I had the privilege of being Erin and Jim's house guest in Denver!

Wyatt (Erin's younger son) has a most contented personality


When we came to their house, they had a warm crockpot meal waiting for us. We played the Wii Fit, and then the guys barbecued while Erin and I cut up tomatoes and avocados.

After the kids were in bed, we played 3-13. Later when GJ left, I went down to "my room" and Erin had the most beautiful bed prepared! And at the foot of the bed, was a hospitality basket with enough goodies to eat and drink for days!

I pulled out my toothbrush and on my way to the bathroom, I passed the kitchen and found Erin and Jim still up and chatting, so I stopped and joined them. I think the conversation we had that night was my favorite part!

Mom and her brother Jascha

at Aunt Erna's lake property

Germany

World Cup - Elona and Jessica with our cousins Jenny and Estella


Dad learning to wave board with his brother

Jessica and Dad in Siegburg, Dad's home town

Dad working in the field

Italy, Austria, Venice, Lichtenstein, Czech, Switzerland

My sisters are amused that I am posting so many photos of THEIR vacation. Well, I guess I'm wishing that's where I could be. Especially seeing their photos of Switzerland. Take me there!









Switzerland

Field Trip this morning

"Hoos-ster. No, hooot-t-t-ters."

I could hear our boy sounding out the word in the backseat of the van. Sure, enough, there was the restaurant right there. "Oh how cute," I whispered to my coworker. "He so innocently has no idea what he is sounding out."

But then when he kept repeating it over and over again, we were like, "Oh he knows exactly what he is saying." He is 10 years old after all, and not just learning to read. And he has not been sheltered in his young life. He's seen it all.

If you need an uplift and you're exactly like me, this song will do it: Here In This Moment

Today I worked 1:1 with a four-year-old autistic girl.

When I tried to brush her hair, she threw herself on the floor, screaming. It was not a normal cry; they were the grunts and squeals of the mentally ill.

She spent much of the shift groaning and writhing on the floor like that. Sometimes she did this when I set a limit. Sometimes for no apparent reason.

At nap time, I rocked her in my lap for over an hour until she fell asleep. When I transferred her limp body to the bed, she awoke and let out a high-pitched screech. I pulled her back onto my lap, but she became louder, so I took her outside before she disrupted the entire house. Kicking and screaming, I carried her out wondering Lord, what will become of this child?

“Natalie I’m not your friend, I’m not your family, I’m not your acquaintance. I am your coworker. And a coworker will always be honest with you.”

-Tony, before giving me some personal advice