The Backpack that Died & Apology Letters

Dad gave me a backpack about seven years ago when we were going to Switzerland together.  I've carried it on many trips since then.  About two years ago the zipper on the front organizer pocket broke.  I finally decided to try and get the company to give me a new one since I saw they have a lifetime warranty.  So I've been in correspondence with them for about two months, emailing pictures and then more pictures (at their request)...etc.  My latest correspondence with them said that I should pick four different choices of backpack I would like from their website, and they'd decide which one they could send.  However, I had to cut a hole 3x5" in my backpack around the insignia and send a picture of that so that they'd know I couldn't use it again and it was being disposed of.  Below are the pictures of that.  Kind of a hard thing to do for someone who is basically thrifty.  I sure hope they send me a new one soon!

                      

                      

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Last week on Friday at the end of the day, I had a first grade class in for their usual library time.  I was reading frog stories to them for about a month now and using that topic to jump off into a very brief introduction to basic reference resources (You know--looking up "amphibian" in the dictionary and encyclopedia, etc.).  I wanted to show them something on the screen so I had them sit in a different part of the library than usual.  That meant I would be talking to them from behind their backs while using my computer to show them the library website.  On top of that, they had a substitute.  Well, after numerous attempts to get them quiet and focused, I sent them back to their classroom without getting books.  They were in shock and very remorseful.  About a half hour several representatives arrived back with a handful of apology notes.  Here is a little sampling: (I have a feeling the substitute put some key vocabulary words for their notes on the board for them to think about using.:)

"Ms. Garber, I am sorry for making bad choices.... Do you forgive me? I was derepestful."

            

"Dear Mis garbre, I am sorry because I made shado bunny pupets (in the light of the projector--always a huge temptation when using the projector!). I put my hed down (back in the class on his desk)." The happy gift of this one is
that I may "smell" the spot where this student
used a fragrant marker! (Though I was a little nervous to "smell" at first.  
What if it were a bad trick?!)

                  

This one speaks nicely for itself, including the self-lined paper.

                   

Abdullah wanted to fill the paper so included, "Sooorry!!! Sorry Sorry!!! SORRY."
However, I think he did do a nice job!

                   

This was one of my favorites from Bethany:  "miSS Gardir, I'm sorry I did not mean to tak. library is my favearite subact and that is wie I'm riting tise latter I'm going to not tak nast class.  I'm goin to tell my parins and sit in timaot.  Sinserale Bethany

               

We have a school-wide postal system called Wee Deliver.  Students are encouraged to write to fellow students or staff, put it in the post office box in the lobby, and then once a week a team of students distribute the mail.  It all has to be addressed correctly to the classroom and with a return address and stamp (drawn or any sticker) or it is returned to sender.
So this is what I created and sent back to the first grade class.
I hope they liked and understood mine as much as I liked and cherished theirs. :)

A Special Dream

Last night, or actually this morning, I had a dream.  I don't usually remember my dreams, and if I do, they are often of the incoherent variety.  But this one was different.  I was at school working with some children in the library.  I was aware that my parents were coming to see us, and that they would be at home when I got there.  All of a sudden, the two of them walked into the library, all smiles, to surprise me at work.  They were much like they are in this picture--lively and quite healthy, having driven from Kansas, of course.  I gasped, ran to them, and burst out crying (something I am not prone to do easily) as I embraced my mom.  The dream ended suddenly then before I could also hug my dad.  

I woke up with such a realization of how much I miss them!  That isn't something I think about during the moments of the day, though they often come to my memory for one reason or another.  My mom died a little over a year ago now and my dad about 12 years ago.  Their presence in some form or another of influence, love, and prayerful concern though will always be with me.  

   

                                        

Mother's Day Gifts -- May 12, 2013

I had very sweet Mother's Day remembrances from all my children.  The Monday before Mother's Day, I went with Eden to look for a bridal gown.  Afterwards we had a nice hot cup of tea at Starbuck's.  She left town on Friday for a trip to Switzerland.

On Mother's Day afternoon as I was driving home from church I had a call from Elliott who had just arrived in Germany where he had a conference and training for the next two weeks.  I also had the kindest email from Becca who made me feel very special with her warm and loving words.

When I got home (and Steve) David and Jonathan came over to visit for a couple of hours.  That was very sweet, and it was a beautiful day to sit outside and enjoy some strawberry shortcake together.  Erika was sleeping in preparation for a night shift in the NICU, but not before she took the time to send a happy greeting for Mother's Day via email.

