EVAN WILLIAMS is at it again!!

Below is an email I received from the father of two of my former students and also in home clients. Evan and Dylan (twin brothers with Autism) are definitely a handful but they capture everyone's heart when they meet them. E and D also have an older brother Logan who is great with the boys and is also a hoot! He comes up with the best jokes and always makes us laugh with his quick whit and off the wall humor!! Please enjoy the story from Rob...


Just wanted to share with you that Logan had 3 Cross Country meets this week and did well in all of them! He has turned into a pretty good runner and is improving every week.

But beyond that we had a first.....Evan competed in a cross country meet last Thursday night with Logan! It was very impromptu. Thursday's meet in Portland was open to all-comers. When we got there I asked Evan if he wanted to run and he said he did. So I signed him up for the 5th & 6th graders 2,000 meter race that started and finished prior to Logan's race. I ran with him (also a family first as I have never run in a cross country meet). Evan was priceless! He cut a few corners on the first lap....squealing and laughing the whole way. He even stopped in front of a group of girls 1/2 way into his first lap and motioned the girls to clap for him...which they did. He bowed to them and took off running again....laughing and squealing hysterically! He completed most of the second lap and crossed the finish line to the roar and cheers from the crowd and collected his competitors ribbon. He enjoyed the attention so much that he ran a big circle back to the finishing chute so he could cross the finish line again and receive more applause. He waived to the crowd and began dancing in front of the sound system playing rock music at the finish line. Everybody loved him!

As Logan lined up for his race, Dylan walked up to him and gave him a big hug! That is my sweet "D"! Evan had other ideas. He lined up behind Logan and when the gun went off, he took off with the 7th and 8th graders! While his effort was short-lived, it was nice to see he was enjoying himself so much. Ingrid captured much of the day on film.

Some of the many wonderful characteristics about Evan is that he is so adventurous, has no shame, no inhibitions and loves attention! I am truly savoring that day because of him.

Rob

In Full Swing

As September is moving right on in and fall will be here before we know it life for me has been in full swing. Back in January I had been working full time and going to school at night to prep for my GRAD school classes beginning in June. Well, June came and my summer was BUSY. I took two, four-week sessions with two classes each session. I was a crazy person for 8 weeks!!! Jamming 12 weeks of material into 4 weeks is major overload. Though I successfully completed those two sessions with two A's and two A-. After a week break I was back at it again. This time I am doing my first practicum experience. This includes 40 hours in a classroom setting. As this session got underway, I also was back at work! This school year we jumped to 10 students!! We have four new kiddos and lets just say that I am ways on my toes getting these kiddos what they need. BUSY BUSY. Though through the "summer break" and starting back in the classroom, I realized how much I love being in a school. It feels like it is just another part of me, its so natural. I just hope I have enough energy to keep up night classes while working full time!!! Two more years on this path and I'll be finished with my MASTERS!!!

Its official!!

How many months have passed since October and I haven't posted? I will be honest and share I just wasn't in the mood to post anything! ha ha... Well... I started classes back in January, and the quarter is coming to a close... all my hard work has paid off because starting June 20 I will starting in the Master's of Special Education (with a special ed teaching license) at Portland State University!! I received my acceptance letter in the mail yesterday! Congratulations to me!