My Reading Blog

The last two weeks I've been overseeing our After School Mentoring Program and there have been some challenges along the way, but overall it has been a great experience for all of us volunteers.  Most of us are not certified teachers, but we can listen and help. Last week S came to us along with her two older brothers (7th and 10th grade), because Mom wasn't sure that S could handle being with us alone.  Some anxiety issues, some ADD issues, some other issues that I'm still not sure of.  I encouraged her to join in the game the others were playing - she did so reluctantly.  Then Mom & Dad showed up.  We talked with them, found out some of the issues, told them they could stay with her during mentoring or sit in the Youth Room.  They opted to sit in the Youth Room. Since we don't have enough mentors for one-to-one, I placed S with B.  The mentor was a former teacher and I knew that she could manage both (or at least I hoped).  My job as l...

Last January our church embarked on an After School Mentoring Program for our Junior High Students.  It started off with 10 students, which we now look at as a gift from God.  He was giving us a chance to get the program moving in the right direction. Last week, we started our 2016-2017 program.  I have been working with the coordinator to get everything going.  She is out of town for several weeks, so the first two weeks were put on Joan and my plate.  This year is slightly different as we have changed our grades and now work with 8th graders and 3rd graders. Joan and I met with the principals, discussed the focus, met with the transportation department, waited for the enrollment forms to be turned in, talked with the mentors, greeters and cooks and waited for the number of students we would be helping. We contacted the principals on Tuesday - 3rd grade numbers - 12, no wait 15, hold on it's a final count - 19!  Praise the Lord.  Oh, my. ...

We've been talking about it since last Spring.  A vacation to some place we've never been.  The anticipation is building and we're counting the days - 18.  All the sights to see, where to visit, what do we really want to experience. Our son and daughter-in-law are going with us.  They've visited this city once before, but are just as excited to see it all again and more.  The hotels and flights are booked, many posts have been made to our special file on Pinterest. We're checking the weather, hoping it will be mild with no rain.  Contemplating what we need in our suitcases and carry-ons. In a couple of weeks we'll be driving to IL and then board a United airline flight to Boston. We're staying a couple of days in Cape Cod, then driving to Laconia, NH in the White Mountains to see the fall colors, covered bridges, a winery or two, small quaint villages along the way, a ride on the Cog Railroad and who knows what else we might find.  We'll head...