It's the first of September and school is back in session. Can't believe summer is almost over...again. After the winter we had last year I am so not welcoming cooler weather. 

This school year is going to be different for me. I am starting the year out as a full time substitute but have decided in October to start babysitting my new granddaughter while my daughter works. This will be a big change for me as I have always been a full time sub and have worked most every day. My daughter is an RN in a trauma unit ER so she only works 3 days a week but 14 hours a day. Since my son-in-law is a farmer besides working his full time job I will have her a lot of the times. I will still be able to sub 2-3 days a week but it is definitely going to be a change. I am really looking forward to spending my time with Ashtyn. She is such a sweet baby and it is going to be really great watching her grow like I have Eva. 

Lem is the youngest of my kids and he is now in kindergarten. The last of the kids to be in school. He is loving i but worries about his work alot. I get a kick out of him telling me he had to walk laps at recess because he was talking. LOL definitely my kid. 

Hey everyone spring is finally here, well it's been here for a bit now. We wondered if it would ever arrive but just as scheduled it started to get warmer. As I have stated before I am warm weather girl but this past winter really did me in. We haven't had a winter like this in a long time in the Midwest. As a substitute teacher, missing all these days has been a mess for the kids, teachers and the school district as a whole. It's April now and we are back on track heading into the last month of school. The plants seem to have benefited greatly from the cold temperatures and high levels of precipitation we received. My lilac bushes must of grown 2 foot. And I have noticed that many of the flowers are blooming this year that haven't in the past. I have more daffodils, tulips and other spring bulbs that really haven't done so well in the past few years. I am happy it is warming up and am looking forward to a nice spring and awesome summer.

Queenie

Tuesdays with Morrie...
I just finished re-reading Tuesdays with Morrie an awesome book by Mitch Albom. First off let me say he is a great writer. His books, I am sure aren't for everyone but to me really seem to give something to all his readers no matter which book. I am not one who re-reads books very often but Mitch's books are an exception to the rule. I have read most of his books at least twice. 

Back to my the book. I read this book the first time (of course) immediately after it's publishing. I have aged a few years and I seem to get so much more out of this book this time reading it. I look at books differently now than I did. I like to look deeper than I used to while I read. I dissect the reading more. Maybe I am taking something different with me each time I read.

My type of books are still eclectic. Never know what I am going to pick up. The other night Morris ask me what I was currently reading ( I had my kindle in hand) I told him a couple of different books. 2 were for a class I was currently teaching so I could talk to the kids about what was going on in the book and another one just because I had read the author before and like her book so I was trying another of hers. He was kind of surprised that I had no idea what this book was even going to be about. I told him it was about life that's all I knew I was only in the first chapter. I may not finish it time will tell. I go back to books later a lot if I don't get to finish them. Sometimes at that time I will enjoy them more.   

Tuesdays with Morrie is about a college professor of Mitch's who he discovers is dying from the illness ALS. He rediscovers his friendship with him and subsequently puts together this book. It's not that his illness that draws me this time in the book it's how he dissects life itself to way of understanding that we are all dying. Since I am getting older and my life is very busy and at times stressful, his way of teaching and sharing touched home for me. I know I won't implement all of his great advice, but I am going to look at a few areas and make some changes. 

Here we are again. Summer has ended. Fall is here and it's starting to turn cold. I just don't like the cold. I hate wearing a coat. I don't mind early fall that isn't so bad but when that wind turns to the north and a front comes thru that brings in really nippy weather I realize summer is really gone. I don't like everything turning brown. Don't get me wrong I do love a really comfy pair of pants and big comfy shirt but I don't want to have to wear a coat outside. Defrosting the windows, warming up the vehicles is just not my cup of tea. So now that I am whining we can add static electricity to that. Another downfall of cold weather. Yep I'm ready for warmer horizons and it's just the middle of October. Boy am I in for a big surprise.

I am really starting to get back in the groove of reading again, but like binge watching on Netflix and Amazon, I tend to get into a type of book and don't want to stop until I have read everything by that author. Then I have trouble switching genres. I swing all over the place with what I read. I don't like syfy, romance, or war novels at all. I never have I been able to stay with any of these  and read one of these types of books. Now the book can have a little bit of these in it but not a lot or it won't keep me. Anyhow I'm getting off track again.
I have read all of Mitch Albom books except his new one that just came out. I am even following him on Instagram (believe it). The Next Person You Meet in Heaven. I have been sub teaching for an English teacher and one of her classes are reading Tuesdays with Morrie. I read it when it came out and saw the movie too but figured I better refresh myself on it if I'm teaching it so here I am re-reading it. Which of course isn't such a bad thing all of his stuff is good for a re-read. I have found a few quotes I found note worthy. 
***The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it.

***So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.

Been awhile...I still don't understand what it is that keeps me from coming here and posting. Well, yes I do, It's called LIFE. Mine of which is really a crazy menagerie. So here I am back again with something that struck me and I decided I should put that in the blog...so here I am.

I am always looking for great ways to organize (organization summer) due to the size of our family. It just seems to  make life a whole lot easier and less stressful when things have a place to go. That said, I have been trying to find a way to store 2 of the boys stuffed animals. If you remember We have a bunkhouse style boys room and 2 of the upper bunks are these boys beds. I bought one of the "nets" to put them in but they just didn't work right for our situation. I found this idea on pinterest and not only does it hold the stuffed animals but it repurposes old crib sheets which is another thing that I love to do. I am including the link to the website I found it thru. Check it out it is really a cool idea if you are needing to store stuffed animals. The boys just won't let me get rid of them. :-)
​​http://littlemagerhouse.com/diy-toy-hammock-no-sew/

Tip:
​Keep Your Sense of Humor!

I am a full time substitute teacher at our local school. I have been doing this for close to 8 years now. The idea was presented to me when my first husband became ill and I had to go to work. I became a substitute at the school but non-certified. They asked me if I had any college hours and I said no. So when my husband passed away I decided to give college a try and then I could substitute teach. I of course loved college. After I had accumulated enough college hours I decided it was time to apply. Thus my path as a substitute teacher began January 2010. It took me many years and a couple of schools later to get to where I was pretty much full time here. I left and went to school at another local school district since at that time our school had ALOT of subs. I really enjoyed my time there and learned alot. I decided it was a good idea to come back where my kids were attending school and be closer to home sinc during this time my mother had come to live with us. They were in more need of subs at this time. I now work most everyday school is in session if I want. I enjoy being a substitute. I don't limit myself to just one grade level or one "end" of the school or the other. I like the variety of being in pre-k one day and high school English the next. I have done a few stints as a "long term" sub but prefer to not stick to one place. I of course have had my favorite classes to teach in as most subs do but don't say "NO" to anything usually, LOL!! 

I am wanted to add something about my substitute teaching to my blog so thought I would add in some tips occasionally and some funny quotes that I like about it. 
Always remember I like my job! 
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I keep finding these awesome quotes from the book present over perfect.
Sometimes brave looks more like staying when you want to leave, telling the truth when all you want to do is change the subject.