All in a day's work --

• Special needs student who just had a heart transplant wants to repeat 10th grade.
• Thirteen year-old going into 8th grade needs a young parent program because she has a baby.
• Seventeen year-old wants to take the GED because she can't get her grades from a previous high school, and the school she is to attend in our district won't enroll her without them.
• Counselor who just finished master's degree last year (08) finally got the U of U to recommend him for an educator license after way too many "I'll look into that" from the counseling folks at the U.
• Counselor who trusted a friend and colleague who now wants to discontinue their friendship needs support.
• My good friend and colleague announced his retirement to take a position as principal at probably the best high school in the state (another district of course) and needed to tell me before I heard it through the "grape vine."
• Student moved to Georgia and needs grades, attendance, and discipline records sent from Granite High (now closed with no plan for taking care of the 100 years of student records -- long story) to her new school by Wednesday.

Just another day at Judy's Help Desk --

It's football season!

I drove by the park on my way home and saw this big kid in his #63 football practice jersey. The kid is my son and he and his dad have begun another year of football. This is the last year of Ute Conference football -- next year it's on to the high school. My boy is big enough and smart enough and good enough to play with this big boys, but he is playing with his age group and I am very glad he is. It looks like there are 25 or more excited kids who have come out for the team and by the looks of their enthusiasm they could be a competitive team.

It will be fun!

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Great Scout Camp

The boys who live in my house are home safe and sound from scout (venture/varsity) camp. They spent 3 days in Moab (one of the hotter spots in Utah). They (13 boys and 5 adults) camped at Big Bend Campground, did a day trip on the Colorado River, hiked to Delicate Arch and other arches in Arches National Park, drove to and viewed Dead Horse Point, spent some time as tourists in downtown Moab, and really had a great time. They came home needing a hug, a shower, and a cool place to hang out. It seemed like they were gone forever!

(As you view the photos, Karl is in the raft and Willie is in the kyak/canoe with Mayson.)

Blog catch up time . . .

I haven't kept my blog up this month, so here goes . . .
There are several postings for July 15, so if you are interested, please read on.

Willie has a "JOB"!

Annie and Ross have opened up a little shaved ice trailer, Shavy Jones, in South Jordan. Willie has been hired and is a shaved ice employee extraordinaire. Even when he was little, he told us he wanted to work in a snow shack when he grew up. Well, it's not exactly a snow shack, it is a few steps above, and he is loving every hour of work. Business seems to be picking up each day and new flavors are being added all the time. I find myself craving a shaved ice with buried treasure (ice cream) and cream nearly every day. Yesterday I settled for a "black pearl" (blue raspberry and grape, ice cream in the bottom and cream on the top) and it was delicious. It's exciting to say the least, and I am so proud of the kids for their entrepreneurship!

Grandsons

We went to the ZOO last week and Wyatt was not nearly as interested in the animals as Elliott, but we had a great time in spite of his yawns. The weather was delightful and we capped off the day's adventure with swimming at great-grandma's. Elliott tells me all the time that he "wuvs him" (translation - he loves Wyatt). He really has been a very good big brother -- no strangling or trying to send him back to the hosptial at all.

Summer takes forever to get here and is gone in a flash . . .

My old fashioned garden was in full bloom with daisies a few weeks back when this photo was taken, and now the sunflowers are nearly ready to bloom. Once the sunflowers/lazy Susans are in bloom, the summer is on the downslide. Actually, today is July 15, it is the middle point of summer vacation. It's been an eventful summer -- nice vacation to start it off, basketball camp, baby blessings, Shavy Jones, temple open house, a conference in Dallas, a zoo trip, family photo session, test driving a new car, and now scout camp. No complaints, I just wish it would slow down a little -- we still have so much to do.

July 4, 2009

Just another summer day for some, but not for me. I can't remember what I was going to write here. Maybe I will remember another day.

The Stars at Night are Dull not Bright . . .

I've been in Dallas, Texas for a few days -- annual conference of the American School Counselor Association. It's been warm, muggy, and hazy in the heart of Texas -- the stars are difficult to see at night because of the haze/smog.

I will be home tomorrow and can't wait to see my family. I usually do some kind of presentation at the conference -- below is a description of this year's.

20 Years and Staying the Course
All Practice Levels
All Experience Levels
0.125 CEUs

School counselors know the specifics
of putting a school counseling program
in place, and they are excited about it.
But maintaining program momentum is
challenging to say the least. Hear from
district school counseling leaders about
their success in sustaining their school
counseling program for 20 years and their
secrets to staying the course.

Judy Petersen, Guidance Director; Leigh Ann
McCann, Guidance Coordinator, Granite School
District, Salt Lake City, Utah

Father's Day

The father of my children is a pretty good guy. We have been married for a long time and have three great kids. Karl has always been and will always be there for the kids -- school work, any event, homework, yard work, project work, business ventures, and even house work now and again. When the kids were young, Karl took care of them pretty much Monday through Thursday evenings while I either went to school or taught evening classes. We passed each other in the driveway many afternoons for many years. As the dad, he always did what was needed and if he had to go somewhere -- the kids always tagged along. The daughters were the best for many years -- they loved to play ball and watch ball games, read historical non-fiction and fiction, listen to and collect all types of music, go to concerts, and pretty much hang out with their dad. About the only things they didn't like about their dad were the long explanations about historical events and places.

Once the son came along and began to grow into a walking talking person, good student, sports enthusiast, and video game junkie -- the dad moved into a new life dimension. He makes time to be with the son in every aspect of his life -- even scouts. The daughters, now married, have moved to the status the "opening band" in their dad's life and the son has become the "main event" (I think they are okay with that -- they are still part of the concert). Through it all --Karl will always be the best dad ever -- I know that for sure! Happy Father's Day!

