MisHaps and TidBits

• I love hearing this: "Miss Anna, Miss Anna...."
  
• Because we're learning about the mailing process at daycare this week, they wrote some letters to mom and dad to put on the bulletin board of mailboxes. While helping little Shaelyn write "Mommy and Daddy" I wrote "MOMMY" and "DADDY" because I have a habit of writing in all caps. That's not all though.. I foolishly spelt mommy like mommie..


• I really enjoy reading to children. Maybe not the formality of reading. I enjoy engaging them in what's going on in the pictures or during the scene that just I read about, rather than just flipping the page once the words were read over.
  
• I almost always get their pants pulled down and am about to pull the diaper tab, THEN I remember to put gloves on. Instantly after the cleaned diaper is secure, they're off.


• I've returned to drinking drip-brewed coffee.. oh it is so good and it has been about two years. Cream please...
  
• From the bathroom a big sigh and a big-eyed girl saying "There.. are... lots, there are..!"


• I have a weird-liking for the fussy babies. I just love to hold and comfort them.


• On Friday, I: felt like I was running late, to be 10 minutes early (no, I didn't speed) baked french toast sticks for breakfast, read 5 books, played with Polly Pockets, cleaned toys up two times, prepared yogurt and juice for morning snack, drank one cup of coffee with cream, washed dishes from breakfast and snack, survived through another lunch of making sure they ate more of what they have before they get more of something else (that sure is mean, huh?) cleaned up a milk spill, washed many hands, helped 2 girls go potty, changed only 2 diapers and one outfit, drank another cup of coffee with cream, put away dried snack dishes, washed dishes from lunch, swept the floor, mopped the floor, and cleaned the toilet and sink..
  
• Bullying is kind of any issue, not only with the 1st graders, but also one of our 1 year (plus some months) old...
  
• It's a good thing we have breakfast, a morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack, because all but Lauren (18 months) are pretty bad eaters.


• It's amazing how quickly a room can look like a mess! O.K. maybe not "amazing", but it sure is something.


• After being suggested to eat her crust same big-eyed girl says "OOOOO...That's taaasty!"


• There is a girl with the nickname of Ramy (Amy with an R). I've had the hardest time not calling her Remy, because of a cat's name I know. Whoops...


• I've unfortunately managed to get a baby's socks smudged with their poop...from now on, the socks are coming off.


• While playing play dough, Morgan said to me "Here is your birthday cake" and I said, but it's not my birthday today! She said, "okay, well lets just pretend" so I said "okay, are you going to sing Happy Birthday to me?". She and Savannah did beautifully! Even though, they were pretending it was my birthday that day, I was pretending they knew it was on Sunday and were singing to me for real.
  
• I've gotten a lot better at positive suggestion. Instead of saying, "No, let's not stand on the couch" I say "I think it would be a better idea if you sat on the couch please" if that doesn't work right away, I assist them and say "let's do that okay?"


• I'm not looking forward to cold (snotty nose) season already...


• It's so odd that during every meal, at least one kid doesn't like each thing that is served. It's as if they talk ahead of time saying "okay, I'll not like my carrots, you don't eat the mac n cheese, you don't drink your milk, and you don't like the pears." So it's not like I'm telling everyone to eat their beans, rather I'm telling each kid something different..
  
• Friday I played the longest game of "Simon Says" to keep the kids seated at the table, while the last touches were being made to their lunch. Wow.. I'm so surprise they played so long and I had a hard to thinking of things that wouldn't require them to get out of their seats.
  
• Still asking questions, but picking up on thing quicker than I thought I would.
  
• One girl in particular, whom I think is my favorite (I know, that's bad), ALWAYS wants to play with me or have me read her a book, both great fun, but I can't always do that and she doesn't quite understand why I say no to something that's not bad.
  
