Just when you think it can't get any worse...

Lightening strikes and the rain pours, right? At least that is how it works if you are the damsel in distress in a Disney movie.

I had a moment like this... Last Monday was quite a rough day at work. Mondays can be behaviorally challenging, especially when the students rely upon routine and constancy. The weekends tend to shake that up a bit. So, anyhow, I am driving from school to a first year teacher training when, as I push on the gas, my car makes this horrible sound and dies at the intersection at redwood road and 104th south. I sit in my car and think... "What do I do?  This has never happened before."  I call my insurance who put me in touch with a tow truck and while I am on the phone a random stranger (bless him) with a truck and a tow rope pulls in front of me and asks if I would like him to tow me out of the road!  Yes, please.  That was tender mercy number one in my fiasco of a day.  So this random stranger named Terry, tows me to a Smith's parking lot.  The tow truck comes and because I don't know any mechanics in West Jordan refers me to a mechanic, "An Honest Mechanic."  As we are driving there (and I am subsequently missing my training) I think that if I were in a Disney movie, right about now would be the time that the lightening would strike and the rain would take it's cue from the overcast skies.  AND.... it started raining seconds after that thought crossed my mind.  Just goes to show how powerful our thoughts are.  Haha!  Just kidding.  I am not that powerful.  To continue with my story, even though it was after five, the mechanic was still there and was kind enough to give me a ride home because no one was available to come to my rescue.  Tender mercy two- random mechanic gives me a ride home.

The days that followed that Monday included dozens more tender mercies.  My car was in the shop for a week and was very expensive to fix.  AND at the same time, through it all I had a girl from work pick me up and take me to work and bring me to home every day I needed.  I had a friend take me grocery shopping, and had rides to church and church activities with my roommate and friends.  I didn't want for anything,  excepting my independence.  Which for a week is not so bad.

This past week has also been very challenging.  I am learning, however slowly and stubbornly, that hard does not equal bad and that the most worthwhile things are challenging and exhausting.  Would I like things to be easier?  Yes... I think that is the essence of hope.  To hope for better days and happier times.  Gratitude is what makes challenging times bearable.  It is all just a process, and I will get to where I am going in just the way I need to.  I need to be grateful for the progress I am making and recognize the progress (however small) my students are making.

I have two IEPs on Monday (aahhh!), Tuesday I take my class out into the community (we are going to Gardner Village-- FUN!) for Community Based Training, and on Friday I have a behavior conference- which means I won't be with my class.  I feel like a mother leaving her babies for the first time... well I can't know that for sure because I am not a mother and I don't have babies.  It's what I imagine it would feel like though.  If I can survive this week, than I can do more that I think I am capable of.

I hope I learn to manage things better soon because I still come home every Friday and CRASH.  Hard core crashing goes on every Friday night (this is one plus to not having hot Friday night dates).  I come home at 5:00 ish and sleep till Saturday morning.  Usually with work clothes on, contacts still in, and without brushing my teeth.  (I know... gross).  To add to my lack of sleep, I have been having a hard time finding time to eat.  Which doesn't help my exhaustion.

This Saturday I went to Kauri Sue's Fun Run!  It was really fun to see the school community get together to support the school and each other.  I love where I work.

This was a much needed update, and I am leaving out plenty of juicy details.  Hope all is well for you!