Becoming...

Junking away

2012-01-22T14:24:00.001-05:00

Some of the junk that I have gotten rid of: junk in my trunk (I know, it's a stretch), a broken alarm clock, stuff at school that's not needed, plates and bowls and cups, old cans of soup that expired (how did that happen?), and my to-shred pile.

It's a great start, but I still have so much more that could go...

Junk away...

2012-01-05T21:06:00.000-05:00

Junk January has started off with a bang! I have managed to "get rid" of something every day this week! It's been great! I am applying this method to my house, car, and classroom. Excited to keep purging!

What I threw away

The before...

The after...

Items given to a local consignment shop

A project that had good intentions, but just ended up losing steam...recycled!

Went through paperwork and got rid of old bills and envelopes and papers.

Boxes that were recycled and taken out of the house after I assembled the furniture.

Get rid of Junk January

2012-01-01T19:19:00.003-05:00

My monthly goal for January is to throw one piece of junk away a day. It could be cleaning up a junk drawer or just getting rid of items I am not using. Mostly it's about organizing, cleaning up, simplifying, and getting rid of what I do not need.

Today's junk I got rid of? I am donating three blankets that I do not use. I will check first with the shelters in our town and if they do not need them, off to Goodwill they go.

Final photo

2012-01-01T09:48:00.004-05:00

It's only fitting that the final photo of my digital December is...

one of my grandfather and me (or is it I...I think it's me). He's 94 and lives in southern Indiana. I love his laugh and his crinkly blue eyes! It was wonderful to sit with him on Friday and Saturday and just hear about his thoughts on different topics.

It was a good December...I'm glad I documented it! Hope you are too!

Love the Lights

2011-12-31T19:16:00.001-05:00

I love Christmas (which is a new change for me). Don't get me started on holidays and why I didn't use to enjoy them...

Besides being able to focus on Jesus being born, I love Christmas lights! I think they can be a bright spot in darkness.

I recently visited some of my family in southern Indiana and took some pictures of their lights. In fact, my aunt got nervous and came out looking for me in her car. Thank goodness, it's a small town!

Presents!

2011-12-29T21:21:00.003-05:00

I wrote a book! I also made a "John Deere" scarf for my nephew.

While the book has to be previewed first (apparently certain things scare my nephew), I am hoping he will love the scarf.

He always asks about it when he's on the phone with me. In fact, it's the FIRST thing he asks for. Kind of sweet!

Favorite present?

2011-12-29T21:19:00.001-05:00

Pizza made with a great present...

A digital food scale which doubles as a measuring cup!

My sister rocks! She picked out a great present. A digital food scale. Excited to embark using this scale and monitoring my food choices better and using recipes that use different measuring scales.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday photos....

2011-12-29T21:16:00.002-05:00

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are a blur for me. They consist of painting. And painting. And painting. Ugh...I'm finally done (but getting ready to go to Ikea, so final pictures will come later).

I'm so tired of stuff being everywhere!!!

Did I keep it this way??? You'll see!

Santa's reindeer!!!

2011-12-29T21:12:00.001-05:00

The deer that came through my mom's backyard...there were eight of them!

I think they are looking for Rudolph or Santa...by the way, every time I type Santa, I type Satan first...hmmmm.

My sister opening up the wrapping of her blanket (which was hidden in my car).

Me opening my brother-in-law's gift...it was a prank wrapped in duct tape.

My sister and her bowl. It's red (her favorite color), from Target (her favorite store), and on clearance for 49 cents (she loves clearance!). Yay!

Traditions

2011-12-29T21:07:00.002-05:00

I took a photo of the stocking that I've had since I can remember. D, does it look familiar? :)

When I was watching my friend's kids, I noticed her stocking...it looked just like mine!

I stayed at my mom's house Christmas Eve, knowing that my stocking was empty Christmas Eve and would contain pears and lottery tickets the next morning.

Don't ask about sleeping on the couch in the basement. My sister's dog woke me up several times and her clicking nails on the laminate floor in the morning wasn't great either, but it was wonderful to wake up and enjoy Christmas morning with my family.

Caught my eye

2011-12-29T21:03:00.001-05:00

What was I doing the day before Christmas Eve? Shopping!!!

I was picking up a calendar for my mom's friend and out of the corner of my eye, I spy...

this amazing bag!

Don't worry, there's a reason why I paid what I paid for it. But more about that later...

Ahhhhhhhhh...

2011-12-29T20:59:00.002-05:00

I haven't blogged since Friday. Argh! I have taken photos every day though...here they come...

House!!!

2011-12-23T21:18:00.003-05:00

My Wednesday and Thursday photos are my before and after shots of my house. Wait for more though...going to repaint too! That'll come in the next few weeks, I think. FYI, pictures are out of order.

What was under the carpet and padding

The other side...

Under the carpet

My step-dad cleared out the carpet...so thankful for him!

Where I stored everything while I waited for installation

BEFORE

Tile is almost gone!

In the middle of it all...

Sawdust galore...will it ever go away?

Mayhem...

Getting underway!

More sawdust!

Sawdust to clean...

AFTER

What do you think???

Presents

2011-12-23T21:02:00.000-05:00

I love receiving gifts. Who doesn't?

I also love receiving heartfelt gifts.

I love receiving gifts where someone truly thought of you...

And hence, one of my favorites...

A clipboard made by our reading coach for me. She put some of my favorite books on here as well as the comprehension strategies and personalized it with colors fitting my bee theme. I blurred out my name (got a reputation to protect).

I love it!!! It made me cry and appreciate her even more. Thank you!!!

Thank goodness!

2011-12-23T20:55:00.001-05:00

I'm a little behind on photos...but I am taking at least one a day. Here's Tuesday's photo.

I don't know why I picked his desk, but I did.

And thank goodness I did.

Date cleaned out - December 20, 2011.

Expiration date - November 25, 2011.

When placed in desk - sometime before November 25.

Smelly factor - 10 to the 10th degree. It was nasty! So glad I cleaned it out and made him throw it away.

And yes, I did make the student smell it. He needed to know.

Did that just happen?

2011-12-19T22:20:00.000-05:00

Readers, I have always been honest with you. What I am about to share may shock you, may cause you sadness, may cause you to laugh. I share because it's part of me and because it completely makes me laugh.

I have recently returned the wide world of internet dating. Sigh.

Most of the guys aren't real potentials and from some e-mails, never seem to go anywhere...until last week. After chatting again with a match from earlier in the process, we decided that maybe (okay, he finally got over the distance deal - it's only three and a half hours) we would meet. We seemed to banter well online and after exchanging phone numbers, began to text and call.

For a moment, I thought...hmmm, potential.

And then...

I was awakened Sunday night by a text from him. We texted back and forth and then there was a pause.

And then...

Wait for it.

Wait for it.

Yes, a text and this is what it said...

Name and number blocked out to protect his identity

No, readers, that date was not with me. And so began a conversation of we are just meant to be friends...he can't get over how far away I am. And he would feel bad if I had to drive two hours to go see him. Blah, blah, blah.

However, after asking him some questions about his fun date, I get the sense I dodged a bullet. A giant bullet.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I not only didn't waste mobile to mobile minutes, I saved myself some gas money. Will use that towards my house interior remodeling!

Colors

2011-12-14T15:53:00.000-05:00

I love green. I love red. I love green and red together. Enough said.

I saw my friend at church Sunday and had to take a picture!!!

New Perspectives

2011-12-12T22:40:00.000-05:00

Two of the ladies present...Betty (left) hosted us!

Our amazing spread at our book study tonight. I love these ladies! There's a group of educators that formed a book club and graciously let me join.

These ladies are so near and dear to my heart. Some I worked with. Some I am getting to know. Some are retired. Some are married. All are amazing! All love to read! All make me laugh. All teach me to listen (I'm still working on it). All teach me to enjoy life.

Love, love, love them and our Monday night book club nights.

Friends

2011-12-10T21:37:00.000-05:00

Pictured above is the mess that I cleaned up today. It shows that food was eaten and fellowship occurred. I had invited some friends over to have some soup on Saturday. What a blessing it was to see seven women converse with each other. Some only knew me and some knew maybe one or two others. I was hesitant at first to invite people from different circles, but it was such a fun time and I was overwhelmed at people asking to bring items or offering to help clean up.

I began 2011 wanting to host a dinner party once a month...lofty goal and I definitely did not achieve it. I think I made six of the twelve months, but after today, I know I need to be more proactive and just do it. Sometimes I feel my house is too small or that others won't like the food that's prepared. But I'm sure everyone else has those thoughts too. Or, they're worried that the house isn't clean enough or that others will judge them.

After cleaning up, I sat and began a knitting project. My roommate stopped home for a few minutes before she was headed out again and the conversation came up again. She asked, "Who's your best friend?"

