My Aha moment

As my son says...."no, the floor isn't cold so nothing has frozen over". I am sitting here thinking of my beginning of the year note to my children, my friends, and myself when I realize my last post was April! I had saved a certain post until the photos came in. They did...I forgot!
As the 2010-2011 school year came to an end, I found myself being the recipient of a few very special honors. All of these were surprises and made me smile. They all made me remember that God made me who I am, the way I am because HE is the I AM and knows what is needed...even when I am not sure about things, frustrated, and ready for a change of scenery.


That is me...in Grapevine at the Vineyards. You can't tell since this photo is small, but I am holding a beautiful glass award. As you know, my kids are part of Big Brothers Big Sisters...we have the best "bigs". THE BEST. Anyway unbeknown to me, our contact person, Suzanne, and the bigs decided to nominate me for a local award. Suzanne called to ask her normal novel length questionnaire and then ended with, "I just want you to know that there will be a guy from our production group calling to set up a time to interview you, your kids, and the bigs. I am excited to tell you that you won the Charles Allred Parent of the Year Award for this area." Now, at this point, I started to laugh! yep I laughed..in her ear!!! Seriously? Me? My kids will not agree with this I am sure! Then she continued to tell me that I had been nominated at the "Lone Star" level (from Houston to Wichita Falls), and had also won that award. At this point I was laughing so hard I was gasping for air. Me? Hello, I am Trina, the one who yells more than once a week. The one who had just been driving down the road the day before, pulled over, got out, opened my son's door and offered to let him get himself home if he couldn't stop what he was doing. Me? The one who mumbles under her breath? Then she explained. It isn't because I am a wonderful Mom, but because I am a parent who works with her bigs. Now that I could handle. Soon after the phone conversation we recorded the interviews. My house was lighted up like a lighthouse and had company for 4 1/2 hours. Jordan, Ashley and Kauy were interviewed in the barn with the pigs. Makaley and Karyn were interviewed at the house and then headed to dinner. I was last. I didn't listen to any of the others interviews. Glad I didn't. What a precious surprise when at the dinner in Grapevine the video was played. Tears fell onto my nice clean shiny blouse. Oh my, the things my kids bigs said about me! Sweet, loving, kind words that made me proud to be part of theird lives too. Jordan and Ashley couldn't be with us because they were increasing their family population by one...Miss Leighton Grace. Karyn was able to join us as did Tony, my sister and her husband. What an honor to be presented with one of the top honors in an organization because I am who I am....me...the mom who just survives and strives for everyone to feel like a family. As for the dinner...four hours long in a winery with lots of people and little space. A 10 year old who doesn't do veggies, or meat with sauce poured over it. Thanks to Michelle Senter, he had rolls and Dr. Pepper! Yep, parent of the year! And then when I began my little 2 minute speech, he graciously placed rabbit ears on his sister! In front of the populated room!



This is my third award of the year! The honor of attending the top 50 plus banquet for the Abilene High Schools. This young man was in my sixth grade ELA class at Clack. He was one of my favorites.(I have more than 50 or so) His creativity was astounding. His manners, study habits, and personality made him a joy in class. Just have to say he was one of the high lights of that year. Many of my students speak to me for anytime we meet in public. They grow up and become beautiful and handsome young ladies and young men. Just last night I ran into one of my students from 25 years ago. We had a great conversation as she caught me up on you 6th grade son. Love my students!!! One even stopped next to me at a stop light last week and just started honking and waving! Anyway...Marquis made my day when he called and asked me to join him at the banquet. I sat with his family (we are all friends) and I was so proud when he led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. What an Honor for me!!! What a joy to watch as his name was called out along with 2 other students who had blessed my room. Thank you for making me remember why I do what I do!

The final award of the school year came when I was honored for 30 years of service to AISD. Yep, 30 years. I only feel 30 so I must have come from the womb teaching. (Susan, don't say it!) For my 30 years of working at a job that I was made for and love, I received a beautiful chiming mantle clock. I cleared off a spot for it, got new batteries into it set the time and let her go. Hmmmm at 3:30PM the next afternoon, it still said 10:45. New batteries;reset; another 24 hours and it said 10:45. I think they are telling me that I have to teach another 30 years to get a clock that works. I took it back this week (ha, you think I would take it during vacation? I am smarter than that. I gave it over 24 days to work correctly). I will get a new one sooner than 30 years! Even though I love my job....that is good news!
So, I must say that my year ended on an uphill moment. That is good because wait till I tell you about the plateau and the roller coaster that followed!