Journal

Monday, August 4, 2008 8:56 PM CDT

It was my first day of work but I didn't see students. Hopefully next week their schedule will be set. My room was done last week and it didn't take me long to review IEP's and get organized today. They're sending me to a different school to observe. I believe they think I'm a new teacher. :) That's okay. I'll just go with the flow. I'm teaching a "pull out" program which means I don't need to do attendance. My new boss told me I don't need to keep a grade book either- just notes about the progress the children make. Oh- I also don't need to do lesson plans. I only have to put all their goals and objectives in a binder. Well, I will at least post a schedule. I'm very organized and I think you need to have some sort of schedule posted. After this week I REALLY want to stay there! :) I can teach blindfolded so I do believe this will be an "easy" job for me. However, I don't believe in being lazy so I'll challenge myself to see how far I can push these kids. I also volunteered for the writing club, spelling bee, Oral Language Festival, and some other committee I can't recall right now. I'm nervous with two female administrators but I hope they will judge me on my teaching skills and nothing else. I'll keep to myself and do my job.

One of the gals brought up that whole thing from the summer- about someone dating 30 year olds. I'm not sure why but I get so irritated when I think about that. But I'm also fiercely loyal to people I care deeply about. So I said, "He's a great guy. You should listen to your sister-in-law and go out with him." To which she replied, "Ew, he's in his mid-forties! He's OLD!" He is about 16 years older than she is. Most women only like older men for their money. I'm sorry, but I wouldn't want someone who only liked me for my good job- because I've been in that situation before and it doesn't feel very good. I like this gal though- she's trying to get me to sign up for Internet dating. I told her I want to lose weight first. "Laura, you have a beautiful face and I thought you were just a few years older than me!" (I love how full-figured girls are always beautiful! Have you ever noticed that?) I find it interesting how people have different tastes in beauty. She doesn't find him attractive and I think he's very handsome. But if everyone had the same tastes our world would be quite boring!

Hmmm.. I heard the people from my old school are going to Vegas on the 23rd. I've never been to Vegas. I think I'd like to go- I'd like to check out this "alleged" womanizing behaviour for myself. Dumb guy- he could have more fun with me! :) This gal told me they might invite teachers from other schools. Maybe I'll get an invite. :) Do you know I've NEVER been away from my boys? Except for work, I've never been far from them. I could get a sitter for the night and next day. I don't even know how to gamble (except for the lottery!) I'd have to hook up with someone to hang out with. Let's see if I get an invite.

Sue and her girls are out this week, looking at colleges on the sea. :) Have fun, girls! :)

The boys have another week off before they start back to school. Going back will be good for them because I feel they're wasting their time at home. Yes, Bronson does practice his guitar but he also wastes too much time on the Internet. I hope you enjoyed reading Colton's little blurb last night. He asked me if he could type something on his page and I said, "Sure!" I want him to feel ownership over his website. One day if he goes blind maybe they can translate it into Braille or make him an auditory copy. Every day I check our mailbox but still no word back from the school for the blind in Fremont. They're a pretty big operation so it might take them a while to get back to us. When I see Colton's Braille teacher I'm going to ask him to fill out the county portion of the application. Bronson seems to be growing by the day though I know he really isn't. He is getting so tall. He still has a baby face (and still acts like a baby)... and well, he'll always be MY baby! :) My boys were playing with dominoes the other night. When I woke up in the morning they had created, "LEAVE THE MODEM" out of dominoes! Oh brother... when I was a kid I played outside. I told them about Cummings Valley. I was such a tomboy! I had short, blonde hair. I had an old bike that I rode all over the hills around our house. I used to play in caves, have fun on my tire swing, and even barrel walk! (Nobody who knows me today would believe that but it's true) Of course we had a lot of acerage too. When the air gets completely better we're going to take Dapple on walks in the evening. An exercise bike just isn't the same as an evening walk.

I went to a yard sale several weeks ago and bought what looks to be a "miner's helmet" for Colton. Basically, it's a strap that goes around his head with a big light attached on the front. Poor baby has been wearing it around the house to see the hallway and rooms. :( Oh well. I just bought it as a toy but he's using it for life skills. I can't imagine how hard it would be to go blind. I tried it once by blindfolding my eyes for a couple hours and I couldn't stand it. I sure hope these scientists find a cure pretty soon.