I couldn't answer her. I don't have one. I have some amazing friends that I consider to be my closest and dearest friends who I would share anything with, but I don't like to call any of them my best friend.

Growing up, I always struggled with wanting a best friend and never really feeling like I had one. As I've aged, I think the label of a best friend is overrated. I think it puts too much pressure on friendships. I've heard many married women say that their husband is their best friend.

And what if your best friend has another friend that is their best friend? See...I just don't like it.

Readers, what do you think? What does the label "best friend" bring to your mind?

Quiet

2011-12-09T16:07:00.000-05:00

This is my view tonight. It's after 4 and I'm sitting here blogging.

One of the advantages of being single is my after-school schedule. I have no kids to pick up, no family to make dinner for, no dry-cleaning to pick up.

Most days I have errands to run, meetings to attend, workouts to do, or who knows what else I fit into my schedule.

However, tonight, I sit here and blog. I posted grades. I listened to music (love Pandora) in the dark, with only my Christmas lights on. It was beautiful!!!

Thursday's photo

2011-12-09T16:04:00.000-05:00

I took a photo...just didn't upload it.

My trunk was half-full of bags from Dollar General. We had taken the after-school service organization that I lead to DG to spend part of the money we raised from a pajama day at school. These toys will go towards families in our community that are in need.

Fifteen third and fourth graders walked with me to the local store and helped pick out items. While you can imagine the stress, it was quite fun to participate in.

Racing Thoughts

2011-12-07T22:20:00.000-05:00

It's funny how things can change so quickly. Earlier today, I received a box of these heavenly doughnuts! Nine are in the freezer and three are ready to consume from the fridge.

As I tucked them away (we are having a blood test in the morning for a health screening, so none tonight), I knew that I would write about the doughnuts and how dreamy they are. Then I went to Bible study.

I didn't see my friends (basically fake parents that I've known for 15 years). I texted the wife and she let me know that she wasn't doing well and to ask her group to pray for her. Only one other member had come for our group, so I sent her to another (knowing she was okay with this) and went to my friend's house to sit, cry, pray, laugh, and fold laundry with her and her husband.

Emotions were raw, real, and rough. Watching her battle cancer is tough. I am amazed at the spiritual journey she and her husband have taken.

Tonight my thoughts race. I remember my complaints from earlier in the day. My criticalness. My frustration with students.

God, may my attitude show that You are Good. I may not see it clearly right now, but let me rest in that. Let my racing thoughts stop and rest on the one constant that I have in my life.

Lunch...

2011-12-06T15:42:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure today to eat lunch with a friend who also happens to be our writing coach for the corporation. She taught our workshop today. She's the type of teacher who is calming, who listens well (truly listens), and is guided by what is best for students. I love when I get the opportunity to sit and watch her in action.

As she came in, she wanted to know what lesson...immediately I knew!

Setting. But wait, they also need to know about moving in the writing process. And, it'd be helpful if you could talk about doing their best. Um, also, what about spreads? Can you also mix in details of setting? Um, setting. Doing their best. Ugh...what do you think?

She just laughs and then says, "You're not getting setting."

She taught about taking their planning and working on spreads and what that looks like as a writer.

I also had to confess to her that I had mixed three lessons on Friday. I know, I know, I know. You NEVER teach more than one thing. Unfortunately, with our short weeks until our vacation and knowing we had missed a school due to snow and another day due to music practice, I taught three lessons (with breaks in between).

I'm glad I didn't get setting. I am excited about teaching setting to my students tomorrow and looking at the details that are needed. We'll post some on our classroom blog.

I loved hearing the kids work today. You could hear the buzz of workshop. You could see writers working. You could see the wheels turning.

My messy desk where I keep my notes!

My notes...where I write down what people say.

A Drive...

2011-12-05T20:32:00.000-05:00

Don't my nails look great?

Here I am...in my car. Listening to music. On a drive.

I found out today that one of my cherubs from last year (who I dearly loved) has been in the hospital and is in the pediatric unit in a nearby hospital. (She's in stable condition now, but had not been doing well earlier.)

Not even the threat of rain turning to snow deterred me from going to see her.

The drive back...not so fun. I was happy to stay in the right lane, letting LOTS of people pass me as they sped on through the windy, wet weather. The snow kept pelting my car and swishing and swooshing and changing direction. Wasn't a fun drive back...but completely worth going to see my little girl.

Wake-up call...

2011-12-04T20:21:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of watching another friend's kids. They have four beautiful children and I am blessed to be able to jump into their lives and hang out with them for a bit. The oldest girl calls me khaki. :) You'll see her saying cheese in the photo.

Here was their note for the morning...

Only two of the cute ones...

Saying cheese

Joy

2011-12-03T21:16:00.000-05:00

I'll post the photo tomorrow, but I took a photo of a book that I read to my friend's kids. The little boy always asks for the book and I finally remembered to bring it!

My View Tonight

2011-12-02T20:29:00.000-05:00

It's a Friday night.

A night that sometimes I feel like I need to be out.

A night that begins the weekend.

I'm beginning my weekend here...

There's no other place I'd rather be...well, until tomorrow when I'm watching my friend's four kids.

Love families that let me be a part of them!!! You mean more to me than you know!

Deliberatively Documenting

2011-12-01T17:37:00.000-05:00

November was Thankful November on my Facebook page.

December is going to be spent documenting my month digitally. I am hoping to post at least one picture a day from December.

What you see pictured above are my gloves. Why document this? Well, they were lost. Now, they are found and WET. They are the heaviest, soggiest, coldest things I have held. They are not fuctional currently.

I knew I had them in my coat earlier this week and when I went to grab them Tuesday night to shovel my sidewalk, I couldn't find them. Thinking I had left them in my classroom, I spent Wednesday as a snow day at home. Thursday morning came and no gloves.

Thursday afternoon came with my students leaving from my after-school club. As I was sitting outside waiting for parents to show, I noticed two globs hanging over a bench. Sure enough...my gloves.

Truly thankful, because now I don't have to go buy any.

Productivity

2011-11-30T19:10:00.000-05:00

It's currently 7 p.m. and looking back over the day, I am quite happy with what was accomplished.

We had a snow day. Woo hoo! Today, I

ate a great breakfast!
made some amazing French press coffee.
made chocolate covered pretzels with a friend.
delivered some nearby to another friend.
got a great leg workout in (when you're shaking during part of it, you know you'll hurt the next day).
delivered items to Goodwill.
delivered items to a local consignment shop and used part of my balance to buy two trays (I'll be repainting them soon - but probably after I decide what new shade I might paint my interior walls).
went to the grocery (two actually)
made peanut butter cookies with Reese cups in them.
painted six canvases with magnetic paint (for a classroom project)
gathered supplies to make sushi for my class tomorrow (goes with a book we are reading).
blogged.

Hoping my next snow day (although, I hope it's many days away) will be just as productive.

Pining for Pinning

2011-11-27T18:09:00.000-05:00

If you haven't discovered Pinterest, welcome to my new obsession! I am in love with the ideas that people find and have had a great time finding crafty, food, education, and decorating resources. Love, love, love it!

Do you pine for pinning?

Good Deeds

2011-11-27T18:05:00.000-05:00

What happens when you decide to make not one, but two angel food cakes home-made style? You get 24 eggshells.

What happens when you put them down the drain with some of the remains from the brussels sprouts stalk? A clog.

What happens when you decide to fix it yourself? Water out of the pipe and overflows.

What happens when you clean it all up? A job well done!

Irony

2011-11-14T20:46:00.000-05:00

I am so tired of men writing in their profiles about cuddling up to a movie or by the fire...seriously! What a line!!! They are just trying to woo the girl.

And what's up with the statement of "I have children and want more" and then you put 0 where it says children. Um, can you count?

Stayed tuned for new updates with online dating. Not impressed with this site at all! It's almost a joke now...

So tired...

2011-11-14T20:43:00.000-05:00

How do you do it? I'm talking to mothers. Day in and day out, you give. And give. And give. How do you recoup?

I worked a full day, picked up my friend's kids, made dinner, drew pictures (well, she drew and I graded papers), caught up with my friend's son (he finally was ready for my question that I ask every time - Who did you help today?), and finally relaxed with the toddler to a sing-a-long tape and let the boy on my iPad.

Then, I headed home, rode the bike for 30 minutes, graded more papers, wrote on my blog, checked my lovely online dating account (ugh, the drama some days), and need to pick up my Bible study.

I am exhausted! How do you do it?

My hats off to you, moms. Thanks for your hard work!

Thankful

2011-11-02T20:25:00.001-05:00

Yesterday marked a month of thankfulness...true thankfulness. Looking at the small, ordinary things of life that I overlook that truly add up to great things. Would you consider joining me? I'm posting on my Facebook wall.

Photos...

