Changing...

I haven't been doing much blogging lately. I keep a journal on my IPAD but it is a private one since I hate to put my personal and intimate feelings online. Alot that has been going on with my family has been ultra private and journaling this way (privately) is really what suits me best. But all that to say that yesterday's journal entry was one that I could blog about. It is about changes in lifestyle. Life changes for all of us and we find ourselves at different seasons of our lives. This is a new season for me (remarriage, blended family, having adult children, caring for an elderly & failing parent...) so blogging helps me make that adjustment. Monday, June 25, 2012        "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart.".   Psalm 73:26 It is funny that all last week I was in Ft Worth at a workshop and had all the week to myself and I did not journal. Crazy huh? It was a busy week with very full days (strict 8:00 am - 5:00 pm). Then the evenings found me working out, "debriefing"/relaxing, and doing AP homework. After the AP homework, I did not feel like using my brain. Lol!    It was nice though to not have anyone "needing" me. No laundry, no housework, no watering yard or flowers, and no cooking. It was WONDERFUL! But I did miss my husband. By day 3, I felt lonely and empty without him. He really does complete me.  But today  is Monday and I am terribly tired. Since returning, I have hit the ground running. I am thankful for having a little time this morning to "recoup" and to have some time to myself. I have to wait for the admin building to open at 9 am.  I am being kind of selfish too. I just realize that my life now is way, way busy and full and it just plum wears me out sometimes. It is so busier than my single mom life. Crazy huh? Busier than me as a single mom with 3 jobs. Yep, crazy but it is true. When I was a single mom, it was busy but I was able to monitor it and pace it out.  I was able to "schedule out" the busy-ness and then fill in the in between times with quietness and calmness. My life now is like a "go-go-go" life now. I have to fight and be selfish to give myself quiet and calm time. I am learning this. But as Bobby says, "You have to take the good with the bad." and this is so true and I would not trade my life. Not for the world. I am so so blessed. I truly am. I have a great family and great husband. I love it all just gotta adjust. :-)

