Friday, February 8, 2013

Five For Friday Linky Party...February 8th

I am super excited that Friday is finally here!  It's suppose to be almost 35 degrees tomorrow and I am loving it!  In Minnesota, this is fantastic weather.  I am also going to be going Ice Golfing tomorrow.  I am meeting some friends in the morning, eating some yummy breakfast food and heading to the pond...to ice golf...or maybe just be a spectator!  Here are 5 random things about this week.  You can join in and add your link here.... Doodlebugsteaching...Linky Party.

1.  I am so excited for the 100th day of school on Monday.  I have been preparing all week for it.  We are going to make these fun crowns.  Each strip will have 10 different things on them.  (10 stickers, 10 initials, 10 check marks, etc.)  Altogether there will be 100 things on the crown.

2.  Watching my 9 year old sleep is a favorite thing that I like to do each morning.  He is always so peaceful.  He is reminding me daily that they will not be young forever.  I cherish each moment.

3.   My 9 year old loves to read.  He just finished Harry Potter Book 5.  Being the book is huge and he finishes them so quickly, the teacher in me wonders if he comprehends them.  I asked him several questions and he got frustrated with me because I didn't understand what he was saying or who he was talking about.  He finally told me to read the books myself.


4.  I LOVE snow!  We are expected to get a lot of snow...not as much as the East Coast, but up to 9 inches.  I am secretly hoping the path shifts a little and we get the 15 inches that people just to the north of us will be getting.  I want my kiddos to experience their first school closing and see our school on the news.  We haven't had a school cancellation in years.  Even 2 years ago, when we got almost 2 feet of snow...we still had to go in.  It always snowed on a Friday or Saturday night and the plows had it cleaned up by Monday.  Our only potential school closing that fell on a Sunday....happened over President's Day weekend, so we didn't have school on Monday anyway.


5.  This week was a rough one for me.  5 years ago on February 7th, 2008, I had gone out to buy a pair of pajamas for Pajama Day at school the next day.  On the way home I noticed a car driving oddly behind me.  I pulled over to the side of the road and a man passed me (going almost 90 miles an hour in a 50 mile zone).  As he passed me, he slid and went over a median in the middle of the road.  He hit another man's car (Mark) head on and killed him. I went to Mark's car and held his hand and tried to talk to him to see if he was alive.  He was not.   The man who hit him was drunk...3 times the legal limit.  After all was said and done, I contacted his mom and told her who I was and that I was there with him...and that he didn't suffer.  Every year she called me and I called her.  We exchanged Christmas cards.  I tried to call her yesterday to let her know I was thinking of her.  Her number was disconnected.  I cried.  I think of them all the time.  I think of his son, Brandon who is the same age as my oldest son.  They were in the same grade when it happened.  I can't imagine a little child losing a parent.  So many weird things have happened since then.  I found out the accident happened by a student's house that I had 2 years ago in my class.  I also learned that the 911 dispatcher that took my call (all the calls coming in) is a friend of mine that I met last year, through another friend.  We have run 5k's together.  It's such a small world.  This incident has taught me to really hug my kids and tell them I love them every night and every day before I leave my house.  It could be any of us that has something tragic happen to us.   Mark's family will forever be in my heart.

Have a great weekend! 
Sara

7 comments:

  1. Oh wow, that story about Mark gave me chills. It's amazing what can happen in just an instant, isn't it? I feel so badly that someone else's horrible decision cost someone else their life, and a child their father. I'm glad you took the time to check on Mark, and told his mother that he didn't suffer. I'm sure you helped her in ways you don't even know. I'm sorry that her number was disconnected, but I'm sure she still remembers you and is touched by the fact that you took the time to care. I know I am.

    On a lighter note, we made the same 100 day crowns at school! :-) Ours were made out of white paper, though, so they weren't nearly as colorful! And you really should read the Harry Potter books! I read the first 5 in a week because I could not put them down. I re-read them all a few summers ago. They're so good! I would take the time to read them; plus, they'll give you a good topic of conversation to have with your son! I read the Hunger Games last year for a class, but I chose it because my 13 year old sister is into them, and it gave me something to talk about with her!

    Erica
    Blooming In First

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment! I really am thinking that I will read the Harry Potter books, eventually. :) It would be nice to know what my 9 year old was reading about. I have heard the Hunger Games are good too. We did get that book for my son last year, but have held off on reading it. We didn't know if it was too young for him? What do you think? Would it be okay for a 9 year old?

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  2. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. It is amazing how much our lives are connected to others and we don't even know it. There was a reason you were there that night. Mark and his family needed you.

    I have to tell you, I had to Google ice golf to find out what it was. I live in California so the term is not common here. My husband and I watched a You Tube video on it. Looks fun! Can't wait to hear how it goes tomorrow. Glad I found your blog through the Five for Friday linky. I am your newest follower.

    -Jaime
    Bright Concepts 4 Teachers

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    1. Hi Jaime! Thanks for the comment! Ice Golf was so much fun! People in MN even ask what it is. Who ever thought that people would hit a golf ball on a lake/pond? :) There was a huge bonfire in the middle of the pond too. I am glad you found a video on You Tube. I bet you are having wonderful weather in California. I am jealous. I can't wait for warmth here. June can't come soon enough. I am following you too. :)

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  3. Ice golfing, my husband and son would love it. I am your newest follower.

    Thank your for sharing the story of Mark. I believe that we are put in certain places at certain times for a reason. You were meant to be with Mark during this horrible tragedy. Thank your for stopping and caring for him.

    Terri
    The First Grade Princess

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  4. Terri...Thanks for your comments! I truely believe that we are put in certain places at certain times too. Your husband and son would love it! It's my 3rd year going. I love it. The bonfire in the middle of the lake/pond is pretty fun too! I am your newest follower of your blog too.
    Sara

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  5. Oh my goodness, what a horrible incident. I can't imagine going through it. I feel so bad for his child. It sounds like with all the coincidences you were mean't to be there. That is so neat that you contact his mother every year. What a special bond.
    ☀Rikki
    The Hive

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