Schools are coming back to life in Arizona...

New teachers returned today - I love the energy of those right out of college ready to change the world one child at a time... and even the teachers new to our school have an excitement I hope they hold onto as the year continues.

This summer I had the opportunity to observe a few of my teachers share their learning after a five week internship at ASU - the sparks in their communciations about what they have learned gave me some hope that even the most cynical adult can adjust their thinking if given the proper motivation and input...

From my perspective our schools come alive as we get closer to - the return of students... without them, whatever the age, a school can be a cold, boring place.

Tyler is getting excited for her school year to start on Monday... she will be an eighth grader. My baby is a big teenager! High school registration will occur in just about four months...yikes - where did the time go?

Dylan will return to her special montessori school on Wednesday, she can't wait, the rest of us are boring compared to the fun of school.

Kirk and I have been going on group rides every saturday and sunday... I am really enjoying the rides and Kirk enjoys that we can do this together. It is a lot of fun, and you really learn a lot about yourself, especially around mile 60 or so when you are just trying to keep up so you don't get lost because you lost your map :). I think he has convinced me to participate in a race in Moab Utah in September...I am so easily coerced :)

Heard from my birthmother and brother... such a sad story. Her cancer is terminal; however, she is still receiving radiation treatments. She is drinking heavily. Apparently there was an incident this past week where she drank too much and there was a poor reaction with the alcohol and her pain medication. When her ride came to pick her up for radiation it was noted she was crawling to the car so they called the ambulance to get her... it was an alcohol poisoning issue. I feel bad for my brother as he just makes excuses for her... how sad it is to hear about this story; I hope my brother gets his life and identity back before he is too old, he is 40 and has lived his whole life for his mother, whether taking care of her physically, financially, or just from afar making excused for the way she hurts herself. I just had to know didn't I?

I received an email from the mother of my birthson this week. I have not heard from her since our disagreement or difference in opinion last May when I wanted to attend my birthson's graduation... probably was the best thing for me not to attend as I was forced to be sad, mourn my choices, and move on (imagine that). Apparently he has now moved out of his parents home (amicably) and is living with his sister and holding down a job - doing well. Surprisingly, I was pretty unaffected by the email and attached photos. Not that I do not care, but I think this has shown me that I really have moved away from the past and into the present...it was nice to hear from her, but I did not need more information... I did not cry for hours (or at all actually)...well, I guess this is evidence that big girls can still grow up no matter the age :)

Things are going well... we are busy, but having a good time.