Today should have been a snow day. All of the schools in our area were closed. It was icy and freezing rain mixed with snow all day, so I don't blame them. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, but explaining. My school didn't have a snow day. This makes sense because most of the students are already at school (It's a residential school...they arrive Sunday night and leave Friday afternoon), so there need to be people there to supervise them. Also, if your full class is there, you might as well teach them something! I guess I never really thoughts "snow days" would be like this, though.
Last year, I worked at MSD for a semester and we had our fair share of "snow days". It still meant that I need to be at school, but because I worked in the elementary, most, if not all, of my students were day students (that rode a bus to and from school everyday). So on "snow days" when the surrounding districts were closed, we technically shouldn't have had any students, but were still required to be there. This was GREAT for me, because I could catch up on planning/grading/MSU work. We ended up having 1 or 2 students each snow day, but often there were a total of 8 for the whole elementary (K-5), so we combined them and rotated who would supervise. Still awesome, lots of planning time.
Today wasn't like that. All of my students that were there yesterday, showed up today. Normal teaching and learning happened. Just another day.
Oh, and my mailbox is frozen shut. :-(
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
25 things...
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
1. I hate making decisions, especially big ones.
2. I rarely become stressed out, but when I do, I almost become paralyzed by the weight of everything that needs to be done.
3. I am a sucker for sappy movies and lyrics.
4. Most of my friends in high school were guys.
5. Most of my friends in college were girls.
6. I watch entirely too much TV.
7. Money stresses me out (see #2)
8. I wish I had a personal finance class in high school. Now I'm teaching one.
9. I wish that I prayed more than I do.
10. I don't really know what it's like to "date"
11. I talk to myself all the time.
12. When I'm driving in the car, I like to try to sign along with the songs that are on the radio in a way that is conceptually accurate (and no, that's not supposed to say "sing")
13. I'm really excited for some of my friends to come visit this summer.
14. I really feel connected to people when I get to spend some one-on-one time with them.
15. Half of my belongings are still in Illinois, and I keep thinking of things that are sitting in my parents' garage that I wish were here.
16. The city of Chicago is one of my favorite places in the world.
17. One of my favorite songs right now is called, "Boys with Girlfriends" by Meiko. It's funny.
18. I have my old license plate nailed to the wall above my bed.
19. I got a "You Might Be a Redneck If..." page-a-day calendar for Christmas this year from one of my best friends. (I guess he thinks I moved to the backwoods or something...)
20. I want to be a better teacher than I am.
21. I would love to take a ballroom dance class, or a swing class (just need to find the right partner!)
22. I wake up 1 1/2 hours before I need to leave my house because I like to take my time and read while I eat breakfast in the morning before school.
23. I eat entirely too much fast food.
24. I want to be more organized at school and at home.
25. I always wear a ring on my right hand ring finger that says "Trust in the Lord with all your hear and lean not on your own understanding" in Hebrew (but I can't actually read Hebrew to make sure). I lost my Celtic knot ring that I used to wear on my left hand middle finger. :-(
There you go! That was harder than I thought it would be, but made for a good break from my planning work. Toodles. :-)
1. I hate making decisions, especially big ones.
2. I rarely become stressed out, but when I do, I almost become paralyzed by the weight of everything that needs to be done.
3. I am a sucker for sappy movies and lyrics.
4. Most of my friends in high school were guys.
5. Most of my friends in college were girls.
6. I watch entirely too much TV.
7. Money stresses me out (see #2)
8. I wish I had a personal finance class in high school. Now I'm teaching one.
9. I wish that I prayed more than I do.
10. I don't really know what it's like to "date"
11. I talk to myself all the time.
12. When I'm driving in the car, I like to try to sign along with the songs that are on the radio in a way that is conceptually accurate (and no, that's not supposed to say "sing")
13. I'm really excited for some of my friends to come visit this summer.
14. I really feel connected to people when I get to spend some one-on-one time with them.
15. Half of my belongings are still in Illinois, and I keep thinking of things that are sitting in my parents' garage that I wish were here.
