Going to Grandma's!

Kylie, Korey, & I are flying tomorrow morning out of San Antonio, TX to PA to see my family for a week. Please keep us in your prayers. Its the first time I've been away from Jonathan since we were married & although I'm sure I'll have a great time w/ my family & friends in Jtown, I'm REALLY REALLY gonna miss him! Especially on the flights!! I don't really like the fly & he is my strength that keeps me steady. Since we're leaving tomorrow, we just chilled at home this weekend. I had a baby shower to attend Friday afternoon & was able to get a babysitter, Maria Stetler. Thank you so much, Maria. It was a great afternoon. I didn't even worry one bit about them! Her parents are the new Bible Methodist missionaries going to Salamanca, MX. They are living here for a year to study Spanish. I meant to get a picture of her & the kids but I forgot because it was looking like it was going to storm & I needed to return some things at Old Navy & take her home. Saturday we just worked around the house & got little stuff done & spent time together as a family. We did go for Ice Cream but I didn't take the camera & Kylie fell asleep, so she didn't even get any. :-( Sunday evening we went with the Stetlers to Mexico for church. It was a good service with lots of singing, testimonies & a good message by Bro. Eli, the president of the Bible School. Surprisingly, I could understand about 1/4 of what he was saying. :-) That's better than some other times. :-). It was hard for me to concentrate because Kylie was my charge for the night & she was not happy sitting still. :-) She didn't have Uncle Jeremy to keep her entertained, so this is what she watched... yes, chickens! We had service outside so they were right on the other side of the fence. :-) Kylie was trying to make the same noise as them! She was very excited about them. No, we are NOT getting chickens! She can go visit the Junods to see them!! LOL

Korey on the other hand, slept the whole time. This was also his first trip to Mexico! The computer won't let me upload any more pics, so I guess this is bye for now...I'll write from PA!!

Way to go, Dad!

Math teacher made the correct career calculation

By SHAWN PIATEK

The Tribune-Democrat
Ralph Fetzer of Lorain had to think twice about his career choice shortly after he started teaching math at Johnstown Vo-Tech.Fetzer was earning a salary of only $7,200 when he began molding young minds in 1972. At the time, former classmates from Ferndale Area High School were making a much better living working at the city’s steel mills, which still were vibrant.“When I graduated from college in 1972, my cousin who went right into the mill out of high school and was making more money,” Fetzer said. “Of course, things did improve for me over time while they got a lot more challenging for him.”The collapse of the local steel industry was far from the only reason Fetzer has no regrets for spending 35 years as an educator. Being able to retire last month at age 57 was another perk, but the true enjoyment he got from his life’s work was how many lives he touched.Not only did Fetzer make a difference with students at vo-tech, he used his talents elsewhere as well. For the past four years, he operated Cambria County’s GED program and also spent time teaching math to employees in industrial settings.“I did enjoy it,” Fetzer said. “I loved helping people. “When I saw I made a difference in someone’s life, I was really satisfied by that. Even at the end when I helped some people to get their GED, they would come back to thank you. And you knew they appreciated you helping them.”He was selected in the late 1980s to help develop and grade the math portion of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exam.Additionally, Fetzer spent time during his career as a spokesman for math. Several times throughout his career, he addressed both national and state audiences on the importance of math and how students could expect to apply the discipline in their day-to-day lives as adults.“It was to show where math was used in real life,” Fetzer said. “I could show the students just where they would use it down the road. “I was probably fortunate as a math teacher because I worked right there at vo-tech where it was easy to show where math was used in disciplines such as electronics, carpentry and auto mechanics. “I think that’s something we’re missing in our schools,” he said.Fetzer even ventured briefly into coaching. For one year, he served as assistant gymnastics coach to his brother, Ernie, a well-known high school football coach in the region who is currently coaching at Penn Cambria.When the decision was made that vo-tech no longer would be a full-time high school, Fetzer adapted. During the past four years, he served in a position he described as “computer guy” for the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center.What was common in everything he did was finding ways to help people.“I just hoped I affected some lives and made them better,” Fetzer said.A month into retirement, Fetzer said he’s not exactly certain how he’s going to spend his time. He said he’s going to spend some time working on his family tree and will travel, but he still has an eye on finding ways he can continue to pitch in for the community.“I never liked to keep dormant,” he said. “I always like to be involved with something and to be out there doing something.”

Friends, Monoploy, & Hank the Cowdog

Last night our friends, Jermey, Joshua, & Jared came over to play Monopoly & listen to Hank the Cowdog! We had lots of laughs -- sometimes til my side hurt. Kylie was in bed already but Korey was up & wide awake! He finally fell asleep while Jonathan was holding him. Today's another busy day. I'll blog about it this weekend! Left to Right: Jeremy, Joshua, & Jared

(This is one of my favorite pictures of Korey!!)

More pictures from Austin

We got our computer fixed so it doesn't kick us off line when I upload pictures -- so here are a few more from our trip to Austin a last week.On the steps of the Capitol Through the trees

Kylie & I at Cabela's

Korey has a second mom!

This afternoon, I was trying to take a few pictures of Kylie but she was running around & I couldn't get any. :-) But while I had my camera in hand...Korey was in his carseat & was crying so this is what Kylie did.... Then she walked over to the table ...
She also acted like she was gonna give it to him, but then tried to drink it herself. Oh well, it was a humorous moment I'm glad I caught on camera!!