2011-11-01T21:10:00.000-05:00

Of the many photos I see on this online site, I am starting to see some patterns...
Photo of yourself in mirror with phone
Photo of yourself in car
Arms crossed photo
Photo with pet
Photo with an ex cropped out
Business photo from company
Photo with car, bike, or boat

Not sure what kind of photos are the best, but some sure make me laugh and others shudder!

The Joys?

2011-10-28T07:20:00.001-05:00

For those of you who are married, enjoy your spouse today, be grateful you don't have to navigate the tricky waters of dating and singleness...for those of you who are single, maybe you can identify...

I recently am trying my hand AGAIN at the online dating. I know that if God wants to use it, He will, but boy, oh boy, do the doors seem to close quickly somedays.

Things that frustrate me on this site

Old men that look at my profile (and by old, I am saying 50s and 60s).
Guys that say they occasionally smoke...do they mean cigars, cigarettes, or weed? Come on!!!
Emailing with a gentlemen and then OUT OF THE BLUE, he stops. No explanation, nothing. I would appreciate a "Hey, I'm just not that interested anymore."
Having a guy change his mind in 24 hours...one wanted my phone number (I wasn't planning on giving it to him yet anyways.) and then 24 hours later decided I lived too far away. Commitment issues, boys???

Oh, the joys of being single. Settling is not an option, but, man, there are days when it seems it's an uphill journey in the snow for five miles both ways.

Where does the time go?

2011-10-16T20:14:00.000-05:00

Where does time go? It's been almost a month since posting here. I have posted on my classroom blog. But here...well, that's a different story.

I normally check e-mail pretty quick at night on my iPad and I can't blog from there, so I need to be more intentional in turning on my laptop and posting.

Some thoughts...

still running...well after my wart heals. Yuck!
trying out a new online site...Christian Mingle...not sure what I think of it yet. But I am so tired of seeing the same types of photos taken by guys...pose in front of the mirror with your cell phone and take your pic...ugh!
School is settling into more of a routine...and it's still taking a few to get there.
I have a roommate from Honduras for a few months...truly excited to have someone with me.
I'm realizing I'm pretty critical of people's written words...I check their grammar and spelling. Bad Bad Bad!
in a play at church in a few weeks...get to be proposed to (in a way)...again, it's a play, not real life!
doing the Experiencing God bible study at church...excited to see God speak through this and to dive into His Word again. His Word sustains me...when will I realize this? I'm trying to start out my days by praying that He will give my day meaning and purpose. Friday, my roommate came and helped my class make play-dough and one of the kids asked her if God made her Honduran or another part that I couldn't understand. So fun that my roommate was able to say that God had made her! Thank you Father for such a quick answer to prayer.

Until next post...I promise not to be away so long next time!

No more excuses...

2011-09-20T19:04:00.000-05:00

I think I've used every one in the book. No more. I'm back. Regardless of the plantar wart that was injected last week on my foot. Regardless of my ear infection. Regardless of the fact that I cannot run a full mile (probably could). I'm back.

I laced up my new shoes, loaded my iPod with a few more songs, and headed out the door. Plan? Run a song, walk a song. Two mile course. Down and back.

I did it. And I have the proof. With breaking in my new shoes, my left foot always seems to pay. Pay it did. Thank you, shoes. Thank you, road. Thank you, music. I enjoyed it. I'll be back.

Yes, that's blood...breaking in new shoes!

Coincidences...or God planning it all!

2011-09-20T06:17:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, I headed to a nearby large town that actually has a Target! I had a wedding in this town and had also been to a concert there and stayed with a friend so I didn't have to drive it all over again in the morning.

After the wedding, I went and bought some new running shoes, some Zumba shoes, and headed to Target for odds and ends. I was hungry (had skipped the reception) and wanted some Archer Farm Honey Mustard pretzels. I couldn't find them in one aisle, so I turned the corner and ran into two great friends!

The funny part was, one of them had just (and I mean just) been talking about me. I used to make snack bags for her after her long runs so she had something to eat during church. She had just said my name and I turned the corner.

God is so funny!

Entering the morning...

2011-09-20T06:14:00.000-05:00

I was given a small gift this morning...a two hour delay due to fog. As I embrace being awake for two hours (had already had a shower and couldn't fall back asleep - and yes, I know those of you who don't get these delays are rolling your eyes), I decided to take advantage of the time.

Thus, a posting! Breakfast eaten at home while drinking another cup of coffee. A chapter read in my book club book. Listening to Pandora. Relaxing. Taking in a deep breath and preparing for the day. Knowing that He will provide the joy as I enter my classroom and have to figure out what to skip and what to try to accomplish in a shorter day. Trusting that He will be my patience today.

What a great way to start a day!

Challenge

2011-09-08T19:05:00.000-05:00

53 days ago, I began a burpee challenge. On my way to 100, I began noticing just my left shoulder aching after doing my burpees. After talking with a friend, I decided to make it to 50. I skipped one day and skipped yesterday because I had a massage...so tonight, I did 100. Forty-nine for the missed day and 50 to finish and one more just to make sure I had done enough.

Done...now to begin another challenge...making good choices so a maid of honor dress will look great (no matter what style my sister chooses).

Blessed

2011-09-07T19:32:00.000-05:00

Tonight I sit here feeling so incredibly blessed.
I began the day with hugs and hellos from students in the hallway.
I ended my school day with my old second graders bursting into my room to give me a hug.
I spent the afternoon with my dad and his wife. I forgot how much I love seeing his face. I stood and just watched as they drove away. I hugged him extra tight tonight.
I used a Groupon on a student massage. Amazing! My body is relaxed and so is my mind. I didn't grade. I didn't really plan. I had a night off of school.

As I type tonight, the sun is setting, the breeze is blowing in my newly installed upstairs windows, and I am listening to worship on Pandora.

It's good to be still. I needed this. Thank you, Father, for such a day where I could just breathe.

The mouth of babes...

2011-08-22T20:03:00.000-05:00

Tonight I was able to watch my friend's kids as she was needed by her daughter who was sick. As I brought the boys into my house, the youngest one asked, "Where's your dad?"

I told him my dad had moved to Virginia a few years ago.

His brother came back with, "I know what he means..."

My brain finally made the connection. "You mean my husband?"

"Yeah," he said.

"I don't have one."

Yep, here it comes..."Why?"

"I don't know, honey. I don't know."

Oh...to be young and not understand it all. Oh, wait, I'm old and I still don't understand. But his innocence made me laugh and just enjoy what I do have.

Classroom Blog

2011-08-17T18:55:00.001-05:00

Thanks to a great friend, I am moving our students blogs into a class blog. You can find us at wearebloggingbees.blogspot.com.

Please read the guidelines so you know what is expected for commenting. Excited to share more of our classroom life with you there.

I'll still share some funny stories here, but with share more of our learning and thoughts over there.

Thanks for advance visits!

My Classroom...rearranged

2011-08-09T19:36:00.000-05:00

I changed the background of the closet doors to black, trying to make it all color-coordinated. I also have a table in there because we have 3.5 sections this year. What, you say? As of today, I have 20 in the morning for reading/writing and then 26 in the afternoon for math, science, and social studies. I will rotate kids in and out who get to sit at the table.

We have new computer counters which are currently serving as some hide some stuff under them. I also bought two new stools from Ikea...love that place! The black bins will be scattered throughout the room to hold book bins.

Currently, a working with words station. Underneath is a container with sorted magnetic families. I am planning on differentiating my words instruction by letting kids know which boxes they can work through. We will create "I Can..." lists for each station. The other side of this easel is a chalkboard and also a roll of paper. Excited for the possibilities!

Our class library!!!!!! I rearranged some baskets today. Moved the chapter books all onto certain shelves and need to revisit all of the bins. Notice the great chairs there? They were painted from my favorite book, Beware of the Frog, and were a prize for the slice of life challenge. Excited about letting the kids use them for buddy reading and for their own reading time!

My new desk!!!! To the right is our tray of writing paper choices.

Our writing choices.

Our meeting and sharing area. Meeting in a group, sharing in a circle. And yes, the rug is from Ikea! :)

Where I will host small group instruction. Plus, students will now not argue over who sits on the bench for our morning meeting.

Currently housing various items needed for work in our classroom. The pile of paper will move soon...just not sure where yet. Organization is the key...

Feel free to offer any critiques or questions...and yes, if you think it's the most amazing classroom, you can tell me that too. ;)

Not for the weak at stomach...

2011-08-09T19:21:00.000-05:00

What you are about to see may turn your stomach, so if you are weak at stomach, I give you permission today to skip my blog.

Living by myself has its disadvantages and advantages. Disadvantage - I have to do lots on my own. Advantage - I learn how to do a lot!

The drain in my shower seems slow lately. Rather than dumping some Drano down the drain, I took measures into my own hands. Found this amazing tool at Ace. It was only $3, so if it didn't work, it wasn't like I wasted tons of money. Looks harmless, right? Watch out blockages!!!