16. The city of Chicago is one of my favorite places in the world.
17. One of my favorite songs right now is called, "Boys with Girlfriends" by Meiko. It's funny.
18. I have my old license plate nailed to the wall above my bed.
19. I got a "You Might Be a Redneck If..." page-a-day calendar for Christmas this year from one of my best friends. (I guess he thinks I moved to the backwoods or something...)
20. I want to be a better teacher than I am.
21. I would love to take a ballroom dance class, or a swing class (just need to find the right partner!)
22. I wake up 1 1/2 hours before I need to leave my house because I like to take my time and read while I eat breakfast in the morning before school.
23. I eat entirely too much fast food.
24. I want to be more organized at school and at home.
25. I always wear a ring on my right hand ring finger that says "Trust in the Lord with all your hear and lean not on your own understanding" in Hebrew (but I can't actually read Hebrew to make sure). I lost my Celtic knot ring that I used to wear on my left hand middle finger. :-(
There you go! That was harder than I thought it would be, but made for a good break from my planning work. Toodles. :-)
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Community
First, another quote that fits my mood from Monday:
"Savior, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save, mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation. He rose and conquered the grave.
Jesus conquered the grave."
-Mighty to Save
For what is impossible with man is possible with God.
-Luke 18:27
On a completely different note, I went to a 20-somethings church gathering last night called La-fa (La familia, for those who are interested...took some research). It's a group of people getting together to build relationships, learn and grow together. They alternate between having large group meetings with praise music and a "message", and small group meetings at peoples' homes. Last night was a large group meeting.
The topic was "community." Actually, the first thing that the leader mentioned was "Facebook is not real community."
Let me tell you, I love talking about and learning about community. I think this stems from an experience of real community that I had a couple summers ago. Twelve people from different backgrounds, experiences, and personalities got together and lived in the same house for 2 weeks while serving in ministry together (not to mention the week before we moved in...spending 18 hours on a plane and a week in a foreign country with people you just met...that'll bring you close and teach you a lot about each other and yourself...).
It was refreshing to talk about community last night, and to see the desire that people have to create communities where they are. I hope that I can get to know these people that I met a little better. Since I left college, I haven't had the same sort of experiences feeling deeply connected with a group of people and knowing that I could be blatantly honest with them and they would love me anyway. I know those types of relationships can be scary and take time, but I think they are crucial for growth and also for me to keep myself in check!
Long story short: I had a good time, I was reminded of some dear friends and our time together, and I look forward to going back and seeing where it goes.
I am way too wordy...I need to learn some lessons from this guy: 22 Words
"Savior, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save, mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation. He rose and conquered the grave.
Jesus conquered the grave."
-Mighty to Save
For what is impossible with man is possible with God.
-Luke 18:27
On a completely different note, I went to a 20-somethings church gathering last night called La-fa (La familia, for those who are interested...took some research). It's a group of people getting together to build relationships, learn and grow together. They alternate between having large group meetings with praise music and a "message", and small group meetings at peoples' homes. Last night was a large group meeting.
The topic was "community." Actually, the first thing that the leader mentioned was "Facebook is not real community."
Let me tell you, I love talking about and learning about community. I think this stems from an experience of real community that I had a couple summers ago. Twelve people from different backgrounds, experiences, and personalities got together and lived in the same house for 2 weeks while serving in ministry together (not to mention the week before we moved in...spending 18 hours on a plane and a week in a foreign country with people you just met...that'll bring you close and teach you a lot about each other and yourself...).
It was refreshing to talk about community last night, and to see the desire that people have to create communities where they are. I hope that I can get to know these people that I met a little better. Since I left college, I haven't had the same sort of experiences feeling deeply connected with a group of people and knowing that I could be blatantly honest with them and they would love me anyway. I know those types of relationships can be scary and take time, but I think they are crucial for growth and also for me to keep myself in check!
