Counting up a school year

I have until Friday to get all my IEPs finished, paperwork turned in, reports sent out, amendments signed and sent in.   I think I'm on track to get it done.  I held two IEPs today and have 4 more this week.   

And so, last week, one of my colleagues says, "Can you believe I've done 38 assessments this year?"   Wow, no, I can't, that's a huge number of assessments!   So, ok, I have to count mine and did so at the end of the day.   35, Thirty five full speech and language assessments.   Wow, I'm entirely impressed with myself.   I also exited 7 kids from special ed.  Whoop!

I'll try to remember to count tomorrow and see how many IEPs total I've done this year.    Boatload!

And yes, several times this year my desk looked like this.  Thanks to my fab assistant it doesn't stay looking this way:

It's Poppy time!

Monday I took a drive that took me from home to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve and then on a lovely winding drive through the mountains to Castaic and home again.   Here are some of my favorite photos:

Gorman Post Road

 138 before Neenach

 Near Neenach

 At the Poppy Preserve

 Munz Ranch Road

Lake Elizabeth Road

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!

Blessed Easter Sunday to all!   This has been a different week for me.  Usually I spend part of the week with family but since I really wanted to take part in my church's celebrations I stayed home.   Being at home was just what I needed.  The first several days I slept 10-11 hours each night and by the end of the week I've got that down to 9 hours.   I've not done much but took one wildflower drive that was a bust and have done some knitting.

Good Friday and Easter services did not disappoint, lovely remembrances, reminders, and celebrations of Jesus' sacrifice for us.   Pastor brought home the message that "It is finished" means that there is nothing else we need do for the forgiveness of our sin.  Christ has done it completely, for all, and for all time. 

My Lunar Eclipse Photos

I thoroughly enjoyed the eclipse watching from my driveway.   I went in and out every 10-15 minutes and then as it got more dramatic I stayed outside.   It was so peaceful and quiet in the neighborhood.  I didn't hear anyone else outside and that surprised me.   At one point I heard a neighbor buttoning up his house and telling someone, "she must be watching the eclipse."  

What I didn't expect is the sense of wonder and awe in witnessing an event like this.   Surely this points to the Creator God.   As it grew darker and I could see more stars it was very much like the "vault of heaven" feeling that you get when you're in the mountains or far out in the desert where there are no lights from towns and cities. 

As I watched the moon growing darker I heard in my mind the opening bars of "Come Build a Church" by Ken Medema.  It's one of our choir favorites and begins with the most solemn and awe filled notes with the words, "God of Creation, Maker of All Things, We Gather in your House to Pray."    And pray I did.  I rejoiced in the wonder that set the stars and planets in their rotation.  As I enjoyed the quiet I turned to look at each home and prayed for those inside and for the health and peace of the neighborhood.  

A wonderful evening.

An image I need to post elsewhere

More flowers

Warming up outside and out pop the flowers

This is about 3 inches across.  The stem is about 6 inches long coming off of a cactus that is about 4 inches around and 3 inches high.

This is my Christmas pointsettia that started 

pushing out new bracts as the weather started warming up.  

The whitish looking bracts have been out in the rain.

Teeny tiny oranges are still teeny tiny.  

It looks a little taller and plumper to me, though.