A Perfect Ending to a Long Week

As I mentioned in a comment in a previous post, this project came at the perfect time as I needed to keep myself busy. It helped to get a lot of my feelings and craziness out. We were fortunate that our prayers have been answered and Ann's tumor has shrunk. We will continue to pray that her treatment will be effective and it will continue to shrink itself down to a place where doctors can keep it from growing and spreading. I started my week in a stressful place, I end it in a better one. 

The weather was warm yesterday, finally! We took Gavin outside and he ran and played and laughed. I gave thanks for all of the joy I have in this crazy life that is mine. Work is so much more than just a job. It is a place where I am teaching to children I love and whom I want to see succeed. I am surrounded by loving and supportive friends. My life is overflowing with love and family and I do know how lucky I am and am thankful for it every day of my life. As for HOPE, it is alive and well.

Life is good!

A Surprise Visit at Work!

Well, today was a really busy day at work so I am wiped out. It is 9:22 and will be turning in for the night very soon. Why so tired you ask? Well, coming off from a lot of anxiety and sleep deprivation, I went to work and let all of my wonderful friends know Ann's news. My kids were working independently after I just taught a pretty good writing lesson if I do say so myself. We were very busy getting prepared for a visit from our assistant superintendent on Monday. Well what do you know? SURPRISE I got a visit from my SUPERINTENDENT. He came in to observe my class. Luckily my kids were on task and well behaved but I was wiped out! Hoping for some positive feedback tomorrow! Good night classmates!

Not out of the woods yet, but heading in the right direction!

Today my sister Ann met with her doctors at Duke. They were happy with her progress and told her that her tumor shrunk. We are so happy and relieved that everyone's prayers and hope for Ann are working. When I spoke to her on the phone earlier, she said " I am not out of the woods yet, but headed in the right direction." Thank you to all of my friends in this class who have been sending prayers, support, and good wishes this week. Working on this blog each night has been good therapy for me coming to terms and talking about her illness. It is also a great distraction because it is keeping me so busy. At the end of the day and after this great news, work will be better tomorrow, my life is looking up, and I know hope is real and I will continue to have it everyday! Thank you again to you all.


My son Gavin, Ann's godson, in his first Duke t-shirt. He provides her with a lot of hope, and is a great distraction!



Third Grade Drama!

Thank you to everyone who has read and commented on my blog. Your support really helps.

Today was a drama filled day with my third graders. We had a chat about putting things into perspective and not sweating the small stuff. They have such an innocence. The biggest drama today was who didn't want to be their friends and who took their pencils. The led pencils are a hot item right now. If they have glitter forget it, even better.

I try to sneak in a little guidance and support in the midst of our big push towards test prep. Today we talked about what makes a friend and how we shouldn't be so quick to get rid of them for petty things. Hopefully I made my point. I hate when they turn on each other if a friend doesn't share cookies or picked a different friend to be partners with. On the flip side, I also said I wished these would be the biggest problems they would ever encounter in their lives. I think they got that. We had a pretty peaceful afternoon.

And So It Begins....

Good Evening Classmates,
This is my first blog ever so forgive me if I'm a little off! The purpose of this blog is to give you a glimpse into a week in my life. It is also serving as a personal journal for me. Let me give you a little background into the reason for my title. I love my job. I teach third graders and I feel like my week is partially consumed by WORK. I cannot just blog about work because that is not only what makes me-me. I also have my LIFE, moreover, my personal life. Aside from my large Italian family, my life also consists of my husband, Bob and seventeen month old son, Gavin. Gavin keeps me incredibly busy, but happier than I can express in words. Bob and I cannot believe how he changes so much from day to day. Lastly, HOPE. As I mentioned in my profile, my sister is awaiting the results of an MRI this week. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January. She is not only my sister and my best friend, she is my co-worker. She teaches ESL in the school where I teach as well. She is on her way tomorrow to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Research Center at Duke University for feedback from the treatment they've prescribed for her here in New Jersey. Their motto is, At Duke....there is HOPE. I will try to touch on each of these points in my blog all week. If I can ask anything of all of you, it is that you send some good luck and hope our way. Thank you!