Heavy Heart today

It is with a heavy heart that I share this post today. I am sitting in my office at school watching the snow fall and trying not to cry when children are around. Eleanor, a co-worker, came to find me this morning. Our friend Gloria passed away at 8:05 AM. We are glad that she is at peace and no longer in any pain, but we will miss her dearly. Gloria was the type of teacher that truly cared for each and every one of her students, even the ones who were "pluck-plucks" A term used in our building for those students who can just pluck away at your nerves. She was kind natured and even spirited. There was never a morning were she didn't go out of her way to find me and say good morning. Gloria was the type of person who would always praise you for doing well. Every time we used to sit down to plan lessons together, she would compliment me on how I deal with the students. How I never give up on a student and constantly prompt them till they eventually get the right answer. She would always tell me how she can see certain students sit a little straighter, or participate a little more in my class when this strategy was used with the more timid and shy students. Gloria used to tell me that ever since she saw me use "wait time" in this manner that she started to use it in her classroom.

I remember one particular morning when we were talking about a project that we had just completed, she turned to me and said that she was very glad to have worked with me and that she has really been impressed with how I have developed as a teacher and as a media specialist. Gloria commented on how kid friendly and inviting the media center has become and how her students just love coming down here. She loved all the different reading programs I had done and all the special reading events I brought to our school. To a teacher who was only in her 5th years of teacher, do receive such praise and compliments from a seasoned veteran teacher such as herself, just made me teary. She was the first teacher who truly went out of her way to make sure I knew what a good job I was doing and just how much she had appreciated everything I had done and accomplished here. She will be missed greatly.

Prayer Shawl finished

Gloria's prayer shawl is complete. It is not to the dimensions that I had originally wanted for it, but time is not on my side and I didn't want to chance it being too late to give to her. I had cast on 249 stitches on size 11 needles. The pattern is simply *K3, P3,* repeat to last 3 stitches then K3. Every row. The colors blended nicely. When it came off the needles the shawl was about 6.5' long with some knotting fringe work on the ends. Can't really see that in the pictures.

I printed out 2 different prayers. a tag that listed the names of all the people who contibuted yarn to the shawl as well as a list of the colors and their meanings. I think Gloria will really appreciate it.
Gloria is home now. We are all just waiting for the news to come.

Sad News

I just received a double dose of bad news today. I was already upset over an email that I had received when Eleanor, a co-worker, came to me. She asked how I was and I was very close to tears when I told her not so good. That's when she said she was coming to find me to tell me more bad news and asked me how the Prayer Shawl was coming. *sigh* I completely brokedown in the school hallway because I knew what she was saying to me. Our friend, Gloria, is fighting a losing battle with cancer and it doesn't look very good. She managed to get me to my office where I could cry in private. She told me of how Gloria was back in the hospital and that her health was deteriorating rapidly. After we cried and talked a little more, I showed her the shawl. I was hoping to make the shawl about 24" in height, but she said I better just go for 12". So I will knit as much as I can between now and Thursday. I am going to give the shawl to Eleanor on Friday to deliver.

It's a shame that things like this have to happen to make you realize how short and precious life is.

Prayer Shawl

A co-worker is out and battling her 3rd bout with cancer. She is a very sweet woman and I wanted to do something special for her. I knew she was a very spiritual person and a very humble person. I came across some sites that talked about Prayer Shawls, how they are made, meanings behind the colors and prayers to go with them. I just *knew* this was the perfect gift for Gloria. So I sent out an email to all my co-workers and told them of my special project. I solicited yarn contributions and emailed them the list of colors and their meanings and the only specification I stated was that the yarn be wool, otherwise, any color went. They could pick a color for what they thought Gloria needed during this hardship or they could pick a color that was significant to how they saw her. It was amazing to see the colors that people chose! I decided to make each row a different color. I have about 16" of tails on both ends of the scarf to do a pretty knot pattern at the end. I'm using a simple K3, P3 pattern in an odd numer of 3s so that every row starts with K3 to avoid ribbing.

I told my co-workers that I would bring the shawl to work everyday till it was finished. I invited everyone to stop by my office and they could add their prayers to the shawl and if there were any other knitters they were welcome to knit their prayers into the shawl. I can't wait till this project is done and I can give it to Gloria.