All of your kids' #teachers are doing this... Countdown to #SummerBreak #SchoolIsOut
Posted by Soul Classics 103.5 on Friday, May 15, 2015
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
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Monday, October 3, 2011
I'm Back!
Being the writing perfectionist/grammar nerd that I am, I think my problem with blogging is that I spend way too much time on a post because I want to have it "just so."
So, my new goal is to have 5 minute blogs. No more spending an hour going through the entire writing process (brainstorm, write, edit, rewrite, etc.) before posting an entry. If I train myself to do it, I think I will be a more successful, content, and prolific blogger.
We'll see! :)
So, my new goal is to have 5 minute blogs. No more spending an hour going through the entire writing process (brainstorm, write, edit, rewrite, etc.) before posting an entry. If I train myself to do it, I think I will be a more successful, content, and prolific blogger.
We'll see! :)
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Promises Made, Promises Broken
Yes, I do love Tiffany... (For those of you who aren't 80's nerds, then I guess I must point out that teen sensation Tiffany recorded a song with the same lyrics as my blog title. You should look it up - it's a pretty good song.)
But looking at my last post, I realized I made a promise to not wait as long to type my next blog post. And, here I am, 18 days later, typing away with a broken promise.
Recently, I've made a few promises that have been broken - by circumstances which are beyond my control.
But, being the prideful worrywart that I am, I am still heartbroken over the fact that my intent does not match the results.
Well, enough about that sad business. I promised an update, and here ya go (even though it's a few weeks overdue)...
We love our dogs. Dougie, because who doesn't love a face like his?
In one game, he got to play catcher. He thought that was really cool. I think he just thought he was important because he got to wear all that gear.
In the next game, he played first base for an inning. Now, that was something to watch! He really took his responsibility seriously. He even got an out at first!
"Good game" lineups are always the cutest and the best.
And baseball isn't baseball unless you play against a buddy and then can hang out with him after the game.
Okay, since I've learned my lesson that sometimes things are beyond my control, I'll try to keep a watch on my promises.
So... until next time (and who knows when that next time will be!).
But looking at my last post, I realized I made a promise to not wait as long to type my next blog post. And, here I am, 18 days later, typing away with a broken promise.
Recently, I've made a few promises that have been broken - by circumstances which are beyond my control.
But, being the prideful worrywart that I am, I am still heartbroken over the fact that my intent does not match the results.
Well, enough about that sad business. I promised an update, and here ya go (even though it's a few weeks overdue)...
We love our dogs. Dougie, because who doesn't love a face like his?
Jackson, despite the fact the's quite retarded. We still love him, though... Even if he sometimes chooses to sleep like this:
Max played more baseball in the time that I've neglected to blog. Here are some highlights:
My Max is a cute ballplayer...
In one game, he got to play catcher. He thought that was really cool. I think he just thought he was important because he got to wear all that gear.
In the next game, he played first base for an inning. Now, that was something to watch! He really took his responsibility seriously. He even got an out at first!
"Good game" lineups are always the cutest and the best.
And baseball isn't baseball unless you play against a buddy and then can hang out with him after the game.
Okay, since I've learned my lesson that sometimes things are beyond my control, I'll try to keep a watch on my promises.
So... until next time (and who knows when that next time will be!).
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Absentee Blogger
Wow - I can't believe I haven't posted anything since March 16. So much has happened that I've overlooked my blogging responsibilities.
So I'll do a rundown of our activities through pictures and videos.
First of all, we finished our basketball season. We actually were a really good team, only having one loss (our first game, in which the kids had no clue what was happening). So, the Upward Awards Celebration was held at Agape. For a long time, Max was the only member of our team present.
The highlight of the awards ceremony was the announcement of our team, accompanied by our team photo on the big screen. Thankfully, it was a pretty darn good picture of me.
Our next big event was our second annual Spring Has Sprung Deck Party, which was held the weekend before Easter. This year, we had fewer kids but more activities (go figure). The kiddos enjoyed dyeing eggs, busting a pinata, decorating scratch-off eggs, tossing rings on the bunny ears, racing in potato sacks, and of course hunting for Easter eggs.
We convinced him that he had to kiss his first fish for good luck - otherwise, he'd never catch another fish in his life. Amazingly, it worked and he puckered up.
Max had a speaking part in the program, and he couldn't have been more excited. He was a burping whale - perfect casting, right?
Finally, Max had his first baseball game this weekend. Unlike his other sports this year, I hadn't been to a single practice, so I was really anxious to see him play.
Max had two good hits off the tee (they get three tries from the pitching machine, and he didn't get 'em this time). He threw a couple of force outs and caught one. He did a pretty good job for his first game, but this week we're going to work with him on fielding, as about five balls went past him.
