(3rd Post of the Day) One Way....

One way to tell that all our kids are home (well, we're still missing Jessica and Cole, but still...)

(2nd Post of Day) More Christmas Fun!

A couple of more photos from the past week:

Making Christmas cookies with Braden.

Braden, Daddy, Zeus, and Boompa in the snow!

Pam Green came to visit my classroom and helped us make hay bags for Santa's reindeer.

Jessica Albrecht, kindergarten teacher of our Reading Buddies, and I display some of the treats for the wildlife Christmas tree our two classes made together. We decorated the trees that have been planted in memory of children who were students at Hershey when they died.

Happy New Year, Mr. Scrooge!

December 18 was the culmination of our reading of Dicken's A Christmas Carol. We held a New Year party for Mr. Scrooge (my son, Curt) to celebrate his new self. My students created characters, either from the book or one they made up, who had encountered Scrooge in his grumpier days and were now ready to welcome Scrooge to a happier life.

Nancy Sattler, a good friend and next-door classroom neighbor, played Mrs. Claus for her classroom. (I made both our outfits.)

Never Say Never!

I thought I had written my last email letter to a missionary son. Turns out I was wrong. Having a flight from Yekaterinberg to Frankfurt cancelled prompts a flurry of emails as new flight arrangements are made.

A bonus is that I have also had two phone calls from Elder Cole! So what if they were at 2 AM? (That's noon for him in Yekaterinberg.) I still got to hear his voice!

Cole is now scheduled to arrive at O'Hare on December 24 at 3:19 PM. He then catches a flight to Indianapolis and lands there at 8:40 PM. With a monster snow and ice storm bearing down on the Midwest, I can only pray that he makes it.

He's been in the Lord's hands the last two years (er, actually, he's always in them!) so I will try to turn off the mama-worry button and just let it happen.

And I hope Jessica, scheduled to land in Indianapolis at 12:35 on Thursday, makes it, too.

Lots o' prayer going on around here!

Cole Comes Tomorrow Night!

Today I got the last letter from my missionary son, or any of my missionary sons for that matter as Cole is the last to go. He wrote Craig and me a lovely letter, part of which is included below. I cannot wait until tomorrow night when he flies into Indianapolis!

---

Dear Mom and Dad,

 

Well, in just a little bit I'll be back to see you guys. What is it, about 48 hours? Probably less from the time you read this. Go figure! I never thought it would come...

 

I already summed up a little bit of the week in the main letter and shared my testimony there, but I just wanted to write you another letter of thanks for all you've done for me. Thank you for encouraging me my entire life to serve. It was never a question I had to face, to go or not to go. I always knew I would, and now I'm positive that it was the absolute correct decision.  I'm excited to get back and get to know you again.

 

Thank you for always sending me packages and emails and anything I needed while I was out here! I've managed to survive quite well out here, the worst thing happening to me has been my frostbitten cheeks. I've made it through! And I lived and ate well too, at that. No worries. I really appreciate all of the sacrifice, be it emotional, temporal, or spiritual that you both made for me to make this experience possible. I'm really glad I came out here and I know it's changed me forever.

 

Well, I can't wait to see you in just a couple days. I hope everything's going well there and that everyone will be traveling safe. Be home soon!

 

I love you!

 

-Cole

Will's Obituary

Will's obituary appeared this morning. Due to Cole's arrival on the same day, I won't be able to attend the celebration of life. I will send a card and maybe even flowers. Rest in peace, Will.

William Cuva

URBANA - William Aplington Cuva, 20, of Urbana, died Thursday, December 17, 2009, in Columbia, Missouri.

Will was born October 1, 1989 in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Kathy Aplington and Marty Cuva.

Will was a graduate of Urbana High School, attended Parkland College and was currently a sophomore at the University of Missouri - Columbia and a member of Sigma Pi fraternity.

Will played quarterback throughout high school and was a captain his senior year. He loved traveling, especially in Europe and the Jersey Shore. He also enjoyed Madden NFL, playing pool and shooting hoops in the Wilson's driveway. He followed and debated politics, valuing Libertarian views.

He is survived by his family, including parents, grandmothers, Ina Aplington and Lillian Cuva, aunts and uncles, and dearly loved cousins Nick, Corinne, and Henry Kreutz, and Matt, Kate, and Michael Aplington, and many special friends. He was preceded in death by his

grandfathers Tom Aplington and Joe Cuva.

A gathering in celebration of Will's life will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, December 22, at Wesley United Methodist Church & Foundation, 1203 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sigma Pi fraternity, care of Brandon Walker, 808 S. Providence Rd., Columbia, Mo., 65203.

