New School Year!

Today is the first day of school! Since I have been so sick, this is the first year that I have been healthy and not so tired that I couldn't see straight. I work with two other 6th grade teachers and I must admit this day couldn't have been any better!

I felt sorry for my teammates because their air went out (a new building!)but we seem to figure out what to do to improvise!

I have been in and out of contact with a good friend from high school. Just to age me, I will admit that I started high school in August of 1970. I went to an all girls high school in Phoenix. Most of the girls came from wealthy families. I did not. I was so scared that first day. Our homeroom class was taught by a nun, Sr. Anne. This was the first time the nuns wore regular clothes instead of the old habits. Sr. Anne had us sit in ABC order, so I tried to see if anyone around me felt as out of place as I did. There was one girl, so I bravely turned to her and said, "So, your name is Karen." She promptly replied, " NO! My name is Carroll!" I felt so stupid... I wanted to hide. I thought this was some type of omen and I thought the next four years would drag on. Needless to say, we somehow became friends and high school wasn't quite as bad.

When I was talking with Carroll, last night, she was telling me that her youngest daughter was going to start high school and was scared. They live in Oak Creek, AZ and the school that her daughter had attended was a K-8 and her class had only 40 students. Oak Creek students go into Sedona for high school. Sedona, AZ tends to have people that are wealthy. When I finished talking with Carroll, I realized her daughter was going through the same thing. I pray that she will find that friend (like I did when I became friends with her mom)who will help make her high school years fly by!

Carroll - I am glad that we have found each other again!

First day of July!

I just came back from my daily morning walk w/my neighbor. After I had surgery in April, the docs told me it was important to walk everyday...at the very least. My neighbor is such a wonderful walking buddy! She has had many health issues, like I have, but she is forever cheerful and positive. It makes it very difficult to be cranky around her.

Since I found out that my cancer maker count are back in the normal range, I know I won't be taking many things for granted anymore.

End of June, already!

I can't believe that it is the end of June. I only have a few weeks before I have to go back to teaching. I wonder what will happen the next few weeks. We have already had several celebs pass...too many at once, it seems. Ed McMahon (cancer), Farrah Fawcett (cancer)and Michael Jackson (still unsure)on the same day and then Billy Mays who was the pitch guy for many products.

Memorial Day

I haven't had a chance to write here. I went back for the last week of school and I am officially exhausted. The students are done, but I still have to do inventory and pack things because they are doing construction on the building where my classes are.

Also, there is a great drawing on http://blessedbarnharts.blogspot.com/ for a chance to enter this drawing.

Going back to work next week

I can't believe how much time has passed since I found out that I didn't have the flu, but I did have ovarian cancer. I feel blessed that all I had to have was surgery. I look at pictures of Patrick Swayze and Farrah Fawcett and I know the cancer could have spread to where I would be where they are.

I know I will look differently at going to work every day. The stupid things that use to bother me, won't bother me as much.

Went to visit at school today

Today was the first day that I was able to actually go over to school and see what the little munchkins were up to.... but it was tiring. I went home at just the right time and crashed.

I am looking forward to being back on May 18th!

I am home!

I am home and I am so blessed to have found out that the cancer was caught in time. I won't need chemotherapy right now!

I love the new look my wonderfully, talented daughter Ashley, did for my blog. I am so thankful that I had her and my sister with me during the most difficult time I have ever faced.

I can't tell them enough how much I love and value them. God certainly had a plan when he put the 3 of us on this Earth!

Love YOU!

In Surgery

Hi, this is Ashley, Kathy's daughter. I just wanted to give an update and let everyone know that she went into surgery a little after 7:30 this morning. It should last about three hours. I will update more later. Thanks!

How Long - Mark Mallett

I need a little LOUDER Hint from Heaven

I think we all have been feeling overwhelmed by all of the negative things that have been happening in our world. The school I teach at, has not been immune to the happenings. As one staff member said, "Just when we think we are finally going to be able to start the healing, something else hits us harder."

In this school year, we have had a younger student pass....unexpectedly. Several staff have suffered the loss of loved ones... sometimes two at one time. We have had a beloved staff member pass and recently, one of our students had a parent pass this week.

In addition, we have had a very challenging school year, in many diffent ways.

