Wet Pants

Come with me to a third grade classroom..... There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, 'Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I'm dead meat.'

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a class mate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap.

The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, 'Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!'

Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Susie.

She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You've done enough, you klutz!'

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, 'You did that on purpose, didn't you?' Susie whispers back, 'I wet my pants once too.'

May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good..

Remember.....Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Each and everyone one of us is going through tough times right now, but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith.

The reason for being...

Well, it is funny the way life works sometimes. This morning I came in to school, hoping that I would find my phone's memory card on the floor. I had dropped it the other day, and it went shattering into several pieces. No luck though, which meant the other possibility was more of a reality. One of my shady students jacked it out of my phone. Apparently a 4GB memory card is the equivalent of gold at my school.

I noticed it had gone "MIA" yesterday when another student had come in to ask for help with his memory chip needing to be formatted. When we decided to test it out in my phone, I noticed my own memory card was no longer in place. Total bummer! But, I had a lot of other things to do, which is what this story really comes down to.

Yesterday was our school's count day. This is a really big day for all schools. This is the day that the school turn their numbers over to the state and we get our distribution of funds. If your kids are absent, then there goes there 7k. So, I spent a lot of class calling home, getting kids to come to school, etc. I knew that my 8th period would be particularly challenging, as they are my ESL kiddos, and they come and go as they please.

For instance, Geovanna used to come to class every day. She asked me to hold her accountable and help her to do better in school. She hates my classwork, but she loves me, so I usually let her come in and make her own decisions. Sometimes I ask her to clean my desk, or to organize things. I often have her do things that require art, as that is something she really loves. She tells me about her life, about being in a gang, her messed up family. Just the things of life that I never imagined actually existed. Her problems are real.

Geovanna has a truancy court date in 5 days. She will probably be sent to a juvenile detention center for not going to school. She isn't even scared to go, and she already has a brother in jail, so it isn't something that is intimidating for her. Plus, she is gay, so she said it will be easy to hook up still.

My job has never been to judge my students, and I don't. They don't need another person to lecture them, they need one person to love them, trust them, and see their potential. This is what I have been for Geovanna. Then, there was a day three weeks ago. I had tons of work to do, and I asked her to actually work that day. She was mad, so she went over to a computer, put her head down, slept, and then never came back to class.

Now, the kids don't know what count day means, so instead, I decided that it was an important day because it was the end of the quarter. I bought my kids candy, gave out extra credit, one class even asked me for pizza, so we ate pizza. I called lots of kids at home, who showed up in class. I called kids cell phone's, funny, they showed up to class to. The students in class thought is was hysterical. But, then there was 8th period.

Students have been telling me for weeks that Geovanna had been in school, they had seen her in gym class, etc. Oh, so it is just my class she is no longer attending? Well, this is not acceptable! I called both of her parents, no answer. No one in class had her cell number, so I hit the pavement! I went out the front doors of our school, into the sea of students in the parking lot. I started asking every Mexican group of students if they had seen her.

I went up to one of my other students. At first, she tried to pretend not to know or see me. I find humor in this, and therefor I made it a point to go right over to her group. I didn't wear my ID, that usually makes the kids go running. So, I went over to Lizeth's crew, and I proceeded to ask them if they knew Geovanna, where she was, if they had her number, etc. One kid got into my face and said, "What are you going to do to her, jump her?" I started laughing and said, "You mean, like fight her? I am her teacher, I want her in class!" He thought I was a student. One kid admitted he knew her, but not her number. I explained to them all that she wasn't in trouble, yet, but that the SRO's, the Administrators, the truancy person... they were all on the look out for her, and that she needed to be safe in my class.

I knew if I asked enough people, they would call her and get her in class. Sure enough 5 minutes later, there she was. She just kept asking me why. The students outside just kept asking me why. The kids at their houses just asked why. My answer was always the same. I care about you, it is the last day of the quarter, and I want to make sure we are on the same page. You all know, I hate to have anyone fail my classes. I want you to succeed.

