Summer Recap

August 28th, 2011

Dear Readers,
I  got very busy and very behind in keeping up this journal, so I will attempt a bit of summarizing the summer-pun intended.

Timmy went to camp. He enjoyed the horseback riding, going canoeing, and the crafts. He was concerned that they left the horses out in the sun too long. He was happy to get back to his lessons with Kelly at  Rivendell. He has been taking lessons since April and really seems to love them. After a horrible school year, the horses have been very healing for him. His horse is named Precious and the horse I ride is named Mickey. He is really getting control of the horse and gaining self confidence.

One of the real highlights of the summer was when Jamie came home to visit us for a week. Even though Tim Senior had a few bad days we managed to log some great quality time with our oldest. We are so proud of him. He has a decent job and is taking some additional college classes. My heart was so full of joy to have my boys with me. We went canoeing, bike riding and even managed to spent a bit of time at Craig's Cruisers. The guys managed to get the telescope to center in some awesome stars.

Tim continues to have good days and bad days. When he has a good day we quickly plan something fun to do-making the most of the time we have together. We may call each other old man and 'ole woman-but he still calls me the love of his life. So that's worth a lot!!

I managed to stay on my diet, swim and bike ride. So I didn't gain any weight-but would still like to lose some. We haven't heard from Kaylee since she moved, it hurts my heart, but I have my 2 sons whose constant love makes up for it.  My sister-in-law finally was released from U of M medical. We travled once a week to support her, there were days we thought she wouldn't make it-but she came through. Uncle Sam had a pretty good summer but is looking weaker. Fighting cancer is a tough job on him and all of those who love him. Aunt Klio, Tami and Todd continue to be a huge source of support. My cousin Skip and cousin Susie are battling there own health issues. We hold them in our prayers and love.



I am already back at school with inservices.This year I have 2 schools and wil lbe traveling during the day-so life gives me an additional challenge. Now if the car will hold out one more year!

The Summer of Home Improvement

Aunt Jean in the Pool

Summer flew bye. We did loads of Home improvement tasks. Even as I list them here... I am unsure how we mananged to get them all done. It all started with the pool-or as Tim calls it the money sucking hole in the ground. We drained and repainted the entire pool. There are not words to describe what a horrible chore it was. Just draining the deep end with bucket-only to have it rain and get filled up again. I now understand  why they wanted 5,000 dollars to paint it. By doing it ourselves we only spent 600 dollar in paint. Along the way Tim also fell and got a huge egg on his forhead, the acid bath cracked the heals on my feet, and burned them. But hey we were 4,000 dollars ahead of the game. And check out the pictures- doesn't it look good!

Next came rebuilding and staining the deck. That lead to powerwashing and bleaching the entire house. After powerwashing  we had to  paint. Yeppers-the entire back of the house both garage doors, and trim. The final job was  plastering an area on the 2nd story. Somehow going back to work will be restful.

An Open Letter to Michigan's Govenor

Dear Governor Synder,
I will not sacrifice students.You may take away funding from our public schools-I will just work a second job because I know my students need me, and the things I provide for them. I have survived all the pay cuts you have handed out these past 3 years. Even if it means going back to cleaning houses for others, I will buy the supplies, snacks, and incentives my students need to be successful! I will keep on teaching.

You may require more and more testing which is stressful to my kids, but I will still find a way to do fun hands on learning which they will remember and use long after they have forgotten the tested facts. I will honor every child as an individual and know they each have their own gifts. I will tell them that testing is just a small part of their education. I will keep on teaching

You may make the cost of my health insurance so expensive I can’t afford it. I will take more vitamins and learn to live without insurance, but I will keep on teaching.

You took away my seniority rights which will makes it harder for me to advocate for my students when many administrators only see test scores and not children. But I will continue to put my students first because I know their hopes, dreams and aspirations, and I will keep on teaching.

You will continue to point out everything negative you can about education and I will continue to point out how teachers make a difference every day. When I get discouraged I will reread the notes from my past years students and remember that they are the reason I teach. I will keep on teaching.

I will sit through the required Professional Development classes, even though they are basically the same ones I have taken years ago. Then I will go on line and find the successful lessons and ideas real teachers have created that really work. I will engage students in the learning process and I will keep on teaching.

You may make it impossible for students to have Music, and Art classes –but I will find a way to teach them that Art and Music aren’t extra, that they speak to our souls. Even If I have to drag out my guitar, sing off key, and use Youtube art classes, I will keep on teaching.

You may believe that giving school districts the right to evaluated and fire teachers for any reason will scare teachers into being better. I know that fear never works as a motivational tool. I have watched some of the very best teachers retire these past three years. I have watched others become so discouraged that they embraced the philosophy of just teaching the information that would be tested. I am not discouraged, I am not leaving. I am angry and I will fight for my students. Every child is a gift.

The unequal funding for education is not only unfair it is unethical. I will not be discouraged or silenced my students count…I will keep on teaching.

If you are ever interested in real ideas from real teachers to improve education, I would be more than happy to meet with you.

Kelley DeBoer

Summer Blessed Summer

Summers Simple Pleasures

A new canoe and a wonderful trip paddling down the Thornapple River yesterday; Lunch with friends on the deck; Timmy's cousins coming over a swim in the pool; a week of horse camp for Timmy; fresh strawberries from Heidie's market; lounging in the pool reading a good book; the smell of grass as I mow the lawn; discovering Faygo (a Michigan pop); using "deer fortress" and managing to actually see my daylilies bloom this year.

Count Down to Disney

Yes it's that time honored trip-almost the right of passage for most children-I speak of Mouseland...The kingdom of Mickey..........the magical moments. Disney World Now I have been several times but this is the first time Timmy is going. David and Marty drove theor motorcycle downtomeet us. It made Disney so much more fun sharing it. Here are some shots of the magic moments.

Marty and David at Downtown Disney

Timmy in the hotel pool

Our Hotel Suite

Now that's strong

Resting after a long day at the Park