decisions and face the consequences as they come. It's a daily struggle with me cutting the cord as both of my boys grow into men and they want to be with Dad more and more and they converse with each other and less with me but his is the process that God has intended and I need to just let go and put it into God's hands!
Everyone that reads this blog please say a prayer for me.
We then go into other topics but leaving from there that night I really couldn't get what he had said to me out of my mind, one because he made me mad telling me that being a mother wasn't who I was and two because I really deep down understood where he was going with this!!!
For two weeks I have just pushed it in the back of the brain in my head ( yes, I do have one) until last night I said to my husband, I really don't know who I am? Who do you think I am? He tells me that I think you are loving and kind and you are always putting others first before yourself, but you have no self-esteem, you worry way to much and what others think of you and you need to stop that and mellow out! That's why I love this man I married because he will tell me what I need to hear!! So I am on this journey trying to figure out who I am? It's funny as I am trying to figure this out as long as I can recall when I was a little girl playing with my Barbie dolls I can remember thinking I can't wait until I grow up and find my prince (or policeman) and become a Mom someday, not a teacher, nurse, actress, or secretary but a MOM!
I was also told to read the Parable of the Lost Son as many times as I can. My oldest wants to be away from us as much as possible and can't wait until the day he can leave home, it hurts but was told that as parents we have done all we can to have him know the Lord and educate him on drinking, drugs, dating and setting boundaries and rules in our home but there comes a time we have to trust him and have him make his own decisions and face the consequences as they come. It's a daily struggle with me cutting the cord as both of my boys grow into men and they want to be with Dad more and more and they converse with each other and less with me but his is the process that God has intended and I need to just let go and put it into God's hands!
Everyone that reads this blog please say a prayer for me.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Insanity
After sharing with my love of my life what I was going to talk about on my blog and that I needed a title to go along with it he came up with insanity! I hope the ones that love me and care for me will not agree but here goes.
Waking up on Thursday, I knew I was going to have a busy day at work and afterwards, so I just went with the flow. For some of you, you might not realize it but I have always worked in the school system but I accepted this new position at Inman Primary working with pre- kindergarten kids, I say accepted but it really was an answer to pray and he has heard how grateful I am. I just love a place where kids think I am smart, nice, and a superhero! I am very busy there and loving it! So after work I came home to do a few wifely duties (dishes, laundry, watch Oprah) then go get the kids something at Burger King, only because our school was having a fundraiser that night and then it was off to take Ethan to guitar lessons and then at 6:00 I had to be at Burger King to help out. In the mean time I made a phone call to Logan asking him to close the window because I had opened it while watching Oprah. He tells me the window is closed so I say "No, the window is opened because I OPENED IT!! After going back and forth 3 times we do this "yes "and "no" thing so we both just hang up!! Now after helping out at Burger King I have to go to a 911 service at the Methodist Church for all law and fire personnel to be recognized. So I get there 5 min. before it starts. I must say it was a very nice thing they did for these men and women that serve every day. Afterwards, they had refreshments and Drue gets something but I really need something with a little more substance because I am starving and haven't really eaten since 11:00. Drue and I are leaving the the church and it is pouring rain (in the back of my mind I am thinking about the window my son and I argued about) so Drue says Hey, how about picking something up for supper because it is 8:20 by now, so I drive to where else but Burger King and get 2 chicken sandwiches.
So I get home and the first thing I check is this window, wow it's closed?? OK THIS IS WHERE THE TITLE COMES IN. I say to my 3 boys sitting on the couch who closed the window? All 3 of them say I didn't! I know I opened the window but didn't close it so all I want is an answer who closed it? Still no admission. Drue says to me what is so important about this window? I say I feel like I am saying my name is Sherry Powers but all 3 of you are trying to convince me I am NOT and I just want to know who closed it so it will give me a piece of mind because I know I open it and did not close it. Still a mystery, so I in my mind I say forget and go to eat my chicken sandwich because I am starving and the bag is EMPTY, my love of my life thought I had bought him 2 sandwiches. I start to cry and laugh at the same time and just go to bed.
