Hi, all!

 

I'm Kathy, wife for 32 years to Bob, mother to Michael, Steven, and Christine, sister to eight siblings, a teacher for 24 years in mostly Catholic schools, and now an assistant principal in a Catholic school. During my 32 years of marriage, I managed to finish my bachelor's degree in English, and two masters degrees for Reading Specialist and Education Administration. 

 

I took seven years off from outside work to concentrate on the real work of raising my young ones, but since that doesn't pay, I had to go back to work.  During that time,  we discovered that Steven, our middle child who is now 18 was autistic/aspergers with OCD but high functioning.  The diagnosing doctor told us that we would be lucky if Steven could ride a bus.  We proved the IDIOT wrong, and Steven not only rides a bus, but a bike, trains and planes too!  He volunteers for the American Cancer Society one day a week, attends a school for autistic students, and he will begin work during the next school year in a hospital library. His passions include the Catholic Church, Chicago area sports, and listening for emergencies on the police radio he bought from money earned doing the family laundry. He is well known and liked around the neighborhood, and he has been called "The Mayor." 

 

My other two children are equally as gifted in other areas.  My oldest, Michael (age 21) is currently in the US Air Force and serving 6 months in Afghanistan.  Please keep him and our other military boys in your prayers.  He struggled in school even though he was very bright, but now he is doing what he has always desired to do, and he has a serious girlfriend.

 

My daughter, Christine (age 17) is a gifted musician and now a senior in high school. She turned to music as a means to deal with the issues brought on by her brother.  She now plays several instruments including piano, clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, bari-sax, and she can pick out a tune on trumpet, and beat out cadence on the drums.  She plays for her two high school bands, two bands at a local junior college, a summer band with another area college, and for the church where her aunt is a choir director. Music being her life, she is planning to major in music education, and is currently applying to colleges.

 

My husband has been the director of a local library for the past seven years after 25 years as a newspaper editor and reporter.  He is currently and reluctantly going back to college because his board wants him to have a higher education.  Since they are paying for it, he can't say no, but he is being slow about it. 

 

With the support of each other, the great schools we have, and our families, we have done very well, and we feel blessed.  Now I have your support as well to add to my  blessings.