The Latta Family

In the faculty bathroom next door to my classroom, someone placed a Bible. It's been there so long I honestly don't even know when it showed up. Was it last month or 5 years ago? I don't know. It sits on a small table with extra paper towels, and I think there may be a small, zippered bag of feminine products there as well.   For whatever reason, I have recently become aware of it. In fact, I have realized that it is open to Psalms 89- 91. I have been keeping an eye on this- and have noticed that the pages haven't changed in at least a week. Maybe the pages have always been opened to this spot? I'm not sure.  I decided today was the day- I was going to change the page.  I opted for a scripture that offered encouragement- which seemed fitting for teachers surviving the last 10 days until Winter Break. As I turned the pages- they were very stiff and sort of stuck together- like older books can be.  As soon as I left the bathroom- literally the exact moment....

Way back at the beginning of June- this past summer- I decided I needed to get back to consistent exercising.  I had gotten away from it- and I could tell.  I was having some trouble with plantar fasciitis- and decided swimming would be a good exercise for me to do because my feet wouldn't be bothered.   I hadn't really exercised in months, and I hadn't swum laps in a super long time.  I decided I would start slow.  I mean- I could probably swim 30 laps, right?  The great thing about committing to exercising in the summer is that I can get up and go at a reasonable morning time (that is a relative term. I like to be there around 7:30- 8am.  During the school year- I would have to be there at 5am . . . . which is why I haven't been going in the morning. LOL).  So, day 1 of swimming- I was in the pool by 7:30ish.  I was aiming for 30 laps.  Slow and steady was the name of my game.   I reached 30 laps- barely.  I stood a...

 I had no idea I took a 3 year hiatus from blogging.   My last post was in 2022.  2022!!!!!!!!!!  OMG.  Since then one of my kids graduated high school AND college and got a real, grown up job.  The other kid moved up from middle school and is in high school, has a permit and I really want her to find a job so I can stop being her ATM.   Why did I take a break from blogging?  I'm not sure.  I guess I was feeling like I had nothing particularly amazing to share with the world.  And I was struggling with what I was putting out into the world.  Like- was I an over-sharer?  Was it self absorbed to think people cared?  Was I actually enhancing the world in a positive way? But lately I have been missing it.  I have had thoughts that I wanted to puzzle through.   See, I recently realized . . . I am a premium adult (as one of my kids says).  A little over a year ago- I realized I am the same age as my...

In all honesty- yes I post these blog posts, but I do this for two reasons: 1) remind myself of different parts of our life and 2) entertain myself and y'all.  Doug and I are in the process of surviving one of our kids first major injuries.  Yes- they've banged themselves up, had bruised wrists that required a brace, a sprained ankle that required a brace (that we frequently travel with- because while I love her . . . she clumsy), survived a fractured-ish foot.  Our kids had like 6-7 sets of tubes when they were toddlers.  Andrew's torn ACL/meniscus is a whole new . . . . everything.  This post is to help me remember.  Remember this event.  Remember where we started, so I'll be able to appreciate how far we've come. Remember the struggles, so the wins are so much sweeter.  We spent all summer with him working 2 jobs and being gone about 12 hours a day, 5 days a week.  We tried to tell him he had his whole life to work . . . he might want to h...

 I may  have told you a time or two- I am a special ed teacher.  I tend to work with students who have learning disabilities, ADHD, or Autism.  Occasionally I get to talk to the faculty and try to advocate for my kids. When that opportunity presents itself- I like to try to help teachers realize that areas where they struggle and how that feels . . . is how our students feel.  I think it helps people to be more empathetic.  I start this post- to say that I am NOT making light of the struggles that students or adults with special needs experience.  I have experienced something this morning- that made me go, "My God- how do people with special needs do this everyday?!  No wonder some of our kids behave the way they do!!!" I started exercising again.  I started back in April.  One of the women I work with- has a side gig as a certified personal trainer.  I asked her- if she would be willing to help me.  I reached out to her. ...

 I am having a hard time getting myself in the mood to go back to school.  Between my struggle to sleep without a heavy dose of melatonin and my weirdo dreams- I believe I have some nerves about the upcoming school year.  I went by school today to beg one of our front office staff to print something in color for me- so I can make a super cool bulletin board for one of our hallways.  While I was there a student that I know well was there.  He was telling me a story and I was totally cracking up.  It reminded me that over the years- kids have said some pretty dang funny things to me.   Today's story:  this young man apparently encountered another young man- who just graduated- at the grocery store.  The other young man "was bucking up" and today's young man said, "C'mon man!  Not in front of the steaks!"  I agree.  Fighting should not happen in front of steaks.  Probably keep that kind of activity to the beer aisle, or ...