Geovanna sat next to me the entire class. She drew a picture. I colored it and laminated it. I never yelled at her, I never asked her to work. I asked her to be safe, and to be in my class. I told her how much I had missed her, and how much I needed her to be in my room, so I wasn't worried about her.

Today Geovanna made a special trip down to my room. She had drawn me another picture.She asked me to wait and read it until she was gone, and out the door she went. The top of the picture has a tattered ribbon banner, with my name and some flowers on it. These were the words beneath it:


"Believe it or not Mrs. T you're the first adult in my life To show that they care. Besides my parents. I've never had a Teacher go out looking for me like you. I know I will never forget that. My point is Thank you. it means alot to me, I tryed to not Show my tears But I know your one of the people's in my life I can Trust

Thank you so much"

Does that take the place of a $40 memory card? Well today it reminded me that I was exactly where I needed to be, and that I have made a difference in at least one life. So, yeah, I will still have to be mean Tango and get on my kids for stealing, but I guess holding them accountable for ALL of their actions, good and bad, is part of the game. So, yeah, it helps me to have the strength to come down on them, and reminds me that they must have needed it a whole lot more than I did. The most valuable lesson they will learn, is the grace and forgiveness given unto them for finding their won strength to return it.

Today, my heart smiles...

For some reason, well, for lots of reasons, I am just feeling the sunshine today! At first, I thought it would be a tired and long Friday, but then...

I called my sweet and sexy husband, and he made me smile.

My Aveda shamppo, conditioner, face soap, lotion, and blue oil gives me a scent of tranquility. My friend Lacey is a rock star. Friends make me smile, ALWAYS!

Then, my co-worker and I looked up our online banking. My husband and I got paid last night, ahh, my heart smiles.

So I called my lovely husband again. For some reason, we just got giddy, laughing, fun because we were just happy to talk to each other. Then, I made him turn on the michael Bubli station on Pandora, and it makes my heart smile knowing we are listening to the same tunes today.

A breath of fresh air, in the scent of Aveda. Life is good...

Did I mention, my husband today? Mr. Tango, he is the man, he is the one who makes my heart smile the most. Even after 10 years!

This weekend...

Tonight will be a family night. Tomorrow, bridal shower and bachelorette party. I plan to wake up nose to nose with my best gals. Sunday, BBQ and pool party with our friends! Happiness comes in the form of a Tanguma today. :0)

A Funny Couple of Days

Well, I know that many of you have been waiting for the stories from my first week of school; let's just say, they don't disappoint.

Day one: Lots of meetings...Luckily Rich was there to ease the burden of sitting through the orientation. I wish I could say everything that had been discussed, but I kind of don't remember it all. After our morning meeting, we had to report to our buildings, check out our classrooms, etc. There was one other guy hired in my same department, and a few others throughout the school.

The only big shocker from day one was stepping into my classroom for the first time. The room was shaped like a trapezoid, she had the computers in some sort of crazy spiral, and crap was everywhere! Lots of work, seriously, lots!

I went to the bookkeeper to grab my keys. While there, someone noticed my name, and asked if my husband worked in the district. I said no, but figured I probably was related somehow, and asked who she knew. She said she had worked dispatch for the Aurora Police Department. Right away I knew she meant Ern's brother, so I said, "Oh, you must mean, Big R, he is WAAAAYYYY older than my husband!"

Day two: Let the fun begin...We reported to Rich's school on Tuesday, along with two other new business teachers within the district. Griz starts in using all these crazy voiceovers. Naturally, Rich thinks this is great, and keeps egging him on. All the while, I am thinking, great, I have to hear this every day for the rest of the school year. I am about to kill Rich! So much so that I have to text Shi-town to warn Rich that I am about to knock him out. It was funny (in retrospect ONLY).

Then he begins talking about his Australian adventure while getting his masters degree. The irony comes from the fact that my favorite professor had him in class. He faked being Australian for the entire 18 months of his masters, only to tell the truth in the last night of class. It freaked out our professor to the point that she actually wondered if he was safe to be around. Nice, this is now the guy I am working with. So, when my school is on the news for the crazy dude, yeah, you'll say you knew why. It turns out, he did it all for a bet, and realized that in the end, he would need some letters of recommendation and would have to be truthful, or become Australian! At least Rich thought it was funny.

