Bravery, Ladybug and SFO

You know I have been working on being brave this year...doing things that are out of my comfort zone.  This past week Ladybug went to San Francisco with her high school choir group, and I freaking had to be brave.  It's not like we have never been apart.  She has gone on trips with her grandparents and girl's camp without me...but this is California!  And not just a few hours drive...She is my baby, and this was so dang hard.

She was so good about texting or calling at least once a day to check in.  She got to do so many fun things and sing in some amazing cathedrals.  This was good for her, and it was good for me.  I usually don't like being brave, and this is one of those times.  I sure missed this kid.

Summertime Breaks

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Hello dearest, do you miss me?  I know I haven't been around much these last few weeks.  After much contemplating, I came to the realization that I just do not have many summers left with my sweet daughter.  I mean she will be a high school sophomore in August! Since my boys have left home, I have found that moments with children slip away far too fast.

Although I love writing and reading and visiting your blogs, I love my daughter more.  These long summer days have grown far too short and far too few of them are left.  Before long, I will be back to work at the school, and Ladybug will be back in classes at her school.  I have decided to focus the remainder of my summer on her and some quality time spent together.

I miss the summers of busy boys and legos and dinosaurs.  Before I know it, I will be missing my precious time with Ladybug, too.  I will continue to post Miguel's Missionary Moment on Mondays.

Hang tight, I will return...

Schools Out...well for some

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School's out this week!  Such a relief to finally be on Summer Break...except I'm not...

I work in the office.  This is actually our busy time.  Office close out, registrations, records to be forwarded, students to be scheduled for next year, data entry.  It's different without the students around, but it is busy.

I'm taking a week off next week to be a camp counselor.  I'm not sure how much of a "vacation" that will be, but I am looking forward to spending time with Ladybug.

What kind of summer plans do you have?

 

"A Gunman"

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The news websites have information before, we, at my school do.  There has been a gunman spotted in a neighborhood Middle School.  I receive a text from my daughter at the High School one mile away from the gunman  "We are in Lockdown, something is going down at Heritage."  My mother heart is afraid, it's not her school but still, I worry.  I text her back, "You will be okay, just do everything they tell you to do."

We have contacted the police at my school and are assured we are far enough away that there is no "lockdown" required.  I answer calls from upset parents and try to calm their fears.  While answering calls and seeking information, I get another text from Ladybug, "They have locked all our doors, our lights are turned off, the windows are covered."  I assure her, "Just being cautious."  My heart is racing.

The streets have been closed off and heavily armed police are making a room to room search and sweep of the affected school.  A crisis center has been set up at a local church.  Still waiting for information.  Who is it?  What is going on?

More clarification comes from the media, it is not a gunman but a teen with a suspicious weapon was spotted by a student and teacher.  Still trying to identify the teen and weapon.  Waiting, watching, worried...

Information finally comes in, suspect has been caught with a fold up camping shovel he brought to school for a class project.  Really?  REALLY? We have become such a "trigger happy" society.  With what has been happening in the world, although it is certainly understandable.  All those children and their families have been traumatized over thankfully NOTHING.  But, why is it that we can't just ask the student, "Hey, what do you have there? A shovel?  What for? Let's go confirm that with your teacher"

I'm not a guy, but I certainly have more cajones than that teacher, just sayin'.  I would have just asked.  Most children are not evil.  I know we need to be cautious these days, but so many people are jumping to conclusions.  There needs to be a happy medium somewhere, don't you think?  Or perhaps we just need to outlaw fold up camping shovels.

31 Days of Faith #30 and a Story

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Ladybug is the perfect example to me of someone with pure faith, nothing wavering.    If only my faith could be as strong as hers.  Ladybug has an iPod touch of which she has kept very good care.  She recently switched schools and one of the hardest adjustments was her experiences with language and vulgarities on the bus.  I could pick her up every day from school, and as a mom I want to, but I also want to instill in her the ability to cope with things that are uncomfortable.  So, her solution has been to bring her iPod to school to listen to on the bus to and fro in order to drown out conversations and language that are upsetting to her.  She has such a sweet and sensitive spirit.

Last week, she used her iPod at lunch, then didn't have time to put it back in her locker.  She put it in the pocket of her hoodie and went to class.  By the last class of the day, she realized that her iPod was missing.  It just so happens that I was picking her up that day for an appointment, and she came to the car sobbing.  I thought someone had harmed her somehow!  She was devastated that she lost something that was so precious to her.  Yes, it is just a thing, but this thing helps her cope in an increasingly vulgar world.  I wanted to run right out and buy her another, but told her she would have to save her money for a time.  She retraced her steps that afternoon to no avail, then went to the main office to file a "missing iPod report".

A little background...her older brother TJ had THREE iPods stolen at this school, none of which were EVER recovered and each one he replaced with his own money.  So, Ladybug knew her chances weren't good, and so I told her that we needed to pray together.  For several days over our meal prayers and before she left for school every morning, we prayed that someone's heart would be softened and that they would turn in her missing iPod.  We prayed that someone would be honest and it would be recovered.  Two days later, in the same class that she realized her iPod was missing, she received a notice to come down to the office.  There they had her missing iPod.  Someone HAD turned it in.  Ladybug had so much faith, she knew that if she prayed her Heavenly Father would come through for her.  We don't know who turned it in.  We wish we did because we would like to thank them personally, but we know that we can thank them through our Heavenly Father, and believe me, we have been.