As Good as its gets

It is great being Mutta!

Fighting

Well, another experience with "J" - Last week I was checking roll on the computer and a male voice said the "f" word loudly enough for me to hear it. It came from where J was sitting - I said I heard that and I am writing you up (I was mad because I just cannot have that in class) - It sounded like "J"'s voice. He jumped up yelling - "I didn't say that" - and I argued with him because they will lie to get out of an office referal - Oh and the girls in front kept saying yeah "J" said it - (They like/hate him and want to get him in trouble.) - and then he argues with them. Finally "A" said "I said it" then I said you're just trying to help him out. I could have sworn "J" said it. However, I do know that finally he will own up to what he has done - but this time he was angry and kept denying it. So he finally WALKED out of my class. I thought well now I have to write him up. - And I was beginning to think that he really didn't say it. Anyway, he was gone for about 10 minutes and I went about checking classwork and he came back in and sat down quietly - so... I asked "J" and "A" to come out in the hall with me. (I was praying the whole time that I could be inspired as to what to say because it was a very volitile situation) - I spoke to both of them - and said okay who said it. "A" said I did! I would not take the fall for him. I said well it sounded like "J"'s voice and I just thought you were trying to save him. Okay - I am not going to write anyone up - but you CANNOT cuss in my class. I want the spirit of the Lord in my room and that drives the spirit right out. Okay Mrs. Bond we will not cuss. -And then I told "J" you HAVE to learn to control your temper. I understand having a temper because I have one also. But you have to control it. I said you can be anything you want to be but you will blow it if you do not control your temper. So all was peaceful and calm the rest of the class period. Then the bell rang - after everyone left - "J" apoloized to me!!!! I mean NO student apolozies. They are just to proud to do that. Anyway - another victory in the road of teaching. It is SUCH a hard job because we deal with so... many personalities. One teacher said he made a student cry because he asked her to step out in the hall to collect herself because she was laughing so hard it was disruptive! - So she got all upset and was crying!!! - He said that's the difference in teaching accelerated classes - in regular classes - you can hit them up beside the head with a brick and its oh well. I mean it is so.. hard to read every personality.

My Pride, My Joy

This is my pride and joy! - Grandchildren - I am very greatful to be a Grandmother - it is so much fun. This picture was taken at Thanksgiving with some of my Porritt grandchildren and some of my Longnecker Grandchildren - Well, Gabe REFUSED to be in the picture and Kate and Anna stayed with Eric. - I MISS THEM ALL and MISS the others that are not in the picture, but I delight in the time that I get to spend with them! I love being their MUTTA!

Gospel Music

Bill and I have enjoyed gospel music especially the Bill Gaither Homecoming group. We always record it on Day Star Network every Saturday night. Anyway Ernie Haase told a story about when he was a little boy that his grandfather use to offer prayer with his hand on Ernie's heart and say - Lord I know you'll use this boy in your service because he has a good heart. - I thought what a wonderful idea to plant into a child's mind - that he has a good heart and the Lord will use him - I thought I would pass that along to all of you that you might use something similar in your prayers for your children, and name them one by one to the Lord. Anyway, they have a new CD out called "Dream On" and I really like it. We have Grandma Ida to thank for introducing this spirit inspired gospel music.

Glen Beck

Interview
I read on Meridan Magazine that Glen Beck was scheduled for an interview on "Focus on the Family" That is James Dobson's organization. It is a Christain organization that does a lot of good. Anyway, they cancelled his interview bascially because he is a Mormon which they knew but decided that it would be hypercritical to have him on because he does not believe in the same "God" or "Jesus" that Christians do. I think that it is a hoot. A faithful Latter Day Saint wrote in and asked exactly why. They wrote her back a long essay on why they differed with him and why Mormons are not Christains. Anyway, I personally don't give a rip that some think that we are not Christains. - I have dealt with so... many colleagues that are nice to me and we agree on some many things and then later I find out they are totally prejudice towards me because I am a Mormon. I saved the article I will email it to you if you cannot find it on Meridian Magazine.

Colds, The Bible, and King Tut

KING TUT
When Bill and I went to see the King Tut exhibit at the Atlanta Civic Center, I bought a calendar that is an 2008-09 calendar - but it has a lot of the pictures of the artifacts that were in the exhibit that wanted to take pictures of but could not. So I have laminated that calendar and then printed out their descriptions. All of this took hours~! But I plan to at some point hang thsm in my classroom. At this point my room is full and I will probably hopefully have to move at the end of the year because they are going to do repairs. I am praying I can move to a new classroom as my room is HOT every single day. Even in the dead of winter MY room is HOT. Anyway, its a small thing but I am excited that I got that done. Then I went to a exhibitmerchandising web site that was listed on the back of the calendar and bought 2 really cool books on King Tut. The books in the museum gift shop were very expensive. I hope you like my cool pictures! I worked very hard at getting them -

SICK

Well, my grandson Gabe, gave me a cold and diarrhea. I started getting sick Sunday night and have battled it with loads of Vit C and Viacam. Anyway I am much better now. I have used a lot of kleenex. I hope Gabe is doing better. I have been sicker this year than other years. Starting the New Year off sick is a bummer.

WEEK AT SCHOOL

I have had a rough week at school the kids are just wild. But I must say I did have a good experience also. A student I will call "J" who is definitely a problem in class - we have battled over and over - yet I like him and he likes me. In fact at times has said that I am his favorite teacher!! In spite that I have written him up over and over. I also had him in Middle School so the Lord seems to think that we NEED to associate with one another. Anyway- I had the kids in groups and everyone was working really well - a teacher's DREAM - the group he was in began to talk about God. I did not hear the conversation. But a girl in the group had a small New Testament pocket sized scripture. J had it - held it up to me and "Mrs. Bond find something in here that I need to read." I said Okay!!! - So in my mind I was praying that I could quickly find a scripture that would apply to him before the moment was gone. I opened it to Matthew 4 and read 1-4 : I said read this especially verse 4 - "man cannot live by bread alone." So he read it and yelled out to me - I don't know what that means (after the girl in the group tried to explain it to him). I said it means that you have to not only feed your body but you have to feed your spirit - your soul needs spiritual food. It was like a light bulb went on inside his head. He said - Oh... I get it - I am going to read more! NOW THAT IS A VICTORY - I have them in groups all the time - and I overheard him telling someone that he had a dream that scared him - someone came to him and told him that he had to change that the things he was doing was very wrong - He's into having sex with a girl in my class also - they are very free with that information. Anyway he said "I'm not stopping doing stuff I don't care, I ain't quiting! I wanted to intervein and give him council but decided since it was not directed to me that I would not. Anyway this was a small thing but could lead to great things. This kid is extremely smart but likes to argue and cause a big stir with me AND his classmates.

Dancing and Buttons

Isabel, Anna, Kate and I had fun dancing to the music in the office area.

Kate playing with the buttons.

Isabel and Kate were fascinated with all of my buttons - Isabel gleaned some buttons from me. She posed by the tree but this was only the beginning of her collection.