Summer Drink Sale

So, I stopped at McDonald's on the way home from work to refuel on a diet COKE. When the cashier said $1.06, I said, "I thought I had ordered a large." The cashier set me straight that he got my request for a large and that it's $1 soft drink summer at McDonald's. How great is that?!?! My dad told me not to drink more than 2 liters of diet COKE a day because it could be harmful to my health. I don't think I am there, yet.

Great kids make a great trip . . .

Returned yesterday morning . . .

All home safe and sound . . .

Experiences of a lifetime . . .

Love my KIDS (Haley, James, Lauren, Natalie, Meranda, Emily, Willie, Parker, Hannah, Eva) . . .

Great kids (travelers) make the best trips ! ! !

More to come . . .

School's out for Summer, Alice Cooper

"Well we got no choice
All the girls and boys
Maken' all that noise
'Cause they found new toys
Well we can't salute ya
Can't find a flag
If that don't suit ya
That's a drag

School's out for summer,
School's out forever
School's been blown to pieces

No more pencils
No more books
No more teacher's dirty looks

Well we got no class
And we got no principles
We ain't got no innocence
We can't even think of a word that rhymes

School's out for summer
School's out forever
My school's been blown to pieces

No more pencils
No more books
No more teacher's dirty looks

Out for summer
Out 'til fall
We might not come back at all

School's out forever
School's out for summer
School's out with fever
School's out completely"

Wyatt -- 3 weeks old!

Count your blessings . . .

Just when you think you can't do one more thing or take on one more challenge -- just stop and look around. There is always someone, somewhere, whose challenges are far more difficult.

• A young parent came to my office this morning needing some help with a school document she needed for a credential from the Mexican Consulate. She dropped out of high school at 16, had a baby who has been very ill since birth. He is now 5 and not much taller than Elliott. His little legs are so skinny, they look like just walking could break them. He had a breathing device around his throat and terrible scars on his left arm. His lower lip and chin were somehow molded together. I helped her, and sent her on her way.


• Late tonight I got a phone call about one of the senior sisters in our ward -- Grandma Carol. She had hip replacement surgery a week ago today and has been recovering very well in a rehab center. However, she had a seizure sometime today and fell. She pretty much destroyed her hip replacement and broke her pelvis, severely. Rather than a return home in a couple of days, she is now in a hospital facing surgery and a very long recovery.

I am very blessed and I think of my blessings every hour of every day -- family, good health, nice home, spiritual significance, excellent job, and more! I am reminded tonight of a song from White Christmas called "Counting My Blessings Instead of Sheep" --- When I am worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep, counting my blessings. When my bankroll is getting small, I think of when I had none at all, and I fall asleep, counting my blessings . . . It's a simple little song, but has a big strong meaning.

(Music and lyrics by Irving Belin, 1954 -- the year I was born -- it was sung in White Christmas as a duet by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney.)

People say the strangest things . . .

I have been involved in year end interviews at work. Basically, they are just quick visits with the counselors to celebrate the school year, share goals for next school year, and get ideas on how I can improve my work at the D.O. When given the opportunity, people share the strangest things. For example one of the counselors I talked with today told me that her husband of 30+ years goes to bed at seven and gets up at four in the morning (What????). She says he's always done that. Another counselor tried to explain that the reson things are not going well at school is becuase of "that group" of "those kids" that come from a poorer area of the district, "well you know!" (What???!!!) We are living in the 21st Century and there are still biases and prejudices for "those" whoever they are! The first ground rule of counseling is acceptance of all students, unconditionally!

Happy Birthday, Annie

I remember so well the morning you were born -- it was field day at the local elementary school and your grandmother (my mom) was right in the middle of all the preparations. I called her a dozen times that morning to tell her that you were here, but with no success. Finally, Paul and Karen shared the news with Geneil at school and (Grandma Huber) my mom finally got the word.

Visiting hours were pretty strict back then and Grandma Huber tried to visit you and me in the hospital. She made a lot of noise down the hall, but never made it to my room. I will never know what really happened, but Grandma Petersen managed to get through the hospital security.

You are a great daughter -- so creative and talented. You are such a good writer and so many get words of motivation from your blog. You will always be an excellent teacher -- look at what your little son is learning.

Hope you have a great day!

A week in review . . .

Last Sunday, May 17, I hit the wall with a case of the flu. I had a new grandson home only 2 days, a daughter needing my help, a boy in the middle of a basketball tournament, a nephew coming home from a mission, a house to keep up on, parents to help, a play to see, and yes, work to do. Needless to say, I did what I could, but my daughter and new grandson were sorely neglected.

On Tuesday, to add to the stress of being sick, Elliott had a croup attack and a slow to heal ear infection. Rats! As I read up on the kind of flu (para influenza) I had, the literature pointed to croup and respiratory problems in younger children. The guilt I felt in knowing that I probably contributed to Elliott's symptoms was awful.

Now a week later, I have finally been able to help Annie out a little by taking Elliott and spending some time with him. He is trying very hard to be a good big brother. From the picture on this blog post taken at the hospital, you can see a pretty forlorn look on his face. I can only wonder what he really thinking -- I know he doesn't have the words to explain a pretty overwhelming and new experience. We have had some great discussions and I think things are going to work out okay for him, but it may take some time. He has been the center of the universe for so many who love him so much for over two years. As Willie would say, Elliott is not the main event, he's the warm up band.

A week later, I am feeling better, but a fog horn cough is too persistent to leave just yet.

Welcome Wyatt

New grandson
Wyatt

Big boy
Handsome boy

Glad to have him here with us!

What a blessing!