Snapshot of a teacher

These are entries from the school year... A mini- snapshot of the craziness that teachers go through. Crazy but it is still the best job in the world! ______________________ May 16, 2012  It’s been so crazy around here (Borger High).  I need to remember this next year. You’d think with it being my 12th year teaching that I would remember this from year to year….ha!.  Every day is something new and you don’t know who or which students (if any) you will have in class.  You have to fly by the seat of your pants as a teacher and just hang loose.  Hard for a control freak and uber teacher as myself.  Lol!  Monday was senior awards and senior candlelighting which the juniors were invited to as well so I didn’t have any of those students. This left me with only a handful in each class. I also had to present an award so I have to leave my classes for 2 hours and thus had to leave sub plans.  Ugh.  This was all last minute so my lesson plans for the day just had to be changed drastically!  Then yesterday, was senior skip day so once again seniors were gone.  It was crazy because I had a review sheet for my seniors since they have to take their senior exam today (if they are not exempt).  I had to once again  “readjust” my wonderful plan of action.  Ha ha. Today is AP exams so a large batch of my students will once again be gone and it is early lunch release day so classes are at a different schedule.  Are you kidding me I ask myself?  Lol.  “Be fluid” is the quote I have to remind myself of over and over again (Andy Dietz’ words from Mexico Mission Trip). ______________________ May 03, 2012  The last couple of days have been “fast & furious” so today I am taking it easy and kicking back.  Well, as much ‘kicking back’ that a workaholic like me can do.  Ha ha!  I have been using my days to get review sheets made & copied, exams made & copied, ISS/DAEP work for 4 students, meeting to get NHS scholarships decided upon, frantically getting field trip paperwork for 5 de mayo done, frantically getting Velma Zelma (Borger High's nominee for teacher of the year) paperwork gathered,  filling  a 3 tiered pot with various flowers/plants, making 3 trays of chicken enchiladas ( (for Cinco de Mayo fiesta tomorrow), …..  So today is test day so I am gonna take it E-A-S-Y!!  We have Breckyn’s ballgame tonight and possibly Avengers midnight premiere.  ☺  Fun stuff baby! So today….while the students are taking the exam, I will grade FTQuizzes and enter them into the gradebook.  Tomorrow is fiesta day (yippee!).  Saturday is Cinco de Mayo 5k. Saturday/Sunday….grading exams (boo) ______________________ Thursday, March 22, 2012  Thank you Lord for today.   I sure needed a slow and somewhat “easy” day.  Soooo needed it!!  Crazy 10 hour days on Monday and Tuesday and then UIL yesterday in Pampa (8am – 9pm) really “ate my lunch”!  It was a great day yesterday (we won!) but it was long and this morning, I woke up so tired.  But it was so nice knowing that I had made review sheets for my classes for today.  They have been working so well on them.  I also had 2 students from HomeEc who brought me 2 pieces of delicious pie (chocolate pie & peach pie).  This so made my day.  ☺  ☺ Bobby also fixed Marissa’s flat tire yesterday.  I am so blessed by him and his wonderful way of helping my sister.  He was really tired last night when I got home from UIL but this morning he was back to his cheerful self and was so charming and encouraging.  I sure love him. ______________________ March 9, 2012 Finally I can have a journal entry that doesn’t involve an “ugh”.  J  I love it!!  My 4th period class is the only class that has finished watching the PERU video and since they are my smallest class (only 10 students), I am having them help clean up my classroom, organize their binders, and getting things ready for pinatas which we will begin soon.  This is *GREATLY* helping me out!!  I graded papers this morning from 6:45 am - 8:00 am so all I have to do nowThemis record them during my conference hour.  I am so happy!! I also received my 4 boxes of Pampered chef and last night, I got to organize them and get them ready to pass out to all the teachers here at BHS.  Made me feel so goooood!  I, especially loved getting my own stuff.  $200 worth of free stuff!  Happy Day!! Then…..tomorrow Bobby and I fly out to Portland!  Woo hoo!! Spring Break here we come!

Bob's heart surgery

This morning this verse keeps playing in my head and I find myself humming the song to it. It is my prayer for Bob...

"The steadfast love of of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ' The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope I him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the Lord."  Lamentations 3:22-26

Second half of questions

Here's the second half of the questions that I began a few weeks ago.l..

Question #13. What are 5 strengths that you have?
a. Mediator
b. Empathy
c. Hard working
d. Organized
e. Love children

Question #14. What  are your 5 weaknesses that you have?
a. Not being bold when needed
b. Too structured
c.  Narrow minded at times
d. Too emotional at times
e. Worry wart

Question #15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
A cat. Quiet but "thinking" all the time.  I sure love the way they can truly R-E-L-A-X.  I envy that. They seem smart and intellectual. They saunter and have "attitude". They purr when they are happy and content. Pet magazines say it's their way of saying, "I love you and you belong to me". 

Question #16..What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
a. Benjamin Aaron Skaggs
b. Anna-Elyse Buchanan
c. Marriage to Bobby Forrest
d. College graduation
e. Teaching High School

Question #17....What is the thing you wish you were most good at?
That is a no brainier. SINGING. My children are so talented at it and I envy them! I can't even carry a tune. 

Question #18.... What is the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
I really forgive easily but the breaking of marital vows and promises truly was a hard thing to get past. When my ex said he was remarrying and moving on...BOY was that hard to forgive. Thank God that I did the "Experiencing God" study at that time because it helped me to heal and forgive.

Question #19....If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
I have been very fortunate to live in many, many places and I have realized that it is the people you surround yourself with and the friendships and relationships that make places wonderful. I have lived in super spectacular places but without friendships and/or family then it was not a good place. I love Borger, Texas and it is because of my family (immediate and blended), grandkids, etc.

