JOY on the Freeway

Today, I was on the freeway, running a quick errand before having to return to the school to pick up Rachel. I was in the slow lane, approaching my exit and noticed a car on the shoulder with its hazard lights on, and just a ways up the freeway was a woman walking towards the offramp. I threw on my hazard lights and pulled over and offered her a ride off the freeway. She accepted.

The woman appeared to be in her late 40's. Wore perfume that smelled like my mother in law and was on her way to work when all of a sudden her car just stopped, thankfully being able to pull onto the shoulder. I drove her off the freeway and to a place of business just on the other side of the fence of where she left her parked car. She had no cell phone and would now call AAA for a tow truck.

When she got out of the car she shook my hand, told me her name was 'Joy', and thanked me and said "God Bless". I told her I would pray her day would be a good one despite the car breaking down.

It was nice to help someone out that way, to show the love of Jesus in this day and age where a lot of people won't always stop to help a stranger. Today, I found JOY on the freeway! :)

Thought for the Day

"God may not give you
what you want,

but He always gives
you what you need."


~ KSGN 89.7

Attendance Recognition

Sadly, despite having excellent State test scores, wonderful parent involvement, etc, our school really has a big problem with attendance, tardies, and early dismissals.

As a result, this last trimester, a new program has been created to help promote the importance of being in school, on time, everyday, for the full day. Awards and prizes will be given at each grade level.

I'm proud to say that both our girls came home with letters yesterday stating that they will be recognized at a special attendance assembly next Friday. Not only have they not missed a day of school for the trimester that just ended, but they were always on time, and were never signed out early. Their chances of winning something 'good' at the assembly are good. In Rachel's class, there were only two of the twenty that qualified, and in Hannah's class there were only three of thirty three that qualified. Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if the numbers fell like in all the classes. It'll definitely be interesting to see just how many kids are recognized at next weeks' assemblies.

My New Favorite Saying...

This morning, I pulled up to a signal behind a car with the following saying on her license plate:

"You May Be the Princess
But I am the Queen."

I think it's going to be my new favorite saying...

Special People

Do you ever encounter 'special people' through out your day? You know, the types of people who don't think that the rules, or laws, apply to them?

I come across 'special people' frequently through out the week, and unfortunately, I even know some kids who could fall into this category.

Here's an example of special people...

School dismissal in the afternoons are crazy. You have 750+ students getting out out of school with about 1/4 of those kids getting picked up by parents, day care providers, grandparents, etc. The parking in the front of the school is minimal and crazy, therefore I pick Hannah up on the backside of the school, which is less crazier than the front, but still crazy.

I get to the side street about 30 minutes before school gets out. I park in a place where I can watch the kids finishing up their school day with one last recess, and watch the kids being dismissed. I have a friend who also picks up her children on the back side and often we're in each others cars chatting and visiting, so I really don't mind the waiting. It's a chance to sit and take a break before the afternoon chaos of homework, dinner, and nightly routine starts in.

And everyday, we sit in amazement, watching as the 'special people' pull up and park on the red curb, or park crossing over the fields driveway. Or in this case, there's this car, who obviously because he's pictured above, is a routine special person, who is not only parking on the red curb in this picture, but believe it or not, he's parked on the red curb smack dab in the middle of a three-way stop intersection!!It's so frustrating to see people swoop in and park where they aren't supposed to! It's not like there's no parking available, there is. You either have to get there early and claim a good spot like I do, or simply walk a block. It's just amazing how easily breaking the law comes to people.

Now if you excuse me, I must go and get in position for my spot and watch for today's special people. :)

Thought for the Day

"If you stare too long at the door that just closed,
you'll miss the one that just opened."

~ KSGN, 89.7

This and That

The first of March. This year is just flying by. It's hard to believe that in a few weeks we'll have been married for 14 years. School is entering it's third trimester. And next month we'll have a daughter in the double digits!

Speaking of that daughter who will be soon be TEN years old, she'll be gone for her big birthday this year. Her big overnight field trip falls on the day of her birthday. The school bus will leave at 8:30 Thursday morning and won't return to school until midday the next school day. Gone for her entire birthday. What a memory to spend the night aboard a Tall Ship, acting as the crew, for her 10th birthday. It'll be the first birthday that we've been apart. The teacher only allows four parents to accompany the class on this field trip, and despite all my hard efforts of fundraising, working the classroom special events, I was not chosen to go. This is the first time that I've not been allowed to accompany her on a field trip. The first time she'll be gone overnight to a place not overseen by family, close family friends. It'll be a great experience, and I look forward to hearing all about it, sad there will be no pictures, but happy she gets to go.Last week, I made deals with each of the girls. In exchange for me buying them new Lego sets, they had to pull weeds in the side yard. I am still amazed at how well it worked out. Minimal complaining, great work done, and both parties were happy - I have some weeds pulled, they have new Legos. The even better part is that Hannah is on a kick to earn more Legos. She came home from school yesterday, did her homework, did her chores, and then went and pulled weeds for 40 minutes, without being told or asked. She's logging her minutes and is working towards another new Lego set. We'll see how long this lasts...

The girls had minimum days three days last week, which worked out perfectly for a middle of the week trip to Disneyland! It was a beautiful day, light crowds, perfect weather. Captain EO opened up just two days before we went and that was the first thing on my list to do. The theater was packed, something I've not seen in that theater for years...Both my girls loved it! I think it was the cross between the Star Wars like characters and the story being centered around a space colony, and maybe the music. But more then likely the first. But they both liked it so much they asked to see it again later in our day. It's something we'll go back and see again a few more times before it leaves, I'm sure...