Poem by an anonymous St. Joseph Student:
Love and hate, two in one, my feelings are but brief.
When I feel emotions, I never feel relief.
Emotions aren’t just feelings, but how we feel inside.
Everyone has emotions, but most of them we hide.
People do not like to talk about how they feel;
But if you hide emotions you will never heal.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
What's Cookin'
Wendy Gladbach - Cafeteria Manager:
As we come to the close of the first 8 weeks of school, I wanted to reach out to the parents of our St Joseph kids. When Mr. Allen asked me to finish the end of the school year last year, I thought okay it is just for a couple of weeks, I can do that easily. Then I got into the kitchen and had a great time cooking for your children. When Mr. Allen asked me back for this year I didn’t have to think too long and hard about it. This position is so much more satisfying than an office job could ever be, to watch the kids screw their face at some new dish and then clean their trays after actually tasting it is almost comical.
My staff and I are having so much fun cooking for your children, and yes, we are cooking almost every day. Anyone can take boxes out of the freezer and heat a meal for the children (I will admit we do this once or twice a week), but to take the time and cook from scratch is so satisfying for all of us. We are constantly coming up with new lunch ideas and are limited only by the number of hours in the morning and the space we have to cook in.
As we work up a sweat making homemade cookies, dinner rolls, and cinnamon rolls, we realize that this is for the kids. You can’t beat having a job you enjoy and a staff that is great to work with. I don’t think I ever had a job that I haven’t enjoyed the work, the working environment and my staff all at the same time, and I thank them every day for being flexible enough to work with me and your children. One that note, a lot of what we do couldn’t be done without the help of our volunteers, both the parents/grandparents and the kids that come down to help for the intermediate and Jr. high lunch periods. Having their assistance gives us more time to either get started on the dishes or in some cases start lunch for the next day (cinnamon rolls are a two day process). So I want to personally thank the volunteers we have had already this year.
One last note, I want to thank the parents and their patience with my food deliveries. I know there have been times during the day that it is difficult to get around due to a semi truck or milk truck parked in the front drive. Keep in mind that it is only for this year.
As I look out my kitchen window at the construction progressing more every day (it won’t be long before I will no longer have a view), I think about the possibilities for lunch options in the future and think “ just wait until next year”.
As we come to the close of the first 8 weeks of school, I wanted to reach out to the parents of our St Joseph kids. When Mr. Allen asked me to finish the end of the school year last year, I thought okay it is just for a couple of weeks, I can do that easily. Then I got into the kitchen and had a great time cooking for your children. When Mr. Allen asked me back for this year I didn’t have to think too long and hard about it. This position is so much more satisfying than an office job could ever be, to watch the kids screw their face at some new dish and then clean their trays after actually tasting it is almost comical.
My staff and I are having so much fun cooking for your children, and yes, we are cooking almost every day. Anyone can take boxes out of the freezer and heat a meal for the children (I will admit we do this once or twice a week), but to take the time and cook from scratch is so satisfying for all of us. We are constantly coming up with new lunch ideas and are limited only by the number of hours in the morning and the space we have to cook in.
As we work up a sweat making homemade cookies, dinner rolls, and cinnamon rolls, we realize that this is for the kids. You can’t beat having a job you enjoy and a staff that is great to work with. I don’t think I ever had a job that I haven’t enjoyed the work, the working environment and my staff all at the same time, and I thank them every day for being flexible enough to work with me and your children. One that note, a lot of what we do couldn’t be done without the help of our volunteers, both the parents/grandparents and the kids that come down to help for the intermediate and Jr. high lunch periods. Having their assistance gives us more time to either get started on the dishes or in some cases start lunch for the next day (cinnamon rolls are a two day process). So I want to personally thank the volunteers we have had already this year.
One last note, I want to thank the parents and their patience with my food deliveries. I know there have been times during the day that it is difficult to get around due to a semi truck or milk truck parked in the front drive. Keep in mind that it is only for this year.
As I look out my kitchen window at the construction progressing more every day (it won’t be long before I will no longer have a view), I think about the possibilities for lunch options in the future and think “ just wait until next year”.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Walking by Faith; Showers of Blessings
Flo Minor - junior high teacher:"Walking by Faith; Showers of Blessings"
These Biblical sayings have always been personal favorites, but the past week, they have become words to live by.
On Wednesday, September 24th I entered the hospital to have a large ovarian cyst removed. By all indications, this was to be a routine procedure in which I was to spend a few days in the hospital and 6 weeks recuperating at home. After removing the cyst and beginning to examine it, the doctor determined the inside of the cyst was in fact cancerous.
The pathologists at St. Mary's Hospital were unable to make a determination as to the kind of cancer present, so samples were sent to the Mayo Clinic for further review and diagnosis.
This past Monday, September 29, the pathology report from Mayo was returned and it has been determined that I have a form of ovarian cancer known as grade 1, mucinous cancer. When speaking of ovarian cancer, most people are referring to a very serious, very aggressive cancer; this is not the case with me. Although an uncommon form of ovarian cancer, at this point my prognosis looks very good. My local doctor believes that we have caught this in the very early stages and that with treatment, I should be fine. I will be meeting with a gynecology onocologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis early next week. After that meeting, I hope to know more about the treatment and time-frame I am facing.
Although this diagnosis came as quite a shock to my family and I; I am determined to fight and to do whatever is necessary to allow me to return to St. Joseph Cathedral School and to my kids. I would love for my doctors to be able to give me a guarantee that I will be fine, but I realize that this is where faith comes into play. I must let go, and walk in faith that I will be healed and given all that I need to face this journey.
I want to also thank you for the many, many cards, flowers, gifts and of course, prayers that I have received so far. I know how I feel about all of you, but it isn't often that we are given the opportunity to know what we mean to others. I have been given that gift and I am truly blessed. I am simply overwhelmed by the kindness and compassion you have shown me. There are simply no words to express the blessings by which I have been showered. I ask that you continue to keep me in your prayers, and I will continue to keep you in mine.
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