It's easy! Just stick it down the drain, wiggle it around, and pull it back out slowly.

Again, for those of weak stomachs, I beg you to stop scrolling!!!!!!

Stop...Unless you're ready for it!!!

It's called Zip-It!

For those who made it this far, isn't it amazing and gross??? Cleaned out three drains today and am excited to see if it helps with drainage!!!

Before and After

2011-08-09T19:12:00.000-05:00

It's been one of those kind of summers. A before and after summer. I've completed many projects and love seeing the befores and afters. I hope you do too.

The desk and chair my dad had painted for me to celebrate my IU days.

The desk now in my classroom, freshly painted black. I plan on changing the seat cover too...just haven't done it yet.

Well???

Why not?

2011-08-09T19:05:00.000-05:00

I am a sucker for bargains. I love clearance (within reason), sales, coupons, and all things that save my green stuff.

However, today, I splurged. On myself...

For my dining room table

In my bathroom

Up above a hutch in my kitchen

A tool to clean out drains without chemicals...more to come on that one, but only for those who can handle it.

Workouts...

2011-08-08T22:10:00.000-05:00

I lay here...and am definitely ready for bed tonight. Not only did I have a training session this morning, I completed the 21st day of my burpee challenge. Start with one and add one a day until you reach 100. Only 79 days to go. My trainer also challenged me to do something instead of just watch tv...therefore, tonight (so thankful for my summer roommate) during every commercial break of Bachelor Pad (yes, I admit I watched it - all three hours of it), we did ten push-ups. Ten...not too bad. However, three hours equals 150 push-ups.

My arms are exhausted and will probably not turn on the tv at all tomorrow. Well, maybe just to watch Hoarders...

Road Trip

2011-08-07T16:50:00.001-05:00

This summer I took a small road trip to visit a friend in a nearby state. My friend is always so gracious in hosting me. While driving to her house, and just crossing the state border, I noticed these giant windmills (is that what they're called?). Grabbing my camera, I snapped a photo and on my way back, pulled over for some safer shots. (I am trying to become spontaneous with my camera and document the ordinary events of my life). I had a blast reconnecting with my friend, seeing her kids, and enjoying healthy recipes and homemade bread!

What a deal!!!

2011-08-03T08:41:00.000-05:00

I stopped at the grocery store last night...Wednesday is the final days of the week long sale at the store and I was going to be headed out town that night.

Let me just tell you...I hit the jackpot!

I am not ashamed of the clearance items. Due to my father's love for discount stores, I have picked up a few tricks. I remember when we were in grade school how he would take us around and teach us what to look for.

I bought

4 bags of steamable veggies (broccoli slaw and carrots and sugar snap peas) for 99 cents (normally 2 for $4)
3 boxes of jasmine rice (6 servings each) for 99 cents
2 boxes of VitaTop muffins (cranberry bran - not my favorite, but I'm up for trying them...maybe with some chocolate) for $1.29, normally over $5.
3 boxes of organic mushrooms for half off...only $1.29

Woo hoo! I love my vegetables...and I love them more when they are on sale or for cheap!

New Recipes

2011-07-28T21:12:00.000-05:00

Homemade Reese Cups...Yum!

24 now, but not for long.

Congratulations!!!

2011-07-28T21:06:00.000-05:00

I am the proud recipient of....

Justin and I

a future brother-in-law!!!

My sister and I at her 30th birthday party...yes, we had to wear attire that contained the Cubs somehow.

He proposed and she said yes!!!

Even though this isn't the biggest part, she asked me to be her maid of honor. I am beyond blessed and honored that she'd ask me to stand up there with them!

Congratulations to Karen and Justin!

Finally!

2011-07-28T21:00:00.000-05:00

The people that lived here before me created a disservice in the bathroom. What I don't like, they did. I replaced hardware and painted as I could, but to put one single row of tile (baby blue) along with cream tiles throughout the shower...come on!?! And then, because they truly knew what they were doing, they painted the hardware into the wall because painted screws and poles look better. What were they thinking???

I do not have the money to redo the bathroom the way I want to, but I can make changes here and there. So begins the adventure.

First a shower curtain. Make that a curtain. The problem is, there's no holes. And I can't get the shower rod out of the painted hardware. A double shower rod costs more than $50...out of the question (plus it wouldn't fit the smaller width of my shower). My mom came to the rescue!

Her sewing machine makes button holes...yay!!!

These little double hooks saved me!!! And only cost $15. Bed, Bath, and Beyond, thank you!

And tonight, I can reveal my new bathroom!!!

Before

After

Thoughts??? No, you cannot hire my mother, but I'm sure she'd appreciate the thought!

Frustrated

2011-07-27T19:18:00.000-05:00

I am trying to upload some photos into a post...AND IT WON'T WORK! I keep getting the Picasa Album suggestion and not the access into my computer. I have photos that I want to share, wifi to do it, and time to type.

Ugh!

Tomorrow is a new day and I'll try again.

The Planes...

2011-07-21T19:32:00.000-05:00

I am not a flier. As a family, we traveled by car. Never by plane. My sophomore and junior years were my first adventures of flying. Fast forward...control issues, 9/11, and lack of flying led to a very irrational fear of dying while flying.

I sometimes use the motto of "Go Big or Go Home." Not wanting to freak out, I saw my doctor and got a prescribed tranquilizer to chill out. I had six pills...three for going and three for coming back.

Medicine taken, we sat in the plane ready to leave O'Hare. An older gentleman was not feeling well, locked himself in the bathroom, and after many minutes, he was taken off the plane. That meant bringing the gateway back. Some of his family members got off. That meant bringing the gateway back again.

The pilot came on later and told us we needed to land in West Palm Beach to refuel and to avoid some weather in Miami. I wasn't ready for this, so I popped another pill as we were getting ready to take off. What a waste! After finally getting the "thing" that pushes the plane away working, we were no more up than we were coming down in Miami. And as we landed, our connecting flight to Honduras was taking off with two of our group members on it.

Now came trying to get 20 people to Honduras on the same flight. I don't remember much of the time, other than buying a blanket in a gift shop (it was freezing!!!), and sleeping throughout the airport. I slept on a chair, on the floor, I didn't care where. We were given vouchers for a hotel and three meal vouchers. One member got to leave Saturday night. Five Sunday morning and fourteen of us left Sunday night.

As our flight was on the way to Honduras, the pilot came on to let us and the flight attendants know we would be entering some bumpy weather and to strap in. Um, dark clouds, lightning, and turbulence...just what I wanted! When we landed, it was not just me, but I heard several others clap. You know when people clap when you land, it was a bumpy and stressful flight.

***

Coming back from Honduras, we had had a prayer session the night before and I truly felt like God was asking me to trust Him and His power. His peace is bigger than my tranquilizer. I only told one of our translators what I was going to do and as people questioned if I had taken my medicine, I didn't lie, but allowed them to know that I was good.

Taking off from Honduras was tough. We drove down the runway, made the corner, revved the engines, and STOPPED! We repeated it. And again. By this time, I'm freaking out a little and having an intense conversation with God. I had seen the pilots looking through manuals and flight plans and was hoping they weren't beginners. The flight attendant came on and explained that they were adjusting the speeds for the new weight of the plane. Uh, hello...speed of plane needs to be fast. Duh! We took off and it began.

God is so good! Each flight I was able to switch with a gentleman from our trip that allowed me to sit near his wife. She was amazing! She would talk with me, reassure me that it was okay, and rub my back as needed. I even dozed off a little on the plane (which didn't happen when I had taken the medicine).

I finally let the cat out of the bag and told people in Miami that I hadn't taken the medicine...they were all so proud and excited.

When we were getting ready to land in O'Hare, I guess we had been circling the airport when our plane took a sudden dive. I was convinced at this point that our plane was going down. The flight attendant had been walking by afterwards and checked in on me (he knew about my unease) and I told him that I didn't like the sudden dive. He told me that the pilot has to follow what the traffic controller says. Nonetheless, I still didn't like it.

Playing around with miniature effect on camera...downtown Chicago

Overlooking Miami...however, don't you hate it when the pilot asks people to look to their right...I envision the plane tilting.

Without medicine...I actually had a personality on the plane. Not sure if the others cared for it or not. :)

I LOVED watching planes coming in and being so close overhead.

I'm Back!

2011-07-21T08:32:00.000-05:00

I'm back from Honduras and as I said on my status update for Facebook, I feel like I left more of me there and came back with more of who I am. Not sure if it's possible, but over the next several days, I hope to debrief and process with you as I share my pictures, thoughts, and learnings.

Thanks for all of the prayers!