Insanity maybe but God loves me and he is the only ONE that knows how the window got closed!
Waking up on Thursday, I knew I was going to have a busy day at work and afterwards, so I just went with the flow. For some of you, you might not realize it but I have always worked in the school system but I accepted this new position at Inman Primary working with pre- kindergarten kids, I say accepted but it really was an answer to pray and he has heard how grateful I am. I just love a place where kids think I am smart, nice, and a superhero! I am very busy there and loving it! So after work I came home to do a few wifely duties (dishes, laundry, watch Oprah) then go get the kids something at Burger King, only because our school was having a fundraiser that night and then it was off to take Ethan to guitar lessons and then at 6:00 I had to be at Burger King to help out. In the mean time I made a phone call to Logan asking him to close the window because I had opened it while watching Oprah. He tells me the window is closed so I say "No, the window is opened because I OPENED IT!! After going back and forth 3 times we do this "yes "and "no" thing so we both just hang up!! Now after helping out at Burger King I have to go to a 911 service at the Methodist Church for all law and fire personnel to be recognized. So I get there 5 min. before it starts. I must say it was a very nice thing they did for these men and women that serve every day. Afterwards, they had refreshments and Drue gets something but I really need something with a little more substance because I am starving and haven't really eaten since 11:00. Drue and I are leaving the the church and it is pouring rain (in the back of my mind I am thinking about the window my son and I argued about) so Drue says Hey, how about picking something up for supper because it is 8:20 by now, so I drive to where else but Burger King and get 2 chicken sandwiches.
So I get home and the first thing I check is this window, wow it's closed?? OK THIS IS WHERE THE TITLE COMES IN. I say to my 3 boys sitting on the couch who closed the window? All 3 of them say I didn't! I know I opened the window but didn't close it so all I want is an answer who closed it? Still no admission. Drue says to me what is so important about this window? I say I feel like I am saying my name is Sherry Powers but all 3 of you are trying to convince me I am NOT and I just want to know who closed it so it will give me a piece of mind because I know I open it and did not close it. Still a mystery, so I in my mind I say forget and go to eat my chicken sandwich because I am starving and the bag is EMPTY, my love of my life thought I had bought him 2 sandwiches. I start to cry and laugh at the same time and just go to bed.
Insanity maybe but God loves me and he is the only ONE that knows how the window got closed!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Vacation
I would really like to say that for our vacation we spent it on a beautiful island and we had the best family quality time ever but I think in the the Bible it says "Thou Shall Not Lie"!
So this is what the really happened! Back in March we were trying to decide where to go this year for vacation because every year we try to go somewhere because it's always a great family time for us. Drue had gone out to a school in Wyoming and really wanted to go out there again but this time with all of us, so that was the plan but as gas prices kept going up in the months ahead and we just started to tithe at the beginning of the year because I felt God had laid that on my heart to start doing so we felt we better go on vacation a little closer to home. We decide to go to the Iowa State Fair in August.
Well, the day finally comes and we are all packed and organized (I make sure we have everything because I am a organize freak, just ask my husband of 23 years) and ready to take off and my husband's cell-phone rings, this is not a good sign. Well, it's a family that has had a tragedy happen about 3 weeks ago and wants him to come out to the house and just talk. He needs to do this and I TOTALLY support him on this decision because if we can help this family with any form of healing I am all for it.
About an hour later we are headed out after making 3 trips inside of the house again for something they forgot (they do not have my organization skills).
About an hour later we are headed out after making 3 trips inside of the house again for something they forgot (they do not have my organization skills).
My oldest wants to ride in front with his Dad and I have no problem with this sitting in back because as long as we are all together that's what counts. Now, that they are both teenage boys they really didn't want to talk much, I tried several times but didn't get much response from either one. They really just wanted to listen to music but did have some great conversations with their dad about music, bands and other manly things so I just sat back and looked out the window and just listened to my boys converse with their Dad.