I have now found out my co-worker is not safe to be around, my other co-worker is fine, as long as she gets out her personal drama first, and I am pretty much going this whole journey alone. I would be lying if I said I didn't cry a little bit.

Day three: Change the way you see things
Once the Griz relaxes, he is actually a pretty decent guy. He doesn't know a whole lot about the courses he will be teaching, nor does he seem all that motivated to figure it out, but, he'll either sink or swim, which doesn't affect my day-to-day at all. Also, when he doesn't have Rich egging him on, he remains in his own persona, 100% of the time.

The shanker is also a pretty great person. Yes, she has some issues, but she has been in the same building for 20 some odd years, so what d'ya expect? She has been helpful beyond words, and I know I can grow to appreciate her.

Bottom Line:
I can't wait to experience this year and all that comes along with it!

Mrs. Tanguma is nervous...

While driving to have dinner with some friends last night, I finally admitted, out loud, that I am starting to FREAK OUT! Usually I try to have nerves of steel and remain calm, but we were running unusually late (like WAY worse than normal Tanguma time), there was traffic, I was driving, and my summer is ending. My husband was out of town, the girls have been crazy, my brother is in town, and we are packing in our last moments of summer, squeezing out every ounce of time.

I think I usually pack my schedule like this to keep my mind off of things I should or will be doing soon. Though, admittedly, my schedule is always packed so people rarely notice when I go all extreme adventurer (except Mr. T, he always notices the change in our bank account!)

Any, anyway, here I am rambling on, pretending like I am not actually going to write this blog.

On Monday, I take on a new identity. I begin my new career as an Olympian. Yes, you heard it here first; I am training for the winter Olympics, and will be competing on the US sweeping team. (Wouldn't that be funny?) No, I have not fallen off the deep end; my grace and my reality remain in check. My school mascot is the Olympian. I used to know two people, who worked at the school, but one of them has been given a principal position at another school and left, so I am down to one. I don't know my hours; I don't know my schedule, where my classroom will be, how many kids I will have. Nope, I am going in blind. I did buy a couple of picture frames, which have a magnetic backing for my file cabinet, but I am not certain it is enough to feel like I am home. Mr. T likes the school colors, but I am not sure they accent my best skin tones. No seriously, I am so nervous about this whole thing. I mean, I have spent the last few years working hard. I networked and interviewed the heck out of this whole thing. In the end, I was offered several jobs (which I consider a huge blessing in our economy).

I have amazing students from Thornton and Chatfield, many of which still contact me. I have amazing relationships and friends at CV, who I wish whole heartedly I was working with. I can see that God orchestrated my entire journey. He has provided far and above anything I could have imagined. Perhaps I am nervous about returning His blessings, performing at my personal best. Monday is a few beers of summer away. My heart is heavy with fear and worry. I have grown so familiar with my girls, and have really, really enjoyed getting to know them again. I sort of feel like I am abandoning them, but I know they are in good hands. Watching them grow this summer has been a blessing. As the home improvement projects wind down, our backyard is maintaining itself (Mr. T needs to put down more snake repellent if he wants me out there!), gheesh, the reality is, and all this worrying is so silly. We all know that in the first fifteen minutes I will meet tons of people, have a great time and settle in.

For now, wait, yep, I hear the call for "mommy" coming from upstairs. I get the privilege of crawling in next to one of the two most beautiful girls my eyes have ever seen. She will be wearing lipstick, leftover from last night, and smeared cheek to cheek. Her eyes will sparkle as she kisses my face and hands a hundred times. She will giggle as my fingernails tickle her tummy and back. Then, she will throw the cover over our heads while we sing songs and pretend to be in a far away land. No time for editing today... Mommy's baby is calling.

Part Four...

