A Great Big 'Ole Cox Update

February is what I am going to call a Whirlwind Month. Brian and/or I are busy pretty much every day of every weekend with at least one thing on the agenda - church activities, Family Game Nights, Baby Showers, Family Dinners, Service Projects, etc. It's going to be busy, but it will be Spring Break before I know it!
I thought I'd give a general update on the two of us since we've both got a lot going on.

Brian
Right now Brian is looking to change up his job a little. He had his yearly review last week. His boss told him he was doing everything right and he could not ask for anything better. Unfortunately, the rating system at Bell is lame. Bosses rate their employees, send it to "upper management", and they change all ratings to fit a bell curve. So he got a 3.3 when he really was rated with solid 4s and 5s. For a perfectionist like Brian (and me) this is annoying.



Anyway, he's fine with it. To be able to move up in the company he needs to work on other areas to get more experience. So this week he talked to his boss (whom he loves and doesn't want to leave) about other areas. He had many worries this week about leaving his group hanging, not being able to finish his work, etc. He prayed about it and the next day all of his fears and concerns were answered with a solution. So he feels good about the move. In April it looks he will start working on the 429, redesigning it to reduce cost and weight.

Cassie
Along with a busy February outside of work I am feeling overwhelmed at work as well -lots of meetings, parent conferences, trainings, etc. going on during my only free time.

The only job update for me is that I had a fairly good week with my class. I was able to stay calm, with a few exceptions regarding an exceptional student. I have sent him to the office 3 or 4 times in the last 2 weeks. I am done being nice about it and I have to advocate for the 21 other kids in there who deserve a lesson without interruptions to get someone to sit down, stop kicking the wall, stop throwing is pencil and pen, stop talking, etc.



Oh and I guess it's new and exciting that I will be moving to a brand new classroom next year. 3rd grade gets the new wing! It's way smaller than I'm used to, but I am looking forward to a blank slate and new creations!

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Recent Purchases

We went to upgrade our cell phones last night. HAHA. I'm laughing because you have to purchase a data plan with any cell phone these days. I'm sure you remember a previous post I made about texting. Brian was not happy but I tried to explain to him that no one else besides us lives in the stone age. However, I admit we do not, in any way, need a data plan. Currently we use MAYBE 100 minutes a month of talking time. So, we ordered our phones online - FREE - and I will soon have the minimum texting plan so I can at least read them! I may reply to you if you're nice. :-)



We also went to Cavanders and Brian purchased himself his first pair of Justin Boots. This was a big decision, but I'm glad he spent his birthday money before next January!!



Current Reading

At B&N last night Brian purchased a book on how science proves Creationism. This interest came from videos he's watching at work with some co-workers. He sounds excited about it. He is also currently reading through the Old Testament.



I am trying to read Harry Potter 7, here and there. I am also reading a book grandad got me called "Education for Human Flourishing: a Christian Perspective" and I'm trying to read through the Bible using a guide. Right now I'm in Genesis, Acts, Psalms, and Matthew all at once. I love reading it this way to see parallels throughout the text.



Current Goals for the Future

Brian really wants a patent someday. The only problem is anything he comes up with will be owned by Bell Helicopter. But it is a goal of his to have a patent someday, hopefully soon.



My goal is much farther away, I think. I have always had it in the back of my mind that I would love to open up some sort of childcare center (NOT a daycare!) for underprivileged children to try and reverse the cirlce of poverty through education. This week I had an overwhelming feeling of a way I could possibly do this through a ministry at my church. It was just an idea, I don't know if it's even plausible, but I may be looking into my idea. My hope is to open up some sort of non-profit Education Center for teen moms. My thoughts would be to educate their children, preparing them for public schoool, but with Christian teaching as well. It's a VERY RAW idea at the moment, but I could totally see myself in this area one day...lots more details and thoughts I could expand on later. Just pray that if this is of God that He will keep it on my heart.

Success!

Yesterday we went back to the first day of school. I was calm. I was cool. I was collected. I retaught things like how to raise your hand, how to sit in your seat, how to talk respectfully, etc. It worked and was a much less stressful day. Today I did have a few minutes where I could feel myself getting upset, but I made a conscious effort to speak calmly. I would say it was a success...let's hope I can keep it going.

A Nun in Disguise

Two of my favorite childhood movies are Sister Act I and II. If you don't know the storyline it's about a Vegas Showgirl who witnesses a murder and has to go into hiding at a convent. In Sister Act II Whoopi Goldberg's character is called back to St. Francis Academy to revive the rundown and deliquent music class. I figured out today that there was a reason that I was compelled to buy the DVD as an adult.

It's no secret that this has been a very challenging schoolyear for me, with one particular child who challenges me literally every minute of the day. My class is out of control, backtalking, arguing, constantly out of their seats, figeting during teaching, off task during center work, off task during independent work...and the list goes on. You get the idea. I have become one of THOSE teachers. At school I'm never in a good mood, so stressed and at a loss of what to do with these kids that I find myself sitting in class staring into the air, wanting to cry, not knowing what to do, and counting the minutes until they are gone.

I came home yesterday after a very hard day, exhausted, angry, almost in tears. My sweet husband let me vent and generously offered his advice, all of which I already do or have told myself that I am too weak to do. But I admitted that I just need to bite the bullet and do it. I had prayed earlier in the week for God's help, once again, realizing I can't fix this on my own. I felt there were three things He wanted me to remember throughout the day: 1) No one is perfect 2) These kids are human beings, sinful by nature, therefore not perfect 3) HE loves them!