Question #20.... What are your 3 most significant memories of your childhood?
a.  Playing Barbies with my sisters in the creek that flowed in the back of our little shack where we lived when we were migrant farmworkers
b. Being involved as a family in our church during our first years in Borger.
c. Riding in the camper of our truck with my 4 sisters during our 3-5 day trek to Wyoming when we were migrant farmworkers. 
d. Attending a 3 room schoolhouse in Washington state when we were migrant farmworkers.
e. Feeling rich when every 4th of July my parents would give us $100 after getting paid from working in the fields for the first part of the season.
f. Seeing my dad get saved and drastically changing his and our lives.

Question #21.....If you could have one superpower what would it beans what would you do with it first?
a. My superpower would be healing.
b. I would heal my dad of his ailments which were brought about due to his alcoholism and his working all of his life in the fields.

Question #22...Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
a. The same as now. Working and living with Bobby in Borger.
b. Maybe moved away and maybe raveling a lot...with Bobby of course.
c. Taking care of Bobby in his ailing health and possibly my own ailing health. Sad but true.

Question #23....List your 5 favorite hobbies and why you enjoy them.
a. Running....because it de-stresses me and I love the early morning before the whole world awakens.
b. Cooking....I love trying new and different recipes as well as loving to see how food and a home cooked meal brings people together.
c. Weight training.... I love the health aspects (builds bone which helps my arthritis)
d. Reading....I love reading a variety of genres and things that challenge me. 
e. Movies .... Good good movies! Good acting, good storyline, good directing. 


Question #24 What is your love language?
 Words of affirmation (both written and verbal)

Question #25 What is the most misunderstood thing about you?
 Most people think I am a social person. I, in truth, am not. I am quiet and an introvert by nature. I have to work really hard to be "social" and "bubbly". This surprises a lot of people especially my husband.

Pioneer woman website

I am an avid follower of Pioneer Woman. Today her blog was titled Non- Sequitur....

Here is mine....

Non-Sequitur:

My father in law is in the hospital. I need to buy Sharpies for my Spanish II classes project and I need to text my little sister about letting her borrow 2 dvd movies that are excellent (Spellbound and A Better Life). Anna’s graduation invitations are ready to be mailed out and I need to buy a new Iphone car charger (one that doesn’t keep not working after it’s 2nd charge). Ben, my son, is loving his job in Portland and I have to make sure all of my grades are current in my gradebook (it’s the end of the 6 weeks). My husband cried today (thinking about his dad’s being in the hospital and I am sad that parents get old. I don’t have any students in ISS or Homebound (first time all year long) and my good friend, Mary Tristan lost her dad yesterday. I need to study to teach the college Sunday School class this Sunday and I need to pick up my Avon watch from Mrs. Walker. Did I remember to bring more magazines to my classroom for art project days and I really feel like a frito pie for lunch today. My grandson has a baseball game this Saturday and I want to plant some basil in a pretty pot. I made up bellringer papers for my classes for the next 3 weeks and I can’t forget to pick up Jordon before I leave for the hospital. I need to get my dvd player back from Mrs. Reyes and did I order one or two dozen cupcake liners for my daughters college graduation cupcakes. Is STAAR/TAKS testing 2 weeks away or 3 and should I order flowers for my father in law’s upcoming heart surgery. I am glad I made up 130 student bathroom passes for the new 6 weeks that begins on Monday and where is my Starbucks coffee mug? I am glad that Mr. Duncan is watching my afternoon classes (while I go to the hospital) and I want another Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato even though I had one yesterday. I love my husband and his family and I need to take some Tylenol with me today for the hospital.