Love those friends

2011-07-07T20:22:00.000-05:00

Tonight, I gathered with some dear friends and laid out my fears, worries, and anxieties, and was met with love, compassion, and grace as they prayed with and for me. Love, love, love that I have friends that I can just be with.

I am embarking on my second trip to Honduras Saturday morning. I am excited to go again and will be excited to share as much of the journey as I can with you.

And this part may seem strange, but if you would be gracious enough to pray for me, I would love to return the favor. One thing that I love to do when I am feeling attacked is to pray for others and take the focus off of myself. If you leave me a comment (and you don't have to leave your name or be specific) and let me know how I can pray for you, I would be honored to pray while I am on my trip (and afterwards).

Thanks...

Slice of Life - Running

2011-06-28T20:12:00.000-05:00

Every now and again I look at other people. One thought that will often pop into my head is, if they feel comfortable wearing that, then why can't I? Why can't I pull on a pair of shorts, go out the door, and hold my head up high?

In order to do something about it and to stop dishonoring my body, I am using Calorie Counter on my iPad (for the most part) and strive between 1200 and 1600 calories a day. I am shooting for more protein.

Another task was hiring a personal trainer who has a passion for transformation. Our first session had my bum hurting for two days to even sit down or move from any position.

The second session occurred tonight. I had asked what I should do for a workout on Monday knowing that Tuesday we'd be working together. He suggested cardio...I wanted to make sure we weren't running Tuesday. He said we were running...sort of. Not good!

Because he is training a friend of mine for a run, I knew that he loved to do hill sprints.

I was scheduled to meet him at his house at 5:45, but got a text asking me to meet him at this hill that is popular in our little village. Oh crap!

Who knew that trying to pick your feet up to just propel them forward was so hard? Who knew that trying to sprint up a hill would make me feel like my legs were ~~lead~~? ~~bricks?~~ ~~giant blocks of cement?~~ giant tree trunks? Goodness gracious. After we ran up the hills, you'd think coming down was just as easy. Wrong! I almost thought my jelly legs were going to cave under me as I went down the stairs. Thankfully, no falls occurred during this workout.

When you thought it couldn't get worse running up, he decided we'd go up backwards. My calves officially hate me. My left and my right leg equally hate me because he also had me go up sideways shuffling.

Then the sprints came. Four of them. The first three allowed me to only sprint a part of the hill at a time. The final was a full out sprint for the whole hill. Whether you could call it a sprint or not, I busted my bum to get up there.

After he left for a family dinner, I stayed and lunged up the stairs and then ran the stairs three times. I will get into those shorts and feel good. Sleep will be good tonight!

New Features...

2011-06-28T08:38:00.000-05:00

I love sunsets! I also appreciate sunrises, but I'm normally not awake for most of them. I love the colors on the clouds. I love the bands of color that streak and stride together. I love that no two are ever alike.

When I try and capture them with the camera, the pictures never do God's handiwork justice.

Plus I wanted to play around with the new feature of captions and photos...

Out in the country

Morning before school

Classroom Thoughts

2011-06-27T10:50:00.002-05:00

After attending a summer institute on reading and writing, thoughts are swimming throughout my brain.

For those of you who teach, please keep reading and feel free to offer ideas, comments, and suggestions.

For those of you who don't teach and read my blog...thanks...you can either read on or find something else to do! :)

Word wall - Do you have one? I heard Ann Marie Corgill speak and she showed where instead of displaying all of the words, they were in a pocket along the wall. One letter per pocket envelope. Kids were invited to go and grab the word or words they needed to spell. I like the idea of having more wall space to display their learning and other things. I also know that after a while, unless we are playing a word wall game, students barely looked up there. I truly am contemplating taking down the letters and making them more accessible to my students. I would also keep an updated list of word wall words so students could read them with partners, play hangman, etc.
Reader's notebooks - Do you do them? If yes, when do your students write in them? I often felt like I had to tell the students to write in them and what to write. Granted, some of the writing were tricky words, the books they had read, and what thinking was happening in their head. I had to be the one though...it wasn't the students instigating the writing.
Vocabulary - One of my coworkers has the students keep a vocabulary folder where she teaches the words suggested from the reading program. I had allowed my students to write down their own tricky words or words they wanted to learn. We wrote down words from my read-alouds and some students chose to write down the words, but they were made available to all who wanted them. I also want to do a little more guided group work with investigating spelling patterns based on the spelling inventory that I do from Words Their Way. So, should I do this in a folder? Or maybe just in their Reader's Notebook?
Second grade teachers - Anyone else do writer's notebooks? I normally don't introduce them right away...I don't think the kids are ready quite yet. When they are, we begin them.

Thanks in advance for comments.

Ugh!!

2011-06-27T10:45:00.002-05:00

I did it to myself.

It was an awful night. I didn't fall asleep until after midnight. How do I know this? I looked at my clock and it said 11:57. Took a few more minutes before I fell asleep. Then, I woke up at 5:50, 6:30, 6:50, and 6:55 to look at the clock since I had to get up at 7 a.m.

Why didn't I get a good night's sleep? Well...a venti skinny iced vanilla latte doesn't help. Taking a nap at 5:30 doesn't help. Running 2 miles at 8:00 doesn't help. My stupid fears (going again to Honduras) and my mind racing wasn't helping either.

Thankfully, I was able to rest my eyes for a few minutes this morning while babysitting my precious ones again. The boy is off at soccer camp and the girl is down for a nap.

I am determined to have a better night's rest tonight!

Roles

2011-06-23T07:50:00.002-05:00

This morning I joined a friend with her personal trainer (which I am going to try my own sessions tomorrow). Seven o'clock came early.

She is currently training for a 5K and pushing herself to become stronger in her physical health. I wanted to come along to see what her trainer was like and to join in a workout.

As we ran around our small town, I remembered back to the days when my friends would run with me to keep me going. When they would encourage me to keep me going. When they would remind me of how far we had come to keep me going.

We were finishing up the run with a run up the stairs of a great hill and then they were going to run the rest of the way to her home. I wanted to sprint the stairs! Running up the stairs, I made a split decision...do them again! My friends would always get sent ahead of me to run a sprint and then double back to pick me up. However, I have been known before to send a friend back up a hill we had just run down and then they had to catch me (remember that?) or to run an extra half mile back and then catch me (K and M, you should both be loving that one).

Running up the stairs a second time brought me to the realization that the roles had switched. I was that person that was coming along to catch my friend running.

I may not be exactly where I want to be right now with my endurance of running, but I have grown. I have made progress. I am beginning to pay it forward. And I can't wait for the day that my friend pays it forward for others!

New thoughts from babysitting

2011-06-17T21:06:00.000-05:00

Tonight marks the first entry where I am using MY internet. Not my neighbor’s, but mine. Yes, folks, I went out and purchased a Verizon air card.

I am finally finished watching my friend’s kids. I am not going to lie, it’s so nice to be in my home. It’s nice to not be responsible for others, just myself. It’s nice to not have to clean up anyone else’s mess but my own.

I learned quite a bit this week. Parents sacrifice and sacrifice and when they are done sacrificing, they continue to sacrifice. Parents give of themselves and aren’t thanked nearly enough. Boundaries and guidelines are good. If you don’t introduce certain foods in the beginning stages of life, it’s more difficult to get them to eat them when they are older – carrots with cinnamon and honey, sweet potatoes, and roasted chickpeas didn’t go over so well with the older boys, but the girl that I watched last summer ate them right up! Coffee is my friend (I already knew that one). Sweet moments with kids melt my heart. The importance of praying with kids…it was great when the boys requested it at mealtime.

If given the chance, I think I could make a good parent. Yes, I lost it at certain moments…the crying baby in the car, the fussy afternoons, the never-ending job of sweeping up the floor (seriously, if you don’t like the food, stop throwing it on the floor, just leave it on your high chair). Overall though, a parent’s job is the most important one. Thank you to the parents that read my blog. Thank you for giving of yourself for your kids and your family. Thank you for loving them and fighting for them!

How do you do it?

2011-06-15T20:34:00.003-05:00

Mothers, how do you do it? Granted, most of you are not thrown into a pre-existing family where you, the adult, is the changing factor, but wow...I have gained so much more respect for parents. As I tucked the boys into bed and discussed the details of the morning where I'll be taking them to a neighbor's so I can attend a training, the middle boy (who I had a melt-down with the first time I babysat him and has been my worry point this whole week), said, "Huggy" as I pulled the blankets over him. How sweet...but it gets better.

As I stood at the doorway and finally realized that we had forgotten to brush teeth tonight (at least they had showers), I sighed, and said we'd brush really well in the morning. Going over the details one more time of making sure we had the snacks and cereal ready and what clothes they would need to wear, I turned and walked away.

"Cathy?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

My heart melted! I walked back to the room and told him that I loved him too.

Maybe I'm doing something right...

She gets it...

