Ree Bear

~ Ah . . . my little "Ree-Bear." She is the oldest of our three children. Her real name is Christina Marie but when she was tiny and someone would ask her name, she would state "My name is Christina Ree!" So, we started calling her Ree-Bear. I miss Christina. She is currently over 900 miles away, student teaching in Texas. Come May, she will graduate from college . . . Yee Ha!! Now for the second and/or third round(s) of college tuition(s). No rest for the weary parents!!
~ Here, Ree is looking quite pensive, as she often does. However, there is another side to her personality . . a very spunky and dare-devilish side that sometimes prevails. That side of her is maybe what helped fuel her desire to student teach so far away instead of taking on such a task in more familiar surroundings. Ree also gave up her perfectly good job for over a month this past summer to go to the Dominican Republic to help try save the world (or at least a tiny part of it) through an organization called "Foundations for Peace." Go Ree!! She's a brave one, for sure!! While in the D.R., she broke her foot just a few days after her arrival as she was helping children maneuver over a dangerous place in the dirt road. That didn't seem to slow her down more than a few days.
~ Our family moved from Texas to Nebraska almost 16 years ago when Ree was in the second grade. Ree has lived in Nebraska most of her life. She had the opportunity to student teach close to home or spread her wings and teach in the Houston area. Being the risk-taker and free-spirited young lady that she can be, she chose to spread her wings. We are very proud of her for doing so. However, she has been dealing with quite a few eye-opening challenges during her student teaching experience. She says it's different having so many locked doors at school, being a minority, having policemen standing in the hallways ready for the slightest bit of unacceptable activity, and seeing gang members "cluster" when something is getting ready to happen, etc. She is taking each new experience in stride and seems to be growing in very meaningful ways. She keeps a wonderful perspective through it all and is even thinking about applying for a position in her district. That's my Ree~Bear . . However, I do hope that in the midst of this wonderful growth opportunity, she is able to stay safe!!!
~ Children: what a beautiful thing . . . no matter what age . . no matter what shape they're in . . whether they're currently on top of the world or struggling somehow. We love them for who they are , for the simple joys that they grace us with . . I have two other kids that I am equally proud of . . Blake and Katie Lou. These stories will need to wait for some future postings. Jo Ellen