All Work and No Play...

This week I have had the amazing experience of truly collaborating with some of the best English Language Arts Teachers in my district (and the world in my opinion). Although, we are getting a stipend for our time "while we have all summer off", I have gained so much more than that. Sharing! Your recall that term from your first school experiences, right? Kindergarten or first grade was tough for some of us who did not like to share, had never had to share, or just plain HATED sharing. But here is the thing... this week people have shared stories, strategies, activities, and laughter. It has resounded through the otherwise quiet and studentless halls. There is a selfless element to this sharing that truly embodies the notion of WIN-WIN! So many folks get bogged down in the myth that sharing ideas, materials, etc. will somehow make someone else's kids do better than their own. WHAT IN THE WORLD are we thinking? If our ultimate goal is to educate young people to be prepared for the "real world" and become CHANGERS of that real world, do we not owe it to each and everyone to give them the best of the best? If that means sharing... then get to it!!

Love thy neighbor....

Late last night, our neighbor, Mr. Danny was welcomed into Heaven. He has been sick for a while and is no longer in pain. That makes this time seem a tad more okay. Mr. Danny has always exemplified neighborly love. He worried about us and made sure we were okay. He and Mrs. Lorrine were among the first to come visit our newborn son, even tho' we had only lived near them for a month or so. A year later, they returned to welcome son #2 with the same enthusiasm and sweetness. Mr. Danny trusted us to watch over his place and his beloved " four-legged babies" too. Neighbors in the truest sense of the word. My fondest memory of Mr. Danny was last summer on a day when he had energy, which became less and less frequent. He called looking for Andy and then in frustration called me back because his mower would not start and it was stuck at the end of the dirt road. I told him I could help. He said, "are you sure? I don't want to put you out!" "Not a problem!!"(that's what neighbors say). Here we went... Mr. Danny on his lawn mower and me pulling him up the dirt road with the Suburban and fifty feet of rope, as if he was riding a tube behind a speed boat. The smile on his face spread from ear to ear and I was given a glimpse of times well remembered in his eyes. As I turned the curve, I slowed down and looked in the rear view mirror. He raised his hands and motioned.. give it more gas... faster!!! I did as I was requested to do and darned if he didn't decide to jump the bank. Giggling and laughing all the way. I pray that today he is finding that energy-filled laughter as we adjust to life without him!

YOGA???

Last night a friend invited me to a Yoga Class. I was more than a little surprised when my oldest son decided to come and then proceeded to invite my mother as well. Come on people, this is not what we are about! I admit I was a bit skeptical about the entire experience. "Yoga, schmoga... whatever!! I bet I won't like this.. not one bit! AND I AM NOT BECOMING A VEGETARIAN!" were the internal conversations I found myself having. BUT HERE'S THE THING.. it was a really, really nice experience. I gave into the deep breathing concepts and removal of barriers and found myself challenged and actually liking it. WHAT?? That was not supposed to happen. I really enjoyed the instructor and liked the fact that she thanked us for coming to her "practice". Practice.. I thought you were the expert. However, she epitomized my philosophy that we are all allowed bad days, good days, and days when we are totally on fire! To practice means that you are not novice nor are you master. Ahhh.... lovely!! At the end of the hour, my body felt like marshmallows yet my mind was alert and reflective. It felt good to try something new and not feel failure or the need to compare my experience to anyone else's. The next time asks you try something out of your comfort zone... CARPE DIEM!! Seize the day!! SAY YES!! Get to it with the confidence that the journey IS the challenge! You might just find a new passion or at least something to giggle about among good friends!

DAY ONE SIGHTINGS...

Today was the first day of school in our county!
I saw:
lots of smiles...some nervous, some smirky, some generally happy to be there.
lots of HEY so and so... wonderful music to my ears.
teachers.. pulling together, supporting one another, and making every child.. all 946 of them.. feel needed, important, and valued.
weary faces... at the end of the day. Proud and exhausted with the labor of love we are so blessed to perform!