In March 2008, I was in a head on collision. The accident wasn't my fault, but I was injured to the extent that I couldn't return to teaching until the last week of May. I didn't have a choice about my injuries, but I did have a choice as to how I was going to feel about the accident. I decided to hand it to God and let him guide me. Which, of course, he did.

I know that this is what we have to do, in order to survive what has happened to us this school year. So, that is why I titled this post.... I need a little LOUDER hint from heaven, right now.

Fill Me in Fridays

Ashley's post wants to know what was the best birthday present. I have an Oct. birthday. It is difficult to say what was my best present, but the one thing I miss is having my "little girl" making me feel like a princess on my birthday. Ashley loved to make a big deal out of little things .... and make everyone feel so special.

Happy Birthday to my daughter, Ashley!

My daugher, Ashley, is 26 years old today. We always said she chose the first day of spring to be born, so that she could make a grand entrance!

Ashley went to a performing arts high school, here in Phoenix. In her senior year, she had to choreograph a piece to perform in their final performance. When she danced on stage, it was like watching smoke move across the stage.

I don't get to see her and her family as much as I would like (they live in North Dakota)but I get to talk to her everyday.

So, Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby!

Passings-Ms. Lucy

Last Friday, March 13th, I found out that one of our para-educators has given up her fight with cancer. Lucy helped get our school's library organized, as well as helping tutor students. Two of her granddaughters attend our school, so we have been very careful about discussing her at school.
I have to admit that when I found out, I didn't bring it up with any of the students. It was our last day before break and I wanted some time to go by before dealing with student questions. Although most of the students knew something was wrong when they saw our cafeteria manager sobbing.
We will all miss Lucy very much.

Joshua Bell - His experiment

RLM jewlery

Anyone who knows me well, has seen my pieces of RLM (Robert Lee Morris) jewlery. I can't afford to buy the pieces he sells at his New York gallery, but QVC has a special line that he makes for them.
The evil QVC had Robert on yesterday and because so many of the pieces were selling out, they had easy pay offers for his last show. I couldn't resist the temptation and bought a watch (that I have been wanting for years) and another ring that won't be made again.
When the pieces arrive I will post pictures.

Correction about Fill Me in Fridays

I just needed to correct something on my last post. My daughter's blog site is Forever and Always, not Forever and Ever. She was kind enough to gently tell me I had made a mistake. So you might want to check out her blog....blessedbarnharst.blogspot.com

Fill Me in Fridays

Ashley at Forever and Ever has started a Fill Me in Fridays. This week, she is sharing her tips of what to do to save.

I am a 6th grade teacher and can't stand to see paper wasted. Many times we have to run off worksheets for students and I feel very guilty about doing it when I might have another way of students turning in their work.

I have a website for our students and have allowed them to post written homework assignments so that they don't have to worry about bringing the assignment to class. It saves time because I can grade it right away. It also saves paper. Students that have a difficult time remembering to bring their work to school, love being able to "turn it in" as soon as they are done.

My roommate is 87 years young today!

My roommate is 87 years old today. She is actually my godmother and my aunt. She had me come to live with her in January of 2002. We have actually become true roommates and she is the best roommate I have ever had.

Fran (my aunt) has such a wonderful memory that I am able to share things she remembers about world events, with my students. She is always able to talk about the little things that never appeared in the news of that day.... her husband's stepmother had been married to a man who was one of Hitler's elite. She would have to go to dinners, etc. where Hitler was in attendance. My uncle's stepmother said that when Hitler looked in your eyes, it was as if evil was looking into you.

Happy Birthday, Fran!

Prayers needed ASAP

Since I believe in the power of prayer, I am asking anyone who finds this to include the staff and students at Hearn Academy. We have been overwhelmed with severe illnesses, students (past and present) passing on, etc.
This week has begun with so many things occurring, we need some spiritual help to get us all through this difficult time. We have a married couple (wife is a teacher and husband is in our human resources dept with one of their boys at our school) who have had a parent pass from an illness, another parent with what might be the beginning of serious health problems, and a freak farm accident that took the life of the teacher's sister.


Thank you for all prayers.... and let me know if you have any prayer requests!

Okay!

I know that I haven't written many of these recently, but I think it is time to begin these again.....especially since the new year has started!