Level P

Today is marking a very important day in Makenzie's school year. She is testing for her level P. I never thought we would get to that level this year.

If you are sitting there scratching your head in wonder, a level P is on grade level. It means she has read all of these reading passages, answered the questions accordingly, and passed them. It means she has an exemption from being considered for retention. It means success!

Now, she wasn't really being considered (at least not heavily) for third grade retention, but she was on the border.

For those of you that don't know, reading is one of the reasons we decided to put her in public school last year. I just couldn't teach her to read. She entered the 2nd nine weeks of second grade WAY below grade level. They immediately started several intensive programs with her & I put her in private tutoring as well.

She made so much progress just that first year (not even a full school year). She grew a year and a half's worth in only 6 months, but she was still so far behind her peers.

As this year progressed, her teacher told me that even though Makenzie still wasn't where she needed to be, they were not going to hold her back. She was ready in every other area, she just needed a little more help in reading.

To "pass" third grade, they need to pass the EOG or have certain exemptions: a passing BOG (she didn't have that), a Lexile at a certain score (she doesn't have that), a TRC (not a clue what that stands for) of a level P & it honestly didn't look like that would happen since she started 3rd grade with a level H, or passing the majority of reading standard tests they are given throughout the year. Those standards are very similar to the EOG, so that was worrisome as well.

A little over halfway through the year, Makenzie's teacher realized that more than likely she would meet one of those exemptions. She had easily passed every reading standard so far. With only 2 left, and the opportunity to retake them if needed, this exemption was going to be our saving grace. Her teacher also had the foresight to believe that she shouldn't have any problem passing the EOG since these standards are more or less mock EOG's.

Then yesterday, Makenzie excitedly tells me that she is testing for her level P today! She said she was nervous & excited all at the same time.

This may not mean anything to some of you, but for us, this is HUGE!!! This is just another reassurance that placing her in public school when we did was just the right time, all in God's time!

Say a little prayer for her today!!!


UPDATE....... She passed the level P & the level Q!!! Thanks for praying!!!

Love Triangles

Its strange. Here I am, 30+++ (ahem....) years old, happily married for 16, yet I find myself smack dab in the middle of a love triangle.

Oh woe is me.....

For 2 years now,  my oldest son has more or less been in a relationship (take that as loosely as you would like - these are kids here) with the same two girls. Usually this wouldn't be so much of an issue. After all, I went back and forth between the same two guys all throughout my middle school years (although back them, we didn't have "middle school", but anyway 6th-8th grade).

The problem here lies with the fact that these two girls are friends, best friends even!

I have tried to make him realize that maybe its time for someone outside of this tight knit circle, but short of saying "You can't go out with her", I don't see any end in sight here. Oh, trust me, I'm sure that one day I will end up putting my foot down. I'm sure he will bring someone home that I don't like. But that's a fight for another day.

Some of you may be reading this & chuckling to yourself about how insignificant this is. Like I said ^^^ they're just kids.

But when you are "just a kid", you look at things differently than those of us who have been around the block a few times. You still have that fresh wonder, you 're still full of hope, & you still believe that everyone that says "I love you" means it.

I know that he will have many girlfriends down the road. I'm sure that he will break a few hearts. I'm sure that his will get broke as well. I just hope that through it all, he is able to keep that wonder & hope alive, that he doesn't become jaded as easily as so many of us have.

I also hope that these girls make it through middle school love with their hearts & their friendships in tact.

SIGH

Mom's Need Pampering Too

I am in Heaven. As I sit here right now, I am enjoying the first pedicure I've had in a VERY long time. And guess what, I deserve it. I don't feel guilty one bit.

Ok, maybe a little bit guilty. But not enough not to enjoy it! Lol

We were actually finishing Makenzie's room, when I took a break to lay Logan down for a nap. I just walked back in the living room, looked at my feet, and simply said "I need a pedicure." I laughed because although I wanted one, I wasn't entirely serious. 

My husband look at me & said "go on. Here's some money."

Well, alrighty then! I'm gone!

I'm the world's worst at putting everyone else before myself. I guess that's just the momma in me. But guess what momma's, we need pampering too! Enjoy it while we can!

If we keep giving & giving & giving, before long, we don't have anything left to give. So next time, you "need" a few minutes, take them & enjoy! 

My Teenager

It's funny, some days I don't remember what I did yesterday, what someone said to me an hour ago, or even why I walked into a room mere seconds ago. But then there are those moments that are burned into your memory so deeply that you probably couldn't forget them even if you tried. I have several of those.