2011-06-14T20:48:00.002-05:00

The two eighteen-month old girls that I am watching during the day are night and day. One is very verbal - forming small sentences that make sense and convey meaning. The other still grunts and points. One is tinier in build, the other is a little larger. One knows me well, the other is still learning me. One loves to be held by me. The other is content sitting and laughing throughout the day. Both LOVE shoes. And by love, I mean they try on all pairs throughout the day for several minutes (which is a lifetime in baby).

Today the verbal child's dad picked up her brother for a dentist appointment. Bad mistake to have him come in. She was in hysterics after he left without her. She cried. And cried. And cried. Even threw herself down for a fit.

The other girl walked over to the table, grabbed the girl's cup of milk and brought it to her to help console her. For not being very verbal, she understood the agony that the other one was going through and wanted to help. It was priceless. So glad I slowed down just to watch today.

Babysitting

2011-06-13T20:56:00.002-05:00

I'm 33 and I still babysit.

This week, I have the pleasure of watching my friend's three kids and two of my regulars during the day. I have 2 third graders, 1 kindergartner, and 2 18 month old girls. Wow! Can I tell you how much I love the hours of one to three??? It's nap time!!! Unfortunately, not for me.

Tonight I have a new appreciation of parenting. Granted, I will not be doing absolutely everything the mom normally does...I am not expected to stay up on the housecleaning and the laundry, but I will clean up the messes we make and try to wash what we've used this week.

As the older two boys ran out after dinner (at 8:00), I stood and looked at the counter. There were their plates, spills on the counter, bottles we have used for tacos, my coffee cup (from the morning - will make more for tomorrow), and my salad which sat freshly made and untouched. Thoughts swarmed through my head as I thought of the dishes that needed to be unloaded, new dishes to be washed, getting the young one ready for bed, and still had to take a shower for the day. Wow...how you do you parents do it?

As I sit here tonight, with all three kids in bed, shower now had, listening to music and typing, I realize how spoiled I am in the life of no children. Wow...

Well, I'm off to bed soon...have three more days of taking care of other kids to go and I definitely will sleep well tonight!

Where have I been?

2011-06-13T12:09:00.001-05:00

I don't know...honestly. My "internet" worked at home...currently it doesn't.

School's over. It ended so well! I loved my class. I know I say it every year, but I really and truly did love this class. Even the rough situations at times and the frustrations that always occur.

I know I had ideas and things to write about. I just didn't. I didn't even check my Google Reader and I have over 140 items to read.

I miss blogging. I miss looking for items to write about.

I have a few photos and stories and other posts that will be coming.

For tonight, this is good. It feels good to write and know that others will be reading.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Spelling Work to Do...

2011-05-03T15:21:00.001-05:00

Need some work on that short e sound...

Wow...

2011-04-24T19:39:00.002-05:00

Goodness, where has the time gone? I'm not even sure what I've been doing.

I'm collecting student comments. My class is super funny even if they don't realize it!

I'm trying to get back into a full-fledged workout schedule. I'm in a rut with my workouts and not sure where to go. The motivation of my pants becoming tight is what is driving me (as well as honoring my body) to get back into the workouts. Any suggestions?

I'm reading books. I have now finished two books for a book club that I'm in. Tomorrow night is our next discussion and I just started the third book.

I'm collecting clothes for Honduras. We have our packing meeting on Saturday. Excited to meet my other team members as well as pack up some boxes!

I'm participating in a Bible study by Beth Moore about the heart of David. We have four more weeks.

Not sure what else is going on, but know that I am here...and will post again soon.

I won!

2011-04-08T19:15:00.001-05:00

I won!!!! For the slicing challenge, I won a stool painted by an amazing lady. I get to pick what book goes on it...Beware of the Frog!

So fun!!!

And what's even better is that out of all of the prizes, that's the one I really wanted!!!

Time to Come Clean...

2011-04-08T19:01:00.002-05:00

You won't judge, right? And even if you do, I guess I should ask if I really care what others think about me.

On with the story.

Dating is something that I don't know much about. The choices of men to date in my area are slim to none. In fact, I know that it will be completely God if I ever get married. The men that I do know are either too young, too old, or married. The bottom line is...not for me.

I did what any technological savvy amazing woman would do...online dating. I tried my hand at it a couple of years ago and it went well. I learned a lot. He just wasn't ready for a dating relationship.

The site I use had a sale, so I am trying again. I recently had had some communication with a gentleman and we began to e-mail, text, and finally agreed to meet. Yes, I told people where I would be and chose a public place and made sure I wasn't followed afterwards.

I had been so nervous before meeting him that I couldn't eat. I had the pleasure of having butterflies again. My face lit up when I got a text. I felt special again. And now it's over. But don't get me wrong...I'm not that upset about it. Why you ask?

My friend suggested I give him another chance (I tend to be quite picky on the first date). When I explained how our "date" had gone, she was quick to understand why I was okay with no future get togethers.

1. I looked hot (we met at a Barnes). Had the jeans on, a rockin' shirt, a great necklace, and make-up to boot. He came in sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt.

2. I had wanted a place where we (I mean me) could get coffee. He didn't buy me one. He didn't even offer!

3. His profile said he was shy and reserved...um, NO! He talked and talked and talked. Yes, I am a talker, but I also know how to draw people into conversation and connect to what they are saying. I do try and get to know others around me. I try to listen well. He talked so much, I began to zone out at times. He hardly asked me any questions. Granted, we had talked quite a bit on the phone so we had had most of the first date questions already. And by talk, I mean text, Come on man...make a phone call every now and again.

4. He took the easy way out. Since we parted ways (with a side hug - who does that?), he has yet to call, text, or e-mail. Way to be a man!

As for the positives, I am proud of myself. I was myself. I looked hot! And felt hot! In fact, I think I got a warmer smile from a guy working there than my "date" gave me. I'm not down about not dating. I'm thankful that I have what I have. My life isn't all that bad. And while I am sitting home alone on a Friday night (by choice), I'm so glad to have a night to just chill.

Reverse Psychology

2011-04-05T12:12:00.003-05:00

I have the pleasure of taking care of two kids that I dearly love over my spring break (just a few days). The boy is in second grade and the girl is sixteen months. Lunch for the boy is always the same. Either macaroni and cheese or a double-decker pb & j. And no one makes the pb & j like I do! However, I also know that he needs a well-balanced meal of good nutritional value.

We ventured out of the comfort zone today. I made multi-grain linguine and put a little bit of butter and parmesan cheese on his. Mushrooms and sauce on mine. He told me he didn't like butter. I fibbed and said that it had also been on his spaghetti at my mom's and he had like that. Lie 1 taken care of. Linguine eaten. He also had applesauce and all that was left was a vegetable. I grabbed the sugar snap peas out of the frig that I had brought over.

He promptly told me he didn't like peas.

I told him that the first word was sugar...they were sweet. I also explained that one of my students from school didn't like peas and he had liked them (true story).

He ended up eating the peas inside of the pods...and liked them.

The pods were left on the table uneaten. However, with a little bit of reverse psychology, he was able to try a new food and like it.

What I Learned

2011-04-01T15:46:00.002-05:00

Slicing this month pushed me again to write. Through slicing, I entered a world that I know in the blogging world. People that I "know" and would be able to see their names and interact with them again. Friends that felt familiar. New names that I learned and yearned to read their entries each day.

Reading writing that sometimes left me feeling inadequate in my own writing. How do you writers put your words together so well? It's such a work in progress for me. I was told in college that I write the way I speak...which apparently to this professor was not great. I'm still nursing that old wound more than ten years later and trying to get beyond it.

I experimented with the magic of three and trying to use repeating beginnings in my writing. I looked for the unordinary. I noticed photos that would have made great slices and next year would like to document my slices even more by including pictures.

Slicing with my students allowed me to connect with other students and their writing over lunch. I am thinking of bringing in writing groups more often to talk with them. Or maybe book clubs over lunch. One of my students (he was three away from our lunch) even had a nightmare about slicing. :) That's how you know you got to them!

I commented more this year. And while I didn't always make my three quota, I did try! I tried to compliment their writing and be specific. I truly appreciated people who left their kind words on my blog.

I'm always so grateful for a challenge. Thank you for allowing me to share this journey with you all!

Panic

2011-03-31T19:34:00.002-05:00

Our spring music concert was tonight. After attending the afternoon performance and knowing that the fourth grade teachers wouldn't be in attendance (spring break a day early), I popped down there to explain to the students that any inappropriate behavior would cause me to remove them from the program.

As I came back to my classroom (I had left them watching a movie on the Smart Board...aren't I good?), my ELL student was there. Her sister had gone down to her classroom, but her teacher wasn't there. I sent my ELL to get her and when she came back empty-handed, I knew I had to go look for her.

