3 Things

1.  I miss blogging.  There have been many times since school started that I've wistfully thought about blogging.  Since I feel behind on just about everything these days though, the blogs continue to remain unwritten (with today's exception of course).  When it comes to writing, journaling is my "first love" and primary means of processing so I won't compromise there.  Sorry blogging, you get the back burner when there are only so many hours in a day.  Hoping to get back into it more soon though even it it's just little thoughts here and there.

2.  So obviously, my life has been quite busy the last few months.  Teaching full-time and also taking grad school classes at the same time is not for the faint of heart.  Throw in the fact that it's my first year in the position of the gifted education specialist, and no wonder my life's been crazy!  Something that is both a challenge and a perk to my new job is that I get to basically create my own curriculum.  There are no boring textbooks that I am required to use, but there is also nothing to fall back on if I haven't had time to fully plan.  Although it takes a lot of time, it's mostly fun to be able to choose what I teach.  For example, I got to teach my third-graders all about New York City, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and impressionism (all things I love) recently since we are reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, one of my favorite children's novels.  I was discussing a lesson plan idea with my teacher-mother-friend, and she had a great extended analogy for my job:  It's like I am planning three different dinner parties all at the same time, each one with complicated menus and guest lists.  I've got to check the soup for one, adjust the dessert for the other, and change the seating arrangement for the third one all at the same time.  Since I am trying to plan engaging, enriching units of study that incorporate various academic disciplines and do this for three different grades and 70+ students, her comparison seemed like a great way to describe my job. :)

3.  Finally, I would like to say that random acts of kindness really can make people's day.  Recently, I was running late to a large school event and needed to find a parking spot quickly.  The closest parking was $5, and I was only staying at this event for less than an hour.  I hated to pay the money but really didn't have time to park further away and walk.  When I pulled up to enter the lot, I asked the parking attendant if faculty got a discount.  He said, "Well, they're really not supposed to...but go on," and let me enter for free! Small as it may seem, this made my day.  One little act of kindness can go a long way especially after a long day.

Secondhand Blogging

The return of school always means the inevitable decline in blogging.  While I have multiple blogs milling around in my head, I do not currently have the free minutes needed to write them.  So unfortunately, they'll have to wait for another day.

However, I did have time to read a great blog entry last week called "The Story We Tell Ourselves" by Jason Gray.  My friend Claire sent me this link, and it really encouraged and challenged me.  It also instantly resonated with me, being a lover of stories.  In the midst of my busyness, I'm trying to step back and ask, "What story do I want to tell today?" and "What story am I telling myself in this moment?"  Good thoughts to ponder...

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.

Escape to NC

Lately, it seems the pressures of reality have been closing in on me.  Despite grad school and looming big decisions, I decided to escape for a few days.  I took a 3-day weekend to just get away and enjoy a trip to North Carolina & the Blue Ridge Mountains.  My grandparents lived near Brevard, NC, for most of my childhood so I grew up going to the mountains several times a year.  Their home now belongs to our family, and we're so blessed to be able to visit the area whenever we like.  Due to living in Mexico though, it'd been more than three years since I was last there so a visit to "The Hemlocks" was way overdue.

Some highlights of the trip included: staying with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Sara (and her husband Matt) in Cartersville, GA, on the way Friday night--enjoying hours of talking, a walk with their energetic dogs, and lunch at Swheat Market Deli...meeting up with my parents north of Atlanta and driving the rest of the way with them...buying local corn from the farmer who knew my grandpa...relaxing on the enclosed porch and watching sunsets...climbing Devil's Courthouse & Black Balsam Bald and exploring a bit along the Art Loeb Trail...loving the cool breeze...all the beautiful views from the Blue Ridge Parkway... stopping by Pisgah Inn...a mint chocolate chip milkshake at Rocky's Soda Shop in downtown Brevard...quality talk time with my parents...my mom spoiling me a bit...watching Midnight in Paris for the second time...sleeping...

Here's to escape weekends!  More to come! :)

Atop Devil's Courthouse

Black Balsam...my family's been hiking this trail since I was a toddler in the backpack

Returning to 35229

In my mind, college wasn't that long ago.  As if it were yesterday, I can remember starting college at Samford University.  I was a young, happy freshman ready to embark on four of the best years of my life.  I was excited about new friends & experiences, ready for many adventures.

However, the truth is that it wasn't yesterday.  In fact, I began college eleven years ago.  How did I get to be so old?!

Well, this week I started at Samford again.  I'm beginning a program for a Masters in Gifted Education. Even though I may still look like an undergrad, a lot has changed.  Here are a few random observations I've made:

• When I was a freshman, I had a standard desk-top computer that stayed in my dorm room.  This week, I brought my laptop to class with me.
• Health Services has moved (should you need to update your immunization form and not be late for your appointment).
• Cell phones are drastically different than they were in 2001.  Film cameras are rarely in use anymore either.
• Current Samford students need to appreciate the Pete Hanna Center (especially the work-out center) and O'Henry's Coffee because I sure would have loved to have them in my day.  *I am taking full advantage of having a student ID again though and have already worked out there twice.

I've also noticed that there are some things that haven't changed:

• The campus is still beautiful.
• The bathrooms on the main floor of OBB are still an awful orange that doesn't go with the tile.
• I STILL have class in Room 233, even though there are only 6 people in my class instead of 45.
• There's nothing like a trip to the Food Court and Chick-fil-A during a break from class. 
• Everyone, from professors to students, is still genuinely nice and friendly.

So even though I may not be as excited as I was the first time around, I'm thankful for the opportunity to study at 800 Lakeshore Drive again, and I'm thankful to be a part of a community that seeks to live out its motto "...for God, for learning, forever."