Today, exactly 13 years ago (7:24pm) my life changed in ways I could never imagine. I became a mother.

Austin Dale Bauguess made his grand appearance only 3 days early weighing 8lbs & 7oz. He was a chunky butt as a baby. 

WHY God entrusted me with this privilege, I'll never comprehend. It's the hardest, most exciting, scariest, most heart wrenching, incredible "job" that I've ever experienced. It's not just my job, it's my life!

I'm so thankful that I've had the pleasure to be his mother! Even 13 years later, I still have no clue what I am doing, but we are all learning as we go!

Happy Birthday baby! I'm proud of the young man you are becoming! You're officially a teenager, so you can slow down now!

They Deserve Better

On the way to school one day this week, Makenzie stopped me in my tracks. She said "Momma, so & so doesn't care if they go to Hell".

Oh wow, out of the mouth of babes...

I asked her how she knew. So she told me that they (her a friend) had been talking about Heaven when her friend told her that. 

It broke my heart. 

Number 1, here's my nine year old telling others about Jesus!

Number 2, how can parents live in such a way to make a 9 year old be so flippant about a place of eternal torment.

I'm Tired

I don't know about you, but I'm tired!

Yes I run wide open more often than I don't. I tend to carry more plates than I can hold. And somehow I'm usually supposed to be in several different places at the same time.

I'm tired!

Before you go comparing our schedules & start laughing at who puts on a more entertaining juggling show, let me explain.

My physical state is NOT what I'm writing about today. Even though it applies, that can easily be fixed with a little shut eye.

I'm tired on a spiritual level.

I'm not even talking about my incompetence as a Christian.

BUT I'M TIRED!

I am tired of Satan getting the upper hand on me. I'm tired of him using my loved ones to get the best of me. I'm tired of him using my insecurities, my pain, and my fears to make me question the right decision. I'm tired of him thinking that my past will trip me up the way it used to.

My husband loves me unconditionally. He's not perfect, but he does the best he can. My children bring me more joy and more heartache than I ever knew was possible. Being a wife is hard. Being a mom is even harder. I don't always react the way I should. I don't always have all the answers. I don't always show the love I have in my heart. But I hope, at the end of the day, they know how hard I try!

I have a hard time opening up. I have a hard time trusting. I allow people to get to me more than I let on. I worry about things I have no control over.

I'm NOT the person I used to be. I'm not perfect. I fall every single day. I'm no where near where I need to be, but I'm a lot farther down the road from where I once was.

Satan isn't happy with who I aspire to be. He isn't happy with who God wants be to be. He knows he no longer has me, but he wants me so beaten down that I'm no good to anyone.

I have no clue what God has in store for my life. I'm not sure why He entrusted me with all these blessings that love me. But I do know that His word says in Jerimiah 29:11

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil".

So yes, I'm tired!! And I intend to rely on God to help me fix it!

A Beautiful White Change of Pace

Yet again, here in NC we are experiencing snow. Not the Snow-Mageddon or the Snowpocalypse that we experienced last year, but just enough to sled on.

The first flakes of the season hit last week just as the kids were coming off of a long weekend and the frigid temps allowed it to hang around for a few days. Then after one day back to school with a 2 hour delay, we awoke to an unexpected "dusting" that produced several inches and 2 more days out of school. Now we are staring at the possibility of another storm that will shut down the world the rest of the week.

I read Facebook & can't help but laugh. Some are excited, some are disgusted, some are angry, & some are begging for a change. We sure are a fickle lot! NO ONE is ever happy!

I get it, I really do. The snow is fun for a little while, but it does tend to throw things helter skelter. And we sure do like things to go according to plan.

Now don't get me wrong, my kids have gotten on my nerves more than once, I have washed & dried & dried & dried about 3 times as much laundry, my floors are a mess, I have towels lining the entryways, & we are out of snacks...again. But for the most part I have thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful mess.

You see since this summer we have been none stop! Between Justin, Austin, & Makenize, we literally had football 6 days a week for months! Then we went right into wrestling season with Justin as the high school trainer there too. So again, many weeks, we had wrestling 6 days out of 7. Add to that tutoring & a few clubs for Makenzie, plus church activities and several other things going on, WE HAVE BEEN BUSY!

So last week was very much welcomed at our house. We ate supper at the table more times than we didn't. We cuddled on the couch watching movies. We sledded under the moonlight. We played Monopoly for hours on end. We baked brownies & muffins. ***We also cleaned the house!***

So instead of looking at this upcoming system as a burden & dreading it, look at it through the eyes of your child & take advantage of the time it has created for you! God does try to help us slow down sometimes!