On a funny note, I was standing on the sidelines watching the game, and I heard Max's voice from the field. Singing. "867-5309." Yes, that's my boy.
Okay, we're caught up now. I hope I never have to do that again. LOL
Hope everyone has a great week, and I'll be posting soon (that's a promise, not a threat!). :)
So I'll do a rundown of our activities through pictures and videos.
First of all, we finished our basketball season. We actually were a really good team, only having one loss (our first game, in which the kids had no clue what was happening). So, the Upward Awards Celebration was held at Agape. For a long time, Max was the only member of our team present.
The highlight of the awards ceremony was the announcement of our team, accompanied by our team photo on the big screen. Thankfully, it was a pretty darn good picture of me.
Our next big event was our second annual Spring Has Sprung Deck Party, which was held the weekend before Easter. This year, we had fewer kids but more activities (go figure). The kiddos enjoyed dyeing eggs, busting a pinata, decorating scratch-off eggs, tossing rings on the bunny ears, racing in potato sacks, and of course hunting for Easter eggs.
Next up: Easter weekend. We traveled to Gillett to stay with my parents. Saturday afternoon, we went fishing in Trites' Reservoir with the Hauges and Robert Belcher. I hadn't been "real" fishing since about ten years ago (with Robert), and Max had never been. So, needless to say, I was quite excited. After much anticipation, Max caught his first fish. It was the biggest one of the day!
And, in true Max fashion, he acted like a little girl... and refused to touch the fish. LOL
We convinced him that he had to kiss his first fish for good luck - otherwise, he'd never catch another fish in his life. Amazingly, it worked and he puckered up.
Our catch that day wasn't that great, as you can see. However, the weather was nice, the beer was cold, and the company was awesome. I couldn't have asked for a better day.
Easter day was the best Easter I've ever had, hands down. We did everything so differently than what we've ever done before, and it made all the difference. We didn't go to church, therefore we didn't dress up. We enjoyed watching Max find all his baskets (the Easter bunny really should scale things down next year!). We opted to grill burgers instead of the usual ham and sides spread, which made things easier and more low-key. We dyed eggs and hunted eggs in the afternoon before leaving for LR. John's mammaw was with us, which was also quite different yet absolutely wonderful. Again, I couldn't have asked for a better day.
This week, Max had his kindergarten musical program called "It Sounds a Little Fishy to Me."
This week, Max had his kindergarten musical program called "It Sounds a Little Fishy to Me."
Max had a speaking part in the program, and he couldn't have been more excited. He was a burping whale - perfect casting, right?
Finally, Max had his first baseball game this weekend. Unlike his other sports this year, I hadn't been to a single practice, so I was really anxious to see him play.
Max had two good hits off the tee (they get three tries from the pitching machine, and he didn't get 'em this time). He threw a couple of force outs and caught one. He did a pretty good job for his first game, but this week we're going to work with him on fielding, as about five balls went past him.
On a funny note, I was standing on the sidelines watching the game, and I heard Max's voice from the field. Singing. "867-5309." Yes, that's my boy.
Okay, we're caught up now. I hope I never have to do that again. LOL
Hope everyone has a great week, and I'll be posting soon (that's a promise, not a threat!). :)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
My Hero
This morning my 8th grade students and I are completing videos for a Bon Jovi contest on the Animoto website. Here is my entry... Enjoy!
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Everybody Hurts... Sometimes
You know, I've been connected to a lot of hurting this past year or so. Not all situations have been something that directly affected my immediate family, but all are things that have weighed on my heart and soul: the declining health and eventual passing of John's grandfather, the enormous responsibility of moving his grandmother to a nursing home, the tragic loss of a seventh-grade student, the unexpected death of a close friend's father, the heartbreaking end of a few marriages, the difficult loss of many friends' jobs, and the sudden illness and death of my former students' father.
Regardless of whether or not these incidents involved my family, all of this hurt has really weighed on me. I really haven't admitted it until today, but I've been in a slump lately. I wouldn't say that I'm depressed, but I definitely haven't been my usual self. All this hurt has really gotten to me. I guess you could say that it has made me be more aware of my own mortality. You could say without a doubt that it has contributed to another step in my maturity.
So... what am I to do? I know I'll face difficult days, decisions, and deaths in the days, months, and years to come. That can't be helped, so I must accept the fact that I won't be placed in a situation that I can't handle. However, in the meantime, I guess I must enjoy my life's blessings on a daily basis: my family and my friends, my health and my home, my job and my joys.