The weather was kind of cool and rainy so we decided to go to the State Fair the next day. So we get something eat at Culver's ( they have really good burgers) and check into the hotel. This is always a great thrill for my boys to check out the room (they don't get out much and easily entertained) so we open the door and Logan is so awed about the free shampoo, conditioner, and lotion and a leather lap desk, Ethan loves the big beds and Drue likes the big wall desk unit for his computer and for me it's just getting all of us in one room and we are going to talk and be together!!
Later we took a drive around Des Moines and as we are driving around Des Moines we always have to hear the old stories when Drue use to work there as a Crime Scene Technician (the real C.S.I.) on what crime happened in what buildings as we past them. The boys and I have learned how to sound really interested because we can still hear the excitement in his voice.
We get back to the hotel and they have hot cookies waiting for us (very good) and it's about bedtime and we try to settle down but are a little excited about being away and then Ethan, Logan and I get the giggles and we just can't stop because how can I say this, 3 boys and their body functions and someone snores but I won't say who. My husband can't see the humor in all this and just wants to go to sleep!! Well, about 1:30 in the morning we finally calm down after Drue threatens he is going out to the van to sleep, we are quiet as a mouse!
Iowa State Fair day! We all got up around 8:00, had our free breakfast and we were at the state fair by 9:00. There's so much to do and I am so excited. We first go in the building that they have all this merchandise that will make your life easier. Then off to the building that has all the FREE STUFF!!! I have pencils for schools, magnets, pads of paper, mardigras beeds! I love free stuff! The boys wouldn't wear the free ISU hats or get their pictures taken with Clifford the Red Dog, teenagers!! We did run into some old friends that we had fellowship with from our old church in Indianola, we were so thrilled to have ran into them. God is so good!
We pretty much stayed together, but the boys were always ahead of us (not cool to be with your parents) I knew if we really got lost we all had cell-phones and they did come in handy. The boys were ready to leave by 12:00 p.m. Drue and I couldn't believe what we were hearing that they wanted to leave so soon, we wanted to show them the cow made out of butter, find the 4-H Red Oak entries, listen to some free entertainment but they kept saying we thought it was going to be different? It's the state fair, one of the biggest one around and they are bored!! I at least talked them into letting me get a deep fried snickers (it wasn't that good) so we left and went back to the hotel and took naps, the giggling the night before was catching up with us.
On the last day, the boys asked if we could all go see a movie since we never spend the money to go to a theater to see a movie and I was all about spending time together and it was our vacation so I was all for it but I was trying to figure out on the way there how was I going to convince the 3 boys to watch a chick flick? They all wanted to see Batman? Didn't know much about it but how bad could it be? Batman and Robin, the Joker, watched it as a kid, Pow-Boom-Bam! This Batman movie was scary, I had my hands in front of my face and asking Logan if is was over yet? The 3 boys thought is was good but I wouldn't describe it that way at all. It was our conversation piece for the ride home.
It was good to be home but that night I was wondering did the boys have any fun? Should we have just stayed home and saved the money? I created a whole different picture in my head what this vacation was going to be like. Then I remembered someone told me that when boys turn the age of 13 they really start to lean on their dad and less on their mother and that's the way God had intended it to be. I really noticed on vacation that this process is happening right before my eyes! I won't lie and say this process is easy for me and at times I do feel alone but I do believe God has the perfect plan for all of us and I do trust HIM!
In closing, if you ask any of my 3 boys they will tell you they had fun!
Later we took a drive around Des Moines and as we are driving around Des Moines we always have to hear the old stories when Drue use to work there as a Crime Scene Technician (the real C.S.I.) on what crime happened in what buildings as we past them. The boys and I have learned how to sound really interested because we can still hear the excitement in his voice.
We get back to the hotel and they have hot cookies waiting for us (very good) and it's about bedtime and we try to settle down but are a little excited about being away and then Ethan, Logan and I get the giggles and we just can't stop because how can I say this, 3 boys and their body functions and someone snores but I won't say who. My husband can't see the humor in all this and just wants to go to sleep!! Well, about 1:30 in the morning we finally calm down after Drue threatens he is going out to the van to sleep, we are quiet as a mouse!