Is it possible that in the time span between my blogs, when there were moments I actually had some time to blog, but was unable to find a single thing to write about, that as I sit here, in reflection/ anticipation (not sure which) time itself has changed everything!

Part Four:

I knew it would be a miracle to secure employment in an economy where few to no bond issues passed, teachers were being cut, and electives were less and less popular. But, I serve someone so much bigger than our economy. My best friend, Chewbaca, she says, I have the strangest best luck.

When I saw the posting at LP I decided it was a long shot, but I called in a few favors. No matter how crappy I treated people in high school, I never treated teachers or principals without utmost respect. So, you can call it fate or destiny that while sitting in a PLC meeting at CV, the key note speaker was my old AP, but I know it isn't fate, I know His plan, His will, was just starting in motion. I emailed him, as I knew he used to principal LP, and asked for a favor. With that nod, I felt I had secured an interview.

If that interview was any clue as to what the market was like out there, then YIKES! I pulled in to the paking lot, and who was coming out but one of my classmates. I felt like a traitor, but I had earned the interview fair and square. Rather than rattle my nerves, I focused on my interview. While waiting, and waiting, and waiting, for the person ahead of me to finish, I read a wonderful book about PLC's. The dept. chair from one of my previous schools walked out of the interview. Shock, could I really know every single person to interview?

The next day I had another interview at AC. I didn't know of anyone else who would be interviewing here, and they even had two openings. I loved both schools, and both opportunities. I remember that the week prior I had been praying that God's will be done. Something quite hard for me to pray for because I am a CONTROL FREAK! I remember a little discussion, something about distance, demographics, best of both worlds, good starting salary, etc. but ultimately, I decided for His will, not mine, because when I decide, I get things wrong. When I left the interview at AC, I remember calling my husband and telling him God was going to make me choose between 2 schools, two jobs. I was certain I had nailed both interviews.

My first welcoming into the politics of school districts came the following week. I wasn't given either job, but both had asked to forward my info on to two other schools, and even let me in on some of the happenings within their department, and a promise of a call in the future, etc. I tried hard, really hard, not to take the reigns back, and instead to see that the opportunities would keep coming as long as people kept forwarding me on. SO NOT LIKE ME!!! I think it was God's test, I guess I probably got a B-, but His grace, well, it is more than I deserve.

In the meantime, hmm, how many interviews, how many jobs had I applied to? LOTS! I started applying everywhere, middle school, high school, near, far, north, south. When I finally came to know, I mean like know, that you know, that you know, kind of know.... I had done everything possible on my part, and the rest was stepping out on faith, and sticking to His will. It was a dry spell. A scary dry spell, where I was ready to start accepting that I may be that person who is called one week before school starts and offered a job via phone. School days were ticking down, and while I felt a sense of relief, just knowing something would happen, it was still quite terrifying not knowing the details of my future.

I asked Ernie one day if he thought I should follow-up with some of the schools that I had been forwarded to, and we decided, why not? Well, I guess sometimes I do listen when the Lord is speaking. At the very moment I called an AP she was looking at my resume. She set up an interview right then, and she said she liked my organization. Phew!

Thirty minutes later, I also had an interview at the other school, but the had called me. Timing is everything sometimes! In the meantime, another position also called. Three interviews in my last week of classes? No problem! (Except maybe for needing to dry clean a lot!)

Cheri had told me a thousand times that there was a place, a school, a position for everyone. It was more about where you fit, and how I would know it when I was there. No, I don't believe there is only one school or one situation for everyone, I think there are various places that will work for everyone, but sometimes, you just know.

I drove to a school in Aurora. It was a really easy drive. As I pulled in to school, I saw a million different colored faces, styles, languages. I took it all in, and I felt peace. I knew that Rich was in the interview ahead of me, so I came in, met the secretary, and began writing my thank you cards. Sometimes I send thank you's via e-mail, rarely do I not send some sort of email response, but today, it just felt like writing a card was the best thing to do.

This was interview that felt like magic. Every answer lead directly into the next question. The staff, the principal, the location, the demographics, the job description... it felt like I had just put on my favorite pair of jeans. Gateway is my perfect fit. It is everything I could have prayed for.

