So, I have spent hours working on my mini-lesson power point. Not because I'm OCD, but for many other reasons:

Reason 1: I haven't done a PowerPoint in EVER.

Explanation: When I thought I had saved it (In its completion) I reopened the presentation to find that it did not save. Did this happen once? No! Twice. So, that pretty much means I did 3 PowerPoint presentations tonight. Ugh.

Reason 2: No internet service.

Explanation: Using a cellphone for Internet service, uploading the information from phone to computer, finding the saved information, then adding it to my PowerPoint is quite time consuming. (Especially when you do it 3 times!) ugh.

Reason 3: Adding hyperlinks.

Explanation: Thanks to Susan, I can now add hyperlinks to my PowerPoint presentations. She taught me today. :0) As a beginner, it took an hour or so to look up the hyperlinks on my phone (since I don't have Internet), save them, add the URL, save again, & insert them into my presentation. Does it seem like an hour is too much time?? Well, Let's not forget... 3 times. Ugh.

Reason 4: Citing sources.

Explanation: Using Internet service from my phone, I took photos, photos of URL's, and photos of books to add to my presentation. I, then, uploaded each, saved them to my computer, and inserted them into my presentation. Tick, tock... Tick... Tock!! 3 times!! Ugh.

I'm sure I could go on and on finding reasons and explanations for the amount of time spent on my mini-lesson, but it is now 10:30 and my eyes are crossing. What's bad is I don't even know if the Hyperlinks Will work until tomorrow (no Internet) so I might have to put more time in. At least I know it finally saved correctly!!

No more DO OVERs!!

(I think this blog could serve as a mini-lesson within a mini-lesson. Does that count as extra credit?) :0)

Last drop

Signs of nature

Rainbow signifies God's promise

Calm, peaceful, crisp, cool air

Gently blows

Pre Sunshine

In this one, you are so proud.

The smirk on your face tells me this.

It is Christmas and you have opened your gifts and are now trying on all of your new clothes. Outfit after outfit, you pose in the mirror...

Tucking, untucking. Buttoning... And smiling all the while.

You talk of when you'll wear each and what people will say or think. It makes me happy to see you smile and to feel that I have had something to do with it.

You are so handsome and to see you feel that way makes ME proud.

Proud that you are proud. Proud to be your mother.

You have so much to offer yourself and those around you. You can do anything; go anywhere.

To bring back the moment in this pic and the smile on your fave would be heaven to us both.

I was, am, and always will be proud of you. As proud as we both were... In this one.

Growing up my mother would often say to me, "I hope you have a child who...". She was mostly referring to my whining and how great it would be to see me suffering from the fate that I had inflicted upon her. Was this a curse?

No, my son is not a 'whiner' but he is quite challenging in any and all other ways. I wish he had come with a manual so I knew exactly what to do... say... And the right time to do both.

We used to b a team. 'Partners' was his word for us. We were all each other had... All we needed. We were inseparable. I was his world and he was mine. When asked how he got so handsome he'd reply, "My mommy made me that way." Is this the answer to all my questions? Maybe it is I who has made him the smart, disrespectful, handsome, selfish, funny, stubborn person with the biggest heart I know. A younger version of me. After all, he is my soul... my very being. Without him I am lost.

Come home, please... Come home.

Parenting... The most difficult job in the world. I love it. I hate it. I quit. Can I start over? Is it me? Is it him? Is it etched in my being? Have I etched it in his? What can be done? Undone? Where do I go from here? Most importantly... Will he follow?

Good afternoon!! So, I am hoping that I am doing this correctly. Not much of a blogger but, I'm sure it will be interesting to learn about and become involved in. I'm also sure it will aid in my becoming a better writer and teacher of writing!! Writing to learn... for now... :)