chocolate cake

Less than 2 miles from my lovely campus is a beautifully decorated, inviting home. For quite some time I have been SO eager to go to this little house and get to know the people who live there. Tonight... it happened... and it was terrific. :-)

P.S. We had chocolate cake!

really understaning

One of my favorite profs... ok... my FAVORITE prof... said something today that really caught my attention. As we talked about the parents we would inevitably have to communicate with as teachers, she remided us of one of Stephen Covey's 7 Habits...

Seek first to understand... then to be understood.

Sounds like common sense, right? Not only with the whole parent/teacher thing... but in all relationships. But really... how often do I blurt something out before I really take time to understand what someone is saying and where they are coming from. So often I interject before taking the time to empathize and really get it.

On most days, I would rather listen for hours about the struggles in someone's life than to talk about the struggles in my own life. However, in the quick conversations that take place throughout the day, I can't seem to help but provide my two cents worth at every given chance.

Maybe I should take a little more time to actually understand what the meaning is behind the chit chat. Maybe we should all take a little more time to actually understand...

snow day and questions

Today I had a snow day which meant instead of driving to Hermitage and spending all day with my beautiful preschoolers... I got to sleep in, do a bunch of Facebook stalking, eat with my Euro girlies, ask myself a lot of tough questions, and think about stuff.

Things I have thought about include...

• Why can I more opently communicate a billion times better through typing than other ways?
• Could I have gained more from my college years at another place?
• How can a few years change relationships so much?
• Is there a reason why I feel awful about disappointing people?
• Why is my left thumb super duper dry?
• Did I miss out on some really cool stuff while at GCC?
• What am I going to do with the rest of my life?
• Do I make uncalled for assumptions of people too quickly?
• Is my perception of me similar or drastically different to how other people perceive me?
• Why can't I be totally real with the people I love most?
• Can I somehow arrange my schedule so that I'm not stressed out in March when everything is due?
• How do we so often go through life without actually knowing the people around us or what they are going through?
• Did I really go to Europe only a few months ago?
• Why does my left ear/side of my tongue hurt when I swallow?
• Am I forgetting something important?
• Does Vitamin C really do anything?
• Is it possible to not do my homework and still do well this semster?
• What are the chances of a snow day on Friday?
• Why does Dove chocolate always have the best quotes?
• Are people always as they appear?
• Am I going to run out of post it notes?
• Where did I lose my glove?
• Why do we all love to receive e-mails... but hate to send them?

(I have bunches more thoughts... but I'll stop there for now. Ha.)

friend crushes

I've got to admit... I have several "friend crushes". By definition a "friend crush" is...

"Experiencing a strong desire to become friends with a person you don't know very well. Often times, people experiencing friend crushes will exhibit nervousness, giddiness, admiration, and clumsiness similiar to those emotions experienced when being around a regular crush." - urbandictionary.com

"The feeling of really wanting to befriend a stranger or acquaintance. A friend crush is usually very common when one goes to a new school/workplace/etc." - onlineslangdictionary.com

So... you see... I have many of these crushes of sorts. And in the rare case that I actually get to know these people... I find that I can learn a great deal from knowing them because they are usually a lot like me. The bummer for me is that I'm as shy as anything and probably won't ever be real friends with most these people... so I guess that's why they are friend CRUSHES. Ha.

ripples

I'm a big fan of random acts of kindness.

A really big fan.

Whenever I get get bored or just happen to have some free time (which rarely happens at GCC!)... I try to do something unexpectedly nice for someone else.

That got me thinking... it's kind of like a ripple effect. You know when you throw a pebble into the water how it makes all sorts of ripples getting bigger and bigger out from the center? It's kind of like that. Small as each pebble is, not one touches the water without these resulting ripples.

We are kind of like the pebble. No matter how influential or insignificant we see ourselves, we all send out ripples that circle out further than we might ever dream. Things we do or say... whether kind or mean... all ripple out and touch other lives far beyond the boundaries we think they go. People around us are often touched by an act or a word of ours that we never dreamt would get that far.

Sometimes we think we can skip through life, independent, not touching others, hurrying on without time to stop and be concerned about anyone else. The inevitable ripples still flow out. We do influence, we do touch others, even when we are not aware of it. God even reminds us of our ripples… "...you be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity"( 1 Timothy 4:12).

