The Day Before School Starts

Well, the first day of school is finally upon us.  (Much later than normal, thanks to the new state law.) About 700 students will arrive at my school tomorrow, excited and hopefully ready to learn.  Even though I've officially been back at work since the 8th and been working in my classroom & on curriculum even before that, it's still not the same.  We got to go out to lunch on those days and have flexible schedules.  If you're not a teacher, you can't fully appreciate how much it means to go out to lunch on a weekday.

So what did I do on this Sabbath day and the day before school starts?  I slept in.  I spent time with the Lord over a cup of hot tea.  I vigorously cleaned the house while listening to a talk from The Gospel Coalition in Spanish.  I went "back to school" shopping at the outlets and got an adorable khaki jacket (something I'd wanted for awhile) that was majorly on sale.  I met my brother at Starbucks.  I went to church and was reminded of who God is through the sermon, worship, and prayer time.  I went out to dinner with friends and laughed.  And it was all life-giving.

Easy Hash Brown Casserole

Back in January, I set a goal for myself that I would cook at least one new thing per month in 2012.  To  all my cooking friends this may not seem like much, but it's an attainable goal for me and challenges me to cook more even with my busy work schedule.  Some months I cook several new things and then other months, I cook something on the literal last day of the month. :) So far, so good though...haven't missed a month yet!

I knew August would be a busy month, and my Supko (former Bunko group that turned into Supper Club) team also was up for hosting in August so I made this yummy recipe last week.  It was really easy and also a hit at Supko that night.

London 2012: The Ultimate Sports Movie

I freely admit that I am a sucker for sports movies.  Cliché or not, I just love them.  Remember the Titans, Invincible, Chariots of Fire, A League of their Own, and even The Mighty Ducks are just a few favorite classics that come to mind immediately.  So not surprisingly, I love the Olympics.  Thanks to modern media, the Olympics are like a two-week long, emotional sports movie.  Throw in a great setting, authentic characters, and a quintessential theme, and you've got a hit (and a huge moneymaker for NBC).

The setting: As if the Olympics were not entertaining enough on their own, we get the added bonus of seeing the skyline and scenes of London each time there is a commercial break.  What could compete with that?  I love London and seeing that view just makes me happy.  My family and I were actually in London in 2005 when they were competing for the Olympic bid.  We saw signs all around the city that said "London 2012" so it's fun to look back on that now.

The characters:  One of the things that makes a great character is the reader or viewer's ability to relate to him or her.  While we may not be able to relate much to Kobe Bryant's life, all of the personal story clips and interviews make us feel like we can relate to most of the Olympic athletes.  Missy Franklin?  Amazing young swimmer, but also just a teenage girl who loves her friends and Justin Bieber.  Michael Phelps?  The most-decorated Olympian ever, but also a guy who can lose and experience disappointment.

The theme:  If Disney were sponsoring this movie, the theme would undoubtedly be "dreams can come true." Of course, this theme is a part of the Olympics, and it is definitely a huge part of why we love them.  However, I also think that when it is coupled with the theme of teamwork, it is even more powerful and moving.  Sports were a formative part of my childhood and youth, and that concept of "the team" is still something I love to this day.  Achieving a goal is awesome, but sharing that experience with other people is even sweeter.  Perhaps this is why I cried when I watched the women's gymnastics team celebrate winning the gold together, and why I love that Michael Phelps' famous 19th medal came from a relay team victory.

Ahh, the Olympics.  Cue the inspiring music now...

**To support my point about relatable characters and for your viewing pleasure, I am including a link to this video by the U.S. Swimming Team.  It made my day when I saw it, and yes, I have been known to make videos with my friends as well.