However, it was also time for our class to head down. I thought I'd look in the gym to see if she was sitting with her first-grade teacher. As my class waited in the hallway and my co-worker watched them, I walked into the packed venue. I quickly found her teacher and she wasn't with her. I knew the parents had been unable to stay for the concert (they work at a local restaurant, but had dropped the girls off). As I looked through the crowd, panic began to set in. Where was this little girl?

I enlisted a few others to begin looking and then began searching the crowd frantically. A parent went searching in the halls. Our assistant principal headed towards the other side of the school. I stayed in the gym. Suddenly, I see this little Asian face sticking out among the crowd. She was sitting almost towards the top of the bleachers. Surrounded by others. Knowing no one she was sitting by. My heart was elated and then sank at the same time.

To imagine sitting alone in a gym surrounded by people speaking a language you are learning. She sat with me during the performance. She giggled, smiled, danced, and laughed as she watched her sister and the concert.

I'm glad the search ended almost as quickly as it had begun and even more glad to have experienced the concert with her.

Backwards

2011-03-30T18:28:00.003-05:00

Near my town is another town. Nestled in that town are some woods. Hidden throughout those woods are trails. And those trails are where my feet took me today. But not forwards. Backwards.

It's interesting when you take a trail that you know up, down, left, and right, backwards. I found myself turning around to see if it looked right. My feet found roots that it normally didn't touch.

What was normal were the sounds that I heard. Leaves rustling. Frogs and crickets singing to each other. Bikers racing through the trails. My feet crunching the leaves beneath them.

I love those trails. Forwards or backwards. Those trails keep me breathing fresh air. They keep me running. They keep me balanced.

Fun

2011-03-29T20:35:00.003-05:00

Discovering what students love is important to me. Tapping into what they dislike and seeing them fall in love with is can be even better.

Nothing makes me smile more than seeing my hater of reading check out a book on his own for home. Seeing my Star-Wars-video-game-playing boy's eyes light up when he finds out I have an entire bin of mystery books to try. Hearing my talker cheer and tell me I'm the best teacher because I made chapter book paper for him.

Watching students stuff their faces into books so they can be in the flow of reading. Requesting time to read. Requesting time to write. Requesting choice time where they continue to read and then cheer. Asking me to up the time they get to read and write.

This is what's fun. This is what gets me up in the morning. This is what makes me love what I do in my classroom! Tell me state government lawmakers...do you get to do that?

Across the room

2011-03-28T20:32:00.002-05:00

It was just across the room. I've been there before. The magazines are kept in that alcove. Comfy chairs invite you to take a load off and look through a book.

Today, there was a different reason to go. Today I embraced people that were unknown to me only two days ago.

We chatted. Caught up on one of the residents from the homeless shelter and what was going on with her medically. Made plans for me to bring chocolate eclair dessert over to the shelters this week. Invitations were extended for me to come and volunteer again.

Yes, I'll be back, because you matter...

Power

2011-03-27T19:04:00.002-05:00

I am realizing more and more the power that words have. Today, words brought me smiles, challenges, strength, peace, encouragement, and power.

Hearing that someone paid it forward this morning and I only owed a dollar for my highly-desired latte brought a smile.

Hearing that we should listen more than we talk to God brought me a challenge.

Hearing a song that claims the power of Jesus' name brought me strength as I walked into my time with my small group. It's been a rough past few weeks of meetings where girls don't talk and are struggling with some big topics. Tonight was an amazing one though!!!

Hearing music on Pandora brought me peace as I slowed my evening down.

Hearing a girl's voice on the phone tonight rather than all of her texts brought me encouragement that a relationship can be built and there will be victory in her life.

Hearing someone's story tonight brought power as I prayed with her.

One of my friends is a lover of words. She's amazing. She has a true and gifts her words generously to others. I am beginning to see the power that she knew all along.

Your words matter. Speak them. We need them!

What do you say?

2011-03-26T20:53:00.003-05:00

What do you say when you stay at a shelter for the night and you realize how much you have?

God, I am blown away. I have so much. I am in awe.

I cannot put into words about my experience here. I am simply just amazed at how selfish I can be and how much I have. It's almost sickening.

Wonder of Reading

2011-03-25T19:25:00.002-05:00

Tonight I was rewarded. I have met the illustrator of the Stinky Face books, but tonight I had the pleasure of a three year-old read Merry Christmas Stinky Face to me.

As she opened it, I knew there was a repeating line, but to hear her read most of the lines and truly say probably 95.6% of the words correctly and in order, I was amazed.

Her mom has read the book to her a few times and she seems to pick up words quickly.

It was truly a joy to sit and just listen to her read. I couldn't help but begin to assess her reading. She had great expression and knew how to raise her voice at question marks. She paused at commas, reread when she lost her way, and paused to enjoy the pages.

What a treat!

Change

2011-03-24T20:12:00.002-05:00

Every other week on Thursday, I am doubly blessed. First, I have this parent helper who comes in and does whatever I ask her. She's amazing! I love parents that help! Even just a little goes a long way.

This afternoon, I was expecting four high school students and two adult helpers. We were going to do some word stations, review telling time to the minute, some homework that needed read to a student, and grade math papers that I have put off.

As we were in writing workshop, our writing coach popped in. She stayed to hang out while we were in workshop and I knew our students were coming soon, but it was nice to have her in there for the time that I did have.

And as we conferred with the students, I kept waiting for the students. And waiting. And waiting. By the time we lined up for library, my students had had one of the longest workshops ever and our high school friends weren't there.

Flexibility is huge in a teacher's day. I thanked my students for their flexibility. I praised them for being able to write for as long as they did. It's always amazing to see how their stamina truly grows through the year. I worked with as many students as I could after their recess and I let go of what was supposed to happen. Looking to tomorrow, our box for Friday got a few more activities placed onto the schedule, but it's okay. Some of my students are making some breakthroughs in their writing and I was glad they had the chance to show themselves.

Compassion...slice of life

2011-03-23T19:53:00.003-05:00

Every other Wednesday I get the opportunity to meet people that are around me in my community. A ministry was developed to help with homelessness and poverty in my area and I jumped onboard. The best part has been just getting to know some of the families. I have nothing to give. I have everything to gain from everyone around me.

Tonight while the adults ate dinner, the kids were invited to paint T-shirts with puffy paint. Oh, the 80's. Everything was running very smoothly. T-shirts were created and spread out on the floor to dry.

The story of the woman involved is unknown. What is known is she comes by herself and has several young children. Her youngest, definitely under two, was walking around by himself at the center. Wet paint must attract small feet. His feet found the shirts and kept walking and as we could follow his trail, kids noticed that their shirts had been walked on. While only a few were "messed up", most were left undisturbed.

Now, common sense would tell me to keep a closer eye on the child, but he ended up going through the shirts two more times. And while one girl eyed the damage to her brother's shirt, she responded with grace and compassion, "It's okay, he's just a baby."

I spent the night cleaning up puffy paint off the floor and wondering why can't she watch her child closer? However, after speaking with another volunteer, I was reminded that this may be the only outlet where she can sit and let her kids walk around and know that they are safe.

You never truly know another's story until they share it with you. It's a lesson I need to remember when I meet others.

Pudding Pie Panic!

2011-03-22T11:39:00.003-05:00

It began last night. It exploded this morning.

Every week, I reward slicers who write four or more slices in a week. They then get to share a "slice" of food with me at lunchtime. We've had orange slices, slices of strawberries and bananas, and today we were going to have slices of chocolate pie.

Last night I mixed the chocolate pudding, poured it into the crust, and then put it in the frig to set up overnight.

***

This morning, while I was multi-tasking, I opened the frig door to pull out the pie. I could tell as soon as I began lifting it out, that something was wrong. It wasn't stiff. It was as runny as the chocolate river in Willy Wonka's factory. Deciding to investigate, I set it on the counter and took off the lid.

Now, I'm not a scientist, but Murphy's law was in full motion today. And once the chocolate liquid was in motion, it continued in motion...all over my countertops, my kitchen floor, and my clothes. I have never seen so much liquid everywhere. Splosh, splish, splash!

After mopping up the floor, wiping off the counters, and rinsing out my clothes, I looked at the culprit. I must have had a bad batch of pudding. The box was lying on the counter (soaked in chocolate liquid). In an instant, I knew what was wrong. It read, "Cook and serve". Whoops!

And after sharing this story with my students today, one of them encouraged me to do a better job of reading directions. I only smiled back. At least they can learn from my example!

A New Crowd

2011-03-21T20:43:00.002-05:00

Today I ventured out and did something new. I joined a book club. I read a book. I talked with other readers. However, the make-up of the group is what I love! I work with most of them and a few of them have retired, so it was great to catch up and remember what it used to be like to have them around more often.

The night was filled with fun, food, and laughter! We talked about the books. We talked about the characters. We talked about our lives (and they talked about their memories of the books mentioned in the book - I'm a little too young to know some of the references - which kind of makes me feel good).