Long story short: I had a good time, I was reminded of some dear friends and our time together, and I look forward to going back and seeing where it goes.
I am way too wordy...I need to learn some lessons from this guy: 22 Words
Monday, January 5, 2009
some scriptures suitable for my mood...
No One is Righteous
9What shall we conclude then? Are we any better[b]? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10As it is written:"There is no one righteous, not even one;
11there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
12All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one."[c]
13"Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit."[d]
"The poison of vipers is on their lips."[e]
14"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."[f]
15"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16ruin and misery mark their ways,
17and the way of peace they do not know."[g]
18"There is no fear of God before their eyes."[h]
(romans 3: 9-17)
"...death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification."
(romans 5:14-16)
O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.17 How precious to [b] me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[l] 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(romans 8:35-39)
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Happy New Year!
At the start of a new year I always like to look back at my journals from the past year and see how far I've come, where God has taken me, and what I have learned. The problem with this year is that I can't find my journal from the first part of the year! I have one more place I can look, and I will...I'll keep you posted. Here are some highlights from the year:
January: Started my Deaf Ed student teaching...2nd grade at Michigan School for the Deaf...LOVED IT.
February (i think...): Settled on a church in Swartz Creek and finally felt "at home" at church.
March: Continued student teaching, taking more responsibility in the classroom. Finished the rainforest unit with my students.
April: Finished my internship year and left MSU!
May: substitute taught and applied for jobs all over the midwest/east coast. Christian had a rough patch after his feeding tube surgery.
June: Interviewed and accepted a job at VSDB. Stood up in a wedding for two dear friends in Baltimore. Visited my friends on the east coast and visited the school. Moved back to my parents' house for the summer.
July: hosted two wedding showers for my sister and a bachelorette party. Attended another bridal shower for a dear friend from home.
August: Moved to Staunton, VA. Started my first real teaching job. Found an apartment.
September: Stood up in a wedding of two dear friends from home (in Illinois...on the day Hurricane Ike blew through the midwest). Stood up in my sister's wedding (in Indianapolis). Joined the Stonewall Brigade Band. :-)
October: Went flying in a small plane around the Shenandoah Valley. Hiked one of the tallest mountains in Virginia.
November: Drove back to Illinois for Thanksgiving to see my family and friends in Illinois.
December: Flew home for Christmas vacation to spend time with family and friends in Illinois.
2008 was busy and eventful. I'm excited to see what 2009 will bring. Resolutions might come to me in the next week or so. If they do, I'll post them (it makes them more real if other people know about them). Happy new year!
January: Started my Deaf Ed student teaching...2nd grade at Michigan School for the Deaf...LOVED IT.
February (i think...): Settled on a church in Swartz Creek and finally felt "at home" at church.
March: Continued student teaching, taking more responsibility in the classroom. Finished the rainforest unit with my students.
April: Finished my internship year and left MSU!
May: substitute taught and applied for jobs all over the midwest/east coast. Christian had a rough patch after his feeding tube surgery.
June: Interviewed and accepted a job at VSDB. Stood up in a wedding for two dear friends in Baltimore. Visited my friends on the east coast and visited the school. Moved back to my parents' house for the summer.
July: hosted two wedding showers for my sister and a bachelorette party. Attended another bridal shower for a dear friend from home.
August: Moved to Staunton, VA. Started my first real teaching job. Found an apartment.
September: Stood up in a wedding of two dear friends from home (in Illinois...on the day Hurricane Ike blew through the midwest). Stood up in my sister's wedding (in Indianapolis). Joined the Stonewall Brigade Band. :-)
October: Went flying in a small plane around the Shenandoah Valley. Hiked one of the tallest mountains in Virginia.
November: Drove back to Illinois for Thanksgiving to see my family and friends in Illinois.
December: Flew home for Christmas vacation to spend time with family and friends in Illinois.
2008 was busy and eventful. I'm excited to see what 2009 will bring. Resolutions might come to me in the next week or so. If they do, I'll post them (it makes them more real if other people know about them). Happy new year!
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