30 Questions

I am way into Pinterest. Found this and decided to do it. Got halfway through the 30 questions. Second half of questions will be later this week....


http://cherishinghopesanddreams.blogspot.com/2012/01/30-things.html?m=1

Question #1.... What are 20 random facts about yourself?
a.  I am a former migrant farm worker
b.  I lived in the Philippines for 3 years
c.  I love the Denver Broncos (I lived in Denver for 3 years).
d. I love Louisville, Kentucky (I lived there for 2 years)
e. I was a single mother for 12 years.
f. I have 4 sisters and no brothers.
g. I grew up in a household where reading was loved.
h. I hate confrontation.
i.  I despise prejudice of every form.
j. I studied accounting when I first started college.
k. I love to cross-stitch and quilt.
l. I have not cross-stitched or quilted in over 12 years (single motherhood didn't allow time for these).
m. I am a movie buff but also a movie snob (sad but true).
n. I love to journal and have over 50 journals dating back to my pre-teen years.
o. I have rheumatoid arthritis.
p. I love to run 5k's and lift weights.
q. I take my profession VERY seriously. To actually "100% teach" is my mission.
r. I am a regular blood donor.
s. I am obsessed with the study of Birth Order (Kevin Leman's book Birth Order book).
t. I am a foodie. 

Question # 2....What are your 3 legitimate fears &  how did they become fears?
a. Death - since I was young I feared my parents being killed. As an adult, I sometimes look around and think how it will be when I die.
b. Divorce for either of my children. Since I suffered this and it so shattered me and them, I fear that they might go thru the same thing and REALLY pray they never do.
c. Losing Bobby. 

Question #3....What is your relationship with your parents?
a. My mom...She was the perfect mom to daughters. She was both firm and lenient. She did not coddle or spoil us. She grew up with a lot of strictness but without love. She carried over that strictness to us but she did not withhold the love. What a blessing to have these two balanced attributes! She taught us (my 4 sisters and I) to be awesome mothers and wives. 
b. my dad....My dad had 5 daughters so he spent much of his time outside working in the yard, working in his shop, out fishing, etc. he was not that close to us but what the redeeming factor is that we were migrant farmworkers so we spent full days working in the fields together. I got to know my dad closely because of this. He'll always be the "dreamer and/or encourager" of and for his daughters.
  
Question #4....What 10 things would you tell your 16 year old self?
a. Keep your walk with God on FIRE.
b. Follow your heart.
c. High school will pass and will only be a BLIMP in your life.
d. Be a nerd! 
e. Keep your eyes on your life goal.
f. Get plugged into church and youth activities.
g. Volunteer.
h. Go on a mission trip.
i. Adopt a needy child.
j. Teach Sunday School.

Question #5....What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
a. Knowing that my 2 children are walking closely with God. This was my #1 desire!
b. Teaching well...emphasis on "well". Seeing my students learn whereas at the same time I am building wonderful relationships with them. Awesome, awesome feeling!
c. My marriage to Bobby and how he shows me on a daily basis that he is 100% committed to me. It makes my heart burst!
d.  Doing stuff outdoors with Bobby (golfing, motorcycle riding, being out on lease...)
e. Spending time with my dad. Since my mom died, he is all I have as a parent. My time with him is precious.

Question #6....What is the hardest thing you have experienced?
a. Divorce. As a strong Christian, as a committed parent, and as a person who had parents who weathered so many trials and still stayed together...it was the BIGGEST sadness of my life.

Question #7....What is your dream job and why?
a. Look at question #1 (q) and #5 (b)

Question #8...What are 5 passions you have?
a. Marriage
b. Parenthood
c. Teaching
d. Exercise
e. Education

Question #9....What 10 people have influenced your life and how have they done this?
a. My mom....motherhood, education, wisdom
b. My dad....bravery, boldness, pride
c. My kids....forgiveness, compassion, wisdom
d. Mrs Neas (high school English teacher)....she believed I had potential!
e. Sylvia Garcia....As I grew up she was both my bully and my bodyguard but she also was one of my fiercest defenders!
f.  Liz Dietz....my Sunday School teacher after my divorce. Such a godly woman & encourager.
g. Carolyn Cummings....Divorce Recovery teacher at church. She has always greatly encouraged me. 
h. Tye and Tracy Geppi...great friends who were there for me in so many ways.
i. First Baptist Church (not a specific person....)....so greatly ministered, helped, and kept me afloat in many, many ways during my single motherhood years.
j. Bobby....he has become the foundation that I lacked for so many years and has given me the security of love that I thought I would never find again.