After the boys (now men) left, Steve and I went to the C & O Canal National Park Site to ride our bikes along the canal.  It was such a perfect day for it.

And on Monday after Mother's Day, Jessica came home from a weekend trip to San Francisco with a friend and surprised me with a special tea mug and tea infuser and special strawberry rhubarb tea from David's Tea.

The perfect card--with Jessica and Jonathan on my lap

The box

The tea

Looking down on the mug's lid in the box

Tea steeping

Mmmmm--ready to drink

Steve's Birthday 2013

Preparations started the night before with the making of the cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

Ready to roll...

Placed unbaked in the fridge for the night (covered with a tea towel)

Up a little earlier than usual to get them baked

...and frosted

Breakfast on the table for my special person on his birthday

I think he is pleased :).  Happy Birthday, my love!

Williamsburg Weekend

I spent a weekend (February 15-18) in Williamsburg at the invitation of friend Al Zambone who is the scholar on a curriculum project being undertaken by Educational Enterprises, a charter school organization.  The object of it is to create a character curriculum which can be integrated into social studies and literature courses through literature based units that will teach virtues while focusing on the lives of early American heroes and historical fiction from the early American time.  If they succeed, they hope the curriculum will be used both in secular and religious schools.  The project is being funded by a foundation with the stipulation that they focus on this period of America's history to accomplish the teaching of the targeted virtues:  Respect, Justice, Self-Sacrifice, Responsibility, Courage, Diligence, Integrity.  Rather than focus on behavior only, the intent is to get more at the "root" from which virtue comes as being a person's identity--purpose--performance.  If one can relate the virtue to their identity as a human being, this then gives them a purpose in performing it.  That's the basic idea at play here.

It's certainly an ambitious project.  I was going to be on a writing team for a particular grade band, but I am now in more of an advising role as a resource person, being the only librarian working on the project.  We shall see.  The conference was packed from morning until night, so most of my seeing of Williamsburg was after it was over and before I drove home.

I thought so much about the Williamsburg Charter week way back in summer of 1988 when we spent a week there.  Each day, Eden, Elliott, David, and I spent hot and interesting days going in and out of all the little shops and houses, gardens, mansions, and colonial capital building.  We saw all the animals and heard as many presentations by reenactors as we could.  And now, that was so long ago.  Also I had happy memories of taking Jessica and Jonathan on a homeschooling field trip there where we spent one night in a cheap hotel between the two days of seeing the town.

My hotel room at the Williamsburg Lodge

The Colonial Capital

Bruton Parish Church--I went to noon prayer there one day during lunch

The milliner's

The cobler's

My box lunch one day

The Armory

The minstrel at dinner one evening at one of the colonial taverns

Patrick Henry came to visit us.

As did George Washington in his younger days (bad picture!)

A lovely winter afternoon in Williamsburg

Bruton Parish Steeple

Wyth House from the perspective of the chicken coup out back

Thank you, Elliott and Becca, for our Authentic Italian meal!

Becca and Elliott sent us ingredients for an authentic Italian meal. We created it last night.  We added our own fresh vegetables to their wonderful sauce and pasta...

The vegetables went into the parmigiano reggiano sauce with spaghetti

The shrimp went into the basilico sauce with cavatelli pasta

Enjoying the gift!

The Sicilian wine found at Whole Foods to supplement
(Steve wasn't really asleep just caught in a closed eye moment)

The after dinner chocolates and the special spreads plus olives 

The founders of the feast!

Thanksgiving Day at the Garbers'

Thanksgiving brought the scurry of family and friends and cooking. It was the kind of weather one always hopes for--mild and sunshiny. Becca's, our daughter-in-law, family joined us for the feast and brought the turkey and sweet potatoes. We missed our dear Elliott, Becca, and Lena, but one of the pictures shows us passing the laptop around for everyone to say hi to them on video chat (Well, really to try and get Lena to say our names) When evening came, our dear friends Kevin and David Offner came for dessert and the rousing end to the Redskins beating the Cowboys. We are so thankful to God for --well, pretty much everything!

The table is set and ready

The necessary outdoor football activity

The nibbles -- mostly for show

Jessica and Eric, Becca's brother

Dessert time

Jessica's dessert -- individual pumpkin Nutella cheesecakes with chocolate ganache 

Eden and Kevin

Me and Jessica :)

Passing around the computer while video chatting with Lena, Elliott, and Becca

Emily, Becca's sister, and Jessica