So Proud of My Girl

Still not a lot of scrapbooking getting done in this household but do have lots of photos and some great news to share this week.

Firstly, I am so proud of my girl. Chloe is not really an academic sort of kid, school work does not come easy for her, she really has to work hard at it. Well this year she won the Year 11 Graphics Prize and had to go to Speech Night to have it presented to her. This was a huge thing for Chloe, and I am so very happy for her and so very proud of her. Have some photos to share.

First photo is of Chloe coming down off the stage with her prize. Second is with one of her close school friends. They look so good in their formal uniforms. Also had to take one with her Dad all dressed up in his academic gown too. As far as speech nights go, it was pretty good, the whole evening is very professional, and formal, but their is something also very moving about the whole evening.

The other exciting news is that Pete has also got through his exams again this semester. It has been a really hard semester for him as he has been working really long hours. Some times he is working 11-12 hour days, and then if you add into that the travelling time to and from work, it hasn't been easy to come home and even feel like studying, so Pete I am so proud of you also for not only sticking with your studies but getting through your exams as well.

The other really exciting news is that for me as of Day 1 of School, 2008, I am transferring to the General Aides at school and will mostly be working in the Library. This is a major change for me because for the past 11 years I have been working in Special Education. The last couple of years have been extremely hard with lots of injuries and lots of stress, and particularly this last little while, I seem to be spending most of my income on visits to the Chiropractor or the doctor. I guess I am the sort of person that internalizes the stress and in the long term that is not good. Secondly I have got to a point where I have had enough of the abuse, and even though I know that some of our kids don’t really understand, they are lashing out, there is only so much you can take, and I am well and truly ready for some new challenges.

Part of me is excited about the changes, and another part of me is sad, because I really do love a lot of the kids I have worked with and I really feel that in a lot of cases I have made a difference in their lives. Who knows one day I might go back as I really do feel for a lot of our austic kids and have a real soft spot in my heart for most of them.

It is a very busy time of year here at the moment, with visitors for the next three days again. (My sister and brother in law arrive tonight as my niece is having some surgery in Rocky tomorrow) We have our school Christmas Fair tomorrow evening, our Staff Christmas party on Saturday evening, Chloe’s youth group break-up on Sunday (family picnic at Stoney Creek), so it will be a full on weekend. I am sure that my sister will be keen for us to shop on Saturday also as it is not often they get to come into town.

Although I haven't really done much in the way of scrapbooking I did manage to finish my gifts for the "Pay it Forward" so hope to have them in the mail this week girls. Had fun doing these, hope you enjoy them. Thought I would share them also.

Did a pit of a photo shoot tonight too, as I am in the process of writing our Christmas letter for 2007. Managed to get some photos of Chloe in her work uniform and some photos of Chloe with her boyfriend James, so thought I would share them also. He is a really nice guy and spends a fair bit of time visiting. We have also grown to appreciate him and enjoy his company also.

Well not a lot more happening. We are off to Brissie next week to attend our very dear friends daughters wedding. I know it will be a wonderful time and I am sure Linda will make a gorgeous bride. Then we plan on celebrating Christmas with family at our son's place. Should be a wondeful time of family togetherness. Can't wait.