Question #10...What is your most embarrassing moment?
Ben and Anna's dad and I were in the Air Force. He, their dad, was going to re-enlist and we were in the Captain's office to sign the papers and swearing-in ceremony. Ben, our son, was 2 months old. We were all dressed to the "nines".  We were sitting in the Captain's office and I heard Ben grunting as I sat on the couch. I feared the obvious. I stayed quiet as their dad and the Captain chatted inwardly dreading what might happen. Ben had a cute white sailor outfit on.  I had a light beige dress on.  I slowly began to smell diaper odor. I looked down and green goo was running down Ben's legs and all over my lap and dripping onto the carpet of the office!!!

Question #11....What are 10 of your pet peeves?
a. Dirty dishes in the sink (hate it!)
b. Messy house (gets on my nerves - can't relax until house is picked up)
c. Messy dining table (I *need* the table top to be clean)
d. Being on time
e. people who are disrespectful to their elders
f. "one-uppers" (people who have to 'one up' everything you say)
g. Unmade beds
h. Teachers who don't TEACH
i. People who don't embrace their heritage
j. Cutting apart the plastic soda can holders (save the fishes in the ocean!)

Question #12....What is a typical schedule of your typical day?
5:45 am - get up
5:50 am - shower
6:00 am - get dressed
6:30 am - make coffee, get teacher bag ready for day
6:45 am - leave for work (school)
7:00 am - get lessons ready for day, make copies, read emails, tutorials
8:00 am - teach 5 classes in a row without a break!
12:25 pm - Lunch and/or UIL practice and/or NHS Advisory meetings and/or Monthly Book Club Meeting
1:05 pm - conference period, tutorials, translator for main office 
2:55 pm - teach 2 freshman classes
3:45 - 4:30 wrap up my day, pick up my classroom, send emails, tutorials
4:30 - 5:00 errands
5:00 make supper
6:00 relax & every other night lift weights

College Speech

We, teachers, are supposed to speak to our students about our college experience today. Since I tend to ramble and get off track easily, I decided I better have a "rough draft"....

My College Soapbox....

I am passionate about college not just because I am a teacher but because of my background. I grew up in south Texas. My parents were born in South Texas. My mom in Donna, Tx and my dad in Harlingen, Tx. My grandparents were from Mexico. My parents were migrant farmworkers. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THAT IS? you travel from place to place working in the fields and ranches. In south Texas, at the time I grew up, many families did this. All of them hispanic families...

I started working when I was 8 years old. From 5:30 am - 6 pm in the fields every day from April to October. From late October to early April, I attended school. My parents and my 4 sisters would travel to Wyoming and Washington state. In Wyoming, we would work the sugar beet harvest and bean harvest. In Washington state, we would work the apple harvest.

It was VERY difficult work and we lived in poverty. When I show immigrants wanting to come to the USA in class I show it with passion because even though I ddidn't immigrate here I know what it's like to live in terrible poverty and to want a better life for yourself. I saw that in my parents. They would do ANYTHING to give their children a better lifhen they drilled COLLEGE into our brains! They didn't want the cycle of poverty and not having choices to continue. they had to make tough decisions because of this dream that they had for us. They moved us from south Tx to the Panhandle of TX, my sophomore year, and it was like going to a foreign land. No Hispanics here. Spanish language was not the dominant language. Poverty because my dad and mom had to start over. But my dad KNEW it was better for his kid's future. There were better better opportunities for his 4 daughters here. My sisters and I hated it because my older sister and I were in high school and we were having to start all over. But you know what? 4 of my 5 sisters have either 2 year or 4 year college degrees! We would not have had that if we had stayed in south Texas. Too much poverty and few chances at college.