Iowa State Fair day! We all got up around 8:00, had our free breakfast and we were at the state fair by 9:00. There's so much to do and I am so excited. We first go in the building that they have all this merchandise that will make your life easier. Then off to the building that has all the FREE STUFF!!! I have pencils for schools, magnets, pads of paper, mardigras beeds! I love free stuff! The boys wouldn't wear the free ISU hats or get their pictures taken with Clifford the Red Dog, teenagers!! We did run into some old friends that we had fellowship with from our old church in Indianola, we were so thrilled to have ran into them. God is so good!
We pretty much stayed together, but the boys were always ahead of us (not cool to be with your parents) I knew if we really got lost we all had cell-phones and they did come in handy. The boys were ready to leave by 12:00 p.m. Drue and I couldn't believe what we were hearing that they wanted to leave so soon, we wanted to show them the cow made out of butter, find the 4-H Red Oak entries, listen to some free entertainment but they kept saying we thought it was going to be different? It's the state fair, one of the biggest one around and they are bored!! I at least talked them into letting me get a deep fried snickers (it wasn't that good) so we left and went back to the hotel and took naps, the giggling the night before was catching up with us.
On the last day, the boys asked if we could all go see a movie since we never spend the money to go to a theater to see a movie and I was all about spending time together and it was our vacation so I was all for it but I was trying to figure out on the way there how was I going to convince the 3 boys to watch a chick flick? They all wanted to see Batman? Didn't know much about it but how bad could it be? Batman and Robin, the Joker, watched it as a kid, Pow-Boom-Bam! This Batman movie was scary, I had my hands in front of my face and asking Logan if is was over yet? The 3 boys thought is was good but I wouldn't describe it that way at all. It was our conversation piece for the ride home.
It was good to be home but that night I was wondering did the boys have any fun? Should we have just stayed home and saved the money? I created a whole different picture in my head what this vacation was going to be like. Then I remembered someone told me that when boys turn the age of 13 they really start to lean on their dad and less on their mother and that's the way God had intended it to be. I really noticed on vacation that this process is happening right before my eyes! I won't lie and say this process is easy for me and at times I do feel alone but I do believe God has the perfect plan for all of us and I do trust HIM!
In closing, if you ask any of my 3 boys they will tell you they had fun!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Back to Work!!
The summer break is almost over for me and I will be going back to work officially Aug. 19th. For the ones that don't realize where I work at, I am employed with the Red Oak Community Schools and I will be working in a new building and with new staff memebers.. I am really excited to meet new people and to work with Pre-K children! Those are just some of the things I am looking forward about returning to work. I honestly am feeling very blessed with this new chapter in my life! God is really good to me and his timing of answered prayer is awesome!
Some of the things that I am really going to miss about being home is, I'm going to miss getting up every morning and hanging the clothes out on the clothes -line, they smell so good and sheets always feel so good when you put them on the bed. My boys will not miss the towels being hung out, they think the dryer towels feel better! Wait until theyhave to pay bills and maybe then they will understand why I did it so much!
I am also going to miss just picking up the phone and talking to my mother whenever I feel like it , that is such a blessed time for me because you never know when the day will come and I won't be able to have that chance anymore or friends that you can count on to lift you up on bad days or joys you want to share with them and have them to share what is going on in their life too!
I am also going to miss my time of devotions, not that I don't do them when I am working but at 5:00 in the morning sometimes I wonder if I am really understanding what I am reading and when I close my eyes to pray, I'm scared that I might have nodded off just alittle. (I don't drink cofffee either so I have to wake up on my own). It just seems like I am more relaxed and I feel I just have more time to wait on HIM!
I'm also going to misss the little conversations I have with my boys, (OK the older son we may have more intense conversations but we are still talking) as a mother it's just a safe feeling knowing you can look at your children anytime of the day and they are there or you can hear them screaming becasue they are having a conflict with each other. Oh what a sound!!
The one thing I am looking forward to is starting up our youth group again (OK in may I wasn't thinking the same way) but I am ready because I won't be seeing them all day like last year because I won't be in that buliding this year, so am anxious to see them again!
I know in my heart God stil has so many things that he wants me to experience through his love and grace it's worth getting up and going back to work!! Life is so much more rewarding when you have him as a friend!
