I'm still here.......

I have just been extremely busy!

These 28 kids are one of the reasons. In September I started working at a night school for high school kids. They came to school Monday - Thursday from 4 -9pm. They didn't attend their regular schools during the day, instead they came at night. They were at risk of dropping out, and possibly never graduating. At this special program, they worked online to obtain credits they needed to graduate. When they are done they receive a high school diploma and get to return to their original schools to graduate.

Let me just say that when one door closes, another door opens and you never know what is behind that door. I don't have a back ground, or even a degree in education. My degree is in Interior Design. I took this job at the time because I needed it. I have learned so much from these kids. They taught me as much I as taught them.

In January I took a second job. I was working Monday - Thursday from 8am-8pm. I would go to job #1 from 8am-1:30pm, and then to the school from 2pm - 8pm. On Fridays I worked job #1 from 8-5. It was draining. Thus the reason I haven't blogged liked I would like to.

Those kids mean the world to me. They made my day, made me laugh and made me cry.

One in particular.....

"P" (as we will call him), made me laugh, and cry in the same day. When I started, I had a co-worker Mr. "M" that knew this kid very well. He was trying to help him graduate. The only problem is that you actually have to come to school to graduate, and "P" really wasn't up to that!! Mr. "M" had a wonderful relationship with  "P", and did anything and everything he could for him. Mr. "M" and I would have long conversation about "P". Mr. "M" just wanted him to graduate. Most people that knew "P" didn't think he would ever graduate, or do anything for that matter.

In November. Mr. "M" passed away suddenly. When I got the call, "P" was the first thing I thought about. I couldn't help but wonder if he would come back to school after that, but he did.

And so begins our story, a very long story. I will make it short and sweet.

I believed in this kid, I had faith in this kid, and I saw something in him. When no one else believed in him, I did, and I still do. "P" graduated on May 20, and will be going to college in the Fall. I am so proud of him for not giving up, and most importantly believing in himself.

It was a long hard journey to get him to this point, with a lot of bumps and pot holes in the road! We still have a long way to go, but the destination is worth the journey. I will be there with him every step of the way to help him reach his goals.

I am a firm believer that God takes you down certain paths for a reason. You may not always see the bigger picture, but God does. I know without a doubt that I was put there for "P".

Last Wednesday was my last day. I wanted to see "P" and the other seniors through til the end. I was able to do that, and so now I thankfully am only working one job!!! LOL!

I have A LOT of catching up to do in the garden!!! We are on our normal routine here of afternoon thunderstorms, so we are getting a lot of rain which = a lot of weeds!!!

Sapphire Sage

Butterfly Bush

Fairy Rose

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Purple Coneflower

Hydrangea

Lacecap Hydrangea

Phlox

Bee Balm (Monarda)

Prairie Coneflower (soon to be blooming)

I have taken a ton of dragonfly pictures over the past few days! They are my favorite! I have a lot to share over the next few days...I definitely have to catch up!!

I have also been busy with other things....just not so fun things. I just found out my aunt has breast cancer (Stage 1). She is the fourth person in my immediate family to have it. My grandmother, mom, and another aunt all had it. It is disturbing! Four people!!! I am going very soon to have the genetic testing done for the breast cancer gene. Please pray for my family as we deal with this devastating disease once again.

I have missed all of you! I know some of you missed me too! I appreciate the emails! Sorry I was gone for so long! I am back now, and will be around to catch up soon! I have missed part of Bilbo's journey, and I hate that. I will catch up with him...I am sure he will understand.

Have a wonderful evening!