Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts

Friday, July 30, 2010

Summertime...


Lots of exciting stuff going on this summer!!!

Lovely Lady is growing up. She is writing neat stuff, lots of poetry which happens to be better than mine. I am biased however. Her vocabulary grows along with her writing; which is good when writing and bad when articulating dissent in the ranks of family life. She also has grown into a really great big sister, cheering on and supporting her little brother really well. She is the kind of sister I'd want. She is dramatic, creative, beautiful, smart, and sweet. I love seeing her writing in her journal each day, playing with the old dog, and scooting on the scooter all over!

Little Man is certainly growing up too. He is swimming like a fish, even jumping off the diving board at his grandparents pool. Last night he hit an amazing high. We took him and his bike to a parking lot across the street from the park. With Lovely Lady cheering madly, he was able to take off on 2 wheels. He rambled around that lot for about an hour, not stopping once! He continues to be a Pokemon master, though conversations about Bakugan have started to creep in. He also articulates things carefully, making clear in no uncertain terms how he feels about life.

Well, as for me, I guess I am growing up too. I am reading all kinds of interesting books (The China Study, An Elephant in the Playroom, The Explosive Child, Lost at School, Boys Adrift to name a few!) that are pretty heavy. I did also read a couple lighter ones along with lots of magazine articles. I also have also been working on other stuff, like yanking out my Dave Ramsey books and creating an updated budget for the family. I joined a pool and am dragging the kids there as often as I can which we love! I also have been doing a ton of driving between the two homes. I think I'll be as sad as the children to see summer end. I am each year it seems. The more time passes filled with unfulfilled dreams the more I treasure this time with the kids. It all seems to go too fast!!!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Endings and beginnings...

Good things must end so new things can have a chance to start. It happens with hours, days and nights, months, seasons and so many concepts of time. It happens in relationships sometimes in the form of ending, other times in the reality of change and growth. Some of these things we enjoy watching like flowers blooming in spring and leaves changing colors in fall. Other times we dread it.

Teaching is a profession where we get to witness constant change. Children come in to you at one stage and leave in a different one. One of the things that marks profoundly the end of your time with that class is the cleaning of your room, finishing report cards, making your honors list, and sending final papers home. Today I finished all that for my group.

It is a day that brings some sadness. I had this group for the last two years in some capacity, either as their primary teacher or a significant member of their team. Earlier this year as I was enjoying my small class, the other teacher chose to leave her position. This brought some significant change as my class grew from 13 to 27 students. It was an experience I couldn't seem to help but fear.

The amazing part was finding God within it all! I was blessed to see my heart grow as it filled with a teacher's love for each individual, my ability as a teacher stretch and grow as I planned and carried out activities, and my faith continue to expand as the Lord blessed every moment with the children. I realized part way in that God had given me a gift through that human-made situation... every morning I faced my students with the excitement of facing a wrapped present waiting to be opened, every evening I looked back with the joy and satisfaction of having truly enjoyed the gift itself! Having this come to an end has brought me such mixed feelings.

But their are always the beginnings that follow the endings. I was able to think of the fun we had doing many projects and look forward to implementing them again. Other activities will be shelved, probably not to be repeated soon. Some newly promoted students made sure to wave from daycare, and a new to the school student stopped by for a visit. The excitement and anticipation will be building as I take the time to enjoy the summer!

And for each of my littles, I hope you remember...Jesus loves you and so do I!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Summer Time To-Do List...

Read “The China Study”

Create a BUDGET!!!

Stick to said budget

Stay “No-shampoo”

Rest my voice

Write

Spend time daily praying

Walk more

Occasionally ride a bike

Visit at least 5 new spots with the kids

Visit some favorite “standards” with the kiddos

Sew

Crochet

Have a BBQ

Learn to use my camera well