Adam and Penny Lain Hensley

Horizon Hell

9:28 PM by Adam and Penny Lain Hensley

Yesterday I had an amazing day!! Peppermint Pudding, our class elf, arrived complete with decorating the room, bringing donuts, and a letter from Santa. The twinkle in the eyes of my students proved that magic does exist.

I taught art club where we made a total MESS in my room to top of an already amazing day. Then rushed off to tutor. It was a Monday so that meant I had my 1st, 3rd, and 7th graders to work with. I finished with my 1st and 3rd graders. While wrapping up I saw an odd email, ignored it and then got a text from my room mom, Monica, wanting to know if I had heard the news. At a red light, I read the letter. I saw, "ALA closing," "December 31," "part-time ST," "unemployment." Instantly I began sobbing and then puking. Mind you I am in my car on the way to tutor another child. Luckily I had an empty Starbucks cup in my car to puke in and a sweater to blow my nose on. Monica called me backed and heard the sobs on the other line. She instantly told me to come over. I made a U-turn, texted the other family to cancel, and rushed to Monica's while calling my Momma. My Momma talked me until I finally calmed down...that's what moms are for :)

I walked into Monica's where Gretchen, another mom, was also there for a play date. My eyes are swollen and I had clearly been crying my eyes out. Two of my students came around the corner to greet me all excited. When they saw me, the knew something was wrong and decided to go back to play. Not the way I want my students to see me. Thanks to Monica, I had a glass of wine...ok a few...and supper. I swear if it wasn't for this woman I'd starve these days! With Monica and Gretchen being so calm, I too calmed down. Still I came home in tears and sobbed while typing the email to notify second grade parents.

This morning I was greeted with bright, cheerful second grade faces rushing in to search for Peppermint Pudding and long, sad parent faces with looks of sympathy and devastation. For now I do not want my students to know what is going on. I will continue with the magic of Peppermint Pudding, our book publishing coming up, and the high rigor and relevance in my lessons. If I give up now, I fail myself, my parents, and most importantly my students.

Your prayers are needed right now for these families. If it was not for the families, I'd be a mess. They are constantly supporting me, picking me up when down, and making sure I am fed and well caffeinated! I am the one who is truly blessed.

WOW...so much going on!!!

11:45 PM by Adam and Penny Lain Hensley

Where to begin?!? We have been on the West coast for over a year now and are loving every minute of it. For those who follow Facebook, you have seen that I got a job teaching second grade for a charter school and just a few weeks into school has been disrupted due to multiple issues facing the school. Adam and I both have recovered tremendously from our surgeries. The boys are still getting into nonstop trouble as always!

Getting hired with Horizon Charter Schools under their Accelerated Learning Academy was the best thing that has happened to us since we moved here. I was blessed with some amazing students and even more amazing parents! I was meeting with my room mom, Monica, just hours before the devastating news hit. We were at Starbucks chatting away how our prayers had been answered for a school that fit our needs. She received a teacher who taught differentiated instruction and went above and beyond...those who know me know this is nothing extraordinary! And I received a room of phenomenal students and parents who went above and beyond to help out. We both left, went home, opened our email, and there it was...the email stating that the 3rd-12th grade site would be moved to Independent Study due to immediate safety issues. Devastation hit immediately. I went the next morning to a meeting and then went straight to Monica's house to recap the teacher meeting. Thankfully she fed me as I hadn't eaten since the email hit my inbox. The next weeks went on with meetings, tears, students leaving, and all around devastation. Through this, I had a strong group of parents who fought beside me, supporting me and helping me along the way. We have come to the conclusion that since our site has not been affected, we will continue through the year and embrace the fact that we have less than 15 students and I am being paid full salary. We are pushing forward by planning our winter program, college field trip, and end of the year party. Prayers are still needed!

On to Adam's recovery. He is down more than 50 pounds!!!!! This Christmas he is getting LOTS of new clothes and even more for sizes down from where he is now. I am so proud of his progress. He has worked so hard for this and deserves much praise!

I am still working with Delta Gamma as VP: Communications. Lately it has been harder to complete my duties but I have some amazing sisters behind me supporting me every step of the way. With things dying down, I will be able to focus more on DG. Adam is still traveling nonstop. Luckily this means miles and hotel points for us!

We are looking forward to going back home for 2 straight weeks for Christmas. It is getting somewhat difficult for us living so far from home to get back. We enjoy every moment while we are there. Right now, we are working on our schedule to spend time in Memphis, Knoxville, and Nashville to visit with both family AND friends. Coming home once a year is hard to fit everyone in for a visit! The only downside is leaving the boys behind for that time. I have never been away from the boys for more than a week. I have a feeling I will be quite upset during our trip home!