Here's to you Erwin Staff. I like what we have going on.. how about 179 more times?? You in?

Teachers... Quit Your Whining!!

Ah-ha... got ya' didn't I?? I knew that title would spur your interest. However.. I am not a total fabulist as I heard this statement uttered by someone outside of "our club".

This was the response to "Oh.. I can hardly believe school starts tomorrow." The listener also continued with something like "good grief.. you had the whole summer off and did not have to do anything like the rest of us working people."

My first response is "OH REALLY?? AND I DON'T GET PAID EITHER!!!!! AND AFTER PUTTING UP WITH YOUR CRAZY CHILD ALL YEAR..." (well I will stop before I say too much).

My second response (and the one I should use) is "You are right. I did have all summer off. I spent much of it reflecting on last year's instruction and training for new challenges I will face this year. I worried about my lovelies that I sent home to less than good conditions. I waited for emails letting me know how a divorce is going, if a baby was born, and whether or not a student actually got to see the ocean (as has been promised for the past twelve summers). I mourned the loss of time that I would have with students (106 of them) who stole my heart and became part of my "family". THEN.. I had to turn the page and prepare for another group of of lovelies. Even after seventeen years of doing the "job" and doing it well, I was forced to change the way I do it and prepare lessons in a brand new way. Although I CAN.. I fought the I DON'T WANT TOs!! I was given two hours to make a great first impression and try to learn all the new students' names. You see.. they will remember mine and the reciprocal expectation is the least I can do. I have tried to build a "new team" with only two hours of actual time to meet and find common ground with adults who are also accustomed to "doing things their way".

Maybe I would finish with something like.. "How often do you move? How often do you change jobs? And would it be worth it to have a summer off to have to do it every ten months?" Hmmm.....

One last thought ... "If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers." ~Edgar W. Howe

Vacation Bible School and God Sightings

Tonight we opened our Vacation Bible School. Let me admit.. I was apprehensive. I had only been able to attend one planning meeting and waited 'till the last minute to do my scheduling magic. Like early hours of this morning last minute. Additionally, there was a funeral at the church at 3pm today. Trying to be respectful to the family, we eased into the church around 4pm. AND HERE IS THE THING.. God showed up in a powerful way! Every one chipped in, smiled, and laughed our way through night one. IT WAS A GOD SIGHTING (as the children learned about from our guest Roman Soldier).
Here are the other God Sightings I saw:
* "big kids" and "little kids" in the same group and getting along!
* snacks (that like the loaves and fishes) were more than ample with surprises hidden in the bottom!
* adults and children interacting and sharing kind touches and hugs!
* a wee little one who "learned about Jesus coming in to your body". Okay maybe it was your heart! BUT HE GETS IT!!
* sometimes "too cool" teenagers helping ANY way they could EVERY time they were asked.
* JOY.. pure joy as we sang about how NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE with God!
* everybody going home with smiles and really, truly looking forward to coming back tomorrow night!

For this opportunity to churn the fires and get excited about God and all he does for me every day.... every... day... without fail, I am humbled and grateful!!

Doing anything tomorrow night? See you at 5:30?

Reality???

Whew... we made it!! This month we have celebrated fifteen years of marriage, elementary school graduation, birthday number twelve for our oldest, and birthday number eleven for our youngest. These were all big deals and cause me a bit of stress.. DID WE DO ENOUGH? WAS IT SPECIAL ENOUGH? WAS IT MEMORABLE ENOUGH?? WERE THE DAYS AS SPECIAL AS THE HONOREES DESERVED???

The worry is really quite unnecessary. You see... every day is special in my household. I have two wonderful children, a husband who I still like to hang out with, parents who are healthy and believe in me AT ALL TIMES, and an occupation that fuels my passions and brings mostly smiles to my face! My reality is so richly blessed I don't need these ta-da moments to feel full of joy! TODAY.. today is "nothing special". However, it is what I have! May I have the sense to thank God for it.. right now.. without ceasing!! What are your "nothing specials"?