New books were brought up. New authors were talked about. New dates were set.

The evening ended as it had began. Talking, laughing, conversing, being. It was two and a half hours of joy. It makes me excited to push myself as a reader and venture into books that I might have never picked for myself.

I truly am thankful that they welcomed me with open arms and let me into their crowd tonight.

What is Sunday?

2011-03-20T18:32:00.003-05:00

What is Sunday?

Prep-day

Teach-day

Pray-day

Rain-day

Nap-day

Grade-day

Gray-day

Sun-come-out-late day

Shopping

2011-03-19T18:33:00.002-05:00

My church participates with an organization that takes food boxes to villages in Honduras each summer. Last year, I had the opportunity to go and give them. I am going again this summer. I had purchased three boxes to pack myself and due to procrastination, I needed to get them to church as soon as possible.

I traveled to two different grocery stores trying to get the best deal possible. I began packing the boxes and as I lifted one of the five pound bags of rice, my thumb nicked the bag at just the right spot and it split open. Ugh!

That called for another trip to Wal-Mart and I didn't want to drive back out there. Therefore, I decided to go to a closer grocery store and since it was so nice, I walked.

And while I walked I listened to my iPod. I was greeted by three of my junior high small group girls in the truck at the intersection. I ran into a friend who is going to talk to her husband about possibly helping support my trip. I carried ten pounds of rice back to my house. I thought about the weight that I have lost over the years and can't imagine having that back on after lugging the ten pounds back. I talked my mom through a camera/computer question on the phone. I talked to my neighbors and toured their house that they are rebuilding.

Sometimes, taking a car is overrated. I would have missed out on quite a bit.

I'm glad you see my side...

2011-03-18T21:31:00.002-05:00

I've almost seen it all folks. I cannot tell you how many times I have to tell students to take care of certain issues. I've seen so much crack and asked so many kids to pull up their jeans because their underwear is hanging out. I've dealt with puke and snot and blood and more snot. If I had a quarter for every time that I have asked kids to blow their noses, I could send myself on a paid cruise.

Today, was no exception. I had pulled a student up on my left to talk about his math with him, when my bee-hander (that's how he lets me know he needs to talk with me without interrupting others) came up so I could tell him something.

But before I could talk to him, he HAD to go blow his nose. It was gross. It was green. And it was getting ready to drip down. I asked him to go blow his nose and my pirate lover on my left said, (I'm pretty sure in a sarcastic tone) "What? You don't like talking to people that have snot dripping down their noses?"

I replied back, "No, do you?"

"No..."

Case solved...kids, blow your noses!!!

Noticing the lunch menu

2011-03-17T19:18:00.002-05:00

I heard one of the presenters this weekend say that our struggling readers do not have the art of observing. This writer has the art of observation. She picked up the backslash by looking at the lunch menu in the cafeteria. Too bad she didn't pick up any healthy food. :)

Hi...

2011-03-17T19:03:00.003-05:00

"Hi," came the single word. And then I realized that it wasn't the boy I babysit, but the fifteen-month old. She had finally said, "Hi," on the phone to me.

As we put on her sweatshirt and hat, we headed out for a walk. Her brother and his friend rode their bikes up ahead. Every 20 feet or so, she'd pop her head backwards and say, "Hi."

Such a small word. Such a powerful word. It can open doors and make people feel at ease. It has the power to create friends and bring light to people who are in the dark.

Who will you say "Hi" to?

Student Slice

2011-03-16T19:00:00.001-05:00

Graciousness...

2011-03-16T18:43:00.003-05:00

It is with sad regret that I share this slice with you. I committed the unthinkable. And it is only with thankfulness at the child's response that I can feel that everything is okay.

My southern belle had vanished this afternoon, and I didn't know until the nurse called. She hadn't felt well all day and I had sent her earlier.

While the students were working through some independent math, I received a phone call and was instructed to pick up. It turned out that my southern belle had snuck down to the nurse's office without telling me.

I decided to talk with her at recess than talk about it in front of other students. After making our way outside, I had my cell phone and a cup of snack in my hand (hadn't been able to eat the afternoon snack due to teaching and working with students). I began talking with her about leaving the room without permission. And then it happened...as I was talking, a piece of food, really a small particle, flew out of my mouth and right onto her jacket. I was mortified.

I reached forward, wiped off the food, and apologized. She replied, "That's okay," and we were back to the conversation. She didn't bring it up again that afternoon.

I know she has her problems, but she definitely is full of kindness! For that I am thankful.

Student Slice

2011-03-15T20:36:00.002-05:00

We are currently studying an author in Writing Workshop - Lynn Plourde. One thing that Lynn does is play with alliteration and made-up words. Here is one slicer trying it herself!

Connecting

2011-03-15T20:26:00.003-05:00

Tuesdays are fun. Tuesdays are joke days. Tuesdays are days where I can see their understanding as they finally "get" the joke. Some days it takes longer than others. Today was one of those.

Why is six afraid of seven? Because seven ate nine...har har har. It took them a while to connect ate the verb to eight the noun.

However, what occurred after shows me why I fall in love more and more with my class every day.

My talker began sharing his thinking about how the joke reminded him of One (a book) because the colors were being bullied and One stood up to him. Seven was being a bully to the other numbers.

After he shared his thought, my Cubs fan said, "Talker, you changed my thinking. I wasn't thinking that at first, but now I am."

Why do I love this? One, my talker shared his thinking and connected his thoughts very well so we could understand him. Two, he remembers every book I have read to him. Three, my Cubs fan didn't tell me. He turned and talked to his peer. That is one behavior I try to teach. Talk to others, not just the teacher. How I love to see it all in action.

I am grateful I get the chance to see this work day in and day out.

I notice...

2011-03-14T18:15:00.002-05:00

Today as I was driving back from my school, I reflected on the day.

Listening to Bohemian Rhapsody takes me back to Wayne's World and the head-banging event in the car.

A hug (or two or three) from a friend in the grocery store is healing for the soul.

Laughter from a car ride with three other co-workers invigorates the soul and reminds me that laughter is necessary!

Asking for help is okay. Receiving help is even better.

Unpacking is not fun. I always come home with more than when I left. However, I think I came home with more than just books. My brain, soul, and heart are overflowing!

Solace

2011-03-13T19:59:00.004-05:00

I have had the pleasure of attending a great reading conference the past few days. After having some books (they're in Chinese!) autographed by the author, I decided to head back through the long and winding skywalk to unload my 31 bag that was causing my left shoulder to be lower than my right. (It's not the bag's fault...it's mine. I'm carrying too much stuff.)

I left the hotel where the breakfast was and headed back. As I walked, I noticed something. I was alone. Completely alone. No one in front of me. No one beside me. No one behind me.

It was like taking a deep breath of fresh air.

I love being with people. I thrive on being extroverted. But today, it was nice to have a moment all to myself.

Solace in the solitude of being single.

Student Slicing

2011-03-12T19:59:00.002-05:00

It's the slice on the right. What's so great is that this writer is beginning to play around with replacing her ands with periods. Shocking to use periods I know! This is something she has struggled with all year, so I'm super-excited to see how she continues to grow.

Filled up

2011-03-12T17:32:00.002-05:00

After listening to several speakers today, my attitude towards teaching is different. I feel alive today. I feel empowered today. I feel admired.

Isn't it amazing how compliments improve your attitude? Isn't it amazing the profession I get to be in?

And power seemed to radiate throughout my body today when they asked, "What do you make?"

Yeah, you got it.

I. Make. A difference!

Student Slicing

2011-03-11T21:54:00.003-05:00

Sometimes I yell at my students for making noises. Yell is not the word, but I know I definitely snap after hearing the same noises over and over and over.

But, on Thursday, the opposite happened. What follows is one of my student's slices...

I was reading, then suddenly something popped. Then Miss Cathy said, "I was messing around."

***

I had been playing with a plastic glove and was wrapping it around my hands while I was talking with someone else in my room. And yes, the pressure built and then exploded. It wouldn't have been so bad, except the class was reading and for once, they were silent...I felt awful. It was definitely ironic and very funny when looking back.

Conferring

2011-03-11T15:36:00.003-05:00

I LOVE conferring! What the students have to say is amazing! And today didn't prove anything different.

The students had written down their thinking to a book I had read to show how their thinking changed and grew. My talker was beating himself up because he didn't have any thinking. I knew this wasn't true...he just didn't stop to really think about his thinking.

I chose to meet with him first. As he's reading Mercy Watson (which my boys LOVE), I asked him about what he thought about the characters. He told me that Eugenia was grumpy. When I asked him to tell me more, he said, "Eugenia is probably grumpy because an old boyfriend broke up with her."

I smiled...Kids say amazing (and sometimes funny) things. If we would slow down, stop and truly listen!