This is a "Test"

Believe it of not, I spent the day at the District Office creating math tests. Now, what could be more fun than that? I can think of about a million things......even having a root canal.

It really wasn't that bad. There are just four of us working on district level tests for math and language arts. My job is to create two math tests each for third and fourth grades. One test will be given in November each year, and the other test in March. They should give us a good indication of how are students are doing prior to the end of the year CRT (Criterion Reference Test), which is the test the state gives all students at the end of the year. Creating these tests is mind boggling. Each question must match the state core, you can't have too many correct answers with the same number, the answers must be all mixed up so there isn't a pattern, the questions matching the objectives must be scatter through the test........And you can't use the same question on both tests. It is just really challenging. We know there will be places that need to be fixed after the first time students take the test, so we have to be prepared with more questions to replace or fix the ones that are there. Just a long process.

It makes me appreciate all those people who create tests for a living. But then, they probably don't care how students do on the tests as much as we do because it is our students! I am making this test so I can see if my students are prepared for the "big" test. What if I think they are because they can pass "my" test, but then they blow it on the CRT? Oh, joy.......What a challenge. I think I will go to bed.

Happy Sweetheart Day

My husband is my very friend. I would rather be with him at any time of the day than with anyone else. I never feel the need to have a time with "the girls" or to be alone, or go anywhere with anyone besides him. Some people might think that I can't go anywhere without him, but that is only their opinion. The fact is, I CHOOSE to have him with me all the time. Yes, I can drive to places all by myself if I needed to, but why? I like his company and if I need to go somewhere I want him to come along. He keeps me grounded to what is important. He treats me like a queen. He does more for me than I do for him. I love him.

He has been a wonderful father to our children. He is a great example of a priesthood holder. He takes his role as father seriously, but with a sense of humor. How else could he put up with three daughters, one son, a wife, and one bathroom? He never tires of working; it's the old farmer in him. He gets up with the cows (even though we don't have cows any more), and goes to sleep after the last chore is done. He can't stand to just sit around if there is work to do. He has always been concerned about making life comfortable for everyone, making sure the finances are there for basic needs, than no one goes without the necessities if he is able to help.

He is a loving grandfather to our children. He love to have them around him. He giggles when they giggle. He glows when he hears them call his name, or speak with him on the phone. He chuckles when one of the says to me, "I want to talk to Grandpa." Before they even tell me hello! I could be jealous, but why? I want to talk to him, too. I know he is more fun than I am, just ask the grandkids!

I love just sitting at night with him in the chair next to me. I love knowing he is there. I love the times he brings me flowers at school for no reason, or for obvious reasons. I love how he brings me a sandwich at school so we can visit for a few minutes between jobs. I love how he scrapes the driveway and keeps the ice removed so I don't have to worry about falling. I love his he gives me his arm when we walk into buildings. I love all the little things he does for me. I love him.

Happy Valentine's Day, dear.

More pictures of winter

I tried to put these on my facebook but it isn't letting me,so here are some pictures of what we are experiencing AGAIN today.



The two pictures above are of the shrub on the corner of our lawn. The first picture was taken at about 7:00a.m., the second one about 10:00. No snow had been shoveled onto the shrub. What was scraped off was pushed onto the driveway so it would be moved with the 4-wheeler. The snow is falling hard and fast!





Yes, we still have Christmas decorations on our house. Who wants to walk through all the snow to take them down? Don't you think the red bows look good for Valentines Day? And probably Easter as well. And who knows, July 4th is coming sometime!



Can't shovel it any higher out back. It is hard to get to the coal shed.

Misunderstanding

I understand my last post might have caused some hurt feelings. That certainly wasn't the reason for the post. I didn't mean that we shouldn't desire what others might have, or what they are blessed with that we might also be praying for. It was more about tangible, monetary "blessings". Something that you might joke about someone getting that you also want.

I have family members who are suffering right now with infertility, and they all want more children so much. They are wonderful parents to the children they have now, and they "deserve" to have more. I know it is difficult when people around them are blessed with more children. It must be really hard to hear your friends are expecting when you so deeply want more. Prayers aren't answered and you feel so down. I am sure there are many feelings, even jealousy perhaps. And wondering "Why them and not us." My post was not meant to hit those nerves. I am sorry if you thought I in any way meant to condemn those feelings in this situation. That was not my intention, and I apologize for any indication of that.