Some of the things that I am really going to miss about being home is, I'm going to miss getting up every morning and hanging the clothes out on the clothes -line, they smell so good and sheets always feel so good when you put them on the bed. My boys will not miss the towels being hung out, they think the dryer towels feel better! Wait until theyhave to pay bills and maybe then they will understand why I did it so much!
I am also going to miss just picking up the phone and talking to my mother whenever I feel like it , that is such a blessed time for me because you never know when the day will come and I won't be able to have that chance anymore or friends that you can count on to lift you up on bad days or joys you want to share with them and have them to share what is going on in their life too!
I am also going to miss my time of devotions, not that I don't do them when I am working but at 5:00 in the morning sometimes I wonder if I am really understanding what I am reading and when I close my eyes to pray, I'm scared that I might have nodded off just alittle. (I don't drink cofffee either so I have to wake up on my own). It just seems like I am more relaxed and I feel I just have more time to wait on HIM!
I'm also going to misss the little conversations I have with my boys, (OK the older son we may have more intense conversations but we are still talking) as a mother it's just a safe feeling knowing you can look at your children anytime of the day and they are there or you can hear them screaming becasue they are having a conflict with each other. Oh what a sound!!
The one thing I am looking forward to is starting up our youth group again (OK in may I wasn't thinking the same way) but I am ready because I won't be seeing them all day like last year because I won't be in that buliding this year, so am anxious to see them again!
I know in my heart God stil has so many things that he wants me to experience through his love and grace it's worth getting up and going back to work!! Life is so much more rewarding when you have him as a friend!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Where did the day go?
I had a doctor's appt. at 8:30 a.m. (which I have been getting up at this time during summer break) so after the appointment I thought I would come home come and write about the wonderful time I had with 3 other ladies going to Omaha, visitng Boys Town and getting some pointters on how to start this Parent Support Group that I am co-chariman on. Well, to get on your blog you MUST remember your e-mail address and password!! I am not that OLD so this should not have been difficult but I created a Myspace and a blog page the same night using different account e-mails and passwords for each one that is even different than my regular yahoo account, and I didn't write them down because I knew I would remember them in the morning.
Let's just say I spent 4 hours trying to come up with anything close to it, NOT A CHANCE!!! So I finally e-mail my friend Heather to tell her I would be making another blog page. She doesn't e-mail me back to ask why but calls me because she knows this has got to be too good to be true and wanted to probably hear the laughter in my voice because I am all about laughing at my own mistakes. I so enjoy this womans laughter too, it's what makes us human. So the great friend she is, she doesn't explain to me how to start over she says"Let me make one for you and it will be awesome!! Gee, just like our Heavenly Father would say "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest!" Well she came through and I have an awesome blog and I wrote down my blog page, e-mail, and password. I am weary and I am going to go rest! HA!
Oh, about last night, I made some new friendships and increased my confindence to start the support group but the thing that really amazed me was we set in on a support group and they didn't know us and we didn't know then and they were saying the same thing about their teenagers that we as parents are stressed about. I guess if you are a parent of a teenager no matter where you live, they are having the same issues as others!
Let's just say I spent 4 hours trying to come up with anything close to it, NOT A CHANCE!!! So I finally e-mail my friend Heather to tell her I would be making another blog page. She doesn't e-mail me back to ask why but calls me because she knows this has got to be too good to be true and wanted to probably hear the laughter in my voice because I am all about laughing at my own mistakes. I so enjoy this womans laughter too, it's what makes us human. So the great friend she is, she doesn't explain to me how to start over she says"Let me make one for you and it will be awesome!! Gee, just like our Heavenly Father would say "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest!" Well she came through and I have an awesome blog and I wrote down my blog page, e-mail, and password. I am weary and I am going to go rest! HA!
Oh, about last night, I made some new friendships and increased my confindence to start the support group but the thing that really amazed me was we set in on a support group and they didn't know us and we didn't know then and they were saying the same thing about their teenagers that we as parents are stressed about. I guess if you are a parent of a teenager no matter where you live, they are having the same issues as others!
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