• Common things I hear coming from my mouth these days: "Let's go wash your hands" "It's time to clean up, here go put this in the bin" "Evan, we don't throw things here, lets set things on the floor when we're done with them" "Who had that first?" "Sssshhh.." "Jed, you know you are to old to be sitting in that" "That is not your blanket ....or pacifier ....or cup" "If Savannah had it first she gets to play with it, lets wait until she is done and play with this doll instead" "Go put your shoes by the door" "What's the right way to ask for more food?" "Say you're sorry" "You're okay honey" "How about you eat a bite of ___ first, then I will give you some more_____" "Did you go potty?"
  
• I sometimes forget I have to set an example: I was sitting at the table with a couple kids and one lil guy was sitting by the wall all sad/lonely looking, so I bent down to look under the table and wave at him. Sure enough, the other two were trying to do the same. Whoops..

Settling In To Said "New Routine"

I started my new job at Faith Fellowship Daycare on Monday. First impression: "Wow this is overwhelming." I was there for the afternoon shift, so there is a lot going on: Kids coming in from Faith Fellowship Christian School next door, toddlers waking up but still needed to be quiet for those blessed few who sleep longer, snack being prepared, diapers being changed, staff being switched... whoosh! I was outside with the older kids (1st graders) and the toddlers who had gotten up from nap already. To be short: A group of toddlers are easier than the two of the 1st graders. But all in all, it wasn't that bad being my first day there, it was natural to feel overwhelmed as it was all new to me. I got to know names and faces and met some of their parents and experienced the fast pace of an afternoon shift, which I will have two of. (Mondays and Tuesdays)


Tuesday, was my second day, and my first scheduled day to be on my own. As Monday left me a little overwhelmed, Becky Elliott (my boss) was thoughtful enough to start the shift with me and the another worker, making sure all was going smoothly before she headed out. Tuesday was also filled with getting to know new names and remembering those from Monday, meeting more parents, and of course dirty diapers. There was some friend drama going on that I got to counsel one on God being our friend no matter how other people treat us and that He is very happy that she is trying to be a good friend. After Tuesday's afternoon shift, I did not feel overwhelmed like I did on Monday, I was beginning to feel comfortable. Maybe, because I was inside with the toddlers and babies, either way, it was great!


On Wednesday, I joined two people to see how a morning shift usually runs. The day brought me so much comfort and confidence, it was even better than Tuesday - by far! I had all the names down, because I had met most of them on Monday and had some of the same kids on Tuesday, so names were pretty much down. Of course, there was some hesitation at times, but over all I felt much better about speaking to each child. I got a lot of time holding baby Maddie (three months) and comforting another "crier". I watched a circle and craft time, insisted they eat their beans, or crust, or peaches or finish the rest of their milk. I washed hands and faces (a lot), forgot to wear gloves while changing diapers (one thing that will probably take the longest to get used to, they make me so clumsy), read at least three stories, and felt very comfortable! Wednesday was an answer to prayers, no doubt!!

Today, Thursday, I worked my scheduled shift without Becky joining me. I am the opener so I was there at 6:25 A.M. got a few things ready before the first baby arrived at 6:35. With a 1st grader as my second to arrive, I had to feed her breakfast before she went to school, not bad since I only had two others, one whom was sweetly sleeping. Just as the other person I work with walked in at 7:45, so did the 4th and 5th child of the day! Tuesdays and Thursdays are "baby" days, over half of the kids we have are under 2! Thankfully, this week there is an added staff member to the midday schedule, just to make things run a little smoother! Being there alone was a first, and meeting a few parents I hadn't met yet was a little unfortunate, but the day was super! I'm certainly getting the hang of things and I'm looking forward to getting to know the kids even more!

After my fourth day of working in a row, my impression went from "Wow this is overwhelming..." to "This is perfect for me and I absolutely love it!"

Did I mention that God is so Good!?
...Because He is!

A New Routine

I crave routine, I really do. I think straighter and I am more efficient when I have a routine. I seriously feel I have more energy, even when my day is filled, but has structure. I am so much more organized when I have discipline.

Fall, has seemed to be the season that has been a time for me to find a new routine, structure, and discipline. Whether it was starting school (mostly the case) or starting a new jobs or just adding things to my, at the time routine, to make life easier/better. I have always approached fall with a new energy and a desire for a structured routine full of new disciplines.