Here in Borger, I realized I could go to college. One of my sophomore teachers recommended me for advanced English. I thought "wow?". In that class, I began to think, "Maybe I can go to college? Maybe? Maybe?". No one was there to help me or show me or guide me. I just researched and got the paperwork myself. I found out there were tons of scholarships and grants especially if you were poverty / low-income like me. Then I found out that if you studied a subject that was in high demand that there were more scholarships and grants. I studied Accounting during my years at Frank Phillips College (I made all A's) but later on I switched to education after I taught Sunday School and realized I loved children! I got married after graduating from Frank and moved to Denver, Colorado. I decided to wait a year before continuing but then we got transferred to the Philippines (Air Force). We lived in the Philippines for 3 years. When we returned, we moved back to Borger and I started back to WTAMU but only for one semester because then we moved around some more before settling in at Louisville, KY. I started college at University of Louisville I attended school there for 2 years. I was one semester away from graduating but then we moved again. To Glorieta/ Santa Fe New Mexico. I then went through a divorce and came back to Borger and finished my degree at WTAMU.

Don't give up if you think college is unattainable. When I first taught at Borger Middle School, many Hispanic students were shocked when I would say I had my degree. They would ask, "You mean Hispanics can go to college?" Yes! Yes! Anyone can!

I help a lot of students with their paperwork for college by the way. That is the only draw back, paperwork. But if you are willing to sort through the paperwork and trouble of trying to fill it out, IT IS WORTH IT!!

Elizabeth Hernandez-Forrest

2011 - 2012

I llove Lissa Anglin’s website (http://www.lissaanglin.com/blog/) - - both her beautiful pictures and her blog. Her recent post really encouraged me to look at my past year and then to the upcoming year…

Struggles/To Do list for year 2012:

INVEST more in my problem classes/students. I have really seen this come true this last year. Praying diligently for my problem classes/students helps me be sensitive and teaches me to love them! It’s rocked my world!

PUSH my boundaries in regards to my weak areas. Learning to say “no”, learning to not be too much of a people pleaser, learning to take more time for ME, and learning to speak up for myself. A friend of mine, posted this wonderful saying on Facebook, “Wisdom to know which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.”

Continue to GROW…..as a new mother-in-law, stepmom, mom, new daughter-in-law, new sister-in-law, and aunt. These are all areas I need to grow and be better in.

KEEP UP with friends better. Be intentional. Be available. This is so, so hard!

Stay ON TRACK with my health & fitness. Don’t let the busyness of life, teaching, family, etc to take away from this. It’s such a big part of a healthy me.

Accomplishments of 2011:

Did the IMPOSSIBLE (in my mind that is!) - - got my daughter, Anna, married. Got my son, Ben, graduated. Got a group of 28 people to Spain & France for a 10 day trip. Got the old house that I had lived in for 12 years cleaned, boxed up of all possessions, and totally empty all by myself!!

Got my “BEARINGS” in regards to being married. This is quite an accomplishment after being a single mom for 12 years. Only other single moms know what I mean!

Kind of ties in with the above: GREW our marriage. Lissa Anglin mentioned that a friend's mom once told her that couples in a healthy marriage need to date weekly, retreat monthly, and vacation yearly. I am thankful that Bobby makes sure that we do this a lot. He is a great husband.

WITHDREW from being involved with the college ministry at church. This was a hard, hard decision which is why I include it as an accomplishment (remember the part about saying “no”?). With my dad’s health, new family, new marriage, etc., I knew that this was the “season of my life” that I had to pare down my extracurricular activities.

RECEIVED the Teacher of the District award (http://www.borgernewsherald.com/content/forrest-receives-rootgillespie-foundation-award)

JOINED a monthly book club that I am thoroughly enjoying. I am loving having the time to read again. Love the monthly time we get together to discuss, ponder, and question books and their themes! ☺



"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure..than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt