Needing to catch up.....

We all know by now that this blog adventure is used for my personal self-reflection.....its been a little while now so here it goes......

I realize that I only blog when I want to vent about something or I need to relieve some stress....as you can see its been awhile...which tells me...no venting or stress relief needed, but I did want to update on life as a Derting from the past few weeks and the coming weeks ahead....

I will start with the fact that we are crazier than ever, but it is better than it has ever been.....Soccer is quickly coming to an end for the high school boys and Bryson's team....which went undefeated this season with a total of 48 goals in 6 games....and my B had 10 (insert-Proud Soccer Mom).....next weekend we will celebrate the little warriors successful season with Bryson's 1st sleepover all 9 soccer boys under one room for one night......ask me next Saturday, if there will be more?!?! Bryson is enjoying school a lot more these days as well, so much that he signed up for the science fair....ask me about that when its completed as well.....and throw in a spider model project all due next week....if we make it through...I will be thankful.....

My baby B is loving school and all her new friends....she woke today and her 1st words were "school"......oh how much easier it makes life to have 1 child that can transition into anything, anytime, and anywhere!!!! B's hair is really growing...almost mullet like, but hey its hair! Her sentences are growing more and more each day....as her daddy says....now she wont be quiet....pretty sure she never will ;) She loved the balloons over the weekend...which makes me so happy....oh how I love balloon rally weekend and all the memories tied to it.....memories that my babies can grow with as well!!!

There are so many things to look forward to in the coming weeks....creating some costumes for Halloween.....Veterans Day weekend which will lead me and at least one B to the beach while the boys stay home and do a little demo.....Thanksgiving.......and then there is Christmas.....I used to love weekends of doing nothing and sleeping in, but I see none of that in the near future or at least not for the reminder of this 2013 year....BUT I wouldn't trade it for anything! 6 am Saturdays and late night Sundays.....are worth every minute....

And just to add to all of the fun things we have going on....my job couldn't possible be any better....all that heartache....was worth every second for the happiness I have found in going to work everyday! I know I keep beating a dead horse....but I am so thankful, blessed and blown away at how lucky I am to be at schools that I love and work with teachers that are becoming really great friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you are well and enjoying the beautiful fall leaves......thanks for reading and supporting the Dertings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Much love, Alysha

Sustaining Balance...

I have been pondering posting for a few weeks.....but there has been no time to get my thoughts in one place for long enough to make a post.....the word that kept coming to mind was BALANCE.....we have got to find it.....we hit the ground running 3 weeks ago and we haven't stopped.....and there is no end in sight.....

I started this post on Sunday, but couldn't get it in the right direction, so I put it down and thought I will do it tomorrow once the week starts and I have a good feeling about how things might go this week.....GOOD thing I didn't pick this up yesterday b/c I needed today to find the balance I have been seeking......had I based it off of yesterday's experiences it wouldn't have been a true reflection of how my new life has been going....

I can't say enough how much I love my new job, it is a HUGE push daily to keep up with emails, who said what, who needs what and when and even what school will I be at today....I used to be an organized person and if you could see my work bag right now....you would understand the words "used to be"......

Although I left one school today feeling accomplished and drove to another and found more things that still needed my attention....the feeling is so rewarding, when one person says, "you have been helpful".....that is what this job is......being helpful, being human, being able to admit when I messed up, but also being able to share my passion and knowledge with others that need some encouragement.....I have 16 AMAZING teachers that I am working with weekly and they depend on my guidance and voice to share their concerns....I can only hope at the end of the day that I have succeed in making them feel worthy and needy as they truly are since they are the ones helping kids everyday.....

I am quite amazed at myself and how quickly I have forgotten what its like to juggle a teaching schedule....HELLO I was just there....3 months ago (with summer break included) but my word it feels like years ago.....(could be b/c last week felt like it lasted a whole entire year by its self)......

So BALANCE.....I am desperately seeking, some days more than others...but I have to remember that I am not alone....I have several EC teachers counting on me...some brand new, some seasoned ones and some that know more than I do....but all that depend on ME....and I cant forget that I have some other AMAZING PS girls that I already love as new friends beyond the job  :)

Throughout this new role I have learned to prioritize what's important and at the moment....honestly social media has dropped to the bottom of the list......so if I have missed some important updates or other vital info....please accept my apologize....emails and play time with the Bs have taken more of a priority :)

With that being said I hope you are doing well and are as excited about all the things that come along with fall as the Dertings!!

PS: Program Specialist really means Problem Solver

Signing off....Agent Derting

Much love....Alysha

The whirlwind begins!

I am not even sure where to start....I feel like summer break was years ago and that I am in the full time working routine and I have only worked 13 days.......I have said all summer I will not believe this is all true until Bryson is sitting in a classroom and I have my 1st pay check, so tomorrow this should all be OFFICIAL!!!

At this point I am happy to have a minute to sit and reflect on the changes that have occurred over the past 2 weeks...

I feel like we are running full speed and there is no end in sight....I love my job and I am learning daily what the defined role truly is...I hope that I will get a handle on everything that needs to be done before too long, but right now, I am managing day to day....

My job so far is LOTS of emails with concerns, questions, how to, what do I do....which is totally fine, I just don't have all the answers yet...I have been to all of my schools this week and then some (I totaled 9 Tuesday and 10 yesterday) so once the running is over I hope to focus on the brand new EC teacher that I get to work with along with the others that I already feel connected to...I have a schedule planned which makes me feel better knowing that one day soon the schedule will dictate my day...instead of running here and there and everywhere.

Although through running all over Iredell County I have made connection, after connection, after connection....with people that I use to see at the bank, people that know my parents, people that know someone that I know, people I went to elementary school with...teachers I had at West Middle....AND I walked down the hallway at West High the other day to the exact spot Brooks asked me out on a date....I am so excited about all the connections and the chance to be apart of the community that I have lived in my whole life....

I got to see my favorite Speech Therapist on one of my runs the other day and she quoted best of all "we are HOME"

For the 1st time in 10 years I didn't have to work open house as a teacher, I did however have to work open house as a parent, but for soccer reasons...On the 1st day of school I got to travel around and visit my teachers and schools, I got to meet some really cool, neat elementary kids, see former students on their 1st day of middle school.....walk the halls during the chaos of class change at the high school....it was a really good 1st day for me....

Bryson has had a little harder of a transition than I hoped for....but he is my kid so I am not totally surprised....he misses his friends at Stony Point and the fact that mom is not next door was a bit of a culture shook on Monday....pretty sure he found everything there is to find that is different compared to SP...down to the chairs in the cafeteria....I am hopeful as each day passes that he will love Scotts just as much as SP, its just going to take some time to learn the new place and I keep trying to tell him 2nd grade is gong to be WAY different anywhere he is than Kindergarten and 1st! I have been very pleased with Scotts...I feel like there are several people that we know already that are willing to watch over him when its needed and I was very impressed that the Music teacher knew his name yesterday as we passed her in hall....AND there is a certain soccer mom that has her eye on him a couple days a week!!!

Tonight Britan has preschool open house....I am very excited for her and this new adventure. She is such a little social butterfly and I think she will thrive on the chance to learn and grow.....this is where her and her brother are COMPLETE opposites!

Hope you all have had a great 1st week of school or just a great week in general.....

I am very thankful for a long weekend....

Much love, Alysha

Change can be a GOOD thing!

WOW! That word sums up the ride that we have been riding all summer.....SO many changes, SO little time, and SO happy and excited about them ALL!

Thinking back to this time last year and how depressed I was about going back to work and how I skipped the 1st workday just to have one more day with the kids....and now today....I LOVE my job!
And how 8 (short) weeks ago I was devastated that I had been moved to another school and thinking how am I ever going to overcome this....and NOW look! One thing the EC Director & Associate Superindents said to me the day I left for summer break that speaks volumes to me now "have you been praying for a change"..."yes"......their response "well here ya go".....THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! This is the exact change I have been praying for!!!!!!!!

SO we ALL are making new transitions this month....here's a rundown.....

Brooks: BECAME a Co-Director of the WISA soccer program last week......meaning we are ONLY adding more soccer to our life! He and his co-director (NOT ME) are holding sign-ups for soccer teams this fall...kids ages 4-14.....and he is still helping coach at the high school.... #soccerlife

Alysha: STARTED a new job on Monday, with a new challenge, a new job description, a chance to further my career, and OPPORTUNITY to do more!!!!!!! One of the 1st things said Monday morning....if you are here in this position....you must love organization!! YES.....Hello.....THATS ME!!! My new job will be LOTS of planning, scheduling and living by a strict calendar! I am SUPER excited for this job!!!!!

Bryson: IS EXCITED to start school at Scotts and I am excited too...b/c I get to plan my schedule to be at his school one day a week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is also excited for his soccer season to begin and use some of his new foot skills he learned at soccer camp!!!

Britan: WILL start preschool on September 4th although she doesn't understand what that means yet....I am positive she will love going to school 3 days a week from 9-1....and enjoy her lunch in her Hello Kitty lunchbox!

We are all excited for all of these new changes and excitement in the weeks to come!

If you have a little one that would like to play soccer let me know and I can direct you to the right person!!!

Thanks for reading and supporting us ALWAYS!!!

2 posts in 1 day....IMPRESSIVE wouldn't ya say!!! (especially now that I can mark it off my list)

Much love, Alysha

~Happy 2nd Birthday & 2 Weeks Britan~

I really wanted to share some of Britan's highlights from the past year and her party before now....BUT been a little crazy....

Our Sweet, Hilarious, Outgoing, Not Completely Bald Anymore, Amazing, Little Girl turned 2, 2 weeks ago! This little bundle of joy makes us laugh about something daily! She is so independent and outgoing and the complete opposite of her brother.

Here are some of her highlights from the past year.....ENJOY....I hope she will one day!!

Carrigan Farms

 14 months old

 

Her 2nd Halloween as a Peacock

15 months

 

 

Britan has been a good eater since day 1!!

Just sometimes its not the healthiest!!

 

 

Christmas Morning!

Very bald in this pic...

She loves babies and the stuff that comes with them!

 

 

Her 1st snow, as you can tell it was a REAL blizzard!

18 months old

 

 

She's a shopper...her daddy is in serious trouble!!

 

 

19 months old we cruised with Mickey and Friends

She LOVED and still does ALL characters....

she walks up, turns around and says cheese!

 

 

20 months

With our world of soccer...there is no doubt she will play!

 

 

21 months old

Busted her lip at Tanglewood

 

 

Loves animals!

 

 

22 months old

She's a beach and water girl...took a little bit to love the sand, but she does now!

 

 

As you can see I can't leave her alone long b/c she will climb on anything...

 

 

Happy 2nd Birthday Britan Rae

 

Thanks to her Uncle Lane for making Hello Kitty come true!

 

 

 

We are thankful everyday for this sweet girl that we can call our very own Britan Rae! No time for proofing and much more to share about all the transitions the Derting's are making in this month of August....stay tuned.......

 

Much Love...Happy Wednesday....Alysha

 

 

 

Still a Warrior....but now there's more!

I want to start with a quote that I wish I had seen about 6 weeks ago...but it now makes complete sense why I have stumbled upon it now....

"If God shuts a door, stop banging on it! Trust that whatever is behind it is not meant for you"

As most know my sweet, amazing husband surprised me with a little TN getaway 3 weeks ago...which was the day that I shared with the (fb) world my NEW job at West! I was SUPER excited for the chance to go back to where I came from and begin a new chapter of my life with hope that this would be a way in the door in ISS! Well, most don't know that I have been applying and interviewing for a position in Alexander and ISS for about 4 years....I have been on 6 interviews for this same position...one this time last year in ISS, one in November in AC and 1 AGAIN in ISS in May.

Every time I felt like I was getting a little closer to this "next step" in my career path, but every time was not the right time. This is a position that most don't understand unless you have EC knowledge and most think would not be much fun staring at EC paperwork. The title of this position is Program Specialist. This position is designed for support of EC teachers at their schools, compliance with EC paperwork (there is LOTS of paperwork for EC teachers), and other things that I am not even sure of at this moment.....BUT I have ALWAYS said when I got my Masters that this was a job that I would, one day, want to determine whether or not I want to go further with my career....go back to school and get my doctorate in EC being the final goal. And as the years have passed and the kids are growing I have gotten comfortable with my job and the fact that there is no studying and pushing myself to do more......WELL after the past 6 weeks things have certainly changed...my comfort zone is GONE and probably will not return for some time!

Anyway....back to TN....the 2nd day we were there I said to Brooks...just let me check my email really quick....this is not that normal...I normally don't care that much about my email, but I wanted to check it....so I opened it to find.............................................................Alysha, we have recently had a program specialist resign and if you are interested, the job is yours........................WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT......................HOW DID THIS HAPPEN...................WHAT DO I DO?..................................OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So our sweet little trip, took a little detour for a couple of hours while I processed the fact that on June 10th...I was assigned to a new position in AC....on July 1st I was offered a VERY exciting position at West........................and now on July 11th I have now been offered the PS position that I have so desperately been wanting for years.......................Please note I do realize HOW FORTUNATE I AM AND I AM MORE THAN GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE AT 1 JOB MUCH LESS 3! I had no idea when I walked out the doors of Stony Point in June what I was going to do...I knew that the new position I had been "reassigned" to was probably the best place other than SP for me in AC, but I still didn't have peace and felt the need to search further....

So now what...............I, in no way want to hurt West or the relationship that could be built there........b/c I have been on the other side of that fence (June 10th) and that side is not fun! I called the lady and told her of my dilemma...my paperwork was in the process at HR for West...she was very kind and said it will be a week before I get back to you about this situation...the lady in HR is on vacation and I don't know what to do..I understood...I was completely with her...NO clue what to do! SO I thought about it and prayed about it and had honestly let it go by midweek of that week...I was going to stick it out at West and be thankful for the opportunity they have given me....no worries.....

And then Thursday morning came and a voicemail at 7:45 am....The EC Dept from ISS...give us a call......I put it off all morning....and even told Brooks when I call back I have a feeling I am going to accept......so midday I called back.....I had two apprehensions about this position 1) How will West react 2) What schools will I be at??? If I was going to be assigned to schools at the lake or North Iredell then this was a done deal...staying at West....I am not going to drive that far from home and that far from the kids..................SO I asked the million dollar question "what schools will I be assigned to"...there are 6...........among the 6 are West Middle, West High and SCOTTS.............................WELP DONE DEAL....how could I turn this down....this is the EXACT job that I have been dreaming about for 4 years...that close to home...the chance to still be at West....the chance to be with Bryson at Scotts!!!!!!

BUT West was still in the back of my mind...I told her I needed some time to talk to Brooks, pray A LOT and make things right with West..............................This has been a huge struggle for me and I have been back and forth with this for 2 weeks. I called lots of colleagues and friends and asked for advice....all of which said TAKE IT and then I called West and the AP wasn't there and was out till Monday............so I waited till last Monday

8:00 am.....I spoke with the AP that had so kindly interviewed me and was kind to me and given me the opportunity to be at West.................I told her my situation and thankfully the conversation went ok....I completely understand that this is not a good scenario for them but I truly think that this has happened for a really good reason...........and I have promised that I will do the BEST job I can in this new position and I will still be a Warrior......so if you know any new EC Teachers out there or someone that maybe interested in working at a GREAT school let me know!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally I think that I am ready to begin the new school year....every week of this summer break has been dealing with some sort of work related situations....I HOPE that this FINAL week of Summer for me will go really slowllllly and that we can have some downtime because we haven't all Summer. With the new position I will work 2 extra weeks....the week before teachers come back and the week after they leave for summer.

This is it....the next step....I am so excited and terrified to start this new journey...I closed a major door the other day, I got all of my stuff from SP and said good bye to 8 years of my career in AC. I am thankful for the experience and knowledge I gained while I was there and the friendships that I made......

I am truly grateful to begin this new journey of my career. I am excited to be taking the next step up the EC ladder, I am hopeful that I can be a good mentor, leader and helper to the EC teachers out there that I will be working with! AND I can't say thanks enough to West Iredell and ISS EC Department for believing in me and trusting me with 2 AMAZING positions!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading...............this should be it for the career roller coaster for a few years (I hope)!

Much Love, Alysha

I am a WARRIOR.....again!!!

Today is finally the day! I am excited to say that I will be working at West Iredell High School in the Fall. There have been many emotions and lots of paperwork involved in this new challenge!

I interviewed for this position 3 weeks ago.....it was a great interview with one of my high school teachers that is now the AP and any EC teacher...loved them both and we talked the whole time about who is still at West and who is new and how the school has grown....it was a nice long conversation and I left thinking it would be nice to be here but I have got to keep in mind if I am not meant to be then I have to start embracing East. I decided to let it go and not worry and waste my time with the kids thinking about work. A week went by and I hadn't heard anything....last Monday morning I got a call from the AP at West and he said he thinks its a "good fit" and offered me the job!

I accepted and was excited but still nervous for the process to actually be over...he called the next day and said HR had approved and that I should hear something from them soon. I wanted to share this secret right away but was still a little apprehensive....By this past Monday morning I couldn't take it anymore and called HR myself....I knew the girl on the other end of the line....we grew up together....so it was good to talk to someone who knows me.....she said everything had come through but that I had to collect all this paperwork and finish the new hire papers....I totally forgot how much you have to do to get a job....I was on the phone with MCC, CVCC and UNCC trying to collect transcripts and then there was still more that was in my desk at SP that I needed to send to her....I felt like that "old" person dealing with college problems....On CVCC's website it said if you haven't attended since 2005 you are not in the system AKA OLD! I have finally, today, gotten all the paperwork to ISS so I am hoping that completes the process!

I am sad that I will not be with some of my old students at East and I am sad that everyone was so welcoming to me when I found out but this is the "right fit" for me and my family. And then there has been the challenge of "what about Bryson"...he has been at Stony Point and I didn't want him to be the kid that moved but in the end this is the best place for us all....we live 3 miles from West, Brooks and I graduated from West (started dating there), Brooks coaches soccer at West, Bryson would've gone to West by middle school anyways, Britan is starting preschool in the fall and her preschool is on the same main road (about 4 miles) from West, I know that one day I want to move up and this is a chance to expand my experience and may be even the push I need to go back to school.....there are lots of positives with this move. East would have been a much further drive and a lot further away from Britan,

I spoke with the principal at Scotts yesterday (another high school teacher Brooks and I both had, that grew up with my mom) (do you notice all the people that I have reconnected with through this process) she was very excited to have Bryson...we talked about class placement and how he can ride the bus to West with the other teacher's kids that work at West. I am still sad that I will not be with Bryson, but either place I went that was going to be the case. I know that my friends at SP would have taken amazing care of him....but I am confident that Scotts will be a good "new fit" for him. And honestly he isn't worried at all about me not being there...way more accepting than I expected AND 1/2 the soccer team is at Scotts along with cousins and old t-ball friends so he already has many connections!

Thank you to everyone that has prayed for me...I truly believe there was a BIGGER reason that I was moved and it only pushed me to find something to be excited and happy about! I am eager for the new challenge and a little terrified to be "going back" to high school...BUT at least its a high school that I am pretty familiar with  ;)

Thanks again for reading, listening to my life stories and the never ending support that has been shown!

A special thanks to those friends that have checked on me OFTEN, made some phone calls for me, been AMAZING references.....YOU know who YOU are!!

Much love and a little SUNSHINE, Alysha

The Dertings DO overcome!

I am sitting here on the couch looking out the window, stressed by the mess on the floor, but knowing how much I have learned this week about myself, true friends, the meaning of POWER and how dang much we take for granted…..

I will say that this has probably been one of the most trying weeks of my life…..BUT I do realize in that how much of a blessed life I have led if this is all that has made my life trying….

I had a VERY negative post ready to post on Wednesday, but since the rest of this week has been as eventful as the beginning of the week…that anger and that post will stay in draft mode b/c honestly it isn’t worth it!

Most know by my last entry that I have been moved to a new school ….I will not share all of my emotions about this b/c it could take days considering its been days and I still feel hurt, angry, upset, annoyed…the list goes on, but I will stop there…..

I will say that it was not by choice nor did I ask for a transfer, so the shock on Monday morning’s reality check was a slap in the face. I have dedicated 6 years of my life to the Stony Point Community…8 years total to Alexander County Schools and even watched my son be loved while at school there. However, the negative that I still have from this, because I am human and I would like to think that if I had so much control over someone else’s life I would treat it with kindness, empathy and maybe even just a little respect,……it will go away and in the end I will be a better, stronger person who will be the one to benefit from this and to those that think they have placed a roadblock in my way,  will see how it was a minuscule rock that I jumped over and kept going!!!

SO that was Monday and Tuesday’s mind frame….Wednesday we stayed home and Bryson had some friends over and I will say I was a lump on the couch trying to figure out my life….kind of wish I had vacuumed that day….but hindsight is 20/20!

Thursday I decided I needed to step up and take my life back b/c its mine not theirs…..so I took 4 kids to the grocery and out to lunch and I will say they were 4 well-behaved kids that made this little challenge easy…..I think I see that once you have 2 kids…anymore you add just fall into place, it isn’t like the shock we experienced from 1 kid to 2!

I was frustrated Thursday when we got home from our outing b/c the house was HOT (what I thought was hot)….we got this new AC unit back in October and paid a pretty penny for it so I was hoping that this summer we could actually sit with the blinds opened and cool air blowing from the vents, but that has not been the case…

About 3:30 Thursday the AC guy came…he was very nice and worked in the basement for about 20 minutes when the bottom fell out of the mini hurricane that attacked Statesville…for some reason I was calm, which is totally not a reaction I have during a storm…the power flickered, but came back on and then again..but no luck this time of coming back on…I heard the wind and it worried me that there could be a tornado so the kids and I went to the laundry room and hid in the dark…..

When we came out I looked at the backyard and it looked fine…but the front yard had a 40some year old tree across the driveway….I could’ve (and probably did) thrown my hands up at that point and given in….what else this week…I am done…I get it…lessons learned…give me a break….SO we waited patiently for Brooks to come home from work…still no power….poor AC man still stuck in the basement…..

As we looked at this tree laying in the yard…I realized it could have gone to the right instead of left and it would have hit the laundry room…the one place I thought we were safe! SO again….LESSON LEARNED!!!

Thursday night was a little rough…I had roast in the oven, that I honestly wasn’t sure was all the way cooked when we ate in on the living room floor in the dark….and we slept with all the windows and doors opened just to have some sort of breeze….and we were hummed to sleep by the sound of the generator hooked up to keep the fish tanks going…..yeah those fish are important…..

Yesterday rolled around and still no power….afternoon still no power…..I finally took a shower and dried my hair in the basement and put my make-up on by the sunlight coming through the window…..night came and Brooks called Energy United and they said at 10:30 by 11 we should have power….obviously they didn’t mean 11 last night or this morning....

And that brings me to now…..sitting here realizing the things that we take for granted and how they can be changed so quickly without our control…..

I would like to say MANY of you have offered your homes, your showers, your pools, your hugs, your love, your prayers…..this week and it doesn’t go unappreciated! I have been very touched this week by many of you and YOU know who you are…that has taken that extra step just to show you care!

Thank you from the bottom of my mending heart….much love as always, Alysha

*****************************AND I am not lying as I typed ALYSHA the power came back on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started a new chapter of life today..................................

I am saddened to be writing this next line and tears stream down face as they have all day long....I was told today that I will no longer be at Stony Point. I have been "reassigned" to East Alexander Middle School.

You know me well enough by now to know that the only way I process my emotions is through this blog...so here it goes.....

I am so sad to be leaving behind my Bryson and the daily memories I will be missing out on (insert MANY tears here)......
I am so sad to be leaving kids that I have watched grow for 6 years of my career....
I am so sad to be leaving a staff that I love as my own family.....
I am so sad to be leaving behind a school that I love more than any school I have ever stepped foot in.....
I am so sad to be leaving the familiar for the unknown.....

I like to have control of my life and in this situation I feel as if I have lost complete control which is probably the part that saddens me the most.....

I know that there so many worse things in life....and I in no way want to discount those that are in such greater need than me.....

I am so thankful to everyone that listened to me cry today and supported me today...and all the sweet comments, texts and messages do mean a lot.....I just really wish this wasn't the way to start Summer break......

In the end I will overcome this and it will become clear (ONE day) why this happened...

I am so thankful for the journey I have traveled at SP and every person and child I have crossed paths with, will only make me a better person in the end!

Here are some positives:

I am happy for a new challenge....
I am happy for new faces.....
I am happy to reconnect with old friends and past students.....
I am happy that it is summer and by August I will be stronger than this day.....

As Brooks said with every job doesn't always come compassion and this is very true...but I will be the strong one in the end!

I have prayed really hard for the past few days because my gut (which is normally right) told me this was coming, I just wish I didn't feel so blindsided......MOVING ON!!!

I can't say thanks enough nor can I list each of you that have been on my side today.....but know I love and appreciate each of you!!!!!!!!!!

I will continue to SHIINE because that's what I have been taught to do at SP!

Much love to you all.......HAPPY SUMMER, Alysha

Found the positives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has been 1 week since my negative post....and although its not been totally deleted, I did feel the need to just share it on my blog......and to remove it from FB.....(1st post I have ever been convicted to remove)

As its getting late and I would rather be going to bed...something is pushing me to write...however this time I feel like this is going to go in a more positive direction.....

Last Thursday, after my post and running till dark...I still felt NEGATIVE....I wasn't myself and nothing went right....mom came on Friday and we decided to get in the car and drive away on Saturday....probably the best decision I made all of last week....it was nice to get away from every thing and forget that I was so negative for 24 hours.....it also helped that we did a little shopping too ;)

I have had a better week, the to-do list looks manageable, and I have been on top of the 20 minute chores this week....which somehow makes me feel like I am on top of the world......

HOWEVER I have learned  A LOT this past week....not just with work and not just with personal stuff...I have learned that there are so many situations out there that we don't know the whole story to and maybe never will....there are so many people out there so worse off than me....there are so many bad/negative things in this world and my problems are minuscule compared to MOST....I have learned that I (the Dertings) have so much to be thankful for....I have learned that when my kids at school see that my mood is not normal and they can tell something is wrong with me....they ask to pray for me (they are 8-10 keep in mind).....I have been reminded that my babies see me as the light of their lives (if they only knew they are what makes me shine).....I have been reminded that my husband loves me no matter how much I complain and he has to listen to my stories over and over.....I have been reminded that my mother will take me away for the weekend to make me feel better....I have been reminded that my father doesn't say much, but I always know he cares....I have been reminded that my brothers....call and text me daily because they trust (I think) my advice.....

So although I acted like a brat last week....lessons were learned from that pity party!

I just keep coming back to the fact that we don't know what another person may be going through....we only walk in our own shoes and no one else's.....we can only see what others let us see....we (I especially) have got to remember that I don't know what others lives truly look like...too often we get caught up in OUR own wants and needs and FORGET that others may have bigger issues that they are dealing with....

I am hoping that this positive energy that forced me to write tonight will stick around and override those negative feelings that come so much easier!

I told ya...I would be more positive next time...it just took me a week to realize and find that positivity!

Much LOVE to you and POSITIVE vibes your way!! Alysha

It's been too long...

I have found myself being way too negative lately and the way I like to clear that negativity is to write...I am not sure where this is going and no clue how it will end up, but I can only hope that my mood will be more positive by the end.....so back out now if you don't want me to be real......

This is the crazy time of year that my job starts to wear on me...and as the days drag on this year is no different.....testing season is so close, deadlines are closing in, and lets face it everyone is ready for the END.....

I was so negative at the beginning of the year and tried really hard to figure out why and I truly think now that it was my intuition preparing me for a trying year (probably my hardest to date).....I feel like I have not been on top of any thing all year...my to-do lists never go away (if you know me, you know this kills me), problems walk through the door 14 times a day...and then Monday night I said to Brooks I think I can see the end...and as soon as I say that I find 20,000 more issues sitting at the door......

My goal has always been to help kids with special needs....because I was that kid that wasn't A honor roll...EVER....and the more I feel like I try to help these kids the more road blocks are thrown in my way and theirs too...it's not FAIR....I know life isn't fair....but WHY do we, as a society, continue to force children to perform on adult levels...why don't we listen to them and their needs...why does everything have to be so "researched based" and "data driven"....these kids are kids...not products plugged into a formula....I find myself daily battling for what I believe in, what I KNOW kids need because bottom line I know these kids....


This is WAY too negative and the very reason that I had to write it....I don't deal well with negative/stress..so I am letting it go!!

I hope you are well and more positive than me.....

Much love...next time I will be happier....Alysha

Bryson's Birthday Cruise & what the Dertings have been up to....

It is hard to believe that one month ago we were sitting on a fancy boat enjoying a magical dinner.....

Bryson wanted nothing more than to celebrate his 7th Birthday on the Disney Boat the Dream.....so that is just what we did!

We drove down late on Wednesday afternoon, picked mom up on the way and headed south for Port Canaveral...one thing about the Disney boat it only docks for the Bahamas in FL and maybe TX. So as we enter Daytona about midnight Britan decided to THROW UP everywhere.....pulled over stripped her, drove some more and it happened AGAIN...and one more time after that....by this point it was Valentine's Day and we FINALLY made it to the hotel for the night....

On the shuttle :)

She seemed fine the next day...although I didn't....but we took the shuttle and went to check in only to be greeted by Sailor Mickey and Minnie! Check in was quick and easy and after our pictures with Minnie we boarded the boat with a grand entrance as they announced our names and everyone cheered as we walked on to the AMAZING boat...we have done other cruises before, but this boat was AMAZING everywhere you turned!

Our rooms weren't ready so we explored the HUGE kids zone with everything Disney you can think of....I still didn't feel the best, but I was determined to make it magical.....When we got to our rooms...they were HUGE with a veranda that overlooked the ocean...also they had Bryson a Disney book bag with 2 packs of Mickey shaped gold fish....they had a diaper genie and pack and play for Britan as well.....when I say they think of it ALL they really DO!!! After attending the muster station drill (what to do if the boat sinks)...we saw a crowd gathered in the lobby, so we stood around to see what it was about....pretty much like being on the show Mickey Mouse Club...they danced and sang and introduced all the characters....confetti fell from the sky and they passed out streamers to wave around.....this boat KNOWS how to party!!!!!! That was the Sail Away Party!

Cool port hole seats

That night I was pretty sick and wasn't able to stay for dinner in the Enchanted Garden (each night we ate at a different themed ball room).....everyone else enjoyed dinner with our new friends from the Jersey Shore and I went to bed....

Nassau

The next day we awoke to beautiful weather on the Island of Nassau...it was a GORGEOUS day! I was still a little sick and I wonder now if it was a bug or the "boat" medicine I took b/c I couldn't see just like the 1st time I cruised and wore that dumb seasick patch....we got off the boat and shopped a little in Nassau and then we got back on to ride the Aqua Duck (Donald Duck's water slide that you see on the commercials)....very fun...very sad that we only got to do it once (not enough time)......by that afternoon my mom had caught the sickness and I was getting over it.....so she stayed in the room and we went to dinner...this time in the Nemo themed ballroom....if you have every been to Epcot...it was a lot like that...Crush was on the screen and he interacted with the kids even talked to Britan :) AND I should not forget....this was Bryson's 7th Birthday!!!!! SO when we got back to the room our sweet stateroom guy had made him a bday cake out of towels and decorated it with Mickey stuff!!!! That night Brooks, Bryson and myself...celebrated with ice cream (which is all you can eat, all day long) and a pirate show on the top deck that ended with fireworks over the ocean. Disney is the only cruise line allowed to shoot fireworks off a boat in the middle of the ocean FYI :)

Birthday Boy & B showing off her belly

 

The next day we "parked" on Castaway Cay...which is Disney's private island...it was overcast, but we were getting off do or die....as soon as we got off the boat we were greeted with several characters....characters were out all the time on the boat, someone was out every hour and we waited for less than 10 minutes for any one that we saw (saw every one except the Princess', not ready for them just yet). We got our pictures with several...Britan loved them except for Captain Hook.....We found us a spot on the white sandy beach and B and I played in the sand while the boys went to play in the play thingy in the middle of the ocean...it was kind of like a big chick fil a play space in the water with slides and things to climb.....it was HUGE, but the water was cold so the boys were the only ones that played....we enjoyed the bar bq lunch as the rain started coming....by the time we finished eating...it was POURING and it was a LONG walk back to the boat.....we decided the wait wasn't worth it for the tram so we hurried back in the rain as fast as we could....SOAKED by the time we got back to the boat.....

Kisses for Minnie
 

That night we enjoyed dinner one last time with our Jersey friends and then we attended the farewell party.....bought a few souvenirs and packed up!

The Ocean Play Place

Several people have asked for some info about the cruise....it was WORTH every penny....we almost booked another on the boat, but couldn't decide on a time...we will NEVER go on another cruise line after doing Disney (we have done others and there is NO comparison).....I do recommend some time between Oct-April...otherwise its too hot....I do recommend a 4 day one...3 is not enough, 7 is too much.....all and all it was a GREAT, MAGICAL trip sick or not!!!

8 was our floor!!!

 

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

What else have we been into.....work has been crazy....I am ready for summer....but I guess I must settle for Spring Break 1st......soccer is in full swing...Bryson's team and the high school girls for Brooks......as most know my husband satisfied his midlife crisis with a new little (fun) sports car this week.....yes, I realize my last post was about debt and yes, I realize we didn't need this sporty little fast car....but my husband has worked really hard to work us out of a debt hole so he deserves a little prize....and I'll just enjoy driving it myself ALSO!!! AND finally we welcomed a new baby boy today our friends Micah and Emily had Mr. Jonah today.....so we have been a little crazy and it will only continue, but that is truly when I am most sane....

Thanks as always for the support that has been shown for our blog :)

Much love....wear green tomorrow......and GO TAR HEELS, Alysha

My DEBT secret confusion!

This is my dirty little secret confusion that I would have been humiliated to share this time last year, BUT I am very excited to share the Dertings LIFE changing year with you today......(although there is still a HUGE part of me that can't believe I am getting ready to share this with the world considering NO ONE has known about this)

One year ago, TODAY, we were going to TN to celebrate Bryson's Birthday a little early at Wilderness of the Smokies...it was also his Valentine's Dance at school and I was pretty excited for the weekend to begin......BUT then Brooks called me at work and said to call him immediately....

I did and my HUGE secret was out and honestly it felt like a burden had been lifted off my shoulders although I could hear the anger in his voice and I honestly didn't know if he would divorce me or not........but it felt good knowing that the lies were out and OVER!

I had always balanced our checkbook and had always been in charge of the money b/c I thought my banking skills from BB&T had taught me how to do that...and honestly I was pretty good at moving money here and there and everywhere to make it work.... we wantED lots of things as a family and I was willing to do whatever it took to make sure that Brooks, Bryson, Britan and myself got what we wanted, when we wanted it!

YES.....I knew how to use a credit card............SEVERAL of them (17 to be exact) and I knew that if I was ever caught I would be in SERIOUS trouble, so I just prayed it never happened (what an awful thing to pray for)......I know that this was a huge LIE and very damaging to my marriage and thankfully my husband loves me through even my dirty little secret.......

On this day Brooks discovered my AWFUL secret and then began a LIFE CHANGING YEAR!

He took over right away and turned my wrongs into rights...thankfully we had just gotten our tax money back and I had a bonus from work at the end of February..so EVERY penny went to my secret DEBT! If ONLY that was the end of it....I totaled up my secret at a GRAND total of $34, 353! YES...I just typed that RIDICULOUS, HORRIFIC number....needless to say I was in over my head and I am so thankful that he found out when he did.....this did not include the house or equity line either! I will say that I managed, somehow, to juggle ALL of this and managed to pay everything on time and sustain our credit scores in the 780s.....but I knew I couldn't do it forever....probably not much longer........

We started a BUDGET that DAY and the weekend trip to TN was not as fun as I had imagined...we didn't get to eat where I wanted to or buy the kids anything extra....BUT we made memories on a budget so the trip was a success.....and thankfully by the time we got home Brooks was finally speaking to me again!

I actually told him the other day...I didn't want to continue to lie to him, but that was my only way around this HUGE secret.....and he always said that if he found out that we didn't have money like he thought, then he would leave me, so my fear of the truth turned into lies....I always cringed when he asked me how much money we had b/c it killed me to lie, but I knew it was that or face the consequence of the truth....AWFUL......I KNOW!!!!!

We began rethinking everything we did....we (he) budgeted for us to go out to eat for $30 a week...gas was figured in (we fill up every Friday now), which with my OLD way my gas light was on the MAJORITY of the time, but now I never worry...I am actually cautious about how much gas I use...b/c we budget for $100 a week for both cars and anything we don't spend in gas we GET to KEEP! I also have a $100 a week grocery budget...which has been a HUGE focus for me b/c I try my best to stay as far under that as possible b/c anything extra we GET to KEEP! We budget for pizza night with Deanes once a week....as well!! We eat at home 6 nights a week...1 of those being pizza night and the other days is me cooking!!!! All bills are paid on time (usually as soon as they come in)....diapers are factored in and then there is a LITTLE money to spend IF we need something...which those priorities took a huge shift and there are LOTS of things that we don't really need!!! AND MY HUSBAND SAVES AT LEAST $100 OUT OF OUR CHECKS EACH MONTH (3 checks)!!!!

In the beginning I was terrified...how could I live without eating out...or going into a store and not buying whatever I wanted for us....BUT honestly it has been a much easier transition than I expected...We DON'T eat fast food....I have learned that if we only have $30 to eat it is going to be a GOOD $30 meal and something worth saving up for on Friday or Saturday night.....I thought I would die when summer rolled around last year b/c Bryson and I would eat lunch out at least 3 times a week...Chick Fil A mostly or have lunch with Brooks....BUT that didn't happen this past summer and I SURVIVED!

I honestly think that eating at home and meal planning has helped me maintain the weight I lost from breastfeeding Britan AND I can say I don't miss eating CRAP like I thought I would....it kind of makes me sick when we eat junk b/c our bodies have adjusted to home cooked meals.....

I really thought life was over when Brooks found my secret....no more fun, no more shopping, no more eating out...no more NOTHING....BUT we have survived A WHOLE year and honestly we haven't missed out on much....we have been able to provide a trip to the Bahamas and Disney World (thanks to my mom)...we went to WA State over the summer.....we did not put one dime on a credit card for Christmas....which I added up that we spent about $1800!!!! This was a huge 1st b/c Christmas has always been on CREDIT!!! AND  we are making Bryson's dream Birthday come true with a Disney Cruise this coming week......we have shifted our focus of small, petty stuff for BIGGER more MEMORABLE things!!!

In April last year we refinanced the house b/c as some think we got our house for FREE from my dad...this is not the CASE....we paid $125,000 for it and had a $57,000 equity line to remodel it....so we took that and put it together at the Credit Union which we pay $40 extra each month to the principal....then we sadly (it kills me to type this) put a lien on the truck that was already paid off and paid off SOME of the debt on credit cards ($12,000) and we etched away every month paying this off and that off...hospital bills got paid off in August...but then we acquired a bigger sitter bill for Britan so then things shifted again.....little by little we have been cautious and paid off things as we could.....

SO where are we today.......we are in DEBT to our house and the Pilot (1 of the 3 cars...the 2 others are NOW PAID OFF) It took us 10 months to pay back the money on the truck!!!...........and we do have $4,000 left on a credit card and we put in a new heating/AC unit in October that we owe $5500 on BUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT from where we were this time last year we have paid off $25,000 in DEBT......did I think it was possible...NO....did I think I was going to die....YES.....Am I so HAPPY and PROUD to share this....KIND OF.....BUT I am more proud of the fact that have we not only worked ourselves out of a HUGE hole....we have managed to maintain and continue to provide for our children....

The kids have never and especially this past year gotten toys everywhere they went...they RARELY get something when we go to Walmart or to a toy store.....we have been able to continue to buy nice clothes and shoes, but they DO NOT have petty toys that they don't need and that take up space! Bryson begged for a dirt bike for an entire year and the goal was once the truck was paid (back) off he could get one...but SANTA was able to surprise him a little early! We don't feel like our kids are missing out on much considering they have clothes, home cooked meals, and memories to last a lifetime of fun times..not toys that only provide minutes of entertainment!

I honestly can't believe I am about to share this with the world...there is a little part of me....that is terrified b/c I know how people judge and I know how people talk, but I have always said this blog is a way for me to share our life experiences with our friends and family and this is a HUGE life experience that I have been wanting to share for a couple of months b/c I knew the year mark was in sight and we were going to cross the finish line!!!

As you know by now....my life is an open book thanks to this blog.....

So where do the Dertings go from here....well we are still on the TIGHT budget b/c both of our checks have been cut short b/c of the DUMB tax crap, so we still only have $30 for food...but we do now have $300 extra from the truck payment (that was supposed to take us another 3 years to pay off)  BUT my husband has big plans for that money....MORE savings and then some going towards paying off the 1 credit card we have left.....(can you believe we had 17 this time last year and now its 1).......

Our new focus is a KITCHEN.......hopefully next tax season we will make that dream come true AND a pool is on the list shortly after that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know that I have not blogged in a little while and I have been saving up for this....but I do want to share that I have been working hard on trying to focus on each person as there own self...I am very bad to judge and criticize people when I have NO clue what they are truly going through...I have no idea if they have food to eat or have had a fight with their spouse or money to pay the electric bill..in the real world we really don't know all that much about people except what they are willing to share and often times, people are not willing to share the bad and the ugly...I was a basket case this time last year and I tried my best to hide every bit of this from everyone around me and I think I did a pretty good job considering....so yes, I am sharing more than I should and/or more than you really care about, but in the real world we all have real problems and we all need to know that there is a sliver lining somewhere down the road......

I hope you have enjoyed....
Much Love, Alysha