Spice of Life

Before you get a job you should have a college degree.  Before you get married you should have a good job and a house, maybe a condo.  Before you have kids you should have stock options, money saved, own a home.... These are all things the world tells us we "should" do.  You should have all your ducks in a row before you make any life changing decisions.  Norm and I laugh in the face of what the world tells us we "should" do.  Now I'm not saying you shouldn't try to be prepared or that you should be irresponsible in making major life choices.  I'm just saying that we've never done life quite the way society thinks we should and we certainly have never had "ideal timing". We met in college and got married before we were done, our honeymoon was only 3 days in Vegas because we had to get back in time to start the new semester.  When Kieren was born Norm was in Seminary and we were renting an apartment but after a little while we couldn...

Our son is in 1st grade.  Last year he had an amazing Kindergarten teacher, "the best" in his school.  At the beginning of this year we were apprehensive about who his 1st grade teacher might be.  He had been struggling with reading and confidence (even with an amazing teacher), so we were very relieved when we met his new teacher and learned of her experience and very calm and kind spirit.  About a week or two ago, she told me that he had asked to read in front of his class (albeit a very simple book but still...) and we have noticed a change in his confidence level and he doesn't get nearly as frustrated as he used to.  We have been THRILLED with his teacher and how she has helped him and also, how she has dealt with some bullying situations that have occurred.  Well, he is one month into school and all that might change now.  This Fall the district re-opened Fairmont, another elementary school nearby and what I see to be poor planning is now affecti...