A Good Thing

I posted this on our Grandpa Rue blog, but thought I would share it here as well. I've been thinking about this because someone shared some happiness with me yesterday at work and it made me think of this lesson. (BTW: this is not OUR truck, but looks just like it. I posted this picture to remind me about this story.)

One day in our visiting, Dad shared a thought with me that has stuck with me. Every time this situation comes up I think about what he said. I don't remember the situation of why this conversation came up, if we were just talking or experiencing it, but it stuck with me.

We were talking about feeling joy because of other's happiness. I remember him saying that so many times he would hear something similar to this conversation:

A: I see you have a new car.
B: Yeah, I sure needed it and isn't it nice?
A: Where did you get all the money?
B: I got a loan like every one else does. Now I have to pay it off.
A: Wish I could afford one.

Or this conversation:

A: We just got our plans finalized for a vacation that we want to take.
B: Wish I could go on a vacation. We never get to do anything. I don't want to hear about your vacation.

Dad then went on to talk about how many times he listened to similar exchanges. One person so excited they wanted to share their happiness, and the other person not wanting to hear about it because of jealousy. He told about one time he had heard that a certain man in town had a new truck. When he saw that man Dad remarked that he had been told about the new truck. Dad asked to see it, and made a fuss over the inside, the color, etc. The guy seemed thrilled to be able to share his new "toy" with someone. After the happy exchange, the guy told Dad that he was the first person to ask to see the truck. The happy owner then went on to say how he had been made to feel like a bad person through everyone else's apparent jealousy about his truck. He said he bought a new truck because he needed one, could afford it, and got a good deal. Why did other's feel he shouldn't be happy about it, take his happiness away, or put such a damper on it all?

Our conversation when on to discuss how we need to be happy for other people's happiness. That includes not saying you are "jealous" but "glad" or "happy for them". Let them talk about the good things in their lives so they will feel they can also share the bad or hard times.

I remember sitting there in the kitchen (of course, that is where all the good conversations took place), and hearing him talk about that man's new truck, and being happy for him. Something I remember when "Good Things Happen."

Now, that being said, I want to go on a vacation! Can't wait until April when USEA is in St. George. Yes, it is a week earlier than usual for some reason, but that is good because we need it sooner! I keep thinking, "St. George, 50 degrees, no snow, palm trees, just sitting around doing nothing., good friends,..good book to read," Sounds good to me. USEA in May was always right in the middle of testing weeks at school, which made it difficult to decide just which days to test. Now, being a week earlier, I can relax before the pressures of the great and abominable test.

We still have snow and more snow is falling now. Will it ever stop? Be happy with us.

My Permanent Place

I think I have a piano bench attached to me, to be my chair for all my life. Sometimes people just assume I will be there to play, which I usually am. I am thankful for the gift I have been given, and I do love to participate in my own way. This week our ward choir hurried through a song they will sing in Ward Conference. It's a song I have played with my eyes closed......not a challenge for me. But this week the words really struck a chord (major or minor?) and seemed to leave a message with me. I thought I would write the words here so I can remember them.
Where Can I Turn for Peace? Hymn #129

Where can I turn for peace?
Where is MY solace when other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice, I draw myself apart,
Searching my soul?

Where, when my aching grows,
Where, when I languish,
Where, in my need to know,
Where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm MY anguish?
Who,... who can understand?
He, only One.

He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching in my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
Constant He is...and kind...
Love without end.

In those times when I don't understand what is happening, or why it is happening, those times when I feel I am all alone, or that no one understands, or that I am expected to read others minds, or when more is expected of me than I know of, when I am condemned because of things I don't know about, when I am doing my best to keep myself above water and others want to push me down, when I realize I'm doing things the best I can but it doesn't meet others approval, when others judge me for things I am unaware of, when I'm doing all I can at the time but it isn't enough to please others.......The only place I can find true comfort is from knowing that my Father in Heaven knows, and He will give me peace.

Who can understand?
He....Only One.