I woke up this morning determined to make a change in myself. I got online looking for some articles with strategies to use with difficult classes, classroom management, discipline styles, etc. I found this wonderful article that was talking all about stress management for teachers. Several things this doctor had written made so much sense. "It's not the big occurrences that bother us, they don't happen often. It's the small things when we find ourselves saying, 'Get quiet class,' 'Are you supposed to be out of your seat','Get back to work'". This gets extremely tiring and after about 5 times of saying it you're ready to run away and never come back.

Anyway, he went on to say that "Upset is Weakness and Calm is Strength." Easier said than done. He talked about how when you get upset all this adrenaline is released into your bloodstream and it takes 27 minutes for it to be completely gone - for your 'rush' to leave, leaving you feeling exhausted. Many teachers are wired all day, running on this adrenaline rush. They get home and crash, not able to do anything productive in the evenings. What a revelation!

I kept reading other articles of his and will end up ordering his book because I loved them all so much. All that to say it was all on my mind when I went to shower. I was determined to change, use these strategies, make a difference in myself and my learners. While in the shower I had the realization that I have to be Sister Mary Clarence. I have to go in Monday and turn this class around for their benefit and for my sanity. "It's a brand new day, people, a BRAND NEW DAY."

So with the Lord's enlightenment and the strategies of Dr. Jones these kids will be getting a nun in disguise on Monday morning. I am going to go back to the first day of school and start over. I am hoping for a newer, calmer, more energetic self.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcgscTnXRzA

A Very Merry-Wonderfully Blessed-Fun-Delicious-White Christmas!

I wished for just ONE White Chrismtas and I got my wish! I was so excited on Christmas Eve when it was snowing.



It led to some unfortuante events for my family, which I hate for them, but I was amazed at their positive attitude despite the situation. I was thankful to have them there because they almost went home instead of continuing the trek to Fort Worth.



We enjoyed great times with family, opening gifts, and of course pigging out!





We were "snowed in", had a big slumber party, and got to wake up all together on Christmas Day!





After playing in the snow...


Brian and I carefully drove home to do our Christmas with each other, get cleaned up, and make it to Weatherford for the Cox Family Christmas.




This is where I discovered the young talent of the newly-formed group - The Cox Brothers. Talented and handsome, wouldn't you say?



After a wonderful Christmas dinner we made it home and sorted out all our loot. Wow -how wonderfully blessed and I'm sure spoiled we are! THANK YOU cannot express the amount of gratitude we feel towards our family for making this a Very Merry-Wonderfully Blessed-Fun-Delicious-White Christmas!



Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

'Tis the season to be...BAKING!

It is the season to be baking! I attempted some new things this year - making some yummy sugar cookies, decorated with royal icing, and I tried two new cake ball flavors - peanut butter and mint chocolate. I will say that the mint chocolate was a good idea because they taste like thin mints! YUM!

I now know why people gain weight during the holidays. I made these things for a luncheon at school, our Christmas party, Chrtistmas party with the kids, gifts for people, Spivey party, and so on and so on...

I'm just glad to now have more time to do it. I just need to find a hobby that doesn't tempt me to take a lick here or a bite there...dan-ger-ous.

Dizzy December

Wow what a wonderful time of year! I love Christmastime! Unfortunately it goes by WAY too fast! I am thankful for that during the school day, but not so much on the weekends.

We started off the first weekend in December by having our annual Christmas Party with the Sunday School class. Because of the growing number of babies in the class we decided to have it at the church this year to save time and have more of it! I had a great time. I spent the week before Thanksgiving getting things ready, so I felt good to go - no stress! It was such a fun night with friends!


Then today we went to Six Flags for Brian's company Christmas "party". WHAT WERE WE THINKING?? It was so unbelievabely cold! It was a somewhat disappointing start to the day as most of the rides were closed, but they seemed to open up little by little as the day went on. We enjoyed a free lunch and found our inner child as we rode the tea cups, the Yosimite Sam ride, and the old timey cars. We had a good time just hanging out the two of us...that seems rare these days!

We came home, and our brains must have been frozen. I thought it would be a good idea to stay outside for another two hours and finish hanging Christmas lights. It makes me enjoy the warmth of my blankets so much more!

Next weekend we'll be babysitting Friday night, Family Game Night Saturday, gotta finish up some Christmas shopping at some point...and then before we know it, it will be Christmas! Time sure does fly, but sometimes I wish we could slow down the fast pace of the world today!

I hope you all are finding rest and enjoying time with loved ones during this dizzy December!

Salt on the Floor...What Are You Thankful For?

The other night Brian dropped and broke my salt shaker, ceramic pieces and salt flying all over the kitchen. At first I was a little upset that our first "gift" from our wedding had been broken, but I quickly got over it.

It got me to thinking. This is really the biggest tragedy we have faced in 2 and half years of marriage. We are healthy, safe, loved, and other than a few stressful days at work like any other hard-working American, we have a wonderfully blessed life. So, with Thanksgiving approaching, I decided to make a list of 10 things I am thankful for.

I am thankful that breaking a salt shaker is the saddest thing that has happened to me and that it got me to thinking about being grateful.

I am thankful that I got to use my creative brain today to come up with ideas for our Sunday School Party.

I am thankful for dark chocolate and Dr. Pepper. :-)

I am thankful that I get a week away from school and children to reenergize and go back with a fresh attitude.

I am thankful that I can freely worship my God who loves me despite myself.

I am thankful to have a job.

I am thankful for my family and extended family who loves me, and that they are all healthy.

I am thankful for music.

I am thankful that our VERY LARGE student loan debt will be completely paid off in another 2 years.

I am thankful for my wonderful husband who tells me to lay down while he folds laundry, cleans the dishes after dinner, and rubs my feet at the end of an exhausting day.

Happy Thanksgiving!