Divine Power Tools

We have been busy, busy, busy for the past two weeks. Dave and I installed two windows and we are going to install two more this weekend. We got to purchase a "Saws-All" to do it, which is really cool, just because we have both always wanted one. There is something about power tools that just really turns me on. I think it is because power tools make the impossible, possible. Need to cut through nails? No problem! Just get the right kind of blades! Need to hammer into concrete? No problem! There is a nail gun that uses 22 caliber shells to really pound the nails in! It is facinating to realize that all types of tools have been invented to make incredibly toiling tasks an absolute breeze.

Fortunately, that is what a relationship with God does for me... Makes the impossible, possible. Who would have considered that God is the ultimate in Power Tools? But, I promise that I see it more clearly now than ever before in my life. Last week, I got a little off-track with my prayer and meditation. I wasn't as close in my walk with Creator. I'm working to continue to be mindful of God in every life situation. Only then am I open to receiving Divine Grace. God and His Saws-All go before me to make smooth and perfect my way!

Speaking of cutting the crap... I need to vent about the tenets of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). If you are just looking for the family update, you may wish to scroll down. I have a Master's degree in Special Education. I won't bore you with the details of why I had to get a M.S. degree to teach, but just know there was a degree of "hassle" when I first became a teacher in our public school system five years ago. So, now I have this Master's degree and yet NCLB says that I am not qualified to teach. Lucky for me, I'm an inclusion teacher, so the fabulous teachers that I work with are qualified and I don't really have to be yet, but I will. The government has come up with a system for those of us who have been teaching for a while to qualify. It is called the HOUSSE method. I have enough training hours, continuing education credits, and professional awards to qualify under this method. I know I have them because I spent last week gathering them and placing them in a plain, manila, coffee-stained folder. Some of the newer teachers do not. However, there is another option! Sign up to take a test called the Praxis II in the area in which you would like to be "highly qualified". After teachers take this magic, handy-dandy test, they will be certified in whichever subject areas they are able to pass the test. Before my school district's push toward the HOUSSE method this week, I had already signed up to take the Praxis II in Elementary Education. After taking the test, I will be certified to teach K-5. Here is the thing... It insults my regular education counter-parts to insinuate that by passing one test, I am "highly qualified" to teach in that given area. Let's just say that I somehow managed to bumble my way through the Praxis for Algebra. I PROMISE you, I am not an Algebra teacher. Now hopefully, there is a safety net for this... Maybe someone would look at my transcripts, see my 'D' in Pre-Calculus and realize that no more math happened for me in college after that. But, who knows really? Also, what about those people who are really brilliant in a subject area, but are terrible test takers? Maybe it is just another one of those areas where I have to trust the process. Still, I guess I just want it known that I understand the process is stupid. I don't think we are going to have a rash of people clamoring to become teachers who aren't really qualified to do the job. We don't have enough teachers as it is. I suppose I just get frustrated with the utter stupidity of a process that doesn't improve education for anyone. Most of the people I know who are having to prove they are "highly qualified", are truly gifted teachers. There are some others, who will remain nameless (not at my school, of course :-) who couldn't teach their way out of a wet paper sack, but they are "highly qualified" under the law.

Enough of my ranting. How about a Dan and Sarah update? Danielle is doing well. She has a band contest this morning. She plays the saxophone. I really believe playing helps with her breathing too. Still, I had to wake her up early to get vest and treatment so that we are ready to go. Sarah is doing well again. This week I took her to the regular pediatrician because she began running a low-grade fever again. Given that she was hospitalized not even two months ago, I just wasn't ready for another trip to our CF doctor, Dr. Sindel. Dr. Dugger, her pediatrician, suggested taking the "don't just do something, stand there" approach. Her fever abated mid-week and she has been fine. I'm just feeling grateful. Just another example of the One Absolute Omnipresent Power Tool at work!

This week, we will work to fix our stairs and begin sheetrocking the laundry room. I should have a functional laundry room again soon and won't have to continue to trudge across the yard to Mom's house. My uncle laid brick in our laundry room, which simultaneously raised the level of the laundry room to that of the rest of the house. It looks gorgeous.

The picture is from Christmas. The girls were opening some of their gifts from our wonderful Unity friends in Oregon.

~Namaste'~ Christy