Upcoming...
I am preparing for Christmas in my classroom and packing for Christmas break. Packing for 2 weeks to fly across country is not the easiest task! Adam has a ton of travel coming up which means I can pick up extra tutoring jobs and get ahead in my classroom. We have been incredibly blessed with the friends who have become family to us out here. California is truly our home!

Surgery Survival

7:37 PM by Adam and Penny Lain Hensley

Here we are just a week post-op from Adam's lap band surgery. He is doing an amazing job!! The evenings are the hardest due to his mind saying, "I NEED FOOD" and his stomach saying, "I'M FULL." This past week has begun the process of learning when we both are actually hungry and not just our mind wanting to eat. Yes, I have been eating what is considered Stage II and III food while Adam has been on Stage I food. Here is quick breakdown:

STAGE I

Liquids: Gatorade, Sugar Free Jello, Protein Shakes, Crystal Light, Broth

STAGE II

Soft Foods: Cottage Cheese, Yogurt, Tuna Salad, Refried Beans, Eggs, etc.

STAGE III

Slowly introduced back into "regular foods" minus the pasta, bread, rice, potatoes

Tomorrow Adam returns to the surgeon to, hopefully, be released to Stage II foods. He is so ready for A scrambled egg. He will start at 1/4 cup of food and slowly increase to 1/2 cup of food before reaching Stage III. This has been a learning process for both of us!

Now time for our progress :)

Since Monday, I am down 4 pounds simply by eating Stage II and Stage III foods in small portions!

Since Monday, Adam is down 19 pounds on his Stage I diet!!

It truly is ALL mental! Today as I went to tutor for one of my families, the mom walked in the room and commented on how much weight I had lost. On my way home, I was starving! But I pushed through the urge to stop for food and made it home to prepare and eat some thinly sliced beef with a little A1 and mozzarella on it...a Philly Cheesesteak without the bread!!

I have all afternoons lined up for my tutoring gigs come school starting back next week!!! This week is my wrap up with summer sessions and prep for the new school year. I am still hopeful for this charter school position I interviewed for last week. However, I am not holding my breath. I have also put in my application to sub for the upcoming school year. Either way, I will still be tutoring in the late afternoons and early evenings. Adam travels so much and it will keep me busy and hopefully out of the kitchen in the evenings!

Love Y'all,

Penny Lain

Mom and Dad Hensley Visit California

7:59 PM by Adam and Penny Lain Hensley

Our next and last visitors were here for 12 days and we had an amazing time!! Adam's Mom and Dad arrived for a jam-packed vacation!

The trip began with the Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw concert in Oakland

Next stop was the Golden Gate in a very cold and windy day

Watching the sea lions

On a boat tour that went under the Golden Gate and around Alcatraz

Really cold day

On the trolley

Pebble Beach

Putting our feet in the Pacific ocean

Family pic

Driving down the coast

Another beautiful pic of the coast

Another family picture

Sea Lions in Monterey Bay

Whale watching tour in Monterey

Humpback whales

Big Tree State Park

Inside of a tree

Walking through a tree

Bogle Vineyards

Train Ride in Old Town Sac

Boat tour in Tahoe

We had a wonderful visit with Mom and Dad! November can not get here soon enough!!

Julie Visits California

11:40 PM by Adam and Penny Lain Hensley

Julie's visit to California was amazing!! This was her first time flying alone. She ended up LOVING it!!

Here we are picking her up from the airport.

The Schoolhouse Museum

Playing on the trains in Old Town Sacramento

Posing in Old Town

Adam and Julie playing a shooting game

Making cake pops!!

And it turns into a food fight!

She is covered thanks to Adam!

Here is the aftermath!

San Francisco!!!

Riding across the Golden Gate Bridge

Posing in front of the Bridge

We got a quick picture because of the wind!

We had a picnic lunch in the car

Waiting to hop on a cable car

More waiting...

Finally on a cable car!

Julie stood and held on!

The mall in Union Square has curved escalators

Fun in SF

GIANT pack of Nerds

HUGE gummy worm

The wait for fireworks begins

We got cold and sat in the trunk!!

Adam and Julie playing nice for the picture

J in her cute SAA Vera Bradley sweatshirt

Julie took the camera

Still waiting!!!

FINALLY!!!

Swimming at a friend's house

Julie's mini photo shoot!

Nothing Bundt Cakes...my favorite!!

We made a Fancy Nancy blanket

Getting ready for our fancy night out :)

Love me some Lilly

Future DG!!!

Cheesecake Factory leftovers :)

Julie pretending to drive the convertible

More playing in my car!

Summers with Julie visiting have become a tradition for Adam and me. I am not sure what we would do without having Julie for a week!! Love and miss you bunches! And can't wait until next summer :)