I read a sweet story on blindness.org about the daughter of a famous golfer who was born with LCA:

http://blindness.org/coping/story.asp?id=81
A Commanding Voice for Cures
Brooke Pernice is not your typical 14-year-old girl. A blossoming country and western singer, she’s released a CD, “Help from Above,” and sung the national anthem before Major League Baseball games in Los Angeles and San Diego. She has strong faith, patriotism, and is also a remarkable history buff. She soaks up information about World War II like a seasoned historian, even quoting the likes of Winston Churchill. If that wasn’t enough, she happens to be the daughter of Tom Pernice, Jr. – a golfer on the PGA Tour.
But Brooke was also born blind from Leber Congenital Amarousis. And for two years, Brooke was given prognoses that were far worse than blindness. Tom and Sydney Pernice were told she would be mentally retarded and unable to stand. It was even suggested that part of her brain was missing. Needless to say, the Pernices were devastated.
At first, the family relied on strong faith to get them through the fear and uncertainty surrounding their daughter’s future. Ironically, Brooke emerged to be a little girl who wouldn’t know the meaning of fear and uncertainty. At the age of four, she got up on stage in front of a large crowd at a PGA family outing at Disney World, and sang a tune by the Australian duo Savage Garden. Brooke now relishes the opportunity to sing before a live audience, no matter how many thousands may be listening. She’s also not shy about going head-to-head with any adult in debating history, politics, or religion.
FFB is fortunate to have the passion of Brooke and the entire Pernice family behind our urgent mission to bring an end to all retinal degenerative diseases. In fact, she performed at the inaugural Kansas City VisionWalk which took placeon Saturday, June 28. And with Brooke at the microphone, the voice for treatments and cures couldn’t have been louder or stronger. Brooke's VisionWalk team raisedmore than $50,000.


I found an article about Pernice on the Internet. What a wonderful attitude he has towards his daughter's disability! They are devout Catholics who view their child 's disease as a blessing:

PGA Tour pro Tom Pernice Jr. views condition as a blessing
by Bill Khan | The Flint Journal
Tuesday June 24, 2008, 1:22 PM

John W. Adkisson | The Flint Journal
Tom Pernice Jr. chips onto the ninth green during his practice round at the Buick Open on Tuesday.GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Michigan — "Why us?"

It's an understandable reaction for any parents who are given the devastating news that their newborn child has a serious handicap.

Former Buick Open champion Tom Pernice Jr. and his wife, Sydney, had to come to grips with the fact that their youngest daughter, Brooke, was blind when she was born 13 years ago. She was diagnosed with Leber's Congenital Amaurosis, an inherited retinal degenerative condition, and has never seen her father hit a golf shot.

"In the beginning, any time anything is wrong with your child, it's absolutely devastating," Sydney said. "You think, 'Why?' and 'What am I gonna do to help? How am I gonna be a great parent to a blind child?' That child doesn't come with a manual to begin with, let alone when they have a disability. For the first few years, it was really tough."

In time, however, through the eyes of faith, the Pernices no longer considered Brooke's blindness as a burden to bear.

They viewed it as a blessing.

"She's almost hard to talk about, she brings me to tears," Pernice said Tuesday while speaking at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club.



Tom Pernice Jr. spoke at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast and in an interview afterward. His wife, Sydney, talks about raising a blind child. Brooke Pernice sang "Heading Home" and "Day by Day" from her CD.

"I'm so proud. She's really become the cornerstone of our faith and our family. As a father, I couldn't be more proud. She's very special. She has an amazing influence on people. She has a very special gift from the Lord. We feel very blessed."

It helps that Brooke herself has never had a woe-is-me attitude. She has a love for music and recently released a Christian music CD. Brooke performed three songs during the breakfast Tuesday, and there weren't many dry eyes in the room as she sang and gave a testimony of her faith in Jesus Christ with a poise and presence far beyond her years.

"All of us were put on this earth for a reason," she said. "I believe the reason the Lord put me on this earth is, when I was 7, he told me I would lead a worldwide ministry through music.

"In October of 2006, he told me it was time to start doing concerts and public speaking. That's what I've tried to do. I believe he's enabled me to do t his. We all have dreams and we all have callings. The Lord intends us to use those talents we have for good."

One of the songs she performed Tuesday, "Heading Home," was about the time her father must spend away from the family making a living on the PGA Tour. Pernice is accompanied by his wife and two daughters this week, but that's not always the case during the long Tour season.

"It's hard for us," Brooke said. "I can't imagine how hard it is for him to be away from home and not see us for a while, to be apart from his family."

"Being away from the family and traveling is definitely the challenge of the job by far, no question," said Pernice, who won the 1999 Buick Open.

The lyrics in Brooke's songs were written by herself and her mother. Sydney said there were many nights when she would wake up, swearing that she heard a song on the radio or television, only to find out neither was on. She would then write down the words she heard, even though she didn't have a writing background.

"I didn't think I would be such a big part of it and be the messenger who helps create some of these songs," Sydney said. "It is emotional and touching to our whole family that we've been gifted with a child who is going to touch so many.

"What I enjoy when she performs is to watch other people. You always see a lot of tears in the room. I just feel the Holy Spirit has enabled her to touch the hearts of people who come."

brookepernice.com



Have a GREAT week! :)

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