Finding Peace

How do we find peace in our lives? Having children makes you reflect on how to see the world as a peaceful place, and at the end of the day,  I proud of the decisions I've made.  The decision to leave dance and go back to school was a big step in my life to regain control that I had lost, and to better my life for my family.  I am finding so many things to be thankful for and seeing so many ways that I was being pulled in the wrong direction. We live and learn, and I've learned that I am a responsible adult, not perfect, but I am putting my kids first, and my family is everything.  Since I took back my life, I've found more time to be with my kids and husband, and feel so much better about the time I spend doing activities that we choose to do.  I enjoy our time at home, and really appreciate watching them grow up.  I don't miss being criticized daily, put down for my efforts, and the negative atmosphere.  I don't know yet if I want to be a principal, but I have learned that the climate of a school depends on the administration taking leading positively, and I know how to treat each student and co-worker with respect.  Those are things I already knew, but now that I've come out of yet another abusive relationship , I see that I am drawn to creative people, and I have a need to be creative, so I will use that for my career, and always work to see the good in people, and hopefully use what I have learned to better the students I teach. I have found peace, and am so happy to not be a part of that world anymore.  My world includes those that I love, and teaching character responsibility to my kids and students.

Things to be thankful for

Just another Sunday.  I'm sitting here in the eye of the storm.  They are all around me, the kids.  Screaming, singing, laughing, yelling, and I'm blessed and thankful for just having them in my life!  This is what I see...

Zoe. 5th grade, 10 years old, smart, sweet, still young.  Loving, and critical at the same time. She is a good girl.  Have to make sure she stays that way.   Very creative, always thinking of something to do.  Writing something right now. She took the Darth Vader mask from the other two. 

Gus. 3rd grade, 8 years old,  smart, kind hearted, emotional, creative, loves kids, and most of all his brother! Wearing Darth Vader mask.

Emma. Pre-K, 4 years old, smart - really smart and clever, headstrong, very spontaneous and spunky.  Her innocence sets her apart, passionate, about everything she does and sees. Taking apart a toy and asking me to fix it for her.  Now she is wanting the Darth Vader mask and fighting over it. 

Teddy. 8 months on the 23rd of this month.  Growing, soft skin, hungry, smiling, laughing.  Sitting up, stronger every day.

Looks like they have abandoned the mask and are now on to other toys.  Going to be a great day!

http://flic.kr/ps/24Xzns

Fall Reflections

This has been a very good fall for us in the DeVries house.  Though we are no longer dancing, the kids are finding fun in many activities.  Zoe has been chosen for student council, saftey patrol, and is trying out for Cheer Leading.  Zoe, Gus, and Emma have taken swim lessons for the past two months and really loved it.  Teddy is growing and is just too cute for words!  Now if Tony and I could find time to have a nice dinner together, that would be perfect.  School is going well.  I'm taking two classes as USI and teaching music and technology.  Really enjoying the tech stuff, which is spurring me to blog and giving me fuel and passion for a something I do anyway.  Halloween was very nice, with great weather.  October seemed to be a long month, but somehow November is already accounted for.  Guess I better write more often, so that I can continue to keep up with my life!