Morgan Memorial Home, 1304 Regency Drive West, Savoy, Illinois 61874 is handling the arrangements.

More about Will

This was published yesterday in the Columbia Tribune. Not really news to me, but still I want to log it into my journal so I can remember Will.

I am also waiting for his obituary to appear in the News Gazette in Champaign. Hopefully I can go over for the visitation and/or the funeral. Breana Lamb, a former student of mine who was in the class with Will, is keeping me updated on that. I also learned of Will's death from her. She and I have been communicating via Facebook, and she is keeping me up to date with details.

--

Man who jumped off garage identified

Friday, December 18, 2009

The University of Missouri student who jumped off the Hitt Street Garage early yesterday morning and later died has been identified as Will Cuva of Illinois.

Cuva, 20, was listed in an online MU directory yesterday as a sophomore; however, that information has since been removed.

Cuva graduated in 2008 from Urbana High School in Illinois, where he played quarterback for the football team.

MU police responded to the garage, at 301 Hitt St., at 3:46 a.m. yesterday for a report of a medical emergency. They took Cuva to University Hospital, where he died.

Lost a Student

I knew the day would come when I lost a student. Will Cuva, whom I had for two years for 4th and 5th grade, commited suicide today. Details are sketchy. Apparently he jumped off the top of a building at the University of Missouri where he was a student. The link and the article are below.

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/dec/17/man-dies-after-jump-garage/?news

I feel lousy.

MU student dies after leap from Hitt parking garage

By JANESE HEAVIN

Published December 17, 2009 at 8:06 a.m.
Updated December 17, 2009 at 2:45 p.m.

A 20-year-old University of Missouri student apparently committed suicide this morning by jumping from MU’s Hitt Street Garage at 301 Hitt St.

The student was taken to University Hospital, where he died. MU Police would not identify the man, but the Boone County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed his identity Thursday afternoon as William Cuva.

MU Police responded to the north side of the garage at 3:46 a.m., Capt. Brian Weimer said. After taking Cuva to the hospital, police blocked off access to the multi-story parking garage to prevent people from entering and to question anyone leaving. No foul play is suspected. The garage was reopened just before 6 a.m.

MU counselors this morning were in the process of identifying friends and classmates of the student, spokesman Christian Basi said. “We have already sent counselors to talk with any friends and offer them any support we can provide,” he said.

The university’s fall semester ends tomorrow, and this week has been finals week for most students. Although it’s unknown why Cuva jumped, finals week is typically a stressful time.

Several weeks ago, the MU Wellness Center saw an increase in the number of students visiting the center, Director Kim Dude said. The students typically meet with wellness coaches, who deem whether additional services are needed.

The center also offers an online suicide prevention program for faculty, staff, students and parents. The program allows users to identify those who might be at risk of suicide and help them. Students who need help have access to comprehensive services, Dude said. “That’s assuming somebody gets to that point and seeks help,” she said. “It breaks my heart that this happened.”

Cuva was listed as a sophomore at MU. He had played quarterback for the Urbana, Ill., high school football team.

Nomination Honor

I got the following email today from my principal. I feel very, very honored.

You have been nominated for Teacher of the Year. Below is what one of your colleagues wrote about you. Are you willing to accept your nomination?

Lynn Isenbarger à I would like to nominate Lynn Isenbarger for Teacher of the Year. She always has a positive attitude and high expectations for her students. She is a wonderful colleague to work with. She is also proactive in her educational practices. One example of this is piloting Singapore Math for the TSC. Mrs. Isenbarger is a caring and conscientious professional. She does what it takes to meet the needs of her students.

A Child of Integrity

Why don't things like this make the news? Why do we always hear about the bad things kids are doing, instead of the times they step up and do the right thing?

I got the following email this morning:

Dear Mrs. I, I have been pretty upset all night because on the Geography B I overheard an answer that someone whispered to someone else. I otherwise would only have gotten four of the six answers right disqualifying me from trying to get into the real Geography B. I know you already announced it to the class, but I think you should remove me from the group.

I am so proud of this boy - is it any wonder the faculty at my school thought he was the best candidate in the entire school to serve as our Snow Prince in the Christmas parade downtown? That he had integrity, honesty, and leadership and would represent our school well?

And, it is not his fault he heard the answer. That must've put him in a terrible position, because I suspect he really did know the answer, and when someone whispered it and confirmed it, he had an awkward dilemma.

I emailed him back and told him to relax, that I was very, very proud of him, and that we would come up with a solution later this morning that was fair to the other kids as well as fair to HIM.

He made my day.