Back to School

Yesterday was my first day back to school. Starting a new school year is never easy if you're a teacher. There is lots of preparation, stress, anxiety, your list never is done, and you feel never quite ready for those students that walk into your room the first day. You love your class. The children, you listen to them, help them, email and call to check on them if they are not at school, make them things, buy them things, for that school year they are your kids.

This school year is harder and yet easier at the same time to start. The Lord called Brian and me both into teaching. My husband teaches high school and is blessed with patience to deal with mouthiness and drama of high schoolers like I have never seen. He is a wonderful teacher and cares deeply and dreams big for his students. I teach Moderate/Intense Special Education at the elementary level and am so glad I teach in a district where my students who are cognitively delayed and sometimes physically impaired are included in the general ed community. I am even more blessed to teach at school where my students are embraced by the general ed staff and my students are those general ed teachers students too. If you know anything about working with the MI population that inclusion and acceptance can be hard to find in a school.
Yesterday, we had PD, work day, and open house. Today, PD, work day, and our students start tomorrow. 3 out of my 7 students came last night to open house and 1 dropped off her supplies early. The joy I felt to see those kids after a long summer was refreshing and good for my soul. This is year 9 of my teaching career and it may be a shorter school year for me (due to the pregnancy), but I believe it will be the best yet. You grow, mature, and change a lot as you teach. I am thankful in my professional world the Lord is not done forming me yet, and I am also grateful to my colleagues. They are a blessing to me and my family. This is a journey my family is on and we are fortunate to have so many walking with us and supporting us.
Yesterday morning, my best friend, Larisa, prayed for me and in her prayer she said, “Lord we are not suppose to be comfortable on this Earth because this is not our home.” That stuck with me all day and was a reminder there are lots of joys and happiness in this world, but it is broken and full of sin. This place isn’t our home and someday I will be in the presence of our heavenly Father with Brian, Theodore, and Oscar and all the pain and sadness of this Earth will be gone.

I have told you all these things so that you may have peace in me. In this world you will have trials and sorrow, but take heart for I have overcome the world. ~John 16:33~

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6 years

I have attempted to write this post multiple times in the last 2 years and just never have been able to quite finish it. My thoughts would come out, but they were never quite complete. So here is my attempt today. It will be 6 years on Saturday you have been gone and I can honestly say not a day goes by that you are not thought of. I constantly wonder what our life would look like if you were here. I know it would look different, but I can't help but think it would still be so very much the same just filled with even more love and joy because of you. I also am not so naive to know it would not have more hardships too. Your life, your odyssey, Oscar, gave so much hope and joy to others. You were so very loved by individuals that never even met you. I think that is what your Dad and I are still trying to do for you six years later to continue your odyssey. To honor your life and memory, by spreading love and hope, and remembering the sweet promise that we will be reunited with you a

Merry Christmas from The Kasers 2023

As the calendar inches closer to the end of the year we always enjoy seeing and hearing updates from our family and friends. No matter if we are fortunate enough to have our paths crossed or this greeting is our only interaction, know you are in our prayers and we hope you will enjoy this most blessed time of year. Our 4th child, Finneas McClish, graced us with his arrival on June 1st. It is hard to believe he is 6 months old already and lights up any room with his big smile. Brooks, now 4, started afternoon preschool at the elementary school across the street from our house. He has quickly blossomed into a social butterfly and is always looking forward to a playdate with new found classmates. Theodore, now a reading loving 3rd grader, thinks it is pretty cool having his little brother at school with him. Teddy also has really enjoyed being a part of Boy Scouts and is always looking for adventure. As you can imagine Julie has her hands full keeping everyone organized, but she tackles

Day 29 - With Broken Hearts

It is with broken hearts we wanted to let you know Oscar went home to be with Jesus at 11:35am today, Saturday, December 16, 2017. Oscar as you know was taken off the endotracheal tube on Tuesday, December 12, and placed on a nasal endotracheal tube to see if he could maintain his airway with less support. We also were providing him with Versed to help him relax and rest during this transition. Oscar had a large drop in his blood sugars on Thursday, December 14, in the evening. Due to this they placed Oscar on continuous feeds and upped his calories to 28 calorie Elecare. It seemed this helped, but it was not a complete fix. After his low sugar of a 26 on Thursday night he had a hard time getting settled even with doses of the Versed every 6 hours. Then on Friday, December 15, we tried Oscar off the ventilator with no support this was around 12:30pm. He seemed to be retracting lots and having a hard time breathing. We then placed him on nose ram cannula with oxygen support. The

Oscar's Odyssey/Stella's Story

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