I had two more interviews that week, one, which felt nothing close to my favorite jeans, and more like swallowing a cactus. The other, hmm, it felt like home too. I love that principal too. In fact, we have talked several times, she even went golfing with my aunt. What are the odds?

It was during a discussion with a friend that it hit me. I did have to decide between two positions. And, just as I had prayed, the decision was easy, but no love was lost along the way. I am going to a school where I feel like I was meant, designed, trained up and divinely created to be a part of. I wasn't asked to coach, I wasn't asked to do more than be myself, and to teach. The hours are great and work for Ern and my schedule. The demographics and location are exactly what I prayed for. The school colors are orange and black (Orange is Ernie's favorite). The department is young and fresh and new. The dept. chair has 20+ years military and industry experience, and sees my skill set for the potential it holds. Yep, I will be a Gateway Olympian in the fall. So, my strangest, best luck (aka God's will for my life) took on a shape that I never could've believed I was deserving of.

This is my happy ending. I think that the book for the journey to teaching has come to a close. Now, as I look around for items to decorate my classroom with, or reading about benefits, salaries, PERA, PLC's, teaching technology, or just overall thinking about my next year... While it might be just another chapter in my life, I feel instead like it is a start of a new book, a new life, and a new way of living. It is humbling to pray for God's will and then to have Him bless me beyond my heart's desire. I can see His plan, His progress in each and every experience I have encountered this past year, two years even. It feels like my heart is going to explode when I consider it all, reflect on it all. Everyone, especially my sweet, sweet husband, the support I received; it consumes me. It leaves me thinking one thought...

My cup runeth over!


fin

Time changes... well EVERYTHING (Part Three)

Is it possible that in the time span between my blogs, when there were moments I actually had some time to blog, but was unable to find a single thing to write about, that as I sit here, in reflection/ anticipation (not sure which) time itself has changed everything!

Part Three: A rose by any other name would still smell just as sweet, right?

So, I started out at CV, where I was Mrs. Tango. I learned so much. Cheri was a great teacher. I mean, imagine, me, teaching Accounting? Poms was its own lesson too. One I gladly say good-bye to. When you only know one place, or one experience, it is easy to see how you can be stuck in that place, and know that kind of happiness. I could have been a proud and happy Sabercat, and I know many teachers who are and who will be. If I am called back to Sabercat territory, my heart will smile. But for now, I am happy to see one member of Team R beginning his journey there. :-)

How fortunate for me to have two, back-to-back long term sub positions. Each one it's own unique chapter. Thornton was more than a welcoming friend, it was a place in my heart that changed and touched me for a lifetime. They called me Miss. Funny considering most of my students there actually had the ability to pronounce my last name. I saw a change in my students, and they certainly found their own unique little places in my heart. Now, thinking about my power couple, and knowing what lies ahead for them... It is their big opportunity to show everyone, just how much they can accomplish together. I cannot wait to see what their beautiful little girl!

I owe so much to my friends at Thornton, especially Brad. They let me borrow books (which ultimately landed me a future!) they covered for me, OFTEN. And they showed me a functioning, fun group and school environment, with kids whom my heart sought after in ways I never knew would be possible.

It was hard to leave them. It was hard to say good-bye. It was actually even a little scary to walk in to Chatfield. The kids, especially the seniors, so much fun! They were everything I knew the kids from CV would become someday. Deb, Chris, Aric, all of the staff, so welcoming. Tons of fun! But, more fun, was the most familiar face, Shi-town. Our after school talks, our study hall (how can you LOVE freshman?) No serious Shi-town, you are amazing! Thanks for your friendship, and your stories... I am holding out for the bald guy! I place my bets on that pathway, over the current hold-out, ANY DAY!

Wait, as a Charger, they called me, "Tango", except one student, he called me Mrs. Tangu, which I loved!

Chatfield was a prefect ending to a long school year. So the question remains; the next chapter? Naturally, I am all about happy endings!