We have no idea who is watching us or what kind of day the people around us are having. The things I do may just ripple out and change someone else's day for the better!

86,400 seconds

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William A. Ward

Well... January is apparantly "National Thank You Month". It seems weird to me that this is the month of thanks and not November with Thanksgiving and all. But... I guess we really should be showing our gratitude all the time when it comes right down to it...

Why I teach...

One of my professors gave us an assigment to write down a list of reasons of why we teach. This is what I have come up with so far...

• I teach because nobody else can give a hug as big as a preschooler can.
• I teach because some kids might never be told that someone loves them if I do not tell them.
• I teach because I AM going to make a difference in the future.
• I teach because each day brings something new.
• I teach because my teachers have invested in me and made such an impact on my life.
• I teach because learning can be really fun.
• I teach because children are brutally honest. Always.
• I teach because everyone deserves a chance to learn.
• I teach because I have a passion for children and a desire to help them grow.
• I teach because I love receiving a prized piece of artwork or carefully crafted letter from a child.
• I teach because it is not just about academics.
• I teach because every student has potential.
• I teach because it is not a career… it is a calling.
• I teach because I will continually be challenged and never be bored.
• I teach because an “I love you” from a child can make my heart skip a beat.
• I teach because I want to show children that they can reach their dreams.
• I teach because connecting with a child is worth more than a meager paycheck.
• I teach because I know that every child has a story to tell.
• I teach because of Marsadie, Josh, Paige, Adrian, Callie, Malcolm, Ainsley, Dale, Madison, and so many more.
• I teach because I care.

big girls don't cry

I am not usually a crier... but tonight... as I looked at the background of my computer... I just burst into tears. On my background are some first graders dressed in their Halloween costumes. Not just any first graders... MY first graders. MY first graders that were SOOOO very excited to see me when I stopped in and surprised them with a visit. MY first graders that grew leaps and bounds from that first day of school. MY first graders that will no longer be mine after Tuesday. They are getting a new student teacher. And they're not getting just any student teacher... but they are getting a girl that I have known since we were in first grade. I know the kiddos will love her and she will love them... but it's so hard to realize that life is moving on.

In 2008 alone, I got to know SO many different kiddos... field experiences... two student teaching placements... my preschoolers... 3 VBS programs... Jump Start kiddos... and so many more. I hope I made a difference in their lives. They sure made a difference in mine!

Wednesday I will start student teaching a new group of preschoolers. Fourteen girls and one boy. It's sure to be a wild ride... but I'm excited! I pray that these pint-sized squirts will impact my life and that I will impact theirs!

And in my heart I know that in a few months, I will cry as I leave these kiddos too...

?????

The great thing about teaching is that you can go absolutely anywhere.

The horrible thing about teaching is also that you can go absolutely anywhere.

City? Country? Urban? Rural? Unknown? Known? Leap? Safety?

Sigh.

So far... I've decided that I'm going to stay in Pennsylvania. Most days I'm leaning towards an urban school. But then there's plenty of days where I'd like to play it safe and stay close to home.

Why is growing up so hard?

vbs memories

For some reason today... as I was sitting here in the freezing cold... I started thinking about summer. Then I started thinking about all the things I did last summer which made me think about the two VBS programs that I helped with. That triggered thoughts about my future and debating whether I would rather be around to help with local stuff this summer or be finding a job elsewhere. Then I ignored those thoughts and turned my attention to my own VBS memories.

There are SO many memories... but most involve the music. I have always remembered stuff better when it's set to a tune. I'm pretty sure that if you gave me the beginning of a song we did, I could at least hum it and could probably sing a portion of it. Oh VBS. Definitely good times. I also remember thinking that the teen/college helpers were SO cool and I wanted to be just like them. Wonder if any kids think that about me? Ha. I mean... in the last 2 summers I have helped with 5 different VBS programs at several churches. I'm just sayin'... that's a whole bunch of kiddos! :-)

I love...

I love...