As I've mentioned, God has been so good to me and blessed me with a job. Now, this job I spoke of and write about now isn't just any job, it is truly a blessing made just for me! Here's the story:

At least three weeks ago, farmers markets were slowing down and there wasn't a whole lot going on every day. It was a time of catching up on some sleep and transitioning to whatever was next... that whatever for me, was getting a job.

I had two ideas that stuck in the forefront of my mind. The first was to check out the children's home that I so badly wanted to work at last year, which I wrote about my disappointment here. I never even got around to checking that out because I was guided away from it by a Christian friend who knows someone who works there. For several given reasons, I didn't feel a pulled to fight the words of wisdom and see if it was for me anyways, so I didn't even look to see if they were hiring.

My second idea was given to me by the same Christian friend who is a teacher's aide. She suggested that I look into being a substitute for teacher's aides, as "there are never enough subs!". It sounded, as some say... "right up my alley". Giving it some prayers and thought for a few days, I, for whatever reason (God), didn't jump the gun and do anything about it.
With the lack of jumping the gun, I began to think and search just to see what else was out there. I saw a hiring ad for substituting at a daycare! Okay.. that's more like it. I prefer younger children over elementary aged kids - mostly because I have more experience with the younger children, but also that's where most my strengths come through. So I decided against looking into the teacher aide substituting and moved onto the daycare opening. Well sure enough, it wasn't as easy as filling out an application and an interview. I had to send in my resume...Oh the dreaded resume... I prayed and struggled with how to handle my last employment situation. I certainly didn't want to lie about it, but I also knew that my employers wouldn't provide truth about my character and how I really am with children. To say the least, I was stuck with what to do and with no major need to get a job, I hesitated and didn't do a whole lot about it, except stare at my resume document.

Probably a week passed by without any direction or completion of my resume and something plops into my lap inbox! A message from Becky Elliott, director of Faith Fellowship Daycare, which is roughly only 10 minutes away. She was in need of a part-time or substitute staff member and was directed my way by Mandee. I thought "oh, oh. Pick Me. PLEASE!" With a call to her and a reply back the next day, we were both quite excited for our find. With a few more messages that day about my experience and more about what she was looking for, she assured me that I had the job and would like to meet with me as soon as possible to fill out the proper paperwork for the state. We did and I got a few things done the next couple of days and over the weekend. Such things like, fingerprinting, references, TB test etc.

How exciting! God seriously paved the way for this one and there is no other explanation but that. I am so thankful that He is forever faithful and He indeed does have a plan.

"...For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,
"Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future..."
-Jeremiah 29:11

I crave routine. Working Mondays, Tuesdays, a wonderful Wednesday off, Thursdays and Fridays, and with the weekend to spare, I finally have a routine.


I crave structure. Working those days, there is a plan, an agenda, and fun things to get done that I look forward to growing accustom to and being able to recite it backwards, I look forward to this structure.

and...

I crave discipline. Thursdays and Fridays are just that, the morning shift, which starts at 6:30, so I am up at about 5:45. Now, that right there is an order of discipline for me!

Tomorrow, you can expect more details
on how the week has gone so far!

You Might Call Us Crazy

Does anybody recognize this?:

If not, go take a look at this

Does it look familiar after looking at that post?

I guess I'm going to move on anyways, even if nothing is clicking just yet.


You might call us crazy, because this:

Used to be this:

Yup our patch that produced these:

Is now plowed under.

You might call us crazy

If not, allow me to go on...


We plowed our old patch under because:

Too many plants contracted a disease.

I know, sad, right?

So what will we do now that we don't have a strawberry patch?


Well we are plowing up more ground, see:

And, see:

(not all ground is plowed or pictured)

And we are going to plant A LOT of strawberry plants next spring.

By a lot I mean, oh yah kno... 50,000?

No Picture of that yet.

Okay, so now you might call us crazy, right?

Well, we have a reason for all this craziness. We want to plant enough so we will hopefully have a sizeable amount of strawberries produced next year to sell to the customer base we gained this year.

So..maybe not tooo crazy, just not exactly normal.