I need to delight in Max's growth into a young man, and sometimes I need to put down the camera and join in the action. I need to never take for granted John's friendship, and I need to sustain the spark that brought us together when we were still in our teens. I need to keep my family and friends close at heart if not close in miles, making sure that I tell them how important they are in my life. I need to strive to let my students know how much they mean to me, how proud I am of their accomplishments no matter how big or small, and how dedicated I am to their success in and out of the classroom.
And as for myself, I need to focus on my personal goals, my dreams, my bucket list. I need to remember who I am and what I want for myself in life... And then I need to go and get it.
Basically, I need to live, love, and laugh as much as possible. And I need to have faith that my presence on this Earth has meaning... And that I am doing everything in my power to accomplish that meaning.
Regardless of whether or not these incidents involved my family, all of this hurt has really weighed on me. I really haven't admitted it until today, but I've been in a slump lately. I wouldn't say that I'm depressed, but I definitely haven't been my usual self. All this hurt has really gotten to me. I guess you could say that it has made me be more aware of my own mortality. You could say without a doubt that it has contributed to another step in my maturity.
So... what am I to do? I know I'll face difficult days, decisions, and deaths in the days, months, and years to come. That can't be helped, so I must accept the fact that I won't be placed in a situation that I can't handle. However, in the meantime, I guess I must enjoy my life's blessings on a daily basis: my family and my friends, my health and my home, my job and my joys.
I need to delight in Max's growth into a young man, and sometimes I need to put down the camera and join in the action. I need to never take for granted John's friendship, and I need to sustain the spark that brought us together when we were still in our teens. I need to keep my family and friends close at heart if not close in miles, making sure that I tell them how important they are in my life. I need to strive to let my students know how much they mean to me, how proud I am of their accomplishments no matter how big or small, and how dedicated I am to their success in and out of the classroom.
And as for myself, I need to focus on my personal goals, my dreams, my bucket list. I need to remember who I am and what I want for myself in life... And then I need to go and get it.
Basically, I need to live, love, and laugh as much as possible. And I need to have faith that my presence on this Earth has meaning... And that I am doing everything in my power to accomplish that meaning.
Laced Up and Coughed Out
After somewhat medicating but largely ignoring Max's sore throat pleas for a few days, the game changed when my throat started hurting on Monday. I finally went to the doctor yesterday, and he diagnosed me with a bacterial infection. So, for the first time in two years, I'm at home sick.
Yuck.
Even though I had a doctor's note to stay home from school, I returned yesterday after my office visit to finish out the day. I tried to find someone to sub my last class, but it didn't exactly happen... I so persevered until the last bell. I took a 2 1/2 hour nap after getting home, and just a few minutes after waking up I was greeted by tornado sirens in our neighborhood.
Great.
As soon as we heard the sirens and saw the radar maps on TV, John and I both immediately reached for our socks - without even talking to each other. Great minds think alike! Both of us knew that if anything happened, we didn't want to be caught without shoes. So we laced up, gathered Max and the dogs in the hallway, and hunkered down for a bit. Poor Max was really scared, so I had to constantly reassure him that things would be fine. The weather passed and nothing terrible happened, so my promise worked out all right.
Thankfully.
This morning, I dropped Max off at school and picked up my horse pills and cough syrup. Now I'm on the couch, wrapped up in my hoodie and a blanket. Time to do some planning for our 2nd Annual Spring Has Sprung Deck Party, brainstorming for my Summer at the Academy classes, and packing for our trip to Greenville this weekend. Funny that being at home sick doesn't necessarily mean that the work stops!
Reality.
Yuck.
Even though I had a doctor's note to stay home from school, I returned yesterday after my office visit to finish out the day. I tried to find someone to sub my last class, but it didn't exactly happen... I so persevered until the last bell. I took a 2 1/2 hour nap after getting home, and just a few minutes after waking up I was greeted by tornado sirens in our neighborhood.
Great.
As soon as we heard the sirens and saw the radar maps on TV, John and I both immediately reached for our socks - without even talking to each other. Great minds think alike! Both of us knew that if anything happened, we didn't want to be caught without shoes. So we laced up, gathered Max and the dogs in the hallway, and hunkered down for a bit. Poor Max was really scared, so I had to constantly reassure him that things would be fine. The weather passed and nothing terrible happened, so my promise worked out all right.
Thankfully.
This morning, I dropped Max off at school and picked up my horse pills and cough syrup. Now I'm on the couch, wrapped up in my hoodie and a blanket. Time to do some planning for our 2nd Annual Spring Has Sprung Deck Party, brainstorming for my Summer at the Academy classes, and packing for our trip to Greenville this weekend. Funny that being at home sick doesn't necessarily mean that the work stops!
Reality.
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