Jesus

my family

random phone calls from friends

taking pictures of anything and everything

going on walks

fresh bread and homemade chocolate chip cookies

teaching

real e-mails (not forwards and such)

when people remember little, meaningful things

my friends

beautiful weather

big hugs

jeans that fit just right

the feeling after a hard workout

getting mail

Disney

being healthy and feeling invincible

laughter... especially from little kiddos

Grandma's noodles

long, super hot showers

crossing out things on my to do list

getting to know what makes someone tick

feeling like I belong

Sundays at Pville

sincere people

dark chocolate

surprising someone with something special

when a huge rainbow takes over the sky

being tan

the color pink

Gerber daisies

just hanging out with a loved one

baking

being pushed out of my comfort zone (after the fact)

having my hair played with

giving and getting honest compliments

holding sleeping babies

playing the piano for fun

helping people

Gram Cracker's homemade apple sauce

being friends with my teachers from the past

people that are making a difference in the world

picture books

shopping at Hallmark

my sisters

giving thoughtful gifts just because

brightly painted toenails

playing a gigantic game of Solitaire with the fam

all the kiddos I've gotten to know

coloring

fresh fruit (especially pineapple!)

diet Coke

relaxing Sunday afternoon dinners

sleeping in

catching up with old friends

people-watching

pomegranate scented and/or tasting stuff

cute necklaces

organization

getting all dressed up

being attacked with hugs from kiddos

*this is not a complete list and the order of these does not necessarily dictate the amount I love them*

present

All too often I find myself dwelling on the past or becoming immersed in what is going to happen in the future. Generally speaking, I do not take the time to just enjoy the moment and what is happening in my life NOW.

PMahle always used to tell us before every concert in high school, "You all need to sing your best out there because you will never be on stage with this group of people again."

How right she was... not only for our concerts... but for life.

I will never be in this exact place and time again with the same people around me. Therefore... I think it's about time to start living in the present!

castles and leap frog

Last weekend I took a flying leap out of my comfort zone to help with a youth retreat. Sure... I can be outgoing and interactive with small children... but somewhere around 6th grade... they aren't little kids anymore and they start to intimidate me. Should I be intimidated? No. Am I anyways? Yes. So... I find myself 5 miles from home and back a long dirt road at "The Castle". A place frozen in time. A place invaded by a bazillion youth, counselors and people dedicated to serving for the weekend.

I thought I was ok with the whole idea of helping until I found out I was with the SENIOR HIGH girls! AHHHH!


The weekend ended up to be a HUGE blessing. I made many new friends... learned more about people I already knew... served on very little sleep... was surprised by a visit from one of my favorite people... and got to watch a bunch of teens commit to knowing, loving, and serving their God. Awesome.


So... I guess playing leap frog and jumping out of my comfort zone isn't always exactly what I thought it would be. Sometimes it's better. :-)

reason, season or lifetime

Sometimes I wish my friends were all lifetime friends. But things change. People change. Situations change. Friendships change.

And sometimes there comes a point when you just can't keep hanging on to how things were...

(By the by... I have some REALLY terrific friends that are lifetime friends... I just wish others had stuck around for more than a reason or a season.)

deactivated.

Today I did the unthinkable. I deactivated my Facebook account. Maybe not a big deal to most people... but to me... that was my lifeline to the world. Through Facebook I can foolishly pretend to be involved in people's day-to-day lives. But that's the thing... I'm just pretending. Do I really know all these "friends"? And do they really know me? Sure... there are a few real life friends that Facebook helps me to stay in touch with and it's awesome... but wouldn't I still be friends with these people if I e-mailed or called to see what was going on in their world? I find myself too often being consumed by looking through the photo albums of others and becoming jealous of all the things that they are doing and I am not. Totally stupid... but totally truth. Am I just using things like Facebook to block out the other things in my life? Am I using it as an excuse to not REALLY communicate with people? The only way to find out is to pull the cord. (At least for a little while!)

help?

In my world... you don't ask for help. You figure it out... on your own... and then nobody knows if you fall short.

But what if I'm not ok with that?

I need help. I can't do everything on my own. Sure... I can pretend for awhile... but then I crack. We all do.

Can you help me?

finishing strong?

When did it get to be 2009?! And by that I mean... when did it get to be the year I graduate college and become a grown-up?! Am I leading the life that I imagined I would live? Am I knowing, loving and serving Jesus? Am I running the race hard in order to finish strong?